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Against all expectations, Lómion is enjoying his new life. It contains a great many Noldor and more noise and light than he’s used to, and a vast and sprawling family he cannot quite keep track of and which he suspects Tyelko keeps adding people to when Lómion isn’t paying attention.
It also contains a whole lot of Huan, who stands taller than Lómion at the shoulder and who only leaves Lómion’s side for the twice-weekly quest of getting Fëanáro and Tyelpe to leave the forges for an afternoon of literally anything else, you’re supposed to get a re-do on your childhoods, not a headstart on whatever mad science the Aulendili couldn’t stop you from, powers help us all , as both Tyelko and Uncle Russo call it.
Lómion has been greatly enjoying these afternoons, going on adventures with various uncles, most of whom he thinks aren’t really his uncles, regardless of what Tyelko says.
They spend a lot of time in the overgrown gardens of Formenos, always with Tyelko, and usually with one or more of his brothers or his mother.
Nerdanel shows them where she finds clay to draft sculptures in and Uncle Russo tries to look annoyed when she brings back three boys and a grown elf all covered head to toe in variously shaded mud for dinner.
Carnistir lectures them on economy and agriculture and the illusion of self-sustenance , which Lómion doesn’t entirely understand, and teaches them how to turn almost any plant imaginable into threads, which is far more fun.
Curufinwe, when he finds the time after cleaning up his forge since you hellions tried to turn it into a fortress , refuses to teach them anything useful and instead takes them riding and brings them toys and generally encourages all sorts of nonsense they show even the least interest in.
Ambarussa, who Lómion still cannot tell apart easily, get them to help with gardening and generally try to be a bad influence. Or, as one of them put it, you’re being raised by Fëanorions, you’re supposed to be at least a little feral .
Uncle Russo, who pretends to be sensible and serious a lot, mostly helps keep an eye on them and rescues them and his brothers from their more dangerous ideas.
*
Until one day a messenger arrives, looking flustered and like he’s being pursued by something terrifying. Lómion has been getting a lot more relaxed thanks to Huan’s steady presence and the adults around him being unfailingly gentle and kind, but this is enough to have him hiding behind Tyelko again, clinging to Huan for dear life.
The messenger is talking, Lómion knows that much, but none of the words are registering. Huan is nudging at him, getting him to look up at Ambarussa, who has knelt down next to him as is holding out Lómion’s hunting knife and the slingshot, neither of which he is allowed to carry around the house without asking Tyelko or Uncle Russo first.
“Hush, kiddo,” Ambarussa says, voice quiet and gentle. “Things are going to get loud and chaotic and really strange in a bit, you’re safe and everyone is friendly, they’re just new, you can stay right here if you want, or we’ll go hide in the forge or in the garden until everything’s calmed down again.”
“Stay with Tyelko, please,” Lómion eventually decides.
Ambarussa nods, and settles down next to him, and keeps up a constant, quiet stream of words, telling Lómion about those visitors they’re expecting, and how Tylpe and Fëanáro are going to love them, and how much fun they’re all going to have. Lómion doesn’t quite manage to pay attention.
Then, finally, Tyelko turns away from the messenger. He joins Ambarussa and Lómion and Huan, drawing the three of them into a hug.
*
By the time Tyelko lets them go again, the messenger and their horse are gone, and all of Tyelko’s family has gathered around them.
Curufin has Tyelpe on his shoulders, explaining how to use a spyglass that’s almost too big for him to hold properly. Next to him, Fëanáro has managed to climb on Uncle Russo’s shoulders, since he’s almost too tall for that sort of thing already.
“Kano is coming home,” Tyelko tells Lomion, while Lomion is climbing on his shoulders, mostly because this seems to be what they are now doing. “And he’s bringing family we didn’t expect to ever meet properly, and a lot of friends no one entirely expected, and since they don’t have anywhere else to go, and no one is sure if they’re even allowed, they have to stay with Kano and us for a while.”
Tyelpe makes an excited noise somewhere next to them, and then someone hands Lómion the spyglass and helps him point it in the right direction, where he can just barely see half a dozen elves on beautifully bridled horses, surrounded by a small crowd of ponies and mules and donkeys, pulling a variety of wagons, led by people that seem far too small, even at this distance.
“Those are dwarves, right?,” Tyelpe asks.
“Some of them,” Uncle Russo says. “I’ve never seen the other ones, though.”
“Hobbits, Findaráto called them,” Tyelko says. “He’ll probably be visiting as soon as politeness allows, so we’ll have to see to get them settled as soon as possible, or he’ll want to help with that.”
“We’ll be building houses, then?”, Lómion asks curiously. Building a treehouse with Tyelko and Ambarussa had been great fun, and he thinks building more with the whole family helping would be wonderful, even if it means new people and chaos.
“Burrows, apparently,” Tyelko answers. “So the dwarves are probably going to help, too. You’ll like them, I think. And if not, you can always hide in the forge and make Fëanáro and Tyelpe come drag you outdoors for a change. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the chance.”
*
Two of the hobbits take an immediate and very concerned interest in Tyelko, and they keep talking over each other and over any of Curufin’s attempts at explaining.
A third one seems to decide that even in all the chaos of elves and dwarves being introduced or possibly reunited, Uncle Russo is clearly the most level-headed person, and must thus explain where and how to get tea and set out a meal for everyone.
Numbers four and five, on the other hand, immediately turn to Lómion. They seem a lot younger than the other three, and a lot more energetic.
“I’m Merry,” one of them starts.
“And I’m Pippin,” the other adds. “Bilbo didn’t mention anything about elf-children, does this land make your people younger, too?”
“And are you just as serious as grown elves? Or do you get to play? Do you know how to play? We can teach you, if you like. Do you know hide-and-seek?”
“I’m Lómion,” Lómion says, not even waiting for them to stop talking. “It’s not the land, but you should ask Uncle Russo, or Tyelko, they know more about it than me.”
Next to him, Huan makes an impatient noise. Lómion turns to see Uncle Russo, the third hobbit at his side. “Lómion, meet Master Samwise Gamgee. Please show him to the kitchen before you go play with your new friends. And stay in the garden and listen to Huan, at least for now.”
Lómion leaves it to Huan to herd Merry and Pippin, and leads Master Gamgee to the kitchens. He remembers his arrival here well enough, and is very careful to point out the sculptures and paintings and sometimes the colour of the wall or floorboards he used to find his way in the giant house. He also makes sure to show Master Samwise the pantry and the cold cellar and the well and how to operate the automatic flint Curufin made and where to find the charcoal they use for the cooking fire. Huan returns halfway through Lómion’s explanation with Merry and Pippin and a stepladder for Master Samwise.
Master Samwise shoos them out of the kitchen, even though Merry asks whether he wants any help. Lómion leads Merry and Pippin out to the garden, to the corner where he and Tyelpe and Fëanáro have started building a treehouse. It’s still far from finished, but the tree is old enough and its roots deep and wide enough to fit at least a small burrow, and Lómion is certain with Merry and Pippin’s help, they’ll be able to get it just right.