exsilium | Video

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[There's lots of fiddling with the tablet, buttons pressed and messages made of seeming gibberish (though some are actually words from her own language that some may recognize) before the video is started. Except it's very blurry and sometimes fades out and comes back on. The important part though is that there's a small elf child on the other end and she looks like she's ready to cry.]

Nana! Ada!

[She then proceeds to throw the tablet and cry.]

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Not long ago, we were reading.

[For the moment, her eyes are too full of tears that the image on the screen is blurry and it's still slanted and laying on the floor where she had thrown it. Sniffling and rubbing at her eyes, Celebrían tries to stop crying and manages to only let out a whimper before crying again. It'll take her a couple minutes more but she does finally still her tears and looks again at the tablet.

And look confused.]

N-nana?

[And ~~Galadriel~~ Artanis is visibly taken aback. It's all she can manage not to drop the tablet.]

You must be mistaken, pinig. I am not even wed.

[But that face. Now that she's getting a proper look at the elfling, the resemblance is uncanny. And those eyes. They could be her eyes.]

What is your name?

[And there's a pout from the child, bottom lip shaking and tears threatening to start flowing again. She knows her mom, having clung to her often enough.]

N-nana...

[~~That sound you might hear is the crushed heart of a child.~~

She tries not to cry again and hiccups instead, and keeps hicupping as she tries to answer.]

C-Celebrían.

What a beautiful name.

[Oh, no. That look. That tone. She had not meant to make the poor thing cry again. But she couldn't exactly lie to the child, either. And to have just found herself here with no explanation- it's all too much.]

Pray do not cry. I- this day has brought with it much confusion. Tell me where you are and perhaps we may learn something together.

You and ada always call me your 'little queen.'

[She's still very young and doesn't entirely understand. It would be very hard for her not to make her cry again. To her credit though, she's trying very hard not to.]

In a r-room. I'm not s-sure where but I can go outside.

If you would, little one, I would be grateful. [A deep breath. Something very strange is going on. Whether or not she will be this girl's mother, she can fake it for a while.]

It would not do to leave a child of mine unaccompanied. [She gives a shaky smile. ~~Valar help her, she has no idea what she is doing.~~]

[Yes, put as much effort as possible into faking it. The elfling would appreciate it more than she would ever know.

With a smile now on her face, eyes still a bit teary, she grabs her tablet and runs outside to repeat the unit number to Artanis.]

Are you going to come and find me now?

I am. Go back inside and wait for me there, my little queen. [Hopefully the endearment doesn't sound too forced. It fits, somehow, even though it's strange to her. It's right.]

[If it does, it goes over her head because she's too busy beaming and practically skipping inside to wait for her. All she cares about is her mom being there and that obviously makes everything alright.]

[Then perhaps she won't notice just how nervous Artanis looks when she comes through the door (because, really, the child is alone and frightened. She's not going to bother knocking).]

Celebrían? [She's almost holding her breath, half expecting the girl to realize her mistake and start wailing again.]

[Brace yourself, Artanis. There's a small blur running forward and latching onto your legs and clinging as though her life depended on it.]

[Oh. Oh. Alright. She can deal with this. She bends down and gathers the little girl into her arms. Hopefully, she can get a good look at her when she pulls away.]

[She lets herself be lifted but Artanis will become victim to a hug and snuggling from the tiny elf before she lets go and smiles. Obviously her mom was just teasing her earlier, this is Celebrian's logic.]

[Surprise snuggles. Okay. She doesn't mind. She's just going to look for a place to sit down in the meantime.]

Have you been alone here?

[Good, because those won't be in short supply.]

I was until you came.

[Artanis finds a seat and sets Celebrían down next to her, studying the elfling's face carefully. She can't deny the similarities. Her own features, mixed with... who's?]

And you have seen no sign of your father?

Not yet and he would have come as soon as he heard me.

[She pouts a little and snuggles closer to Artanis' side.]

Then it seems we are on our own.

[It's tempting- so tempting- to take a peek inside the girl's mind. She could know with certainty who her mother was, then- and if Celebrían was right...well, she wouldn't mind knowing a little bit about the father either. But if this was her child, she'd certainly be sensitive to an intrusion.

Perhaps if she starts off gently... Just to get a feel for the child's mind.]

Only for a little while. Ada would never leave us alone for long.

[And the child is totally convinced of this. In her mind, her father has never failed to be there for them, and vice-versa with her mom.

Luckily for Artanis, Celebrían really isn't in any shape to notice anything she does to start with, while she thinks back to home and those times that Celeborn slipped her a treat or two before supper time. And not mentioning to anyone. They're little secret~]

He may not have a choice, little one. We did not choose to come here, after all.

[Wait. She knows that face... Celeborn. They have been introduced and have spoken a few times, but she had thought little of him. He had been pleasant enough, but...

She takes a moment to search for a memory involving her. Or..who the child thought she was, anyway. It was so difficult to believe, she just had to be certain.]

He'd find a way though.

[Well, she'll be able to find some easy memories of the three of them together. And it's clearly Artanis, Galadriel by then of course.

For now, the small elf will climb into her lap and hug her.]

You'll see, nana. So don't worry, as long as we have each other until he finds us, we'll be okay. Right?

[Then it's true. This... is her child. She's holding a daughter to whom she has not yet given birth. It's strange and overwhelming and...yet it is not all together unpleasant.

She will have a life someday. She will have love. Something other than bitterness and anger will fill her heart.

Artanis holds Celebrían close, burying her face in her silver hair and breathing in the scent. She wasn't ready for this. Not at all. But she would try.]

Of course, henig. I will let no harm befall you.

[She's oblivious to her mothers thoughts and emotions, just snuggling close and holding on, smiling.]

I'll keep you safe too.

[She'd be so sad if her mother got hurt.]

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Video

Video (spoken in Sindarin)

forever (or at least until Gladdy gives in and seeks her out)

that shouldn't take too long

I feel like a horrible person

Don't, or I'll feel worse for what I'm doing XD

hahaha

<33

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