Chapter 13

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.

AN: Don't take this too seriously. I don't.

Beta'd by Scarletdewdrops.

... ... …

Harry tried to roll over slowly but was met with resistance. There was something next to him. As said something was warm and soft, Harry decided to climb on top of it and lay there instead of what he was laying on before which, while warm, was decidedly not soft.

Suddenly much more comfortable, the elfling drifted off back to sleep.

His new mattress, a highly amused Celeborn, just placed a hand on Harry's back and gently rubbed it. The elfling had been tent hoping for days now, spending one night with each of his 'family'. A night with Rumil, a night with Orophin, a night with Glorfindel. He had even spent a night with Galadriel, who had maintained her own tent during this campaign.

Celeborn wondered if Harry had cuddled with her the way he was cuddled up with him now. He knew he had with the other ellon, for they had confessed as such to him amidst much amusement.

So far, on the march back to Caras Galadhon, Harry had stayed with a different person each night… and Celeborn pondered if Harry would try to stay a night with Thranduil? The cantankerous King of Mirkwood was joining them back in Caras Galadhon so that they could, as a large party, then march on towards Minas Tirith for the impending nuptials of his granddaughter to Aragorn.

It was amusing to think what Thranduil would do if Harry tried to use him as a bed, as the elfling was doing to him.

Celeborn placed a kiss onto Harry's head and just continued to lay back and relax. Even though he knew he should get up, they probably needed to get on their way again… moments like this were too… peaceful to give up quickly.

All too soon an elf came in to inform him that they needed to start packing up and continue with their march. With much regret, Celeborn sat up and lifted Harry with him as he rose to his feet. The elfling barely stirred as Celeborn shifted him into a comfortable position on his hip, leaving the tent behind so it could be packed up.

As the Lord of Caras Galadhon made his way toward the horses, he was met by Rumil, who was adjusting a pair of gloves. "He still slumbers? Amidst this noise?"

"The power of youth," Celeborn returned, though he suspected that Harry was half faking it by now. "He will have to eat while we ride, unfortunately." That got a noise out of Harry. A noise of protest.

Rumil laughed and passed over a parcel of something, most likely the breakfast they had both missed in favor of sleeping in. Harry peeked open an eye before shooting out his hand and snatching it away from Celeborn.

Maintaining his position against the elder elf's chest, Harry pulled out some of the foodstuffs and started to munch away. Celeborn could only shake his head in amusement.

It took a little finagling, but Harry was eventually put onto the horse and Celeborn mounted behind him. The elfling offered bites of food to Celeborn as they rode, making sure both were fed enough-though Celeborn made sure to drink from the water skin on his own.

Before long they were settled down for another small night of rest. Harry was sitting between his new brothers, Rumil's hand in his lap so he could play with the callused fingers.

"You know, my hands used to be like this," Harry claimed, placing his much smaller hand on the larger one before him.

"Oh? Did you know combat?" Rumil curled his fingers up so that the bends met where Harry's fingers ended.

"In a way. I had wand calluses and broom calluses," He giggled, seeing the size difference between their hands. He used to do that with his great-great-grandkids when they were this size too. "So different, but the same."

"Broom? You cleaned?" Rumil's confusion was clear in his voice.

"Well, yes, I cleaned, but no, I flew on my broom." Harry looked up at his new brother, totally amused. "Alfy doesn't fly on a broom?"

Rumil laughed in delight. The thought of Gandalf flying on a broom was wonderfully ridiculous. Orophin, and those all eavesdropping nearby, all held in a snicker of laughter as well. "No, he does not partake in something like that."

"Huh…" mused the elfling, leaning against Rumil's side as his eyes drifted to the fire. "He probably wouldn't be a good flyer anyway."

The rest of their days passed in a similar manner until the entire group had gone through the whole forest and returned to Caras Galadhon. Once there, Harry got to meet three new elves!

"Oh shit," Harry said the second he laid eyes on the new elleth. "She's SUPER Pretty!" He was trying to speak sotto voce but since he was a child, he didn't really succeed.

Celeborn, who had been riding with Harry again, let out an undignified snort. "Yes, my granddaughter, Arwen, is … super pretty… as you put it."

Harry whipped his head around quickly, staring up at Celeborn with wide eyes. "Granddaughter!?" He actually squeaked, how cute.

"Yes. My daughter is her mother."

"I know what a granddaughter is!" Harry shoved Celeborn, but as they were still mounted, it did very little. Celeborn laughed as Harry slapped a hand against the ellon's chest. "I have so many granddaughters and great-granddaughters, I'd hope I know what they are!" Celeborn just laughed more, finally slipping from his horse and reaching his hands up for Harry.

Harry though snubbed Celeborn, crossing his arms and looking away.

Celeborn was having none of that and just pulled the elfling from the horse. Harry let out an indignant shout, arms and legs flailing.

"AHH HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TO ME PUT ME DOWN AAHHHH!"

Despite the part of him that really didn't want to, Celeborn set the elfling down as he requested. Harry stomped his foot and glared up at the ellon.

"Lord Celeborn. Who is this?" Arwen made her way over during Harry's tantrum, smiling beatifically at her grandfather.

"This is the newest elfling, Harry."

Arwen, having heard the news, was very happy to meet the little elfling. Arranging her skirts around herself, she knelt down to be on the same level as Harry.

"Mae govannen, Harry. It's great to finally meet you." Her smile lit up her face.

"Finally? People talked about me?" The anger and tantrum were left forgotten by this new information.

"Of course. I was the last elfling we had, and I'm already over 2700 years old."

Green eyes opened super wide and he glanced between Arwen and Celeborn. Then he remembered back to a conversation a few weeks ago and his mouth formed a little O of understanding. "Oh, right, elves live a super long time."

The elleth laughed gaily and brushed her fingers through Harry's hair like everyone seemed to love doing. "Yes, that we do." Arwen stood then, turning to Celeborn to speak with him about something.

Harry watched the conversation for a moment before wandering away, bored. There wasn't much he could do to help with the unpacking, though he did make sure to jump and grab his pack from the horse he'd shared with Celeborn. It had his stuffed animal in it, after all.

Once he had his toy, pack slung over his back, he trotted off from that staging area they had stopped in and went for a wander. He knew he would be safe, even if he wasn't in Caras Galadhon because he could feel the safety in the air. Or the magic, or the world. Or something.

Either way, the danger was gone, and Harry felt giddy.

A few more steps and he broke out into a run, throwing his arms out wide.

His joy spread to any within earshot, brightening their mood as well. Soon songs filled the air to reflect this new mood. While there was still some sorrow, some mourning, the battles had been fought and won. This was a time for cheer.

… … …

Harry's run was cut short when he ran into a pair of legs. Actually, he felt with his arms, two sets of legs. There was one set underneath each of his arms.

Tilting his head back, Harry made eye contact with what could only be a pair of twins.

"My, my, my, what do we have here?" the right twin said, dropping down into a crouch.

"I think we have found a little elfling, Brother," the left twin replied, dropping down as well.

Harry's eyes slowly went wide as his head twitched between the two.

"How adorable he is, with his hobbit hair," Right twin commented, ruffling Harry's curly locks.

"His skin is like that of a dolls," Left Twin added, giving Harry's left cheek a pinch.

The elfling was almost feeling overwhelmed but in a good way.

However, his small body couldn't express it right and his eyes began to well with tears.

"Oh no, brother dearest," Right Twin started, glancing to his brother and then back to Harry.

"Oh dear," Left Twin continued, reaching out with one arm, Right Twin adding his own, enveloping Harry in a hug. "It's all right, Harry. We did not mean to burden you."

"No," Harry hiccuped, rubbing his wet cheeks on the two shoulders in front of him. "You just. Remind me of family. From before." He wrapped his arms around the pair of necks on either side of him, returning the hug.

"What an honor," Right Twin said, resting his head against Harry's.

"To be reminded of family," Left Twin continued,

"-is of the highest honor..."

"-to those of us who find…"

"-family to be the most important thing."

Harry's body shook as he sobbed for a moment, but he was able to recover.

"Family IS the most important thing. But you're not my great-grandkids, nor my brothers in law. I won't compare you to them." The elfling leaned back so he could smile at the two before him. "What are your names?"

"I am Elladon," said Right Twin, "and this is my brother Elrohir. Mae govannen, Harry."

… … …

Harry spent the day with the twins. They were so reminiscent of Fred and George that at one point in his life, he might have tried to compare them to the Weasley twins. Of course, by 237, he had several sets of grandkids and great-grandkids, and great-great grandkids who were multiples that he knew comparing people to others-especially twins who are already so intrinsically linked to one another-just wasn't kind or fair!

That's why he made that comment. Elladan and Elrohir were their own people. They weren't the twins reincarnate, just like his grandkids hadn't been.

The familiarity of their personalities was nice though.

It didn't take Harry long at all to give them nicknames.

They had been given out during the dinner feast. Harry was standing on his chair, attempting to reach something that was near Elrohir, but the ellon was busy talking to the elf next to him that he didn't notice.

Finally, the elfling shouted, "RORY GIVE ME THE DAMN BREAD!"

The outburst silenced most nearby and Harry flushed at the attention. Hah, whoops. He was too old (or young) to really feel shame for what he'd done, so, now that he had Elrohir's attention, he asked again most calmly. "Rory. Bread. Please." And held out his hand, still standing on his seat.

Elladan, sitting next to Harry, started to snicker which caused a ripple effect at the rest of the table. Elrohir did finally hand over the bread though, so the elfling sat back down and munched on it.

"Say, dear elfling," Elladan began, putting an arm around the back of Harry's seat, "I had heard that you liked to give names to those close to you, but I never expected something like 'Rory' for my dearest brother."

Harry looked up at Elladan, all cuteness with his puffed cheeks and bread still in his mouth that he was gnawing on. He finished his bite and swallowed before speaking. "Well, what shall I call you?

"Can I call you El? Or maybe just Dan?" Harry tapped his chin, Elladan laughing along with Harry's contemplation, "How 'bout 'Laddy'? It sounds like, 'Here boy!'" Harry whistled and made a come-on motion, "'Come on Laddy!'" He started cackling after he said it, the nickname decided.

Though cackling from an elfling definitely sounded more like giggling.

They also didn't get it.

But they joined in with the laughter because it was contagious.

… … …

That night, in Harry's room, his new friends joined him in a quiet (ish?) evening with his brothers, all three of them, in tow.

He was currently sitting in Glorfindel's lap while he played a memory, hand-clapping type of game with Rumil while everyone else around him was reading or chatting quietly.

After Harry's third loss in a row, he flopped back, knocking his head into Glorfindel's solar plexus and causing the man to cough.

"Oops. Sorry Feeny," Harry rubbed his head against that broad chest as if that could make it better.

"Quite all right, brother," grunted Glorfindel.

Harry's eyes were glued to Glorfindel's face though. Then he turned around in that lap and slapped both of his hands against the ellon's cheeks.

The Golden Lord grunted again, staring back at the face of his brother. "Is there any reason you keep hurting me?"

"Maybe," replied Harry, releasing Glorfindel's face and repeating his motions with Rumil.

The conversation between Elladan and Orophin paused after Harry hopped down from his best and jumped into Orophin's lap to do the same thing to him. From there, Harry looked at Elladan and Elrohir and stated quite plainly, "What the fuck?"

Glorfindel let out the softest sigh, rubbing a finger against his temple. "Harry, my brother, we have spoken many a time about you using such language. It beneath you."

"Nonononooo…" Harry waved away his comment. As if he would stop swearing just because it was 'beneath' him. "No. No. Just. What is going on?"

"Begging your pardon?" Elrohir asked, looking around the room at all the elves present. "What do you speak of Harry?"

"Why do all elves have dark eyebrows? Even though Feeny, Rum-Rum, and Fin-Fin have super uber mega blond hair, their eyebrows are as dark as Rory, Laddy, and myself! At least I think I have dark eyebrows-QUICK, FIN-FIN WHAT COLOR ARE MY EYEBROWS?"

"... black," was the simple, slightly confused reply.

Harry let out a heavy sigh of relief and then returned to his prior topic. "Yeah, anyway, why do all elves have dark eyebrows? Shouldn't your eyebrows be as blond as your hair? Even Lassy had dark eyebrows… And…" right before Harry said the name, he couldn't stop a small sniffle, "Dir-dir did too."

There was a long pause, the elder ellon contemplating this new craziness that Harry brought, but it was broken when Harry gasped. "OH MY GOSH LADY GLADDY HAS DARK EYEBROWS TOO. DOES. … DOES." There was a moment where Harry stuttered, some name getting choked in his throat. "I gotta go." And he bolted from Orophin's lap and from the room.

"Did that really just happen?" Elladan asked, gesturing towards the open door where Harry had left.

Orophin, being the closest, gave Elladan a consoling pat on the shoulder. "'Tis something quite normal around our dear elfling. His prior life, before being brought to Arda, was that of a human. An excessively long-lived human, but still…"

The twins nodded in unison. That did explain some of the eccentricities they have observed so far from Harry.

"Anyway, shall we continue our conversation?"

"Lets."

After an hour, when Harry still hadn't returned, Glorfindel eased himself to his feet. "I suppose I shall go track down our wayward elfling… though there's no telling where he has gone this time..."

"Good luck!" the other ellons called after him, snickering behind his back. Mostly at the way the Golden Lord was being so thoroughly defeated by the new elfling.

Harry was eventually found in a tree, high from the ground, but near a window that Glorfindel recognized.

"So this is where you ran off too," Glorfindel murmured as he carried Harry back to his room.

"Feeny," Harry whined into Glorfindel's shoulder. The next word was mostly mumbled but then, "...has dark eyebrows too. It's so strange." And then Harry's body went fully limp as he dropped asleep.

The elf lord looked back in the direction they had come and then smiled gently.

"Yes, he does indeed have dark eyebrows. Good observation, brother."

Then Glorfindel continued on towards Harry's room.

… … ...

AN: To all the amazing guest reviews from the last chapter: Thank you. To the (woman? Possibly pregnant woman?) who wailed over Haldir? My job is complete.

(Sorry this took me so long to both write and post. I started writing this in April, I swear… but... Summers are absolutely killer in Korea, between the weather and traveling and summer camp and grades I have absolutely NOTHING to give. Once all of that was over, however, I started a new fic with kid!Harry lol)

Also, here is a rant that I sent to Scarletdewdrops:

LAST CHAPTER.

I GOOGLED ELVISH VS ELFISH

and I learned the answer and it pissed me off.

lol

Oh no. Elvish vs Elven vs Elfish.

But like. I learned the difference and I was like "should I go back through this entire 5k long chapter and FIX IT?"

and I started to.

Then I said

FUCK IT

and left it as is

lol