Misadventure on the Walls



Year: 420 of the 1st Age; Gondolin, House of the Heavenly Arch

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An intimidating, black-haired elf sits on the dark blue, comfortable arm chair. The warm fire is blazing in the hearth and a large tome rests in his hands. Over the book, he raises an eyebrow at the only other person in the living room. 

The other, a silver haired child, is sprawled on his back, his toy horse in his hands. The soft rug softens the ground, but the child is still rolling back and forth. On his face rests an annoyed look. He suddenly drops the toy horse to the ground and a whine escapes his bow shaped lips.

The sound of a book closing is heard, and the older elf sets it down on the wooden table nearby. 

"Is all well, Ithilwe?" He asks and gazes at his young son.

Hearing his father speak, the young one flops around to face him. 

"Will Nana be home soon?" He asks with a pout on his face.

"Nay, she will be feasting with her friends for some time, remember?" At this comment, Ithilwe whines again and sighs.

"I am quite bored, Ada." The adult chuckles and retrieves his book once more from the small table. 

"Is that so?" He asks, laughter in his eyes. His eyes are trained on the page he had marked, but his ears listen as the the younger begins to speak once more.

"Aye Ada! I do not know what to do!" He says dramatically, before collapsing back onto the carpet again.

"Maybe it would do you well to get some fresh air. The wind is kind today and the sun is only just setting. Why do you not got down to the gardens and play? Hmm?" The adult gives the annoyed child a soft smile. At his words, they younger perks up with wide eyes.

"Truly? May I go play in the gardens?" Ithilwe asked excitedly, already clambering onto his feet.

"Aye, Ithilwe. But stay close to the building, the sun will be gone from the sky soon enough." 

"Of course Ada! I will be back in just as short time. Thank you!" The child practically flies from the rug he was sitting on. Before the other can say anything he is out the front door in a flash.                                              

The older elf just shakes his head and chuckles, before returning his gaze to the book.

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Once out in the gardens, the small Ithilwe plops down under a large maple tree. He watches the sun set over the towers, bathing the white marble in hues of gold and pink. His toy horse dances under his fingers and a song is hummed under his breath. 

A smile graces his lips and his eyes are furrowed in concentration as he plays.

"Onward Aegelir! You can outrun the....." He pauses when he notices a red butterfly fluttering around him. His eyes follow the colorful creature as it flies around his head. He giggles and sets down his toy horse.

"Greetings, little butterfly." He says and watches as it begins to wander away. A frown falls upon his face and he bounces onto his feet.

"But wait! I wish to play with you!" Ithilwe calls out after the small insect.

All but leaving his toy horse forgotten on the soft grass, he begins to follow the thing through the vast and colorful gardens, and eventually through the gates. 

Though he was still quite young, the sun had not yet completed its journey downwards. A child wandering the streets was seen often enough. The gaurds at the gate just gave the boy smiles and greetings as he dashed through the path, assured that he did not need sueprvision. He was known as a confident and mature elfling by those who were acquainted with his family.

"Pardon me" He calls back, though he is already half way down the street, the red butterfly just out of his grasp. His long silver hair flowed behind him and his white tunic flowed in the wind.

Small hands keep reaching forward, gently though, to try and cup the butterfly in their palms. The butterfly was swifter and more agile though and kept flying onwards. The pair weaved in and out of the citizens of Gondolin and through flower markets and side alleys, till the sun had finally gone down. The city was covered in a blanket of darkness, though Ithilwe did not seem to notice, as his focus was purely on the creature he was chasing.

Eventually, the butterfly stopped at the bottom of some wide, carved steps. It fluttered in the air for a moment, and Ithilwe halted in his steps, eyes wide on its large, red wings. 

"Shall you let me play with you now, red one?" The child questions, gasping for breath. His eyes are still bright and a pink tinge can be seen on his cheeks, from running so swiftly in the streets.

For a split second, the butterfly made a stop on Ithilwe's hand, but he was not quick enough to catch it, and it departs once more, this time in the directions of the stairs. 

Ithilwe sighs, pushing hair that had fallen into his eyes away, but follows the butterfly once more. Now, children are not always the most observant of creatures, and Ithilwe was absolutely no exception. More oft than not, he was lost in his head and distracted. So it was no wonder that the child did not realize he was currently climbing up the northern wall. Though how no guards seemed to catch wind of his presence is a whole other matter.

On and on the child ran, following his new friend, up countless steps and stories. Till they finally reached the top, a wide path going east and west. The child was still clueless of his whereabouts and only had eyes for the crimson butterfly. 

As the butterfly flitted northward across the wide span of the path to the ledge, where if one looked over, there would be a giant drop to the rocky expanse below, hundreds of feet away. 

Ithilwe frowned as the butterfly still escaped him and followed him up to the ledge. Unhearing, the child did not hear the several pairs of footsteps thundering towards him. Nor did he hear the shouts of 'Halt!" or "Stop, child!" coming from the owners of the footsteps. All that was on his mind was following the beautiful butterfly, though by now it had already flown past the edge of the wall.

Mindlessly, Ithilwe began to follow. But before he could take one more step, closer to danger, a pair of large arms wrapped around him and pulled him down quickly. 

Scared, Ithilwe yelped and began to struggle out of the arms, not knowing who it was. The arms tightened around him, though he was set back on his feet.

"Child! What in the Valar were you thinking! Do you not realize where you were going?" The guard who was holding onto spoke to him.

"Aye, you should not be up here, in the first place! We must find his parents, so they may punish him as they see fit." A second guard says, seemingly annoyed at the situation.

At the second guards words, Ithilwe began to sniffle, eyes watering and lips trembling. The brown haired guard holding him still, softened his touch and brought a hand up to rest on top of his small head. He gave the guard standing nearby an angry look.

"Silence, Laucanaro! The child is scared, can you not see through your eyes?" The kind guard turned back to Ithilwe, hushing him. "Shhh, little one. You are alright. I shall take you back home, hmmm? Can you tell me where you reside?"

Ithilwe, still shocked and a little scared of the two older elves, can barely stutter out a "H....heavenly Arch."

With a small hiccup and tears flowing from his eyes, he tries to stuff his fist in his mouth, to stop himself from the embarrassing actions. 

"Good, not too far. You must have had quite the adventure, little one. What ever brought you so far from home." He says before standing up, but keeping a hold of Ithilwe's small hand.

"I....I wanted the butterfly to .... to be my f....friend." He stutters out, still crying. "I am sorry.. I did not mean.... mean to..." He says, almost sobbing.

The guard walking him down the steps chuckles lightly at that. 

"Well I am sorry the butterfly ran from you. But this might be a lesson learned little one, to be more aware of your surroundings. Keep your eyes open and ears alert always, for there are many dangers in this world. Now, I am sure your parents are quite worried. Let us hurry back."

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