First chapter is dedicated to Jessica Collares. Thanks for voting "Indlvarn", and I promise I'll be updating it Sunday! ;D

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Chapter I

31st Day of Fimmaðr (May) in the Year 7730 A.C.

"Leafë! Get down from there right now!"

"No!" a bell-like childish voice yelled back, still attempting to hide behind one of the thick branches of the Menoa Tree. "I won't go!"

Islanzadí's scowl deepened. "Your father will be extremely disappointed if you're not there to greet him at your own birth day celebration."

"Faði's going to be there?"

"Of course."

Suddenly a four-year-old stood before her, hair tangled with leaves as bright as both their eyes. "I want to see him!"

"Not like that, you won't," the älfa-kona proclaimed, bending down to pluck the debris from the young girl's silver strands. "Really, is this how a dröttningu behaves?"

"No, Mother. I'm sorry."

Staring down at Leafë, Islanzadí held back a sigh as picked her up. "Well, let's get you properly dressed."

"And then can I see Faði?"

"And then you can see Faði."

"Yay!" her daughter cried, wrapping skinny arms around her neck. "I love you, Móði!"

Her smile came easily as she tightened her hold on Leafë. "And I you."

Even through her excitement, Leafë remembered to return the nods from the other elves as Islanzadí carried her along the sunlit paths of Ellésmera. She didn't want her mother to change her mind about allowing her to see her father (though she knew that that would never happen, no matter how irritated the älfa-kona grew). Still, it had been over six months since she had last seen the king in person, when the war between the humans and the dwarves had finally ended. In that wake, a new human king had ascended to the throne who was more eager than his predecessor to claim land for his kingdom, and her father had left to deal with his encroachments onto elvish territory.

Her mother had scryed him for her at least twice a fortnight, but it was not the same as being with him in person. But finally the day had arrived - and on her own birth day!

She was too happy to scowl at having to don the fanciful lámarae gown her cousin Niduen had woven for her. Islanzadí had to keep reminding the girl to hold still so that she could lace the bows. Once the task had been completed, Leafë practically dragged her mother along as she raced through Tialdarí Hall to the main room where two silver-haired elves conversed quietly. "Faði!"

The one seated on the throne glanced up at her call, gleaming gold eyes widening in surprised delight as he laughed and leapt off the throne. She ran towards him and jumped into his outstretched arms, smiling widely as he spun her around and said, "Happy birth day, my dearest."

Islanzadí approached them, and he pulled away from their daughter only to kiss her and wrap his arm around her waist. His consort's lips tilted at the gesture as she rested her head on his shoulder and whispered, "I am glad to have you back, iet dunei."

Evandar hugged his family to him tighter, feeling the loneliness that had stayed with him ever since he'd left vanish completely for the first time since then. A polite cough reminded him of the lord's presence, and he turned to face his centuries-old friend. "Let us continue our conversation later, Däthedr-vor; now is the time for celebration!"

Lord Däthedr could not help but smile at the picture the family made. "Of course, my king. Should I prepare for a feast?"

"You know me too well, old friend. We shall dine outside among our people as we always do on this day."

"And shall I remind Dellanir Dröttine of this celebration?"

The king grimaced slightly. "No, no...I shall inform her."

His daughter squirmed in his grasp. "I wanna go get Grandmother!"

"This is why you are my dearest," he said thankfully, setting the young elf down so she could run off. Both Däthedr and Islanzadí shared a look, and he frowned. "What?"

It was always easy to track down her grandmother. The former queen only had two places she frequented besides her own room: the library, and the study. Since it was nearly sunset, Leafë headed off towards the former. She nodded to all she passed, who just grinned at the familiar sight of the princess streaking through the Hall.

She reached the doors to the library and pushed them open, inhaling the scent of dust and parchment that seemed to always fill the air. Her pointed ears picked up the sound of muttering, and she followed it to the source: several tall stacks of books and scrolls piled hazardously on top of one of the tables. "Grandmother?"

"Hmmm?" A head peeked out from behind the stacks - silver hair, topaz eyes, straight nose, brow softly lined from constant wrinkling. Indeed, it was wrinkled now at her. "What do you want?"

"Don't you remember what today is?"

"Wóden's Day."

"That's not what I meant!"

"The last day of Fimmaðr."

"Yes...and...?"

"Did you come all the way down here to ask me silly questions?" Dellanir asked crossly, disappearing from view once more as she returned to the scroll she'd been studying. "Because if so, you can kindly scurry off back from where you came."

"But Grandmother, it's my birth day!" Had she really forgotten?

"Is it? Then that explains why I have this." The former queen drew a silver case from behind a stack of books, her hardened mouth softening into a gentle smile at the girl's peal of laughter. "Happy birth day."

Leafë grabbed the present and quickly opened it to reveal a beautiful fairth of their family, including Niduen. "But I don't remember posing for this."

"That's because you didn't."

She looked up with sparkling green eyes. "Magic?"

"Yes, child," Dellanir answered, her smile widening at the wonder infused within the young elf's voice. "I'll teach it all to you one day."

"Unless I become a Rider; then Oromis Shur'tugal will teach me!"

The älfa-kona's smile faded at that name. "Bah! As if he'd make half a competent teacher as I would!"

Giggling, Leafë said guilelessly, "He and Glaedr Brunkuldr are coming to my feast tonight. You'll come to, right?"

"A feast? And have to face all those noisy children when I could be here studying? Perish the thought, child."

"Of course...Oromis-elda said as much."

"He did?" Dellanir gasped in outrage, snapping her book shut and standing to her feet. "Well, I'll prove him wrong, then. That old fool won't be laughing once I've shown up and had a few words with him! Come along then, Leafë. Wouldn't do for you to be late to your own feast - and I've got words to say!"

The girl giggled once more and flounced after her grandmother, eager to see where the night would lead.

She made sure to take the fairth with her.

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A/N: Sorry this is a day late - didn't get home yesterday until 12 THIS morning! But I should be good to go from here on: the heatwave has ended, which means I'll be at home rather than in my grandma's air-conditioned abode...I won't miss it there...not...one...bit. *tear* Anyhoo, at least at home I can use the computer, which means I can write! Hope you enjoyed this first part; be sure to tell me what y'all think in the comments below. And isn't little Leafë just adorable - adorably manipulative, that is. Ha ha, her grandma walked right into that one! (^_- )