Helen Magnus (britishcharm) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-02-04 20:33:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, helen magnus, luthien tinuviel |
"Every child should be loved."
Who: Helen & Luthien
What: Random Encounters
When: Early February
Where: Around
Rating: Low
Status: Complete!
As much as she might have preferred staying holed up in the house with Alice and the "children," Helen needed air, space to clear her head. Not to mention there were errands demanding her attention that she had already ignored for too long. Perhaps the fresh air would do her good.
Prying Alice away from Finn with promises they would take him for a walk later, she found her keys and headed for her car.
Lúthien Tinúviel was humming to herself as she walked along a path in the park. It was a little piece of nature, and for a girl who'd grown up with a forest in her back yard, a little piece of home too.
They had a few stops yet to make, but the little one was getting restless. Helen had, perhaps, been clinging too tightly. They'd visited this particular park before, and Alice knew exactly where she wanted to go, taking off ahead and leaving Helen to chase after her.
A part of her was grateful the girl was coming out of her shell. A much larger part was still terrified of losing her.
When she finally caught her, she murmured a slightly breathless apology to the woman beside her before pulling the girl close with a lecture about taking off on her own.
The singer smiled and laughed, her voice musical. The child was adorable and her mother seemed sweet. "It's all right! We were all that age once." She knelt to greet Alice.
Alice beamed. She liked the nice woman with the pretty voice. Mainly because she seemed to be on her side.
Straightening, Helen smiled and offered her hand. “She should know better. Helen Magnus.”
“Lúthien Tinúviel,” She held out her hand to Alice first, then to Helen. “It’s my pleasure, really. I’m just enjoying a nice day, so it’s not as if you interrupted anything.”
“Someone was getting restless. I thought perhaps we’d do something she enjoyed before finishing our errands.”
“Running ‘round the park, then?” The singer straightened, favoring Helen with a dazzling smile.
“In a manner of speaking.” She glanced down, absently tucking a stray curl behind the girl’s ear. “Alice prefers to be outdoors.”
“What a coincidence, so do I!” She waved her arms around at the park. “I grew up with woods in my back yard.”
“I like to play with Finn,” Alice added simply, studying her curiously. “Do you have a dog?”
“Oh! No, I don’t have a dog. I’d love to have one, though. I’ve always been fond of big, shaggy ones. Wolfhounds too!”
“Mine’s little.” She bent slightly to demonstrate this, then proudly, “I picked him myself!”
Grinning, Lúthien clasped her hands together. "He sounds adorable! Those are the best puppies, the ones you pick yourself. Does he love you? I'll bet he loves you so much."
Alice nodded, smiling as she hugged Helen’s leg. She definitely liked the lady with the pretty voice.
Helen tilted her head with a faint smile. “I believe you’ve made a new friend.”
"Making friends is one of the best things in life! Right alongside singing, dancing and playing," she replied, her face filled with happiness.
Alice looked up pleadingly. “Can she come with us? Please?”
Crouching down to her level, Helen brushed the hair out of her eyes. “Darling, I’m certain she’s very busy.”
“I’m not busy at all, where are you going?” She smiled down at Alice, reassuringly.
“I thought we’d walk a little longer, maybe a stop at the swings. Lunch, perhaps?”
"I think I can go as far as the swings," she replied, nodding her head cheerfully. Just being around Alice reminded her of how she and her ex had discussed children. It wasn't a depressing thought at all.
Helen stood again, reaching for her daughter’s hand before she answered. “Thank you. I believe we both could use the company.”
Clasping her hands behind her back, the elf singer nodded her head. “I just don’t want to be a bother.”
"You aren't going to be a bother." Besides, she had a feeling Alice would be disappointed if she sent the woman away.
Falling into place, Lúthien smiled down at the child. "Do you like to sing, Alice?"
Alice thought about that for a minute, then shrugged. “Sometimes, I guess.”
"What's your favorite song?"
Another shrug.
"Communicative, isn't she," she joked, good naturedly.
“She’s still adjusting.”
“Adjusting?” Lúthien peered down at the girl, her expression still kind, but curious. “She just seems a little shy.
“She’s adopted,” Helen added softly, gently stroking the girl’s hair.
"I see. That's not so bad, it means you must love her extra much."
“I do. Very much.”
She swung her arms at her side as she walked. “Good. Every child should be loved.”
That earned a smile from Helen as Alice moved the tiniest bit closer to her side. "Do you have children of your own?"
“No, I don’t. Maybe some day.” Lúthien gave them both a smile. “It’s on the to-do list.”
"It's worth every moment."
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
"How do you feel about swings?" she asked lightly.
"They're my favorite!" Alice chimed in.
“I look forward to the swings,” she said to Alice, in a stage whisper.
That earned her an even bigger smile. "Are you going to swing with me?"
“I will!” Lúthien smiled at her. “We’ll see who can go higher!”
“Not too high,” Helen warned gently. But it was good to see the girl smiling. Perhaps she had been smothering her.
“Just high enough,” The woman promised.
Alice nodded her agreement, looking up at Helen pleadingly.
“I’m certain you’ll both be very careful.”
“I promise.” Lúthien smiled at Alice, and when Helen wasn’t looking, held up her crossed fingers and winked.
Helen fell quiet again until the swings came into view. And this time, she let Alice run ahead, though she watched her carefully.
“She’s beautiful. I think you’re doing wonderfully with her.” Lúthien turned to look at Helen.
“I appreciate that. Truly.”
Winking at her, the woman ran to catch up to Alice. She laughed, the sort of laugh of one who was used to laughing, and singing. She plopped down onto a swing and started to push herself, trying to catch up to Alice.