Skittering Noise: *in the corner of Aredhel's bedroom*

Aredhel: What... do we have a mouse? *starts looking to the corner, peering in*

Ruby: o.o *two big eyes peer out*

Aredhel: *startled* Ah! Is... who are you?

Ruby: *darts into the shadows out of sight like a proper hobbit*

Aredhel: Don't worry, I won't hurt you... Please come out?

Ruby: *under the bed now!*

Maeglin: *waking up and makng noises*

Aredhel: *sighs and glances under the bed before picking Mae up* Hey, sweetie

Maeglin: hiii!

Aredhel: can you go potty by yourself, love?

Maeglin: yes!

Aredhel: Good boy. *kisses his head and sets him down*

Maeglin: *goes off to do his business*

Ruby: *hiding in some blankets that fell on the floor*

Aredhel: *looks under the bed again* hello?

Blanket: *shifts with Ruby's breath*

Aredhel: *carefully lifts the blanket*

Ruby: o.o *tries to run! Just a little above a foot tall*

Aredhel: *catches her, gently scooping her up to set on the bed* now now, dear, I won't hurt you!

Ruby: *weighs about four pounds and flaillng*

Aredhel: you're so tiny, my goodness! What is your name, sweetie?

Ruby: *stern look up at her* no, you're BIG

Aredhel: *laughs and settles on the bed too* My name is Aredhel.

Ruby: *scurries out of reach* Ruby Gardener. My daddy's the mayor and you better not kidnap me

Aredhel: I'm not kidnapping you! I'm not. You're in Gondolin. Do you know what Gondolin is, Ruby?

Ruby: Yeah! It's where King Aragorn lives!

Aredhel: *smiles* I'm not sure who King Aragorn is, but Gondolin is a small hidden city of elves

Ruby: oh

Ruby: then I don't know what Gondolin is

Aredhel: When did you get here?

Ruby: I'unno. *peers down the side of the bed, then scurries back*

Aredhel: *nods and glances at the table* Are you hungry, Ruby?

Ruby: ...YES

Aredhel: *brings over a plate of fruit and bread and cheese, setting it on the bed in front of Ruby*

Ruby: *sets upon it like the tiniest wolf*

Aredhel: *amused laugh as she watches* that hungry, hm?

Ruby: it's second breakfasts! I missed first breakfasts!

Aredhel: aww. What race are you, if I might ask?

Ruby: 'm a hobbit. *nom nom nom*

Aredhel: Oh. *pets her gently*

Ruby: *bats away the hand! Is eating here!*

Ruby: *tinier than even Maeglin was when he was born, so not a very good bat*

Aredhel: You're very cute, you know

Ruby: mama just says I'm noisy

Aredhel: *smiles* are you?

Ruby: yep! Gotta be!

Aredhel: why?

Ruby: 'cause I got eleven brothers and sisters! And more coming!

Aredhel: *smiles* So you have to compete for attention?

Ruby: gotta be noisiest. *firm*

Aredhel: *smiles and nods* My son is pretty noisy sometimes, too. But he's all by himself

Ruby: he's the big baby?

Aredhel: Mhm. My son, Maeglin

Ruby: he's BIG. Like you. *looks for more food*

Aredhel: still hungry? He's quite little as elves go. *brings her more food*

Ruby: *happily eating away*

Maeglin: *comes back* o.o DOLL

Aredhel: no, Mae, this is Ruby! She's a hobbit

Maeglin: doll! *tries to get at Ruby*

Ruby: *scream!*

Aredhel: *holds Mae back* she's not a doll, she''s a living being!

Maeglin: want to play with!

Ruby: *hiding under a pillow*

Aredhel: you're scaring her. She's too little to play with right now

Maeglin: *lip wobble*

Aredhel: *kisses his head* she's very small!

Maeglin: but wanna play

Ruby: *totally still and silent for safety*

Aredhel: but she's too little right now! Why don't you play with your toys, hm?

Maeglin: *sulks and goes to play with them sullenly*

Ruby: *pokes her head out*

Aredhel: it's okay, you can come out, Ruby. I think we'll need to find a new place for you to stay, but you're always welcome to come play here if you like

Ruby: where's my mommy and daddy?

Aredhel: ...I'm not sure, dear. If you want, I can help you look for them. We can ask at the red building, too

Ruby: kay *comes closer*

Aredhel: *lifts her up gently, petting her hair* We'll go now. Mae, come with us. *stands up, still holding Ruby and offers her hand to Mae*

Ruby: *clings tightly to Ar's dress*

Maeglin: *takes his mama's hand, eyes on the 'doll'*

Aredhel: *walks along, taking Ruby first to the red building to find out if others like her are in the city, holding Ruby close to her and squeezing Mae's hand* Good boy

Red Building: *confirms there are hobbits, but none are Ruby's parents*

Ruby: *ALARM*

Aredhel: *cuddles her gently* shh... I'm afraid your parents aren't in the city, dear. It's just you... But we'll take very good care of you

Ruby: o.o!

Maeglin: stay with us?

Ruby: D:

Aredhel: I think... perhaps you'd be happiest with my niece, Idril. She's very loving and playful. *cuddles Ruby still*

Ruby: kay. Is she big or little?

Aredhel: She's big like me.

Ruby: oh. Everything's too big!

Aredhel: I know, dear. It's a big person city... *pets gently*

Ruby: nooo D:

Aredhel: I'm sorry

Ruby: nooooo *flops over in utter hobbit despair*

Aredhel: would you like to meet Idril?

Ruby: *muffled* kay

Aredhel: *cuddles her and heads over to Idril's room, Mae in tow*

Ruby: *stares at all the big elf things*

Aredhel: *goes slow for her and finally knocks on Idril's door*

Idril: *answers with a smile* Auntie Ar and Mae! Come in, come in! Who's this?

Aredhel: This is Ruby. She's a hobbit and I only found her this morning in my rooms and she needs a home... Will you take her?

Idril: *peers carefully at Ruby* o.o so tiny and cute!

Ruby: ... *pokes Idril's nose*

Idril: *snickers and smiles at her* Hi there

Ruby: you're BIG

Idril: I am! and you're very small

Ruby: I'm normal-sized. *prim*

Idril: *laughs* Well. Small for elves

Ruby: *tries to grab Idril's pretty hair to get a better look at it*

Aredhel: *settles with Mae, he can play with Bainil if she's willing*

Idril: ack!

Ruby: my sister has hair like this!

Bainil: *sniffs Mae*

Idril: Oh? Blonde?

Ruby: everyone says she's really pretty

Maeglin: *pokes Bainil and giggles*

Idril: I think you're very pretty, too

Ruby: Thank you *solemn and keeps petting Idril's hair*

Idril: *smiles at her and lets her play* How old are you, Ruby?

Ruby: *holds up a hand* five

Idril: How precious! You're very sweet. *sets her down on the bed gently*

Ruby: Sweet?

Idril: Mhm. Adorable *smiles*

Ruby: lies. I'm a menace.

Idril: Is that so?

Ruby: that's what daddy says

Idril: *grins, conspiratorial look* My dad says the same thing. *winks*

Ruby: *kinship!*

Idril: *smiles* You must get into a lot of mischief, don't you!

Ruby: lots! *proud*

Idril: *grins* Tell me some stories!

Ruby: *ponders* I managed to steal all the cookies yesterday

Idril: *laughs* That's great! Dad used to find me in the kitchens stealing cookies, too

Ruby: cookies are great

Ruby: Really great

Ruby: *wistful sigh for cookies*

Idril: *eyedart* Would you like a cookie?

Ruby: YES

Idril: *grins and puts a cookie, very large for Ruby's size, on a plate and sets it before her* Here you are, kiddo

Ruby: O.O *starts breaking it to pieces so she can eat it*

Idril: What do you think? It's my favorite

Ruby: is very good *mouth full*

Idril: *laughs and takes a cookie to munch for herself* You're mischievous and adorable at the same time!

Ruby: *so full after all the food and flops onto her back*

Idril: *laughs and pets her gently, grinning over at her aunt*

Aredhel: *warm smile, yes, this is a good match*

Ruby: *snore*