Fast Learners

by Donna and Abby

Aubrey Oberon, the son of Eva and Legolas, was maturing at the normal pace for an elf, but this was incredible to anyone who was not native to the land.  The fae also matured quickly, if they had little Human blood in them. 

So, like Glenn, Rhiannon and Diana, Aubrey matured three years for each month he lived.  That meant he was eleven by mid October, and ready to go to Hogwarts.  By Halloween he was nearly 13!

Angel was also that age. She was maturing fast, but not as fast as Aubrey. The half fae, half angel little red head was maturing at a rate of one year for every month that passed. She was there at the school for the fae/elf studies, like Aubrey was.

Which, of course, meant they knew each other from class.  At the Halloween party, it was almost natural that they should be drawn together.  After all, Angel might not be maturing at the same rate, but she had been witness to Glenn and the twins going through it, and she was not going to be at Hogwarts long thanks to her own maturing speed.

She was dressed in a white robe that seemed to glow when you looked at it, so she was easy to spot. Aubrey caught her attention, and she left her parent's side to go join him.

He was in green robes, which suited him.  He was thin, like his father, but did not look like he would be as tall, and he had long black hair, not the blonde of his sire.

"Hey, Aubrey, what's up?" she asked as she stepped up to his side. "Are your folks here too?"

"Nah. And be glad they didn't come.  If they came the rest of the elf bunch would come and . . ."  He rolled his eyes.  "Glad you're here though," he added shyly.

She smiled at him, and it was as if the room lit up around her, not to mention a warm fuzzy feeling washing over anyone nearby. The teachers assumed that that particular ability of hers was part of her angel heritage, but with the wide variety of fae magic in the world, they could not be sure.

Of course, she had until March to figure it out.  Aubrey had only just started two weeks before, and he would only be at Hogwarts until the end of the year, when he *turned* eighteen!  He had to learn quickly, which left little time to make friends.

Angel, being the friendly type, had been there for him ever since his arrival at the school.  "Are you going to go back to live with them after you graduate?" she asked.

"In Rivendell?" he asked.  "I wish!  I have to spend some time with the native elves.  Pegged to be the next king, damn it."  He looked absolutely pole-axed to be a prince!

She shook her head. "I will be spending time with Auntie Tess after I leave here," she said with a pained look. "She can be a bit.. a bit bossy, you know."

"I know," he smiled.  "I've met her. She sings good, though!" he brightened.  "By the way, thanks for, well, you know.  The other kids don't mean to be unfriendly, but one minute I am entering at eleven and the next week I am a year older!"

"Oh, that’s no problem. Glenn did that too. But now that he is all grown up, all he thinks about.. you know."

The elf prince flushed, his young face shiny with embarrassment.  "You guys don't . . . do you?"

Angel shrugged. "Not usually. But from what I understand, we can. Plus I'm half fae. So yes. We do."

"We're not supposed to, either.  But my folks did." He looked confused about that, and about the things his body was clearly trying to tell him.  "Do you dance?" he asked after a minute.

She tossed her red curls. "Of course! The Leprechauns taught me!" she giggled, taking his hand. "Let's give it a twirl!"

"You have to teach me," he said as she pulled him onto the dance floor, "but I am a fast learner!"

"Good thing," she giggled again. "You have to squeeze three years of learning into one month!"

"Comes with the territory," he said.  She showed him where to put his arms, and then they started to dance.  She was momentarily amazed at how light he was on his feet, then remembered he was an elf!  His father had once crossed over the top of a snow bank without sinking into it!  If there was one thing elves were, it was agile.

Of course, they were noticed. Andrew was standing off to the side, his arm around Shannon. "He's a good boy," he said softly.

"Confused and scared," said Shannon, "but noble of heart.  He will be a loyal friend. And who knows, maybe more?  They are not that far apart."

"Perhaps," Andrew said with a nod of his head. "But they both have a lot to learn about who and what they are before that time comes."