A Human family find an orphaned infant Elf after a massive earthquake. Raising an Elf isn't easy, but they love the child as deeply as if the child were their own blood. -- The New Guy
Nino was eight before they learned that their name was not Poor Dear. They knew their story from before the time that they understood words.
Rennie and Mama found them crying by the road, the poor dear. Rennie scooped Nino up and Mama helped hir walk to the nearby Elf village that Nino probably came from. But there was nowhere left to look after them, the poor dear. What the earthquake didn't kill, the pestilence and bad gas did for the rest. Not a soul left alive, poor dear.
So Rennie and Mama took them in as one of their own. It was a sin, after all, to leave a baby to die. The poor dear was theirs now, as there was no other to care for the poor dear. All it took was a decent meal and a warm bed and a lot of love and little Nino flourished. Hale and hearty, as all can see.
At ten, Nino learned that Elves were not as fast as Humans, and would have to learn at their own speed. The lessons would continue, of course, because education was important.
At eighteen, Nino's body started to slow down. Close to looking adult, but nowhere near being one. It became the duty of Nino's Human siblings to be sure nobody took any advantages.
Elves are stunningly beautiful. Even a young one with their hair cut short to denote them as a child could turn any head. Yet they never tried to shame Nino for their allure. Rennie and Mama did their best, and everyone knew it.
Nino didn't like being in the village, where people stared. So they stayed in the little farm and made few friends. Poor dear. Nino remained a good child, and did their best to help around the farm all the same. They tried to learn to match their siblings, tried to match the race that Humans went through their lives.
Mama comforted them. "Don't hurt your heart, dear one. We love you all the same. You take your life at your own speed and let others do the same."
"It's getting hard," said Nino. "I can feel it getting harder. Some folk think I'm simple. And there's people who want to marry me and that other stuff."
"I'm sorry, my lovely," said Rennie. "We did what we could for you. And it's rough when you don't fit."
The Elves never came back to the village where they found Nino. So they went searching for other Elves. Love their Elven child though they did, they knew that Nino wouldn't fit. And because they loved Nino, they were willing to see them happy somewhere they belonged.
What surprised them is when they found the Elves, and they welcomed Nino into their throng. They also welcomed Rennie and Mama and all of Nino's brothers and sisters who wanted to stay.
Very much had changed since the last time Elves and Humans made contact.
[Photo by Iga Palacz on Unsplash]
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