Marvel: Silver Hand

The morning air was crisp, the kind that nipped at your nose and cheeks but was softened by the golden rays of the sun. Snow Valley was quiet, save for the crunch of boots on icy pavement and the occasional chirp of birds. Alexander stood at the door, backpack slung over one shoulder, his breath puffing out in tiny clouds as he watched Clara lock the house behind them.

"You ready for your first day?" Clara asked, glancing at him with a smile.

"Yeah!" Alexander replied, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling in his chest.

Celebrimbor hovered silently in the background, his wraith form faintly visible in the morning light. He didn't share Alexander's enthusiasm. If anything, he seemed annoyed. Another school? More classrooms and noisy children? He sighed silently, his luminous form flickering with disdain. This again. Lovely.

Clara led Alexander to the car, her keys jangling as she unlocked the door. He climbed into the passenger seat, bouncing slightly as he adjusted his backpack. The drive to Snow Valley Middle School wasn't long, but it was enough time for Alexander's nerves to creep in.

"What if they don't like me?" he asked quietly, staring out the window.

Clara glanced at him briefly, her tone gentle. "They're going to love you, Alex. You're a great kid, and anyone would be lucky to be your friend."

The school loomed ahead, a modest brick building with kids spilling out of cars and buses. Clara pulled into the drop-off lane and parked.

"Alright, buddy," she said, reaching over to ruffle his hair. "Go knock 'em dead."

"Thanks, Aunt Clara," Alexander said, grinning.

He stepped out of the car, the cold biting at his cheeks as he slung his backpack over his shoulder. Clara waved to him before driving off, leaving him standing in front of the school's main doors.

Inside, he was greeted by the warm buzz of activity. The main office smelled faintly of coffee and paper, and the receptionist greeted him with a kind smile before calling the principal.

Mr. Harrington, the principal, was a tall, older man with a bald head and glasses perched on his nose. "Welcome, Alexander," he said with a warm handshake. "Let's get you to your class."

The classroom was alive with chatter when Alexander entered, Mr. Harrington guiding him to the front. The teacher, a younger woman with a kind face, paused mid-sentence to greet him.

"Class, we have a new student joining us today," she announced. "This is Alexander Athos. Why don't you tell us a little about yourself?"

Alexander froze for a moment, his cheeks heating up. "Uh… hi. My name's Alexander, but you can call me Alex. I like biking and reading comics. And… I guess that's it."

The class murmured polite greetings, and the teacher smiled. "Thank you, Alex. You can take a seat next to Sophie."

A girl with curly brown hair and bright green eyes waved him over, her smile wide and welcoming. He made his way to the empty desk beside her, grateful for the friendly face.

"I'm Sophie," she whispered as he sat down.

"Hi," he whispered back.

By lunchtime, Alexander and Sophie had already clicked. She introduced him to her group of friends, a mix of boys and girls who quickly accepted him into their fold. They laughed over silly jokes and traded bits of their lunches like they'd known each other forever.

Celebrimbor, who lingered invisibly nearby, watched with a mixture of curiosity and quiet approval. The boy had been through so much—seeing him laugh and connect with others was a small but significant victory.

The afternoon classes flew by, and before Alexander knew it, the final bell rang. He grabbed his things and headed outside, where Clara was waiting in the car.

"How was it?" she asked as he climbed in.

"It was good!" Alexander said, his face lighting up. "I made a friend—her name's Sophie—and she's really nice. She introduced me to her friends, and we sat together at lunch. Everyone was really cool."

Clara smiled, relief washing over her. "I'm so glad, Alex. I knew you'd do great."

Back home, Alexander followed the rhythm of his new routine. He showered to wash off the day, the warm water soothing the faint ache in his muscles. Afterward, he flopped onto the couch and turned on the TV, flipping through channels until he found something he liked.

Later that evening, he went to his mom's room. She was sitting up in bed, her face still heavily bandaged, but her eyes were softer now, less clouded with pain.

"Hi, Mom," Alexander said, sitting beside her.

She smiled weakly and took his hand, squeezing it gently. They didn't need to say much—just being together was enough.

That night, he curled up beside her, feeling the warmth of her presence. As he drifted off to sleep, his dreams carried him back to a time before the fire, before the loss. He saw his dad's smiling face, heard his laugh, and felt the safety of his family whole and unbroken.

In the corner of the room, Celebrimbor watched silently, his expression unreadable. He knew the road ahead would be long and fraught with challenges, but for now, Alexander had found a moment of peace. And for now, that was enough.