Chapter Two.

AN: This chapter takes place after 'Spectrum: Ninniach's Tale' Chapter Two by Myth Queen.

I followed at a distance as the elleth and the four mortals she was with walked towards the town. They entered the hospital and I frowned. Why would the strange elleth deliberately seek healing from Mortals? Surely she was aware that our existence was secret? I stood where I was for a moment, debating what to do. It was clear that the elleth mistrusted me, though I knew not why. My only guess could be that she had guessed my identity, and feared my reputation as a kinslayer. Perhaps, while she was in the Mortal hospital, I could approach her again, and try to convince her that I meant no harm. I doubted I would be believed, but the mortal world was a dangerous place for an elf. She should not be left alone. I made my way to the hospital's entrance, trying to work out what I would say to the Mortals who were employed here. I had only the elleth's physical description to go on, and it could well prove difficult to gain access to her.

When I was inside the hospital, I looked around cautiously. I was obviously in a receiving room, but I had no idea how to go about finding the elleth. I noted that other visitors seemed to be asking questions of those dressed in blue garb, so I approached one of them myself. She was not looking at me, instead reading something from a sheet of paper in front of her, so I cleared my throat. She glanced up, seemingly uninterested.

"May I help you?" Even her voice sounded out of sorts!

I smiled in an attempt to lighten her mood. It did not work. "I was wondering how I would go about finding someone who had just arrived. I do not often visit people in hospitals, but...someone who, er, concerns me, came in a few minutes ago." I had chosen my words carefully, not wanting to seem impolite, as that would not aid me in finding the elleth.

The mortal woman shrugged. "New arrivals are usually in A and E. Visiting hours for there are between four and seven. You'll have to come back later."

I stifled a groan, becoming agitated. "I understand that these are not normal visiting hours, m'lady, but it is vital that I find my kinswoman now!"

Too late, I realised that I had used my usual form of speech, which was not done nowadays. The woman was giving me a very strange look.

"What's your friend's name?" She asked, her eyes narrowing.

I ground my teeth together in frustration.

"I do not actually know her name, but she is around my age," well, that is how she would appear to mortals, I had no idea how old the elleth really was- "she has pale blonde hair, and was dressed in some old clothing of mine."

The woman had turned her eyes back to her paper as I spoke. "Doesn't ring a bell, sorry. Why don't you phone her or something?" Her voice was absent, and I knew she would be of no further help to me. Now what was I to do, explore the entire building? The idea was tiresome, yet I could not leave a child of the Firstborn in the hands of mortals. She came here willingly, my aggravating inner voice pointed out, why impose yourself on her if she does not want your aid? I kneaded my forehead, trying to silence my thoughts. Whether the young elleth wanted my aid or not, I could not leave her in mortal hands. Who knows what they might do to her once they discovered she was not human? Yet it appeared that I could not reach her to explain the danger she was in... I sighed, and went to sit down on a nearby chair, trying to think of what was best to do.

As I sat there, lost in thought, I noticed what seemed to be a dispute between one of the blue-garbed mortals, and one clad in formal black and white wear, which I believed Mortals call 'suits'.

"...telling you, the new patient is impossible to examine! She's somehow giving off surges of energy, and all our equipment overloads if we bring it anywhere near her!"

"I find that very hard to believe, Nurse Harman. Are you sure it isn't the equipment that's faulty?"

The nurse responded slowly, his expression seething. "With all due respect, Administrator, our equipment is fine. It was checked only yesterday. It's that white-haired girl that's causing the problem!"

I jumped at hearing what sounded like a description of the elleth, and twisted slightly in my seat, the better to hear the conversation. The irate nurse was still talking.

"We did manage to get one x-ray of her before the power blew," he was explaining, "but what we saw made no sense. Its as if she was giving off light! Everyone who handles any sort of energy source would carry traces of it on themselves, but the light of the sun isn't as bright as what I saw!" The Mortals were walking away from me now, so I did not hear any more of the conversation, but I scarcely noticed, rooted to my seat as I was.

The elleth...giving off traces of powerful energy...light brighter than the sun...

Memories of my recurring dream came back to me in a rush- the light of the silmaril, humans pursuing me...or pursuing it? I shivered, thinking of the implications. If I was right, as my heart forbode, and this mysterious elleth had somehow recovered the silmaril, her fear of me could easily be explained. Why would someone with knowledge of a silmaril want to be in the company of a Feanorian? She probably feared for her safety... I would do her no harm, however. I no longer desired the silmaril- the scars upon my right hand were deterrent enough to that idea. But if the silmaril was hidden on Happisbugh's shore, near to where I had discovered the elleth...

I rushed out of the hospital, trusting that the elleth would be safe enough there for the time being. The thrice-damned silmaril could not be left unattended! If it were to fall into mortal hands...best not to think about it, I told myself as I returned to the cave by the quickest route possible. I would search this area, and if I did not find it myself, I would return to the hospital, and question the elleth about where she had hidden it. Let her think of me what she would, she would have to understand that the silmaril was too valuable to fall into the hands of Men! I reached the cave, and began searching frantically, overturning rocks and digging into the sand. I could not believe the past would come back to torment me this way. Had I not suffered enough for my crimes?

To be continued...