A New Life

Glorfindel sat in silence long after the interrogation was over. He had seen the questioning, but something still nagged at him. He tried to remember, but drew a blank…he only knew that it was something so deep and dark and that it had to do with his former life in Gondolin.

As he reflected on this, he thanked the Valar that he at least had his voice back. In all the years that he had known Mithrandir, he had never seen him that angry or known him to cast a spell in ire. Giving in to his reflections, he realized that he did indeed deserve his punishment…his behavior towards Inaria wasn't something that he should be proud of. After seeing her earlier today, he realized that she really was still a child. He, a Lord of the House of Elrond, let his own anger get in the way of rational thoughts…but what was his anger from?

He thought back to the interrogation. Elrond and Mithrandir assured them that she was truthful in her responses, even to the point of her death, she remained sincere…and her death, that was puzzling. Why would anyone want to poison her in Imladris?

The Apothecary readily admitted to poisoning her…claiming that Sauron's minion didn't deserve to live…but this too, was disturbing. No elf, save for the kin slayers of old, willingly took the life of another elf. He was escorted to the guardhouse for later questioning as Elrond didn't accept his excuse either…

Looking down at Inaria in the oversized bed, he smiled briefly. She was a tall youngling, but she was still dwarfed in the massive bed. Her eyes were closed in a deep sleep…Elrond said that she would sleep for the night and perhaps part of the next day before she woke up. As he stared at her, he noted that she had very fine features – surprising for a peredhel. She retained the Elvish ears, but her musculature was more defined from that of the other ellyth he knew…he wasn't sure if it was from her training, or her human heritage.

The Apothecary sat in his cell and pondered his fate. The Master would be displeased that he was exposed so soon…but at least he had accomplished his mission and killed the whelp of Lo-Akirin. Her knowledge of the armies of Mordor and Sauron's offenses could be detrimental to the spread of Sauron's power over Middle Earth.

Just the fact that she had escaped Mordor was an insult too great to go unpunished. It showed a weakness that shouldn't have existed in the Dark Realm. From the time of Melkor, as he had been told, the area of Mordor and the great undercaverns were impenetrable. That this little elf could so easily run away was an indicator that their defenses had been slipping over the ages.

And Lo-Akirin. The Lord High General…he was compromised as well. The thought that he would assist his daughter in her escape was so elvish it wasn't even humorous. After the fall of Gondolin and the great battles of the First and Second ages, he would not have expected Lo-Akirin to fall to Elvish emotions and sentiments. He was the great betrayer…and yet he seemed to have a soft spot in his heart for his whelp…but that didn't matter now…surely he would have been put to death for his weakness.

Elrond didn't even have a clue as to the poison that he gave the whelp. It was easy to add in the death powder…it had no smell and the bitter taste was easily masked by the honey. The only hurdle was when she took the drink. She knew of the poison, having been trained to mine it from the dark tunnels…but not even she recognized the taste. He was thankful that it had worked quickly, despite the small dose he had given her… She gave up to her death before she could yield anything dangerous.

Death, Ah, Yes. Death. Smiling, the apothecary took a small parchment packet from the pocket of his robe and fingered it slowly. Carefully he turned it over and unwrapped the folds. He looked at the gray powder and contemplated his rewards versus the punishment that would undoubtedly be given to him when the Lords came to interrogate him. The Master had promised him a rebirth when the fall of Man came. He would be his high advisor.

In a swift motion, he brought the powder to his mouth and poured it onto his tongue…reveling in the acrid taste for a moment…and knowing that he would be rewarded for his faithfulness. Swallowing the poison, the apothecary smiled, then settled back on his bed and let the effects take him quickly. Let Elrond wonder…

Inaria slowly opened her eyes and looked about the great room. Things were different now…the light no longer hurt her eyes. She stopped when she saw the counselor sitting in the chair next to her bed. He was reading a book and glanced at her when she tried to sit up.

"You are awake, Little One. How are you feeling?"

"I am tired, but well. How long have I been sleeping?" she wondered aloud.

"It has been nearly two days now." he answered as he stood. Walking to the corner, he grasped a bell pull that would alert Elrond to his new ward's wakefulness.

Elrond walked into the Healing Room a few minutes later carrying a small tray. He nodded to Erestor, who made his exit, and moved to the bed where Inaria lay. Setting the tray on the small table, he turned towards his new foster daughter and took both of her hands in his. "How are you feeling, Inaria?" he asked quietly.

"I am well…just tired. Lord Erestor told me that I have been sleeping for two days."

"You have, indeed. Are you hungry?"

"A little…but my stomach still hurts some."

"Hmm. Are you having any cramping or experiencing nausea?" he asked as peered into her eyes and checked her skin color. He gently pressed her fingernails and noted that they held a bluish gray tinge for a bit longer than they should have.

"No, the pain is more like a dull burning…almost like I ate something that was too spicy."

Elrond nodded and stood up. "I am going to get you a syrup that will settle your stomach, and then you can try to sip some broth and eat some toast." He walked over to a cabinet and took a small bottle from one of the upper shelves. Returning to her bed, he gave her a large spoonful of the yellow liquid and smiled when she made a face.

As she ate, they chatted about small things. When he felt that she was ready, he slowly guided the conversation to her death experience. "Inaria, do you remember what happened to you when you were answering our questions?"

Meeting his gaze, she answered calmly, "I think that I died. I remember a terrible pain and feeling really afraid, then I spoke with…with…someone beautiful. He was so nice and he told me that I had been poisoned…Then he gave me a choice…I chose to come back here and live… when you told me I could be your daughter. Did you really mean it…do you really want me to be…?"

"Yes, iel-nin. I do want to be your Adar. You were totally innocent of any wrongdoing, and I want you to live the life that you should have been given so long ago. It won't be easy with twin brothers and it will take time for the elves to learn to trust you, but I promise you that you will be happy in my house, and you will find a life that you will enjoy. You will also be able to meet your older sister when she returns from visiting with her grandmother.

You met Manwe…the Lord of all the Valar. He gave you a great gift when he offered you your choice; mainly because he saw the innocence in your heart. He has given this choice to me and he will do so for my children, but he does not give this choice to all peredhel. I believe that he gives it only to those of my blood and only for the time that I am in Arda. After that they will either sail with me or become mortal. Inaria, you were not born as a daughter of my blood, but with your choice you became a daughter of my heart. I am very proud of you and am pleased to be your Adar."

She smiled at him and tried to find the right words to offer. Finding none, she just looked at him and told him, "I am happy to be your daughter…but I don't ever want to kill again. That part of me died when I did…"