"Elvish"

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Interacting

Something froze. I don't know what it was, but something just froze as I processed the wizard's words. The elves shifted in confusion. Motion came fast. I got up and headed to the wizard. Lord Elrond shifted back and watched me. I stood small amongst the tall beings. Something flared in me like the fire I once observed. The wizard's brow furrowed at my stare. He turned to Lord Elrond and whispered into his pointed ear,

"My friend, I must ask you to meet me in your library. Your questions will be answered there, but for now, I must speak with her alone."

A pause stretched on until the elf lord spoke.

"Very well, everything is fine now, please, be on your way."

The elves dispersed, as well as their Lord, though with hesitancy. I continued to stare at the wizard. The wizard himself moved over to a nearby bench. I moved closer to my tree with the male still in my sights. He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye. I squinted at him.

"Come now, I'm sure you have a few questions. Bring forth your concerns, and I'll answer you to the best of my abilities."

I pursed my lips in contemplation without actually thinking about it. I feel I should ask the few questions I had, but I also feel wary. He did something. I just can't remember.

I sat down at the base of my tree, criss-cross-applesause style. I smoothed my squirt to fully cover my lap and legs. I looked back up as I slumped forward and rested forearms on my knees. I continued to stare at the old man. He eyed me in curiosity.

"Curious, you are a very particular spirit, miss. I have not ever seen or heard a spirit as quiet as you. May I inquire if that you cannot speak or are you just shy? Most would be asking questions or demanding me to leave them alone, but no, I can tell you are curious. Speak and I'll tell you what I can."

Gandalf's POV

After saying my words, I saw her shift to straighten her posture. Her empty shadowy blue eyes twinkled faintly with curiosity. Most spirits of Men would do anything to hold onto their previous lives or any way to feel alive again. That was why most spirits still had defining features in their pale forms. The small young woman before me seems to have given up on the notion of being alive-like a long time ago. She has been slowly disappearing since then.

I felt the air change as the young lady got up and headed my way. Another thing I noticed. She didn't flout or fly from what I have seen in her movements. She settled on the bench next to me with some space between us. Her form slowly sank through the wood. The small frown on her lips tells me she had noticed and tried to lift herself comfortably back on instead of in it. It seems she is a woman with small expressions of emotions. I turned to her completely when she started to stare at me unblinkingly. It was a slightly unnerving. Though, I do believe I have given the same look to many a fellow.

"There we are, are you comfortable? By your blink, I'll take that as a yes."

I caught a momentary twitch of her lips that slowly started into a smile. Another discovery, if her emotions are strong enough, she won't be able to suppress the urge of showing it. That may or may not be good, but her form is coming back into focus. She is starting to have her color back. Then she spoke. Her voice was low and monotone, but it held a glimmer of hope if I go by the way the air shifted subtlety again.

"Who are you? Do you know why I am still here?"

There is hope for her after all. She was chosen by the Valor to remain here for some reason, so I'll help her not disappear.

"Well, my name is Gandalf, Gandalf the Grey. I do however have other names, but I'll let you discover those on your own. As for your other question, I do not know, to be sure. At the present moment, I can tell you with surety, is that the Valor has a task for you. What it is, I do not know."

I heard her hum as she went back to staring at her tree. She got up and glided over to the tree. She lifted a hand to trace something over the bark. I followed her to see what it was. It was a word, carved into the bark, but it looked old. It seems to be Westron, but the normal marking around the letters are absent. I tried to speak the word and got a small reaction out of her. I heard her sigh.

"Sh-uh-nia-uh"

The word was foreign as she sounded it out. It could be what she called the tree or it could have another meaning. I sounded it out. She turned to look at me. Her young face lite softly with happiness. Right then, she reminded me of a happy child. In a way, she was.

"That is my name. I had forgotten it until moments ago. I believe I have always forgotten names. Mine was among them until now."

I looked at her surprised. Her name was a mystery to me since I know most of all the tongues Middle-Earth has ever developed, but to have forgotten her own name, it seems either her memory is bad or selective, or it had faded from her mind as time was spent around her. I decided to ask a question that most would deem insensitive by others, but I had a feeling she would not care.

"Tell me, Shania, were you from Middle-Earth when you died."

I saw her eyes fog, and her form waver. I shift my staff uneasily. She looked back at her tree. It seems she likes to stare at things. Quite an odd habit if I do say so myself. She looked back at me, and the emptiness of her gaze made me pause once again. They were voids that lack the life and care of any other mortal. She looked lost.

"I don't know. Most of all my memories of when I was alive are gone."

"Hm, you say "most." May I ask why?"

She turned away from me back to her name. I waited for her to answer patiently, even though I had a feeling she won't tell me anyways.

"No"

I wanted to sigh but held it in. She may keep it to herself for now since it doesn't feel to be a dangerous secret. I lifted myself from my seat. For now, I'll leave her be. I must meet with Elrond about this new predicament.