Chapter 8: Hidden truths

CeKay returned to the camp of Fingolfin in a haste and she was quickly brought to Fingolfin. He wanted to know what she had seen and done since she had been gone for months and she told him a lot, but not everything. Some things she had to keep to herself, even if it did hurt her. She wanted to help, to avoid further bloodshed but knew she couldn't say anything, unless she changed the very fabric of the future.

There had been plans made while she was away and one of the sons of Fingolfin's brother was going to travel south to Doriath to see if they could somehow forge a union with the sindar elves. By now Fingolfin had been crowned high king and it seemed as if the feud between the houses had been if not erased the at least toned down. CeKay doubted that the majority of the Fëanorions and their followers did approve but they didn't protest. CeKay felt that her duty now would be to follow Angrod to Doriath, there were things she had seen of which she needed greater clarity and she was curious too.

Angrod would travel with just some servants, his sister Artanis and friends and the group wasn't large, they were a wee bit nervous around her at first but when they did realize that she was alright and not that scary they sort of relaxed around her and acted more naturally. CeKay also wanted to travel south of a different reason, it was less likely that Morgoth could sense her when she was behind this strange protective barrier of the maia Melian. She had time to think as they rode across the plains towards the huge forest area, she had realized something about the whole situation she was rather sure none other had. Fëanor had sworn the oath to avenge his father, and to bring his jewels back. They were precious to him, and his sons would stay true to the oath because he was their father but she doubted that they at all knew what the silmarils were. She had felt them while she was in Angband and they were nothing like anything she had ever encountered before.

She started to suspect that Morgoth had coveted them simply because they were made from light, something he couldn't truly create. Fëanor had been gifted with the ability to create and to an even higher degree than Morgoth himself and the vala had to have been rather jealous. But even Morgoth hadn't known what the Silmarils were deep within, oh they had burned his hands but she knew that they could have destroyed him if they had wanted to. They had hidden their true power, their true strength and she wondered if they in fact were the seeds of something way greater than what their own creator had thought. Had he in fact been touched by divine inspiration when he made them? They said the Silmarils made people mad and she believed those words, they were simply too much, too strong. They were not of this world, born from it and yet not a part of it. Just like herself. In some way they were like her siblings, born not from the same mind and hands but similar. Her creator had been so much like Fëanor in many ways and she was sure he would have liked the elf had they met.

On the way they did encounter orcs and other foul beasts but CeKay sensed them from afar and managed to kill them all. She left nothing behind except dead bodies and they travelled fast to avoid detection. The landscape changed, the rather barren land of Hitlum gave way to forests and rolling hills and it got warmer and more fertile. CeKay stored everything she saw in her memory bank and she enjoyed everything she saw.

As they got closer to Menegroth CeKay could sense a new presence, one strong and firm and yet benign. Angrod was eager, and she knew that his somewhat naïve personality could be viewed by many as a sign of weakness. But he was smart and patient and CeKay knew that this sort of youthful enthusiasm by many would be regarded as charming. It could be a good thing. They were met by the borders of the realm by many guards and CeKay made sure that her appearance was so normal nobody would feel intimidated by her. Angrod was glad his sister had joined them at the last moment and she was regarded as one of the most fair of her race and CeKay knew it was a smart move to bring a female along. That spoke of peaceful intent.

At first the guards were reluctant to bring them into the kingdom but then a messenger arrived and gave the permission and the group was taken to the capital, the thousand caves.

CeKay had seen many impressive structures in her existence, but nothing like that. The caves were indeed grand and beautiful and she learned that they had been dug by both elves and dwarves. She hadn't met any dwarves yet and started to get very curious about this race.

But first things first, they were all brought to the king and his queen and CeKay was even more impressed now. The throne room of Doriath was created in such a manner that the two rulers seated at the dais at the end of it did look even more majestic than what they would otherwise. The roof and the dimensions of the room were slightly warped and it made it look as if they both were giants. It was a very nice little trick and CeKay felt the confidence and power from these two as something almost tangible. Thingol was indeed tall, taller than anyone else she had met so far and very beautiful with long silvery grey hair and blue eyes, he did give a somewhat cold impression though. She saw that Melian appeared to be a more gentle personality but she did suspect that the maia was hiding her full power most of the time. The elves there were sindar and nandor in origin and most were either tall and blonde or a bit shorter and darker of colouring but there were also some rather dark sindar there and CeKay realized that the elves were pretty diverse after all.

She stayed behind, among the servants who had followed Angrod and his sister and she used her eyes well. Some there were curious about these noldorin elves, others were watching them with a sense of slight hostility. There were a few indifferent faces as well, and some did look as if they found the appearance of these noldor amusing. CeKay could understand it, after the journey across the ice the noldor didn't have much when it came to finery. The sons of Fëanor did have some nice stuff but not much and Angrod was wearing his best robes but they were plain compared with those of this court. CeKay did see jewels everywhere, and beautiful fabrics, robes which were extremely intricate in design and she realized that this culture was just as advanced as that of the noldor, if not more. It was just different. The warriors did wear leather and green cloth and they did look way more wild and ruthless than the noldorin fighters. CeKay also suspected that they were way better too. These elves had never left middle earth, they had fought every day of their lives and they didn't take anything for granted. Being suspicious and alert was the key to survival and she doubted that they would just accept the noldor without asking a lot of questions.

Angrod had made an agreement with his brothers and the other noldor that nobody was to say anything about the kinslayings and CeKay felt that her programs did respond rather violently to that suggestion. She had heard of those horrible deeds and knew that it would turn everybody there against them within the blink of an eye and yet she didn't like dishonesty. But she had yet to learn of the details of these events and she stored everything she had heard for later.

She saw that Angrod was being welcomed whole heartedly and he and his sister sat by the two rulers for a while, explaining what had happened and why they were there. CeKay used the time to study those around them, a bard of some sort sat not far from the throne with an instrument in his lap and he appeared to be bored but she could see that he was listening the whole time. A very tall silvery haired male stood behind the throne with a dark haired guard who looked as if he could snap an orc in half with his bare hands. The silvery haired one was throwing some glances as Angrod's sister and he did look a bit stunned. Another tall blonde sinda was obviously discussing something with some slightly smaller elves and a pretty female stood by his side, she appeared to be very taken by every word he was saying. CeKay sensed that this was a very complex society, with rules and laws and alliances and she had no idea of how many elves there were in the city. But it was many, and she was a bit scared when she thought of what their enemy could to if he managed to attack here.

She and the other servants were showed to some simple and yet nice rooms and CeKay smiled to herself, she didn't need to sleep but she guessed that she ought to act as if she was flesh and blood, at least for now. Afterwards they were taken to a dining room and she found that the food there was rather nice and mostly based upon plants and herbs and nuts and such. There wasn't much meat to be found. She knew that Melian had noticed her, that the maia already knew that this female wasn't an elf at all and she wasn't surprised at all when a messenger came for her, telling her that the queen wanted to speak to her.

CeKay followed the elf through many winding corridors and halls and the beauty of this place was overwhelming in many ways. It seemed like a paradise but CeKay did know that every paradise has its own dirty secrets and dangers. Melian was waiting for her in a garden located somewhere near the middle of the city, it was lovely and filled with plants and birds and CeKay did see that the servant left them. They were alone and the tall maia smiled at her and cocked her head, there was a distant expression within the shiny grey eyes and CeKay did see that Melian almost could be taken for a very beautiful elleth but only almost. She was tall and slender and she was glowing slightly.

She sat down in a couch and gestured for CeKay to join her, CeKay did sit down but she felt a bit uncertain. She could feel the power of the maia as something almost tangible, it made the air shiver and almost buzz around her and she had a hard time accepting that this creature would be unable to avoid some of the things she had seen. Melian sighed and her face was filled with melancholy. "You are not of our kind, not born of the allfather and yet I could feel you when you entered our realm, like I would see a huge beacon, brightly burning. You do know don't you?"

The last words were not as much a question as a statement and CeKay nodded hesitantly. "I do, yes"

Melian took a deep breath. "Then do not think badly of me, or think me weak for wanting some happiness, some joy. What I have makes it all worthwhile, even if it has to end someday."

CeKay tried to smile, to be honest she had problems understanding but then again, she wasn't like these beings when it came to emotions. Sometimes she had envied them this gift but now she felt as if she was the lucky one. Her feelings were fleeting and shallow and never left a scar of any kind, they were just ghost programming, made to help her understand but not to affect her logic. "I do not think you are weak my lady, you are very strong"

Melian pulled her rich dark blue robe tighter around her body and looked down. "Not strong enough to change the course of the song, to change the destinies of others. Not even my own"

CeKay had seen it all within the vision the gardener had given her. "Acceptance is strength my lady, the silent adamant type"

Melian had to grin. "Ah, maybe, but you are here to watch it all unfold, to preserve the past for those yet born. You are here to bring our story into a future so far away even I cannot fathom it, and share it with souls yet unborn, souls of a different world all together"

CeKay had to frown. "You…are right my lady, that too is my task."

Melian reached out and touched one of the flowers which hung from the ceiling, it was very delicate and beautiful but it would last only for a few hours naturally. "See this? It has bloomed now for many days, and I have preserved it so that its beauty may be appreciated by many. It is not the way nature would have wanted it, and that is the nature of this realm. We are creating an oasis of peace, a realm of tranquillity among the chaos and havoc of this land and no matter how hard we fight we cannot hide from the truth. The world out there is lethal, and our enemy is the cause of this."

CeKay tilted her head. "There would be danger even without him I am sure"

Melian nodded. "Yes, natural danger, the type which befalls us all, mortal or immortal alike. But Melkor, oh his dark sins and desires run so deep, affect so much. "

CeKay squinted. "You knew him?"

Melian nodded. "We all did, he was brother to Manwë and the most powerful of us all and yet he had weakness, and with weakness comes desperation of the deeper and more hidden kind"

CeKay had a stiff grin on her face. "He didn't like being weak?"

Melian leaned her head back against the back of the couch, she was a sensual and elegant being and CeKay could very well understand how the king had come to love her. "You can say that again, he hated it. He hated limitations of all sorts, even those within himself. I think that Eru wanted him to evolve, to learn how to see beyond those bonds and find new and better ways but he didn't want to. He didn't want to change his mind, to think anew, to challenge his views. And thus did he fall"

CeKay had sensed all of that while she was in Angband and she knew that Melian's words did back up what the gardener had said. "He isn't alone"

Melian nodded. "No, he isn't, Heed my words, you already know this but his most faithful servant will one day rise to become as bad as he is, maybe not as powerful but more deceitful, more cunning. Melkor is not without the skill of seduction, of deceit. He will use it many times but his lieutenant is way worse for he is more patient, and less rigid in his ways"

CeKay made a grimace. "I have seen him, I know."

Melian sighed and turned her head around. "Greatness can grow from a single seed, even one seemingly fragile. My kin will live on, as will my blood. Do keep an eye on them for me? The darkness which will come does frighten even me"

CeKay nodded slowly and Melian closed her eyes. "There are yet things I haven't seen, things I don't know. They are keeping secrets from us, the newcomers. If I told you to speak up would you do it?"

CeKay shook her head. "No, I cannot. Not that I don't want to, I simply cannot change history."

Melian smiled slowly. "I see, it will be as it must then, for better and for worse."

Melian rose and her gaze was once more distant. "You will stay here for a while?"

CeKay nodded. "Yes, to learn of the history of this realm. There is much I don't know"

Melian smiled gently. "Then do explore, you have my blessing."

CeKay nodded her head and felt strangely relieved. She was glad Melian had welcomed her thus, doing anything good without her blessing would have been hard if not impossible. CeKay returned to the others and found that Angrod had been in a meeting with Thingol, apparently the king was willing to let the noldor keep the area where they had arrived and settled down but negotiations had to be made first. She suspected that those negotiations would be long and hard and not at all easy on the young noldo. His sister sat there by his side and she looked halfway bored and half fascinated. CeKay knew that she was ambitious, and that she had great hopes and plans for herself. Some of those dreams could perhaps come true, although maybe not the way she would have hoped in the first place.

CeKay took off again, trying to familiarize herself with the place, she wouldn't get lost for her programming prevented that but it was a maze and someone not familiar with the place could quickly lose their way. Since she was dressed as a servant nobody seemed to notice her and she found the stables and the kitchens and the rooms where injuries were treated. It was all very elegant and the decorations lovely and yet it was primitive in a manner she hadn't met before she came to this world. She remembered the huge stations hung above the rich and well developed planets belonging to the most advanced races. There even the most foul of injuries could be healed, lost limbs restored and lives pulled back from the very brink of death. She knew that it had made many reckless, almost careless. She had realized that elves are less prone to suffer from infections than humans and yet injury meant pain and a long recovery. These were not reckless beings, their lives could get lost and she was truly thinking about the mystery of the soul and its properties when she entered one of the dining halls.

She did immediately notice some short and stocky looking beings sitting by one of the tables and she realized that these were dwarves. Her curiosity peaked and she saw that they were very different from the elves in almost every way. They were hairy and their features rough and also their clothing were of a different design. CeKay had heard that dwarves were master smiths, and very good at finding precious metals and gems within the very earth itself, that told her they had to be rather advanced in some manners. Their methods could perhaps be seen as primitive but the principles for forging were the same no matter where you are. She counted ten dwarves there, some were dark while others were blonde and a couple were obviously old and their hair and beard white. Right now they were eating and drinking and their table manners were interesting to say the least. She had never seen such use of food as projectiles before and a couple of elven servants stood behind a pillar at the back of the room and looked shocked to say the least.

CeKay saw that the dwarves were drinking some sort of dark brown liquid with a very pungent smell and she analysed the scent swiftly, it was very strong and she had to grin, they were obviously fond of alcohol but not very sensitive to it. The loud voices and constant belching was not because of intoxication but just a part of how they were and she did see that the metal objects they wore and carried were quite elaborate. The jewellery was lovely but it had a very geometrical design and it looked a bit rigid in lack of better words. The elven jewellery was always flowing and elegant and very natural in style. She was fascinated by the difference and she wondered about the culture of these creatures yet again.

The noldor she had been with until now hadn't even met dwarves and the other elves hadn't spoken that much of the stocky people. She sat down by a bench and pretended to be just relaxing and she listened to the conversation. Most of it was in the common tongue most used but some also spoke in what had to be their own language and it was very complex and odd. CeKay let her translation programs go to work with what she heard and to her astonishment they struggled. The language was a very difficult one and she had to think of other languages which had caused problems. The race inhabiting the Kohshraa system had used a language which consisted of not only sound but also subtle changes in body colouring as well as gestures and just a minor change could change the meaning of it completely. The first who made contact with that race had struggled, a lot! And the Uchai of the Bothru quadrant had used a language based upon smell! That had been a huge obstacle to overcome, in special since that race didn't have eyes and had no concept of sight.

These dwarves ignored the elves present and they appeared to be having a good time, CeKay would have wanted to get in contact with them but she had no idea of how. She was afraid of making some sort of mistake and so she decided that she would need some help. She had to find someone who could tell her more and help her avoid crossing any lines or making insults. She got up and left the room, she had yet to speak with any of the citizens of this realm and she was still dressed as a servant. She wondered how they would respond to her true position and her hidden nature but she would prefer to keep that a secret, at least for now. She walked back to the main halls and saw that some of the elves who had followed Angrod had gathered and they were speaking to some locals. She walked over casually, tried to look as non threatening and ordinary as possible and she saw that they did speak to the tall silvery blond male she had seen earlier and he seemed to be explaining things to them.

She whispered to one of the others. "Who is he?"

The elf barely turned his head. "Celeborn, nephew of the king. He is the son of Thingol's brother"

CeKay stared at the tall ellon, she knew already that he would be important and she was in fact slightly impressed by him. He did look very much like someone who was both brave and intelligent and he was explaining the rules of the city to the newcomers. Apparently there were things you had to be aware of, the gates would be closed every night just in case and everybody had to make themselves useful. You couldn't just stay there without pulling your weight and CeKay already knew what she wanted to do. If she was to befriend the dwarves her skills and knowledge about metallurgy would be very valuable. The other male she had noticed came walking, he was alone now and she could see that these two had to be relatives, they were rather alike but the other elf was a wee bit taller and more stocky. The servant whispered to her again. "That is Oropher, he is the son of a sister of the king who perished many years ago. He is married and has a very young son"

CeKay nodded slightly and tried to listen to the things Celeborn was telling, she saw that the servants did pay attention to him and he did have a natural authority and as the kings nephew he probably had some power too. Celeborn ended his speech and left and CeKay felt a bit uncertain of what to do. Angrod was busy in meetings and she guessed that his sister was there too. She did decide to go for a walk towards the gardens and she started to realize that there were a huge number of elves there, many more than she had guessed at first. It was a vast city and she understood why people had to work. She was admiring a huge fountain made from one single block of marble when she heard someone coming up towards her from behind, she didn't reveal that she could hear the person, she just stood there staring at the carvings. Someone cleared their voice and she pretended to jump slightly before she turned around. It was one of the guards she had seen in the throne room, a very tall strong looking elf with blonde hair and a rather piercing gaze. CeKay held her eyes low, she didn't want to provoke anyone and she knew that she would have to stay humble to be allowed to stay there. Melian was perhaps the queen but CeKay knew that it meant little if the people of the city disliked her for some reason. The elf cocked his head. "You are wearing a noldo servant's uniform yet you are no servant."

CeKay had to grin a little. "You are observant my lord"

He sort of scoffed. "I am no lord, just a commoner, but you are most uncommon"

She turned fully towards him. "What makes you say that?"

He seemed to study her. "You are not of our kin, there is something very strange about you, and I can almost see it. Our queen did welcome you so you are no threat but I want to know more!"

She frowned. "Why?"

He leaned against the wall. "For it is my job to make sure that everybody here is safe. You are a potential danger until I know more, so I want to figure out who you really are. You are no noldo"

CeKay sighed, a very dedicated guard then. "You are right, I am no noldo."

He frowned. "Melian have met with you, in private. Are you a maia?"

CeKay shook her head. "No, but you may compare me with one"

He looked intrigued. "Then tell me, are the rumours true?"

CeKay frowned yet again. "What rumours?! There are plenty of those being tossed around so you will have to specify them a bit"

He leaned forth a bit. "Cirdan was here, and he said that the noldor who arrived at Losgar had committed atrocious crimes before they left the sacred land"

CeKay moaned inwards, she made a grimace. "I have no idea of whether or not this is true, for I wasn't here then"

He looked confused. "Wasn't here?"

She nodded with a curt little smile. "Yes, I hadn't entered your world then"

He wetted his lips. "Then you are of Eru indeed. Have you come to aid us against the enemy?"

She shrugged. "Maybe, I have already seen what he can do so I will do whatever I can but my powers are limited and I cannot tell you more. Not without putting the very future in jeopardy."

The elf was studying her, the clear eyes were almost scary in a way and she knew that he was a skilled hunter and that he also could kill. She saw it in his gaze, he wouldn't back away from anything to keep his realm and people safe. It would be needed. "You are an enigma my lady, what is your name?"

She smiled swiftly. "I am CeKay, just that"

He looked a bit confused. "Is that a name? It is odd"

She had to smile wider. "As is its owner. And you are?"

He bowed his head. "I am Beleg, a marchwarden of Menegroth"

She already knew that this meant that he was a very good warrior and very dedicated to his duty but she had sort of figured that out already. "Pleased to meet you Beleg."

He made a sort of smile. "You plan on staying here? Why?"

She sighed and crossed her arms. "To learn, and possibly teach too. I wish to get to know everything I can regarding both your people and that of the dwarves"

He made a coughing sound and she stared at him, innocently. "Did I say anything wrong?"

He shook his head and there was a faint blush on his cheeks. "No, it is just that…well"

She tilted her head, arms still crossed. "What? Do speak out"

He sighed. "Most of us are not very interested in the dwarves, they are useful trading partners but few does bother with their culture and their history. They weren't even a part of the song at first"

CeKay had to enter her memory bank and realized that yes, he was right about that. "The vala Aüle did create them right, because of his impatience"

Beleg stared at her. "You know so little and yet so much, I cannot completely figure you out"

CeKay stared at him. "Know what, I offer you a deal, here and now. You tell me what I need to know about the dwarves, and I tell you what you want to know about me, at least the things I can tell you"

He looked eager all of a sudden. "Really? Well, I agree. What do you want to know of the khazad?"

CeKay gestured towards some benches. "Everything! So how about you start with their everyday lives, the most well known facts about them?"

He had to grin and she did see that he was charming too, when he tried to push his warrior personality aside. They went over to the bench and sat down, CeKay smiled and raised an eyebrow and he made a grimace and sort of winced. "Ah, one of the most usual misconceptions about dwarves is that they are all male and are born out of the rock itself"

CeKay tilted her head. "That would be impossible, no living being does reproduce thus"

He nodded and leaned back, looking a bit more relaxed. "That is right, the dwarves does have females of course but they are so few and so precious to them they are guarded and rarely leave their homes"

CeKay frowned. "How few are we talking about?"

She knew that a race with a very low birth rate was a vulnerable one, in special if the offspring needed many years to grow into adulthood. Beleg shrugged. "Some say that only a third or a fourth of their population are females. And yes, they do have beards but not as large as the males, and they dress very differently too"

CeKay had to grin. "They don't look as masculine then?"

He shook his head vigorously. "No, they wear dresses and lots of jewellery and the young ones can be rather pretty. But they are capable fighters if need be, the dams are no fragile flowers"

CeKay stored the information, it could come in handy later on. She looked at him again. "Are they separated into tribes or clans or something like that?"

Beleg nodded. "Yes, seven, after the first fathers. The most prestigious one are of course the line of Durin but the others do have power too. Dwarves do cooperate well, even when they come from different families."

CeKay nodded slowly. "A tightly knit community?"

Beleg smiled. "One can say that, with great respect for their elders"

CeKay turned her head. "They are excellent miners, what sort of metals are they digging for?"

He started telling her of different gems and Mithril and CeKay compared this information with the things she had seen earlier, she started to realize how much of the problems would be brought forth. Dwarves does have an innate love for everything of the earth, and to them all gems are of the earth. It was rather tragic really, when thinking of it. She listened while Beleg told her of the past meetings with this race, of the cooperation which had been necessary to build this city and she knew that this race was very powerful in its own way. Apparently dwarves were hardy and tough and capable of surviving almost anything. She had to giggle and he stared at her, puzzled. "What?"

CeKay shrugged, having to force herself not to laugh. "Oh, just a memory, of a different world than this."

He looked a bit as if he was in disbelief" Another world? One with dwarves?"

She shook her head, chuckling still. "No, not with dwarves but with something very different. Some sort of very large beings who ate rock, and people would collect their crap for gems and precious metals would be expelled from their bodies instead of being digested"

He just gaped. "Eating rock?!"

She nodded. "Yes, don't ask me how they did it but they did"

Beleg swallowed. "You said you could be compared to a maia, I now see why. But if not of the ainur then what are you?"

She took a deep breath, not entirely sure of what to say. "A creation of someone very brilliant, someone capable of creating a different kind of life. I am not flesh and blood, and I guess I am a lot like you elves for I do not age and I am very hard to kill."

He reached out, touching her hand with obvious curiosity but also the fear of doing something forbidden. The touch was light, gentle, and she allowed it. "Your skin feels natural, warm and soft."

She smiled, a somewhat sad smile. "Yes, and yet I am not like you, I was not born from a womb my friend but from a machine. And my thoughts and feelings are…different."

His eyes got narrow. "And yet you are here, and I feel as if you aren't that different after all, you do think and feel and you seem to know joy and sorrow just as we do"

She bowed her head. "That I do yes, they are no strangers to me"

He got up. "I have to return to my station my lady, but I did appreciate this little chat, I am sure we will meet again"

She just nodded. "We will marchwarden."

He walked off and she stared at the fountain again. Things would eventually change, the attitude would turn a lot and she sighed and felt an odd sort of anger towards the noldor who kept keeping the kinslayings secret. It would ruin a great opportunity for cooperation and still, she could do naught to prevent it. She closed her eyes, in reality her arms and legs were tied up, the only things she could do now was to ensure that history didn't run off the tracks and took a new and less desirable path. She had a suspicion that this in some manners would be like herding a huge flock of rabbits and she had to grin again. But the truth, oh the truth was such a hot potato and she tried to understand the reactions she knew would come. Apparently the idea of elves killing other elves was just taboo and she frowned and gathered the information she had already gained about the past events.

The host of Fingolfin hadn't been willing to speak that much of it, and she had not spoken that much to any of the elves following Fêanor neither but she needed knowledge, she needed more than she had. If she ever was to give good advice later on she couldn't if she missed important details. What she did know was of course that Fëanor had asked the teleri elves for ships to take them across the sea and that the teleri had denied them this. Then Fëanor and his followers had tried to take the boats by force and bloodshed had followed, apparently a rather terrible battle if she wasn't mistaken. But who had started it? She found that the information she had didn't tell that for sure, was it a follower of Fëanor who had drawn first blood or an enraged teleri sailor? The host of Fingolfin had arrived later, and they too had fought thinking that Fëanor and his sons had been attacked by the sea elves. Did this make them less guilty? She had no idea and she knew that these deeds could not be undone.

She got up and felt restless, almost a bit frantic. She needed something to do and so she walked towards the area of the city where people worked their crafts. She saw many shops and rooms where elves made everything from pottery to clothing and she stopped by a shop where a female elf sat weaving what had to be flax. CeKay immediately saw that the weave was a good one but a few small changes could turn the fabric into something much more appealing and way more luxurious. The cloth everybody wore there was good, it was very light and nicely coloured too but it had the potential of becoming so much nicer and she took a deep breath and knew that this was it. If she was to be accepted and liked by these elves she had to give them a reason to.

She bowed her head to the weaving elleth and the elf sent her a curious smile. "How may I help you my lady?"

CeKay had noticed that the language most elves there used was a different one than the one the noldor used but her language bank had already switched and her Sindarin was if not flawless then at least understandable. " I do need some clothes, a dress perhaps, and a cape, but I have nothing to offer as payment except from some new knowledge about weaves"

The elleth frowned. "New knowledge about weaves?"

CeKay nodded and pointed at a roll of freshly woven fabric. "Look at that, now, imagine that this fabric could be so much more smooth, and a lot thinner, and yet as strong as before. Wouldn't that make your products very sought after?"

The elleth looked puzzled. "Indeed they would my lady, but how? These weaves are the best we have"

CeKay stared at the contraption and had to grin slightly, it was a good design when making rugs, but for fine fabrics it was way too rough. She nodded towards the fire place. "Find me a burned twig and some leather, I can show you"

Before long CeKay did draw a very intricate description of a way more elaborate weave, and the elleth was staring with huge eyes and she understood the concept immediately and was beside herself with eager energy. "Oh, that is something the wood carvers could make, easily, and those metal rods I can get from the forges. This is brilliant!"

CeKay felt a thrill running through her, she couldn't change history but by the maker of the universe, she could do things like these, small favours which in turn could transform the everyday life into something a bit easier, and maybe even safer. It would make her respected by the elves here, and even more so, she would be trusted and get whatever information she needed. She made some more drawings of the weave and its parts and how they were to be assembled and the elleth ran off immediately, CeKay doubted that much time would pass before the inhabitants of this realm would get cloth of a way greater quality.

The day was coming to an end and CeKay returned to her room to go through the events, she didn't need sleep but she knew that she ought to at least pretend to be resting in order to fit in. She felt a bit giddy, while she was there she was going to make sure that these elves learned a lot of new stuff and if she played her cards well also the dwarves would benefit from her vast knowledge. She decided that the wood workers would be the next she would visit, there were lots of things she could teach them as well for she had not seen any furniture which indicated that they knew how to use steam and pressure to form wood and she grinned widely as she entered resting mode. Tomorrow would be a good day, there was trouble brewing yes, but for now things were peaceful, she could enjoy this brief break and share her knowledge and it was a good thought. She could make herself useful, as something more than a warrior, as someone capable of creating things of beauty.