DISCLAIMER: See Chapter 1.

10.

Choices

Gil-galad laid his cutlery down on the empty plate. "That was delicious."

"Thank you very much," Katy replied politely. To be honest, the quiche had been very tasty. "Thanks for your help in preparing it."

She picked up her plate and Gil-galad's and took them over to the sideboard.

"Luckily there isn't much washing-up to do. Would you like to go through to the sitting-room while I take care of this?"

"Is there anything I can assist with?"

Katy hesitated. "Um…I don't think so, thank you. I can do this by myself. Besides, you're my guest and I wouldn't ask you to help with tasks like this."

If Sasha or Nat had offered to help, you would have taken them up on it.

She immediately pushed the thought out of her mind. That was different. Sasha and Nat were her friends, and they weren't royalty. Gil-galad…well, he wasn't exactly a friend yet, and he was royalty.

"I shouldn't be too long," she said, smiling.

xxx

It didn't even take her five minutes to wash everything. She placed everything on the rack to dry. Removing her apron, she took a deep breath, exhaled and went to join Gil-galad.

He was sitting patiently on the sofa. Katy went to sit beside him, trying not to feel disgruntled that he looked more relaxed than she did.

"So," she began hesitantly. "What would you like to do now?"

"What do you normally like to do after supper?" Gil-galad replied.

"Oh. I…" Katy paused. The truth was that there wasn't very much she did do in the evenings by herself. She didn't have a TV; besides, she didn't fancy explaining to Gil-galad how a television worked.

"Well, I like to read in the evenings. I also like to listen to music, and maybe do a bit of story-writing if I feel inspired." An idea came to her suddenly. "Alternatively, I've got some board games."

She hadn't played those board games for a very long time. It might be fun teaching her guest how to play them.

"Stories?" Gil-galad sounded interested. He shifted around so that he was facing Katy. "What are these stories like?"

Katy's supper threatened to make an unwelcome reappearance.

Oh no. No way. I am not going to tell him about the fan-fiction.

"Well, I've got a long story about a young woman who makes a choice, and it's how that choice changes her life. There are consequences for the people she loves as well."

"Does she realise there would be consequences?"

The question was asked in a perfectly polite voice, but Katy saw sadness reflected in Gil-galad's eyes.

"No, she doesn't. She's manipulated into it by someone she trusts, and she does it because she would do anything for the people she cares about. It doesn't occur to her that there'll be consequences until it's too late." To lighten the mood a little, Katy said quickly: "Also, I'm writing something about four friends who get into quite a bit of trouble."

She put her hands on her knees. "Would you like to learn how to play one of my board games? We could listen to some music as well."

What music would he like, though? The only thing in my collection that sounds remotely Elven is the 'Mediaeval Baebes'.

To be continued. Reviews are very welcome!