AN: First off, I want to give a heartfelt and warm thank you to WinterXstarxz for their review. It's been a struggle to write lately and your words touched my heart deeply and reminded me why I write. All of you, every single one of you, (even those of you who don't review, which I totally get. I'm a real lurker when I read stories. lol.), your support and continued presence gives me the drive to keep going and telling this story. I write for you. I write to give you hope. I write to give you a bright spot in your day. I write to help you be brave, because I've learned lessons in my own walk that I want to share with this story and lessons I learn through writing what I never knew I knew.
Life in the world of being an adult and adulting hard, and being an adultier adult(sooooo lame. lol) gets pretty dang busy. It's even busier now that I have a new development in my life, and very happy development. In about 10 months, I will be getting married. The Thranduil to my Cellissel showed up in my life some time ago and we are starting out on our life's adventure together.
I know I've been gone a lot more and slower in updating this year, however I stand by my promise years ago. I will finish this story and I will not abandon it. It might take a while as I am taken from it to learn more life lessons, but that's a good thing! I have all the more experience to write from! :)
For my part, I will aim to update at very least every two months, and if it's all going well, I will try to update once a month or more. I can make no promises though.
Chapter 6:
Of all the chores that Emily had to assist with in past weeks, she had to admit that the kitchens was one of her favourites. It wasn't that the other chores were terribly unpleasant or that she didn't find many of them interesting, rather that she found the atmosphere of the kitchens so soothing to the senses. Not only that she felt as though she was actually useful there.
Thus far she had helped with the most obvious areas of the palace. She'd started in the stables and loved every minute of it for aside from the kitchens that was the one place she felt useful and at home. She had been helping there for a few days until her mother decided it was time for her to move on to the next task which was the laundry. That had been interesting, to say the least. Although the elves had developed more sophisticated ways of washing than just a tub and washboard, the work was still hard enough to give Emily a deep appreciation for the workers that regularly did the job. She promised herself after days of doing it that she would never take her clean clothing for granted again and always endeavour to keep as clean as possible (as impossible as that seemed to be at times, but it was the thought that counted).
Next it had been housekeeping and cleaning. After that it had been assisting the dressmakers and learning about sewing. That had by far been her least favourite. She detested sewing. Luckily enough, her mother had taken pity on her and only made her help for two days.
'Thank the Valar for that'. Emily thought to herself as she cut up the next round of vegetables, pausing to take a bite of one of the cookies on her plate. Rimdir, her daervede, was rather good at spoiling both her and Merenith, especially when they came down to help. 'There is still lots else to learn here though. Mum said next week we would be all helping harvest the final fruits from the orchards and gather from the gardens. I think they are putting in a new garden too, so there will be lots to do with that. Then the libraries, not sure how much help I will be there seeing as I hardly read any form of elvish as of yet. And the healing wards, mum wants me to spend a lot of time there by the sounds of it...as if I haven't already...then there is just a whole host of other things too. It just never ends!'
Still, Emily couldn't find it in herself to be annoyed by that.
In all honesty, her mother insisting on the daily chores and her other lessons that involved geography, history, language, culture, music and so many other new things a few hours out of each day, it had been the best thing she could have asked! She was up at the same time every day and was beginning to enjoy the routine of it all. She was always tired when she went to bed, however it was a satisfied kind of tired that made her dreams few and her sleep deep. Everyday was something new to quench her natural thirst for knowledge, and each moment was designed to help make her feel more comfortable in her new home. It wasn't that her longing for the familiarity of Earth didn't still call to her, it was just a matter of being so distracted she didn't notice it as much.
It also meant she was distracted from the fact that Lord Elrond had left, and that her Vede Legolas had been out on numerous patrols in the past weeks, and that her father was often absent for one reason or another, and that it was putting tension between himself and Aewnith. Her daerada had spared as much time as he was able for her, and the truth was, she felt guilty taking too much of his time. As such she would make sure she had other things to go and do so that she didn't have to try making something up. He never fell for that anyway and it usually resulted in her spilling her guts to him. In her mind, he had enough to worry about and she was doing well enough.
At least her lessons with Glorfindel were getting better and she was slowly beginning to see improvements. It may have taken a stern word from her dear teacher to snap her at least partially out of her jealous funk concerning her sister though.
As Emily set down the knife to gather a handful of chopped carrots and toss them into the pot she was filling she bit back a rueful and embarrassed smile. She really did love that big golden haired warrior. A most beloved teacher he was, indeed.
They had been out for a run just a few days ago now, and Emily had been tired and feeling cross after a silly argument with her sister about wearing slippers (or not, in Emily's case). It was a exceedingly ridiculous thing to be arguing about, but that was beside the point.
Glorfindel, being Glorfindel, had taken her for a very long run that actually did involved some challenging and grudgingly fun obstacles that Emily managed to defeat.
"That was very good, Emily." Glorfindel told her as he ruffled her hair playfully. It was sticking up in all directions already, much to the girl's distaste.
She ducked her head out and tried to smooth it down.
"Thanks." She murmured with a hint of a sulk to it.
Glorfindel stopped in his tracks and drew a long, deep breath.
"What?" Emily asked, trying not to actually care. She was tired and it was the end of the week. She was ready for her Sunday sleep in.
"Enough is enough, Emily." Glorfindel rounded on her swiftly and with such a stern countenance that Emily was reminded of the thousands of years between her and the warrior. He was and always would be one to respect. "Sit."
Without argument she plopped herself on the log he indicated and waited in tense silence while the balrog-slayer paced in front of her. Finally, he sat down beside her and sighed, resting his elbows on his knees with his hands clasped in front of him. Shaking his head smiling grimly he said, "You are not being replaced, Emily."
Emily's face trembled around the mouth as she worked at not getting overly emotional. It didn't work. "Feels like it. She's so much better than-"
"Emily, your sister has a natural ability and awareness of her movements that you have not yet found. This is not something to be jealous of and if you continue to let that jealousy take root is it going to grow into something very ugly." Glorfindel turned his head, considering his student carefully. "The pair of you are both so bent on proving yourselves and I have grown tired of it. You, my dear one, should know better. I made you a promise when we first met to be your guide and teacher. I will never go back on my word. You are stuck with me. Now, come here, give this weary old elf a hug. There we are, so much upset over something you need not be worried...we are making progress and you are doing tremendously well."
"I'm not elvish enough." Emily blurted. "And I'll never be as good as the rest of them."
Glorfindel pulled back and caught her chin firmly, making her look him in the eye. "Emily, you are every bit as elvish as the rest of us, half blood or not. Your outward change has not come yet. This is true, and it may take some time for that to occur, however, your mind is most definitely that of an elf. Perhaps your change is merely from the inside out and you must be patient."
"But I don't even know if I really want to change more than just inside my head! Everything has changed so fast and I'm not ready for another." Emily confessed softly.
"Then count the fact that you have not yet changed outwardly as a blessing, Emily." Glorfindel smiled softly, cupping her cheek with affection. "As for your current abilities, you underestimate the strength of men. Your running is impressive, and the speed is fast, I promise you that. The movements for sparring and learning to defend yourself will come with time. You are young, your sister has the experience of dance and ice skating behind her so her awareness is very good. You have experience in real life, and you have used what you have learned many times now. She has not. There is more to a skill than being able to do it in a controlled environment. The real test comes in the unexpected."
"Maybe you should start jumping out and scaring her.."
Glorfindel laughed. "Then I would have to do the same to you."
"Be worth it just to see the look on her face." Emily answered with a grin. She sobered and looked her mentor in the eyes. "Am I really OK at all this? Like...actually improving? I don't feel like I am. I make the same mistakes over and over again..."
"You are learning. And you need to learn how to believe in yourself and have confidence in who you are, not in what you feel the need to prove."
"I just want to be good at something."
"Then apply yourself, be patient with yourself, work hard, practice...most importantly, learn from your mistakes without beating yourself up. Those things alone are enough to make even a dwarf exceptional at something."
It had helped a lot. Really, it had.
With the light of his words to her, she was actually able to begin to understand what Joel had been trying and failing to get across to her that first day Clare began her lessons. Emily was very good at many things that Clare wasn't, and Clare was good at lots that she wasn't. And that was ok. Or at least Emily was trying to make it ok. It wasn't easy. In fact she had an awful lot of trouble listening to Glorfindel's words and believing them. Life was so noisy when she was busy comparing herself to someone she wasn't and expecting more of herself than she should.
A small grin stole onto her face.
At least Glorfindel had started taking Clare on the obstacle challenged, and Joel too. Her sister hated getting dirty and after a few days rain, it was muddy and muddy could be.
The complaints made Emily infuriatingly cheery and that only made Clare more irritated. She did feel a little bit bad when Clare slipped and fell backwards in the mud. The older sister had lay there and cried. Joel, irritated by her whining, had snapped at her telling her to shut up and get over it so they could get over the next part of the course (which needed all three of them). Emily just stood there laughing until Clare yanked herself out of the mud and stormed off, giving her the death glare as she pushed past.
Ah well. She'll get over it. Emily reached for her next cookie, only to find it was missing.
This stopped her dead in her tracks and she lifted her head, scanning wildly for the cookie until her eyes were drawn to rusty orange hair and a grinning ellon with dark amber eyes.
"Hello, Lady Emily!"
"Rusgon, give that back." Emily said seriously.
"What? No 'hello' or 'good morning'? Merenith must be being a bad influence on you."
"Good morning. Give me my cookie back, please."
Rusgon's grin widened. "Finders keepers."
"Seriously?" Emily raised her eyebrows and put her hands on her hips. "You're going to be like that? What do you want?"
"Already have it." Rusgon twirled and waved the cookie in the hair. "So sad. Better watch your food more carefully."
"I licked that."
"No you didn't. I was watching to make sure."
"I'm serious, give it back, Rusgon. I don't want to play your game."
"You can have it back if you can get it from me."
"RUSGON!" Emily raised her voice, too irritated to be self-conscious about everyone in the stronghold likely being able to hear her.
The fox haired elf bounded off gleefully, silently taunting her. It was the last straw and Emily lunched forwards with remarkable speed after him. He laughed and took off running, enjoying to prospect of a chase and feeling confident she wouldn't catch him.
He was wrong and Glorfindel's training was absolutely paying off for the girl.
Emily flew with ferocious speed after him, not even slowing when they crossed a short bridge (something she was incredibly proud of later). Rusgon tore down the hall, scattering elves in his wake with Emily hot on his heels and gaining ground swiftly.
Seconds later she leapt, grappled him in a body tackle much the same way she had Joel at the cottage in a similar situation, and knocked them both to the ground with a painful thud. Emily attacked the cookie arm viciously, using several tactics that Glorfindel had shown her for immobilizing someone. Rusgon was still so stunned at being caught and knocked to the floor that he didn't have time to react until it was too late and Emily had reclaimed her prize.
She rolled off him and then glared at him as she shoved the cookie in her mouth with a muffled, "Steal my food again, ya big turd, and I'll make sure you deeply regret it!"
Still laying dazed on the floor, Rusgon's reply was, "I can't believe you actually caught me!"
The laughter and clapping that sounded from near by caused them to both jump.
"I guess you had better not steal from people who are faster than you, Rus." Tirnel came out of the shadows with Gurador and Sidhel, all three clapping, clearly having seen the display. "A very nice take down, Emily. Glorfindel would be proud."
"I haven't seen him knocked down like that since he took Medlinor's wine by accident at a feast." Gurador laughed. "Oh, that was funny. Poor Rusgon. Never go up against a healer. They are dangerous folk."
"He thought it was mine." Sidhel said mildly as he quietly reached out for Emily's arm and checked her arm over. "Next time try to use him to break the fall more, you're going to have a bruise."
"What about me! She landed most on top of me and I smacked my head pretty hard!" Rusgon told them mournfully, clearly trying to get some kind of reaction.
Sidhel released Emily with a laugh, his healer's touch leaving behind a soothing warmth that dulled the pain. He turned to Rusgon with a knowing look and replied, "Your head always has been extremely hard, mellon nin, I do not fear you have sustained any great damage."
Rusgon gave an indignant huff, "I am wounded! Beyond healing! There is only one cure for such things!" Then with a grin at Emily, he produced yet another cookie wrapped in a handkerchief from his pockets and began to sing a rather silly love song about cookie, to his cookie as he danced off leaving.
"He is very strange." Emily said quietly.
Tirnel laughed brightly, "We tend to agree."
The feeling was just as oddly natural and bizarre as before.
The joys! The fun! The excitement! It was overwhelming and hardly containable!
She was running again, though it wasn't like anything she had ever experienced. It was swift and sure, clumsy yet delicate. Each movement was filled with agility and exuberance. As she dashed through the world, her senses were filled with every smell imaginable, some even unimaginable. Every one of them was a new paragraph waiting to be investigated and learned, each step a new adventure in the love of life.
A step faltered as she slowed to look back. Curiosity, affection and energy coursed through her and she came barrelling back to-
With a soft gasp and a slightly shaken grin, Emily sat up from where she had been laying in the soft moss while Reisa played in the clearing, ready for the dog as it charged towards her with tongue flying out the side of her mouth in a wide laughing smile.
They hadn't been in the clearing long, before Emily found herself letting her thoughts wander while she gazed at the sky through the rich green leaves above.
It happened suddenly. Her mind was tugged somewhere new with just the passing thought of love and affection for her dog. It was drawn so readily to the joy the creature took in each moment. Not a second went by that the creature worried for the future or past. All she cared about was the present, and it was a valuable lesson that Emily seemed to welcome with open arms.
"This really should trouble me." Emily sighed as she rough housed with Reisa. "How am I supposed to know if this is natural or not?"
"Well I can't answer that one for you, but, I can tell you that some people would say talking aloud to oneself is odd." Merenith's voice sounded from above them as she swung down from the tree canopy.
"Only the best of people talk to themselves. And I was talking to Reisa, not myself."
Merenith laughed as the pup bounded over to her and gave her a proper welcome when her feet touched the ground. "That is true. I will not argue with that. Are you ready for to go for our walk? I know you must be sore from training..."
"I am and it isn't going to stop me. I need out of the palace...the forest is too beautiful to ignore."
Her cousin grinned happily and swung an arm around Emily's shoulders, guiding them out a path. "Spoken like a true wood-elf."
"Hmm." Was all Emily could give in reply. She was still lost in the moment earlier between her and Reisa. She turned it over and over again, only half listening as Merenith chatted away jubilantly about something. Time lost meaning as she thought deeply and with it she found that she had no idea how far they had come when she finally came back to herself at a question from Merenith.
"Do you think that Reisa will grow to be a very big dog? She's wonderfully trained already for a puppy. Never wanders too far away and always sticks around. And she could retrieve all day! Just the kind of dog one would want to take peasant hunting, once she learns some patience, and you did say she was a birding dog."
"Um...yeah, I have no idea. I never really thought to train her to hunt. I'm not a hunter." Emily replied, distractedly. "Hey, Mer..."
Emily paused in her step, frowning at the ground.
"Yes?"
"Mer...I...I don't know how to say this, but,...I think that I'm...something is wrong with me...maybe not wrong, just...different about me."
"What do you mean?" Merenith stopped short and spun round, her eyes searching Emily's face for signs of a problem. "Do you need a healer? Should we tell one of your uncles or Odhron? What does it feel like?"
"If you would stop talking, I could tell you." Emily answered with a soft laugh as she plopped herself down on a large bolder. Reisa bounced over and dropped a treasure at her feet proudly. "And no, I don't think I need a healer...at least, I hope not. It's probably nothing. I don't want to alarm anyone. But, I think..."
There was a long pause in which the only sound was the wind in the trees and the birds singings contentedly to each other.
"You think...what?" Merenith motioned impatiently with her hands as though it would help in physically drawing out the answer to her question.
"So, for days now, I'm not really sure how long, I've started being able to...feel...Reisa, in my...head? No, in my heart? I don't know! I can feel her when she gets near and it's like I-" Emily broke off, raking her hands through her hair.
"Like you can become connected to her as you would be to your family. You can start to feel the very core of her being and speak without words to her? Understand every emotion within her before you even know it?"
Emily's head snapped up suddenly in amazement. "Yes! That's exactly it!"
"Well, I guess I've been right all along...you are more elvish than you think you are." Merenith said slyly. "It's perfectly normal."
"It is!?"
"Sort of. Not everyone connects with the world in the same way. Each of us has our own individual ways of relating to the world and it's 'magic', so to speak." Merenith dragged her to her feet and looped her arm through her own as the continued to walk aimlessly. "How we are as individuals and who we are decides what we end up connecting to. I, for example, connect the strongest to the trees. My strongest gift is for the life of the forest. The trees whisper and speak with me readily and I understand them more intimately than perhaps the average wood-elf might. My gift manifests in the deep ways I am able to heal the trees. I touch their inner song and call them from darkness, which is rare. There was a time when most elves were able to do so with long years of training and practice. For me, it's instinct. I can feel their power and...well, it's hard to explain, nevertheless, I can use my own magic and combine it with the trees I tend to make them stronger. Everything I grow takes on a life that reflects my own soul because what I tend and make is inadvertently given a portion of my magic...or rather my inner song."
"Like a literal pouring of heart and soul into something?"
"Yes! That's a good way to describe it."
"So...what does that mean I am? What is my gift?"
"It remains to be seen, I suppose. You are still just learning and growing in the normal traits of being an elf on the inside. I've always felt that you were more elvish inside than your siblings, if I might be so bold. You brother has the smart and fast mind of an elf, and your sister had the grace and athletic ability of an elf even before she began to change, but you, you've had the heart of an elf from the moment I met you. As for your gift, it could be anything. We all tend to settle into the gifts we have based off our personalities and talents. Sidhel is gifted with greater healing abilities than others, as is Medlinor and Lord Elrond, though Lord Elrond also has other gifts that are greater and flow from having high blood of the Eldar. Legolas has the gift of reading hearts-"
"Wait, what? Reading hearts?" Emily gave her cousin a sharp look.
"Yup! He's terribly empathic. He can feel the emotions of others and touch the most vulnerable parts of their inner song to help heal inner turmoil and bring them peace. I like to think of him as a heart, mind and soul healer. Lord Elrond is also very good at it too, and though it is more likely to be found in healers, it's not a common talent. Not all have as deep an understanding for hearts as Legolas does. Haven't you ever noticed the uncanny ability he has of knowing when you are upset and exactly what to say?"
"Ohhh...so that's what he meant by a superpower. Is that his only superpower I should know about? As I understand it our bloodline is pretty...um...powerful?"
"Oh, he has great many talents and gifts in other things too, but, that's the most prominent. He is also great friends with the trees and birds especially."
"What about daerada?"
"Oh, Odhron has numerous powerful gifts, but the one at the core of who he is would be classified as the gift of protection. Everything about his is so deeply intertwined with that inner piece. There's a reason he is named the greatest king. He lives to protect everyone and everything under his rule. It's so deeply apart of him that it's nearly impossible for him not to act in such a way that will ensure the safely of his charges." Merenith's eyes grew bright with obvious adoration for the king as she spoke. "And it isn't just a matter of his strength of character. No. It's like...his very song, his magic...it resonates through our lands, and especially the palace (it's strongest there) and he...knows...and acts on instinct or some crazy early warning system which warns of danger. It's so deeply connected to the forest and nature, that sometimes I feel like the very waters tell him things because they know his magic protects them. I don't understand it fully. He is teaching me to master my gifts as they are similar to his own, but, all I know is that I'm never frightened of anything when he's with me, because he'll keep me safe...actually, that's a lie. I fear often that he will be harmed while keeping me safe and I could never bare that."
Spinning curiosity rattled Emily's brain and the question buzzing in her head couldn't be asked fast enough. "What other gifts are there? I'm a little confused...how does it differ from just being good at something?"
"Well, even humans have talents and things they flourish with more than the next person. The only difference with us elves is that we connect deeply to the Great Song woven within the world around us, and so when we find our gifts and passions, it's only natural that they interact deeply on that level, even to the point of our own inner song, our soul (magic as the humans call it) becoming apart of what we make and do." Seeing the look on Emily's face Merenith hurried to try to explain, both so engrossed in the conversation that they didn't take note they had gone well past the boundary set for them by Faervel.
"Take weapon smiths, for example. They make wonderful, magical swords and daggers. Our smiths are not as powerful in their magic as the smiths of old, but they still are able to touch the song of the metals they use and forage to make them into something more, combined with their creativity and song. Or healers, they can touch the song of each person, the song of the body and heal deep, grievous wounds, moving matter within and encouraging it to heal sometimes without the use of a medical tool! Or the musicians and artists. They can create so much more than just pictures. The truly talented and powerful artists and musicians can weave great enchantments and spells. Warriors, hunters, tailors, scholars, cooks, armour smiths, gardeners, strategists, enchanters, trainers, animal caregivers, the list goes on and on. There is no end to the gifts people have and how they discover and use them. Rusgon, for all he is a little turd, has an amazing gift for disappearing and stealth. He hides so well even few of his fellow elves can ever find him."
"What's my Vede Faervel's gift? Being bossy?" Emily said jokingly.
"No, he actually-" Merenith broke off as she stopped the both of them with a sudden hand and whitened face.
"What is it?" Emily asked, searching the area for danger as a chill ran down her spine.
"We're past the boundary, too far past!...ohhhhhh...shhhhhoott...we are going to be in so much trouble!" Merenith whispered faintly. Then she grabbed Emily's hand and dragged her back down the trail. "BACK, we have to go back and hope no one noticed we left! Oh, I am such an idiot! How did I miss how far we went!? I'm so sorry, Emily, this is all my fault. The king is going to kill me! We wouldn't have been given restrictions if it weren't something dangerous out here! Come on we have to go! I can't believe I missed it!"
"Wait! MER REISA!" Emily pulled her arm loose and turned round, her eyes scanning frantically for the dog. "REISA!? REISA COME!"
The girl called again, her heart hammering in her chest and crying out for the dog. In a split second, her mind jumped to a rather rash decision that she made without a second thought.
She ran to the edges of her mind and called again for the dog with all her will, seeking for that spark of life joy that she so often experienced when connecting with the puppy.
Unlike with the bonds she shared with her own kin, this bond was something not yet fully established within her. She had to reach outside of herself to find the thread that was her dog. It was a little scary, and not at all easy now that she was actually trying to do it.
For a brief moment she felt a nagging pressure in the back of her head, like someone was trying to get to her and tell her something, however she ignored it as she stepped further outside into the world of life and stunning sound around her.
Whispers of song and voices ringing with music softly surrounded her, each one muted and quiet. It was as though a veil was being held over her eyes or a door was shut to her for those sounds that were the trees. She knew this because in the sounds cape, images arose to identify each thing. They were hazy and shadowed, though radiant and filled with goodness. The only thing clear to her was the joy of life emanating from that which was Reisa and she reached for it.
She touched it and was instantly connected to the dog.
With a gasp of wonder, Emily opened her eyes and found that her pup was bounding over a log, looking alert and confused right back at her.
"It's me." She breathed with her mind and her voice. "Come."
Reisa hopped on the spot, ears perked and tail beginning to wag madly. She gave a soft 'woof' that Emily managed to interrupt as excited question.
"Yes. It's me. COME we have to go!"
The dog went nuts. She quivered with joy and exuberance, racing in crazy circles in her expression of love for Emily. Both Emily and Merenith couldn't help but suspend their worry over disobeying the orders of Faervel and smiled at the antics, and in that second of distraction, something went wrong.
Her own song stretched forwards as it realized it was loosing hold on the bond thread. Over extending, her thoughts slipped, suddenly she was aware of yet another song present in the world near by.
It was filled with pain and anger, bleating out like a frightened lamb beneath the heavy roar of dark revenge. The soul attached to the song was bent beneath some great weight, raving like a caged animal as it fought against the darkness that had taken root.
Emily gave a soft cry as she felt the other's emotions cut deeply within her, as though they were her own and from far away she heard Merenith call out to her frantically.
The song of the other was suddenly aware of her presence, for in the they were nearly touching now. It snarled at her, clearly warning her to back away, yet Emily's song was responding in ways she didn't understand to the creature.
She should have been afraid and she wasn't. She should have been repulsed and naturally pulled away from the wretched song. This was not the case.
Behind the horrible music that drowned out all else there was something more.
Compassion swelled and her very being somehow knew this creature was trapped inside itself. There was a pure white tread mixed in amid the darkness. It's song covered over by the anger of the dark. A quiet plea for help amid heartbroken loneliness.
No longer aware of anything except the screaming song of untamed nature before her and her own beating tune, Emily reached just a little further to touch it, brushing it with kindness and desire to offer help. A warning flashed through her mind, and her grandfather's presence flared to life, calling for her and commanding her return to her own mind. It was only in 'looking back' that Emily saw she was not inside her own self, and was extending a part of herself outside into the world around her. Fear licked at her as she realized what she had done.
"EMILY!" Merenith's cry and a pain across her face jerked her back to herself and Emily stared dazedly into her cousin's face, cheek stinging hotly.
"Mer..." Her ears were ringing and her head was buzzing with
"DON'T you EVER do that to me again!"
"I don't even know what I did! I just...I reached out for Reisa and then there was a whole bunch of other songs too and I guess I just-"
"You went way too far. That was bad. I shouldn't have even let you call Reisa when I realized what you were doing! Oh...I am so dead! I'm supposed to be taking care of you!" Fretted Merenith, fingers raking through her curls. "Come on. We have to go back."
Shaken, Emily obeyed motioning to Reisa who followed without a problem. She seemed to understand something was not going according to plan and she should behave.
"I'm sorry, Mer..."
"Not your fault. I should have warned you right away." Merenith lead them swiftly back towards the inner most bounds of the kingdom that they had been instructed to stay within. "I'm sorry too. And I'm sorry about your face. I had to slap you pretty hard..."
"Wondered why it was so sore..."
Merenith stopped short again, listening intently, then her shoulders fell in defeat and she gently took Emily's arm and took her to the side of the train. Moments later Emily realized the cause as the ground began to rumble under the hooves of horses returning from the outer boarders.
Faervel appeared around the bend leading his party back the palace, his face set sternly as his keen eyes caught them. No look of surprise passed his face. Something told Emily he had already known they were there and that something had happened.
Without a word he drew the company to a halt just beside them and looked down at them gravely. Wordlessly he reached down his hand and beckoned to Emily. She moved forward nervously over and let herself be helped up behind him on the horse. Merenith looked utterly downcast as she was beckoned by one of the other guards. He looked a lot like her and it didn't take long for Emily to assume it was her second eldest cousin, Laithor, finally returned.
The company departed swiftly, still not so quick that Reisa couldn't keep up with them comfortably. Though not fully grown, she was still large enough to run long distances now.
Emily held as tightly as she dared to her uncle, suddenly very shy of him. After a while she couldn't bare the silence.
"Vede?" She ventured softly, hesitation making her stomach clench.
"Yes, Emily." He answered, his slightly tone clipped.
"We...we didn't mean to go outside the confines you ordered for us." Emily started, unsure if she should keep speaking or not. "It honestly was an accident and we were headed back the second we realized...it really wasn't on purpose. I'm sorry."
Her uncle remained silent the remainder of the journey, giving no indication of his feelings until they reached the bridge. His mount's speed didn't slow and Emily's already anxious and rattled heart quelled as her eyes were drawn downwards to the long drop against her will. Her breath quickened and she twined her arms tightly around Faervel's waist while she buried her face against his leather armour.
A hand slipped warmly over her own clasped ones, rubbing a soothing circle across the backs and then squeezing encouragingly. Even still, Emily did not lift her head or release until they were in the stopped in the stables.
"Let go, Emily." Faervel instructed gently, his voice having lost it's edge. "Slid off. You're alright."
Emily obeyed stiffly, her legs shaky beneath her. She couldn't look at anyone as she stood there feeling out of place and guilty for something not entirely her fault. She felt foolish for not paying attention, and terribly that Merenith was blaming herself so harshly for it.
"Wait here." Faervel ordered, then lead his horse away. Reisa came trotting in, dodging horses and people as she made a beeline for a water station near by. Slurping and lapping of water echoed in Emily's ears as she waited for Faervel. The wait wasn't long, and an anxious Merenith followed him meekly.
"Come."
Emily followed without question, shadowed by Reisa. She already knew where they would be going. Thanduil's study.
The bond between her grandfather and herself had been quiet since she had come back to her senses, eerily quiet. Glorfindel had been the one to reach out and give her what she assumed was a quick look over when she let him in. It was surface and unobtrusive connection, and Glorfindel gave nothing away save that he was relieved she was safe. Legolas would have been there if he had been closer, of this Emily was sure. The distance between them was great and his attentions were on other things at the moment. He had been gone for weeks now. Emily missed him dearly, and the twins. They had been gone for a few days now too. Estel had been around though...that was always nice. They had been working on her wilderness survival training again.
When they arrived outside the doors, Faervel motioned for them to stay against the wall and went in alone.
Merenith sunk down with a sigh.
"It wasn't your fault..." Emily offered as she slid down to join her. Her cousin didn't answer for some time. She just stared miserably at the ground.
"It was...and it wasn't. I should have been paying better attention."
"We both should have. Those perimeters haven't changed in weeks. I mean, we hadn't taken that path in a long time, and we always went a long way on that one before the new confinements. It makes sense we wouldn't remember."
"We should have. I should have." Merenith rubbed her eyes and gave a soft sniff. "I can own to it when I do something stupid that I knew was stupid at the time and just threw caution aside. When it was a conscious choice. This is different. This was me being dumb without meaning to and in a situation that I SHOULD have known better in. It wasn't even a case of rebelling, for which I would deserve to get my arse handed to me, but this case was carelessness. That kind of carelessness could have gotten us killed! Then lets not even get started on the accident with you and-"
"Merenith..."
The door opened causing Reisa to leap up from were she had be laying panting and greet Faervel has he stepped out.
"Merenith. He'll see you now."
The elleth reluctantly dragged her self up off the ground and walked slowly into the study, closing the door behind her and leaving Emily alone with Faervel.
To Emily's surprise, instead of leaving to tend to important matters, Faervel moved beside her and slid his way gracefully down so he too was sitting against the wall. Being companionable, Reisa also came and lay down with them so she could cool off.
"Are we in a lot of trouble?" Emily asked, not really sure if she wanted to answer. "It really was an accident..."
"I know it was. And I know you are both most repentant of it." Faervel smiled a little wryly. "I would also imagine you have both already dealt out a more severe self reprimand than either I or the king will, and that is a good thing. You must not be so careless in the future, Emily. The rules are to keep you safe, not limit your freedom. I do not fuss and hover without reason, despite how it may feel at times. I only want you safe. I want everyone safe. That is my duty and privilege."
Emily looked over at him sideways, frowning a little as she scrutinized him. "You aren't mad at us?"
Faervel laugh then, a soft kind of laugh that was dry and merry all at once. "Mad? No. Not now. I was perhaps irritated when I found you. Now I am more disappointed and baffled by the pair of you, however it was an honest mistake and not purposely reckless."
"I am sorry." Emily repeated contritely. "We weren't looking for trouble. We weren't even doing anything stupid this time...I mean, I admit we don't always think before we do things..."
"Like riding a barrel lid down the fast flowing river while being pulled along by a horse?" Faervel asked, petting Reisa and playing with her ears. A faint smile was twitching around the corners of his mouth.
"Hey..." Emily dejected, "But, that was really fun...sometimes the best things are questionably dangerous."
Faervel barked a short laugh and looked at her ruefully as he shook his head. "And you wonder why I worry about you so. It's all I can do to not keep a constant watch on you. What kind of uncle would I been if I let something happen to my littlest niece?"
Feeling bashful Emily shifted as her cheeks went hot. A warmth spread through her and into her heart, easing an aching piece that had been there for some weeks. Sure, he wasn't Legolas, but he cared and loved her as a good uncle would. Silence filled the hall and Emily picked at the fabric of her sleeves while she waited.
It felt like hours and dread began to grow in her gut the longer the bond between herself and Thranduil remained quiet. For all she would have happily jumped at the chance to spend time with her grandfather earlier that day, this was not at all what she had in mind.
Glancing at the door Emily drew her arms around her knees. "Vede...is he angry with us?"
"You'll have to find that out yourself, penneth. Merenith is coming out."
AN: A final special note out to my dear friends Emenith and Aleustark...thank you for being there. To the rest of you, whatever your walk in life and where you might be, keep your chin up and keep plowing ahead! :)
