Chapter 3 - Dreaming . . . ?

Beep…beep…beep…

Echoing from the depths. The sound was inescapable.

Beep…beep…

I couldn't move. My body felt too heavy, nothing responded to my commands. I was sore. Very sore. And I was trapped.

No!

I willed sensation through me. Fire shot through my muscles, tingling in my fingertips which remained motionless. Why couldn't I move?

Afraid, I retreated into the darkness. Better to consciously feel nothing than involuntarily feel helpless.

I hated this irrational fear.

I knew the expanse of land around me. This was a memory or a dream of one.

I let out a small relieved sigh, reaching the far end of the garden which merged with the vast pine forest engulfing the land around us. Our house was the only dwelling to be found for miles and miles. Set in the heart of this forest. Our forest. On the opposite side of the river which our house overlooked, the pine forest continued, standing proud atop the sheer rock faces that plunged into the running waters.

I'm home…

"Hej" I said, gazing at the small flat stone mound built between two lively young green trees. I knelt on the grass before the grey moss speckled stones, fingering the rounded elm leaves low enough for me to reach.

My heart thumped in panic. My throat felt constricted, and my arms and backs of my hands felt as if they had needles plugged into them. There was a most unimaginable pain at my waist, but I couldn't feel further down. Even in this memory I wasn't truly free, but my memory continued to play.

"We're heading into Stockholm today. Pappa doesn't know where yet, though he'll figure it out soon enough. We're all meeting at Madeleine's to have a tune and a few dances. Adam and Anne-Katrine might be there too which will be nice. I haven't seen them in years, and I think they're engaged now. We'd hoped for nicer weather, but Madde's living room is big enough. Then tonight Mamma and I are taking Pappa to his all time favourite place to eat." I chuckled. "He's so predictable, he'll have one of the pizzas I bet."

Beep….beep…

I paused, laying my hand on the cold mossy mound.

"I wish you were here."

The stones gave no answer, no ghostly whispers from beyond the grave. Despite telling myself I had long accepted this, it did little to dull the small empty hole somewhere in my soul, but I had learned to live with it. Death was the only certainty in life.

The trees channeled a breeze directly in my face, and for a moment the heavy scent of rain was replaced with that of ripe blueberries and bark. Comforted, the corners of my mouth curved slightly.

I heard my name called from the house and smiled wholeheartedly.

"We'll be back soon." I promised, kissing my fingertips before placing them on the headstone.

Beep…beep…

The memory quickly faded. Then that singing came back. The same unearthly voice. Only this time…

"…stars…light…"

x x x

I jolted awake, a scream half way up my throat. My hand had reached out to grab…

Nothing.

My throat itched and my muscles protested at the slightest movement. The room was foreign to me. Was I still asleep?

The murky light made identifying anything difficult. My bookshelves and desk seemed to have obtained an outstanding camouflage, I couldn't see them at all. My eyes bulged out of my head and I sat bolt upright with a loud squeak. Dim light half illuminated a vast room with a vaulted ceiling.

"Hey."

My head snapped around. Kimbela sat hunched over on her bed next to me. Her chestnut hair and skin was bathed in bluish moonlight and she cradled her head with one hand while clasping her throat with the other.

"Hi." I breathed heavily, looking over to the adjacent bed.

Glenys looked much the same as Kimbela. Curled into a ball and gazing out the sheer curtains.

She didn't look at either of us but asked, "Can't sleep?"

Kimbela shook her head. "No. Bad dream."

"I thought we'd wake up." Glenys seethed, resting her chin on her knees. "But I'm still in this fucking nightmare."

I couldn't fault her frustration. Even Kimbela's upbeat vibe had taken a blow.

Kimbela slid from her bed and walked to the bathroom.

"Thirsty?" She asked, and came out a moment later with three wooden cups of water. Handing them out, Kimbela came and sat next to me on the bed, leaning her head on my shoulder.

"I'm not usually like this but damn. That dream was…I don't even know."

"It's understandable." I soothed, resting my cheek on her head. Her hair smelled like rose oil with lingering hints of lemongrass. Across the room Glenys looked at us through eyes like narrow slits, making her eyes seem engulfed in utter blackness. I extended a hand to her, but she shook her head and looked out the window again, hugging her knees closer to her.

"Glenys, why were you in Stockholm?"

"What the fuck is it to you? Nothing. It's none of your business."

I flinched at the bite in Glenys' voice, my lips forming a strained line.

"I'm just trying to figure out how we came to be here. Maybe there's a connection between our visits or something."

Glenys ignored me, and I felt stupid for having asked.

"Maybe give her a day." Kimbela whispered, patting the back of my hand.

I turned my palm up and laced my fingers with hers, hoping to quell the empty feeling in my chest.

That once small and ignorable hole had grown. It felt wrong in every sense. Being alone. I had never given it much thought before. My parents had made me feel like I'd never be without them, despite them telling me one day I'd go into the world on my own.

"Hey, we'll get home." Kimbela chirped beside me, her thumb running over my checks. "We're counting on you, remember. You can actually understand these dudes."

I snorted, wiping away the rest of my tears. "Yes. We will get home."

The bed dipped and Glenys slid up beside me. Intense eyes scrutinising me. "How much do you know?"

"Enough." I replied.

"Yes but how much? Like you're certain or you think you know."

"I know enough to tell you where we are and who they are, but as to how they will treat us I can only hope they will not perceive us as a threat. Considering the circumstances." I said, holding her gaze. "We don't hail from any of the realms of men. We are completely new to them as they are new to us. Satisfied?"

Glenys swallowed nervously. I hadn't meant to frighten her and reached for her hand instinctively.

"These elves might be our way of finding the help we need to get home."

"And if they aren't?"

I clenched my jaw, bristling slightly at the accusatory tone. Would she blame me if I was wrong?

"Then we'll find another way." Kimbela vowed. "Together."

x

I watched over the girls. Their peaceful faces set with sleep, dreaming of anything but the world we now existed in. Or perhaps of that echoing beep. The strange feeling of being in our own bodies yet not.

What a nightmare.

Lord Celeborn had said we hadn't forsaken each other. But how long would that last?

What if they abandon me?

My throat seized and I sucked in an involuntary deep breath.

I couldn't speak for them, but I wouldn't leave them. Even if this were a dream, I didn't like the idea.

Restlessness bubbled in my stomach which was on a mission to turn itself inside out and eat itself with nerves.

One glance at the girls in their beds and deciding they were soundly asleep, I slipped out. Grabbing what resembled an over-robe on my way through the door.

The cool air soothed my hot skin, like a wintery kiss. The flet was smooth enough to slide my feet over without fear of getting any splinters. Lorien opened up before me. Murky depths illuminated by sparse globes of light. It looked deserted.

I wanted to move. To distract me from the noise in my head. From the discombobulation, the excitement and the multitude of pressing questions.

Elves and magic weapons. Galadriel's premonition—what journey?

I wandered along the walkways that bridged the trees, suspended in midair giving a strange sense of walking through the air. Before I knew it I was descending stairs, continuing down until I reached a pebble path and a few steps further I was stepping onto the grass.

I suppressed a gasp, savouring the cold grass on the soles of my feet. Closing my eyes I surrendered my senses to the world around me.

Silence. The numbing cold penetrating my feet. The foreign smell of the forest, more oaky and damp leaves than fresh pine. But it was real, and it beckoned me.

I moved through the shadows of the trees, sifting through what I saw and the thoughts that flooded my head.

Middle-earth. How did this happen? And Glenys and Kimbela? Figments of my imagination or am I seriously considering Middle-earth exists outside of a fantasy? But…this place isn't all that bad.

The music of nature hummed in the air, of trickling water and shivering leaves. The world basked in shades of silver and blue and the trees maintained their shimmering purple tinge.

I stopped in a particularly bright spot on the forest floor. A nebula shaped break in the canopy high above revealed a night sky speckled with stars. They were brighter than on earth, and infinitely more numerous.

Breath stilled in my chest as I stood, gazing skywards, drawn to a prominent cluster of stars which hung right above me. Four stars pointing in the directions of the compass shone the brightest, and the longer I looked at them, the calmer I felt.

I lay on the ground, arms spread wide and a contented grin on my face. Middle-earth. Wasn't this what some could only dream of?

I bet they'd never imagine Galadriel to be so formidable…and scary.

My fingers suddenly twitched, itching to play a tune, but my usual means to release stress was missing. Along with…everything else familiar.

A hum rose through the air, following the flow of my thoughts and feelings. The good, the sad, the angry all melted into notes that soared higher and higher until they became words. Of dreams and starlight, and before I knew it the sky had lightened. Soon the stars would vanish for the day.

I reached up as though I could brush them if I tried.

"Gil-Galad was an Elven-King,

Of him the harpers sadly sing,

The last who's realm was fair and free

Between the mountains and the se-"

A stick snapped.

I shot bolt upright and found the Lord standing at the edge of the small clearing.

Lord Celeborn was fully dressed. From his height it felt like he was looking down his nose at me, hands clasped behind his back and facial expression masterfully unreadable. My cheeks burned and I wrapped my over-robe tighter around me. Embarrassed that he'd caught me in my nighty.

He regarded me carefully before speaking gravely. "What do you know of the High-King."

My heart set off at a gallop. Who?!

Celeborn spoke again. "What is it you have seen."

"Seen My Lord?" I asked, flummoxed.

"You sing of events that have not yet come to pass." Lord Celeborn stated plainly, taking slow measured steps and extending his hand to me. "I advise you keep a closer eye on your surroundings. And do not wander aimlessly."

I nodded, though I took little of what he said in. Seen? The High-King?! What the hell was going on-

I froze where I stood, looking at Celeborn's unadorned brow. Surely the Lord of Lothlorien would wear something to denote his status. Surely he would sit at the head table…

Fuck.

"My Lord." My voice shook like a leaf. "What year is this?"

Celeborn's eyes were softer than his wife's, though I didn't feel any safer around him now than I had around Galadriel at our first introduction.

"Tis the 3315 year of the Second Age of the sun."

I bit the inside of my cheek a little too hard and winced, tasting blood on my tongue. I had not expected this. And why I had not only angered me.

Stupid stupid stupid!

I managed a hollow sounding, "Oh."

Second Age…what happened then? The War, which meant there were bigger fish out there than just Orcs with a much more powerful presence.

Sauron.

"You-you won't banish me—I mean us—will you?" My blood ran cold, jolting me awake very suddenly.

It would have been perilous to land in the Third age, but the Second Age when matters hung delicately in the balance and one small push could sway the future to catastrophic ends?

I let out a frightened whimper as the Lord's silence dragged on, hugging myself and willing the earth to swallow me whole. What troubles had I opened myself up to?

A hand rested on my shoulder, guiding me alongside him and it felt unnatural to resist leaning into the Lord's side. "Return to your rooms and rest and do not speak freely of your foresight. Galadriel will come and speak to you."

Lord Celeborn supported me as we returned to the talon. I drank the concoction he asked Vanya to prepare. It tasted like summer and sunlight, and before long I had drifted into dreamless sleep.

x

I sat by the river, as had become my habit over the past two days. The King of Lorinand was due to return any day, and my 'foresight' would be a particular topic of interest. Celeborn had promised as much.

Our hope in finding a way home had taken knock after knock every time we awoke in our room, and with guards monitoring our every move there was no chance of wandering off to find our own answers. The Lord and Lady didn't know of Gondor and Arnor, and Gandalf wouldn't come ashore for another thousand years at least. The loss of relying on the grey wizard to help us had dealt me a blow. I consoled myself with the fact that he'd be more likely to puff on his pipe, eyeing us from beneath his thick eyebrows and ask more questions than give straight forward answers.

How could I keep my word to get us home now? According to Galadriel, we had 'arrived from beyond the stars', as the mirror showed her.

I slumped over and held my face in my hands, a million and one thoughts churning in my mind all at once. It was stupid to assume for a moment that coming here would lead to adventure like a part of me had secretly hoped for.

"~What troubles you child?~"

I almost jumped out my skin, turning to see who had snuck up on me despite recognising the voice.

"~My Lady, I hadn't realised you were there.~"

Galadriel smiled widely, showing her perfect white teeth and tilting her head slightly.

"~No reason you should have.~" She said, sitting down on the grassy river bank beside me with all the grace and agility her body possessed. It was such a simple act, yet it looked so out of place. Almost human.

She kept her clear eyes on me, silently encouraging me to speak.

"~Your mind is heavy with the possibilities of what was and may yet be, my child.~" She commented so casually I almost didn't take in what she'd said. She turned to look over the river and took an exaggerated deep breath.

"~You should not fear your ability Gunda, but respect it. To glance into what is yet unknown to most is a rare gift.~"

"~It feels more like a burden.~"

"~Because you let it become one.~"

"~I mean no offence My Lady, but who can I talk to about this? Who am I to decide who gets to share in what I know?~"

Galadriel held my gaze firmly. A look I had come to expect from her.

"~Only you can decide that. Foreseeing such as you do comes with consequences.~" She spoke gravely, yet she offered encouragement in her own strange way.

I was unsure of how to respond other than something utterly mundane like 'oh'. I had messed up. Of that I was certain of, but to what extend I had yet to discover it seemed.

Galadriel offered me a knowing smile—the kind that said she knew what went through my mind. Perhaps she did. She was an elf, it would be foolish to underestimate them in any way.

"~Do not let your worries cloud your mind. The future can change with a single breath of fate, and fate is what brought you here.~"

I chuckled and shook my head in disbelief. "~Fate.~" I scoffed. "~My father would tell me that fate is for those happy to comply with the future assigned to them.~" And that destiny was made by those who challenged fate—who broke it and forged their own future. I swallowed. "~I'm not ready to believe fate had anything to do with this.~"

Galadriel's voice was surprisingly sweet in response. "~It is said among men that fate favours the brave.~" Soft fingers lifted my jaw and pulled my face to look the Lady in the eyes. "~Whether you believe in fate is not important now. You came here for a reason. And that reason will reveal itself when the time is right. So do not wander around feeling hopeless and take this time to learn.~"

"~Learn what?~" I asked, puzzled and intrigued.

"~Only you can decide that Gunda. Your journey lies ahead of you, not in the past.~"

Had I been plucky enough I might have glowered at her, but my respect for her and the feeling there was some truth to her words stopped me.

I remained by the river a while longer before returning to our talon. Golden beams of light set the white wood flets burning as the sun sunk lower in the sky.

I stopped in front of our door, wondering if I had the head space to be bombarded with questions. Deciding I would rather not, I turned on my heel and headed to the bathing talon diagonally across the flet.

I lost track of time again as I relaxed in the warm waters, resting my arms on the side and looking out at the sea of treetops. I pretended not to notice when Kimbela and Glenys joined me until it was unavoidable.

Kimbela's small hand rested on my shoulder, squeezing gently. "Girl, what's troubling you? You've been really uneasy."

I caught the worried look on her face, and offered a glum smile.

"It's nothing."

"Don't lie to us, or keep things locked up. It's not good for you and we're the only other people who get what you're going through." Kimbela scolded, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Help us so we can help each other."

There was no use in keeping secrets. If we were supposed to be a team then there needed to be a level of trust and honesty between us. I glanced beyond Kimbela as a shadow moving behind her alerted me to Glenys' presence.

"Do you remember I told you I said something I shouldn't have." I asked.

Both girls nodded. I had explained when and where we had landed the first chance I got, however it quickly became apparent that the who's, the when's and the where's only mattered to me. The details made little difference to their perceptions of this world.

That was until Galadriel had been less than covert in asking about my 'foresight'.

"So they think you can see the future. So what? It's not like you have to tell them anything. And they can't make you." Glenys said, trying to be helpful.

The guilt flashing through my eyes had them looking to each other with concern.

"They can't…can they?" Glenys probed.

"I sang a song of someones downfall."

"As in their death?"

I nodded. "Only this person isn't dead yet. He is also highly regarded," I held my breath. Either side of me the girls rested a hand on my shoulder or arm. "He's the High-King."

"Dang." Kimbela grimaced. "They won't let that go easily. They might even consider it treason."

I visibly winced, and from the grunt to my left, Glenys had shot Kimbela a warning glare.

"I'm being practical." Kimbela defended. "So what do we do?"

"Nothing." I replied bluntly. "As far as they know I am the only one with this gift."

"You're not wrong there." Glenys huffed, wading into the middle of the pool to wash her hair.

I turned and crossed my arms, peering into the waters thoughtfully.

"So you two truly don't know of the events of this world."

"Some dudes go on a quest to destroy a giant flaming eyeball." Glenys said nonchalantly. "That's all."

"Metaphorically speaking that's close enough. It's also another three thousand years in the future."

The look of surprise on Glenys' face was answer enough for me.

"How's that posible?!" Glenys squeaked.

"This world has an extensive history from its creation up to, pretty much its end. This is why I'm worried. If we change anything now, even the smallest detail, it could be catastrophic in the future."

"Okay, so you don't want to interrupt the time sequence. Easy, don't say anything." Glenys muttered over her shoulder, scrubbing herself with a sponge.

"That's the thing, I already have. And apparently we have a part in this world too from now on."

"So things have already changed." Kimbela mused to herself, pursing her lips in thought. "As far as that goes, I don't think there's anything we can do. We can only prepare ourselves. Is there anything you think we need to know?"

"Yeah." I huffed. "Don't let on that you knew of this world from back home. It's bad enough that they think I'm some fortune teller, but there are things out there," I pointed a thumb over my shoulder towards the outside. "That are very dangerous." And I didn't want us getting kicked out to fend for ourselves by freaking the elves out.

"Worse than those things?" Glenys asked, and I nodded.

"Far worse. And at the hint of a seer or anything that'll benefit them, I wager they won't hesitate to obtain it by any means necessary."

Glenys whirled around, dark eyes sharp and fierce as she shuddered and sank a little further into the water. I mouthed an apology.

"What if things begin to go wrong?" Kimbela asked, lifting her chin from its perch on her finger and thumb. "Are you saying you wouldn't give them hints?"

It was a good question. And yet another one to add to the growing list of answers I didn't have.

"I don't know." I said. Would dropping hints be as bad as outright telling the free races what was supposed to happen? "Not yet anyway."

"I mean, there is little point in us giving predictions. This one didn't know what an orc was three days ago." Kimbela teased, pointing thumb at Glenys.

"Hey! You didn't know either!"

Kimbela stuck out her tongue in retaliation. We had reached a sort of teasing truce. Glenys was still wary around us, but not as prickly as she had been in the beginning.

"Anyway, in comparison to you Gunda, Glenys and I have extremely limited knowledge of Middle-earth. I agree that we should not tell anyone of what we do know like that giant flying eyeball, but you have read the books, therefore you are the one in a position to ensure that the events happen as they should—if you feel that's the right thing to do. But we're with you, right Glenys?"

"Right."

I was uplifted by Kimbela's positive smile and happy voice. There was not a shadow of a doubt within her that we couldn't handle this 'journey' Galadriel was certain lay ahead, nor did she doubt us as a team. A corner of my mouth curled upwards and I pulled her into a hug. Relief washing over me like gentle waves on a shoreline.

"Thank you, and you too." I extended my other arm to Glenys who slowly joined the group embrace.

There was a rapid knocking on the door and Vanya rushed in as we broke apart. Her usually calm expression was set with urgency, ignoring our indignant stares at her having barged in on us naked.

The King had arrived and would be expecting us to join him for dinner.

Vanya left us to get out and dried, stressing that there was little time to dally.

"Gunda," Glenys hissed as we stepped out of the pool. "This King's not the same one you, ya' know."

"Thankfully not." I sighed, rapidly towel dried myself. "However Lorien's King is Sindar and the High-King is Noldor. The two peoples don't exactly get on, so I don't know how King…King…" I snapped my fingers, trying to remember his name.

"I think Haldir said he's Amdeer or something?" Kimbela called from behind the screen.

"That's him. I don't know how King Amdír will react to us."

Glenys proceeded to ask how powerful he was, and then, "Is he good looking?" Her tone was such that I couldn't tell if she was plain curious or flirtatious.

she did not just ask that…

I felt myself cringe.

"It is very disrespectful to talk about our king in such a manner." Vanya's tone had lost its sweetness. She'd marched in carrying clothes followed by two more elves carrying various items of paraphernalia. Vanya glared Glenys down, obviously not taking any crap from us.

"It was just a question!" Glenys objected.

I gulped. Just leave it.

"A question you should not voice so plainly, child. You are here out of the Lord Celeborn's good will and compassion. Do not make the King question his judgement."

Kimbela and I exchanged glances. Vanya clearly had a fierce side best left unprovoked.

Glenys huffed, stuck her nose in the air, then marched behind the screen to finish drying herself.

"Your sister lacks even the basics of manners." Vanya sighed, her tone returning to her usual calm, but no less exasperated level.

Kimbela and I shared another uneasy look and Glenys let out a snort.

We didn't get a chance to linger on her odd turn of phrase. Vanya quickly introduced us to Estelwen and Nessima, both similar to Vanya except their hair colour got lighter, Nessima being blonde and all dark eyed.

I was pulled behind a screen near the far wall by Nessima who hurriedly set about drying and plaiting my hair, rubbing sweet smelling oils into my skin and helping me into a weighty velvet dress. I admired its flattering shade of lilac blue as Nessima secured it. The gown was veined with silver, and silver cufflinks held the skintight sleeves together.

With a satisfied nod, Nessima took my hands in hers and gave me an encouraging smile. It felt as though she knew how I wanted to shiver with nerves, and her kind expression gave me some hope that the evening wouldn't be awkward or disastrous.

x

I sat on a dry bench by the door with Kimbela while the three elves fussed over Glenys. My stomach had been tying itself in knots for twenty minutes by that point, depleting my sense of appetite.

"That's pretty." Kimbela nodded at the ring I twirled around my finger subconsciously.

"Thanks." I breathed, then added awkwardly. "You look lovely."

Kimbela shrugged, despite looking a little uncomfortable. "It's not as bad as I thought. Estelwen said they've spent all day making it."

It was a flattering aubergine and cream beaded two piece. The materials melted together flawlessly, giving the appearance of a dress while being a top and spacious culottes. Her slippers matched too.

"It's from home. Isn't it." Kimbela said quietly, indicating the ring again.

I nodded. "Mamma gave it to me while I recovered from an injury."

"I'm guessing that tattoo on your back is supposed to cover the scar."

I stopped playing with my ring and gripped the bench, an uneasy feeling shooting up my spine. "Yeah, something like that."

"I only ask because," Kimbela reached within her top and pulled out a small metal talisman. "Your tattoo is the only other time I've seen this symbol."

My eyes went wide and I reached for the metal pendant. An X with four distinctively norse symbols on each point. I had always thought the symbol looked like two stylised arrows.

'No other symbol in the world exists like it.' That's what Pappa said…

I nodded. "I know this, but not what it means. Where did you get it?" I asked, letting the metal fall from my fingertips.

"It was my mothers. I found it in a random box. I can't explain it, but I saw it and there was this…pull towards it." Kimbela slipped the talisman back inside her top. "Father gave it to me when he saw how attached I got to it. It's the only thing I have of her."

Words of sympathy got stuck in my throat, unsure if they were needed or if they'd make her feel sad. Instead I slide my hand over her thin fingers and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

"Ahem…girls." Glenys cleared her throat. She stood before us, stunningly beautiful dressed in ash grey and silver, similar to mine with the tight bodice and flowing skirts, however hers lacked sleeves. "How do I look? I didn't like the sleeves so I had Vanya modify it."

"You had Vanya cut them off?!" I gasped, mortified that she could even consider ruining such a garment.

"Well yes! I don't want to go in looking like a glove!" Glenys snorted, admiring her long slender arms.

We couldn't deny that Glenys did look stunning. A thin supermodel body wrapped in expensive materials that most designers would have gone gaga over. Not to mention the colours made her dark eyes all the more bewitching.

Glenys smiled broadly and bounced up and down excitedly. "Come on, let's not be late!"

I closed my eyes so as not to offend her when I rolled my eyes. I wondered how far an elf's patience went. Glenys barely remembered to thank the elves as she glided out the room, but Kimbela's attempts in Sindarin earned us extra brownie points if their smiling faces were any indication.

"Your Sindarin is getting better." I told her as we walked along the flet towards Haldir and Glenys who, by the sounds of it, was bombarding the poor Marchwarden with questions on King Amdír.

"~Thank you. I have tutor good.~" Kimbela said, frowning when she realised it didn't sound right. "Did I get it right?"

"Almost, but you got your point across." I teased and she stuck her tongue out at me.

"I'll stick to the common tongue tonight I think." She decided and I nodded. I was sure the King spoke common tongue, whatever language that was.

Haldir stopped paying attention to Glenys the moment he caught sight of Kimbela, the slightest smile curving his mouth. Kimbela knew he was watching her and bowed her head, her rounded cheeks rising as she smiled.

"~Ladies, you all look radiant this night.~" He complimented, making me wonder if he was Kimbela's mystery tutor, for she was better than Glenys who last I saw, had grumbled her way through Vanya's tutorials.

Glenys stepped beside me, a little thundercloud above her head—likely from having been ignored. She was still adamant on knowing anything about this King. Single? Married? Nice? Vain?

"Glenys for the love of the Gods, drop it will you?" I begged under my breath.

"Hey! No holding out on us." She retorted, linking our arms to look natural, though we probably looked like we were being taken to dinner under duress.

"I'm not!" I hissed. "Don't make this worse."

"Oh please, they already know."

Kimbela broke her conversation with Haldir to shoot a warning glare at Glenys, who ignored her. I sucked in a desperate breath.

"Look, I'm pretty sure he has a son, and therefore a wife too. Okay?"

"And what of his son? Or the Queen? Are we meeting them too?" Glenys' expression remained calm, and her arms crossed. I couldn't tell if she was nervous, or sizing up prey. I hoped for our sakes it was neither.

I opened my mouth to respond.

"You shall meet with his majesty tonight. And I would advise you do not bring up his Majesties wife. She departed these lands long ago." Haldir spoke kindly, then gestured we follow him.

My brows knitted together as I noted Haldir didn't appear to be on edge after what I'd said. Was he 'in the know'?

After crossing several bridges and up another flight of stairs, we entered a clearly private dining room. Half the size of the common dining room and with subtle shades of silver and white, and another grand chandelier illuminated the vaulted room. A semi-circular table set with the finest silverware stood in the centre of the floor facing a balcony overlooking the kingdom. Along the far wall and out of view of use eating was a long buffet table with servants waiting to attend the guests.

I felt overwhelmingly out of place.

"Who would be easier to talk to. A prince or a King?" Glenys asked, having finished admiring the room and spinning around to look at me.

I felt my eyes might just roll out of their sockets, and Kimbela crossed her arms and covered her face with a hand. Glenys' expression soured considerably.

"Look. I'm nervous as hell and I want to know what we're up against." She snapped.

"We're not up against anyone." I said as calmly as I could to avoid suspicion. "We are meeting their leader so just act normal and don't do anything outrageous."

"Act normal. Got it." Glenys smiled sweetly, her tone hinting at a flirtatiousness that I was certain would not be appreciated in the company present. I got the sense the guarded Glenys would have been more appropriate than whatever side of her was surfacing now. She'd heard the word 'King' and seemingly lost more than just her marbles.

"Glenys," I warned. "Whatever you're planning, don't-"

"I'm being gracious and thankful to our host, as we all should be. Right?" Glenys smiled.

Kimbela grabbed my wrist, warning me not to start an argument. The room felt like it shrank. Every elven eye and ear monitoring our every move.

I swallowed and continued in a hushed whisper; "Yes, but there are ways of going about that-"

"~The Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel.~" Someone announced, making me jump slightly.

We stood side by side and bowed as the lordly couple entered, greeting us warmly. The Lord offered me an encouraging smile which helped loosen the tight knot in my gut.

"~King Amdír of Lorinand.~" The announcer spoke and I felt my knees want to buckle.

In stepped a stately looking elf. Tall and silver haired, dressed in fitted robes of a most befitting pale purple blue with tendrils and leaves embroidered in silver and gold. Atop his head sat a majestic golden circlet.

He radiated a sense of power as he entered. It took all my self control not to shrink away as he neared us. Clenching my teeth I held my ground, pushing back my fear and want to hide away inside a hole. I greeted him the same as I did with Celeborn and Galadriel, my heart plummeting when Glenys tried to be a bit more flamboyant by curtsying all the way down to the floor. Splaying out the material of her dress.

What ever happened to acting natural?!

"I see you are still learning our ways." The King spoke in a near angelic voice, offering to help Glenys up. She put on a coy smile and fluttered her eyelashes.

I held back a sigh, feeling waves of second hand embarrassment erode my ability to think straight.

King Amdír let go of Glenys' hand quickly and turned to Kimbela and myself. I kept my eyes downcast.

Yup, a staring competition with the floor is totally the right thing to do.

"Which one of you goes by the name of Gunda?" He asked pointedly, yet still managing to sound pleasant.

I gave a panicked sideways glance to Kimbela and Glenys stepped closer to me. Despite her hesitation, Kimbela nodded as a sign of encouragement.

"I am, Hîr nín." My voice crackled and my every nerve seized.

"~Step forward and look at me.~"

I obeyed and tried to avoid eye contact, unsure if it was rude to look an Elvenking in the eye.

"~Look me in the eyes.~"

Once again, I obeyed him without question. He stared at me like he was trying to read my mind, unfold every 'secret' I held.

"~My Marchwarden and Lord Celeborn tell me you are the one who speaks fluent Sindarin.~" He finally broke the silence and I let out a breath I hadn't realised I was holding.

I nodded once. "~Yes.~"

His head tilted slightly to the side.

"Galadriel, you sense nothing untoward?" The King spoke over me.

"Nothing my Lord." Galadriel replied, cool and calm.

The sudden clap of the Kings hands made all three of us jump.

"Then let us dine. We have much to discuss." He said, his eyes lingering on me a moment longer before offering us the chance to go before him. I took a step back with a slight curtsy.

"~My Lord, it is your house. I would not do you the injustice of sitting before you.~"

At this he raised a curious brow, but a pleased smile crept up onto his face.

"~It appears you know more than our language, Lady Gunda.~"

My heart stopped and I wanted to tell him that was simply the way I'd been brought up, but knew there was little to gain from that.

King Amdír took his seat in the big ornately carven chair in the centre of the table, then Celeborn and Galadriel took their seats at the far ends, leaving space either side of the King for us.

I indicated the girls to take their seats first, stalling as much as I could. Glenys bore a freakishly blank expression, but her intimidating glare was pinned to the back of the King's head. I trusted her not to insult the King, but her intentions appeared to be another matter. I could only hope for the best and worry about what lay ahead of me.

We sat and enjoyed the food served to us. I felt overly conscious of my every mouthful following King Amdír's insistence that I sit next to him. Kimbela sat beside me, offering much needed support, and Glenys sat on the King's other side.

The King had the patience of a saint, for when he was not engaged in conversation with Lord Celeborn, Glenys was chatting away to him. Asking where he had been and if his journey had been good. She even went so far as to compliment herself on having learned how to say 'My name is' in his mother tongue.

Kimbela and I tried to ignore the heat rising in our cheeks and kept up conversation with Galadriel about various Sindarin dialects and Telerin. It took me a while to cotton onto why she avoided speaking of Quenyan.

Behind me Glenys let out a high-pitched giggle, and I wondered jokingly how long it would be before we were escorted out of the dining room for inappropriate conduct.

From the corner of my eye I saw the King taking interest in our conversation on the meanings behind honorary names. My gut tightened when he caught my stare and I smiled to compensate.

The King rested an elbow on the armrest and watched us carefully as he spoke. "And what do your names mean? For I have never heard such names as Gunda, Kimbela or Glenys."

I turned my head to look at him properly. His ash grey eyes looked me dead in the face again, sending a nervous tremble down my body. When I made no move to answer, he asked Kimbela.

"Oh, Kimbella is the name of an old germanic goddess of war." She answered cooly. "But it wasn't individualistic enough for my dad, so it turned into Kimbela."

"Intriguing, but why a goddess of war?" The King asked, genuinely interested.

Kimbela shrugged. "Dad was in the army since he was eighteen. He was high ranking when he left to take care of me. And, well, once a soldier always a soldier, your majesty. It is a part of him I'll carry with me always."

Her tale explained a lot, but it brought a sombreness to her otherwise bright eyes. I withheld any further questions when I felt the Kings eyes shift to me like a magnet.

"And yours?" He asked me. "What does your name mean? Or do you have an epessë?"

It wasn't hard to guess what he was aiming for. My heart hammered against my chest and my palms grew sweaty as I gripped the folds of my dress.

"What's an epessë your majesty?" Glenys crooned from the other side.

King Amdír turned patiently to her. "Tis an honour name. Given after great deeds or perhaps an unusual gift."

"Oh," She hummed sweetly. "Well, I was very nearly named after the norse Goddess of love and beauty, Freyja. But mother changed her mind last minute so I was given a Celtic name instead." Glenys smiled, as though inviting the King to further question her.

My brows knitted together, and I was unsure why I felt what Glenys had said was important.

Two girls nearly named after Goddesses of War is pure chance. Isn't it?

But then there was Kimbela's talisman…

"Gunda?" Someone whispered, poking my arm.

Coming back to the living world I found everyone waiting for my answer.

"Oh," I cleared my throat uncomfortably and gave the King an apologetic nod. "I, eh, have no epessë." The King inclined his head, clearly wanting more information. I sucked my lips into a line. "And my name means Warrior of Thor."

My voice shook slightly under King Amdír's heavy gaze. He still searched me for answers I wasn't sure I knew or could give. I still pushed myself to stare back as politely as I could, not willing to cave so easily.

I caught Glenys' dark eyes which were still fixated on the king with an uncanny level of determination, and a hint of imprudence.

"Lady Glenys." King Amdír spoke calmly as he righted himself in his seat. "It is polite to make small talk with everyone present, unless you have something noteworthy to share." He finished his little lesson by sipping his wine delicately. His movements so relaxed and smooth he gave the impression of being lethal with minimal effort.

Glenys' face heated rapidly and she swivelled in her chair so she no longer leaned towards him. The King seemed unfazed, but I wondered how far his good will stretched if he had just put Glenys in her place.

"You're doing fine girl, stop worrying." Kimbela whispered in my ear.

I let out a nervous breath. "Thanks."

I felt Celeborn's promise looming. A near tangible anticipation between the King and I brewing like a storm on the horizon.

A familiar sweet metallic taste touched my tongue and I instinctively looked out over the balcony.

"~If I may interrupt your deep thoughts, Lady Gunda, I have a few questions. If you would indulge my curiosities.~" The King's voice suddenly sounded in my ear.

"~ Of course my Lord.~" I answered, pulling my attention from the view and acknowledging him with a slight bow of my head.

King Amdír inclined his body towards me, his chin balanced on his delicate fingers and a pleased smile on his lips.

"~Lord Celeborn has informed me you have the gift of foresight.~" He paused, studying any subtle changes in my expression.

I pulled my shoulders back a little and nodded slowly.

I might as well own this 'gift'. It's strictly not a lie.

"~Is it true then, that you have foreseen something of the High-King.~"

I took a deep breath when I realised I'd stopped. Whatever I said now determined how we moved forward in this world. Did I let them decide for themselves, or would I help. I held his gaze as gently as I could.

"~My Lord, I do not wish to anger you, but I should not have spoken as freely as I did.~"

"~You would not share your gift for the greater good?~"

"~My Lord, what good can come out of knowing what will happen?~"

"~The prevention of potentially destructive events, my Lady.~" King Amdír lilted. It made me wonder what he might do if he knew of the war. He might not even commit to it. My stomach clenched.

"~My Lord, with all due respect, most would seek to change the future if they so much as caught a glimpse of what was going to happen, and one change can cause devastating effects to the far-future that not even I could see.~"

The King leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the table. An elf quickly refilled his goblet.

"~Are you willing to speak of anything you see.~" He was beginning to get wary of my noncommittal answers. "~You will forgive my forwardness, Lady Gunda, but if you have foreseen anything pertaining to the High-King, and do not alert us,~" He swirled his wine and sipped it casually, gazing out over the forest. "~It is considered a foreign threat to his safety.~"

Every body in the room who understood froze. Celeborn's eyes shot to his King, cautious and questioning.

The sudden quiet in the room caught Kimbela and Glenys' attention, and they looked to me. The sudden weight of an unsuspecting responsibility crashed down on my shoulders, but instead of fearful, I felt angry.

Taking a shaky breath, I answered as evenly as I could, "I can understand your vigilance, your majesty, and I will heed your warning. But you will forgive me if I think it wise to err on the side of caution."

I gambled on the fact that most of the serving elves didn't speak common tongue, and held my breath in hopes that I had not just angered the King with my upfront stubbornness. I glanced around at all the attentive eyes and ears in the room.

"Would you be more at ease if we were to talk in private?" The King's voice quietened considerably and without thinking I answered;

"Yes."

"Then we shall continue after dinner."

The King appeared to act as though nothing had transpired between us for the rest of the meal, which I was too on edge to enjoy. On top of my churning stomach, my back began to tingle and burn. I squirmed as the discomfort grew until it got to the point that it consumed my thoughts.

"Gunda, what hurts?" Kimbela asked, leaning over with a look of concern.

"It's my back. I think I've pinched a nerve or-" I sucked a breath in between my teeth. My skin felt as though it had just been branded

"Gunda what's wrong?" Glenys jumped out of her seat. "Did you get injured during the attack?"

I shook my head. "I think we would have known by now if I had." I winced as even the slightest move hurt me.

"My Lord, may I ask on behalf of our guests that they be excused." Both Galadriel and Celeborn had risen too their feet.

The King gave a swift nod of his head and instructed one of the serving elves to find the chief healer.

I was carried out by Haldir, Kimbela and Glenys not far behind. In too much pain to walk, jaw clenched to stop from whimpering too much.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, soaking the Marchwardens tunic. I mumbled broken apologies but Haldir kept reassuring me that was unnecessary.

I was laid on my side, sweating from the pain and groaning. Glenys grabbed a cup from the bathroom and began mopping my forehead, neck and chest.

"Who's outside?" I panted, feeling disorientated and heedful of the voices outside our door.

"Haldir and Galadriel's husband." Glenys answered.

"Celeborn." I corrected, much to her amusement. "Did I offend anyone?"

"Nah, you were badass telling him where to get off."

We shared a giggle, though mine was purely nervous.

The chief healer arrived to treat me, only to discover she couldn't identify what ailed me. She gave me some horrid guff to drink which was supposed to break the sweat and ease the pain.

After an hour the fever broke and the pain eased to a dull throb.

"~How old is this wound?~" The healer asked, inspecting my back for the fourth time.

"~About five years.~"

"~You are lucky to have survived.~" She said, covering me before turning to Celeborn who stood just outside, closing the door behind her.

Kimbela settled down next to me in the bed, and I was too tired to protest. She ran her fingers through my hair like my mother once did, and again, the hole in my chest I had so desperately been ignoring felt like it knitted together a little bit.

Glenys sat in her own bed and starred at the sheet lightening which lit the skies every few minutes.

"Should I even bother saying 'sleep well'?" She sighed, and we laughed.

"It's worth saying all the same, is it not?" Kimbela replied, pulling up the covers and making herself comfortable.

"Goodnight girls." I mumbled as I drifted into the strange oblivion that awaited me.

Thanks for reading!

Sindarin

Hîr nín - my Lord