A low rumble beneath her head had Evelyn jerking awake to see a bushel of golden hair peeking out at her from the slightly opened doorway. Nightshade gave another warning growl before while Evelyn sent the elf a glare that she knew he could feel even in the dim light.

"Good morning, Raven," Glorfindel spoke quietly. "May I come in?"

Evelyn looked down at Nightshade and the pair deemed him safe... for now. Apparently Glorfindel could see rather well as at Evelyn's slight nod, he promptly entered and lit the candle nearest the door. He approached Evelyn slowly and crouched down beside where she laid on the floor, offering her another bowl of pain killing brew and a small bowl of soup with bread to settle her stomach. After Nightshade gave it an approving sniff, she quickly downed the tea and waited for Glorfindel to speak his piece.

"We have a different room for you," he spoke softly as if worried that she would startle like a skittish foal. "It is above this one and has a skylight so you can see outside and a bigger bed for the two of you to share. I already had the twins clear the way so there will be no-one in the halls."

"What about the twins?" she knew that they would be angry with her after she threatened their father.

"They owe you their lives, Lord Elrond considers you and honored guest, and I have made it abundantly clear that you are under my personal protection."

"I'm not under your anything. I am not yours or Elrond's," she growled, pressing herself further into Nightshade.

"No," his voice almost broke, but he held back a choke. "You are right. You are no one's. But please, let us... let me help you."

Evelyn said nothing, but the idea of obtaining a room with a skylight where she could see outside was too appealing of an offer to turn down. Thus, she began dragging herself painfully to her feet. A quick test alerted her that she could no bear weight on her broken ankle and that her shoulder ached if she moved it too quickly. Glorfindel rushed forward to assist her, but an angrier growl from Nightshade had him stepping back. Once Evelyn resigned herself to not being able to walk, she carefully eased herself onto Nightshade's back, allowing the massive wolf to carry her like a horse. Glorfindel said nothing as she opened the door and allowed the pair to travel through.

True to his word, the hallway was empty and the stairs were silent as Nightshade carried Evelyn ever so carefully up. Part of Evelyn became paranoid when he walked behind her and Nightshade as they climbed the stone steps, but she eventually realized that he was worried about her falling. She ignored the flicker of something deep in her chest at the thought and instead focused on locating each window that they passed, estimating if she and Nightshade would be able to fit through them in the future when her wing was healed.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached the room and Evelyn quickly slightly from Nightshade's back and onto the bed. The circular room instantly calmed her nerves as it was so vastly different from the one before. Unlike the other room that held all the bleak sterility of a hospital or prison, this room was warm. A large pane of glass set into the ceiling revealed the red of a rising sun and a fresh dusting of powder-like clouds. The bed she was in was incredibly plush and had a large, four poster frame with intricate carvings of flowers. It was massive and could easily accommodate both her and Nightshade. Beside the bed was a beautifully crafted oak bedside stand with more carvings of flowers, a vase with fresh blossoms, and an oil lamp which may well have been designed for a child's bedroom as it was shaped into a strange elephant with the light flickering forth from its trunk. In the far corner sat a couch made of similar woods and carvings, plush with yellow fabric. On the floor, a large and soft rug covered the majority of the cold floor and a merry fire blade on in the hearth. Across the room, Evelyn spotted a small dresser with a little stack of books and a mirror hanging on the far wall.

The books in particular caught her eye. Glrofindel, who had been standing nervously at the doorway watching her observing her surroundings, instantly noticed where her gaze hitched. He immediately rushed across the room and lifted the first few in the stack, bringing them over to her Evelyn's new nightstand. As he approached with a sheepish smile on his face, Evelyn turned her awe filled gazed towards him, mind racing through the possibilities.

"Whose room is this?" she asked, knowing that such nice things couldn't possibly be communal property, even here in Imaldris.

"This room is yours for as long as you would like," he then fished a small brass key out of his pocket, offering it to her on a long string. "Here, you may enter and exit as you please, though at times there may be others who use this hall, it is connected to Elrond's private wing so mostly it is his family and a few servants."

Evelyn accepted the key wordlessly, but her face lit up when Glorfindel handed her the first book in the stack- the title was in English. She turned the canvas bound volume over and over again in her hands, savoring the weight of the book. Checking the spine, she saw that it was a book on fairy-tales of men... a storybook made by humans. She opened the cover and swept her eyes across the first page, suddenly overcome with emotion she released a choked sob. In an instant, Glorfindel was down on one knee, attempting to meet Evelyn's gaze without touching her.

"Raven- Raven," his voice pitched high with worry. "What's wrong? Was it not a good idea? Did the book bring back-"

"Memories," she supplied, a half sob still in her throat. "It's... it's just memories of a better time." She was overcome with emotion. For a moment, holding that book of foreign fairy tales brought back memories of being home, of sitting on his grandfather's lap as he told her stories about the fay, about how to look for magic. She remembered how he would read from those old, dusty volumes on his shelves and swear to her that she had magic in her just as surly as did the fairies. Oh how she missed those days, those endless days of books where words could transport her to worlds that she could just as easily escape from as enter. Evelyn turned to Glorfindel, true gratitude shining in her eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He smiled so brightly, Evelyn would have sworn that the sun rose a bit higher just to peak into the room. He then informed her that he would be returning with a proper lunch when the sun rose a bit higher and that if she needed absolutely anything, then all she had to do was ask.

The golden elf turned and left, leaving Evelyn and Nightshade alone to read through the new books that she had received.

Evelyn continued to weep tears of joy. She had not held a book in... well more years than she could count. There was a time when books were her life, when she lived in them through stories, cursed them while studying, and sought them out for comfort. Now, she had just a little, tiny piece of home. No the books weren't the ones she was used to, no they weren't from her world, but these sewn together pieces of paper and ink still had that same warm, velvety scent that she perfectly associated with home, that feeling of pages crinkling against her fingers, and the warmth that spread deep in her chest felt equal parts heavy and light.

Quickly, she found herself lost between the pages of fairytale wholly new to her.

She would swear that Nightshade purred like a cat when she began to read.

A familiar, light rap sounded on the door and Elrond beckoned the elf in. Lindir, practically glided into the room and bowed, waiting to be acknowledged.

"Yes?" Elrond asked patiently, wondering what was bringing his faithful Chief Steward and minstrel to his office so early.

"My Lord... Lord Glorfindel is..." he paused, attempting to find the proper word. "Distraught?'

Elrond immediately came to attention, concerned that Glorfindel was relapsing with his nightmares.

"What makes you say so?"

"He... well..." Lindir, looking unusually flustered blushed slightly before stumbling around his next words. "He has no furniture... at least not anymore. He took one look at that tower room and disliked it immediately. Lord Glorifndel spent all night with three of my staff, moving nearly all of his furniture, including his bed, into the room. He even took the rug off his floors and placed it in there." Elrond sighed heavily, but allowed Lindir to continue rising in speed and pitch. "His clothes are currently stacked on his floor as he moved his dresser into that room and he is sleeping on a cot from the Healing Halls and there is no way for the workshops to build him a new set for weeks." He finished his speech with a bit of a huff, raising his chin in irritated defiance.

"Thank you Lindir," Elrond warred with laughing or sighing in exasperation. "I am certain that Lord Glorfindel will not mind using the furniture from the Healing Halls for now. Do not worry about it."

"Thank you," he bowed low before being dismissed.

Elrond thought that the incident was over, but no sooner had Lindir left than another knock sounded on his door. He bade them enter and placed the letter that he was attempting to draft on his desk, surprised to find Galoriel, one of the senior gardeners standing hesitantly before him.

"What can I help you with, Galoriel?" he asked.

"My Lord... I fear that someone may have climbed the walls into your personal gardens last night," she spoke with great concern for she knew that Lord Elrond rarely locked the door leading from his personal wing into the garden. His personal garden had exceptionally high walls and Imaldris was relatively safe, but no one save his staff and those who dwelled in his wing ever entered the small gardens.

"What makes you think so?" he asked, curiosity peaked slightly.

"There were... flowers missing. A good number of Day Lilies, Daffodils, and Golden Roses were cut sometime in the night... they were perfectly fine yesterday morning." She paused for a moment before continuing. "The plants are fine my Lord, no harm done... but they were certainly not cut in a pleasing pattern. It seemed that whoever cut them only selected their favorite blossoms, uncaring how unevenly they trimmed the plant."

"Day Lilies, Daffodils, and Golden Roses," Elrond hummed in thought. "Those would be some of Lord Glorfindel's favorite flowers?"

"I... I suppose so my Lord."

"There is no cause for concern Galoriel," he smiled gently at the young elf. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention however."

The gardener bowed gently and exited with a quick shuffle whilst Elrond could feel the beginnings of a headache forming. He was quickly regretting his decision to force Glorfindel to take time off his duties, half encouraged to send him out on the next patrol. Nonetheless, he continued with his letter, nearly reaching the end of it when another knock sounded. Elrond bit back a scathing greeting and instead beckoned them to enter.

"My Lord," a young servant from the kitchen entered with an early lunch on a tray.

"Ah," he smiled, genuinely pleased. "Thank you. You may set it on that table."

"Of course my Lord," the young elf hurried to comply, but hesitated a moment before leaving. "My Lord..." Elrond looked back up from his desk and smiled tightly, nodding his head to urge the boy to continue. "The Head Cook wished for me to inform you that Lord Glorfindel made quite the ruckus in her kitchens... he was requesting raw, fresh meat and insisted on hovering over her while she prepared a bowl of soup and cuttings of bread." The young elf flushed red at having to deliver the news and Elrond almost felt bad for him. "She... she told me to inform you that the next time he breathes down her neck while she cooks... 'Balrog slayer or not she'll chase him out of her kitchen with the nearest ladle,' and she seemed a bit serious as she said it." He bit his lip lightly, waiting for Elrond to reply.

Elrond blankly stared at him for several moments, mind processing what he just heard. eventually, he gave up attempting to wrap his head around the unnecessary violence of his upper staff and merely dismissed him with an assurance that he would be speaking to Glorfindel.

Left alone with his still unfinished letter, Elrond attempted to muster up the courage to dip his feather into the inkwell. Maybe, just maybe, Eru will allow me to finish one piece of business before the sun reaches its height.

That thought was interrupted by another knock on his door. Elrond fought the urge to bang his head agains this desk as the firm, precise rapping continued. He would recognize that knock anywhere.

"Enter, Erestor," he spoke as clearly as he could, shuffling several papers across his desk. He had so much work to do that day...

"My Lord," he offered a stiff bow, that type he always used when he was immensely displeased. "There are books missing from the library."

"What is it that makes me assume that this has something to do with Glorfindel?" Elrond asked, brow raised.

"Your foresight is ever perceptive my Lord," he bit back dryly. "It seemed that Glofindel found it suitable to break into my library in the middle of the night... mind you he has no key so I haven't the faintest idea how me managed to... but he deemed it suitable to break in and steal several volumes, all from the Common section."

"If it was the middle of the night, how are you certain that it was Glorfindel?"

Erestor only raised his own brow in response, forcing Elrond to nod in acknowledgment. There was no other being in Imaldris who would risk Erestor's wrath by breaking into the library at night to check out books without properly logging them with the staff. Plus, there was really only one being residing in Imaldris who would require reading material exclusively in Common.

"I shall be speaking with Glorfindel soon and I will mention the books... as well as the furniture, the flowers, and the food," Elrond dropped his forehead to his hands, inhaling deeply to draw on as much of his patience as he could muster.

Erestor merely shot him a strange look before continuing.

"However, I did not come here just to inform you of Glorfindel's theft," he took a seat in the chair pulled beside Elrond's desk. "I wish for permission to interrogate our newest guest." The word "guest" he uttered with upmost contempt in his voice.

"Interrogations are for prisoners and Raven is no prisoner."

"Then allow me to interview her."

"I do not think such is wise. She is frightened and untrusting of us. I am certain that she will reveal more when the time is right."

"Glorfindel claims that she was present when Gondolin fell and she appeared when orcs attacked the patrol. She always seems to be at the footsteps of chaos and is utterly contemptuous of the Eldar." He paused and then continued. "Aside from that... she obviously knows more than she should for a mortal."

Erestor was of course referring to her insult thrown at Elrond the previous day: fosterling of kinslayers... thinking back on it, Elrond couldn't recall any other being bold enough to call him such to his face... only in rumors and whispers of gossip.

"There are many mysteries surrounding Raven, but I do not think it wise to upset her," Elrond hesitated at his words and Erestor pounced.

"I am concerned for the safety of Imalrdis."

"Such is Glorfindel's task."

"And you think him capable of making such decisions in this case?"

Elrond frowned, but considered Eresor's words carefully. In truth, he knew his Councilor was right, but he was loath to upset the fragile girl further. For all her fire and the words she spat at him, she still seemed incredibly young and bore the fragile body of a mortal, wounded deeply in battle.

"We shall both go to speak with her later today."

"Thank you, my Lord," Erestor bowed, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips.

"But remember, we proceed with caution and curtesy. She has suffered much already."

"Of course," Erestor nodded and left.

Elrond's quill was set on the bottom of the page of his letter. He was about to sign it and get his first piece of work actually completed for the day. Just as he thought that maybe, maybe he could get some work done, his door flew open without so much of a knock. There were precisely four elves in all of Imadris who made a habit of opening the door to his office without knocking, and three of them were his children. Elrond looked up and unsurprisingly found the elf he had just been hearing so much about.

"Are you here to launch a complaint against yourself?" he asked before Glorfindel could speak up.

Glorfindel froze in place, a look of confusion crossing his eyes before shrugging it off. He plopped himself down in the chair by Elrond's desk, wincing only slightly as his tender side was jarred by the sudden movement.

"I wish to speak about Raven."

"I supposed as much."

"She seems to be adjusting well, but she is still so frightened... and how does one broach the subject of the other being a creature of the past who saved their and their peoples' lives?"

Elrond glanced out the window briefly. The sun was climbing higher and its light cast a warm glow into the room though the open window. Outside he could hear the winter birds singing as the trees, having lost the last of their leaves, were in the process of falling asleep for the winder. The grounds of Imaldris were so peaceful... if only the household were such.

"I do not think there is a protocol for such things," he spoke with a wry grimace. "However, Erestor and I shall be speaking with her later today." He held up his hadn't at Glorfindel's protest. "We will be gentle with her, but we need to know what she is, and how she possibly came about being in Gondolin."

"I should like to be there."

"I will allow you under one condition," he hesitated, but if he did not allow Glorfindel in the room as they questioned the girl then he would surly find a way to listen in. The twins certainly considered Glorfindel their mentor in more ways than one and he indeed taught them much. "You are to remain silent. Erestor and I will connect the interview, and if he becomes too harsh then I shall intervene. Is that understood?"

Glorfindel paused in through for several moments before nodding his head stiffly.

"Good, we shall conduct the interview a few hours after lunch. I assume that you are taking her her food?"

"So long as she can tolerate it, I think I will be taking her her meals. I brought her here, I will see to her needs."

Elrond didn't bother to remind Glorfindel that Lindir was more than capable of organizing hospitality for guests and merely nodded before staring rather pointedly at the door until Glorfindel left. He waited for several minutes, frozen in place. When nothing else came to disturb him, he slumped back in relief as he dove into his paperwork. Somehow his usually tedious tasks seemed a delight... until another knock sounded.

"My Lord," it was Hammoron, the Head Tailor. "Apologies my Lord... but Glorfindel has just put in a rather strange request. A commission for... several gowns..."

Elrond sighed audibly this time, it looked like he would never finish any of his work.