Ch. 12
Somehow, Elrond had managed to clean up and get to dinner plenty early, looking as if he hadn't even worked out that afternoon. There was an empty chair between Elrond and Mithrandir, and Elrond waved Amy to it. She sat down, and dinner passed uneventfully. Mithrandir said nothing about what he'd seen after the sparring round, to the relief of both Amy and Elrond, but the swordfighting came up a lot throughout dinner. Amy noticed Arwen watching her a little more than usual, but neither Elf said anything.
After dinner, Mattie, Kim, and Beth cornered Amy. They all but dragged her into the suite they shared. Mattie was the first to speak. "Just what happened out there after we left, Amy? I know it was something, because I've never seen you quite as flustered as when you came in before dinner. I knew you needed the time to get ready, but I'm dying to know."
"I…I'm not sure I'm ready for the twenty questions session just yet. Suffice it to say that Elrond and I are becoming close."
Kim hugged her. "I knew it!"
"Easy guys—it's nothing yet. We're going to need to take our time with this."
"Still, I think turnabout is fair play." Beth grinned. "After the stunt you pulled on Pete and me this morning…"
"Did it work?" Amy was grinning now.
"What!? Did it work—Why you—"
"It must have worked. It takes a lot to get you that flustered, too."
Beth dropped her head, blushing a bit. "Yeah, it worked."
"And?"
"And I'd rather not talk about it any more than you'd like to talk about you and Elrond. I'm sorry. We shouldn't have pushed you, but we were all curious."
"Don't worry about it. I didn't bring you guys here to play matchmaker, but it is fun." Amy was fighting a grin as she said this.
"Fun? Fun! Are all Elves as crazy as you?" Mattie was laughing out loud.
"No. I'm one of the worst. Anyway, you and Mark didn't need much prodding."
"No, I suppose not."
Amy glanced over at Kim. She looked a little uncomfortable with the discussion. "Let's get out of here, shall we? You got your answers, now let's not stay cooped up in here all night."
The others agreed, and Beth and Mattie hurried out. "Are you OK, Kim?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just feeling a little out of it. The way things are working out, it almost seems natural that Randy and I would get together, but I just don't think it's ever going to happen. I think the others think it already has, but I just don't think it will."
"Like I said, I didn't bring you here to play matchmaker. You can make whatever life you like here. You don't have to stay here in Rivendell, for that matter. I could arrange for any or all of you to travel to Gondor, or Rohan, or anywhere else you choose."
"I know. I'm not ready to leave here just yet, but I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, this is getting depressing. Let's get out and do something."
With that, the two women headed out, Kim on errands of her own, and Amy to find Elrond. She found him in his study, bent over books. She walked in and placed a hand on his shoulder. He didn't jump this time, but sat up and placed a hand over hers.
"Buried in your books, even at this hour?"
"I neglected them this afternoon. I have a few things I had meant to catch up on." Elrond sighed. "One would think I would manage to get ahead of these things somehow, but they always seem to arise to fill whatever time I have, no matter how much."
"You let them fill the time. If you had other things to divert your attention, the books would simply have to take second priority."
Elrond grinned up at her. "Is that a hint?"
"You can take it however you will." As Amy spoke, he stood, not releasing her hand.
"You are right. It has been many years since I have had something else to occupy my attention, so I have let the books and all the other inconsequential things occupy my time." He trailed his fingers through her hair. Amy closed her eyes, reveling in the sensation. Soon she felt his mouth on hers, and he gathered her against him. The two of them held each other for a long time. When they finally pulled apart, Amy rested her head on Elrond's shoulder, leaning against him.
Amy felt Elrond's sigh as much as she heard it. "Now we are faced with a great question: what now?"
Amy straightened to look at him. "What do you want to happen?"
"I know what my heart says, but my mind is not as certain."
Amy nodded, and leaned against him again. "When you're ready, I'll be waiting."
Elrond stepped back from her and took her face in his hands. "You truly are amazing, Almare."
Amy closed her eyes and ducked her head briefly. "Thank you."
The two of them spent the rest of the evening together, wandering the house and the gardens, chatting with each other and whoever might come by. Eventually, Elrond walked her back to the entrance to the suite she shared with the other women.
"Good night, Almare."
"Good night, Elrond." She kissed him lightly before turning and going in. The others were already in bed, and she was able to slip into bed unnoticed.
The next morning, after talking to the younger ones, Amy found Elrond. "How are you this morning, Elrond?"
Elrond nodded, but his gaze was vacant. "I am well."
"Are you alright? You seem distracted."
"No. I am well." It was hardly eloquent, but it was the best he could do. She was right. He was very distracted. The last night's kisses had left him confused.
"I've been thinking a lot, and I think it might be a good time for me to visit Galadriel in Lothlórien."
"So soon?" Elrond turned to her quickly, startled.
"Yes. I haven't seen Galadriel in many years, and it would be a good time to visit her. Besides, I think perhaps we would benefit from some time to sort out our emotions." Elrond's confusion was more obvious than hers, but Amy was feeling it, too. She wanted this relationship to occur, and she had fewer reservations about it, but it was occurring so quickly, and she needed some time apart from him to think. "I also think the young ones would enjoy the Golden Wood, and events being as they are, if we do not enjoy it now, they may not have another opportunity." She had learned enough of current events to know the dire times they were living in, and the implications of the coming cataclysm. The Elves would fade whether the Ring was destroyed or not.
"Yes, you are correct." Elrond sighed deeply. "It is just very soon, and sudden."
"Not so sudden, and in these times, we don't have the luxury of hundreds of years to explore each place, nor would the mortals, in any case."
Elrond nodded. "When would you like to leave?"
"Within a couple days. Can you spare an escort for us?"
"I would not allow you to go without."
"Not allow?" Amy grinned. "And do you think you could stop me?"
Elrond chuckled at that, the tension beginning to slip away. "No, probably not. I will make arrangements. Have the young ones ridden before?"
"Actually, I'm not sure. I'll work with them in the meantime. They will need suitable travel clothes."
"I'll see to the details. You needn't worry about it."
"Thank you, Elrond." She looked up at him, a little uncertain.
Elrond smiled softly. He would miss her, but it was probably for the best. The space would allow him to reconcile himself to his feelings and to focus on the Ring. It would not be long before it arrived in Rivendell. Still, it would be at least a day before she could leave.
Elrond moved closer and kissed her lightly. Amy's arms went around his neck, and they stood there, holding each other for a couple minutes. To the couple's slight disappointment, the arrangements came together quickly, and they planned to set out the next morning. Elrond and Amy spent much of the day together, enjoying each other's company as often as he could spare the time. At Amy's request, Legolas and Arwen gave the young ones their first lesson in riding. That night, they walked under the stars and kissed each other, but parted early. The party would leave early the next morning.
Somehow, Elrond had managed to clean up and get to dinner plenty early, looking as if he hadn't even worked out that afternoon. There was an empty chair between Elrond and Mithrandir, and Elrond waved Amy to it. She sat down, and dinner passed uneventfully. Mithrandir said nothing about what he'd seen after the sparring round, to the relief of both Amy and Elrond, but the swordfighting came up a lot throughout dinner. Amy noticed Arwen watching her a little more than usual, but neither Elf said anything.
After dinner, Mattie, Kim, and Beth cornered Amy. They all but dragged her into the suite they shared. Mattie was the first to speak. "Just what happened out there after we left, Amy? I know it was something, because I've never seen you quite as flustered as when you came in before dinner. I knew you needed the time to get ready, but I'm dying to know."
"I…I'm not sure I'm ready for the twenty questions session just yet. Suffice it to say that Elrond and I are becoming close."
Kim hugged her. "I knew it!"
"Easy guys—it's nothing yet. We're going to need to take our time with this."
"Still, I think turnabout is fair play." Beth grinned. "After the stunt you pulled on Pete and me this morning…"
"Did it work?" Amy was grinning now.
"What!? Did it work—Why you—"
"It must have worked. It takes a lot to get you that flustered, too."
Beth dropped her head, blushing a bit. "Yeah, it worked."
"And?"
"And I'd rather not talk about it any more than you'd like to talk about you and Elrond. I'm sorry. We shouldn't have pushed you, but we were all curious."
"Don't worry about it. I didn't bring you guys here to play matchmaker, but it is fun." Amy was fighting a grin as she said this.
"Fun? Fun! Are all Elves as crazy as you?" Mattie was laughing out loud.
"No. I'm one of the worst. Anyway, you and Mark didn't need much prodding."
"No, I suppose not."
Amy glanced over at Kim. She looked a little uncomfortable with the discussion. "Let's get out of here, shall we? You got your answers, now let's not stay cooped up in here all night."
The others agreed, and Beth and Mattie hurried out. "Are you OK, Kim?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just feeling a little out of it. The way things are working out, it almost seems natural that Randy and I would get together, but I just don't think it's ever going to happen. I think the others think it already has, but I just don't think it will."
"Like I said, I didn't bring you here to play matchmaker. You can make whatever life you like here. You don't have to stay here in Rivendell, for that matter. I could arrange for any or all of you to travel to Gondor, or Rohan, or anywhere else you choose."
"I know. I'm not ready to leave here just yet, but I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, this is getting depressing. Let's get out and do something."
With that, the two women headed out, Kim on errands of her own, and Amy to find Elrond. She found him in his study, bent over books. She walked in and placed a hand on his shoulder. He didn't jump this time, but sat up and placed a hand over hers.
"Buried in your books, even at this hour?"
"I neglected them this afternoon. I have a few things I had meant to catch up on." Elrond sighed. "One would think I would manage to get ahead of these things somehow, but they always seem to arise to fill whatever time I have, no matter how much."
"You let them fill the time. If you had other things to divert your attention, the books would simply have to take second priority."
Elrond grinned up at her. "Is that a hint?"
"You can take it however you will." As Amy spoke, he stood, not releasing her hand.
"You are right. It has been many years since I have had something else to occupy my attention, so I have let the books and all the other inconsequential things occupy my time." He trailed his fingers through her hair. Amy closed her eyes, reveling in the sensation. Soon she felt his mouth on hers, and he gathered her against him. The two of them held each other for a long time. When they finally pulled apart, Amy rested her head on Elrond's shoulder, leaning against him.
Amy felt Elrond's sigh as much as she heard it. "Now we are faced with a great question: what now?"
Amy straightened to look at him. "What do you want to happen?"
"I know what my heart says, but my mind is not as certain."
Amy nodded, and leaned against him again. "When you're ready, I'll be waiting."
Elrond stepped back from her and took her face in his hands. "You truly are amazing, Almare."
Amy closed her eyes and ducked her head briefly. "Thank you."
The two of them spent the rest of the evening together, wandering the house and the gardens, chatting with each other and whoever might come by. Eventually, Elrond walked her back to the entrance to the suite she shared with the other women.
"Good night, Almare."
"Good night, Elrond." She kissed him lightly before turning and going in. The others were already in bed, and she was able to slip into bed unnoticed.
The next morning, after talking to the younger ones, Amy found Elrond. "How are you this morning, Elrond?"
Elrond nodded, but his gaze was vacant. "I am well."
"Are you alright? You seem distracted."
"No. I am well." It was hardly eloquent, but it was the best he could do. She was right. He was very distracted. The last night's kisses had left him confused.
"I've been thinking a lot, and I think it might be a good time for me to visit Galadriel in Lothlórien."
"So soon?" Elrond turned to her quickly, startled.
"Yes. I haven't seen Galadriel in many years, and it would be a good time to visit her. Besides, I think perhaps we would benefit from some time to sort out our emotions." Elrond's confusion was more obvious than hers, but Amy was feeling it, too. She wanted this relationship to occur, and she had fewer reservations about it, but it was occurring so quickly, and she needed some time apart from him to think. "I also think the young ones would enjoy the Golden Wood, and events being as they are, if we do not enjoy it now, they may not have another opportunity." She had learned enough of current events to know the dire times they were living in, and the implications of the coming cataclysm. The Elves would fade whether the Ring was destroyed or not.
"Yes, you are correct." Elrond sighed deeply. "It is just very soon, and sudden."
"Not so sudden, and in these times, we don't have the luxury of hundreds of years to explore each place, nor would the mortals, in any case."
Elrond nodded. "When would you like to leave?"
"Within a couple days. Can you spare an escort for us?"
"I would not allow you to go without."
"Not allow?" Amy grinned. "And do you think you could stop me?"
Elrond chuckled at that, the tension beginning to slip away. "No, probably not. I will make arrangements. Have the young ones ridden before?"
"Actually, I'm not sure. I'll work with them in the meantime. They will need suitable travel clothes."
"I'll see to the details. You needn't worry about it."
"Thank you, Elrond." She looked up at him, a little uncertain.
Elrond smiled softly. He would miss her, but it was probably for the best. The space would allow him to reconcile himself to his feelings and to focus on the Ring. It would not be long before it arrived in Rivendell. Still, it would be at least a day before she could leave.
Elrond moved closer and kissed her lightly. Amy's arms went around his neck, and they stood there, holding each other for a couple minutes. To the couple's slight disappointment, the arrangements came together quickly, and they planned to set out the next morning. Elrond and Amy spent much of the day together, enjoying each other's company as often as he could spare the time. At Amy's request, Legolas and Arwen gave the young ones their first lesson in riding. That night, they walked under the stars and kissed each other, but parted early. The party would leave early the next morning.