I woke up that afternoon, to see Elrond sitting in the chair beside my bed, talking to a new Elf. Carefully I felt my forehead, because it still hurt. I found a sore spot which had to be a bruise. Great, I thought, I must look absolutely gorgeous. Elrond turned to face me as the other Elf left.
"Perhaps the porch was not the best idea. I am sorry that you grew dizzy again. It shall be remedied."
"It's not your fault. I tried to move around, and once more forgot my health." He nodded, but there was an expectancy in his eyes. I decided to give him the best answer I could. "I have no idea were I got the Elvish blood. Nor do I know where Luitha got it. I couldn't tell you if I was Teleri or Noldor if my life depended on it. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you know as much as I."
"I see. Originally, I thought your accident was on purpose to avoid the question, but your eyes show that you are telling the truth. How can you not know your parentage?"
"I don't know."
"Simple, yet honest. I apologize that you have never known you parents. I do have one more question, though." I braced myself for the worst, but was very much relieved when I heard his inquiry. "Do you know why you were affected more than Luitha by the lightning?"
Ah, one I had been pondering for a while. "I was sitting by the tree. The lightning no doubt used the tree as a conduit, and I was right there, while Luitha was not as close."
His eyebrows furrowed for a moment before he spoke. "That makes sense. Now, Erestor told me he informed you of what was to happen tonight. Let me fill in the..." he stopped at the sight of two entering the room.
Estel and Luitha made quite the sight, both of them dripping wet. I almost burst out laughing when he set her down, because she looked soaked to the skin. And then I noticed the ears. Elrond was right. Oh, did I have points on my ears? Unnoticed by the men, my hands felt my ears. They were pointed!
Elrond looked at the two of them. "What happened?" He rose to put his hand on Luitha's forehead, and ascertained that she was no worse for the wear. Estel opened the closet on the far wall before answering.
"We stopped by the River, she looked in, and the next thing I knew she was halfway down in, splashing like crazy. I jumped in and pulled her out." I was having trouble hiding my grin while Luitha turned bright red. And then Elrond had to spoil it.
"They both seem rather inclined to accidents, I fear. Tadan tried to sit up again, and missed the armrest with her hand when she tried to steady herself. However, she did catch it, with her head." Now it was my turn to grow red as Estel looked at me. Why, oh why, did I have to embarrass myself in front of two of the hottest men alive?
Estel pulled a dry gown out for Luitha, and motioned to a second doorway. "There is a dressing room behind that door, if you feel like changing before you lay down." She took the dress, and walked out.
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El luitha urenDarn it, I hated dresses. I really did. I looked down in disgust at the blue fabric that fell to the ground, swirling around my legs. I spun around and realized the shade was the exact same as my eyes. Elrond had good taste...
Wait. I hated dresses. I hated dresses.
Feeling rather awkward and self-conscious, I walked back into the room. Tadan was sitting up in her bed, propped against a pillow. It was the first time I'd seen her in full light, and I grew immediately worried. Was she all right? Had she even gotten out of bed? I wanted to run over and hug her, and I moved to sit next to her on the edge of the bed. She smiled weakly at me, as though she knew what was running through my mind. I smiled weakly back.
It was then that I grew aware of eyes upon us. Elrond and Estel were standing by the door in quiet discussion. Trying to use unobtrusive glances, I watched them quietly. Elrond's gaze kept flickering over to us, as though he was having trouble concentrating on his conversation with Estel. A healer worried about his patients? No, that wasn't it.
I looked back at Tadan; she too was trying to follow the conversation. It was only when I turned back and saw Elrond glancing over towards us once more that I understood. Was Elrond was falling for Tadan? For a human? No, Tadan's ears were defiantly as pointy as mine. She was an Elf too!
Estel turned to leave then. He held my eyes and slowly nodded at me, as though reassuring me. I felt comforted by the gesture and relaxed. I hadn't even realized I'd been tense. Without a sound, Estel left the room. Elrond turned to us.
"I wish for both of you to rest until tonight. You will need to save your strength. Elrohir will check on you periodically. Let him know if you need me for anything."
Tonight?
He gave a final look to Tadan, turned, and moved smoothly out the door. I decided then that it would be best if I kept my notions to myself and not tell Tadan what I thought I had seen. It wasn't really my business anyway.
At last, I was alone with my friend.
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Tadandader HalfElvenI watched as Elrond left, his cape billowing slightly as he exited. Then I turned to Luitha. "So you fell in by accident? You weren't trying to knock him in and missed?" Maybe the grin on my face gave me away, but she picked up one of the smaller pillows on my bed and raised it in a threatening manner. Still smiling, almost laughing, I weakly put my hands up in front of me, as if to block her.
"For your information, it was an accident. I saw my ears!" Luitha was smiling too. She knew my habit of teasing.
"Oh, how do mine look? Are they just as cool as yours?" I really wish I had a mirror. Oh, there was one on the front of the closet, but I had a feeling I couldn't get over there.
"They look very much like mine. How did you know?"
"Elrond and I were sitting on the porch when, out of the blue, he asked me about the bloodlines of myself and you. It seems that I also am a half Elf, while you are a full Elf. He found out when he healed us."
"Sitting on the porch?" Now she was grinning, but I had no idea why.
"Elrond said that it was proven that time outside helps heal some one who is ill."
"He did, did he? You had some private time with him?" Oh, now I saw what she was getting at. I began to blush, and I felt the blush creep up to my new ear tips.
"I don't think he was thinking along those lines. I think he's just concerned because..." I trailed off. I hated being sick, and being weak really irked me. Why did I have to sit so close to the darn tree? Just because I like plants...I sighed.
"Because what?" Her question broke into my thoughts about trees, and I really didn't want to answer, but she was my friend.
"There's something still wrong. I can't even sit up without the world spinning so fast it almost goes black."
She sat silently for a moment then, and I really wished I was psychic. Then she smiled and changed the subject. "You don't think he was thinking along those lines, but what about you?"
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El luitha urenI tried not to let it show, but Tadan was really beginning to worry me. How on Earth (Earth? Middle-Earth?) did lightning strike the tree inside the mall? I didn't think Tadan has ever fully realized the ramifications of her name. How ironic that I had never believed in fate before.
But, the blush in her new ear-tips lightened my mood. She and Elrond... I suppressed my grin to hide it from her.
I am not a matchmaker. Repeat it Luitha. I am not here to be a matchmaker. Tadan does not need any other worries right now. It's her business.
But the way Elrond was looking at her...
You are not a matchmaker Luitha.
Fine, fine.
"So what's up for tonight?"
"Some healing thing. Erestor was telling me about it. Nice dress by the way."
Dang it, she had to rub it in. I could fell my own ears turning scarlet now. In an attempt the change the subject, I related the entire conversation with Estel about Tolkien. Tadan seemed just as shocked as I had felt at the time.
"I'm thinking that maybe he got here the same way we did, and he became a Hobbit just like we became Elves and half Elves."
"Maybe," Tadan replied. "So if we ever get bored of Rivendell, we can hike over to the Shire and interrogate him."
Was she serious? It was always hard to tell if Tadan was being sarcastic or not. Her dry humor would be the end of me, I swore.
I was about to retort back when she put a hand to her head and her eyes started to unfocus.
"Tadan?" I held her shoulders to steady her. "Lay back down. Do you want me to call for help?"
She shook her head. "I'll be okay. Give me a minute. I was thinking too hard."
The healing couldn't take place soon enough, I thought worriedly.
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Tadandader HalfElvenWow, Tolkien was here! Now that was really cool. My mind drifted for a moment as I thought of all the questions I wanted to ask him. After all, he would have to know who Tom Bombadil was, and if Glorfindel of Rivendell was also of Gondolin and....My head spun, and I almost fell out of the bed. Luitha's voice sounded far away as she asked me if I needed help. After a second my dizziness subsided, and I turned to smile at Luitha. It didn't fool her. I should have known that she knew me too well. "I'm all right. Don't worry about it." Her eyes remained serious. Time to change the subject, I thought. "So what all did you do when you were off with Estel?"
Her eyes told me that she knew what I was doing, but she went along with it. After a few minutes, I was fully informed, and I grinned. "So he saved you a second time. How very interesting. Only, I think he likes women who wear dresses. That might be kind of hard for you."
She started talking again, by my thoughts drifted by accident. I was feeling worse than this morning, when the reverse should have been true. My head spun. Then I heard a new voice enter the conversation, and regained my train of thought. Elrohir wasn't quite as good looking as his father, but he was close.
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El luitha urenI moved back to my bed as Elrohir came in. How had he known to come just then, when Tadan had another wave of dizziness? He bent over Tadan and gently touched her brow. She fell asleep immediately. Elrohir turned to me with a frown.
"She'll sleep until tonight. Then we will see what is to be done. I suggest you rest as well. Sunset is not long from now. Father and Glorfindel will be in here soon." Still frowning, he walked quickly out the door. I was alone again.
I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling. It was patterned. How had I missed that before? It would drive me crazy now that I knew. I moved my head to watch Tadan sleep. What was wrong? Why couldn't Elrond heal her?
Well, I couldn't sleep now. I looked to the window, wishing for the sunlight to fade.
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Tadandader HalfElvenI felt as if I was in a boat, gently rocking back and forth. Why would there be a boat in Rivendell? I opened my eyes to see Elrond's face above me. Oh, he was carrying me. I closed my eyes again, for I felt very weak. Soft murmurs of conversation reached my ears, but I couldn't make any of it out until I heard Elrond speak. "We must work with some haste, for I feel her weakening." I tried to say that he was wrong, I would be fine, but couldn't open my mouth. Suddenly the rocking changed, and I felt something hard against my back. Opening my eyes, I ascertained that I was lying on some sort of table, and the stars were shining down through gaps in the beautiful ceiling. I closed my eyes, just wanting to sleep.
Elrond's voice spoke again, but I couldn't hear what he said. He was answered by another male Elven voice, and I felt a hand gently resting on my forehead. A second hand joined the first, and a wave of heat washed through my body, followed by my heartbeat quickening.
"It affected her heart's rhythm. It is not transporting enough blood to her brain. That explains the dizziness." The second Elf sounded sure of himself.
"Yes, Glorfindel, but I sense there is something else. Ah, perhaps.." Elrond's voice faded away. I drifted on the sea of stars.
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El luitha urenI was jolted awake from an uneasy sleep by the sound of the door opening. It was dark now. I had missed the sunset. Elrond strode in and moved quickly to Tadan's bed. Sitting down beside her, he touched a gentle finger to her forehead and sighed.
"She is weakening." The mumble was low. I didn't think he realized I was awake. He moved his finger down in what looked like a caress of her cheek before standing up with another sigh. Sliding both arms underneath her, she picked her up and moved back out the door.
I sat up. Were they taking her to be healed? Well she was my friend and I was not going to be left behind. I swung my legs off the bed and trotted over to the door. Quietly, I swung it open and stepped out. Strange lights lit the hallway, fueled by something other than fire. Their glow was soothing and much different than the harsh lightbulbs of my home.
Home. I pushed the thought out of my mind and moved into the hallway. It was actually more of an open walkway with a canopy for a ceiling. I felt a slight breeze sail through the warm air as I stood next to the railing of the hall, looking out over the whole of Rivendell. But my attention was swiftly drawn upwards.
"Most visitors are amazed at the beauty of Rivendell. Yet you do not even look twice, my lady." I started and whirled. Estel was standing behind me. I had not even heard him approach.
"Rivendell is beautiful," I answered. "But I have always been fascinated by the stars." I looked out again, seeking for my familiar friend, Orion, but could not find him. "The sky is different here from my own," I told Estel in wonder. I grew excited at the thought of learning the new patterns and names. "What is that?" I pointed to a bright star just over the horizon.
"Earendil," Estel answered softly. I stared in quiet amazement, unsure of what to say.
Estel broke the long silence that followed with, "There are not many for whom the beauty of the stars captures the heart. Few walk out into the night and look up instead of ahead."
"That is true of the people of my land as well," I answered. Another long silence followed.
"Where does your name come from, Luitha?" Estel's voice was low and curious.
"I knew a little of Elvish and gave myself that name." I smiled. "It means 'enchants' and does not make sense, I know."
"Then I will have to make it make sense, oh admirer of the stars, and I will give you a new name."
I tore my eyes away from the sky and turned to him in curiosity.
"And that will be?"
"El luitha uren," he told me softly. "A star enchants my heart."
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Tadandader HalfElvenI continued to drift in and out of my semi-conscious state throughout the healing. Then the heat was gone, and one of the hands left my forehead.
"We have tended what ails her. Let Elrohir take her back to bed and we shall rest." Glorfindel sounded tired.
"No. Go on, I shall take her to her room." Why? Was he afraid his son would drop me?
"My lord, that may not be wise..."
"I am aware of what wisdom is, and how to apply it correctly. However, I do not desire to leave her side at this time."
"We have healed her." A pause followed this statement, making me wonder if they were communicating with telepathy. "Ah, I see now. I shall send one of your sons to walk behind her so you do not trip and fall because of your weariness and stubbornness."
"It is not stubbornness, I merely wish to make certain that she is well. I shall sleep in the chair in their room."
"Just being a friendly host." Was there a hint of laughter in Glorfindel's voice?
"Yes. Now go to bed." With that, Elrond picked me up. A snort followed us as he walked away. I had no idea Elves snorted. It seemed rather, well, beneath them. My mind felt a little muddled, and I couldn't figure out what Glorfindel had been getting at. But I was very comfortable in Elrond's arms. Then I heard him speak again. "Luitha, Estel, how goes the night?"
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El luitha urenEstel's eyes held my own, refusing to let me move or even think. There seemed to be some longing within them, as though he wanted to say something but dared not.
"Luitha, Estel, how goes the night?" Elrond's words broke whatever spell had fallen over me. Estel looked up to greet the Elf Lord, and I cast my eyes down to my feet. What had happened? I was shaking, but I did not understand why.
You are being a silly ninny, I admonished to myself. Grow up and look to Tadan. She needs you more than anyone else does right now.
I looked up to see Elrond talking with Estel, Elrohir passing his glance between them. "...healed her. She needs rest now more than anything."
Estel placed a hand on the Elf Lord's shoulder. "My Lord, you need rest as well," he said quietly. Elrond did not answer, only moved toward Tadan's and my room. But he paused and turned back to look at Estel. His glance then slid over to me. I could read nothing from his face other than weariness, but I burned to know what his thoughts held just then. He said firmly, "Estel, we must talk," and turned back to the room. Elrohir followed along behind.
Estel turned to me, concern written across his face, and he swallowed before he spoke to me.
"Tadan has been healed. Elrond will spend the night with her to see that she remains that way. Come with me, I will show you to another room where you may sleep in peace."
I cast one last glance in Tadan's direction before following Estel down the hallway and into another room. The only thing I remembered after that was the look he gave me as he left the room. His eyes were filled with pain and sadness, bright blue dulled to gray.
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Tadandader HalfElvenI was surprised by the regret I felt when Elrond set me down in the bed. I almost wished he would pick me up again, then I repressed that thought. He sighed as the chair creaked beside my bed. "Elrohir, you may leave. I did not drop her, as Glorfindel feared I might."
"And if you should fall asleep, who would watch over her? I shall stay."
"Very well."
I fell asleep, strangely comforted by the thought that Elrond would be there when I awoke.
Once more, the sun fell on my face as soon as the first rays peaked over the edge of the world. With a groan I pulled a pillow over my head. I was almost back asleep when a hand touched my shoulder.
"Tadan?"
"Mmph." It's hard talking when your face is buried in pillows.
"Tadan, how do you feel?"
For that, I would have to take the pillow off. The sunlight hit my eyes harshly, and suddenly the rays were gone. I saw Elrohir standing by the now closed window. I smiled gratefully at him, then rolled over to face Elrond.
He looked rested, which surprised me, as the chair did not look comfortable. "Try to sit up."
I tried, and found to me surprise that I was only slightly dizzy. I could sit up! I resisted the sudden urge to try to stand. With my luck, I would fall flat on my face.
His hand once more rested on my forehead, and his smile appeared relieved. "Here," he began, holding out his other hand, "see if you can stand. If you cannot, I will catch you."
I was annoyed with my name for a moment. If ever there was a tempting of fate, this was it. But, he asked me to try. After all he had done for me, I could scarcely refuse him. Carefully I pulled back the blankets, only to be reminded how cold mornings in Rivendell were this time of year. However, Elrond was holding out his hand. I reached out and took it, and stood, leaning on him with most of my weight. Carefully I shifted part of my weight away from him, and lessened the death grip I had on his arm. I was standing. For some reason, I felt the scene was considerably lacking in fanfare for this event.
"Very good! You are improving rapidly, now. Here, climb back into the bad. You still are not dressed for the cold weather." It was then that I noticed I was wearing something new, a green robe over golden trousers. I shot a glance at Elrond as he helped me into my bed. My face, and very likely my ears, turned red.
"You are flushed. I am sorry, I did not realize this would be overexerting, but I should have." I was quite relieved when he mistook my expression. He tucked the blankets back around me, and it was then that I noticed Luitha wasn't there.
"Where is Luitha?"
"We knew we would be staying with you all night, in case you did not improve, so Estel took her to a different room. You should see her again soon, but I want you to relax for a while. Lunch shall be brought up shortly."
"Where are you going?" I asked, and wished I could take it back. He had been the kind host, and now I was expecting him to tell me of his daily doings?
But he was not angry. Instead he smiled softly. "I shall return soon. There are a few people I must converse with." With that, both he and Elrohir left the room. Great, I thought. I'm lonely and bored. With nothing to do but sleep. I relaxed upon the pillows and looked at the ground. Oh, maybe it was patterned?
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El luitha uren"El Luitha?" I felt the pressure of a gentle hand on my shoulder and immediately woke. There was only one person who would call me by that name.
Estel sat next to me on the bed, one hand casually on my arm. He looked even more wearied than last night.
"Where's Tadan?"
"She is in her room. She just woke, that is why I am here for you."
"She's awake?" I threw back the sheets, leaped to the floor, and immediately yelped at the touch of the cold marble to my foot.
Estel smiled as I tenderly made my way across the floor to where I had dropped my slippers the night before. He slowly stood and made his way over to the door, holding it open for me. "Are you ready?"
I frowned as I passed him. "Did you sleep at all last night?"
"Some," he admitted, but he avoided my eyes. Why had he changed so much in the few days since I had met him?
I turned my thoughts to Tadan. As we reached her room, Elrond and Elrohir met us at the door. Elrond seemed even more wearied than Estel, but he at least was smiling.
"She stood on her own just now. Whatever ailed her is now passing. She will be up very soon now." Elrond seemed very pleased, and I grinned at the news. The Elf Lord turned to Estel then. "My son, did you sleep at all?"
"It is no matter," Estel brushed this question off and addressed me. "El luitha, go and greet your friend."
Elrond's head jerked up a bit in what seemed like startlement, at my name? He glanced sharply at Estel, the same expression on his face I remembered seeing the night before. But I needed no further urging and flung open the door to run inside. With a cry of joy I ran to embrace my friend. How much better she looked! I hadn't realized until that moment how worried I had been.
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Tadandader HalfElvenI looked up from the floor at a shriek. It was Luitha! In a second she had wrapped me in a bear hug, and both of us were grinning like idiots. I caught sight of amusement on Elrond's face just before he closed the door. So this was why he hadn't made me go back to sleep.
"How are you?" she asked, and I smiled as I sat up without the aid of the pillows.
"I'm doing well. I even stood for a moment! Granted, I was holding Elrond's arm so hard he must have thought I was going to break it, but I stood!" We both just smiled for a minute. Her smile was relieved, while mine was triumphant. I no longer felt so weak, and I wasn't dizzy while I was sitting.
An Elf quickly came in with lunch and set it down by the bed before leaving quietly. We both began to eat. Between mouthfuls of soup Luitha told me that she had gone to follow Elrond last night only to run into Estel. But then she stopped.
"What is it?"
"He is...different. And, truth be told, I feel different when I'm with him."
"How is he different?"
"I don't know." I was pretty sure she did, but didn't press the subject. After all, I knew that Luitha would tell me soon enough, when she was ready.
The food was delicious, but I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to it, until it was gone. Then my stomach started to growl. Our eyes met and we burst out laughing. An Elf entered to the sound of our laughter.
"Ah, you have awoken." His voice sounded very familiar, and I had the sense that I had recently heard it, but couldn't place it. "My name is Glorfindel." Ah, so that was it. I dimly remembered phrases and sentences from last night between him and Elrond. I also recalled him laughing at Elrond for some reason. But before I could ask him one of my many questions, he crossed the floor and placed a hand on my forehead. Was every Elf going to do that today? "You are on the road to recovery. Take heed that your health does not harm others." With that odd comment he exited the room smoothly.
Luitha and I were left to stare at each other.
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El luitha urenWell, I must say I was rather impressed. Glorfindel! I felt like I should have bowed down and kissed his feet. He certainly seemed like an Elf Lord. But why so haughty? Not a bad sort of haughtiness, but I was not sure I liked the way he looked at Tadan. It was almost like he thought Tadan was some "disturber of the peace."
Our joyous mood was ruined right then, and we stared at each other in silence.
"What was that about?" I asked. Tadan shrugged without responding, and did not meet my eyes. She knew, but I wouldn't press her any more than she pressed me about Estel. I stood up just as Elrohir entered the room.
"Tadan! Glad to see you moving around! I hate to deprive you of your friend and leave you in extreme boredom, but I need to steal Luitha from you." I looked at Elrohir curiously, gave Tadan a confused look, and walked out of the room with the elf.
"Estel wanted me to take you to the horse pasture," Elrohir explained as we walked down the corridor. "Nearly every Elf here has a horse that agrees to carry him, and Estel asked that I find you one. He said you seemed to like riding yesterday and..."
Elrohir babbled on all the way to the pasture. He seemed so much younger than the other Elves, and I constantly found myself laughing with him instead of cowering before him.
"Here we are!" We stepped out of the trees into an open meadow. There wasn't a horse in sight. My skepticism must have shown, for Elrohir laughed and said, "Whistle and see what happens! If there is an Elvish horse here that will accept you, he will respond."
I gazed around the small clearing in the trees, cleared my throat, and whistled, well, attempted to whistle. I'd never been much of a good whistler. It took several tries before more than just "Pppffffttt" came out. At last a sharp shrill that surprised even me issued forth, and I stood waiting.
A neigh came from the far side of the field, and a white shaped hurtled towards us, coming to a complete stop just feet from me. Curving its neck, the horse nickered and nuzzled my chest. I laughed and rubbed its soft nose.
Elrohir grinned a smile so wide his whole face lit up. I had never seen an Elf grin before, it seemed so childish and beneath them. But Elrohir did not seem to fit in with my definition of 'Elf' anyway. "This is Asfaloth," he announced. "The swiftest stallion in our pastures. Glorfindel uses him when he needs to deliver an urgent message or whatnot. I did not expect this!" He chortled and ran a hand along the white neck, ending his stroke in a pat.
I just blinked. Asfaloth?
------------------------------------------------ Tadandader HalfElvenI watched Elrohir take Luitha out. Now I was alone again. What was I to do? I decided that I wanted to try walking. After all, if I tried it while I was alone, I couldn't fall on my face in front of anyone, then. Slowly I slid the blankets off. The first order of business would be to get something warmer to wear. I cautiously took one step, and collapsed in a heap. That wouldn't do at all. Using the chair to support my weight, I regained my feet. I silently focused on the closet, and stepped away from the chair. I wobbled a little, but I was still upright. After a few minutes of careful steps, I reached the closet.
Going through it I could see that all of the garments inside were meant for us. There were various shades of blue that would show off Luitha's eyes, and several different green and gold variations that would highlight my eyes and hair. Leaning on the door, I pulled out a pants and over-shirt set that looked like it would be warmer. It took another few minutes to make it to the dressing room. Luckily, there was a seat inside, where I relaxed for a moment. Soon I had my warmer outfit on, and was hobbling down the hall. Or rather, the canopied walkway.
Rivendell was beautiful. It shone like pure gold underneath the sun's warm rays. I paused to just admire the scene. Then I walked on, unsure of where I was going. After what I deemed to be ten more minutes of slow progress, I sat down on a bench outside of a slightly opened door. I was just getting comfortable when I heard Elrond's voice.
"…Elven blood!" Drat, I hated it when I came in on the end of a sentence.
"I know, but she evokes something within me that I cannot deny." Estel's voice. What were they discussing? This could be interesting.
"You even added to her name? El luitha 'uren? A star enchants my heart?"
"She has not argued against it."
"Be that as it may, I do not think she is strong enough to truly realize your intents. You need to carefully reconsider before you pursue an Elf."
I'd heard enough. I got back to my feet, and as quickly as I dared, hobbled back to the room and laid down. Now that was something to think about.