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El luitha urenI woke the next morning and discovered that for the first time, I had slept with my back to the sun. I could feel its rays warming my skin, but I was no longer looking directly at it. I sighed in relief.
Aragorn was sleeping quietly, one arm under my head, the other wrapped around my waist. I couldn't have moved if I had tried. Not that I wanted to. His face was peaceful, for once. He no longer seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. That would change, I thought sadly. Would I still be here for it?
I reached up and gently kissed his lips. He stirred, readjusting his head and opening his eyes. With a smile, he moved his hand from my waist and gently pushed back curls from my eyes. I knew what he was thinking, though not from my very irregular telepathy. How had I retained my curly hair? I had Hobbit hair, not Elvish hair.
Without a word, he leaned over and caressed my lips with his own. I moved closer into him and could feel the heat of my body rising, and not from the sun this time. He wrapped his hand around my waist again and pulled me tightly to him. I stroked his back, admiring his smooth skin and enjoying the sensation of his body against mine.
It was over too soon. I knew, without fully understanding why, that someone was coming down the hall to our room, and I pulled away. He looked at me questioningly, and as I motioned toward the door, he simply nodded and rolled over.
I wondered at both our reactions. Did we not want to be discovered? Finding the two of us in bed together, even with him shirtless, would not create a stir. How much did we want Elrond to know? What was I to tell Tadan?
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Tadandader HalfElvenI walked down the hall to what was now Luitha's room, feeling pretty sure that they had stopped. Then I heard Luitha's thoughts about how intense last night had been and how he was kissing her now. I froze. Perhaps now was not a good time. And then they stopped. It wasn't as if Luitha had put her shields back up, I sensed am anxiousness about her. Oh, they had heard my footsteps, no doubt. I walked a bit closer, and gave them what I felt was ample time to get dressed before I knocked.
"Come in!" called Luitha. They were both fully dressed (that was a relief) and Aragorn was sitting in the chair. Did they want me to think nothing had happened?
Well, I had an important decision to make. Did I tell Luitha about her ever so often broadcasts during the night, or did I let her wonder why every Elf in Rivendell was staring at her? Some of those thoughts had been pretty, well, interesting. Oh well, she should know. After all, it had been her thoughts.
"Have fun last night?" I grinned.
She gave me her most innocent look. "What do you mean?"
I was almost laughing now. "You were, how shall we put this, broadcasting. Quite often. There were some, um, interesting parts. I think all of Rivendell liked them."
She turned bright red. "No, you're teasing."
I shook my head 'no' while beginning to giggle. "Everyone knows. Even Elrond, and he thought your thoughts were pretty hilarious."
Aragorn was on his feet. "What is 'broadcasting'?"
"When an Elf is weak, their telepathic shields do not work and they end up projecting their thoughts out. At some points your shields were up, but, well.." I grinned again. Luitha looked like she wanted to melt thought the floor.
Glorfindel entered, and very obviously did not look at Luitha or Aragorn. "Tell me she's teasing!" Luitha moaned.
He looked up, laughter in his eyes. "By the redness of your face, I doubt it."
"Oh no. oh no oh no oh no.." Luitha sank onto her bed, and Glorfindel crossed over to her.
"I must check on your health, although I am pretty certain you are very well. And well exercised."
What do you know? I thought. His sense of humor is close to mine! Luitha endured his scan, and I watched him leave. He was laughing as he closed the door behind him.
"Should I give the two of you some time alone?" I needed to get out of the room before I fell to the ground laughing.
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El luitha urenI wasn't certain if I wanted to flee into the woods or get up and throttle Tadan. Well, throttling my friend probably would not accomplish a whole lot. It wasn't her fault. I did not want to ask the question, but did anyway, a hand covering my eyes.
"How much did you hear?"
I thought her face would burst, her grin was so big. "Not many coherent thoughts. And you blocked it somehow eventually, but I got an earful in the beginning of last night and this morning. I think most Elves were asleep. If they heard anything, they're probably convinced it was in a dream."
"And Elrond?" Aragorn had a hand rubbing his forehead too.
"Heard everything I did."
My darned Elvish gift! Why couldn't I get a hold of it like Tadan could?
"I don't know, Luitha. But you'd better have Glorfindel or someone get it under control soon," she responded. I hadn't spoken out loud. I threw myself down on the bed and put a pillow over my head. "I'll go get Glorfindel now." Tadan left the room abruptly, and I heard her laughter beyond the closed door.
I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and rolled over. Aragorn sat on the bed next to me, amusement twinkling in his eyes.
"I'm sorry," I told him, still completely mortified.
"Do not be. It was not your fault. Things cannot be changed now." A secretive and definitely mischievous smile drew across his face. "Are you broadcasting now?"
"There's no way for me to stop it. I think so."
"Good." He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine, sliding his hands beneath me and lifting me to his chest. I was dizzy with an adrenaline rush when he pulled away. "We wanted to let the world know how happy we are, did we not?"
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Tadandader HalfElvenI was still laughing. Maybe I had gone a little too far, but by the thoughts coming from her right now, I was pretty sure they would survive. I walked into the Chamber of Fire and saw Glorfindel and Elrond sitting and talking.
"Excuse me," I said softly. They both looked up. Elrond was smiling, and Glorfindel looked uncertain. "When they are, um, less occupied, I think Luitha would like to begin learning how to better control her telepathy."
Glorfindel tilted his head to the side as if listening. "I wonder why you think that?"
Elrohir walked in. "Perhaps so some of us can get some sleep?"
Elladan followed behind him. "Nah, that couldn't be it. I think its so her friend doesn't die of mortification. Just think of how everyone will be staring at her for the next week. Where are the two of you from that you have not been trained in your abilities?"
I looked at him, a bit puzzled. "Am I still broadcasting? I thought I had it under control!"
Elrohir glanced over at his father before turning back to me. "No, not broadcasting. Do you mean he hasn't told you yet?"
I searched Elrond's eyes. "Tell me what?"
"You have a strength in you that indicates you may have one or more of the Elvish gifts."
I stared at him blankly. Elvish gifts? For all I knew, he was talking about Christmas in Rivendell.
"Elvish gifts," repeated Glorfindel. At my confused look he apparently became confused. "Did they teach you nothing? How were you raised?"
"I was raised by humans. I thought I was a human. Luitha was the only Elf I knew until we met all of you, and I originally thought she was human too."
Now I had an audience. Elrond had heard it before, but it was still puzzling the twins and a few others who had, like regular, come to discuss matters in the council chamber.
"The gifts include control of nature, healing, understanding nature, and others. I think we shall go to the garden and see what you are able to do after lunch." Elrond looked happy. I felt a little relieved. I mean, if I couldn't aim an arrow to save my life, at least I could do something else.
"I look forward to it, Elrond."
Glorfindel rolled his eyes. "Say lover and be done with it, child." I almost objected, but realized that I was a child in years compared to he. I kept my mouth shut and nodded to Elrond. Now I had to find something to do until lunchtime, for I was becoming bored.
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El luitha urenIt was amazing how fast I recuperated. By mid-morning I was on my feet and ready to cause trouble again. Aragorn continued to sleep, so I passed quietly out of the room alone. I paused on the balcony to intake an airful of lungs, breathing in the sweet smell of the flowers and the crisp morning. I saw Tadan wandering about below me and called her name, running down the stairs to meet her.
I would not throttle her, I sternly told myself. So instead, I flung myself into a hug with her, grinning at the look she gave me. Oh what, like she hadn't done the same many times with Elrond? Of course, I hadn't overheard it...
"Around noon we have to meet Glorfindel and Elrond for some more training." I looked guiltily at her. She only grinned at me and continued. "For other reasons. Apparently we have other gifts too. Oh, and Glorfindel knows about our human upbringing now. Needless to say, he was a little surprised."
Oh I bet he would be. I could just see the haughty and glorious Elf of Rivendell staring down at Tadan as she admitted she'd only really been an Elf since she had arrived.
We were walking along the edge of the forest now. I whistled and a few moments later, an answering neigh responded. Asfaloth came galloping up, throwing his head and dancing in circles around us.
Tadan's eyes widened. "Is this Asfaloth?" I nodded happily, taking his head in my hands and rubbing his soft nose.
"Come on, hop up." She gave me a strange look. I grinned at her. "I passed Elrohir in the hall. He wanted me to take you out and let you get a horse. Get on! I'll climb on after you."
We rode out to the same meadow that I had visited with Elrohir not long ago. Sliding off after her, I instructed, "Just whistle and she what happens!"
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Tadandader HalfElvenWith my luck, or, perhaps better, as fate would have it, I was likely to get a lame, ugly horse. But I shrugged, whistled, and waited. And waited. I looked at Luitha. I knew better than to think she wouldn't try to get me back for both last night and this morning.
"Very funny. Now how do I get a..." I trailed off as a lovely black horse with an almost silver star-shaped patch rode up to me. "Oh my. Now aren't you beautiful!" I was awestruck. "So how do we find out his name? Or her name. I really don't know much about horses except how to ride one."
"I don't know. Maybe you could ask?"
Elrohir rode up. "Why, its about time Miel chose an owner!"
"Miel? Star?"
He smiled. "You do have to admit that it's fitting for his forehead, right?"
I nodded mutely, and then swung up carefully. Miel was the tallest horse I had ever ridden, and I almost didn't make it. That would be irony right there, I thought, if I fell off just trying to mount. But I gained a seat, bareback, and grinned at Luitha.
"Wanna ride?"
She smiled. I wasn't sure whether or not she recalled the quote, but we were off in a heartbeat, Elrohir not far behind.
After a few minutes of pretty hard riding, we came to a very peaceful and lovely clearing. I stopped just to admire the view, and to let the other two catch up. Miel was pretty darn fast.
"You know," I began to Luitha, "I want to visit the Shire."
She looked at me curiously.
"I want to meet Tolkien, ask him all of my many questions, and just chill in Hobbiton. I think it would be neat!"
Luitha gazed at the distant mountains before answering. "I'd like to go too. Do you think it will be all right with Elrond?"
We both looked at Elrohir. He eyed us for a minute before answering. "He will be busy for the next three weeks. I suppose if you wanted to slip away then, it would be all right. You would have to check with him first, though."
Luitha and I grinned at each other. This would be fun. Then all three of us noticed the time at the same moment. We needed to get back fast if we wanted lunch! Turning, we galloped back.
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El luitha urenWe scrambled up after Elrohir to an open platform that looked out over all of Rivendell. On the way there, I quietly dropped in to check on Aragorn. He was still sleeping, and I had to tear myself away from watching him.
Elrond and Glorfindel were in discussion and stopped to look at us as we entered. Elrohir stood in position at the entrance. Glorfindel approached me.
"Sit." He motioned toward a stone slab that looked to function as a bench. I sat. He sat beside me, placed both hands on my temples, and closed his eyes. "Clear your mind."
It wasn't so easy. I tried, but I kept seeing things that I was pretty sure I wasn't supposed to see. Images from Glorfindel's mind floated to my own, and the primary image was Tadan. He distrusted her, and at the same time, was somewhat attracted to her. Attracted to her? My eyes flew open at the same time his did, and I regarded him without a word. He said nothing in return, and I knew that I was to drop the thought. Fine, his business, not mine.
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Tadandader HalfElven"Feel your mind opening. There is a gate in your walls, and it is open." An idle thought crossed my mind. How was I supposed to keep my mind clear if I was visualizing stuff? "It works, believe me. Now keep your mind clear. I am going to probe into your mind. It is not for memories, rather I am searching for the part of your mind that is in control of your special abilities. It may feel rather odd, as I do not believe it has ever been accessed before. Open the gate."
In my mind, a huge, three-times reinforced gate swung open. I kind of liked my fortress. No army would ever have a hope of successfully besieging it.
"Perhaps. But please keep your mind clear." I concentrated, and felt his thoughts begin to merge with mine. Slowly he searched, for the area was different with every person. I saw different pictures of many people and places, and was not too surprised to see me through his eyes. What shocked me was that the mental picture he had of me was so much more good-looking than in real life.
I couldn't help myself. "Is that how you see me?" I whispered, touched by the emotions attached to the image.
"Yes." he whispered back. If what we were doing hadn't been so important, I would have kissed him right then and there, forget the fact that Glorfindel was watching. But we were busy, and I contented myself with stroking his cheek softly.
Suddenly the probing stopped. His eyes focused on mine again. "Do you feel where I am?"
I nodded.
"There is a closed door there. Open it." I did so, and felt an odd sensation rush into my hands. I looked at them, for they felt extremely warm. Perhaps it was a healing ability? After all, that had felt warm. Then his eyes widened. "Stop! Remove the heat form you hands! Know that there is NO heat!" He seemed urgent, so I focused it away.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. "What is wrong?" Glorfindel sounded very concerned, and had left Luitha. Why did he leave Luitha? She needed the training too. Oh, he probably wanted to make sure I wasn't acting up around my 'betters'.
Elrond hesitated before answering. "She has two abilities. The first is a minor skill in healing. With the second, she can start fires at will. I fear she was unknowingly about to set the deck aflame."
My eyes widened in shock. "Oh shoot. That would have been great." My sarcasm was very evident on my voice, and I employed it to hide the fear that was welling up in my heart. If I had set fire to the deck, who might have been injured?
"Tadan, it is under control now. I have set barriers into your mind, so only should you need it will you be able to start a fire." His eyes met mine, comforting, understanding, for he still was in my mind.
"I thought that talent was gone?" Glorfindel seemed confused. And he still hadn't taken his hand off my shoulder.
"Every couple hundred years it returns. Luckily, I have dealt with it before. Now, Tadan, if you will concentrate again, I will begin to train you in you other, less volatile ability." Glorfindel's hand left my shoulder, and he walked back to Luitha.
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El luitha uren"I will be back." I had a sudden vision of Glorfindel stalking off as the Terminator and held back a giggle. He and Elrond seemed to be in discussion about Tadan, and I watched curiously. They seemed surprised and concerned about something. Was she all right?
Glorfindel returned. "I am sorry, let us continue."
"What's wrong with Tadan?"
"Nothing is wrong. She has the abnormal ability to control fire, that is all."
Oh well, if that was all.
I stopped myself from snorting. Glorfindel replaced his hands on my head, frowning. It felt as though someone was breaking and entering into my mind.
"I am breaking through the barriers I set up in your mind," Glorfindel said in a monotone, walking me through his steps. "Can you feel them go down? Good, now replace them with a wall of your own. Move it up and down. Can you hold it there?" I could. Glorfindel proceeded past them.
"That will keep thoughts in and out. You have an exceptionally powerful gift of telepathy, it will be hard to control. Most control of this gift is instinctive. You will learn over time and with usage. Now I will find out what other gifts you possess."
I felt lightheaded as he moved around. A rush of energy flooded my body, and I felt that every nerve tingled. It was a very odd sensation, and I was struck by how strange the whole situation was. But my thoughts were broken by Glorfindel's monotone.
"You have a powerful healing gift as well."
Powerful healing gift? Well that would explain my rapid recovery from the lightning and kidnapping, as I guessed it applied to self-healing as well.
I opened my eyes to see Elrond and Tadan standing in front of me.
"Luitha, Tadan says you wish to visit the Shire?"
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Tadandader HalfElven
I was surprised that Elrond had agreed so easily to the trip to the Shire. After all, I had just almost burnt the deck down around us. But after examining the potential of my abilities, he had declared that I was safe, as long as I didn't get struck by lightening.
Now Luitha and I were packing. However, most of our garments were dresses. I had tried to tell Elrond that I really enjoyed wearing the type of clothing a Ranger wore. He had of course told me that I looked absolutely stunning and enticing in a dress. That stopped my protests. I glanced at Luitha. If she ever found out about that, I would never hear the end of it.
A knock on the door distracted me. "Come in!" we called together. Elrond brought in something very shiny.
"Could you excuse us for a moment, Luitha?" he asked. She grinned at me and left wordlessly. He looked at me. "I have something for you." He unwrapped a long silver dress that was absolutely gorgeous. "I would like you to wear this when you visit Tolkien. He is held in high esteem among many, and it would not do for you to wear something ordinary to meet him. And there is this." He brought out a small box and handed it to me. I opened it to find a replica of his crown in silver.
I was stunned. "Thank you.." I mumbled, awed by the crown. He took the box and its contents and set them on the bed, then clasped my hands with his.
"I will miss you, though you shall be gone only a short time. Are you sure you do not want an escort?" I shook my head mutely. Luitha and I wanted to hang out together again.
"Very well." He ran his hand through my hair, which was getting longer, and firmly kissed my mouth. I embraced him and kissed him back. I wasn't sure if it was going to end until there was another knock on the door.
"Tadan, Elrond, can I come back in? We leave in an hour, and I still have to finish packing!" We pulled away reluctantly.
"Come in, Luitha," I called, and Elrond squeezed my hand before leaving the room.
She came in holding a dress of her own, and I caught sight of Estel in the hall before Elrond closed the door behind us.
"Oh, what's that?" I asked, at the same time she pointed to my dress and box and asked the same question.
We laughed. "You first," I said.
She gave me a look and shrugged. "All right," she resignedly answered.
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El luitha urenI closed the door quietly, watching them until the last moment, grinning as I saw his hand reach up to touch her cheek. I was so happy for her.
An arm wrapped around my waist, and I closed my eyes and leaned into Aragorn's chest without even turning around.
"You're supposed to be in bed."
"You're leaving?" His voice was rough and low. I turned in his arms and placed my hands on his chest. His grey-blue eyes were dulled and his face seemed worn with cares again. How had he found out? "Elrohir told me."
I started. I thought I had my thought projecting under control! He smiled. "I have always been able to hear you, El. Not in coherent thoughts, but in emotions and feelings. I do not know why. Have you not felt the same?"
I had. Tears welled up in my eyes. My heart yearned to stay with Aragorn, but I wanted to go all the same. I reached up and pushed his own long hair behind his ear.
"This is the way it must be. You are a Ranger, and will not often be in the same part of the world that I am. Rest here and go back to your wanderings. I will be here again when you return."
"And if you are not? The world is a dangerous place El, you do not know..."
"No. I don't know. That's why I am leaving, Aragorn, to find out. My heart burns to wander, just as yours does. I will be back."
He sighed and took my hand, leading me into his room down the hall without a word. I waited by the bed as he left me to search around in a drawer. He pulled out dark clothing in various shades of brown and green.
"Here," he handed them to me. "I know that you cannot always wear dresses, and meant to give you this a long time ago." I took the Ranger-like clothing with a smile and waited as he then pulled out a package, wrapped in a dark blue silk cloth.
"Open it," he commanded. The silk fell away from the dress and I touched the fabric gingerly. It was a midnight blue that contrasted brilliantly with the light blue of my eyes. I did not speak, just held the dress in wonder. I did not notice him walk around me, but suddenly felt his hands reach around to clasp something on my neck. I looked curiously at him and he led me to a mirror. A silver-white star hung on a short chain, and I put a hand up to caress it.
"That is the light of Earendil inside the pendent," he told me softly. "I visited Lorien recently and asked it of the Lady Galadriel."
"Thank you," I told him softly. "I wish I had something to give you in return."
He smiled and touched my face again, stroking my cheek with his calloused thumb before leaning over and kissing me softly. I leaned into him as his arms wrapped around me, not wanting to let go.
"Come back soon, El luitha 'uren."
I left him in the room, staring mournfully after me, and walked down the hallway. Knocking and announcing that I had to pack, I entered to see Tadan waiting for me, her own dress in hand.