"I wouldn't wish for a thousand horses to carry me away if you would remain
with me from night until day."
Chapter 10: A Night Unique
The party was grand. All were invited, and none left the dinning hall that night the same. Light filled the room with happiness and smiles plastered everyone's faces.
Elrond, Arwen and her 2 brothers sat at the head of the tables. They all laughed together and Arwen seemed pleased with the decorations of the hall. Elrond was pleased at his daughter's approval, and every so often he would plant a kiss on her cheek or her head.
Adah watched from a distance as jealousy crept inside her. She tried to avoid Elrond's table, and distracted herself with all the dancers. The elves could not resist dancing to the wonderful music flowing around the room. It gave even Adah some joy to watch the jovial display.
Lainamay was opposite the room as Adah, and was serving Elrond's table, when he grabbed her arm. "Where is Adah?" He asked calmly, a smile playing upon his lips as he watched the festivities around him.
"There my lord." She answered pointing to Adah across the room.
Elrond was angered when he saw her serving the elves, and in her work gown. Annoyed, he waved Lainamay away, and studied Adah.
Arwen caught her father's awkward stare, and her eyes trailed to Adah. Her smile faded and she moved her eyes to the table. Fingering her cup, she became lost in her thoughts. Sadness made its way inside her. "No Arwen." She thought to her self. "Not tonight." The she looked to her father, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Father? Would you not care for a dance?"
He smiled at her and grabbed her hand with his own. "Of course my love."
Gracefully they swept across the room. It was a pleasurable site as Elrond whispered random comments into his daughter's ear, making her laugh. Her laughter was beloved around the kingdom, for it was seldom heard, but when it was, all other sounds drained away and became sweet music to everyone's ears. All except Adah.
She was now leaning against a wall at the back of the hall, staring enviously at the girl and her father. She imagined herself in Elrond's arms. She pictured the two of them prancing around the room, all others staring and cheering. She pictured Elrond whispering in her ear, and running his fingers in her hair. She imagined when it was all over, they would roam around the city, arm in arm, reminiscing over the past.
Her thoughts brought tears to her eyes. She was beginning to lose strength, so she crept along the wall to the kitchen and ridded herself of her tray. The cooks began to give her more food, but she ran off before they could get a word in.
Her feet took her to a fountain in the school yard. The silver moon reflected in the water, revealing her tear streaked face. Adah stared at her reflection. Her eyes seemed to glow. Her tears fell down into the water, causing ripples to form, misshapeing her face.
From inside the school room, Adalin Tucknin could hear her loud sobbing. He slowly got up, and walked outside finding Adah leaning over the fountain. He sighed and went to sit next to her. After debating with himself for a moment, he laid a gentle hand on her hair.
With fast reflexes, she pulled away. Wiping her tears she said, "You shouldn't touch me Mr. Tucknin."
"Why not child?" He said, voice calm and soothing.
"It's just not a good idea."
"Why?"
"Touching someone always leads to feelings and emotion. Even I know that. You wouldn't want to start feeling anything for me."
Adalin stared long and hard at Adah and finally answered, "It's too late my dear."
Adah closed her eyes tight, and took in a deep and difficult breath. Her mind had trouble discerning his words, but when she did, she opened her eyes to her kind teacher, and tears fell uncontrollably. She ran into his arms and buried her face in his chest. He took his large and loving arms and wrapped them around the sobbing girl.
When Adah was able to obtain a little control she said, "Mr. Tucknin?"
"Yes?"
"Would you sit with me, and tell me more about other creatures far away? More about the ents, and the fairies and even more about the men?"
He looked down at her and smiled. Placing a soft hand on her face he said, "Of course."
They sat together on the fountain, a little apart from each other, and he spoke for hours of his travels, as if she were the first person who ever cared to listen. Adah watched the stars and breathed in everything he said. She made him describe everything in detail so she could picture the outside world in her head.
He stopped as she began to feel herself grow drowsy. "Thank you." She said turning to him. "One day I'll go on an adventure Mr. Tucknin. I'll meet other men and women like me. So you don't have to remember me. I release you from any bondage I seem to hold on you. I will not despise you for it. I just don't want you to suffer over me. I want you to go and go on more adventures and let time pull me from your mind. Please Mr. Tucknin. Don't cry for me. You've given me more tonight than any have ever given me in my existence."
She leaned in and kissed his forehead, then disappeared into the night, leaving him speechless at the pond. It was the last time she'd ever see him, for he left Rivendell that night. And though she was saddened that he had gone, she harbored no anger towards him, and she knew that he was out in the world, do something amazing.
***
A surprise was waiting for Adah when she returned to her room. Arwen was sitting in a chair at the window. "Can I help you miss?" She asked trying to hide her scorn. Arwen didn't answer. "Shouldn't you be at your party?"
"The parties over." Arwen stood up to face Adah. Candles flickered around the room, and in Arwen's hand, Adah saw a long stemmed red rose. "When you were a baby," Arwen began, "my father brought you to Rivendell. We all; me, my father, Legolas and king Thranduil, stood around you, and fear was in all our hearts. All except Legolas, who loved you instantly."
Adah froze at the mention of Legolas' name.
"He named you Adah. It means ornament, and he spoke of your beauty.
"We all sensed the danger, and afraid, I left the room. Anger took me. I did not understand why my father would allow a mortal to live among us.
"One morning you came and you opened your arms to me. I rebuked you. I immediately felt the error of my words, and all the anger towards you and my father for bringing you here turned to guilt.
"Then I believe I was beginning to understand you, for I too was alone. My anger and my guilt kept me away from everyone, and for years I hid in the place my father gave me. I give that place to you now."
Arwen laid the rose on the table by Adah's bed, and then walked to her, and placed her hands on Adah's shoulders. "There is nothing I can do to make up for all you have suffered. Had I not been so afraid I would not have stood back and watched. But I promise never to make the same mistake again.
"I leave for Lorien tomorrow. I know not what my future holds, but if I am ever to meet another mortal, I will love them as if it twere my fate to love them, and always, I will think of you."
She bent low, and kissed Adah on the cheek. "Happy Birthday," she whispered in Adah's ear. After taking one last look upon the girl, she walked out of the room.
Adah could barely breath. Her heart raced and she was unsure of what she was supposed to feel just then.
She grasped Legolas' crest, and fingered it softly. She thought of him, as she often did. Her heart weighed heavy in her chest, and she felt as if she'd made and lost many friends in one night.
She went to the stand and picked up the rose, and to her surprise, she felt guilty for her prior feelings towards Arwen. She put the rose carefully back on the stand, and made a note to get a vase of water to put it in.
She went to the edge of her bed where the dress still lie, and she hung it back up in her closet.
As she lay back in her bed, the day played over in her mind. A chill filled the room, but she didn't feel like closing the drapes over the window. She knew after today, life would go back to normal, but inside, she would never be the same. She was still confused about a lot of things, but what she was sure of was that she wished tomorrow would never come.
Chapter 10: A Night Unique
The party was grand. All were invited, and none left the dinning hall that night the same. Light filled the room with happiness and smiles plastered everyone's faces.
Elrond, Arwen and her 2 brothers sat at the head of the tables. They all laughed together and Arwen seemed pleased with the decorations of the hall. Elrond was pleased at his daughter's approval, and every so often he would plant a kiss on her cheek or her head.
Adah watched from a distance as jealousy crept inside her. She tried to avoid Elrond's table, and distracted herself with all the dancers. The elves could not resist dancing to the wonderful music flowing around the room. It gave even Adah some joy to watch the jovial display.
Lainamay was opposite the room as Adah, and was serving Elrond's table, when he grabbed her arm. "Where is Adah?" He asked calmly, a smile playing upon his lips as he watched the festivities around him.
"There my lord." She answered pointing to Adah across the room.
Elrond was angered when he saw her serving the elves, and in her work gown. Annoyed, he waved Lainamay away, and studied Adah.
Arwen caught her father's awkward stare, and her eyes trailed to Adah. Her smile faded and she moved her eyes to the table. Fingering her cup, she became lost in her thoughts. Sadness made its way inside her. "No Arwen." She thought to her self. "Not tonight." The she looked to her father, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Father? Would you not care for a dance?"
He smiled at her and grabbed her hand with his own. "Of course my love."
Gracefully they swept across the room. It was a pleasurable site as Elrond whispered random comments into his daughter's ear, making her laugh. Her laughter was beloved around the kingdom, for it was seldom heard, but when it was, all other sounds drained away and became sweet music to everyone's ears. All except Adah.
She was now leaning against a wall at the back of the hall, staring enviously at the girl and her father. She imagined herself in Elrond's arms. She pictured the two of them prancing around the room, all others staring and cheering. She pictured Elrond whispering in her ear, and running his fingers in her hair. She imagined when it was all over, they would roam around the city, arm in arm, reminiscing over the past.
Her thoughts brought tears to her eyes. She was beginning to lose strength, so she crept along the wall to the kitchen and ridded herself of her tray. The cooks began to give her more food, but she ran off before they could get a word in.
Her feet took her to a fountain in the school yard. The silver moon reflected in the water, revealing her tear streaked face. Adah stared at her reflection. Her eyes seemed to glow. Her tears fell down into the water, causing ripples to form, misshapeing her face.
From inside the school room, Adalin Tucknin could hear her loud sobbing. He slowly got up, and walked outside finding Adah leaning over the fountain. He sighed and went to sit next to her. After debating with himself for a moment, he laid a gentle hand on her hair.
With fast reflexes, she pulled away. Wiping her tears she said, "You shouldn't touch me Mr. Tucknin."
"Why not child?" He said, voice calm and soothing.
"It's just not a good idea."
"Why?"
"Touching someone always leads to feelings and emotion. Even I know that. You wouldn't want to start feeling anything for me."
Adalin stared long and hard at Adah and finally answered, "It's too late my dear."
Adah closed her eyes tight, and took in a deep and difficult breath. Her mind had trouble discerning his words, but when she did, she opened her eyes to her kind teacher, and tears fell uncontrollably. She ran into his arms and buried her face in his chest. He took his large and loving arms and wrapped them around the sobbing girl.
When Adah was able to obtain a little control she said, "Mr. Tucknin?"
"Yes?"
"Would you sit with me, and tell me more about other creatures far away? More about the ents, and the fairies and even more about the men?"
He looked down at her and smiled. Placing a soft hand on her face he said, "Of course."
They sat together on the fountain, a little apart from each other, and he spoke for hours of his travels, as if she were the first person who ever cared to listen. Adah watched the stars and breathed in everything he said. She made him describe everything in detail so she could picture the outside world in her head.
He stopped as she began to feel herself grow drowsy. "Thank you." She said turning to him. "One day I'll go on an adventure Mr. Tucknin. I'll meet other men and women like me. So you don't have to remember me. I release you from any bondage I seem to hold on you. I will not despise you for it. I just don't want you to suffer over me. I want you to go and go on more adventures and let time pull me from your mind. Please Mr. Tucknin. Don't cry for me. You've given me more tonight than any have ever given me in my existence."
She leaned in and kissed his forehead, then disappeared into the night, leaving him speechless at the pond. It was the last time she'd ever see him, for he left Rivendell that night. And though she was saddened that he had gone, she harbored no anger towards him, and she knew that he was out in the world, do something amazing.
***
A surprise was waiting for Adah when she returned to her room. Arwen was sitting in a chair at the window. "Can I help you miss?" She asked trying to hide her scorn. Arwen didn't answer. "Shouldn't you be at your party?"
"The parties over." Arwen stood up to face Adah. Candles flickered around the room, and in Arwen's hand, Adah saw a long stemmed red rose. "When you were a baby," Arwen began, "my father brought you to Rivendell. We all; me, my father, Legolas and king Thranduil, stood around you, and fear was in all our hearts. All except Legolas, who loved you instantly."
Adah froze at the mention of Legolas' name.
"He named you Adah. It means ornament, and he spoke of your beauty.
"We all sensed the danger, and afraid, I left the room. Anger took me. I did not understand why my father would allow a mortal to live among us.
"One morning you came and you opened your arms to me. I rebuked you. I immediately felt the error of my words, and all the anger towards you and my father for bringing you here turned to guilt.
"Then I believe I was beginning to understand you, for I too was alone. My anger and my guilt kept me away from everyone, and for years I hid in the place my father gave me. I give that place to you now."
Arwen laid the rose on the table by Adah's bed, and then walked to her, and placed her hands on Adah's shoulders. "There is nothing I can do to make up for all you have suffered. Had I not been so afraid I would not have stood back and watched. But I promise never to make the same mistake again.
"I leave for Lorien tomorrow. I know not what my future holds, but if I am ever to meet another mortal, I will love them as if it twere my fate to love them, and always, I will think of you."
She bent low, and kissed Adah on the cheek. "Happy Birthday," she whispered in Adah's ear. After taking one last look upon the girl, she walked out of the room.
Adah could barely breath. Her heart raced and she was unsure of what she was supposed to feel just then.
She grasped Legolas' crest, and fingered it softly. She thought of him, as she often did. Her heart weighed heavy in her chest, and she felt as if she'd made and lost many friends in one night.
She went to the stand and picked up the rose, and to her surprise, she felt guilty for her prior feelings towards Arwen. She put the rose carefully back on the stand, and made a note to get a vase of water to put it in.
She went to the edge of her bed where the dress still lie, and she hung it back up in her closet.
As she lay back in her bed, the day played over in her mind. A chill filled the room, but she didn't feel like closing the drapes over the window. She knew after today, life would go back to normal, but inside, she would never be the same. She was still confused about a lot of things, but what she was sure of was that she wished tomorrow would never come.
