Probability
By Thalia Weaver
A/N: Whee! Eighth chapter! I like this chapter J This story is FUN to write. And Aranel, if you're reading this: I have part of the ninth chapter of There And Back Again? written. I was wondering if you wanted to beta-read it?
Disclaimer: FAN FICTION IS FUNNER! I don't own anything original except some poems. Oh yeah, and these stories I wrote in the first grade that was called "Delia Meets the Dragon"…
Chapter Eight: Event Streams
Everything that happens in the universe, and in other universes, starts a chain of events that echoes through thick space. Each of these changes has a beginning…and an end…
~.~.~
Thalia dipped her feet in the cool stream that ran through one of Rivendell's groves, missing her home. She had run out of tears; now all that remained was a fiercely aching loneliness. Several elves had looked at her quizzically as they passed; but she was oblivious, staring out into the distance.
* * *
Estel gazed outwards from his balcony, chin in hand, his eyes far away. In his mind, he ran over and over his conversation with Thalia, unable to get it out of his head. Distractedly, he ran a hand through his hair, then decided that his thoughts were getting him nowhere. He moved to walk into his room. It nearly frightened him out of his skin when he ran straight into his foster brother.
"Elrohir! I…you startled me."
The elf smiled. "Never have I seen you so distracted, my brother. I have been standing behind you for nigh on a quarter of an hour."
Estel sighed again. "I have been much disturbed of late."
Elrohir hid a grin. "It is the girl, is it not?"
Estel looked up, startled. "Is it so plain?"
"Only to those who know you well."
"I…" The boy shook his head wonderingly. "She makes me feel foolish, as though my head were muddled. I hardly even know her."
Now Elrohir's grin could not be contained. "I have heard that it is often such with mortals."
"She is not fair, like an elf-woman," Estel continued, ignoring Elrohir. "Indeed, she is hardly beautiful at all, nor is she elegant, or riveting, or graceful… but there is something nevertheless. I fear it is but foolishness."
Elrohir, with mighty effort, managed to suppress an un-elven-prince-like snort at Estel's description of Thalia. "Estel…perhaps you should speak to her, and get to know her better?"
Estel nodded, looking fiercely thoughtful. "I will indeed, my brother."
* * *
Thalia followed the gentle stream deeper into the forest, until it flowed into a secluded clearing and formed a deep-looking pond. The day was hot, and the water looked cool
I wish I had a bathing suit, she thought. Eh…what the hell…this clearing is pretty out of the way, anyway.
Soon, a loud yell of "Bonzaiii!" echoed through the clearing, followed by a splash. Thalia's elven dress lay sprawled in a crumpled heap on the ground.
* * *
"Where is she? Where is Thalia?" Estel asked his foster father, panting slightly. He had run through much of the Last Homely House, yelling 'Thalia! Thaliaaaaaaaaaa!' at the top of his lungs.
Lord Elrond, somewhat startled by his foster son's whirlwind entrance into his private library (although, of course, he quickly recovered his poise), answered, "Beruthien told me that she was sitting in the woods by the north stream…"
"Thank you, my lord," Estel said hurriedly, turned, and ran out.
* * *
Thalia surfaced, sputtering a little. Pool's deeper than I thought it would be, she thought, and dove under again.
* * *
Estel followed Thalia's tracks along the stream until he reached the clearing in which the pool lay. The tracks suddenly stopped, and he looked up, seeing Thalia's dress lying on the ground. What? He thought. Why would she…? Is she all right? He picked up the dress as though to search it for clues as to the location of its wearer.
* * *
Thalia surfaced again. Okay, that was fun, she thought, swimming to the bank. She got out of the water, pushing her dripping hair out of her eyes. Where's my dre-
She looked up. There stood Estel, staring at her like a man who had found the promised land, her dress in his hands.
Face glowing like a sunrise, Thalia turned and ran into the water again, diving in.
OhshitohshitohshitohSHIT…
"Thalia!" Estel cried, blushing furiously. "I am sorry!"
The few that bubbles popped up and broke on the surface of the water were his only reply.
Wonderful, Estel thought, grimacing. He placed Thalia's dress carefully on the ground by the river and walked dejectedly away.