[A/N: I know, I know, Tumunzahar is probably quite a bit farther from Nan Elmoth than one and a half day's run, even for an elf. But hey, if the three hunters can run from Amon Hen to Rohan in a couple days, surely one elf can run to Tumunzahar, especially one as upset as Eöl. If anyone actually knows how long it would take, do let me know. For now, I'll leave it as is.

Apologies to Staggering Wood Elf for the name Sarin, and to Maeve Riannon for the idea that Eol knew Telchar and that he traded galvorn with the Dwarves for iron. I'm horrible with making up my own names, especially Dwarven ones.

And one last thing: I don't usually respond to reviews, but I simply had to make an exception for Ren: if you don't like Eol, how can you possibly be enjoying this story?

Disclaimer: Not mine, sadly.]

My cloak does not block all the sunlight that seeps through the trees, but it blocks enough. It seems the sun hunts me at times, doing her best to find me even in the darkness of my home. Only underground, at Tumunzahar or Nan Elmoth, am I safe from her painful rays.

But now, now the thin light coming through my cloak fades and dies. Night has fallen while my body sat here and my mind wandered the paths of dreaming. I unfold from the little hollow that has done its best to provide shelter for me all this day. Nan Elmoth lies behind me, and my thoughts fly to Aredhel for a moment. I dare not go back just yet; I am afraid that I will be too easy to anger so soon.

Besides, I have been neglecting my friends and I need ore. So I begin my journey to Tumunzahar once more. Perhaps among the other smiths and the ringing of iron I can lose all my anger.

****

I have finally reached the mountain after running nearly all night. Now I must wait for the sentries to acknowledge me and let me in. That would be all right, as long as they do not take until day to do it.

"He's an Elf, Sarin," rumbles one gravelly voice.

"I know he's an Elf, but we do trade with them, you know."

"Yes, but do we let just any Elf who wanders by into our home?"

Impatient, I look around, wondering how long this argument will go on. I happen to glance toward the east, which is beginning to have a faint glow. Oh, no. I do not care to wait an hour or two while they decide that I am harmless, not while the sun is coming up.

I interrupt the one whose name I have yet to hear. "My good dwarves, I am indeed here to trade, but the sun may not bother you, perhaps, but it does me. One of you, run inside and tell Telchar that Eol is here. He will vouch for me." I glance to the east again, where there is now a distinct light. Here on the side of the mountain, there are no trees to protect me. I wince and look away before it burns my eyes. "Hurry."

One of them scrambles away, perhaps intimidated by me, but more likely eager for the burden of what to do with me off his hands. Fortunately for me, he returns quickly. "Telchar sends to say that it's about time you came back and to let you in."

"My thanks."

****

Telchar is only half my height, muscular, full-bearded, and hearty. But there is even less brown in his hair than there was last time I visited, and the smile lines around his eyes are deeper. It suddenly strikes me that he may join his ancestors in only a few short years, years which will seem nothing to me, but will draw him ever closer to old age and death. Why do I make friends with these short-lived people? They always die and leave me alone once more. Only now, I have Aredhel, and she will never die, if I can protect her from myself.

"Eol! Welcome back, my friend. I had begun to think that you had forgotten all about us. Where have you been this past year?" His voice has not changed at least. Nor has his manner, which he seems to share with all the Khazad.

"Forgotten you? Never. How could I forget such a stink?" I fall back into the curious way we have of teasing each other easily. The Dwarves are actually fairly easy on me, knowing that their humor is strange to me, Elf that I am. But I can at least give as good as I get, even if it is not quite up to their usual standards.

"Stink, eh? You should smell yourself if you think we stink. So where have you been?"

"Home."

Telchar arches a bushy brow. "That all? Sure you haven't been running around Menegroth or perhaps wandering Beleriand?"

"No, I've been home."

"And that's really all." He does not seem to believe me.

"I have a wife now, my friend."

"A wife? By Mahal, this is news indeed. Now I know why you've not come. You've been busy, haven't you." He laughs, booming in the small room. I smile faintly in return, but he sees something in my face and sobers.

"Wife trouble already, eh?"

I nod, and somehow, the entire story of our mad courtship spills out. Her heritage, the flight through the woods, the bells, and my subsequent flight from Nan Elmoth all tumble out like coals out of a fire. But Telchar, instead of being burned, merely watches me and waits for me to finish.

"Go back and face her, my friend."

"What?"

"Do you love her?" I nod, and he continues. "Then go back and tell her. If you leave it like this, the rift will grow and it will quickly become too wide to cross."

I had taken no thought on that. I had only meant to protect her from me, but Telchar's words make sense. How did one so young become so wise?

"You may be right, but that is not the only reason I am here. I need more iron; I seem to have run out of material to work."

Then follows a spirited bargaining session, in which I promise a certain amount of galvorn in exchange for a certain amount of raw iron.

****

I spend a week with my friends, catching up on news and working on various projects that Telchar says need a finer touch than most. Occasionally, the two of us simply sit and share a drink of Dwarven ale. I believe I am one of the few Elves to ever taste it, and possibly the only one who likes it. I sometimes wonder if Iluvatar meant me to be born a Dwarf, but my spirit lost its way. Though if that were so, then there would have to be a Dwarf somewhere meant to be an Elf, which goes too easily down the path of absurdity.

I have enjoyed this visit, but now I must go home. I believe I will take Telchar's advice, and face Aredhel.