The High King watched her leave the room. She seemed unsteady on her feet, her golden skin drawn and grey. He turned to Legolas.
"My friend, what do you know of these Avari?"
Legolas shook his head. "Nothing other than what is told in legend. They are Elves, of the same race as I, though somewhat diminished. They remained in the Eastern lands when our people migrated west. They refused the call to Valinor at the dawn of time and so dwell always in this life. I had thought them only history and legend, stories to frighten wayward children and careless travelers."
"Do you believe what she says?"
"That her people are in danger? Yes. We have both seen the Easterlings at war, Aragorn. They have a lust for power to rival Sauron himself." His eyes were dark and troubled. "I do not doubt that the Men of Darkness would crush these people underfoot."
He sank in thought. After long minutes, he spoke again. "I do not know how much aid I can be to them, Aragorn. Not alone. Are there any others who would answer your call for aid?"
A gravelly voice grated from the doorway. "I would. I do not trust these foreign Elves, but I would not see you go into the East alone." Gimli strode to his friend's side. He scowled down at Legolas. "You might want to take a stroll to Arwen's conservatory, Elf. The lady did not look well when I passed her there."
The Elf rose smoothly from his chair. "She was ill, earlier. She complained of a pain in her head, and I noted that she ate very little. I feel I should check on her." He bowed slightly to Aragorn and slipped out of the study.
He moved along the back corridor as silently as a shadow. As he entered the glass-walled room, he noted a dark figure leaning against one of the tall windows. He hesitated, watching her. He could see their common heritage in her slenderness, the grace of her movements, and the delicately pointed ears. Her face, too, was like his; thin, high cheekbones, finely-chiseled features. The rest, however, was wholly unfamiliar.
She was slight, as small as a Human woman. Her skin was pale, like the Galadhrim, but was a shade of golden like that of the Easterlings. Her hair was red, redder than Gimli's, a deep cinnamon bleached bone-white in streaks, woven with braids and hung about with ornaments and bells. Her eyes were almond, a startling shade of green, cold and icy. He noticed also the signs of great care and worry, the fatigue that slumped her shoulders and left deep shadows beneath her eyes, the taut aloofness of her posture, a certain desperate pride. He shook himself suddenly, chiding himself for his mental assessment of her. He crossed the room and touched her shoulder.
~***~
I jumped at the touch. Legolas stepped beside me, gazing out of the window over the streets of Minas Tirith. He tilted his head toward me, his eyes silver in the moonlight.
"My apologies, my lady. I meant only to warn you of my presence." He returned to staring over the city.
"No apologies are needed, my lord. I fear I am unsettled by the journey and this land of yours. I confess I find the place strange." I traced my fingers over the chilly glass. "It is so different from my home. I have never journeyed more than a few hundred miles from my settlement in all my days on this earth." I pressed my forehead to the glass, willing the headache away.
"Are you well, lady?" his voice was concerned, soothing. I pressed one palm to my forehead and shook my head slightly. He touched my shoulder again, steadying and solid. "You should sit. There is a bench in that corner, there." He slipped his other hand under my elbow and assisted me to the seat. He sat close beside me, watching me intently. I tried to pull myself together.
"You do not need to sit with me. This is no new affliction; I have had it all my life. It will cease when I have rested." I closed my eyes, feeling the blood pound behind my eyes.
"You travel with Healers-why do you not go to them, ask them to help you?"
"It is not honorable. I could not admit such a weakness before my companions. We depend upon each other to be strong and constant." I smiled weakly. "I was put in charge of this group, and they look to me for leadership. I cannot fail them."
He smiled back and laid his hand on my arm. "Nor can you continue to suffer so. If rest helps you, you should go and sleep. We have much to do in the next days, and I will need you and your companions at your best." He patted my shoulder again and slipped away into the dark.
~***~