Chapter Three: If Fish Could Fly With Eagles...

"Not even a word? That doesn't sound like her at all!" Tyssa and I were sitting together later that morning discussing the change in our friend. Neither of us could understand her recent behavior. "And you have no idea why she did that?" I didn't answer. I didn't want to betray a confidence even if it was to another friend. She wouldn't have any of it though. "Lindir, what are you not telling me?" she said in a scolding voice. I avoided her eyes. "Lindir?" I finally looked at her and sighed. She is her friend after all.

"I think she's in love with him." She looked at me with a shocked smile.
"With the halfling?" I nodded. "You- you didn't tell Elrohir, did you?"
"Are you kidding? She's already mad at me, I don't especially want her to hate me." That did it. She crossed her arms and began her interrogation.

"Lindir, what did you do?" I shook my head and stood, but I knew avoiding her was useless. "I'm waiting," I heard behind me.

"I kind of...disapproved. I told her that she was wrong." Tyssa nodded with a sarcastic grin.

"Oh, yeah- that's what I would have done."
"Ty..."
"You're supposed to be her friend, Lindir, not her commander!"
"I am her friend!" I said, trying to defend myself. "Drogo is a mortal, and Cali is not. And I'm sure you're aware of what happens when those two mix." Her smile faded slightly and I knew I'd won. "I'm worried about her, that's all." She nodded slowly.

"I've known Cali a lot longer than you have, Lindir," she said soberly, "and one thing I've learned is that she knows how to take care of herself."
"I hope you're right," I said. "I've seen what happens when these things go wrong."

A week later our replacements arrived and so we were sent back to our homes. I was to return to Mirkwood with my kin and report to Thranduil, but I decided to return to Imladris with Tyssa and her brother Hallath. We were all anxious to see how the halfling was managing and most of all, to talk with Cali. I had been to Rivendell several times before as an emissary of the woodland realm, but this would be my first actual 'visit'. We arrived close to sundown and were greeted at the gates by Arwen. Every time I see her I am sharply reminded of Lúthien Tinuviel, and a pang of sorrow would creep into my heart. I would always force a smile, however and somehow I always managed one.

"Father is waiting for you in the Council chamber," she said cordially. We bowed to her and she led us up the leaf-strewn walkway to the open-air chamber in the main house. I remember thinking how strange it was that there was no hint of the halfling's presence and I wondered where Cali was.

We arrived in the council room and saw Elrond sitting in his chair surrounded by several aides. They stood as we entered and nodded to us.

"You may go, yeldënya," he said. Arwen nodded and left the room. "Lindir, Tyssa, please," he motioned to nearby chairs. It was only then that I noticed the rest of our party had stayed behind. I could not even remember them leaving us and felt a slight confusion at their absence.

"If this is about our report-" I started, but Elrond raised a hand.
"No need. Elrohir had already briefed me when he arrived several days ago." One of his aides began offering us a variety of drinks, which we politely took. "No, I called you here to talk about Ancalimë." I took a deep breath and wondered anxiously what he meant by that. I looked to Tyssa and saw the same uneasiness in her. "I hear you had an argument?" It took me a moment to realize that the question had been directed at me. I found myself wondering suspiciously who he had heard this from.

"That's right. It wasn't anything serious," I said carefully, not sure where he was going with his query.

"About the halfling," he said. I nodded. "How would you describe her feelings towards him?" he asked. I was beginning to see where this line of questioning was going and I didn't like it one bit. Fortunately this time Tyssa spoke up. "She has always adored the halflings," she said. "I think she is overjoyed to be able to meet one of them." Elrond nodded slowly.

"I see." He sighed and took a sip of his drink. "Well, it looks like the halfling is staying here for the time being. We're not sure for how long, possibly until the Shire is deemed safe enough for us to withdraw from the woods." Tyssa nodded beside me. She was happy about it, although Elrond looked troubled, as if he read from my responses what was really going on. "We should all try to make the halfling feel welcome," he said, almost as if he expected otherwise. We nodded and stood and he dismissed us.

"I'll show you to the guest rooms," said Tyssa as we were heading back down the stairs. I stopped her.

"Didn't that seem a little unusual to you?" I asked. She shook her head.

"No... he said he'd already received a report from Elrohir. What more did you want to say?" I shook my head and shrugged, continuing down the stairs.

"I don't know, it's just. I got an odd feeling from him, that's all. It's like he knows or suspects something else is going on." We reached the bottom of the stairs and she began to lead me to the guestrooms. I stopped. "I think I'm going to go find Cali," I said. "I've got to talk to her." And I knew just where she'd be.

The stars were shining brightly above when I arrived at the waterfall. Cali was sitting there just as I'd predicted, with a sleeping hobbit in her lap. I couldn't help but smile as I watched. She was looking down at him and playing with his curly hair as he dozed. I walked up the slope as quietly as I could so as not to wake him. Cali looked up and put a finger to her lips to keep me quiet. I sat down next to her and studied the hobbit's cherub-like face before whispering to her.

"Cali, I'm sorry," I said softly. She smiled at me.
"It's already forgotten," she said. "You know I can't stay angry at you for long." She looked around her at the view and let out a peaceful sigh. "Rivendell is so much different when you are showing it to someone who has never seen it." She looked at me again. "You really should get to know him, Lindir. He's so sweet." I looked down at the sleeping bundle.

"He looks like a child," I said carefully. I didn't want to start another argument.

"I know he looks small, but..." I could see she was having trouble describing her thoughts to me and waited patiently. "Hobbits may seem simple to us, but they aren't children at all. There's something very special in the Shire, I just know it. I understand now why Mithrandir wanted them left alone."

"There is something about them, isn't there?" I said, "They have a different air about them than we do. I suppose that's why they fascinate us so much. They have something that we don't and could never possess ourselves." She looked at me with curiosity and said exactly what I wanted her to say.

"What's that?"
"Mortality." She looked down at Drogo as I spoke. "It's something that separates us from them, but we don't even understand what it is. Ilúvatar made us different for a purpose, Cali, and it is not for us to wonder why."

"Why are you saying this, Lindir?" she said, and I heard in her voice the beginnings of hurt. The last thing I wanted was to push the issue, but I had to say it.

"I just spoke with Elrond," I said. "I think he suspects what I already know to be true. You have to be careful; he was asking many hard questions about you and Drogo." I saw a fleeting sadness cross over her face and I moved closer, resting a hand on her shoulder. "I won't tell him anything, Cali, but I won't lie to him either. You have to stop this before it starts." She was silent for several long moments, thinking about my words. She smiled softly.

"I love him, Lindir." It was a statement; a declaration. There was no indecisiveness about it. "I'm not afraid to say it. I'll tell Elrond himself if I have to. I'm not one of his children. I don't care what he thinks." I stared into her eyes and she held my gaze boldly. I finally looked away with a chuckle.

"You stubborn Noldo!" I said. She grinned. "Fine, have it your way, but I hope you know what you're doing."