Chapter 7

Isis sighed and shook her head. "Well," she muttered to herself, "I can see that the first thing, I think, is to find some clothes. Excuse me," she said, to a passing elf who looked vaguely familiar, "do you know where I could find the, um, tailor's?"

The elf looked at her coolly, then, pointing up the path, said, "Walk straight ahead, turn left, turn right, go straight until you reach the fourth door on your right, turn left --"

"Sorry," interrupted Isis, "but didn't you say the fourth door on your right'? Don't you mean turn right?"

"I meant exactly what I said, young lady," said the Elf, glaring at her. Then he resumed. "As I was saying, go straight until you reach the fourth door on your right, turn left, go around the rotunda until you reach the seventh door on your left, and go in."

"Gee, thanks," said Isis, only a tiny bit sarcastically. :I obviously need to start compiling a list of the maddest races of Middle-earth, and I know just who's gonna be at the top of my list!: she thought to herself.

"Now repeat it back to me," ordered the Elf. She did so, perfectly, and he said, "Good. What is your name?"

"Isis," she said, rather cautiously. "Why?"

"I am Orophin. Why are you running?"

"Because I'm supposed to get clothes and then meet Master Elrond in the armoury in twenty minutes, so I have to go. Bye!" And with that, she set off at high speed in the direction he had pointed her in, and, following his directions, she got herself to the tailor's with no further mishap.

It was a large, quiet room, its walls covered with shelves full of bolts of cloth. An elf came forward to greet Isis, saying, "Has Elrond sent you?"

"Er, yes," said Isis. "I need to get some new clothes." Before she had finished talking, the elf was already measuring her. In a moment another elf entered, carrying a stack of clothes.

"Take these behind that screen," he instructed her, pointing to the same in the corner of the room, "and change. Elrond is awaiting you."

Isis thanked them both and went to change into the clothes -- a dark blue, longsleeved shirt; light grey leggings; and a green jerkin and belt. There was also a pair of boots, which delighted her with their comfort, not at all like her boots at home, which had heels. These had no sole at all, and contoured to her foot perfectly. She felt as if she had no shoes on at all.

When at last she left the tailor's, she had instructions to return there at the end of the day to get the rest of her clothes. But for now, the only thing to do was to get to the armoury before Elrond came looking for her like an immature child. Isis sighed and stopped another elf.

"Excuse me, how do I get to the armoury?"

"Now who would you be?" the elf was tall, slender, and blonde, like most elves, but his voice had a rich timbre that made Isis certain that he was male.

"Does it really matter?" Isis said. "I'm due to meet Elrond in two minutes at the armoury, and I have feeling he wouldn't be happy if I were late."

"You're quite right," the elf answered, smiling. "If you need directions, then you must never have been there before, and as I know how difficult it is to get there, I shall escort you. May I?"

:Well,: Isis thought, :he can't really do much to me, out here in broad daylight.: "Okay," she said aloud.

"Will you now tell me your name?" asked the elf, once they were walking in the direction of the armoury.

"It's Isis," Isis said. "You?"

"I am Glorfindel," the elf answered, turning suddenly through a doorway that Isis would never have seen if it weren't for him.

"Ouch," Isis said, rubbing her nose where it had connected with the doorframe.

"Are you all right, Isis?" asked Elrond, appearing suddenly out of nowhere.

"Sweet Valar!" Isis exclaimed. "Is it, like, a gift for the elves to be able to appear from out of nowhere when they are least expected?"

Elrond surprised her by answering her not on her rudeness, but on her grammar. "It's 'out of nowhere,'" he said, "not 'from ou of nowhere. Come, Isis. We still have a good deal to talk about."

As Isis followed Elrond into the armoury, Glorfindel called to her quietly. "What?"

"May I see you at dinner?"

"I guess," she answered. "Oh, there's Elrond calling me! Yeah, I'll see you later, Glorfindel."

"Indeed," came the reply, floated on the wind. But when she turned to look at him, he was gone.

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Hahaaaaa! Cliffhanger! Do you think something might come of that encounter? If you think Glorfindel and Isis will be an item, we'll see, but in the meantimeleave us reviews and make us very very very happy when I get back from holiday! XoXoX Isis