-THE GAMES OF THE GODS-
-Disclaimer:-
Snow-woman: I own nothing.
Glorfindel: ...
Rachel: ...Snow-woman? Where'd a snow-woman come from?
Snow-woman: Outside.
Rachel: Well, that's obvious...but snow people are just made of snow. You shouldn't be able to talk...or come inside, for that matter.
Glorfindel: So stop encouraging it, Rachel...
Snow-woman: 'It'? *bops Glorfindel* I'm a she! Get your pronouns straight!
Glorfindel: Yes, Crimson Starlight.
Snow-woman (AKA, CS): Awww, how'd you know it was me?
Glorfindel: You're the only one I know who would bop me with a stuffed fuzzy purple monkey plushie...
Rachel: *snicker*
-33: Decisions-
I admit, I was nervous when I entered Elrond's study, but neither Elrond nor Gandalf seemed particularly mad. Still, I decided to play it safe.
"You wanted to see me, Lord Elrond, Mithrandir?" I asked carefully. I would have curtseyed, but that would have been far too out of character for me, letting them see how nervous I was. And letting Elrond and Gandalf know you were nervous did not strike me as a smart thing to do.
"Yes, Rachel. Please have a seat. Glorfindel, come in as well." At the last part of Elrond's command, I instantly went on alert. Especially since Glorfindel seemed surprised to be asked to stay. Nonetheless, as I took a seat, Glorfindel shut the door, staying on the same side of the wooden barrier as the rest of us, and then leaned up against said door. No one was going to be getting in that way. Or if they did, Glorfindel would find himself shoved out of the way. I held back a snicker at the mental image that thought brought.
I turned my attention back to Elrond, and found that he was staring at me thoughtfully, while Gandalf seemed to be trying to watch me with one eye and Elrond with the other. So, Elrond was the one in charge of this little meeting. And from the way Gandalf was acting, he was not happy that this meeting was happening at all.
"As I'm sure you know, Rachel, some dangerous times have come upon Middle-Earth." Elrond started.
"Understatement!" I muttered, and Elrond gave me a Look before continuing.
"Many things are happening quickly, and momentous decisions will be made soon." he said, and I bit my lip on another 'Understatement!'. "You already know of the council and, I daresay, what will come of it." I nodded. "Good. I have a request, then."
"If it has anything to do with going anywhere near Mordor, no." I said, arching an eyebrow as I guessed just what that request would be. Slight surprise flickered across Elrond's face and I swear I saw Gandalf smirk. As it was, the eyebrow the Maia arched at the Elf-lord clearly said 'I told you so'.
"And why not?" Elrond asked after a moment, leaning back in his chair and regarding me curiously.
"Because I am not fated to be one of the Nine." I replied, tilting my head slightly to one side as I furiously tried to think several steps ahead of what I said - even with Elrond, Gandalf and Glorfindel, I did not want to let go of too much information. Though I'm sure they understood that the things I knew, both good and bad, needed to happen in order for Sauron to fall, information about the future is a dangerous thing.
"The Nine?" Glorfindel interrupted, looking rather confused.
"Gandalf and I have talked, and we have decided it will be for the good of all if the Ring is destroyed. We are going to send nine companions to Mordor to do so." Elrond explained. "Gandalf and I have tentatively decided on five members of the company, but we are having trouble with the last three. We had hoped you and Rachel -"
"YOU had hoped Rachel." Gandalf interrupted. Elrond shot Gandalf and annoyed glance, then continued.
"I had hoped Rachel would be one of them, and we both hoped you would be another." he finished.
"Neither of us will be." I said with a small smile, before Glorfindel could say anything. Glorfindel arched an eyebrow at me.
"Really now." he said, a tinge of annoyance in his voice. I nodded vigorously.
"The three remaining members will actually probably be somewhat of a surprise, but you won't be able to NOT let them go. Unless you want to make use of some ropes and sacks." I replied with a mischievous grin.
"And that is QUITE enough information." Gandalf said firmly at that point.
"Oh, I don't know, I could drop a few more vague hints." I said, grinning and thoroughly enjoying myself.
"I am sure you could, but we do not wish to hear them." Gandalf said firmly. "However, I doubt even that will stop you from saying them, which is part of why I am going to make my next suggestion. I think, Rachel, that it would be best if you went to Lothlorien for the remainder of the War. There, at the least, you would be protected, and any tidbits you might let slip would do less damage there than here." That brought me back to seriousness quickly.
"Er - um..." I said intelligently, my mind racing with all the good and bad things that going to Lothlorien would entail.
"Besides," Gandalf continued in a kinder voice, "You need to make your peace with Kari, and she with you."
"See, that's exactly why I don't really want to go to Lothlorien. I would really rather let Elrohir tell her about me, then go and apologize and make my peace once she's cooled down a bit." I said.
"I think that would be worse than you going yourself." Elrond said.
"Maybe. Maybe not." I replied with a shrug.
"Lothlorien is a big place. You could theoretically spend your entire time there and never cross paths with Kari." Glorfindel commented.
"Doubtful." I said dryly, thinking of how she would be drawn to visit the Fellowship just as I would be expected to because of Boromir. "But I can tell y'all really want me out of here, so I will go. On two conditions."
"Conditions?" Elrond asked, arching an eyebrow.
"I don't leave until after the council, and super fighter Balrog-killing dude over there comes with me." I replied, jerking a thumb in Glorfindel's direction. Outright surprise was plastered across Glorfindel's face, with Elrond and Gandalf's faces only milder versions. "I have a theory that I am way overdue to run into Orcs, and quite frankly, he's just about the only one I trust enough to be able to deal with any Orcs." The surprised looks disappeared, replaced by thoughtful frowning (Glorfindel) and amusement (Elrond and Gandalf).
"You are aware Lord Glorfindel has many duties here in Rivendell?" Elrond asked, stressing Glorfindel's title.
"Yep." I replied, giving Elrond a bland smile. Elrond glanced at Gandalf. Gandalf gave a miniscule shrug. Elrond's gaze flickered to Glorfindel, who now appeared to be lost in thought and dead to the world around him.
"Glorfindel?" Elrond asked after a moment, clearing his throat to get Glorfindel's attention. Glorfindel started, and when he saw Elrond looking at him expectantly, he arched a questioning eyebrow.
"What say you to Rachel's conditions?" Elrond asked.
"I have no problem with them." Glorfindel replied after a small pause.
"Very well then. We shall see about setting a specific date for your leaving after the council." Elrond said.
"Munderful!" I said cheerfully, bouncing slightly in my seat.
"Now, I believe that is all?" Elrond turned slightly to Gandalf as he said this.
"Not quite." Gandalf said, and all heads turned towards him. "My hat, Rachel?"
"Is staying with me until I leave." I replied stubbornly.
"Then you shall give it back?" Gandalf asked, arching an eyebrow, and I nodded. Gandalf smiled and nodded, signifying that he agreed to that little arrangement. I grinned and resisted the urge to do a little dance of victory - I was actually rather surprised that Gandalf was letting me keep the hat.
"Is that all, now?" Elrond asked again, and there were nods all around. "Good." With that, Elrond stood up, and Gandalf and I followed suit. Then, with Glorfindel holding open the door, we all left the study. Once outside, Gandalf declared he was going to go see where the hobbits had gotten to, and set off before I could tell him they were in the library. Then Elrond made some excuse about needing to speak with some people, and I was left in the hallway with Glorfindel.
I peered suspiciously down the hall after Elrond and Gandalf, quite sure that they had planned that little maneuver. But then, any suspicions of a conspiracy that might be forming were dashed as Glorfindel, after asking if I knew the way to my rooms, excused himself, as well. Gandalf and Elrond still could have planned that, I realized as I set off down the hall - they couldn't control if Glorfindel stayed or left, though.
I shook my head with a rueful smile as I realized just how silly my thoughts were. Instead, I set my mind to finding my rooms and thinking up things to do when I got back there. The problem ended out being solved for me, however, as when I arrived back at my rooms, one of the apprentice seamstresses was waiting, with a request for me to come with her so the master seamstresses could see if some tentative versions of my trousers and tunics fit like they were supposed to. I poked my head into my room just long enough to drop off Gandalf's hat, and then I was off to be subjected to an evening of having seamstresses twitter and mutter all around me as they prodded me with pins and needles - quite unintentionally, of course - and took measurements and re-measurements of parts of my body they'd already gotten earlier that afternoon.
Judging from the prototype trousers and tunic, however, it was worth it. The trousers were nice and comfortable, being loose, yet tight, and showing off some of the toned muscles that I had developed in my legs. The tunic was just as well made - it was like a perfect blend of a dress bodice and a men's tunic. The tight sleeves of a bodice, the practical neckline of the tunic, the form-fitting chest area of a bodice, with the length of a tunic underneath - plus a little extra length, for propriety, as the seamstresses put it. It was still practical, and I was pleased with what they had accomplished otherwise, so I made no comment about propriety.
Eventually, the apprentices came and informed the master seamstresses that it was time for SLEEP, and that they could continue their work tomorrow. So I was able to go back to my room, accompanied by a very apologetic apprentice, just in time to fall into bed - and sleep - myself.
The next two days passed smoothly, as I hung around with the hobbits - and occasionally Boromir - completely avoiding any thought or mention of what I had dubbed the Dorwinnian Night. If the hobbits or Boromir noticed that I seemed to avoid elves, except for Elladan, they made no comment, for which I was grateful. Most of the times, in fact, they kept me company as I ate in my rooms to avoid certain Elf Lords.
I was slightly surprised that Glorfindel didn't try more to seek me out, but I guess he figured we'd have more than enough time to talk this out later - which, actually, was exactly what I had in mind. I was going to enjoy my last few days in Rivendell with the hobbits and Boromir, and then on my trip to Lothlorien, and hopefully in Lothlorien itself, I was going to sort out all the various problems and mucky mires I had managed to get myself into. Besides that, I needed a short while to figure out HOW to sort things out - that evening had set the wheels of my mind a-turning, and before I said anything, I needed to sort myself out.
Then, at last, Frodo woke. The hobbits immediately ditched me to be with him, I didn't take offence, instead going off and having a spar with Boromir. I had found, to my great annoyance, that while I had fought Elladan to a draw the day Frodo had come to Rivendell, I seemed unable to even come close to doing so again. I could hold my own against Boromir - sometimes (OK, rarely) - but Elladan usually whooped me as quickly as Glorfindel had whooped me when he came back.
"I think you are one of those that can only use a sword when you really have a pressing need to." Boromir commented dryly as I found myself staring at the point of Elladan's sword again, not less than a minute after I had started sparring the Elf. I shot Boromir a glare as I yielded. Boromir stepped up to spar me, and I finished him off just about as quickly as Elladan had finished me off.
"As I was saying." Boromir said, looking at the tip of my sword. "I yield." I grunted in annoyance, and then Elladan decided to show me some of the more advanced moves for sword fighting. He claimed I should have been able to pick up on them with no trouble, since I'd used most of them on the day I'd fought him to a draw, but as a smirking Boromir commented, I was abysmally hopeless at them.
"I'm just glad Mr. Balrog Slayer is going to be taking me to Lothlorien, especially after this." I commented grumpily as Elladan, Boromir and I headed back inside once we were done.
"What?!" Boromir's head whipped towards me, as did Elladan's, though Elladan refrained from exclaiming. It was then, of course, that I realized I hadn't told anyone about my planned trip to Lothlorien. I inwardly chuckled, scolding myself for taking this ignoring of people and things I didn't want to think about a little too far.
"I'm going to be going to Lothlorien sometime after Elrond's little council." I said out loud.
"Why?" Boromir asked in confusion.
"Because I have some unfinished business I need to attend to, and Lothlorien is a pretty place." I replied, and then added thoughtfully, "Though Galadriel's rather creepy." Elladan made a choking noise, and I gave him a disapproving look. "Oh, don't tell me you haven't thought it yourself at least once." Elladan coughed once, recovering from his shock, and shook his head wryly.
"I will not deny it, but it is another thing entirely to say it out loud." he said.
"Well, she read minds, yes?" I said, cocking my head to one side, and Elladan nodded warily. "Then which is better, thinking it in your head where she can hear it, or saying it out loud and getting it out of your system when you're away from her?" There was a short silence as Boromir and Elladan looked at me in surprise. I rolled my eyes. "Oh, stop looking so surprised. I do make sense occasionally. And I had to learn tact to survive in the world of Men for the past 800 years."
"You did?" Boromir asked skeptically.
"Don't make me beat you." I warned.
"Ah yes, wonderful tact." Elladan said, nodding wisely.
"Don't make me sic the hobbits on you." I grumped.
"Oh, the hobbits now, is it? Wouldn't Glorfindel be more effective?" Elladan asked, arching an eyebrow. From the curiosity that Boromir couldn't quite manage to hide, and the way Elladan was obviously expecting a retort, I knew that they were hoping to get some clue as to what had gone on between us that we now avoided each other.
"Probably, but the hobbits would be more amusing." I replied with a grin, satisfied when I saw disappointment flit across Elladan and Boromir's faces. "Now, who's up for some food?"
"I think you have been spending too much time around hobbits." Elladan commented.
"Nah, I'm just the exception to the Elven appetite." I replied cheerfully, and headed off for the kitchen. A few moments later, I heard Elladan and Boromir follow.
----To be continued...with the council!----
(And Manwë...He's not actually in the chapter, but hey.)
-Authors Note:-
As requested, two chapters in one day to celebrate the release of Return of the King! Not like I have anything ELSE to do besides post, since the ONE theatre in town that is showing the movie is already sold out until Monday. *grumbles* Last year there was two, but then they had to go and close one theatre and then have the other decide not to play it! So now only the new theatre, which costs about $3 more to go to, is the only one playing it...*fumes* Anyways. More in the Author's Note for the next chapter...
~Crimson Starlight
-Disclaimer:-
Snow-woman: I own nothing.
Glorfindel: ...
Rachel: ...Snow-woman? Where'd a snow-woman come from?
Snow-woman: Outside.
Rachel: Well, that's obvious...but snow people are just made of snow. You shouldn't be able to talk...or come inside, for that matter.
Glorfindel: So stop encouraging it, Rachel...
Snow-woman: 'It'? *bops Glorfindel* I'm a she! Get your pronouns straight!
Glorfindel: Yes, Crimson Starlight.
Snow-woman (AKA, CS): Awww, how'd you know it was me?
Glorfindel: You're the only one I know who would bop me with a stuffed fuzzy purple monkey plushie...
Rachel: *snicker*
-33: Decisions-
I admit, I was nervous when I entered Elrond's study, but neither Elrond nor Gandalf seemed particularly mad. Still, I decided to play it safe.
"You wanted to see me, Lord Elrond, Mithrandir?" I asked carefully. I would have curtseyed, but that would have been far too out of character for me, letting them see how nervous I was. And letting Elrond and Gandalf know you were nervous did not strike me as a smart thing to do.
"Yes, Rachel. Please have a seat. Glorfindel, come in as well." At the last part of Elrond's command, I instantly went on alert. Especially since Glorfindel seemed surprised to be asked to stay. Nonetheless, as I took a seat, Glorfindel shut the door, staying on the same side of the wooden barrier as the rest of us, and then leaned up against said door. No one was going to be getting in that way. Or if they did, Glorfindel would find himself shoved out of the way. I held back a snicker at the mental image that thought brought.
I turned my attention back to Elrond, and found that he was staring at me thoughtfully, while Gandalf seemed to be trying to watch me with one eye and Elrond with the other. So, Elrond was the one in charge of this little meeting. And from the way Gandalf was acting, he was not happy that this meeting was happening at all.
"As I'm sure you know, Rachel, some dangerous times have come upon Middle-Earth." Elrond started.
"Understatement!" I muttered, and Elrond gave me a Look before continuing.
"Many things are happening quickly, and momentous decisions will be made soon." he said, and I bit my lip on another 'Understatement!'. "You already know of the council and, I daresay, what will come of it." I nodded. "Good. I have a request, then."
"If it has anything to do with going anywhere near Mordor, no." I said, arching an eyebrow as I guessed just what that request would be. Slight surprise flickered across Elrond's face and I swear I saw Gandalf smirk. As it was, the eyebrow the Maia arched at the Elf-lord clearly said 'I told you so'.
"And why not?" Elrond asked after a moment, leaning back in his chair and regarding me curiously.
"Because I am not fated to be one of the Nine." I replied, tilting my head slightly to one side as I furiously tried to think several steps ahead of what I said - even with Elrond, Gandalf and Glorfindel, I did not want to let go of too much information. Though I'm sure they understood that the things I knew, both good and bad, needed to happen in order for Sauron to fall, information about the future is a dangerous thing.
"The Nine?" Glorfindel interrupted, looking rather confused.
"Gandalf and I have talked, and we have decided it will be for the good of all if the Ring is destroyed. We are going to send nine companions to Mordor to do so." Elrond explained. "Gandalf and I have tentatively decided on five members of the company, but we are having trouble with the last three. We had hoped you and Rachel -"
"YOU had hoped Rachel." Gandalf interrupted. Elrond shot Gandalf and annoyed glance, then continued.
"I had hoped Rachel would be one of them, and we both hoped you would be another." he finished.
"Neither of us will be." I said with a small smile, before Glorfindel could say anything. Glorfindel arched an eyebrow at me.
"Really now." he said, a tinge of annoyance in his voice. I nodded vigorously.
"The three remaining members will actually probably be somewhat of a surprise, but you won't be able to NOT let them go. Unless you want to make use of some ropes and sacks." I replied with a mischievous grin.
"And that is QUITE enough information." Gandalf said firmly at that point.
"Oh, I don't know, I could drop a few more vague hints." I said, grinning and thoroughly enjoying myself.
"I am sure you could, but we do not wish to hear them." Gandalf said firmly. "However, I doubt even that will stop you from saying them, which is part of why I am going to make my next suggestion. I think, Rachel, that it would be best if you went to Lothlorien for the remainder of the War. There, at the least, you would be protected, and any tidbits you might let slip would do less damage there than here." That brought me back to seriousness quickly.
"Er - um..." I said intelligently, my mind racing with all the good and bad things that going to Lothlorien would entail.
"Besides," Gandalf continued in a kinder voice, "You need to make your peace with Kari, and she with you."
"See, that's exactly why I don't really want to go to Lothlorien. I would really rather let Elrohir tell her about me, then go and apologize and make my peace once she's cooled down a bit." I said.
"I think that would be worse than you going yourself." Elrond said.
"Maybe. Maybe not." I replied with a shrug.
"Lothlorien is a big place. You could theoretically spend your entire time there and never cross paths with Kari." Glorfindel commented.
"Doubtful." I said dryly, thinking of how she would be drawn to visit the Fellowship just as I would be expected to because of Boromir. "But I can tell y'all really want me out of here, so I will go. On two conditions."
"Conditions?" Elrond asked, arching an eyebrow.
"I don't leave until after the council, and super fighter Balrog-killing dude over there comes with me." I replied, jerking a thumb in Glorfindel's direction. Outright surprise was plastered across Glorfindel's face, with Elrond and Gandalf's faces only milder versions. "I have a theory that I am way overdue to run into Orcs, and quite frankly, he's just about the only one I trust enough to be able to deal with any Orcs." The surprised looks disappeared, replaced by thoughtful frowning (Glorfindel) and amusement (Elrond and Gandalf).
"You are aware Lord Glorfindel has many duties here in Rivendell?" Elrond asked, stressing Glorfindel's title.
"Yep." I replied, giving Elrond a bland smile. Elrond glanced at Gandalf. Gandalf gave a miniscule shrug. Elrond's gaze flickered to Glorfindel, who now appeared to be lost in thought and dead to the world around him.
"Glorfindel?" Elrond asked after a moment, clearing his throat to get Glorfindel's attention. Glorfindel started, and when he saw Elrond looking at him expectantly, he arched a questioning eyebrow.
"What say you to Rachel's conditions?" Elrond asked.
"I have no problem with them." Glorfindel replied after a small pause.
"Very well then. We shall see about setting a specific date for your leaving after the council." Elrond said.
"Munderful!" I said cheerfully, bouncing slightly in my seat.
"Now, I believe that is all?" Elrond turned slightly to Gandalf as he said this.
"Not quite." Gandalf said, and all heads turned towards him. "My hat, Rachel?"
"Is staying with me until I leave." I replied stubbornly.
"Then you shall give it back?" Gandalf asked, arching an eyebrow, and I nodded. Gandalf smiled and nodded, signifying that he agreed to that little arrangement. I grinned and resisted the urge to do a little dance of victory - I was actually rather surprised that Gandalf was letting me keep the hat.
"Is that all, now?" Elrond asked again, and there were nods all around. "Good." With that, Elrond stood up, and Gandalf and I followed suit. Then, with Glorfindel holding open the door, we all left the study. Once outside, Gandalf declared he was going to go see where the hobbits had gotten to, and set off before I could tell him they were in the library. Then Elrond made some excuse about needing to speak with some people, and I was left in the hallway with Glorfindel.
I peered suspiciously down the hall after Elrond and Gandalf, quite sure that they had planned that little maneuver. But then, any suspicions of a conspiracy that might be forming were dashed as Glorfindel, after asking if I knew the way to my rooms, excused himself, as well. Gandalf and Elrond still could have planned that, I realized as I set off down the hall - they couldn't control if Glorfindel stayed or left, though.
I shook my head with a rueful smile as I realized just how silly my thoughts were. Instead, I set my mind to finding my rooms and thinking up things to do when I got back there. The problem ended out being solved for me, however, as when I arrived back at my rooms, one of the apprentice seamstresses was waiting, with a request for me to come with her so the master seamstresses could see if some tentative versions of my trousers and tunics fit like they were supposed to. I poked my head into my room just long enough to drop off Gandalf's hat, and then I was off to be subjected to an evening of having seamstresses twitter and mutter all around me as they prodded me with pins and needles - quite unintentionally, of course - and took measurements and re-measurements of parts of my body they'd already gotten earlier that afternoon.
Judging from the prototype trousers and tunic, however, it was worth it. The trousers were nice and comfortable, being loose, yet tight, and showing off some of the toned muscles that I had developed in my legs. The tunic was just as well made - it was like a perfect blend of a dress bodice and a men's tunic. The tight sleeves of a bodice, the practical neckline of the tunic, the form-fitting chest area of a bodice, with the length of a tunic underneath - plus a little extra length, for propriety, as the seamstresses put it. It was still practical, and I was pleased with what they had accomplished otherwise, so I made no comment about propriety.
Eventually, the apprentices came and informed the master seamstresses that it was time for SLEEP, and that they could continue their work tomorrow. So I was able to go back to my room, accompanied by a very apologetic apprentice, just in time to fall into bed - and sleep - myself.
The next two days passed smoothly, as I hung around with the hobbits - and occasionally Boromir - completely avoiding any thought or mention of what I had dubbed the Dorwinnian Night. If the hobbits or Boromir noticed that I seemed to avoid elves, except for Elladan, they made no comment, for which I was grateful. Most of the times, in fact, they kept me company as I ate in my rooms to avoid certain Elf Lords.
I was slightly surprised that Glorfindel didn't try more to seek me out, but I guess he figured we'd have more than enough time to talk this out later - which, actually, was exactly what I had in mind. I was going to enjoy my last few days in Rivendell with the hobbits and Boromir, and then on my trip to Lothlorien, and hopefully in Lothlorien itself, I was going to sort out all the various problems and mucky mires I had managed to get myself into. Besides that, I needed a short while to figure out HOW to sort things out - that evening had set the wheels of my mind a-turning, and before I said anything, I needed to sort myself out.
Then, at last, Frodo woke. The hobbits immediately ditched me to be with him, I didn't take offence, instead going off and having a spar with Boromir. I had found, to my great annoyance, that while I had fought Elladan to a draw the day Frodo had come to Rivendell, I seemed unable to even come close to doing so again. I could hold my own against Boromir - sometimes (OK, rarely) - but Elladan usually whooped me as quickly as Glorfindel had whooped me when he came back.
"I think you are one of those that can only use a sword when you really have a pressing need to." Boromir commented dryly as I found myself staring at the point of Elladan's sword again, not less than a minute after I had started sparring the Elf. I shot Boromir a glare as I yielded. Boromir stepped up to spar me, and I finished him off just about as quickly as Elladan had finished me off.
"As I was saying." Boromir said, looking at the tip of my sword. "I yield." I grunted in annoyance, and then Elladan decided to show me some of the more advanced moves for sword fighting. He claimed I should have been able to pick up on them with no trouble, since I'd used most of them on the day I'd fought him to a draw, but as a smirking Boromir commented, I was abysmally hopeless at them.
"I'm just glad Mr. Balrog Slayer is going to be taking me to Lothlorien, especially after this." I commented grumpily as Elladan, Boromir and I headed back inside once we were done.
"What?!" Boromir's head whipped towards me, as did Elladan's, though Elladan refrained from exclaiming. It was then, of course, that I realized I hadn't told anyone about my planned trip to Lothlorien. I inwardly chuckled, scolding myself for taking this ignoring of people and things I didn't want to think about a little too far.
"I'm going to be going to Lothlorien sometime after Elrond's little council." I said out loud.
"Why?" Boromir asked in confusion.
"Because I have some unfinished business I need to attend to, and Lothlorien is a pretty place." I replied, and then added thoughtfully, "Though Galadriel's rather creepy." Elladan made a choking noise, and I gave him a disapproving look. "Oh, don't tell me you haven't thought it yourself at least once." Elladan coughed once, recovering from his shock, and shook his head wryly.
"I will not deny it, but it is another thing entirely to say it out loud." he said.
"Well, she read minds, yes?" I said, cocking my head to one side, and Elladan nodded warily. "Then which is better, thinking it in your head where she can hear it, or saying it out loud and getting it out of your system when you're away from her?" There was a short silence as Boromir and Elladan looked at me in surprise. I rolled my eyes. "Oh, stop looking so surprised. I do make sense occasionally. And I had to learn tact to survive in the world of Men for the past 800 years."
"You did?" Boromir asked skeptically.
"Don't make me beat you." I warned.
"Ah yes, wonderful tact." Elladan said, nodding wisely.
"Don't make me sic the hobbits on you." I grumped.
"Oh, the hobbits now, is it? Wouldn't Glorfindel be more effective?" Elladan asked, arching an eyebrow. From the curiosity that Boromir couldn't quite manage to hide, and the way Elladan was obviously expecting a retort, I knew that they were hoping to get some clue as to what had gone on between us that we now avoided each other.
"Probably, but the hobbits would be more amusing." I replied with a grin, satisfied when I saw disappointment flit across Elladan and Boromir's faces. "Now, who's up for some food?"
"I think you have been spending too much time around hobbits." Elladan commented.
"Nah, I'm just the exception to the Elven appetite." I replied cheerfully, and headed off for the kitchen. A few moments later, I heard Elladan and Boromir follow.
----To be continued...with the council!----
(And Manwë...He's not actually in the chapter, but hey.)
-Authors Note:-
As requested, two chapters in one day to celebrate the release of Return of the King! Not like I have anything ELSE to do besides post, since the ONE theatre in town that is showing the movie is already sold out until Monday. *grumbles* Last year there was two, but then they had to go and close one theatre and then have the other decide not to play it! So now only the new theatre, which costs about $3 more to go to, is the only one playing it...*fumes* Anyways. More in the Author's Note for the next chapter...
~Crimson Starlight