The next day was one of Elentir's favorites: Saturday. He woke up to Gavin making coffee. There were no calls yet about the necklace, but then again, it was still at Anne's place anyway. Elentir read over the letter again, overwhelmed with anticipation for Legolas' arrival. For some odd reason, Gavin was somewhat reserved. "Everything all right, Gav?" Gavin held his mug under his chin, wrapped in his blanket like a hiding stowaway. "Gavin?" He suddenly glanced up and forced a brief smile.
"Sure, Elentir, just thinking." Elentir smiled back, not convinced, and returned to polishing his bow.
"This yew is chipped," the elf muttered. "Shipping…" The longbow cradled so carefully in the master's hands was an authentic piece, hand-wrapped and one of a kind. The smallest scratch made Elentir wince and rub harsher over the lighter wood. "You should see Leg's bow, Gavin, it's magnificent. You know, if it weren't for that bow, I'd beat him a lot more often."
"I see."
"It was a gift from the general in Lothlorien," Elentir continued. "He shouldn't bring it, but he's gone for a while without dueling me so most likely he will." He glanced over to Gavin, who dronely stared out of the window. "Do you think we could arch in the forest? I thought I saw some old targets in the woods." There was no reply. "Gavin?"
"What?" he almost shouted, turning abruptly. Elentir drew back, surprised. Gavin sighed and set his cup down. "Elly, I'm sorry, I just…just do whatever you want, aye? It'll be the first time you've seen another of your kind in this long, and it's important that you spend enough time with him." At innocent as it sounded, something told Elentir from the way Gavin scrambled to his feet and left the room that he wasn't as excited as the Elven immigrant.
"Gavin!" Elentir called, following him into the small kitchen where Gavin's coffee boiled. "Gavin, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," he grumbled, sloshing more drink into his mug. Elentir stood patiently at the counter until Gavin sighed and faced him. "Elentir, if you want me to leave, I can find shelter at the place downtown." Elentir's brow knit, his head shaking.
"What made you think that? Of course I want you to stay!"
"With…Legolas coming, maybe you don't want to be found staying with…someone not like you." Elentir frowned with a smile and poured himself a cup.
"Gavin, that's nonsense. I want you to meet Legolas—we're all going to have a grand time!" The apology was interrupted by a phone call. Elentir smiled a bit longer before turning to answer it. "Hello?" Gavin watched Elentir's too expressive eyes fill with feeling. "Wonderful! Are they there? No?" His soft brow furrowed. "All right. Please, could you tell them this number? I have a feeling this is very important." Gavin listened carefully, knowing it was the bakery. "I see. Well, if you could…oh? Really?" Elentir began to nervously bother the cord of the phone. "Yes, I can. Thank you so much again, sir." He hung up and sighed, setting his coffee aside.
"What's going on?"
"The owner of the necklace mentioned something about it, but the message just now got to me," Elentir explained, a bit annoyed. "I'm going down there in case they stop by again…do you want anything for breakfast?" Gavin grinned and raised his cup. "Well then," the elf beamed. "I'll be back soon."
"Elly, you don't have the necklace," Gavin called as Elentir grabbed his coat.
"I know, but it's too early to bother Anne." The telephone rang again and Elentir stepped into the hallway.
"Go ahead, I'll get it." Gavin snatched the phone and cheerfully greeted in such a rich tone. "Good mornin', lad, Starwatcher's place." Elentir chuckled and closed the door, already growing more anxious as to meeting this possible elf. Gavin nearly dropped his cup. "Oh, hello, Anne. How is everything?"
"All right, I guess. What the heck, I'm assuming Elly's told you everything," Anne's troubled voice answered from the cracked speaker.
"Well, I'm not sure about everything, but I've got a barry idea." He smirked a bit at the lost moan he heard next.
"I wish I could take it back…he left in such a hurry, he looked at me like I was some four-eyed monster."
"You're a far stretch from a monster, Anne," Gavin stuttered.
"I wish Elentir could see that…I found his necklace here last night. Can I bring it over, or is he up?"
"Actually, he just left, but you're welcome over for some coffee."
"Oh, thanks. I bet he's been looking all over for this. See you in a bit, Gavin."
"Yes, see you too." The phone clicked and Gavin replaced it to the base. "Aye…this place is a mess!"
Elentir stepped into the bakery and was welcomed once again with its ever-present warmth. He glanced to the many empty tables; perhaps a young elf his age dressed in familiar Neverwinter garb would be sitting alone at one. He found no such vision. Still hopeful, he strode to the counter. "Excuse me, my name is Elentir…"
"Oh, yes," the cashier muttered, scratching his nose. "Starwatcher. No, no one else has asked about your necklace," he grunted. "But this place can get pretty busy around lunch time, so maybe you'll find who you're looking for." Elentir drew his lips tip and nodded. He would get something for Gavin anyway and wait.
"In that case, I'll have a roll and…one of those…bagel things." The man coughed and began to dig into the glass case. Elentir's eyes wandered and he found a small child staring at him, dumbfound. It was a little girl with messy red hair and a brown spray across her stifled nose.
"You have long hair," the urchin breathed, eyes wide with interest. Elentir ignored the comment and waited for his food, which was taking an unusually long time. "It's so pretty." Hearing the compliment, his gaze fell to the child. The man was still trying to fish out his bagel. Elentir lowered to a knee so that his soulful eyes matched those of the preschooler.
"Your hair is pretty too," he replied, passing a sweet smile to her childish countenance. Suddenly, the little arm was snatched by an overweight mother and her body flung back. Elentir rose to his feet, face strung with a deep glower.
"Leave that man alone," the woman barked. The girl bowed her head.
"She wasn't a bother," he tried. The woman grimaced and yanked the girl back behind her wide side.
"Well she shouldn't talk to strangers," she hissed as she looked Elentir over, disgusted. "Especially when they're this strange." With that, the child was dragged away, whining softly.
"Starwatcher?" Elentir faced the desk, thoughts still with the horrible scene he just experienced. "Your food."
"Thanks," he muttered. He dazedly stumbled back, reminded once again how unreasonable the human race was.
"Starwatcher," the man demanded one last time before Elentir reached the door. He glanced back, the man now actually smiling. "Come back in a few hours, and you're bound to see her."
"Her?" the elf echoed, processing slowly.
"Yeah, the owner of the necklace," he called. "You're right. She said it was important." The small bakery began to spin as people passed by Elentir's slipping stare. The necklace belonged to…a maid.