A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry it has been awhile. Things are again really hectic with a choir concert, upcoming play, and flag corps practice along with school I find that my time for writing continually grows slim! Oh well… I have posted again! Some new developments have happened as you will see. The next few chapters are easy going, so sit back, relax, and enjoy! I expect only a small number of chapters left until I reach the part where I will end this story, and trust me when I say, I am very excited about you all reading it! Thank you all for your wonderful reviews! I hope my later chapters will be as exciting as the ones in the past!
Much love
~Lady Alatariel
Seemingly, days past, maybe weeks, Tinioniel was not sure if it was night or day as she sat in the cursed study room constantly looking and reading through books. Tinioniel was getting closer to the last part of a spell book when she frustratingly shut it; the strong sound of the slam reverberating off the walls.
"I can not take any more of this!" Tinioniel stood up and run her finger through her slightly greasy hair. "I haven't been able to go outside, take a bath which is sincerely missed, let alone being able to leave this abhorrent room! All I have done is read letters that form words, words that form a sentence, and the sentences in turn mean nothing! Nothing, Gandalf! Nothing! What power do words have when I don't even know how to do anything? This is pointless! I am wasting valuable time in here and you know it!" Gandalf watched, quite amused by her outburst. Tinioniel stopped her rampage when she saw a slight smirk on Gandalf's face. "What is that? A smile? Are you laughing at me? Is that what you are doing? You take me for a fool! Sure I have not lived as long as you have, but I am old enough to see that this is inane! I will not spend my time in here reading when I could actually be learning something important!" Gandalf's smile only expanded as he looked, not directly at her eyes, but at her hands. "Why do you still laugh at me? Am I that entertaining? Well here is something that you can muse yourself with!" In her blind anger, Tinioniel let words slip from her mouth as a blinding light erupted from her, directed towards Gandalf. Tinioniel closed her eyes as she felt power being drained from her. The light faded and Tinioniel found herself on the floor. Gandalf stood above her, his hands perched on his hips.
"Worthless books, huh? Your power comes with in you. Those books fueled your anger, which in turn wrought your magic."
"Wait… What? Magic?" Gandalf nodded his head.
"You are a mage. I must wield you like a metal being turned to a sword. If you go into battle with only the metal, then you will die. If you fight with magic without knowing how, the same affect will occur. Remember what I told you about Lomadrien? Her skill was with the blade, yours is with magic. It is a very blessed gift and come in quite handy. Do you understand so far?"
"No." Tinioniel answered bluntly. "I really don't." Gandalf extended his hand to her and helped her off the flooring and on her feet. At the touch of her hand, he felt purity within her, not like before, when she had been burdened by Sauruman's spells. Gandalf smiled knowingly, but held his tongue, and decided that Tinioniel should find out instead of being told of her new freedom. Tinioniel continued her looks towards Gandalf, confused and impatient.
"Let us get some food." Tinioniel smiled, feeling like jumping up and down.
"Now that I understand. It's about time you came around old uncouth man. A girl has got to eat!" Tinioniel sped from the room, retracing her steps from the journey that seemed so long ago.
"Ai Elbereth. Help me with this girl!" Gandalf pleaded before leaving the room to follow Tinioniel.
- ~ * ~ -
On her way to breakfast, or whatever meal was being served, Tinioniel messily braided her hair, trying to hide the fact that she had not bathed in a while. Keeping her head down so she could reach the hair at the nap of her neck, Tinioniel kept running, becoming more familiar with the Deep each passing day. 'What happened in the room?' Tinioniel cogitated on the events that had passed, which only confused her more. 'Oh well. All I have to worry about right now is my stomach.' Tinioniel kept running, still braiding her hair as she turned a corner and smacked right into a firm chest.
"Ah!" She gasped as she began to fall, but was caught by a warm hand. One arm wrapped around her waist, as the other grasped her by the hand. "I am so sorry! Please excuse my rudeness. I…" Tinioniel stopped herself as she saw who it was. Her eyes grew wide with fear and surprise as she gazed into a proverbial pair of sea green eyes.