Chapter II

Gilauriel and Elrond returned from their afternoon ride, both relatively quiet.  Even Arwen and Elrohir, who were waiting at the stables to meet them, sensed something was wrong.

'Is there something you would like to talk about?' Arwen asked as she guided her friend back to the Last Homely House.

'No,' Gilauriel lied.  'But please inform Ada that I am not going for afternoon tea.'

'But Aragorn and Gandalf will be there.  Ada would prefer it if you would come.'

'No.'

'Gandalf may be able to answer the troubles you have in your mind, if you do not want to tell me about them,' Arwen suggested.

'No, Undomiel, you will not understand,' Gilauriel fought, 'ada told me that he and naneth are not my real parents.'

'O, amin hiraetha,' Arwen answered sorrowfully.  'Where are they then?'

'They departed to the Undying Lands long ago.  Since then I have been in the care of others.'  She looked down, tears beginning to form.

'Muinthell-nin, do not despair.  Ada has provided much for you,' Arwen told her, sitting next to her.  'You ought to be thankful for what he has done.'

'I am, and I always thought of him as my father, but now that he truly is not…'

'Nonsense.  Gilauriel, we will always be your family, so do not think such things.'  Arwen stood up.  'I will not force you to come with me, so you may think in silence.'

Gilauriel laughed lightly.  'I shall see you later.'

Arwen left, and Gilauriel was about to ascend the stairs to her room when she heard a knock on the door.

'Arwen?' she called out.  Instead, a familiar male voice answered.

'It is Faramir.  May I come in?'

She reluctantly opened the door and led the captain in.  'How did you ever know that I lived here?'

He chuckled.  'I have been a friend of your father as of late.  How would I not know?'

'I understand,' she said plainly, remembering Elrohir's words that ada wished that she did not tell him her disability.  'Is there something you want with him?'

'Yes, but I came firstly to apologise of my guard's unruly behaviour.'

Gilauriel smiled, knowing now that the kind man that had helped her up had been Faramir.  'I accept your apology.  Amusingly enough, I did not even realise you were guests of my father until Elrohir told me.  I would have given you more respect.'

'There is no need,' he replied, and laughed.

She listened to his laughter, and laughed too.  Suddenly she felt his hand on hers, nearly giving her a fright.  They felt warm and gentle.  Because she was blind, she could no longer look into a stranger's eyes to tell whether they would be compassionate or not.  Instead, she depended upon feeling their hands to determine their kindness.  It wasn't a perfect way, but it was another alternative, in addition to hearing their voice.

'Where has Lord Elrond gone?' Faramir wanted to know.

'He went to the garden terrace with my brothers and sister to meet Aragorn and Gandalf,' she replied.

'Would you like to come with me to meet them?  Aragorn and the White Wizard are very dear friends of mine, too,' he said.  'Well, Aragorn is my king, after all.'

She shook her head lightly.  'I am not…feeling too well.'

'I hope you will feel better soon, then.  May I come and visit you later?' Faramir asked.

'No; since you are friends with Aragorn and Gandalf, you are more than welcome to attend the welcome feast for them tonight.  After that, we will have a ball, which was really Arwen's request,' Gilauriel said, giving him a wink.

'I will certainly come then,' he replied, returning the wink.  'Goodbye, for now.'

'Goodbye.'  She showed him out the door.  The captain was kind enough to come and apologise to her.  Pushing the thought far from her mind, she once again began to go up the stairs.

To A Purpose in Life