A/N: Well I know it's been awhile yet again but things have been a little crazy here. Lot's to do and no time in which to do it. Well thanks to my reviewer. It's nice to know at least one person is reading and reviewing, but I am now giving up because of no reviewers. Nobody not even my friends or family seem to be reviewing, I guess it's because Legolas isn't in this one. I know I majorly suck at writing but I have all these Ideas that are stuck in my head and even if no one reviews or even reads, well; at least I'll have it written down. As you know I own nothing J.R.R.T. Well on with the story, not that it matters to anyone else.
Chapter:11
A new path
Gilgalad stood quietly in the hall watching Elrond and Gandalf escort the lady to her room. He stared after them for what seemed like hours when he finally began to wander the halls. He came to a painting and stood staring at it not really seeing it. She had said that some of her people lost their power being away from the island of her home world/realm. Does that mean that she could become mortal? From the story she just told, her powers were much more potent then they were here or is her body still adjusting to this realm?
Either way it is a good decision I made. I would die of a broken heart were we to be together and she would age and die like a mortal…Right?
Why then did this feel like a mistake? He knew it was the right decision to give her room to heal her broken heart. To remain a friend until the day came when she could love with out pain shadowing her, but this new information changed everything… Didn't it?
In the end I will have to decide wither to give her time or to just to do as I've always done and forget my heart.
Pain began to form behind his eyes, the sign of a monster head ach coming on. Massaging the bridge of his noses he gave a tired sigh.
"Honestly old friend you think to much."
Gilgalad turned at the sound of Galadriel's musical voice and smiled.
With a sad sigh she gracefully moved to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I know what haunts your heart my friend."
He turned back to the painting with a frown on his face, upset that she had invaded his thoughts without cause or permission.
Reading this in his expression she smiled and shook her head. "I have not invaded your thoughts if that's what you are thinking? Everyone here can see the change in you old friend and I know you well enough to know what it is that troubles you."
Gilgalad's shoulder seem to relax and they slumped forward a little.
"And what advise does my wise old friend have?" He turned his head and smiled at her, a smile that did not reach his eyes try as he might.
"Learn to let things come as they will. I know you are trying but be careful that you do not push others away in the process. Do not give up on what might be so easy. Love knows not age or race. Or do you not remember Luthien."
"Yes I remember. And do you also remember what happened to her?"
Galadriel gave a sigh and leaned her head against his shoulder. "That's not my point. My point is they knew a love few could have ever dreamed about… I personally would rather have one mortal life with my love than an immortal one with out him. Love can transcend time, life and even death."
"And what of logic. I will die if I bind my heart to her. I would live on centuries without her if I didn't die from a broken heart. Even if I were to choose a mortal life how could I forsake my people for my heart? I am a king with a responsibility to my people."
"Logic and reason fly out the window were love is concerned and as for your people, they would celebrate that their king has finally found love. Be patient but not to patient. If you step too lightly you might miss much, she looked up at his sad face.
"And if I step to hard I might find a thorn full of poison and lose all. Besides, her heart must first know peace before it can know love. "
"And how do you know she will not find peace through love."
Gilgalad looked up into Galadriel's eyes. Her words were true enough but this is something he still needed time to think about. Although he would miss Rivendell and everyone in it, including it's newest guest, he was grateful he was leaving soon, to at the very least clear his mind.
Smiling again she walked off giggling. "Like I said you think to much, it's time you started to feel. Learn to fallow your heart. You have put up such a wall around your heart so that you won't be hurt, but that wall is stopping you from being loved as well."
When he was alone with his thoughts once again Galadriel words rang in his head. She was right but by the Valar, why did this have to happen now when there was so much darkness in the world when his mind needed to be on the problem at hand.
Greeted by yet another beautiful dawn, Tannari stretched and with a rather ungraceful yawn made her way to the bathroom to wash and get ready for a busy day. Today Elrond had promised to start teaching her the history of the land and he was going to start with the elfin language, so that she could read the books in his library. Try as she might she couldn't understand how he could trust her so easily. Her people were so trusting once, more so even than the elves, so how could he trust her. Whatever the reason she was glad they did. It made being alive a little more bearable.
Whither they allow it or not I will defend this new home with my dying breath if need be. I will not see innocence suffer again.
Hitting the water with her fist she growled. " Enough of this melancholy talk. It's time I looked to brighter things. Like my old teacher once said 'morn the past but do not live in it.' "Jumping out of the water she walked to her towels and robe, using both she made her way to her newly acquired wardrobe. Selecting a light green one with golden trim and soft flowing sleeves she sighed at the fact that there was still no pants of any kind or any material to make some, not that she had had the time lately. While searching for her slippers that went with her dress a knock came at the door. Hopping over to the door while putting on a shoe she nearly tripped, regaining her balance she open the door to find lord Elrond. Giving him her best curtsy she smiled up at him and could tell he was trying not to laugh.
"Ok, so it's been awhile for me."
Giving a joyous laugh he offered his arm. "Would you like to accompany me to see off our friends? Then to have breakfast in my study where we will begin your lessons."
Realizing today was the day Gilgalad was leaving she quietly took his arm after closing her door then quietly began to make her way to the court yard where a small band of elves ready to leave where gathering. Looking around she didn't see him anywhere so she went to the others leaving behind Elrond who was now speaking with the guards who would be escorting the party of elves out of Rivendell. As she was saying her farewells she caught sight of royal blue color at the corner of her eye. She turned and saw Gilgalad now talking with Elrond, seeing that they were busy, she continued to talk with the other elves who kept asking her to come and visit them as soon as she could and that her beauty would only add to if not out shine the splendor of their home and so on and so forth. Geesh, these elves can really flatter a girl. She was looking around as they continued, wondering how to get out of this when Gilgalad tapped her on the shoulder. She didn't know if she should be relieved or not, but when he bowed to the others and excused himself escorting her out of ear shoot from the others he pulled out a book. With a confused look she took it running her fingers over smooth, soft leather bound book, then tracing her finger over the unknown letters on the cover. She gave him a confused look.
"Lord Elrond says he with be teaching you our language. I thought you might like something to write your own thought and experiences in."
Looking up at him in surprise she flipped through the pages and they were all in fact blank, waiting for something to fill it's pages. Confused and yet still very touched by the gesture she held the book close to her, and smiling up at him all she could mutter was a thank you.
Happy that he made her smile he took her hand, kissed it gently then made his way to his companions.
Holding her gift tightly to her chest she made her way over to the others to see off her new friends. When they were no longer in sight she looked at her gift again. Flipping it open to the cover page she saw that he had written something in his language. Making her way over to Galadriel she smiled as the lady of light embraced her in a warm hug. When the lady of light pulled away she saw the confused look on her face.
"What is it child?"
Looking down shyly to her gift she slowly opened it and showed her. "What does this mean?"
Looking up at the lady she saw the lady's face brighten as a smile spread from eye to eye. When the lady looked back up, all she would say is "You must hurry with your lessons then shouldn't you". The lady of light left a gapping mouthed Tannari behind as she walked away with a very wide grin.
A very shocked Tannari was left standing in the middle of the courtyard as Glorfindel snuck up behind her and read over her shoulder and smiled at the contense of the book. Clearing his throat he made her aware of his presence.
"That look on your face in very becoming you know."
Spinning around she faced him nose to nose (after she stood on her tip toes mind you). "Oh shut up elf." And with that she stormed off to Elrond's study to begin her lessons.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into month until three months had finally passed and she still couldn't find out what it said. It looked similar to the language Sindarien that she was learning but still very different. Normally she was a pro at this kind of thing. Why was this so hard? Mind you the constant interruptions in her lessons didn't help. With the war happening she understood, but it seemed as though he was avoiding her lately. It could have been the accident that happened last month, but dang-it that was a month ago already, get over it.
Flash back
It was dark out and Elrond had just finished her last lesson for the day. She was curled up in a chair by the fire looking over the latest book Elrond had assigned her. Thinking she heard something in one of the dark corners of the room she jerked up in her chair and looked around, feeling comfortable in her surroundings again she settled back down in her chair. Completely engrossed in her book she didn't see or hear a very mischievous elf named Glorfindel sneak up behind her. When he was happy that she didn't know of his presence he very quickly grabbed her very ticklish sides and proceeded to tickle. This of course made Tannari jump up accidentally throwing the book into the fire and spill her whine all over the carpet. Seeing the book burning she lunged for it and began stomping on it to put out the flames mean while a laughing elf stood by watching. When the flames where out she lunged this time for the elf, who was of course to quick for her and threw her cape she had draped over the near by chair right over her head.
Pulling the cape off she looked around the empty room. When she heard a very slight noise coming from the door, she grabbed the wine pitcher from the table. She swore she was going to soak him from head to toe in red whine so it wouldn't come out of his clothes or skin for days. As the door began to open she quickly pulled it the rest of the way open and pitched the wine right at his face only to realize to late that the elf in the door way wasn't Glorfindel but Lord Elrond.
"My lord I am so.."
He raised his finger to silence her.
"But I.."
Now a hand.
"But you see I thought.."
Now two hands.
Realizing she wasn't going to get a word in she left the fuming elf behind, expecting to be banished the next day.
End flash back
She leaned on the balcony railing and breathed in the morning air when she heard a light thump five feet from her.
"Still brooding are we." Glorfindel chimed.
"Go away elf. You are on my list and it isn't a good one to be on."
"Oh come on now, you have to admit it was funny seeing Elrond come into breakfast with a purple face now wasn't it."
She stifled a laugh. It was rather hilarious to hear all those snickers at the table. Still, their little pranks they played on each other had embarrassed another and she was still trying to find something to get him back with.
"Come on, it's time for you and I to eat before our morning ride anyway." He held out his arm for her to take. When she still didn't take it he did one of his puppy dog looks to which he knew she could never refuse.
Finally, giving in, she took his arm and they both headed to their morning meal.
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At the meal everyone seamed in high spirits. From what she understood they had pushed back the enemy's forces and there was at least some peace for the time being. A massive blow was dealt and everyone was celebrating.
Tannari was reaching for a pitcher of water when the strangest sensation over came her. Her entire body felt as if an electrically current were be sent through it. Still holding her glass goblet she began to shake and the goblet in her hand shattered spilling water and scattering shards of glass every where.
Elrond jumped from his seat and grabbed her bloodied hands. He kept saying something to her but she couldn't understand, all she heard was a humming that got louder and louder until the sound grew so loud she yanked her hands free from Elrond's grasp and placed them over her ears in a attempt to drown out some of the sound. The energy in her body was growing more intense. It felt as if someone where trying to connect with her from far away and it felt as if both her spirit and her body where being torn in two.
The pain was so intense she was screaming as loud as her lungs would allow before she finally collapsed to the floor. The last thing she saw was a very worried Glorfindel kneeling next to her cradling her in his arms.
A:N/ Well there it is. So what is this thing now……guess you'll have to wait and see. Is it a Friend or is it a Foe….I almost gave up writing this anymore because no ones was reading it but thanx to kala I'm back and I'll get these stories up sooner. I hope you like them and I may need help with my Quenya and Sindarin. So again thanx and enjoy.
Oh and a special thanks to kala goddess. Your reviews and help means more than you could imagine. Nothing but love.J
