A/N: I'm so sorry that this chapter is so short, but I'm going to take a very short break, as I'm almost done with my novel. I want to finish it quickly, and then start looking for a publisher. I'm a little disappointed with it, though, because it's not going to be as long as I'd like it to be. Kinda makes me feel that I've wasted nearly a year and a half of my life… But then, it's only my first, and not many people my age are able to write a whole novel, so maybe it won't be so bad. Watch out, Paolini! Here I come!
P.S. – Happy Birthday, Professor! Today is Tolkien's birthday, and if he were alive today, he'd be 113 years old!
Lindir lay wrapped in his sheets, eyes open and wide awake. He was annoyed with himself. He couldn't figure out why he was having trouble with his music. It wasn't normal. He was a musician, and musicians should be able to make music whenever they wanted to, in his opinion. He couldn't understand it.
He turned over, buried his face in his pillow in an attempt to ignore the open-armed statue on his headboard. Sometimes she looked like she was scolding him, and this was one of those times. He stared out the window despairingly, at the white pinprick stars of the sky's tapestry and the shining orb of a moon. Everything was silent. The only sound he heard was his own breathing, and even that was muffled. He felt smothered by the night. He sat up abruptly. He had to get some fresh air. He stood to leave the room and caught sight of himself in his mirror. He looked a fright. He ran a graceful hand through his long, straight black hair in an effort to make it look halfway decent. Then, he stepped, barefoot, into the hallway.
He closed the door quietly behind him and looked down the corridor. Someone was already there. She stood in the window, her hands on the thin, intricately decorated pillars, her golden hair and the wide sleeves of her white gown blowing freely in the wind. Lindir stopped in surprise. "Lady Celebrian?" he asked.
She turned to him. "Lindir? What's wrong?" she asked, sounding concerned.
"I just couldn't sleep," he said bashfully. He had expected at least one or two Elves to be wandering the halls, but not the Lady. He was very self-conscious, what with his messy hair and wrinkled tunic. He should have at least pulled it out of his face, or something. He sighed. "Does something trouble you, Lady?"
Celebrian laughed softly. "Not at all. I couldn't sleep either."
Lindir smiled and joined her at the window, his embarrassment melting away. The Lady always managed to make everyone feel comfortable.
Celebrian turned her head and looked at him searchingly. "What's wrong?" she asked after a moment.
"Nothing," he lied, shifting his gaze.
"Come on. I know something is," she prodded.
Lindir stared at her a moment. Her expression was resolute and determined. He knew she would force him to tell her, and he wasn't in the mood for an argument. Besides, maybe she could help him. She was a talented harpist. "I'm having a bit of problems with my harping."
It was Celebrian's turn to be surprised. "It always sounds fine to me," she said.
"That's not it," Lindir said, shaking his head. "I just can't seem to write the songs I want to write. To me, my recent songs are…" he broke off, swallowing hard. "Ill-written."
Celebrian looked at him sympathetically. "Well, we'll just have to fix that, won't we?" she said, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
"You'd help me?" he asked.
Celebrian grinned. "When you came out here, I had a feeling there was a reason for us to be unable to sleep on the same night. And besides, I have nothing else to do."
Reviewer Responses:
Malara: NO! DON'T THROW YOUR COMPUTER OUT THE WINDOW!! THEN YOU CAN'T READ THIS!! I'm glad my characters are realistic. I kind of want to convey a human side to the Elves, because Tolkien made them so aloof. And if they wanted to do that to my Glorfy, they'd have to get through me first!! XD
Neige: Yes, always Glorfindel. The BEST Elf out there. (My opinion, only. Please, no bashing, Leggy/Haldir/Elrond/Twins/Arwen/anyone else fans!) And I actually looked up Vanya before I put it in there, so I knew it would be right. I hold to the theory that he was Vanyarin.
Kalayna: Lucky! My mom never falls for that!
mage of the winter: Thank you for the review and for putting me on your fav. authors list!
anticipationnation: I'm reading and loving "Restless". Celebrian will help darling Lindir, don't worry! And I'm glad you like this. Unfortunately, it will eventually get very sad… Me no likey sad. Ah, well. Life isn't always happy, is it?
Dragon Confused: Hello again! I love all Elves! I obsess over Elves! Thank you for putting me on your extremely long story list. I'm glad you enjoy this!!
swee-haret179: You can stop laughing now! No, I'm joking. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
