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Chapter Quote: "You'll make one of Elrond's children yet. We are from a mold of mischief."

Chapter Four

Gilrean

Dinner was rather uneventful for me, for my head was still stuck in the clouds. The vision of the burning city had become fixed in my mind, and it was something that I felt I could not explain to either Estel or Elrond. How could I? None of the images made sense...none of the faces familiar...and then there was Valanna...what had she been trying to tell me? I did not try to engage in any sort of conversation, silent or otherwise, with the three 'e's' or with Elrond for that matter. So eventually they left me alone to my thoughts as I sank more and more heavily into them.

My mind was confused, jumbled about. All my thoughts running free without any rhyme or reason. I could hardly remember who finally took me away from the table the next morning, or whose hand had caressed my cheek and told me to sleep. I only knew that I listened, and was soon lost once more to the torrent of broken memories that came flooding in from my blank mind.

I was up early the next morning, gathering confidence about my surroundings, I knew most of the halls in Imladris and decided to go in search of Estel. The sun had only just risen, the rays of warm light branching out over the mountains and down into the valley below. Imladris is a magnificent place, with so many corridors and rooms that it quite easy to lose your way. I slipped past the dining room and the kitchen, in which I could hear the usual sounds of the day's meals being prepared. Going further I passed a room called, "The Red Room", one which I never dared to enter. There always too many people, and I was not used to being around so great a number of them as of yet.

In the Western Wing I found a series of bedrooms. Three in particular were lined up in one row along a wall that branched out so that it protruded slightly over the valley. Deciding it would be in my best interest to try these first, I approached the first door. I stood on tip-toe and was able, with some difficulty, to reach the handle of the door. I twisted it and slowly pushed it open, hesitant to make any loud noise. I peered inside and saw a body laying still in sleep on a bed in the center of the room. I tip-toed inside, careful not to make any noise on the carpeted floor. The face of the body was turned away from me, but through the mass of dark hair I could clearly see two pointed ears. No, that was not Estel.

I exited the room quickly and quietly and in a similar fashion entered the next. The furniture was arranged in almost the same way as the room previous and in the center there was also a bed, one that had a long body draped over it as well. I saw the pointed ears from the door without having to get too close. No, that was not Estel either. I sighed, would I have to search every room in Imladris before I found him? I walked further into the room, this time the face of the body was facing towards me...with eyes wide open. I fought back an urge to giggle, I found it funny that Elves slept with their eyes open...how impractical. It had startled me at first when I had discovered this fact awaking to Elrond who had fallen asleep in a chair by my bedside during my first few weeks here. But I was now used to it.

That was Elladan...so the one in the other room must have been Elrohir. He had not dressed for bed, his clothes looked rumpled and he stank of wine. I wrinkled my nose in distaste. Elves do not get intoxicated easily, and he did not look intoxicated... but apparently Elladan enjoyed drinking. I turned to leave the room when I paused, staring intently at the wall. There was a crack in it. A long crack, running from the middle of the wall to the floor. I tiptoed over it, checking carefully to make sure that I had not disturbed Elladan before I stopped at the wall. It looked ordinary enough, decorated in the same fashion as most of Imladris. I reached out and placed my hand on the smooth wood...nothing happened. I ran my hand up and down it and suddenly with a creak, it swung open.

I was slightly startled by this strange occurrence, but checking to make sure Elladan was still asleep, I slipped inside as curiosity ebbed away at my mind. The secret door led into another room, with another bed, and another sleeping figure. I tip-toed to the top and peered into the face of the owner of the body and smiled as I recognized Estel. He was still with the peacefulness of sleep, his face innocent and relaxed in the pale morning light. I could not find it in my heart to disturb him, so I stepped away and stopped in the center of the floor, gazing around.

Estel's room was actually rather plain, in a pretty sort of way. He had a pair of matching daggers hanging on the wall. Upon closer inspection I saw a tree engraved upon the blade, with seven stars hovering above its branches. I moved closer, reaching my fingers out and touching the engraving. The blade was smooth under my fingers...

The language was foreign. Familiar...and yet the words would not present their meanings to me as he spoke them. He was tall, bare-chested, with a golden plate upon his chest. He smiled at me and guided my hands as I gripped the hilt of the long sword. I smiled, feeling happy.

"Centuria." He said to me. "Centuria."

I blinked, forcing my mind back to reality. Estel was stirring, I could hear his body shift on the bed and he yawned. Smiling, I crept over to his bed as quietly as a mouse. His hair was laying in all directions except for down and though I tried hard to stifle a giggle...it didn't work. A soft hissing escaped my throat, which was the closest I could manage to laughing.

He jerked, sitting bolt upright faster then I had seen anyone do in my life. His eyes were wide until they settled upon me, and then he relaxed, first smiling, and then his expression turning to one of puzzlement. "Dininiel?" He asked in the common tongue. "What are you doing here?"

I was looking for you.

"Why? How did you get in here?"

I blinked in surprise and stared at him. I had not used my hands...even if I had Estel did not know my hand language yet. How could he have known my question? He did not understand why I was looking at him strangely...why my eyes were wide as saucers. Yet I answered his question, I pointed to the secret door which I had left slightly ajar. It was hidden in the wall, and one would not normally be able to see it if you didn't know where it was.

Estel had stood, pulling on a tunic over his bare chest and walking across the floor in bare feet to where I stood. "Remarkable." He muttered. "Elladan, Elrohir, and I thought it was so clever, the hidden door. And here you are, waltzing in and finding a secret that I doubt even father knows about." He looked down at me with a smile. "You'll make one of Elrond's children yet. We are from a mold of mischief."

I smiled, yes, people with secrets are often mischievous. I thought suddenly of the memory which had come only moments before. I frowned, I did not know how to explain that one to him either.

"Dininiel?" I looked back up at him and he smiled fondly at me. "Do not fret, let me get decent and then I want you to meet someone, all right?"

I nodded, my smile returning. Estel could bring me to meet anyone he wanted...as long as I was with him.

We gathered what we could from the kitchens, eating quickly. Then he took me by the hand and led me through the grand halls until we reached a door that led to the valley below. There was a path that ran down to the great river, there were a few small cottages lining the rocky banks. And right now in the early morning, a cool mist from the waterfall was drifting over the shores. Estel looked down at me with a smile,

"Come. We shall soon be there."

I nodded, strengthening my grip on his hand as we walked on. The shores were covered lightly with the leaves of autumn, faint reminders that winter was on its way. I stepped lightly over the ground, careful not to make any noise and to show him what I had learned in his absence. Only Estel was not looking at me now. We had stopped a short ways from one of the cottages, I followed his gaze and fond look toward a hunched figure kneeling in a garden outside. We walked forward and the figure looked up, it was a woman.

"Hello mother." Estel said softly, and the woman smiled.

"My son, you have returned."

Estel's mother's name was, Gilrean. It was a beautiful name...one that I wished I knew the meaning of. But my limited knowledge of Elvish would only go so far. She had embraced Estel tenderly, traces of tears appearing on her face as well as a radiant smile. She ushered us inside, brushing the dark earth from her gown and pulling out chairs and bidding us to be seated. Estel waited until his mother sat, then he settled himself beside me while I leaned closer to him, unaware of who exactly this woman was and slightly intimidated by this fact.

"Mother, I would like you to meet my friend, Dininiel."

Gilrean looked at me with a soft smile. She was lovely, with dark hair that was twisted into a long, loose plait that ran down the center of her back. A few wisps of grey decorated the crown of her head, but they only added to her look of elegance, beauty, and wisdom. Her eyes were grey, like a stormy sea, like Estel's. Only unlike Estel, they bore a deep sadness which in turn was clearly visible in her face...a worn look that went further then any physical weariness.

"Hello Dininiel." She said softly, in a manner and tone that reminded me so much of Estel that I was astonished for a moment. I smiled shyly and waved, the only response I could think of, and she chuckled.

"Are you shy little one?"

"She does not talk mother." Estel replied for me.

I merely looked at her with wide eyes, waiting for her reaction. She noted my inquiring stare and smiled in return. "Well, would you like something to eat?"

My eyes ran around the perimeter of the kitchen, taking in the surroundings. It was beautiful, yet simple. Dried flowers lined the walls, and herbs and various plants laid about on hooks. I turned back to Gilrean, and very slowly I nodded.

My heart was quickly stolen by the woman who had given life to my Estel. She and I had fates interwoven, for he was my Estel too, and she knew it. She knew my affection for him, my love for him. She could see it as easily as I could see her own. And I knew that I would love her as much as I loved him all my life.

We stayed long hours that day, Estel brought me to the shore and showed me how to find the smoothest stones while Gilrean looked on. Mountains surrounded the valley of Rivendell on all sides except for a narrow pass that ran through one on the far end. That, Estel had told me, was one of the few ways one could leave Rivendell. Though deep in my heart I wondered why anyone would want to ever leave this place. For this place was paradise, this place was home.

I dreamed that night as I laid still with sleep in my bed. I dreamed of Estel, of Rivendell and of Gilrean. I wondered in my semi-conscious mind what had caused her to look so sad, what tale had been left un-told. Those were questions I wanted answered, for in the end, it seemed we were not so different after all.
I spent many days by the shores of the great river after that day. Gilrean taught me how to cook all sorts of things, and how to make clothes, all the things she said young ladies aught to know. Yet I knew somehow that I was not a normal young lady. I begged Elrond to teach me all he could about history, geography, reading, and writing so that as weeks passed, I could understand Sindarin and speak it fluently. As well as being able to read and write Tenqwar.

Elladan and Elrohir began to teach me the locations of all the hidden passage ways and secret places in Imladris...well...at least all that they knew of. They had been quite the trouble makers in their youth, as Estel had once told me. Estel himself began to teach me skills of the blade, and bow. I was less skilled with a broad-sword then when I trained with the lighter, elvish scimitar or dagger. So I began to train with those as my body grew taller and stronger. We would spar in the great halls and in the gardens of Imladris in the days that followed, just him and I.

Gilrean stayed mostly in her cottage during this time, traveling to the hall only for small, private dinners with Elrond. But I learned a new word in my hand language that I used for her, mother.

I was seated beneath a large oak tree that morning, reading placidly from a large book spread out on my lap. It was a book of maps, showing the details of all the known places of this earth, it was one of my favorite books. I had once hoped that by looking at all the places upon it that I would remember where exactly I was from...but thus far I did not. So now I merely gazed at it because I drew from it a strange sort of comfort. A comfort and knowledge that no matter how far away I was, the places never changed. They were always in the same spot. And it heartened me to think on it, so I did, and often.

I turned the page, it was a map of the mountains in the far north, in the uncharted territory. I frowned, I studied the whole map, glancing sharply at the ridges of the peaks. Why were they familiar? I peered closer but was suddenly interrupted by a shout from Estel.

"Dininiel? Dininiel?" I jerked to the sound of my name, rising and tucking the large book under my arm. It was Estel. I'm coming! I thought, heading towards the gate of the gardens from which I could hear his strong voice. As I appeared he, lunged toward me, "Dininiel, Valanna is in foal. I know you wished to see it, so you must come now if you wish to at all."

I blinked, Valanna...the mare who had brought the horrifying memories to my mind. I had wanted to see her foal, yes. But did I wish to see her once more? I thought for a long moment, then placing the book down on a seat, I took Estel's hand and I nodded in acceptance.

A/N: Well, another chapter is here for With Silent Charm. I hope you all noticed two things, Dininiel's memories are becoming slightly more confusing and intimate, and two, that Estel seems to be able to do a little mind reading...what's up with that? Hmmm...well, you'll just have to find out won't you? And a special thanks to all the encouragement I received from my reviewers, you guys are fantastic!

TO BE CONTINUED...