The next morning, after breakfast Rory went for a walk in the gardens. As she walked around a corner she accidentally interrupted Elrond and Arwen obviously having a deep heart to heart talk about something.
'Opps, sorry,' she says 'I'll just go the other way again'.
'Do not go', said Arwen. 'I have finished speaking with father, and I know he wants to speak to you'.
'Thank you, Lady Arwen,' she said as Arwen left, her beautiful face sad.
'I'm sorry Elrond for interrupting Arwen and you' said Rory.
'Do not concern yourself, our conversation was over, and I really do want to see you'. Elrond replied to her.
'Whatever it is, I didn't do it this time!' said Rory
Elrond burst out laughing. He finally got himself enough under control to speak; 'you have done nothing wrong Rory. I want to talk to you of yourself'.
'Oh yes', said Rory, wishing she was anywhere else about now.
'A friend of mine is very interested in you'.
'Who? And why?'Asked Rory.
'Jessryn of Mirkwood' said Elrond, a curiously mischievous look on his face.
Rory looked astonished. 'Why is everyone suddenly inferring stuff about Jessryn and me? I barely know the bloke!'
'You really do not have any idea, do you?' said Elrond, now also looking astonished.
'Well, Bilbo said something that I took to mean he thought Jessryn has a romantic interest in me, but that can't be it. Bilbo is imagining things', said Rory.
'Bilbo is usually right about things like that, and he is right this time. Jessryn has made it clear he is interested in you, and he asked me why it was you did not seem to notice', said Elrond.
'What!'Said Rory. 'I just thought he been friendly. Oh shit! Why me!'
By now Elrond was very surprised indeed. 'What is wrong, Rory? Do you dislike Jessryn?'
'No, he's Ok. I'm just not interested in guys like that. Jessryn could find himself some one much better than me anyway', she said.
'You should not put yourself down like this. Whether you like it or not Rory, you are an interesting woman,' he said.
'Elrond, you know what my problem is. But even a little kid, before all that stuff happened, I knew I'd never marry. I've just never been interested', she said. 'What did you tell Jessryn anyway.
"Nothing much. Only that you have a difficult past, and that he would need to be very patient if he is to succeed in winning your affection. You would be foolish in my opinion not to give Jessryn a chance; he is very much like his brother Legolas, and not only in appearance. Legolas and Jessryn are best of Thranduil's children as they have the gentle nature of Miskrul, Thranduil's mother,' he said.
'I don't like this, Elrond, not one bit. I don't want this,' she said, clearly very upset.
Elrond was considering how to deal with Rory. Both she and Jessryn were friends of his, and he knew, in the way Elves sometimes know things, that they would very happy together if Rory could put her past behind her. This would require serious thought, and maybe a much needed distraction from more serious issues