Sing For Me Chapter 3, a silmarillion fanfic

Note: In response to a few queries, this is a modern-day fiction (takes place in 2006). Although I like some of the WW1/2 Maglor stories, there are enough of them going around and I wanted to do something a little more original and different - I hope. Thanks to; AnnaMariah and Ceana for reviewing :)

Sing For Me.

A cloud.

A cloud in the shower-head.

Quaint and unassuming, only a person who had never seen a shower before could make such a logical guess. Someone from the past? Someone from another world? Someone... Regardless, it was endearing and adorably sweet to believe that anyone could have managed to harness a cloud and actually put it into a shower-head.

But that didn't mean she still wasn't wary of her vision brought to life. Her elf.

Elves - tall, beautiful, awe-inspiring elves – certainly didn't exist.

Or did they?

There was so much undiscovered in the world. Science and technology was still relatively new in this young and modern civilisation. A throw-away culture had morphed into a hideous, twisted creature that heaved and breathed beneath the surface, waiting for that one pure moment when it could devour the countless cities that swarmed with people - people trapped in the daily grind of their lives, like busy-bees gathering nectar to push them forward. To push them into living for another day.

Corruption, commercialism, capitalism – money - growth and expansion were at the forefront, and if you looked very closely... Only a few people were enamoured by the inexplicable.

The universe, the past, evolution... religion. Those were the inexplicable. One could ask; why does a flower blossom in the sunlight? Why do so many rich, ancient civilisations disappear like rainbows fading against a candy-blue sky? Or what happens when a body can no longer house a soul... Is a soul even real? Can it be weighed - and if it can - is it only twenty-one grams?

So... how much do people really know about the world?

The knowledge gained about the past and preternatural was simply an assumption. A logical guess; like clouds in a shower-head. Therefore the facts of life that people have, are a guess made by those who only think they understand such things. After all, no-one could have known that she had been plagued with odd visions in her early childhood and adult life. Many would dismiss the phenomena altogether, and others clung to it desperately, as if nothing else could offer them solace from the reality of their existence.

So perhaps elves were real. Because right now, he was here. Standing in front of her and waiting for an answer. He was here. This elf who thought that a cloud was inside her shower. And he was patiently waiting for an answer. One that she did not know how to give.

"There - there isn't a cloud inside that," she finally said, gesturing at the shower-head. "It's hard to explain, but the water is fed through a pipe which is connected to a system that brings it... here," she finished lamely.

The elf frowned deeply. Beautifully.

He seemed more confused and melancholy than ever before.

There was so much pain... So much heartache. Gods, it was too much! It clamped down on her like rusted steel jaws, drawing blood and infecting the desolate wound in her beating organ. A wound that would never heal. How she wished she could wrap herself around him; trap him in her embrace and shield him from the absolute torment that swam in his clear, grey eyes. Her grief seemed inconsequential compared to his.

He looked... Lost.

She felt lost; but at least she had the comfort of knowing that she could find herself again, if she looked. This creature... this creature was drowning in uncertainty and despair.

Heart pounding in her ears, she licked her lower lip and took a halting step forward. Towards him and towards his pain; towards his life.

But before she could near him, the electronic buzz of her telephone pierced through the silence.

The creature snapped to attention and looked through the open back-door of her house with wide, enquiring eyes. Immediately, his utter despair was shielded and the loss of it drenched her, like a cold pail of water flung into her face. She stepped back and noted that his eyes were still fixed on the source of the sound.

Fantastic. Another thing she would have to explain.

She felt torn. Should she leave his side and fear that he would disappear? Or should she remain and speak with him instead?

"That sound is hurting my ears." The elf winced, looking at her once more.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry at his twisted expression, she decided to end his misery. "Follow me." And without another word, or glance, she turned towards the house.

A hand upon her shoulder halted her. Shifting, she looked up questioningly as the elf moved to her side and held out his arm for her.

She stared at the offered appendage as if it were serpent, coiled and ready to strike.

He smiled, amused. But the joy of that smile did not reach his eyes.

Carefully, she hooked her arm through his and led him into her house. The first touch between elf and human. It sent a ghostly chill through her and she knew; knew that she had touched what no other human had the privilege to do so before this day. But who could have known that an elf would possess such gentlemanly manners? The action felt timeless and brimmed with chivalry that melted her heart.

She could hear her mother's voice already; that one's a keeper, missy, don't let him get away.

Smiling sadly at the thought of her beloved, deceased mother, she chanced a glance up at her companion. He looked terribly uncomfortable due to the sound of her phone, as he stooped his magnificent height to enter the doorway of her home. Only then did it hit her how small she was in comparison to him. And only then did it occur to her that she would need to be careful. His naivety and innocence about the world was one thing; but how much did she truly know about him? What was his story?

She knew that he was an elf and that his name was Maglor. But that was all.

Yes. She could have to be very careful

Nearing the phone, she left Maglor standing in the doorway of her living room. He had raised his hands to his ears and was almost glaring at the phone murderously; as if it was some kind of enemy that needed to be vanquished.

Dappled light streamed into the small family room as it faced eastwards, towards a small gravel path that was occasionally used by tourists, cyclists and other ramblers that enjoyed the quiet sea-front.

Seeing his obvious discomfort, she quickly picked up the cordless phone and ended his torment by pressing the green button and raising it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hi, Mom. It's me." The cool, masculine voice of her son echoed mildly within the folds of her ear.

She winced. "Hi... how are you?"

There was an awkward pause. "I'm good. You?" Worry laced the words and she almost smiled. He was such a good boy.

"I'm holding up. The beach-house your father purchased for our retirement is exactly what I needed. It feels good to get away from... Everything."

"It's been a year, Mom," her son admonished quietly.

She looked at Maglor as he circled the small room, staring at family photos and other knick knacks on the mantel piece that made the house feel like a home. Once his inspection had ended, he perched himself quietly on the leather sofa and bounced on it slightly. As he continued to bounce and wiggle around, the sight almost made her want to burst out laughing as she hadn't done in the past year. How precious! He was like a small child being introduced to the wonders of the world. Taking his first step; the first of many.

She returned her attention to the conversation. "I know it's been a year, Alex. But like I said, I'm holding up and it becomes easier every day. I suppose that's all we can do; take it one day at a time.

Another pause. She hated the way her family would tip-toe around her. She hated that she felt so estranged from her son... Her beautiful, 21 year-old son who had the looks and brains of his father. Her husband. Her other-half; her soul. Now gone forever, to a place where she couldn't follow, unless...

"Nina misses you; and so do I."

Honesty. Now that's exactly what she preferred. "Your sister sure has a funny way of showing it. But I understand. It's almost spring break and I hope you'll both come and visit me. Unless your grandfather has already funded your trip to Cancun." The reprimand was there, but she knew with certainty that he would ignore it.

It was sad, but her children were spoilt little cretins, born into a wealthy family - they wanted for nothing. They were given their hearts' desires and she could admit to occasionally indulging them. But that was a consequence one had to suffer when their father's side of the family had money to burn.

"Sure, I'll talk to her and see what she's got planned."

"I know that Nina is busy with her sorority and other inane things you teenagers get up to, but it would be nice to hear from her once in awhile..." She sighed. "How are things with you? Are your professors working you hard?"

Her son chuckled wryly. "Remind me again why I decided to go to Harvard?"

"Because you're a smart boy like your father."

"Thanks, I think." He hesitated. "I miss him too," it was whispered. Almost as if the reality was unbearable.

Tears blurred her vision. "Ditto."

Alex cleared his throat, his voice thick with emotion. "I love you... Momma."

A sliver of laughter escaped through the bitter emptiness. He hadn't called her that in many years. It felt so good to be a Momma again. "I love you too, sweetheart," she trembled against the strain of grief. "Make sure you tell Nina to give me a call when she's free, okay?"

"Okay."

"Take care." She heard the small click and she would have felt alone but this time, there was another presence in the room with her.

Maglor.

She put the phone down and looked up, only to find him staring sadly at her from his seat. "Comfortable?" She asked, still noting that he was wet from his escapade with the shower.

The elf nodded slowly and looked about the room again. "I fear as if I no longer recognise the world..." He blinked owlishly. "I am afraid," he admitted quietly.

Her heart went out to him.

In his eyes she could see the bottomless pit of confusion. Questions were brought to the forefront and when answers would be given, it would only lead to more questions. He would never be satisfied with what she would tell him and she would never be satisfied by the reasoning of his sudden appearance.

They would both be trapped in an endless circle of questions... At least they would be trapped together.

But first, she needed to get him dry.