"What do you hope to gain by coming with us?" Demanded a voice as soon as Enelya left Galadriel's throne room.
"Wha-?" Responded Enelya to the sudden onslaught.
"We don't need anyone to come and replace Gandalf in the fellowship."
"Boromir......I.......that's not what-"
"Do you think that because you are such a special little elf, Galadriel's personal choice, that you can just come and expect to be accepted?"
"I never asked-" started Enelya before being interrupted again.
"You are going to be nothing but a distraction to us. I had no idea that being part of the fellowship meant that I had to become a baby-sitter for little spoiled elves, in addition to helping destroy the Ring."
"I am not spoiled, and it wasn't even my ide-"
Boromir continued to vent his anger, frustration, grief, and sorrow on Enelya. "I suppose that you don't even know how to pick up a sword or a bow - what do you expect to do if you encounter an orc - charm it to death?"
"I'll have you know that I ca-"
"How can you benefit the fellowship- we don't need someone who can sew or sing on this journey, we have hobbits and an elf to do that. We need Gandalf."
" I know that I am no Gandalf but I am an efficient -" started Enelya.
"Never mind I don't wanna hear your excuses." Suddenly, just as the verbal attack began, it stopped, leaving Enelya shocked and standing alone in the hall. Boromir left, presumably to rejoin the fellowship, leaving Enelya to ponder his words. Was this what she was in store for - verbal attacks against her personal integrity and motives? Was the quest worth the personal assaults? Shaking her head, she realized that she was slumped against the throne room doors and that passerby elves were starting to stare at her disheveled appearance.
Straightening herself, Enelya began to walk back to her room when suddenly, a hand snaked out to grab her arm. Startled because she was lost in thought, she jumped and almost fell into the wall behind her.
"Whoa, easy there." He said as helped her right herself,
"Curufinwë. Geez don't scare me like that. " Enelya mumbled while she gave her friend a hug.
"Sorry, I thought that you of all people would hear me coming. " A long, awkward silence filled the air as both froze in place and became lost in their own thoughts. "Anyway, I accosted you in the hall for a reason......" Curufinwë trailed off and another long silence filled the air.
"What? Since when have you ever been shy with me, Curu?" She asked as she pulled back to look at his face.
" You know how much I adore you, Enel...." Curufinwë started.
"I know how much you hate confrontations, Curu. Are you just stalling?" Responded Enelya with a small smile.
"Honestly Enelya - you know that you are one of my closest friends and I would not hurt you on purpose but....."
"And you are one of my only friends, Curu. Just spit it out already," said Enelya as she began to get impatient with his stalling.
"You really have to start standing up for yourself, Enelya. People will walk all over you if you don't take a stand and tell them how it really is."
"Were you eavesdropping on me?" Screeched Enelya in disbelief, letting her worn hands fall from his sides.
"I didn't mean to, I was just waiting for you and I couldn't help but overhear your conversation." Countered Curufinwë quickly, shifting from foot to another foot in his silver tunic, awkwardly trying to find comfort in an uncomfortable situation.
"YOU couldn't help but listen to the conversation - you are too nosy by far. Just because we are friends does NOT mean that you can just hide in shadows and listen to personal conversations."
" I meant nothing by it - I was merely standing in the hall and you should know better than to start an argument in the middle of the palace. You know that these walls have ears."
"Yea your ears!" Enelya said as she turned to leave in a huff, her silver tunic flying behind her.
"Wait, if you think that you can just turn tail and run from this, you're going to be sorely surprised when it rears up its ugly head later." Protested Curufinwë as he began to silently follow her as she walked away. "You aren't mad about my eavesdropping, you're mad because you know that you just let that man walk right over you. You were docile, unassuming, and weak. You let him think that you are just another nitwit elleth."
"I AM NOT A NITWIT!"
" I know that and you know that," replied Curufinwë calmly as his companion had finally stopped going down the hall like a charging elephante. " It's others that don't, and they won't if you continue to be meek and not show your true self. I have known you for many long years - it has never been easy to be a friend to you because you are not a friend to yourself."
" What are you talking about?' Enelya said as she whirled around to look at Curufinwë .
" You refuse to let yourself be you - people make mistakes, it is a fact of life. Others have forgiven you, but you have not forgiven yourself. You need to let go of the pain and stop hiding from life."
"Some things can't be forgiven Curufinwë. Some things are unforgivable. You just don't understand," Enelya stated sadly.
"Enelya, I am worried for you. Your heart was heavy before Mirthandir fell into darkness - and now, now you carry the weight of a million orcs on your shoulders. When such a weight is placed on one set of shoulders, it can cause that person to make mistakes.... fatal mistakes."
"You doubt me? You doubt my skills as a fighter?" Enelya asked in disbelief.
"I doubt elven nature - you carry heavy burdens that may crush you - I am worried that you may fail because of your own stupid beliefs. I don't think going on this quest is a good idea right now...."
"Never before have I felt such a betrayal by a friend" Cried Enelya as her eyes filled with angry tears.
"Enelya, look at me, look in my eyes....." For the second time that day, Curufinwë grabbed her arm and he forced her to look in his eyes. One blue gaze clashed with another as the two friends studied each other's eyes.
" I don't have time for this - I must go get ready. I had hoped that we could spend some time together before I go but I can see that that won't work. I only wish that you had more faith in me." Enelya said softly as she walked away from her friend, leaving sorrow and regret in her path.