Hello! A second update in one day! BUT ACTUALLY READ THIS NOTE: THIS IS NOT A REAL CHAPTER. THIS A FUN CHRISTMAS SPOOF CHAPTER. DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY WITH THE STORY! Also Gothmog=Kosmoko Also there are hints for things that may occur in the future of the story. Be excited! find the hints!
I reached very slowly and almost imperceptibly poked Kosmoko. He turned his fiery red gaze on me.
"Airawende" he said his eyes narrowing "You want to say something." I nodded and attempted to untangle my nerves.
"Airawende!" I turned in surprise to see Haldamire across the cavern in the doorway looking excited. She was almost never allowed to come visit me here. Kosmoko didn't like it. I glanced down at him to try and gage his anger at this interruption.
"Haldamire and if it isn't Tar-Mairon" He said standing and setting his hand on my shoulder gently. He was much better at controlling his strength after all these years. Tar-Mairon began speaking in the language that Haldamire and I couldn't understand pushing past Haldamire in the doorway to approach Kosmoko.
"Ridiculous" Kosmoko finally spat in the language we could all understand.
"Why not be indulgent? Things are too boring for them. They still experience time like mortals and require unusual distractions or risk insanity" Tar-Mairon said smoothly. I saw my frown mirrored on Haldamire's face as she looked at Tar-Mairon. What is he talking about? Insanity?
"You know this…festival…as well Airawende?" Kosmoko asked me searching my face. I looked away to Haldamire in confusion. Christmas she mouthed to me looking excited. I felt my heart skip a beat and confusion rise up simultaneously.
"Well Airawende" He asked impatiently as Tar-Mairon gave a somewhat encouraging and frightening smile.
"well yes, of course, I know it. Very famous festival where we come from" I said quickly looking between all three of them.
"We will celebrate it" Tar-Mairon announced putting his hands together. I could see Haldamire do a little jig behind Tar-Mairon in excitement and I looked at Kosmoko in uncertainty. Would he celebrate it too?
"I don't remember agreeing to this." Kosmoko glared at Tar-Mairon. I turned a wounded expression up to him.
"please" I whispered beseechingly.
"Sit here with Haldamire" Kosmoko ordered storming past all of us. Tar-Mairon smiled at me before turning and following him. Haldamire turned and watched them leave before rushing to me.
"I'm sure Tar-Mairon will convince him!" she said grabbing my hands. I was afraid of the hope and excitement I felt bubbling up.
"I don't know. Gothmog is stubborn" I said withdrawing my hands.
"And Tar-Mairon is very convincing" Haldamire said her smile refusing to fall. I sat down on one of the chairs.
"how can you remain so stupidly optimistic? What don't you understand?" I bit out staring down at the floor. Haldamire sat down smile dimmed.
"Not everything has to be bad Chloe!" Haldamire exclaimed looking irritated.
"Are you crazy? Using English when they could hear!" I said reprimanding her in shock.
"Fine, Airawende. Don't be so soul crushingly negative. Tar-Mairon will convince him. I'm sure he's not soulless" She snapped.
"He is soulless! And so is Tar-Mairon! You've fallen into a life of deceiving yourself about him and about them!" I hissed.
"Stop it Airawende. You just don't want to accept living here. It's not that bad anymore. It can even be good!" She argued firing up.
"Because you have it easy!" I argued "You don't know half of what goes on! Tar-Mairon isn't interested in other things"
"Other things? You think Tar-Mairon doesn't hurt people like Gothmog does because he does! One time he even killed an orc very slowly in our rooms!" She responded looking infuriated.
"You niave little fool" I glared at her.
"Now children, let us not worry about inflicting suffering today" Tar-Mairon said airily from the doorway. We both looked over at him. Kosmoko was standing behind looking on with an inscrutable expression.
"We will celebrate this preposterous tradition of yours." He said staring at me. I stared back not understanding at first. Haldamire grabbed my elbow pulling me up. I shot her a look still upset with her foolish enjoyment of life here, but she just smirked back looking extremely pleased.
I have no idea why Airawende must be so difficult. We can't change anything, and they aren't so bad. Well at least now that I know how to act and what to tell Tar-Mairon about science. It's not all that bad working on experiments.
"Haldamire, come and bring Airawende with you. Gothmog will come later" Tar-Mairon said beckoning me with a hand. I grabbed her hand despite her trying to jerk it out reach and pulled her along after me.
I tried to smile at her as we followed Tar-Mairon through the winding passageways, but she just sighed shaking her head. Why couldn't she just trust something good might happen for once. Maybe she's just bored and has nothing to do all day.
"Well we do not have those trees you described in Angband, but this should substitute." Tar-Mairon said pushing open the door.
I beamed feeling Airawende squeeze my hand. It was ugly looking, but it would in fact do. I wonder what all Tar-Mairon would do of the things I told him about. I doubt he'll sing us Christmas hymns because of all of the English and I'm not really sure how much I could remember of them. There was a fire going and I guess that was reminiscent, but it is not ever cold here. Except in the dungeons. I think they make it cold on purpose there. Why does Airawende have to be like that! She's glaring at Tar-Mairon suspiciously like he's planning on murdering someone. She doesn't glare at Gothmog that way anymore. Or at least not where he can see I would wager.
"Have a drink Airawende" Tar-Mairon pushed a glass of wine into her hand ignoring her look. I let go of her other to take another glass from Tar-Mairon. I frowned in alarm at Airawende as she tossed it back rather quickly. She obviously doesn't realize how strong Tar-Mairon's wine is. I remember the time he got me drunk on half a glass. Maybe it could help her relax a bit just so long as it doesn't make her speak her mind.
I sat down carefully gesturing for Airawende to sit next to me trying to give her a friendly smile when she did. She shook her head rolling her eyes, but I could the faint smile appearing. She was getting happier.
"Let's get this nonsense over with" I jumped up nearly spilling my wine hearing Gothmog's voice from the doorway. He was holding things.
"Patience. Don't you know time increases pleasure and feelings of excitement" Tar-Mairon said in a funny mix of playful and scolding as he also sat down. I stared in shock at Airawende as she gave him a smile. I bit my nail thoughtfully wondering if she was a supreme actress or if he was a different Gothmog then the one she called soulless earlier. "Don't do that Haldamire" Tar-Mairon sighed tapping his fingers on the chair arm.
"Take this" He said carefully placing the package he carried into Airawende's hands. I yelped dropping my wine glass as he carelessly dropped a second onto me. "Clumsy child" he muttered. How abrupt.
"Leave it, someone will bring a new rug later" Tar-Mairon said scowling at Gothmog.
"Isn't the point of this holiday to open them?" Gothmog said sitting down like he wasn't comfortable sitting.
"Well no, its actually.." I began before Tar-Mairon cut me off.
"No need to go into all the details you explained to me before" He said waving a hand. I exchanged a look with Airawende.
"can you call us by our real names?" Airawende began and then quickly amended as both looked at her "Today, just for today or I mean for right now." Tar-Mairon tilted his head sideways. Was he actually considering this?
"that is something important isn't Chloe? Are you going to give us something of equal value in return?" Gothmog questioned.
"That's not the point of the festival though" I argued feebly as he glared at me wishing I had not gotten involved.
"Come now, only for a short time" Tar-Mairon finally said eyes appraisingly on Airawende.
I stared back at Tar-Mairon's searching gaze in surprise. He agreed to my request. I snuck a sidelong glance at Kosmoko. He was leaning back in his chair watching us. He would want something later, especially for this.
"Have some more wine Chloe" Tar-Mairon said emphasizing my name and gesturing to the wine flask. I stood quickly and took Haldamire's empty glass to the desk. I filled them both with the dark liquid and took a drink before returning and handing Haldamire hers. She looked at me with some kind of weird happy expression. I smiled back feeling warm all over. I did not like this at all. I was becoming too relaxed. I was thinking about home again. I swore I wouldn't. Damn Haldamire and her optimism. I would be happy for her. This is an event unlikely to have a reoccurrence. What game is Tar-Mairon playing?
"Well open it Airawende" Kosmoko ordered me leaning forward. I looked down at the package I had set down by my feet to get wine. "and you Haldamire" he added looking at her briefly. I picked up baffled at the pieces of cloth stuck to it. Where did he get this cloth and how did he make it stick? That's not important right now. I pulled on a piece of cloth and then yanked realizing how hard it was stuck on the box. I struggled for a moment to pull it off and looked up to see Haldamire tugging on hers as well. I could just imagine how impatiently Kosmoko was waiting.
I opened the box and halted for a moment trying to figure out what it was. It was sparkly. He went all in with Ancalagon's advice didn't he? I lifted it out carefully. IT was heavier than I estimated looking at it.
"Do you like it?" He asked standing up and approaching me. I nodded still surprised. "Orange sapphires and rubies to match your hair" He said in explanation when I stared at him. Tar-Mairon was looking at us oddly so I could tell he wasn't expecting this either. It was, in fact, orange sapphires and rubies set into a tiara looking thing of black metal. He took it out my hands and placed it gently on my head. I reached up and adjusted it to fit better murmured a quiet thank you. Haldamire was looking at my head and nodding giving me a thumbs up still excited. There was no way he made this in the extremely short time it took us to get here. Haldamire continued to struggle with her box.
"Let me" Tar-Mairon said getting up as Kosmoko sat down again. Haldamire handed him her box with an exasperated expression. It had been difficult, but not that difficult. He finished ripping off the cloth before setting it back into her grip. She smiled at me pulling out a bracelet. It was the same dark metal as the tiara, but without gemstones. However, there very intricate designs carved throughout the metal. It was very beautiful.
"Thank you!" Haldamire exclaimed.
"Take these" Tar-Mairon said handing us both a very small box. I looked at Haldamire and she just shrugged. "what was the phrase again Leila? Merry Christmas?" Tar-Mairon asked giving one of those frightening smiles again. I knew he wasn't really asking. I saw Kosmoko roll his eyes from behind Tar-Mairon at his words.
I opened the box puzzled at what could be so small. Oh, he gave us a ring.