Even after telling him my story in a language he did not know, Manwë still looked suspicious but less so. Probably noticing that I was not carrying any weapon.

"How do you say again... Mellon? Oh no, that's Sindarin."

Well then, let's use the rough sign language and try to make him understand that I'm not evil. I put my hand on my chest.

"Leya."

Then I pointed at him.

"Manwë."

Before coming back to me.

"Leya."

He looked at me a little confused. Come on, Manwë, it's not that hard to understand. Fortunately before I could start my explanations again, he made the gestures I had made.

"Manwë."

Bravo you know your own name!

"Leya."

I nodded and he held out his hand, inviting me to follow him. And well, he gives his trust quickly. But I accepted it with no comment. It's always good to have a Vala by your side instead of nobody.

"Follow me young Leya."
"Just because we exchanged names doesn't mean I understand Quenya now."

He smiled at me and we started walking towards who knows where. After a few minutes, Manwë started pointing at things before teaching me their names and then, I never thought that the most powerful Valar (after Melkor) would stoop to that but well, he mimed simple actions like eating and sleeping and taught me the words. This gave me a pretty... basic vocabulary before we arrived at the bottom of the mountain where he lives with Varda. Taniquetil or whatever.

"And how do we get up there?"

He smiled at me and wrapped one of his arms around my waist before flying off.

"Oh my god. Don't let go!"

The climb was quick and we soon found ourselves at the top of the mountain. A kind of city was built there. Everything was pearly white and in the center of the city stood a house bigger than the others. It must have been Manwë's house. I was so amazed by the beauty of what was in front of my eyes that I didn't even realize that our feet had found solid ground. Manwë still had his arm around my waist and I still had the fabric of his sleeve in my hands. He made me let go of him gently before taking my hand in his. And we began to walk again. If my memory is good, the people of Ingwë live here too. So I should see some elves soon... Here they are! God they are big and sparkling. And with their blond hair. Too much beauty for my poor eyes. I'm going to be blind at the end of the day...

"Elves."

Manwë looked at me intrigued by my reaction to the sight of the elves. Because I was halfway to crying. Wait. What about me? Did the magic of the senario make me a fucking elf? That would be so cool! I quickly put my hand up to my ears before I felt plastic. Damn my swimming cap. I quickly took it off, letting my hair down and checked my ears. Ah. Still round.

"So you had your hair hidden. As well as round... ears."

Manwë had lifted a strand of my hair, clearing my ears.

"Still don't get it."

He said nothing and let my hair fall back down before lifting his own and showing me his pointed ears.

"Ears."
"Ears?"
"Ears."

Is he really using every possible situation to teach me Quenya words? Absolutely. Then he pointed to his house.

"Manwë, house."

What did I say.

"Leya, house. At least for now. We'll see where you reside once you can speak basic Quenya."

Wait. I didn't understand the end of the sentence but the beginning. If I understood correctly. I will live with him? And Varda? As long as I avoid Finwë's family I will be better off. And live longer. So it's a good idea.

"Manwë, Leya, house."
"Manwë and Leya's house"

Yippee my first sentence! Which I probably wouldn't use anywhere. But at least now I have 'and'. I'm progressing!
Once in the house. Or rather, the castle for crying out loud. It's just huge. Anyway, Manwë called someone. A woman. Not Varda. An elf and spoke to her before pointing to me. She approached me and introduced herself, Ilia. And she motioned for me to follow her. I looked at Manwë to see what to do and he motioned for me to go.

"Go."

So like that, we get rid of me? Very well. So I followed Ilia into the castle and she took me to a room. While teaching me the names of all the objects in the room, she showed me my room. I guess this is my room. And boy, it's as big as an apartment. I sat down on the bed and she left me to get used to the room.

Finally alone, the adrenaline of being in Aman subsided and I suddenly realized that I would never again hear Luke make fun of the mistake in my name. Or my questionable taste in food. Luke. My twin with whom I've shared everything since the beginning of my life. Luke, who I had the best time with. Luke.
I would never see my parents again. Maman who pushed me to continue swimming, secretly hoping that I would make a career out of it and do what she could never do. Maman who made us dinner every night even though she said that soon it would be up to us to make it. Maman who separated and reconciled us when Luke and I argued. Papa who would hold Maman back. Papa who always took my side. Papa who watched science fiction movies with me. Papa who always gave me a book to cheer me up.

"Oh fuck. I gotta get back. My family merde."

Tears began to slowly roll down my cheeks and I wiped them away as I went. I took deep breaths to calm myself. Just like I was taught. And slowly my tears stopped, leaving me just sniffling in silence.

"A bath. Let's take a bath."

I stood up and with one fluid movement removed my wetsuit and the bathing suit I was wearing underneath, leaving me naked in the room. I walked purposefully to the tub and stopped for a few seconds to admire it. Like the walls of the room, it was marble and shiny. I must have been expected to take a bath because there was already water in it. I dove in and found the water warm but not too hot. Water at the perfect temperature. I relaxed and closed my eyes. I could use a little nap...

"Leya? Wake up, you'll catch a cold."

I woke up to the sound of Ilia's voice and answered her in a sleepy voice before opening my eyes to look at her.

"What?"

She pointed to the water.

"Water."

Then rubbed her arms, mimicking a shiver.

"Cold."
"Ah okay. Cold water. I'm getting out."

I pulled myself out of the tub and exposed myself naked to Ilia. Fortunately, modesty had long since left my body. The collective showers and changing rooms of the pool had something to do with it... My nudity did not seem to bother her and she handed me a kind of towel. I'm sure it's made of wool of I don't know what. But I accepted it and dried myself quickly. Then she guided me to the part of the room that was the dressing room. And offered me a dress.

"Dress."

I nodded and mimed the action of putting on pants and a t-shirt. She nodded and motioned for me to wait before searching the closets for what I wanted.
Once found, she handed them to me before giving me their names.

"Pants. Tunic."

I nodded but did not put them on. A little embarrassed I showed her with a vague movement my chest and my thigh and she laughed softly.

"Underwear."

She pulled out of a drawer a pair of women's underwear and something else that was supposed to be a bra. I put on the underwear and nodded to her that I didn't know how to put on the other thing. She nodded and helped me put it on. This thing is amazing because it doesn't look like a bra at all but it feels and fits exactly the same! I then put on the pants and tunic that she had taken out. Now dressed, she took me out of the room and walked me through the castle until I arrived at a door that must be at least four meters high. She knocked and beckoned me in. I did so. But she did not follow me. So I was alone in this room. Or rather this library, as far as I could see. Good God. We could have put two houses in there. The elves are not in the thin exaggeration! But I couldn't admire the library for very long because an elf approached me.

"Hello young Leya. I am Luniteria and I will be your quenya teacher. Come."
"So I didn't understand a thing. But hello to you too."

He smiled at me before guiding me to a table where we could see books, papers, ink and quills.

Oh merde. That's my Quenya teacher.

French Translation:

Bravo=Congrats
Maman=Mom
Papa=Dad
merde=shit