Two months have passed, and Lewis, Cleo, and Charlotte are swimming up the Brúinen on their way to Rivendell. It takes them a little while because the Brúinen is to shallow to power swim in so they take it slow. When they get to the end of the Brúinen the three of them pull themselves up on shore, and dry off very pleased that their no-transform shirts work perfectly. None of them see the patrol that has been watching the entire thing. Lewis, Cleo, and Charlotte make their way to Rivendell by following the persistent tug of magic that they can sense surrounding the city. When they get into the city an Elf walks down some stairs saying in Elvish.
"Greetings visitors. What brings you to Rivendell?" Lindir
"My friend Lewis is here to see Lord Elrond, and the rest of us are here to enjoy a time of relaxation in the city." Charlotte
Lindir notices the confusion on the faces of the other guests, and starts speaking in the common tongue saying.
"I will take Lewis to Lord Elrond, and then find you all accommodations." Lindir
Lewis steps forward, and says.
"Alright then lead the way." Lewis
Lindir nods, and motions for Lewis to follow him. Cleo and Charlotte start looking around the city when they find a fountain that would be perfect for practising their powers, and they do it in the most fun way that they can think of.
Charlotte and Cleo are playing games with their powers when someone comes up behind them saying.
"That is very impressive magic you have there." ?
"Thanks." Cleo
"Who are you? You're not an Elf." Charlotte
Charlotte gets in a defensive position, and Cleo follows getting a suspicious though not overtly hostile look on her face. The stranger notices, and introduces himself saying.
"My name is Gandalf the Grey, and I'm an Istari." Gandalf
"What's an Istari?" Cleo
"A wizard maybe you've heard of me." Gandalf
"Only as a rumour." Charlotte
"Charlotte that was rude. Mr. Gandalf was there something you wanted to talk about?" Cleo
"That's quite alright. I was just walking by when I saw you using magic, and I was interested in learning more about it." Gandalf
A spark of mischief enters Charlotte's eyes, and she says.
"Oh really. Then why don't you join our game, and maybe you'll learn something first hand." Charlotte
"It would be my pleasure Charlotte of Lorien" Gandalf
Charlotte forms the water ball, and tosses it to Cleo who turns it into ice before tossing it to Gandalf who melts the ice. Gandalf is holding up a bunch of small water droplets, and throws it at Charlotte who catches it before it could hit her head. Charlotte reforms the ball, and vaporizes the centre of the ball while turning the outside to jelly. When Charlotte throws the ball Cleo catches it, and jellies the vapour then throws it to Gandalf.
Gandalf is quite enjoying this magic game, and the power on display is unique almost as if it comes from the sea. Gandalf knows how poorly he is doing in the game, and if he doesn't want to lose he will have to do better. Gandalf is having a hard time keeping up with these girls who need only to use their hands to do magic while he needs his staff. Gandalf can think of a few spells that should gain him enough points to be able to catch up with the girls. Their mastery over water is very impressive, and Gandalf is having to use many spells to be able to keep up with them. The combinations and shapes of the water are getting more and more complex the farther they get into the game. As they play the game Gandalf is very carefully studying how the girls use their magic, and from what he can see they are a whole lot more powerful than they appear to be. If that is the case then their control is even better than he already thought. Gandalf watches as the girls flow though the same four hand motions causing the water to shift through the different forms that water can take. Some of the shapes that the girls use are very amusing, and this just increases the over all enjoyment of the game immensely.
Lindir has been watching the magic game with great interest after Lord Elrond sent him to see to their other guests, and if Lindir is judging accurately than it looks like Mithrandir could lose the game. The ladies do have a distinct advantage in the way that their magic works as opposed to how Mithrandir uses his. Lindir is greatly looking forward to telling Lord Elrond about this interesting development. Lindir knows that Lord Elrond will have a lot of fun teasing Mithrandir about this for years to come. As the game comes to an end Mithrandir fails to catch the water, and gets his robe soaked in the front signalling the fact that Mithrandir has indeed lost. The young ladies walk past the defeated wizard, and notice him standing there. They stop a respectful distance from him, and say.
"Hello is there something you wanted?" Charlotte
"Ah yes Lord Elrond sent me to show you to your rooms so you can get ready for dinner." Lindir
"Thanks for the help Uh..." Cleo
"My name is Lindir pleased to meet you Miss." Lindir
"Pleased to meet you too my name is Cleo." Cleo
Lindir nods, and leaves the room with Cleo and Charlotte following after him.
At dinner Lewis is sitting at the same table as Lord Elrond when he sees Cleo and Charlotte walk into the room, and Cleo is the most beautiful thing that he has ever seen in his life. Lord Elrond sees the way Lewis is looking at Cleo, and knows that there is romance between them. Lord Elrond thinks back to his meeting with Lewis, and is very intrigued by the prospect of Lewis using his magic to heal. Lord Elrond told Lewis that he would think about the possibility, but until an answer is reached Lord Elrond agrees to teach him Elvish medicine. When Gandalf enters the room he can tell that something has happened between him and his other guests. It's almost as if there is some sort of rivalry starting to develop between them. Lord Elrond decides that it would be best for everyone if he puts a stop to it immediately, and says.
"Is something the matter Gandalf?" Elrond
"Well no not precisely Lord Elrond I just had a little mishap with some water nothing to worry about." Gandalf
"If you count getting beaten at a magic game a little mishap that is precisely what happened." Cleo
Gandalf stammers while Cleo and Charlotte giggle at the wizards expense.
After dinner Lord Elrond asks Lindir for all the details he has on this magic game Cleo was talking about, and when he gives them to him Lord Elrond laughs at the hilariousness of the whole situation. Lord Elrond decides that the best course of action would be to talk to the girls about how they got their powers, and what they are using them for. Lord Elrond instructs Lindir to smooth things over between Gandalf, and those girls it won't do to have the Free Peoples at odds with each other. Lindir bows exiting the room to do as he was told leaving Lord Elrond to his puzzling thoughts. Lord Elrond knows that there is something about those young ladies that is different from anybody else that he has ever met, but he is having a hard time figuring out what it is. Lewis told Lord Elrond that him and Cleo will be staying how ever long it takes for him to complete his training as a healer, but that Charlotte has to leave after six months. This just brought up even more questions than he had before, and he is not at all certain that they will be willing to answer his questions. There is one way for him to find out more, and he is absolutely certain that it will be successful. Since Charlotte is from Lothlorien Lord Elrond will ask the Lady Galadriel to come for a visit, and then she will answer all of his questions before he even needs to ask them. He knows that Charlotte is Galadriel's adopted granddaughter, and therefore it is very likely that she knows the truth about those girls.
Cleo is enjoying her time in Rivendell very much, and is looking forward to seeing more of this beautiful city. Cleo is sure that she will remember this visit for the rest of her life, but she knows that they will eventually have to return to the sea where they belong. Cleo hopes that Charlotte is right, and Elves can be trusted with their secret. Cleo also knows that it will take awhile for them to be comfortable enough to feel like they no longer need to keep the fact that they are Sea Children a secret. Cleo also wants to meet the Dwarves that Charlotte has told them about, and maybe she will get to thank the Dwarf who made her locket. All in all Cleo is very happy that they accepted Ulmo's offer, and came to Arda where they can live safe and happy lives.
Lord Elrond finds Cleo and Charlotte in a garden talking when the patrol leader comes up to him, and tells him everything they saw when they arrived in the Hidden Valley. Lord Elrond is surprised to have the rumour of the Sea Children confirmed before his very eyes. Lord Elrond dismisses the patrol leader, walks up to Cleo and Charlotte, and says.
"It is an honour to have Sea Children as guests in my city." Elrond
Cleo looks at Lord Elrond with fear and suspicion which Lord Elrond notices, and says.
"You have nothing to fear here Cleo daughter of the sea. My city is a place of safety and contemplation there is no ill will to be found here." Elrond
"I understand, and since Charlotte has said something similar I am inclined to believe you. I mean no offence, but it is hard to trust since before coming to Arda our lives depended on secrecy." Cleo
"I see, but you must understand that such things are not necessary on Arda. The best thing for your people to do is to take your place among the Free Peoples out in the open." Elrond
"You are right, and we are starting to. This trip is a first step toward that goal, and I can assure you that more steps will be taken to get to that level of openness." Cleo
Lord Elrond smiles glad to have more people on the side of all that is good and fair, and says.
"If your people ever are in need of help all you must do is ask, and we will do all we can to assist you." Elrond
"Thank you Lord Elrond we appreciate the offer." Cleo
Before Lord Elrond has a chance to respond he hears a bang, sighs, and says.
"Enjoy the peace and relaxation that Rivendell has to offer. Now if you will excuse me I must go see what trouble my Errant sons are getting themselves into." Elrond
Cleo smiles, nods, and goes back to the conversation she was having with Charlotte.
Lady Galadriel has come to Rivendell to visit her son, and her adopted granddaughter since Elrond sent word that she is here. Lady Galadriel finds Charlotte sitting in a gazebo about to take tea with a young lady that she doesn't know. Lady Galadriel walks up to them, and says.
"Do you mind if I join you ladies for tea?" Galadriel
"Not at all My Lady." Charlotte
Charlotte motions for her to take the empty seat, and Cleo says.
"Does that address mean that you are an elleth from Lothlorien?" Cleo
"I am." Galadriel
Cleo gets more angry than Charlotte's ever seen her the entire time she's known her, and her powers are reacting to her fierce ire. Cleo frowns, and says.
"You better not be one of the ones who was so cruel to Charlotte over something as ridiculous as the colour of her hair." Cleo
'Charlotte do not interfere. I will handle this.' Galadriel
"I have not bullied or mistreated my adopted granddaughter in anyway Cleo daughter of the sea." Galadriel
Cleo calms down, and says.
"I am sorry for being rude, but I haven't had as much time as the others to forgive them for how they treated Charlotte." Cleo
"It is understandable to be angry that your dear friend has been mistreated, however it happened several centuries ago. So why are you still so angry?" Galadriel
"Centuries? Charlotte was taken by Ulmo three years ago." Cleo
"That is a rather severe difference in time between Earth and Arda. It has been three hundred years since Charlotte came to Arda. Now I understand the truth of the situation, and I do not hold your rudeness against you." Galadriel
Cleo breaths a sigh of relief, and says.
"100/1 is an extreme difference still it will take me some time to forgive them, but I probably shouldn't have taken it out on you." Cleo
"You are forgiven. Now let us go back to enjoying our tea shall we." Galadriel
Cleo nods with a smile, and Charlotte says.
"That's an excellent idea Lady Galadriel." Charlotte
Lady Galadriel smiles knowingly at Charlotte, and sips her tea like nothing happened.
Charlotte goes to bed thinking about how sweet, kind, and gentle Cleo acted towards Lady Galadriel today. Charlotte knew that Cleo was angry about the bullying, but Charlotte didn't know that she is that angry about it. Charlotte will do whatever she can to help Cleo get over her negative feelings toward those elleths. Cleo will eventually forgive them, and her rage toward them will disappear. Until then Charlotte hopes that Silwen will be alright when she meets Cleo when they attend Cleo and Lewis' wedding next year. Charlotte knows how much Silwen loves going to Númenor for special occasions. Charlotte has a feeling that a large amount of her anger stems from being very protective of her friends, and the fact that the bullying has stopped will go a long way to dissolving the bad feelings Cleo is feeling. Charlotte is optimistic that they all have a bright future ahead of them no matter what storms they have to face. Charlotte decides to go swimming in the Brúinen before the nights revelry. Charlotte is greatly enjoying the nice relaxing swim in the river, and is also thankful for the distraction from the days events that it provides. After spending some time in the river Charlotte decides to skip revelry tonight, and instead spend the time exploring the river. Charlotte decides to do what Cleo did on the camping trip, and smooth over any ruffled feelings with some delicious fried fish.
The next morning Charlotte walks in the house to find that people are worried, and searching high and low for her. Charlotte walks up to Cleo who can't help laughing when she sees the fried fish in Charlotte's hand knowing exactly what her friend is up to. Lord Elrond spots them, and says.
"Charlotte of Lorien where have you been? When your bed was found empty this morning we started searching." Elrond
"I went for a swim, and look I brought some fried fish for breakfast." Charlotte
Lord Elrond sighs, takes one of the fish, and leaves the room. Cleo takes a fish, and so does everybody else who was worried. Fortunately for Charlotte by the time the fish are passed out there is still one for Charlotte to have for breakfast. Lewis can't help but laugh at the whole situation remembering a similar thing happening not to long ago at a camping trip on Mako Island. Lewis regrets not realizing what was happening to Charlotte in time to prevent things from going so wrong. Lewis knows that Cleo has never forgiven herself for her blindness to Charlotte's sickness, and this has caused Cleo to feel extra protective of Charlotte. If not for that Cleo would never have gotten so angry at someone she has never met before. Lewis hopes that Charlotte will be able to help Cleo forgive herself for being so blind to what was really going on. Lewis doesn't want Cleo to be angry at herself forever so he will do whatever he can to help Cleo get passed this, and move on with her life. Lewis is also glad that Lady Galadriel was so kind and forgiving about the whole incident. Lothlorien is Charlotte's home, and it would not be good to grievously offend the rulers of that city. Lewis will admit that he was rather shocked to hear about the time difference, but he is confident that he can adjust. Lewis hopes that Charlotte will find the happiness that she was promised by Ulmo even if it takes another few centuries to find it. When Charlotte finds the man that will bring happiness to her life Lewis hopes that she will bring him to Númenor so they can meet him. Lewis wants to personally make sure that he will treat her right. It is very likely going to be an elf who she falls in love with, and Lewis finds that he is ok with that. Charlotte is their friend, and as such she will always be important to them even after they have gotten married. Lewis is also certain that Charlotte had better invite them to her wedding, or many of her friends will be very much hurt by that unfortunate oversight on her part.
