Kiera
As they started walking back to the palace, Voronwë led her in a different direction. He told her, "I always enjoy taking this path through the city in the evening. It is always quiet and tranquil; I rarely encounter another person."
Kiera took in the surroundings of the area as they walked. They were still on the main road, and the place was mostly empty. A gentle, tinkling laughter drifted from the houses, accompanied by a beautiful singing voice. Up ahead, a dazzling archway waited for them.
Once they were in front of it, Voronwë stopped so she could admire it. It was stunning, with stone-carved pillars with different animals and flowers. Each flower held a different gem for the center, and at the top of the archway were the different seasons carved in the white stone. Voronwë pulled her along, and she saw more archways lining the road.
Her jaw dropped at the sight as Voronwë laughed. "Each archway represents the different seasons, and there are a few more at the end. Come this way."
The first archway was spring. The white pillars were carved out, and in the empty spaces were emeralds and other green gems designed to look like vines and flower buds. It was so magnificent, and Kiera knew it took a lot of work and time. The vines wrapped around all the way to the top and stretched across to meet the other side. She was in awe of it and couldn't stop staring. Voronwë gently pulled on her hand to keep them moving.
The next archway was summer, a scene similar to that of the first. An array of flowers and vines coiled their way up the arch's structure, each petal adorned with a unique gemstone of varying colors.
The procession continued, and the next archway was that of autumn. The pillars were constructed from the same substance as one of the gates: either brass or copper. Leaves had been carved into its surfaces, with orange and yellow gems placed between them. It reminded Kiera of her home, as autumn was beautiful in Duluth.
Voronwë brought the two of them to a stop beneath the arch. He edged closer to her with a slight flush on his cheeks. "My father and uncle helped build this one. It's my favorite of them all, so I make it a point to pass by here just to get a glimpse of my father's handiwork."
He placed his hand on her waist, tenderly drawing her close. Kiera's heart was ready to burst as she gazed up at him. His eyes met hers as he stared at her with a loving gaze. "I wanted you to see it with me. I wish my father and mother were here. I'm sure they would have grown to love you as I have. I'm so happy to have you in my life as a friend and…hopefully more."
She felt heat rising to her cheeks, but the flutters in her stomach couldn't be subdued. She smiled at him and looped her arms around his neck. His own nervousness was obvious, but she was nervous too. Tilting her head back, she said softly, "I care about you as well, and I'm so happy to call you a friend. I also want there to be something more between us."
He tilted his head down and pressed his lips softly to hers. It was sweet and tentative like a first kiss should be, and after a moment, they both relaxed. She could feel his soft lips brushing across hers, along with the warmth of his body, as he slowly drifted closer. His lips parted, pausing for a moment before moving forward again. The next kiss was filled with more enthusiasm and confidence. Kiera relaxed into him and found herself deepening the kiss, using her hands to pull him closer.
After a while, they slowly drifted, but neither of them wanted to completely break away. Instead, he rested his forehead against hers, and she could feel the steady rhythm of his breath, gentle and comforting. Kiera closed her eyes, savoring the magical moment as all the uncertainties of the future suddenly melted away.
"I wanted us to have our first kiss here. I hope it was alright, as I have never kissed anyone before," he whispered with a nervous gaze.
"It was beautiful," Kiera replied breathlessly. "I loved it and will cherish it forever." She paused then and slowly pulled apart from him. She squeezed his hands in hers as she added, "thank you for showing this to me. All the arches are beautifully designed, but I understand what this one means to you. This one is my favorite, too."
Feeling bold, she tipped her head and moved to give him another soft kiss on the lips. The kiss was short and sweet, and when she pulled away, Voronwë beams at her with affection as he reaches for her hand. After intertwining his fingers in hers, they set off down the path walking side by side. Before they could reach the next arch, they both catch the other stealing glances and break out in a fit of giggles.
While they laughed and giggled, the last seasonal archway came into view. It was winter, and it was decorated with diamonds and white gems. One of the sides looked like ice, while the other half looked like snow. They moved past it quickly to the remaining three arches. The first was a plain white arch covered with the symbols of each house. Some had gone all out in the designs, while others were simple pieces. Kiera snorted at Maeglin's pure back square at the bottom of the arch. Real original, that one.
The last two were similar to the main arch in the king's courtyard. The first one was two silver trees on either side of the pillar. The top was branches connecting to form the arch. The last archway was two gold trees that met at the top. Both were just smaller versions of the trees from the main courtyard.
Kiera paused and looked back at the row of arches to admire the design and beauty.
She had never seen such stunning artwork, design, and craftsmanship anywhere on earth. She turned back and walked towards the small steps leading to the main courtyard. As they walked across, Voronwë led her over to a side door instead of the main hall.
"I do not know if the lords are still meeting, and I don't want to disturb them."
The side door opened into the main hallway off of the king's chambers. They walked back to their guest quarters, not spotting anyone else in the halls. Voronwë paused at her door and handed her back the jewelry box. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, followed by a long kiss on the mouth. The kiss made her weak in the knees as it was filled with more passion and enthusiasm than the rest.
After they broke apart, he said, "have a good rest. I will see you tomorrow for our morning meal." He turned to his room while she opened hers and stepped in. Once the door was closed behind her, she let out a squeal of happiness. She was still bubbling with excitement at the kisses as her stomach fluttered.
A candle had been lit beside her bed, and the curtains were open to let in the moonlight. The clothes that she requested to be washed were folded on the bed. After dropping the jewelry on the vanity, Kiera put her old clothes in the dresser. The closet door was open, so she grabbed the candle to investigate. A few dresses were hanging from wooden rods, but they were the same dresses from before. After changing into her nightgown and throwing the dirty clothes onto the dresser, she crawled into bed and blew out the candle. It took a while to calm her nerves and excitement, but eventually, she fell asleep.
Narriel's knocking woke her up the next day. Kiera rolled over to her stomach and growled into the pillow. The bed was too comfy, and she wanted to go back to sleep. Narriel didn't wait as she strolled into the room.
"Good morning, lady Kiera. I know it is early, but you have a big day planned. Idril needs to teach you and Tuor some dances because the festival is tomorrow. You should have a few dresses made by then, but for today you will have to wear another one of Idril's."
Kiera mumbled into the pillow, but Narriel ripped the blankets off to expose her to the cold. She turned her head to glare at the elf, but Narriel just tipped her head back and let out a loud laugh.
"I have not seen a look like that in ages. Idril is so excited now, so she is always up early, but elves need less sleep than mortals. Come, I have hot water for your bath already. I will pick out a dress for dancing lessons today."
After rolling over to the edge of the bed, Kiera sat up to stretch and yawn. She knew that Middle Earth didn't have coffee, but perhaps they had some strong tea. She would need something to wake her up for dance lessons today. As Narriel went to start the bath, Kiera wondered about other things she missed from home.
"Narriel," Kiera called out loudly. "Do you have something to clean my teeth? I am almost out of what I have from my world?"
The elf stuck her head around the bathroom door, "oh yes, I will run and get some while you bathe. Your bath is ready. Please hurry, as your companions are eating and waiting for you."
That got her moving quickly. After using the bathroom and stripping off her clothes, she eagerly jumped in the hot water. It didn't take her long to wash, and then she was toweling herself off when Narriel knocked on the door.
Cracking open the door, Narriel handed her a container of green paste. "Use your finger to rub around your teeth. When you rinse, make sure to flush the rest of your mouth to get everything. It makes our teeth very clean and bright."
Intrigued, Kiera closed the door and moved to the sink. She unscrewed the glass container and dipped her finger in the paste, which had a mint smell. After rubbing the paste over her teeth and rinsing, she noticed her teeth were extremely clean.
Satisfied, she stepped out into the room and allowed Narriel to dress her in a pale pink dress. It was similar to the others; she had to hem it up like yesterday. Narriel made quick work of drying her hair and then brushing it out to pull it into a delicate updo.
The two left the room and split off in different directions when they reached the end of the hall. When Kiera approached the table, everyone was almost finished eating, so she took her place and ate quickly.
Once she finished, Idril led them all to the dance hall. "We will spend most of the day dancing. I want you both to be able to dance multiple dances tomorrow night. After dinner, we can walk around my favorite part of the city." Idril then turned to her and said, "tomorrow morning, I have arranged for a tutor for Kiera to start her elvish lessons. You won't be able to say much, but perhaps after your dances, you will be able to thank them. There will be plenty of elves who don't speak common but will want to dance."
Kiera nodded, and then Idril turned to Tuor, "Voronwë has offered to show you part of the city and meet his uncle tomorrow morning. I was looking forward to joining you, but If not, I could help set up for the festival."
Tuor stammered, "I would love to have you accompany us tomorrow. You are welcome to join us any time."
Voronwë shared a glance with her, and he winked back at her. With the schedule settled for the next few days, Idril started the lessons. Tuor remembered a few from his youth, but it is all new to her. Idril began with a simple dance of a few steps, and with the help of Voronwë, she managed to get it down really well within the hour. They switched partners, but she and Tuor stumbled a few times together but eventually got it. They continued practicing, and then when Idril had them change partners while dancing. That caused Kiera to trip a few times, as the elves made it look so easy. Voronwë always managed to catch her, but he seemed a little more subdued today.
By mid-morning, she and Tuor were dancing around the hall with ease. Kiera didn't feel as nervous about the upcoming festival. Right before lunch, Idril introduced another dance with a few more steps. It wasn't difficult now that they had been practicing all morning. They stopped for the mid-day meal, and once Kiera sat down, her feet ached.
While eating, she asked Idril, "how long does the festival last? Is it just a dance, or are there other things going on, like dinner before?"
"We have many small gatherings held around the city during the day tomorrow. You will be at your lesson, so you cannot attend, but the main event is the dance tomorrow evening. Our markets are busier on festival days as more people are relieved of their duties to go shopping. There will be a small dinner for the lords and all of us. After dinner, the lords will escort their houses into the dance hall. Not everyone will attend, but most will. The ones that don't, will join the smaller gatherings around the city. We can't fit everyone in the dance hall, but some elves don't care for dancing. Others actually prefer smaller gatherings as they are less crowded and are better for socializing."
Tuor looked interested and then asked, "what happens if too many show up and the place is already filled?"
Idril just shrugged and replied, "we open up the king's courtyard and have some musicians and kitchen staff go outside. It is still warm enough for an outdoor event. We filter out occasionally to make sure everyone sees their lords and the court. That usually only happens during the larger seasonal festivals. There might be a lot of people tomorrow, as the city is curious about our new human guests."
Satisfied with the answers, they finished eating and returned to the dance hall. Idril showed us a more complicated dance that involved a lot of swinging around and twirling. That one took much more coordination as the steps were intricate, and so was the spin. Kiera fell on her ass multiple times and tripped over her feet. Voronwë caught her a few times, but the spin was what usually sent her to the ground. She didn't like the dance as much, but maybe she would get better in time.
Idril must have noticed her face as she told her that the women get to choose the dance. Eventually, if the male speaks common, they might suggest other dances after the first.
"Hopefully, no one tries to embarrass you by trying to use a dance you don't know," Idril warned her.
They finished dance practice by late afternoon and settled down at the table for dinner.
The group spoke while they ate, but Kiera and Tuor were most excited about seeing the city that evening. When they were all finished, they headed out of the palace to begin the walk around the city. Even though her feet hurt, she couldn't wait to explore more.
Idril took the lead, and they turned left out of the palace. They passed the two trees and the main fountain in the courtyard and went down a long cobblestone walkway. On one side was a large pool, while the other was lined with houses. In the center of the pool was a large open square with statues spread around it. They walked over to the center of the pool, where a small bridge was connecting the walkway to the square.
The square itself was another courtyard that was just surrounded by water. The stone statues were spread evenly around, and in the gaps between were benches. Idril waved her hand around to all of the statues and said, "This is called the Gar Ainion. Elves come here to pray to the Valar. It is quite a peaceful place, and we have created each of the Valar as statues. Some elves like to leave flowers or trinkets to certain Valar."
Now that Idril said that, Kiera noticed that some of the statues had flower bouquets at their feet. It was a simple place, made for prayers and giving thanks to the Valar. Kiera would have liked to look at each individual Valar, but the group wanted to keep moving.
Idril led them back to the main road, and they walked further down until they came to a small bridge with the end of the pool being broken into two rivers. The pool ran under the bridge, and then the bridge created a T with the two streams running on either side. The bridge led down to a main walkway leading between rows of houses. As she leaned over the side, Kiera could see colorful fish swimming. They kept walking past the row of houses until the space opened up behind them.
It was a beautiful sight. The walkway curved around the rivers with patches of trees and flowers sprinkled all around. Small courtyards and fountains were placed along the walkway, with bridges popping up along the way and more waterways connecting underneath.
"This is called the way of running waters," Idril told them. "It leads to the fountains of the south, which is a charming place in the evenings. Many elves come to play their instruments and listen to music."
They meandered along the path and up and over bridges. Kiera was in awe of the design and overall feel of the place. It was soothing, peaceful, and breathtakingly beautiful. Small groups of elves were lounging in the trees, gardens, and on top of the bridges. All of them smiled and waved at them as they passed. When they reached the top of the last bridge, Kiera saw all the rivers connecting into one to create one big river in a circle.
The actual center of the circle was massive, with four main bridges arranged evenly around the outside. In the center of the circle were different fountains, which were also arranged in another circle. Many elves were here sitting on the fountains, relaxing, playing on instruments, or singing. Kiera saw harps, flutes, and other string instruments, and she could hear the soft music from the top of the bridge. While she expected the area to be noisy, each fountain was far enough away to give people space.
As her eyes devoured the sight, Idril walked away down the bridge and toward a fountain. Glancing in the direction she was headed, Kiera spotted Ecthelion and Glorfindel. They were sitting together on a fountain ledge by themselves. She raced to catch up with the others, and as they approached the two lords, Kiera saw Ecthelion playing on his flute while Glorfindel was just relaxing and listening. Not wanting to interrupt his song, they sat in the courtyard and listened.
Ecthelion finished his first song, which was magnificent. He was very talented, and the music he was playing was soft and slow. The next one was sad, and it made her want to cry as he finished playing. He must have known how the song affected them, as the last one he played was upbeat and catchy. When he finished the last, he dropped his flute next to him, and they all clapped enthusiastically.
"Thank you, we didn't expect to see you all here tonight," said Ecthelion.
Idril spoke first, "I wanted to show them this part of the city. I enjoy the fountains in the evening. We spent all day dancing in preparation for tomorrow's festival."
Glorfindel smiled and looked at her, "will you save me a dance for tomorrow? I'm sure many will want to dance with you."
Kiera brightened at knowing at least one other person planned to ask her to dance tomorrow. Looking at Glorfindel, she replied, "of course."
The blonde elf chuckled, but then she turned to Ecthelion and asked shyly, "I would like to dance with you as well. You have been very kind to me, and I enjoyed our talks."
Ecthelion's eyes grew soft as he gave her a warm smile, "I would love to. I enjoyed our talks as well. Please don't let us stop you from exploring the city. We are here most nights, so feel free to join us whenever."
Their group got up after that and waved goodbye to the two elf lords. Idril led them over to a new bridge that led into a large garden. The walkways wove around patches of trees, wildflowers, benches, and flower beds. They walked the main path until they reached the end, where a small pond was laid in front of them. Beyond the pond, a large house wrapped around a courtyard with a tall fountain in the center. One bridge led into the courtyard from the fountains of the south. The long two-story house was at the end of the courtyard, and other small houses were next to it, covering all sides except the pond and the bridge. Idril told them that the area belonged to the house of the fountain, and Ecthelion's house was the large one in the courtyard.
They kept walking around the garden, admiring the flowers and the trees. Voronwë was smelling all the flowers, and Kiera let him have a moment to himself. Idril and Tuor took a break on a bench to admire the view and spoke quietly. She wandered to the pond and noticed some swans were swimming in it. Kiera watched them for a while and admired the area's landscape and garden. It was so peaceful and beautiful and unlike anything she had ever seen before in her life.
After their break, they walked back to the fountains of the south. Idril pointed out the bridge to Ecthelion's house, but then they turned towards the last one leading in a new direction. They stopped a short distance down the path, and Idril pointed out a small courtyard that was squished between the fountains of the south, the garden, and the road leading to the palace.
"This is Salgant's home," Idril informed them. "There is nothing of beauty to see there."
All of them giggled at that and kept walking. The road was mainly just a passageway as the backs of houses lined one side, while the edge of the garden lined the other.
The road opened up into the main road next to the wall. There were no houses between the road and the wall, and Voronwë saw her looking.
He said, "this side of the city doesn't have houses next to the wall. All the craftsmen live on the other side. This area is Ecthelion's household and Glorfindel's household, which is north of the lesser markets. Almost all of their household are guards and soldiers. They need easy access to the main gates and the upper wall."
That made sense, and then Idril added, "Salgant's house is on this side of the city, and it is a small house. Many of the musicians of his house can be found in the fountains of the south in the evenings. His house makes all of the wine for the city. Come, I want to show you all something."
Idril rushed them down the main road and pulled them to a stop in front of a closed gate. Idril pushed it open, and they entered a smaller courtyard surrounded by a few houses, with one larger at the end. The courtyard had seen better days, and the houses could use a nice clean, but they all looked well-made.
"Well, what do you think?" Idril asked her excitedly.
Kiera was flabbergasted, so she asked, "for what?"
"My father has granted Tuor his own house. This house belonged to some members of the house of the harp. They all perished during the war, and Lord Salgant has left it sit empty. I asked everyone if we could give it to Tuor, and they agreed. I wanted to know what you thought and if you wanted to live here with Tuor. You are welcome to stay at the palace. I know we have become closer since you arrived, and I enjoy our time together. If you preferred to move into Tuor's household, I would not be upset. It is close enough to the palace that it is a short walk for everyone. I know my father and cousin have not been the most welcoming."
Kiera stared dumbfounded at them all. Did they all know about this? Tuor saw her face and laughed, "yes, I knew about it. During the meeting with the king yesterday, he offered me a house. I have never had a place to call my own, so I jumped at the opportunity. I could care less about what it looks like as long it keeps a roof over my head. This place is more than I expected, but I am grateful."
Tuor's smile was infectious as he continued, "a few elves already offered to move in and help keep the place up and running. The king also offered me a lordship of the house, which I accepted. I hope you are not upset that we kept this from you. I could use my friend's help to get this house back to a living condition as it has been empty for years. I would also be overjoyed if my friends moved in with me. It's a big house, and I would love the company."
The thought of leaving the palace and having a place to call my own makes me so happy. "YES," Kiera cried and jumped with joy. "I would love a place to call home and to be with my friends. While the palace is nice, I would like my own room. Can we see the inside?"
Idril nodded happily and linked their arms together. "I showed Tuor part of it yesterday after dinner, but I'll give everyone the full house tour."
The boys follow after them as Idril opened the main door to the largest house. A small entryway with stairs lay in front of them. There was a small hallway next to the staircase and a main bathroom under the stairs. On both sides of the entryway are open archways. The left side opened up to a sitting room and a dining room. The furniture was dusty, and some were covered with sheets, but the place was really charming. The back hallway had a double door leading to a small private courtyard with a table and chairs with a small dead garden. The other end of the hall held the kitchen and another living room with a large fireplace and larger furniture for hosting.
Back in the entryway, they went up the stairs to a small landing. Two hallways ran in each direction and back towards the front of the house to create a U-shaped. Idril showed them the master bedroom, which will be Tuor's. It was the largest room, with a large private bath and a small balcony overlooking the back courtyard. The room had a large closet space and high windows to let in light. There were four other bedrooms, and Kiera claimed the one in the front with large windows overlooking the front courtyard. It had a smaller bathroom and a small closet, but she didn't mind.
Voronwë picked the bedroom across from Tuor's, and it was similar in layout and size to hers. There were two more empty bedrooms, and Tuor claimed one as his workspace and office. There was one more spare room, but none of them knew what to do with it yet, so it would be empty.
Idril showed them the three other houses in the courtyard, which were just smaller versions of the main one. As they walked back to the main courtyard, Idril told them, "many elves will jump at the chance to move out from their family homes and into a new household. Tuor has already met with a few chefs, gardeners, handmaidens, and helpers. You will have plenty of staff to help the house get going. After the festival, I will help you in the evenings with cleaning and getting everything ready to move in. It will be some time before the house is ready, but I hope everything will be finished before the first snowfall."
Idril looked at her and said, "you will have your elvish lessons in the morning, and then you have free time in the afternoons and evenings. Until you become proficient enough in elvish, my father does not want you to learn a craft yet. However, you can explore the city or help us get the house ready in your free time. Maeglin is still paying for everything, so we will have many shopping trips to the markets. I want you all to be happy here and have your own place."
Kiera grinned at her and told her how excited she was but was also curious. "How long is Maeglin going to keep paying for our expenses? Once we are all settled, who will be paying the helper's wages?"
Tuor laughed at her and said, "he will continue to pay for a while. I am working with the king on what I want to do with my house. He has given me a few options, but I do not have to decide for a while yet. We have time, so don't worry about the money. Just enjoy exploring the city."
Voronwë added, "I will have a room here and at my uncle's house. I missed him greatly during my journeys, so I have decided to join him in crafting. Should Tuor pick something I would like to do, I will join him. For now, we are all taken care of.
Overcome with excitement, Kiera hugged all of her new friends. Tuor gave her a crushing bearhug, and she was happy to have met him. Voronwë only gave her a half-hug in return, which Kiera was confused about. She decided to brush it off as she and Tuor chatted together on the way back to the palace. She didn't even notice the city as they walked, and they arrived shortly at the side door of the palace.
They all separate at the main hall, and Voronwë left quickly for his room without a word. Kiera was hurt about that, and she wasn't sure what had happened or changed since last night. Her mind is racing as she got undressed and ready for bed. She was still daydreaming about the new house when she finally fell asleep.