Disclaimer: No, LotR is still not mine. Only the OCs and the plot.
Chapter 3
Los Angeles, Earth
Year 2013
"So, you mean to tell me that Morgoth is no more? After only 138 years? I don't understand how such a thing can be." The elleth stirred uncomfortably on the bed and refused to tear her gaze off the Marchwarden.
"My lady, it has been a lot more than that since he was defeated…"
"But how? 138 years ago he was there, as powerful as always! And with his powers, how could anyone defeat him?"
"He was exiled by the Valar themselves. My lady, if this conversation upsets you-"
"No!"
Míriela stood up abruptly and started to pace across the bedroom. After taking a few breaths to calm herself, she sat again, this time next to him. She fixed her eyes on his, intensely, and spoke in a restrained manner.
"I want- I need you to tell me if you are certain of this. Did you see it with your own eyes? It is too much for me to believe…"
He wasn't sure how to respond. Something was wrong and he couldn't understand exactly what it was. Why would she insist that 138 years ago Morgoth was in Arda? He decided to approach the matter carefully but sincerely.
"How could I have witnessed something like this, my lady, if it happened a long time before I was born?"
"WHAT? You are no elfling! You are certainly more than one hundred!"
"In fact, I am over four thousand…"
"It is impossible… Morgoth was THERE when I died, or I think I did, anyway! And I am three hundred and fifty years old!" Then her tone changed. "I hope you're telling me the truth." She said, suspicious.
Haldir knew how to recognize a danger point.
"My lady, I would not lie to you in any case and especially not under such circumstances. If you can't trust my word as Haldir, seeing that you don't know me well yet, then trust my word as Marchwarden of Lórien, faithful to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, the Lady of Light. " His expression was serious as he spoke these words but there was an underlying softness in his voice that revealed his deep respect and true allegiance to the Lord and Lady of Lothlórien.
She knew Galadriel. In fact, she had often spoken to her in social gatherings and family dinners. Of course, she was not her relative but Glorfindel was and as he ceaselessly reminded her, his house was always open for her. 'He would be so terribly stubborn about bringing me to his home, where it to be just the two of us or to dine with his family… Every time I tried to refuse, in fear I might not fit with the rest of the family members, he would tickle me to surrender or threaten to throw me over his shoulder and bring me himself… I think he actually did so once! Yes, ada wouldn't stop laughing at the face of my scowling naneth… He reminded her that Glorfindel was an honorable elf and that there would be many others present, at least this time... I don't think that last part helped any but Glorfindel was certainly smirking during the entire dinner! My smirking, noble ellon… He was so irresistible when being playful! And after everyone left, he kissed me with his usual combination of passion and restraint… I still can't understand how he noticed someone like me-'
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm sorry! I got lost in…in the past." She said quickly and gave him a tiny, teary smile.
When had she begun to cry? Hurriedly, she wiped her eyes, forgetting all about the eye-liner and managing to mess up her looks even further. Only the curious and somewhat amused face of the ellon told her something was wrong. Looking at her palms, she saw the black stains and immediately fled to the bathroom. After she returned she told the ellon how it was necessary for her job to disguise herself. Make up was necessary. He seemed to understand besides the fact that she hadn't told him yet the exact nature of her job.
"So, how can it be that one hundred thirty eight years ago I know Morgoth was in Arda but you tell me that at least over four thousand years ago he was not?"
"Perhaps, there is some factor we haven't thought of, my Lady…"
Then, it hit her.
"What year was it in Middle-Earth when you died, Haldir? And call me Míriela, nobody has called me a Lady for many years now and there is truly no need for such a title for me."
"Alright, Míriela… It was the year 2855 of the Third Age."
It was a good thing she was sitting.
It took her some moments before she could reply with a slightly shaky voice:
"I was brought here the year 510…"
"That is interesting." He muttered to himself but soon noticed how shaken the dark-haired elleth looked. He waited.
"The year 510…" she repeated, "…of the First Age."
When she raised her eyes to look at him, she saw his proud face frozen to a mask of utter surprise.
"In the fall of Gondolin." She added.
Minutes passed by in silence.
Slowly, Haldir finally composed himself and after a brief hesitation, he rested his hand briefly on her trembling ones and told her gently:
"Perhaps it all happened for a reason… I will tell you everything you need to know of the years that passed and the situation Arda is in now… We'll work it out, trust me."
She nodded.
"Now, we have a long night before us…"
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"Morning, Mir…"
"Good morning, Chris."
"How did ya sleep last night?"
"I didn't sleep at all." She stared at her mug of coffee and stretched her legs lazily on the couch.
"Really? How's that?" He raised a brow questioningly.
'Chris is a nice guy but too stuck on several… subjects. How do I tell him that my world has seen so many days in my absence that they are more than the hours I lived in all my time in Earth?'
"Oh, it is simple. Haldir decided to entertain me last night…."
Chris chocked on his own coffee.
"We had thought it certain but so soon? Tsk tsk, get away from me woman, I don't wanna be seduced!" He pretended to be in thought and smiled. "Or do I?"
"Christopher, take your arm off my shoulder because today I am in killer mode and when I say he entertained me I do not mean it in the way you think he did."
Unwillingly he let go, sighing.
"How did you mean it then?"
"He told me the story of the years that passed in Arda. As we found out, time passes by differently in the two worlds. I have grown less than a century and a half while my world has seen thousands of years come and go…"
"I'm sorry Mir…"
"Yeah, I know." She decided to change the still troublesome subject. "Where's the other criminal?"
The young man smiled wickedly.
"You should start calling him that again! He never quite got over it... He's with –ahem- company… Y' know him!"
"In his room? I didn't hear anything and neither did Haldir! And his bedroom is next to mine… The only bedroom on the upper floor is yours." Míriela said mockingly.
"Well, yeah, alright… I mean- damn you Sherlock!" Not being a morning person, he didn't realize what he was doing before it was too late.
He ruffled her hair.
A death glare was his reward. He glared back at her. Then Jared decided to join the living room, followed by two half-asleep giggling girls. They all looked disheveled.
"Is there anything I've missed?" Jared said before a massive yawn took over his mouth.
"If it is your brain, I don't know where it is and have long ago stopped looking for it." The elleth replied nonchalantly.
"Huh, very funny… Where's that Haldir fellow? Hey, Tiffany, make a cup for me too, babe…" Despite his sleepiness he managed a flashing smile.
"He's taking a bath."
"A bath? Hmm…"
"Not you too! Yes, he's taking a goddamn bath because he WAS IN A BATTLE last night! Not what your sick minds are thinking…"
They actually had the nerve to snort.
"Why do they think I was taking a bath?" Haldir asked in a low, amused voice.
He was trying to hide a grin.
"Probably that we had a nice f-"
Thankfully, she stopped mid-sentence.
'I keep forgetting he just came from Arda… He must think I am some sort of slut. Well, I'm no angel but I have seen things and been in situations he can't even imagine. And I'm a female while I play this dangerous game. It is easier for me to get burnt… Should I have told him about Glorfindel or the particulars of my death? All he knows is that I am from Gondolin and my father was Lanthir the Counselor… And the essentials of my life here. He seemed so sad when I told him…'
She cleared her throat. Haldir's eyebrows had risen the higher they could get.
"I'm sorry; I keep forgetting you're new to this place. Things are very different and I will have to introduce you to many things you face for the first time in your long years."
Chris chocked for the second time that day. He exchanged a look with the other young man.
Haldir could hardly restrain himself from laughing out loud. His eyes were sparkling as he was leaning on the doorframe, head tilted.
"You really need to have a brain transplant and soon, you two… Today, we will show some of this world to Haldir and answer to his questions. This night though, we have work to do. You contact Jonathan about the tape and I'll go to the Kashmir… We need to replenish our ammo and Rodriguez owes me a favor."
"I'll come with you."
"It is no place for you Haldir, all due respect. You are too used to ways of Arda where your target was clear to see." She sighed. "Here, you can easily confuse angels with daemons and the other way around…"
"I'll come nonetheless. Perhaps, it's what I'm here to learn."
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