Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or the Silmarillion, or any of Tolkien's work for that manner. If I do own his works, I would not create this fanfic for yours and my enjoyment, will I?

Note: Do note that I have not read the Lord of the Rings, but rather watched the movie and have looked everywhere, even in the net for the book or at least a chapter from the Lord of the Rings – free. Criticism are greatly appreciated, that I may continue my fanfic with better… Erm… Pronunciation? Do note that I also am not using English as my Native language, since I live in Indonesia, not England or America, or sorts.

Ch 3

Alright, maybe she needed more time than a while to gather her courage and apologize to Gilraen about her outburst. She just flat out avoided Gilraen whenever she's nearby, by using many things she could get her hands on and many, many other things. Given her keener hearing than normal humans, she could hear footsteps coming – at times to her way – and hide. If she were into the same room (which is rarely, due to the activities she gave herself by trying to study Quenya –which she seemed to be a natural learner for studying languages or as if Quenya was her native language, it was almost she was familiar with the tongue of old – or the history in the library, learning swords and weapons with the warriors in the field, and such) as the younger woman, she would ignore the other woman politely as the other woman did not make a motion to talk to her.

And yes, it did take a few years that she has to apologize. Though after that, she tended to be more aloof than usual. Her eyes were blank, not many could read her expression through her face. The only few who can read her emotions at times were Gilraen and some certain elf-lords who were very observant; Lord Glorfindel and Erestor. Not to mention young Estel would always easily read her like an open book; it was unexpected from many.

And how she knew Estel was a new name from Elrond for the child, it was because she had watched and listened elves that was near Aragorn calling the said child with another name: Estel. For some reason, she did not like it and told it to Gilraen on one rare occasion she was willing to be near Gilraen without going away in the time span of 5 minutes. Giraen on the other hand, said that she forgot to inform the older female on that night, making the younger female let out a string of Noldorin Quenya curses she created, (out of boredom and) irritated during that time when she was alone. Yes, she did not enjoy the existence of other names aside from names that was given by the parents to their child. (Except for her own name of course. Homa was simply a translation in Common Tongue of her (somewhat hated) Elvish name. Or so she argued.)

And she still flat-out refused to be called her elven name or any other name other than Homa, except from Gilraen and Elrond. Though, she avoided Elrond almost in the same way as she always avoided the older female. Except if he was to speak with her in private, in which will never happen as she actually helped the elves of Imraldis work for daily lives and somehow managed to spend her time with young Estel and study, and effectively avoided Gilraen and Elrond.

While studying language, she always in the library, barely out of it except if it was time for lunch or dinner. So, she was within the range of Erestor's observing. On the other hand, whenever she went out to a hunt with the guards of Imraldis, she was always within the charge of Glorfindel. So both of the Elven Lords give the ruler of Imraldis the reports of the young Peredhil and her blossoming skills that she would not be a threat of some kind to Imraldis, though Elrond had told them that she was no longer a threat to Imraldis long time ago, seeing that she was close to a young child he recently fostered.

Gilraen too, was told by Elrond about the older female's condition. Elrond had decided that Gilraen needed to know about the older female, seeing that Gilraen's past husband was close to Homa and was recently being so close to their only son. To the point of watching the child like mother hawk, though, the said child's mother was still alive.

So now, Homa was sitting inside Estel's room while reading a book about the history of Arda that Erestor loan her, seeing that the said child refused to leave her side ever since he found her within the library and needed to sleep. Of course; Homa was tired, Lord Erestor mercilessly gave her a lesson in the history of Arda before loan her a book of it. At times, she wondered if it was for his very own sadistic glee or such, but then, maybe the old elf had not got any students who would like to learn about lore. Not that she was completely obsessed or such with lore. It was just a way to relax, she had reasoned when Erestor asked her about her studies one day. Aside from listening to the cold wind slicing the air at night or water so gracefully falling from higher ground into the lower as a waterfall.

To listen. It was one of the things she enjoyed doing, even in her lonesome. To listen to the sound of birds chirping in the morning, the sound of leaves ruffled by winds during the afternoon. It was bliss for her.

But then, with listening to the rustle of the winds and the falling of the water outside the House of Elrond, she did not notice that she has fallen asleep. The book she had in her hands had fallen into the floor, and every muscle in her body relaxed. Her eyes were closed, indicating she had fallen into slumber during the quiet of night.

Gilraen walked from outside the room of Estel that Elrond gave him years ago and had to smile at the sight as she entered his room. Being a mother and a friend to her husband's so-called 'sister' he had called her, has many difficulties to overcome. But it was worth it. After all, it was not every day that she could see her son and her friend to sleep so peacefully in the time of dark. Her friend was also only 29 years older than young Estel, making her an older sister figure to him as she was to her (as Homa was 5 years older than Gilraen herself). Young to both human and elves, the two of them.

Gilraen took a blanket and put it over the older female quietly, and put the fallen book into a table within the room of Estel's. She had no intention of alerting Homa, as she needed her rest. It could be seen that she did not actually hear Gilraen walking like she did many times before. In this picture, just for the sake of her son, Gilraen had personally asked her to accompany her only son when the time for him to leave had come, a few days after Homa had fallen asleep in Estel's room.

It was after that very moment, the younger female had personally asked Glorfindel, the Balrog-slayer to personally teach her, with a determined look within her eye. Which, at that very moment, Glorfindel commented to himself that there was a familiar fire within the eye of Homa that resembles his beloved's. It couldn't be that she's another-

No.

Impossible.

If it was, then the girl could be a potential of betraying them like her potential uncles and grandfather did in the past. And, it would be fall of Imraldis if that actually happens. The last thing Imraldis needs was Sauron having a great force of orcs marching towards Imraldis with the aid of the descendant of Feanor. Just because the said people had been promised of Silmaril jewels which did not concern the remaining descendant of Feanor the least as they was not even born when the oath was spoken by their fathers driven by their grandfather and the said jewels were destroyed by fire (AKA Maedhros) or water (AKA Maglor) and/or taken to a place where no one can reach; the sky (AKA Earendil) many years ago in the first place. In their respective places.

It should be different with Caramiriel, his beloved, though. Even if she was a daughter to Maedhros, the eldest son of Feanor, she only posed threat the same (and more) evil that had murdered her foster father. And she just went into the borders to fend off the orcs near Imraldis.

Anyways, Glorfindel agreed though, to teach her personally, the ways of elven fighting, tracking, and everything else that will be needed were she go to the wilderness one day. And with another hidden reason: to watch over the younger being of elven blood. Now that Feanor and his sons were in the Halls of Mandos, they will pose no threat into Valinor, much less Arda and its still-threatened well-being thanks to Sauron and his Ring that happens to be a big threat to all living beings of Middle-Earth.

Glorfindel looked outside the window of his study. Dark times were approaching. Every ancient and living being can feel it in the air.

-0-

Years have passed by, and yet the darkness they felt was still growing, and it did not do anything… yet. Aragorn son of Arathorn had finally revealed by Elrond of his heritage, the reason as of why Homa always watch over him. 20 years old he was, and he had met the one he had called Tinuviel, who she was informed by one of the resident elves that she was the one who was named Arwen, the daughter of Elrond. His glee can be seen by everyone who had seen him, and Gilraen had asked of him as of why the change. Aragorn was warned by Gilraen that Elrond would not allow his only daughter to marry a mortal Man and had told him that his fate was to wander in the wild.

It was for that sole reason that she had found herself inside Elrond's study for the last time in her stay of Imraldis. With her staring straight at Elrond with her serious eyes and Elrond seemed to be uncomfortable with that kind of gaze; it felt like she was staring right into your soul like what Eonwe did during the War of Wrath to some Man/Elf/Maia including Saruman who was called as Curunir. He was sure that she could not do something of the sort and she was no Maia or Valar. At least from what he believed. Maybe it has something to do with her heritage he had not known about? After all, the only thing he knew about her heritage was she was the descendant of one of the elves that created history of Noldor as it seemed to be.

"I had a request, Lord Elrond." She stated, after a while of staring contest with the Elf Lord.

He raised an eyebrow which simply said, 'and what kind of request is it?' to her amusement. Not that she showed it here though. It simply would not do. His eyebrow can be seen as a living caterpillar at times. She had seen it once when he scolded Estel for doing some pranks led by Elrond's twins. Even in their (actually quite young compared the other elves, though they were not really elves considering their father's bloodline) old age, they can be mischievous if they wanted to.

"If Aragorn had to do things in your counsel, allow me to be with him whatever he will do as the result. In all times. Whether you like it or not." She stated flatly. It was her flattest tone she had ever managed.

"And why should I grant it?" He asked, perhaps in cautious manner.

"Because. I had my own promise with Arathorn I will not complete if I ever let Aragorn get away from my sight." She answered. Her eyes narrowed. "It was a dept to him that will be forever unpaid if I do not do my promise, of which I had made for him the last time I saw him."

There was a pause. "Are you sure that you will uphold that oath of yours for all time?"

"Yes I am sure."

Another pause. "Then I will grant it." Both had not known what that means. Had she not known of the Ranger-folk to be the lady of dignity, she would have danced right there and then. The promise she had for Arathorn will be fulfilled, because of Elrond's words.

Instead, she gave him her slow and rather rare smile. "I thank thee for thou understanding. Thou art a great Elf Lord." She said in Quenya.

He nodded at her.

She moved her right hand over her heart and bowed; a proper sign to show the others their honor. Then she walked away from Elrond's study.

They had no more of meetings within Imraldis for the next years, as Aragorn went into travel and she went with him as his shadow.