I nodded to Celebrimbor and sat on the chair, watching him. He wasn`t such a magnificent figure as Galadriel or Celeborn, but I could sense great charisma and an iron will in him. No wonder, he was a grandson of Feanor after all. "Yes, Lord Celebrimbor, I recognized you from the battlefield" I answered, folding my hands on my lap. "You fought well, as did all of your companions. My sympathies for their loss."

He bowed his head, his grey eyes full of sorrow. "Yes, they assaulted us, when we were coming back from Khazad-Dúm. Sadly, we were not prepared for ambush." He seemed lost in thought for a moment, resting his head on his folded hands as if he was praying. Then he looked at Galadriel, smiling gently. "And good day to you, my lady, do you wish to feast with us? There is enough room for us all."

Galadriel regarded him, narrowing her eyes. "I am afraid my husband is waiting for me with breakfast of his own, therefore I must decline. We do not want him to get disappointed." Celebrimbor nodded with understanding, still smiling gently. Galadriel looked back to me. "Take care, Rovalhen. You can always visit me and Celeborn if you have any questions or..." she glanced at my host. "...concerns." She then turned back, nodded to Alcar and left the room, swaying with the folds of her long dress. I frowned. What had she meant? Why was she behaving so strangely in the presence of Celebrimbor? I threw a questioning look at my host, but he just smiled at me faintly. I made a mental note to ask him or Galadriel about it later.

I was just about to say something when I felt someone`s eyes on me. I turned my head to meet the gaze of black eyes of that Noldo, sitting next to my host. At first I thought he was just as curious as everyone else and cast him a light smile. But he was still looking at me with a strangely intense gaze, and I saw a trace of confusion and also... irritation, as if he was trying to solve a dangerous mystery or decide how he should behave toward me. I frowned again and started wondering what was on his mind. Meanwhile he turned his gaze to the depths of his cup and stared in them with blank expression. I glanced at Celebrimbor but he was looking at the spot behind me with active interest. I shook off the thoughts about the Noldo`s strange behaviour and smiled. I knew what has caught his interest.

Alcar decided to break the silence, when he waved his wings and sat on the nearby chair, clutching his silver claws on its frame. Both Celebrimbor and Sinda, who sat next to him, were watching him with awe. He returned the gaze, regarding them with his dark eyes.

"This is this beast, who had fought so bravely with the Orcs?" the Sinda asked me. He then smiled apologetically. "My apologise, we have not introduced ourselves properly. I am Galorn and my friend`s name is Cartelion." He gestured to the Noldo, who has been silent all this time. He was now watching his hands, seemingly uninterested by all of this. "You`ve already met our lord, Celebrimbor."

"I am Talia, also called Rovalhen here, as I have gathered." I introduced myself to them, watching Alcar, who seemed slightly insulted that someone called him `a beast`. "And this is..."

~ I am Alcar` Falcon interrupted me, ruffling his feathers and watching the Elves with the trace of contempt. He spoke directly into their minds and all of them looked at him, shocked. Save Cartelion, he just pursed his lips, tearing his gaze from his hands and glancing at Alcar with indifference. `And I am not a beast.'

"I am sorry..." Galorn tried to answer, puzzled, but I stopped him.

"Do not be, he is just a creature of pride, swollen a bit." I glowered at Alcar, who returned the look. The Sinda tried to say something more, but then the door opened and the group of a dozen Elves entered. They were garbed in a similar way as their masters, sitting by the table – in a long tunic and pants. But if the masters` outfit was in many shades of gold, green and black, they were dressed mostly in brown. They were bearing silver plates, similar to those lying on the table, but much bigger. On the plates were many dishes, from a few species of game, fishes and vegetables, to bread with golden crust and a big jar of honey. One of them was also carrying two great jugs of wine. I widened my eyes, what a breakfast! They put everything on the table, bowed before Celebrimbor and his companions and left the room.

The meal was delicious and I ate with relish, though I wasn`t very hungry. I took advantage of the opportunity to talk with my hosts. They asked me many questions, concerning my past, my family, my interests; they asked where I was from and whether I was pursuing the Orcs or I had found them by coincidence. I had to be careful with my words, but answering them wasn`t as difficult as I thought it would be, because they understood my reluctance to say much. After all, all of them remembered the First Age and clearly were trying to forget much of it. I told them a similar story to what I told Galadriel, that my falcon and I have lost much of our memory in some strange accident and we can`t even tell how or why. At first I thought they wouldn`t believe me, but they seemed to accept it as if they had heard worse. And maybe they had.

I also observed the great hall. It was very big, its walls were cut from light marble, similar to this in the corridor, by which I arrived here earlier. A lot of space on the wall was occupied by such an amount of swords, spears, bows and any kind of armour I ever heard of and some even unheard by me, that it could easily fill two big armouries, the king`s size. Their design was very beautiful and intricate, but the blades of weapons gleamed deadly and plates of armours shined proudly, ever ready to be used. In the middle of the hall stood long, semicircular table, by which we were having our meal. In every corner of those two on the top of the room a tree was standing, each one the tall, old oak of long, spreading branches, maintaining a canopy of dark-green. Behind each tree there was a great window, one facing more eastward and one more westward, because whole house was pointing north. Now, in the morning, the rays of sun shone through the leaves of one tree, tinting them with livelier shade and the leaves of the other rustled gently, when the wind flew through them, bearing some with it, which formed a dry carpet on the floor. I watched all my surroundings with wonder, while eating and conversing.

After some time, I was having very interesting conversation with my hosts, but one thing would not allow me to relax. During the whole time that Noldo - Cartelion, was constantly ignoring me. He seemed completely at ease, talking with Celebrimbor or Galorn, so they didn`t seem to notice anything wrong, but he would not talk to me or even to look me in the eye. It was strange, but I forgot about it, while I listened to Celebrimbor answer my question concerning the gate and battlements.

"...therefore the gate was my doing, but the battlements were made with a help of my students and my Dwarvish friends." While he talked, his grey eyes were shining with pride and joy. He then smiled at his memories. "Though Narvi was trying to argue. In his opinion mithril looks better mixed with black marble, not with meteorite ore. Only my promise that we will do the next gate according to his design allowed me to persuade him."

"And probably he wants to do it on the walls of his home?" I asked with wry smile.

He looked at me with astonishment. He then laughed with his melodious voice. "Amazing insight. Yes, he demanded just that. And he was so obstinate that I doubt he will allow me to make more than just the inscriptions on his great work of art." I laughed quietly with him, thinking about the stubbornness of Dwarves. I`ve always liked that part of their nature.

Then a novice entered the room, walked up to Celebrimbor and said something to him in a low voice. Celebrimbor furrowed his brows and pursed his lips. He suddenly looked worried. He nodded to the Elf, who bowed and left the room. He then looked at me, thoughtful. "I am sorry Talia, but we must leave now, we have some problems in the city. And, ay, welcome to Ost-in-Edhil! You may visit our forges if you are interested in that, or go to the training grounds and practise with a bow or some other weapon." His face brightened a little, when he smiled to me. "Our life here is not very fast, we just enjoy it, doing mostly that what we love. Only sometimes there are other matters we must attend to be safe, as now." Galorn, who was standing with Cartelion by the doors, called Celebrimbor with an urgent voice. He nodded to him, his face again very serious, and cast the last, quick glance to me. "I will be on the training grounds at eve if I handle this matter fast enough. We can meet there and practise, if you want. Until then farewell, Rovalhen." He then rushed to join his companions and started to talk with them, probably gathering information about the problem. I was curious, but I decided to ask him about this later, maybe on the training grounds. I smiled. I was eager to test my skills with the bow - I must know which level I am at now.

I decided to explore the whole complex before I go there. It was just noon; I had a lot of time until evening. I went out of the chamber, into the corridor. I saw Celebrimbor and his companions walking quickly to the entrance. I followed them, I too wanted to go outside. They stopped for a moment when they reached the doors, waiting for a guard to open it. I looked at Cartelion`s back, again wondering about his behaviour. Have I done something that might have caused it? But I immediately shook my head, there was nothing: I have been here for only one day, and I met him today. I was just about to ask Alcar about his opinion, when Cartelion turned his head, as if he sensed my gaze on his back. His eyes met mine and I again sense in him some disturbance, as if he was trying to solve my mystery.

Before I could stop myself I reached his mind with mine, as I do with Alcar when I want to explain him something. My mind hit something which resembled the cold wall of sharp iron and I backed away. Cartelion tensed suddenly and then it happened. It was as if a mask fell from his face and for a split of second I saw deadly iciness in his gaze, mixed with a great hatred and... pain. The blood froze in my veins and I felt some unexplained fear, dread engulfing me like an icy wave. Cold sweet appeared on my forehead, and I exhaled shakily. Then he regained his composure and again donned his mask. His stare became blank and he turned from me, as if nothing happened. The guard finally opened the doors and he followed Celebrimbor and Galorn out of the house. They left me alone in the long corridor, shaken to the very core, feeling the questioning touch of my falcon`s mind.