Note: Sorry for the short chapter. It is really strange how my brain works. I have a job interview and instead of worrying and stressing out I had an overwhelming urge to write this chapter.
Athrana (Wandering Shadow)
Chapter 35- The Decision
TA3019, February
Athriel raised her hand to knock and then stopped. She had been so happy a moment ago, excited to see her friends. But now, now her anxieties had caught up with her. Could she really do this? Could she act as if nothing had happened? Would they treat her differently? Would she act differently without knowing? Could she really be herself again? It was one thing playing with a sword out on the training ground with only Glorfindel to see, but it was another thing to have to interact with others. At one point she had known Elladan and Elrohir as well as she knew herself. But now she wasn't herself. Was she trying too much too fast? Was she trying too hard to get back into her routine?
Things were just as strained on the other side of the door. Elrohir was rearranging the coffee table while Elladan sat nervously twisting a braid between his fingers. Elrohir moved the bottle of wine again. Did that look right? Did everything look too contrived? Where they forcing this too much? "Stop it Roh, you're making me nervous" He moved the bottle back again. "You're already nervous. Stop playing with your hair" Elladan dropped the braid. "I'm not playing with my hair" The truth was they were terrified. They had no idea how to act, which was ridiculous. They were waiting for Athriel, their oldest and dearest friend. It shouldn't matter what she looked like, or what troubles she was facing, she was still Athriel. Should they tell her what they know or should they just act as if nothing had happened? They had never had any problems being around her before. It had all been so natural back then. Would they have that again or would it be awkward?
Athriel took a deep breath. "You can reverse what was done to you if you remember who you were before and who you will be again. You have to stop being Athrana and become Athriel again." She had to do this. They were a huge part of her life, a huge part of who she was. Besides she missed them. Every minute she had been away she had missed them. The only thing that had kept her going while she was in the wild was seeing them. The question now wasn't could she knock on the door, it was could she walk away without knocking on the door. This one moment would decide whether they tried to get back to where they had been or whether they would drift apart forever. She couldn't let that happen. She knocked.
Inside two identical heads snapped up to look at the door. This was it. For a single moment they didn't know what to do, they looked at one another before Elladan stood up. He pulled the door open and grinned. "Athriel, come in" The decision had been made; they would each try their hardest to get back to where they had been before. No matter how hard it was going to be, they had now promised it to themselves. Whatever happened now they would yet through it together?