I am so sorry…I really have no excuse. But I'm leaving the country on the 21st of January so I'm a mite busy…have pity on me. I'll try and make this chapter worth the wait…

Chapter Nine

Serafina had difficulty following Strider through the corridors of Imladris; she had to be careful not to get too close, but then if she lagged behind she might lose him. The thief preferred to work in the cover of darkness where she could hide in the shadows, yet fate would have it that it was currently midday and the shadows were few and far between.

Suddenly he disappeared behind a door and closed it promptly behind him. Serafina ran swiftly to the door and pressed her ear to the crack. She strained to listen to the voices, desperately seeking to add another piece to the puzzle. Yet, when she did make out the voices, Serafina could not work out the words. Sighing she realised they were speaking in Elvish.

Serafina was confused, and yet slightly pleased. She was pleased that she was right about her suspicions of Strider, there was more to him than met the eye, yet she was hardly closer to finding out what lay beneath the surface. He spoke Elvish; that was significant, not many men could master that tongue.

She retreated to her room. It was actually beginning to grow on her; the room and the knowledge that she has somewhere to sleep, the knowledge that she doesn't have to worry about where she will eat tonight. Yet in a way this life frustrated her, she had nothing to do other than aggravate Elves. There was no excitement, no risks, no mind games or fights. Just peace. And though the tranquillity was a welcome retreat from her life of late, she knew it would not be long until she would be seeking out the adventure she likes to think of as her life.

The thief was started by a knock on the door. Serafina ignored it. The door opened to reveal a beautiful she-elf who cordially invited her to the feast tonight, then not so tactfully added that Lord Elrond expects her presence. Serafina nodded at the elf and she dumped a bundle of clothes on the table and left in a huff.

Serafina looked at the neatly folded clothes sitting on the table. She was about to walk away without even looking at the clothes she was expected to wear, but stopped herself. Lord Elrond would likely not expect her to even show, let alone make an appearance in anything other than her usual tatty thief clothes. 'Yes' she decided, a dress would do nicely.

………………………

Serafina smiled at her reflection, tonight she was not an annoying, stubborn, girl – well not to look at anyway – and no one would guess she was a thief. In fact Serafina doubted that many would recognise her, this enabled her to steal any information she wanted, she could manipulate in a different way tonight. Perhaps this place wasn't so bad after all.

Before she left the room she caught her reflection again. She wasn't a vain girl, but she admitted that tonight she looked particularly good. Her large green eyes were accentuated by the grey/green dress she wore. She had run a brush through her tattered dark brown hair and it fell in waves. Serafina smirked and covered her ears with her hair, with her fine features and slight build she could almost pass as an elf, though she wasn't tall enough to fool those with cunning minds she might confuse a few.

………………………

As she entered the hall no one turned to glare at her, she tried her hardest to keep the wickedness from her smile, though it was a difficult task.

She spoke politely to some elves that thought it necessary to introduce themselves to her for a second time. She told them nothing of herself, evading questions with practiced perfection. She tried desperately to work her way towards the elf-lord, yet she seemed to gain no ground on him. Eventually she locked her gaze on Strider and tried to mask her surprise. He wore expensive robes and looked decidedly royal. To add to the shock was the beautiful elf maiden on his arm. It seemed like she was glowing with starlight. Serafina scowled, and thought to herself that it should be made a crime to be that pretty. What chance did she ever have with any man if there were creatures like that elf in Middle Earth?

Slowly she pulled her eyes away from the pretty couple and consoled herself by remembering the promise she had made about men, and what they are all like underneath.

The twins called the hall to attention; they were solemnly welcoming everyone to the feast, in Elvish. Then the spoke in common, she couldn't understand why, all elves would have understood the first welcome and she was, as far as she knew, the only one who did not understand their frilly language. Then her eyes rested on the hobbits, and she thought maybe they spoke that for their benefit. She scanned the room again and her eyes halted on a group of men. Suddenly everywhere she looked she saw men and elves from different parts of Middle Earth. Serafina glanced up at the Elladan and Elrohir when they started speaking in a guttural earthly language. Serafina was not expecting this, whatever this was. Suddenly a cheerful reply in the same language came from the middle on the room. The thief turned to look at the speaker and blinked in shock. Dwarves! Dwarves? In Imladris? Now she had seen everything.

Realising that there was movement around her Serafina hurried to follow suit. Everyone was hurriedly taking his or her seats. Serafina dived towards the closest seat and happened to end up on a table of men. Men of Gondor.

She sat down, she had no choice. She saw nobility all around her, and felt ashamedly intimidated. Serafina had been run in with this crowed before. The thief prayed that her face had changed over the years, she prayed they would not recognise her.

Serafina kept her eyes cast down during the first and second courses. However she had dressed to attract attention, not to be overlooked. She played the part of a shy simple girl from Bree and kept the name Miyra, for they would definitely recognise Serafina.

Presently the Gondorian's started discussing their business here in Imladris, or Rivendell as they called it.

"The council is to meet tomorrow at eleven o'clock." Said a voice, Serafina refused to look up. She remembered that voice, 8 years was not long enough for her to forget, and she doubted it was long enough for him.

Yet she refused to be buried in memories of the past. Serafina didn't have time to reminisce now. The men were talking about the peoples of Middle Earth that had come for the council. The thief was only half listening to their banter until the son of the steward mention the ring of power.

As soon as those words were uttered from his mouth the thief's head snapped up and her eyes met his. The ring of power, Serafina wondered at that for a moment, however her train of thought was broken when she realised the trouble she had landed herself in.

She couldn't look away, so she glared back. Their table was silent, which was just as well otherwise she wouldn't be able to hear the Lord of Gondor as he whispered.

"How dare you sit at my table. How dare you show your face in my presence. You should be dead." His voice was naught more than a whisper, yet his words rung in her head as if he had yelled them an inch from her ear.

"I am no Gondorian. Your law does not bind me. I am bound by no ones law, and I am obliged to serve none but myself. You have no power over me here." She retorted defensively. Serafina found it difficult to hide her fear.

Slowly Boromir stood and boomed, "I am the son of the Steward. You will treat me with respect thief!"

The room quietened instantaneously. All eyes were on the Gondorian and the girl.

"Is this the company you welcome to your table Lord Elrond?" Boromir was now addressing the room. "You would harbour a thief. And Serafina is no common thief my lord, she doesn't just steal money and—"

"Boromir," Lord Elrond said as he stood, "This girl is my guest here in Imladris, no matter who she is to you or what crimes she has committed, she is under my roof, and therefore under my protection. I would ask that you do not question my choice of company again. Would you please join me outside Miyra, or is it Serafina? I would like a word." He turned again to the rest of the company, "Please enjoy your dessert, then join me in the sitting room for music and wine."

Serafina rose from her seat and followed the elf lord outside; she had expected an interesting night, yet she was banking on a different kind of interesting.

…………………………

"Well then," the elf lord paused considering the thief in front of him, "am I to assume your name is Miyra or Serafina. Or would you prefer me to call you something else?" he said with a sarcastic and disappointed tone.

Serafina felt like a fool. She hadn't been so humiliated in a long while, at least not so publicly, not since last time she had met Boromir.

"Tell me girl; who are you?"

She looked at him for a good while, and it struck her, he was genuinely asking her who she was. She almost congratulated herself, the thief finally had the elf lords attention.