Languages:

'Valari words/ or Erika's mother tongue'

"Quenya/Sindarin"

"Westron/Common tongue"

Disclaimer: LOTR and Silmarillion are properties of J.R.R. Tolkien and Tolkien Estates. None of the songs used in the story are mine too and only borrowed for entertainment purposes.

AN: last chapter there was a lot of spelling mistakes (´-﹏-`；) sorry about that. I'm currently writing on my phone and the spelling check wasn't working so I didn't notice them. I promise to fix them when I get the time. Also, one reader sent me a PM and was asking if I have a beta reader. The answer was no I don't have one and I'm just doing that myself (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵).Besides, I'm writing this as a hobby so I guess it's okay.

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Chapter 9

Out of the box

Above the surface of Belegaer, the wind is howling fiercely, waves rise up and slam down angrily one after another while thunder hums threateningly into the heavens. Ossë has never been this vexed before and even the gentle Uin was in a sour mood. There has never been a collaboration between the two Maiar ever since the Ainulindalë and their anger was felt even at the Enchanted Isles, for the waves that reached the islands are high and forceful with a high tide in the shores of Tol Erresëa, Alqualondë and Eldamar. Uinen can only sigh in exasperation.

It has been days since Ulumiel disappeared from the waters or the dry lands near the shores and her spouse was throwing a fit. Uinen can't help but to worry and it took all her will not to emerge from the deep and walk into the lands herself if not for her lord telling them that she is safe in the hands of the firstborns. And last night, even though the Lord Ulmo told them not to go, Ossë secretly visited her at night after finding out about her injuries through his network of bills and albatross.

Being one of the most powerful Maiar, walking through the city without being known was a child's play for him especially that he did not took the form of his fana. His fëa wandered under the light of Tilion's flower unto the room of Ulumiel who's sleeping with a bunch of pillows behind her back. Ossë hovered above her and his stubborn heart was saddened at the sound of her labored breathing and the sight of her swollen, injured leg freshly stitched only hours ago.

Putting his hands above her prone body, soft blue light emanated from him and flows through her whole being. The maia used his power to heal her wound and internal injuries, not completely but at the very least she won't feel pain anymore. Besides, the people who took care of her will be suspicious once they find her without even a scratch. This way, they might just assume her fast healing was a blessing from the Valars. He can always just remove whatever scar that will appear later. And if it is only his choice, Ossë would take her back into the sea and just reveal everything to her. Screw his lord's will. But alas, he cannot, and all he can do is just watch over her like this.

Why does Eru gave his lord such a problematic child? One moment she was in the sea spewing nonsensical songs about wrecking balls and being a material girl, and then the next she is missing. And, fine he admits it now, but no matter how much he adores her, the Maia just don't really get her quirks. Ossë floated higher with a smirk on his face as the young one's breath even out. He tapped her forehead lightly before floating out of the window, a little satisfied knowing that she will wake up the next day feeling better. Now he have something to boast in his beloved wife.

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"Chill out, what you yelling for? Lay back, it's all been done before…" my third song so far this afternoon but unlike when I was in the sea shores, I didn't sing my lungs out 'coz I know I'll scare the whole city. And who knows who's lurking around the Healing Hall's area? I don't want Lord Nestaron or Ms. Heledh to know that I crossed the window again even if I'm just here lying on the grass not even ten steps away from it. Doing that while wearing this ridiculously long dress was an achievement by the way. And even though it's not as sunny as it was days ago, I like the breeze of air and I enjoy the smell of the ocean. Honestly, I like it better when it's grey and cloudy even as a kid. The cool wind and the smell of rain calms me. If I'm inside my room, I'd feel suffocated especially now that I'm in the middle of a dilemma.

Earlier this morning, a bomb as big as Hiroshima fell down on me. Not literally, of course. Where am I gonna start? On the part where Elves does exist and this place is their city? Or on the part where nobody knows where my home country is? Maybe in the part where it is possible that I'm in another dimension? Another world? Another planet? The idea was so ridiculous that it didn't even reach my mind. This is just some kind of real life Isekai shit I see in anime or manga. I thought there's nothing more complicated than the fact that I turned into a half fish but I guess I shouldn't tempt fate. I've noticed a lot of things about them however, I chose to think that it's just me being culture shocked. I saw the ears before but I took that as a beautiful imperfection. Who would've thought it's a distinguished part of being an elf? Dobby certainly does not look like them!

Apparently, this place was called Middle Earth. At first I thought, am I in the world underneath Earth's outer crust? There was a theory like that somewhere in Youtube, so maybe? But that was until the good old Lord Círdan showed me a map. It was called Middle Earth because it was a continent right in the center of the world or as they prefer to call it, Arda. The other continents are intriguing too, the one in the west was called Valinor or Aman, (there's so many names) an undying land said to be the home of the elves and only their race can live there aside from the higher beings of the one they called Illúvatar. It must be their term for God here. It was literally a heaven on Earth, only it's not a place for everybody.

At first, they assumed I came from the continent in the east but when I saw their world map, I didn't confirm it nor deny it. I just went silent and became as stiff as a board. Why would I do that? It was kinda rude for these people. But when you finally realize that you are in a different place, in a different world, wouldn't your mind go blank? At least this time I didn't freak out big time. It is that or their maps are all wrong, but it still won't explain the obvious existence of these elves. And I would've thought they're faking it if not for my own existence. I mean, I just accepted the reality of me having a fish body part, why not take the obvious evidence of elevenkind's existence, right?

How I wish I have my phone with me or even just my ipod where I can play music until I feel better, now I can only sing for myself. How I manage to live the past days without wifi is a big miracle but I'm not sure if I'm gonna last for a long time. Boredom for me is a fatal and dangerous thing. It can make me do stupid shits.

Really, I only wanted a week of vacation, why did it turn out like this?

"Tell me, why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?" God, can I sing this particular lyrics to You? I have no idea what You're up to, and don't get me wrong, I trust You with all my heart but can You please keep things down for a little bit? My brain keeps on crashing this week, the motherboard's in the brink of self-destruction. At least give me a breather or just a heads up. This is worse than math!

"Aren't you supposed to be resting inside now, my lady?" Out of nowhere, a voice rang in the air and I yelped in surprise. The sound of a beautiful chuckle followed. "My apologies, I didn't mean to surprise you." Down to my right was Lord Glorfindel who's now obviously trying to hide his amusement. In his hand was the reign of the white horse who's just following behind him. God, his beauty was too much for my human eyes to take. His tied up hair was literally glowing, in his forehead there was a circlet of gold and silver. His clothes are just simple moss green tunic and white pants tucked in brown boots. For someone who was described as one of the mighty, he is dressed humbly.

"Sorry, I didn't hear you coming." Right, either it's because I was singing so loud or he just walked silently, I have no idea. I just hoped he didn't hear my musical talent.

The elf signaled to his horse and the two of them started walking on my way. I lifted myself up from the ground and sat upright trying to look like a proper lady for once in my life. The big horse trotted faster and to my surprise he stopped in front of me and started to sniff my face like crazy. Glorfindel quickly tugged him away but the beast was just too damn stubborn. "Rhosfein, no. Stop it, she is injured!"

The desperation in his voice made me giggle even though I didn't understand what he just said. "It's okay, he's nice. He's just up for a cuddle." I reached up and gently scratched my fingers on both sides of his face. The horse snorted before folding his four legs and lied down on his stomach. He was being cute! "Aw… see?" The horse classily swished his mane and I can't help but to comb it with my fingers. It was too soft for an animal, honestly. I laughed again when I saw the mix of surprise and confusion in Glorfindel's face.

"I can't believe it. All his life he never submitted to anyone like this, not even to me, and all it took you was a simple scratch on his face." He placed his hands in his hips and shook his head in amazement.

I snickered. "What is his name again?"

"Rhosfein." He said with a wry smile on his face.

"He's beautiful. Look, this Rhosfein is just being a big baby, right?" I laughed merrily as the big guy bobbed his and snorted from my baby talk. As a reward I continued to scratch his face. "See?"

Glorfindel took a seat next to me while patting the head of his stead. "You fell so low, my friend."

For a moment the two of us went silent and all I did was to continue petting the steed's head. I didn't know what to say to him after how I acted earlier this morning, I honestly feel bad much worse now that he's still being nice. Maybe I should apologise. Yeah, of course. At least, I should start on that.

"Uhm… Y-you know… I uh… I hope you guys forgive me for being so rude earlier. I just didn't really know what to say, and uh… yeah. Sorry." Why am I stammering? And why is this so awkward?

"There's nothing to forgive, Erika. It was an understandable thing. We are just glad that you still trusted us even after finding out about our existence." There was a humor in his voice and I was more than relieved to hear that.

"It should be the other way around, right? I mean, what if I'm a bad person? Or what if I'm a mugger out to rob stuff from this house? Shouldn't you be more careful about taking in people with unknown backgrounds?"

"Well, first of all it was too obvious that you aren't." He mercilessly fired one charming grin as if saying the irony of what I've said, flashing off the most perfect set of white teeth in my face. "What kind of a clumsy assassin would fall and hurt herself? Besides, my lady, you are too small to even hurt the most gentle elf." He said with a finishing blow of a playful wink. Ooh~~ Mama Sitaaa~ says my inner self who is starting to establish a fanclub for him.

"Hey!" I exclaimed in indignancy yet he just chuckled. Those sounds produced by him was like a soft music to my ears. "My height is just fine, thank you very much. While it's true that I'm obviously shorter standing next to almost everyone here, I'm tall enough on human standards. You guys are just freakishly tall." In the end I just laughed with him. Young man, if you keep your charm going on like this I'm gonna be TKO in the next ten seconds. "No seriously, though. I was so rude back there and none of you guys deserved how I acted. I'm not justifying myself but when you find out that everything you were familiar with was gone, and other truths you knew turned out to be wrong, I think anyone would be shocked." I said to him looking down on Rhosfein's head and gently worked my fingers on his almost white mane.

"No one will hold it against you, my lady."

"Thank you." I turned my head again on him and locked my eyes directly to his. Those familiar greyish-blue eyes are so full of kindness and warmth and mystery. "You know… for helping me. You've done a lot of things for me that I don't even know how to pay you back."

"Get well and recover from thy injuries, Erika. That's all I'll take in return." He reached his hand and gave my nose a light flick of his forefinger. "Anyway, you haven't answered what I asked you before. Aren't you supposed to be resting inside your room? You should not stress your injuries so much by walking around. Besides, the weather today is cold."

Busted. "W-eell… it was boring inside and I thought fresh air could help me. Also, I swear I didn't walk too much. I came through the window. It's not that high for me to cross, well, it's kinda difficult with this dress but it was good."

His face looks as if he does not believe me. "And your stitches?"

"Is doin' great. It's even better than this morning and I can walk straight and there's only eeny tiny bit of itchiness but all in all, it's doin' great." To convince him, I lifted my right leg which was the injured one and wiggled my bare feet. "See?"

"Alright, but you should not overdo it, unless Nestaron says it is healed."

"Sir. Yes, sir." I gave him a sloppy salute with my right hand.

Seems like the little act took Lord Glorfindel's interest. "What does that mean?"

"Oh, that was an act of salute back home used by the army and local peacemakers." I guess saying 'police' won't make any sense so let me find my modifications.

"But why do they put hands in the head?" He asked again with pure interest. I guess he would since it is a military act, and he himself is a general of an army. But seriously, looking at him right now, he doesn't look like someone who will decapitate someone so easily. And I guess these people aren't familiar with guns at all since all I see they have are swords and daggers.

I shrugged. "I don't know. It's just that, it's been done for a long time and I guess it just became an act of honoring."

He nodded slowly. "You seem to have knowledge in matters of war. It must be hard for someone so young as you." Was that a mock? But now as I look at him, his comment seems to be genuine.

"Dude, who's young? I'm only two years away from my third decade. I'm twenty eight and you are probably much younger than I am, if looks could tell. And of course even if I don't know all things about military stuff, at least I knew the basics. I watch news."

A wry smile suddenly appeared in his face. "It only shows your home was not familiar with our race and never had interactions with the men of Middle Earth. Though there are men who are known for the longevity of their life as they have the blood of the eldar, the firstborns live longer than the race of men, my Lady Erika. We do not get sick and our body's resilience is much higher and thus allow us to live for a long time."

"Ehh?! Are you kidding me?" I blurted out in surprise. "Is that the reason why Ms. Sivrethil looks too young to be a mother of two equally grown up girls?"

Though he must be bemused with my speech pattern, he still responds. "I am not… kidding you."

"Is it something you eat or drink? Did you guys really discover the secret to longevity and stops aging at certain age?!" I asked with poorly concealed excitement.

He straightened his left arm behind him and leaned on it, one knee was propped up while his right arm was placed above it. Does this man knows he can end all male supermodels' careers without exerting any effort? "Well, it is not that we stopped aging but we just do not age in the familiar standards of men. Take the Lord Círdan for example. He was the oldest elf in Middle Earth and was bearded." Oh yeah, come to think of it, the men here that I've seen so far have clean faces and free of facial hair. "We do not have the secret of longevity for we were created by Eru like this."

"Dios mio, that good old lord must be at least one hundred years old! He is so old yet he looks like he is in late fourties." The smile on Glorfindel's face became wider. "What? He's older? One hundred twenty?" His smile never faded. "No way he's a hundred and fifty because that is insane."

And then he shook his head gently and took his left arm back to his propped up right knee. "If you are interested, I could teach you the history of the elves for Lord Círdan's life extends way back from our race's very beginning. And it is really complicated to calculate how old we really are for this Age's year is way too different from how we used to count it when I was born. Lord Círdan was undeniably more than fifty thousand years old if you would count the Valian years to this age's counting."

'ANOOO?!'

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The shock on her face was the most amusing reaction Glorfindel has ever seen made on a person and though she might have spoken in her tongue, it was not impossible to guess what was the meaning of it. Her almond shaped eyes are too wide while both of her hands were mushing her face and all her poise was thrown out of the window. No female has ever act like her before, her expressions are just too vivid.

"Or so, he himself said he already lost count."

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Ai, there was the cursing again. And this time she used the most horrible one. While it may sound brazen and unmannerly to other's ears, Glorfindel was fine with it. He even thought it was quite adorable when she said it. Must be her unique accent.

"Oh no, melwen, I wasn't. The firstborns indeed lives longer than men."

"Forget the secrets of longevity, you guys are basically immortals!" It was the first time he heard about this so-called secret, it must be a legend from her home.

At this time the sky turned a little darker and the Ñoldo watch as the slightly stronger winds flows through her long black hair. It might be a good idea to take her inside now but Glorfindel is cherishing this moment. Eru might forgive him if he decides to take a little more time.

"You can say that, we are immortals for our life is bound with the life of Arda itself. But unlike the Valars and the Ainu, who assisted in the shaping of Arda and the higher powers of this world, we Firstborns also taste death. We can fall in a battle from serious wounds or fade in agony and anguish."

"It must be so troublesome to live a long life." She said with amazement written on her face. "But… how about you? Do you mind if I ask about your age?"

He smiled inwardly at her polite curiosity. "Would you like to guess again?"

The following shaking of her head was too fast, Glorfindel cannot help but to chuckle. "No, no. Please, I don't want to hurt your feelings!"

"Four thousand, if I will only count the start of the First Age excluding the countings of my Valian years." She stared at him with a perplexed look as if contemplating if she is going to believe him or not. It was written all over her face.

"Should I start calling you grandfather?"

Glorfindel burst in laughter. Ai, his heart. What has this young girl done to him? He hasn't been this amused for so long that he has forgotten how it feels to laugh in joy. And to add oil in his fire, her face became more baffled that her upper lip quirked up in a funny way.

"You're pulling my leg, aren't cha?"

It was his turn to be puzzled. Her idioms and speech patterns are so incredibly bewildering. "Why would I pull your leg? You are still injured." He asked, chest still rumbling with laughter.

"Dude, no, I mean you're joking!"

"I am not, melwen."

"This is ridiculous. I don't know if I should feel old or feel childish with my twenty eight years of existence." She says, throwing her hands up.

"Is this the reason why you are searching for this secret of longevity that you are talking about earlier? Are you searching for the way to immortality?" He asked in curiosity.

"Dios mio, no. I never imagined to live more than one lifetime, it's a pain in the neck." This girl would not fit for even just a day with the Númenoreans with her idealism of living shortly. "Besides, I'm not searching for it, it was just some sort of conspiracy theory back at home and not everyone seems to take it seriously. I just happen to remember it when you said you guys can live longer than what we thought as normal."

"Your home seems like a place full of people with wide imagination."

She laughed drily. "Dear, you have no idea." She was about to speak again when they both stopped and felt a drizzle fall from the sky. Her eyes became wide again. "Oh, crap. Ms. Heledh will kill me!" She suddenly squealed and rolled on her knees to get up.

But a chuckling Glorfindel beat her from it and effortlessly lifted her small form up from the ground. She made a small surprised yelp and placed her hands around his neck due to the rush that she felt. "Let me." He said softly before looking back at poor Rhosfein who was left shaking off the droplets of water in his mane by himself. "Can you go back to the stables yourself?" The stubborn elven steed who miraculously became so obedient neighed before strutting away. Then the blond ellon gracefully crossed the room's nearby window with Erika in arms.

"I am so sorry for making you do this!" She blurted out with slightly horrified eyes. There are raindrops in his face and she wiped it away using her dainty hands, an act Glorfindel found so sweet. Why is his smile never leaving his lips?

"Don't mind it." He was about to lay her down on the bed when Heledh and Nestaron came in the room carrying a tray of tea and biscuits. The four of them was caught in the moment and suddenly stopped on their tracks.

The wife of Galdor decided to break the silence. "Uh… would you like us to leave?" There was a slight teasing in Heledh's tone as she spoke and her eyes are perfectly glued on both of them, especially on Erika's hands that's still sitting on his cheeks.

Glorfindel has an idea about what they are thinking but he does not mind even the slightest.

"Ack… no, it's okay!" While Erika squacked. The strange sounds of her reactions didn't really fail to amuse Glorfindel. And looking at her blushing red face, the teasing was all worth it.

He gently put her down to bed just so he could end her agony. "We came from outside and was caught in the drizzle."

"Oh… I see. Well I thought I can finally see something interesting here. I guess it was just my imagination." Heledh said to a smirking Nestaron who threw a playful wink on the young woman in his arms. Maybe they also found the art in teasing her, and honestly, Glorfindel has no plans on saving her from it.

Honestly, he does not really mind at all.

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Valian years - 1 Valian year is equivalent to 9 years, 212 days and 18 hours in normal countings of Years of the Sun (which is very much like our 365 days count of 1 year). The Valars and the Ainu used the two trees' blooming phase as time reference during the Years of the Trees until Arien and Tilion came up and steered the vessels of the fruit and flower of the two trees, they became what was known in the following age as the sun and moon.