Ecthelion

He saw Maeglin approach the table before Kiera did. As Maeglin sat down next to her, Kiera stiffened. Happy to annoy the prince, he said, "prince Maeglin, how kind of you to join us for dinner. We didn't see you earlier and thought perhaps you and lord Salgant were having dinner together."

Kiera seemed to visibly relax at his words, and he knew that she was probably happy that she wouldn't have to deal with Maeglin alone. While the prince usually kept to himself and never bothered Ecthelion too much, he wouldn't let him treat her poorly. After the meeting they just had, he wasn't sure if the king would rein his nephew in or let him do as he pleased. He hoped not, but he wouldn't hold his breath.

Maeglin shot a quick glare at him but then settled comfortably into his seat. "I would not wish to miss an opportunity to know our new mortal companions. They have such little time on this earth as it is. Tell me, lady Kiera, how do you cope with knowing your life is but a fleeting moment in this world? That anything you do will be insignificant."

Ouch, Ecthelion thought. That was incredibly cruel, but he waited for Kiera's response to see how the rest of the evening would play out. With a side glance at her, he saw her take a deep breath before she replied.

"I am honored to meet you, prince Maeglin. I know we both said some harsh words earlier, but I would like to start fresh. As for my shorter lifespan, I never really considered it. There are no elves in my world, so I never paid attention to my short fleeting lifespan, as you say. I prefer to focus on enjoying my life and appreciating everything I have been given. I realize now that there are worse fates." Kiera had a large smile on her face as the words came out with a sweet yet edged tone. "I can't imagine living forever as a miserable, bitter, lonely elf."

Ecthelion smirked into his wine, but Glorfindel choked next to him. The two seated next to him locked eyes, but Ecthelion was surprised to see that she did not back down from Maeglin's words. This would be an interesting dinner, and he was happy that she had some fight in her. Maeglin smiled at her with a predatory gleam and all teeth. He wished he could have warned her before dinner not to engage with Maeglin in a war of words, but it was too late.

"Of course not, my lady. That would be a sad fate indeed. Tell me, how does it feel knowing you will be a sad, lonely maiden for the rest of your life? To never marry or have children of your own. Seeing as this is a city full of elves, you understand that you will die an old spinster by coming here and staying. No respectable elf would bind themselves to a mortal, which has only happened once in our long history. It's a shame, really, as you are quite beautiful for a mortal. And sadder yet that you are away from your family and will never have any family of your own."

Kiera recoiled from the words as Ecthelion stiffened. Maeglin went too far, but unfortunately, the prince did not let up as he continued on relentlessly. "Unless, of course, you are a lady of the night. I hear tales of mortal women taking many men to their bed for a short time. Never worth more than a quick release of pleasure and a few coins lighter in the purse strings for the men. I must warn you that we elves don't condone such carnal pleasures because when we marry, we marry for life. There will be no elves here for you to bewitch and entrap into your bed. Of course, that is assuming you are a lady of the night, but I find it strange that you are a young, beautiful woman who is unwed at your age. I also find it difficult to believe that no mortal man would marry you by now, even if you are from a different world."

Maeglin paused now and looked around the room. All of the lords were listening in and waiting for him to continue. "Or, perhaps, you are a lowly peasant in your world, and once you arrived here, you sought to rise above your station. Again, I would hate for you to be misinformed, but no elf here will marry you. You will remain as you are, a common mortal woman with no substantial wealth or power."

Ecthelion wanted to intervene, but this was a battle that she must face alone. As he looked around the room, everyone except the king, Tuor, and Idril was waiting for Kiera's reply. Just as he was about to interject and swing the conversation in a different direction, Kiera answered the prince.

"I am sorry to disappoint you, prince Maeglin, but I am neither a lady of the night nor a peasant," Kiera drawled. "I'm from a middle-class family, if that matters. To be honest, kings and queens went out of fashion in my world centuries ago. We elect our leaders, and anybody can pursue that as a career, a woman or a man. I had no desire to find a man to marry at my age because it is not needed. Men and women are created equal, and we are offered the same education, the same jobs, and the same opportunities. I pursued my career as a builder because I had a passion for it, and it supported me comfortably. I have no desire for riches or wealth. I understood from an early age that the most important parts of life are friendships, family, and love. No amount of money or power can buy you those. If I were the richest person alive today, I would give it all up just to see my family again and go home."

Her words shocked the table, but the mortal woman was not finished. Her voice was shaky as she continued, and Ecthelion noticed that her hands were trembling slightly, whether from anger or sadness from missing her family; he did not know.

"As for your other questions, I admit that it is sad to know that I probably will never marry and have children while living here. However, I would rather focus my time on doing what I love and making true friends. I will cherish every moment here in this new world and hope that someday, I may see my family again. As for your constant questions about my love life and marriage, I was courting someone in my world. We were only together a short time before I discovered he was unfaithful. I left him and decided for the time being to focus on myself and my career."

An icy dagger shot to his heart as he registered her words. He felt a deep connection to her at that moment as they had both suffered from the one they loved. Ecthelion breathed softly and slowly, calming himself down, so he could focus on what she was saying. Glorfindel reached out to his arm and patted him to give him comfort. The room was silent as they all took in her words.

Finally, the king stopped talking to Tuor and spoke to Kiera. "Wise words you speak. I am saddened to hear about your courtship, but that man had no honor, and you were wise to leave him. Let us eat now and enjoy this fine feast that has been prepared." He clapped his hands, and servants started to bring food in.

Ecthelion drew his wine glass to his mouth and took a long swig. He would need it to get through the rest of the dinner without being constantly reminded. As the food was being brought in, he shot Maeglin a glare to stop the prince from sneering at the women. Kiera was ignoring Maeglin now and was focused on watching as the food came in. Ecthelion sighed deeply as he laded his plate with roasted meat and vegetables. It was quiet around the hall for a moment as all of the lords started to settle into their food and start small discussions.

As he glanced around the room, Glorfindel struck up a conversation with Duilin, so he was left alone for the moment. Maeglin had turned to the king, and Ecthelion was glad that Kiera was left alone to enjoy her dinner. He was a little apprehensive to speak with her but was pleasantly surprised when she asked him, "do all the lords eat together every night, or is this a special occasion?"

Excited to have someone to talk to, he perked up and replied, "sometimes, but this is a special occasion. We have many meetings, and some of them go for long enough periods that the king orders us dinner, and we eat while we work. Most elves have meals with their houses, as it is easier to prepare large meals together."

She nodded and then asked, "how did you all become lords here? Were you all high lords in Valinor and moved here?"

He laughed before he could stop himself, "no, actually. I was not a high lord in Valinor or a lord at all," he mused. "Some of the lords were and took roles when this city was built, but not I. I was just a young child when we left Valinor."

Kiera seemed to come alive then, and her face held a hint of wonder. "Do you remember it? I'm told it is beautiful beyond words. Voronwë told me a little about the history of this world, so I know why you left."

"I do," he replied. The memories of his home came flooding back, and he could almost imagine the light of the two trees washing over him. He missed it terribly, but he knew that Valinor would never be the same again. He smiled and told her, "elves have good memories even when we are young. I was on the brink of adulthood when we left, so I remember everything. Nothing in this world compares, but I am hopeful that someday I will see my home again."

"What about your family? Are they still there, or did you all come together if you were young when you left? Do you have any siblings?"

His face darkens a bit as the memories flash across his mind. Even now, after centuries had passed, the pain and grief were still there. He said, "my family left together, but my father perished in the first kinslaying. My mother faded quickly from grief, as death was not common in the blessed realm. I wanted to turn back, but I didn't want to leave my friend Glorfindel. His parents had perished in the kinslaying as well, but he was continuing on with the rest of his kin. I have one older brother, but he turned back to Valinor after our parents' death."

Kiera's eyes softened as they looked at one another. When she spoke, the sorrow in her voice was genuine. "I am very sorry about your parents. I hope you also get to see your brother again someday. I didn't mean to bring it up if it was sad for you. I'm glad you and Glorfindel had each other. I can see why you are best friends. I miss my friends as much as I miss my family, but I am happy I made such good friends with Tuor and Voronwë."

Her words touched his heart a little, and he noticed how kind she was. When he met humans during the war, they kept their distance from the elves. Certain groups of humans were more accustomed to elves than others. He had not met many that looked upon his kind with empathy and understanding. To the humans of this world, they did not understand that being immortal did not mean one's kin would live forever. Now, as the Noldor were under the doom, they could only guess and hope that they would be reunited with their families someday. Kiera seemed different, but perhaps that was because there were no elves in her world. So far, she hadn't treated him any differently, nor did she look down upon him for his grief.

A smile blossomed on his face as he turned to her. "Thank you for your kind words. I hope that we will be allowed to return one day, and I may see my parents and brother again. Glorfindel is one of my greatest friends, as we have been friends since we were small children. I am glad you and your companions have become friends during your journey." He paused and then barreled on ahead without a thought, "I hope that we may be friends in the future, as I enjoy our conversations."

"Of course," she responded brightly and easily. "You can never have too many friends."

He laughed and felt better than he had in ages. "May I ask you some questions about your home? I understand if it is too painful, but I am very curious."

"Not painful at all," Kiera replied. "I'd be happy to talk about my home. What do you want to know?"

Ecthelion had made a mental list during the day as they spoke. The words came tumbling out of his mouth with ease. He was so curious and intrigued by her world that he wanted to know everything. "What is this schooling that you speak of? You have spoken about it multiple times, but I have wondered what that could be. Does it mean being educated or reading? Do you know how to read and write? If so, what do you like to read? I am very fond of poetry and reading, but I have read everything here and heard most of the tales."

Kiera smiled at him and then laughed softly. She said, "boy, you're curious. That's alright because I am just as curious about this world. A school is a place where children go daily to learn how to read and write. From the age of five until we are eighteen, we are all educated in reading, math, writing, history, and science. There are other things as well, but those are the main ones. When we turn 18, we can choose to enter the workforce and learn on the job or go to a specialized school where we learn a certain trade. We will go there for another four years before we leave and enter our specific field of study."

His mind was absorbing what she told him, yet he found himself with more questions. He waited for her to answer the previous ones but kept a mental list of the other questions that he had. It was all so fascinating to him, and a small part of him longed to go there someday.

Kiera continued, "to answer your question, I am well-educated and can read and write. Although I only know this language, I am also proficient in French, but I doubt anyone speaks that here. As for books, we have many. I enjoy reading in my free time and have read my fair share of classic literature to fantasy books. I have read some poetry, but not for a long while. I will be glad to share some stories and tales from my home."

"Everyone is educated in your world, even the poor?" he asked in sheer surprise. "The elves try to educate everyone, but some give up learning our history or written words and spend time on their chosen craft. We have enough time to learn many things, but I am surprised that everyone is given a chance in your world. Here, the only educated mortals are the royal or powerful families. I am glad that you are well-educated, as many of us like to discuss poetry and our crafts. I would also be eager to hear about any books or tales you remember, as I enjoy a good story. Is French a similar language to the common tongue? Are there many languages in your world?"

"I promise I will tell you about my favorite story one day, as I think you would like it. It is quite long, though, but very entertaining. And yes, French is another language. My grandmother was from the county and moved to my home country when she was young. She taught me when I was little. We have many languages in my world and hundreds of different countries."

Eager to know more, he asked, "may I hear some of this language?"

"Je suis heureux de vous avoir rencontré et j'espère que nous pourrons continuer à parler car j'aimerais être votre ami."

His eyes shined in amazement at the beautiful language she spoke. It was odd and very different from his own, but the way the words rang in his ears were almost musical. "How beautiful," he murmured in amazement. "Thank you for sharing some with me. What did you say, may I ask?"

A snide voice called out from down the table. "She probably insulted you or professed her love for you," Maeglin interjected.

Ecthelion narrowed his eyes at the prince, ready to reply, when Kiera wearing a sweet smile said, "vous êtes une personne très laide à l'intérieur. Je suis désolé pour vous."

Maeglin sneered and replied in elvish. "Harlot. Filthy human whore. Is your love life so terrible that the thought of bedding a mortal interests you, Ecthelion? Have you no shame?"

Ecthelion roared, "apologize to the lady. You will not continue to speak of her in this manner."

They glared at each other over the top of her. Maeglin responded with a snarl, "not even a full evening has passed, and you are enamored with her as well. She is nothing but a human whore. Could you stoop no lower? A human whore, have you no shame?"

"That's enough," Kiera yelled. "Having an enjoyable conversation with someone does not make me a whore. I have sat here all evening and had a pleasant conversation with Ecthelion. Nothing either of us has said has gone beyond interest in learning more about each other's world. I am tired of you picking a fight every chance you can. I will be living here now, and you will just have to get over it."

Kiera huffed and added, "what I said to Ecthelion in French was that I was glad to have met him, and I hope we will be able to spend more time together, as I want to be his friend. What I said to you was that I feel sorry for you, as you are an ugly person inside."

Maeglin's eyes narrowed as his nostrils flared in anger. "How dare you speak to me in that manner. I am a prince of this city. I could have you thrown into jail for your words."

Kiera shrugged her shoulders and answered, "you have called me far worse. Besides, I meant what I said, and I feel sorry for you. You seem very unhappy and are taking it out on those around you. People will realize how you treat them, and they won't stick around or want to be your friend. Eventually, you will realize that you are all alone."

With an angry snarl and a hand gesture, Maeglin tipped his plate and glass over. The glass broke and rolled off the table as the food fell to the ground. He fled the table and left the room in a rage, slamming the door behind him.

The king sighed deeply and looked unsurprised by Maeglin's actions. Ecthelion has assumed as much due to previous dinners. What made him annoyed was that the king did not say anything or even apologize for Maeglin's actions. Ecthelion lost respect for the king, but if he was being honest with himself, Ecthelion lost respect for him long ago. What little remained had now been completely wiped away. The king continued his conversation with Tuor as if nothing happened. Although he caught the sad smiles, Idril and Tuor threw Kiera's way.

Ecthelion would not let them be the only ones, as he reached out and brushed her arm to get her attention. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I am very sorry for how Maeglin has treated you. You have shown me nothing but kindness, and you do not deserve to be treated as such or disrespected by him or the king. I would like to get to know you more, and I hope I will be able to call you a friend as well."

"Thank you," she whispered, "that really means a lot to me."

He nodded, gave her arm a gentle squeeze, and then let go. He smiled warmly at her and asked shyly, "dinner is almost over, but I hope I will see you around the city. My duties take me away from the city to the gates, but I would like to see you again soon. Perhaps I will play you a song on my flute, and you can share that story with me."

Kiera laughed, and the sound warmed his heart. He wanted to get to know her as much as possible before she heard the worst about him. This dinner was an enjoyable evening that he was not expecting but hoped for.

"I would like that," she replied happily.

Once the dinner was over, the king left fairly quickly, not even sparing anyone a glance. Ecthelion snorted into his wine as he thought about the king chasing after the prince of the city like a father chasing a small child. In some ways, it sort of was. Glorfindel pulled on his sleeve to finish the conversation. He bid Kiera goodnight as she, Tuor, Idril, and

Voronwë were all that remained as the lords filtered out.

Duilin nodded at the both of them as they walked out of the palace together. He muttered, "is the prince of this city an adult or a small elfing? Never have I seen such poor manners, including the king."

Glorfindel snorted, "the prince is a child. Barely a babe over 150. I am more surprised at our esteemed king."

"I'm not, Duilin muttered darkly. The normally quiet lord did not say anything else as he left them to return to his wife and home. Glorfindel waited for the other lords to leave before he looked expectantly at him.

"What?" he asked.

Glorfindel arched his brow, "how was your evening with the mortal?"

Ecthelion sent his friend a withering look, "her name is Kiera."

"Really," Glorfindel drawled, "I had no idea."

He rolled his eyes as he started walking away toward his house. Glorfindel caught up to him as he knew he would and cleared his throat, "perhaps you should speak with her privately if you wish to remain friends. Let her know some things and tell her that she has nothing to fear."

"No," he replied stubbornly. "If she believes the rumors, then she is not someone I wish to speak to. I am tired of having this conversation with people around the city. I have done nothing wrong, and I will not spend my time chasing after rumors. I wish to move on in my life, and any women who avoids me for rumors they hear are not women I want as friends or something more."

Glorfindel sighed as he replied quietly, "I know. I just wish things were different and you did not have to deal with this in the city."

Ecthelion knew that the guilt still bothered his friend. There was only one person to blame, but that did not make things any easier. He was relieved, though, that their friendship remained strong and he had Glorfindel in his life.

"As do I."