Kiera

Narriel woke her up the next day, and she bolted out of bed, excited for her first lesson. Without a single complaint or grumble, she washed and brushed her teeth before returning to her room to get dressed. Narriel laid out a new dress on the bed and then carried a handful of dresses to the closet.

"Aerel finished some of your dresses. I picked a simple one for your lesson today. I will help you get ready later in the afternoon for the dinner and the festival," Narriel said as she helped Kiera into the new dress.

It was soft and green, made from a light and flowy material. The length was correct, and it hugged her body perfectly. Excited to have clothes that fit, Kiera turned to give Narriel a small hug. The elf chuckled but returned the hug. After, she dried and brushed out her hair but left it down for the day.

Making her way to the table, Kiera saw that Idril was already there, but she was the first of her companions. They chatted pleasantly as Tuor joined them, but Voronwë was missing. Neither Tuor nor Idril knew where he was, but they guessed he went to see his uncle.

After finishing the meal, Idril led her to the library and introduced her to a female elf behind a large wooden table. "Well met, my lady. I am Cadweth, and I shall be your instructor. I am one of the lore masters of this city, and I shall help you learn elvish."

"Hello, it's nice to meet you. I'm Kiera, and I'm excited about learning elvish."

The elf waved Idril away and motioned for her to sit in the chair opposite the desk. As Kiera sat down, she took a good look at her new teacher. Cadweth definitely looked like a loremaster, with her brown hair pulled back into a tight bun and her reading glasses on her nose.

"The princess tells me you are from another world with no elves. I assume we shall have to start with the very basics and work our way up," Cadweth questioned. Kiera nodded eagerly, and then Cadweth added, "very well. I will teach you Sindarin as it is most commonly spoken now. Should you wish to learn Quenya, I can teach you after you master Sindarin. Although, most don't speak it anymore except the lore masters for book translation. Now, do you know how to read and write?"

"Yes, but I don't know how to write with a quill," Kiera answered.

Cadweth looked at her strangely but let her curiosity go. "I desperately want to ask about your world, but I will control my curiosity for the time being. I will get you a few charcoal sticks we use with the children. I will eventually teach you how to write with a quill as well. Today, we will focus on a few phrases you can say during the upcoming festival tonight.

After she nodded at her, Cadweth sat up straighter and looked at her sternly. "Now, the first greeting is a simple one. It is a common greeting for well met. Mae govanen."

Cadweth waited for her to repeat the phrase until it was completely correct. Kiera had a feeling they wouldn't move on to new words until she completely mastered the words.

"Now, when someone approaches you, they will often say well met, and my name is… this is Mae govannen, nin eneth na-Cadeth."

Kiera repeated the sentence but changed it to her name. She butchered the words quite a bit, "Mae govannen, nin eneth- na-Kiera."

"Excellent, now they will ask you for a dance after the introduction. There are many ways to ask, so I will just have you memorize the word for dance and dancing. After hearing those words, you may reply that you would like to dance. Now the word for dance is lilla while the verb form to dance is liltha."

"Anthol lilla di nin? Would you like to dance? Or you might get asked, sevin dhaf meitha-hen lilla? May I have this dance?"

The words were close enough to one another that she could at least understand the words for dancing. The rest of the words were mouthfuls, but she said them over and over again until they were correct.

Cadweth nodded when she was satisfied and told her, "you may say in return menathanc, which means, "Yes, you and I shall go. Or you may respond, anthon, which means you agree."

Once Kiera had mastered those words, Cadweth spat rapid-fire sentences at her to try and trip her up. Some of the words she said were close to dance but not quite. After getting about half right, Cadweth was satisfied with the progress, and Kiera hoped that no one would ask in too lengthy of sentences. Eventually, they played a back-and-forth game where she listened for the words and replied when she heard them.

"Good, then after the dance, they should offer you a goodbye. There are many ways to say goodbye, but I will teach you a few phrases to say back to them. Most of the city should know that you don't speak elvish and are learning."

"To say farewell is navaer, and to say have a good evening is Garo aduial."

Again, they went back and forth, and eventually, Cadweth ran through the entire conversation from the beginning. After a few different versions of greetings and goodbyes, Cadweth released her. Before she left, she asked Cadweth for some paper and charcoal to write notes and some for personal use.

"I will have to purchase some for you. I will have an empty-bound book delivered to your room for your note-taking. You may bring it with you to lessons every day as the more you write, the more you will learn. I will also send some loose sheets and a smaller personal book for you to write in. They sell them at the markets, but it will be busy today due to the festival. I will go later today and pick the supplies up for you," said Cadweth.

She thanked her again and left the library. When she got back to the main table, it was empty. She waited a while until she figured that her friends were not coming back to eat. She walked hesitantly into the kitchen, but one of the chefs spotted her the minute she came in. He spoke a little common but realized that she was after some food and prepared her a small meal. She ate at one of the prep tables and watched the group work. She thanked them when she was done and then decided to head back to her room.

With the little downtime that she had, she decided to organize her belongings. After grabbing her backpack and day pack, she spread all of the contents out on the bed. Most of her clothes have been cleaned and put away in the dresser, but a few stray socks remained. The first thing she grabbed was her solar charger and put it in the window sill to charge her phone. She threw the dirty socks in the laundry pile and then took stock of the rest of the small things.

Her first aid kit, compass, water bottle, one bottle of Tylenol, deodorant, a pair of sandals, sunglasses, hair bands, a whistle, and bug spray were scattered across her bed. Kiera reached into the front pocket of her backpack and pulled out the necklace and ring she had stored there before coming to Middle Earth. The necklace was from her grandmother's sea glass shop, and the ring was her personal favorite. Moving them over to the rest of the jewelry, her heart-shaped sea-glass necklace stood out among the expensive pieces. In her mind, it was worth more than any other in the jewelry box. Thrilled that both the ring and necklace survived the journey, she returned to the rest of her things.

Her empty bags and tent were stored away in the closet, while the rest of her stuff was neatly stacked on the top of the dresser. Once she was finished, she moved into the closet to find a dress for the evening. There were only three new ones; a blue one, another green one, and one purple one. Kiera was drawn to the purple one as it was a shade of lavender, with the skirt layered beautifully. The top was fitted with half sleeves, perfect for the autumn weather.

She pulled it out and hung it on the back of the bathroom door. Then she went to the dresser to pick out some jewelry to match. There was a simple diamond necklace that matched the bracelet that Idril had given her. Both were on the smaller side, but the silver complimented the dress nicely.

Satisfied, Kiera laid on the bed, hoping to nap before the long night. It didn't take long before she was sleeping peacefully. Loud laughter jolted her awake, and she recognized Tuor's laugh from the hall. Someone knocked on her door, and she called out, "come in."

Idril walked in and closed the door behind her. The princess smiled sheepishly at her, "I'm sorry we were not back for the midday meal, but I hope you let the kitchen know to make you some food."

Kiera grinned, "I did, but I just ate in the kitchen. Did you guys have a good time today?"

Idril sat on the end of the bed and replied, "we did. Tuor and Rhuidhen got on very well. We didn't go into the workshop but just relaxed at Rhuidhen's house. We took the long way back to the palace. We still have a little time left before we need to get ready. How was your lesson?"

"Eh," Kiera shrugged honestly. "I learned a few words and some phrases to say this evening. I'm guessing it will take me a long while to learn. Cadweth is a good teacher but very stern. She won't let me move on until I can say the words perfectly multiple times."

Idril giggled behind her hand. "Yes. Cadweth is one of the best lore masters of the city. She's very patient and often teaches small children. I asked her to teach you, as you are starting from the beginning. I would be happy to talk with you to help you practice."

"I would like that," Kiera answered. Feeling a little shy but wanting to know what was happening, she asked, "did Voronwë seem a little different today?"

Idril thought for a moment but then shook her head. "No, not that I was aware. He didn't talk much today, but I assumed that was because Tuor was loud and enthusiastic. Why has something happened?"

She sat up now on the bed and moved closer to her. Kiera sighed as she replied, "yes, he kissed me two nights ago. When we walked back from his uncle's dinner. It was sweet, but he has been a little distant since then. I might not have noticed as much, but he was very affectionate before. Then last night, he barely acknowledged my hug or wished me goodnight."

Idril frowned, "I do not know. Perhaps, he is working out his feelings for you. He is still planning on escorting you to dinner and the dance. I think you should focus on the events tonight and talk with him privately tomorrow."

That seemed perfectly reasonable, and Kiera wanted to enjoy this dinner and dance. "That is a good idea. I want to enjoy the night. Voronwë is my friend, but maybe we moved too fast, or his feelings have changed since then. We have only known each other for less than a month. I will talk to him privately tomorrow. Now, I want to show you my dress and see what you think."

She slid off the bed and brought out the dress from the bathroom. Idril loved it as it complimented her brown hair. Idril then left to find Narriel, so she could start getting ready. They both returned and helped her into the dress. Narriel sat her down on the stool next to the vanity to braid her hair. Kiera watched as Narriel braided her hair into small sections and pinned them to the back. It was half up and half down style, which she thought looked beautiful.

Kiera almost missed makeup as the final pieces of jewelry were added to the outfit. Although the more she thought about it, she knew elves would probably be weirded out by makeup. Together, they all walk out into the main hall, and then Narriel leaves with Idril to help her get ready. The boys were not ready yet, so Kiera just waited patiently.

A short little while later, Voronwë entered and walked over to her. He looked a little sad but managed to give her a small smile and half hug. "You look incredible. Are you excited about the dinner and the dance?"

Her happiness plummeted, but she pushed her feelings away. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but it wasn't the best time to ask. Instead, she replied, "yes, I'm looking forward to it. Did you have a good day with everyone?"

Voronwë tipped his head in response. "It was an enjoyable day. Tuor and my uncle got along really well. We all missed your company. Did you at least have a good lesson?"

"Anthon," she replied to him, and he offered a small smile in return.

"Well done, you will be speaking fluently very soon. Your pronunciation was well done. Who is your tutor?"

"Cadweth, she's great."

He shrugged softly, "I don't know her, but I'm glad you are learning."

They fell into an awkward silence, and it was a little heartbreaking. Kiera opened her mouth to ask Voronwë if he was alright. Unfortunately, she was interrupted as Tuor wandered into the hall.

"Greetings, my friends. You look wonderful, Kiera," he winked at her. He glanced between both of them and said, "shall we move to the main hall? I'm sure some lords are already there waiting for dinner to start."

They both nod and follow Tuor to the king's dining chamber. He seemed to have the palace memorized now. As they approached, she could already hear some conversations from the dining hall. As they entered, she didn't see many of the lords present.

Glorfindel was already seated at the table, nursing a glass of wine. The king and Maeglin were standing off to the side with Salgant. There was no way she was joining that conversation, so Kiera made a beeline for Glorfindel.

Looking back, she saw that the boys were not following her and instead turned to join the king. She shrugged at them both and made her way to the table. Glorfindel looked up at her presence as she asked, "may I join you?"

He smiled and didn't respond. Instead, he pulled out the chair next to him, allowing her to take a seat.

"You didn't want to join the others?" Glorfindel asked innocently with a smirk.

"Not really, no. I want to enjoy this evening. I'm sure Maeglin will have some choice words if we are seated next to each other again," she told him.

He handed her an empty glass and poured her some wine, and then topped his own glass off. Glorfindel patted her arm softly, "you're not seated by Maeglin. Ecthelion has offered to trade places with you. You are seated between us for dinner, and the king agreed. I think he wants this night to go smoothly."

"I will thank him for that when he arrives. How come you are sitting by yourself?"

Glorfindel snorts, "I have had enough of my duties and meetings for a few days. It has been hectic since you arrived. Tonight I just want to relax, have a good meal, drink some wine, and dance.

"Well, I can agree with part of that," Kiera chuckled. 'I just want to enjoy this night and have some good food and dance. When will the rest of the lords arrive?"

Before answering her, he downed the rest of his wine and poured himself another. "Not for a while yet. I want to be properly tipsy by the time the dancing starts, that's why I came early. Many females will ask me to dance tonight. While I enjoy dancing, it becomes overwhelming after a while. If I'm intoxicated, it makes the night more pleasant."

Kiera smiled at him and added, "well, I will join you in your drinking. Can elves get drunk?" Kiera couldn't remember, but the scenes from the Hobbit movie flashed in her mind.

"Not usually, no," Glorfindel said with a twinkle in his eye. "Lord Salgant only has one wine strong enough to make elves drunk, but he hardly sells it. He prefers to keep it for his household and occasionally sells it to the prince and king."

She hummed at that and took a sip of her wine. It was on the fruitier side but still tasted pleasant. Curious, she looked around the room to see if any other lords had shown up. They hadn't, and her eyes wandered to the other group. Lord Salgant was easy to spot. He was much shorter than everyone else, closer to her height. He had long straight brown hair and a round face. While his clothes were made from fine material and had many jewels, they were bulging at the seams in places. He was definitely on the plumper side for an elf. Looking at him now, Kiera thought he looked a bit like Wormtail. She chuckled softly to herself as she couldn't unsee it now.

Turning to Glorfindel now, she said, "I haven't officially met Lord Salgant yet. Perhaps during the dance tonight." Then she shrugged and added, "I'm not much of a drinker. I was a few years ago, but not so much now."

"Hmm, and why is that?" Glorfindel asked curiously.

"Don't see the point. I used to drink a lot when I first turned 21. I went out to the clubs and bars and partied quite a bit. Once I entered my junior year of college, it became difficult to party all the time. Although, it also got boring after a while."

"What's so special about the age of 21?" Glorfindel asked with a confused look on his face. "Is that a rite of passage for humans? What are clubs?"

Kiera laughed as she realized that most things in her world are completely foreign to the elves. "Once humans turn 21, they can legally drink alcohol. Clubs and bars are places that sell drinks and have dancing. They are quite common in my world and are open most nights. It is a rite of passage to go out on your 21st birthday. I went with my friends Sarah and Kayley, and they got me quite drunk. I spent a lot of money too, but it was a good night."

He looked intrigued now and asked, "are these places popular in your world? We usually hold our parties in our houses, but the idea of an establishment for daily drinking and dancing interests me. In Valinor, we had many inns for travelers. You could stay the night to rest and get a hot meal, but no entertainment."

"Oh yes," she replied happily. "There are a lot of them in my hometown. All of them are popular, and they make good money. People spend a lot on mixed drinks, wine, and beer. The clubs have musicians or music that play nightly. Most are crowded, and some even have lines of people waiting to get in on busy nights. Some of them have special nights like taco Tuesday and thirsty Thursday. They are meant to attract people to them on slow nights. I often went on Thursday as students got half off the drinks. Sometimes they also hold themed nights like disco nights, a type of music, or karaoke nights where people sing other people's songs."

During her rambling, she realized that he probably didn't understand a thing she was saying. His eyes were sparkling now, and he asked, "that sounds like something I might be interested in. I wouldn't mind a place dedicated to drinking and partying. We usually have to wait for another festival or plan a gathering between houses. I shall look around the city for any places that might work. Would you be interested in telling me more about it at a later date? I know Tuor is just starting his household, but perhaps this might be a way for his house to make money. Although, some other lords will have to be involved as well. I will schedule a meeting together once I find a place."

Well, that's great, she mused internally. It looked like they might not be poor now. It also gave her the idea of selling other things from her world. The possibilities floated around in her mind, but she had time yet.

"Whenever you want to have a meeting," Kiera mused. "I don't have any plans except for my lessons in the morning and helping Tuor get the house ready."

"I heard; you must be excited. Although, I'm sure Idril will get lonely again in the palace by herself," said Glorfindel.

She nodded, "Idril can join us every day if she wants. I don't mind, and I enjoy her company as she is becoming a good friend to me."

Glorfindel smiled warmly at her and then patted her arm again. "I'm happy you are becoming friends. She was quite lonely before you arrived. Her mother was my cousin, and I desperately wished she was still with us. The king takes his role very seriously, but sometimes that means Idril suffers for it. She was just a child when we left Valinor, and she had to grow up fast." He sighed and looked at his wine glass sadly. "I wish Aredhel was still with us as she was a wonderful woman."

"That she was," said Ecthelion. He was so quiet that they didn't hear him come up. "I miss her as well. She was very adventurous and had a kind heart." He took the chair next to hers and poured himself a glass of wine. He glanced over at Glorfindel to tell him, "I got your house prepared for the dance. I assumed you were here when I couldn't find you at home. Your house will be waiting for you after their dinner in your courtyard. Almost all of your house is joining tonight."

Glorfindel smiled sheepishly at him. "Thank you, my friend. I forgot to let them know I was leaving."

Ecthelion gave him a pointed look but then turned to her and said, "I'm not sure if Glorfindel had mentioned, but you will be seated between us for dinner." Ecthelion smiled at her, and she felt an overwhelming sense of admiration for him and his kindness. He added, "I thought it best not to have a repeat of the last time."

Glorfindel glanced between them, amused, "I told her. Honestly, my house can run itself. We are mostly soldiers and guards, and if they can't follow simple directions, it would reflect poorly back at me."

Ecthelion cocked one eyebrow at him, "did you leave them any directions? Or did you simply leave and sneak out the back before anyone noticed?"

Glorfindel gasped indigently as he laid his hand over his heart, "you don't know what it's like, Ecthelion. Even the women in my own house corner me before a festival." He mimed, "Glorfindel won't you save me a dance? Glorfindel, you look handsome tonight; I look forward to sharing a dance with you. Oh, Glorfindel, your hair looks beautiful in this light; I hope you will have time to dance with me tonight." He flopped dramatically back in his chair and sighed.

"Yes, such a pity," a snide voice called out from behind them. "All the pretty women want to dance with the beautiful Vanya lord. Spare me the theatrics. You love the attention," said Maeglin.

He was silent as he crept up behind them. Kiera turned around in her seat to face him as Lord Salgant stood next to him. She also saw that Idril had arrived and was speaking with the king, Tuor, and Voronwë.

Maeglin smirked at Glorfindel, who was scowling at him. "Perhaps if you learned to say no to their dances and advances, they would not bother you anymore. Although, that would mean giving up your nightly adventures as well. I can hardly keep track of who you are flinging yourself onto these days."

Glorfindel's face flushed red, and he took a large gulp of wine to avoid answering. Maeglin looked down at her and smiled thinly, "Lord Salgant wished to make your acquaintance as he did not get to do so the previous dinner. I also wanted to tell you I look forward to sharing a dance later in the evening. After all, it is being held in your honor, and I am the prince of this city."

Maeglin stepped aside with another predatory gleam at her that made her shutter. That was probably the most pleasant thing he has said to her thus far. Maeglin took a seat next to Ecthelion and poured himself a glass of wine. Lord Salgant stepped up next to her chair and said, "I'm honored to finally meet Lady Kiera, as I have heard so much about you. My daughters are most anxious to make your acquaintance this evening at the dance. We have all heard so much about you and would like to get to know our newest guest." He grinned stupidly at her and didn't wait for her reply. He turned then to take a seat next to Glorfindel. After pouring himself a large glass of wine, he looked across the table at her.

Kiera gave him a small smile and said, "I look forward to meeting your daughters, and it is nice to finally meet you."

Now that they joined the table, Maeglin started a conversation with Ecthelion about making new swords for some guards. Glorfindel and Salgant went on to discuss wine. She was left alone to nurse her drink and wait for the other lords to arrive and for dinner to start.