Kiera
Kiera awoke to the sunlight beaming through her window, feeling alert and energized. She got out of bed, and her feet hit the floor. She winced as her feet ached. While she stretched, she spied a wrapped package on the vanity. After walking over to it, she sat down in the chair and pulled on the ribbon. The wrapping came off to reveal a few sticks of charcoal, two bound books, and some loose papers stacked atop.
The bound books were well made and had a wooden cover on each. Kiera chose the larger one for her lessons and set the small one aside for herself. Curious about the time, she reached over to grab her phone that was charging on the windowsill. The battery showed 100%, and it was also 9:37 am. It was quite late in the morning, and Kiera wondered why Narriel let her sleep in. She shrugged and decided just to take a warm bath and get ready for the day without her.
She made her way to the bathroom and turned on the taps to fill the tub. She ran her hand under and was surprised that the water was still lukewarm. She grinned as she stripped off her clothes and sank into the tub. After a quick bath, she got out feeling refreshed and smelling clean. Wrapping the towel around herself, she moved over to the sink and used the paste to brush her teeth.
Leaving the bath, she slipped into the closet to pick out a dress. Kiera chose a light blue one and shimmed into it. Without Narriel to help, it was a struggle to pull out the bunches, but eventually, she managed. She reached her vanity to brush out her hair and towel it dry. When she was happy with it, the last thing she did was slip on a pair of thick slippers and leave the room.
The hallway was quiet, and when she reached the table, she was disheartened to see it empty. She frowned as she wondered if all of her friends slept in, but made her way to the kitchen regardless. After asking the cooks for a small meal, she ate her breakfast and drank her tea at the prep table. When she was finished, she made her way to the library but noticed that the entire palace seemed to be empty.
Kiera was relieved to see Cadweth at her desk when she walked in. The elf looked up at her in surprise as she took a seat across from her.
"I assumed you would have slept in later after the festival."
She smiled happily at her, "I did, but I'm ready to learn if we still have a lesson today. Also, thank you for picking up my books and charcoal."
Cadweth nodded and then cleared off her desk for the lesson. "You are welcome. We will have a short lesson today. I will teach you a few phrases in case you get lost around the city."
With that settled, Cadweth began with a few short phrases. It was nice to learn how to ask for help, which way to the palace, and I'm lost. Kiera felt better about exploring the city, armed with enough phrases to ask for help. They spent the rest of the morning repeating the sentences until Cadweth was happy with the results. At the end of the lesson, Cadweth made her write down the phrases in elvish next to the English translation.
When she finished, it was time for lunch and said goodbye to Cadweth and made her way eagerly to the table. Kiera sighed with relief at seeing Idril waiting for her, reading a book at the table. She grinned as she set down her book on the table and took her normal spot.
Idril gave her a blank look and said, "Narriel said you were already awake when she went to your room. She took your dirty clothes to wash and will bring them back later. Did you bathe and dress yourself?"
"Yes," she chuckled. "I took a bath without the hot water, but it was still warm. I awoke earlier, and I didn't know where to find her. Cadweth gave a short lesson about phrases that will help me in case I get lost around the city."
Idril had a pained look on her face as she bit her lip. After setting her book on the table, Idril folded her hands together and asked, "what happened between you and my cousin last night."
Kiera scrunched up her face in confusion. "Nothing, why? He danced the opening dance with me, but I didn't see him afterward. Honestly, I'm glad he didn't want to dance with me again."
Idril's eyes found hers. There was a knowing and skeptical look in her eyes that Kiera didn't like. Idril continued slowly as she asked, "are you sure that is all that happened? There are some rumors going around the city, and I would prefer it if you were honest with me."
"What rumors?" she mumbled.
A hesitant expression passed her face, but then Idril shook herself and spoke in an even tone. "There are rumors that Voronwë has rejected your affections. He left the dance early last night with his uncle. Some people claim that he seemed upset at seeing you dance with my cousin. However, the main rumor is that you spent the night with my cousin last night as a way to get back at Voronwë for leaving you."
"What?" Kiera cried, baffled.
She was in complete shock and didn't know how to react or respond. She spent the evening sleeping in her room. Not only that, but Voronwë left her last night without a word. Kiera was upset and confused, but she would never do that to Voronwë.
All Kiera could do was stare at Idril, who was giving her a smug and knowing look.
"I watched you and my cousin during dinner," Idril sniped at her. "You were staring at him throughout the evening. Then I saw how close together you were before the opening dance. A few people have told me that he offered his bed to you during your dance. People also claim they heard you accept his offer, as you would use it to get back at Voronwë. Then, this morning, people saw you leaving his house. I find it hard to believe that some of the women in the court would lie. So tell me, did you really spend the night with my cousin to get back to Voronwë?
"Excuse me," Kiera yelled incredulously at her. She couldn't believe that Idril would even accuse her of that and also accuse her of lying. It was like a sucker punch to the gut that made it hard to breathe. Unfortunately for her, Idril kept going.
Idril tipped her nose in the air and replied smugly, "plenty of people saw you leave his house this morning. Maeglin has also been bragging about bedding a mortal and giving out details. I know my cousin well, and he takes plenty of women to his bed. A few ladies of the court have also informed me about the details, and they are trustworthy individuals."
Kiera couldn't breathe and was going to be sick. She couldn't look at Idril anymore and didn't even want to be in the same room as her. Without a word, Kiera got up and left the table. Idril called her name, but her feet moved on their own as she ran out of the palace. Her mind was so focused on holding it all together as she left the main courtyard. Kiera followed the same path Voronwë took her on a few days ago. Her stomach dropped as she walked and saw elves pointing and whispering at her. That made everything worse, and the tears started leaking out.
She wiped them quickly, praying to god that Cele was in his workshop. It was hard to hold it all in, and she was going to break down crying at any second. When she reached the street, she broke into a run as the tears started streaming down her face. When she got to the workshop, she didn't bother knocking and tried the door. To her horror, it was locked, and she choked down more tears as she knocked and knocked. No one answered.
Kiera hugged her arms around herself and sobbed uncontrollably, looking for someplace quiet to cry. Her eyes noticed the stairs leading up to the top of the wall and made a quick decision. Thankfully, the alley was deserted, but she paused at the foot of the stairs, unsure if she was allowed up. She made the quick decision and walked up the stairs to the top. The wind whipped her hair and dried her tears as she looked in either direction. There was an elf to her right that was walking away from her, so she went left.
Thankfully, the rest of the wall was deserted, and after a short walk, she arrived at a small tower. There was one wooden door to go into the tower and a small spiral staircase leading to the top. Kiera tried the door, but it was locked, so she climbed the stairs.
The breeze felt nice on her face as she reached the top. It was an empty stone platform with a short wall wrapping around the sides with breaks in the wall. Kiera sat down by one of the breaks that faced the valley and hugged her legs to her chest. Then, she finally allowed herself to cry.
It was just too much. Everything that had happened to her finally caught up to her. The sheer sadness and loneliness she felt came rushing to the front of her mind. She truly was alone here. Her family was all gone. In an entirely different world that she couldn't get back to, nor ever be able to see them again. She cried her heart out for her family. Her parents, her sister, and her brother. Their faces flashed across her mind, and she was lost in her grief. They were all gone.
Kiera had never cried so much in her life, nor did she ever feel so alone. Her family was gone, but also everyone she's ever known and loved. The grief and pain were just too much, and it broke her. She sobbed and cried, begging the heavens to send her back. To return her to her world, to take away the pain, to go home. Kiera has never missed her home more than at that moment.
All of her cries and prays went unanswered as she spent hours sitting atop the tower. The grief lessened, but the tears still came easily. When she finally was calm enough, she breathed out deeply and looked out across the plains. Her mind was numb as she watched the flowers dance in the meadow. Her thoughts drifted to her grandmother, the last person she lost just months ago. The grief was similar to that, but now it was so much more. Kiera clung to the good memories as her grandmother always told her to do. She closed her eyes and let herself be swept away in the happy memories to push away the bad. The tears still came, but she wondered what advice her grandmother would give her if she were here.
Her heart ached as her mind pictured her grandmother wiping the tears from her face and reminding her that these people were not worth her tears. That she was strong, kind, and she wouldn't let life get her down. It was the same thing her grandmother said to her when she found out her boyfriend of three years was cheating on her. Kiera knew what she would say if she were here. That the people who believe these rumors were not people Kiera would want as friends. If the prince spread those rumors, her life might be difficult for a while, but eventually, rumors fade.
She was reminiscing about her past and her family when she heard someone coming up the stairs. Kiera froze, but there was nowhere to go, so she just waited. To her utter surprise, it was Cele.
Celebrimbor took one look at her face and nodded solemnly. He took a seat next to her easily and said, "I have been looking for you all afternoon. I heard the rumors, and you didn't show up to look at the jewelry. I found Idril, who was also looking for you and was upset. I was searching for you in the fountains of the south when Ecthelion found me. One of his guards saw you come up here earlier. The guard was concerned when he heard you crying, and you hadn't come down for a while. The guard doesn't speak the common tongue, so he went to get Ecthelion. He was on his way to talk to you, but I told him I would come up instead. You probably need a friend to speak to, and I know more than Ecthelion does. He is concerned about you and wants to talk to you later when you have time."
She stared at him blankly, trying to take in everything that he said. She replied, "I came by earlier, but the workshop was locked. I wanted to find a quiet place to cry and be alone. I'm not sure if I'm allowed up here, but I came anyway. It has been a rough day, but the crying helped. I'll find Ecthelion later, but you're right that I could use someone to talk to."
Celebrimbor winced slightly but then patted her leg. "I'm sorry. I left to get a midday meal with my friends. You probably didn't know which house was ours, but I am sorry that I missed you. I'm here now, so why don't you tell me everything that has happened? I'm a good listener, and I can see you have a lot on your mind. Tell me everything, and don't leave anything out."
Feeling the urge to spill her heart out, she took a deep breath and started. Kiera told him everything, from the breakdown about missing her family and friends all the way to last night's events. She included the conversations with Ecthelion, Glorfindel, and Idril. She left nothing out. Celebrimbor was indeed a good listener as he remained quiet while she spoke, even when she choked up with tears.
After she was finished, she immediately felt better. Just talking to someone and having them listen was a huge relief. But also, she knew that Cele would help her with the things going on in the city. Celebrimbor gave her a moment to relax and calm down. They both stared out into the plains as she waited for him to speak.
To her surprise, he pulled her in for a fierce hug. Kiera sobbed softly into his shoulder as he said, "you have had a very rough couple of days. I couldn't imagine losing my family and all of my friends. You are not alone. Not anymore, so long as I am around. I won't leave you, and you can always come to me if you wish to speak about your family."
Kiera hugged him back tightly as he held her for a while. The hug was like a promise between them as she replied, "thank you. I needed a friend, and you came. I will never forget that, and I would love nothing more than to be your friend as well."
Celebrimbor squeezed her softly, but then they both pulled away. Kiera wiped her tears as he handed her a rag to blow her nose. They settled back next to each other, and then Celebrimbor cleared his throat.
He smiled softly at her. "I think I shall begin with Voronwë, as it's the easiest."
Her mouth fell open in surprise, which made him laugh. "It is the easiest. Tell me, what did you feel when you kissed him?"
Not entirely sure where he was going with this, she responded, "it was nice and sweet. I enjoyed our kisses, and they gave me butterflies. Why?"
Celebrimbor sighed now and ran his fingers through his hair. "Look, I'll tell you what my uncle's called it. They called it a fleeting fancy. It happens to elves when two become close to one another quickly. The couple are affectionate and loving towards one another. They want it to go further, to be something more, and they think about the other all the time."
Celebrimbor paused and looked down sadly at her, "however, once you finally get closer to the one you desire, the feeling quickly dissipates. All the build-up and all the longing disappear in an instant. Perhaps it was a kiss shared, or maybe it was the first night spent together. Either way, the feeling leaves them both with confusion and many questions."
All she could do was stare at him in confusion. "That doesn't make any sense," she cried out. "You're saying that after Voronwë and I shared a kiss, all of his affections towards me left."
"Yes," he replied simply. Celebrimbor shrugged, "but not entirely. Look for elves; love is forever. Marriage means being together until the unmaking of this world. When an elf truly loves another, it is all raw passion and desire. A first kiss should be filled with passion, not just nice and sweet."
Celebrimbor's eyes found hers, and she listened to him intently. "Once that first kiss happens, it usually goes one of three ways. The first is that they are madly attracted to their partner. Can't get enough of one another, like a hot burning flame. It consumes them, and they are swept away together in the feeling. Some claim it is true love, but most believe it is just a deep love."
"The second is a smaller flame that has the potential to build up into a roaring fire. There is still that flame of passion between them, but maybe the couple wants to spend more time together to see if it grows or does it diminish. Most couples are like this, and eventually, they find out either way."
"The last is an immediately doused flame. No amount of kissing, pleasure, or time will ever awaken the flame again, no matter what the elf thinks."
That surprised her, but she supposed that Celebrimbor would know best as he is an elf.
"That is an interesting way to describe it. So you think Voronwë's flame has been doused after our first kiss."
"Yes," he nodded. "Based on what I have seen and heard, he does not seem to be handling it well. The first time is always the hardest. My own was a horrible time, and I remember breaking many of my father's things in his shop. I didn't understand what was happening until he sat me down and told me the truth." He chuckles, "I'll admit his flame descriptions weren't the greatest, but he is a craftsman, after all."
He smiles as if he is lost in memory as he said, "Celegorm preferred to call them fleeting fancies. Probably due to the fact that all of his interactions were fleeting. I'm not sure he ever even experienced the flames, either." He smirked to himself and then shook himself back to the present. "Some elves, even after the flame is doused, will use the other until they get bored. For others, they enter courtships hoping that their flame will be rekindled with time." He shook his head sadly and said, "It never happens, and I have seen century-long courtships of elves in denial."
Celebrimbor paused and patted her leg again. "I don't tell you this to give you hope between you and Voronwë. I'm telling you this, so you know that the best thing for you both is to end it now. His uncle is spending time with him today and will tell him the same. Voronwë cared for you as a friend, and you have traveled a long way together. The bond between you both is strong, and he wants to keep pursuing you in the hopes that it might work out. He did not feel the burning flame during the kiss. Not even a small one, and he never will. The best thing for you and Voronwë is just to be his friend."
Kiera sat in silence and looked out into the meadow again, absorbing his words. She thought about the kiss again with Voronwë. The butterflies were there, but the real passion and desire were not. Their kiss reminded her of her first relationship. Everything was new and exciting, but it didn't last long. While she wasn't an elf and couldn't really understand what the flame is like, she understood on some level.
"I understand," she replied quietly. "Not that I will ever understand what it is like as an elf, but I understand what you are telling me. Voronwë is my friend first, and I want him to have that relationship, but it won't be with me. I will give him some space and let him come to me when he is ready. Thank you for telling me, as I needed to hear it."
Celebrimbor smiled warmly at her, "I am glad that you made that decision. I know it is hard, but I am proud of you for it. Some humans would choose to continue so they can be with an elf. I am glad that you put your friendship above everything else. You both deserved to be happy, and I hope you each find that person for you. Now, let's talk about my idiot cousin."
They both laughed, and Kiera felt much better. While she still had to speak with Voronwë, she had a feeling that they would overcome this. She cared about him and wanted to be his friend.
Celebrimbor chuckled, "I am sure this rumor was orchestrated for a reason. My cousin has spies watching you and was probably informed of the kiss between you and Voronwë. When he left the dance early, my cousin jumped at the opportunity. Like I said last night and what you picked up on, maybe this was a way for him to gain your trust. I am not sure what changed since last night, but it is odd."
Kiera gave him a curious look as he continued. "Maeglin is brilliant. Petty, creepy, arrogant, smug, but also incredibly brilliant. If my cousin wanted to gain your trust, spreading a false rumor was foolish. I'm quite sure that it was the king's idea to have Maeglin offer his bed to you. Tugon knows his nephew well, and he confides in him a lot.
Now, I'm not saying you would ever spend the night with Maeglin, but to the king, you are an unmarried mortal woman. Maeglin is an elven prince of this city. The king thinks pretty lowly about mortal women in general and is probably convinced that you will fall for Maeglin eventually."
Kiera snorted, and Celebrimbor laughed. "Yes, Turgon is stupid in that regard. The king never came close in intelligence to any of my uncles or father. That's why he has all these houses, as he can't manage the workload or the people himself. No other city in Beleriand needs a king and multiple houses to function."
"The king also keeps to himself now and hardly gets to know anyone on a personal level. That is probably due to the passing of his wife. The only people that know him well are Idril and Maeglin. The rest of the lords follow him, but in reality, they run this city and just tell the king what is going on."
She sighed as it was a nice explanation, but still didn't make any sense. "So you have no idea why Maeglin would spread this rumor?"
He shrugged, "not really, no. It doesn't really make sense if Turgon told Maeglin to get closer to you. My cousin is very good at what he does. There is no benefit for him to spend last night trying to woo you to his bed. Only to destroy his offer the next morning by bragging about your night together. That would immediately eliminate any trust he would be trying to build."
Celebrimbor gave her a pointed look and motioned to her. "If you truly were a servant of the enemy, Maeglin's offer would have tempted you. He is the prince of the city and has access to a lot of key information. The very idea of being in a close relationship with the prince would have been too good of an opportunity to pass up. Regardless if you both were secretly using the other, it is easier to gain information under the disguise of a relationship or friendship. Maeglin is smart. He wouldn't ruin the opportunity by bragging about a night with a mortal. From what I know about my cousin, he never brags, and he does not take women to his bed who will talk about their night. He is a private elf who is comfortable in the shadows. The only thing I can see for bragging would be to ruin your reputation. There is no real point, as half of the city thinks lowly of humans anyway."
"Also," he added. "Maeglin offered his bed to you in the future. He said it to you privately during the dance, and he didn't want anyone to know. I think he probably believes that you will throw yourself at him at some point, but when Voronwë left, he jumped on the opportunity. It is easy to see that you will never go to his bed unless you are driven by revenge or some other emotion. He was playing the long game, but that is finished now.
Kiera stared at him in amazement as he finished his musings. "Jesus Christ," she mumbled. "You're brilliant. You figured that all out by just listening to my story."
Celebrimbor gave her a goofy grin. "No idea what Jesus Christ means, but I will accept the compliment. It's not hard to read people, and I have been doing it for a long time. You also forget who raised me. You don't know much about my family, but they are all highly intelligent and cunning. My father and Celegorm are known for having silver tongues, and I picked up a few things over the years."
Eager for more of his advice, she asked, "well, now, what should I do about Amara?"
He shrugged this time and laughed. "Nothing."
"Nothing?"
He grinned and leaned back on his forearms. He tipped his head back to stare at the sky. "Absolutely nothing. You already handled it. By informing Glorfindel what Amara said, he will take care of it. It was an empty treat, and she was stupid to say it to you. I told you about her at the festival, but you should know that Glorfindel feels terrible for Ecthelion's failed courtship. Not because it ended, but more that it was partly his fault, even though he didn't realize it. Nobody had any idea that Amara was in love with Glorfindel, and she played her part well. Ecthelion wanted his future wife and his best friend to be friends, so he encouraged them to spend time together. It all ended when she tried to kiss Glorfindel one day, and when he rejected her, she spilled her feelings out to him."
"I can't imagine how that must have felt, but it must have been even worse to break the news to his best friend. It was good for Ecthelion, as he got to know before he married her forever, but I'm sure that still hurt. As you probably noticed, Glorfindel is the more outgoing of the two and stands out with his blonde hair. Many women flock to him, and Ecthelion is often pushed aside. Not only that, but since their failed courtship, Amara has scared others from interacting with Ecthelion. The women of the court spent years spreading false rumors about Ecthelion to try and tarnish his reputation. Glorfindel has done everything in his power to stop Amara, the rumors and protect his best friend. You made Ecthelion happy last night when you danced with him, and Glorfindel will protect you because of it. Both of them are fine lords, and if given the opportunity, you should befriend them."
Kiera's heart clenched in her chest at hearing about Ecthelion. He was incredibly kind to her, and it made her sad to think that he was treated poorly because of Amara. Kiera also felt a deep connection with him at that moment. They both suffered from someone they loved, and she knew how that betrayal felt. She was determined to get to know him more and hopefully be his friend.
"They have both been kind to me, and I hope I can call them friends someday. Are you friends with them?"
He grinned, "sort of. We were friendly in Valinor as we were around the same age. We ran in the same circles, but I hadn't seen them in a long time until I came here. They have been friendly to me, and they bought some of my first pieces to help me get started here. I'm technically part of Egalmoth's house, so I only see them in passing or if they stop to buy something. Many guards and soldiers ask me to sharpen their weapons. It is low-paying work, but is still a nice gesture."
She smiled at him and replied, "that is a nice gesture. I'm sorry I missed buying some of your jewelry today. I can stop by tomorrow if that is alright. I only have my lesson in the morning, but then I'm free."
He looked at her greedily and sat back up. He clapped his hands and yelled, "excellent! We will certainly spend Maeglin's money. Are you ready to head to his house and confront him about the rumors? It's best to face him head-on, and if he didn't start the rumors, he would definitely know who did."
She nodded and laughed at his enthusiasm. "I think I have cried enough today. As long as you will go with me, I'll be fine to face him. I'm still not sure what to do about Idril, but I think I will talk to her tomorrow."
Celebrimbor stood and helped her to her feet. He led the way down the staircase and said, "she was upset earlier and was looking for you. I'm not sure if that helps any, but let's speak to Maeglin first."
Kiera nodded as she followed him down the stairs. They reached the wall, and Celebrimbor offered his arm, which she took. They walked along a good portion of the wall before they came to another staircase. A guard was stationed near there, and Celebrimbor pointed him out, "that is the guard who saw you. I do not know his name, but he seems nice."
The guard must have heard them talking and turned to look. He smiled at her and waved. Kiera returned his smile with a warm one of her own. Then she asked if Celebrimbor could thank him for her. They walked over to him, and the two elves spoke back and forth for a minute.
"His name is Langon. He is happy that you are feeling better, and he hopes to see you around more."
Kiera waved goodbye to him, and then she and Celebrimbor descended the stairs into the city.