Ecthelion
He groaned softly as he shuffled around on the small bed, tightly tucked between the covers. He had been stationed at the gates for two weeks, and his tired body ached for his large and soft bed. Rolling over, he yawned and arched his back, trying to relieve some of the tension from sleeping in such a confined space.
Glorfindel's face appeared above, and he lifted his head. "What," he mumbled.
The smirk on his friend's face made him want to hit him. "Oh, nothing, just that Rog's party is happening tonight."
Ecthelion's expression of disbelief was matched only by the deep sigh that escaped his friend's lips.
"Come on, Theil," Glorfindel whined. "I'm going crazy here and could use a night of fun." He grinned, clearly hopeful that his plea would be met with agreement.
He rolled over to the edge of the bed while Glorfindel rushed to the other side. Ecthelion snorted, "so go. I will not stop you, but I have no desire to go to the party."
Glorfindel took a seat on the bed next to him and gave him a curious look, studying his face with scrutiny. "I thought you wished to meet new people," Glorfindel said slowly. "And put yourself out there more."
"I am," Ecthelion replied curtly.
His friend arched his brow and added, "besides Kiera."
He heaved a sigh, stood, and turned towards the doors leading to the bathhouse. Glorfindel had spent the past two weeks interrogating Ecthelion about Kiera, pressing him to admit his feelings for her. But Ecthelion was adamant that he only wanted to be friends, despite not having the courage to tell Glorfindel this truth. His friend seemed unlikely to accept such an answer.
Ecthelion stepped into the bathhouse, joining the line of people as the guards finished up before leaving for the city. It didn't take long until it was his turn to enter. As he submerged himself in the warm water, he felt a wave of relaxation sweeping over him.
It had been a long and difficult two weeks. There was a lot to do in a short amount of time, and they rushed to get it all done. As much as he wanted to follow the king's orders, he knew closing the gates was a mistake. His mind replayed different scenarios over and over again, and his sleep was often interrupted by nightmares. Apart from a few other lords, most did not see any issue with closing the gates. Many rejoiced at the thought of never having to spend their month away from family and friends.
He and Glorfindel discussed it in length every evening, but his vote was overruled. Now the morning had come to abandon the gates and make their way back to the city. The few remaining guards were eager to leave, and the sun had not even risen yet. Most wanted to surprise their families and friends at the morning meal.
Once he had toweled off and changed into fresh clothes, he met Glorfindel in the open courtyard with the others. There were small conversations, most about Rog's party that evening, while others were growing impatient. Finally, as the last of the guards arrived, their group made their way to the last gate.
As they approached, a sense of dread filled his body. It was overwhelming, but he tried his hardest to push the feelings away. Instead, he resigned himself to the fact that he could focus on the things he could change, like training the guards more. Glorfindel yelled the signal to the elves at the top of the cliffs. Slowly, the black metal gates drew closer and closer together until they shut completely.
Ecthelion was the last to leave as he stared back at the line of closed gates. His heart was telling him it was a mistake, but he did the only thing he could and left. He sighed as the group was moving down the cliffside quickly, but Glorfindel had waited for him.
"We will be fine, Ecthelion."
He followed the others silently until Glorfindel caught up to him and draped an arm around his shoulder. His friend gave him a reassuring smile. "Things will be fine, I know it. The king has never led us astray, and I trust in what he is doing."
Ecthelion stayed quiet, hiding his innermost opinions on the king. He was aware that speaking up would just result in yet another squabble, and he had always been good about picking his battles. His breath caught as he peered out over the cliff edge at the city below. It would be nice to be home again, as he was surprised he missed it while he was away.
Glorfindel pulled away his arm but stayed close to him as they descended the cliff face. Once they were on the plains, everyone increased their pace to make it to the city before dawn. Meanwhile, Ecthelion was admiring the stars when Glorfindel implored him again, "will you not join me at the party? What other plans do you have for this evening?"
"I do not wish to go. If I go, I want to dance and enjoy the evening, but I know I will just stand at the edges while everyone avoids me. You will find some women to leave with, and I will make my way home, alone and miserable." Ecthelion smiled softly, "there is something else I wish to do instead."
His friend blinked at him and waited for him to continue. Surprisingly, he was nervous about admitting his plans, but he did anyway. "I want to find Kiera this morning and see if she will share that story with me. Perhaps, she will sit in the fountains with me this evening, and I can play some songs on my flute for her."
Glorfindel was silent for a moment before he replied flatly, "I see."
Ecthelion groaned internally. It was looking to be one of those days, and he was not looking forward to it. "Peace, my friend. I wish to enjoy the evening, same as you. Go and have fun at the party. Come by later in the evening if you do not take a woman home with you, but do not get upset that I wish to enjoy my evening elsewhere."
"It is not that," Glorfindel mumbled.
He turned and faced his friend, pulling him to a stop in the road. "What is it then?"
Glorfindel shrugged, saying, "nothing. If you do not see it, I will not explain it to you." He strode away as Ecthelion stood there irate. Ecthelion needed a break, and he couldn't deal with his friend at the moment. However, it was a long walk to the city, and he wanted this resolved before they arrived.
He fell into step next to him and arched his brow, "please tell me. I do not wish to argue with you. I was honest about the party. I do not wish to go as it brings me no joy to stand at the edge of a dance floor and not be able to enjoy my passion. I do that enough at the required gatherings. I also am not interested in finding a woman to bring home."
"Why not?" Glorfindel questioned.
Glorfindel's question caught him off guard, and for a moment, he froze in confusion. Glorfindel watched his reaction intently as he continued, "why are you not interested in finding a woman to bring home? You are more than happy to make plans with Kiera, a mortal you just met than to speak to an elf. I do not understand why you are so interested in her."
The blush formed on his face before he could school his features. "I knew it," Glorfindel screeched. "You like her."
"Of course I like her," he clapped back quickly. "She speaks to me as a person and is kind to me. I want to get to know her better. There is nothing wrong with that."
"There is," Glorfindel huffed angrily. "You do not know anything about her. You can not see it, but you are throwing yourself head first into it again without a care in the world. Did you learn nothing after what happened with Amara?"
Glorfindel's words cut through Ecthelion like a sword, but he tried his utmost to keep his temper in check. It took all the restraint he could muster not to lash out. The muscles on his jaw twitched as he turned away from Glorfindel and kept walking. But before he even realized what was happening, Ecthelion's fist connected with Glorfindel's face, eliciting a cry of pain. His heart raced as he watched Glorfindel stagger backward, blood trickling down his face. Ecthelion stood there for a moment, seething in anger at how easily Glorfindel had pushed his buttons. How dare he? But then, just as suddenly as it had come over him, Ecthelion felt the anger dissipate, leaving behind a hollow feeling in its wake.
Ecthelion turned and started walking towards the city. After a while, he heard a whimper behind him. "You broke my nose."
"Good," he muttered darkly. "You deserved it."
It was a little while longer before Glorfindel garbled behind him, "I am sorry."
"What are you sorry for," Ecthelion questioned evenly.
His friend's voice became soft and slow, "I should never have spoken to you like that. I apologize for my words." He paused but then continued, "I am worried for you."
That made him stop as he turned around to face him. Blood was dripping from his nose, which was covered by his hand. Ecthelion dropped his bag and fished out a cloth so Glorfindel could dry his face. As he handed it to him, Ecthelion asked, concerned, "why are you worried for me? Kiera is not like Amara."
"How do you know?" Glorfindel murmured softly from behind the cloth.
The question took him aback, and for a few moments, he couldn't find his words. He finally looked up and spoke with certainty. "I just do. Kiera is different. She's kind—sort of a quiet strength that you can't help but respect. I wish to get to know her more and hopefully be her friend."
As Glorfindel wiped the fresh blood from his face, he looked at him hard and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you wish to be more than friends with her?"
Ecthelion let out a sigh and said, "I am not too sure yet. For now, I'd like just to become her friend first."
"Fine," Glorfindel huffed.
The look of frustration and anger on his friend's face made him laugh. "Glorfindel," he chuckled. "Why are you upset?"
His friend stormed off ahead of him and threw him a glare over his shoulder. But he knew Glorfindel all too well. He had seen that look before and knew that something was bothering him deeply. He quickened his pace and caught up with Glorfindel.
"I can see that something's bothering you, my friend," he said, placing a comforting hand on Glorfindel's shoulder. "Please tell me."
Finally, as if all the anger melted away in an instant, Glorfindel admitted, "I am just concerned and worried for you. Kiera and Tuor seem nice enough, but I just don't want you to get too attached too quickly." Glorfindel paused, and when he spoke again, his voice came out rough and gravely. "You almost faded after your failed courtship. I cannot lose my best friend."
Everything seemed to click into place for Ecthelion. His best friend was worried for him but also scared for him. Glorfindel needed him, and the thought of him courting again and potentially having his heart broken to the point of fading scared Glorfindel the most. He had known for years that this was one of Glorfindel's deepest fears. After they both lost so much and all of their family, losing the other was unimaginable.
They walked in silence together until they almost reached the city. While the group was waiting for the gates to open, Ecthelion pulled his friend aside.
"I am not going to fade," Ecthelion told him passionately. "I will not give my heart out again unless I know the person well and am deeply in love. I do not love Kiera. I don't even know her all that well, but please do not worry about us. I just wish to be her friend and get to know her more. That is all."
Glorfindel blinked but then slowly nodded his head. "I know."
Ecthelion smiled at him and then patted him slowly on the back. "You are not going to lose me. I am right here, alive and well. We will always be friends. Until the end of time."
The tears pooled in Glorfindel's eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. The two old friends made their way into the city and then parted at the fountains of the south without another word.
As he approached his home, he smiled and said hello to everyone in his house. Inthel met him in the entrance hall and took his things. "I will be back soon; I need to see if I can find Lady Kiera this morning before her lesson."
"Of course, my lord," Inthel bowed as she took his things. "I have your study prepared for when you return."
He nodded and then waved as he left. The sun was rising above the mountains as he made his way around the city to the palace. The guards that let him into the palace pointed him in the direction of the guest's quarters, but he spotted the table first. Idril, Tuor, and Voronwe were already seated and eating the morning meal.
Ecthelion joined them and made small talk with everyone while they waited for Kiera. When she finally walked in, Ecthelion noticed that her eyes lit up when she saw him.
"Ecthelion," she cried warmly.
He smiled, "good morning, Lady Kiera. I'm back from the gates and was wondering if you were free this evening to share that story with me."
Kiera dropped into the seat next to him and replied, "Yes, I am free in the afternoon. Honestly, I didn't think it had been two weeks yet, but I am glad for a bit of a change. Did everything go well at the gates?"
"Yes, we closed up most of the gates, including the gate of steel. A few elves will be patrolling the furthest gate, but most of the guards have returned. We will have to work out a new rotation for them around the city walls."
Idril asked, "are many of the guards happy to be back in the city? Some of them wished to have more guard time on the walls over the gates."
Ecthelion sighed and then hesitated a moment. He pushed a few pieces of food around his plate while he debated internally how to answer. "Yes, most guards are happy to be back in the city. There were many cheers as the gates were closed. I understand their happiness, but a small part of me will always want guards stationed at the gates."
Idril frowned at him and crinkled her nose. "You disagree with my father, then? You wish for the gates to remain open for an attack?"
His body tensed at Idril's questioning, and he glanced around the table, hoping someone would interject. "I would prefer if Morgoth's armies came through the gates. We have better defenses there and can close up gates as they approach or lure them in to attack. We could stop the armies and buy time for the people to escape through the mountain pass. If we close up the gate and his armies find us, they will come over the tops of the mountains. We will be surrounded, and our only hope is to win, or else there will be no escape for the people."
Idril looked at him with a pointed glare. "Have you discussed this with my father and Glorfindel? Surely they would agree with you if your plan had merit."
There it was, he thought. The same issue he had been dealing with since he accepted lordship in the city. The king would only listen to what he suggested as long as Glorfindel or others agreed with him. After nearly 400 years, he was tired of the constant questioning he received for stating his opinion. Especially when asked.
"Yes, I have spoken at length with the king," he replied as his body tensed once more. "Glorfindel agreed with me, but the king ordered us to close the gates."
Idril huffed and turned her nose up at him. "Well, I'm sure my father knows what he is doing. After all, he is the king, and he is looking out for the people of this city. I will stand by his decision, and I think it would be best for you to do the same. There will be more guards around the city now, and I trust my father's judgment."
His shoulders slumped, but it was not anything he did not expect. The princess and him have not seen eye to eye on issues for quite some time. This was not a battle Ecthelion intended to continue, but just as he was about to answer to smooth out the ruffled feathers, Kiera spoke.
"I think his plan has merit," Kiera interjected. "Ecthelion is just looking out for the people. I was there when Lord Ulmo foretold his message to Tuor. This city will fall, and I understand Ecthelion's reasoning, as it makes sense. He is just doing his job as Lord of the guards and warden of the gates."
Idril's icy cold eyes turned towards Kiera as she spat, "and what do you know about defenses around a city? Your world is a paradise compared to here. You have never faced real hardship, and you don't understand what it is like to face off against Morgoth. We are well protected here in this city, and my father has given up a lot to protect us."
The two women stared down at one another, but Kiera did not back down in her beliefs. Surprisingly, Kiera answered very calmly, "you know very little about my world and the hardships I have faced. My family has suffered greatly during a war in my world, and you cannot begin to imagine the horror that they suffered. While my life has been relatively easy, it is because my grandparents and parents fought for many years so that I could be given those luxuries. I am incredibly grateful for their sacrifice, and I know how much they suffered for it."
"Nothing good can last forever. My world had many great kingdoms rise and fall due to pride and arrogance. Gondolin is no different, no matter who is king. If you excuse me, I have a lesson to attend."
Kiera's eyes found him, but all he could do was stare back at her in shock. Partially because of her words but also because she stood up to the princess for him. As she left, she smiled at him and said, "I will find you in the afternoon."
Within seconds of Kiera leaving the table, the princess huffed out, "how dare she."
Tuor and Voronwe shared a glance before Voronwe coughed. "Perhaps you should speak with Kiera after her lesson. I am sure the two of you can talk this out."
The princess shot Voronwe a nasty glare before saying, "fine."
There was an awkward silence at the table, and Ecthelion did not have anything more to say. He stood and bid them all good day before leaving. Once he was outside of the palace, he took a deep breath of fresh air. The politics of being a lord was the one thing he disliked about his job. His heart fluttered in his chest though as he thought about Kiera's words. Hardly anyone stood up for him outside of Glorfindel, and it was nice to be on the receiving end. Usually, it was him standing up for the working class and the people in his house.
He pushed the thoughts aside as he made his way back to his home. True to Inthel's words, his study was all set up with his monthly expenses and papers. He spent the rest of the morning getting caught up before Inthel knocked on the door to inform him that Kiera was joining him for the midday meal.
When he made it down to the dining hall, Kiera was seated at his main table waiting for him. He smiled warmly at her and then sat down next to her and called for the meal to begin.
His eyes found hers instantly, and said, "I want to thank you for defending me earlier this morning. I wasn't going to share my opinion, as I had guessed Idril would be upset with me. I thought perhaps she might not say anything with you all present, but I was wrong. It means a lot to me to hear you stand up to her and her words."
Kiera coughed awkwardly and grabbed the edge of her sleeve. "Yeah, Idril and I argued just a little bit ago. I didn't like how she talked about you and to you. If she spoke about anyone like that in my presence, I would have said something."
Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and Ecthelion thought she looked adorable. However, he kept that thought to himself as she continued. "I told her that she disgusts me, and I am ashamed of her. She acted like you should be grateful to her father for giving you a house and lordship. She said you shouldn't disagree with him, as you have no right to. I tried to explain how her words sound, but I'm not sure if it made a difference."
Ecthelion stares at her with concern in his gaze. "I wish you wouldn't have gotten involved in the argument about me. Since I was appointed a lord and granted this house, it is something I have dealt with since the beginning. The king rarely listens to me unless Glorfindel is in agreement with what I say."
He sighed heavily as he turned his gaze toward the people in his house. "I wish I could say Idril is in the minority, but there are many of my fellow lords who feel the same. I am not a noble-born lord, and thus I don't get to have an opinion unless it is the same as others."
Kiera's voice rang out with a fiery passion, "that's stupid and bullshit!" Ecthelion's eyes turned to hers, and he could see the fire and determination in her eyes. "You do a good job from what I have seen. It makes me so mad that people can be so stupid about something you have no control over. I came to this city with nothing, and I am a nobody. Should I just agree with Idril even if she is in the wrong? I don't want to be friends with anybody who looks down on another for something they can't control. It hits too close to home for my family and me."
His heart fluttered in his chest at her words, and he felt the familiar sense of kinship with her again. The corners of his lips turned up into a small smile as he replied, "I'm not sure how Idril will react to your words. I hope she changes her ways, but I do not know. If you don't mind me asking, what happened in your world and to your family? You spoke of it earlier this morning as well."
Kiera looked down sadly and drew a deep breath. "My grandparents grew up during a terrible war," she said quietly. "They were targeted by a group of horrible people who believed they were the superior race. My grandmother lost her entire family for something she couldn't control, and my grandfather did as well. Those people treated them worse than animals, and the horrors they endured all because of something they were born into."
"My world wasn't always as great as it is. My country treated people with different colored skin less than humans, and women didn't have rights for a long time. My grandparents and my parents both fought in the civil rights movement for everyone to be given equal rights. My grandparents were very outspoken against people who treat others differently. They raised me to be the same, and I won't tolerate it from anyone, including my friends."
Her words made Ecthelion extremely sad. As much as her world sounded like a paradise compared to here, to hear that her family had suffered for many years hit close to home. Ecthelion and his family grew up in the paradise of Valinor, but his own grandparents were from Middle Earth and often spoke about the hardships of their life. They both had similar upbringings in that regard, as his family had always instilled the value that they were no better than anyone else and always to treat others with respect.
"I am sorry to hear that, but I am glad that you believe strongly about it. Many in my house don't fit in anywhere else, and I accept them all, no matter who they are related to. I can see now why you have taken such a liking to Celebrimbor, as he is a good person, regardless of his family. I hope Idril comes around and changes her way of thinking. Perhaps you can help with that as her friend.
He smiled at her for a moment before he gave her a stern look. "While I am grateful for you speaking out against Idril, I do not want you to pick fights because of me. Since the beginning, I have endured this problem, and the people won't change. This is how our society has been since the beginning, and as much as I agree with you, it would take more than just us to make a difference. I would rather focus my time on running my house well and giving everyone in it an equal opportunity."
Kiera sighed, but he reached out and squeezed her arm softly as he said, "I greatly admire that about you. However, you will be fighting a losing battle in this city. Focus on the smaller battles you can win and help your friends become better people, as I am sure they will help you. Now let's finish eating, and then we can take a walk in the gardens by the fountain to find a quiet place for your story. I am very excited to hear it."
He removed his hand, and they spoke about lighter topics. Once they were finished, he offered her his arm and led them out into the gardens. It was a beautiful and warm early afternoon, and Ecthelion led them around until he found his favorite spot by the lake. Taking off his cloak, he laid it on the ground for them to sit on.
Once they were both comfortable, Ecthelion looked at her eagerly and with enthusiasm. Kiera chuckled and told him, "this is my favorite story. It is about a boy named Harry Potter. There are seven books in total, and you might not understand some things as they are from my world, but I think you will get most of it. I will stop at the end of every chapter so that you can ask questions. If you don't like it by the end of the first story, please tell me. I have a few other stories I could read to you instead, but I think you will like it."
He nodded excitedly, "I will, but I think I will like it if it is your favorite."
Kiera looked down at a metal square in her hand. The top was covered with many colors, but before he could get a good look at it, she began to read. It took him a while to soak in what she was saying, as a lot of the words were unfamiliar to him. However, the story or possibly her voice seemed to draw him in, and he let himself be swept away.
At the end of the chapter, she paused as he looked at her, mesmerized. The questions tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop himself. "What is a drill? "What is a professor? "Can she turn into a cat at will? What is a muggle? "Who is Voldemort? "What is a motorcycle?" He didn't even care if he butchered the words or names as he was so interested and curious about the story and the world.
Kiera cried out with glee as she clapped her hands excitedly. "A drill is hard to explain, but it's not that important to the story. Basically, Uncle Vernon works for a big building that makes the same thing repeatedly. A professor is another name for a teacher. Harry will go to a school with lots of different teachers. A muggle is someone who doesn't have magic. Voldemort is a bad wizard, and I won't say any more now. A motorcycle is a thing that moves really fast, and usually, one or two people ride on it. They don't fly in my world, but in this story, they do. Do you want me to keep reading?"
"YES!" He exclaimed. "I love it so far, I have many questions, but I am enjoying it."
When she started reading again, his mind was immersed in an entirely new world. It was getting better and better, and even though he still didn't know what some things were, he devoured the words as she read them to him. When she finished the next chapter, Ecthelion cut her off before she could speak.
"I don't know what a lot of those things mean, but I would like it if you keep reading. I am engrossed in the story now, and I want to hear more."
She kept going, chapter after chapter, and he found himself smiling or laughing at certain parts of the story. It was unlike anything he had ever heard before, and he knew that there would never be any other story like it. Kiera paused a few times and explained some small things to him, but he found himself understanding or guessing what some of the words meant.
When Kiera read a section about goblins, he could not stop his surprise. "Goblins?" he screeched.
Kiera shrugged, "they are not like the goblins in this world. In this story, they are brilliant and cunning, and they run the bank." She coughed awkwardly. "There are elves in the story as well, but they are not like you. Please don't get mad about it."
Ecthelion shrugged, "What would make me upset? I was just surprised to hear about goblins. Please keep reading."
She did as he asked, and the story seemed to pick up the pace. He was fully absorbed in the tale, and he didn't even wonder how the story would turn out as he was just interested in listening. Kiera paused after the selection of houses and asked him, "which house would you want to be in?"
While he listened, the thought did not cross his mind, but he answered. "I am not sure. I agree with Harry; anything but Slytherin. I like Gryffindor, but I also like Hufflepuff. Which house are you in?
Kiera laughed at him, "Hufflepuff."
Her answer made him smile as he said, "it suits you. You are patient and kind, as well as loyal. I think I would fit in there as well, but the fighter in me would like Gryffindor. I love this story already, and you just started. Please keep going."
On and on, she read, occasionally pausing for him to ask questions, which he just shook his head. At one point in the story about Quidditch, he couldn't stop himself as he gasped as she read. He was hanging onto her every word, and he found himself laughing loudly during some parts and gasping with surprise or anger at others.
Hours had passed, and the sky was starting to darken as she finished the story. Kiera gave him a few minutes to collect his thoughts, then asked, "how did you like it?"
He sat up so he was facing her and smiled so large that it hurt. "I loved it. I loved the story and the characters. Everything about it, even the parts I didn't understand. You said there were seven in total?"
She nodded and smiled back at him while she found a comfortable spot. "What are Halloween, Christmas, and Easter? They seem like festivals, but they are strange."
Kiera's eyes lit up as she giggled. "They are holidays that we celebrate in my world. Halloween is when children dress up in costumes of animals, monsters, or characters from stories and go door to door asking for sweets. It is a strange holiday, but it is fun. Christmas is another one celebrated for the birth of a savior in my world. Families get together and give each other gifts and have a large dinner. Easter is another holiday for the same savior who we celebrate coming back from the dead. All of them are for religious reasons, sort of like your festivals for the Valar here."
Satisfied with the answer, he asked, "why does Hagrid want a dragon? How is Voldemort alive if Harry was supposed to have defeated him when he was a baby? Are there more things like the Sorcerer's Stone? Why doesn't Harry stay with Ron's family? Why did Harry's parents die in the first place? Does he not have any other family besides the Durselys?"
He had come up with the list of questions as she read, and he hoped she would clarify some things for him.
Kiera replied, "Hagrid has a fascination with magical creatures, including dragons. You'll find out how Voldemort survived later on in the series. Harry can't stay with Ron's family due to something that happened the night his parents died. You'll find out more about his parents later, and now he has no other family besides the Durselys."
Ecthelion groaned as he had a sinking suspicion that he would not get the answers to his questions that night. "How am I going to wait days to know the answers? It is quite the mystery, and if the rest of the books are anything like this one, I will enjoy them all."
Kiera did not reply and instead played on her metal square again. After a minute, she turned it so it faced him. "In my world, this is a popular story, so they recreated it. It is hard to describe, but when I turned 18, my grandmother took me to this place they built for the series. Here is the train that they ride to Hogwarts." It looked like a painting, but it was unlike anything he had ever seen.
"Magnificent. It looks like a painting, but it is so crisp and vibrant."
She laughed and then took the square away before saying, "smile!" Then a flash of bright light came from the square as he smiled at her. He blinked rapidly after, but then Kiera moved closer to show him a portrait of himself.
"That's me," he stuttered, amazed.
"Yup, we call it a photo. This is my phone that holds music, books, and photos. We use it to communicate with people worldwide, but it doesn't work anymore in this world. It's kind of hard to explain, but I can still take photos of people and show you things from my world."
She handed him her phone, and he cautiously took it. Kiera moved to sit right next to him and then leaned over to tap at it. He had no idea what he was doing, but Kiera's warm hands wrapped around his as she guided him to point it toward the swans. She tapped on a red button, and the screen froze for an instant.
The next thing he saw was a clear portrait of the swans that were right in front of him. He was amazed and in awe of the tiny metal thing in his hand. "Incredible," he murmured. "I was curious about how you were reading the book to me, but this is beyond anything I could imagine. There are no words except it is like magic to me."
"I wish magic were real, but this is just technology," Kiera replied. "It took tons of intelligent people to create this, and I don't even know how it really works. I will show you some of the photos of the trip my grandmother and I took."
Kiera took her phone back and started to tap around on it. Ecthelion scooted closer to her as he looked over her shoulder at the vibrant portraits.
"This is Diagon Alley, and this is Hogwarts," Kiera said as she showed him a large metal carriage and a massive castle. After he was done admiring them and asking questions, Kiera pulled up portraits of herself and her grandmother. She looked young in the portraits but so full of life and happiness.
"You look like her," Ecthelion commented. "You both look so happy in these photos. You must miss her terribly."
Kiera nodded and smiled, "I do, but she passed away less than a year ago. She was always so full of life and love that I know she would not want me to be sad about her passing. She would want me to remember all the good times we had together."
He reached up to give her shoulder a comforting, soft squeeze before asking, "do you have any other portraits of your family or your home?"
She nodded again and found a comfortable spot to show him her family. Ecthelion was amazing at all of the portraits as Kiera showed him her family. He noticed the sadness that crept up on her as she spoke about them, but he asked questions to help drive the sadness away. By the time she was finished, Kiera seemed at peace, but it was completely dark out.
Part of him did not want the evening to end, or for her to leave, so he offered, "I would like to hear the rest of the stories and more about your family. Would you like to stay for dinner?"
Kiera smiled at him but shook her head sadly, "I would love to have dinner with you, but I think I need to go back to the palace. I should see if I can find Idril, and maybe we can talk over a meal. I would be happy to read you the stories in the afternoons if you are not busy."
"I would like that very much. I will walk you past the fountains, but I should be free in the afternoons for a while."
Ecthelion helped her up and then walked her to the bridge. After giving Kiera one last smile and bidding her goodnight, he watched her leave the fountains of the south. In his heart, he felt like this was the start of something good between them.