When it came to leaving, Liruliniel looked at the small pack which housed what little she was taking with her. To get a head start on the day, they were leaving incredibly early. She didn't even think the sun had rose yet, and here she was walking along the corridor. She hadn't ever heard the palace so silent, everyone was still sleeping clearly. There was a calmness to it though, something which eased her. It was fine, that was the feeling she was getting from the space; it was fine she was leaving, because she would return at some point and when she did, the space would be the same. Yet she wouldn't be.

How much would Liruliniel now differ from the Liruliniel which would walk back through the doors? She didn't know. She guessed that was the adventure part of all of this. The finding out. Even if she was doing this with some trepidation. There was something distinctly isolating with how she felt and what she was doing. There was no one she could relate to, or no one around that would understand. Would that still be the same when she returned?

Most likely, she wouldn't be surprised in all honesty. Inhaling the rich sent of earth and trees, she turned and walked steadily down the staircase which was suddenly before her. She was detouring, maybe dragging out leaving, because she wanted to remember her home. Not that she believed she'd forget it, but she wished to remember all the details she could. The staircases straight stepped yet twisting in their stone settings to lead elsewhere. The pillars, steadfast and ornate and the walls, smooth and sturdy. All of which was light in colour and reflected the light which would come from the torches or the sun above.

Although at the moment, there was no sun. It was still early. Liruliniel walked into the stables, upon hearing footsteps, a large head suddenly peered over the stall. Arthion blinked slowly and watched her draw close. "I hope someone else comes and feeds you apples while I'm gone. Maybe I should hint at someone, hm?" Either the elk's owner, or his son. Someone, anyone, Liruliniel didn't mind who. "I'm going away for a bit, Arthion. I didn't get to say farewell yesterday, so I'm doing it now. I will miss you, my friend. But I will come back, I'm not going forever." She reached up and ruffled his fur, she got a snort for it before resting her forehead against his.

She just listened to his steady breathing, the feel of his dark fur underneath her skin and just the feeling of him being alive, and here. She remembered the times where she was fearful of the young buck, but now that fear had turned to admiration. Because it was truly hard not to admire such an animal. Pulling away, she patted his neck and reached into her pack. She held the apple up for him and he tucked in readily.

Laughing quietly, she said bye to him one last time before running out of the stables and making her way along the corridor. She guessed she had dragged this out for long enough; everyone was probably waiting for her. Though she felt bad for that, they would surely understand? This was a huge undertaking, especially of one so young. She hadn't been away from home, not without her family being around her. She was now going to have to adapt and hope to be accepted into a whole new family.

She hoped Elrond's people were easy to get to know but would also like her in return. Or else this whole thing could be hugely uncomfortable. She halted when she got to the main entrance, mainly because she had zero inclination that there would be a farewell party gathered. Hérion and Thalion were to one side, but so was Caladhiel. Oropher, Thranduil and Vanadessë stood together. Before them were the elves wanting to return to their home.

Liruliniel walked over, she instantly wrapped her arms around Thalion, her brother in return crushed her to himself. Hérion placed a hand on her shoulder when she peeled herself from Thalion, he just gave her this knowing look, and she smiled. Didn't stop either tightly holding onto the other before Liruliniel turned to her former tutor. Caladhiel sighed, there was nothing left to say that she hadn't the time Liruliniel first appeared to say bye to her. Caladhiel for one was surprised to suddenly get latched onto. She slowly lowered her arms and patted her back gently.

As much as Liruliniel may have been a pest, Caladhiel was ultimately the only female which Liruliniel had in her life; as such, she had looked at her as a step-in mother, in a way. She had looked out for Liruliniel, and she had constantly bothered, just like a mother would've.

The three royal elves got nervously looked at, Liruliniel couldn't embrace them so readily like she did with the other three. Although she had already surprised Thranduil previously, he had been lost with what to do and Liruliniel had moved before he could contemplate returning the gesture. It wasn't his sort of thing, but for her he guessed he'd suck it up.

But instead, Liruliniel stood in front of them and bowed. She didn't say anything, she just smiled at the three and bowed. It was dignified, which surprised Thranduil a little, he couldn't deny. Liruliniel looked between them all before sighing and shouldering her pack again. Though their eyes lingered on each other's for perhaps longer than anyone else. There was lingering sadness, but overall, a very strong and mutual feeling of fondness. To sever this tie, albeit temporarily, was going to pain them both.

Having a hand on her shoulder, Liruliniel looked up at Elrond. He turned and gestured to the outside; his people were already on the horses they rode. There was another two without riders, clearly for them. It was an awfully long trek; they would need to stop several times but there would be times where they wouldn't be able to ride the steeds.

She glanced over her shoulders every couple of seconds, fearful of blinking in case they disappeared. Yet the group stood and watched, all with varied expressions and emotions present. Liruliniel made sure her pack was secure before hauling herself up and into the saddle. In all honesty, this was the first proper time she had ridden a horse. She had never done so before, the horse clearly knew as such because it just looked back at her.

She could've sworn it was sending her the look, a similar look to the one Arthion sent her way when it became obvious, she was stuck, and everyone had dispersed to other tasks. This horse knew she was a new to this, but she gently stroked its neck and whispered to it. Liruliniel was apologising, the horse didn't deserve to get an inexperienced rider, but here it was with her.

Elrond didn't take the lead, a rather impressively suited guard did, in all honesty all the elves were in glorious armour. It differed from her muted gold one, theirs was more silver and it was brilliantly shiny, gleaming even in the low light which was slowly appearing. She dared not stare at it when the sun fully came up or else she was sure she'd go blind.

With a simple command, the group moved off. Liruliniel turned in her saddle, she lifted up an arm and held her hand out as a farewell wave. Her simple action was returned by all, and she smiled sadly before facing forwards again. Liruliniel felt her eyes burning slightly and she bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself fully crying. It felt surreal. Like this was a dream itself, she felt like she was having an out of body experience, the space around her was so still and quiet and Liruliniel did believe she was still dreaming along with the surroundings around her.

She couldn't remember what the outside looked like, to be honest. She had become so used to being around trees that the simple plains of grass which laid beyond seemed almost alien to her. She didn't know how long it would even take them to get out from the woodland; she guessed a while. It took ages to move from one end to the other, so she could only imagine there was a similar distance to get out. It seemed like there was a predetermined route, she could only surmise it was the similar route they took to get in here.

They were all heading in a direction she had never been before; her horse must've sensed her apprehension because it let out a snort. The sound seemed almost deafening in the quiet space around them, it definitely made her jump and look a little startled. No one seemed to talk, which made it more unnerving and awkward. Along with there already being a planned route, it seemed the formation in which they travelled in was formulated too. Not that she entirely minded being in the middle, riding behind Elrond, but she felt closed in.

She wasn't an elf that suffered with enclosed spaces, in fact Liruliniel always believed she was the sort of fearless type, sensible but fearless. That could be youth talking, but that was her estimation of herself. Inhaling slowly, she was taking that fearlessness and putting it to good use. "How long will it take to get back?" She couldn't stand the silence anymore; she had to talk.

"A day or a couple of days, give or take as long as the weather is fair and kind to us." It was Elrond who replied, Liruliniel had just shot her question to anyone who wanted to reply. He too was busy keeping a keen eye out at the surroundings they travelled through, Liruliniel seemed to be at ease despite of everything, however the elves from Imladris were not so. They were not used to such heavy tree lines, loitering shadows that flickered and the heaviness which seemed to be hanging around the forest like a miasma.

"We have to go over the Misty Mountains, yes?" Liruliniel asked, seems someone was replying she was going to try and keep this up.

"Yes," was the short response from Elrond. Liruliniel couldn't help it, she let out a very audible sigh. He turned slightly in the saddle and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Only, he was not expecting to glance around and see her with her head held back and eyes squeezed tightly shut. Her mouth was pressed into a line and the heavy sigh came through her nose, again. As if she was trying to internally control something and failing. "What is it?" He couldn't help but ask, her head snapped up and she opened her eyes.

"I am bored."

"We've barely left the safety of the palace, and you are bored?" Elrond sounded disbelieving. How could he not be? The palace was a mere several metres behind them, she'd barely left her home, and she was bored already? What would she be like once they left the forest, still bored he imagined.

"It is too quiet."

"You wish for a conversation." Elrond got it, the root of her boredom; she was used to chatter. She was used to a lot of things he imagined, a lot of things which would not be the same where she was going. That wasn't to say there was a huge rift of difference between those that dwelt in the Greenwood, and those in Imladris; but there were differences, and she would need to get used to those differences.

"I wish for something. This is going to be a long trip, it will feel even longer if done in silence." Liruliniel stated, shifting in the saddle and readjusting her hold on the reins. With a gentle nudge, her horse trotted forwards to walk steadily beside Elrond's. She looked at him frankly, "Why do you all look so hesitant?" She had seen the tense faces of those she travelled with. Unlike the guards she was a part of, these had helmets which showed off their faces. And those faces looked not all too pleased at all.

Elrond sighed gently, he looked about themselves and then at her. "Some may not be as perceptive as yourself, or us, but they can still feel." He said, Liruliniel seemed quick, so Elrond had no doubt she could figure out what he meant. She frowned, seemingly a bit troubled by what he said. "I was told about the egg you found." Elrond went on to say, perhaps mentioning this would get her to stop looking so annoyed in a way. He wasn't disrespecting the forest in which she lived, but the unknown around them just wasn't sitting well with the others.

Liruliniel's nose scrunched up slightly. "Princess Vanadessë didn't know what it was. She was just waving it around in the air as if it were a plaything." Bit overdramatic, she wasn't that bad, but she did seem close to throwing it in the air and catching it afterwards. Like a spider's egg was some sort of ball to play catch with, the mere thought made Liruliniel shudder. Especially if not all the spiders had come crawling out...

"I am surprised you knew." Elrond had said, Liruliniel was too young to know much about the evil which spawned in the bad lands of Middle-earth. Perhaps knowledge wasn't what he meant, but firsthand experience. Ungoliant for example, she wouldn't know from firsthand what that creature was like. Spawns of the giant spider however seemed to be growing in the forest somewhere.

"I read, I got read to, and I listened." Liruliniel explained, Elrond looked sidelong at her curiously. From what Oropher had told him about the elf beside him, was that she was more of a doer. Didn't really like to sit still for too long, or silent. He was getting that now, so it was a bit hard for him to imagine her as a young child having to have lessons.

He wasn't saying he expected her to be lacking in knowledge, but there was something he couldn't quite pin down. "Do you know where it came from?"

Liruliniel frowned and shook her head slowly, though this action soon paused as her eyes looked towards the thinning trees before them. They were slowly nearing the edge, the way out and beyond this point was a rather straight journey back. "Amon Lanc most likely." She whispered distantly as her eyes could spy green grass beyond the tree borders. From here it looked like a sea of green, the blades swaying in the breeze as there was clearly a large field before them. Pausing from staring at the scene they were soon going to be amongst, she looked back at Elrond. He hadn't stopped looking away from her, her reaction to the simplest thing seemed amazing, in a way. He hadn't ever seen someone look at a field like she did, he'd say that much. "You have encountered this thing before?"

Elrond's expression hardened, "Yes. But I must ask you not to bring it up while we travel. We do not know what ears could be listening, or what eyes could be watching. Once we return back, I will answer any questions you have."

Liruliniel nodded thankfully, not everyone was so forthcoming with information. Or encouraging to let her ask questions that is. "I just wanted to ask if you thought something had moved into my former home." She said slowly, her heart sunk at the thought of the fortress being ripped apart and decimated by evil.

"If what you said is true, about there already being something there simmering away; then yes, I do believe it is too late to save it from whatever has taken a hold of it." Elrond didn't exactly want to be the bearer of bad news, but he couldn't avoid it. Liruliniel's expression fell, she looked at her hands and nodded slowly. "Now then, once we're out of here we can travel down to the forest road. There will be a small bridge for us to cross safely." Elrond said, trying to get her attention back on travelling.

It didn't seem to work though, Liruliniel just nodded again. She didn't really take in what he just said, although she looked sceptically up at him. "Why didn't you take the road in the first place?" She asked, which was a very sensible question she thought.

Elrond paused alongside everyone else as they finally exited the heavy woodland. "Because that would've added more days to our journey."

"Plus take you too close to Amon Lanc. You already know it is there, don't you?" Liruliniel frowned, feeling herself become a bit annoyed over the fact that even before she could see it, Elrond probably already knew that their kingdom there was going to fail and fall.

Elrond looked at her sympathetically, completely understanding her anger yet not shooting it down. Expressing feelings may be something which elves did not typically do, but even he knew it was not healthy to bottle everything up. Though as a leader, he was more reserved from this, he didn't deter others from doing it though. "I am sorry."

"You couldn't have sent word?" Liruliniel asked in a heated tone while they moved more out of the trees and into the field in front of them.

Elrond frowned in return, "Tell me, do you or would you pay attention to me if I suddenly intervened and told you that something was wrong, or amiss? Would you see me as a voice of wisdom, or someone preaching? Perhaps you would believe I am getting involved where I am not needed."

"Our home was taken over!" Liruliniel exclaimed and waved a hand towards the forest in the direction where she believed her old home was. "What is the point of being able to see things, if you don't use those visions for good?!"

"What preventions could you have done? If I forewarned your King, do you think he would've listened? Liruliniel, you know as well as I do that he wouldn't have."

"But he listened to me..." She trailed off looking despairingly at him.

Elrond sighed, "He listened to you, because you're one of his own." Not saying that the woodland elves stuck to themselves, but they sort of did. Outsiders weren't exactly welcomed, no matter who they were. This also went for any communications, it would've been met with hesitant scepticism or point blank ignored entirely.

Liruliniel just looked away, begrudgingly. She couldn't be bothered. This argument was clearly just going to end in a stalemate, or Elrond winning. Of course he would win, he was older and wiser and a lot more tactful in words and how to present them. Did she forgive him or take his words onboard for the loss of her home? Not really. Especially the former of the two things. If she foresaw someone's home being slowly taken away, she'd intervene. She would. No questions asked, because it was the right thing to do. But there was some strange etiquette with elves, which despite being one, she didn't totally understand.

Maybe that was a youth thing again, she didn't honestly know. She just knew that already she was missing home, and she wasn't at all happy with what circumstances had already unfolded before her. At least the weather was good, she guessed? The sun was shining brightly within a blue, sparsely clouded sky. The clouds themselves just seemed to roam about above without a care in the world, but she supposed they didn't. Clouds just hung up there and looked down at whatever was happening before them. Totally indifferent to the world.

There was a slight breeze, it warmed her cheeks, and it wasn't until she was outside of the forest, that she realised how the temperatures differed. Yes, inside the trees made it warm, humidly warm. But out here, it was natural. It wasn't uncomfortable in the slightest, it was just warm.

She looked over her shoulders and frowned, the forest looked so dark from out here. A shadow seemed to be hanging over it like a dark cloud. She was surprised it didn't have its own personal rain cloud above it really. Everything seemed so much lighter out here, better, healthier even. Even from this distance she could see the aforementioned bridge ahead, after all there was a small river that led into the one which ran through the woodland. It wasn't a big river, but it was definitely too deep for the horses, and in fact once in the forest the river grew and expanded.

Liruliniel sighed, she hadn't actually seen the river Anduin since they first crossed over it. That seemed so long ago, which she guessed it was. She could remember it well; it seemed weird that she was crossing it again but going in the opposite direction. Alone. The elves around her were familiar yes, but they also weren't. It was a constant thought which was dragging her down. There wasn't really anything anyone could say to make her feel better, she knew that, and it seemed Elrond did too. This was something she was going to have to conquer and figure out herself. Liruliniel didn't know if she'd come to a solution anytime soon, she doubted hugely she'd get a resolution by the time they reached Imladris.

"What is your home like?" Liruliniel's voice was a bit hardened, she knew that, and she didn't mean for it to be. But she couldn't help it. Her home was growing more distant behind her, the pull to return back was strong and she needed something to distract herself.

"It is very different than yours. Though it is no less hidden away. It is a waterfall city, calming and peaceful."

Liruliniel found herself frowning and becoming quite bitter again. Basically, everything about Imladris was what the Greenwood was not. She didn't think Elrond meant it in that way, but that's how it sounded. "You miss it." Liruliniel could hear the longing in his voice as she tried to force herself to look around. In the distance she could just about spy the tops of trees, that was Lothlórien.

Their journey wasn't going down that way, though she'd love to visit. Those who dwelt in the wood were much like herself, familiar. Liruliniel would love some familiarity right now. Elrond didn't rise to those three words. Of course he missed his home, didn't she? Was about the gist of it. "I'm sure you will like it too."

Her lips twitched downwards, and Elrond got the feeling he said the incorrect thing. "Do you have trees?" Seemed like a ridiculous question, she knew, but it was the first thing that came to mind. Trees were familiar. Seemed ridiculous if his home wasn't situated amongst or near trees considering.

"They grow around, not inside. But yes," Elrond watched her slowly nod. He got the feeling he was going to possibly lose her to the foliage as soon as she saw them. Liruliniel went silent then again. For someone who sought to find a way to waste time by talking, she now spent a lot of time in silence.

Although with how the sun now hung in the sky, shadows soon stretched across their path and them. This had Liruliniel looking up with wide eyes. The Misty Mountains. Considering the treacherous pathways, they had to all climb off their mounts. Was she surprised there was a possible shortcut into the city? No, she would be more surprised if there wasn't. But even still, they all lead their horses onwards. The passageways were narrow, the rocks crumbling off now and again and if she looked upwards, Liruliniel could still see the sky. But she could also see the jagged outcrops and towering tops of the mountains themselves.

She hadn't ever really felt so small before. But there was something about the grandeur of nature, how things are formed and how massive these things can get that just have the ability to overwhelm. It hit her. She was a long way from home, in surroundings she did not know, utterly dwarfed by a long stretching mountain range which was prone to avalanches, because the very summits were covered in layers of snow, but also prone to landslides; travellers and visitors to the area alike had either been lost or lost their lives to the Misty Mountains.

Liruliniel was glad she was with people who knew the way, no matter her mixed feelings about them. She guessed that Elrond was right in a way, begrudgingly, the elves within Greenwood were distrusting, sceptical and sometimes quick to anger and possibly action; and she was in no way different from that description.

Soon though, the pathway opened up a bit more and she was standing on a ledge of sorts. It was large and thick enough for them all to stand and saddle up again. But Liruliniel paused when she saw the small path which led towards the slightly sprawling sight before her. He was right again, Liruliniel rolled her eyes and hauled herself into the saddle, it was a beautiful waterfall city. Even from here she could hear the cascading waters, there was something quite relaxing about it.

Nudging her horse into action, she just looked around. It was very different. The buildings made of a whitish light brick, the architecture was almost the same, still brilliant in its visual appeal. The waterfalls were almost working around the city itself, like the trees back home. A small connecting bridge led to the main part of the city; they travelled through a small forestry area to reach it though. The trees here looked healthy, and the bark slightly silvery. It matched the buildings around, that much she couldn't deny.

She was busy looking around that she didn't realise everyone had disembarked again. Liruliniel slid out of the saddle and grabbed her pack, shouldering it she just turned on her heels looking up. It wasn't just one building, Imladris consisted of many. The main building which she was standing before she believed would've been the equivalent to the palace back home. But between the rocks of the mountainsides which kept this place sheltered, there were other buildings. Smaller, yet all connected by bridges. These seemed to be homes. Imladris was more spaced out than Greenwood's palace. Everyone all sort of lived in one confined place. Here there was plenty of room for everyone, it didn't seem anyone got in anyone else's way.

Hearing talking, Liruliniel raised an eyebrow and turned. Elrond appeared to be talking to a younger elf, similar dark brown hair that trailed down his back, though he wore a dark blue tunic and matching trousers as opposed to Elrond being in his armour. There was an air of familiarity between the two, not father and son, or anything like that. But more of a friendly companionship, Liruliniel walked steadily over. Well aware that her boots clomped a bit on the brickwork. Perhaps she was not alone with being suddenly under Elrond's tutelage.

She tried not to shudder, thinking of the horrors of shared lessons with Thranduil. How many times did he drag her to Caladhiel? She lost count, her heart clenched thinking of the elf-Prince. She had tried not to think of him, or of those she left behind. It pained her. Jumping when a hand appeared on her shoulder, Liruliniel looked up at Elrond. "Lindir this is Liruliniel," a gestured hand was waved between them, Liruliniel just blinked and Lindir just looked her up and down.

Inhaling slowly, she lowered her arm, her pack hitting against her leg. Somehow, she got the feeling he was going to be a barrel of laughs, not. Were the elves of Imladris all so haughty and a bit condescending? She sniffed, she'd definitely take any unwarranted descriptions that got pinned to Greenwood elves, being quick to anger and action seemed totally fine, at least she didn't look at a stranger like Lindir was suddenly looking at her. Maybe he just didn't like new people?

Liruliniel slowly looked away from Lindir's assessing gaze. Elrond looked at her expectedly with a small smile, "And he is who, exactly?" She asked bluntly, earning a closed eye sigh from Elrond, he followed this up with pinching the bridge of his nose, while Lindir's dark eyes widened and he looked close to double taking. Well, he must be someone for her to be so readily introduced to him, right?

Liruliniel wasn't sure what she was expecting when it came to her room, she wasn't expecting to be shoved into something akin to a cupboard; but at the same time, she wasn't expecting something as large as the room she was now standing in. It made her quarters back home look pitiful. Her room back there was small, impossibly small. But this, no, this was huge in comparison. She frowned, so her room back home was the cupboard, and this is what a normal bedroom looked like?

She didn't know, this was very different than what she knew. She had been quickly shown to her room by Elrond, it meant bypassing a still very shocked Lindir. Elrond hadn't told her off for their interaction, she believed she'd get the brunt of the scolding considering, but no, nothing happened. Upon entering, he opened the large windows before saying if she needed him, ask for him. She was left alone then. Looking down at herself, she frowned. Well, she guessed she better get out of her armour. She couldn't exactly wander around in it, could she? And she intended to go wander; this place was massive. And though she was expecting herself to be more reserved, she actually wasn't.

When she thought over it, yes, she was sad. She felt immensely sad. But shutting herself off wasn't going to help. She wanted to explore the lands in which she lived in, she had always wanted that and whenever she said it out loud, she got sort of scoffed at. Here she was within one of the grandest cities, let alone elf city of the lands so how could she not go exploring?

She stored her armour in the trunk that was in the room, delicately laying it down and looking down at it fondly and sadly. Her hand remained on the lid, her eyes looking distantly downwards before she shut the trunk. Why did it feel like she had just shut away a piece of her life? It wouldn't be gone forever; she knew that deep down. There would be a time when she'd put it back on and, well, she didn't know...go back to guarding? She'd be back home by then, with any luck.

Her nose twitched, or would she be here all the time? She turned on her heels and walked to the windows, that was a thought that hadn't crossed her mind yet. She looked down at her tunic, yes, she bought others with her, but she was dragging it out. Fully changing out of the tunic which went underneath her armour just felt surreal, like the real end of something. She leaned her head against the wall and looked around the white curtains, they were practically see-through and blew in the wind which travelled through.

She could hear chatter from outside, quiet busying elves getting on with their days. There was music somewhere in the distance too, maybe they were more musical here? There was something about the lilting tune which had her head moving from the wall and staring off at nothing. Not saying there wasn't music back home, but it was rare.

Moving to where she left her pack, she picked it up and took too unpacking. She kept out her forest green tunic and trousers, she changed quickly. Keeping the tunic, she took it off to one side to wash it, wash it and then store it she supposed. Looking down at herself, she nodded slowly. She got the feeling that the moment she stepped foot outside, she'd noticeably be different.

Was that such a bad thing? Liruliniel raised an eyebrow, a slow smirk appearing on her face, if this place was dull, maybe it needed to be made entertaining? Liruliniel believed she was good at a small number of things, pushing boundaries to see what she could get away with was one of those things. She turned to the door, her tongue running along her bottom lip in thought. If she did something wrong, she would get punished. There was no way around that, maybe she could try and work on her diplomatic skills? Although, she didn't think she could outdo Elrond in a battle of words. Maybe a different opponent was needed.

Liruliniel was still smiling as she walked down the corridor, everything was so light and airy. She couldn't help but look up and around at everything, Elrond's descriptions of the trees were right, she groaned, when was he not right? Even as she passed windows, she could see trees growing outside. It was all very controlled, none of the branches seemed to be coming inside. Exploring what offerings there was for climbing was second on the list.

There was something which took priority, and though she was sure it should be hunting out the kitchens, no, no, Liruliniel had other ideas. Narrowing her eyes and pottering around, she peered in and out of rooms before smiling. Sticking close to the walls she crept incredibly slowly; there were many balconies around and on these were stone benches. "I get the feeling we may have got off on the wrong foot. I am terribly sorry; I didn't mean to be rude." Liruliniel said when she had got close enough and leaned close.

Poor Lindir, Liruliniel winced, she didn't think she had seen someone jump suddenly so high. He was sitting and reading, completely in his own little bubble, until she came along. She was about to go running down a staircase that just appeared, quite lucky he was here. She moved around the bench and sat down slowly, Lindir just looked at her with questioning eyes. With a sigh, she patted her knees and turned and smiled widely at him.

It was hard at times to gauge the ages of elves, but to her eyes Lindir looked to be of a similar age to Thalion and Thranduil, much like her comparison of Oropher and Elrond, the three younger elves couldn't be more different. Lindir was still looking at her with this strange hesitance, like he expected her to just blurt something out like she did previously when they first got introduced.

Looking to the book which he had promptly shut, Liruliniel looked back at him. "What are you reading?" Did Imladris elves not like talking or something? She felt like it was very hard to get them to open up and talk.

"Poetry," Lindir's voice was soft, polite sounding yet he still sounded unsure whether she was being serious here.

Liruliniel hummed in thought, she drummed her fingers against her knees and looked forwards. She could spy the corridor she walked down from here, the arched windows and the corridor itself curved around. She could see the way the light reflected on the tops of the trees around, it also made the waterfalls shimmer. "I was always a fan of history. Lore was what I paid more attention to in lessons. Even if the lessons themselves my tutor had to chase me down for." Liruliniel joked, Lindir looked confused. "I'm being serious...Lady Caladhiel once chased me all the way to the training grounds. There was another time I was hiding rather well, but I got found by Prince Thranduil. Because we had made a deal that I would have lessons with him, he didn't waste time grabbing my collar and leading me away." Liruliniel sighed wistfully, she had made herself very small and managed to hide in an empty spot on the bottom shelf of a bookcase in the library. Thranduil had seen her and clutched onto her collar from behind, she fell backwards bringing a load of dust with her. Yet he still held on and easily managed to haul her up before pushing her gently towards the door.

Lindir turned on the bench and looked at her, Liruliniel blinked and smiled softly his way. "You were close friends?"

"We are close friends." Liruliniel corrected.

"Friendships can be hard to maintain over a great distance."

Liruliniel pouted slowly and nodded, she hung her head dramatically and shut her eyes. She even went as far as wrapping her arms around her head as she continued to groan away. Lindir just sat there, wide eyed and looking around for some help here. He didn't quite understand what was going on. "I know! Oh Lindir, I know...people change too, I have already experienced this." There was a gap in their friendship, after all. Opening her eyes, she lowered her arms and looked at him. "Can you give me a tour?" She decided to ignore any further topics of Thranduil. She didn't know her way around here, "That is if you aren't doing anything?" She had disturbed him reading, after all.

Lindir nodded, "Sure, is there anything in particular you want to know the location of?"

Liruliniel laughed gently, "The kitchen would be grand. I haven't exactly eaten at all today."

Lindir's eyes widened, he shifted forwards as if he had lost his balance. He seemed to find it unbelievable that someone had travelled this far without food. Sure, it wasn't like their kin suffered from hunger as such. But she had travelled quite a distance. "Certainly. Please, follow me." Lindir directed a hand back to the staircase which she was going to go down before seeing him.

"You're very courteous, Lindir." Which he was, he was playing the host very well. Too well. Liruliniel narrowed her eyes slowly, she knew she found him for a possible conversation and expansion of being tactful with words. But that was hard when the person she spoke to wasn't exactly conversational.

He looked baffled, "How else am I meant to be?"

Liruliniel followed him downwards. "I don't know...maybe a little more familiar? I know we are strangers in a way, but we are both here, I would like to call you a friend, if I could?" Liruliniel tried, sounding nervous in a way. She hadn't ever really had to ask someone if she could be friends with them before. Her relationships just flowed naturally. This was out of the norm.

Lindir looked thoughtful, his hands tucked behind his back as he walked quietly towards the kitchens. There was the smallest of nods though, Liruliniel nodded too. She guessed that was a start. Baby steps and all that. Lindir led her to the kitchens, but after that he seemed to slip away. She frowned, sitting down at a table she crossed her arms before resting her face against the material.

Sniffing quietly, she shut her eyes, if she opened them, she could look down at her boots and the grey stone underneath. Although this sight was slowly blurring and each time she blinked, she was aware to droplets appearing on the unblemished stone. She was crying. Quietly, but still crying, nonetheless. She could feel her shoulders shaking, and the trying to keep this concealed from anyone around was becoming very hard. Even the sniffling and the sobbing was becoming harder.

She was minutely aware to something being placed before her, she heard the sliding of a plate but also there was the sliding sound of a chair beside her. There was a gentle sigh, a familiar sound from earlier as she tilted her head. Perhaps this was the one time she regretted braiding all her hair up. At least if it was down like everyone else's she could hide behind it.

No such luck, so she could see Elrond sitting there, even through tear filled eyes. He had a patient expression, like he knew this was going to happen at some point. She would be fooling herself if she thought it wouldn't. Though she didn't think it would take Lindir leaving her to it to be the thing that set her off.

"You should eat; it will make you feel better." Elrond said softly, no pressure at all in his voice as he watched her wipe her eyes on her sleeve and sit up.

Sure, she still looked teary eyed, red cheeked and saddened but she pulled the plate nearer to herself and shakily picked up the cutlery too. She inhaled sharply before sticking her fork into the food, even while eating she just sat there blinking and trying to stop tears from falling. Not that it worked, she cried while eating. If anyone didn't know the context, they'd surely think she was crying over how good the food was.

"It will take time for you to settle here, Liruliniel. But you will, I know you will." He reassured, if she believed she'd always feel this disjointed then he was here to tell her she was wrong.

She swallowed thickly and looked at the fork full she had raised up before lowering it back to the plate. She turned in her seat and looked at him, "What exactly will I be doing here?"

"You said it yourself, you'll learn, and you'll live here. I will watch over you and aid you where I can. You are safe here."

"I...I don't disbelieve that I am safe, you don't need to say that. What learning had you in mind?" Liruliniel asked, she pushed the plate away from herself and crossed her arms on the table. "Just, Lady Caladhiel's lessons stopped years ago, and the only thing I've been currently learning is how to fight. You seem more of a pacifist, not saying you can't fight, but...somehow, I get the feeling you'd rather avoid it if you could."

Elrond nodded his head slowly, "I am not a fan of conflict, that is true. But don't misunderstand the disliking towards fighting for not being able to. I can, and you make it sound like you're unsure on this. You don't expect to be trained here? I see no reason why you can't be. As long as you take time out to try and learn how to understand your visions."

Liruliniel smiled slowly, "Am I being adopted here?" She couldn't help but ask a little awkwardly.

Elrond laughed gently and shook his head, "Temporarily I suppose, yes. But your place is back in Greenwood, with your friends and family. But there is nothing stopping you from finding people here to replace what is currently lost. It won't be the same, of course it won't. But it is better than being alone."

She pouted slowly and thoughtfully. "I tried to make friends with Lindir, I don't think he likes me too much."

Elrond laughed quietly again and went to stand; he looked down at her pointedly. Liruliniel shot up from her chair and rushed to tuck it back into the table. "He doesn't mean any ill will, you are rather sociable, to the point even. He is not; he is more reserved, quiet."

"He's shy, is what you're saying." Liruliniel crossed her arms and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"Give him time, not everyone can readily jump headfirst into friendships like you." Elrond said, Liruliniel's want to trust so quickly could lead her into trouble, not that there was any here. But to instantly want to trust and be trusted in return didn't always work. "Anyway, are you free?" Elrond asked, knowing full well what the answer was. She shot him a frown for that; he placed an arm behind her and urge her gently forwards. "Because I think you are entitled to a tour, plus it will give us the chance to fully get to know each other."

"Lindir was going to give me a tour, then he ran off." Liruliniel muttered, still cross armed and looking a bit put off by that. Blinking slowly, she lowered her arms and looked up at Elrond. He didn't seem as tall as Oropher to her, nor did he seem as menacing.

Oropher did have this icy aura surrounding him which sometimes felt like a bit of an impenetrable fortress to even begin to scale and demolish. It made talking to the blonde elf-King very hard at times. Let alone his ability to sometimes have a short fuse. Elrond wasn't like that, at least he didn't seem that way inclined. Even from the short space of time of knowing him, he seemed more personal.

"Are you going to keep bothering him?" Elrond raised an eyebrow quizzically, Liruliniel just sent him a sheepish smile. He sighed and tucked his hands back into the long sleeves of his brown robe. "May I ask, why is it so important to you to become friends with him." Elrond was curious, sure Lindir was the second person other than himself that she knew the name of, but he got the feeling that wasn't it. Maybe being close in age played a part in it, someone to relate to. But yet again, Elrond wasn't certain of this.

Liruliniel hummed and looked around the lower level that they had reached. They were walking through a courtyard with a large fountain, water trickled by in small rivets in the ground, these were seemingly cut right into the stone and allowed the water from the falls to travel through the city. "I believe that it is important to make friends when and where possible. In a lesson once, Lady Caladhiel was teaching me about the War of Wrath; I didn't fully understand it, I was a child, but I understood that sometimes things happen which call upon everyone. I was told that it is important to have friends and to have allies that can be called upon, whenever they are needed. Sure, she went on to belittle me a little, but she did instil in me that if I wanted to be a warrior, a guard, then that would no doubt mean fighting at some point. Even maybe going to war. But for all of this, I would need to understand the politics and the little details of such a thing. Who is my ally, and who is my enemy, why and how; the reasonings behind such a thing can sometimes be important, sometimes not."

Elrond listened to her silently, they were steadily walking through the courtyard at a slow pace. This was maybe the most he had heard her speak, so strongly and strangely wisely at that. Before, the most he heard from her was when she was recounting her dreams. She had sounded scared, uncertain and worried. Liruliniel clearly knew the implications of what she spoke of, even if that was deep down and buried away. But here, she reminisced away but also readily explained her reasonings.

He wasn't sure Lindir would still wish to be pestered by the energetic elf beside him, but Elrond wasn't going to intervene there. "So, you wish to call us an ally?" Elrond smiled fondly, he may have sounded joking, but he wasn't. He couldn't make fun or joke about what she had said, especially seems most of it was true.

"I believe we will need to be, come the future." Liruliniel frowned and looked around the corridor they now entered. Paintings hung on the walls, every few spaces away from each other. They were beautifully done, and she couldn't help but walk up and admire the scenery within. "Why is there such a rift between us all?" Liruliniel turned and looked at Elrond, he looked a little taken back by her question. She walked over and joined his side again, though her eyes never left his. "I don't understand how we can all live in these lands yet hold dislike towards others. We may have come into the world differently, but we can all leave it the same." Sort of, she guessed, she did have the option of sailing West, dwarves and mortals didn't have that luxury.

"Prejudices, misunderstandings and the lack of wanting to understand."

"I don't accept that. I'm sorry, but I don't. It isn't hard to talk to one another." Liruliniel just flat out shot his words down, Elrond wasn't wholly surprised, though he did find himself smiling. He didn't know her experiences with other races of these many lands, but he doubted it was extensive.

"Sometimes it isn't that easy."

"You sound just like Lady Caladhiel! She more or less said the same thing to me. I find it wrong how we can all be so separate, what if someone needed help; someone who wasn't the same race? Why shouldn't we help? It could lead to something more. I know Men can be proud, or so I've been told, proud and sometimes spiteful. Dwarves can be brutish, yes, and have the tendency to hide away and horde their finds to themselves. But they are our brothers and sisters, and I for one would like to get to know as many of them as possible. Because really, if someone needed my help I would give it willingly. I wouldn't want anything in return. And, well, if they didn't want my help then fine. I know you can't force people to do things they don't want to. Just accept that they do whatever they wish."

Just when he thought he had figured out Liruliniel's character, she just went and surprised him some more. Oropher had said she often spoke what she felt, without thinking over the details. But he had also said that she did have a way with words, even if she believed she didn't. In their moments in his study, Oropher had explained as much as he could over the elf that was Liruliniel. There was something compelling in the way he spoke, Oropher did not fully understand it, but he understood there was something more to her than he could comprehend. He had hoped Elrond could further any light on this. So far, no. Liruliniel spoke with a wisdom that sounded like it came from someone much older than herself. She was an enigma at the moment.

"You may be able to put your wants to use there." Elrond spoke eventually, letting her words fully sink in. Liruliniel looked at him sharply, Elrond sighed heavily. "Did you get told the name of the darkness, or rather the one at the head controlling it?" He decided to ask, sure saying the name often was done in whispers, but he was uncertain whether she had ever truly been told anything.

Liruliniel frowned, she looked uncomfortable yet nodded her head. "Lady Caladhiel said not to utter it too often. She made it sound like a taboo."

"Which in a way, could be correct."

Liruliniel slowly flicked her eyes up to him. "And you have encountered this, truly?" She couldn't help but ask again. She found it unfathomable.

Elrond narrowed his eyes slowly and looked ahead of themselves, yet another balcony with a bench was close. Deciding perhaps to give Liruliniel a bit of a history lesson from his perspective, he gestured over. He just wasn't expecting her to dart from his side and hop up and sit cross legged. Something told him that although she seemed a little begrudging of lessons maybe actually deep down, she didn't mind them. Especially if it gave her something to learn from, which like history in general was an important thing; not to repeat mistakes made in the past and learn and grow to avoid another outcome similar.

Elrond sat down with more slow grace than her, he straightened out his robe and tunic and looked ahead at the scene beyond the balcony. Birds flocked past calling quietly, the waterfalls still cascaded downwards and somewhere he could still hear music playing. "Do you know of an elf called Ereinion? Your tutor may have called him another name, Gil-galad."

Liruliniel shifted a little yet nodded slowly. "He is a King."

Elrond nodded too, pleased in a way that he didn't have to give a full breakdown of the main players in this lesson. "Not just any King though, is he?" He looked at her expectedly.

"He's a Ñoldorin elf. The son of Fingon, which makes him the last High King of the Ñoldor."

"Very good," Elrond said, though when it came to family trees especially of royalty nearly everyone knew them. This didn't just extend to elves. "I was sent to Eregion by Gil-galad with a host of elves to protect it from the oncoming invading forces of Sauron. I failed, the numbers were against us, and we had to retreat. Within the time afterwards, I founded this place. It looks tranquil, yes. But it is a stronghold really and positioned to keep watch in case anything decides to rear its head."

"Which it has."

"Well, it is starting." Elrond corrected, he hadn't heard word of anything physical yet. Whisperings and visions were about all he got from this. Liruliniel just looked at him hesitantly. "Sauron is in your visions, Liruliniel. And you can see an oncoming battle, to which you cannot see an end. There is death, and there is fire, and so much confusion because war can be confusing. Your senses can fail you at times."

"But I thought I came here to try and break the possible encounters."

Elrond looked sympathetic, "True as that may be, you cannot get rid of prophetic sight."

She looked around them with wide eyes. "I am lessening the exposure over what is growing within Greenwood, but at the end of the day if Sauron truly rises, it will be for nothing. I would've left my home, my family and my friends for nothing."

Elrond shook his head, even turning and placing his hands on her shoulders to stop her from suddenly bolting. She looked at him brokenly. "Not for nothing. Because how this evil works, it will break you down from within. You could've become a spy in one of the biggest elven palaces. It could've told you to kill your king, and you would've listened and tried even at the cost of your own life. You were sent here because here is where you need to be right now."

"But why is it?" Her voice sounded so small, not strong like it did previously, and it hurt Elrond a little to hear her sound so defeated.

"Because I have seen it." She blinked and looked up from her lap upon hearing those words. Elrond looked so sure, even nodding slowly to hope to emphasise his words. "I have seen it, you have a part to play here, Liruliniel. But I cannot see where this part will lead you."

She didn't know how to feel about that, she felt cold within. There was something ominous about his words. If he couldn't see it, then did that mean she got taken over? She couldn't imagine herself being a willing victim to evil. "What now?" She asked, she didn't know what else to say.

Elrond let her shoulders go; he looked out at the scenery and sighed. "You being here has only further set things into motion."

"Meaning?" Liruliniel turned her head to look at him, very confused looking and feeling.

Elrond turned his face and looked back at her. "Would you like to meet the High King of the Ñoldor, Liruliniel? Because I have a feeling he may want to meet you." He said it so simply that she couldn't help but double take, Elrond raised an eyebrow and even smirked a little. He was amused by her reaction; it was probably more the fact that someone so important would want to meet her that probably threw her through a loop.

——

Edited: 20/June/25