This chapter dedication goes to Wandering_Bard!

Elthríel bit her lip to keep the tears from spilling over, but it did not help. Amtharel crossed her arms and sighed. "Can you not do the simplest of things without failing?" Elthríel clenched her teeth to stop herself from screaming back, 'Aye, but not when you purposefully get in the way, knock me down, spill my bucket of water, steal my needles and thread, damage the books I borrow to read, and constantly tear me down with your spiteful words.' Instead she bent down and tried to mop up the soapy water with the rough cloth, but it was little use. The bucket, once filled with the soapy liquid that now lay all over the marble floor, was overturned and she righted it, ignoring the contemptuous stare of the elleth standing over her.

At last, Amtharel sighed and walked off, leaving Elthríel to finally breathe in peace. Ever since Finrod had left a few months ago, Amtharel's cruel teasing had turned into a sort of persecution. No matter where Elthríel went to escape, Amtharel somehow found out. The days had dragged by wearily and she wondered hopelessly where Finrod was and if and when he would come back.

The dimness of the forest seemed refreshing in the still night air and Finrod dismounted, tying his horse loosely to a low-hanging branch from a pine. He was weary and he leaned against the rough bark, closing his eyes. The hunt had dragged on and on and at last he had left Maglor and Maedhros to continue, leaving and entering the Ered Lindon mountains, eventually reaching a forested land beyond them called Thargelion. It was moments like these, feeling drained and exhausted, that Finrod missed Amarië the most. He remembered in the days when he would race and train with weapons with her brother, Hílthklen, when they would both be weary and worn out by the day's ending that they both would collapse onto the ground and just lie there in the cool grasses. Then Amarië would come to him and take his head in her lap and play with his hair. Her cool hands would relax him so completely that sometimes he fell asleep...

Finrod opened his eyes and swallowed hard. Those days were gone.

The Sun was setting crimson-rose, splashing the pillars with darkening pink where his light fell through the opening in the roof. Elthríel, glad to know that Amtharel was elsewhere and would not stir from the Hall of Songs for quite some time, wandered through the halls aimlessly. At last, she made up her mind where she would go and entered into the dimly light library. Books and scrolls of parchments filled the shelves. She glanced over their titles. Most of them were songs and poems. A few were of deeds done in Valinor, but these were few. She opened one and glanced at it. She took a few more and then sat in a window seat, her legs curled up under her. She glanced through two that she had, but her mind began to wander and the words blurred together.

"Come, come," Finrod whispered to his mount as they slowly, cautiously, descended down a steep hill covered with trees. It was almost fully dark now and was getting harder by the minute to see. He saw lights in the distance, like many small fires. What are fires doing in this wilderness?  He hoped it was no more work of Morgoth. He could not defend himself if it were.

Softly, he dismounted and gingerly walked to the edge of the trees, his hand on his sword-hilt. What he saw rendered him speechless.

People lay sleeping about the fires, people he had never seen before. They were certainly not Elves. He remembered vaguely in Valinor talk among the Valar of another race that would come after the Elves. This must be what they had been speaking off. Silently, Finrod walked among them. There were men, women, and children, all sleeping. In the center lay a harp, most likely laid down by its owner when they slept. Finrod picked it up and sat down, running his fingers across the strings gently. They were in tune and softly, sweetly, his fingers began to pluck a melody that he hadn't played since the Days in Valinor.

A few moments later, the individuals about him stirred, hearing a music so perfect they believed it to be figments of their imagination. When they saw who was playing, they were even more surprised.

Finrod's song was finished and he began another, a light-hearted song that was usually danced too. The notes flitted up to the sky and then fell down again, a silvery shower of happiness on the hearers. The children stood and came closer as eventually the older ones followed. When at last Finrod had finished, one of the men asked, "Who are you?"

"I am a Noldorian Elf. My name is Finrod."

"Welcome, Finrod," another said.

"But tell me, who are you and where do you come from?"

"We are men and we have come from the east; a great darkness lies behind us. We go forth in search of the Light."

"I have seen the Light when it was in established form, but now the Light rides in the sky among the stars and the azure of the day."

They were startled at this and began firing questions at the Elf, one after another which Finrod answered as best as he could. The day was dawning by the time they had finished.

"Amarië! Amarië!" Finrod's voice called out, laughing, as he ran among the trees. It was all she could do to keep from laughing in response. Instead, she shook gently the boughs of the apple tree she was hiding in, the golden fruits falling to the ground. Finrod hurried to the spot and looked up, a very foolish idea, for a falling apple hit him square between his eyes.

He shook his head, his long golden hair flying, and called her name once more, looking up into the bows. She laughed and called out, "Catch!" before leaping from the tree into his arms.

He caught her and set her down, his arms still about her waist. "Amarië, I thought you were a little too old to be climbing trees anymore," he said, pressing his forehead to hers gently.

"I thought you were a little too old to be playing seek-and-find, Finrod," she said, the laughter still in her voice.

"Mmmhmm," he said, his eyes closed, a smile on his lips. "Maybe you're right, but you must stop climbing trees as well."

She threw her arms around his neck. "Maybe I will." She would have said more, but then the bell tolled its golden notes signifying the midday meal. Finrod bent down and snatched a kiss from her before taking off running back to the buildings of Tirion. She snatched up her skirts and hurried after him, laughing.

Elthríel woke with a start and looked about her, confused. Then she remembered. It was just a dream, a memory from the past. She sat up and rubbed her temple, brushing the sleepiness away. If only I could go back... If only I could relive those blessed days once more... She rose and placed the books back on the shelf. She had slept the night in here and must hurry away to her room before someone, especially Amtharel, discovered her.

She walked quickly through the corridors, the morning air chill causing her to shiver. She looked and saw the the first rays of the sun had fallen through the large opening in the main courtyard that lay below her to her left. She paused and looked out over the courtyard, empty in the morning silence. Elthríel remembered the morning a few months ago when Finrod had left. Where is he now and how does he fare in the wild?  She wished she could tell him the truth, who she really was. But she was afraid of what he would say, frightened that he would not love her if he saw her as she was now. Yet still, she longed for him to know.

"Finrod, come back to me safely and swiftly,"  she whispered.

Well, what did you think? Hopefully Elthríel's dream wasn't too mushy. XD