Chapter 13

Okay, well, that was stupid. He knew he wasn't Aduil.

"Sorry, Lindolir, I was expecting your brother," she said with a little sheepish smile.

From his place in the doorway, Lindolir only cocked his head slightly at the words.

"Right, I forgot you can't understand me," she muttered, before switching to Elvish and slowly piecing together, "Forgive me, Lindolir, I…thought you…are Aduil."

Lindolir's eyebrows shot up. "You do speak Elvish," he said, slow and soft.

"A little." She held her thumb and forefinger close together. "Aduil…has…helped," she finished lamely.

"I see. I wae taluin epil you vui you istan me," he rattled off, too quickly for Kate to catch more than the most basic of words.

"Okay, could—right." She caught herself and switched languages again. "Will you…speak..." Wait, what was the word for 'slowly'? Had they covered that?

She paused, ignoring Lindolir's assessing gaze—too much like his father's for comfort—as she searched for a way to rephrase the sentence without the missing word.

Finally, she gave up and just said, "Will you speak…'SLOW'," drawing out the english word and slowly pulling her hands apart to demonstrate.

"Sair?" he asked, repeating the gesture.

"Sure, probably," she said, before copying the word.

After a moment, he nodded and tried again, at a far more reasonable pace. "I have come to ask you vui you knew me."

She still didn't know all the words, but she could fill in the blanks. "Did Aduil…not tell you?" She'd assumed he would have; he'd seemed so worried about it when he'd asked her on the balcony.

"I iros hear it from you," he said simply, and though his face gave nothing away, Kate had a feeling she was being tested. Maybe that was why he'd waited till Aduil was gone before coming to her. Wait. Was he the reason Aduil was called away?

Whatever, it didn't matter. She still needed to answer. Once she figured out how. That was going to be a lot of words.

She dropped her chin into her hand before carelessly waving at a chair with the other. "You…should…sit. This will…be slow."

After a brief hesitation, he did, taking a seat on the opposite side of the table and sitting well back, stiff and formal, as he waited for her to sort out her words.

It took awhile, but with a bit of charades—and it was not easy miming 'trader'—she managed to stumble through an explanation, making sure to stick as close to the story she'd told Aduil as possible. Lindolir seemed to study her as she spoke, searching her face, even after she'd finished, as if looking for a lie. She met his gaze levelly, resisting the urge to fidget, and waited.

Finally, he leaned forward and slowly asked, "Estin you can namo me, why it is that there is no Malric with gen to enter this forest?"

That one took a little while to figure out, which was actually a good thing, as it gave her a chance to school her expression—not to mention come up with a response—before she was caught in the lie.

"Do you…know…all who…enter this forest?" she asked carefully, crossing her fingers under the table and fervently hoping that the answer would be no. It had to be, right? Because what were the odds that he would happen to know everyone allowed in the forest?

Apparently, not in her favor.

"I do," he said, "it is my nole to guard this forest, and as fedh, to know fedh things."

Okay, not good. Think, Kate, think. Think.

Think of something other than the word think!

"Oh! I know! Malric had…a number of…names," she explained.

"Why?"

"There were…places he was…" Dag, what was the word for unwelcome? "Not…well." Hopefully, he could figure that out because it was the closest she was going to get.

Eventually, he did. Or seemed to think he did, at least.

"He was a raedhin?"

Kate shrugged and shook her head. That was not nearly enough to go on.

"Malric was… a danger?" he tried again.

"No no, not a danger…only….hmm…happy trouble?"

"Happy…trouble?"

"Safe trouble?" she tried. How do you mime 'trickster'? "Ha ha ha, oh, Malric!" She shook her head and waved a dismissive hand, and that seemed to do the trick because Lindolir nodded.

"I think I see," he said. He grew quiet then, for long enough that Kate was beginning to hope the guessing game had been enough to distract him from his clear suspicion. "What names did he laenui?"

Of course not. Dag.

"I do not know. He…did not…say to me."

Lindolir sat back, hitting her again with that icy assessing stare and Kate tried not to squirm under its weight. She forced herself to relax, and even went so far as to raise an eyebrow at him, because waiting around to be judged just makes you look guilty.

"Are we…having a…looking…game?" she asked, because 'staring' and 'contest' were both firmly outside her vocabulary.

He tilted his head.

"See…who…" She paused at yet another irritating gap in her vocabulary, before trying, "See who 'blinks' first?" and gave a slow, pointed blink on the word to translate.

Ooh, Was that a twitch of a smile?

"No," he said after a moment, "we are not. I have one more disir for you." One more question, probably. More likely than 'cake', anyway.

"Yes?"

This time there was definitely a smile, slow and sly as he asked, "Did you truly shout at my father?"

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Aduil paused outside the door with a fond smile at the sounds of mirth from within, taking a moment to allow the pleasing peals of Kate's laughter to wash over him and ease his troubled mind. His summons to the King had not gone well, and it had been the King, and not his father he had spoken with. He had learned early in life the difference between the two; Father could be reasoned with, where the King must simply be obeyed.

For the first time in his life, he had nearly refused. Perhaps, if he could find a sensible reason for the slow ache in his heart at the very thought of carrying out these orders, he could go to his father and persuade him to revoke them. To grant him more time, at the very least. Yet, nothing seemed sensible anymore.

The laugh rang out once more, soothing the ache better than any healing balm or spell ever could. He stepped through the door with a wide smile, ready to ask what she had found so amusing, but stopped short at the wholly unexpected sight.

Kate laughed again. "Slow, Lindolir!" she admonished.

"Ah, forgive me."

"It is well. I think I—Oh, hey Aduil, you're back!"

Aduil forced his smile back in place as he dipped his head in greeting. He moved to take his place next to Kate, pausing to draw his chair a trace closer to hers than was needful before he sat.

"I am." Glancing between the two, he asked, "Have I…intruded on something?"

"Nah, of course not. We were just talking."

Aduil arched a brow to that. He had not realized her grasp of his language had progressed so far.

Why did it leave him with a sense of loss?

"Are… you okay?"

"I am well," he answered, though it sounded strained even to his own ears. He cleared his throat and sat back in his seat, forcing a lightness to his tone as he asked, "What were you speaking of?"

Kate grinned. "Family," she sang.

He turned a narrow gaze on his brother. "What have you been telling her?"

Lindolir's grin matched Kate's—and why did that twist his stomach into an unpleasant knot? He should be pleased his brother and his friend seemed to get on well.

"Did you really shoot an arrow into your father's butt?" Kate asked before Lindolir could respond.

Aduil closed his eyes. He did not know that last word, but he could guess well enough. "The arrow, truly?" he muttered. Kate laughed and some of his irritation drained away. "That was a simple training accident, with a blunt arrow. It did no harm, whatever Lindolir has told you."

"That's pretty much what he said," she agreed. "Although, and I may be wrong, I don't have your language down pat yet, but it sounded like you had to go out of your way to do it."

"That is not true." Not entirely, in any case. Turning to his brother, he added, "I shudder to think what more you have told her."

"As I know not what Kate has said, I could not tell you," Lindolir said with an amused shrug. He was enjoying this far too much.

"Oh, it is…nothing…bad. Only…" Kate trailed off, briefly gazing into the distance with a searching expression, before giving it up and shifting to her own language. "Nothing bad, just highly entertaining."

Aduil turned a half-hearted glower on his brother.

Lindolir pointed to the window. "Oh, would you look at that! Time flows swiftly, I have lingered far too long, I really must take my leave!" He bounded from his seat before Aduil could do anything more than glare. Not that he would have. Well, nothing harmful, in any case.

"Aw, you're going?"

Lindolir paused midstride and looked to Aduil who, begrudgingly, translated.

"Ah. I fear I must," he said, slowly so she might understand. He glanced at Aduil with a grin, then, in two swift steps, he stood before Kate and slipped to one knee. Aduil stilled as he watched his brother take Kate's hand in his, without so much as a 'by your leave', and move it over his heart in an overly familiar gesture of parting. "Until we meet again, my lady."

Kate giggled.

She did not pull away, she did not protest the touch, she giggled.

Aduil barely noticed the triumphant smirk and wink Lindolir directed at him before he released Kate and departed without another word.

"What a goof," Kate muttered with a fond shake of her head.

It took Aduil a moment to find his voice. "You seem to…enjoy his company."

"Yeah…" She shook her head again, amusement dancing across her features until she met Aduil's gaze, and her face fell. "Oh, no, don't get me wrong, that wasn't an insult. I like your brother, I do, it's just, he kind of reminds me of this kid I used to babysit."

"Kid?" She thought of Lindolir as an elfling?

"Yeah, a child, remember? His name was Elliot. He was such a little sweetie-pie, always doing goofy things like that," she waved a hand vaguely toward the door, "and man, could he talk! The kid was a little chatterbox, he could talk your ear off, about anything and everything that came to mind. It was cute, but it could get a little irritating at times, you know what I mean?"

Had he been asked, Aduil could not have explained what had come over him when he had entered the room, for never before had he felt the like, but whatever it had been, it seemed to flee at those words.

"That…" He chuckled. "That does sound like Lindolir," he agreed.

"Right? Anyway, let's get back to the journal, I gotta know what happens next." She was already thumbing through the book as she spoke. "How far did you get after I fell asleep, anyway?"

"Before we do, I have something I wish for you to see." That, in part, was what had delayed his return. For, whatever the new day would bring, whether it be for good or ill, something was bound to change. If this was to be his last day with Kate before it did, he intended to make it count.

Kate lowered the book and looked Aduil over, as if searching for a hidden gift. "What is it?"

"Not here." He smiled as he rose. "Come, I will show you." His smile only grew as Kate took his offered hand without a moment's hesitation and allowed him to lead her away.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"I hate to break it to you Aduil," Kate stage whispered as she watched him pull the bookcase away from the (not) secret door, "but I've already seen this."

A small smile and an 'after you' gesture was his only reply.

"Unless…" she said as she stepped into the tower stairwell, "We're going down this time? Ooh! Is that where the secret laboratory is?"

Aduil chuckled. "I have told you, there is no secret laboratory." He pointed up and they started the climb.

"Yeah, but you'd have to say that, wouldn't you? Otherwise, it wouldn't be a secret."

"If there were such a room, I would show you."

"Even though it's a secret?"

"Even though," he agreed. "You seem so taken by the idea, it would be cruel not to."

Kate laughed. "Yeah, and who am I going to tell anyway, right? Lindolir would already know, and I don't know anyone else here. Not that I would even if I did," she hurried to add.

"I know. I trust you."

It was a silly thing to blush over but knowing that didn't stop the heat from crawling up her face. Or maybe it was just exertion, though, if that were the case, she needed more exercise. The frequent strolls around the palace and through the garden clearly weren't enough if she was getting this tired before they'd even made it halfway up.

She was just beginning to wonder if Aduil had brought her there to show her how his people had somehow managed to add more stairs in the short time since they'd last climbed them, when she finally reached the top. She took a second to catch her breath—not that she'd been panting, in fact, she'd been carefully trying not to—before opening the door and stepping out onto the balcony…to find two padded chairs pulled up near the railing. There was a small table tucked between them, set with a platter covered by a gleaming silver lid and two glasses on either side of a glass jug, filled with what looked like iced tea, but probably wasn't.

"You did this?" She turned to Aduil as he closed the door behind himself.

"I did." He nodded. "You said you would like to spend the day up here, and I thought…" he trailed off, glancing away as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"You thought right." She grinned. "This is a sweet little setup." There was even a cozy-looking woven blanket hanging neatly off the back of one of the chairs.

"You are pleased then?"

"More than pleased. I love it, thank you," she said, and oh, his smile could have put the sun to shame.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"Are you hungry?" He repeated, moving to the table, where he uncovered the platter with a little flourish, revealing an assortment of tiny pastries and sliced fruit, artfully arranged in a floral pattern.

"Well, if I wasn't before, I am now," she said with a laugh.

She grabbed the blanket and wrapped it snugly around her shoulders before taking a seat and turning her attention to the snacks. After careful consideration, she selected one of the pastries, a small doughy thing that was sweet and tangy like lemon merengue, and relaxed into her seat as Aduil settled in next to her, taking a small piece of fruit for himself.

He was pouring drinks, a slice of melon held between his teeth, when Kate finished her treat and said, "You know, as lovely as this is—and it really is—I'm not sure we should stay up here the entire day."

Aduil swallowed the remains of his fruit as he handed Kate a glass before asking, "Why is that?"

"Thanks. Well, we should probably get back to the journal at some point. I mean, I guess it's not going anywhere, but I'm super curious to see what happens next."

"Ae. I thought you might, which is why I have already sent Beletir to retrieve it," he said as he picked up his own glass.

"Aw, you take such good care of me," Kate joked.

Aduil paused with his glass halfway to his lips and glanced at Kate with an expression she couldn't quite read.

"Sorry, that was a bad joke. I don't mean that you need to take care of me," she quickly backpedaled, "or that I expect it. I mean, I'm a whole adult, I can take care of myself, I wouldn't expect you to feel like you had to—then again, I mean, whatever capacity I'm here in, my care is kind of out of my hands for the moment, but of course, that doesn't mean that, um. You know what, I'm not sure what I mean, and I'm just going to shut up now." She laughed, a little more manically than she would've liked, before she could put a stop to it by draining her own glass.

Aduil hadn't said a word throughout the entire inane ramble—which was a bit unexpected, most people tended to cut her off when she went on like that— and when Kate finally lowered her empty glass and chanced a peek at him, expecting to find irritation or exasperation written across his face, she was met with a soft smile instead.

"It is well. I understand your meaning," he said when she met his gaze, "and it is my joy to care for my friends."

Before Kate could respond, one of the guards—Beletir, she supposed—came out and handed Aduil the journal with a shallow bow.

"Annonte, Beletir!" she called. Her jaw dropped when he looked back at her with the barest twitch of the lips before disappearing back into the stairwell. "Wha—did you see that? He almost smiled!"

"Beletir?" Aduil asked, following her gaze. "That is not so strange. He is quite the cheerful elf."

"Not to me, he isn't. I've been trying to crack that nut since I got here." Who would have thought a simple thank-you would do it? Especially since she had thanked him and his buddy before. Maybe it was the addition of his name? Whatever it was, it was victory!

Aduil laughed. "Crack that nut…" he murmured as he turned his attention to the journal.

Once he'd found bookmark cord where Kate had left it, he started to read aloud. His rich, deep voice almost seemed to caress the words, and that, combined with the fresh, clean air, bright sunshine and the steady shushing of the distant waterfall settled something in Kate, easing away a tension she hadn't known she'd held.

She refilled her glass and picked out another treat before she relaxed back into her seat with a contented sigh. Could it get any better than this?

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Translations

Sair? Slow?

Annonte Thank you