"Do let me know if there's anything you want translated and I will give it a try."

"If I see a book with a very pretty cover or something I'll bear that in mind."

"I was thinking more 'I'd like to read a political history' or 'I'd like to read a science textbook' but that works as well."

"Ah, you're also offering your book recommendation services."

"You gave us a whole bookstores' worth of books, I'm imagining you have enough reading material without us, but if there's anything you do want I could probably find it, yes."

"Do you have anything that is actually intended for people new to the language - children, presumably, since I think you're short on immigrants?"

"Well, there are the reembodied. And we do have children's books."

"Could use some of those. Once I have the hang of the alphabet learning the language will go faster."

"It's a very simple alphabet. I didn't appreciate it properly until I learned yours. Everything is spelled exactly as it sounds and there are sixteen phonemes in Quenya."

"That should speed things up."

The library is indeed short on the golem-making books, but has picture books for children which are of course priceless illuminated works of art despite the intended audience. Maitimo takes a few of those. "Please do take care of them."

"Will do. ...Are Elf children really careful with books? Do they just not learn to read until they are?"

"Very careful with books, yes. Even at three or so, which is when we'd learn to read, we'd know enough to treat them well."

"Okay, Lári's probably not going to really have the hang of that until she's at least four or five in my years and some kids still can't really manage it when they're eight so maybe get her scratch paper first and see how she does with that."

"That is very good to know, thank you."

"You're welcome."

And they walk back. I apologize for implying you were a child.

I'll survive the experience. It'd probably take me a bit to adjust to somebody who grew up over the course of a month and I should calibrate 'a bit' to local time, I suppose.

Thank you.

You're welcome. You okay? In general, with Findekáno?

Hmm? Oh, we're fine. I shall love him for all of the ages of Arda and he knows it. And I'd be ridiculous to hold a grudge with him for hurting you. Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

He likes you and is planning to ask you on a date again but if you'd rather he not do that I can tell him.

And it's okay with you? I took his word for it before but the look on your face was fairly awful.