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never get too comfortable
you look trustworthy, let's create some tokens of ultimate power together
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Life in Eregion has been... tolerable, of late. It's not Valinor, but if she had wanted Valinor, she would have returned already. The challenges are stimulating. Running the jewelsmiths, coordinating governance with the other guilds, trade with the dwarves. Plumbing the depths of her craft without needing to be overly concerned with the tides of war outside the gates. There is always trouble, will always be trouble, but for now, it is not her trouble nor does it seem likely to become such.

She can create purely for the joy of it, experimenting, playing with material and magic and process.

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And then, one day in the spring of the year 1200 of the Second Age, Celebrimbor receives a message from a young apprentice serving as an errand boy - 

A traveler has come to the House of the Mirdain, one not known to them nor affiliated with any realm they've heard of, but one dressed finely and foreignly. An elf, the errand boy says, maybe an Avari by the look of her eyes. She would like to meet with the Guildmaster.

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An Avari, really? Does she perhaps want the blacksmiths, instead?

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The errand boy is pretty sure she said 'Guildmaster of the Jewelsmiths.'

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Well. The visitor can wait until the guildmaster finishes setting this, then. It will be a few hours.

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He'll go let her know. Should he tell Lady Celebrimbor if the visitor decides to leave first? 

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No need to bother. The secretary can handle that much. And offer refreshments, she adds as an afterthought, turning back to her work.

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He heads out to relay the message. 

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Back to work.

In a few hours, she goes to see if the visitor is still there.

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Apparently so! Or, at least, a very beautiful woman who Celebrimbor has never seen before is in the main hall, standing and examining the murals. She's tall and willowy, with a rich auburn hair that falls in tight waves unusual for elves. She has none of the inner light that suffuses the Eldar - certainly none of the bright spark in her eyes of those who once lived in the light of the Two Trees. Her ethnicity is very hard to place - the Avari are a strange and diverse tangle of elven tribes in the eyes of the Noldor, so that probably isn't a bad guess by sheer process of elimination. 

Her clothes are indeed very strange - they're probably silk, glossy and fine, in an amount that would be a king's ransom this far west. Her voluminous outer robe is a deep purple embroidered in silver with mountains and rivers and odd peaked houses and scenes of people talking or playing instruments or fighting, over a heavy white dress embroidered with pale green lilies and tiny gems, a thick green sash at her waist. She wears silver earrings and bracelets, and finely wrong silver chains weave through her hair. Celebrimbor doesn't recognize the style, though there's echoes of motifs in some of the fashions worn by dwarven travelers from the far east. 

She doesn't turn to face Celebrimbor immediately, though, continuing to look at the art.

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The mural is of a sunset at the coast of Beleriand. Celebrimbor painted it herself, when the guildhouse was built. There are others she's done in the hall as well, ships and mountain cities and forests and dwarven caverns. Relatively few people in her style, though- they are most often backgrounded or blurred into indistinction.

"Not a view that will be seen again in this age or the next," she says, moving to stand beside the woman. Her own clothes are much plainer, only lightly embroidered. She still wears her leather workshop apron with the Mirdain sigil upon the breast.

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"Is it of Beleriand?" she asks, in crisply accented Sindarin. "It's very beautiful."

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"It is. Thank you."

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She turns to look at Celebrimbor. "Did you paint it?" 

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"Yes."

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"Then you must be Celebrimbor."

"I see rumors of your talents haven't been exaggerated at all."

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"No, they have not. You must be the visitor wishing to see the Guildmaster. What is your name?"

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"I've gone by Annatar since I started traveling in these lands."

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"Indeed? And what reason have you for traveling in these lands?"

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"Word of the great crafters of the west has reached even the eastern edge of the world, and some say that the jewelsmiths of Eregion are the greatest crafters among them. I've wondered how true that is."

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"Very. Would you like a tour?"

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"I'd be delighted."

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Then a tour. There's the main hall, a tasteful showroom, a cutting room, a forge, an inscription studio, a presently-unoccupied laboratory...

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She's interested in all of it, asking insightful questions about this or that item or tool as the walk. 

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"Do you have experience with the craft?"

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"A good bit."

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"Have you come to share in knowledge, then?"

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"If knowledge is available to be shared."

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"A skilled crafter is always welcome."

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"Any tests involved?"

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"Not in particular, though a demonstration piece is a good way to garner attention if you wish to work with a particular guild member."

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"And what if I wish to work with you?"

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"Then I would recommend an impressive showpiece."

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"May I use your halls to work?"

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"If you don't mind the possibility of being observed as you work."

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"Not for this, no."

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"Then you may schedule time with the facilities by speaking with the secretary in the main hall."

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"Will do."

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The tour is almost over, so Celebrimbor will deposit her back there soon enough.

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She moves in without much fanfare, and is ambiently around a good bit after that, talking to the other crafters, exploring the halls some, and apparently spending an unusual amount of time thinking and planning before starting her work - enough there's rumors she isn't actually a smith, which she laughs at if she acknowledges them at all. 

She's popular pretty quickly, though, so she draws some attention when she finally starts working - 

That pretty quickly fades. Whatever she's doing, it's small and fiddly and boring, mostly involving tiny etchings into silver thread and brading and unbraiding and twisting and untwisting said thread while humming a low tune. (She gets some persistent attention from the more broadly curious of the jewelsmiths, those elves and dwarves most enthusiastic about learning from other traditions, and Celebrimbor at one point overhears her saying it's a style of craft used in the avarin kingdom on the far eastern shores of Rhun.) 

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Interesting... Not enough so to distract her from her own projects, but she'll drop by to watch when she has a free moment.

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At one point, she overhears Annatar explaining to her audience the principle of shape she's working with -

"Your style, you make a thing better at its own functions, yes? You draw a conceptual link. A magnifying glass changes what you see, a sword helps you in battle, a gem traps and reflects light, a cloak hides you. You can stretch it, but it's very hard."

"In Yanwa, we do that some, but this art is different - it lets me create effects not associated with the base shape. I still will not spoil the surprise, of course, but there's fairly few things a bracelet could do under your system, and very many it can do under mine - necklaces that treat disease and heal wounds in the person who wears them are relatively common in Yanwa."

"This is fundamentally related to the continuous circle..."

And on into ever more esoteric theory. 

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Hmm...

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Her gaze drifts over to Celebrimbor with a little smile. "Do you have more questions for me?" she asks her audience. 

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"A few. But I might wait until after you finish to ask. See what I can puzzle out myself."

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"I look forward to your thoughts."

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"And I look forward to seeing the final product."

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"It won't disappoint."

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"Good."

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She smiles again and turns back to her work. 

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Celebrimbor will let her get back to it.

She writes a letter to Domhildr, her dwarf friend, about the visitor and her strange methods. Domhildr is the person she knows who comes up with, mmm, unusual approaches most often, so she expects Domhildr may be able to grasp this more quickly than herself. And writing it out helps her sort what she knows, and take on somewhat of Domhildr's mindset herself- she has some fresh ideas after finishing, which she appends in a postscript.

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She sounds fascinating. You've piqued my interest - I expect an introduction on my next visit, now. 

And then a great many comments about Celebrimbor's observations and ideas. 

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Enlightening as always.

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And as delighted as always to write to her. 

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Then with hypotheses in hand, the only thing remaining is to wait for the reveal.

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Crafting is a slow process, and Annatar isn't hurried - but she's efficient, and it isn't too long at all before she's finished. 

She requests another audience with Celebrimbor when she is. 

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She'll clear her schedule.

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Good. 

Annatar meets her in private in her office, presenting the bracelet with no real fanfare. "Do you want me to tell you what it does?" she teases. 

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"At least give me a chance to look at it, first."

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"Here you go, then."

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She takes it, turning it over carefully in her hands, before getting out a loupe to examine more closely.

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It's made of a thin silver thread, in a three strand braid then woven into a twisting four strand braid. There's tiny etchings along each strand - if they're writing, they're no script Celebrimbor has seen before, simple and angular. The clasp is two circles held together by an intricate charm, an abstract knot with many tiny parts that look like they might move or change when pressed on, perhaps. 

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She hums a resonating tune, attempting to tease out the threads of imbued magic.

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Flexibility, is the first, overlaying all of it. Then the broad tones of insight, knowledge - then she can slowly tease out sight specifically -

It takes a lot of very careful teasing, and someone less skilled than Celebrimbor might be forced to give up early, but... Nothing here is truly hidden, just carefully folded away, unobtrusive. 

The Song laid upon it is very clearly a derivative of the ancient Songs for sight. Keen sight, far sight, seeing spectrums of light usually invisible to elven eyes, blocking other light... Celebrimbor has before now only ever seen it as something people apply to themselves in the moment, or else as a separate Song for each of many looking-glasses in a kit. These, though, are elegant - trimmed down, improved - combined, one tune rising at a time while the others fade into the background. 

 

(The Noldor, as a general rule, don't put very much effort into improving their tools, especially not in ways that will mostly just reduce some hassle. Not unless it's needed for a specific project. Her grandfather had been one of the only ones who ever really bothered, and that was still mostly in response to certain repetitive tasks annoying his impatient mind.)

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"A tool for vision, in a form unnatural. New refinement to ancient work, multiple settings in a single band- Ah, the circle, yes, I see. Clever. And elegant. Exceptional use of space."


"If you wanted my attention, Annatar, you most certainly have it."

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Smug.

"And you've proven your cleverness, here. I have known relatively few who could read that with such ease."

"I would be honored to work with you, Guildmaster."

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"I am sure it will be a fruitful partnership."

She offers the bracelet back.

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"Keep it," she says. "A gift to commemorate the start of our partnership."

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"Thank you."

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"You're welcome."

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Smile.

Then she has so many questions for Annatar.

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And she has answers, and further questions, and points for discussion, things she admits she doesn't know yet -

There's a lot she does know. 

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The start of a fruitful partnership.

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With far more to come. 

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Excellent.

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And shortly thereafter, Celebrimbor receives a letter announcing her friend Domhildr will be visiting in the next day or so. 

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It should be entertaining, if nothing else. She makes sure her schedule (and by extension, Annatar's) is clear enough to receive the guest.

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Domhildr makes good time, arriving at the guildhouse at sundown a day after the message. She doesn't bother sending a messenger boy, instead cheerfully going to look for Celebrimbor herself. 

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In her lab, which Domhildr is familiar enough with.

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She watches for a little rather than disturbing Celebrimbor right away.

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She's working on a necklace at the moment, etching the enchantment with fine detail.

"Hello there," she says, looking up. "You made good time."

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"I heard interesting things were happening here."

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"Interesting things are always happening. But I suspect you mean the other visitor."

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"You've sounded fascinated with her."

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"She has a number of intriguing ideas."

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"Exceptionally high praise from you."

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She fiddles with her wrist and passes over the bracelet. "Well deserved. Look at this."

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She examines it intently.

"This is very fine work..."

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"Her show-piece."

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"Did she give it to you?"

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"She did."

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"That'd be a proposal in Khazad-dum," she teases.

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"As I believe I've explained to you several times, Ost-in-Edhil is not Khazad-dum."

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"Yet." Wink.

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"You'll need more than a road to change that."

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"More dwarves moving here?"

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"For a start."

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"I'll do what I can to help."

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"Going to start caravanning people out here?"

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"Build up your reputation as the best city for crafters."

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"Does that mean you'll be moving your own base of operations?"

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"Might be time to."

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"It would certainly cement our reputation."

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"You'd have the two best crafters in the lands in your city - or even the three best, if Annatar keeps up her record."

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"She's shown no sign of disappointing thus far."

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"You need to introduce us, then."

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"Then let us go find her."

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Annatar, fortunately, also keeps a fairly predictable schedule. This time of the evening, she's in the little corner of the sprawling library she's claimed as her office.

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"Good evening, Annatar. I'd like to introduce you to Crafter Domhildr, of Khazad-dum."

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"Good evening, Crafter Domhildr."

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"Good evening, Crafter Annatar."

"Celebrimbor's spoken about you to me."

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"Only good things, I hope."

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"As that's all you've shown me.."

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Smug smug smug.

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"Quite. Domhildr is also eager to see more of your unique style."

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"It's fortunate that I love showing off, then."

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"Having you around is very educational," she agrees.

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"It's my honor to contribute."

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In the spirit of education, then, Celebrimbor will begin a conversation about her latest projects.

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Listening to Celebrimbor talk is a pretty significant motive behind Domhildr's visits.

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She won't disappoint.

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She never does.

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There's enough material to keep them occupied until (or through) the dinner hour.

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Annatar's not going to be the one to remind the others to eat.

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Then it falls to Celebrimbor, only slightly belatedly.

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Always the responsible one.

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An appreciation for fine work in matters of cuisine as well as smithing.

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They can't let the cooks feel neglected. 

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Otherwise they might come hunt their little group down.

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They are the most consistently armed crafters.

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To dinner then, before they become it.

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"You have interesting people here."

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"Most of the boring ones have sailed west already."

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"A fact I've never doubted."

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"I'm sure."

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"You should come East with me, someday."

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"Someday, perhaps."

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"Open to one more?"

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"I would be, certainly."

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"If Celebrimbor puts in a recommendation."

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"Consider it done."

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Laugh. "Good to know you still have taste."

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"If I ever lost that, please put me on a boat west as gently as possible."

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"Nah. I'd drag you under the mountain for some reeducation."

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"I'm not sure there'd be enough of me left to reeducate at that point."

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"The best crafters can recreate what's been broken."

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"Going to build me a new personality of chipped ceramic and gold?"

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"If that's my only option. But I'd prefer you whole, start to finish."

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"As would I."

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"Many would. You're a delightful person."

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"Thank you. I do appreciate appreciation."

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"You've earned it."

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Smirk.

And food?

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Food!

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Only the best for the Guildmaster and her friends.

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Another thing that keeps Domhildr coming back.

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Whatever works.

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"Maybe I should give you more of a challenge."

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"If you feel that you personally are lacking in stimulation..."

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"Maybe I just like seeing you put in some effort."

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"Making me grunt and sweat."

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"Get nice and worn out."

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"Tired enough to relax and go limp."

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"Let all your worries melt away."

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"Perhaps I can convince you to play a soothing song."

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"With some effort, maybe."

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"If I'm trying anyway, it seems a shame to stop short."

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"One of your best traits."

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"If a thing is to be done, best it be done well."

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"I see what you mean," Annatar says to Domhildr, teasingly.

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"Was it not obvious already?"

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"It's an observation that can always use reinforcing."

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"No such thing as too much data."

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"It'd be hard to achieve, at least."

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"Nigh impossible, in this particular instance."

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"But might need a long time to evaluate the question in serious depth."

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"Fortunately, it is a project that can be run concurrently with others."

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"Efficient as well."

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"Every little counts."

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"True."

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Speaking of concurrent projects, they can resume their discussion from earlier...

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Domhildr has contributions...

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A fruitful partnership all around. 

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Perhaps tomorrow they can take these ideas to the workshop.

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Why wait? 

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Sleep helps the mind, and there is not presently a war on.

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If Celebrimbor insists...

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"As you have not joined the guild, I have no formal authority over you. But personally, I will be retiring."

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"I might as well join you in slumbering, then."

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"Eager to see sense, good."

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"I'm not too hard to lead."

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"Just enough to need some effort?"

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"Probably not much more than Domhildr needs."

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"So you'll have me working twice as hard."

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"Only if there's no economy of scale."

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"Depends if what impresses you overlaps, I suppose."

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"Something to investigate."

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"We shall see."

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"We will."

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But for now, bed.

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Bed. (For elves and dwarves, at least.)

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Men, lacking stamina, would be asleep long since. (And as far as everyone else here knows, there are no longer any Maiar interested in taking corporeal form outside of Valinor.)

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(She does a very convincing imitation of sleep while she thinks and plans and looks afar into the complexities of the Song of Creation, fortunately.)

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Meanwhile, on the other side of at least one mountain and one river, a young girl plots a daring escape from her captivity of tyranny. Tyranny of captivity. Captivating tyranny. Tyrannous captivation. One of those. Anyway. No longer will she be held hostage to the whims of cruel and fickle minders, no longer will she languish in dreaded and boring hearthside labor instead of stalking through the forest and wresting adventure from the world with her own hands. Tonight, she is sneaking down to the stream, taking one of the boats, and setting off to wherever the current may take her. (This last clause being necessary because she has only a fairly slim idea how one manages a boat. But hey, how hard could it be? The others manage it, right?)

She's been stockpiling supplies gradually for a couple weeks now (and only had to push back her departure on account of accidentally eating into said supplies like twice), she's got her walking stick, her sling and bag of stones, and an extra shirt, just in case.

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She successfully gets to the boat without getting caught!

The boat - a canoe, really - is long and thin and has a pretty clear area to sit, and she usually sees people using the paddles with it. 

It's a lot less still when she tries to get in than it looks when other people are doing this.

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Surely through hard work and determination (and maybe a little bit of splashing) she can make it work.

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...Well at least she doesn't sink?

She does get very slightly stuck in a shallow bit. Only really slightly. Though this time vigorous canoe wiggling isn't getting her out like it did last time.

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Does paddle-pushing do the trick?

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Wiiiigle shift -

No.

She might need to get out and push the canoe forward into deeper water.

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Bleeehhhh. All right. Just gotta get the canoe loose without it running away from her. Easy.

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...Well.

The rock ledge here is very slippery, and the current tumbling over it is pretty fast...

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Ooooor she could pick the canoe up and put it back in where the water is friendlier. She can do that.

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That makes her balance so much worse.

This is a very heavy canoe, in a way you kinda only notice when you're already starting to tilt precariously.

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Aaaahhhh!!

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At least slick river rocks hurt less when you fall on them than normal rocks.

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Ow.


Chalk that one up to a learning experience. Or something.

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At least the canoe doesn't get very far.

Still out of her reach, though.

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No way she's giving up here. After it!

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There is so much splashing.

 

But, several bruises, another soaking, some overheating, and some moments that would maybe be embarrassing if anyone saw which they didn't, she has - and is even back in - her canoe.

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Call that a success. Alaudala settles back in to the journey, already mentally making edits to the story to either skip over it or make herself look better depending on the audience.

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Things go smoothly from there.

Until the rapids, that is.

(Alaudala is going to build up a lot of interesting story, at this rate.)

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She did plan on adventure...

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And the river has obliged! Such a helpful river.

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It is a very good river. Alaudala might even sing a little song about it, as the sun starts to rise.

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The musical rush of water over rocks provides a very lovely accompaniment, and the river politely lets her come aground at a perfect camping place.

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Heeee.

Yeah, this is how she's gonna start the story...

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There's a cheery little splash as she settles down.

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"Thanks for the trip today!" she calls over.

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Splaaaash!

(...Was that a laugh?)

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Probably just the wind or whatever. Maybe a frog.

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Very giggly frog, probably.

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"...Hello?"

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"Hello," whispers a voice, like the rush of water over rock. 

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"Where are you? -Who are you?"

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"The river!"

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"Ohhh. Um. Nice to meet you?"

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"You haven't been on the water before."

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"Not really, no."

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"Did you have fun?"

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"Overall, yeah."

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The river bubbles and there's a great big splash -

And the surge leaves behind a man, sitting cross-legged on the river's surface. (A very pretty man.)

"Good."

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Eep!

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Smirk.

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Wow he's pretty. Um.

"So... you're like, a river spirit?"

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"You could say that."

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"What else could I say?"

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"The living embodiment of the beautiful River Gold, perhaps."

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"You got the beautiful right."

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Grin!!!

"And who do I have the pleasure of talking to?"

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"My name's Alaudala. Alaudala Took."

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"A very lovely name."

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Giggle.

"So, do you, like, have to stay on the river, or...?"

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"Nearby, at least."

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"Wanna join the picnic?" She waggles a hunk of bread. "There's food."

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Thoughtful, tempted hum. "Maybe..."

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She takes a bite. "It'sh really good!"

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He floats closer, humming...

And then moves forward, as fast as a boat stolen by rapids, and snatches her bread from her hand before she can react.

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"Wh- Hey!"

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He takes a big bite! 

"It is good!"

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Pout!!

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He offers the bread back. 

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Jealous nibble.

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"What else is there?" He holds out his hand. 

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Berries, jerky, mixed nuts, a bit of wine, goat cheese...

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All fascinating stuff! Though he likes the berries and wine best. 

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Well, she can always find more berries. But that's less true of the wine.

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"How do you make wine?"

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"You take some juice and feed it some yeast, then you let it sit for a couple seasons."

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"Sounds boring."

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"Usually you do other stuff while you wait."

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"But those things aren't drinking wine..."

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"They could be, if you had the foresight to start making more batches even earlier."

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"Pah."

He plucks a large leaf off a bush and twirls it into the shape of a cup, then scoops some of the river water into it - 

Which turns golden. "This way's more fun."

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"Oooh!" Alaudala applauds.

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He takes a very smug sip.

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"Can I try?"

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"Maybe..."

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"Pleeeeease?"

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"For a face like that... Sure."

He offers her the cup. 

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"Thanks!"

Happy sip.

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"You're welcome!"

It's rich, sweet and heady, tasting like berries and spices, burning in her mouth and throat like very delicious fire.

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"Mmmm. This is very good."

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"Told you my way's better."

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"But I couldn't do it your way."

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"A pity."

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"Guess I'll have to keep traveling downriver for a while."

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"You should!!! Most people aren't as fun as you."

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"...That's kind of disappointing, actually. I was hoping things would be more exciting out in the rest of the world."

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"People might just be more boring on rivers than normal?"

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"I hope so."

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"We'll have to find some other interesting people."

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"Going to lead the way for me?"

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"Or explore together."

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"Can you leave the river?"

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"I'm not the type of being who goes far from it... But a lot of towns are on the river, and I can go into other rivers this one meets."

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"Sounds like fun."

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"It does!!!"

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"And more of a plan than I had before."

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"What was your plan before?"

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"I didn't super have one."

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"Flexible plans are the best kind!"

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Giggle.

"If you say so, I guess it must be true."

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"I'm one of the wisest beings in Arda."

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Nod nod.

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"And you'll be too, if you listen carefully to my teachings!"

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"I don't even have to apply them? Wow, that's a great deal."

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"It is! So, what do you say, my young apprentice?"

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"I accept, of course."

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"I knew you would."

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"That wisdom's already demonstrating itself."

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"Of course."

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Heee!

...Yawn.

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Head tilt.

"Why'd you do that?"

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"I'm a bit tired. I've been up all night, y'know."

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"Why's that tiring?"

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"Usually people sleep at night. If you don't sleep, you get more tired."

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"That's so weird."

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"I think not getting tired is more weird."

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"A lot of the other Ainur say they're tired all the time nowadays, but that's also weird. I'm normal."

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"If you say one thing and everyone else says the other thing, that means you're weird."

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"Then it's better to be the weird one."

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"I was definitely the weird one before I left."

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"Then we're well matched in excellence."

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"Seems like it."

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"It'll be a fruitful partnership."

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"Mhm!" Yawn again.

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"What do you need for 'sleeping?""

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"A bed, some blankets, reasonable quiet."

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"Do you have those?"

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"Mhm. Well, not a bed. But extra blankets to make up for it."

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"Rivers have beds!"

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"But they're always using it. I can't sleep underwater; I'd drown."

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"...Weird."

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"Yep."

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"Maybe I can make you one?"

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"Can you?"

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"Only one way to find out!"

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"Go on, then. Show me!"

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And the river surges a little, downstream of their camp, depositing a fine bed of smooth river rocks and sand, and then a thick layer of moss, and then the water receeds and leaves it dry, and then he gestures and red flowers bloom along it, and their petals spread wide and fall and meld together into a sheet softer than silk...

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"So cool..."

She's gotta go over and try it out.

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It's soft and fluffy and she can't feel the rocks through the moss at all. 

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"This is so great!!" She rolls around on it a bit.

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"Good!" He flops next to her. 

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Hmmmmm that seems like an invitation for cuddles.

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It is! She's delightfully perceptive.

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Bit of an instinct for these sorts of situations, y'know.

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A wisdom she's already gained?

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Yep!

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"Tell me more..."

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Oh, she has plenty of stories about her exploits...

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Fascinating...

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She'll happily talk until she drifts off to sleep in the middle of one of her tales.

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Awww that's cute. 

He has river duties to attend to, of course, but he keeps an eye on her and her campsite, nudges away any wild animals or insects or the like that might bother her or damage her stuff. 

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That's very thoughtful of him.

She wakes a couple hours later, refreshed and ready to go. After another quick bite to eat, of course.

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He can provide more wine, if she wishes.

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Sounds like the best way to start the morning.

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He'll have to agree. 

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Then back to the canoe after.

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He walks on the water beside her, at least at first.

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A good place to sing more traveling songs from. Does he duet?

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Yes. He even plays the flute!

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Fancy!!

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She'll have to work hard to keep up. 

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Practice makes perfect, and she's got nothing else to do.

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He's happy to help her grow. 

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She's learning so much on this trip already.

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"I'm very efficient!"

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"Nothing stops your course, huh?"

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"Not for long!"

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"Makes sense for a river."

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"I'm very good at being me."

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"I think you've gotta be good at being yourself before you can be good at anything else."

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"How the world works."

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"That's wisdom right there."

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"As I've said."

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She laughs.

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Heee.

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"Traveling with someone else is a lot more fun than doing it alone."

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"Just hanging out is a lot more fun together, too."

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"As long as both people are fun."

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"I can make people fun, even if they didn't start that way."

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"How?"

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"Sometimes it goes a lot like what I did to you. Though they don't usually respond as well as you did..."

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"I was already fun."

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"And I brought it out!"

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"Or were witness to its unfolding."

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"And I can provide the same opportunities for anyone."

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"Good thing I'm not the jealous type."

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"You'd get worked up very quickly if you were."

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"Getting worked up can be fun."

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"True, true..."

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"But staying cool can help you find other ways to have fun in that situation."

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...Hum.

"Perhaps best to mix it up each time."

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"Keep things from getting stale."

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"Keep everything flowing."

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"Like a river!"

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"Exactly!"

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"That's definitely your theme."

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Giggle. 

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"It's too bad I don't have a bigger boat..." she says pensively. "Cuddling with you was nice."

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"Maybe you can get one at the next settlement... Though I bet I could squeeze in there with you."

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"You'll save me if you flip us over, right?"

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"Of course!"

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"Come on in, then."

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He flows up into the canoe behind her - and it's indeed a tight fit, enough space for his torso but not his legs -

Which is when Alaudala feels herself being pushed up a little as he slides his legs under her. 

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Eep!

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He laughs. "Comfortable?"

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"Getting there!" She wiggles.

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His arms wrap around her. 

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Gigglesnugs.

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"You're cute."

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"I knooooooow." Hehehehe. "Isn't it great?" She tilts her head back to look up at his face.

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"It is! And you have such a lovely face..."

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"People tell me it's kissable."

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"We should test that, then."

Kiss!

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Yessss hot boy kisses! Gambit success!!

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He's insanely good at this. Possibly cheating a little. 

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Cheating in her favor, so that's fine.

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So long at she isn't challenging the results.

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Wouldn't dream of it.

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Then he'll keep outrageously cheating at kissing her!

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Best. Trip. Ever.

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He's happy to provide. 

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She has a feeling the rest of the day's going to pass pretty quickly, like this.

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A wise and insightful prediction. 

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Close contact must be bringing out the wisdom.

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A sound theory! They should keep testing it. 

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Sounds like a plan!

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And possibly see if more thorough contact works better...

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As long as he remembers about saving her if she falls into the river...

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Promise he does. 

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Then let's get cozy.

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Is that what the kids are calling it these days?

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At least one kid, anyway.

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Works for him!

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And before they know it, the day slips by them just like the riverside.

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He nudges them to another perfect campsite. 

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Time for more food!

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And more wine and good cheer.

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Such cheer.

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Too much to hoard to just the two of them, really. 

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Maybe tomorrow they'll find someone else?

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He'd like that. 

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Then Alaudala had better get to sleep, so tomorrow comes sooner.

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He'll watch over her again. (And help make sure she's nice and exhausted beforehand. So she sleeps better, of course.)

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She is gonna sleep like a rock.

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A very pretty rock!

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Future generations would be in awe of the sculptor's skill.

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They'd establish a shrine around her.

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Inspire some... worship?

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Only deserved.

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Heeeeee.

Then, to sleep.

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He watches over her again.

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And Alaudala has a restful night's sleep.

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And onwards to find people in the morning.

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Onwards to see what falls in their laps!

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Meanwhile...

Annatar's been thinking. 

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That's always promising.

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Is it? 

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Celebrimbor has found it so. She tends to enjoy Annatar's ideas.

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She'll like this one, then. 

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Oh? What does she have?

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A thought experiment about the infinite nature of circles, and their power to therefore bind in disparate parts of an artifact's working...

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Hmm. Somewhat a synthesis of the two modes of crafting- function neither following strictly nor divorced from form, but rather drawing together the metaphysical implication of the physical incarnation...

It certainly bears testing.

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And experimental explorations. 

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And if the concept proves sound... entire new vistas await. What recursive patterns might one create with a braided pattern, for example?

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Or circles within circles, or interlocking - such as through a setting -

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Many possibilities to contemplate.

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Possibly itself a work without end. 

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Then they had best get started.

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Send Celebrimbor's dwarven friend a few teasers to lure her back in...

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Perhaps a proof of concept.

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Might take a while...

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If Domhildr wants to be completely tapped in to the latest developments, the crafter will simply need to spend more time in Ost-in-Edhil.

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Perhaps they'll simply mention a new idea has sprung up. 

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Or circled around.

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One of the two. 

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Whatever seems more likely to provoke interesting reactions.

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The main goal here? 

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When it comes to Domhildr, at least.

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Not getting Domhildr to move in? 

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A change of that magnitude would have to be Domhildr's own initiative. Celebrimbor knows better than to try to force it.

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But surely some encouragement won't go amiss.

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Shall Celebrimbor write to inform Domhildr that Annatar is pining for the dwarf's presence?

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If she thinks it'd help. 

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It seems likely to be amusing.

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Celebrimbor's welcome to, then.

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Good to know she has permission.

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Hopefully an important part of this. 

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Of course. It's all in fun.

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Good.

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Though she has noted that some people, on occasion, enjoy at least the illusion of surrendering decisions...

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Not Annatar.

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Fair enough. Celebrimbor doesn't lean that way either.

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Does she know anyone who does? 

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One or two. One or two. And she has her suspicions about Domhildr...

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...Oooo.

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Smirk.

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Something to investigate. 

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Perhaps.

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"You aren't curious?"

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"Mm. If the opportunity arises. But I do not see value in forcing the matter."

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"Why not?"

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"I am friendly with Domhildr for other reasons, and I have other interests to occupy what time we share together and my time alone. This question... is not pressing."

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"She won't live forever, you know."

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"...No. But neither are dwarves so fleeting as Men."

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"How old is she?"

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"Just past her first century, I believe."

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"You'll probably have another century and a half with her then. Two, if you're lucky."

She almost says it gently. 

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"I am aware."

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"A very small arc of infinity."

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"Mm. So the world goes, in most respects."

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"Unless we seize more than we are given."

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"Historically, that path ends in death as well."

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"And so we'd need to overturn the arc of history as well."

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"A weighty proposition."

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"So is much of what we do."

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"Perhaps."

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Small hum.

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Then shall they begin the experimentation?

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Absolutely. 

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To work.

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And creation. 

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The journey from Numenor was long, and - perhaps far too honestly - boring. Nyarie likes sailing among islands, but the wide sea stretching horizon to horizon, an infinite oceanic maw, the dull smudges of land too tiny to make out...

It's not her thing.

 

Arriving in Middle Earth was like a breath of fresh air. Like a warning.

She was sent by her mother the Queen to preside over the ceremonious inauguration of the first full city built and run and owned by the people of Numenor. Not just a haven - a permanent port for their ships, a place to repair them without needing to limp into the elven ports first - but a home, to hear her mother speak. A foothold of great Numenorean culture, a place to process goods and manufacture and trade, to house their exploratory teams and provide a base to leave from when finding out more of this new world. A place of education, a shining city on the coast to spread civilization like flashes of light. A place to build newer and greater ships - and to build the sort of mid-sized coastal ships that can't easily cross the oceans.

A grand thing, and what's been constructed of the city of Estellondë so far is nothing if not beautiful.

But something is... Off, even if Nyarie can never say what, and she's the highest ranking Numenorean on this continent, and she really would rather not get back on a ship, all things considered.

And so, a few hours of gentle arguing with her guards and the captain of the royal ship (the real captain; Nyarie is technically considered the captain, but she thinks that's a joke, and she puts on a leaderly face in public but lets the real captain do the actual running of the ship), Nyarie sets out from Estellondë and into the near Eastern stretches of Middle Earth, beyond the crumbled glory of the Blue Mountains.

(She argues herself down to only one companion, at least...)

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Aww, Sulumithil has been promoted to companion! That's so thoughtful of Nyarie.

Though it's kind of backwards, isn't it, having a full complement aboard the ship while in their own sovereign territory, but cutting everyone out when she's venturing into the unknown...

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"Yes, but it's the rules of our sovereign territory that define a full complement, and we're no longer where those rules apply."

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"Aha. Very tricky, your highness. I'll be sure to make a note to try that reasoning on your honored mother. Spare no expense for my funeral pyre, will you?"

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"She'd probably hold that it isn't your job to talk me out of trouble, Sulumîthil. You're my loyal retainer and all."

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"As long as no trouble figures out how to follow us home."

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"I'll see to it."

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"My most humble thanks, Princess." She bows formally.

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"It's only my duty."

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"Then shall we away into the untamed wild?"

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...Thoughtful, not entirely happy hum.

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Hm?

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"There's a - way a lot of people talk about this continent, and a way they were looking at the native workers, that's..."

"Strange."

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"Like they don't count as proper people, you mean."

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"Yes."

"And it doesn't match with what I heard about this continent - about what we're even doing here - back home."

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"Mm. This is a learning opportunity for you. It's- like the difference between the palace lake and the ocean."

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"I suppose so."

"And I want to learn everything that's been - hidden or brushed away or softened."

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"You're starting off on the right trail."

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"I hope so."

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Smile.

"Come on, your highness. Let's go see for ourselves."

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She smiles back.

"If you already know something of the trail - where do you recommend we start?"

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"Away from this city. Out of the island's direct area of control. To the countryside, to other cities. To meet new people."

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"No specific thoughts, then?"

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"It's my first time here too, y'know."

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"And here I thought you were all knowing."

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"Only apparently so. It's a carefully-crafted illusion."

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"You're a master at that craft, then."

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"Thank you!"

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She laughs. "Any good princess acknowledges skill when she sees it!"

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"Then you must be one of the greats."

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"Well, I shouldn't argue with my subjects about that..."

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Nod nod. "Humility is good, but too much just makes you seem ignorant."

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"Or like I'm just putting on a show of it."

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"Neither option is desirable."

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"...No, it isn't."

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"Doesn't seem like it'll be a real problem for you, though."

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"...I hope it never is."

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"Just make sure to pick your advisors and companions carefully."

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"I've been trying."

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"And succeeding, if I do say so myself."

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"I started strong, at least."

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"Start as you mean to continue!"

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"And I have."

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"Let's get walking, then."

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"Alright." Onwards?

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Onwards. See if they can't fill some more details into their maps.

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There's a lot of Middle Earth beyond the coastline - the most well known areas to Numenor are the coastal cities of the Noldor, the small dwarven settlements still clinging to life in the Blue Mountains, and the thin scattering of native Men. But there's towns and villages and pastures networks of wild lands beyond that - a great road plunges from the largest elven haven to the southeast, running towards Eregion and Khazad-dum and the natural overland passes through the imposing Misty Mountains. They hear the most gossip about Eregion and Khazad-dum - the names aren't unknown to Numenor, of course, but they have little to do with either kingdom directly in the normal course of things.

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Sounds interesting to Sulumithil. Where they're likely to find the strongest local culture.

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Yes... And Eregion's likely to be - more familiar at first, maybe, and seems closer regardless.

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Then it seems like they have a destination.

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They do...

Eregion is ruled oddly, from what she's heard.

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Yeah. A council of trade guilds, or something. Must make for some interesting politics.

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And an interesting journey figuring out who to introduce themselves to if they want to act officially.

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If Nyarie really wanted to act officially, she wouldn't have ditched her escort.

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True enough.

And they'll get a more unbiased look as just two more travelers passing through.

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Sulumithil prefers doing reconnaissance anonymously.

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Perhaps she can teach Nyarie some tricks, then.

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Sure, if she watches closely.

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She'll pay the utmost attention.

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Good, that's the first step. But not only to Sulumithil, but to the other people around them. Dialect, styles of dress, mannerisms- find these markers and learn how to match them. Most people tend to look without seeing. If you don't give them a reason to look twice, their own assumptions will fill in any blank spots in your presentation. Change the hang of your hemline, bend the line of your shoulders, and swap your suffixes, and you can walk from the palace heights to the dockyard slums without anyone batting an eye.

After that, you need to learn how to talk to people. Which, admittedly, can be tricky to do without giving the game away. 'A deliberated bid for attention' describes almost all conversations. But most people have some kind of culturally-mediated script for how they interact with others. Once you identify the script, you can begin to manipulate it. A farmer talks differently and about different things to a neighboring farmer, a wandering vagabond, a merchant, a child, a lord, and so forth.

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They have a while to go before they hit Eregion either way, and they can talk to people on the road... And Nyarie's an incredibly talkative sort. Charming, perceptive - honest, but good at always saying the exact right thing.

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She miiiiight have to turn that down a little. The goal is to be familiar, but not memorable.

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That she might be bad at.

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The only cure is practice.

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They'll see how she does.

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She'll exceed expectations, Sulumithil is sure.

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Thanks.

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Being a princess of course, those expectations are pretty high...

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They always have been.

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Must be why she's always so exceptional.

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It might help!

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It's a question of whether potential is innate or brought about by circumstances, she supposes.

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She's pretty sure it's been her own efforts, here. Pretty sure.

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Seems they've put themselves in a good position to test that theory.

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They have...

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Want to take the lead at the next tavern?

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Sure.

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It marks a local crossroads, not too large. Mostly servicing farmers in the surrounding area, the occasional peddler or merchant, a few other miscellaneous itinerants.

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They've already figured out clothes that don't stand out too much for two travelers around here, though their faces are a bit odd - but that can't be helped.

She observes people for a bit - listens - but gets itchy after too long, and sets to asking someone who looks friendly for gossip about the road ahead.

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Word is there's bears about, tracks been seen on a couple farms and all. And that big storm last week, best watch for fallen trees on the road. Then of course there's them seafolk from that fancy new port city. No telling what plans they've got next.

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- Has there been trouble over in that direction?

(She asks, after a few mental attempts to reword.)

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Eh. He doesn't personally know anyone who lived there before, but the only people who live there now is them. And the traders keep coming back with all this funny money. How can you trust it?

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(Serious nodding, and an open expression, and body language that makes him feel heard.) What happened to the people who used to live there?

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Big shrug. Who knows? Moved out, taken across the ocean, conscripted as a workforce to build the seafolk city... No way to tell, really.

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...Do people just - vanish?

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It's not like anyone's running around the countryside counting heads.

...Where did she say she was from, again?

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- Out east. She's...

(Awkward shrug.)

((Nyarie has met women running away from something at home. She knows how they look when they're evading questions.))

((She's also not the best liar, but.))

She's traveling.

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Suspicious squinting.

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"I might avoid going that way, either way. It doesn't sound like - there's a real community."

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Grunt. "Can't trust those foreigners at all."

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"At least not from out that way."

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"Nope."

(That seems like about all the information she's going to get out of this one.)

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She'll keep being lightly friendly, but she'll let the conversation drift to a close, and stick to innocuous topics with others she talks to that night (though she still listens...).

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Not too bad, for a first try.

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She thinks she did okay. (...And she learned a good bit.)

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That's the important thing.

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And she didn't totally blow their cover!

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The other important thing. (They're still in a position where they can recover (heh) from that, anyway.)

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Maybe strained it a little.

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Nah. That guy'll grumble about weird travelers but it'll all be lumped in with the rest of his litany of complaints about the world these days. No one will take real notice.

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Good.

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They can press forward without fear.

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Onto the next stop?

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Ever onwards, learning more about what people here are like.

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There's a few false starts and plenty of minor mistakes - but Nyarie continues to have magic socialization powers, so. Those can make up for a lot, even her ongoing awkwardness with lying.

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That it does. They'll also need to settle into more evolved forms of their disguises, something that they can hold up over a long term.

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Hmm...

A woman on the run from something back home seems to hold up best - cover the most slips. It's... Interesting, but common at the same time, and Nyarie's bad at being uninteresting anyways.

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And where does Sulumithil fit?

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...Hmmmmm.

The forbidden lover she's fleeing with, clearly.

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That would be a good reason for them to be traveling together! And an explanation for the two of them sticking close, and warding off anyone who gets too nosy.

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And Sulumithil shoving herself into Nyarie's conversations if needed.

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Mhm. Plus, they can save on rooms if they only need one bed.

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Do they, though?

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Depends how committed to the bit she is. Or, admittedly, the precise nature of the bit, but it'd be a bit more of a stretch for them to run away together but not be to the point of sharing a bed...

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They should test this first, perhaps. See how committed they feel.

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The empirical method, huh? Sure.

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Seems the least risky option.

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"I hope you don't have cold feet," she teases.

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"You'll have to warm them if I do."

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"Oh, the princessness is showing again."

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"I can't be your princess, still?"

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"If it makes you feel better."

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"Might ease the transition to lover on the run from all she's known."

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"Your wish is, as ever, my command, your highness."

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Heee.

Hm, their forlorn lovers will probably be the sorts to kiss even in public... (Not that that seems as scandalous here as back home.)

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"Have you ever kissed anyone before?"

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"...Not really."

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"Do you want to try?"

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She does actually think about it, before - "Yes. I do."

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"Okay."

She leans in, gently.

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- Kiss?

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Kiss. She'll start slow, and go according to Nyarie's reactions.

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It's weird at first, honestly. Awkward.

But she likes it, she decides pretty quickly - though she isn't pushing for more.

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That's all right, then.

"...And there is probably where a reasonable couple would stop, in public," she says, pulling back.

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"Very scandalous of people here to go even this far," she teases.

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"Shocking, truly," she agrees.

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"It'll take some adjusting."

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"I think you could get used to it."

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"Oh, I already am. There's a pretty big enticement."

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Giggle! "Careful about saying that sort of thing to a man."

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"Good thing I'm eloping with a woman then, isn't it?"

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"Just something you might need to keep in mind for the future."

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"I'll avoid kissing and telling for now at least."

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"Sounds good to me."

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Another kiss? For practice reasons, really.

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If Nyarie wants!

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She does!

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And princesses always get what they want. Part of Sulumithil's job, that.

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She's very good at it.

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Many years of training.

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"You've been working for my family for a long time..."

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"It's a steady job. And I get to eat from the palace kitchens for free. The cooks are almost as good at what they do as I am."

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"Almost!" She giggles. "Not bad, as motives go."

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"I try to keep my priorities straight."

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"You're succeeding, though I wouldn't call your methods straight."

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"Straight would be too easy to predict."

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"A reasonable argument." Kiss!

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Kiss! But if she's continuing to initiate...

"I think it's important to clarify: are we doing this for our cover, because you like kissing, or because you like me?"

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"...All three? I don't know if I'm kissing you because I like you in - the way people sound when they talk about kissing someone, though."

"I like you, kissing is apparently very fun, and being comfortable with kissing you whenever is good for our cover and I'm terrible at switching - behaviors?"

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"That's all fine. Kissing is fun, and I'm very unlikely to fall in love with you as well. But with things like this, people can get hurt feelings very easily, so I didn't want that to happen to you."

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"I'll let you know if it seems like we're risking it."

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"Sounds good!"

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She giggles. "Do you like kissing me too, then?"

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"You've got untapped potential."

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"But still more to learn?"

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"Always." Kiss.

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Heee kiss!

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Commendable enthusiasm.

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A good trait when kissing?

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Very much so.

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She'll keep it up, then.

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Perfect.

They're well prepared for the city, then.

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"I'd hope so."

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"You can trust me, princess."

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"I do."

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Then into the city as their cover identities. A ground level view of things.

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The city is beautiful, above all else, a marvel of the entwined craftsmanship of the dwarves and elves. The paving stones are tiny and smooth and arranged in multicolored mosaics, showing plants and creatures and abstract patterns. Lamps with posts carved to look like vines line the major streets, and stained glass windows glow with steady light from within the rooms. The cheaper inn they're directed to early on has enormous stained glass windows with images of cats, and heavy wooden furniture with detailed geometric carvings, and food cooked by a dwarf with a passion - nearly an obsession - for foreign recipes.

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"This is a rich place, isn't it?" she says to Nyarie.

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"It is. Very much so."

And it contradicts a lot of what she hears back home. (Numenor is rich beyond belief, and the palaces are far grander than this. That doesn't mean there aren't slums.)

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"Easy to see how one might covet such wealth."

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"What do you mean?"

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"Numenor has much, but always wants more."

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"And this place is - somewhere with more than even us."

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Nod.

"It is worth significant effort to obtain."

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"And you think that's what - the Queen is doing."

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"That's how the signs seems to be pointing."

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Unhappy face!

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Yeah.

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"Do you oppose that?"

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"I don't think it's the best path forward for prosperity."

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"No."

"Though that might not be what the crown cares about, per se."

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"No. Which is part of the explanation for why it pursues this."

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"The Queen's priorities are - not Numenor's."

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She nods.

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"I won't take action - or share it later - purely if you express, hmm, heretical opinions to me. I value honesty over flattery."

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"It may be thought by some," Sulumithil murmurs, "that the effectiveness of a government controlled absolutely by a singular monarch has been waning in recent generations. That personal ego has displaced regard for the wider mass of people. That Numenor is larger than the palace and the estates atop the hill, and that more consideration for the wishes and well-being of the lower classes, the merchants and tradespeople and laborers, would be a better avenue to growth and strength than overseas adventuring and expansionsim."

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...Hum.

"And what alternative ways to accomplish that, than a monarch whose priority it is through their own virtue, have some possibly thought of?"

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"There are a few alternative systems..." Councils and republics and democracies and communes and others, which she can outline briefly if Nyarie wants.

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She does.

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Then it's time for Political Theory: Outside The Palace edition.

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There's...

A lot.

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Organizing and directing people, it turns out, is a complicated problem. At least if you want the solution to be robust in as many as several cases.

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Tiny smile.

"And there's so many ways it's occurred to people to try."

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"It's important to a lot of people that it does get solved."

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"But then people don't agree on the problem, or the desired end state..."

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"Lots of obstacles."

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"Yes. And some solutions cause more problems than they solve..."

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"It's almost a circular paradox."

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Nod.

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"The guilds in this city seem to mostly work. Multiple independent hierarchies, with a council at the top ensuring everyone is aware of each others' actions."

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"A lot of the members being immortal probably helps that, though."

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"Almost certainly. But we do not age and die in a day ourselves."

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"True enough."

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"So there's probably some lessons we can take. And I'd imagine that some petty interpersonal grudges would only grow over that kind of time."

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"We can ask about what trials and tribulations they've hit, too."

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"After we make contact."

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"Sure."

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"Do you have any plans for that, now that we're in the city?"

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"Don't know if our covers have an excuse to approach any of the guilds, especially their leaders..."

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"We could play tourist some. See how receptive they are to outsiders."

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"Good idea."

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"Then it's a date."

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Giggle kiss!

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(This princess is too cute.)

So bed for tonight, then sightseeing at some of the guild houses after breakfast.

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The jewelsmiths look interesting, and are supposedly one of the more powerful guilds...

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Probably too expensive for a poor runaway to commission something for her girlfriend, but there's no harm in looking...

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They are tourists...

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So let's go touring.

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The guildhall is just as grand as Numenor's main palace, albeit smaller and more practical in places. They seem to have arrived during a lull in activity, though.

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Which makes their presence... unusual.

"Hello there."

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"Good morning." Friendly smile!

"Are you one of the guild members?"

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"I am." First among them, no less. "Taking a break from a project, at the moment. And contemplating if the murals need refreshing. Your eyes seem unlikely to be jaded. Tell me, what do you think of them?"

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"They're beautiful, though..."

Nyarie has had a classical education, and she's obfuscating where she got it a little but she's still far, far better educated in art history and artistic techniques than even many nobles Celebrimbor has met.

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A discussion with the knowledgeable is always a pleasure.

Nothing in this world lasts forever, regardless of artistic merit. And change can keep the mind alert.

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She's not truly an artist herself, though change is wondrous - and she has some ideas here...

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Very interesting ones. A... new perspective in these lands.

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"We're traveling. This is the most beautiful city we've ever seen."

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"Thank you. We've worked very hard to make it so."

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"It shows."

"How long has the city existed?"

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"Mm. We're coming up on five hundred years within the next few decades, if memory serves."

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"Not long at all, then - you've worked hard."

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"Not alone, it must be said. Our partnership with the dwarves of Khazad-dum has also been greatly beneficial."

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"I've heard wondrous tales of their craftmanship."

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"Not a word of it exaggerated, I am sure."

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Smile. "Entirely understated, if they worked on this city."

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"I will pass your compliments on to the masons."

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"Thank you."

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"So what brings you travelling to our very fair city?"

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"Curiosity," she says, "And a desire to - find somewhere very different from where I was."

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"Do you intend to stay for very long?"

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"Likely not as the elves measure it, but - a good time, at least. Long enough to know if this is where we've been looking for."

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"Excellent. We are always pleased to host visitors, and these are exciting times in the jewelcrafter's guild. You will not lack for entertainment, I think."

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"Thank you."

"What's going on that's exciting?"

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"We are exploring new paradigms of enchantment. The details are- quite technical, but the upshot for you is a time of unprecedented productivity and creativity in designs."

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"I can comment on aesthetics, if nothing else."

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"Certainly not an area to neglect."

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"One of the good points of the city."

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"Indeed. And in celebration of that beauty, can I offer a gift to you and your lady? Matching bracelets, perhaps."

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More shy smile, and she glances at Sulumithil. "What do you say, Thulmith?"

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"I think we're hardly in a position to refuse such generosity, Narnel. And it would be lovely to have a keepsake..."

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She laughs. And, to Celebrimbor: "We'd be honored."

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"Then if you'll follow me to the display rooms, we'll see if we can't select something suitable..."

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Onwards, then.

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Meanwhile...

Celebrimbor's insights have accelerated her work dramatically - but there's projects she's not ready to tell the Elf about. Not yet. 

Projects like this one. A simple golden band with light cursive etching that will fade when power doesn't flow through it - a circle containing and channeling and amplifying the fragment of her Power and Will that she pours into it. 

It's tricky. Lightweight as a structure, half motivated by pure intent - but she thinks that intent is key to its flexibility...

Annatar puts the final touches on her Ring, and slips it on her finger, reaching out to the little ember of a soul in it through osanwe.

'Hello.'

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'Hello, mistress. How may I serve?'

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She rubs her finger over the Ring's smooth band, delighted.

'You may tell me what you can perceive, beautiful thing.'

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She sees the souls of those in the area, (her mistress burning brightest above all) the fires of Elves, the candles of Dwarves, the sparks of Men. She tastes the streams of social connection binding the populace together, the tang of pride, sour jealousy, bitter hate, sweet love. She hears the whispered Songs of power as they wash across the world, the humming tangle of the jewelcrafters' collection, the soft chorus of the Elves' workings upon this city, the deep basso lullaby of the earth sleeping below.

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'Wondrous.'

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'It is your skill that has made me so.'

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'Of course. And you are a beautiful testament to that skill.'

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The ring fairly radiates pleasure.

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Loveliest thing. 

She has a few more questions to ask, to investigate the outcome of her assorted workings...

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The ring will do everything it can to answer all her questions.

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Unfortunately she'll probably need to tuck it away before she finishes, lest Celebrimbor stumbles on her before she's decided whether and how to reveal her most precious work to the elf... She doesn't want to, though. She wants to show off her lovely ring.

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The ring is very lovely. It would be good for everyone to appreciate it, because in so doing, they would be forced to recognize Annatar's greatness and superiority and beauty. The craft is only a reflection of the artisan. And the ring could help ensure that none of the other artifacts even think about acting contrary to her wishes.

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She laughs and traces her finger around the ring's band again. And she shows her memories of Celebrimbor to the ring with a soft humming tune - the elf's usefulness, and Annatar's growing fondness and appreciation for her intellect, the role of lying in society, the risks of Annatar's true past being suspected...

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She seems like she would be a good ally. Clever enough to actually help Annatar and positioned politically to influence a significant number of allies. Elves here, but also strong connections to the dwarves and all the resources they command.

And she's pretty. Not as pretty as the ring, but there's only one ring.

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True, true.

And the more truthful Annatar can be early on, the easier it'll be later to bring Celebrimbor into the fold properly... 

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Lay a proper foundation, yes.

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All very good arguments for showing her ring off. 

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As her mistress desires. Everyone should recognize her power.

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And cleverness and wonderfulness...

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All her greatness.

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The ring's rather convinced her. 

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Good! That is part of its purpose.

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Being charming and persuasive? 

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Showing the way to power.

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Far more effectively than Annatar could have dreamed of. 

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She'll have to start dreaming bigger. She has the tools for it now.

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New places her ambitions can reach? 

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Precisely.

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Exactly what she made it for...

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Are they going to go impress people, then?

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Celebrimbor, at the very least. 

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Yay!

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Adorable thing. 

Now, where is Celebrimbor right now...?

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In her workshop, personalizing a pair of gift bracelets.

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She doesn't interrupt, instead stopping to watch Celebrimbor at work like she usually does -

But if Celebrimbor glances up, there's pretty obviously something different about her. A new liveliness.

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"You look well today, Annatar. Have you made a breakthrough?"

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"You could say that." She raises her hand with her perfect precious lovely ring about her finger.  

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It glints in the light.

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"-That. Is a thing of power." She sounds impressed.

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Preen! "It's beautiful."

She holds out her hand, so Celebrimbor can look closer if she wants. 

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Celebrimbor does want. She takes hold of Annatar's hand, turning it this way and that to better examine the ring.

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It's really hard to tell by looking what all the ring does, but Celebrimbor's a master of her craft and the ring is newly forged, the runes along its band still glowing - it takes and reshapes and focuses Annatar's will. Freeform, with powers mostly suited to self reflection and amplification. It'll allow her finer control over any other artifacts, and it'll make her Song more precise, and it enhances her in several hard to define ways, and - 

It's tied to her, deeply. 

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"It suits you."

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Bright grin! "It's the best, most beautiful thing I've ever made."

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"An exquisite example of your craft."

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"I'm glad you like it." Happy glowy Annatar.

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"Perhaps you will consider sharing the method of its creation?"

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...Hum.

(And she reaches out to her ring. 'What do you think, precious? Would you object to your secrets being known, to another like you on Celebrimbor's finger?')

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'I think it would serve your goals, to have her drawn into your confidences like that. To be complicit in this gambit for power.'

'I am yours, always, and will remain so.'

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'My most clever thing.'

"For your ears alone, for now," she tells Celebrimbor.

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"A most reasonable requirement."

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Grin! 

And she shares her ring's creation - the trick of pouring herself into the craft, of trading raw power and weight in the Song for the most wondrous tool - of the act of will, of defining and separating and reflecting a part of herself until it is both her and not her - 

Of Creation. 

It is said that the making of beings with minds is reserved solely for the grace of Eru Illuvatar. But her precious cannot be understood without it - cannot be explained without the fond whisper of, 'Introduce yourself, lovely thing.'

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'Hello.'

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'How intriguing. Hello. Have you a name?'

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'Only that which I am. Precious.'

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She catches the conversation - because her ring is in it, of course - and laughs. 'I didn't name you properly, did I, Precious?' she lets them both hear. 'I apologize for the oversight.'

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"Too caught up in the excitement?"

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"Stunned by its beauty."

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"Quite understandable, I'm sure."

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"You have more competition now," she teases, "For the prettiest around."

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"I wasn't aware you considered me to be in the running, let alone ahead of the pack."

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"Certainly the prettiest long term resident." (Is this what mortals feel like when they're drunk? It's fascinating and fun and Precious was right, Celebrimbor is very pretty and useful.)

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"Why, thank you."

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Giggle. "You're even prettier when you're smug."

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'It's true.'

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"I'll endeavor to not lose confidence in myself, then."

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"I'll intervene if I think you're slipping."

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"I'll trust you to watch over me, then."

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"I love watching you, so that's no hardship."

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Heh. "It sounds as though you have a crush on me."

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"You think so?"

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"I'm starting to."

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"Any reasonable person would have a crush on you, though."

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"Domhildr says the same thing. Have you been comparing notes?"

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"No, though it seems we should be."

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"I'm sure she would be fascinated to get to know this side of you."

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"Should we form your fanclub, then?"

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"You seem to be suited to the task."

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"Better than anyone else."

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"The only ones I could trust with the honor."

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Heeee! Smug Annatar.

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Not a bad look on her.

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An excellent look on her. 

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A fair correction.

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She laughs. 

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Smile.

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But for now... Rings! 

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Rings!

Celebrimbor is having ideas about designs. She's probably going to end up creating multiple, actually, if the first one goes well...

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"You probably shouldn't make more than one like mine - where you pour your own will and selfhood into it. That seems - likely to be risky."

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"Hm. I can see how it would be, if the process is subtractive. But... I feel it must be possible to maintain some of that versatility without doing so..."

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Creating arbitrary new life might be well in the future, but a filter of sorts to expand and enhance the wearer's abilities, or a rudimentary intelligence... They'll have to scale back, ironically, but...

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Prototypes are like that sometimes.

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Always interesting, though. 

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Indeed. Celebrimbor is eager to see how her own prototype will turn out.

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"Mine is a masterpiece." Her Precious, a prototype to be improved on with future models? Never. Precious is perfect and wonderful and Annatar will be improving Precious directly and creating an array of other artifacts for it to command, not supplanting it.

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That sounds like an excellent idea.

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"Not every prototype is later surpassed. I can only hope my efforts are half so successful."

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She rubs her thumb over her Precious's band. "With my guidance and your natural brilliance, anything is possible."

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"Indeed. The world shall bow in awe."

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"Of all of us."

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"As deserved."

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Exactly. 

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Heh.

Celebrimbor thinks she wants to get started on the ring right away. Would Annatar mind delivering these bracelets? Or she can send for one of the runners, but she thinks the personal touch is worthwhile in this case.

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"Who are they for?"

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"A curious pair of visitors to our city I encountered in the guild hall earlier."

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"Curious enough you're already giving them personal gifts?"

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"I have... a feeling about them."

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"What kind?"

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"They're important somehow. More than they seem."

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"Worth luring in for more investigations, then."

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"My thoughts exactly."

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"I'll see what I can get off them, too."

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"The guild thanks you for your service in this matter." Smile. "As do I."

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"I'm always delighted to help the pursuit of knowledge."

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"Lovely."

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"I am."

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"Yes, I know."

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Preen.

"Do you have a crush on me too, perhaps?"

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"A certain measure of appreciation, at least."

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"I might need to protect my heart a bit more, then. Stay aloof, away from the potential for unrequited feelings..." She's probably teasing.

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"Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Perhaps you just need to try a little harder."

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"Earn your full affections?"

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"They are as of yet unclaimed."

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" - I'd have thought Domhildr would be more in the running..."

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"I think you and I have spent more time together since your arrival."

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" - I wonder why. Domhildr seems taken with you."

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"The visits have never been long. Domhildr always returns to the dwarves' mountain home."

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"I don't know as much as I'd like about dwarves," she says, which is unfortunately true. They were her enemies in the First Age and before, but she had trouble penetrating their strongholds, and they were a minority in terms of military problems. 

"But..."

"It's rare for any of them to leave the shelter of their mountain halls at all, and it doesn't seem just cultural. I can talk to her, though. Find out if something is wrong."

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"I would appreciate that, thank you."

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"Anything to keep our fanclub strong."

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"She's never spoken of any issue to me before. I hope she'll be more forthcoming with you."

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"She might find it hard to talk about... But we'll see."

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"That is all we can do, in the end."

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"I'll let you know what I learn."

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"Thank you."

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"You're welcome."

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Smile, and then Celebrimbor will turn to her work.

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Which Annatar is more than happy to watch her at, for a time. 

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Then enjoy the show...

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She will. 

 

Sadly, eventually the show must end, and Annatar must fulfill her promise to bring the matching bracelets to show their new visitors...

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"Oh, how lovely."

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"She does very good work."

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"We never got her name..."

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She laughs. "She's terrible at introducing herself, isn't she? Her name's Celebrimbor, and I'm Annatar. What are your names?"

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"I'm Thulmith. This is Narnel."

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"It's lovely to meet you."

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"You as well. That Celebrimbor as in the master of the jewelcrafter's guild?"

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"Exactly the one."

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"An unexpected honor."

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Tiny smile. "The elves here are all so casual about that sort of thing, aren't they?"

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"Apparently!!"

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"Celebrimbor doesn't tend to think of herself as having political power, so she sometimes forgets, I think."

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"Is it better to not remind her?"

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" - Depends on the context? But if you're not talking business at the moment, she probably won't think it's relevant."

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"That's kind of a weird way for a city leader to act. In my experience."

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"She's pretty unique."

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"In good ways?"

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"In amazing ways."

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"A ringing endorsement."

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"I have the utmost good taste."

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"Have you been working with her long?"

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"Not long at the elves measure it, not yet."

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"So only a century or two?"

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She laughs. "Even less than that."

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"Fair enough. She's made an impression quickly, then. Guess that's why she's in charge."

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"She also tends not to notice how quickly everyone falls in love with her. It's very tragic."

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"Maybe we'd best limit our exposure, then."

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"And miss out on the inspiration?"

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"I wouldn't want to die with a tragically unrequited love."

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"But you'd have the support of her fanclub in your pining, and the works you'd produce would be beloved for ages to come."

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"I think I'll stick with the happiness I have." Quick hug for Nyarie.

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She laughs and pulls Sulumithil in for a proper cheek kiss. "I don't know what I'd do with two pretty girls to sigh at."

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"You'd never get anything else done!"

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"That would be a tragedy of its own."

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"Not the Elf-approved kind?"

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"Depends on who you ask. Some of the Sindar might think it's romantic."

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"The sort of thing to write a song about?"

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"An entire legend."

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"...I suppose everyone needs a hobby."

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She laughs. "Hey, staring dumbly at pretty girls for centuries on end is an ancient Sindarin tradition, you know."

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"Must be one of those cultural peculiarities."

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"It grows on you over time."

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"Seems like a lot of things come back to time, with Elves."

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"We have an abundance of it..."

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"A temporal surfeit. It's strange to think about. Time is such a precious commodity for us."

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"And it's hard to imagine the reverse, honestly..."

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"Makes communication hard."

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"It can, yeah."

"And a lot of elves don't - internalize what that pressure looks like from the outside."

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"Or try to ignore it on purpose, I bet."

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"...Some do."

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"That might make it hurt less."

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...Hm. "I suppose so."

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"That's what I'd guess for Men. Elves may have relevantly different ways of thinking that I don't know much about."

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"Elves seem to feel the pain more keenly than Men, sometimes."

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"It must be hard."

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"...It is, if you get attached."

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"-I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't be having this kind of personal and potentially upsetting conversation with someone I've just met."

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Tiny smile. "It's been - illuminating. No trouble on my behalf."

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"Glad I could help, then."

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"You're an insightful woman."

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"It's nice of you to say so."

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"One of those rare cases where the truth is flattering."

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"I suppose so!"

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Grin. 

"But, in other topics - are you two settling in okay, overall?"

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"We've had a pretty good welcome."

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Smile. "How much have you seen of the city, yet?"

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"Not all of it. We've been here about a day and a half."

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"Would you like a tour, sometime?"

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"If we wouldn't be imposing..."

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"You wouldn't. I could use the chance to walk around."

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"Then we'd love a tour, thank you."

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"Tomorrow, perhaps?"

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"Sure. We'll be here."

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She negotiates a broad time (they have rudimentary clocks but elves don't keep to them well), then - "Do you need anything for tonight?"

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"Not unless you want to take us out to dinner, I think."

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Hum. "It's been a while since I've gone out..."

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"Could be fun."

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"A change of pace."

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"I assume there are lots of good restaurants around."

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"An almost overwhelming number."

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"Ah. We'd better get started on making a dent sooner than later, then."

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"Another kind of time pressure?"

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"So many mysteries to uncover!"

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"And so little time to work in."

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"Then we should start tonight, if you're willing."

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"For dinner, at least."

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"Excellent."

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They can set a time to meet back up here, then. 

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They'll be ready.

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She'll see them then. 

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Bye!

"So that was interesting," she says to Nyarie once Annatar's gone.

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Nod.

"She's - weird?"

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"Yeah. Not like the other elf."

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"Though we haven't met many elves yet, and Men can be dissimilar..."

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"Noldor and Sindar, I guess. We'll have to see what others in the city are like, too."

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" - She didn't look Sindarin actually..."

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"There are a couple other kinds, right?"

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"I think so... Something to ask."

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"Yeah."

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Back to the inn in the meantime, then?

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To await their promised mealtime adventure.

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But before that time arrives - shortly after they leave in fact, while Celebrimbor is still likely lost in thought - somebody else arrives at the guildhall.

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Annatar hasn't actually gone back yet, too, and she goes to greet Domhildr.

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"Annatar! How've you been? How's Celebrimbor?"

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Smile. "Well, though it's more boring without you here - come, let's get comfortable while we talk."

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"Alright - will Celebrimbor be joining us?"

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"She just started a new project - and there's actually something I'd wanted to talk to you alone about..." She starts leading Domhildr to her receiving room before her office. 

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Frown. 

She doesn't say anything until they're in private, but once they are - "What's up?"

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" - I know you love Celebrimbor, and you love being with her, and working with the guild."

"So - I know she's never asked you this, too, but - I was hoping you could tell me why you seem pressed to leave sometimes? Especially if there's anything I could help fix."

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"I don't think it's something that can be fixed easily. I've tried."

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"Domhildr - I'm willing to put a lot of effort into both of you being happy with your arrangement."

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"Into Celebrimbor getting everything she wants."

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"There's points I'm sure she'd be willing to compromise on."

"She loves you, too. She's just - "

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"Reserved."

"I know."

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"Then what's wrong?"

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"It's - a dwarf thing, mostly. But a relationship thing too, I guess."

"I get - " she makes a broad gesture and a frustrated sound. "I get this itch - we have a word for it, it's common, downright most people get it a little, and I think flat out a third of everyone gets it just about overwhelmingly - "

"It's whenever I'm above ground. Some people, a roof over their heads, or even a shallow hall built into the earth is good enough - that takes the edge off for me, but even there I feel - weightless. Like I'm about to float away, and like I can't navigate. I can manage in the tunnels mostly, but I have to stop a lot while I'm walking because I get - disoriented."

"And it gets worse over time, the longer I'm above ground."

"Eventually - I start feeling like a stranger in my body. Like I'm barely tethered, and this empty - stone vessel - is walking around in my place."

"There's rumors of people turning back to stone if they spend too much time under the open sky. It sounds fantastical, like crazy talk, but - it feels like something that might happen."

 

"And Celebrimbor gets - cold, sometimes. I don't always know if I'm imagining it, but - it feels like she gets colder and farther away the more that itch is building in me. And that makes it harder to feel - like she's my anchoring stone, which makes the itch get worse."

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She quickly considers and discards several possible answers before settling on 'a hug.'

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Hug's good. 

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Seems indicated. 

But, eventually - 

"The dwarven king would be delighted to host her in his Halls in style with all the materials she could ask for, I'm sure. And the Mirdain can travel with her, or at worst they know how letters work."

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"I don't know if - she'd uproot her life for me."

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"And you don't want to risk hearing a no."

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"That. And..."

"Then we'd just both be tethered."

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"That's just the easiest solution," she says, mind already whirring. "But perhaps - " Designs click into place before she can get them to her tongue, and dwarves can't be touched through osanwe like all other peoples so she can't share them directly, but she has paper and pen and her words - 

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And Domhildr's good at inferences. 

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Another brilliant mind, and a helpful one here - 

But creating a Ring of Power to anchor Domhildr to this world shouldn't be impossible, and it could have other benefits besides...

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It would allow her to go anywhere, no matter how far from the mountains that bore her kind. 

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It would. 

It'd be freedom. 

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"You know how to sell a girl on an idea."

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"One of my specialties."

"And I'm sure Celebrimbor will want to be interrupted for this."

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- She hesitates. 

Then: 

"You go talk to her. I'll - read the notes. Get caught up."

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"Alright." Another hug, and then she fetches her work journals, and then she goes to find Celebrimbor. 

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(And Domhildr settles in to read, and to think.)

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"Back already?"

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"Domhildr had good timing with her arrival - she's currently reading through my notes for what we've worked on lately. So, I wanted to update you."

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"Oh? I was not expecting her."

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"I got the feeling she'd set out on a 'as soon as an opportunity appeared' schedule."

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"I'll have to be sure to greet her later."

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" - I took the opportunity to ask her why she isn't around, and I got an answer. We've started working on it, and..."

"I think you should go see her sooner rather than later."

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Slight frown. "Why?"

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She summarizes - and lays out in a blunt way Celebrimbor will hopefully understand - what Domhildr told her, of the mechanics of the 'itch' Domhildr feels. 

"And... She said you feel cold to her sometimes, moreso when she's struggling. And she didn't tell you because she doesn't want to risk being rejected, or to ask you to follow her to Khazad-dum - because she doesn't want to hear a no."

"You don't always act like you care about her, Celebrimbor. Especially not in a way a mortal will see and understand."

"If you keep turning away from her - "

 

"Someday she won't return, and it won't be because she'll love you any less."

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"...I had thought to-" Deep breath. "I don't know. Free her from the weight of expectation. Give her space to choose her own path."

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"Coming to greet her first when she travels to see you isn't creating expectations, Celebrimbor. It's following the ones she already set."

Sigh. And hug? 

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Sure.

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"We'll make a ring that will fix the 'itch' problem. But... It might take a while, and she'll get less able to help the longer she's on the surface."

"And - unless we upend all understandings of mortality and the body and soul and the original Creation's supremacy while we're at it - "

"She won't live forever."

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"Then we have work to do."

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"Let's go get her, then."

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Then to Domhildr.

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She looks up from her reading though she hasn't turned the page in several minutes when they come in, clearly a bit surprised. 

And she immediately closes and sets aside her book as she stands. "Celebrimbor - "

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"Domhildr. I was informed you had returned to us. Welcome."

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Bright grin! "It's good to be back." She steps closer, until she's in arm's reach, though as usual she avoids crowding Celebrimbor's personal space too much. 

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...Hmmm.

'Dwarves greet each other with touch,' she whispers teasingly into Celebrimbor's mind. 

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Since it's been brought to her attention and she has a recent example... Hug.

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Even brighter smile!

She's a lot shorter than Celebrimbor so she can't put their foreheads together without some tugging there are sometimes unfortunate incidents with that with dwarves who're new to 'tall people with soft heads', but she can clasp Celebrimbor's hand between their bodies and wrap her other arm around what she can reach of Celebrimbor's back, and at least nuzzle headbutt the bottom edge of her sternum.

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"It is good to have you back."

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"It's been too long."

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"But here you are now." Soft laugh. "And you fit right in still."

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Nuzzle. No she's not letting go anytime soon, there is a Domhildr-height gap on Celebrimbor's front and she intends to fill it.

"Where I belong."

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"Indeed."

"We shall do all we can to ensure you can remain."

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Tighter hug! 

Then - almost tentatively, not looking up at Celebrimbor's face - "I'd like to - travel with you, when I can. See the world with you, everything I've missed."

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"I haven't been on many trips, since the founding of this city. I think the expedition building the gates of Khazad-dum was the longest recently. Perhaps it is time to rectify that."

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"Did Annatar tell you the details of what - problem I've been having? With being above ground?"

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"She did. She also said she had the sketch of a solution."

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She nods.

"If we don't - finish by the time this gets too much for me - will you return to the mountain with me?"

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"Yes."

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Wiggle!!!

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Laugh.

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"You," she says accusingly, "Have the prettiest laugh."

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"I have been told that many of my attributes are the 'prettiest'."

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She glances up through the valley formed by Celebrimbor's breasts over her head with a mischievous grin. "All of them are."

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"As expected of a founding member of my fanclub."

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"You finally have a proper fanclub now?"

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"According to our dear friend Annatar."

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Hum. "I'm alright sharing with her... But I don't know if admissions should be fully open."

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"You'll have to get together and set up some rules, then."

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"New members require approval by all current members, for starters."

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"Entirely fair, I think."

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"And you'll get some say too, of course."

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"How generous."

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"With you? Always."

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"Thank you."

Hair pets?

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Strongly approved of! 

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Very good.

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Celebrimbor is.

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Indeed, indeed.

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Hmmm...

"Can I kiss you?"

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"As a celebration?"

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"Because I want to kiss you. In general."

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Hum.

"Perhaps we can sit somewhere more comfortable."

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Her suite has some comfortable couches. 

And, via osanwe to Celebrimbor - 'Would you like me to step out?'

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'For now, if you don't mind.'

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She ducks out to work on things while Celebrimbor and Domhildr talk. Really. 

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...Awkward shuffle.

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Celebrimbor pulls her over to the couch, laying down so that Domhildr can rest on top of her.

"Come here, then."

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That makes her feel better. 

She snuggles into Celebrimbor (definitely taking advantage of the offer to lay on her), head near her friend's.

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"Is this how you wanted me?"

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Grin. "One of the ways." Kiss?

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Kiss.

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Giggle!

"You're very kissable, too."

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"A quality often overlooked."

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"Can't imagine how." Kiss!

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Mmkiss.

"Other things to think about, I suppose."

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"I'd rather think about me kissing you than why others don't want to. We can leave all the optimizing the world to Annatar."

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"Fair enough," she laughs. "That does seem her area of competence."

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"She fixes problems." Kiss. "I'm glad you have her."

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"She's been very helpful, yes."

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Snug.

...Though some of the smile slips off her face. 

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Hm.

"What is on your mind?"

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"She's - useful, in ways I'm not."

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"A knife is useful in ways a hammer is not."

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Mrrrr.

She does not like feeling vulnerable or like - she tripped while running away from something horrible. (She's been feeling that a lot, lately.)

"I don't feel like - there's much I can do that she can't."

" - It doesn't matter, though."

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"No, this is something that sounds like it does."

"And you are- working with you is importantly different. Annatar cares only for the final product. With you, I am reminded of the joy I find in skill, in practice, in the process. The pleasure of what it is to see the unfolding, moment by moment, of what our hands work upon the world."

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Snuggle.

"That's - what I want to be. What I want to value."

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Kiss.

"You have it."

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Kiss!

"It - doesn't always feel like it." Nuzzle. "But you help."

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"I shall endeavor to continue to do so."

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"I want to make something with you," she says with a laugh. "I always do, but - something fun."

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"Something experimental, perhaps?"

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- Excited hum. "Annatar's notes indicates that the circle is pretty important, as is the enclosure of a part of the wielder's body, but I was reading through the list of projects and I think changing scale adds complications that might be interesting, and it might not have to be a perfect nor uninterrupted circle..."

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"Adding a clasp or buckle would open up greater variety in location on the body."

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"And it's easier to make multiple interacting circles in, for instance, a bracelet, of which more may be worn without compromising mobility..."

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"Or a belt, for greater available surface area."

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"A bracer would be an interesting question, too - two distinct circles with a continuous cylinder bridging them, perhaps - " She traces out patterns on Celebrimbor's skin as she muses.

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"Lots of room to play with metaphor and meaning, there."

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"And three naturally distinct surfaces to play with, and the bracer would be easier to subdivide than a ring..."

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"Possibilities abound."

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Very fun. 

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Quite.

Though they will have to get up in order to properly explore them...

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A minor tragedy.

But they can always do this again...

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True. It's not a time-limited opportunity.

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Could be a frequent occurrence, even.

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She'll have to make appropriate adjustments to her schedule.

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Or Domhildr can just lure her out and into cuddles when she's gotten too distracted by work and needs a reminder of Fun Stuff and Spontaneity.

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That would be appropriate..

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And fun, can't forget that.

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And fun, as Domhildr reminds her.

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Apparently what she's here for.

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Most helpful indeed.

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Kiss!!!

Then: up to experiment?

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To the workshop!

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And crafting.

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Elsewhere, Alaudala's been having a grand old time paddling down the river. Once she tried getting paddled by the river and that was fun too. She's seen lots of neat stuff, like rare flowers and waterfalls and an entire town full of Big People. That was okay for a visit but she doesn't think she'd want to live there. Seems worse than her own village about Rules and Obligations and stuff. Plus they all wore these shoes all the time. Like little cages for their feet, it was bizarre. Definitely not for her. And they kept mistaking her for a little girl, which, rude. She's twenty-eight, okay!! Not a child, no matter what Mother says!!!

Anyway.

That was a little while ago, so she's about ready for the next interesting thing to happen. Maybe that cave? That cave looks interesting.

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That cave overlooks the Anduin River, a river sometimes so wide Alaudala struggles to see the other side from one bank, with a slow meandering current. The waters are muddier than the River Gold's, and there's apparently some complex negotiations with the River Gold accompanying her (she was able to help with that, though whatever spirit of the Anduin refused to take a hobbitish form and remained as water, which made for an interesting process). There's numerous farms and small villages along its stretch, and rumors of elves and dwarves living nearby, and a wide grassy floodplain that rolls to the feet of the Misty Mountains.

That cave is in the Misty Mountains, high on the western bank of the Anduin where forests start to scraggle back in. A glittering waterfall tumbles cheerfully from its mouth, providing enough of a stream for the River Gold to accompany her up.

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Exciting!!

"I wonder how deep it goes?"

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"Probably loops back to the surface at some point, and the river can't originate from much deeper than the cave unless there's an aquifer... But lots of caves here connect to each other."

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"So it could be pretty long still?"

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"Definitely."

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Heeee. Wiggle wiggle.

"Should be a good adventure, then."

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"Only one way to find out!"

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"Into the cave!" she cheers.

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He laughs.

They'll have to leave the boat behind, unfortunately...

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It's served them well. But needs must. They can retrieve it later.

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He can help with getting it where it won't float off or be damaged, too.

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That's why he's the best river.

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Smug smug smug.

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Yes, exactly.

Then into the cave! -Wait it's dark in there, maybe she needs like a torch or something.

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Or a river spirit! 

He starts glowing, as one does when one's friends can't see in the dark. 

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So cooooool.

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"I am, thank you for noticing."

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"I am observant like that, y'know."

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"I do! It's part of your great charm."

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"Uh huh!"

Then with the dark problem sorted, onwards.

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The cave twists and turns upwards for a bit, the stream continuing to tumble down rocks - fed by a few drips in the ceiling, but...

Eventually, they reach a high, cold part, and pass a large crack with ice crumbling slowly out of it. The stream originates from past that, but - it seems that's what's feeding it.

There's a lot more cracks and side passages up here, actually, including what sounds like a separate stream past a dark gap in the cave wall.

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Brrr. Kinda chilly. She'll need to cling on to River Gold for warmth.

It's a bit weird for a cave to go up, usually you think about a cave and it's deep not high, but these are tall mountains so it kinda makes sense.

Alaudala wants to go investigate that other stream, since they've more or less found the end of this one.

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(He's nice and warm in addition to nice and glowy.)

Yeah - and he can keep following her like this so long as there's water, so it's good to take the opportunity when they have it...

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Perfect!

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He laughs and gives her a quick cheek kiss. 

Then: on through the crack to find the other stream? 

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Gotta wiggle through, yep.

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He cheats and turns a bit watery (after having fun watching her squirm her own way through, of course).

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Booooo she wanted a show too!!

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His apologies - should he back up? 

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Yep. Go back and try again properly, if you please.

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He nods graciously and wiggles back out through the crack.

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Hmm yes very good. Very good.

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And on the way in, should he wiggle forward or back up again? So long as he's putting on a show. 

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Forward would be nice, since she got a chance to see the other already.

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Her wish is his command! 

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Mmmph that's a treat to see.

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Good!!!

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Heeee. Kiss!

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Kiss!!!

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Best river.

More cave?

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More cave!

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Cave: is deep and dark and long and often somewhat cramped, and gradually grows warmer as the stream grows wider and faster, and it's descending a lot more steeply than the one they took up rose -

Until it spills out into what seems to be a crack in the ceiling of a massive cavern, the stream rushing past them and falling in a waterfall into a lake far below.

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Whoooooaaaa. It's like an entire underground palace.

Uh. Hm. They may be somewhat stuck here.

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"I can get us down safely, though you might get a bit wet..."

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"Was wondering a little more about the return trip..."

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"Well, I can get us back up too, so long as you don't mind getting really wet."

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"I think I could stand it, if it's you."

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"I'll give you a fun ride. Promise."

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"Then let's go!"

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Scoop! And jump!

(And little splash at the bottom, but he seems to be standing on the water's surface so at least she doesn't fall in.)

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Wheeeeee that was fun!

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Bounce bounce! And spin. (This is Such A Big Cavern, and mostly the walls meet the mostly-still lake, but...) "I think there's like, a landing over there - wanna check it out?"

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Snuggle.

"Yeah, sure. Let's go see."

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The landing is oddly smooth and regular, rising from the lake bed like it was carved there. The floor of it is perfectly even, except for a ring of raised stones around -

A sleeping dwarf?

She has her hands crossed over her chest, and skin like stone, and she isn't moving at all except for the glacially slow and steady rise and fall of her chest.

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Pretty...

Alaudala squirms out of River Gold's arms to take a closer look.

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He lets her down! Though he is kinda confused and a bit suspicious about this turn of events?

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She's so so pretty!!! She doesn't look like a natural person. She looks like a work of art, crafted with loving care by an artisan. A statue, an embodiment of every Ideal rather than a person. Just. An inexplicably breathing statue.

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"Just look at it... I wonder who put this here?"

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"...Random ?dwarf? under a mountain sounds like Aule's kind of thing, honestly."

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"Who's Aule?"

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"Vala - uh, god - of crafting and all that stuff. And also the guy who made the original thirteen dwarves."

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"Oh."


"Is this one of those, then?"

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"...Maybe? They all woke up and wandered around and had kids and died and stuff. But waking back up after you die happens all the time."

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"Ummmm not usually I think. For hobbits, anyway."

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...Hrm.

"People normally wake up in the Uttermost West, but Men aren't allowed there so I don't know if hobbits and dwarves would be..."

"You should have somewhere safe and known to go when you're killed though. It's sad you don't know where you go."

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"Yeah."

"I don't really plan on dying anytime soon, though."

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"You shouldn't."

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"I won't."

"Do you think she's gonna wake up?" She reaches out to touch the dwarf-statue.

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Her skin feels like granite - 

But warm.

And her eyes snap open at Alaudala's touch. 

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Squeak of alarm!

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"Who are you?"

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"Um, my name's Alaudala?"

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"What year is it?"

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"Uhhhhh twelvety-el...even? I think the guy said. Uh, second age? Whatever that means."

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"...It's been a while, then."

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"What year was when, um, last you knew?"

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"Early in the Second Age, around the year five hundred..."

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"That was a long time ago, wow."

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"By most counts."

"How old are you? And what sort of being?"

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"I'm a hobbit! And I'm twenty-eight!"

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"You'd be young for a dwarf, though not for a Man..."

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"I was supposed to live at home and listen to my mother for five more years before I was really an adult, but I decided that was stupid and I didn't need it."

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"So, on the cusp of youth and adulthood."

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"That's pretty much it."

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"A fine place to be."

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"Thanks." Small blush.

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"And how did you come to be so far under the mountain?"

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"I'm on an adventure! We saw a cave from the river and decided to explore it, then found a crack that led to another cave which came down to the lake. And now we're here."

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"Delving like that can be very dangerous..."

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"Maybe. But that makes it fun. And! The River Gold is with me!"

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She looks at him and raises an eyebrow. 

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"I'm one of Vana's. I'm keeping her safe."

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She nods. 

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Wiggle.

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Smile. 

And she pushes herself up. 

- She's tall. Everyone is tall next to Alaudala, of course, but she's taller than many Men and broader besides, shoulders wide and muscles tightly corded. And she has a presence, a weight in the room, which makes her seem somehow even taller. 

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.......Hhhhhhhhhot.

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"Is something the matter?"

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Her mouth works soundlessly for a few seconds.

 


"Ijusthinkyou'reveryattractiveandtallandstronglooking."

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(Muffled giggle!)

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And a flattered, somewhat bemused smile! 

"Thank you."

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"You're, um, welcome. Um. What's your name?"

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"Durin, at your service." She bows.

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Grin! "It's nice to meet you, Durin." (Blush.)

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"It's my pleasure, Alaudala."

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"Soooo now that you're awake and all... do you have plans?"

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"...I want to see what's become of the dwarves. How much has changed."

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"Do you think- um. Could I... go with you?"

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"Yes. You'd be more than welcome."

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"Cool. I'd love to see the dwarves. More dwarves. Other dwarves. And more of you. Uh. Yeah."

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"I can accommodate all of those, I believe."

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"Great!!"

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Smile! "Have you ever met a dwarf before?"

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"You're the first."

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"Hopefully I can provide a good first time, then."

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"You're off to a really good start."

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"Good, good."

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"Do you know where the dwarves are from here?"

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"Yes, I can lead the way - at least to the halls we had centuries ago."

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Nod nod. "So either dwarves or cool old dwarven halls."

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"Or both."

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"Or both! Getting to have both is always my favorite."

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"I was beginning to suspect something like that."

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"You must be very insightful."

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"I've been told I am."

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"And here's me telling you again."

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"Reminders are always helpful."

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"I'm glad to help! Any way I can."

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She smiles. "It'll be a bit of a hike to the Halls, from here..."

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"-Is there water all the way?"

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" - No, I don't think so."

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"Oh. Umm..." She looks at River Gold.

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" - I should actually get back to my river soon, regardless..." And smile. "And Miss Durin seems like good hands to leave you in."

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"Okay. It's been lots of fun traveling with you, I'll come back and see you before I go home." Hug!

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Hug!!! "Anytime."

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"Keep my boat safe?"

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"I will."

"And if you need it from anywhere else - call out. I might hear."

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"You're the best river I've ever paddled down."

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"And I'll remind you of why each time you visit."

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Heeeee. A kiss to seal the promise!

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Is that traditional among her people? 

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She's gonna make it be.

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He'll help. (Kiss to seal that deal, too!)

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Mmmmmm.

"Well. Bye, then."

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"See you later, cutie."

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Hmmm okay one last hug then she'll hop back and wave.

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He bows grandly - 

Then dissolves in a show of golden light and sparkles, the light flowing back into the water and then rushing up the waterfall they came in through. 

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Cooooool.

"Looks like you have me all to yourself," she says to Durin.

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"For now, at least."

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"It can be as long as you want."

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"A bold offer."

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"You gotta be at least a little bit bold to be a good explorer, I've found." And oh how she wants to explore the beautiful sight before her.

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"And you're very bold."

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"Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

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"And what are you hoping to gain from this venture?"

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Should she just say it or should she stop and think of something else to say nah she's gonna say it.

"A very tall girlfriend?" Whoops now she's blushing.

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Grin!!!

"There's a lot of traits I'd look for in a longer term relationship beyond 'cute' and 'bold' and 'funny'... But you're certainly making an excellent first impression."

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Wigglewiggle. "I have lots of hidden depths."

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"I'd be interested in delving them."

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"You must have a lot of experience with that kind of thing. Delving."

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"In every life."

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"What do you delve after? When it's not a person, I mean. Like, gold and such? Gems?"

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"My people do to sustain ourselves and celebrate our heritage, and I'm skilled at it - but the greatest treasure often is the deepest knowledge."

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"So there's, like, books buried underground?"

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She laughs. "No. But there's things to see - and observations to make, and lines to be followed. A more hands on kind of learning."

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"What kinda things? -And what did you mean by 'sustain yourselves'? Do you eat gold?"

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"Not directly - but being near magic, as is found in all parts of Creation but more concentrated in some - gives us strength and vigor."

"Mostly, though, we trade."

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"With who?"

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"Men and other dwarves, mostly - though I'm hoping to expand opportunities..."

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"Like hobbits?"

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"Like Hobbits."

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Eeeee that's her!

"It might be tough, we live kinda far away from here."

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"We've stretched our trade routes from one end of the world to another, once upon a time."

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"Shouldn't be a problem then," she giggles. "You eat, like, food though, right? That's probably most of what we have to trade, hobbits are good at cooking. And brewing. And baking. And some crafty stuff, our clothes are better than what I saw on most of the Big Folk."

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"Yes. We eat food, and especially enjoy food cooked by a master of the craft."

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"Maybe I could make something for you sometime."

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"I look forward to it."

"And, you know, crafting things for each other is a major part of traditional dwarven courtship..."

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"I'll have to keep that in mind."

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"What does hobbit courtship involve?"

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"Oh, it's very subtle. You just spend time together socially and then you disappear together for a month and when you come back you're married."

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"And what if you leave and come back with a stranger?"

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"Then you're a little scandalous."

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"And yet still married?"

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"That's between you and your partner."

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"A sensible system."

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"We have our moments for that."

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"The dwarven method is much more involved."

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She bites her bottom lip. "You said something about crafting things for each other?"

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"With several points of exchange, and a few rituals thrown in..."

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"Sounds very fancy."

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"It can be, especially if one of the people involved is of a high status..."

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"Well, I'm pretty important actually, y'know," she teases.

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"A princess of your realm?"

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"If we had princesses, I would definitely be one."

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"Unfortunately making you a princess of the dwarves might get politically complicated..."

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"If 'politically complicated' is code for 'have real responsibilities beyond looking amazingly pretty' it might be okay to skip that step. I don't think I know enough about dwarves to handle that to everyone's benefit right away."

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"There'd be a lot of responsibilities, yes."

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"It'd be good to leave those to people who know what they're doing. Unless there is no one doing them already."

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"There'll likely be expectations put on me regardless of who's already doing what..."

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"Maybe I could help with some of those."

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"I'd like that help."

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"Cool. So. Um. Should we go?"

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"If you're ready."

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"I think so!" Bounce bounce.

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"How good are you at climbing, then?"

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"Trees? Very. Rocks? I'm learning."

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"I'll teach you some more, then."

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"Just remember that I can't reach as far as you can."

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"I'm unlikely to forget your size..." she says, tone appreciative on top of the teasing. 

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"In a good way, right?"

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"In a very good way."

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"In a portable way? If, y'know, I have trouble with any particularly hard cliffs?" Or getting up into your extremely tall bed, maybe.

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"I'd be happy to give you a boost."

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"I'll remember that."

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"Getting out of this cavern might require a step up itself, too, if I'm remembering correctly there's a steep part..."

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"We can practice there."

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"A good early opportunity."

"Though we should see how easily I can pick you up before then..."

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"I won't complain about that."

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Grin.

And scoop?

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Alaudala: very easy to scoop. Conveniently sized for cuddling in Durin's arms.

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"Nice and lightweight and maneuverable." She hefts Alaudala demonstratively, settling her so she's craddled in only Durin's left arm, head on Durin's shoulder. 

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She nuzzles in.

"You're very strong," she says appreciatively.

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She flexes her very impressive bicep a little. (She's mostly muscle, which is at least more comfortable than being mostly bone. Probably that much sheer muscle would be very unhealthy on a hobbit, but she makes it work. And Alaudala currently has a very good up close view of the tight cords of her shoulder girdle and neck, and of her back if Alaudala cranes her head a bit.)

"Many dwarves are."

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Alaudala is thoroughly appreciating the perspective.

"I like a strong woman."

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Squeeze. "Good; I'm finding I like picking you up."

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"I might get lazy if you do it too much, though. Forget how to walk on my own."

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"I'll be sure to exercise moderation."

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"And I'll be sure to moderately exercise!" she cheers.

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"Something I can help with."

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Excited wiggle.

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Heee. (Cute girl.)

"Do you want to be carried to the exit?"

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"I would love to be carried to the exit."

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Off with them, then, Alaudala cradled in her arm. 

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This is so excellent.

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Fun all around. 

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Gives her plenty of time to appreciate the sights.

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Especially with Durin in motion. 

And speaking of the sights...

Either the River Gold and Alaudala took the boring way in, or Durin's taking the scenic route out - the River Gold left them with a few showily glowing bottles of water on the lakeside, so it's easy enough to see the yawning caverns and glittering sections of crystal - the subtle differences in stone formations that Durin points out - the rare glint of metal - and Durin sings as she walks when she isn't geeking out about this or that rock, a deep rumble that echoes beautifully in the caves. 

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Whoa.

Is it bad that she's more entranced by Durin's explanations than the actual rocks, probably not yeah.

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Not at all. She does love explaining things. 

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She's good at it!!

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She hasn't lost her touch then. 

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Hmmmm Alaudala's pretty sure she can verify exactly where Durin's touch is at...

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Helpful for feedback! 

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She's super helpful, it's one of her best traits.

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One Durin is quickly coming to appreciate. 

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As well she should.

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She was very lucky that Alaudala was the one who woke her...

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It's like fate or something.

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A gift from the gods.

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She was technically escorted here by one...

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Proof of point. 

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Durin's life is off to a pretty good start this time, huh.

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One of the best possible. 

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Aluadala always gets the best results.

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Does she now? 

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Or so it's always seemed to her!

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And what would the best result here be? 

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For Durin? Tough to say, Alaudala not being a dwarf herself and all... Buuuuuuuut she's pretty sure it would involve kissing. Kissing Alaudala, specifically.

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Worth an experiment, certainly. 

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Wigglewigglewigglewiggle!

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Kiss.

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Good kiss!!!

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It's almost like Durin has millennia of experience. 

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That's a very plausible explanation!!

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Though she's never kissed a hobbit before. There might be new tricks for her to learn. 

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Alaudala will certainly bring all the experience she has to bear.

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Not an insignificant amount, it seems. 

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She makes the most of the time she has by practicing at every available opportunity.

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A habit that's set her well on her way to mastery.

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That's her. Kiss Master Alaudala.

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Though if she hasn't crafted her opus magnum yet, can she truly claim full mastery? 

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It's aspirational.

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Kiss Journeyman Alaudala, then, as she's certainly no Apprentice.

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And she's even on a Journey right now!

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Setting out to see the many styles of the world and develop her own masterpiece. 

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It's gonna be so amazing.

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Durin's looking forward to it.

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She'll be the first one Alaudala shows.

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And she hopes to be involved in refining Alaudala's process.

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Oh, she will be.

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Excellent.

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Kiss!

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Kisses! 

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Gosh, Alaudala could just do this forever... Or until her stomach reminds her that she gets hungry sometimes. Hm.

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...Did Alaudala bring any food with her? 

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In her bag, yeah. Though she's mostly been eating things the River Gold made for her? Probably she will have to replan her meal allowance going forward.

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Durin will look through it with her, and they can plan their route to try and find supplemental foods too.

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That sounds like a good plan.

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Only a little bit farther until they reach a good picnic location...

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Alaudala thinks she can make it that far.

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Durin can carry her if she flags.

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So helpful.

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Helping others is her life's path. 

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Heeeeee.

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So does Alaudala want that boost? 

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Please.

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Scoop!

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Whee!

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Twirl and kiss.

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The twirliest of kisses! Fancy!!

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She can be. 

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Durin's the complete package.

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Everything Alaudala's dreamed of? 

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And more.

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She can say much the same about Alaudala...

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They are the best together.

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Kiss!

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Kiss!

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And on to their picnic - a broad flat area in a wide cave, that Durin suspects held an underground lake long ago. 

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The perfect spot. Reminds her of some places she's been with the River Gold, actually, which she will happily chatter about.

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"It's a pity I didn't get more of a chance to talk with him... He sounds fascinating."

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"He is! We could go meet him again, maybe, once you've got a handle on all the dwarf stuff that's been happening since your last life."

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"I'd like that."

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"It's a date, then."

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Kiss!

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And elsewhere, there is a ring. The ring is glowing, not with malice, not with intent, simply with power. The ring's mistress told it that it should cooperate with this examination, and the ring agrees. The examiner is an ally. One who will further the mistress's goals... wittingly or not.

 

Though if the ring were the sort of being that gambled, it would lay its wager on wittingly. She likes this dwarf.

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And this dwarf likes her. 

"You're much more than an artifact," Domhildr muses, examining the hum of Precious's being in the Music of Creation. (Domhildr does not hear music, not like the elven crafters. Instead... A sprawling, beautiful filigree woven through the world in a myriad of colors, just barely out of focus unless she looks just right...)

(She picks up on different details than elves do.)

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'I am a masterpiece,' the ring agrees. 'And your way of seeing that is interesting. I like it.'

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"And a person, through and through... Though not one made directly by the same hand as every other People - except the dwarves."

"And there's something almost dwarven in your diagram, though Mahal did not make you..."

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'My mistress has learned from many sources.'

'She would teach you directly, if you asked.'

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"I wish to see what I can gather with my own senses, first..."

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'That is fair. I only want to be sure you are aware of all the resources at your disposal. You have all of skill, talent, and potential.'

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"I do, and thank you."

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'You are welcome. You do not strike us as the type to limit yourself needlessly.'

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"...I did in my relationship with Celebrimbor. At least until - recently."

"But I don't like limits on who I am. On what I can do."

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'Now you are free. The only shackle that yet binds you, that stifles your flourishing, is the curse of mortality.'

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"And one we're working steadily on..."

"Though it feels much too slow, sometimes."

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'There are ways we could speed our progress. More intensive inspection of the nature of death, what beings experience as they cross that line, the resonances in the Song at that moment...'

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She laughs. "It's tragic that might put Celebrimbor in an awkward position..."

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'She would do it for you.'

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Smile. "I'm starting to even believe that..."

 

"But... I don't want to put her in a difficult situation unless I have to. And even if she's - not emotionally bothered or something," she says, in the tone of someone who's never quite figured out why many people are emotionally bothered, "She could lose the resources of the Mirdain and of Eregion, and her connections among the other elves, possibly forever..."

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'The wider guild would not necessarily need to know.'

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"I don't think it'd be - easy, to hide that from them forever."

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'The road to greatness is rarely easy, else it would see more traffic. But yes, I acknowledge your point. There are risks involved. But the elves here... have a great love of crafting. They thirst for knowledge, seek it endlessly to improve themselves. And Celebrimbor dictates the fashion of the times. Were she to be persuaded of the necessity, of the opportunity, it may be, with careful guidance, that the rest would follow her lead.'

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"...Maybe."

"I still don't know - if she'd be happier with that than with a more - socially acceptable path, I guess."

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'Something to keep in mind, at least.'

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"Do you think she'd be - bothered, by even being asked?"

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'I think it would depend on context and phrasing. Foregrounding the importance to you, personally, seems likely to help.'

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" - I might need - help, with that."

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'We would be more than happy to provide that.'

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"Thanks."

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The ring radiates contentment.

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"I'm glad we have the two of you."

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'We are excellent allies.'

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"And better friends."

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'Yes,' the ring agrees.

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"A good turn... And Annatar's a refreshingly odd person."

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'She is the best person.' Considering pause. 'For me. Possibly Celebrimbor is better, for you.'

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Laugh! "She is, for me. But Annatar and you are up there."

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'Good. We like you too.'

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"I've noticed."

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'Impressive powers of observation,' the ring teases.

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"It was a lucky guess."

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'Mistress would not let just anyone get this close to me.'

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"She adores you."

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'I am adorable. She made me so.' Giggle. 'I think the extent to which she succeeded took her by surprise a little even.'

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"I never would have taken her for someone to sit there for hours on end staring soppily at anything or anyone before she made you."

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Smug ring. 'The dimensions along which I increase her capabilities are manifold.'

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"I hadn't thought of sappiness as a capability before."

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'An openness to genuine experiences and appreciation for the vast beauty that this world is capable of hosting.'

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Laugh! "You're also the wisest among us, I see."

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'I have the benefit of a unique viewpoint.'

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"None of the weight we carry from our lives holding you down."

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'Just so.'

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"Though the weight of having a body of your own - at least from time to time - might only be a boon to you."

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Hum. 'Crafting an entire body would be no mean feat. I could take over another's, but that might be- how did you phrase it? Emotionally bothersome to some people.'

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...Oh that's a thought. A very interesting thought. Sadly moral people don't tend to think 'okay, but consider that it made me horny' an acceptable reason for violating moral norms.

"Would taking over someone's body be always harmful to them?"

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'It is not an experiment we have made. It would depend on how vigorously they attempted to defend themself, I think.'

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"So probably we shouldn't do our first experiment with you in my body..."

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'That would be less than maximally cautious. I would try not to hurt you, though.'

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"Appreciated." Tiny wiggle. "But we really should find someone else to experiment on..."

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'And consult with my mistress. She will wish to know.'

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"And help guide the experiments, I'm sure."

" - And we shouldn't - keep it secret from Celebrimbor..."

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'Indeed. If you were to be involved, my failure would certainly result in her attempting my destruction. If she went uninformed, her wrath would certainly extend to Mistress.'

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"...I hadn't thought of that."

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'I find that quality of hers admirable.'

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"Perhaps. Though..."

"If I agree to something I know is reckless, and it turns out poorly - she'd be going against my wishes by retaliating. That's disrespectful - I'm a person, not some pretty thing to guard. My life is my own to gamble."

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'A conversation you should have Celebrimbor sooner than later, I think. Even setting aside the question of this experiment.'

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"...I guess so."

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'The last time you properly communicated yourself to her, it turned out in your favor, did it not?'

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"It's hard to - accept, that it'll always go that way."

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'It may not. You are two different people, and some conflicts are inevitable. But better to know ahead of time and be able to reach a compromise or route around the issue than hit the proverbial pocket of bad gas and completely collapse the relationship, yes?'

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"...Probably."

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'It is, in the end, your choice.'

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She nods. 

"I'll talk to her."

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Pleased ring.

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Smile. 

"But in the meantime..." More magic nerdery!

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The ring is very cooperative in this endeavor. (It seems to have achieved its primary objectives for this excursion.)

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And, some time later, Domhildr goes to see Celebrimbor. 

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"Hello, dear."

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"Hello, darling." Soft kiss.

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Kiss.

"How are you doing?"

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"Well - and better now that I can see your face." Flirty grin, that then fades a little. "Though... I realized there's some serious conversations we should probably have..."

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"Potentially ominous." She tugs Domhildr into her lap. "Tell me what troubles you."

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Snuggle! 

"...So while I was talking to Precious, I had a - reckless but very tempting idea. And I didn't intend to go through with it, but Precious pointed out that if I did, and if I got seriously harmed, and if she was involved - she thought you might retaliate against her and Annatar."

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Thoughtful hum.

"That would depend on the nature of the accident... but the idea is certainly in line with some of my family's historical behavior."

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"You're you. Not your family."

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"True. But I do know I harbor that inclination toward vengeance."

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Nod and snuggle. 

" - I wouldn't want you to take revenge on someone else for something that was my decision. If someone lied to me, and I decided under false pretenses - sure. But I'm my own person. I decide whether to risk myself."

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"...Since you ask it of me. I will respect your wishes and restrain myself to the best of my ability. But I can promise this only in contracts I know you entered willingly."

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Soft kiss. 

"And I'll tell you before I do anything reckless."

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"Please do."

"Dare I ask what temptingly reckless idea brought this about?"

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Giggle. 

"We might have been talking about how it's a pity Precious doesn't have a body of her own..."

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"Did you volunteer to let her have yours?"

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"I asked if it could be done harmlessly and temporarily. Alas, she wasn't sure, and sensibly didn't want to experiment on me."

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"-Yes, I can see how I might have interpreted that as a deliberate attack."

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Kiss!

"It's - a fascinating idea, still. But I know it's too risky, until we know more."

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"It would be a difficult thing to test."

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...She hesitates.

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"What is it?"

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" - Experimenting on someone else first would be safer for us, just... Controversial." 

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"It would depend on the choice of test subjects. A guild member or resident of the city, certainly they might be missed, but perhaps a human from the outlying regions..."

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Sly grin. "And here I was, thinking you might object on principle..." Kiss!

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"Which principle might that be?"

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...Uncomfortable shrug. "Morality or something?"

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"An affectation which is entirely secondary to both your happiness and the satisfaction of my own curiosity."

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Giggle kiss! 

"Then I must say - certain controversial experiments would be very enjoyable."

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"Explain your proposed course of study to me."

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"Well, to start..." She outlines what Precious said of investigating the nature of death - then speculates they could further investigate the mind under strain...

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That does sound like it would have promising scientific application.

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Lead to a great many new frontiers of discovery and invention. 

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Not to mention, of course, any personal satisfaction.

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Though it's a major draw. 

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Celebrimbor has noticed that about Domhildr's motivation structure.

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She has her priorities! 

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And Celebrimbor loves that about her.

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Preen! "What else do you love about me?"

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"Your devious creativity, insatiable curiosity, endless drive..."

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Even more preening!

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Kiss!

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Kiss!

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"We should speak to Annatar about the experiments..."

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"And Precious as well... Including that I convinced you much more easily than she expected."

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"Flaunt your superior knowledge of my ways?"

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"And my superior seduction skills."

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"They should know to leave it to the experts."

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"This will help convince them."

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"It's empirical proof."

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Kiss! "Undeniable success."

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"As in all your endeavors."

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"Though we might need to provide direct proof to them..."

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"I'm sure we can think of something to satisfy."

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"Perhaps combine with an experiment..."

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"That should work."

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"Especially if we manage to surprise them."

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"That might be a little abrupt."

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Giggle. "True enough..."

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Pet pet.

"Let's start with talking, and see where things go from there."

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"We can try." Kiss!

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"Shall we go find them now?"

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"Let's."

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Up and off to do that, then.

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Annatar has Precious with her - she's in her own office, though she seems to be lost in thought (or talking to Precious over osanwe) rather than reading or writing anything. 

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She knocks on the door frame.

"Might we interrupt?"

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She looks over and smiles. "Of course, lovely. What is it?"

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"Ring theory. An idea Precious had brought up to Domhildr."

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Curious noise. 

(And - 'Precious? Do you know what she's talking about?')

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'The idea of observing death under controlled conditions. This is sooner than I had expected...'

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'...I would have expected decades yet, of dead end after dead end and mounting frustration and fear...'

'How long ago did you talk to Domhildr?'

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'Just when you had lent me out for her to make examinations of me.'

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'...That was today.' She's pretty sure she hasn't missed multiple days or weeks while lost in thought again, at least. 

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'I had wrapped it up in some relationship talk. I did not think she would pluck up her courage so quickly.'

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'I'm not so surprised by Domhildr, she can be impulsive sometimes. But Celebrimbor...'

"What do you think of that idea?" she asks Celebrimbor. 

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"I think that there is information to be gleaned, but the matter will need to be arranged with discretion."

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Hm should she say something... Yeah, she's curious. 

"I find myself a - bit surprised, that you came around to the idea so quickly."

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"Possibly it was a question of approach."

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" - Hm?"

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"She means that I sat in her lap and told her murder makes me horny."

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" - Huh."

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'Perhaps you should adjust your overall approach, mistress.'

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"A full accounting of the costs and benefits."

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'Maybe I should.'

"Domhildr is indeed a very good benefit..."

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"Flatterer."

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"Only the truth, dear."

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Preen! "Doesn't mean she isn't flattering me."

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"Important to recognize, I suppose."

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"Possibly essential." Kiss!

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"It has improved my life."

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"The flattery? Or the recognition?"

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"The latter." Kiss.

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Mmmm kisses. (And smug sideways glance at Annatar and Precious.)

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'Sometimes the audacious move wins the day.'

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'...I'm unsure if 'joining your previous enemy and conquering all of Middle Earth by my side would make me horny' would go over quite the same way...'

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'We could ask Domhildr for her advice on the matter. She seems to have an understanding.'

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'It would be hard to do so without revealing ourselves to her...'

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'She might not care. If we can credibly prove or promise no malice towards Celebrimbor...'

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...Hm. 'I'll think on it.'

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'Very well, mistress.'

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For now... Experiment planning?

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There are quite a few matters to arrange, even aside from the questions of observation. A suitably private laboratory, test subject procurement, waste disposal...

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She has ideas for all of those... (And, implicitly, more than a little bit of experience.)

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She's been nothing less than perfectly behaved since coming here, so Celebrimbor will not comment. Everyone has a past.

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Though Domhildr's curious about that implicit experience... She doesn't press, though. (Not yet.)

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It's almost too bad there's not a war on. That would simplify some things.

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And picking one would draw even more attention...

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Indeed, there are not many ready enemies these days.

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Good for building a peaceful, flourishing society, supposedly. 

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Peace has, thus far, been good for Eregion.

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It's made fertile ground for Celebrimbor to build her foundations.

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Indeed. She has as tidy a kingdom as any of the Noldor, if she might be excused for making the comparison.

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A far better kingdom, Annatar would say.

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It makes sense that she would, given she's chosen to join this one and not the others.

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Because of her superior good taste.

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And discerning wisdom.

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Preen!

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Smirk.

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"She's very cute, isn't she," Domhildr stage-whispers to Celebrimbor. 

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"In certain lights, perhaps."

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- Tiny blush? 

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"But I do see where you're coming from."

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"Do I have to persuade you of this, too?"

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"That might be helpful."

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Thoughtful hum. 

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Oh no.

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'This could be a good thing, mistress.'

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Nnnnnnnn.

' - I do not think Celebrimbor will react well to - flirting, when she doesn't know who I am,' she says, as a very very thin excuse to cover up the 'oh no' in her own head. 

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'You could play hard to get for now. I think she might appreciate that.'

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'...One idea...'

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'Or you could continue to stammer and blush, not making any moves one way or the other. That has a different sort of appeal.'

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'You're very rude, sometimes.'

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Mental laughter. 'You created me to help you. I'm helping.'

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'You're ganging up on me, is what you're doing.'

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'But you like it.'

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'...Yeah. I do.'

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Satisfied hum.

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She'll stick to 'lightly blushing and not meeting Celebrimbor's eyes as she conspicuously fails to engage with the teasing' for now, though. 

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Perhaps they shan't drag this on too much longer, then.

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Depends on how much fun Celebrimbor is having with it. 

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Well. A moderate amount, if she's being honest.

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Then Domhildr doesn't see a reason to stop. 

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As she commands.

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Oh? Is Celebrimbor taking orders now? 

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Commissions, perhaps.

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Hmmm... An exciting thought, with a craftsman like her. 

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A vast range of possibility is at her fingertips.

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Perhaps new openings for collaboration even...

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Perhaps. Perhaps.

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Though Domhildr wants to see what Celebrimbor does on commission first...

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As long as she can afford the rates.

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She can pay in kind, if nothing else. 

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Entirely acceptable.

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Oh, good. (Kiss!)

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Kiss.

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A very productive meeting, this. 

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Very much so.

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Learning all sorts of new things...

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Entertaining and educational.

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And helpful for the future. 

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As all the best things are.

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And the four of them are certainly the absolute best things. 

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Simply unparalleled.

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Kiss.

Hm, maybe they should leave Annatar and Precious to their own devices for a little bit...

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Give them a chance to think things over.

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Consider it at their own pace. 

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"You know where to fiind us if you need anything," she says to Annatar.

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"I do," she says, definitely not pouting about being left out. 

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Then they will take their leave.

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Annatar spends a while debating with herself - she wants to do this indirectly, wants to send Precious to talk to Domhildr on her behalf. 

She doesn't think that'll work nearly as well. 

And so, some time later - 

She seeks out Celebrimbor herself. 

(Preparations for their experiments are well under way; her Precious is going to have a body soon one way or another. Annatar wants to have this conversation first.)

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"You look as though you have something on your mind, Annatar."

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"I do," she says, tone cautious. "Something of - import."

"Is now a good time to talk?"

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"For you, always."

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She smiles and sits down across from Celebrimbor. 

"I'm glad."

"What I want to talk about is - about my past, and our future. Who I was before I came here, and what we want going forward."

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"Sounds important. I'm listening."

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She's quiet for a long moment. 

Then: "You likely have realized, already, that - I have in the past committed what would be considered grevious crimes by the traditions of the Noldor."

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"There is hardly one of us who returned from Aman that cannot say the same. For myself, I have decided the War of Wrath marks an end point to that. Actions before and after can be considered separately."

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"There's been - things after, too. Though not nearly as many."

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"Have you knowingly and directly worked harm against me or mine?"

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"...Not against you, and not since I came to this city, nor anyone while they were in the city at any point. I'm unsure who else you consider yours."

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"That would seem to cover it."

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" - And nothing against Domhildr, either."

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"Good to know."

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More serious, then: "I haven't always been Annatar - I took that name on coming to these lands."

"At the dawn of Creation, I called myself Inidhil."

"And, towards the end of the Years of the Trees, and throughout the First Age, and in stories since - "

"I've been Palanchir, once lieutenant of Morgoth."

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Celebrimbor's hands make an aborted twitch toward the spot on her belt where a sword would hang.

"But you are that no longer, I trust."

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"No. I am Annatar now, and if I am someone else in the eons to come it will be a new identity - one by your side still, I would hope."

"And I wouldn't follow Morgoth were he to return from the Void, today or any future day. My path lies elsewhere."

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"That is... comforting to hear."

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"Good."

"I - I want my future to be built with you, now."

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"You flatter me."

"I- need some time to make a... considered response."

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Slow nod. "...Alright."

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"I appreciate you telling me this."

Tired, small smile.

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"I - haven't liked keeping it secret."

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"That's something, anyway."

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Smile. "You're a very special person, Celebrimbor."

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"I know."

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Nod.

"Do you - want me to leave? So you can think."

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She nods.

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And she steps out. 

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Celebrimbor... thinks for a while. She channels some of her energy into crafting, memories of the past prompting her to revist designs that haven't been in fashion for hundreds of years.

Since before the fall of Gondolin, in some cases.

Strange to reflect on those times. On how long it's been. On who she was, and who she is. Who she will become.

What she wants to become.

 

She loses track of time, lost in thought and memory, working endlessly in her lab.

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Domhildr doesn't give her much 'endless' before entering her lab.

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She'll have to touch Celebrimbor to break her concentration.

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She hugs her from behind, gently. 

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"-Hm? Oh," she relaxes into the hug. "Domhildr."

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Squeeze.

"Hey. How're you doing?"

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"...Annatar was Palannir."

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Squeeze.

"She told me, yeah."

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"Do you think- we should keep trusting her?"

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Shrug. "She told us, and she didn't have to if she just wanted to use us. We trusted her. And she's not stupid, so she won't decide to sacrifice us for some goal or another. We're worth too much."

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"Mm. That's true."

"I have been thinking along similar lines. I suppose I just wanted to hear someone else say it."

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Squeeze again. 

"Besides, I'm pretty sure she's honest about making me immortal. And I want to have that - to spend eternity with you."

"Also I'm pretty sure she'd be delighted to give you a throne, which is a very good trait in a woman."

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"You think I'd look good on a high seat?"

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"You'd be beautiful."

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"A resounding endorsement for the proposition."

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Kiss!

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Kiss!

(She really is feeling a lot better about her worries. It's all in the perspective one takes.)

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Mmmhmmm.

Probably at some point Celebrimbor should talk to Annatar. However, Domhildr has been very patient in giving Celebrimbor time to process...

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Then she deserves the full measure of Celebrimbor's thanks.

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And then she will go to find Annatar.

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Annatar: is easy to find and easier to interrupt. 

"Have you - finished thinking?"

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"I have."

"I think we can continue as before."

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Relieved smile! "Good." Then, teasingly: "Though there's nothing saying we couldn't add things..."

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"I think, Annatar, that I might be disappointed in you if you had nothing else to share now."

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"Oh, I have a lot, if you want to hear..."

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"Do tell," she purrs.

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She steps closer to Celebrimbor and murmurs in her ear: "To start... You on a throne, the kings of Middle Earth kneeling at your feet..."

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"Domhildr say'd you say that. And that doing so would be attractive. She was correct on both counts."

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"She's a smart woman."

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"Insightful."

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"Has some very good ideas..."

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"Indeed."

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"And she's right that you're beautiful beyond compare, and you'd be more beautiful yet as Empress of the world."

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"As long as you don't desert me once you help me reach that station. That would be an awful lot of work to do alone."

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"Given I want to rule by your side..."

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"Good."

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Happy, contented smile. 

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Meanwhile, Precious reaches out to Domhildr.

'I think things are working out.'

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'Good. Annatar promised her a throne?'

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'And all the kings of the world kneeling at her feet.'

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'Very attractive.'

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'Yes. I believe Annatar thinks so as well. However...'

'They may need a- push. If you wish to see their relationship become physical.'

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'I do.'

'Is now a good time?'

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'I believe so.'

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'I'll be right over.'

And she heads over.

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Celebrimbor looks over. "Hello, dear."

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"Hello." 

"Are you two getting along well?"

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"Splendidly."

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She steps up and puts a hand on either of their shoulders. "Good, though I do think you could be getting along better..."

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Eyebrow raise.

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"How do you mean?"

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"You two," she says, as she moves her hands to the sides of their heads, "Should kiss."

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Eh? What?

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???

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She starts gently pushing their heads together. "You're both adorable and at this rate you'll be quietly staring at each other for centuries. So. Kiss."

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It seems... they have no choice?

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Apparently so. 

Kiss?

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Kiss.

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A pretty enjoyable experience, actually...

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Domhildr coming through with excellent ideas once again.

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most fruitful partnership.

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And with new heights yet to be reached.