Much of the quiet conversation at the dinner table passed Kaya by. Her mind was elsewhere, and while Legyviel cut the roast, and Nin uncorked a dusty bottle red wine, she saw the endless night again. She walked under the cold stars, and while she took a sip of wine instead of feeling the warmth the liquer created inside, it was as if she felt the cold of Helcaraxë at last. Little did she know at that time Jae experienced the exact same. Even though the other elfess never had taken the path over the Grinding Ice, it was as if the freezing cold even krept through the layers of blankets she had covered herself with. She had not joined the others for dinner, and Crys now was on her way towards her with a bowl of steaming soup.
The reflection of light briefly caressed her eyes and Kaya looked up, expecting to see Caradil standing there, wielding his swords in complicated patterns and with incredible speed. Instead she saw Nin, and the candle light reflected once more on her fork. A sadness came over the Noldo, and she suddenly felt lonely in the house filled with old and new friends.
Seeking some comfort Kaya looked around and noticed Eari, who was munching quickly, as if she wanted to finish dinner as soon as possible. The peredhel still didn’t seem to be much at ease in her current company and environment and was completely focussed on the food in front of her. Kaya wondered what Eari’s answer would be tomorrow morning, and if her answer wouldn’t be made clear in the form of her absence.
She could have another conversation with her, tonight. She could try to get through to her, try to provide the right atmosphere for the peredhel to pour her heart out, even though she knew chances were little for that to ever happen. But even if she succeeded, would it do any good? She could only point towards some directions, yet in the end it was up to Eari to choose the path she wanted to take. Maybe this was something even Elessar himself did not understand yet and to her this was an enigma, knowing the different paths the King himself once had to choose from. Why ever would he have given her the order to guide Eari? She sighed inwardly. Some wounds maybe just weren’t meant to heal.
Then suddenly she saw two blue eyes looking into her direction as they once had, when he had spoken those words she never expected to hear him say again. If she already ever saw him again. Another quick sip from her glass was a fruitless attempt to distract her from these thoughts.
She noticed she had barely touched her food when Legyviel bent towards her and whispered if she didn’t like the food.
“No, no, it’s fine,†she quickly responded. “It’s just… I need air.â€
She stood up hastily and pushed back her chair. With quick strides she hurried towards the door. She did not hear Crys’ equally hurried steps when she rushed down the stairs, calling Kaya’s name and then mentioning Jae’s with a slight panic in her voice. Kaya already had her hand on the doorknob and pinched her eyes in an effort to fight back the tears, when she suddenly lifted her head only seconds before the knock on the other side resounded.
She pulled the door open and first noticed Bréhon, his soaked appearance not looking half as miserable as the expression on his face. Then, at the point where he seemed to loose conciousness, she noticed the man Bréhon supported, and Bréhon adjusted his footing quickly to keep his balance with the other man now leaning heavily on him.
If even for a split second Kaya had thought this to be Eoden, fooled by the equally blond hair, she was brought back into reality really quickly by the words:
“This is Rhowain. Kaya, he’s hurt… Whatever has happened in the past… can we come in? Please…â€
Without hesitation the Noldo nodded and stepped aside so Bréhon and his comrade could walk into the warmth of the common room. One last glance outside, towards the darkened sky, then Kaya quickly closed the door to shut the fury of the elements out.
When she turned around and noticed the others and the way they glanced at the newcomers, or at least at one of them, she knew that might have been a futile attempt. She was in no mood for a discussion about Bréhon’s presence though, and neither would she tolerate one.
Then her eyes met Crys’.
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OOC - Ah com'on folks, it's spring, dust off those muses and let us start the party once more.