Forever Immortal

CH 4: The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

After throwing away her spider spit- and blood-stained clothing and taking a quick bath, Rowan spent most of the evening with her father in his chambers assuring him that she forgave him everything. She didn't mention her dream as she didn't want to dampen his mood further, although she did tell him about the battle with the spiders and added that she would be training with Tauriel beginning the next morning.

He didn't seem very happy about that and even asked her if she planned to join the guard, or even the troops. "Of course not," she answered, while truly unsure of where the training might lead. "I'm doing it for personal fitness and protection, Ada. That is all." He agreed that those were good reasons and that he would not like to see her taking a more active role in military and combat training. "Of course not," she replied. "You know I would rather spend my time with books and flowers."

After leaving her father, she ran into Tauriel in the hallway with a basket of clothing and gear to help her get started with training in the morning.

Thanking Tauriel, she asked her to come into her chambers for a little while before turning in. As they got settled before the fire, Rowan rummaged through the basket. When not finding any blades, she asked Tauriel what she would be using for weapons.

"Well, Rowan, for the first few weeks, we will be working on movement and building stamina. Working with blades will come later."

"Oh, I see," said Rowan, somewhat disappointed. "That makes sense."

"Rowan, I would like to know why you were out in the forest alone. No one takes that road anymore because it is so dangerous." About that time, there was a light knock and Nuella poked her head in the door. "Is it ok for me to come in?"

"Of course, Nuella, I was just about to tell Tauriel why I was out in the forest alone, something you too wanted to know. Come sit with us."

"Well, mellons, I received some news this afternoon that shook my elven soul, and I didn't handle it very well."

"What was it? What did you hear?" asked Nuella.

"My father told me that my mother was human, so I'm only half elf," she said sadly as both of her companions gasped. "Yes, I know: that's how I felt--and betrayed as well. And before thinking about my father's reasoning for not telling me, I rashly ran off and got lost on the way back to the palace. I am so grateful that you Tauriel were there to help me out of the predicament that I had gotten myself into."

"Oh, my dear mellon. What a shock. You had no idea?" asked Nuella.

"No, I didn't. I did notice, as many have, that some of my physical features are not typical for an elleth, especially a Sindarin elleth. I've also always seemed to need more sleep and nourishment than the typical elf, but it didn't really strike me as too strange as we didn't live within an elven community."

"You didn't think it was strange that you didn't live among other elves?" asked Tauriel.

"Living in the country was all I had known. And I did go to Rivendell most summers, as did a lot of young elves from other places in Middle-earth. Even some of them did tease me and called me a 'dwarf elf' because I wasn't as tall and thin as they were."

"How mean," commented Nuella. "Oh dear, Tauriel, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that as a slight to your Kili."

Tauriel's face took on a sad look as she stared down at her hands in her lap.

"What?" Asked Rowan, confused, looking first to Tauriel, then to Nuella.

"Tauriel, do you mind?" Nuella asked.

"No, go ahead Nuella. I still can't talk about it."

"What, what is it?" Rowan asked impatiently.