Glorfindiel: Magic of Imladris

Heritage {Erthanist PoV}

Ten days later...

Ever since our discussion, Ada has been behaving strangely. He doesn't look me in the eyes and has been locking himself away in his study, even entering Nana's personal chamber for the first time since before we left for Mithlond. I have not bothered him because I know he does not like to be confronted, but when I overheard Elrond telling him that Ada 'has to tell me soon or I'll break the news to her' I chose to speak with him. I sigh and knock on my father's study, "Come in, sell-nin."

"Ada, I need to speak with you." I explain as I enter and close the doors behind me. I turn around and find him sitting at his writing table, head in his hands, amidst messily scattered collections of letters and journals. He sighs and picks himself up, looking up at me with tired eyes.

"What do you need to speak about, Erthanist?"

"Why have you been locking yourself away and avoiding me and why did you so rashly refuse the idea of me visiting Greenwood?" I release. Ada tenses and his eyes become very dark.

"I knew this day would come, regardless of what I could say and do to delay it," Ada groans. I freeze as he motions for me to sit down on a stool beside him, then I cautiously plant myself on the worn wood furniture and wait for him to speak, "Erthanist, I spoke against the concept of you traveling east to Greenwood because I am very fearful of what will inevitably befall you once you leave the safety proffered by Lothlórien and Imladris, which have veiled you with their magic for millennia."

"Veiled me? Is Greenwood's own magic not strong enough?" I repeat.

"For you? Nay."

"If it is safe enough for you then it is safe enough for me, Ada." I insist but he holds up his hand.

"Nay, sell-nin. It is not. I am many thousands of years older than you and have seen death and evil. You have not the experience to combat darkness such as which will hunt you."

"Hunt me?" I clip back, "Adar-nin, why? What is it you fear?"

"I fear that our enemies will abduct you. You and Arnolan have always been a priceless gifts to myself and your mother."

"That's why you named me 'Exalted gift of knowledge' and Arnolan 'Royal Dream Gift'."

"Yes. Erthanist, I could not forgive myself if evil should triumph over you. I have spent these past millennia since you were conceived protecting and safeguarding you both from darkness that will hunt light to corrupt it. Abuse it."

"Why am I so different from anyone else here? From you? Would it not seek to also corrupt others?" Ada clenches his hands and exhales. I narrow my eyes in response, confused.

"Your blood is what sets you apart from the others and myself. You are my daughter and are multi-talented and possess mighty powers and abilities, which will be sought out for use by our enemies. You also inherited from myself a profound presence in the worlds of the Seen and Unseen, and most of the gifts endowed by the Valar. However,.. I cannot fully account for your countenance- one of radiant light. You inherited such and much more from your mother."

"I know I inherited many traits from both you and Nana."

"Not just traits or abilities, Erthanist. A whole new identity and world!" Ada stiffens, his eyes softening only to become far off, "Aglareldes Ingwatharyar Raimenis is not an ordinary Vanya noble. She is the only daughter of Ingwë, the King of the Vanyar-"

"And high king of all elvendom..!" I gasp, things suddenly clicking into place in my mind. As the puzzle solves itself, I stare in complete shock at Ada, "That means that Galadriel is my cousin, as well as Arwen, Elladan and Elrohir... yet you never informed me of such a critical component to my identity? You've kept my heritage a secret all this time only for me to find out in this way."

"Erthanist, I had hoped not to inform you in this manner. I am very upset to have hidden this from you, but Aglareldes and I agreed that it would serve well to protect you. If the enemy should take you they could have a key to uproot elvendom, which would make conquering the rest of Middle-Earth much less difficult..." I can no longer hear him. I try to truly wrap my brain around this, but I am extremely conflicted with emotion.

Happy, to finally know the truth. Upset that I had not known sooner. Sad that Nana couldn't have informed me. Afraid for what may come. Angry about the fact that my heritage has been kept from me all my life.

My blood pound in my ears and I ball up my fists, my long nails slicing into my soft palms. Rubbing them raw and drawing blood. I clench my jaw and without a word, I heave to my feet and march swiftly out of the study, ignoring Adar.

In my subconscious I see myself ripping my thin gold cloak from its peg, slipping on my boots and strapping on my knife belt before running out of the villa. It seems only seconds later I am astride Beldal, urging her into a breakneck gallop as heavy crystal droplets begin to pour and wind starts to hiss.

Surprised?

This will be my last chapter for about a week. Thanks for reading and please let me know how it's going!

~Uilosris