Valar Rising

Chapter Two: Arien

The air in the library hung heavier than usual. Dust surrounded the bookshelves swirling in intricate patterns, a careful thought pattern guiding them. Arien, whose thoughts were doing the guiding, sat hunched over a large book, muttering words she read under her breath.

"The Void is a place of dwelling between reality and non-existence. Thousands of years ago, when Middle Earth was still young, the Valar banished Melkor into the Void. The Valar are beings entrusted with the creation and care of Middle Earth. They sealed the Void, preventing Melkor — more commonly known as Morgoth — from returning to the world and halting the growth of evil amidst their beloved creations...."

Her voice grew smaller as the text continued. Ink stains dotted the sleeve of her dress, and her dark hair threatened rebellion against the pins that held it back away from her face. But these details did not phase her. Page after page she turned, the motion disturbing the dust.

Arien had been studying all morning, making notes and skimming through old history books. Intent on her research, she didn't look up when the door to the library opened, and Elrohir walked in as quiet as he could manage.

"Have you been in here all day?" He asked, his voice hushed. He sat in the chair beside her, careful to not to knock over the pile of books at her feet.

Arien glanced at him: he was immaculately dressed, and he didn't have a hair out of place. Arien wondered how many elleth's were wishing they were in her place right now. She grinned, looking back at her notes.

"And if I have?"

"I suppose I wouldn't be surprised."

Elrohir rifled through a few sheets of parchment before taking Arien's quill out of its ink well and making random scratches on the sheet next to it.

"Ada's been looking for you since noon," he said eventually, setting the quill down.

"Oh?" Arien looked at his marks on her notes and narrowed her eyes, "Not you?"

Elrohir cleared his throat, once again picking up the quill and turning it over in his hands.

"Why would I be looking for you?"

Arien laughed, "If Elrond were looking, he knows where he could have found me. I told him this morning that I would be spending the day studying."

She stood, gathering a few books and pieces of parchment. The dusty patterns in the air dissipated with the loss of her concentration.

"Then what would you say if I was looking for you?" Elrohir grinned, hurried to his feet and followed Arien as she walked from the room.

She smiled at him while they walked down the brightly-lit corridor.

"Why were you looking for me, Elrohir?"

She knew what he was going to say. She always knew what he was going to say. And she always did her best to avoid it because she hated seeing the disappointed look on his face.

"I wanted to ask— do you had some time this afternoon to go on a walk?"

"Only if Elladan comes along."

And there it was, the droop of his eyebrows, the slight slump of his shoulders.

"I'll ask Elladan if he would like to join us," Elrohir said, covering his disappointment with a quick smile. "Where will I find you later?"

"I'm going to my study right now. Give me a bit of time to organize my research and change into a proper dress."

"I will plan on it." He bowed, giving her another smile before heading off in the opposite direction.