[Orual]

When the Elf left, Talômi slouched in his chair with a frustrated sigh. She didn't trust him. He had been too eager. He laughed bitterly. Come to think of it, he wouldn't have trusted him, the way he had acted.

Months ago. Rie might have left months ago. He buried his face in his hands, his elbows propped up on the table. He should just leave. But he couldn't. He had to find his sister.

***

Rie wiped her eyes and fixed her hair. It had grown over the months, and was far enough past her shoulders that she could pull it into a braid. Just to look nice, she tucked a sprig of wildflowers that Don had at the foot of her bed into the ribbon that tied it off. She was going downstairs. She would get some water, and if Talômi was there and saw her, so be it. She'd be seen, and she would have to deal with it.

She couldn't help avoiding the common room, though, and slipped into the kitchen to get a glass of water. But while she was in there, she saw a young Elven maiden with light brown hair, a tall Elf, and her eyes were blue...

Rie's own green eyes widened to the size of saucers, and she nearly dropped the glass. Still full, she set it in the sink carefully and bolted out of the kitchen.

Without announcing her presence, the young redhead flung her arms around her old friend's neck. "Nuru!" she cried, but her voice was hoarse with emotion. "Valar help me, Nuru, but you don't know how much I've missed you! You're back! I'm so glad you're back!"