Niniel felt an inward surge of relief at Elwen's words. So she wasn't noble. And there seemed to be nothing more between Elwen and Soronume than friendship.
"I--I'm--you can call me Niniel. I was--well, I was liv--staying in the mountains, I'm--I'm not entirely sure which--which ones. Then the orcs--there were so many. So I left. And I--I came here." Niniel inwardly cursed herself for sounding like such a half-wit. She studied the top of the table intently. Surely Elwen would look down on her now.
Instead, Elwen smiled. "You are welcome here, Niniel. Won't you tell us more of yourself?"
Niniel looked back at Elwen. This was too much for her to understand. Welcome? Her? The idea was completely foreign to her. She was a thief, though admittedly she avoided using her skills when possible. She was a stranger.
Niniel had been alone for years. The welcome of these people overwhelmed her. The tears that before had been merely hinted became a reality. She didn't sob or cry out. The tears simply welled up and spilled over her cheeks.
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