[Child of the 7th Age]

Bella smiled broadly at Ginger and gestured for her to sit down on the bed so they could look at the book together. "You like history then?" Bella queried, as she pointed to the picture of the stern faced man with the elaborate winged helm on his head. "This is a fine volume that I acquired the last time I was in Minas Tirith. Look here. There is a picture of Tuor wearing the armor and helm that the King of Gondolin had made for him. The helm was of Noldor steel overlaid with silver and had swan wings that protruded out on either side. You know," chirped Bella enthusiastically, "that Tuor's helm was the ancestor of the winged helms that the men of Numenor used, and even of the winged crown that King Elessar wore at his coronation. The wings in the crown of Gondor were said to be of pearl and silver, and to resemble the wings of a sea bird."

Ginger peered intently at the pictures that Bella showed her, but remained very quiet, since she was awash in a flood of names and places that meant little to her. Not to be deterred, Bella warmly pushed the book towards Ginger. "There's no reason for you to wait for me to read it to you. Why don't you borrow it for a bit? You'll be able to read it on your own. You can return it to me whenever you are finished. I am hoping to stay here for a while."

There was an awkward silence before Ginger responded.