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Darlariel followed the other three in the library, yet once she was there she stood slightly apart from them. They seemed to have a very important business there, and she did not want to be more of an inconvenience to them than she already was. Of course, none of them had spoken against her coming, but she still felt too much of an outsider.
Darlariel headed to the nearest bookshelf. She was delighted to read the name "Tolkien" on most of the books there. She drew from the shelf an old edition of the "Felowship of the Ring". But she did not open it. Instead, she stood as if deep in thought, stroking the cover with a seemingly mechanical gesture, yet in that caress there was more love and gratitude than even she realised she had. She blushed, suddenly remembering that she was not alone. Hastily, she put the book back, hoping that no one had noticed her.
She felt uneasy, and she found it difficult to hide it. Strange, that she should feel like this here, she thought. Usually the library was among the only places where she felt secure, untouchable by the troubles and perils of the world. Yet tonight she felt that it was not so. Maybe it was only because of what Aiwendil had told her, but what if it meant something more than that? She cast a worried glance over her shoulder.
But immediately she felt ashamed of her fear. "So you were once saying how much admiration you have for the heroes of old, were you not? " a reproachful voice sounded in her mind. "Well what would Aragorn and the others say if they could see you now? " Yet she knew that they would have nothing against her fear if she ignored unesainess and stood her ground.
Gilli began playing a merry tune at her fiddle. Darlariel smiled at her, unable to hide her gratitude. Such fair song would surely frighten any being that delighted in darkness and haterd. They would surely fade, unable to bear such proof of the light and beauty of the world.
Darlariel turned to Aiwendil. His attention was fixed on the screen in front of him. Daralriel looked over his shoulder. She had often thought of joining such sites as the ones Aiwendil was looking at. What would be more delightful than being able to talk about the things she liked with people that shared her passion? Yet she knew that this would not truly provide her with the peace for which she was so desperately searching. Maybe it would be fun, and also fullfiling from an academic point of view, but that was all. No, she had long decided that help would not come from that direction. But then, from where would it come?
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