A clean cloth. Or what used to be a clean cloth. It was now covered with dust. The whole room smelled like distant memories, as if someone had not occupied the space for a long time. And it was true. It had stood empty for a while now.
She had taken it upon herself to clean it, as it felt like desecration of a holy place to let someone else in. She knew it was folly, of course. The lady Danel had left for the Havens, and would not return. But the idea that she might one day reappear kept Tingruviel busy tidying the space.
Himwen had approached her the evening before, excited and alert. The news that Fountain was to head out on an expedition to Lothlorien and beyond had everyone in the house buzzing. Only the hallways of Pillar had stayed somber in nature. Upon request, Tingruviel had given Himwen the charts they needed for the journey and in fear of losing yet another friend, she had bade Himwen to not take any risks. Himwen had nodded as if saying that of course she would be fine, though Tingruviel could see that there was hesitation there. Her friends past had been somewhat of a mystery to her, but she knew at least that Himwens parents were still living in Lothlorien. Perhaps it was the long journey that troubled her.
They spoke at length of the council of Glinthir's, Himwen sat on a less than comfortable chair with her legs perched upon a rickety table in the hall, Tingruviel stood erect like a statue, composed and precise. So different were the two that hardly anyone would imagine them as friends. Their background was what bound them together. Though Tingruviels parents were since long passed away to the halls of Mandos, Himwens and hers roots in Lorien kept them musing for hours when they had the chance.
Glinthir's council, Himwen had explained, was focused on finding out where that bastard Celephindir had taken off to. Himwen went on for a while until she noticed a sudden chill in the air.
"Oh, I am sorry, Tingruviel! I know you feel for him, but he is just so smug about himself. I cannot stand him. Lord Celephindir. Bah!" Himwen shuddered and threw an half eaten apple into a plant pot placed on a sidetable. Tingruviel wrinkled her forehead, but stayed in the same position as ever. Himwen often wondered if Tingruviel would one day snap like a twig or a sprig and all of a sudden run naked through the valley... but no, she was an effigy of correctness. To a boring degree. She could dance, though. And she loved Celephindir.
Himwen had stood up and quickly embraced Tingruviel, whispered apologies for making fun of her hearts desire. She understood how it would feel for her if Tindir had been lost... she knew all too well. Tingruviel returned the gesture but released herself just as quickly as she had been held.
"I must continue. The office of lady Danel has not been touched in a long while. It is time that I do something about the dust." Tingruviels voice had cracked a bit, something no one but Himwen would notice.
Himwen had raised her eyebrows at Tingruviel, as if to ask if dust was the most important thing in this situation, but she knew how close the Ambassador had been to the lady of the Pillar. Dust was a sign that time had passed and that the lady Danel was further away from them all. Tingruviel had Himwen promise her to bring back something of their homeland upon her return and to make sure that news reached the valley. And in a gust of wind, the Fountain Captain was gone. With a sigh and a heavy heart Tingruviel had turned towards the door of the office. It took her some moments to enter, as it felt like opening a tomb. The cloths were ready resting on a side table just inside the door, brought there by someone else in the order on her request. She methodically began her task.
Quiet footsteps could be heard moving towards the closed door from the outside. Tingruviel continued the work of dusting off the desk before which she had sat so many a time. Flashes of lady Danel came before her eyes and she quickly rubbed them dry. How often had they not sat there discussing matters of the Pillar? And sometimes matters of the heart? It seemed like millennia ago now.
A creek in the door forebode the appearance of someone else. An intruder to this sanct place. She folded the cloth and placed it on the desk quite carefully, clasped her hands and turned around in a measured pace.
Sorontar.
"Yes, what is it now, Sorontar?" She asked. She had known it was him. The clerk looked as polished as ever with his feathered shoulderpads. He often reminded her of a bird himself, just like the fowl he cared for with such intensity. Black and gold was his colours, like a darkened peacock.
"Do you need a hand, mylady?" He retorted, looking around at the dusty chamber.
"I am nearly done, so there is no need. But thank you for your offer." She replied, following his momevent with her gaze. He was inspecting the room, as he often did. Very curious manner, she thought, to be so intent on finding secrets wherever you turn.
"Odd, did you notice this before?" He asked and moved over to a bookshelf with a haste and grace only a feline could produce. With swift delicate hand movements he opened a hidden compartment by pressing an invisible button. Some books fell out in unison and was only held onto the bookshelf by a hinge connecting the bottom of the books and the bookcase. It displayed an open cavity behind.
Tingruviel looked on, shocked. "What is that?" It seemed to be a glow coming from inside there. Sorontar gingerly reached into the cavity and produced what looked like a glass case. Inside it lay a red cushion and resting on its velvety surface was... a gem. Tingruviel nearly gasped in surprise. It was THE gem. The one that had been brought back from Angmar, that had harmed lady Carniquesse and lady Norliriel. Tingruviel had assumed that it had been stored in the vault, yet it had been searched for many a time and not been found.
"So, it was here all along?" She slowly moved over to Sorontar, every step the same length as the one before. "Will it... harm you if you touch it?"
"I do not know, my lady. I am not a healer. Shall I bring this to lady Manadhlaer?" He asked and curiously observed the glowing stone.
Tingruviel nodded two times. "That would be the wisest course of action. She and the others in Houses of healing will know what to make of it. It certainly does no good here, hidden away." It felt like the last piece of lady Danel. The last link to her former leader. She hoped that the scholar Helcequen would take it upon herself to impart her knowledge of it unto the council next time they met. With the coin Himwen had shown her, a copy of the one given her by the man in Imladris, with all that had been found on the expedition into Eregion with the Mithdirith... it was another piece of the puzzle that needed to be solved.
Sorontar had since long gone and closed the door behind him. With a feeling of dread she looked around the room, all of a sudden empty and very lonely. For the first time since her parents death, she wept tears of sorrow.
