[Daniel Telcontar]

Arthain entered the chambers of Isildur, and waited until the King bade him spoke.
Arthain explained that he wished to accompany the elves escorting the ladies to Loth-lorien. Isildur looked at him long before replying.

"You wish to accompany these elves? And, no doubt, be treated as one of them."
Isildur's words stung, but Arthain said nothing.
"Will these elves ever treat us equally? Ever admit that we are children of Eru as much as them? Has any of them ever been saved by the One, ever been protected by his hand?"
Again, Arthain said nothing. Not only because it was Isildur who spoke, but also because he was in doubt. Had Isildur seen the truth, and Arthain was blind?
"Very well. It cannot harm anyone. Besides, we will march to Loth-lorien as well, and you will join your company there again."
After saying this Isildur took a deep breath, and seemed to change attitude.
"Take care, my young friend. The roads are always dangerous in times of war, and especially for the company you will travel with."

Arthain did not respond, merely bowed and left. He looked around, and suddenly it seemed to him that the elves in the hallway were laughing secretly of him; the tapestry on the wall were made to mock men; the building itself was merely to prove how better elves were compared to men.
He shook these thoughts of him, knowing they were just illusions of his mind; but they remained in the back of his head.

[ June 15, 2003: Message edited by: Daniel Telcontar ]