[Nurumaiel]

"Valar help me, Nuru, but you don't know how much I've missed you! You're back! I'm so glad you're back!"

Nuru suppressed a scream of surprise and took Rie's arms off her neck, holding the woman back at arm's length. Then a wide smile slowly came to her face and she embraced Rie, saying, "Oh, Rie, you're still here? When I arrived I was certain you had left!" Then the smile disappeared and was replaced with a deep frown. "Rie, I saw your twin brother. I'm afraid I told him a little too much before I found out who he was… he knows that you might be here."

"Talômi?" Rie nodded. "Yes, I know he's here. Don told me."

"What are you doing down here, then? Shouldn't you be back in your room, where he can't find you?" Nuru was greatly concerned. She didn't know what type of man Talômi was, but the last thing she wanted was to see Rie dragged home against her will.

"He could find me in my room," said Rie. "All he would have to do is ask Pio for me. The three of us -you, Don, and myself- are the only ones that know I'm hiding from him. So Don took me up to her room to hide."

Nuru nodded approvingly. "She's a clever lass, isn't she?" Then she stopped, her eyes wide. She saw Talômi walking in their direction. "I think we were a little too loud, Rie," she said. "You go right back up to Don's room and I'll try to stop him for awhile." She slipped through the kitchen and came out behind Talômi. Taking his arm, she said, "Excuse me, I need to talk to you."

He turned a little startled. "Oh, it's you?" He put a smile on his face, determined to be more casual this time and see what he could get out of her. After all, if she were a friend of Rie's, wouldn't she want to help him? Unless Rie had said something… I don't care what she said to anyone, he thought. I have to find her. As he greeted the Elf kindly, he felt rather guilty, being friendly to her just to find Rie's whereabouts. No, that's not true. If she is a friend of Rie's, then I'm more than eager to meet her and befriend her.

"Well," said Nuru smilingly, trying hard to keep from looking at Rie, who was still standing there, watching the two, "I think I might be able to help you find Rie."

"That's very kind of you," said Talômi. "But first wouldn't you like to get a drink? I'm sure you're very tired from your journey. After all, Rivendell is a long way away."

"Hannad le," Nuru replied with a smile. "That would be wonderful." As he brought her to his table she smiled. If he thought he could find out where Rie was from her, he was much mistaken. But to sit at his table and have a drink with him would give Rie even more time to go back up to Don's room and think things over.

"I just wanted to tell you that I spoke with Pio about Rie," said Nuru, unashamed of her lie, "and she says that your sister is still here. What's more, she gave me her room number."

"Oh? What is it?" Talômi tried to hide the eagerness in his voice.

Nuru pretended to think for a moment, and then she shook her head. "I can't seem to remember. Maybe it will come back to me after a cool drink. But at least we know Rie is here."

"Yes, at least we know that much." He offered her a chair. As she sat down, she glanced over her shoulder and saw that Rie was still there. She gave a quick motion with her hand, hoping that Rie would go back to Don's room. Then she turned back to Talômi, praying that in the conversation that was to come she wouldn't say anything she didn't mean to. I won't betray Rie…

Fixing a smile on her face, she began. "Talômi, what makes you so anxious to find Rie?"