Fléin watched Wilhelmina ride away with a tear in his eye. What a wild time they'd had together! A brilliant woman...
He remembered, suddenly, that she hadn't given him an address. But no matter. He could track her down in Ithilien, couldn't he? Yes, definitely.
He felt somewhat dazed. After two years of this horrendous - but not quite godforsaken, as Alli had shown - place, here, finally, was his chance to leave. To leave it all behind. All of it.
He turned to face Ketchupkin. Was he really willing to leave the Dwarf? Ketchupkin betrayed no signs of emotion, or, perhaps, the emotion was lost beneath the thickly matted beard.
It was time. "Ketchupkin," Fléin started, before choking on his words. "Do... don't think me rash. But, if I am to leave, and even if I am not, I would like to know... I hope you do not think me rude... I think we know each other quite well now... Well..." he sputtered lamely.
"What I mean is..." he drew a deep breath, "are you male or female?"
Instead of the usual look of shock one would expect from a Dwarf asked such a question, there was only a gentle smile. They
did know each other well enough. The simple reply seemed to Fléin the most beautiful word in the world. "Female."
"And," she continued, "I can see by the smile in your eyes...?" she let the question hang.
Fléin nodded. He didn't even need to say it. He just nodded. Male.
"I don't expect you to stay on my account."
Fléin nodded once again. "I don't intend to," he replied bluntly. "You're a wonderful person, Ketchupkin, really. If we had met under different circumstances... If you are ever freed from this evil land, come seek me. Seek me in the Orocarni, Ketchupkin."
She bowed her head in acknowledgement.
"You know... I'm not planning on leaving until tomorrow morning," he said.
Night fell. They decided, since it was his last night in Mordor, to do something very naughty together.
They stole Anakron's left shoe in the middle of the night.
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The next morning, Fléin awoke early. Ketchupkin walked by his side. He wanted to avoid Anakron, for obvious reasons; nor did he much like the idea of saying farewell to Panakeia, Valde, or Mardil. Well, he liked the idea of saying farewell to them - but not of actually communicating with them. They were hardly nice people, and sharing a week with them had done little to mellow his views. Alli and Sai though - nice girls.
They made their way to Alli's quarters. Fléin knocked.
Nothing happened.
He knocked again. Nothing.
She was probably tired from all the excitement of last night. Still, if he waited any longer, the others would wake up.
He left her a note.
Quote:
Alli,
Thank you for explaining to me about you-know-what. It was really enlightening. I had a wonderful time with you. Thanks for everything. I won't forget you. If ever you should journey to the East, seek me in the Orocarni.
Fléin
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He actually managed to catch Sai. She hugged him. He asked her to visit him in the Orocarni, she asked him to visit her in Gondor. And, having said his goodbyes, he trekked off, not to Ithilien in the West, but to the Eastern borders of Mordor with Ketchupkin at his side.