As I walked briskly to Lord Elrond's office, I suddenly remembered a conversation I had had with Bilbo before I had fallen back into shadow and Lady Galadriel had rescued me from the abyss within my mind. 

We had talked for quite some time but I only remembered the tail end of the conversation.

***

"Tell me more about yourself," Bilbo requested curiously "I don't think I know your name"

Normally I wouldn't share personal information simply because I didn't know much about myself to begin with. If I ever did tell anyone anything, they wouldn't be around for long so I had decided that I didn't really matter that much. Time rolled on and people moved away and forgot me. I would have stuck to this view if it wasn't for the fact that Bilbo looked so intrigued. There was an air of trustworthiness about him; that was unmistakable. So I decided to break my habit for this hobbit.

"My name is Caladhiel although not many people know me by it and even fewer use it."

Bilbo looked at me with eyes full of wonder as he repeated my name, "Caladhiel... Pray tell, where are you from?" his intrigue knew no bounds it seemed but I was happy enough to sate his curiosity for now.

"I am not sure where I was born but I was raised in the forest and the hills of many lands. I settled with Radagast a few years ago and I have stayed there ever since. Or at least I had before you and your company came along"

The more I spoke, the more eager he was to find out who I had been. He had mostly asked me simple things like if I missed the lands in which I had grown up in. Which I had simply replied that I was used to moving around, not settling anywhere. He had also asked me a few more personal questions such as how old I was. I had never been certain of my age but I believed that I was around 2860 or so years. I had to explain to him that it was easy to watch the years blur into one.

"Have you ever fallen in love?" That question had thrown me off guard. I was not expecting Bilbo to ask me that. To put it simply, I didn't know the answer to his question. I had yearned for companionship but I had never known what love actually felt like. I wouldn't be able to recognise such emotions even if they slammed into me like a troll. Adding on to that, I had only been taught the elvish customs and behaviour by Radagast. I did not know much about my own kin or myself. My heart swelled at that and I began to fall into a state of dysphoria.

With a call of my name, Bilbo swiftly snapped me out of my reverie. I hadn't realised that I was deep in thought. I swiftly apologised to Bilbo but didn't answer his question. I was full of my new-felt shame for not knowing anything about my own race. He seemed to read my face as clearly as parchment and swiftly changed the subject.

"When I was younger, I always used to go on adventures. I would have such a wonderful time, although I was always late for dinner which I didn't mind," Bilbo's face was distant as the nostalgia rolled in but the happiness dwindled away as swiftly as it had arrived, "as I grew up a was tasked with baring the social responsibilities of a Baggins. And with that I didn't leave the shire for many years. Joining the company awakened the adventurous child that I had once been. Although I do miss my home." and with the last sentence, Bilbo sighed. I could see the sadness well up in his eyes.

"Fear not, Bilbo. You will be back home before you know it," I reassured him, putting on the most cheerful voice I could muster "for the time being, enjoy your adventure, for it is almost over."

He smiled up at me but it didn't quite reach his eyes, and he left me to ponder our conversation as he left me in my infirmary room.

***

In my reminiscence, I had not realise that I had already reached Lord Elrond's door. I raised my hand to knock but nervousness overflowed within me. Elrond had looked quite stern at the dinner table.

I braced myself for what was to come and gave three sharp knocks to the large, oak door before me.

The door swing open and behind it stood Lord Elrond. His expression had grown more troubled than before.

"Come in, Caladhiel" He spoke and I detected a hint of wariness in his voice. This confused me. I wasn't dangerous to him yet he still looked at me like I was as unpredictable as a troll. I walked in and sat in the chair Elrond gestured me to which was made from the same oak as the door to his office. It was carved beautifully. Branches intertwined with one another and intricate patterns accented the arms and legs.

He remained standing and paced towards one of the vast bookshelves at the back of the room. He pulled out a thin, leather bound book. I appeared to be quite old and looked very fragile in his hands. He paced back over to me and sat in the adjacent seat with the book on his lap.

"Lle uma il- rina lle nosse, uma lle?" He asked me.

{"You do not remember your family, do you?"

I simply nodded in agreement, not quite understanding what this entailed.

"Uma lle sinta en' i' edhel eskas?" He enquired.

{"Do you know of the elven houses?

Thanks to Radagast's teachings, I was able to recollect all of the original names; Fëanor, Fingolfin, Finarfin, Finwë, Olwë, Finrod and Thingol. I nodded as a reply, still unsure as to the direction of the conversation.

"Uma lle sinta en' i' eska en' Gilnor?"

{"Do you know of the house of Gilnor?"

~*~

Hahaha cliffhanger!

I feel so evil. Sorry for basically making most of the chapter a filler. I wanted to get a chapter out but I had no more time left for all the technical stuff (Sorry @herwriteNESS )

That's all for now! Be sure to like, vote, comment and share!

Diola lle ar' Namaarie

Thank you and farewell