For the first few days after she had arrived, Maltariel was not particularly concerned by the absence of her friend. Even in Lorien Rainith had been known to wander, and was rarely if ever to be found in the rooms she’d been assigned, unless Galdorion was there with her. As the days passed, however, and the notes she left with various people around the valley were ignored, Maltariel’s patience began to wear thin. She and Rainith had perhaps not been as close as Rainith had been to the scout who’d been supervising her, but the younger elf had joined her company during her short time in Fanuidhol, and they’d struck up a friendship which had continued through the sporadic letters that managed to pass the mountains. Rainith’s apparent indifference to her arrival was therefore more than a little surprising. Ever good-natured, Maltariel had almost resolved to simply let the matter lie, until she began to hear rumours and gossip of her friend from others around the valley – strange stories of a marriage split apart before it had even begun, and a trial held by the fearsome Lord Veryacano, commander of the Hammer Order. Suddenly Rainith’s apparent disappearance became a matter of concern rather than something she could simply forget about, and Maltariel set herself to finding her friend with redoubled efforts, combing the wide spaces of the valley and surrounding slopes, and asking all those who worked in its surroundings.
Given what she knew of Rainith’s inclinations, it was a surprise to finally be told one morning that she had been seen making her way to the library. Maltariel made her way there almost immediately, only to be brought up short by the sight of the slim elf sitting silently at the end of a long table. When they’d been in Lorien, Rainith had seemed constantly animated by the force of her emotions, even when she was driven to anger or near despair by the events surrounding Galdorion's journey with the scouts. She was not beautiful in the usual sense, but she had always seemed lively and full of strong passions that made her changing expressions a delight to watch. The young elf patiently drawing details on to a map seemed somehow diminished in comparison. Her expression was fixedly calm, only the shadows under her eyes and tiny lines at her mouth betrayed the effort she was putting into keeping it thus. She sat leaning her head against one hand as if too tired to hold it aloft – everything that usually seemed to keep her full of fire and laughter had fled, and in its place was an exhausted misery, overlaid with enforced dignity. A handsomely-dressed scholar sat at the other end of the table, occasionally shuffling his notes about, and glancing up at Rainith as if to check she was still there. It was to him that Maltariel addressed herself, in a low tone which carried through the hushed air.
“Can I borrow your assistant? I promise to return her in one piece... even mostly unharmed.”
Both looked up at the words, a charmingly insincere smile spreading across the face of Rainith's companion as he responded.
“Oh? Take her by all means, but wouldn't you rather join us instead? I am sure your company would lighten even our dull tasks.”
Maltariel gave him a level stare and he shrugged easily, not offended by her unwillingness to play along. Rainith was obediently piling her map on top of other notes, moving listlessly, and apparently not even pleased to see her friend. Maltariel waited patiently until they were outside the library, and then turned to the darker elf with a thoughtful look.
“I've orders to see that your training is progressing properly since you left us... and it's a beautiful day. Hurry up and get changed, and I will meet you down by the lake.”
Rainith's expression grew a little irritated at that, and Maltariel was not particularly surprised when she commented rather petulantly, “Don't I get a choice in this? What if I have something else to do at the moment?”
Maltariel gave her the kind of look she'd been practising for generations on sulky recruits, but only remarked easily, “You don't. Be quick.” In truth she didn't really know what she'd do if Rainith refused, but she could tell that something was badly wrong, and for whatever reason, no one else had yet stepped in to shake Rainith back to herself.
