Knock, knock, knock. The tough wooden door made a ringing sound in the otherwise bare stone tower. It smelled like dust, as if very few would visit this part of the Pillar hall. It would be a correct assumption, of course. Hardly anyone would be let in to see the swallows, owls or hawks kept within, but its very dedicated keeper. Which seemed to not be in at the moment.
Another hard knock three times...wait... nothing. Surprised by the lack of response, Tingruviel tried the door handle. Locked. Inside she could hear the birds rustle and a couple started screeching. Better leave it, Sorontar must be out on an errand, she thought. As she turned around, ACK! There he was. He was staring at the door for a moment, then looked at her.
"Lady Ambassador. I see that the door is properly locked. Good, good... Can I help you?"
Tingruviel tried to get over her shock of his sudden appearance. It had been as if he had sprung out of thin air. Collecting herself, she wiped her free hand on her robes, it had suddenly felt sweaty.
"I... I came to give you this. Captain Himwen delivered it to me just an hour ago, it seems it is a document from lord Tindir. Apparently it has some ancient text in it only you can decipher, or so he seems to think."
She slowly offered the parchments to Sorontar, as if afraid that he would fly away if she scared him, like his birds.
He merely nodded and with a measured but brief movement grappled the parchment in both hands. Then proceeded to stare at her. Tingruviel suddenly felt somewhat uncomfortable, despite her long working relationship with Sorontar, she knew hardly anything of his private life. It was not because of him, but more of the feeling of responsibility Tingruviel felt towards those who had to answer to her. She was responsible for his well being, of sorts, and as such, she was supposed to know who he was, and who he had been. The fact that it had eluded her for so long made her rebuke herself. Besides that, the idea that he would know something that she did not, intrigued her. It was time for an interview.
"Say, why don't you join me in my office. You could use a hot meal and a warm hearth, don't you think?" She found herself saying before she could stop herself. "It would be of my interest as well to know what is hidden in that... dwarven song."
Sorontar stayed quiet for such a long time that Tingruviel almost suspected that he had fallen asleep with his eyes open. She had grown accustomed to his silences by now, and knew that the gears in his head would be turning faster than others would expect. In actuality, he would probably have considered every consequence of agreeing to such a request, as well as refusing it. In the end, he nodded and folded the document to put it away under his robe.
"As you wish, lady Tingruviel. Shall I bring my writing utensils, or do we use yours?"
"Bring your own set, as it might be pertinent to the archives to produce another copy of the text for later use."
Tingruviel let her hand rest on the cold, rough stone as she walked down the narrow staircase. As she descended, with Sorontar quietly moving behind her, windows would pass by them in the staircase. She could hear the wind lash at the walls, and see the storm brewing outside the valley. Perhaps it was all a mirage, for once she neared the next window, it seemed to have cleared. Tingruviel bade Sorontar to enter her chambers and begin the work of translating the text while she went to the kitchens to get some food. This late in the night, the cooks would have finished their work, and although some of them would get up before the crack of dawn to bake bread, it was yet not that late. She put together a warm meal, and crossed the halls towards her office. The best time to think was now, when hardly anyone was awake. The best time to discuss history, and past experiences. To work.
