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This is the wrong building. She could have sworn the RA said "take a left at Emily, first on your right", and Bella did exactly that, and here she is and the rooms in this place don't even seem to be numbered, it's all letters and names. She's not going to find Intro to Subtle Therapy in Room 206 like that. Maybe the RA meant take a left after Emily, not before Emily? Maybe she was supposed to go the other way around the quad and approach Emily from the other direction? She's going to be late.
Bella tries to get out of the letter-named-rooms building to go ask Emily for directions, but that's not a stairwell after all, and there's someone shouting at her not to come in and she flinches back and clonks her elbow on the door and boots or no boots she's down and she -
- is falling -
subtly_artistic
Her surroundings are glowing. Perhaps she hit her head very hard.
No, not glowing, it's just that the walls are very high-quality translucent marble, very thin, and the ceiling is high and vaulted and it must be very very bright outside because inside is nearly as bright as broad daylight.
The room is currently being used for storage, but cannot possibly be a storage room, it's far too elaborate. Furniture, clothes, unopened gifts, fabrics, unfinished stoneworks, miscellaneous clutter, more fabrics -
And a kid who can't be older than three, in the corner, staring at her with wide-eyed astonishment.
No, not glowing, it's just that the walls are very high-quality translucent marble, very thin, and the ceiling is high and vaulted and it must be very very bright outside because inside is nearly as bright as broad daylight.
The room is currently being used for storage, but cannot possibly be a storage room, it's far too elaborate. Furniture, clothes, unopened gifts, fabrics, unfinished stoneworks, miscellaneous clutter, more fabrics -
And a kid who can't be older than three, in the corner, staring at her with wide-eyed astonishment.
subtly_artistic
Bella rubs her head, makes sure she can wiggle her toes. She seems mostly okay. What the heck were they doing in that room and hadn't they heard of locks? Where is she?
"...Sorry," she says to the toddler. "I didn't mean to, um, barge in. Where am I?"
"...Sorry," she says to the toddler. "I didn't mean to, um, barge in. Where am I?"
He blinks at her.
subtly_artistic
...She can't even tell what species he is, he looks sort of like an adorable half-elf as photorealistically drawn by somebody who'd never met a real half-elf. "Hello?" she tries. Hello? she adds, belatedly.
He recognizes that and reacts a little, pulling himself into a tight ball. Then he sends something back. It's not in words, but the sentiment is clear. I don't want to talk to anybody.
subtly_artistic
...
"Sorry," she says tentatively, although he won't understand it.
Nervously, she gets to her feet and looks for an exit. She doesn't know where she is but she wasn't invited. At least the kid didn't seem to have a really strong reaction to her being a human and she probably will not be shot on sight if she wanders the streets looking for someone who'll tell her where she's landed.
"Sorry," she says tentatively, although he won't understand it.
Nervously, she gets to her feet and looks for an exit. She doesn't know where she is but she wasn't invited. At least the kid didn't seem to have a really strong reaction to her being a human and she probably will not be shot on sight if she wanders the streets looking for someone who'll tell her where she's landed.
A number of medium-sized objects have been clumsily dragged in front of the door.
The kid has peeked out from above his own knees and is frowning at them. He says something in a language she doesn't recognize, a question.
The kid has peeked out from above his own knees and is frowning at them. He says something in a language she doesn't recognize, a question.
subtly_artistic
"I can't understand you," she tells him, apologetically. "If you don't like subtle arts and don't speak Pax I don't think we can get anywhere."
Another image floats into her head: the kid toddling into the room, identifying the largest things he can move, pushing them in front of the door so he'll hear the clatter if anyone enters looking for him. And then a sense of confusion, but now the question is more apparent: how did you get in without knocking over my things?
subtly_artistic
...Does he want an answer or does he want to not talk to anyone?
It was an accident. A magical accident. I didn't mean to barge in.
It was an accident. A magical accident. I didn't mean to barge in.
When you leave, don't tell them I'm here.
subtly_artistic
I don't even know who they are, or you, she says. I don't know where I am.
You're in the west wing of the palace. And a diagram of a floorplan. You can tell you're in Tirion by the Trees, can't you? It's my parents' servants who are looking for me, and I'll come back, but I don't want to just yet.
subtly_artistic
I'm - thanks for the floorplan but I don't know anything about Tirion and don't see any Trees here...? I don't know if I've ever heard of this country before at all.
His eyes light up, Are you from Endorë? The Trees are - he gestures at the ceiling. That's Laurelin, she's golden. Telperion is silver and when they're both bright everything is white.
subtly_artistic
I'm from a country called the Imperium and I've never heard of Endorë either...
Well, we call it Endorë. In Endorë they might not call it Endorë, because Endorë means faraway-place.
subtly_artistic
Well, I'm definitely from somewhere other than here, I can't even quite tell what species you are.
He scrunches up his face. Since he's tiny, the effect is quite odd. I'm Fëanáro Curufinwë of the Noldor. Even if you're from Endorë you should know my father.
subtly_artistic
I guess I'm from even farther away than that, then, so I won't know all the things I should, sorry.
Ata'll help you figure it out, don't worry.
subtly_artistic
You don't think he'll be mad at me for landing in his palace?
Confusion. You said you didn't mean to.
subtly_artistic
I didn't, but some people might be mad anyway, or not believe me.
Ata's not mad, just sad, and he'll believe you.