Chapter 10

The next morning, Turi and the Dirs were standing in the plush living room of Mýlill's quarters, the latter sat in a soft beige sofa with her feet up. 

Among the council members, she was known as a tough cookie – a female progressive equally appreciated and feared for her tough stance on representing gender affairs. The comfortable surroundings they were now standing in spoke of her elevated position and status in the elven community.

Yet the old elf sat before them looked impossibly small and delicate in the big sofa, surrounded by the beige and off white tones of the walls, curtains, long haired carpet and most furnishings for that matter. Mýlill also looked as if she'd been dragged behind a horse, the scrapes and bruises on her arms and legs a testament to her lucky escape, as she called it.

She smiled welcomingly at them, but her red eyes betrayed her real state of mind. Going on the bruises and scrapes on her cheeks, nose and chin it looked like she'd rolled down the walkways and shrubbery, rather than ran.

Turi pulled up a chair and gently touched her bandaged hand. 'You know why we are here, my lady' she started. My name is Turi and we are with the internal surveys office.'

'U-huh' Mýlill said. She cast her blue eyes down, then shut them. Turi felt bad having to ask her to relive these traumatic moments but they needed to find out exactly what had happened, and what she remembered.

Mýlill opend her eyes again and Turi quick-fired a number of questions at her. Where exactly did it happen? At what point did she notice someone following her? Did she get a look at her attacker? Was there anything particular about the weapon?

The elder kept nodding without providing much of an answer to any of the questions. Turi sighed. 'Please Mýlill, talk to me. We really need your help.'

But her eyes seemed unfocused, and her gaze shifted from Turi to the window, then to Bragoldir and Baimeldir. Finally, she cleared her throat and looked away from them.

'I walked up the footpath... off the main walkway. Followed me. He wore a cloak, tall elf.' She paused, as if a detail had just crossed her mind. Then she shook her head distractedly and continued. 'He spoke... called me daughter of snakes.' Her voice seemed close to breaking, tears welling up in her blue eyes. Turi reached out and touched her hand again, inwardly willing her on.

'You betrayed me... daughter of snakes. Dagger in his hand.' A solitary tear ran down her cheek. 'I ran for it.' Turi's heart went out to this old elf. But she had to know. 'Did you get a look at him? Can you tell us what he looks like?'

Mýlill bit her lip and cast her red eyes down. 'I don't know. Maybe. I seemed to recognize him... but n.. not.' Her body was shaking now and tears rolled over her cheeks. Turi leaned back frowning, and none the wiser.

Mýlill kept going, almost like she was talking to herself. 'I ran... past him. Down... through the bushes. Then I was alone.'

They showed themselves out, feeling like there was more information they could get, but it was out of their reach. For now at least.

Turi sighed as they walked back to the office in silence. She couldn't, wouldn't deal with another dead end.

After the kiss, that kiss, Turi and Thranduil had spent a good while browsing the history books together on the shelves of the throne room. That had seemed like a good distraction, rather than breaking the spell and analyzing what had just happened. She'd tried not to overthink the whole experience since then, but rather to just let things evolve naturally.

At least it seemed that something was evolving now. Turi smiled to herself. It'd been wonderful to be working side by side, and Turi felt encouraged when she thought back to their evening together.

But they'd turned up surprisingly little about that period. Thranduil's memories were vague at best, and he seemed reluctant to discuss the trouble the kingdom had gone through. How was that possible?

Turi frowned, not knowing how close she'd come that day to finding just the evidence she was looking for.

But another chance was just around the corner.