She arrived at the tower after a short walk. She refused to run. Pushing open the door, she knew where she'd find him. In the study, of course.Climing the stairs wearily she saw him walking to the bookshelves. He stopped mid-route and turned to face her. He nodded with a cold lifeless smile. She sighed.

"You called?" Suddenly there was something amusing in that to her and she chuckled.

He nodded, taking note of her demeanor. "Did I interupt something... important... Sunveil?"

"N'uma... just a weary life."

He nodded once, and she was thankful that he didn't care to inquire further.

"Tell me," he clutched at his spellbook like a child to a well-loved toy. "Have you learned what I asked of Corellon?"

"I have tried to gain the counsel of the priest. He has not made time to see me." She frowned, hoping he would not press that issue any futher as well. He nodded once, moving on.

"What of Q'wellen?"

Myra shook her head. "He has avoided me as well. But..." she dared "I saw... Khalin tonight.

Khellenduras looked at her with his cavernous eyes. She looked haunted as a hand crept to hold her stomach where old scars still lingered.

An angry smirk crossed his face as he spoke, dripping with venemous disappointment. "Tell me, why would I care if you spoke with Khalin?"

She leveled her gaze on him, snapping at him. "I don't know. Why would you?" She frowned, then shrugged. "It doesn't matter." The fact that he had even paid it a second mind told her that there was something of interest to him in it.

He clenched his teeth slightly, but for once he did not lash back as she expected. He instead turned and paced, speaking with a forced calm. "You thought it important to bring Khalin into this... do tell me... why?"

Myra peered at him. She almost found his response to the topic amusing. Almost. "Have the two of you more of a link than he'd admit to?"

"Khalin is little, save an elf who's name rings familiar from my previous... voyages... into the Glade."

"Then it was just a silly girl making off comments. Nothing more."

He smiled to himself as he bowed his head and then looked at her again. "How bitter you are... How full of angst... hate. Hatred toward whom, Sunveil?"

She lowered her eyes to the crystal ball. He was right. He began to walk slowly toward her.

"...toward Mord'sythe? For harming you, forever marring your name?"

"N'uma."

"Toward me? For bringing you along on this forsaken journey? The other elves of the Glade?"

"N'uma. I have myself to blame for allowing it."

"Then who?" He pressed her for some answer. She knew deep inside he already knew the answer, and so did she.

"Just myself."

He smirked, seemingly accepting the answer.

"But why Sunveil. Myra... My little shadow walker?" He moved to peer out the window.

"Because you are all I have left that I can rely on. Because you will use me just like Trenton did and throw me away when you are done. And it is all my own fault."

He turned to look at her "Myra." She raised her eyes to meet the depths of nothingness that were his eyes. "I have promised you one thing above all else. Your complete protection. Did you think that promise was finite?"

The image of the once living Caramon shimmered in her mind's eye for only a moment before shattering completely.

"...n'uma."

"I am not Mord'sythe. I do not discard what I take in as my own...I do not throw away my...." He paused and she waited in anticipation and fear of hearing what he would say. "...my loyal servants..." She cringed and lowered her eyes to the crystal ball before her at his emphasis on the word "loyal".

He noted her gaze, but did not take it as critical, merely a reminder. He decided a changed subject was best.

"Tell me... do the elves still seek this..." He strolled over to stand beside her, picking up the crystal orb. "A 'crystal orb'?"

Myra nodded slowly.

"Has it been confirmed yet that that this is the object they seek...?" She was certain he was prodding to see if she had purposefully misled her kin.

"They continue to believe it is an orb," is all she would say.

He nodded once. "As I stated before, just assure they continue to believe so."

Myra reluctantly nodded only slightly.

"Is there anything else of note you feel the need to tell me...?" Khellenduras prodded again.

Myra shook her head. "Then begone. Go where you will..." As she turned to go, he spoke up. "They don't trust you at all, do they...?"

Myra replied simply. "There are whispers even behind my back in the tavern."

"Do you feel you deserve that?"

Myra thought for a moment. "...uma."

Khellenduras nodded once, in a silent dismissal. She turned and left.

------------------------------------------
A drink is what she needed. Perhaps some Fey would clear her mind of the day's happenings. First seeing Khalin. Then ending up finding a nearly lifeless Melyanna in Ilshenar. And now her visit from... no, to Khellenduras.

Most nights the Arrow was calm, quiet. Not so this night, as Myra's luck would have it. Thrand was there, and not his usual stoic self. After some questioning, and Myra's sloppy attempt at evasion, she told Thrand she'd left Mely in the care of those at the Abbey. She had a hunch he didn't believe her when he set out to go to the Abbey to bring Mely home.

And Glor came in. A myriad of feelings washed over her, not the least of which was remorse. He at least nodded a hello to her and didn't call her 'Arwen Sunveil'. Some small comfort. She couldn't blame him for being so distant and bitter with her at times. It was her own fault.

"Lich? What mention of a lich?" A gold elf near Myra spoke up.

"Ask Myra there. They seem to be rather close." Glor replied. His words cut deep. Myra frowned darkly into her Fey.

"Uma, he and I are good *friends*." Her words didn't lack the cutting edge she'd meant them to hold. They cut no one but herself, however.

She couldn't sit there any longer. The guilt and anger ate at her. Swallowing down the last of her Fey, she stood and walked to the door. "I'm afraid I must be on my way."

Glor piped up from his seat near the back wall, "Give Khell my regards." And those words stung even more than the others.

She closed her eyes and sighed the words, "Naamarie il'er." As the Arrow door closed behind her, the tears could not be held. They streamed down her face as she ran to the Temple, not able to think of anywhere else to go.