In his room Aldarion lay on his back on the bed and began to grumble as he thought about the conversation he had just had with Cirdan. So he stayed for a long time until he fell asleep from exhaustion.

Aldarion woke to the sound of the door when Erumäre brought him dinner that night.

Upon entering her, Aldarion looked her up and down and mostly focused on her face and her gaze. He could not notice anything different from other occasions, so he did not know what Cirdan was referring to when he told him that everything would be clarified when he spoke with her today.

Erumäre did the usual thing, sat down next to the table and offered the food to Aldarion. - "Are you not going to eat dinner? today? Is something wrong?" - As he had remained in bed looking at her without saying anything, she urged him to dinner.

"Eh, y-yes. Sorry, I was thinking about something and I had not realized that you were waiting for me." - He answered after leaving his daze.

Aldarion got up lazily from the bed because he had just woken up and he was still a little sleepy. He went to sit in the chair next to Erumäre and began to eat in silence while meditating.

"Something happens? You are very quiet. "- Seeing the abnormal behavior of Aldarion Erumäre could not help asking. Normally she would not say anything, but she had gotten used to the fact that when they were together Aldarion would try to start a conversation with her and he would not stop asking her questions.

"So much I notice?" - He replied with another question while looking at her somewhat surprised.

"Yes... Normally you would already be talking and telling me stories." - she answered while nodding without having any change in the expression on her face.

"Ohhh! So you like to talk to me and tell you stories..." - He said mockingly as he looked at him and smiled mischievously.

Erumäre did not say anything to him for a few seconds while looking directly at him.

"I do not intend to keep talking until you admit it." - He continued saying with the same mocking tone as before.

Silence remained in the room for another few seconds until Erumäre opened his mouth. - "I admit that... your stories are very entertaining and... I also admit... that... I have... come to appreciate ttalk with you..." - She said with difficulty while blus.h.i.+ng and hiding her face.

Aldarion loved to hear her say that so a smile from ear to ear was put on his face, but when he thought about what he had to talk with Erumäre he began to lose it and his face became more serious.

"Well... as I can not lie to you... I think I should talk to you and be direct." - While Aldarion was talking, Erumäre started to look up to meet his and Aldarion realized that her eyes showed concern.

"It's weird that you're so serious, what's up?" - She said with concern.

"I have managed to pa.s.s the tests that the King had imposed on me and this afternoon I have been talking to him." - Aldarion told her.

When Erumäre listened he gave her a slight smile and started talking. - "But that's great! I'm very happy for you, finally you can do what you wanted and go on adventures as you told me."

"Thanks... but there's still something I want to do here. There is still something that binds me to be here." - Aldarion said with a little anguish. Even though what Erumäre had said was true and made him happy, it was also true what he felt for her and he could not stop thinking about his conversation with Cirdan, so he could not show his joy in his words.

Erumäre began to worry more about him and this was transmitted to her face causing her to lose the slight smile that she had managed to form and begin to wrinkle a little more her forehead with worry.

"And what ties you? Has the King imposed another test? If you want I can talk to him, I'm sure he'll listen to me. I could..." - She started talking until Aldarion cut her off.

"It's not about a new test or anything like that, but about what I want and what I feel." - He said.

She did not say anything, but she urged him to keep talking while there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes. Curious to know what it was, what was it that made the young man who was sitting in front of her, who was always happy, was so decayed.

"Do you remember when I get here?" - She nodded at his question. - "I was shattered and in bed. But since I woke up and started living here, I've lived with you every day. I think I have come to know you and you have also... I know it has been difficult for you, but you have been changing and now you even enjoy being with me..."

"You do not have to keep talking. The King has done it again... I guess that's why I a.s.signed myself as your servant... always wanted to help me, but forcing you to relate to me..." - While Aldarion was talking, Erumäre's face began to change from worry to anger and she it stayed that way until he decided to cut Aldarion.

"No! I mean... yes, it's true that at first the King asked me, but I promise you that from the first moment I saw you I wanted to be with you and talk to you, but... now..." - Aldarion did not get the words and started to stay silent.

"Quiet, I'm not mad at you, it's more, I should not be angry with the King either. All the time I have spent with you has helped me a lot." - She said as the expression of anger on her face was replaced by a more cheerful.

"I'm happy I could have helped you." Aldarion was glad to hear her and could even start to smile a little.

"Thanks to you, I have finally been able to make a decision about my future... I am going to pay attention to the King and I am going to take a boat in the Gray Ports that will take me to Valinor." - She said while smiling and showing her a little sadness in her eyes.