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Elf Academy Part Deux  by Fiondil

69: Biding Time

The party broke up sometime later. Young Caleb was discovered in the upper sunroom, fast asleep on the area rug face down. Nicole came to retrieve him. One of the ellith who happened to be in the sunroom at the time gave her a knowing smile.

"He was running around one minute and then the next he just dropped."

Nicole smiled back as she lifted her son into her arms, the boy snuggling into her without waking. "If only we could bottle all that energy and sell it we would be very rich."

The ellith all laughed as they bid the Mortal woman good-night.

As she came down the stairs, Tim was there with their coats, helping her to clothe the still sleeping child while the older children stood yawning but determined to remain awake for the short ride home. Glorfindel and several other Elves were there to see them on their way, thanking them for coming. Once all the Mortals were gone, the Elves went their separate ways, some retiring to their rooms, others congregating in the kitchen or the library or the upper sunroom, a few donning cloaks and stepping outside to wander under the stars for a time. Glorfindel was in the kitchen cleaning up and putting things away. Elrohir was also there setting up the Mr. Coffee for the morning, while Serindë was putting out plates and silverware on the dining room buffet in preparation for the morrow’s breakfast. Finrod was sitting in the breakfast nook, looking on. His son and his two gwedyr were also there.

"Do you wish for us to return to the Academy?" Findalaurë asked his father.

Finrod shook his head. "For the time being, I think you can remain here. When do Alex and Derek do their tours?" he asked Glorfindel, who was putting away some tupperware.

"We’ll let them know when they hand in their tour schedules on Tuesday," he replied. "We need a couple of days to look them over and make sure they are doable. The first test tours will begin on next Friday. They will run until the following Wednesday. We’ll give everyone a two-day break for Thanksgiving and finish the tours next weekend. We’re reserving the Monday after Thanksgiving for any tours that are cancelled due to the weather."

"And when do they begin to act as guides for real?" Calandil asked.

"According to Roland, the resorts will begin operation on the first day of December, which this year falls on a Thursday. Most of their clientele won’t arrive until the weekend, but the students need to go through orientation and be advised as to what their duties will be and prepare themselves for the first tours."

"And you will be there with them," Finrod said, making it more a statement than a question.

Glorfindel nodded as he wiped down the counter around the sink. "I and those who were with me when I first came here, though Della and Misty are still in Fairbanks and are likely to remain there for the time being, so I’m not sure if someone will take their places or not. The Valar insist that we play Elf Guides to certain people to whom we will reveal ourselves. Personally, I would rather have others do it. I know Ron and Barry, for instance, are eager to do so. Unfortunately, the Valar have not given their permission to let the others... um... play." He gave them a sardonic look.

"You do not enjoy playing an Elf Guide?" Findalaurë ventured.

"Oh, it’s not that," Glorfindel admitted. "But it does take up a good deal of my time. Just as Alex and Derek and the other students, I will have to prepare each and every tour assigned to me and believe me, even after two years of doing so, it’s not always easy to come up with a doable plan. And don’t forget, the Academy is still running during this time. The students will continue living there during the duration, so they will still need to be fed, their bedding laundered and everything else. So on top of acting as a guide, I also have to continue with my administrative duties."

"But surely, others can do that," Finrod protested.

"And they do," Glorfindel averred. "But, as the chief administrator, I still have to sign off on things and I still need to deal with the rest of the college, not to mention the authorities in Wiseman. Luckily, people like Marian and Zach and our other friends are a great help during this time, but still...." He gave them a shrug as he neatly folded the towel and hung it up to dry.

"And our presence only complicates things more," Finrod stated.

"A little," Glorfindel said with a faint smile. "It’s not that we don’t appreciate you being here, any of you, but it would’ve been better if the Valar had waited to send you after the New Year when things begin to slow down a bit and we would have had more time to prepare for your coming. Okay, you two, a little daylight between you."

Finrod and the three younger ellyn stood up to look in the direction of Glorfindel’s gaze and saw Elrohir and Serindë in the dining room looking both guilty and affronted. Finrod assumed they had been kissing or perhaps merely holding each other close. Elrohir glared at them. "We don’t need a chaperone, Captain. This isn’t Imladris or even Aman, where I’m sure they still keep to the old ways."

"Yeah, well, discretion is the watchword of the day," Glorfindel retorted and Finrod snorted quietly in amusement at that, giving Glorfindel a knowing look, remembering all the times when ‘discretion’ did not appear to be part of his gwador’s vocabulary. Glorfindel ignored him.

"Have you set a date for the wedding?" Finrod asked, hoping to divert whatever argument appeared to be rising between his gwador and the younger son of Elrond.

Elrohir nodded, wrapping a protective arm around Serindë’s waist. "We have chosen the sixth of April. It’s a Friday. We will have an evening ceremony to allow our Mortal friends to attend after work."

"An appropriate day," Glorfindel said with a nod, apparently willing to drop the subject of chaperones for the time being, and at Finrod’s enquiring look he added, "April the sixth is equivalent to the Elven New Year as it was celebrated in Imladris."

"Ah, yes," Finrod said with a nod. "A most appropriate day, indeed."

"Well, we’re done here," Glorfindel said, giving the kitchen and dining room a final look-over. "Why don’t we go to the library and see what’s up? I think Daeron might be convinced to give us a concert."

Finrod nodded. "An excellent idea. Let us hence." And the Elves left the kitchen, turning off the lights as they went and headed for the library.

****

The rest of the week passed slowly for Findalaurë, Calandil and Elennen. They dutifully attended the various classes set up for the Valinórean Elves, thereby learning such things as how to handle phones, both cell phones and landlines, and how to use a TV remote and the microwave, as well as being given their first lessons on using a computer. Findalaurë found that he had little aptitude for using the various Mortal technologies and despaired, for Calandil seemed to adapt more easily and even Elennen seemed rather comfortable manipulating the TV remote, channel-surfing, as Elladan called it, with ease. It did not help matters that Nelluin also seemed comfortable with using the various technologies.

"Do not be discouraged," Finrod said to his son when Findalaurë came to him, complaining. "Some of us are better at adapting than others. There is no shame in it. Even among Mortals, there is a wide range of competence, according to Glorfindel. We all have our special talents and abilities. You will get there, my son, never fear."

Findalaurë was not entirely mollified, but decided not to press the issue, determined to succeed in learning as best he could so as not to bring dishonor upon his house, little realizing that being so much younger than many of the other Valinórean Elves, he was adapting more quickly than most.

They saw nothing of Alex or Derek during the first part of the week and studiously stayed away from the Academy, knowing that their presence would not be appreciated. Findalaurë and his gwedyr idled away some of the time going over the tours that had been given to Alex and Derek, coming up with their own plans (Barahir or one of the other Wiseman Elves helping them with information as to where various activities were available), wondering if they would coincide at all with what their two friends would devise. But for the most part, they remained somewhat idle and aloof from everyone else.

"If I didn’t know better, I’d swear they were homesick for the Academy," Glorfindel commented to Finrod and Vorondur as the three were sitting in the breakfast nook enjoying a mid-morning cup of coffee. It was Monday and snow was gently falling outside, though the Elves knew that no storm was in the offing. They could see the three younger ellyn out in the back garden, standing still with their heads back, staring at the falling snow. Elennen even had his tongue out, catching snowflakes.

"They’ve been given a taste of life among the Mortals and now they find our society somewhat restrictive," Vorondur offered. "They, more than any of the others, have been exposed to modern living and they would like to learn more about it, which they can’t do holed up here."

"Did you speak with Alex and Derek about letting them tag along while they do their test tours?" Glorfindel asked.

"I spoke with Derek yesterday," Vorondur said. "Alex was not there, having decided he needed some down time and was out hiking with some of the others. Derek was feeling a bit under the weather with a slight cold and was taking it easy. He said he had no objections, but he wasn’t sure about Alex." He frowned slightly.

"What’s the matter?" Glorfindel asked.

"Hmm? Oh, nothing really," Vorondur replied, taking a sip of his coffee. "Just something Derek said."

"And that would be what?" Glorfindel demanded with an edge of impatience in his voice.

Vorondur gave him a brittle smile. "Take a deep breath, Loren, and let it out slowly. You remember our little talk about keeping your anger under control?"

Glorfindel snorted, turning to Finrod. "That’s the trouble with having a resident shrink, he’s always psychoanalyzing us."

"Not always," Vorondur retorted mildly. "Otherwise, you would never be able to afford my fee."

Finrod chuckled at that as Glorfindel rolled his eyes. "So is there something you wish to share with us, or are you going to plead doctor-patient confidentiality?" Glorfindel asked.

Vorondur shrugged. "Derek is not my patient, though Alex is. However, Derek expressed some concern over his gwador. It seems as they have been working out their tours, Derek has gotten the impression at times that it is Artemus and not Alex working on the plan."

"And why would that be significant or even alarm young Derek?" Finrod asked.

Vorondur shrugged. "I do not know and perhaps Derek is only imagining things. There is a certain level of frustration that is inherent with this exam. The students all exhibit odd behavior as they struggle to come up with viable tours. They are nervous and excited and some of them end up being sick to their stomachs. It is a very stressful time for them as they attempt to put all that they have learned into practice. Alex may simply be exhibiting similar signs of stress and it may not mean anything in particular. On the other hand, the fact that Derek seems to be able to differentiate between the two personalities and recognize when Alex is in... um... Artemus-mode, so to speak, tells me that more may be going on with him than we know. I would like to schedule a session with him, but I doubt at the moment he would be willing to comply."

The three sat in silence for a time. Finrod gazed out the back window, watching the three youngsters as they began lobbing snowballs at each other. Vorondur continued sipping his coffee while Glorfindel stared at the table, obviously deep in thought.

"I know he never planned to be an Elf Guide," he finally said, speaking softly. "He continues to play the role of student because he has no other choice at this time and I know he is highly frustrated that he cannot locate Farrell and has not heard from the Agency. I also suspect that the death of the other agent has affected him more than he lets on, perhaps feeling that he may somehow have contributed to her death."

Vorondur nodded. "A logical assumption, given the circumstances. I have tried to convince him that her death may not have had anything to do with what is happening here, but I don’t think he buys it. That email that was sent after the agent’s death seems to suggest that someone at the Agency is playing with him. I just wish we could confirm one way or the other what is going on there."

"Well, they have to submit their plans by noon tomorrow," Glorfindel said. "Perhaps you can convince Alex to speak with you in the afternoon. Tell him that I am concerned about his ability to keep Artemus under control and I want assurance from you that he has a handle on things. I do not wish to place any innocents at risk if he finds he is having trouble keeping the Artemus side of him in hand. I do wish he could integrate the two personalities more."

"It is not an easy process," Vorondur said, "and we’ve only just begun. I will continue monitoring him and if I feel he is a danger to himself or others, I will pull him out of the program and have him admitted to the Renfield Psychiatric Clinic in Fairbanks. I have that authority and I can make it stick. Of course, I can only legally hold him there for forty-eight hours, but that should be time enough to convince him that he does need more help than I can give him here. Hopefully, it will never come to that, but I have already made the arrangements just in case."

"You seriously think you’ll need to do that?" Glorfindel asked in dismay.

Vorondur shrugged. "It’s always wise to prepare for any eventuality, then you aren’t taken quite by surprise when things go pear-shape around you." He flashed them a wicked smile. "Every boy scout knows that."

"Humph," was Glorfindel’s only reply.

The back door opened just then, and a snowball came whizzing through, neatly hitting Glorfindel on the side of the head. There were titters of laughter coming from outside and then another snowball came through, more or less aimed at Finrod, who ducked just in time. He gave the other two a wicked grin. "Methinks we have been called to battle, my friends."

"Methinks thou’rt right," Glorfindel replied, wiping the snow off his hair, and then all three were racing out the door, stooping to gather up some snow as laughter came floating in the air from somewhere deeper in the garden.

****

On Tuesday, Vorondur was on hand when Alex and Derek showed up at the classroom where the students were instructed to hand in their tour plans, handing out information about the day on which a particular student would have his or her tour. The two arrived around ten to hand in their plans. Vorondur greeted them.

"How are you two holding up?" he asked them as he took their plans and placed a check against their names on the list before him.

Derek shrugged. "I’m okay, just a bit nervous. Coming up with a plan was a lot harder than I thought it would be and I’m sure it’s all wrong."

Vorondur smiled. "I have every confidence that your plan is fine. Now, here is your tour date. You’ll be picked up by whichever resort you’ve been assigned to and taken to the Grange Hall at eight o’clock. The tours officially begin at nine, but you may begin whenever your test family arrives. Good luck."

Derek nodded his thanks, taking the piece of paper from Vorondur, though he did not look at it. "And you, Alex?" Vorondur said as he gave Alex a piece of paper with his tour date on it. "How are you doing?"

"I’m fine," Alex said somewhat defensively. "No, really, I am," he added when he noticed Vorondur raising an eyebrow.

"Loren would like you to have another session with me this week before you do your test tour," he said.

"Why?" Alex demanded. "I’m fine and it seems to me I should be the one deciding if I need my head shrunk or not."

"Artemus...."

"Don’t call me that!" Alex nearly shouted and then looked around hastily to make sure others were not about to hear him. As it was, they were the only ones in the room.

Vorondur narrowed his eyes. "I’ll see you this afternoon in my office at three. Derek, you have my permission to hog-tie him and see that he shows up."

"As if he could," Alex sneered and then stared in shock and surprise when Derek hauled off and slapped him soundly on the back of his head, giving him a dark look.

"Don’t think I can’t, gwador," Derek said softly. "You may be James Bond but I’m not exactly helpless and I can take you down anytime I wish. You will be at Ron’s office at three or I will make your life so miserable you will be begging me to kill you before I’m through."

The absolute sincerity of his roommate’s words stunned Alex even more than the slap had and he meekly nodded. "I’ll be there," he said softly to Vorondur.

"Enjoy the rest of the week," the Elf said, "and don’t worry. I know you will both do fine on your test."

The two Mortals left the room and Vorondur sat back, reviewing the conversation and the reactions of the two Men in his mind, then put them aside when several students entered the room, nervously handing him their plans.

****

"So which day do you do your tour?" Derek asked when they were halfway down the hall. Alex had remained silent and for a long moment he did not answer. Derek wondered if he was still angry at him for hitting him. Finally, though, his roommate looked at the slip of paper in his hand. "Uh... next Monday. What about you?"

Derek glanced at the slip of paper in his hand and grimaced. "Saturday. I really don’t think I’m ready for this."

Alex gave him an encouraging smile. "You’re more ready than I am," he admitted. "You actually want to be here, while I... well, you know," he ended lamely and Derek nodded in understanding. "At least you get to do yours early on and get it over with. I have to wait almost a whole week to do mine. I’m going to go insane before that."

Derek gave him a grin. "Nah, you’ll do fine. You have a natural knack for this sort of thing, I think. Must be all those years planning out your assignments and all. It’s become second nature for you."

"Maybe, but I’m still going to be without fingernails by the time I get to do my tour," Alex insisted. "Look, I’m sorry about before. I don’t know what’s come over me lately. Ron is right. I do need at least another session with him. I can understand Loren’s worry over me."

"You’re just nervous, like the rest of us," Derek offered. "This is new territory for you, too, don’t forget and this assignment is nothing like you’re used to from what you’ve told me."

"Yeah, you’re right. Hey, as long as we have the next few days free, why don’t we plan to get away from here for awhile?"

"What do you mean?" Derek asked.

"I mean, we’ll hop in my car tomorrow after breakfast and head for Fairbanks for a few days. We can check on Della and the others who are with her, see how they’re doing. We’ll hit the museums and the like, take our minds off things for a time. We can be back on Friday. That’ll give you time to get ready for your tour."

"That sounds good to me," Derek said. "I suggest you mention it to Ron when you see him this afternoon, make sure it’s okay." When Alex started to protest he held up his hand. "You’re technically Ron’s patient. I think it wise for him to know and make sure it’s okay, that’s all."

"I guess you’re right," Alex conceded. "I’ll tell him, I promise. Now, let’s check the internet and see what sort of things we can do when we’re in Fairbanks."

"Sounds like a plan," Derek said in agreement and the two made their way back to their room to plan their little excursion.

****

Alex arrived at Vorondur’s office at three, looking somewhat sheepish. "Sorry about earlier," he said without preamble as he sat in the chair in front of the desk. "I’d like to say it’s just nerves, but I doubt you would agree."

"In that you would be correct, to some extent," Vorondur said with a nod, "however, I suspect nerves are playing a large part of it. Derek, when I saw him on Sunday, voiced some concern about you, saying that it seemed that it was Artemus and not Alex planning the tour."

Alex looked up in surprise, then became somewhat thoughtful, before he gave the Elf a shy smile. "I suppose he was right."

"Would you like to explain?" Vorondur asked.

Alex shrugged. "I think I was treating the tour almost like a campaign, formulating tactics in getting from one location to another, maybe even pretending I was being pursued by Farrell or some enemy agent and needing to reach a particular spot to be safe."

"Santa’s Grotto," Vorondur offered and Alex nodded, now looking embarrassed.

"Stupid, I know, but I doubt Alex would’ve done half as well in planning the tour."

"Well, we’ll never know, will we, since you allowed Artemus full scope," Vorondur said.

"Is that a bad thing?" Alex asked, looking both puzzled and defensive at the same time. "You keep harping on about how Artemus has skills and knowledge that are essential and that I shouldn’t dismiss them or ignore them. Is it a bad thing that Artemus the spy planned the tour and not Alex the clueless student?"

"Is that how you see yourself?" Vorondur asked. "Clueless?"

Alex shrugged. "Sometimes. Let’s face it. Alex is nothing. He’s not even real. His entire history is made up, though I’ve borrowed from my own life here or there. In the end, he’s just a construct, one of many and believe me I could’ve chosen from a dozen other personae for this job; he just happened to be the first I thought of when I needed to sign the admission papers for the Academy. I may not like Artemus all that much, but he at least is a real person with a real history that can be traced back several centuries actually."

"Yet, you have stated that you don’t want to be Artemus any longer, that you prefer to be Alex."

"Yeah, and on one level that’s true, but it’s only true to the extent that I am able to divorce myself from the Agency and everything that has gone before. Trust me, no matter what name I give myself, my mom will always call me Artemus." He gave the Elf a sour look.

Vorondur hid a smile. "Mothers are like that, I’m afraid. Assuming you can retire from the Agency and take up a different profession, what do you think you would be doing?"

"Well, not playing being an Elf, that’s for sure," Alex retorted with a snort.

At Vorondur’s raised eyebrow, he relented somewhat. "Look, I have no objections about being an Elf Guide, but ultimately, I can’t see myself doing it for the rest of my life. That would just be a waste of talent. I can’t even see Derek doing it forever. He has other skills and talents that should be utilized to their fullest. He didn’t spend six years in the Navy doing nothing."

"I agree, but let’s keep Derek or anyone else out of this discussion," Vorondur said. "Derek will find his own way in his own time. Right now, he’s willing to be an Elf Guide for the season. Beyond that, well, that will be up to him. Let us concentrate on you. I know you are reluctant to take up this role of Elf Guide even for the test tour, never mind for the entire holiday season. Yet, I know you will do what you need to in that regard. I have no problems with that. What concerns me is your attitude towards yourself, your ambivalent feelings about who you are and what your role ultimately may be. Loren is concerned that in a critical moment, the Artemus part of you may emerge and innocents may be harmed."

"I have never caused harm to any innocent," Alex protested. "I pride myself on keeping collateral damage to the absolute minimum. Oh, yeah, sure, there’ve been casualties now and then, I don’t deny it, but it was usually because the person inadvertently got in the way. Luckily, though, I’ve never been responsible for any deaths in that regard."

"And I applaud you," Vorondur said. "Yet the question remains: can you control Artemus?"

Now Alex looked doubtful. "Under most circumstances I would say yes, but... Farrell and the other agents are still out there somewhere. I sincerely hope he doesn’t attempt anything when I’m in the middle of doing the tour. I wouldn’t put it past him to try, thinking me off guard. I certainly can’t go around armed. Not with children around."

"That wouldn’t stop Farrell, though, would it?"

"Who knows? I’ve given up trying to figure the man out. He’s gone way beyond accepted parameters for agents in the field. He’s a loose cannon and I have no way to stop him unless he makes the first move."

"Do you want to go armed?"

"God, wouldn’t I just," Alex replied sincerely. "But it’s not an option, least wise, not for me."

"Not even if in being armed you may be ensuring the safety of the others with you on your tour?"

"Do you really think I should?" Alex demanded. "I would think that would be the last thing you would want."

"I admit the idea of anyone being armed in those circumstances makes my blood run cold, but the alternative doesn’t bear thinking on. Farrell may do nothing, but while Alex may be reluctant to take the responsibility of being armed, Artemus would be foolish not to be."

"You keep insisting that I have to integrate the two in order to become whole, but it sounds as if your trying to keep the two personalities separate."

"No, but you as Alex have to accept that you as Artemus may need to do things that Alex finds distasteful but Artemus considers just good common sense under the circumstances. The fact that you planned out your tour as if you were planning an escape from enemy agents tells me that Artemus sees the value of good planning even if Alex does not. I assume, as per the instructions for the test tour, you provided alternative activities for your family and therefore planned alternative routes to get you to where you need to go?"

"Yeah, sure," Alex replied with a shrug. "And so?"

"Sometime before you actually do the tour, sit down with your copy of your plan and look at it with Artemus’ eyes, rather than with Alex’s. I would be curious to know what conclusions you come up with. You can tell me at our next session."

"Derek and I were thinking of taking a few days off and going to Fairbanks before we do our test tours. I thought we could check in on Della and the others and see how they were doing."

Vorondur did not say anything for a moment, as if thinking over Alex’s words. Finally, he nodded. "I think it is an excellent idea. When were you planning to leave? It’s probably too late to do so today."

"We’re planning on leaving directly after breakfast tomorrow and should be back by dinner time on Friday. That’ll give Derek time to prepare for his tour which is on Saturday. I don’t get to do mine until Monday and the very thought of having to wait almost a whole week is already driving me crazy."

Vorondur smiled. "Then a few days in Fairbanks should help take your mind off things. Perhaps we can get together for a short time after dinner on Friday. I imagine that when Derek is out doing his tour on Saturday you’ll be wanting to spend most of the day at the Grange Hall waiting for his return."

Alex nodded. "Yeah, I imagine that’s what I’ll be doing."

"Then, enjoy your time in Fairbanks. Give Della and the others my good wishes. I’ll see you when you get back but do me a favor. Take a look at your plan before you go or better, take it with you and look at it when you’re sitting in your hotel room. Perhaps examining it in a completely different environment will help you to see it better."

"Okay, I’ll do that, though I’m not sure what you’re getting at."

"When we meet again on Friday, we can discuss it. Now, I’m sure you have things you need to do before you leave so off you go. Have a safe trip."

"Thanks," Alex said as he stood up. "And thanks for everything else. I can’t believe how screwed up I am. We have to sit with a company shrink every year, but honestly, I’ve learned how to say the right things to keep them off my back so I can do what I do best. I think you’re the first person I’ve ever really come clean with."

"And how does that make you feel?"

"I have no idea," Alex admitted honestly, "but I think for the first time in my life I am actually looking at myself honestly and not covering up just for the sake of my job."

"Then you are making a good start. If you can keep being honest with yourself, that will go a long way towards helping you to heal the conflicts within you. Now, off you go and don’t forget to bring back a souvenir."

Alex grinned and left the room. Vorondur sat for some time mulling over what had been said, and more importantly, what had not been said between them. He gazed out his window in deep thought, not really seeing the view. Then, after several minutes of contemplation, he reached for his phone and speed dialed a certain number.

"Alex and Derek are going to Fairbanks for a few days," He said without preamble. "I’ve given him my permission. We’ll talk again when they get back on Friday." He paused to listen. "Yes, I know it’s a risk, but I think it’s worth it. Alex is wound tighter than he realizes and he’s on the verge of exploding. A few days away from all this may be just what he needs to unwind.... By all means, contact Della and let her know. Alex said he and Derek would look in on her and see how she’s doing....I have no idea where they are staying. I didn’t think to ask.... Yes, I can certainly find out. That’s not a problem. What concerns me is why you need to know.... Are you insane? What if they find out?.... Fine. I’ll let you know as soon as I can." He closed down the phone and uttered a few choice curses in more than one language as he made his way out of his office, heading towards the third floor dorms, mentally formulating the excuse he would offer Alex and Derek as to why he wanted to know where they would be staying in Fairbanks.





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