[Dictated]

[lightbranded]

 [Will begins speaking into the journal in a troubled voice.,]

I'm sorry to bother anyone, but something just happened.  I found something in my room. 

I can't say I'm not happy to see it.  I thought it lost months ago in my own world.  I just don't understand how it can be possible for it to be here.  Is it the castle's work, do you think?

[With his question posted, Will goes back to sitting crosslegged on his bed and reverently tracing the edges of a gleaming golden belt and the six signs strung along its length.  Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone.  For all he could tell, the belt of signs seemed exactly the same as the last time he had touched it.]

Comments

[inafadingcrown]

I do not doubt it. The castle bestowed gifts at this time last year as well. [A little pause] You sound troubled, my friend.

[lightbranded]

Troubled is the word for it. This worries me. [He traces the sign of Iron again.]

The identity of this gift I mean. I don't understand how it can be possible.

[inafadingcrown]

Do you wish to speak of it? [In private, she means.]

[lightbranded]

I would appreciate that, yes. Do you have the time?

[inafadingcrown]

Of course. I would not have offered otherwise.

[lightbranded]

[The amusement at himself is obvious in his voice.]

A foolish question, I suppose.

[He gives her his new room number.]

[inafadingcrown]

A polite sort of foolishness which is easily forgiven. [the amusement is echoed in her tone.] I will be there shortly.

[And, true to her word, she is. There will be a soft knocking at Will's door.]

[lightbranded]

[He opens the door quickly, one hand resting securely on the belt hidden under his sweater.]

[inafadingcrown]

Will. [She nods in greeting.] May I come in?

[lightbranded]

[He steps back into Duke's cave and gestures toward a small doorway in the back of the room.]

Of course! My room is at the back.

[inafadingcrown]

[And she follows him into the room.]

I was not aware you shared your quarters.

[lightbranded]

It is because of the second thing the castle took from me for my return here. It is- [He hesitates as he tries to find the right word.]

Uncomfortable to be alone for very long. Duke offered to take me in as a roommate when I told him about the problem.

[inafadingcrown]

That was kind of him. [She continues to follow him back to his room.] It seems a queer loss, though I suppose most do to the one not afflicted.

[lightbranded]

[He opens the door for her and takes a seat on the bed, leaving the desk chair open for her.]

A play on a prophecy from my world, I think.

[inafadingcrown]

[She hums in agreement and mild interest and takes a seat in the chair.]

But that is not what weighs upon your mind now.

[lightbranded]

No, indeed it is not.

[He hesitates, and then unhooks the belt and spreads it across his hands in one quick gesture. The gold gleams dully in the light, highlighting the ancient appearance of the six signs.]

It is this that troubles me.

[inafadingcrown]

[That gets her attention immediately. She stares at the signs, ghosting her fingers over them, but never actually touching them. She says nothing for a good long time, just examining the belt- solemnly appreciating what she senses.]

I see why.

[lightbranded]

It is called the Belt of Signs. [He absently traces one finger around the edges of the signs. Galadriel might notice that the scar on his arm, visible thanks to his pushed up sleeves, is a perfect match in size and shape to the ornaments on the belt.]

It was one of four great items commissioned by the Light though the ages of the world, to aid in the war against the Dark. And it was the object of my first task.

[inafadingcrown]

And now it has come to you again. [Funny- if she had received Nenya, she would be delighted. But that had been her loss and she gathered that this was not his. She did not know under what circumstances he had been parted from this power.]

You find it foreboding?

[lightbranded]

If the castle is truly responsible for its arrival here? I find that very troubling indeed.

[inafadingcrown]

I do not doubt that it is capable of it. I have experienced something of the reverse; a great power was taken from me.

[lightbranded]

I'm sorry. [Will knew the worry that must have come with such a loss.]

Is there any chance of reclaiming it?

[inafadingcrown]

I fear not; it is what the castle took from me upon my arrival. But that need not concern you now. I am here about your troubles.

[lightbranded]

[He nods and looks back down at the belt. He wouldn't pry.]

It fulfilled its purpose and vanished some months ago.

[inafadingcrown]

Does it pose a danger to you? [She couldn't sense anything, but, then again, she's been wrong before. Especially here.]

[lightbranded]

To me, no. It was my purpose from the beginning to be the keeper of this. I was the signseeker.

[inafadingcrown]

Then it disturbs you only as the castle's display of power?

[lightbranded]

That, and that it could retrieve this. I'd thought it destroyed or lost forever. I saw them vanish.

[inafadingcrown]

Time means little to this place. Perhaps it drew them here from before your time, as it is wont to do with its captives.

[lightbranded]

Perhaps. But if you had asked me before today, I would not have thought it possible.

[And now he had the responsibility of guarding the signs here in the castle.]

[inafadingcrown]

I have seen many things here that I would not have thought possible. [But she understands the burden this places on him. Probably better than most would. So she reaches over and takes his hand, giving it a little squeeze.]

[lightbranded]

[He smiles back at her hesitantly. Will appreciated her support more than he would ever say. Without it, he thinks that it could have been very lonely and hard here.]

[inafadingcrown]

I will speak nothing of it. You have my word. [He knows she won't, she thinks. But she would want to hear the words spoken aloud, were their positions reversed.]

[lightbranded]

I thank you for that. [He still felt lost trying to understand what the proper path was now. But it was reassuring, having her word.]