Hopefully it does not come with great serpents. [She says, almost too quietly to be heard. Morgoth may well have been gone for good but the Host of the Valar had not dragged all of his creations with him and she had seen things in the waters, both the river and the now encroaching sea, that she knew of no name for.]
Perhaps I could irritate you a little longer and you might show me your great river? [Her tone is gentle and teasing, and also plain enough to be clear that she knows she is pushing her luck. Even being here was pushing her luck, though it was no fault of hers that she had slipped between realms somehow.]
No. Thank you for humouring me, I know you do not have to.
[That was the thing about Kings. They tended to do what they wanted, in the end, and damn everyone else who didn’t agree. Mithiel tried to stamp down those feelings. Thingol had been gone half a century but it was his death that lead to all of their doom and she could not help but blame him even though Melian had also left them of her own free will.]
It’s a beautiful palace, despite how alien it feels to her. She isn’t used to being inside stone like this. Yes, Menegroth was in the caves but she had only been there for a century or so. Her family’s home was made out of still living trees that had been gently guided into the shape of rooms, and when she wasn’t there she simply lived in the trees in their natural wildness.
Nonetheless she makes note of everything he shows her and where they all are.
She does pull up when they pass what sounds to her like a room full of people and he says that she can use if she likes. The confusion is plain on her face.] …Use? What is that?
To...lay with. [It's not that he's exactly embarrassed by it but the words are awkward. As awkward as every time they give him some new person he can have sex with because for some reason, people have started rumors he has a beastly sexual appetite.
Hilarious for a god that has never touched another.]
[She is an ancient, old thing and yet it takes a second to connect what he says with what he means. While she was aware humans lay with each other, sometimes out of marriage, it was not the way of the elves.
She wasn’t even sure she could, never mind the implications of being told she can “use” these mortals whose murmuring slowly seems to become louder the more she focuses on them.]
That is not… a thing elves do outside of marriage. [In fact, it was marriage as far as Mithiel was aware. Not that she had tested the waters to see.] In any case, we are not good for mortals in that way. Joinings between us are few. [Beautiful, stubborn Luthien and her mortal Beren for example, both of which Mithiel had seen in the great forest of her birth.]
[The women and the men in the harem wait, as if wondering if they will finally be made of any use. Yet it seems not when Set shrugs and motions for Mithiel to keep following him.]
Your way makes more sense.
[That is probably the nicest thing he will say but the way people have sex and imagine things here are...well, ridiculous. He doesn't get it.] I don't see the point of keeping them but Thoth says since they were gifts, I must keep them.
People cannot be gifted, each belongs only to themselves. [She says sounding more confused than scolding or accusatory.] I feel like your friend is going to be confusing. He was very kind to me but he has that sort of face.
[At least for now she is glad to be away from the people that Set has been “gifted”, it seems like a messy thing to work through and she doubts he will ever be in the mood for it. Mithiel decides she might try to talk to them later, or at least listen in on them and try to determine if they enjoy their circumstances or not.]
Thoth is not my friend. [That should be known, he thinks.] He has served my family since the beginning of it and that is all. But he is useful. And you will interest him. [And that is not necessarily good and he will have to make sure that Thoth has no ulterior motives.]
Ah. [She says quietly. They must be truly not friends, for Mithiel would call may that she had a lesser relationship with friend. Or perhaps it was just how these “gods” thought? She supposes she can bother Thoth about any details that she cannot work out on her own. Her smile is small but warm as she looks at Set and wonders what his life is really like. He seems so withdrawn and she is not sure it is simply because he has to worry or wonder about her showing up in his kingdom, a completely foreign being that as far as he knows could be dangerous or otherwise make his life spin out of control.]
I will always be kind to you both. And to the rest of your house.
[It has not been stated but Set is also the god of foreigners and so he is her patron god as she stays here. It is one reason why those who come to Egypt often worship Set. Though it is still not something he understands, not anything he takes too much dedication to.]
If you are kind to me or not matters very little. As long as you respect me then we will be fine.
[He finally guides her to the bedrooms and shows her where she can stay. It is a large room with a bed. And then unsurprisingly, a servant comes to the room and bows, saying that Thoth had sent her to tend to their visitor. Set is thankful Thoth remembers these things. He turns to Mithiel.] She will help you with any small things you may need. Bigger than that? Ask Thoth and he will help.
Respect tends to come with kindness, your majesty. [If she sounds amused, it’s because she is. If only because sounding concerned every three seconds seemed to be quite useless. They are not friends either, so she doesn’t squeeze his hand as she wanders past him into the bedroom but she does let their shoulders brush together, just a moment of contact, a silent thank you.
It is a beautiful room, but of course they are in a King’s palace. She is examining the craftmanship of an interesting vase when another person comes into the room quiet as a mouse. She blinks. There were, sometimes, servants in Menegroth or apprentices who did things for their masters as payment for studying their craft but she was not the kind of elf who ever had a need for one. Animals were usually her only helpers, them or the trees themselves.
Her smile for the serving girl is warm and bright, putting more effort into some of that elven charm she had but rarely used.] It is good to meet you. [She says to the girl before looking to Set.]
Somehow I doubt I will have to go find Thoth. He is very interested in listening to me babble like a brook.
[Respect comes with kindness? Set wouldn't pretend to know. He's never quite gotten both. And he thinks respect can come without kindness, a simple cold acceptance. But what does he know?
The girl seems to blush at Mithiel's smile and bows her head once more. If you did not behave appropriately in front of Set, it was said he would kill you. Certainly it had happened in the past. She wouldn't take chances. What they didn't know was that while Set did this long ago, nowadays he would simply send them away and say he killed them. It worked to still make him look like the cruel tyrant.]
Thoth will probably seek you out before you seek him. Relax, use the girl for your needs, and I will show you the Nile after I change my clothing. [He was not in his full regalia and so if he would be seen, he needed that.]
[That was cute, even though she could tell the girl was uncomfortable. It could be Set’s doing, but she imagines it is nearly as strange to see such a foreign being as herself here even if she was no Vanya with golden hair and truly glowing skin, nor a Noldor, darker but sharper and hard to escape.]
I will be ready when you are. [She was ready now, she had no intention of letting go of her cloak or clothes and changing unless it was absolutely required. It was all she had of home, and even if she were tossed back into Arda where she belonged it would still be all she had of home. All that was not dragged down into the sea or looted by Dwarves and monsters when Melian abandoned them all.
Though she does not allow the serving girl to fetch her new clothes she does let her get a small platter of food, less because Mithiel was hungry and more because the girl looked like she might vibrate out of her own skin if she were not given a task. So they eat (Mithiel insists she eat with her) and sit and chat, as much as she can get her too. When the serving girl is too uncomfortable with a topic, Mithiel easily switches to another. One may not want to talk about their king but birds and beasts and what lay beyond the walls of the palace were much easier to discuss.
[The servant seems happy to talk though she is very quiet for the beginning. There was only so much she could say and do, considering her position, and she served the gods. She had to be on her best behavior. But Mithiel was easy to talk to and so she began to earnestly discuss what wildlife and plants there were here.
This is what Set happens upon when he comes back, now fully dressed in his royal golden armor fully. He has been decorated and the gold shines. The servant notices Set as she is midway through talking and quickly bows to the ground, eyes never looking up. Set glares for the sake of doing so but says nothing else.]
If you are ready for your visit to the Nile now then come with me.
[Mithiel tries to hide the concern and distaste that burns though her when the girl bows so low. Elves did now bow even to their Kings. It as strange and made her wonder if all of the people here would do the same thing. If they had walked into the Harem before, would all of those people have done the same?
She isn’t sure she wants to know. ]
I am ready. [She says, rising, wishing she could somehow comfort the girl as she steps past her and towards Set. Her clothes still don’t look like they are fit for this climate, especially her shoes with their soft leather and no real soles but she knows they will be fine.]
I heard you have very large lizards in it… crocodiles? They sound like small dragons.
[Set considers how Mithiel is dressed but does not say anything. After all, she is not human and so what does Set know of her? Of what she might need?
He turns and starts walking off. Not giving her any direction, his long, thin robes brushing past his legs as he does. ] They are large. But I don't know what dragons are so I cannot say what similarities they have. The crocodiles are not your biggest concern. It is the hippos you should concern yourself with.
Dragons are creations of Morgoth. Many of them breathe fire. Some speak wickedness into the world. They are great and lizard like. The greatest of them all was so large he blocked out the sun when he flew and smote three mountains when he fell. [She comes along, as quickly and silently as ever.]
I suppose neither of us would enjoy getting chewed on, no matter if we may return or…. Whatever it is that may happen to you. The underworld? [Whatever that meant she was sure she still didn’t understand. She didn’t have too. She did wonder if her soul would find Mandos when she was in this entirely too foreign world but she tried not to focus on it or let the worry fill her tired heart.]
You have been stabbed? [That gods might hurt does not surprise her. Valar did seem to feel just as much as elves, yet how they handled things was often different.]
Ah. Like the sea serpents? Though ours are too big for it to matter if they are venomous or not. Or so I am told, I never saw the sea until it came rushing under my feet.
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Perhaps I could irritate you a little longer and you might show me your great river? [Her tone is gentle and teasing, and also plain enough to be clear that she knows she is pushing her luck. Even being here was pushing her luck, though it was no fault of hers that she had slipped between realms somehow.]
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Though knowing his luck, she may either run into a crocodile or a hippo. And then what? He sighs.]
I'll show you after I show you to your room. Do you have any other requests you expect me to entertain?
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[That was the thing about Kings. They tended to do what they wanted, in the end, and damn everyone else who didn’t agree. Mithiel tried to stamp down those feelings. Thingol had been gone half a century but it was his death that lead to all of their doom and she could not help but blame him even though Melian had also left them of her own free will.]
I will find my way around the rest, I am sure.
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As they passed through the palace, he showed her things. Mostly just to tell her where things were. The baths, the kitchens, and the like.
When they pass the harem, he tells her, ] I never have use of this. You can if you would like.
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Nonetheless she makes note of everything he shows her and where they all are.
She does pull up when they pass what sounds to her like a room full of people and he says that she can use if she likes. The confusion is plain on her face.] …Use? What is that?
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Hilarious for a god that has never touched another.]
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She wasn’t even sure she could, never mind the implications of being told she can “use” these mortals whose murmuring slowly seems to become louder the more she focuses on them.]
That is not… a thing elves do outside of marriage. [In fact, it was marriage as far as Mithiel was aware. Not that she had tested the waters to see.] In any case, we are not good for mortals in that way. Joinings between us are few. [Beautiful, stubborn Luthien and her mortal Beren for example, both of which Mithiel had seen in the great forest of her birth.]
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Your way makes more sense.
[That is probably the nicest thing he will say but the way people have sex and imagine things here are...well, ridiculous. He doesn't get it.] I don't see the point of keeping them but Thoth says since they were gifts, I must keep them.
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[At least for now she is glad to be away from the people that Set has been “gifted”, it seems like a messy thing to work through and she doubts he will ever be in the mood for it. Mithiel decides she might try to talk to them later, or at least listen in on them and try to determine if they enjoy their circumstances or not.]
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Thoth will stay kind to you.
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I will always be kind to you both. And to the rest of your house.
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If you are kind to me or not matters very little. As long as you respect me then we will be fine.
[He finally guides her to the bedrooms and shows her where she can stay. It is a large room with a bed. And then unsurprisingly, a servant comes to the room and bows, saying that Thoth had sent her to tend to their visitor. Set is thankful Thoth remembers these things. He turns to Mithiel.] She will help you with any small things you may need. Bigger than that? Ask Thoth and he will help.
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It is a beautiful room, but of course they are in a King’s palace. She is examining the craftmanship of an interesting vase when another person comes into the room quiet as a mouse. She blinks. There were, sometimes, servants in Menegroth or apprentices who did things for their masters as payment for studying their craft but she was not the kind of elf who ever had a need for one. Animals were usually her only helpers, them or the trees themselves.
Her smile for the serving girl is warm and bright, putting more effort into some of that elven charm she had but rarely used.] It is good to meet you. [She says to the girl before looking to Set.]
Somehow I doubt I will have to go find Thoth. He is very interested in listening to me babble like a brook.
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The girl seems to blush at Mithiel's smile and bows her head once more. If you did not behave appropriately in front of Set, it was said he would kill you. Certainly it had happened in the past. She wouldn't take chances. What they didn't know was that while Set did this long ago, nowadays he would simply send them away and say he killed them. It worked to still make him look like the cruel tyrant.]
Thoth will probably seek you out before you seek him. Relax, use the girl for your needs, and I will show you the Nile after I change my clothing. [He was not in his full regalia and so if he would be seen, he needed that.]
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I will be ready when you are. [She was ready now, she had no intention of letting go of her cloak or clothes and changing unless it was absolutely required. It was all she had of home, and even if she were tossed back into Arda where she belonged it would still be all she had of home. All that was not dragged down into the sea or looted by Dwarves and monsters when Melian abandoned them all.
Though she does not allow the serving girl to fetch her new clothes she does let her get a small platter of food, less because Mithiel was hungry and more because the girl looked like she might vibrate out of her own skin if she were not given a task. So they eat (Mithiel insists she eat with her) and sit and chat, as much as she can get her too. When the serving girl is too uncomfortable with a topic, Mithiel easily switches to another. One may not want to talk about their king but birds and beasts and what lay beyond the walls of the palace were much easier to discuss.
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This is what Set happens upon when he comes back, now fully dressed in his royal golden armor fully. He has been decorated and the gold shines. The servant notices Set as she is midway through talking and quickly bows to the ground, eyes never looking up. Set glares for the sake of doing so but says nothing else.]
If you are ready for your visit to the Nile now then come with me.
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She isn’t sure she wants to know. ]
I am ready. [She says, rising, wishing she could somehow comfort the girl as she steps past her and towards Set. Her clothes still don’t look like they are fit for this climate, especially her shoes with their soft leather and no real soles but she knows they will be fine.]
I heard you have very large lizards in it… crocodiles? They sound like small dragons.
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He turns and starts walking off. Not giving her any direction, his long, thin robes brushing past his legs as he does. ] They are large. But I don't know what dragons are so I cannot say what similarities they have. The crocodiles are not your biggest concern. It is the hippos you should concern yourself with.
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But what is a hippo?
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A hippo...is big. They are territorial and will kill you without a second thought.
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I will take you at your word. I am not sure that death would be stranger than appearing in a foreign land. Elves do not truly die like men.
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Only men die like men. Gods do not die the same here.
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Are there any other great beasts of concern?
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Snakes. They are reptiles with no limbs but some are poisonous if they do bite you.
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Ah. Like the sea serpents? Though ours are too big for it to matter if they are venomous or not. Or so I am told, I never saw the sea until it came rushing under my feet.
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