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[lindir]

[When Lindir's face appears, he looks a little concerned. That said, being a touch concerned at all times was probably on par for him. Those who listen closely might hear some soft cooing noises in the background.]

I was wondering if I might find someone with the knowledge of how to care for young... tribbles I believe they're called. I came across one of the creatures while in the gardens, but I did not know it was an expectant mother. There are now five.

[Lindir reaches over and lifts one up so that it could be seen by the camera. Holding it now, he actually smiles slightly. It was a soothing creature.]

I had intended on returning the mother to the wild, but I am unsure if that is wise with young ones.

Comments

[lindir]

Ah, I see. As a mortal you must be in need of such tools. The Eldar can see well enough.

[Sorry, Lindir comes from the land of "if an Elf can't see it, it doesn't exist."]

[timesbureaucrat]

Mortal?! [Narvin bristles. He has an excess of Gallifreyan pride.]

I'm over a millennium old and I'm only on my second incarnation!

[And likely to be his last incarnation, with all his others having been forcibly ripped away, but that just makes him more irate about being called 'mortal.' It's too close to the uncomfortable truth now.]

[lindir]

[A startled pause.]

Forgive me, I had assumed... as you are not one of the Eldar and look very much of the world of Men.

[In other words, you do not have pointy ears, sir. He doesn't seem particularly startled by the age, but the "incarnation" bit made him curious.]

"Incarnation"? You have lived and died before?

[timesbureaucrat]

It seems to be a frequent mistake. If it weren't a frivolous use of time travel, I'd be tempted to go insert a genome for green skin back when they were still swinging in the trees. Our outward appearance might look the same, but internally, my race is nothing like the Terrans...the race of Men.

[Now that that small rant is out of his system...]

Yes, I've died once so far. Died and regenerated. Well, technically, I was just nearly dead. It's a characteristic of my species, when injured beyond healing or close to death, we regenerate, change every part of our bodies and become a new person, but still holding all the memories of the old. One more way in which we are not like humans.

fixed ty so much!

[lindir]

[The first part of what he had said was somewhat lost on Lindir, so he looks slightly confused before he replies to the other topic.]

Both reincarnation and re-embodiment are rare among my people, and even if so, they generally continue to reside in the Undying Lands.

To return to Middle-earth is a gift that is seldom given, except to those considered to have made a great sacrifice in their death. There is only one I know of in my time; Glorfindel who resides with me in Imladris.

np!

[timesbureaucrat]

Our regeneration is not quite the same as reincarnation or resurrection. If we are fully killed before we regenerate then we stay dead. We do have the capacity to resurrect as well, but it is supposed to be restricted to those who have received approval from the High Council of Time Lords. Gaining such approval is almost always political, and has little to do with who deserves more life or not.

What did Glorfindel do to receive such a gift?

[lindir]

[The idea of politics coming into the equasion on matters of life after death seemed odd to Lindir, but he tries to wrap his head around it.]

Then perhaps your High Council is not so different from the judgement passed by Manwë, the king of the Valar who decides the fate of those who dwell in the Halls of Mandos.

[When he speaks next, it is with a certain fondness for his friend.]

Glorfindel gave his life while defending the survivors of the Gondolin during it's fall. They were ambushed, and among their enemies was a Balrog, one of our darkest banes. He was able to slay the demon, but at the cost of his own life. It was later, when his skill was needed most to aid us in Middle-earth he was allowed to return. It is an honor to know him.

[timesbureaucrat]

Don't tell them that. The politicians on the High Council are full of themselves quite enough as it is.

So Glorfindel's sense of duty to his people was rewarded. [Narvin approves.] The last person the High Council offered a new set of lives to was a criminal and a mass murderer. But he happened to have a skill that they needed. Morality takes second place to getting things done.