When she sees the look on Galadriel's face, Ellana wishes she would have broken this to her in a gentler way. But how could she soften the blow? It's as bad as it sounds. Maybe now Galadriel realizes why the elves here look on her the way that they do. She is tall, elegant, and refined, and wisdom radiates from her very being. She is what elves used to be, or so the stories say. Wise, powerful, incredible people that were beaten down into the dirt until they became shadows of their former selves. They are still a strong, proud people, but what more did they used to be?
Ellana knows that they'll never regain it all. Times are too different now, and walking through a ruin isn't going to reveal a gigantic library of old elven texts that describes the day to day lives of her ancestors. She does want her people to more forward and not cling to these broken remnants indefinitely, but she also doesn't want to dismiss their past entirely. If she finds one thing, one little thing in a ruin that can expand the story of her people, she would consider it a successful trip. And if she finds nothing? Well, then at least she got to see a piece of their history.
"Yes, or, well, I eventually want to search for it. After my duty to the Inquisition is done." Or if the Inquisition suddenly decides it's worth exploring elven ruins.
The thought of seeking out the ancient places, of lingering and looking for remains was...to Galadriel, deeply unappealing. But, then again, any ruins that lingered in Arda were reminiscent of times she lived through--would she feel otherwise if she had not? If they were reduced to ruin before her time?
The longer she considered her answer the more clear the feeling became.
"A worthy desire," Galadriel remarked, thoughtfully. Longing was not the same as discovery; Ellana's desires held only a distant, second hand sorrow, one that was easily eclipsed by wonder. Galadriel wished upon her all the wonders of this world.
"Should I remain when all is done, I should like to see these places as well. It has been far too long since I last explored the unknown."
It doesn't cross Ellana's mind that Galadriel wouldn't feel the same about seeing the ruins of her world. At least it doesn't cross her mind at first. But she's young and mortal, and so it makes perfect sense to her that seeing the broken down remnants of the past would cause a stirring of feelings. It would bring forth an image in her mind of the ruin when it was newly built, guessing at what it would look like and the elves that walked there.
But Galadriel's tone of voice leaves Ellana curious, and she suddenly realizes that to someone as old as Galadriel, that she must have seen the ruins of her world when they were new. And that would bring a different reaction on seeing them again so long after the first viewing. Galadriel could probably remember when they were new.
"Would you? Oh, I would love to take you. They may not be easy to find, and perhaps old magic lingers there that might make it dangerous, but if you're willing, I would be pleased to have you with me."
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Ellana knows that they'll never regain it all. Times are too different now, and walking through a ruin isn't going to reveal a gigantic library of old elven texts that describes the day to day lives of her ancestors. She does want her people to more forward and not cling to these broken remnants indefinitely, but she also doesn't want to dismiss their past entirely. If she finds one thing, one little thing in a ruin that can expand the story of her people, she would consider it a successful trip. And if she finds nothing? Well, then at least she got to see a piece of their history.
"Yes, or, well, I eventually want to search for it. After my duty to the Inquisition is done." Or if the Inquisition suddenly decides it's worth exploring elven ruins.
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The longer she considered her answer the more clear the feeling became.
"A worthy desire," Galadriel remarked, thoughtfully. Longing was not the same as discovery; Ellana's desires held only a distant, second hand sorrow, one that was easily eclipsed by wonder. Galadriel wished upon her all the wonders of this world.
"Should I remain when all is done, I should like to see these places as well. It has been far too long since I last explored the unknown."
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But Galadriel's tone of voice leaves Ellana curious, and she suddenly realizes that to someone as old as Galadriel, that she must have seen the ruins of her world when they were new. And that would bring a different reaction on seeing them again so long after the first viewing. Galadriel could probably remember when they were new.
"Would you? Oh, I would love to take you. They may not be easy to find, and perhaps old magic lingers there that might make it dangerous, but if you're willing, I would be pleased to have you with me."