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An expected meeting after Terridan's absence
Night
Orbelain Valar-day
17 Ethuil Spring
Waning Gibbous <HIDDEN>
IC year is: Loa 140 o Yen 21, Nelandran o Endor <TA 3020>
Rose Garden
You stand in a small rose garden dazzled in white, red, and yellow. Placed in an intricate pattern about the garden, a walkway made up of small, uplifted
ceramic tiles form rings of walking space surrounding a large golden mallorn
planted in the center which glints in the light. Here and there, benches, one
with a lighted leg, are placed for guests to enjoy the shade and the scenery.
To the east, a large silver gate, reflections blinking in and out, arches over
the entrance to the garden. To the north, hidden by a tall hedge, a set of
stairs can be seen leading to a talan up above. Shown by the starlight,
twinkling down from the sky, all is quiet in the Garden.
The light of the stars comes through the leaves of the trees filling the garden with silver light. Just a soft warm breeze disrupts the total peace of the place, shaking the boughs in soft sound. Sitting with her back against the central mallorn is Master Aldarwen, her harp is silently laying upon her lap, her eyes are staring into the distant west. Her fair long fingered left hand caresses one of the many braids in which her hair is tressed slowly, absent-mindly.
As the bard sits under the mallorn, the breeze continues along its gentle path. It blows through the braids of Aldarwen's hair, and seems to wrap itself around her for a moment. Terridan walks up the path slowly, and smiles softly as he sees the maiden. He speaks low, and quietly, "Aldarwen..." his voice is carried across the wind, reaching her with a gentle whisper.
As the eyes of the maiden meet those of the elf that has called her, the small smile -that had been drawn on her lips just a moment before- fades, and the light upon her eyes becomes distant. She bows her head politely, her voice is touched by frost, not sweet and musical as usual, "Terridan", she says, "I see you're back from your battles".
Even through the dangers that he had just seen, and of any wounds that Terridan had ever sustained, it seems as if the cold in your voice wounds him deeper than any of those. His head lowers slightly, and he nods once, "Yes... I have, Aldarwen..." he looks back down, "Did you receive my message?" his voice is quiet, loud enough to reach you.
Just once does the maiden nod her head in reply to the guards question. She stays silent for a moment, her eyes staring at the clothes of the other elf, rather than at his eyes. She sighs softly, then asks, still in the same cold tone, "I guess that the promotion you were given means quite a lot of more resposibilities, doesn't it?"
Terridan lifts his head up slightly, and pulls the cowl off of his head. He looks at the shining cloth slightly, and you can see that the light of the elf-stones that rest on his forhead seem to dim, "Oddly enough, I have kept my same duties as before... it seems that a Warden and an Elder-Knight hold many of the same jobs, I just have to go about them slightly differently..."
An eyebrow is raised upon the fair face of the maiden, her eyes still caught by the new appearance of the guard. She sighs softly again and her eyes divert to a rose bud near her, she caresses it with on finger and says, "So, mellon, tell me about your battles. It seems you did better than some others..."
Terridan nods his head, then turns his face towards the maiden, "There is scare to tell. We followed the Black rider to the north after Haldir tried to drive it off, and eventually came across a battle between the yrch and some of the beornings. The battle was mainly over when we arrived to aid them. As of the rider, we lost track of him," he looks down to his own body, and nods, "Yes... but of those that did not fare well, I would gladly trade places with them..." a ting of guilt comes across the face of the Knight.
As the last words are spoken, the maiden raises her eyes and stares into the guard's grey orbs, sadness fills her voice as she asks, "Would you?". Biting her lip once she says, "Will you stay standing all the time? Come and sit with me, and tell me about the many perils you faced". She makes one single motioning gesture toward him and curls up her lips slowly in an inviting smile.
Terridan smiles softly, and his eyes look up to meet yours, "Yes... I would like that a great deal..." he steps over to you, and in one motion, sits down next to you, looking over with a smile to match your own, "Though I am not much of a story teller..."
A slight shiver trips through Aldarwen's body as Terridan sits by her side, her hands trembling lightly as she caresses one of her braids. She looks back to the guard as he speaks to her and says, "But I'm sure that you have something else to tell me about. You've been away for quite a long time, haven't you?"
Terridan nods, "Yes... too long... though I have been away for far longer periods than this last trip... this one seemed to be longer by nearly ten fold..." he looks over towards you, and reaches a hand up to your own braids... moving his thumb along one of the lengths gently, as if were he too forceful, it might shatter.
The shivering upon the maiden's body becomes more apparent this time, her eyes are set on those of Terridan and she stays completely silent, even holding her breath while the finger of the guard touches her fair hair. The light upon her eyes and the tips of her red lips tremble in the starlight but no words are spoken.
Terridan looks deep into your eyes, and sighs softly, "I had heard tales of the Black Riders before... but until this point, I had never viewed one," Terridan seems to grow smaller as he speaks, "Nor do I ever wish to again. I have faced yrch, ologs, wargs... but not a single one of them radiated the pure evil that this... creature, did," he looks down towards the grass, "But in seeing it, it renewed my vows that I took... to protect these woods from anything that would harm them... and also..." he looks up a bit tenitively, "to protect you..." he removes a glove, and runs his hand gently down your cheek.
Still as stone does the maiden stay, her eyes frozen on Terridan's eyes, her smile faded as he speaks of the dark creature. Then, as he pronunces the last phrase, she lowers her head, trying unsuccessfully to hide the blush of her cheeks from him. her eyes staring deeply to the near grass, she says in trembling voice, "Why... Mellon, why do you say such a thing?"
Terridan still looks at you, but his voice grows quieter still, "Because, mellon... I care a great deal for you... I would never want to see you placed in any danger," he looks down, "I would gladly place myself in front of anything that would cause you harm... no matter what might happen to me..." he lowers his hand down slowly from your face, and you can see his own face covered in a deep blush as well.
A soft giggle comes from the maiden's lips, then adds in the same soft tone as her interlocutor, "I thank you, mellon, but you won't need to do such a thing". Her own hand lowers and is placed upon the guard's hand lightly, trembling. She sighs very sofly and adds, "I don't think I'll leave the boughs of these woods again, the perils outside are too much to face for me"
Terridan smiles softly at your giggle, and he curls his own hand around yours, "You are stronger than you credit yourself for, Aldarwen..." he smiles softly, "But that of itself is one of your more endearing qualities. I should have included that in my song for you..." he meets your eyes with his, and leans further against the tree.
An expression of true surprise appears upon the maiden's face now, everything else forgotten, the tone of her voice is now full of curiosity, "Which song?" she asks. Her eyes, meeting those of the guard now, asking the same question without words.
Terridan looks back over to you, his eyes widening a bit in surprise and curiousity, "The song that I sung for you when we stood at the bridge..." he sighs, and lowers his head, "I had made it for you... I had meant to sing it at the festival. Yet, you did not seem to care for it when I finished..."
The maiden blinks many times, the expression on her face changing from surprise to disbelief, then to sadness, then to surprise again. Her lips tremble as she parts them as if she were to speak, but no words come out from her. Instead, her face is burned in red color. Only when she lowers her gaze and stares at the clasped hands she says, in the weekest tone of her voice, "I didn't know it was meant for.. me"
Terridan blinks once, then lowers his head down slightly, cupping your chin with his right hand. The Knight speaks softly, "Aldarwen..." a bit of realization comes to his eyes, "There would be no one else who I would sing such a song for right now..." he lowers his other hand to yours, and curls his fingers around both clasped hands, "Please... look up, there is nothing to feel embarrassed over... we both made mistakes."
The face of the maiden still towards the union of the hands, she seems to shiver as she speaks, her voice beeing just slightly more than the soft whispering of the breeze through the leaves of the tall mellyrn, "But...", she hesitates, "What about... Miriamele". Gathering herself to speak a little louder she manages to says, "I thought you were engaged".
Terridan lowers his head down slightly, and shakes his head once. He pulls a glove off his right hand, and there, where there once was a ring, there lies only bare skin, "We... are no longer engaged. We found we made better friends than anything else," he smiles slightly, "I thought you had known..."
The green eyes of the elven maiden are now opened as wide as they had never been, staring at the uncovered forefinger. Her breath is stopped, her jaw lowering slowly. She blinks just once and then her gaze returns to look at the eyes of the guard. Twice does Aldarwen shake her head, her lips still parted, the expression upon her eyes being an extrange mixture of amazement and fear. She moves slightly back in her place, however, her hands stay under Terridan's.
Terridan keeps a gentle hold on her hands, and looks up to meet Aldarwen's eyes, "Mellon... what is it?" he moves his right hand up slightly on her face, "Why do you look so afraid suddenly?" concern laces Terridan's voice, and he keeps the tone soft, as if afraid she may bolt were he to be too loud.
The fear upon the eyes of the maiden keeps growing, the flash of light coming from her gaze seems to be the reflection of panic. She staggers as she tries to answer Terridan's question. A sudden tear rolls down her cheak and wets the guard's finger. She lowers her gaze again, and trembling slightly she says, "I had no idea."
Terridan looks down at her again, and smiles softly, "Mellon..." he wipes away the tear gently with his thumb. "You never need to fear me..." he speaks in almost a whisper, and slowly draws her closer to him.
Aldarwen's lips tremble, and so do her hands and all her body. She stays in silence for another moment, but then manages to break the silence, "My dear friend," she says as she finally raises her head and her eyes meet Terridan's gaze, "It's been a long time of waiting". She swallows with uneasiness and another tear rolls down her cheak as she goes on with trembling voice, "I don't even know what I feel for you right now".
Terridan smiles again, and continues to speak quietly, holding her now against him as he tries to calm her trembles. "Dearest friend... do what you feel is right. I ask nothing more..." he smiles once more, and lifts one of her hands up to his lips, kissing the back of it gently. "Let your own fea guide you on the path that will be right for you."
Her body held now against Terridan's, Aldarwen starts to calm down slowly. As the shiverings cease, tears start rolling down both of her cheaks, like rivers of salty water. She lets the guard kiss her fingers, moving slightly, only to press her chest nearer his, in such a way that he can feel the strength her beating heart.
Smiling now that he feels her trembling subside, Terridan now feels a new sensation. He looks down towards her with caring eyes, and runs a gentle hand through her braids. He closes his eyes slightly as he feels the beat of her heart, and after a few moments, he whispers softly, "Why do you cry, Aldarwen?" he continues to hold her close against him.
The maiden curls up in Terridan's arms, the tears that run down her cheaks going on and on. However, she does smile as she looks toward the guard's face again, she shakes her head once, all her tresses dancing in the air as she does so. "I'm not crying", she wispers.
Terridan smiles softly, and nods his head once. As he wipes away the moisture on her cheek, he begins to speak quietly, "Of course, mellon..." he wraps his arms more about you, and lowers his head down to rest atop yours softly.
For a moment, long as winter nights, yet brief as the flash of the light of the sun filtering from behind a cloudy sky, the maiden stays still, holding and being held. "Pardon my attitude", says Aldarwen as she breaks the silence and slowly retreats, freeing herself from the guard's embrace, just enough to be able to pose her eyes upon his and look at him as she goes on speaking, her voice now sweet and musical as always, "It's been really a long time..." She stops in the middle of the phrase, smiling wide as her eyes rest on Terridan's.
Terridan smiles, and nods his head once, "I know mellon... and there is nothing to pardon at all," his own eyes look into hers with deep care and happiness. He smiles a bit wider, and looks at the maiden once more, "What are you thinking right now, mellon? Will you share your thoughts with a humble guard?"
Recovering her usual strength and composture, Aldarwen goes on speaking, the trembling smile upon her lips growing broader suddenly, then fading again, as suddenly as it grows, "I would and will, my dear Terridan, although I'm not thinking with words, but rather with images. Remembering each time we met, trying to find out when did it all change." The expression upon her face turns now to the purer curiosity, "Tell me, mellon", she says, "When did you break your engagement with my friend and kin, Miriamele?"
Terridan sighs, and his eyes look up, as he moves to remember the incident, "It was several months ago... probably more. I cannot remember exactly. We found that we were growing apart from our previous thoughts... and found we were seeing ourselves more as friends than anything else. We realized we were not meant for each other... but we still are friends."
"Months?", she asks in a soft voice, her gaze diverting toward the upper leaves of the surrounding trees. Pressing her lips, she shakes her head and with even a softer voice she inquires, "Did it have anything to do with your relationship with me?"
Terridan shakes his head once, and smiles softly, "No mellon... this would have happened with or without my relationship with you..." he lifts his hand up again gently, and takes hers again, "But I thank all that is good every day that I did meet you."
A giggle fills now the maiden's lips, her face beaming with new light, the colour of her eyes shimmering as they catch the light of the stars. With the forefinger of her right hand she caresses slowly the rose bud that grows near her. The colour upon Aldarwen's cheeks is now not that of embarassment, but rather the colour of bliss.
Terridan leans forward slowly, and cups her chin in his hand. His eyes look over her face, admiring it more with each moment that passes. He looks down to the rose, studying it briefly, before turning back to face her, "It is beautiful, but still, it does not hold a candle to your own beauty mellon..."
Mirthful, the smile upon the maiden's lips keeps broadening, her lips becoming very thin lines. She laughs softly and says, "Thank you, mellon." One hand upon the plaits of her hair, the other upon one of the guard's hands, she says, "But I'm afraid I must go now, my dear Terridan." She presses her lips for just a brief moment and then adds, "But I'm sure that we'll see each other very soon".
Terridan smiles softly, and nods his head once, "I am sure of that as well, mellon..." he lifts one of her palms up, and kisses the back of her hand again, "Until we meet again, dear one. Namarie, and good journey to you." he looks up at her again, meeting her eyes with his.
Slowly and gently, Aldarwen moves away from the guard's embrace, the smile upon her lips trembling slightly, her green eyes fixed in Terridan's blue gaze. Politely, she bows her head, the bright color upon her cheaks framing her face as she does so, "Namarie, my dear Terridan, may the stars shine upon your path until we meet again". And with that she raises to her feet and steps back, still facing Terridan.
Terridan smiles, watching her depart, his eyes never leaving hers as she walks away, "May the stars shine on you always, dearest Aldarwen..."
Aldarwen
You look upon a slender elf maiden, her eyes are dark green and if you look
deep in them you can see the leaves of the trees of her childhood still
quivering. She has long hair and the color is a bit greenish, like the grass in
automn.
She's wearing a long green dress, that shimmers with different shades of
green as the light reflects on it. A thin silver belt tightens around her waist.
Hanging from the belt at her waist there is a small leather bag, that seems
filled with many things of different shapes. She's smiling, but in her
expression you may notice she's not completely happy. She wears no necklace or
rings of any kind.
Terridan
You see a youthful elven man who stands 6'10", his athletic build moves quietlyand fluidly, making only the slightest of sounds. His deep brown hair is the color of tempered gold and flows loosely around his shoulders, framing his sharp features. On his left ear is a silver earcuff. Around his neck is a silver chain, a slender rope that looks much like liquid silver in the way it moves, hanging from it is a small red stone which shines and glitters, An elven T is carved on to the surface and the rest is polished to a smooth glint. His deep blue eyes have a look of warmth and dedication to them. Drapped over his shoulders is a large grey cloak, a black cowl resting above it. Along the inner line of the cowl, near where it meets the cloak, you can see a thin silver cord. The cloak itself is fastened by a crystal starburstwith a silver cresent set in the center, the symbolof house Dinlom. Slung across his back is an finely crafted elven longbow, and a quiver full of arrows is strapped onto his right hip. Beneath the cloak you can see his torso is covered by coat of shining ringmail, and on his left hip, a finely crafted longsword rests. His forearms are covered by a pair of leather wrist-guards, that extend halfway down his fingers, allowing him a better grip. His legs are covered by a pair of brown leggings, and on the belt there is a heavily padded satchel. On his feet are boots fashioned from a dark brown leather.