And now for something completely different... a look at the sometimes more jocular side of Lorien... :)

Some background info: this is really a sort of followup to a prior event involving Telion and Haldir, where Telion encountered Haldir standing in the shallow waters at the edge of the river, as Haldir stood there attempting to spear fish. On this prior day, Haldir bravely withstood the frigid waters for some time, jabbing and jabbing at fish for a meal, while Telion looked on and made running commentary and jests at Haldir's skill. Haldir's only catch of the day was a large clump of decaying vegetation (which he promptly offered to Telion for Telion's meal, generous soul that he is). Telion, never one to let such prowess and skill go unnoticed, apparently dutifully spread word of Haldir's legendary skill by immortalizing the occasion in his Saga of Haldir and the Evil Witch Fish, recounting the tale to other Galadhrim (unbeknownst of course to Haldir).

Scenario: Haldir is at the Naith, cooking some fish around a little fire he has there. He is alone, save for a cat which is trying to snarf a bit of his food (the cat is Glendor's pet, and controlled by Glendor. Glendor himself was ICly accompanying a search party in the mountains, and his little friend was pestering citizens in Glendor's absence). Silrosse comes up the path to the Naith about this point.

Middle-earth time is:
Nighttime on Sterday, Day 15 of February, 3010
Real time is: 18:53:31 MST on Wed Nov 20 1996

Naith of Lorien
You stand riverside, in Dwimordene, amidst the grey bowls of the mallyrn and the conceiling underbrush on the eastern banks of the river Celebrant. It is here in these golden woods where the rolling foothills of the Misties come to an end and in the Elven realm of Lothlorien, often called Dwimordene or Dreamland by men, begins. It's Winter, and the mallyrn's golden leaves fill their boughs as they sleep the winter away. Presently, soft moonlight bathes the night forest in a silver light while the brighter stars glitter through the leafy canopy.

Haldir bends down and sits on his haunches before the fire, holding his hands to the warmth.

Silrosse approaches silently from the woods.

The cat seems to shrink as she presses herself into the ground. She slowly is crawling forward, then stands still, and begins to sway her body from side to side.

Haldir breaks off a tiny morsel from one of the roasting fish, and blows on it a moment, then tosses it in the direction of the cat.

Silrosse halts and observes for a moment.

Haldir waggles a finger at the cat, "Now, don't you ever tell a soul! My reputation would be ruined."

Silrosse sneaks closer to the fire, her footsteps making barely a sound.

The cat seems to be distracted for a moment by the movements of Haldir's finger, but then she returns her attention to the fire, and fish.

Haldir reaches back to the fire and turns the sticks one more time, "Ahhh... just about done. So little friend, don't you have any kits which need you?"

The cat starts sniffing ground around her. She pokes her face into the grass few times, until she finds what attracted her - a small piece of fish.

Haldir lifts the little tea pot from the fire and begins to pour some of the tea into a small wooden cup. The aroma of apples wafts up.

Silrosse stands in the shadow of the trees, shrouded in her cloak, then steps forward closer to the fire, just outside the ring of light.

The cat sniffs the air, then takes the remainder of her fish, and carries it few steps away from the fire.

Haldir picks one of the skewers from the fire and holds it up to his nose and just stands there savoring the aroma for a moment.

Silrosse sits down quietly, wrapped in her cloak, and watches for a moment.

Haldir bends down to grab a second stick, then steps back a couple of steps to sit upon an old stump. "Ahhhh ... Excellent! Where are you, little kitty? Come and keep me company, little furry one."

Haldir nibbles on the skewered filet, and chews thoughtfully.

Silrosse finally speaks in a low, clear voice that rings thoughout the clearing, "Is that the fish of which my uncle Telion told a glorious saga?"

The cat finishes her piece of fish, and quietly returns to the fire, her steps wary and slow. She sniffs the air coming from the frying fish, glances at Silrosse as she speaks, then looks up to Haldir, and lets out a short "Meow".

Haldir looks up with a start, "Wha? Who goes ... Silrosse? Silrosse! Come and show your face! And have some of my fabled fish, ere this cat lays claim to it all.

Haldir looks down at the cat, grinning, then speaks to it, "Oh dear. I have been found out, little one."

Silrosse sits with her hands hugging her knees, her cloak draped about her. Eyes glint from underneath the hood. She stands, grasping her staff, and comes nearer.

Haldir breaks off another chunk from his fish and holds it out to the cat, resting flat on the fingertips of his upturned open hand.

Silrosse says softly, "Fabled indeed! Have you heard the tale of Brave Haldir and the Witch-Fish?" She laughs gently and throws back her hood.

Haldir looks up and smiles, "So! Spying on the guards, are you? Or did you, like this beast here, smell the aroma of a fish roasting from far away, and come to steal my meal?"

The cat stands on her hind paws, and puts her front paws on Haldir's leg. She extends her neck to get the fish from Haldir's hand.

Silrosse nods and smiles cheerily. "Aye, how could I resist the lure of a well-cooked fish? But I do not wish to spy, nor to steal your meal. Both would be completely incidental."

Silrosse tilts her head and observes the cat, her eyes twinkling.

Haldir grins, "I'm sure. Well, help yourself. I finally got a couple of them, and there is plenty. So much so that I was soliciting the aid of the healer Lendalas earlier to help me dispose of my good fortune. He told me that Telion has been spreading strange tales, too."

Silrosse arches an eyebrow playfully and says, "I do hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

Haldir holds his hand carefully still, so that the cat can claim her prize, "Umm ... interrupting? No, I don't think so, unless it is me spoiling this cat."

Silrosse nods and warms her hands over the fire for a bit before taking a seat in the grass. She leans forward and inspects a skewer of fish.

The cat bangs on Haldir's hand with her paw, and the fish falls on the ground. She picks it up, and gracefully walks away into the bushes. Before she disappears, she glances one last time at Haldir.

Silrosse lifts a skewer from the fire and delicately pulls on a chunk of fish, removing it and glancing at it with a satisfied look on her face, then pops it into her mouth.

Haldir takes another bite from his own skewer. "Try the tea too. It's actually an apple spice mix of some sort which Lendalas left me with."

Silrosse nods. "You are most generous with your provisions, Captain. This fish is delicious!" She reaches over and takes a wooden cup, setting it firmly in the grass before pouring the hot tea into it. She sets the teapot gingerly near the fire and lifts the cup to her lips.

Haldir looks up, grinning, "Well, it will not be nearly so tasty if it is not fresh. Best to eat it all while it is! Now then lass, tell me this great tale, of Haldir and the magic fish. I should like to know just what it is I have been up to."

Silrosse raises her skewer to you with a gleam in her eye. "Your cooking is enough to make me reconsider living in the city!" She laughs gently, then takes a slow sip of her tea before saying, "Ah, so you want to hear the tale? But I could not do it justice, I'm afraid. I am no bard!"

Haldir chuckles, "And this is a drawback? And I wouldn't put too much stock in my cooking there. I eat what I can catch or dig up, out here on the watch. Well ... we do of course keep food in the guard telain, but the occasional addition to it is always welcome."

Silrosse nods and chews her fish, staring thoughtfully into the fire. Her eyes glaze over for a moment, then she glances up at you and smiles. "I'm certain it is...but let me see now if I can remember this tale...although without Telion's leaping and gesturing, it is not really the same."

Haldir stands up from the log he's sitting upon, and strikes a heroic pose. "I must stand ready to do this tale proudly."

Haldir looks around a moment, "Ah! I am missing one thing.". He turns and steps off to the side, lifting a long sharpened stick from where it has been resting against a tree.

Silrosse laughs and stands also, mimicking Telion's stance, gripping her staff firmly and stamping it on the ground. She furrows her brow and says in a bellowing voice, reminiscent of Telion's, "Fish in water... Greatly circling ... Unto Haldir did shout... I mock thee... Right soundly... For I am Fish... And thou are but... Nothing!"

Haldir walks back to the fire and strikes up his heroic pose again, holding the spear forward in suitably imposing style.

Silrosse stands up straight, imitating you with your spear, jabbing at the air. "Haldir with war cry... and spear thrice blessed... Into water leaped. Bravely did he spear... Evil Fish!"

Silrosse grins and says as an aside, "This of course, is when Young Aelin cheered, 'Hoo-ray, Mr. Hill-deer!!'"

Haldir watches the antics, breaking into a grin, then stifling it again as he tries to hold his 'heroic' pose.

Silrosse jumps into the air, mimicking a fish. "But Evil fish ...Danced about...And cast his magic...O poor Haldir-Captain...Who in...ignominy ...Ungentle ...Did climb upon the shore."

Silrosse smiles and says as another aside, "This, of course, is when Young Aelin moaned in utter disappointment, 'Oh! Poor Mr. Hill-deer!'"

Haldir whirls his makeshift spear through a complete circle, snapping the spear again to a menacing posture, "Oh! But then does Telion do justice to the great battle which followed?"

Silrosse returns to her Telion pose and thumps on her chest. "I Telion Kingfisher...Did take...And I wielded my fishing rod... Named Fish Hammer!" She grabs the staff and holds it forward.

Telion emerges from the dense forest.

Telion shakes off some brambles that have stuck to his clothes.

Silrosse stands, imitating Telion, with her staff thrust forward and says, "O mighty was my cast...Forward water plonking...And verily...I did grab evil Witch Fish...But low he cast...His spell...And broke my twine!"

Haldir sets back down on his stump, and breaks out laughing, giving up all pretense of his prior heroic pose.

Telion gets the Inspector-Cleuseau's-Commissioner's-twitch.

Silrosse glances over to Haldir with an authoritative wrinkle of her brow and says, "Get up, scamp! I'm not finished!" in her best Telion voice.

Telion says, "Oh? So now we are making fun of the Greatest Saga ever sung?"

Telion hmpfs and walks to the water's edge, and plops down.

Silrosse's face falls as she stands completely still.

Haldir dutifully stands up, and tries to regain his former posture, then turns his head sharply at the voice behind him. For a moment he just looks, then he dissolves into laughter.

Telion makes a large coughing sound, and affixes the twine to his staff, "Game for a rematch, Haldir?"

Laupilin comes hurtling out of the trees on a rope! He lands softly on the ground nearby, and the rope he swung in on is quickly pulled back into the forest canopy above.

Laupilin salutes.

Silrosse stands behind Telion, biting her lip.

Laupilin says, "sirs! and madam."

Haldir catches his breath between fits of laughter, and jerks a thumb inthe direction of the fire, "You are too late."

Telion jumps to his feet and looks at the fire, "Never!?"

Laupilin scratches his head. "hm?"

Silrosse sighs and nods to Laupilin in greeting.

Haldir stands up straight, turns to look at the guard which lands on the ground before him, struggles momentarily with his composure, then just cracks up again as Laupilin salutes him.

Laupilin nods. "if you'll excuse me, i have something to attend to."

Telion stalks over to the fire, and peers down incredulously at it.

Silrosse nods farewell to Laupilin, then regards Telion cautiously.

Laupilin turns towards the eastern path and disappears between the trees.

Telion jabs Haldir, none too gently, in the arm, "By what kind of gullduggerous trickery did you manage this?" he stares at the captain.

Haldir leans now on his spear, which is stuck into the ground, chortling, while staring at the ground.

Haldir looks up at the departing guard, and gulps, "Say! I did not dismiss him! see if HE gets any fish."

Telion jabs Haldir some more, "Come elf, if you be one, let's hear it"

Haldir flips his gaze to Telion, and catches a deep breath, finally regaining some control, "Wha? Why, tis simple! I held a pan over the water and called out "Here, fishy fishy."

Telion says, "WHy you ..."

Telion stamps his staff in the ground, "I have been thwarted!" He shakes his fist at the river.

Silrosse stands back and watches the ensuing fray for a moment, then circles quietly around to the fire and sits down in front of her cup of tea.

Haldir grins and motions at the fire, "Well, since you are here, O Noble Expander of Tales, you might as well help me finish off the remains there. I think there is a bit of fish left. But you may have to fight Silrosse for it."

Telion narrows his eyes looking out the sides of them, "Silrosse, you mean my /loving/ niece?"

Silrosse looks up rather innocently at Telion. "Good uncle, help yourself! I am quite finished."

Haldir walks over to Silrosse and folds his legs beneath him, setting himself down before her. "Say! If I sit up on my haunches and rest my hands on YOUR legs, will you feed me too?"

Silrosse solemnly takes a sip of her tea.

Silrosse glances curiously at Haldir for a moment, then breaks into laughter.

Silrosse grins at Haldir, "Only if you say 'Meow' convincingly enough."

Telion looks straight at Silrosse, mimicing Glynnis' look, "Well, child, you have not finished my song" he lifts a brow, and tries to look imperious

Silrosse snaps her attention back to Telion with the expression of a reprimanded child. "Shall I finish your tale, then, uncle?"

Telion nods once only.

Haldir claps his hands together, "Yes yes! I have not heard the end of this great tale! Do continue!"

Silrosse takes a deep breath and casts a wary glance at Telion before standing, clutching her staff in her hand.

Telion pokes Haldir with the staff, "Hush, I wish to hear Silrosse"

Silrosse resumes her Telion pose, her staff thrust forward once more, and smiles somewhat impishly before furrowing her brow and bellowing, "And fish...Dancing in his water...Did unto us...Cry out...I mock thee pitiful elves...Come again another day...That I might have this much fun!"

Haldir snorts and replies to Telion, "that seems fair enough. It seems everyone else has already heard /you/."

Telion idly pokes Haldir, "Shhh"

Haldir smiles brightly, and fixes an attentive gaze onto Silrosse.

Silrosse stares sternly at the tree stump, jabbing it with her staff, and cries, "So I...Telion Kingfisher...And Brave Haldir-Captain...Did take an oath...To fight Evil Fish...And slay him...Silencing his mocking...Evermore!"

Haldir raises his hands in the posture of some animal holding its paws up, and utters a soft "meow!" just as she starts her saga again.

Silrosse clears her throat and looks at you both with a self-satisfied expression which dissolves into a questioning gaze at Haldir, "But it is all finished!"

Telion nods, "So it is"
Telion says, "Well ... done"
Telion seats himself and primly rearranges his clothes.

Silrosse shrugs and leans down to grab a piece of fish from her skewer. She smiles and throws it to Haldir.

Haldir flips his head back and utters a soft hmmph. "Well see then, if I let you scratch me behind my ears."

You say, "Here kitty kitty..."

Haldir catches the tidbit, "why thank you!", casting a quick wink back.

Haldir shifts his position to face more directly to Telion, "So! You were true to your word. You have told the story of the Brave Haldir and the Noble Telion, and how the Evil Fish did come to best us. Did you also tell of the fine catch I made?"

Silrosse sips her tea and stares thoughtfully into the fire.

Telion shakes his head, "No, I decided to make you a Heroic, rather than Tragic or Comic character."

Silrosse muffles a slight laugh into her tea.

Telion coughs at Silrosse, "Plus, poor Aelin looks up to you. You were /his/ hero throughout the story"

Haldir nods, "Mighty kind of you." He glances over at Silrosse as she buries her face in her tea, "Something amiss, my lady? Something you'd care to add?"

Silrosse nods in agreement with Telion, her face straight once again. "He's absolutely right, Captain. I would say that young elf-lad nearly worships you!"

Telion indicates the food, "Pass me a Witch-Fish would you" he winks.

Silrosse grins and hands Telion a skewer straight from the fire.

Haldir looks slowly back and forth between the two of you, then shakes his head in mock indignation.

Telion takes a few bites from the fish

Telion mumbles about his right being stolen.

Silrosse winces slightly at Telion, then shoots a quick smile at Haldir before taking another sip of her tea.

Haldir smiles, "Cheer up, friend Telion. I caught two fat fish. But I don't think either of them was your nemesis. They were not /that/ fat."

Telion suddenly grabs Haldir's arms, and tugs, "We must best that Fish!"

Haldir nods, and solemnly replies, "You best that fish. My legs are still blue from standing in the water to get these last two!"

Haldir taps his stomach, "Besides, I'd rather you bested him when I was hungry and not well fed!"

Silrosse smiles and nibbles on her last chunk of fish.

Telion looks at Haldir, "That evil-doer won't wait till our bellies are full" He turns to the river, "he's waiting and mocking us!"

Haldir looks over at Silrosse and winks, then murmurs, "...he's not the only one ..."

Telion turns to Haldir, "What's that?"

Silrosse cranes her neck to peer at the river, then laughs gently as she hears Haldir's words.

Haldir looks up again to stare at Telion, an innocent expression on his face.

Telion waves his staff menacingly at Haldir.

Silrosse blinks at her uncle, her expression guileless.

Telion sighs, and eats his fish

Telion looks at his neice, "Silrosse, every man must have his hobby. For me at least this fish represents an enemy to be bested."

Silrosse nods, and swallows her last bit of fish. "I agree whole-heartedly, uncle. Why, I can think of nothing better you could do with your time than chase that merciless mocking Witch-Fish."

Telion lifts a brow.

Silrosse looks at her uncle with the most inoffensive expression imaginable.

Haldir nods solemenly, "Indeed. Twill be an epic struggle."

Telion shakes his head.

Silrosse cannot resist breaking into a slight smile as finishes the last of her tea.

Telion says, "Just you two wait and see. I will mount Fish upon the wall and write under it, "Here lieth Witch-Fish bested by Telion Kingfisher!""

Haldir exclaims, "Mount him upon the wall! NAY! That is no fitting end for such a one as that!"

Silrosse gulps her tea and laughs at the same time, causing her to choke. She coughs a bit and wipes her mouth delicately with the back of her hand.

Telion glares at Haldir, "Oh?"

Haldir nods, and adds quietly, "Nay. I suggest lemon butter and garlic."

Telion says, "What!?"

Silrosse holds her hand up to her mouth and laughs heartily.

Telion folds his arms across his chest, "Never! Fish deserves to be seen by all"

Silrosse chuckles and leans over to Haldir, emitting a soft, "Meoooww..."

Haldir grins, "Then you will just have to make a big pool, and float him in it, so that we might all mock him back."

Telion hmpfs, and lifts his chin indignantly.

Haldir leans over to Silrosse and replies to her meow, "And then, kitty, when Telion is away ... WHAM! Lemon butter and garlic."

Telion shoves his hands into Haldir, trying to topple him over.

Silrosse chortles, her laughter echoing throughout the clearing, and clutches her stomach.

Haldir rocks back, falling onto his back. He giggles for a while, making no attempt to upright himself.

Telion stands up, and looks back out to the river, and then to you two.

Haldir exclaims, while still lying on his back. "oh look! Stars! Telion! There are stars above. May they shine most auspiciously upon your endeavor."

Silrosse ceases her laughter and glances up at the sky. She points upwards. "Oh look! There's one twinkling for you now, uncle! Or at least, it appears to be twinkling...I certainly hope it's not mocking you!"

**pop**

One of the smoldering logs in the fire cracks in half. Sparks fly into the air, dissipating quickly.

Telion stares at haldir,
Stars, stars
In Heaven seated
Stars stars
Most sacred stars
May you whom we first saw
Never be blasphemed

Telion looks at the two of you to insire his rebuke has sunk in.

Silrosse falls back onto the ground upon her cloak, gazing at the stars, seemingly oblivious to Telion's reproach.

Haldir places his hands behind his head, resting his head upon them at he stares at the sky. He adds in a more serious tone, "They are beautiful now. And so very sharp and clear, in the winter night's air."

Telion makes a derisive snort, and moves to the trees, not loking back. Telion disappears into the trees!

>From here, the Knight-Captain and the Herbmaster discussed the temperamental nature of bards and other questions of the universe, but that conversation is not divulged here in the interest of retaining at least a *little* bit of IC privacy. :)