================== Eldarin Calendar <in Sindarin> ===================
IC time is: Midnight < About 12:41 AM >
IC day is: Ormenel <Heavens-day>
IC date is: 7 Ethuil <Spring>
Moon phase: New <VISIBLE>
Earendil: Gil-Estel is not visible.
IC year is: Loa 17 o Yen 22, Nelandran o Endor <TA 3041>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
RL time: Fri Jun 15 09:13:44 2007
=====================================================================
Alqualonde

You are standing by a small lake whose water is blue and clear as crystal. The surface sparkles like sapphire where the sun shines on it near the center. White swans sail gracefully over the surface of the ailin, as it is called in elvish. It is for them that Galadriel christened this place Alqualonde, Swan-Haven, a memento of her days in Valinor when the world was young and untainted. The lake is surrounded by leafless trees with a snowy white bark. There is a feeling of utter peace and tranquility here, almost as if time were standing completely still.

The fragrant scent of exotic flowers fills you with cheer as you rest here. Lilies line the lake's edge, though many have become ensnared by a group of thick reeds.

Contents:
Ereduinthil
Daerlach
Ostiel
Legarwin
=====================================================================

At the midnight hour, the stars hang as lanterns in an inky black sky, providing an almost mystical tone to the protected lands of Lothlorien. A soft wind blows in from the east, stirring the springtime canopy into a delicate dance of leaves and branches swaying. The sound of wind in the trees mingles with the sweet sound of night birds and nocturnal animals at play. Indeed, this seems a perfect evening.

Wandering along the path towards Alqualonde, the Carpenter Ereduinthil pauses at each tree he passes, placing a hand against each as if searching for something upon the bark. At the last tree before the clearing around the small lake, the crafter sighs softly. "Nothing to harvest today." he mutters into the evening sky.

Whish. Whish. The soft sound comes drifting from Aqualonde itself, though perhaps the exact direction may be difficult to determine. However, if one cared to look, a slight figure might be seen stretching on the lake's near bank, arms reaching to the sky. A star-reflecting cape and gown of pale blue lie on the ground next to this edhel, an elleth from the look of it, though it can be difficult to tell such things from behind. However, the light shift she wears, and lengthy, wind-lifted hair may give gender away.

CHink. CHink. A scraping sound may be heard over the lapping waves of the lake, as a slender ellon sits uppon one of its banks. In his hand is a glittering ruby, and a dust-covered chisel.%Carefully, excess stone is slowly scraped away from the prized gem as the jewelsmith sits, gazing out at Aqualonde in peace and solitude.

The Aqualonde appears to be a very active place this night as another resides in the area though not in sight. Striding silently among the trees the line the lake, Legarwin peacefully walks with his sapphire gaze turned towards the heavens. The presense of others does not seem to affect him as he drifts in his own thought. Yet, his gaze is soon drawn away from the sky to focus on the land around him as a breeze passes over the waters and disturbs the many flowers sending innumerable fragrances into the air. Thus, does the Commander take note of the new appears. As in a calm voice he calls, "Mae Govannen, mellyn."

A sound from the lake draws the carpenters attention and he turns towards the water. Taking a step forward, he catches sight of the gown upon the shore, and then nearby, the shadowy form of a relaxed elleth. Furrowing his brow, his eyes sweep along the shore, for the sound was not that of a swimmer. Understanding flickers in his expression as he catches sight of a fellow crafter, hard at work. "Are you ever at work Daerlach?" he calls out.

Confidence fades with a startled jump as the commander nears the lake, "And you you, Commander," Ereduinthil replies. "Lovely evening isn't it?" he adds, speaking to no one in particular.

The voice causes the elleth to turn, arms falling to her side, and Ostiel's smiling face is revealed. "Legarwin," she offers in warm greeting to the Commander, shaking slim legs one after the other. Ereduinthil and Daerlach are both given a smile, then, abruptly, the Cuigrithweg turns back to the water. She bends her knees.

The scraping continues as further material is broken away from the ruby. Daerlach turns his face towards the lake as he hears both greetings. Nodding to Legarwin, he offers a cordial smile.

"Jewelry is not work, Ereduinthil. It is craft. There is a difference."

"Yet may the work you do be the craft that you enjoy," says the Commander as he halts in his steps a few strides from the lake edge. "How is the waters this night, mellon? Refreshing to one whom may be weary from great labors?" The question is placed to the elleth by the water's edge.

Chuckling softly at Daerlach's response, the carpenter steps closer to the lake. "I tease you my friend, for to do anything else would be strange, especially coming from one who spends a star filled night in search of a tree ready to be felled by the Foresters for our new projects." With his smile still fresh upon his lips, Ereduinthil turns his gaze towards the Attendant and the Commander. Nodding in agreement with Legarwin's words, he adds, "Perhaps we should /all/ follow Ostiel's lead and use the evening for a relaxing swim."

"It is fine, mellon nin, cool and welcoming," Ostiel murmurs to all and to none, dipping a white toe into the gleaming lake. Inhaling sharply, she stretches, poses....and dives smooth as a fish into the clear, moon-reflecting waters of Aqualonde with a broad smile. The surface ripples gently in her wake.

Daerlach stands, placing the gem and chisel inside a pouch at his belt. He gazes at the lake, eyes sparkling.

"Indeed, Ereduinthil. I believe a swim would be refreshing this night. As to that... that gem, if completed and carefully polished, could go into this project."

Daerlach begins to follow Ostiel's lead, carefully doffing his outer cloak, then removing his tunic and trousers. Last off come his boots. Still he keeps on his Mallorn-carved ring, and the crystal sphere at his neck. Caerfully placing one foot in the cool waters ofAlqualonde, he slowly wades into the lake.

The Commander moves towards the water but does not step in. Rather, he takes a seat upon the shoreline and breaths out a soft sigh. His eyes passes between those dialoguing though he does not comment on the ideas are mentioned. Legarwin appears only to be a spectator in the events around him.

Reaching for his waist, the carpenter unhooks his tool belt. Taking a few steps from the waters edge, he gingerly, if not lovingly, places it in a protected space far from the potentially tool damaging waters. As his outer robes are tossed haphazardly atop the tool belt, it is clear that Ereduinthil has his priorities. Grinning broadly, the ellon sets to racing Daerlach in his effort to enter the water.

Moving quickly, he steps on a toe of his boot and swiftly removes his footwear, then repeating the effort to remove the second and last. Stripping down to his leggins, he bursts out with a laugh. "For someone so focused on his work, you certainly managed to get to the water faster than I did." He laughs as he makes a running dive past the Jewelsmith, into the water with a big slpash.

The splash carries underwater too, where Ostiel is making funny faces at small, blue, rather curious fish. However, the tiny creature darts off upon feeling the surge, and the Cuigrithweg makes for surface, laughter dancing in her eyes.

Once above, she looks around, mischievious as a bird in springtime. "I know you're here somewhere..."

The world of water is one that is both excitingly calm and shockingly cool. Bracing against the cold water, the carpenter gleefully watches the fish dart around in surpise at his sudden entrance. Sweeping his hands forward and to the side, propelling himself a distance from the shore, he pops his head above water in time to hear Ostiel's words. "With a hearty laugh, Ereduinthil swings his arm forward, creating a watery splash in the direction of the attendants voice.