Conversation with an Elfmaiden

COnversation with an Elfmaiden

This was a conversation between Aragant and the Lady Rilania. They were beside a fire and the conversation was warm and comfortable.

Aragant sits down and looks to her somewhat astonished, mouth a gape...." No....you don't look a day over 20 Rilania....really you are 100 years old...I hope I look so good when I am 100 then..., but then for an Elf you are but a pup.....no that didn't sound right , sorry,..a youngster..yes that is a lot better....." he shrugs," well you are getting to know we Edain better...and speaking of that tell me what you think on that...you can use myself for an example if you want...I would be interested to know?"

Rilania asks, "What I think of humans?"

Aragant looks to Rilania," yes....and I was the one who asked so you will not hurt my feelings with anything you say.....I have never asked this before of an Elf...so please be honest..."

Rilania thinks a few moments and says, 'You are like flowers. Beautiful, desirable and precious, yet so delicate and ephemral. You sprout forth in multitudes and are delightful, yet also sad for you will never see the flowers of the future. Whereas we are like the pine tree. Strong, stable and ancient, seeing every spring and every winter. But there is something missing, for we never flower, never change, only grow. And the less of us there are, the more there are of you." Her eyes are deep like the field of stars at night.

Aragant sits back now astonished...never thinking he would here such as this...He looks on Rilania with love, pity and understanding all mixed together," That...M'lady was the fairest thing I have ever heard an Elf say ...and yes I can understand the delicate part...for to the Elves we are very very short lived...and as such we do not have a lifetime in which to wait for that special someone to come along.....but if I was an Elf...surely I would court you.....now don't get upset on that I mean it..you have a heart of gold...you cook marvelously...and you are fair to look upon....and don't sell yourself short here....somewhere out there is an Elven male waiting to sweep you off your feet." he smiles warmly at Rilania, hoping she understands this foolish adan and his odd ways.

Rilania looks absolutely astonished that a human would speak like this and says, "I am not sure you completely understand the complexities of being an elf, sir. You see, it is unlikely I shall marry for a very long time. Because we are not like you, we have the...luxury of time. And elves, we do not marry or have children in times of distress or war, which I am afraid that these times are. Because we are forever bound, we do not take this lightly, and if our mate were to die soon after marriage, it would be a horrible tragedy. So you see, we feel it is better to pause and save the joyous times for the days when they will last and not be cut short by war and hardship. I was one of the last to be born in these lands while the dark demon was confined. Now...well...it shall be a long while indeed..." She looks up at the sky, suddenly not appearing young and joyous as is her wont, but pensive, tired and perhaps frightened, as if the burden of time has suddenly materialized out of air.

Aragant nods to her reply and rubs his chin, then bows his head a little," I think I understand what it is you say here M'lady....and yes times are bad for sure....and yes being recently married that thought is in the back of my mind all the time ...that some day I might leave her alone....but time is not something we Edain have an abundance of...so a very hasty folk we must seem to some of you.....but if I had to pick one thing, above all else, when I look into any Elf's eye ....it is the sorrow in them...it seems to be ever present there.....for even as young as you are you too have seen many thing my eyes will never see....I don't know if I envy that or not....constantly watching things come and go....but it pleases me very much to see you Elves smile, on those occasions when you have...for when that happens there always seems to be a light surrounding you folk when you do."

Rilania cannot help but smile at this and she says, "Ah, but I am young, and humans value youth. If you believe it is a joy to hear we younger elves laugh, and many of us who came are young...then you should hear the laughter of our Kings and Elders. For if something is delightful to them, it surely is a delight to all, for we all know that they are reminded of the happiness in Valinor and the endless twilight of the trees..." She looks so sad, but only for a moment, like a firefly in the night, before the thought of things past is gone and she smiles again at the human seated by the fire.

Aragant now looks up to the Maiden, "Did you come from Valinor M'lady?"

Rilania shakes her head, "No. I was born here. My parents were newly wed when the Trees were destroyed, but they are still young in comparison to others of our people. But though I have not seen them, they are still within my heart. I can see Telperion in my father's eyes and Laurelin in the eyes of my mother. But even that light is a reflection of a dream and never to be realized by my own."