================== Eldarin Calendar in Sindarin ===================
IC time is: Early Afternoon About 1:58 PM
IC day is: Orithil Moon-day
IC date is: 12 Firith Fading
Moon phase: Full VISIBLE
Earendil: Gil-Estel is not visible.
IC year is: Loa 3 o Yen 22, Nelandran o Endor TA 3027
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RL time: Mon Nov 18 20:39:39 2002
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Path through a Grotto
You have now ventured deep into the forest, and you are enchanted by the
strange beauty of the place. Time seems to have slowed, for you have been
walking for a long time, yet you are neither tired nor hungry. The strange
feeling of being watched still lingers, but you dismiss it as merely an
additive to the mystery and beauty of this ancient grotto. You think for a
moment that you spy a single gray feather among the trees, but when you try to
focus on it, it is gone.
There are rumors that the moon is full tonight by the thin shafts of pale light
shot down here and there, but the forest is thick here and to any but the
firstborn it would be filled with velvety, impenetrable blackness. The
secretive rustlings of nocturnal creatures whisper along last year's leaves,
and an owl hoots not far away. The path is thin, and weaves carefully between
the roots of the ancient mallyrn.
Away from the path, within sight distance but not too near, Caelwen has settled
herself between the split of two roots, her back against their tree. Her knees
are drawn up, her arms around them, and her face is buried up to her nose as
her eyes stare blankly off. Somehow, one of those rare shafts of moonlight has
found a gem on her brow, and it winks greenly as a leaf somewhere above shivers
across it now and then.
Winding through the trees, accompanied by the faintest whisper of unhurried
footsteps, is a soft cheerful whistle. Walking into, and out of, the
intermittant silver columns is a tall figure - a cloak draped about him turns
him into one of the shadows that lurk here beneath the trees. Save for movement
spied when the moonlight casts her pale fingers across him, he might not even
exist. And of course, the whistling.
As he draws near to where Caelwen sits, he stops. One hand runs tenderly along
a nearby trunk, and in the dim a pale oval of face tips back, a smile directs
itself to the black etchings of branch and leaf against the midnight sky.
Whistling eases gradually into Caelwen's thoughts, and her eyes are up and
watching the path as the shadowy figure draws into view. Her breath stops even
before his face is seen, fingers tangling into her own sleeves tensely ere she
unfolds her arms. Her hands brace against the tree on either side of her, but
she hesitates long ere standing up, nearly soundless. She finally rends her
gaze from him as she half-turns away, releasing a shaky breath as her lips form
silent words.
Until now unseen, the motion of one standing catches at the corner of
Lothdaimoth's eye and he pulls his gaze away from the treetops. The happy smile
that had graced his face fades some, and dark eyes shadowed from the moonlight
by a treelimb rest on the slim figure of his cousin. Long he stands there amid
the soft night airs and sounds, and his smile begins at last to grow again. A
short nod shakes silver sparks from the nape of his neck and he begins towards
her. Each step placed silently, so silently it disturbs not one iota of the
peace of the night.
Silent is Lothdaimoth, but still not many steps does he take before Caelwen's
eyes slide to their corners to watch for him again. She turns then, quickly,
and a smile is on her face, trembling. And a faint tremor also is in her voice
as she speaks lightly. "Mae govannen, cousin." A swallow does nothing to
abolish the faint quaver in her words. "Well glad am I to see you safe at home
again." Her eyes are wide and moon-light in the darkness, almost... wary.
Closer, closer... at last Lothdaimoth draws to a halt, but a pace away from
where Caelwen stands. And still he says naught, until at last a single word, a
name. In a voice slightly rough, almost hesitant, he says only, "Caelwen." A
breeze shakes leaf-shadows across his face hiding its expression.
Caelwen ducks her head down a little at this, watching his shadowed face for a
time in silence as her fingers curl and uncurl nervously at her sides. Finally,
her eyes turn, as does her face. "Yes." A statement, not a question.
But it seems as though Lothdaimoth has lost whatever words he might have said
next, for again he falls silent. Sable eyes rest on the curve of her turned
cheek and he takes a quiet breath as if to speak, but expels it with no burden
of words.
Caelwen's hands are still overly-stiff as they run down the belly of her gown
as though smoothing wrinkles. Briefly, in a motion almost lost to the night, a
glance is darted toward him and away just as quick. A deep breath. "So." Her
eyes squeeze tightly shut in silence for a moment ere they open again. "I pray
your journey was uneventful..." her voice trails off.
"Yes."
"It was long, though we travelled swiftly. I had much time to ... Caelwen.." he
begins again, but stops helplessly. A hand half-raises towards her before
falling again. Finally, he looks away and swallows audibly. And barely heard,
comes the deep uncertain voice. "Did you.. what we spoke of before... have you
thought on what I said?" Oddly for the Counsel, it seems all of his glib tongue
and smooth words have deserted him.
There is silence for a brief moment, where night sounds press forth. And then a
sharp intake of breath from the maid before words begin to tumble fast from
her. "Aye, of course I did, and you were right, your way was wiser."
Caelwen's eyes are on Lothdaimoth's features again, her own face turned to him.
"And I tried, I swear I did, but 'twas not possible." A half-step she takes
backwards, her back now pressed against the tree, and still her speech is
hurried and lifted a little with agitation. "'Twill be fine. I am just startled
to see you. Just.." She finally pauses to take a breath, and her voice drops to
a murmur. "Just give me a little time to get.. used to it."
Shadows give way to light, Lothdaimoth's eyes return intently to Caelwen's face
as he steps towards her even as she backs away. And he doesn't stop with the
half-step she has taken. Both hands rise to her shoulders, to her face. Gentle
fingers brush her cheeks before tangling in coppery hair, and he bends his head
to kiss her. Strands of long black hair, escaped from their silver confines,
slide along his face and hang from temple to chin.
Caelwen's eyes go very wide indeed as Lothdaimoth follows her, and she is stiff
until his hands touch her face. She shivers a bit. A sharp intake of breath at
the kiss, and it is a stunned moment or two before her head tilts back a little
to press her lips firm to his. "Oh," she says in a very small voice when it is
done, her eyes still wide and watching him. "Oh.." But that is all she says,
and her gaze drops as her hands raise uncertainly to curl over his shoulders.
Drawing back just a bit, enough to speak, Lothdaimoth moves his hands back down
to the young potter's shoulders. "It was a long trip," he says again. "I had
much time to myself. Time to consider." A gentle tug, as if he would pull her
from the tree, but would not force her. There is another moment of silence
while the tall counsel considers his words. "I met Melae when I was very
young," he says at last. "Since then.. many have desired to turn my heart from
her, but none ever called out to my fae like she did." Another pause and his
gaze rests in hers. "Until now."
Caelwen sways a bit forward at his tug, her back not touching the tree-bark.
"I.. well, I didn't think you could," her voice lilts high but rough, and she
allows silence again to press forth as she searches for shadowed sable eyes,
face uptilted. Slowly, furtively, her arms wind behind his neck. Her lips curl
down a little. "It was very hard. I've been trying to think of how to act
normal around you again. Ai, Lothdaimoth! I do not believe this." She holds
tighter to him, trembling now, gaze still faintly insecure.
And his arms slide behind her back, drawing her closer, closer until her hair
brushes his chin. Softly, dark eyes looking far beyond into the dark tangle of
trees surrounding them, he says, "I would have told you the same, had you asked
me before. But..." Strong arms tighten around her, and a quiet chuckle joins
the murmur of the night. "I tried all the way to Amon Thranduil to convince
myself I felt nothing for you save as a sister, my little cousin whom I have
always looked after. But I could not." Lower still drops his voice. "I love
you, little one. And when I saw you here again, there was no more doubt."
An inarticulate, agitated sound emerges from somewhere between Lothdaimoth's
neck and Caelwen's shoulder, where she has buried her face. Skin dampens from
tears. "Ai ai!" Her voice is muffled, breath warm. "I love you. I love you!
There is no other way it could be." And now she chuckles, just a little, and
her voice even becomes faintly teasing. "So you should have listened to me for
a change."
So close does he hold her, it is as if they might merge into a single body and
at her words, the counsel hugs her still tighter. "I did listen to you," he
protests softly. "Had I not, I would never have turned my thoughts to disprove
your words; and in so doing found it was I who was wrong."
Caelwen's head lifts, and though her eyes glisten faintly a smile pulls at her
mouth. "You have always been so wise," comes her gentle voice, and she kisses
briefly his cheek. A whisper, voice tinged in wonder: "I cannot believe this is
Lothdaimoth." Again she kisses his cheek. Her skin grows warm with a blush, and
she returns to a normal tone. "I was waiting for you. I settled myself to think
where I could see the path."
Soft lips brush his cheek, and Lothdaimoth lifts a hand to brush a stray curl
from Caelwen's face. At her words, he grins and then begins to laugh. "Am I so
unlike myself? Who then do you think I am?" Warmth fills the eyes that stay on
her face. "Waiting for me?" The unasked question 'why' hangs between them as he
tucks the curl behind her ear and traces the outline of cheek and jaw with a
gentle thumb.
Bright eyes fall shut as Lothdaimoth's thumb skims along Caelwen's cheek. A
soft smile. "I did not think Lothdaimoth would look at me like that, and so 'tis
difficult to believe this is you." She bites her lip, and just watches his eyes
for a long while. "Well, I was waiting for you because... I knew you were due
home soon, and I was meditating in the forest anyway, and I thought..." she
interrupts herself with a small laugh. "I don't know! I thought to see you,
maybe. I didn't think you'd see me."
"Little wood elf," teases the elder. "Had you not moved just then, I might have
passed without seeing you." His tone turns serious. "I am glad I did not. I
would have come to find you, but..." Unseen, one shoulder raises in a minute
shrug. And in the darkness before dawn, two figures still stand - the one
lowering his head to the shorter again.