Logfile
from Daifuin.
Lawn
Here
the stairway through the mellyrn meets the top of a mighty hill. You stand in
the middle of a great lawn filled with blue and yellow flowers. A sweet scent
fills the air. In the middle of the lawn stands a great shimmering fountain
which falls into a basin of silver. From the basin flows a white stream of
water out into a small brook, which then trickles away down the hill. To the
west, a mature mallorn seems to be at one end of a white path that curls over
the western side of the hill and leads off towards the northwest. Further north
there stands a mallorn tree of such magnificent height that it seems to reach
even to the clouds.
To
the South, the uppermost steps of the Great Marble Stairway can be seen.
Contents:
Lueten
Lagosul
Orolinde
The
leaves of blue, yellow, and green sway gently in the cool breeze, rippling in
the moonlight. The air is laden with the tenor verses of an approaching edhel,
as he makes his way up the hill, toward the fountain at it's crest. He moves
slowly, relaxed, taking in the sights and sounds of the night, on his tongue
the songs of an older time.
Upon
the verdant grasses there lightly steps another booted figure, his raiment
silver-white. A plume of breath can be seen from beneath his cowl, and three
elf stones set upon his brow shine forth as various rays of starlight catch
them. The tall, slender elf is completely quiet as he makes to pass across the
Lawn, and as the other who studies comes into his sight he gives him wide
berth. Yet the hammer of silence is finally lifted from the anvil of the space
after a moment, Orolinde's person being betrayed by the slightest tinkling of
his mail coat.
Lagosul,continuing
to write speaks. "Mae Govannen, mellon," he says as he hears the
tinkling of mail. "tis a fine fine night. No finer night for thought, for
writing, no...not a finer time." He finishes writing and closes his book,
as he looks toward the oncomers.
His
face lightens, and his eyes warm at the sight of those already occupying the
lawn ahead. The final verse fades, and his lips cease their movement, as he
arrives fountainside. Standing casually, yet with all the dignity and presence
of his species, he pauses to observe the interaction taking place before him.
"Well
met," Orolinde simply states. "A fine night indeed, though business
finds me here and not leisure." He offers a glance of acknowledgement to
each in turn, yet makes to keep steadily on his way.
Also
moving quietly, thoughtfully through the night, Daifuin now comes upon the
scene. Her long locks stir slightly as she makes her way across the lawn, mind
lost in the depths of a reverie as she stares idly off into the distance. She
does not seem to take note of any others gathered there, aside from the
slightest inclination of her head. She seems in no rush, yet does not linger
either.
A
look of interest crosses the face of the edhel sitting upon the fountain. He
stands to greet Orolinde as he comes. Lagosul gives a bow and asks,
"Business? Well, business is good as any reason to visit the glorious
Lawn, though I speak ahead of myself, I know not what your business is, nor
whether it pertains to me." As he finishes his sentence, Lagosul 's eye
watch with interest, the elf maiden floating across the lawn.
"Then
you would know that business will not wait, unless there be circumstances that
would detain me," the ancient Silvan replies, eyeing Lagosul as he quickly
passes. A faint smile alights his face, though his eyes are quickly set upon
the path before him as it begins to make for the Great Tree.
Lueten
watches on silently, a grin on his face.
Daifuin's
steps now falter slightly, as a less-idle thought seems to cross her mind. With
a slight sigh, she turns to go back the way that she came. But only a few steps
into that trek, she again pauses, and seems to reconsider once more, torn for a
moment between either direction. Finally, with a resolved nod, she begins again
in her original direction, attention now drifting over to the others, and she
offers a distracted, but polite smile and another nod of greeting.
Lagosul
says, "Actually there is." He stands to a full height and speaks as
sturdy as he can. He begins, "I wish to be one of the Galadhrim Guard, to
join the Order of Lorien. I know by your wears that you are of that order, and
by your markings, that you are one of rank. I would ask you what I need do, to
do so."
Now
he pauses midstride, Orolinde, and turns toward Lagosul. "You need but
ask," he states, eyes keen as lances searching the would-be Squire's own.
"Are you certain of this desire? For once you take this oath, 'twill be
difficult to break, save by death."
Lagosul
says, "Tis only by death would I care to stop protecting my people and
this city, sir. I have longed to join, and have practiced with scouting and
with the bow. I have been ready many years sir, and by my life or death, I will
vow protection to this city. I am but one elf, but every elf in the order grows
it stronger."
Eyes
drawn to the nod of the seemingly undecided edhel maiden upon the path,
Lueten's grin broadens. Slowly but purposefully, he maintains a measured gaite
as he approaches her. "Greetings, Mellon. What great cause brings you to
such quarrel with yourself? You seem to be with purpose, yet know not by which
method to bring it about, no?". His face speaks of concern.
"Very
well," the Elder replies. "Kneel and bow your head. You will shortly
be constrained to our ranks." With a movement swift and graceful, he
withdraws his blade from the sheath at his side, and drops the tip to the
ground.
This
bid to join the order seems to catch Daifuin's attention, and cloudy gaze
flickers over the two forms in conversation for a moment, before being drawn to
the one addressing her. Her polite smile again returns, neither cold nor overly
warm, and she offers another nod of greeting. "Mae govannen," she
replies, her tone kept slightly lower than is really called for. "It is no
matter of importance, that causes my hesitation. Just a moment's thought, as
quickly forgotten as recalled." One slender shoulder raises slightly in a
gentle shrug, as her eyes again drift towards the ceremonial affairs going on
nearby.
Lagosul
nods to the Elder, kneeling with all the valor and honor he has within him. He
bows his head and waits.
Lueten
's eyes sparkle with amusement. Addressing the maiden before him, he says,
"Allow me to introduce myself: I am Lueten. Whose business do I have the
pleasure of interupting this fine night?". An eyebrow raises, and a swift
motion of the hand tucks a lock of stray hair behind his ear.
A
quiet nod does Orolinde afford, his steely eyes resting upon Lagosul's
now-prone form. With a voice gentle yet no less powerful in its sway, he
speaks. "Do you swear to protect this wood and its people in whatever
means necessary? Do you swear to do the bidding of Lord and Lady, even though
through such a bidding you may find yourself in Mandos' halls? Take you this
oath? Will you have your fate bound to another's bidding?"
Lagosul
says, "I will honor, sir, all you say, and more."
The
introduction does manage to wrest her attention from the ceremony going on, and
Daifuin offers a more sincere smile, almost in spite of herself, life at last
sparkling in her icy eyes. "No business is interrupted, I assure you. It
is a pleasure to meet you, Leuten. I am Diafuin." Her smile relaxes and
takes a more natural look to it as she ducks her head slightly, posture still
held tall.
"The
pleasure is mine, Diafuin. Business I may not have severed, though your
interest lies elsewhere." Guesturing with one hand toward the fountain,
Lueten says, "This may prove interesting, mellon. Shall we observe?".
"Then
rise, Lagosul," Orolinde says, "and report to Naith where you will be
outfitted and given your first duty as a member of the Order." As he says
the words, the tip of his blade is raised and lowered gently onto the Squire's
right shoulder.
"And
now," he adds, "if my business is not further hindered, I shall leave
you. Namarie." Orolinde turns and quickens his stride toward the Great
Tree.
Lagosul
stands shouting, "Many thanks sir, I shall be on my way hastely!"
Daifuin
looks again over at the induction of a new member to the order, then returns
her gaze to Lueten to give a nod. "Certainly, though I do believe we shall
be coming in just at the end."
Lagosul
runs off down the steps, a quick bow to the elves conversing, "Good
night" he says, and he is off.
Nodding
in the recollection of the ceremony's closure, Lueten says, "We have
missed it, indeed. I apologize for interupting your spectatorship so as to
inhibit your observation of the induction ceremony. It would be safe to assume,
then, that I cannot enjoy your company a small while longer?" His face
creases in a false frown, yet his eyes continue to sparkle with mirth.
Daifuin
lifts a slender hand in a slight wave to the ones so quickly departing. At
Lueten's words, she casts a sidelong glance in his direction, one corner of her
mouth lifting in a crooked smirk at that. "I suppose, as I'm in no great
hurry to be elsewhere, I may well be persuaded to linger here yet a little
longer," she offers, drawing her face again into a solemn expression,
short-lived as it is. "To be truthful, my interest in such ceremonies is
only idle. No apologies are necessary, and I would be most happy to remain here
in good company, rather than return to my restless thoughts."
Nodding
in satisfaction, Lueten guestures again toward the fountain. "Then sit
with me, Daifuin, and let your restless thoughts be released from your mind.
What need have you for worry?" His face shows now true concern for the
state of his fellow Galadhrim.
Daifuin
waves a hand of dismissal for the concern, as she moves to sit as bidden,
taking rest somewhat primly, posture held tall. "Idle worries, at best.
Likely of less concern than I am wont to weight them. Merely the burden of
decisions left to be pondered, albeit decisions of some importance - to my
mind, at least."
Sliding
onto the fountain of stone, Lueten shakes his head. "No worry is idle, nor
is it minor, for the very nature of worry is based in fear. Fear of the wrong
decision, in this case, I would assume?" he says, taking an warm tone.
"And no fork in the path has it's wrong or it's right. Decision merely
alters ones path. The question is, are you willing to accept whatever happens
to meet you along this trek?"
Daifuin
considers this inquiry for a long-moment, gaze focussed off in the distance, at
nothing in particular. Finally, with a soft sigh, she offers a gentle nod.
"I do believe so. Or, at least, I am more prepared for the fallout of
acting, over the weariness that should come of doing nothing. It is now just to
me to gather the strength and find the proper situation in which to act."
She sets her jaw, again looking determined.
"Yet
your very preoccupation with the negative belies your claim, dear Daifuin.
Weariness is merely a sign of great works accomplished, even in what you
believe to be inactivity, and fallout comes with any path in which change
occurs." Lueten smiles broadly, spreading a field of anti-tension around
the room. "Consider each road a blessing, and each hardship a challenge
with which you will grow."
The
sun rises over the trees, flashing on the golden leaves of the Mellyrn.
Daifuin's
posture relaxes, slightly but noticeably just the same, still prim on the edge
of the fountain. "You are correct, of course. I know in my heart that I
have chosen as I must, and yet, when upon the precipice of decision, it seems
all that may go wrong shines the clearer, while my mind keeps hidden from me
the very reasons that brought me to decide thusly. I must focus on the
positive, yes, as what I fear has only a slim chance of ever coming to pass,
and such foresight is not within my grasp."
"Well
spoken, Mellon. May you have peace in your decision, and may your dreams come
true." Lueten flashes a wink, as a wry grin spreads across his face.
Taking note of the creeping dawn, he spreads his arms dreamily, "And if
all hope seems to fade, trust in this: that all beginnings will have their
time, and from the ashes of one shall arrise something even more beautiful than
that from whence it came!"
Daifuin
smiles gently but sincerely, ducking her head again. "I will strive to
keep such inspirational thoughts near at hand," she replies in a low
voice, before shifting slightly and lifting her gaze to watch the dappling of
the rising sun through the leaves. "And thank you, Lueten, both for taking
such time to listen to my idle worries and for offering sound advice, such as
it is."
Chuckling
softly, Lueten says, "My art is healing, mellon, both the Hroa and the
Fea. I am merely doing my job." His tone now merely casual, he says,
"And what of your art, Daifuin? What purpose have you for life in this
beautiful wood?"
"It
is that, in part, which weighs so heavily in my thoughts," Daifuin replies
with a soft sigh. "For as of this moment, I have no role but to be a
burden to those who pursue more actively in contributing. But I have set my
mind and heart on the Royal Court now, and shall seek to join as soon as chance
may allow."
Comprehension
flashes across Lueten's face. "Ah, I see now, though I would not consider
you a burden. Each living being in this wood has it's part in some whole,
though they may not realize it. The bee, for instance, knows not that it is the
sole propagator of many flowering plants in this region, but considers it's actions
merely that of survival. You may yet have a role to play, even in your mere
citizenship." He flashes a wink, saying, "Though I do wish you well
with your planned profession. A noble and worthy cause, indeed."
Daifuin
smiles wistfully, ducking her head slightly again. "While that may be
true, it is difficult to feel useful in idleness while others risk health and
safety. I do hope I may come to some day repay such debts that I know not what
they be, by their very nature. And again I offer thanks, this time for your
well-wishes. Certainly, they will be of use." She draws a deep breath,
then stirs again, thought seeming to come suddenly. "But I should be
going, sadly. For in such conversation, I have lost all track of time. I do
hope our paths may cross again soon, new friend." Her smile grows warm
now, as she reluctantly pulls herself to her feet.
Standing
with her, Lueten grins at Daifuin. "As I said, it's all in a day's, or a
night's, work. It has been a pleasure to share your company, mellon. I am sure
that life will cause us to converge many times again. Farewell, friend."
As he turns to go, his tenor voice begins to sneak from it's hiding place
within his chest, filling the air with a soft but merry tune. The words seem of
little import, though the melody evokes a feeling of melencholy care-free. With
a quick step, Lueten slips accross the lawn, and melds with the wood on it's
edge.