WORDS

354

TAGGED

 Gilrien Alassea  Legolas Ettelëamë Thiri Lyra

NOTES

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After having rested from the previous day's trials, Pip couldn't have felt better. He proudly looked at the most recent additions to his trophies as he laid them in a chest ready to be transported home the next day. Father would be so pleased once he heard of Pip's latest win. Perhaps even proud enough for him to return to Silverhill for a small while to congratulate him.

Well, Pip could always hope so. He had sent a letter to his parents early this morning to inform them of his victories. He had also been sure to send a letter to his uptight Aunt informing her of his return- no doubt she enjoyed having the castle to herself, but Pip was rather eager to see that she didn't make herself too comfortable in his absence.

As he looked over the trophies, he frowned a little that he had not been able to take back one for single combat. And he was willing to admit he had notdone as well as he liked- but as his friends reminded him, he was willing to overlook that loss as it still seemed vastly unfair that he was pitted against two elven warriors with many more years of experience than he would ever live to see.

"Milly? Are you ready? We're all waiting for you!"

Quinn's call drew Pip from his thoughts and he quickly shut the chest and looked at himself in the mirror one last time, straightening out the last creases he found in his shirt.

"Calm down, we don't want to be there embarrassingly early," Pip warned as he stepped out of his quarters and over towards his friends.

"And we'd hate to be too late because we were waiting for you to finish fussing with your hair. Come on, we might as well get a head start on the mead before the Dwarves get to it." Alby teased, before the group set course for Meduseld.

made by EDEN

After the Rohirric tourney, all are invited to the halls of King Fengel for a post-tourney celebration.

If there is anything in the world fitting to draw a conclusion to this splendid eye-opening tourney, it would be a massive celebration. Everything would be warm and fascinating - the halls filled with people and laughter, jugs of golden ale, her in the center of the room singing, everybody looking at her, and accolades she would receive after that - oh, it could be even better than the tourney itself...

...Lyra woke from her brief fantasy. Her feet was throbbing with pain after days and days of walking, yet she could hardly feel it. A group of people were walking in front of her, for everybody was invited to the halls of the King. Having settled most of her belongings into the farm the previous few days, she traveled light with just a pack of necessities and a small, convenient lyre instead of her usual Instrument. She had composed a few songs over the brief nights that sung of the valiance of the winners and contenders, and if she ever get the chance to perform tonight, she would sing this one and another two that she always loved to show off to others. 'Maiden in Gold' and 'Seasons' never gets old, and her experience proved that everyone loves them.

Tonight she was dressed in one of her best garbs, a remnant of the craze-like shopping process she went through at a bazaar in Lake-town. The beauty of these clothes were what stays behind, not the harsh situation she went through after spending those money. Her hair was tied up in a traditional style, and she walked with a delightful excitement. After all the little girl inside her was still alive, eager to see the whole wide world and always wanting to see more. Her lyre was on her back, tuned and ready for performance.

Lyra walked over and grabbed a large jug of ale. She sniffed at it, and though she really said nothing inside her she still screamed that this would probably be the best beer she've ever had in her life. Sitting down at a long table, she looked around with curiosity while drinking. She looked forward to a chance to show off her skills and bring music and joy to all tonight, for that was what she was destined to do. But for now, she was going to have fun while the night was barely starting.

As Pip walked over towards Meduseld, he caught sight of an elegantly dressed maid walking the path to Meduseld without companion of any kind- well she was certainly brave to turn up to a feast of such magnitude by herself. He looked over the dress that she wore and Pip identified it as a definite Dalish dress, after all being so far North and with the majority of their communications taking place between Dwarves- Pip thought it was fair to say that they had developed a rather.. unique taste in fashion. And one Pip wasn't so sure the Dalish people should be so proud of.

Though aside from the dress, Pip couldn't help but notice that she hardly fit in with the typical description of the Northenly folk in Dale. With her height and rather distinctive blonde hair, he would have placed her as a Rohirric maid.

Well she wasn't rich or particularly important- Pip ruled out in his mind given the lack of entourage, but it wasn't as though she appeared so poorly dressed that it would be an embarrassment to be seen with her, so for the brief walk to Meduseld he decided it wouldn't be a bad idea to converse with her.

"Evening ma'am," Pip called out as they walked past her, giving her a small bow as he introduced himself. "You wouldn't happen to be headed for the celebrations at Meduseld this evening all dressed up like that?"

For the celebrations that evening, Glorfindel had decided to wear one of his lighter tunics- after all they had been graced with warm and dry weather for the past few days over which the tourney had taken place. Though Glorfindel wasn't so certain that he had been so appreciative of the warmth when he had partaken in the fighting and not only had to face several skilled opponents but he had had to do it in a large suit of heavy armour that had been given to him. And it was fair to say that the sheer weight of the armour had made it both stifling hot inside as well as rendering him far clumsier than he would have liked.

Though it still proved to be a rather enjoyable experience nonetheless and it had given Glorfindel the opportunity to meet many young Elves, Men and Dwarves.

But Glorfindel would admit that it was such a relief to be able to wear anything but his armour this evening.

"Inwë? Alassea?" He called as he tapped on the door to their room. "Are you nearly readdy? By my reckoning, Fengel's feast should be started soon so we had probably hurry there." He informed the two ellyth.

Fili kept his eye on the group of Dwarves who had decided that they needed to arrive to the King's celebrations already drunk. He had been told by one of the dwarves that apparently the Mannish ale that they'd be serving was nothing in comparison to the Dwarvish mead that they had brought along with them for this very occasion. And the fact that they were bringing back less gold than they had come here with, was apparently an appropriate reason to drink all the more.

Of course, the Dwarves had been a little disappointed that they had not won any medals asides from the trials that had been exclusively reserved for the Dwarven competitors- but Fíli had not expected much when they were largely fighting overgrown Elves and Men in trials that were heavily practised in the culture of Men and Elves but much less so amongst the Dwarrow. Perhaps Fili should ask King Thorin to host his own tourney at Erebor and see how they manage with the trials the Dwarves would pick out for them...

He chuckled at the thought of it before going to get his own glass of mead and downing it fairly quickly. "Are you all ready to leave now?" The prince called out to the Dwarves- loud enough so those still getting ready could hear.

((O.O I just found out that Ed's a champion from reading the threads I've missed over time... lucky her <.<))

Edlothia woke from dizzy excitement and unbelievability. The sweet aftertaste of the tourney lingered on the tips of her tongue. For an elleth who literally has a smile on her face from day to night without any exciting thing happening to her, winning two games in the tourney rendered her chest flowing up and down all day through and hugging people she meet around the place, plus that smile.

But setting that aside, she've met tons of new peoples and new friends, and when she's back home she could brag that her friends are all kinds of people all over the place. She had drunk her first (actually second, if you count that time when she gulped down what looked like grape juice on the feast without knowing it) jug of wine, she had met a dwarf who challenged her in axe-wielding (in which she lost, unquestionably), she met a handsome-looking human village girl by the name of Brienne who stood as tall as herself, she did innumerable crazy things, she fought with different people and all...

It was certainly enough for going home and telling Lothriel.

And now she found herself here, wandering aimlessly at a relatively small clearing in the houses around. Edlothia had heard that there would be a feast here and all are invited, and well, she would never miss an occasion like this. Looking around humming her small tune, she walked from place to place and saw numerous people. She was going to keep walking like that and doing nothing until she saw people walking towards whichever hall or place that the King decides to hold the celebration.

Tahl felt rather out of place here, more so than she did anyway at least.

Wearing anything that even resembled a dress was far fetched for the practicality of the woman. Even now she wasn't wearing a real dress, it gave her enough room to move around but still looked better than leather and cloaks. She fussed with the royal blue material that covered her arms as she made her where to where the Dwarrows where gathering, she'd lost the guard dog when he decided to drink his sorrows with the rest of the Dwarrows that had come to Rohan. They hadn't done well up against the Elves and Humans, even less so than they had expected and Dwarfs being Dwarfs of course they drank.

When she eventually reached the meeting point she saw Fili was already trying to deal with the drunken Dwarrows who had managed to stumble their way to the festivities. She came up toward the blonde Dwarf from the side and chuckled lightly,

"At least for their sakes they aren't going to remember anything in the morning." She tries to lighten the mood, even Fili didn't look his usual chirpy self to her. She looked over the crowd of Dwarrow's to try and get a glimpse of the younger Prince, at the minute, he didn't seem to be in sight,

"Is he still sulking because I beat him at the archery competition?" Somehow Tahlaia had managed to come in third place, ironically, behind two Elves, Kili hadn't done so well.


(( Wearing! ))

Gilrien had been ready for only a few minutes, however, stood on her own waiting for her brother and sister to arrive those few minutes seemed to be going on forever. She fiddled with the silver necklace and smoothed down the two braids that fell in front of her shoulders and down to her waist. The outfit she was wearing embodied her place of birth, a soft green colour with a textured dapple effect, long flowing arms and a floaty looking bottom to the gown. Adored with some silver jewellery including a headpiece, belt-clasp and necklace.

She had regretted not buying a Rohan bred horse, she had fully intended to before being distracted by her brother and the friends they had met at the tourney. Gilrien wondered if there where still horses for sale, however, she expected that the best of the purebreds had already been bought by other interested parties. Perhaps she'd have to return to Rohan at a later date with the only intent of buying one of it's horses. Perhaps even her sister would accompany her. Even though she doubted that she would be able to get her sister back on a horse to get to Rohan again with how much trouble she seemed to be having. She wasn't the horsemaster that Gilrien was after all.

She sighed softly and looked again for her brother or sister, they couldn't be that much longer.

(( Wearing! ))

"I'm going to head on outside! I'll see you ladies at the feast when you're ready!" Glorfindel called out as he walked down the stairs of the inn- he was feeling too excited to stand around the inn much longer and wait for the two ellyth to finish what they were doing. As Alassea had proved herself a very capable warrior- having faced Glorfindel in the final of the single combat trial, he trusted her well enough to deliver Inwë safely to the feast.

Though the warrior had a slight feeling that it was more than unwanted attention that might be keeping Inwë away from the feast that night. Since all were invited to this feast, there was a high chance that  a certain Dwarven Prince would be attending as well. And given her initial reaction when Glorfindel had revealed to her of Price Fili's attendance- it might be a while before anyone was going to drag her outside.

Though as he reached the outdoors, he saw quite a familiar face walking by. "Excuse me!" He called out as he followed after the elleth. "Edlothia? Is it not? You're the young competitor from Mirkwood who gave most tourney participants quite the surprise with your wins, right?" He asked as he followed after her.

"Would you mind awfully if I walk with you to the King Fengel's halls? My friends are likely to be a while yet before I see them surface." Glorfindel smiled brightly at the young Silvan elf.

"Evening Tahlaia-" Fíli offered the dwarf a smile as she approached him, turning his attention away from the rather rowdy group of Dwarves who were now sucking their last barrel of mead dry.

As she commented on the Dwarves that had decided the best way to prepare for an evening of drinking was drinking before hand, I gave a soft chuckle at her optimism."I wouldn't be so confident, we ride out tomorrow at dawn- somehow I have a feeling that they'll wish they had a little more self-control." He shook his head as he tried imagining what it would be like the next morning having to coordinate a horde of hungover Dwarves back to Erebor.

"Kíli? Sulking? You don't know him like I do, he came here to have some fun and he's certainly had his fill whilst he was here." Fíli laughed, in all the time that they had been here, Kíli had not stopped grinning. Fíli assumed that it was partially because Kíli missed traveling to new places, the adventure and excitement of journeying through Middle Earth. But sulking was certainly not something Kíli had wasted his time on. "He's giving himself a quick wash before he turns up at the feast, he'll be surfacing in a minute or two. Though we'll start trying to shepherd this lot into Meduseld soon and Kee can always catch us up once he's done." Fíli explained to Tahlaia.

A young lad around the age of 16 to 17 approached the Mirkwood princess, from the way he was dressed it was clear that he was headed for the celebrations at Meduseld as well.

"Good evening, your highness-" The young boy bowed respectfully before Gilrien before straightening himself to talk to her. "May I just say that it is an honour to meet the royal family of Mirkw- I mean uh.. the Woodland realm here in Rohan." The boy smiled apologetically, looking down at his feet briefly as he wasn't certain if he had just made a mistake.

"I saw you in the racing the other day and I just wanted to say that I thought you rode very well. Though if you don't mind me saying this your highness, it seemed to be the first time your horse was in a race- she just seemed a little nervous and all from where I was standing is all. I've started a business with my sister- you see and I was just going to say that if you ever wanted to do some flat-racing training then we'd be more than happy to have our first client." He spoke to her.

She couldn't help but chuckle, and agree with Fili's words. Having a hangover was bad enough without having to get up and march their way back towards Erebor, they really where going to regret it but it was already far too late for most of them now. She actually thought that these Dwarrows may have taken a little more alcohol to get drunk, but it seemed the opposite at the moment. Unless they started drinking that morning anyway which knowing Dwarves some of them most likely did,

"Self control isn't really what Dwarves are known for." She comments, Smithing and Mead drinking came much higher on a Dwarrows list of traits than self control, even if Fili did show that particular trait right now, he could have jumped in and joined them should he have really wanted to.

Tahlaia smiled at the blond as he defended his brother, she was only teasing after all, but it was just odd to see one without the other being close by as she'd come to learn. Her eyes left her companion and scanned the surrounding area as a larger cheer went up from the other intoxicated Dwarrows, she merely shook her head and smiled before turning back to Fili,

"What about you, have you enjoyed Rohan?" She asks curiously, he hadn't seen him particularly unhappy, but he hadn't partaken in a lot of events either, she wondered if there was a reason behind it or not.

Gilrien was a little shocked at the young man that stood before her, clearly going to the celebration like herself. She was also surprised that he knew who she was, although she supposed that news of her family partaking in the games probably spread through Rohan pretty quickly. By the looks of the boy in front of her, he was probably from a well off family, or at least seemed that way. He was also quite well spoken after all and didn't want to offend her by using the title of Mirkwood instead of Greenwood. Even the Elves in her father's territory referred to it as Mirkwood in this age anyway.

"It is very nice to meet you as well..." She paused, not knowing the boys name and therefore being a little stuck for a term to use.

She had been curious as to why the boy had specifically come to speak to her, however when the young man began to talk about the business that he had set up with his sister it soon became apparent, he was talking business and for such a young age she was a little impressed. But still not particularly interested,

"I assure you my horse is well enough trained to deal with nerves, it was simply the change in location, my mare had never left home before this trip." She explained, as soft a voice as possible but still defending her horse, "I fear that flat land race training will be somewhat redundant when I return home, these events are few and far between after all."

"No, I will admit it isn't oft counted amongst our strengths. But showing those stuck up elves how to have a good time is certainly one of our greatest strengths- It'd be a shame not to grace King Fengel with at least one decent Dwarven call." Fíli agreed as Tahlaia surveyed the Dwarves, he placed his own now empty goblet of mead down before removing his coat- the fur was perhaps a little thick for such a warm evening.

"How have I enjoyed Rohan? Very much so- It's certainly different to what we're used to in Erebor."  Fíli half-lied, he had enjoyed what time he had spent milling around the market place, helping his brother practice his archery in the ring and even being able to catch a few of the events. But as always there had been many more duties to attend to and problems to have looked into- a few of them namely being coping with irritated guardsmen, irritated dwarrowdams and irritated parties from the neighbouring tents. And somehow having to spend a large portion of his day listening to complaints was not exactly how he had hoped to spend this break from Erebor.

"You look as though you've had a refreshing few days as well." He turned the conversation, not particularly in the mood to discuss his own experience.

As the Dwarves started to look about the pavilion for another barrel to open, Fíli shook his head as he walked over to them. He turned to Tahlaia as he went to approach the dwarrow. "Well, there's no use waiting around much longer- they've just finished their fourth and last barrel of mead. If we don't head out soon, I doubt they'll make it down the path there." He half-smiled.

"Come on lads, what say you to draining the Rohirric ale reserves dry and showing them what a real celebration looks like!" Fíli very quickly changed his tone and composure to match that of the dwarrow who were drinking, receiving a host of cheers in response.

"Are you coming now or waiting until after the stampede of drunkards have gone in?" Fíli asked Tahlaia as he walked to the entrance of the pavilion.

"As long as they don't start any bar fights! I doubt King Fengel will be pleased if a rabble of Dwarrows ran-sack the Meduseld." She laughs as she speaks to him and shakes her head at the very thought. She would not be getting in between Dwarrows and Elves should they come to drunken blows, and with humans in the mix it would most likely all go to hell. She really hoped that Fili could keep them all in line at least for one night, they could go back to hating the Elves when they weren't in another Kings hall. A human King and all.

She could tell that he was holding his answer back a little, she wondered if it was the politics that came with the trip, she didn't want to overstep the line, but she shrugged softly,

"If you don't want to talk about it Fili, just say so, I won't burst in to tears." She's joking lightly and nudges his shoulder gently with an elbow, upon asking her about Rohan, her grin turns to a simple smile "I've been to Rohan before. I like it here, it's open and free, a little more what I'm used to. It's usually busy too, not as much as it has been these past days but enough that I can wander the streets and not get looked at funny." She explains, Rohan was a place she had wanted to return to, it's the reason she jumped at the chance to come with Fili and a group of Dwarrows after all. Plus the competitions seemed like a bit of light-hearted fun.

She wanted the Prince make his way over to the brood of Dwarrows scouring for more mead where there was non, that perhaps signalled that it was time to move to the hall and drink their hosts mead instead,

"They'll be ravenous if you leave them without mead for much longer!' She comments slyly as she slowly walks in the direction Fili has gone in to address the drunken bunch, she sticks on the outside of the group so that she's not dragged in to any drunken celebrations as they make their way toward the hall, she lets them all stumble their way in front of her so that she doesn't have to do battle with them but slowly follows behind, smirking at Fili,

"You think this is the first time I've navigated a band of merry drunks?"