"I admire them a little, they are huge creatures and they could crush you in an instant and yet some of them show more gentleness than I've seen from any other animal. They're intelligent, I like them." She admits "Some of them are just a little too big." She adds with a chuckle, she could get lost in the mane of a mighty shire horse after all. She grinned at him "Do they make you feel a little inadequate?" She's joking, Rohan seems to only deal with the largest of horses, Tahl hasn't even seen a pony in the mix yet and for Dwarrows it's rather intimidating, she's grown up on human farms however, it doesn't bother her as much anymore.

Speeding away like that may not have been the best way to look inconspicuous, but it was better than having to walk past them all slowly and give any of them chance to say anything about her that was meant only for cruel purposes. Fill soon caught up and she looked toward the ground as they continued their way up the path to the hall that was getting larger with every step,
"I'm not the Mirkwood Elves biggest fan, they aren't mine either. I had to cross Mirkwood to get to Erebor, they weren't best pleased." It's the truth, of a fashion after all.

"I don't care what they say, I'm just trying my best not to start an argument, we wouldn't want those lot getting involved would we." She nods her head in the direction of the rabble still zig-zagging their way toward the hall.

Legolas hadn’t meant to be as late as he was, he hadn’t meant to be late at all. As he tried to keep a dignified but quick pace as he made his way towards the place he had agreed to meet his sisters he couldn’t help but curse himself for his carelessness.

He had been ready for some time, had finished his preparations long before his sisters and had decided to take a quick walk before the celebrations began. At first he had stayed in the tourney grounds, watching idly as servants rushed to and fro, packed up tents, cooked evening meals, gathered in groups around fires for games of cards and tale telling. He took in the sights and the sounds and the smells and lost himself in his thoughts.

It wasn’t long before the ellon had found himself walking out of the tourney grounds altogether.

He had paused for a moment, looking out at the grassy plain that seemed to stretch for miles in every direction and wondering if he should turn back, surely his sisters would be ready by the time he had made his way back to the pavilion?

But something, something Legolas couldn’t quite name, had been calling to him.

It had been impossible to resist.

---

He had come to his senses several miles from the tourney grounds and a sinking feeling that he was going to be very late indeed.

---

He shook himself from his thoughts he approached the meeting places, running a hand through his hair and over his clothes to make himself look presentable. Gilrien was already there but Aroreth was nowhere in sight.

“Gilrien! I apologise for being late, I cannot think of why I might have lost track of time in the way that I did.”

---

Who knows what happened with Leggy? I don't

At long last, the guardsmen opened the gates to the halls of Meduseld and the guests of all shape and size entered the hall. Several of the guests of higher standing, advanced to the table towards the end of the room where the King and his family are sat and join them. The others gather around the feasting tables laid out or the dance hall where a small band are tuning their instruments.

--

"Your brother seems to be arriving now, your highness" The young elf maid bowed before she moved away to leave the Prince talk to his sister. A couple of Elves greet him in turn as he arrives.

"Would this elusive reason happen to a woman, hirenin Legolas?" One of the drunker elves burst out as the Prince made his excuses, before his friend beside him nudged him and muttered something that sounded like 'mightn't have been a woman...

Lyra was proud that she could recall the others name. Amongst many talents that being a minstrel possesses, the talen with names is one of them. Be your elf or dwarf, a foreign man or a countryman, as long as you give your syllables to Lyra she'd be able to remember you on an instant.

"My name is Lyra." She smiled, and even curtsied a little bit. "I would be honored to walk with you and your friends, Sir." Lyra placed her hand lightly on the other's. It seems as if this night was truly off to a good start. Lyra didn't know how would the singing and performing go at the Halls of the King, but meeting a knight and his friends would definitely be fun.

Hearing the other's question, she chuckled a little bit - a Lady? It must be her dress and appearance. It wasn't the first time she was mistaken for some noble madam, and for that Lyra was very grateful - her money spent on clothing and packaging herself wasn't after all wasted. "Ah, but I am no Lady, Sir - I am but a humble minstrel, who travels from place to place to bring people songs and joy." She wasn't going to say that she was a Rohirric farmer, an identity that she had been trying to dump all of her life. And obviously, though minstrel wasn't some occupation overly noble, Lyra was proud of it nonetheless.

"Intelligent?" Fíli repeated, looking to Tahlaia unconvinced as far as her theory went. "They can take orders, but I hardly call that intelligence- for all I can see, they either instinctively run away from half the things they see and try and trample the other half. It's not what I'd really call sophisticated behaviour."

"I highly doubt that one Dwarf would be all they could think of Tahlaia, you're not the only one to have travelled to Mirkwood" Fíli commented lightheartedly as they walked past the Elves. As he glanced back, he noticed that they did seem as though they were whispering about something that the Dwarves were doing- but then again, these were Elves. They always had something to comment on. 

However it did feel as though she was hiding something from him, after all- the Dwarves hardly did anything to the Elves and aside from muttering, neither did the Elves. "The Dwarves seem just fi-" Fíli started before he heard Kíli come behind him.

"Kíli! You took your time getting over here," Fíli smiled, as he made space for his younger brother between him and Tahlaia. "I trust you're now ready for a long night of partying?"

Aroreth had taken her time, and had needed an aids help in tying up the back of her gown. And seemed even longer for her to taken as she carefully braided and did up her long dark hair. She had finally left her chamber as she saw her sister enter the hall, though had no idea where their brother was, or if he had went off somewhere.

Flitting her eyes around the area, she stealthily made her way to the Rohan King's Hall to join the celebration. She slipped in past people who mingled near the entrance and made her way over towards her kin.

Suddenly, Legolas came in and also made his way over, but called out to Gilrien. So Aroreth planned to remain in the shadows while Legolas and Gilrien greeted, but when one of their kin, already starting to become drunk, caused her to darken her brow and present herself. "I would hope my kin would better present themselves at the beginnings of a celebration, rather than try and compete with the Dwarves," she said, directing her words toward the Elf whom spoke, and raised a brow at their friend. "My apologies for my own lateness as well, I had required help with this particular gown and did not come to mind to ask your help, forgive me my sister." She turned Gilrien and bowed slightly.

Tahlaia shakes her head and points to the drunken rabble,
"They knew they had to go on a long march home tomorrow morning and still chose to get so drunk they can't walk straight. That's not very intelligent either is it?" She calls lightly, trying to prove the fact that a living thing quite often had flaws and not so smart moments. Either way, she wasn't trying to change Fili's mind so soon enough she just let the conversation stop.

"You don't know how petty Elves can really be." her voice is quieter so that non of them overhear her, she really doesn't need thing right now, it would be so much easier if they just weren't around of if for a matter of fact Tahlaia had never gone asking questions to the mystery of her past. It should stay where it is, in the past. Besides it didn't get her anywhere, she just ended up with a few more people who didn't like her because of what she was. She tried not to think about it anymore.

Tahl smiled and moved to the side when Kili came bounding over, making sure to stay out of the way of the two as they began to talk.

As someone who is usually shameless and childishly ignorant, it was surprising that Edlothia actually blushed hearing the compliments. Well, she wouldn't say that it wasn't because it came from someone as great as Glorfindel - but recently she literally went all shy and girly whenever somebody mentions her championship to her.

Being the center of attention - not the kind by the hearths at home nor the kind with groups of friends at feasts, but the kind at the arenas - was something new to her (being someone who was ordinary and always follows the crowds), especially the dizziness she get from winning. Though Edlothia would say that it wasn't entirely her skills - luck was what happened in her opinion. She still had to come up with something at least courteous to say, so she replied: "You flatter me so, Lord Glorfindel" was all she could manage at the time, as the young silvan elf was overwhelmed by... thoughts and emotions. She was entirely dumb when speaking courteously to strangers or in a formal manners, though she was all about business when it comes to word-related mischiefs.

"Why yes you should do so! Absolutely!" Edlothia exclaimed in reply. She had always thought of old people as boring (and she had heard from a friend in the guards that 74 year old men is equal to 100,000 year old elves), but this certainly debunked it all. Riverdell, however, needs some serious revamping as well. Last time she had visited Edlothia was in the pack of guards, and while she was sitting the others were sombre and eating food formally in the traditional elven fashion and all, but all Edlothia did was scratch her chin and head frequently for she felt boring beyond all - elves at Rivendell certainly looked happy or satisfied, but they do not possess the hearty laughters of her people. "I really look forward to the night, for I have never been at a celebration of Men before - and I'm sure it's a lot different than that of the elves."

The two of her siblings had taken so long to arrive and then all of a sudden they appeared all at once like they had planned to come so late together, although there was a few seconds between the two of them showing up it was a lot less time than Gilrien had waited for the both of them. She tried to ignore the comment that one of the guards came out with referring a woman, Gilrien doubted it. Legolas had never really been interested, or at least if he had, she had never been made aware of it.

Her sister looked stunning in her dress, it was something Gilrien never thought she truly possessed, the elegance and beauty of her elder sisters. She was after all, the youngest daughter, and the one who prefer the company of horses to elves most of the time. She smiled brightly at her sister,
"I understand." She replied simply before looking around the room "I don't think either of you will be the latest guests to arrive." Despite the fact that the room was slowly beginning to fill there where still a few areas left open for more people to come and attend.

"Inwe, what are you doing? We are most definitely late to the feast," Alassea said after knocking and then entering her friends chamber to see what was keeping her. She knew why she was late, she wanted to be perfect and appealing to Legolas. It really should not have taken her so long. It was a single deep green gown with very long sleeves, a simple decorated silver belt that hung at her hips, and rippling hair that accentuated her ears. And why should that have taken her long to do? Because she fretted over possibilities of the Elven Prince, and there was no real need for it. She couldn't help it. All her love feelings were still on him, and no one else really pulled her interest.

But it was not like he had said any different that he might not have feelings for her. She just had to keep her cool, and be the friend that she had become to him. Trying not to push things where they might not be destined to go.

Yet Inwe, Inwe was traveling with Glorfindel to go and express her feelings towards Fili, and find out whether he might possibly share said feelings with her. Though Alassea partially doubted he would; Fili was a Dwarf, and Dwarves and Elves still held some hostility towards each other.

"Alassea, I simply cannot go," Inwe said, her voice shaking.

Alassea noted that her friend was partly undress from the gown that she was dressed in for that day.

The majority of the tourney, Inwe could easily avoid being close to the Dwarven Prince. But now, if she went to the feast, she could no longer easily avoid bumping into him.

The closest she got to him, was cheering him on when he was competing. And though she was not fond of fighting or battle, she found his movement fascinating. She couldn't stop watching him. And she was nearly catch by him when she called out his name when he had momentarily fallen from a bad attack. She clamped her hands over her mouth and quickly hid behind Glorfindel so she wouldn't be seen.

And this panicking was when Alassea had entered her room as she paced the floor partially undressed. And her nudity didn't unfazed her from her pacing and panicking.

"Of course you will, you will not be alone in this, mellonamin," Alassea said, smiling as she walking over, sat her friend down and went to get her a cup of water.

"But what if I should bump into him? What if we both reach for the same thing? What if-" Inwe began mutter quickly, but was then cut off when Alassea returned and placed the cup in her hands.

"No 'what ifs'. They do you no good. As I said, you will not be alone. Glorfindel or I will be by your side. Well, mostly I will be, who knows who will call for the Great Golden Flower," she said, teasing their friend, which got a small smile out of Inwe. "Drink a little and I will retrieve your evening gown."

Inwe nodded and took a sip. She needed to remain calm, she did not need to stress herself out, or ruin her friends evening by cowering in her chamber. She would cower and hide in her friends presence, letting them have fun on their last night in Rohan.

Alassea opened the pack Inwe kept her things in and pulled out a gown that she had not seen on her friend before. It was beautiful silver material that was like liquid, very similar to a gown she had seen before, with a simple pattern sewn into it. A white thread cris-crossed over the entire gown widely with a purply-pink shade design sewn inbetween the gaps that were left by the cris-crossing. "Inwe, this is beautiful, you must wear this!" she exclaimed and moved quickly back over to her friend.

"Alassea..."

"Inwe, this journey you are on with Glorfindel is suppose to have you explore Middle Earth and gain more knowledge, correct? This feast will do you good, even if you just mingle with our Elven kin and the humans," the Lothlorien Elf said, and placed a hand on her friends shoulder.

Inwe smiled weakly and nodded. "Alright."

Alassea took the cup away which allowed Inwe to finished pulling off her gown and slip her feet into her gown and began to pull it up and onto her arms. Alassea came around and sewed up the back. Inwe didn't do anything to her hair but brush out the knots she had acquired through the date and changing.

"Now, shall go find our escort who has left us to our own defences?" Alassea teased.

Inwe giggled and nodded.

Arm in arm, they walked from their chambers to the King's Hall in search of Glorfindel.

"And here I had thought that angels only had beautiful faces, but what a befitting name you have miss," Pip smiled as he took the young woman's hand in his own and made the rest of the way up the path. He caught a couple of winks from the other knights and a rather disapproving glare from Elyan, but Pip ignored them easily enough. After all, it was better than having to attend the feast alone.

"A minstrel? No woman as fair as you should be sat amongst the peasants and farmers." Pip looked to her with a look of surprise on his face, as she revealed to him her true social standing. "Perhaps, you would accept my invitation to sit with me at the royal table? I am certain that King Fengel would be very appreciative not to have your voice wasted on a drunken rabble of Dwarves and commoners." He suggested, all the while resisting the urge to tell her that it was a little obvious that she wasn't noble. Noble women would never dare go to a feast without at least one guardsman... And neither did they draw inspiration for their fashion from Dale of all places...

But Pip had learnt that all women hear what they'd like to hear and so long as he fed her whatever she wanted to know, he could keep up his image- give the common maids hopes that even someone like them could be with him. He didn't particularly care for the maid on his arm for the moment, but she would have to do.

The guards let Pip and his entourage through and one guided him through to King Fengel's table. Pip gave a respectful bow to the Rohirric King before he found his way to his seat. Pip pulled out the chair for Lyra to sit  beside him and gestured for her to take her place. "After you, Lyra"

Kíli smiled in greeting at Tahlaia before swinging an arm around his brother’s shoulders.



“Of course I’m ready, brother.” He laughed. “You know how fond I am of dancing and I know how fond you are of drink. I think together we can out-dance and out-drink those prissy Mirkwood elves. They may have beaten us at archery but we shall win where it counts! You know, I think I saw that elf-prince, the one who looked like he had a stick shoved somewhere nasty, in the archery competition. It looked like he’d learnt how to smile!... Or like he’d managed to remove the stick.”



Kíli laughed again, loud and happy. And yes, he may have been rambling a little but that’s what he did when he was happy and parties never failed to make him very happy indeed.



“Why are we walking so slowly anyway? You’d think we were heading to our deaths, not a party! Come on Fee! There is dancing to be done!” With that he let go of his brother’s shoulders and grabbed his arm instead, breaking in to a run as he did so.



“Come one Tahlaia! Hurry up! We need you to tell us who’s the better dancer, we have a bet going on!” He called behind him as he ran.



It was only once he had reached the gate that he noticed several of the other dwarves had decided to follow his example and were now running full tilt towards the hall. A mindless rabble which stampeded in to halls was probably not the best impression to make.



With that in mind he slowed his pace and waited for the other dwarves to do the same.



“Right my friends! Let’s show them how let’s show them how it’s done!”

---

Let's get this thread moving a little shall we? Party animal Kee

Fíli could have sworn that Kíli definitely had magical powers- his presence alone filled Fíli with a joy that he honestly never felt with anyone aside from his brother. And somehow, he had managed to get the horde whom Fíli and Tahlaia had struggled to move along in a straight line at a walking pace at a run towards Meduseld before Fili had even managed to get a word in himself.

Not that he felt he needed to, the bright smile that lit up his face now was all he needed to say to thank Kili.

Though in terms of who was the better dancer, Fíli simply laughed as Kíli challenged him to a dance battle. "I think we both know who's going to win! You're never near drunk enough for the dances at the feasting hall!" Fíli laughed as he was half-dragged to Meduseld, and concentrating on trying to reduce his stumbling to a minimum. He was attending as the heir to Erebor- he could at least try to minimise the amount of dirt on his outfit.

"Are these lot too fast for you Tahlaia?" Fíli called out teasingly behind at the Dwarrowdam as they reached the gates, the Dwarves already filing in as they were ready to hit the dance floor.

Cora watched as the hall began to fill, men arriving first followed by the elves who seemed to appear as if by magic. Cora certainly hadn’t noticed them come in.

King Fengel’s table was filling up too and Cora was just about to being serving his honoured guests, as was her duty, when she saw Lyra walk in to the hall. Of course Cora had known that the girl hadn’t gone home with the others, she hadn’t seen her when she’d bid them goodbye and promised to bring home any leftovers she could get her hands on, and she had suspected that she might have decided to try her luck playing at the party but when Lyra hadn’t turn up for the preparations Cora thought maybe the girl had ended up going home.

She hadn’t expected to see her on the arm of some foppish noble.

Anger bubbled inside her at the sight. What was the girl doing? All good and well for her to earn her keep but it certainly didn’t look like she was doing that. Laughing and chattering like that wasn’t going to feed the hungry mouths wait at home.

The anger grew as she watched the girl be lead over the King’s table, the king’s table, and be seated.

She definitely wasn’t earning her keep. Not from up there she wasn’t.

Hefting her jug, Cora quickly walked over to where her sister was sat, trying to keep her composure.. After all, it was her job to serve the king’s table, and if it allowed her to talk to Lyra so much the better.

As she leaned down to pour wine in to the girl’s goblet she made sure to lean close enough to hiss in her ear.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

---

Sorry Lyra :/ 

"Not another bet." Tahl groaned at the thought, the last had ended with the two of them calling a tie because Tahlaia refused to get in the middle of the both of them and upset one or the other. This time however she didn't seem to be that lucky and was being dragged in to the brothers competitions willing or no. She shook her head as Kili decided to start a race toward the gates of the hall. Tahlaia did reserve the right not to start running with them like a bunch of school children after the final lesson ended.

She kept her eyes on the crowd of dwarrows in front of her, there wasn't all that far left to walk so they couldn't really get too far away from her. They'd all be in the same hall at the end of the day it didn't matter how long it took her to get there. Fili's comment made her raise an eyebrow and point to her clothing,
"Does it look like I'm wearing the right attire to be running?" She asks as she slowly gets closer to him while the Dwarrows pile themselves in through the great doors "You didn't get far did you?" She teases the Dwarrow before slowly heading inside.