Secrets of Thranduil Hall (Open....Please Join!)

[Lothiel]

Ithilwen sat down on a chair in the Great Hall, not knowing where to go or what to do. It had been months since she'd stayed in Imladris for any length of time, and she had forgotten how things were done here. And it didn't help that she felt awkward--she loathed being laid up as an invalid! Granted, it was just a slice on her arm, but she couldn't do anything until it healed and it was driving her crazy!

Ithilwen got up and paced back and forth across the Hall when her brother entered and saw her.

"Suilad, Muinthel nín*--what are you doing?"
"I'm pacing--can't you see?"
"Yes, I can see--but why?"
"With my arm the way it is, I can't do anything useful and I am at my wit's end!"
"I see..."

Ithilwen shot a look at Falasion and flopped gently down in a chair, giggling. He grinned and walked over to her.

"So, I know you've been gone for months--how about I tell you of everything that has happened? It might keep your mind off your... er... situation...?"

Ithilwen smiled at her younger brother. He was always so thoughtful.

"Sure, that would be nice, Muindor nín*."

And so she sat and listened as Falasion told her everything since the last time she had been in Imladris.


*Hail, my sister
*My brother

[Pippin]

Mikau was walking his way to the Great Hall. He had just returned with the search party of Lord Elrond.

Even though he isn't actually from Rivendell, but from Rohan, he had come to see Imladris and had stayed there for more than a year.

When he reached to the Great Hall, he found two Elves speaking together. He approached them and noticed that one of them was Falasion, but the other he hadn't met before.

"Suilad Falasion, and fair elf maiden." As he said this he bowed his head sligthly--he didn't believe in the manners of bowing at other people, but as he didn't make this rules he had to do so.

He then smiled and placed one of his hands on Falasion's shoulder.

"Be kind, my old friend, and introduce me this elf maiden. I am Mikau, from Rohan. I have come to visit Imladris and have stayed here for more than a year, and I serve Lord Elrond at times of need, at my free will."

[Lothiel]

Falasion turned and grinned at Mikau. "Welcome, my friend from Rohan! It is good to see you here." Falasion then turned back to his older sister. "This, Muinthel, is Mikau; he is one which has come to see our fair Imladris--I do believe you were out on scout duty to Mithlond at the time he arrived. Mikau, my sister, Ithilwen, one of the Rechyn of Imladris, and I might add, one of the best we have." Falasion beamed with family pride at his sister as she looked down, blushing and absently rubbing her injured arm.

"Indeed, Muindor, you speak to highly of me. I only do what my Lord and my station requires of me." Ithilwen then looked at Mikau, her pale grey-green eyes studying his face. "Suilad, Mikau of the Rohirrim," she said, inclining her head to the young man in front of her, "It is not often we have visitors from the Southern lands."

[Pippin]

"And I think they won't, fair Ithilwen. I see you two are family and I could add that you two do look alike." He smiled and then looked at Ithilwen.

"It is amazing that I haven't seen you here when I've stayed here for more than a year! I believe your brother is right about you being a great Rider from Imladris; I've heard many elves speak about a young elf rider who is mighty and courageous among many. I believe it is you. It is, for me, an honor to meet you."

With this said he then turned to Falasion and told him:

"We never finished our archery session. If I am not mistaken, you were beating me 10 to 4. If you wish then to continue this now, or at another time?"

[Lothiel]

"Well," Ithilwen said to Mikau, "I am generally not in Imladris for long--my duty as a Rochvess calls me out often and for long periods of time."

Falasion looked at his sister, then at Mikau, and back to his sister. Ithilwen grinned and smacked Falasion on the shoulder with her good hand.

"Go! Finish your match with your friend."

Falasion grinned hugely. "Hennaid, 'thel! Peditham ad..??*"
Ithilwen nodded and smiled at her kid brother. "Peditham ad, 'tor.*"

Falasion grinned and told Mikau to wait and he'd go get his bow, before tearing off down the corridor to his rooms.

"And stay out of mischief!" Ithilwen shouted, giggling at her brother.


*Thanks Sis! We will talk again...?
*We will talk again, bro.

[Pippin]

Mikau bowed at Ithilwen.

"I'm not good in Elvish, but as we say in my land, thank you. I shall return to you your brother before it gets dark. Fare well!"

With that he jogged along with Falasion to the gardens to continue their match. They hoped that they wouldn't get scolded again from using the garden as an area for practicing their bow skills.


Outside at the garden Mikau looked at the sky, it was still afternoon and the weather was perfect for their match. Falasion began. With a swift swing of his bow he managed to throw down an apple from an oak tree.

"Nice shot, though I don't think I will be able to do something better than that." said Mikau.

"Aw Mikau, you know you can... you just need to... believe that you can?" answered Falasion.

"You know that I'm not good with the bow but with the sword. Well, here goes."

He then let go of the arrow already placed on his bow string which soared into the air and hit an apple which took a moment to fall to the ground.

"Taking about being lucky." Falasion grinned.

They were about to go on when they heard a voice from the distance. It was Eregir who had also returned from the search earlier that day and he wasn't happy.

"Aah not him again." said Mikau dissapointed. "Let us make a hasty exit then, the one who gets to the Great Hall first wins!"

And so they ran from the gardens before Eregir had any sight of them.

"They escaped again, those kids! I'll catch them one day!" said Eregir annoyed and left the gardens and headed to the stables.

[Galadwen]

Lord Elrond had led Galadwen and Linniel into his study chambers. Galadwen sat in the left most chair, and Linniel the right most one.

Galadwen was tense, as she usually was around royalty. She was even tense around Legolas, even though she was his sister.

Upon seeing what shape Galadwen was in, Elrond smiled and sat behind his desk.

"Relax, Hiril nin. This will be painless. What I need from you ladies, is just a brief rundown of what had happened. I'm trying to figure out why they were so interested in you."

Galadwen nodded her head and turned towards Linniel.

"We would also like to know why those creatures were interested in us, other then a good prize."

After that Galadwen and Linniel told the tale of what happened to Lord Elrond. He nodded his head when they had finished.

"That's just about what Ithilwen said too. Ok, ladies, hannon le for your help. We shall be talking later on, about these documents I have in my possession."

Both Galadwen and Linniel raised thier eyebrows.

"All in due time, all in due time." Elrond chuckled.

[Pippin]

Falasion and Mikau had already reached the Great Hall but decided to run around the place for a while as they had nothing to do.

They passed into different hallways and Mikau was at the head when Falasion stopped him.

"Shhh--in this corridor is the study chambers of Lord Elrond, we musn't make a sound or we will disturb him!"

"Yes, my dear friend. But we are not going this way, what about going to the kitchens? I'm dying of hunger and I bet you do as well." Mikau replied.

"Hmm, you're right. Let's go on then." said Falasion.

They reached to the kitchens and saw many maidens taken many delicious food plates to the Feast Chamber. Mikau's and Falasion's mouth watered.

"Excuse me... For what will the food be used?" said Mikau eyeing the food and feeling a deep hunger.

"For the feast. Lord Elrond, Ellohir and Elladan will be there; and the other Ladies from Mirkwood." said one of the maidens carrying the beef and with that she left without saying another word.

Mikau and Falasion went back to where they had come, they knew they probably weren't invited and so decided to find a way to enter the feast without been noticed.

[Lothiel]

Ithilwen was walking through the halls she used to know so well and was astonished at the many changes which had occurred during her absence. It is strange, she thought, how one can know the mountain and forest paths so well, yet how one can so easily get lost in one's own home. She wandered around for a bit, and paused at a window, looking out at the beautifully kept grounds surrounding the courtyard.

Ithilwen felt a presence behind her. "Suilad," She said expressionlessly without turning around.
"Suilad sellen.* Why do you still bear those tattered and stainéd garments from your travels? Do you not know there is a feast scheduled tonight in your and your comerades' honour?"

Ithilwen turned around and faced her mother, surprise colouring her face. "A feast?"

"Tis so--you should prepare yourself."

Ithilwen sighed. Not more formalities... Aloud, she replied "Yes, Naneth." Ithilwen turned from her mother and found her way back down the corridor and out into the courtyard. She walked, not thinking of where she was going, but knowing she would end up back at her quarters in the stabling yard.

Ithilwen opened the stable doors and inhaled the sweet scents of horses and fresh hay. She smiled, and walked through, patting each horse as she passed. That done, she awkwardly scaled the steep staircase into her quarters in the loft. Pausing, she looked around--everthing was as she had left it those long months ago. A smile hovered around her mouth, and she began to get ready for the feast.

Ithilwen stepped over to the small mirror on her wall, and ran her fingers through her cropped hair. She was obscurely surprised no one had thrown a fit about her un-ladylike appearance. Ithilwen smiled at her reflection, pleased with her choice of a soft emerald green dress and tunic, belted with silver cords. Not bad, she thought, then grimaced as her bandaged arm throbbed once again. She slowly descended the stair from her quarters and quickly strode out of the stable, heading back for the main complex.


*Hello, my daughter

[Pippin]

Mikau walked with Falasion along the corridors for some minutes. Mikau remained in deep thought, as if something had just struck him.

"Mikau...you haven't talked for minutes. What's wrong?" Falasion asked kind of worried about Mikau's sudden change.

"Tis nothing; just something we Men of my Land usually care for that really are of no importance."

They walked along the corridors a while more and met Ithilwen on their way. Mikau hadn't noticed they stopped and when he reacted he was slightly surprised.

"We meet again Ithilwen. I am sorry, I've stolen your brother and it is already dark. I'm leaving you with him as I suppose he has to go to the feast as well."

He smiled weakly; he had just remembered something that was urgent for him. He had to go to the stables and fast.

"If you excuse me now, there is something important that I must attend. Enjoy yourselves at the feast, and Falasion, do bring me some food from the feast afterwards; it indeed looked delicious."

And with that said he bowed his head slightly and made his way to the stables through the left corridor.

[Galadwen]

After Galadwen and Linniel left Lord Elronds chambers, they walked down the Hall in search of thier own chambers.

Down the corridor Galadwen noticed Falasion was standing there with Ithilwen.

"Hir nin, Hirl nin. I hate to bother you some more, but could one of you show us to our chambers. It seems that we were never showed because I passed out."

Ithilwen smiled and looked to her brother.

"Of course. Falasion needs to go get ready for the feast tonight, so I will show you."

Galadwen and Linniel both look wide-eyed.

"A feast??!! But we have nothing to wear!"

"Ah, do not fret Hiril nin. We will take good care of you."
Ithilwen chuckled.

She led them back down the Hall and into a small corridor. It deadended into a beautiful chamber that was huge enough to be a dining room.

"This is our guest chambers. Hope you like them. There is room for both of you, I think."

"Aye, it does look so Ithilwen." Galadwen smiled.

Ithilwen took them both into what looked like a huge closet.

"Now, here are some clothes. We always keep stock for all our guests. In case that they need a change of clothes because they don't have any."

Galadwen and Linniel looked into the closet and stood shocked. There were many beautiful dresses in there.

"Hannon le, Ithilwen. You continue to treat us well."

"It is my pleasure. Now, I will leave you to get ready. I shall come for you when the feast is ready."

Ithilwen bowed at the ladies and left the chambers.

[Arwen Evenstar]

Linniel looked through the many dresses, surprised at the variety of both style and size. She pulled out one dress and held it up to herself, then decided it should fit. She quickly changed while Galadwen chose her garments, then brushed her long golden hair. Her dress was as green as the leaves an oak in the spring, and cascaded down over her feet. The dress was trimmed in dark brown ribbon, as brown as the fresh earth after a summer rain, and the colours of the dress reminded her of the forest she lived in. She pulled back a small portion of hair from each side, and let the rest fall in waves down her back.
As she finished preparing for the feast, she suddenly realised how hungry she was. She had eaten very little since they set out from Mirkwood, and the evening's feast was sounding very good. 'Would you like me to help you in any way?' she asked Galadwen.#noedit

[Galadwen]

Turning towards her sister, Galadwen sighed.

"I don't know which one of these to wear. I don't like formal events, because I always feel like everyone stares at me."

Looking back at the selection, she finally decided on one of the gowns. Picking out the pale blue dress. It had a pale pink sash. The sleeves were fluttered into a small puff. The gown flowed to her ankles with the air of clouds. It was a very light and airy gown.

Galadwen changed into the dress and started to fool with her hair. It hadn't been combed since they were captures and it was full of knots with lots of frizz. Linniel came to help her comb out her hair, which was a relief because her back was hurting again.

As soon as she finished combing it out, she pulled back small portions from each side and fastened them in the back with a pale blue ribbon. She looked identical like her sister, with an exception of thier gowns.

Galadwen turned to her sister and smiled.

"Hannon le, muinthel nín. I think we can say that we are ready for the feast. Let us sit on the balcony until Ithilwen comes to fetch us."

[Lothiel]

((OOC: Sooooooo sorry about the long posts!   I can't seem to write anything short anymore!   ))

Meanwhile, Ithilwen was sitting up in the uppermost boughs of a great oak in the garden. She didn't care about the feast (she'd rather be out with her Ranger friends, eating and singing around a campfire), she disliked her "required" finery (she much preferred her scout clothes, unladylike as they may be), and above all, she loathed her current disability.

Frowning, she carefully removed her arm from the sling and began to unbandage it. She shifted her position in the tree, her green dress cascading a little way down the trunk, and gritting her teeth, pulled away the rest of the bandage. She gasped aloud as she cool air hit the wound before clamping her free hand over it in an attempt to stifle the throbbing.

Carefully, she pulled her hand away and tilted her arm to look at the wound better--indeed it was about six inches long, but clean-cut and fairly deep. It was a healthy pink colour (which was good), and was already showing the signs of healing. Ithilwen sighed and began replacing the bandage. It will still be another couple of weeks before I can pick up my sword... she mused. Ithilwen had just finished re-bandaging the wound when she heard someone calling her from below. She leaned out a little ways and held perfectly still, listening, watching.

To her surprise, Glorfindel walked into the little clearing below the tree.

"Ithilwen? Where are you?" he called, then stopped, his scout-sense telling him he was being watched. Ithilwen hid a smile--he knew it was her and he was trying to figure out where she was.

"Ithilwen--I know you're here. Show yourself to a fellow scout."

Ithilwen snickered and hurriedly covered her mouth, but it was too late. Glorfindel turned sharply and looked up into the tree. He smirked and walked over, placing his hands on the trunk to look up better into the boughs.

"Ithilwen?! How did you get up there?" he said, shocked.
"I climbed, of course, since I cannot fly," she said drolly, knowing he was wondering how she climbed with her "bum" arm.

Glorfindel looked at her and rolled his eyes. "Please come down from there--the feast will start soon, and it cannot proceed if one of the guests of honour is not present."

Ithilwen snorted, mumbling, "I hate formal dinners and such--give me an open campfire any day."

"What was that?"
"Nothing, Glorfindel."
"Right--like I believe that. Now come down, please? I will not have Lord Elrond's wrath come down on my head because I failed to bring in one of his best scouts to a dinner partly in her honour."

"Fine," she said, wishing against her stomach that she wasn't hungry. Slowly and awkwardly, she climbed down, managing not to bang her arm and tear her dress. As she reached the bottom, Glorfindel gently supported her until she found her feet again.

"Le hannon," she said to him, suddenly feeling shy (Shy?!) about her slightly childish behavior. She looked at him and smiled, noticing his fine attire--vastly different from his image when he was on scout duty. Glorfindel returned her smile and bowing in a debonaire manner, offered her his arm.

"Shall we go in, m'Lady?"

[Pippin]

Mikau entered the stables and patted a few horses; he loved horses very much but owned none.

He sat on some hay blocks and looked under one of the hay sacks and found a pouch, where a shield could fit perfectly. Indeed, he carried a shield there and took it out, it was his father's who died ever before Mikau could remember him. He stared at it for some while and then placed it carefully on the floor.

He took a look inside his pouch and took out a wooden ocarina. He loved music, especially the one which resembled the wind. He placed it in his mouth, and stared at the window for a while; he saw the lights of the Feast Chamber where every important Elf would be now eating and it would then be followed by a dance.

He hesistated and played a tune. His favorite melody it was and it seemed to please the horses. He then heard some scratches on the window behind him, and when he looked back he saw what was the reason for him to play that tune.

Opening the window a hawk flew inside the stable; it was very small and very hyper active, as you can say, and took a while to stop itself from flying. Mikau smiled and gave some bread crumbs to the hawk. The hawk had a parchment attached to it's leg. Mikau took it, looking pleased.

"Well done, my loyal friend. You haven't failed me today either; Lord Elrond will be pleased with receiving this letter. Go now and enjoy the woods and the beautiful trees while you can. I'm sure that in a few weeks we will have to leave."

With this he hid his shield, ocarina, and pouch under the hay stacks and left the stables. He would have to wait for Elrond in the main corridor leading to his room, he couldn't enter the Feast, not with the clothes he had, neither by being one of the Men of the South.