Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Mar 23, 2009 13:49:47 GMT -5
“If you should ever wish to partake in a tea party, I am certain my sisters would be obliged to invite you. They are always in want of company,” Faeldor laughed. Gilwen found her handholds and seemed more comfortable climbing as she pulled herself up over the ledge and smiled down at him. Before she had even stood up, Faeldor quickly found his handholds and was up over the wall of rock, and standing in front of the lady.
Her excited smile though had vanished, and now she looked more thoughtful, standing with her arms crossed. She had certainly seen the entrance to the cavern, and he was sure her misgivings were there. “It looks more frightening from the outside,” Faeldor said glancing at it, “But it is called Fela Isilme, and it is quite beautiful from the inward view. You have my word that I would lead you nowhere dangerous. Hurry, let us go before the moon is too high.” Indeed, the moon was beginning to rise above the horizon, just the top crescent of it showing now, but it had been full some days ago and had just begun to wane. Quite bright enough to light the cavern tonight; the perfect night to visit and show someone new.
“I know the way very well, and have been here many times. Please do not have fear; stay near me and I will lead you on an even path.” The man once again offered his hand. Lovely Gilwen would surely follow him. He did not wish to frighten her or push her beyond her limits, but now that they were here she simply must see the beauty of the place. The overlook here was also beautiful, but the faint view of the horses beneath, and the blackness of the Pelennor was nothing compared to what he had to show her.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Mar 23, 2009 17:27:15 GMT -5
Gilwen smiled at Faeldor and nodded. "I would be honored to join them." It surprised the girl how honest and sincere her statement was. Something about it beckoned to her. The servant would love to spend a day playing with children, finally partaking in the games she did without as a child. And Faeldor's family would certainly seem as lovely as he and his mother.
Fela Isilme? Gilwen thought lightly, looking from the monstrous black cavern to Faeldor once more. A moment of thought was given to it, and then she took his hand. "I know." She murmured in response to his promise. Before the moon is to high? What an odd qualifier.
Immediately her interest was peeked once more, and with one last glance over the land below, she turned her sights to Faeldor, almost quizzically. Whatever was inside this cavern was most certainly worth it, by the sheer excitement he was showing himself. That was enough to let Gilwen know she hadn't made the wrong decision by taking his hand.
Still, what could possibly be in a cave? She had heard tales of dwarves who delved deeply into mountains and laid their riches there. While she was sure Gondor had no dwarves, was it perhaps a dwelling left over from long ago? No, Gilwen. Don't be ridiculous. She thought sternly to herself.
She guessed she would simply have to wait a few moments longer and see for herself.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Mar 23, 2009 18:38:15 GMT -5
“It is really more of a path than a cavern, for there is another way out on the far side, and a path that leads up the mountain. Someday, perhaps, I can take you there as well. But for now, we shall simply go to the center cavern. It will not take more than a few minutes to make our way along.”
Faeldor took one last look to the sky, and the glow coming among from the great moon rising, and then, he led Gilwen into the deep blackness of the cave. He knew the path well, for all they need to was stand along the left wall, though there was a place or two where they would need move around a boulder. It was as if he had measured the steps, and he surely had, for he knew exactly every point. They rounded the first corner, and any light trailings that were left from the outside were now gone. It was startling to even Faeldor, for he had forgot what blackness looked like.
The man could not see the woman who was a mere six inches away from him, nor even his own hand if he were to place it in front of his eyes, and he was unsure if Gilwen would be afraid of the blackness, for even on the darkest city nights there was nothing like this. He drew her closer in a reassuring manner. The night sounds of the Pelennor left them, and only the footsteps of the two Gondorians were heard among the stone walls.
“Here…” Faeldor said suddenly stopping; his voice echoed loudly, and his next words were spoken much more quietly so as not to echo so. His foot had bumped against a large flattened boulder, which years ago had been placed here for the one purpose of giving a place to sit to the ones who travelled here. “We just need wait here a bit longer. Please, my Lady Gilwen, sit down and rest upon your throne.” She could not see the smile upon his face; the gladness to be here once again, as if he had rediscovered one of his favorite places in all of Gondor. He gently took her arm with his other hand, and lowered the woman down onto the stone seat. Then sliding next to her, it was silent again. The blackness still engulfed them both. Faeldor’s smile never left him as they waited. "Do not think I am crazy for bringing you here; the best of it is yet to come," the man said quietly, his voice bright, gently squeezing the woman's hand, of which he had not let go of yet. He did not with the woman to feel left alone in the dark.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Mar 23, 2009 18:57:00 GMT -5
Blackness. In the truest sense. At the moment the pathway escaped the reaches of the moonlight, the stars and all things, that was when Gilwen understood darkness. Never in her entire lifetime had the woman been so smothered in nothing. Faeldor's tall form, her own body seemed to have melted away. She could still feel his hand on hers, and felt her being pulled in closer.
Devoid of sight, the young woman felt a slight panic settle in with her. What on earth could Faeldor want to show her, when there was no light to do so? She glanced back toward the entrance, and tightened her grip on Faeldor's hand. She did not wish to seem needy, or eccentric, but darkness this thick was something she was highly uncomfortable with.
More than the thick blanket of darkness, a rolling quiet had settled in as well. The sounds of the of the small foresty patch, the horses, the other wild animals, the sound of the air, of Gondor itself had vanished. As if some being had shut the door to the world. All she could hear were Faeldor's steps, her own, and her quickened heart, though the last was purely in her mind.
She took a deep breath, as if to assure herself that she was in fact there. It was like she had lost herself. It didn't take long for herself to be found: Faeldor halted abruptly, and she had mistakenly run into him in the darkness. "I'm a terribly sorry." She whispered, as she was seated on the stone carefully. She felt someone sit next to her and took another look about the area as best as she could.
Still, nothing could be seen. Faeldor's words seemed to show a smile, though his features were far from visible. "I will restrain myself from passing judgement on you until I have seen what you brought me here to see." She answered back, making her voice as soft as she possibly could with the light tone she had inflected.
As nervous, and uneasy as the darkness had made her, she didn't wish the man to know. Moreover, Gilwen was in good company. She realistically had nothing to fear. She had been doing so well all evening, it was not about time to get caught up in something childish.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Mar 23, 2009 19:16:52 GMT -5
Faeldor could not restrain his laugh at Gilwen’s last comment, and it echoed in the cavern, bouncing off of each smooth surface and refracting back to their own ears. “Thank you for your kindness,” he said shortly. Gilwen had said so few words to him this evening, but her even her tone seemed to speak to him, and he hoped he had not made her so afraid. Her hand seemed to hold a tighter grip on his own, and she had a stiffness now about her, though he could not see her.
“Oh, a wonderful night it is.” He breathed in the cool air of the cavern, and even the heat of summer had left them as they waited inside. He hoped the lady was not chilled, for he had no cloak to offer her this time of year. It was impossible to tell how time passed, for to understand the passing of time, one must relate it to something of the outside world, and there was nothing but their own silent breathings and heartbeats to let them know. But all of a sudden there was a dimness in the room. Not a blackness any longer, but a dim look, as of shadows cast on the walls and all around them, and Faeldor saw the outline of Gilwen beside him. It lasted for some moments, and Faeldor managed to stay silent. Sometimes words could ruin a situation, and this man had done enough in his life to learn how to hold his own rattling tongue.
Then, as if he had willed it to happen, the moon came into full view in an opening high above them, and all of a sudden the cavern was lit with a white glow, reflecting on the smoothness of the grey walls, and beaming down like a spotlight on a place just an arm’s length in front of them. Everything seemed white after the utter blackness had gone. The shadows pooled as if in a fury of water, and seemed to ripple about the great cavern, that held nothing but the stone seat and the man and woman. The paths led off in both directions, again as if open mouths of blackness. But now it was light, and Faeldor was grinning. “This is the treasure,” he told her quietly.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Mar 23, 2009 20:06:16 GMT -5
"Yes, a wonderful night." Gilwen agreed happily. She was cool, though it was a blessing from the heat of the day, and the kitchens in which she had been some of the afternoon, trying to help pick up the mess from that morning. She shivered slightly, but she didn't seem to notice. Anticipation was all she could feel at the moment.
It seemed to lighten in the room, though for a second, Gilwen wasn't entirely sure if she was going slightly crazy. But she could begin to make out shapes, for moments at a time as the shadows shifted. She could make out now her own form, Faeldor's, the outline of the boulder they were sitting on. No details. Simply outlines, but it was enough for Gilwen to know that she was indeed seeing an increase in the light.
She gasped as the lights swirled, and the shadows danced, and moved about gracefully. "This is absolutely beautiful!" She said breathlessly, looking about the room quickly, with a wide smile and wide eyes. She turned to Faeldor excitedly, whispering to him, "I assure you, you are not crazy, this is surely worth everything."
It was unreal. The most beautiful thing she had ever seen was in the middle of the darkness she had been afraid of. Gilwen looked about the cavern again, and looked up to the top of the cave. It seemed as if the stars had rested themselves right above them. The light filled Gilwen with such warmth and security that she finally lessened the grip on Faeldor's hand.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Mar 23, 2009 20:29:23 GMT -5
“I am glad you have passed such gracious judgement on me,” Faeldor whispered back to the lady. His own eyes were laughing. He could see by her face that whatever fears or misgivings she had held when he had last seen her outside atop the cliff; they were utterly dispensed now. She seemed perhaps more joyous than he had yet seen her, and she had relaxed. Faeldor loosened his hand for a moment when she had, and then changed his mind, and lifted Gilwen’s hand from her side, holding it out in front of them into the ray of white light, and their skin was turned translucent against it.
Then, without further regard, he stood up and grasped Gilwen’s hands to pull her to her feet and lead her to stand right beneath where the rays of glimmering light cast their beam on shimmering stone.
“There, now you look as radiant as an elvish queen; the fair and ageless beings that once walked this earth,” he released her and left her to stand in the midst of the glow, stepping back, and quite taken by the effect. Quite a transformed servant girl she seemed, and he was glad to have bumped into her in the palace halls and brought her to this place. “You have returned to the glimmering sky, beautiful Gilwen, Star Maiden.”
Already the brightness of the light began to fade as the moon rose higher above Mount Mindolluin, and though it would still be bright enough to cast a soft light in this cavern, until the moon made it’s way to the other side of the mountain, the darkness began to take them again.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Mar 23, 2009 21:06:23 GMT -5
As the white light hit her skin, Gilwen dropped her jaw once more. It looked as if their hands belonged to something else altogether. It was far to lovely to be her skin. She was about to speak again, but she was whisked to her feet and pulled into the light. Faeldor stepped away, and the servant girl let out a peel of silvery laughter as she extended her hands and twirled under the light.
It was uncommon for Gilwen to feel beautiful. In fact, she was one who looked for the beauty in others rather than herself. But here she was, bathed in an unearthly light, in a cavern somewhere upon the mountain. And a young man was calling her beautiful. The color that came to her cheeks was most certainly enough to be seen through the light, or at least that's how she felt.
"An Elvish queen? I do believe they were tall." She replied. Star Maiden. She thought off-handedly stopping her twirling long enough to catch Faeldor's eyes. She could never decide if she felt her name fit her. Until this moment, there was nothing beautiful about her. She was simply a maid.
And she would be again, as soon as the moon had passed beyond the cave. It was slightly saddening, to know that it was something that she was merely going to have fleetingly. Still, it brought great joy to her that she had been gifted with the experience. She smiled and motioned with her head for him to join. "However, Faeldor, you seem to have the height, why not come and be an Elven king?"
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Mar 23, 2009 21:32:10 GMT -5
Faeldor mirthfully watched Gilwen as she spun about. He was glad to see her enjoy herself, and glad that she had not thought him too brash to bring her here. Either way, he did not see the rosiness come to her face, for the light on her was too bright and white for such to show. She was only brilliant and lively, with her fair skin and dark hair, against the blackness of night. He thought her to be a lovely as any woman he had seen, and the setting made her even moreso.
“Oh, but I fear my beard shall give me away,” Faeldor laughed, though he accepted the invitation and stepped with Gilwen, into the fading silver light. He looked upward and around once more. “Elven kings were tall yes, but fair of face as well. I do not fit the description.”
“You are correct though… they were taller were they not? I suppose that means that I should not compare you to the Elves, no, but to the Valar even! As fair Elbereth who placed the stars and moon in the sky. That is much more befitting of your lovliness.” Laughing still, Faeldor dropped to one knee and kissed Gilwen’s hand gently. The room was fading, and now the lights were again shadows and dim.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Mar 24, 2009 8:33:49 GMT -5
Gilwen shook her head, looking up at Faeldor with an amused gaze. She found it odd perhaps he spoke of himself so wantonly, and insisted fervently that she was lovely. Surely the man was mad. His face not fair? She studied him for a moment, and found herself disagreeing. He had lovely eyes, a gentle expression, and he wore what she would consider one of the loveliest smiles in all of Gondor.
If he thought himself plain, good Faeldor had not peered into a looking glass lately. Or perhaps it was his own eyes that were misleading him. For these same eyes looked to her and compared her to the Valar. "My good lord! I fear that you have simply insulted fair Elbereth," she laughed lightly.
She found herself looking down at the stable-master as he dropped to one knee and kissed her hand. Her cheeks burned once more, and she averted her eyes to the stone, to watch the remaining silver light leave, and leave them once again in the dark. Gilwen inwardly scolded herself for being so conscious of her hands. It should be a trophy of hard work, not the reason for embarrassment.
The blackness returned, and it seemed to Gilwen it was thicker than before, but it was surely because the silver light still filled her eyes, and the change was so vast. Once again, it was two people in the darkness, sitting still and silent.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Mar 24, 2009 9:53:55 GMT -5
“That I have not insulted her! Only given her compliment for the beauty that Eru has placed on earth, fair Elbereth has painted in all her glory,” Faeldor answered as he stood once more. There was something about women in general that held a loveliness. They were all charming, at least in one regard or another. He had never seen a woman that he thought un-beautiful, and Gilwen was not to be the first.
“Your modesty of it makes you all the moreso lovely,” he said now, looking down to her in the dark. He could no more see her again than the faint outline of her body. His thoughts seemed to be taken away for some moments and it was again silent; the only sound coming from the wind blowing over the rock crevice from Mount Mindolluin, making an eerie whispering sound, that seemed to whistle and change pitch.
Then Faeldor did something, of which he had never done to a lady before. He lifted her hand in the darkness, and softly kissed not the back of it again, but the palm of it, and then once more, placed on the inside of her wrist. As if he could imprint his thoughts of the quiet lady on her skin for her to take with her. That she would always look to herself as lovely as she had been in the silvery light. He would not forget, that was for sure. Even in the thick darkness he knew it.
“Let us return to the horses, for we must both work in the morning,” he said quietly, noticing the echo in the empty blackness once again. It was a pity that the light only shone in once an evening, and even then, the moon need be the perfect size and in the right location. He supposed, it made it all the more charming that way.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Mar 24, 2009 14:17:27 GMT -5
Gilwen shook her head in the dark, smiling slightly at what he was saying, though dismissing it as nothing more than mad ramblings on the stable master's part. She was about to respond, to jest with him some more but she felt her hand being turned over, and what felt to be lips pressed into it, and once more on her wrist.
Stunned into a further silence, as well as a quickened heartbeat and flushed cheeks, Gilwen stood in the center of the room, once more thankful for darkness. The eerie sound of the wind passing over the crevice seemed to encompass her, and she would have shuddered, but her mind was elsewhere.
“Let us return to the horses, for we must both work in the morning,” Gilwen nodded quickly, realizing the dimness would surely hide it, she spoke in a voice that was equally as soft, if not more so, "Yes." In the morning. With the rise of the sun, Gilwen would find herself back in the palace hallways, working quietly, eyes lowered. In the morning, it would seem, this entire evening would feel false. As if it had never happened at all.
Back to servant work. Pleasing her superiors, and the Steward and his fair sons. The magic of Fela Isilme, she had no doubt, did not end tonight, simply put on a hold until a further time. Her thoughts seemed to halt here. Pleasantly she noticed her heart had once again returned to it's normal pace---but her cheeks. Surely they were still slightly pink. And soon they would be leaving the shelter of the darkness.
By then it shall be gone, She told herself calmly. And even if it wasn't, Faeldor was to much of a gentleman to draw attention to it.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Mar 24, 2009 16:32:27 GMT -5
Faeldor sensed that something was amiss from her short reply, and took it that Gilwen was sad for the silvery light to be vanished. Though, he had felt the pulse of her wrist quicken, and knew he had surprised her. She was modest and shy, and it made him smile. “I shall bring you here again,” he told her softly, and he drew the woman with him to find the wall of the cavern and their path back to the outside. The wind must have picked up, for now he felt it come from behind, pushing them outward through the tunnel, and humming it’s own tune. Faeldor began to hum along with it, and then, unable to handle the silence longer, but fearful that his talkative nature would offend the quiet lady, he chose a song. He did love to sing, and the notes and rhythms of his humming turned to old lyrics. Perhaps he had learned them from his mother, or grandmother or grandfather; he did not know, for his was a family who loved music in all forms, and he had sung them since his own childhood.
"Thou that from the heavens art, Every pain and sorrow stillest, And the doubly wretched heart Doubly with refreshment fillest, I am weary with contending! Why this rapture and unrest? Peace descending Come, ah, come into my breast!"*
They had come out of the cavern, and now travelled the long stone hall. He could feel how the air drew closer in the small space, and was glad that Gilwen was not frightened, knowing that they would be outside soon. He had never travelled the tunnel on his own, for he thought on it, and every time he had come here, he was either being shown, or showing another. Fela Isilme was a place to share. It’s beauty was too exquisite for one to bear alone.
"O'er all the hilltops Is quiet now, In all the treetops Hearest thou Hardly a breath; The birds are asleep in the trees: Wait; soon like these Thou too shalt rest."*
And then they came out of the dark cave. The moon was now over head, and the faint white light was over the Field. The white Tower of Ecthelion shone radiant and far off beneath the mountain. The stars seemed dimmer with the light of the moon now above. Faeldor looked down over the ledge, and the horses still stood beneath, grazing in luxury on the grasses among the trees. He began a different song as he looked over the grasses, but he soon returned to Gilwen as he finished, looking her in the eye, and singing now to her. He clasped both her hands, as was his way.
"Sound, sweet song, from some far land, Sighing softly close at hand,
Now of joy, and now of woe!
Stars are wont to glimmer so.
Sooner thus will good unfold; Children young and children old Gladly hear thy numbers flow."**
Then he stopped singing, but he looked still to Gilwen. He was glad for that she had enjoyed the cave as much as she enjoyed the ride here. "I hope that you should remember tonight, while you work tomorrow, for I know that I will do so." He had merely invited the woman to come with him out of kindness, and after hearing her love for horses. But perhaps even, his kindness had taken a turn for his own benefit, for he had enjoyed Gilwen's presence with him greatly.
*”Wanderer’s Night Song” **”Sound, Sweet Song” by Johann Wolfgang van Goethe
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Mar 24, 2009 18:22:24 GMT -5
Gilwen felt as if the silence were unbearable, yet she could find no words to speak as they picked their way back to the entrance of the pathway. She was greatly relieved when Faeldor began to sing. It was something to fill the still air. Something that she could listen to, and enjoy---for his voice was quite nice. It was an interesting song, one that she felt as if she had heard before, yet knew none of the words.
Finally they emerged into the light, or the moonlight, and the wind that passed the opening the cave played lightly with her hair. but her attention was caught by Faeldor as she whisked both of her hands up and proceeded to sing to her directly. This time she smiled, though a pinker shade did come to her cheeks.
He sang of stars, undoubtedly it was for her. She had never been sung to by anyone but her mother and father. She wouldn't deny she was enjoying it, though. "I could not forget tonight if I tried to," She murmured truthfully. "I am certain it will make tomorrow's day less of a toil."
She had really enjoyed herself this evening. It seemed as though it was fate, some great plan that she would stumble upon Faeldor this morning, to bring her on this amazing journey outside the city walls complete with horses.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Mar 24, 2009 19:14:31 GMT -5
“Indeed,” he answered. “I should not have it another way. And I hope that you will wish to come again with me; for there are many beautiful places in the region, although this is one I believe is the loveliest. But now it is time I take you home; it is nigh on late, for you need your rest for the new day approaching. And I think you should feel tired tomorrow, for this is one adventure already after an already long day of work!”
“And tomorrow I think I should like to see you again, if only for a short time,” he added quietly. Then he pressed her hands firmly, and released her, walking to stand for a moment right on the very brink of the cliff, to look out over the Pelennor.
“Come now, Lumiel is awaiting her sweet and gentle rider,” Faeldor grinned. He began to hum again, and he walked to the edge of the wall which they had earlier climbed, and simply crouched, and then jumped down the distance, landing gracefully on two feet. He was used to jumping such a length, from corral walls, and other such stunts he had implored in as an impulsive youth. He did not expect Gilwen to follow in such a manner though, and waited for her to come to the ledge so that he might help her with her footing. The moon was higher and offered some light this time around, though sometimes a descent was much more frightening than the climbing itself.
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