Himwen

Fire. Burnt wood, turned into charcoal in a blaze of energy. How it should have warmed, yet the flickering of the flames could not pry away the feeling of dread. The night over the once fruitful and lively land had come and gone, leaving its guests scurrying to prepare breakfast, feed the horses and plan for the morrow.

"-And when you two plan to marry?"

Lord Tindir's question was blunt and caught Galdorion unawares. Having faced with his piercing Hammerite eyes, Galdorion first opened his mouth to reply but then shut it back. It happening all too sudden.

A sudden stumble and a lunge forward made a disastrous idea. Only the reflexes of a trained warrior prevented a crash into the polished metal pane serving as a mirror. Sinking eyebrows and a resolute “Hmpf!” uttered before returning to the previous position. How long had she been practicing now? And how come a simple movement such as the most common dance performed in the Halls of Elrond would best someone like Himwen? Granted, she was not the best warden around, but she had her moments of accuracy and grace on guard, protecting the ones left behind.

 Old, worn leather.... lovingly stretched over the cover and spine and adorned with inscriptions. Eldar knowledge passed down through generations and time. A piece of brown cloth help shelter the old tome from harm when unused. Fingers chilled by the winds lightly touch a tear on the volume, following the rift. Wounds from a battle fought centuries earlier? The hand retreats to its hiding place within the cloak of its owner. How many times had she opened and read through the dusty pages?

 "Freedom. What is it worth when faced with the the possibility of losing the one you love? Would you risk your life to save your hearts desires?" Tingruviel takes a deep breath, shading her eyes from the stark sun. The garden is still, not a flower moving. Music can be heard nearby, as everyone is celebrating the coming of spring. The ink bottle almost topples over as she realigns her position on the blanket. Even though Uthaer made his best efforts to level the ground, the grass underneath the blanket bends it into hillls, making it perilous to leave anything on top of it.

 Sun rays dancing on a glistening lake. Birds singing in treetops. A gentle breeze flowing through grass as if caressing the ground. "Warmth and peace... " A slender hand resting on the rock surface, soaking up the warmth the sun has stored in it. Dark strands of hair playing in the wind, trying to rest on a paleskinned face, yet as vibrant and lively as it's owner, can not. "Warmth and peace..." Silken clothes dyed a pale burgundy red encompasses a slender body perched upon the rock.

 It is dark here. Though the caves seem tall enough to encompass a world, there is no sun in this world. There are no stars. The only light comes from the flickering torches of the dwarves, the eerie glow of some strange crystal, or the fires that scorch the rocks in the depths. In the dark, terrible things lurk, and the glow of torches cannot push back the shadows entirely.