Learning About Elves

[Meleithel(#24815)] Coming back up to check on the human, Meleithel once more bore good yummy things, and some fresh blankets and clothes too. A jug of water hung carefully from his side, warm to the touch and steaming as he pauses outside the tent \"Keldean?\"

Even with all the elven medicines and attentive watchers, the human teen recovers slowly. He\'s been getting better, that much is certain, but it\'s been slow. As cozy as the tent has been made, it\'s not a true house and chills find their way to Keldean. Sometimes he wakes up with uncontrollable shivering, feeling as if he\'s freezing to death, and he still coughs a lot. But, most of the time the boy is happy to recieve any company that finds it\'s way to him. He\'s awake when Meleithel arrives, and grins. \"Come in!\" He hasn\'t had any conversation in at least a day or two, and sounds a bit overexcited.

Meleithel smiles back and ducks his way in, quickly closing the flap behind him \"Good day. You\'re sounding better.\" he notes happily \"I brought you more food, tea, and some water and towels. \" he sniffs a little, trying not to grimace.

\"What? What\'s wro-.. oh.\" It takes Keldean a moment to realize what the elf is getting at. \"Is it that bad? I can\'t smell anything. My nose is all stuffed up.\" The teen definitely isn\'t -clean-. His auburn curls are a tangled mess and his clothes are ready to do a dance out in the snow.

Meleithel nods \"It is... a little bit .\" he admits, trying to let it down slowly \"I brought fresh bedding too, and I will take the old stuff down to be cleaned. That way it will not sicken you to smell it. The smell probably could amost.\" he crouches \"Did you want to eat first or wash?\"

\"I guess I could clean up..\" Keldean looks a bit sheepish, examining his surroundings with a new awareness, now. \"But, could you.. wait outside? The cold doesn\'t bother you, right?\" Is there a teenage that -doesn\'t- want privacy at such a sensitive age?

Meleithel pauses, a little bit confused, then ohhs and nods \"Of course, of course.\" he states, moving to step out once more \"There is clothes there too. they shouldu fit... Just put all your old ones by the door with the blankets.\" he advises, dissapearing outside.

It\'s quite some time before Keldean is finished cleaning up and dressed again. He\'s gathered up all the soiled items and piled them near the entrance. When he calls that he\'s finished changing, the teen is sitting close to the brazier that\'s kept fueled inside the tent. His hair is dripping onto a towel he has draped around his shoulders, but it\'s still a tangled rat\'s nest.

Meleithel steps back in, and simply scoops all the smelly things out, leaving it outside for now. He nods then as he kneels, unrolling the fresh blankets and such carefully for the young man \"Here we go. I didnt bring a brush though.\" he admits softly \"I will bring one tomorrow.\"

\"That\'s okay.. it won\'t help any. It\'s too tangled.\" Keldean explains with a sigh. He crawls over to the blankets, goosebumps visible on his exposed skin and he\'s begin to shiver already. But, the boy smells a lot better. \"Thank you. For bringing the things. The clothes, I mean.\" Even simple elven garments are nicer than the rough linen clothes he had from Bree that are well past the point of needing to be replaced.

Meleithel carefully starts to try and warpa Keldean in the blankets as fast as he can, kneeling by the door \"Its no concern! I spoke to my mother about it, and she said you could have some of the clothes she made.\" he states with a smile \"You look much better. rub your hair with a towel, it will dry faster. Mayhaps once you are completely well, we can hae t cut, so that it will untangle.\"

\"Your mother?..\" Keldean asks curiously, looking at the elf again. He hasn\'t even hazarded a guess at Meleithel\'s age. The elves are too different. \"She makes clothes? Do you.. How old are you?\" He reaches for one of the towels and begins scrubbing his hair as instructed.

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"A hundrd and twenty seven. Yes, she makes clothes. She\'s not a seamstress, but she does it in her spare time.\" The elf states as he sits by the door, unpacking the food \"... and you?\"

\"Over a hundred.\" Keldean says it with the appropriate disbelief that all humans likely have. \"Not as old as Giliath, though.\" He points out with a small smile. \"I\'m fifteen. We age faster.. my people. Umm.. the second born?\"

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"No, Giliath is much older... Fifteen!\" he looked shocked a moment \"They... ahh.\" he nods \"Of course. Humans do age a lot faster, sadly. So fifteen would be almost fully grown right?\"

Keldean draws in a breath as his defenses spike, but after a moment he lets it out slowly again. \"Yes.. Pretty much. Most people get married when they\'re seventeen.. eighteen.. twenty or so at the latest. Unless your a man and you\'re busy working.\" He\'s thoughtful, \"I don\'t mind aging faster. I wouldn\'t want to be a kid forever. That would be horrible.\"

Meleithel shakes his head, looking a little amazed \"Sorry. I just cannot imagine being married so young. I haven\'t even a fiance.\" he admits \"Until my hundredth year I was not even allowed out of the valley without supervision. It can be frustrating... \" he admits.

\"They won\'t let me go into the valley.\" Keldean says with a wistful sadness. \"Is it nice?\" He asks, brown eyes straying to the food Meleithel has been pulling out. \"Do you still live with your mother then?\"

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"Why wont they?\" asks Meleithel, also sadly as he nods \"Yes, both my parents. I have my own room though and come and go as I please.

\"Mirinthel was angry with me, because I told people in Bree that I was coming here. I didn\'t know it was a secret.\" Keldean sighs, pulling the blankets around himself more tightly. \"Have you ever been to Bree?\"

Meleithel ohs quietly at that \"I see.\" he nods \"Yes, I did. I went with Giliath and the others to Bree, before they went to another place. I had to come back though unfortunately.\" he frowns \'I missed a wonderful time, but there will be other times.

\"How long ago was that?\" Keldean asks, trying to be mindful of the differences in age between them. His stomach begins to growl, the sound loud in the small tent. The teen flushes in embarrassment again and huddles up more in the blankets.

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"A few months ago... \" Meleithel states, and then chuckles a little and states \"I have food. Let us eat.\" he notes, as he pushes the basket to Keldean. Fresh bread again, butter and some thick stew.

Keldean reaches for the bread first, now that the food has been offered. He takes a large bite, chewing and swallowing hungrily. It seems his appetite has returned with some force. \"Why did they make you come back?\" He asks while chewing.

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"I did not want to. But I had made a promise to someone here, to help them with something \" he explains.

\"With what?\" Keldean asks immediately, tearing another large piece of bread away and consuming it. Even the garments of the slender elves are a bit baggy on him, so skinny has he become. His hunger is a good sign.

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"Oh, a lot of things actually.\" eadmits Meleithel \"I love to help out. So I was helping in the stables, with the fall harvest, and watching the children mostly.\"

\"Do you think you would want to go back to Bree? Someday?\" Keldean reaches for the stew now, pulling the bowl out and finding the spoon so he can dig in. After all the light meals and broths he\'s had, something with some meat is very welcome.

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"I think so. I liked it there. Its so different than the valley. But sad in a way...\" Meleithel admits, then shrugs and helps to find the spoon \"I do want to visit once more. \"

Keldean pauses in shoving a spoonful into his mouth. \"Sad? Why?\" He asks, frowning. Then something else occurs to him. \"Are you going to eat anything?\" His hunger gets the better of him and he stuffs the bite into his mouth without waiting for an answer.

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"If you think you wont need it all.\" Meleithel laughs softly, reaching in for some bread as well \"I\'m not sure why.I guess because it changes so quickly, for an elf. Here, days can pass and you wouldnt notice.

\"You don\'t notice? You sleep, right? It gets dark..\" Keldean grins, taking another bite and getting it to his stomach with record efficiency. \"This is really good..\" He adds, nodding appreciatively and gesturing to the stew.

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"we can sleep yes. it feels good to, though we can go without sleep if we have to. I dont know... the Valley just never really seems to change. Things grow but that\'s it.\'

Keldean laughs, \"Bree never changes! It\'s so dull there.\" He sets down the bowl, his appetite beginning to fade now that his stomach has some food in it. \"Everyday is the same boring things. It\'s all farms and that\'s about it.\"

Meleithel chuckles \"I guess so. I was only there for a short time.\" he munches \"Well, why not, when you return, MAKE it interesting?\"

The smile fades from the youth\'s face at the suggestion and he looks down at the bowl, poking at a piece of meat with his spoon. \"I don\'t know..\" Keldean says quietly. \"I got into some trouble, and people are a bit mad at me, now.\"

Meleithel tilts his head \"What did you do? Aside from the thing about telling bree where you were going.\" he notes.

Keldean fidgets now, picking up the bowl and resting it closer to Meleithel should he desire some. \"It\'s.. a long story.\" He answers quietly, his forehead creasing. \"I made some bad choices and someone got hurt. I didn\'t mean for it to happen that way, but it did.\"

Meleithel ohs softly once more \"I see.\" he states \"pErhaps when you return then, you can earn back their trust. Most people forgive if you show that you will not do it again.\" his face falls, as though remembering something he did himself.

\"I don\'t know. There was someone else that was involved too, and she\'s still there. I\'m not sure if I should go back.\" Keldean chews on his lip, glancing up at Meleithel\'s face as he asks in a nervous fashion, \"Have you ever been in love with someone?\"

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"You need to go SOMEwhere... You cannot live in a tent here all your life.\" Meleithel notes, then blinks \"in Love? Well, no not really...\" he admits, going a little pink in the cheeks.

\"I know.. I had hoped that I could see where Giliath lives and maybe stay with him for a while, until I figured out what to do. The person I came to see isn\'t even here. I messed everything up, and then I got sick.\" The teen watches Meleithel\'s embarrassment and actually seems bolstered by it. \"She\'s back there, in Bree. If I go back, I\'m not sure if I could .. I mean, I just.. I can\'t think when I\'m around her.\"

Meleithel nods, looking back with a smile \"Sorry. Just thinking.\" he sighs, softly, and states \"Well, perhaps you could apologise, and ask forgiveness? A task to be done to earn our trust again? I could speak to Giliath if you want.\" he offers

\"No, I tried that. Mirinthel told me that no matter what, I can\'t go into the valley.\" Keldean can\'t keep all of the bitterness out of his tone. \"Giliath tried to talk to her.\" He gestures around to the tent. \"I\'m still out here.\"

Keldean takes a moment to bunch together some of the furs and fresh blankets, then leans back. His raging appetite seems sated already. \"I don\'t know where I can go, though.\"

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"Mirinthel? \" he blinks once, then nods \"I... I see.\" he states softly \"I wish I could help. I have an idea but it may make Mirinthel unhappy with me...\"

\"An idea? Like what?\" Keldean is too curious not to ask and he\'s had a lot of time on his hands recently. \"You know her, right? She\'s.. an ambassador. Or something like that.\"

Meleithel nods \"Go to someone above Mirinthel, though I do not know if HE would be willing to override her.\" he admits doubtfully \"She is very nice. I know of her at least.\"

\"It\'s okay. I don\'t want you to get in trouble. I don\'t think it would matter, anyway. I would have been allowed in by now. Giliath said he would try and even -he- couldn\'t do it.\" Keldean sounds glum, but accepted of his inability to enter the valley. \"I\'ll probably have to go home to Bree.\"

Meleithel nods a little \"I\'m sorry you came all this way, to sit in this tent cold.\" he admits quietly.

\"Thank you.\" The teen responds softly. He\'s quiet in thought for a long time, this lifts his gaze to the elf. \"So, you\'re not much older than I am.. for your people.. are you?\"

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"No. I\'m about the same I think.\" Admits Meleithel, finishing the bread. \"I\'ve just joined the Bowmen in their duties, and I go on patrols with the guardmen.\"

Keldean smiles a bit, growing more relaxed again. \"I worked at the Prancing Pony, for Nob. He\'s one of the hobbits there. I\'m hoping that I can get my job back if I do end up back in Bree. It wasn\'t that bad. It didn\'t pay much, though.\"

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"Hobbits. I always wanted to see more.\" admits Meleithel in a mutter \"Well, perhaps when it is time to go home, I might go with you!\" the elf decides with a smile.

Keldean brightens, grinning again. \"I know lots of hobbits. They live all over Bree. And I\'ve been to the Shire a couple of times, but it\'s pretty boring out there.\" He reaches to push some of his hair back from his face, the matted curls starting to frizz as they dry out. \"Do you think you could really go? Elathrad said he would go back to Bree with me, or someone else would.. because it\'s dangerous.\"

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"It is very dangerous. I would go if allowed to.\" promises Meleithel. \"I\'ve been there once with others. Though I\'d like SOMEone else to go, just in case.\" he laughs.

\"Mirinthel promised that someone would escort me back, when I\'m done here.\" Keldean says, and he doesn\'t sound nearly so depressed about the prospect. \"You could meet my sister, Jacquelyn. She works at the Pony too. And there\'s Acelen, he works in the stable.\"

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"I will definitely help if I am allowd to. \"Promises Meleithel a second time \"YEs? That is very nice. They are your family, and Acelen too?\"

\"No, Acelen isn\'t. The rest of my family isn\'t in Bree. They\'re on my father\'s farm, almost a day away. Though, I guess it wouldn\'t be so far with a horse, now.\" Keldean yawns while he thinks this over. \"If I see Giliath, maybe I could ask him to talk to your parents? Is that who you need to ask?\"

Meleithel wells \"Them, as well as Lord Elrond, and my immediate commander. If they are agreeing I can definitely go.\"

Keldean\'s eyes widen. \"That\'s a lot of people to ask.. I just had to tell Nob before I came here, because I worked for him.\" The teen frowns, \"Does it bother you that you have to ask before you can go anywhere?\"

Meleithel nods \"It should not be that bad. My parents it is mostly politeness, but Lord Elrond and my commander must give leave.\" He shakes his head \"No. It is part of my duties here in the Valley, and Lord Elrond of course, is wise, and to listento him is a good thing. My parents knowing is just courtesy.

\"Oh.. \" Keldean chews on this, comparing it to his own life thus far. \"If you didn\'t have the commander, would you still have to ask Lord.. Elrond? Who is he?\" He yawns again, starting to show signs of sleepiness.

Meleithel states \"Lord Elrond is our leader... a great warrior and man. Many come to him for advice and teachings. He usually stays in the valleys but I hear he will still go to war when it is needed. Many seek his council when they are in need.\"

\"A man? He\'s not an elf?\" Keldean asks, picking up on that immediately. Suddenly he begins coughing, several moments of hard effort to clear some congestion from his lungs with his eyes squeezed closed. When it passes he\'s breathing heavier as his eyes open again.

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"errr... Sorry, I used the wrong word. He is an Elf, yes.\" Apologises Meleithel, pausing now as he watches, now concerned \"You should rest... I will rebuild the fire outside. IT will warm it some.\" he notes quietly \"And bring some of my fur blankets. \"

\"No! I\'m okay. Really!\" Keldean protests, pushing to sit up again, as if that will prove it to him. \"Can you tell me more about the valley? Please? Elathrad.. he\'s a good guard, but, he never talks with me.\"

[Meleithel(#24815)] \"OKay okay. \" Meleithel states \"I will stoke the fire quickly so it warms some.\" And he slips out, but soon is back as the fire was now crackling merrily, the heat moving through the side of the tent. Sitting crosslegged, the Elf begins to tell Keldean about the valley - not saying where everything is, but how life is there.

Keldean listens attentively at first, but the increased heat of the fire and the good food in his belly drag him down to sleep far more quickly than he might have anticipated. He struggles to stay awake but ultimately fails when he curls up more comfortably under the soft blankets and drifts to sleep without warning.