Musings Over Bread

================== Eldarin Calendar ===================

IC time is:    Early Afternoon < About  2:52 PM >

IC day is:     Oranor

IC date is:    38 Echuir

Moon phase:    New 

Earendil:      Gil-Estel is not visible.

IC year is:    Loa 24 o Yen 22, Nelandran o Endor

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RL time:        Wed Feb 17 20:17:43 2010

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Calendar help: +ELF TIME HELP    Quenya version: +ELF TIME QUENYA

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Riverside, Naith of Lorien

You stand riverside, in Dwimordene, amidst the grey boles of the mellyrn and the concealing underbrush on the eastern banks of the river Celebrant. It is here in these golden woods where the rolling foothills of the Misties come to an end and the Elven realm of Lothlorien, often called Dwimordene or Dreamland by men, begins. It\'s springtime, and the mellyrn\'s golden leaves have still yet to fall with the spring budding. Presently, the early afternoon sun casts lengthening shadows across the Wood as it begins its descent.

Contents:

Haldir

Raven

Barrels

Obvious exits:

UpStream leads to Upper Riverside.

DownStream leads to Harbor Pathway.

Northeast leads to Forest Path.

Across leads to Western Riverbank of the Upper Celebrant.

[Haldir(#25231)]

By the river, trees are pliant and they sway, bending to the rush of Celebrant who flows and changes throughout an otherwise timeless land. Across the river, the mellyrn give way to stands of grave oaks and majestic beeches, signifying that one is near the borders of Lothlorien, the dreamflower.

Others may stand here and survey such a transition, but Haldir is here for practical purposes: the hems of his cloak barely visible between a shrub and a tree-trunk, the marchwarden is partially incorporated into the greyness of the trees, coiling a length of rope as he keeps watch.

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

From between the trees to the east another shadow of gray melts, light booted footfalls flowing soundlessly. It is the elleth Veredhiel, unstrung longbow hugging her cloaked back, and in one hand there is a basket of bread.

Closer to the riverside she comes, and pauses, gray eyes peering about. Something catches her sight then, and she frowns, raising her free hand to block the afternoon sun from obscurring her vision. \"Mae govannen,\" she calls, shifting a little sideways to get a better view of the hidden marchwarden. \"Legarwin?\" she guesses.

[Haldir(#25231)]

The white cowl, grey cloak, pale head -- all maethyr look alike, or do they? The guard ties a knot in the rope and tosses it carefully upon the ground, and picks up another tangle of hithlain. He turns. \"Nay,\" corrects Haldir mildly, raising a hand in return, \"Legarwin wears a circlet.\"

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

Finally, as Haldir moves Veredhiel is able to see more of him, and a smile peeks onto her fair face. \"How could I mistake the Rock Bane?\" She laughs, and then, stepping closer to the ellon\'s bush and tree bole, the Sentinel gestures to her basket. \"Bread? Fresh from the bakers. I guessed the other guards might be hungry, and they didn\'t mind my taking some along.\"

[Haldir(#25231)]

Haldir\'s expression goes blank, then reassumes in a slightly questioning, ruffled state. \"I beg pardon, the Rock Bane?\" he says slowly, as if repeating it to himself. \"I was not aware that I was worthy of such a ... title.\"

Blinking once or twice, the marchwarden nods quickly and sits, stripping off his gloves. \"Indeed, it is afternoon the time for a meal is long past. Thank you, Veredhiel. I should not mind a brief sample of today\'s baking.\"

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

\"Of course,\" nods the other, appearing to be attempting to choke off another laugh. She seems fairly successful at this, at least until she goes to sit opposite him. \"Have you not noticed the rock statue that has taken form beside one of the pathways to the Gates? Curiously, it seems to have sprung up immediately following your saving Thoniel from that pebble.\"

Veredhiel does not explain more, for now letting Haldir create his own deductions. Instead, the basket is placed in between them, and the elleth moves to pick one of the pieces of bread out.

[Haldir(#25231)]

\"Is that so?\" Haldir muses with narrowed eyes, clearing the considerable lump of to-be-coiled hithlain away from the elleth. \"I was under the impression that a cairn had been raised, but in memorial of what, I did not know ... thank you,\" he says again, reaching for another slice of the fresh bread. Slowly he turns it over in one hand, seemingly troubled at the connection between said statue and himself. Then he begins to eat, eyebrows raising in appreciation.

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

The elf-maid watches the ellon as she takes bites of her own lunch. \"The statue could very well be one of the other marchwardens...\" The bread hides a grin. \"I confused you and Legarwin before. But,\" Veredhiel chews thoughtfully, \"there is a certain..quality about it that reminded me of you.\" The wind blows briefly through the golden boughs, whispering along the leaves she pauses to push a strand of raven hair back over her shoulder.

[Haldir(#25231)]

\"I cannot wonder who might have a purpose to build such a thing,\" Haldir replies slowly, ruminating in every sense of the word. \"Perhaps there are squires who have seen it fit to practice archery at that site? I may investigate the matter.\"

\"But to have news of such a novelty in Lorien,\" says the marchwarden, \"that is a new thing indeed. It may be that I have stayed for too long ...\" He lowers his head for another bite, eyes brightening at the taste, and his concerns dissolve serenely into the murmur of the Celebrant.