'Ariena, my lady, you must haste, before night falls, it would be wise to leave soon." The servant addressed her, a tone of urgency in his voice. He stood towards the back of her large and decorated chambers, her back turned on him, she gazing from the balcony to the sky above.
She turned, flawlessly, like gliding on silver ice, and smiled at him, a discreet and gentle movement of her rosy lips, eyes glistening with tears and light of the sunset. She gleamed, the pink light from the setting sun crowning her delicate head in a gold and amber glow, dancing through her fine wavy caramel hair. She was clad in a shimmering silver blouse, like fallen starshine, laced with fine thread, and a pair of soft brown leggings, comfortable for riding. Her body was shapely and slim, her clothes fitting perfectly.
'I am coming, I have said my goodbyes, and wished this place farewell, I am sorry if I have delayed you, but there are so many memories to part with.' she said, voice echoing with wisdom and sorrow.
He nodded, bowing his head, and departed swiftly, leaving her alone in the fading light. A single tear ran from her emerald eye like a droplet of molten silver, trailing a glittering tail down her cheek, before falling to the marble floor, shining. Her face was slender and pale, features carved like a perfect statue from white ivory. The tender expression she held was like a mirror, reflecting the most melancholic, sorrowful depths of her world. Calm, shores, quiet and serene, turning to raging, frothing, murderous anger, leaving the drowned life beached upon the golden sands, waves silent once more. There were placid green meadows, oaks adorning the lawn of heavenly flowers. It turned to a blackened burnt plain of ash and fire. All of this beauty, that had taken so long to build could be destroyed in a heartbeat.
She gazed across the heavenly valley of Rivendell, the faint singing of pure water that ran through it reached her ears, banks of green lush grass in the distance and high arches, and balconies of her home stood proud, the waterfall slicing through it. This dominion had served her as the perfect world to grow up in, to be born, to learn, to explore, to thrive in her childhood but now she was adult, and her loved ones were dead. Before her eyes skipped a young child elf, giggling and singing, it was a fading memory herself, so many years ago.
She exhaled, letting her worries and anxieties, fears and sorrow, pass way into that one breath, it was her time to leave now, for all she knew here was lost and buried in the earth.
Her descent down the spiralling stairs to the stables was slow and calm, she could walk this path eyes shut. Her slender hand traced the wall as she glided down the steps, reaching a dull oak door adorned with simple etchings of horses, grazing and galloping, and small beasts of the green forests frolicking among their hooves . Behind the door she could hear the familiar mellow breathing and snorting of the horses, stamping in their stables. As she turned the door handle and opened, the sweet smell of fresh hay, and dusty warmth floated past her, in a haze of straw and warm horse breath. It welcomed her with fond memories of childhood, hours spent escaping from the buzz upstairs to talk to the horses.
As she stepped in, her own horse, Morivanya, perked her ears up eagerly sighting her. Ariena went to it caressing its glossy neck and head with love. It nuzzled into her, and she felt its heavy breath against her chest. It stood proud, sleek coat shimmering like a crust of winter frost; it was mirror shiny with dense, feather soft hair, utterly black besides the ivory white socks around her ankles and a blaze. Her black hooves stamped against the cold floor, beating like hard stone against stone. Her large expressive eyes drunk in her surroundings, with long eyelashes and elegant black markings around the eyes. Her ears were mobile and delicately pointed, a mirror of her thoughts. Her legs were solid and strongly muscled, her back exceptionally strong, she was easily enough mount for the heaviest armoured soldier. She moved when ridden with amazing economy of motion, never a wasting a step at any speed.
A fellow elf, who had grouped with a few others to wish Ariena safe journey and farewell, entered the stable, smiling sadly at her, 'it is time, night approaches.' Ariena nodded and lead Morivanya from the stable, out into the fresh dusk air. There to meet her stood a gathering of her close friends and courtiers, quiet and serene, 'goodbye my friends' she uttered in Elvish, 'I cannot bear to leave you, but I must, you have been true to me, thank you for these happy years we have spent as kin.'
They each embraced briefly in turn, exchanging words of the future and past, and so, finally it came the time to leave. she lifted herself upon the saddle and spreading her black, night sky cloak round her, covering her face with the hood. At a few muttered words, Morivanya sprang to a swift trot, out into the darkness. The night was silent, and Rivendell seemed dimmer than before as she looked back at it tears in her eyes.
The stars twinkled faintly above her head, and the blackness masked her, she became a shadow, galloping through the twilight.
