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-Silverhand9028

Tholon walked across Rivendell.

His steps were light and delicate, as he moved with strong, speedy grace.

"Swift as a songbird, light as a feather." The words taught to him played on his mind.

His mother's words.

His robes and dark hair rippling in the midday breeze, Tholon climbed the steps to a little white gazebo, overlooking the valley and the winding river.

There was a beautiful elven woman stood at the edge, leaning on a railing. Her cheek was rested daintily on an elegantly poised hand, dark eyes examining the view. Her hair was long and black, reaching down her back in sophisticated curls.

"Mother," Tholon called.

The woman turned, and her dark eyes locked with his. "Tholon," smiled Sehnae, "son."
"You wished to see me, mother?" Tholon stepped forward, taking care to look as neat as possible.

"Yes…" Sehnae purred, her soft voice drifting round the gazebo. "Firstly… be careful, child. I did see you almost stumble, when taking that casket of wine from the hobbits."
"Yes mother…" Tholon's pale cheeks blushed pink. "I shall be more careful."
"You certainly shall," Sehnae encircled her son, then leant in and whispered: "Swift as a songbird, light as a feather."
Tholon nodded shakily. "Swift as a songbird, light as a feather," he repeated.

Sehnae's long, pale fingers traced the side of her son's face. "Good…"

Tholon twitched uncomfortably. "Now, my dear," Sehnae's dark eyes sparkled. "I have a task for you."

"Yes, mother?"

The beautiful elf reached for her son's hands and held them tightly in her own. "Caelyr… Amatria… Lylith…" Sehnae paused, and a smile played on her lips. "They're up to something. Find them."
Tholon bowed stiffly. "Yes, mother," he promised.

"Go…" Sehnae whispered, releasing his hands.

As Tholon hurried softly away, Sehnae turned to gaze out upon the view.

"Swift as a songbird, light as a feather…" and she smiled, her dark eyes twinkled once more.

"There it is!"

I heard Lylith's voice from beside me.

Turning my head, I saw the two girls. They were both in cloaks and dressed in hunting gear. I was still dressed in my mail and jerkin. We were all crouched behind a rock, down in the valley of Imladris, just outside Rivendell.

In our hands, we each held longbows, with quivers of arrows at our backs and hips.

"Is it the deer from earlier?" I asked.

Lylith nodded. "Little wretch escaped me last time." My friend smiled. "But not this time."

Quick as lightning, Lylith grabbed an arrow from her quiver, nocked it with unbelievable speed, and fired it.

"You're so fast," I groaned.

Smiling, Lylith glanced over the rock. "Hit," she smirked.

"How do you do it so quickly?" asked Amatria, as we stood from behind the rock.

"With practice," Lylith shrugged, "I can't actually hit anything if I do it as slowly as you," she replied, pointing at me.

"I'm more accurate though," I smiled.

Glancing upwards, ready to prove my point, I saw a nest of eagles, high up in the valley.

One swooped down towards the river, as fast as the wind.

I nocked an arrow to my bow, and held it out patiently. Then, I closed one eye, waited, drew back the string…

Now.

I let the arrow fly and it whizzed through the air. Was my timing right? Had I aimed properly?

Thunk.

The eagle flopped to the ground, my arrow in its chest.

I grinned at Lylith, who smirked competitively.

"Now, my kill," Amatria stepped up. "I'm going to-"

"Wait…" whispered Lylith, "someone's coming."

Elves have advanced hearing and sight, and Lylith was the best of the best. She would know if someone was there. We couldn't have someone seeing us, knowing about our secret archery.

"Get down!" hissed Amatria.

Swiftly and silently, we all ducked down behind the rock.

"Who is it?" I whispered.

Slowly, Lylith glanced round the side of the rock, then darted her head back.

"Who?" Amatria quietly asked.

Lylith bent down quietly and whispered: "Tholon."

Tholon was Sehnae's only son. He had been there when we were collecting food from the hobbits. Anything his mother wanted doing, Tholon was her tool.

We heard him pass by the rock, and all held our breaths in complete silence.

My leaf-shaped ears heard his footsteps… and he stopped by our rock. Wide-eyed in fear of being discovered, we glanced at each other….

…But he passed on again, and we lay in the same spot until we were sure he had gone.

"Let's get back to the pantry before any one else comes," Amatria whispered.

Nodding, we stood, before turning and running up towards Rivendell.

Up, through a passage by the rocks, through a small grove of trees and under our hidden passage, up to the waterfalls. Glancing round, we didn't see or hear anyone near our hidden waterfall pantry – but I still felt uneasy for some reason.

I held my hand out under the sheet of water. "Panta tangwa," I spoke, as the water opened like curtains.

We stepped inside, the sun shining into it behind us. As the water closed, I saw a shadow of a figure behind us. Someone was standing by the waterfall, watching us!

Quick as I could, I turned around. But there was no one there! Narrowing my eyes, I peered through the falling water.

"Caelyr?" Amatria turned to look at me, her red hair wet with spray from the waterfall.

I turned back to face my friends. "Nothing," I replied; but I knew that there was someone who had seen us. Someone who knew what we were doing… I had a feeling I knew who it was…

"Mother…"

Sehnae looked up to see Tholon standing in her bedroom doorway. "Tholon, dear. I trust your mission was… successful?"
Tholon nodded as he entered gracefully. "Yes, mother. Caelyr, Amatria and Lylith have been
quite busy!"
Sehnae smiled as she approached her son. "How so?"
Tholon stepped forwards, grasping his mother's hands. "The waterfalls by the storehouse, just South of the city. The largest one. Place your hand under the water, and say 'Panta tangwa'."

Something sparkled in the dark oblivion of Sehnae's irises. "Excellent…"

"May I go now, Mother?"

Sehnae smiled, "Yes, take your leave. Careful how you go though. Remember what I have taught you."
Tholon nodded, as mother and son both whispered: "Swift as a songbird, light as a feather."

That's Chapter 2, I hope you enjoyed it!

Leave a review telling me your thoughts :)

-Silverhand9028