Kelda sat with Bofur under one of the great oak trees in the gardens. The breeze was in the leaves, and it made the tree branches dance. The birds were singing over head, and not another soul was anywhere near the dwarf and the girl. And even if there had been someone nearby them, they wouldn't have noticed.

Kelda read with annunciation and gentleness. Her voice was serene to Bofur when she read. He whittled away at the small piece of wood in his hands, but made a point to not make much noise. His strokes were slow, and he barely made a sound.

"Luthien Tinuviel was an Elf Maiden of Doriath. Her beauty had no equal, and she was called the most beautiful of all the Children of Iluvatar," Kelda read aloud, a smile on her lips.

How she adored Luthien, she looked up to the Elf Maiden, she thought of her as her heroine. Luthien's bravery against all odds for her love of Beren, made Kelda revere her greatly. She had wished she could be that brave, and stand up to Bron, but then she feared the consequences that such defiance would bring down upon Brena. Where would they live if not for the mansion? How would they live?

"Luthien was the daughter of Elu Thingol, King of Doriath. Her mother was Queen Melian of the Maia. Luthien's hair was the color of night, her eyes were grey and ever-shining. Her skin glowed in the moonlight, and her voice was heartbreakingly lovely. It was said that her singing melted winter into spring."

"My, my," Bofur commented, shaking his head with a smile, and Kelda paused to turn the page. "She sounds like quite the lass!"

Kelda nodded and smiled brightly back.

"That she was," the girl replied with admiration in her voice. "She is very dear to me. I could read her story every day and never tire of it."

Bofur smiled kindly to Kelda.

"I've known a few characters in stories like that meself," he nodded, whittling a few strips away from the piece of wood he was working on. "But I didn't mean to interrupt ye, lass," he apologized sweetly.

"Oh! No, Bofur!" Kelda insisted. "Not at all! If you have any questions about the story, or you simply want to share your thoughts on what's happening it in, please do! You are not sworn to silence," she giggled.

Bofur laughed heartily, he enjoyed Kelda's sense of humor greatly. It showed that she enjoyed to laugh, and that made his heart glad and encouraged. Laughter and jest were two things he considered himself very good at, perhaps he would win her heart through smiles and joy.

"Well, alright!" Bofur replied, still chuckling. "Then I shall ask and share thoughts when they come to me. Though, not many a thought comes to me," he winked, a cheeky smile on his face.

Kelda giggled more, and when he winked at her, she felt her cheeks get warm ever so slightly.

"But, please, lass," Bofur gestured kindly. "Continue."

Kelda nodded, still beaming, and began again.

"Luthien Tinuviel lived in Doriath with her kin, and it was a state of perfect and blissful peace. She would dance and sing in the forests, near the great river, Sirion. Luthien's best friend was the lore master and greatest musician of the kingdom, Daeron. He would compose and play music for her to dance to, and they would often spend a great deal of time together in the forests. Daeron was very close to Luthien's father, King Thingol, and he loved Luthien, though she did not return his affections."

Kelda paused there for a moment, as Odel's handsome and kind face flashed before her mind's eye. She looked away from the pages for a second or two, as a sharp pain pierced her heart in those seconds.

"Ye alright, miss Kelda?" Bofur asked softly, noticing how she no longer smiled.

Kelda looked to him quickly, and shook her head.

"Oh! Yes, Bofur," she replied sweetly. "I'm fine. It is only…that it is sad that Daeron loved Luthien, and she did not love him return."

Bofur nodded thoughtfully, and continued to whittle.

"Aye," he agreed. "That is sad indeed."

Bofur didn't look up to Kelda, he didn't want her to see the fear that showed in his eyes for a moment. And that fear came from the thought that he might be in Daeron's situation. He prayed a silent prayer to Mahal just then, with every fiber of his being, that he wasn't.

Kelda looked at Bofur for a moment, wondering why he wasn't looking at her, and seemed so focused on his work, but she didn't want to disturb him with questions if he was concentrating on what he was whittling. So, she continued to read, and tried to push Odel out of her mind.

"Now, let us take our thoughts far from the Elves and of the fair Luthien, and bring them to the realm of Men. Let us speak of Luthien's true love, the man that brought her to her doom, Beren, son of Barahir.

Beren was an Edain, of the royal House of Beir of Dorthonion. His accomplishments were many, and he is considered the greatest adventurer of the First Age. During his youth, his kingdom was brought to ruin by the battle of Dagor Bragollach. After the battle, the young Beren lived with his father, and ten loyal followers, in the highlands of Dorthonion.

For many years, these twelve men performed many acts of courage, much to the great fury of Morgoth, the Dark King of Angband.

But there came a day, when the outlaws of Dorthonion would be killed by Morgoth's forces, and Beren's father slain with them.

Beren then lived alone in Dorthonion. He lived off of the land, and befriended the birds and beasts of that place. He ate no meat, only the evil creatures of Morgoth that roamed that country.

After the death of the outlaws, Morgoth put a large bounty on Beren's head. Morgoth's most diligent followers, Sauron and Draugluin, forced the hero from the land of his birth.

Beren wandered into the land of Doriath, and there it was he found Luthien.

He saw the Elven princess dancing in the moonlight, alone and to music of a pipe unseen. He was enchanted by the sight, and found healing for his weary feet."

Kelda smiled to herself as she ended this sentence, and Bofur saw it.

"Ye enjoy that part, lass?" he asked sweetly, his eyes sparkling. Bofur always delighted in the sight of Kelda's smile.

Kelda looked up to Bofur in slight surprise, not realizing she had smiled when she read that part.

"Oh!" she giggled. "Yes, yes this is one of my favorite parts of the story. It's very romantic to me," Kelda said, her cheeks flushing a bit.

Bofur chuckled softly to see her blush so.

"Ah," he began. "Ye shouldn't be embarrassed, lass," he said softly. "It tis romantic indeed! For Master Beren to fall for her dancin', why, that's simply lovely."

Bofur winked at Kelda then, and Kelda's smile grew.

"It certainly is," she replied softly.

She began to read again.

"Beren watched Luthien dance from the bushes, and he saw flowers spring up from about her delicate feet. They shimmered as she did, the rays of moonlight catching their petals, making them softly glow. Beren longed to be beside the Elven beauty, dancing with her; No cares, no sorrow to burden him. Could he have such a life with her? Could she teach him how to dance and sing the way she did? Beren then gathered his courage, and stepped forward, out of the bushes, and towards her.

Luthien heard him approach, and it frightened her, for she knew he was no elf. His foot fall was heavy and clumsy, and she then fled from where she had been dancing. Beren was saddened that he had frightened her, but he remained silent, and didn't call out to her. He simply stood in the place she had been, and looked in the direction she had fled. He would not be able to befriend her in this way, that much he knew. Beren knew now that he must watch her and listen to her, learn her name, and wait for another time."

"She fled?" Bofur interrupted looking to Kelda, though not in a loud voice. His voice was soft and thoughtful.

Kelda looked to him and lowered the book.

"Well, yes," she began sweetly. "He is a human, and she has never seen such a one as him before."

Bofur looked to Kelda curiously, then after a second, nodded thoughtfully, understanding what she meant.

"I didn't even think o' that," Bofur replied softly. "But surely ye wouldn't run from me if ye saw me coming to ye in the forest?" he asked Kelda, a playful smile on his face.

Kelda giggled.

"Well," she began, her eyes playful too. "I might be a little startled, if you came bounding out of the bushes and up to me."

Bofur chuckled, pleased with Kelda's reply. He was about to continue his whittling, when he suddenly cocked his head to the side, and looked to the girl once more with a smirk.

"An' what if ye had never seen a dwarf before, Lass? What would ye do then?" has asked, his eyes twinkling.

Kelda continued to smile softly at him.

"If I had never seen a dwarf before," she began, her tone thoughtful. "I'd be startled, and possibly frightened for a moment. But if you were the one I met, and if you smiled at me with that wonderful smile, I would be delighted to meet a dwarf."

She nodded in affirmation at him, and she as beaming.

Bofur smiled at her and chuckled softly, and he resumed his whittling.

"And I would think that all dwarves are as joyful, kind, and as lovely as you," Kelda added, her tone quieter, and sweeter than Bofur had ever heard it before.

But Bofur didn't allow himself to think upon it for long, and he laughed a loud and joyful laugh.

"Then I fear ye'd be sorely disappointed!" he replied through his laughter.

And Kelda laughed happily at that, and they shared laughter for a few moments. Kelda then noticed that the sun was near the middle of the sky, and thought this was a good time to pause the reading and eat.

"Bofur?" she asked, sweetly smiling.

"Aye, lass?" Bofur replied kindly, who was now inspecting his carving progress.

"Would you share my lunch with me today?"

Bofur looked up from his wooden craft, and looked to Kelda with slight surprise.

"Brena packed a lunch for me," Kelda began again kindly. "And she always packs me more than I should eat," she grinned.

Bofur smiled in amusement at her jest, but he himself had packed a lunch. He didn't want to disappoint her by refusing, yet he felt it wrong to eat her food if he already had some.

"I thank ye, lass," Bofur began kindly. "But me brother packed me a lunch too, and I'd be sorely punished by him if I didn' eat it."

His tone was very apologetic, almost guilty.

"But I thank ye very much, miss Kelda, for the offer," and he smiled softly at her.

Kelda smiled in return, and she nodded in understanding.

"You're most welcome, Bofur," she replied kindly. "But would you at least share my desert with me?"

"Dessert?!" Bofur repeated, his eyes lighting up. "Oh! Aye , lass! T 'would be a pleasure!"

Kelda burst out laughing at his reaction to the offer of sweets, and Bofur joined her heartily.

And under the large tree, they shared a meal, and they laughed and talked together in delight.