The five entered a clearing in the wood, and were assaulted by the sounds
of flute, drums, and fiddle.
"Elves?" asked Gimli, to which Legolas nodded.
"We're in South Mirkwood," he responded distractedly, already taken in, as were the others, by the sounds and sights and smells attacking their senses.
Long tables were lined up at the far end of the clearing, covered in food from all corners of Middle-Earth, as well as every ale and mead and wine imaginable. Sweet and spicy cakes and meats and breads and cheeses all filled the air with a delicious scent that made the road-weary travelers unconsciously draw further into the clearing.
The sounds of Elfsong, the most beautiful of music, surrounded them, along with children's laughter and hearty conversation from all around.
In the center of the clearing was a group of men, women, and children, dancing. Merry stared into the center of the group, at an Elven maiden there. "She's beautiful...," she said, almost to himself.
The others couldn't help but agree, for she was indeed beautiful. While most Elves have a white glow around them, as cold as moonlight, her was a warm golden, the color of a morning's sunrise, and it danced in her pale gold hair like fire, sparkling in her green-blue eyes, like all her race shared. Add this to the sheer beauty all elves had and she was simply breath-taking. Add as well the fact that Merry and Pippin had never truly seen a young Elven maiden, and they were simply overwhelmed.
She noticed the travelers and smiled at them, and Pippin felt that if he wasn't supported behind by a great oak tree, he would surely have fallen over.
She approached the travelers and bowed deeply. "Mae govannen," she greeted, 'hello' in the Elvish tongue. "Come, travelers, join us. We are but a small group," she looked each of them in the eye individually as she spoke, "and there is plenty to go around. Feast with us, help yourselves."
Merry, Pippin, and Gimli needed no further adieu, and made their way to the line of tables, while Aragorn and Legolas stayed to speak to the girl.
"We have not much, but what we have is yours as well. Stay as long as you like, we are happy to have you." She smiled at them again.
"That is a most gracious offer, my lady, I hope we are not intruding in any way," spoke up Aragorn, ever the knight, "I am known as Aragorn, and my companion here is Legolas Greenleaf of North Mirkwood."
"'Tis a pleasure to meet you both, my lords. I am Cailiosa Nightsong, and if you need anything, sirs, do not hesitate to ask. The same goes for your friends," she motioned toward the Dwarf and Hobbits, who were happily stuffing their faces.
A chorus of children's voices calling Cailiosa rose behind them. "Forgive me, my lords, but I must return to the group. Make yourselves comfortable." She bowed again, and as she rose, her eyes met with Legolas's. "It is a most extreme pleasure to finally meet you, my Lord Greenleaf."
"As it is to meet you, my Lady Nightsong." Aragorn thought he could almost see the corners of the archer's mouth start to rise in a smile. Cailiosa nodded cordially at them, smiled brightly, and took her leave back to the festivities in the center of the clearing. Aragorn and Legolas watched her walk away, then turned to join their friends in the feast.
"Elves?" asked Gimli, to which Legolas nodded.
"We're in South Mirkwood," he responded distractedly, already taken in, as were the others, by the sounds and sights and smells attacking their senses.
Long tables were lined up at the far end of the clearing, covered in food from all corners of Middle-Earth, as well as every ale and mead and wine imaginable. Sweet and spicy cakes and meats and breads and cheeses all filled the air with a delicious scent that made the road-weary travelers unconsciously draw further into the clearing.
The sounds of Elfsong, the most beautiful of music, surrounded them, along with children's laughter and hearty conversation from all around.
In the center of the clearing was a group of men, women, and children, dancing. Merry stared into the center of the group, at an Elven maiden there. "She's beautiful...," she said, almost to himself.
The others couldn't help but agree, for she was indeed beautiful. While most Elves have a white glow around them, as cold as moonlight, her was a warm golden, the color of a morning's sunrise, and it danced in her pale gold hair like fire, sparkling in her green-blue eyes, like all her race shared. Add this to the sheer beauty all elves had and she was simply breath-taking. Add as well the fact that Merry and Pippin had never truly seen a young Elven maiden, and they were simply overwhelmed.
She noticed the travelers and smiled at them, and Pippin felt that if he wasn't supported behind by a great oak tree, he would surely have fallen over.
She approached the travelers and bowed deeply. "Mae govannen," she greeted, 'hello' in the Elvish tongue. "Come, travelers, join us. We are but a small group," she looked each of them in the eye individually as she spoke, "and there is plenty to go around. Feast with us, help yourselves."
Merry, Pippin, and Gimli needed no further adieu, and made their way to the line of tables, while Aragorn and Legolas stayed to speak to the girl.
"We have not much, but what we have is yours as well. Stay as long as you like, we are happy to have you." She smiled at them again.
"That is a most gracious offer, my lady, I hope we are not intruding in any way," spoke up Aragorn, ever the knight, "I am known as Aragorn, and my companion here is Legolas Greenleaf of North Mirkwood."
"'Tis a pleasure to meet you both, my lords. I am Cailiosa Nightsong, and if you need anything, sirs, do not hesitate to ask. The same goes for your friends," she motioned toward the Dwarf and Hobbits, who were happily stuffing their faces.
A chorus of children's voices calling Cailiosa rose behind them. "Forgive me, my lords, but I must return to the group. Make yourselves comfortable." She bowed again, and as she rose, her eyes met with Legolas's. "It is a most extreme pleasure to finally meet you, my Lord Greenleaf."
"As it is to meet you, my Lady Nightsong." Aragorn thought he could almost see the corners of the archer's mouth start to rise in a smile. Cailiosa nodded cordially at them, smiled brightly, and took her leave back to the festivities in the center of the clearing. Aragorn and Legolas watched her walk away, then turned to join their friends in the feast.