Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings.
*****
Mirnim allowed her slender fingers to play along the stem of the glass, gently raising it to her lips and taking the smallest of sips. Normally she disliked wine, but then normally she did not want to take her mind off of. . .this. So she did her best to swallow the alcohol, each small sip seemingly useless.
Around her, happiness was the atmosphere. Many Elves danced and chattered gaily. Torches lit the outdoor pavilion, the moon long set, and in the sky above stars glistened. Some music came from those who did not wish to dance, for no one was forced to dance if they did not wish to, of course.
No one but Mirnim.
Boys who knew Mirnim as the girl who would twist their arms behind their backs and grind their faces into the mud until they screamed for mercy now stood in a clump, staring at her and whispering. Each dared another to go and ask her for a dance. Sooner or later, she must choose someone. Normally they would not have considered a dance with the Elf they teased as "boy", but tonight she looked so radiant as they had never seen her.
Mirnim knew that she looked different. Her hair, normally caked with mud and dirt, and adorned with leaves, was tonight its natural chestnut brown, twisted atop her head so that the tips of her hairs tickled the back of her neck. A small, delicate silver chain ran around her neck, tightly circling around to reveal a silver pendant, an angel, wings outspread and arms reaching upwards, hanging just over her Adam's apple.
But most shocking of all was that she wore a dress. Her customary garb was grey and blue, a tunic and pants that earned her the title of "Sky Prince", for they resembled the sky on a cloudy day. In place of that was a dress of the shade of blue that is the midpoint between the sun and the horizon on a cloudless summer's day. The dress was simple, the skirt falling to her ankles. Over the skirt were two layers of lace material, insubstantial, and the softest shade of blue the boys had seen. Into the lace were stitched many silver-coloured stars.
The Sky Prince knew that she was beautiful. The boys knew that she was beautiful. This was the most frightening aspect of all, and this was why she would not dance: Mirnim was of the age of marriage, or at the least betrothal. Her father sought to marry her off, and the first Elf to show the slightest interest would most likely have her.
Most Elves did not approve of the custom of betrothal. This was the reason a few had broken away, enough to start a community, and formed Leissouet. Mirnim had always thought she would do better in Rivendell, Mirkwood, or Lothlorien, for she did not approve of betrothal, either.
Now she wished with all her heart that she could dance. She wanted to twist, spin, and twirl, to be held by another Elf, but she did not dare. Each he who asked for a dance was politely refused, and so far the Sky Prince had not left her seat.
Earhith, Mirnim's brother, took a seat beside her. "You know this is the only way for you to choose," Earhith said, "and some of them are not so bad."
"I would not insult them," Mirnim said softly, "but I do not wish to spend my life with any of them."
"Well, then," Earhith said. He got up and left. It took Mirnim a moment to realize that he had left her a note. With a glance about her, she slipped the note into her palm on the sly and folded it open. A slow smile spread across her face as she did exactly as the note requested.
*****
That's all for now! Please do not flame me.
*****
Mirnim allowed her slender fingers to play along the stem of the glass, gently raising it to her lips and taking the smallest of sips. Normally she disliked wine, but then normally she did not want to take her mind off of. . .this. So she did her best to swallow the alcohol, each small sip seemingly useless.
Around her, happiness was the atmosphere. Many Elves danced and chattered gaily. Torches lit the outdoor pavilion, the moon long set, and in the sky above stars glistened. Some music came from those who did not wish to dance, for no one was forced to dance if they did not wish to, of course.
No one but Mirnim.
Boys who knew Mirnim as the girl who would twist their arms behind their backs and grind their faces into the mud until they screamed for mercy now stood in a clump, staring at her and whispering. Each dared another to go and ask her for a dance. Sooner or later, she must choose someone. Normally they would not have considered a dance with the Elf they teased as "boy", but tonight she looked so radiant as they had never seen her.
Mirnim knew that she looked different. Her hair, normally caked with mud and dirt, and adorned with leaves, was tonight its natural chestnut brown, twisted atop her head so that the tips of her hairs tickled the back of her neck. A small, delicate silver chain ran around her neck, tightly circling around to reveal a silver pendant, an angel, wings outspread and arms reaching upwards, hanging just over her Adam's apple.
But most shocking of all was that she wore a dress. Her customary garb was grey and blue, a tunic and pants that earned her the title of "Sky Prince", for they resembled the sky on a cloudy day. In place of that was a dress of the shade of blue that is the midpoint between the sun and the horizon on a cloudless summer's day. The dress was simple, the skirt falling to her ankles. Over the skirt were two layers of lace material, insubstantial, and the softest shade of blue the boys had seen. Into the lace were stitched many silver-coloured stars.
The Sky Prince knew that she was beautiful. The boys knew that she was beautiful. This was the most frightening aspect of all, and this was why she would not dance: Mirnim was of the age of marriage, or at the least betrothal. Her father sought to marry her off, and the first Elf to show the slightest interest would most likely have her.
Most Elves did not approve of the custom of betrothal. This was the reason a few had broken away, enough to start a community, and formed Leissouet. Mirnim had always thought she would do better in Rivendell, Mirkwood, or Lothlorien, for she did not approve of betrothal, either.
Now she wished with all her heart that she could dance. She wanted to twist, spin, and twirl, to be held by another Elf, but she did not dare. Each he who asked for a dance was politely refused, and so far the Sky Prince had not left her seat.
Earhith, Mirnim's brother, took a seat beside her. "You know this is the only way for you to choose," Earhith said, "and some of them are not so bad."
"I would not insult them," Mirnim said softly, "but I do not wish to spend my life with any of them."
"Well, then," Earhith said. He got up and left. It took Mirnim a moment to realize that he had left her a note. With a glance about her, she slipped the note into her palm on the sly and folded it open. A slow smile spread across her face as she did exactly as the note requested.
*****
That's all for now! Please do not flame me.