The roar of the waters of Bruinen drowned out all sound as they spilled over the precipice to fall furiously to the lake below. On a rock perched on the edge of the falls, an Elf maiden sat with legs crossed. Her hands rested palm up on her thighs and her long, light brown hair whipped about her face in the spray of water. Her eyes were closed against the noise and her lips moved in almost silence against the din of the water. A single silver diadem hung in the center of her forehead, the rest of her hair caught in two braids at her temples. Unlike most female elves, her hair was straight and came to her waist.
The flowing gown she wore was a silver-green with a low scoop-neck and lightly belled sleeves. It was simple, with few accoutrements aside from a draping belt of delicately carved leaves. An opalescent, leaf-shaped charm decorated her throat on a light silver chain.
Her mutterings suddenly grew in volume until even the waterfall could not overpower them.
"Bruinen, vilya. Lasto beth nin." The force of the river and air seemed to slow. "Sedho."
To any casual observer, it would seem as though time had suddenly been trapped. Drops of water hung suspended in the air and the roar of the water ceased. The gentle breath of wind froze in place, leaving her hair sweeped back as if it still fluttered in the air, but there was perfect stillness. Her eyes stayed closed to this and her mutterings became nonexistent. With one flowing gesture, she raised one hand, then dropped it saying, "Rimmo nen a vilya."
The torrent of water that had been stopped rushed forth to meet this command and the wind took up its quiet blowing. She placed both hands back on her thighs and began to speak new words but was stopped by a call to her.
"Maegquareiel?"
She turned to look at this newcomer. It was Rinvilyaiel, the handmaiden to the Rivendell princesses. As usual, she was dressed simply in a gown of blue and green. Her wavy blonde hair was left down with nothing to hold it back and her green eyes flashed in the early morning sunlight. Like most, she flinched when Maegquareiel looked her way. Her piercing stare combined with electrifying violet irises was enough to discomfort any Elf.
Rinvilyaiel cleared her throat uncomfortably and said, "The Princesses desire your company and wish to speak with you about some matter they would not share with me."
Maegquareiel nodded in response, in that slow confident way only she possessed. Her manner was so unlike most of the Rivendell Elves. Even after 3,000 years, perhaps more, one does not count after so many, she still had an air about her of the Wood Elves that even she could not explain.
"Tell them I will be along shortly. Quel re."
Rinvilyaiel curtsied gracefully then turned to walk back to the Elven city, leaving the quiet Elf to her practices. There was so much about Maegquareiel that Rinvilyaiel did not know. Her life was spent serving and protecting the two princesses. This other mysterious Elf had come to them millennia ago, according to man's timetable, but from where, she did not know. But, Lord Elrond had always cared for her as though she were his own. Strangely, though, he had never asked Rinvilyaiel to care for the maiden as she did his real daughters.
Her contemplations halted as she re-entered her city, her home. The perfect placements and gleaming buildings remained beautiful even after thousands of years. Perhaps this was so because the city was as much a part of nature as a tree or the sky were. It was an extension of nature's beauty. Water flowed from every niche in the rock and a cool breeze was everpresent. The quiet voices of the Elven people sprang like music from the little clusters of people talking merrily as they walked. Rinvilyaiel greeted some with "Quel re" as she walked. Each Elf knew every other Elf, and Rinvilyaiel was no different. Although sometimes shy, she was well-loved and well-respected among her people.
She reached the palace of Elrond and was allowed inside with a smile from the guard. There was no need for such security, but memories of dark pasts made Elrond ever-watchful. She proceeded to the wing of the palace that belonged to the Princesses and was greeted with a flurry of movement and commotion. She could only smile at this as she stuck her head in the door to see Princess Ascafeniel running about, looking somewhat disheveled while Princess Haeorewen tried to calm her down. Princess Ascafeniel was usually so composed, but today was special.
Rinvilyaiel delivered her message "Maegquareiel comes shortly," then left the room shaking her head in mirth.
