The highest points were covered in streamers and banners. A large sign was hung on a tall tree that stood far back. It was painted to say HAPPY BIRTDAY, LIRIMNIEL-and to many more. Musicians sat in a corner talking amongst themselves. Tables were piled high with food that she had never seen before, not that she was too keen on trying any. There were many seats all around, forming a large circle around a platform that held two chairs adorned with what looked like a few jewels and shining metals, but that was absurd. Ifangur walked with his daughter, hand-in-hand, to the platform where they both took sat. There was a quiet clapping that grew to a loud roar of whistles, applause, and yells of "Happy Birthday and many more!" as the audience recognized the late guests. It was very intimidating to Lirimniel, who was about to loose her breath from just looking at the large amount of persons sitting, smiling, and clapping-for her.
She saw a few of her distant cousins that she never had anything to do with. As her eyes grazed over them, they started to whistle and cheer in a very spirited manner until she quickly looked away. She also saw some people that she knew only by appearance, people that lived in Lake-Town, but that didn't really know her as a person very well. She also saw a lot of very unfamiliar faces and couldn't believe that her father had invited them. In a dark corner by a pole she saw a couple of still forms covered in sparkling robes whose faces that could not be distinguished.
As soon as the noise quieted, Lirimniel's father rose from his chair. A round of "Speech, speech!" passed around the circle before he could speak however.
"Good people!" he said, smiling very big. "Family! (Lirimniel's distant cousins began their ruckus again) and dear, close Friends!" said Ifangur, his gaze darting to the side somewhere into the darkness that would soon fill the sky with empty night. "Today, my darling Lirimniel is no longer my little darling Lirimniel! Let us welcome this woman!" There was a burst of applause and cheering louder than before and it took a while before it died down.
"I know that ten and six years is not long enough to be surrounded by such company, but on behalf of my daughter and the truth of her mother's life, LET US ENJOY THE TIME THAT WE HAVE!" He sat down again, pleases with his short and happy announcement.
Lirimniel began to cheer up as the people began to scatter, mingle, eat, and dance to the gay tune that had just began. All eyes were not upon her. During the speech. however, she had the most eerie feeling as if someone's gaze had been boring a hole into her flesh. It was not pleasant and very uncomfortable. She was glad to be forgotten and turned her attention to her father again.
"Father, this is too fancy! I didn't know that you had so many people invited to my party! Was it really called for? I don't even recognize most of everyone that is here!" Ifangur laughed and replied,
"Yes, it is a surprisingly large number, isn't it? Aside from all of the town, some of my special acquaintances have graced us with their presence. Where are they? They should want to be welcomed to new land by a friend! Oh, they're just there!" To Lirimniel's horror she saw two forms approaching. They were the ones by the pole that she had seen in the dark shining robes and she could only stare a they removed their hoods.
They were both male and one the younger had the most unusual long blonde hair. They both had leaf shaped ears that reminded Lirimniel of elves. She felt forced to look toward the ground as their solemn demeanor worked its magic. The older man spoke.
"Hello again, Ifangur," he said.
"Thranduil." said her father with a nod. They both smiled and laughed lightly, breaking the icy tension.
"I have been counting the years since you invited me to the coming of age feast of your daughter." Thranduil's handsome lined face smiled. "It was after the battle and with the wealth that my people acquired from the Dragon, I swore to bring gifts to my dear friend one that day."
"I did not believe you then," said Ifangur forming a hearty laugh in his belly. "And I find your actions hard to believe even now. These...thrones..are magnificent!" Thranduil laughed and brushed the matter aside.
"Lirimniel, these are the friends that I have told you about. Have you thanked them for making it to your party and for your gift?" asked her father. Lirimniel smiled a little at the strange men and offered Thranduil her hand.
"Thranduil," he said. "The Elvenking of Mirkwood Forest. Happy Birthday, young lady, or you a woman now? Hm?" He smiled. Lirimniel laughed politely. They were elves after all. And he was a king? Such friends her father had! "Thank you, sir," she said. This was all a little too surprising. What was the proper greeting for a king? "Thank you for being here and for your lovely gift." Thranduil's attention turned toward the younger male who also took Lirimniel's hand.
"Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil, King of Mirkwood," said the blonde. Lirimniel smiled.
"Thank you for making it to my party. It is a pleasure," she said, having a hard time keeping her smile realistic.
She saw a few of her distant cousins that she never had anything to do with. As her eyes grazed over them, they started to whistle and cheer in a very spirited manner until she quickly looked away. She also saw some people that she knew only by appearance, people that lived in Lake-Town, but that didn't really know her as a person very well. She also saw a lot of very unfamiliar faces and couldn't believe that her father had invited them. In a dark corner by a pole she saw a couple of still forms covered in sparkling robes whose faces that could not be distinguished.
As soon as the noise quieted, Lirimniel's father rose from his chair. A round of "Speech, speech!" passed around the circle before he could speak however.
"Good people!" he said, smiling very big. "Family! (Lirimniel's distant cousins began their ruckus again) and dear, close Friends!" said Ifangur, his gaze darting to the side somewhere into the darkness that would soon fill the sky with empty night. "Today, my darling Lirimniel is no longer my little darling Lirimniel! Let us welcome this woman!" There was a burst of applause and cheering louder than before and it took a while before it died down.
"I know that ten and six years is not long enough to be surrounded by such company, but on behalf of my daughter and the truth of her mother's life, LET US ENJOY THE TIME THAT WE HAVE!" He sat down again, pleases with his short and happy announcement.
Lirimniel began to cheer up as the people began to scatter, mingle, eat, and dance to the gay tune that had just began. All eyes were not upon her. During the speech. however, she had the most eerie feeling as if someone's gaze had been boring a hole into her flesh. It was not pleasant and very uncomfortable. She was glad to be forgotten and turned her attention to her father again.
"Father, this is too fancy! I didn't know that you had so many people invited to my party! Was it really called for? I don't even recognize most of everyone that is here!" Ifangur laughed and replied,
"Yes, it is a surprisingly large number, isn't it? Aside from all of the town, some of my special acquaintances have graced us with their presence. Where are they? They should want to be welcomed to new land by a friend! Oh, they're just there!" To Lirimniel's horror she saw two forms approaching. They were the ones by the pole that she had seen in the dark shining robes and she could only stare a they removed their hoods.
They were both male and one the younger had the most unusual long blonde hair. They both had leaf shaped ears that reminded Lirimniel of elves. She felt forced to look toward the ground as their solemn demeanor worked its magic. The older man spoke.
"Hello again, Ifangur," he said.
"Thranduil." said her father with a nod. They both smiled and laughed lightly, breaking the icy tension.
"I have been counting the years since you invited me to the coming of age feast of your daughter." Thranduil's handsome lined face smiled. "It was after the battle and with the wealth that my people acquired from the Dragon, I swore to bring gifts to my dear friend one that day."
"I did not believe you then," said Ifangur forming a hearty laugh in his belly. "And I find your actions hard to believe even now. These...thrones..are magnificent!" Thranduil laughed and brushed the matter aside.
"Lirimniel, these are the friends that I have told you about. Have you thanked them for making it to your party and for your gift?" asked her father. Lirimniel smiled a little at the strange men and offered Thranduil her hand.
"Thranduil," he said. "The Elvenking of Mirkwood Forest. Happy Birthday, young lady, or you a woman now? Hm?" He smiled. Lirimniel laughed politely. They were elves after all. And he was a king? Such friends her father had! "Thank you, sir," she said. This was all a little too surprising. What was the proper greeting for a king? "Thank you for being here and for your lovely gift." Thranduil's attention turned toward the younger male who also took Lirimniel's hand.
"Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil, King of Mirkwood," said the blonde. Lirimniel smiled.
"Thank you for making it to my party. It is a pleasure," she said, having a hard time keeping her smile realistic.