Eleni was feeling a bit out of sorts, to say the least. She was now in a velvety green dress with a trailing train and once again, long trailing sleeves that stopped rather abruptly near her elbows, and her hair was a network of laces and swirls that the elf girl could swear made her head feel much heavier than she was used to. She was also allowed some amount of jewelry to adorn her bare neck and shoulders, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable since for one thing, they were not hers and she was told by the 'grandmere' that if she were to lose any of them that she would be made to produce a male heir to match each items lost. The threat had unnerved the elf girl in the way that the old woman had so casually put it out, as if she was reading a laundry list.

Eleni also did not ever remember wearing a dress that seemed to bear this much flesh up top, and wondered if this particular dress was picked out on purpose to embaress her, but the two maids that had attended her, a brown haired little mousy girl named Evelyn and her polar opposite, the big and brawny looking lass with coiled braids and pigtails named Jenny, that there was supposed to be a special guest for this evening's dinner, and protocol demanded that she be as 'gussied up like a fall festival goose' as much as possible, in Jenny's words.

"So how many guests are we having tonight?" Eleni asked as she felt her long, black hair bound up with another ribbon to keep it from collapsing. The elf girl sighed as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She looked as if she was wearing a black turban that looked as if it was about to unravel!

Jenny gamely plucked out a few long strands of hair from the bundle to frame Eleni's face as she replied, "I s'ppose there will be the old missus, the lord, your fiancee, a captain of the guards from what I was told, and a prince."

Jenny frowned as Eleni tried to move her head to face her, and said, "Please madam, don't move your head..." She cautioned.

"I told you to just call me Eleni." The elf girl replied as Evelyn cautiously came over her side to tighten up the bodice another notch, causing Eleni to gasp out involuntarily and making her bosoms pop out like smooshed eggs. "I look ridiculous!" Eleni said exasperatedly as Evelyn murmured an apology and bowed.

Jenny shook her head as she adjusted the three stringed and bejeweled earrings that dangled from Eleni's earlobes. "Nonsense, mada..ehm..Eleni. You look beautiful." she said soothingly, critically eyeing the elf girl. "But my goodness, just how old are you, if you don't mind me askin'. No matter how hard we try, we can't make you look any older than this..."

Eleni replied, "I'll be 81 this coming winter."

Evelyn gasped at this and mouthed out the words 81 like a landed fish as Jenny blinked and replied, "I knew you elves were long lived and such, but you mark my words, missy. You don't look a day older than 16."

"I was also told that elves weren't supposed to take you seriously until you were at least 110..." Evelyn offered, and immediately blushed at her daring when she realized what she had just said.

Jenny gave her mousy little partner a mean look and then immediately turned to the elf girl, fussing with her hair once more, topping it off with a fresh picked petals of a deep red rose. "Here's what I would be doin' miss." She offered, looking at her work with a critical eye. "I'd be just keepin' me mouth closed and just nod once in awhile. Beggin' yer pardon, miss. But I don't be thinkin' they want you be sayin' much and all."

"Why not?" Eleni asked.

Jenny nodded in satisfaction and replied, "That's what great ladies do, miss. At least that's what the last elven lady was said to do."

"The last elven lady?"

"Aye, the last one. Lord Colson's own missus, before she mysteriously disappeared. Y'know, Lord Tonio's mother." Jenny offered.

Eleni gave a thoughtful look toward Jenny, and then admitted, "Tonio seldom mentioned his mother to me. And what little he had to offer wasn't much. Wasn't she a countess or some other?'

Jenny shrugged and replied, "Tis all before me time, I'm afraid. But I've heard talk that...well, I've said too much already and noble business ain't none of me business." The maid then gave Eleni a final once over, saying proudly, "I do say so missy, you look like those faery princesses in dem picture books. Lord Tonio is sure lucky to be havin' ye to wife."

Eleni almost blurted out a retort, but she swallowed it. Instead, she got up from her chair and quickly shook her head, causing her dangling earrings to jangle pleasantly. As if chasing away a bad dream, she took a deep long breath in, and let it out. "I'm ready." she said simply, and as the two women watched, more or less stalked out of her room in the most unladylike of fashion.

The dinner itself was a blur to Eleni. People were suitably impressed with her appearance, she supposed, since there were gasps and appreciative glances from the guests here and there. The former she took as the pleasant kind and not the ones usually associated with seeing circus freaks and monsters. Throughout the dinner time, the guests had made polite conversations that led nowhere since Eleni made sure to say as little as possible and let her answers be vague and confusing to say the least since they were, she thought, mostly nonsensical and altogether too personal in nature. The elf girl thought with some perverse satisfaction that either they thought her a confused idiot or an elf so fresh from the forest that she had not yet mastered the common language. She was feeling somewhat happy from the thought until she caught the grandmere's murderous gaze, causing her to spill her flute of wine all over Tonio's lap. She made a hasty apology and a rather poor attempt at cleaning up, and was thankful when she was allowed to make her escape when the dinner wound down to desert, and then social gathering in small groups of chatting noblemen and women over tumblers of pungent liquor that she found made her head swim and spin from the mere odor alone.

Eleni was rather thankful that she was alone now, leaning against the railing of the balcony that overlooked the Colson estate's extensive gardens. The distant sounds of voices and music was still drifting over to her ears from the interior, and to her such music was rather unwelcome. She felt completely out of place here and alone. Tonio himself seemed to thrive in such company, she found much to her chagrin. But why would he not? He was born to this life and to him, speaking of the expected winegrape harvest and what it would mean to this year's vintage was as natural to him as breathing. To Eleni, who thought herself a rather simple girl, such talks not only bored her, it also made her feel that she was an alien in a land where no one spoke any sense. She found out much to her depression that her earlier "acting" was not acting at all, but her ignorance in noble matters that she had not the faintest clue in. Eleni groaned at this last bit of reasoning and pulled apart her ridiculous hair net and the ribbons, letting her now frizzy, curled locks fall to her shoulders.

"Dinner wasn't so good, was it." A voice asked from behind. Eleni turned her head slightly to regard a youngish man with well trimmed blond hair, and dark blue eyes. He had a tiny little scar on his chin on an otherwise handsome face, and he was dressed in a simple tunic and what appeared to be leather work pants. Around his waist was a loose belt, appearing as if put around him as an afterthought. No sword dangled there however.

Eleni smiled weakly and replied, "No. I suppose not." She noticed that he held two flute glass in his hand on a silver tray, and took one from him, saying, "Thank you."

While the elf girl sniffed at the silvery gold content in the glass, the man took the other for himself, and looking around cautiously to see if anyone was watching, took a sip from it. Eleni laughed at this and clapped, holding her glass to him and taking a sip as well, feeling warmth from the intoxicating wine that was both sweet as honey and yet tangy like a mandarin orange. "I don't belong here." she offered as the man came over to her side, holding the silver tray in one hand and the glass in the other. "No matter what they're trying to make me out to be. I suppose you know that. I've heard the servants talk about how unfit I am to be ladying over them." Eleni continued, taking another sip and then adding with her cheeks flushed rosey, "This is really good stuff!"

The man chuckled at the comment, and then said, "I thought you may find it to your liking. It is feywine afterall." He then looked into the content in the glass with a mock seriousness to his eyes, and added, "The acid content in this vintage is quite low, as well as the natural tannins from the aged flowers that went into this particular lot. Not exactly the best out of this year, I know. But the summer when this particular vintage was made was rather cold."

Eleni giggled at this and replied, "You sound just like them. Have you been working here in the estate long?"

The man thought on her question awhile and finally shook his head and answered, "Not really. But I've been around enough of them to know their boring talks and the way that they prattle on." He then put the tray down on the marble handrail, extending his hand and adding, "I'm called Teril. Tery for short. My friends call me that." When Eleni took his hand, he quickly flipped his hand over and leaned down for a kiss on the top of her hand, getting up with a courtly flourish. Eleni bowed low as well, as she was taught. Her hair became more unravelled and fell along her shoulders as she did so like coils of black silk. Teril saw this and smiled, letting go of Eleni's hand. "Now what did you mean about not belonging here, if I may be so bold?" he asked as Eleni put one of her locks behind her pointed ear.

"You saw the way I acted in there, Teril."

"Tery"

"All right. Tery." Eleni said with a wistful smile. "I'm just hoping that I'll last enough in this household for Tonio to get his act together and be brave."

Teril raised his eyebrow at this and asked, "What will happen then?"

Eleni took another sip from the glass and replied with a sigh, "Then I will leave and go back to my life, my little apartment on top of a bakery. Oh..and of course, my music career. I am a minstrel, you know." the elf girl added.

Teril asked, "What about the impending marriage? We were all invited...I mean, this party was put together for the new betrothed to be for lord Colson, you know. And that person happens to be you, elfmaid."

Eleni let out another sigh and put her glass down on the silver tray. She then faced away from Teril, leaning her elbows on the hand rails which felt ice cold and smooth against her skin. "I am hoping that it will not come to that. Tonio just has to be brave and tell his folks about his preference. He is a dear friend and all. Well, he can be so dreadfully flighty at times and so like a little bratty child the next. But a friend nonetheless. He has been there for me when I was peniless in this city and had no one else to turn to." Eleni rested her chin on her palms as she looked across the garden and the city beyond. "I don't know just how far I can go for friendship's sake however. Marriage is such a sacred thing. Well, to me at least. But Tonio is in such a bind right now. I just don't know what to do."

Teril smiled at this. "You know, there were rumors of this beautiful but ice cold elf maid that was only marrying Colson for his estate and inheritance. At least that is how the rumors went. Among the servants I mean. We all know of Tonio's particular...affliction and we had thought that this elfmaid would have had to be an exceptional beauty to have changed his ways this quickly. Either that or ensorcelled him or poisoned him." He began, smirking when he saw Eleni's indignation on her face and holding his hands up. "I see that it was all untrue now. Well..save for your beauty." He added as Eleni rolled her eyes at his comments. "That much is very much true."

Eleni smiled at this and let her eyebrows relax from their furrowing. "You're too kind, you know. I think I am as plain as I can be. It's the jewels and the pretty dress that's doing it. Really." the elf girl replied and then turned her gaze once again to the garden. "To tell you the truth, I would not mind going back on the road again. Just to travel and see all of the sword coast and maybe even Rashamen. I would love to see the forests of Cormanthor too. And maybe even the bell in the depths that lies below the Moonsea." Eleni said as she tapped her finger against her temple to the beat of the music that flowed from the inner drawing room.

"It sounds like a lot of fun. But dangerous too." Teril remarked, looking into the elf girl's face.

Eleni laughed lightly and replied, "I've been as far south as Amn and even to the edge of Suldenesselar. Seems like such a long time ago though. I know it sounds rather silly for an elf to speak like this, or so I was told. Oh, and well back then I had a friend that was watching out for me. I was quite safe. Well...most of the time." She corrected herself

Teril raised his eyebrow at this and asked, "If I may be so bold, how many moons have you seen?"

Eleni shrugged her shoulders at the man's question, and replied, "Is it that important to know?"

Teril replied cautiously, "I suppose it isn't. I meant nothing by it."

"It's impolite to ask a girl about her age." Eleni answered with an impish grin. "Besides. I've been already told once today that I am quite young even by elven standards. I think one of your friends told me that we elves don't consider anyone important prior to passing the age of 110 or some such."

Teril returned her smile. "Guess you're even younger than that I can assume?"

"I'm not admitting to anything."

Teril laughed at this and said, "All right, all right. Enough about your age then. Tell me more of your travels in the past then."

Eleni considered the man standing next to her and then nodded, not losing her smile. "There was a time. So many years ago, although it seems to me like just yesterday sometimes. When I left the circus..."

"Circus?" Teril asked, interrupting

"Yes circus. I was an acrobat and a games booth operator. And a knife girl too." Eleni answered.

"Your parents were circus performers?" Teril asked.

Eleni's silvery gold eyes turned a shade bluer as she regarded Teril's question and then answered softly, "I never knew my parents. The ringmaster, Mr.Jenkins, told me that I was found on the side of the road near Baldur's Gate. A young elf girl with no memories of my past. He told me that I was half dead from an arrow wound to the back and that it was poisoned. I suppose that is why I can't remember anything. Or so I was told." Eleni let out another sigh, and then added, "Not that it is important anymore. All I remember now are the memories that I've made travelling with the circus up and down the sword coast and beyond. You know..." Eleni let out a forced giggle. "While I was with the circus, the life that I knew then. I couldn't wait to get away from it. It was as if there was this part of me that was left hungry and unfilled. So when I found an opportunity to leave with a mercenary company, I did." Eleni was smiling still, but it never reached her eyes. "I left it all behind. All the people that took me in when I had nothing. Mr Jenkin who was like a father to me all those years, teaching me to be such a good little girl and always gave me a party on the day that I was found, saying that it was my birthday. Timo the halfling magician who kept blowing things up and acting as if he meant to do it. Big Jole the strongest man in the universe! He used to have a hidden sniffer of whiskey in his belt that he used to drink out of before each performance. He had such terrible stagefright! Stavros and his son Nat the acrobat who taught me tumbling and tightrope walking...You know, the silly boy proposed to me and I shared my first kiss with him? He kept getting older and older. Everyone did. I never understood why until Mr. Jenkin told me why. I prayed to all the gods to let me age as they did. But they kept on growing older and I remained the same. Even though I had these pointy ears and I have seen other elves and half elves and they told me that I was one of them. I never associated myself with them. I never knew what it meant to be an elf even though they tried so very hard. Some of them even wanted to adopt me but Mr. Jenkins wouldn't have any of it." Eleni turned her gaze toward the evening sky, watching the stars twinkle like tiny silver beacons. "And I guess I still don't know what it means to be elven. I just knew that those I loved would die before I did and I had to watch them die. I...think that is why I left them." Eleni regarded the man next to her, half towering over her small frame. She felt her tears begin to fall but let them go on. "I know now that hunger I felt was fear. I ran away from the people that loved me because I feared for their deaths and I cared more for my hurt feelings than theirs."

"Lady..." Teril began as he cautiously wiped the tears from her face.

Eleni drew back from his touch, and then wiped the tears away with the back of her sleeve, letting out a nervous giggle. "I don't know why I am so emotional today. I don't know why I told you any of this." the elf girl said. "You must think me so strange. I'm not in the habit of telling strangers my life's story. Do you think it's the wine?" Eleni regarded the glass and then said, "You must understand, Teri. This has been a very crazy day for me. I don't know what is going to happen with all of this. Such important things are expected out of me by both Tonio and Grandmere and I don't even want to be here. I feel very much alone in this house. I don't know how I am going to survive living here. But I don't want to fail my friend. You understand, right?" Eleni sniffled.

Teril smiled kindly at the elfgirl and then ventured a friendly hand on her bare shoulder, saying, "I wouldn't worry too much. I really would not. I do want you to know that I understand what you must be going through here. But you know..." he said as he looked into her eyes. "I think truth should be what will solve all this problem for you. That and bravery to face the consequences. I know that you don't wish to fail your friend. And I think I can understand why. But you will not be hurting Tonio's feelings by telling the truth. You may be hurting him physically probably. I can just picture Grandmere Colson chasing after Tonio down the streets of Waterdeep with a poker..."

Eleni burst out giggling at Teril's words, and Teril pushed away a strand of Eleni's black tresses from her cheek, saying, "That is better, fair lady. Smile suits you so much better than tears."

"You're no ordinary waiter, Tery. Do you mix your drinks as well as you dispense advice and lend ears to crestfallen bethrothed to be?" Eleni said with a smile, edging away from his touch however. "I will remember your words. And...thank you."

Teril let his hand fall back onto the railing and returned her smile, saying, "My advice doesn't come for free, you know. We..waiters need our tips too."

Eleni replied, "I don't have any money on me."

Teril laughed at this comment, and said, "You don't need to pay me with any coins, fair maiden no longer in distress. I only ask one thing of you." When Eleni did not reply and her eyes were growing troubled by his words, he added with a friendly smile, "Allow me to call you by your name? Eleni? Like a friend would?"

Eleni nodded and replied with a smile, "Like a friend would."