Aerlaer looked around with curiosity at the woodland elves dancing and eating and drinking around them as they stood slightly huddled in their small group. Aerthor had a smug smirk upon his face. They had thwarted the King's guards and slipped in unnoticed. She felt the sensation of eyes watching her and turned warily to see it was the mighty King Thranduil himself who gazed at her, without meaning to her eyes locked onto his but there was no malice upon his masked face only a curiosity. She felt someone tap her shoulder and turned around, trying not to feel panicked by the golden haired woodland elf before her. He wore a mask of brown and white feathers of a falcon and she could just discern friendly blue eyes peering at her.
"I was wondering would you like to dance with me my Lady." He said warmly with a tentative smile. He seems kind. She decided and nodding, took his hand. Aerthor managed to give her a brotherly nudge as she left the group.
He was a good dancer she realised as they spun lightly around the glade with the other dancers, he was thoughtful and the dance was a moderate pace so they talked a little as they moved around.
"We cannot say our names but I can at least tell you I am one of the healers in the King's halls." The elf chuckled warmly to Aerlaer.
"I know a little bit of healing myself." She offered. "But I am more in training for patrols and such." She wasn't lying she just wasn't saying who's patrol.
"Indeed?" He smiled. "You certainly do move with the grace of one who could fight. The King's guard will be happy to have you. What weapon is your strength in?" He asked with interest.
"I am handy with a recurve and with knives." She replied. "My sword work I am still honing." She said modestly. "Is there much healing to be done in the King's halls?" She asked curiously and he nodded.
"There is enough and I fear soon there will be more. The orcs and spiders cause the most injury but we are well equipped for them. Rarely do we see injury from the training grounds although someone angered the Prince a full moon ago and he pinned the ellon with arrows to a target by the material of his tunic." The elf laughed and so too did Aerlaer.
The song finished and the golden haired elf politely thanked her for dancing and returned her to her companions but she found they were all now dancing too and Aerthor was having an animated conversation with a pretty looking blonde elleth. She took a chalice of wine from a passing servant and smiled to three elleths who looked older than herself and murmured polite greetings to them which they graciously returned as she sipped at the sweet liquid. A strong looking light brown haired elf came to stand before her and she smiled at him, trying to hold back any fears of getting caught.
"Once you have finished your wine, I'd like to dance with you if you would allow it?" He said politely and Aerlaer thought he was likely one of the King's guards for he had a fighting stance about him and was more muscular than the golden haired healer she had just danced with.
"I'd like that." She replied and he broke into a grin.
"Excellent." He replied.
...
King Thranduil surveyed the dancing elves for his son. He had noted not once had the young elf sought out any elleths to dance with, they had all in some way convinced him to ask them to dance with him. He was currently dancing with a fiery red haired she elf who he looked to be compensating for her shorter legs, his steps small and deliberate. He looked bored by the slower pace and Thranduil felt a little sorry for his son, knowing he was an excellent dancer and his current partner would be tedious for him. He scanned the dancers and picked out the wild elves, all six had dance partners. He noted the young wild elleth was now dancing with another of his guard, rather close to where he was reclined in his throne and smirked to himself. They would not have a clue they were dancing with the she elf they sometimes talked about. The music had become merrier and the pace was slowly increasing with each song that his musicians played. A servant came up to him and half bowing, handed him a plate of forest berries and he ate them thoughtfully as he watched the dancers twirling about.