Ok, well now. Some of you may have read the review(s) of Lady Akyrial. I agree with her, it was perhaps a stupid and immature thing to do, to write a complaint about her review in a review on her story. However, my comments on her story were not 'retaliation', but long standing thoughts and feelings on her work.

And, I am trying to learn. However, I rather learning from a review such as the Maid of Imladris gave me - I believe that all criticism and no encouragement is a dull dog.

Also, Lady Akyrial says my grammar, spelling and punctuation is appalling – could someone point it out to me? For I have attempted to be particular about all three, and in re-reading, I have not yet discovered it.

I really appreciated the review of 'Maid of Imladris'! It was helpful, encouraging and full of interesting points for me to think of when writing. (and if you are wondering, yes, i have read the Silmarillion, but i have not yet been able to find the Lost Tales)

Also, I know that Tolkien said elves did not re-use names (hence the two Glorfindels being the same person), and I apologise for my use of 'Idril'. However, I absolutely loved the name, and I could not think of a suitable name otherwise.

Ps, sorry for my characters 'un-elf like' behaviour.

Chapter 6: Memories (Part 2 of Flashback Saga No.1)

Rilla, sister of the March warden and wardens of Lothlorien, was enjoying herself greatly. Not only was the Midsummer Eve Masked Ball one of the greatest events of the year, it was also her birthday - and not just any ordinary birthday, but her coming of age!

Dressed in an ethereal dress of primrose and silver, she felt airy, and flitted about by herself as she waited for Rumil and Orophin to meet her, as they were escorting her to the ball. Her close friend, Varya, had intertwined jasmine in her dark hair, and to say the least, she was feeling very lovely - a superior feeling!

Varya had promised to meet her as soon as they reached the Party Grounds, and Rilla was impatient to leave. When her brothers finally came, she voiced her impatience, but all she got for replies were laughs and teases.

'You say you are impatient to meet Varya, Rilla, but are you quite sure that is whom you are impatient to meet?' quipped Orophin, with a humourous glance at Rumil.

With a flippant roll of her eyes, Rilla informed Orophin exactly what she thought of him and his statement, which made the brothers laugh, and they gave into her impatience.

Arriving at the Party Grounds, Varya immediately met them, with lively greetings to Rumil and Orophin also. The four of them were known for their spirited pranks and mischief and had forged quite a bond between them.

Soon the four were mixed up in a large group of the younger elves of Lothlorien, Mirkwood, and Rivendell. Masks did little to hide friends from friends, though there were a few mistaken identities, which caused much laughter amongst the elves - the 'everlasting children'.

Rilla, with her mask of a silver fox, was recognised with comparative ease amongst the ellyn, with whom she was a favourite - her easy, friendly airs creating her many friends, if not lovers.

Full of joy and love of life, Rilla danced every dance with vivacity, but took the time to encourage quieter elleths and bashful ellons to dance, (a tendency which had caused her brothers to nickname her Madam Matchmaker) and also to speak to those foreign elves - who even with their masks, could always be guessed at by their accent and dress.

During the dinner break some few hours after sunset, Rilla and Varya separated themselves from their friends, and found a cosy little nook where they half reclined while they feasted on fruit - 'the only food suitable if one is dancing!' Varya had declared.

'Is this not a wonderful night, Varya?! Life is beautiful – splendid! Full of joy, and happiness, and…oh! Everything wonderful!'

With a laugh, Varya looked at her friend with fond affection. Being some centuries older, she had experienced more sorrow and pain than Rilla could imagine. Only now that Rilla had come of age, would she be gradually informed of the more troubling occurrences in Arda.

'Y…yes, Rilla! For you, right now, that is what life is! So enjoy this night to its fullest, dearest.'

Hearing a slightly melancholy note to Varya's voice, Rilla lifted her head in slight surprise.

'Vari, why do you sound like that? What is it?'

Though slightly annoyed at Rilla's perceptiveness, Varya decided to continue.

' Rilla… your outlook on life is very simple and elfling-like still. I merely meant to say to keep on enjoying and loving life as much as you do now, for as long as you possibly can.'

Rilla was confused. As elflings were rather jealously protected from hearing the many disturbing reports of the world outside, once they became adults it took some time to mature completely.

'Vari, I do not understand.' She shook her head as if attempting to straighten the thoughts that lay there, 'Do you mean that now that I am of age things will be different?'

'Not immediately, darling. But even you must know that things must change, even gradually.'

'Yes…' Her voice was almost petulant 'I do not like change, Vari. I do not like it at all'.'

Smiling at the childishness of this statement, Varya continued.

'That may be, Ril, but you must remember that you, as an elf, who will live forever, will witness so many changes in Arda you will soon not be able to count or remember them all.'

Struck with this thought, Rilla was suddenly pensive. Her personality was still sanguine – emotions and feeling were things of the moment, not to be indulged in for lengths of time, but the present also made an impact on her, until, of course, that 'present' became the not-too-distant past!

'I…suppose that is true. It is quite an unpleasant thought, is it not?!'

With a laugh Varya agreed.

'It is, to a point! One has to, as an elf, become used to it! However, there will come a time that you will wish to sail across to Valinor, and there will be only little changes there, so you will like that!'

'That is true…' Idril pondered the idea. 'But, even if I do have to see a lot of change on Arda…I do not think, Vari, that I want to leave it for quite some time, anyway!'

Once again, Varya laughed, and hugged Rilla.

'I am very glad about that, my dear! I would not like you to leave me too early!'

Laughing, the two made their way back to the company.

Glorfindel was feeling almost dejected. He had left the dinner as soon as possible within the bounds of politeness, but he had been searching for an hour and had had not once glanced a sight of a maiden dressed in yellow and silver, with a mask of a silver fox.

His own mask, which was a simple burnished red mask with a few gold embellishments to complement his outfit, (he had, in a fit of wicked mischievousness, informed Erestor in Elrond's presence, that he intended to have a mask in the form of a balrog…sending Erestor into something akin to apoplexy and Elrond into a fit of laughter) he found to be useful. He was recognised infrequently, and for this he was grateful, as he wished to keep his intention on finding a certain maiden in yellow…

Speaking (or thinking) of yellow, what was that? Moving swiftly around a large trunk he saw two maidens bouncing and skipping, hand in hand, towards a large group of young elves. The maiden that interested him, was the shorter one of the pair, with dark hair, dressed in yellow, and masked by a silver fox. Making sure of all these items, Glorfindel was confident of having discovered his quarry. Pleased with himself, he allowed himself a glass of miruvor while he observed Rilla.

Although Varya had not meant it to be, their conversation had had somewhat of an effect on Rilla. This fact worried her until she reminded herself of Rilla's personality – deep, dark thoughts had no place in such company as this! However, although Rilla's enjoyment of the evening did not decrease, her mien was more reserved and thoughtful than previous. This gave her the appearance of, when she was speaking, laughing and teasing with her friends, having something else on her mind, to perceptive viewers.

It was growing increasingly closer to midnight when Glorfindel approached Rilla, requesting her hand for the dance. Though momentarily surprised, for this very distinguished ellon in gold and red did not appear to be any of her friends or acquaintances, she delighted in the mystery, which she informed Glorfindel of, when he asked the meaning of her smile, as he led her into the set.

'I was just thinking how mysterious and exciting this is! Because…' She lifted her head to give him a searching look, 'I do not think I know you, do I ?'

With a laugh, Glorfindel replied.

'I must undeceive you, my Lady! We happen to be acquaintances! Indeed, we were introduced very formally by your brother, the worthy March Warden!'

Fearing he had said too much, Glorfindel gauged Idril's reaction. He was relieved - though she was now evidently very curious, she had no idea who he was.

'We were introduced? By Haldir? But I am only just of age so you must have met me when I was an elfling? For I do not believe I have met you in the past few years?'

'Very true - we have not met in the last decade - or more!'

'Oh, this is not fair! You are not going to inform me who you are, are you?! Because it seems that you already know me.'

'You forget, Lady Idril,' she started slightly at his use of her name, 'that we all must unmask at twelve!'

'Oh!' Her eyes beamed with smiles once again, 'that is very good! I shall not have to wait very long, then!' she then added, in a tone of informing, 'For I am very impatient, you know.'

'You are? I must protest I did not notice!'

She laughed, but a confused expression came over her face as the dance finished, and they made their way towards the edge of the dancing area. Glorfindel procured them both a drink, and they sat down together.

'You are very strange, sir.'

Seeing his uplifted eyebrow, she continued hurriedly and apologetically, 'I don't mean strange, strange, but only strange to me, oh, I'm not making sense! You are merely a mystery!'

'Merely? Dear me, my lady, I am quite put out of countenance!'

'Oh, no! Not like that! Do not be ridiculous, for you know quite well that I did not mean it like that!' She paused and hesitated, ' It just seems to me that you must be a lord or something like that. You have the air of one, you know,' she informed him frankly, looking him in the eye, 'there is just that little something about you. Not that you are little, of course, you do seem to be rather large!'

Glorfindel, who at this moment was taking a sip of his miruvor, choked. Glancing quickly at the little face looking up at him, he was surprised to see a very mischievous, knowing look on her face.

'You little minx!'

Quite used to this manner of speaking, she grinned cheekily.

'Remind me to repay you for that, m'dear!'

'Oh, I am quite certain you will not need reminding. Though it would not occur to most, I am sure, I believe that you must play enough of your own pranks…'

'Oh really!

'Yes, oh really! You have the look of it.'

'Indeed! I am much obliged.'

Idril laughed.

'See! I knew it!'

'Well, then, my fair friend, what say you to a little bit of … mischief?'

Her face said everything - and encouraged Glorfindel just as much as it would worry Rilla's brothers!

'Glorious…' murmured Glorfindel, with half-closed eyes - the word that, at Rivendell, would have sent Erestor into a panic, barricading himself into the library until Elrond ordered him out.

i've decided that, to preserve my own level of happiness, i'm just going to post this story and stuff the consequences (and the reviews). It was a learning curve, and hopefully my future writings will be better. All i wished to do with this story was to entertain ever so slightly a friend of mine, and when i posted it here that was my thought once again.

Varne