Silmesse

In starlight,

Sinome háran i marya silmesse;

Here I am sitting in the pale moonlight;

Ilmello sílar tinwi lómesse;

from Ilmen sparks are shining in night;

Cénanten, i telpeva hendi,

They see me, the silvery eyes,

ve cennente i cuivie Quendi.

as they saw the wakening Elves.

Alasse antar i menelmíri,

Joy the heavenly jewels give,

laitan mi anvanye líri.

I praise in the fairest songs.

Oiale ná i silme vinya;

Forever is the moonlight new;

tíranyes sí vi Quende minya,

I watch them now as the first Elf,

vi minya Cuiviéneno

as the first of Cuiviénen

i cenne cala eleno.

who saw light of a star.

I sat quietly in the pale light of the moon and stars, my hands folded in my lap. All was silent, save for the peaceful hum of the fireflies wing beat off in the distance. I was alone, Eruvarnë sleeping in the room he had been given for the night. Tomorrow we were to leave on our quest; tomorrow eleven lives would be changed forever. Tomorrow I will be disobeying the word of my father for the first time. . .

"'Quel undome." I turned slightly to my right, my ocean eyes flickering in the direction of the voice. It was the Bryëton woman; the one of who's origin I was unsure. She can speak Elvish.

"Aaye," I replied quietly, "Bryëton, daughter of Kili Oakenshield and Bryëton Ciryatan. Saesa omentien lle."

"The pleasure is all mine, Princess Rebekah." She smiled kindly, running a pale hand through her wavy hair. I smiled back slightly, "Please, sit. The stars are particularly bright here in Rivendell. Far different from Eldamar. It's very beautiful."

She nodded at my feeble attempt to strike a conversation. Should I just ask her of her origin? No. That would be terribly rude. . ."So, why did you come here to Rivendell, mistress Bryëton? You never mentioned it."

"I do not wish to be blunt, but I came in search of Elrond. He has knowledge of Thorin Oakenshield which I am in dire need of. He knows of what lead to the death of my father - my mother never told me." She replied, looking at her hands which lay clasped on her knees, "I must now so that my mind will be put at ease."

"And what would Thorin Oakenshield know of your father?" I questioned her further, tilting my head slightly to the side, "Were they relatives?"

"Thorin was my father's uncle." So she is definitely part Dwarf.

"You are part Dwarf then?" I had to verify it before any further questions. My voice took on an innocent, questioning tone. My mother taught me how to speak to people in such a way they would reveal things about themselves that they normally would not.

"Uma. My mother was an Elf from a small community. Thorin asked her to join his Company to take back Eremore and she met my father. She also knew of the Queen you were named after. They were both in the Company." Her eyes twinkled when she spoke of her mother.

"That is an odd way to meet your spouse. . ." I professed, a smile on my face nonetheless. Bryëton nodded, smiling still as well. "So I've been told, tarien."

We sat in silence then for a few moments, me staring continuously at the stars and Bryëton at her hands. Until I heard a noise. My eyes darted around, and I muttered an almost inaudible, "dina," before standing up.

"Who goes there?" I asked apprehensively, my arms stiff at my sides.

"Do not be alarmed, tarien. It is I, Legolas Greenleaf." I let out a sigh of relief, "Ah, tula sinome." He stepped out from behind a pillar, his bow and a bag of arrows slung across his back.

"What are you doing here at this time of the night?" He asked, giving me a confused look.

"I could ask you the same thing, taren." I replied, crossing my arms over my chest, "Why are you here?"

"I find comfort around nature. Being from the Woodlands and all. And you, tarien? You are from Eldamar; what connection do you have with nature?" He spoke in a soft tone, almost as if he thought if he spoke any louder, everything in the garden would flicker and then fade.

"The stars in Eldamar don't shine half as bright as these," I chided simply, "I said the same to mistress Bryëton. It's a beautiful night, and the last I will have to enjoy simplicities such as this whenever I wish to do so for many moons. Why not enjoy the last night of normality while the opportunity still presents itself, Prince Legolas?"

He nodded, "Is mistress Bryëton still out here?"

I turned to look behind me. Mistress Bryëton was gone from her spot on the bench, "N'uma. She returned to her chamber just after you arrived. I think you gave her a bit of a fright. I know you did so to me."

"My apologies, tarien. It was not my intention to cause anyone fright." He said apologetically, bowing his head slightly. I laughed lightly, "Lift your head, Legolas. You caused no harm - all is well."

"Thank you for your forgiveness, Princess Rebekah."

Another laugh, this one a little louder than the first, escaped my lips, "Please, just call me Rebekah. There's no need for formalities here, taren."

"In that case, you may refer to me as Legolas." He replied with a ghost of a smile. I smiled back, "Diola lle."

"Lle creoso." He took his bow off of his back and walked over to the bench I had been sitting on with Bryëton, "Please, join me."

I nodded and sat down, smoothing out my dress as I did. My eyes landed on the bow he had laid on the ground, "You are a skillful bowman, yes?" I asked, motioning to the curved wood, embellished with intricate designs. He nodded.

"My father taught me when I was young. I've fallen in love with it deeper and deeper ever since." He said with a happy tone in his voice. I smiled, "It's quite lovely. Very elaborate."

"Do you know how to shoot?" He asked me suddenly. I shook my head, "I've never held a bow in my life. Never mind shot at anything. Not even a target."

Legolas looked almost shocked, but the shock wore off, "I could teach you if you'd like."

I shook my head, standing up, "Maybe another day. But I think I should be going to bed; we have a long journey ahead of us. Thank you though, Legolas, for talking to me. It's eased my worried soul a little bit. Quel kaima, Legolas."

I walked away, back up to my chamber. I slipped into a night gown, and laid down on my bed. Then, I drifted off into a blissful slumber. The last one I would have for months.

Translations:

'Quel undome - Good evening

Aaye - Hail

Saesa omentien lle - Pleasure meeting you

Uma - Yes

Tarien - Princess

Dina - Be silent

Tula sinome - Come forward

Taren - Prince

N'uma - No

Diola lle - Thank you

Lle creoso - You're welcome

Quel kaima - Sleep well