Okay, so people, romance or no? As in Tera/Glorfindel. Can't decide. . .
:>
Tera crept softly through the moonlit corridor outside her room, giving the dim light of the full moon an absent minded glare as she avoided it for its concealing twin. She kept to the shadows of nightfall, her clothes of flowing black reflecting as little as her calculating gaze.
She was not here to steal, as tempting as it was. The risks were too great that any blame at all would be piled on her, and now that she was at a disadvantage she would not risk anything. No, she was not here to steal. Hard as it was to believe, she wasn't here to do any mischief whatsoever.
No, Tera was looking for the stables. She had her doubts about the elves' enthusiasm in caring for her horse, and if Reggie were to go through the night uncomfortable from dried sweat, Tera was the one who'd have to pay tomorrow.
She strode through the corridor, leaping lightly onto the pillar at the end, and swung herself onto the roof. Cutting silently through the many natural buildings, she allowed a hint of relaxation to come to her. Here, in the darkness, she felt safe again. Here, nothing could bring her down.
The stables were to her left, if her memory still served, but her quick glance caught a bright light in the opposite direction. Another, longer gaze told her of food and drink, and music melted softly into scented air. Curiosity tore at her as she paused, undecided.
Idiot girl, she knew, curiosity killed the cat.
But it did have nine lives. . .
Idiot girl.
Decided now, even if she was cursing herself all the way, Tera slithered down the roof towards the feast. Just for a while. Just to see for herself the doings of the elvenkind. No one would notice her, anyway-
"I see you've thought to join us, lady,"
She noticed him before she landed. Really, she did!
Idiot girl.
Tera didn't jump. . . that high. She did a. . . controlled pretension of flight and landed awkwardly. And swore. A little swear.
Flushing, embarrassed, ready to spit, she made a not-quite-so-controlled ninety-five degree turn and was even more annoyed than she had to look up to see the elf.
"I'm just leaving, elf."
"I don't even want to think about the number of times I've asked to be called Glorfindel," came the reply, although full of amusement yet again.
"Life's not fair now, is it, honey?" Her voice was acid-like in its sarcasm, "Your humor's been revived? Stay here a bit longer and I'll deal with that."
Glorfindel gave a shake of his head.
"Bitterness is a flaw, lady. Why allow it so much power?"
Sensing a fight, however, he quickly changed the subject.
"Come now, we had expected you to join us to sup," he said, motioning to the Great Hall.
"I wasn't hungry," she replied diffidently. That was true. The fact that she was extremely annoyed and throwing a temper tantrum was also true.
"And are you now?"
She paused, thinking.
"Maybe."
"You know, lady, you're quite correct," Glorfindel sighed as he led Tera to the Great Hall.
"Hmm?" The aroma of food was. . . distracting.
"My humor is fading."
She gave a little laugh as she helped herself to food. She was the only one, she noticed, and wondered for a moment just how late she was. But the food was far from cold and she pushed that thought from mind as she followed the elf to a corner of the room.
"Lady? I'd like you to meet Estel."
Tera glanced up. The first thing she noticed was very agreeable to her. Black hair. Non-pointed ears boded well, too. Add the fact that this human was clothed fully in unadorned black and she was able to ignore her food for a halfway agreeable smile. For a while.
"It's nice to meet you, . . .?"
"Better not ask that just yet, honey, unless you want our first fight," her chuckle wrapped the words in a dark haze. That he didn't appear offended had her cracking a quick, feline grin.
"Lady then?" His eyes were young, no more than twenty, probably about sixteen, and his smile was affable and slightly roguish.
"Or cheese, or cat, or apple, I care not," she agreed.
"I think I'll call you Cat."
"Estel," Glorfindel's tone was warning, and his eyes apologetic.
"She acts like one," he pointed out stubbornly, "and she doesn't act like a lady."
Now Tera laughed, a real, if slightly predatory, laugh.
"I like this one, Glorfindel. No, he's quite safe under my corrupting influence, no worries."
"Oh, I'm not," he replied darkly, the nearest Tera had ever heard him get to sarcasm.
She gave another little chuckle, helping herself freely to food, as Estel started pointing out different people and unashamedly telling most all of their life stories –including aspects Tera did not quite need to hear. Glorfindel tolerated much, but his limit was finally reached, and he excused himself politely to rejoin the world of elven sanity.
"I was wondering when he'd quit," Tera murmured, amused, as she finished off her food.
"I think he likes us," Estel countered, "otherwise he wouldn't be here in the first place."
"He was here in the first place because I appeared literally under his nose."
"How'd you get there?"
Tera gave a little, laughing snort.
"I came down from the roof."
"Like a thief?" The boy's eyes were wide, now, and Tera had a feeling that his thieves only existed in fairytales.
"Honey, I am a thief."
Estel sat back and seemed to take all she said in. And there was more than a hint of hero worship in his eyes.
For a thief? Who'd have thought. . .
"But I still think he likes us," Estel plowed on, "he just knows he isn't supposed to."
"Hmm?"
"They don't like you," he motioned at the rest of the elves, "they think he shouldn't, either."
"They don't?" That was nothing new. Even though, Tera had to concede, she hadn't given them much cause to accept her, anyway.
Well, what was she to do? Wait upon them hand and foot and kiss the mud off of their boots? She rather go to the orcs.
And, anyway, maybe, just maybe, when all this was over. . .
Well, Tera had been. . . observing the Great Hall. She noticed intricately carved wood, towering pillars, awing architecture. She also noticed sparkling jewels, the many, iridescent gemstones coaxed into the shapes of leaf and bird and lake. Swathes of melded color melted apart to form designs that seemed almost to call her name. She fought to remain focused on Estel as larceny tugged at her heart.
Just maybe she'd take a bit of payment. . . to her choosing. A few of the things they might not want to give.
She was thinking of leaving Bree, anyway; too many people knew of her there. It wouldn't matter if the elves ransacked the whole place for it, then. She'd be gone, to some other little town.
Run away to another place. Find a new name and face. Your reputation will precede you, idiot.
"See? Just now? The one with the light blue dress?" Estel seemed intent on proving his point, and she shook off the riches of the room to glance at the elven lady with layers of what seemed, absurdly enough, like cloud as a dress.
"She doesn't like me, hmm? Well, let me tell you a secret."
"A secret?"
"Mm hmm. Something just between you and me."
Estel leaned forwards eagerly, and Tera caught and held his gaze.
"The elves? I pity them."
The boy looked startled beyond words.
"But. . . But they think. . . They pity us!"
"Oh, yes, they pity us. I know that, they think it sad we cannot live forever. They shake their heads at us, running through our lives, never stopping, never thinking. They think us worse than them.
"But I'll tell you something. These elves. They'll never gaze at this one, rich sunset and think, 'there is nothing more beautiful in this world'. They'll never gamble everything in their lives for just this one moment and feel the heady fever of hysterical success when they win out. They'll never ever laugh and cry at nothing much at all, and dance wildly in the rain for no apparent reason. They'll never live recklessly, just because there might not be tomorrow. Listen to me. They'll never die, that is true, but they'll never live like we can."
If Estel replied, Tera didn't hear it. An elf chose that moment to rush over.
She tensed automatically; she knew excitement when she saw it hide behind dancing blue eyes.
"Yes?" She asked without preamble, bouncing quickly on her heels as she rose.
"Elrond will see you. It appears the orc has arrived."
