Lord Elrond walked with her in a stately circuit through the orchard while they talked about the things she'd seen and learned since arriving in Lothlorien. The moon was rising high by the time they made it back to the festivities and Arwen was talking animatedly with a handful of young elven men. Elrond gave her a small bow and left her to go speak with Galadriel. When she looked around she didn't see Artemis though Legolas was approaching her with a welcoming smile.
Tracey gave Lord Elrond a respectful curtsy and then smiled as Legolas came closer. She could see that he was having a good time, but since she had disappeared for lord only knows how long, she was quite surprised that he hadn't come to find her sooner. It was fine with her, after all their traveling, he needed a break and this festival could not have come at a better time.
"Ah my love, have you been enjoying yourself?" Tracey asked, reverting to the sweet sounding Elven tongue that glided over her lips as if she had been speaking it her own life. "I have to grab an item from our room for Arwen, care to join me?"
He wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled. "If I join you in our room Arwen won't get her bundle." He murmured.
"Then perhaps I shall go alone and return as quickly at I can instead." Tracey answered, a playful smirk on her lips as she rested her hands on his chest and smiled up at him. "I still owe you a dance after being kidnapped by Artemis on our last one."
He smiled and let her go. "Hurry back beloved."
"As fast as my wings can carry me my heart." Tracey replied, her wing fluttering like a hummingbird as she took off.
It didn't take her long to get back to their room and dug around in her saddle bags until she found the right bag she was looking for. Tracey took out the little bundle Arwen had given her and held onto it while taking off through the open window again. Flying back to the party, it didn't take her long to spot Arwen again and the other Elves to see her coming into for a landing. They shifted off to one side and Tracey alighted to the floor again.
"Sorry my friends." She said with a smile. "Your package my Lady."
Arwen took the bundle and smiled delightedly. "I never cease to be amazed by the sight of you in flight."
"Believe me I still get a thrill every time I fly, it's an experience like no other." She said with a smile. "I had always wondered what it was like to fly and now I know exactly how that feels. What did you want me to deliver to your mother anyway?"
Arwen unwrapped the bundle and held up a delicate figurine wrought in a curious pale stone with streaks of purple. The figurine depicted an elven women cupping a delicate flower in her palms. "It took me months to finish this." She said and ran a fingertip along the hair of the figure.
"That is so beautiful Arwen, you're so gifted!" Tracey exclaimed happily. "If only I had half your talent."
Arwen shook her head and wrapped the figurine again. "You have other talents Tracey."
The music was picking up again while they talked and the elves that had been with Arwen hurried to join the dancing. "You should join in the celebration too Arwen, this night will only last so long and it seems that you have several admirers." Tracey said with a smile. "Besides I owe Legolas a dance."
She smiled and gave her a friendly wink before looking around for Legolas again and found him on the dance floor with the last person she thought he'd be dancing with... Artemis. This made her eyes widen, but in the end she was happy that they were at least getting along now. Stepping back to her chair, Tracey watched them and the other dancing Elves with a smile on her lips and a happy heart.
Artemis grinned up at Legolas in a way that made him a little nervous, she'd had a lot to drink and elven wine was a lot stronger than most humans could handle. She laughed as they twirled around the floor and he shook his head. "You're intoxicated."
Artemis tilted her head and smiled. "I am. And it's fun."
He helped her avoid bumping into another pair of dancers. "Artemis… why did you drag me onto the dance floor when you can barely stand up by yourself."
She frowned at him. "I want you to like me." She said and moved her hands from his waist to his arms. "Tracey loves you and she's my best friend, my sister in every way that matters. That makes you important to me."
He looked a little confused. "I don't dislike you."
Artemis blinked. "But… you barely talk to me, you go out of your way to avoid me."
He sighed and moved her hands so one rested on his shoulder and the other on his hip and kept her dancing. He tried to get his thoughts in order while they danced. "Artemis, I avoid you because you are a reflection. I know that someday soon you and Tracey will be drawn away from Middle Earth and I'll lose my Mate. I don't know for how long or if I'll ever see her again. And when I look at you I see the same heartache."
She winced and looked down at their feet and he continued. "You told me you loved the Hunter but you were taken from him and I see the pain of it in your eyes, you cannot hide such things from an Elf, I am afraid of that pain and I avoid you to avoid that pain."
He tilted her face up so he could look down at her and winced at the tears in her eyes, he knew it was the wine that had loosened her hold on her control. "I'm sorry Artemis."
The music stopped and she lurched to a stop, she stepped back hastily and tried to smile again. "Not your fault." She gave a watery laugh and cleared her throat. "Wow, that wine is hitting me hard… I'm… I'm going to go sit down. Go find Tracey huh? She probably wants a dance."
She made her way through the crowd to the far side of the dance floor away from Arwen, Tracey and the rest. Legolas shook his head and turned with a smile to Tracey as she approached. "Are you here to dance beloved?"
"Yes my love." Tracey replied with a smile, taking his hands and stepping close as the music started again. "Is Artemis okay? She looked a little unsteady on her feet."
"She has had a lot of Elf wine today, I don't think she realized how strong it is. She said she's going to go sit down for a while." Legolas replied pulling her in close when the music started.
"And that's why I stick with my fruit juices. Unless I put something in it myself, I won't ever get light-headed." Tracey mused with a smile. 'I guess I'll be talking to Artemis tomorrow about Valinor, best make it in the afternoon when she's had a chance to sleep off the wine a little.'
Tracey laughed and allowed Legolas to lead her around the dance floor in time to the music. She didn't have to look at her feet to know where she needed to step next while she was under Legolas's guidance. That allowed her to become lost in his beautifully bright eyes that she had come to love so much. They danced to several more fast paced songs before the hour started to grow later and soon enough Tracey had to stifle a yawn behind her hand. She blinked tiredly and started to make her way around the outer rim of the dance floor to Lord Elrond, Arwen, Lady Galadriel and Haldir, bidding them a pleasant rest and enjoyment for the rest of the festivities.