Asterin couldn't stand the rowdy chaos of the hall so, after the toast, she left seeking a sanctuary of quiet and peace. Striding slowly through the town she looked around eventually sitting on the wall around the city her mind far away at Mirkwood where she would be had the war for the ring not begun once more. The wind blowing off the plains was clean and cold smelling of new grass and clean water, nothing like the loamy smell of her homeland. Lost in wistful thoughts she let her mind wander back to a small clearing back home where she had spent many hours alone with her thoughts and her emotions. Running her fingers lightly across the carved patterns of the forest, leaves, and vines across the thick yew bow she wondered how long this battle for Middle Earth would last.
The wood cool to the touch, she grasped it at the center her fingers dancing over the string. She wondered if she would ever make the long journey to Valinor, as most of her kin were doing now. She leaped down from the wall, her landing near silent on the beaten path when she heard something behind her. A small voice speaking to her, "Hello Lady. Would you like to join us." She turned to see a young girl, blond and fair standing behind her nervously looking up at her with a shy smile, she crouched down in front of the girl slinging her bow back over her back. She smiled softly and said, "I would love to but please call me by my name, Asterin, as I am no Lady." Standing she took the girl's hand and walked with her to a house with the windows alight with the glow of a flickering fire.
Standing in the hall Elwing struggled to contain her laughter at the near-constant remarks that took place all around her, the best of which came from Gimli as he continued his contest with Legolas. She counted as the game went on, the dwarf had drunk more than double his competitor who could not be shaken.
She allowed a small smile to cross her face at the memory of Gimli's father Gloin who had challenged her brother Elladan to a similar contest during the thirteen dwarf's stay in Imladris. The sister-son to the king looked baffled and she laughed lightly and quietly drawing the attention of the man next to her. The surprise came as Legolas spoke, "I feel something," Elwing couldn't help but laugh louder at the bewilderment on his face. "A sight tingling in my fingers," her amusement only grew as the slightest bit of fear entered his expression, "I think it's affecting me." She burst into real laughter unable to hold back her hilarity as Gimli chuckled, "what did I say, he can't hold his liquor." Only to topple over snoring a mug still in his hand, Legolas met her eyes which she knew to be shining with laughter as he said in a casual tone, "game over."
Striding confidently between the tables she found another rather amusing sight, dancing atop a table each with a mug in hand Merry and Pippin sang one of the drinking songs they must have known from the Shire. All around them men raised their drinks or clapped along to the simple yet catchy melody. "You can drink your fancy ales, you can drink them by the flagon, but the only brew for the brave and true." The note faded as Pippin met the eyes of Gandalf who now stood beside her smiling softly, but even then Merry shouted, "oi Pippin," and the pair began dancing once more if only to finish the song. She made her way to the wizard seeing out of the corner of her eye her brothers and Aragorn approaching, "but the only brew for the brave and true comes from the Green Dragon." The pair drained their drinks easily Merry leaned backward grinning like a mad man.
"Has the king changed his decision or are we still going to be sitting here waiting for him to see the error of his choice?" Elwing shook her head seeing her brother's eyes darken with frustration, she sighed her annoyance palpable as Gandalf said, "it is likely Théoden will not ride to war unless the beacons of Minas Tirith are lit, and he sees the truth in your words Lady Elwing." Her brothers snickered and then grinned over their shoulders as they ducked out of the hall and she pulled a hand through her hair reasoning, "it's wonderful that they came but I do wish they'd stayed in Imladris. Of course, I could just be worrying pointlessly, but I do wish for them to remain safe."
Aragorn took her hand his presence reassuring her fears at least those concerning her sister, even if Arwen chose mortality at least it would be for someone who was true of heart and strong of will. "If need be, some of our numbers should ride to Minas Tirith and bring council to the steward," she nodded her agreement pulling her hand free and glancing over her shoulder at the laughing hobbits her worries immediately resurfacing. Her memory brought her back to the moment she'd first seen one of the missing members, the young Frodo Baggins, the Ringbearer.
Panic flared in her when she saw the young hobbit, paler than she'd seen any since her mother. The pure white horse Glorfindel rode galloping swiftly into the valley a small figure bouncing limply in front of her mentor, she raced to her father's chambers knowing already where Glorfindel would take him. The halls around her blurred as she ran bursting through the door and meeting her father's gray eyes identical to her own. "Adar," she said, and she need not say more. The pair had made their swift way to the healing halls and her heart nearly stopped at the sight, clouded blue eyes met her own as Elrond rushed forward and she left in search of Elrohir for she felt that the young hobbit was near to passing into the shadow forever. The last thing she heard before leaving was her father's comforting calm voice, "hear my voice, come back to the light."
Bringing herself back to reality Elwing shook her head slightly clearing it before glancing into the crowd of men, "I've sent him to his death." Her eyes settled on the speaker, Gandalf, worry shining in her old friend's eyes mirroring her own. "I do not believe you would be one to take a fool's words to heart Mithrandir," she met his eyes and said, "I am aware of the dangers that face Frodo on the journey but he has a loyal friend that it seems is hardly possible to separate him from." A faint smile danced across Aragorn's face as he remembered the similar words that had been spoken by her father Elrond at the council.
"I fear for them both as they have passed from my sight," she had no information that would comfort her friend but nonetheless she left the two others to converse easily slipping through the crowd to the only other of her kin in the hall. Legolas was standing amongst the men slightly confused when she stopped at his side, "as much as I believe that the men will step around him perhaps it is time that we find somewhere for master Gimli to rest without being stepped upon." A small smile on her face, she and Legolas led the dwarf from the hall, both struggling to hold back the laughter that threaten to burst out, "yes it's dwarves that go swimming in nettle herry weather."