Menelya sighed as she quietly rode alone behind the other women. It had come to the point that they no longer even thought enough of her to speak cruelly of her or of Anwenelme. Menelya could not say that she necessarily regretted having to miss partaking in the gossip of the Elf women, but she did miss some companionship. It was always easier to be alone if there were others with you. She strained to hear the words of the women, but she could only make out a bit.
"...girl should never...disgrace...poor Menelya...Anwenelme...power-hungry...sympathy..." Menelya stopped listening, urging her horse so that it caught up to the other women.
She was greeted be cold stares from the women, showing that she was clearly not invited to stay with them.
"I would like to pass," Menelya said, a silenty order in her voice. The women looked at the Elf coldly for one more moment, as if to weigh her up, then they slowed her horses to let her go by. Menelya moved by quickly, not wanting to look into the cold eyes for longer than necessary to give them a curt show of gratitude.
After Menelya passed the women, they fell back into talking. The gist of it spoke of how rude Menelya had become, from what the Elf lady could hear. They also thought they were undeserving of the discourtesy they felt they were being shown. Menelya snorted a bit and urged her horse up a bit.
As the horse slowed, it gave a small stumble on a rock. It immediately gained its footing back, but not before Menelya swore as she bounced on the horse's back a bit. She heard the ladies behind her gasp at the language and sit silently, obviously in shock over Menelya's exclamation. Menelya only smiled as she rode on, happy that the misfortune of a misplaced hoof at least resulted in a brief victory over the women.
As she looked forward again, she took in her breath sharply. She could not see what was ahead of them when she rode behind the women, but now she could see ahead of the company until the horizon.
She smiled as she said, "Lorien. We made it...surprisingly." Her smile became more cynical as she spoke the last word.
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"I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each others dreams, we can be together all the time." - Hobbes of Calvin and Hobbes
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