[VanimaEdhel]

Menelya strolled amidst the trees, sighing and breathing in the beautiful odor that they emitted. Now that all was settled with her room in Lórien, Menelya intended to enjoy the lovely surroundings as much as she could. It was better to make the best of being dragged out of one's home and on a horrible journey, she thought. Anyway, it gave her time to thing away from the babbling hens that she used to call friends. Just because her stupid daughter made one mistake, Menelya no longer had a place in society. The noblewoman sighed and put these thoughts out of her mind, taking in the beauty of this glorious city that she now had the pleasure of enjoying.

She touched a flower and smiled, thinking of a far-off land in times long vanished, before she had the life she now lived. Her hand passed delicately along the other flowers as she walked. The hem of her dark blue gown trailed lightly on the ground as she walked between the trees. Every now and again, she would hear conversation of other Elves, either professing love and devotion, gossiping about other ladies in the court, or playing games and enjoying the beautiful land. Where Menelya walked, however, it was now mostly tranquil and solitary.

Menelya rested, her back to a tree, and listened to the wisps of conversation that drifted into her ears. Time passed and Menelya dozed against the wood of the tree. The day wore on, and Menelya thought she should be returning to the palan. She pulled herself to her delicately covered feet and made her way back to her room.

Menelya suddenly found herself redirecting her footsteps. She had not seen her daughter for nearly the entire day. The girl must have gotten herself into more trouble since she last spoke to her. An indignant sigh escaped Menelya’s mouth. Another breath of consternation left her mouth as one of the women approached her. They made some gossip about one of the other twittering hens, claiming that the perpetrator of the latest offense had forgotten to ask her to dine with her when it was clearly her turn to do so. Menelya tried to get away as quickly as she could. These women did not like her; why did they insist on plaguing her every step?

Finally, Menelya found herself outside of Anwenelme’s room. Why was she here? She meant to go to her own room. What possibly possessed her to think to check on her own daughter? True, it was odd that she did not see her child at all during the course of the day, but it did happen every now and again. They both had their problems and they certainly did not get along. Then why was Menelya entering the room?

Anwenelme was in her room. She looked shocked, but at the same time, she was apparently attempting to hide it. Menelya sat down without permission from her daughter, who gave her a look of death. The mother raised her eyebrows, but took no real note of her daughter’s countenance.

“How have you been, daughter?” Menelya asked the defensive girl.

“I am fine, Mother. I appreciated your knocking,” Anwenelme replied sarcastically, trying to keep her voice even.

“What troubles you, daughter of mine?” Menelya continued, ignoring her daughter’s cold fury.

Anwenelme remained silent, staring at her mother, obviously willing the Elf to leave her to be. Menelya was not going to give up so easily though. She leaned forward in her chair a bit and stared back at her daughter. They sat in silence for a time, a silent battle of internal strength waging. Menelya was determined to hear her daughter talk, and Anwenelme was obviously determined not to listen to her mother.

What could be troubling her daughter in such a manner? Was she thinking of Melost? That could not be true. But it still could aggrieve her that she was now alone. Well, she would grow accustomed to the feeling. Menelya certainly had grown in such a manner. Anwenelme was strong, just like her mother. She would pull through. Anwenelme’s mother had faced far worse obstacles that the girl ever would. Now Anwenelme would pull through whatever impediment she now faced. Menelya would make sure of that…