[arelendil]

Elwen smiled softly. In her hand was still the silver flute,she placed it slowly on the table, a single silver tear trinkling down her cheek. Closing her eyes, she sighed and began her story.

"I was once a starmaiden, a daughter of the sky. My people and I watched over the spirits tied to Arda, guiding them as we saw fit." Elwen brushed the tears away with her hand. This was painful but she had found someone who would understand and she needed to tell.

"One day I caught sight of an elf, a spirit on Arda, his feet were swift and nimble, his hair soft and silver and eyes the colour of the green grass. When I first saw him I knew he had taken my heart. I could do nothing about it, except watch and wait. He travelled many paths upon this middle earth but I could do nothing but watch and follow him. I begged leave of my Leige Lord and he granted it. Then one night I was pulled from the sky and stood before my love. He had called me from the night to be beside him always. He gave me a name, for stars do not have names. He said it was 'Star maiden' in the high tongue, which indeed it is. Many paths did we walk together. We met friends on our journeys and brought them with us, one I miss dearly Nostawen was her name, but that is another story."

Elwen was putting much trust in this stranger but still she cotinued, pausing only to unfasten her cloak, placing it beside her. Her light spilled out, lighting the space around her. Elwen didn't care who was watching.

"Our journey took us from Ithilien, where I had met my love, to his homeland, Mirkwood it was once called. He desired a blessing from his father, a blessing on our union. It was his little joke for he knew that even if his father said no, we were joined anyway, for our spirits had been interwined at our first meeting. His father did say yes thought and we were bound together in elven tradition before his kindred. That is how I received this ring." Elwen held out her hand, a delicate plain silver ring was on one finger. It glowed not with the light of herself but a light all of its own, it shimmered with white light. Elwen smiled remembering happier days. "It was during our stay in Mirkwood that he began to teach me to play. Though he praised me for my skill, the flute was his and he the only one who could bend it to his will."

"When we left that realm we were to journey to the west and take the last elven ship across the sundering sea, or at least that is what the high queen Arwen Evenstar foretold at our meeting. We were to come to the shire for another traveller, a hobbit I believe but of what connection he was to our plans, I was never told. With me was a Dwarf, the Lady Nostawen and my love. We were travelling through the edge of the forest of Mirkwood, when a giant spider attacked us. I have had dealings with these spiders before, but that is again another tale to tell and one only slightly less painful. In the fight I was knocked unconcious and can tell you know more. The only trace I found of my companions was my loves silver flute, I have carried it everywhere with me. I know that my love would not desert me, so that is why I am here this was to be the next place that we were to stop at." Elwen glanced at the traveller and smiled.

"A long story, even in short and there is much that I have left out. Mainly of the happy times, for the telling is sweet but the reality after is hard to bare. Come now, I have told you of my past, there must be something you could tell me of yours?"

Elwen picked up the flute, holding it gently in her hand. But then she sighed and put it on top of her cloak and turned back to the traveller.

[ December 17, 2002: Message edited by: arelendil ]