there was a moments silence where neither elf spoke but just regarded each other with uncertain eyes, then Reynion straightened slightly "Tau-Taurėwen?" he stammered slightly. "Is it you, or am I delirious?" he went on. She laughed lightly at the fact that the both thought the same thing. "No, my old friend you are not delirious" she said placing her hand on his arm to confirm that she was real and not some figment of his imagination.
"I am about to have breakfast will you not join me" she smiled hopefully. As he nodded his assent she slipped gracefully from the stool and made her way to a quiet table next to an empty open fire. As they sat down a younger hobbit than the one who had served her came up and placed in front of her a large bowl of mixed oats and fruits, drenched in ice cold milk and a plate with the plumpest blueberry muffin she had ever seen, then as the serving hobbit, placed down her tea, she inhaled deeply. She always loved the smell of freshly brewed elder flower tea.
As she looked up she saw the young hobbit woman enquiring if Reynion would like anything for breakfast. "Just coffee" he told her briskly. As she looked at him across the table a thousand questions flooded her mind; why did he leave?; why did he not say goodbye?; where had he been?; why had they had no word of him.......but as she looked into his grey eyes, she saw that his pain still lingered. "It has been a long time my friend and I have missed your company dearly" she lowered her head and filled her spoon with cereal so he could not see the pain in her eyes as she spoke.
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"Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live" ~ Mark Twain.
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