[Undómë]

Two voices spoke in tandem. Like two refrains that played against each other - the one as light and merry as the other was darker and less genial.

‘Why I don’t find the Shire intimidating in the least!’ said Telu, just as her brother sighed, and muttered more to himself than in answer to the observation by Esgallhugwen. ‘Would not have chosen to come, to be truthful, save I promised my mother I would look after her.’

The two looked at each other - Tindo, frowning, his face set in a disapproving manner. Telu, on the other hand, simply bit her lip, hoping to quash the smile that threatened to grow there. It was the smile, however, that won the day; it blossomed into a wide grin and erupted further into a tinkling silvered laughter that rang in the air. Telu grabbed her brother’s hands and darted forward quickly to plant a kiss on his cheek.

‘Don’t be cross, Tindo!’ she said, taking his hand as the three Elves walked back to the table.

‘We’re on our way to Ithilien,’ Telu said, pulling her chair out and sitting down. ‘That is, I want to go there. I’ve heard from some of the Elves who’ve come to Lindon that a number of our kin from the Woodland Realm have been welcomed there by the new Prince of Ithilien – one Faramir, or so I’ve heard him called. They say it is a lovely land and that often the new King among men and his Lady visit.’ Her face had a faraway look on it, one of longing. ‘It would be grand to know that there is a place yet where our people prosper. And the Lady, Arwen Undómiel, I should very much like to meet her. Well, perhaps, even just see her.’

Telu had waited until Esgallhugwen was seated before he took his chair. Now he sat back in it, a look of resigned fondness on his face. ‘She is such a dreamer,’ he murmured. ‘A starry-eyed deamer. And far too trusting. Now you see how full my hands are with the keeping safe of her!’

The server had come with their food and drink as they spoke. A large pot of tea and three cups, a pot of appleblossom honey. Fresh bread in a napkin lined basket, sweet cream butter, and peach jam. ‘Please, help yourself, Lady Esgallhugwen,’ Tindo said, remembering his manners. ‘Telu, you pour the tea please.’ As his sister did so, he took the first mug and offered it to Esgallhugwen. ‘We’ve talked so much about ourselves, we’ve hardly given you the chance to say anything.’ He passed her the bread and the jam. ‘Where are you from” that is, if you don’t mind saying,’ he added. He took a small sip of the hot tea with honey, enjoying to his surprise the taste of it. ‘And where are you bound, that you find yourself in the Shire?’