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Mithalwen had not taken any notice at first of the new arrivals - her niece had brought the promised tea and news from the kitchen of the cook's disappearance and subsequent investigations had absorbed her attention. However when she heard her name mentioned she looked up and saw two elfwomen - both were strangers to her, dark haired and of medium height, and clad in green but of diffent hues.
Blessed with the keen ears of all her kindred she could not but help hearing their speech. She heard them name Rivendell - if that was their home it explained why she did not recognise them. Mithalwen knew all who dwellt in her native Mithlond and nearly all of the older inhabitants of Rivendell, either becasue they like her brother had gone there from Lindon after Gilgalad's death or from her visits there. However these visits had been less frequent and shorter in latter days as the world seemed to darken again and she did not know some of the younger folk even by sight. These two were young, in her eyes at least , one perhaps no older than her nephew and niece. The bond between the twins was so strong that they seldom needed other company but the community of Rivendell was not so big that they would be quite ignorant of each other she supposed. And she thought ruefully that the twins bent for mischief had made them quite notorious.
So one was travelling to Mithlond? She was sure that she was not one of the Pilgrims who had escorted the Cirs to Woodhall. And that was another puzzle. She had chosen to stay at the Perch to avoidenduring further discussion of the twins errant behaviour from thier erstwhile travelling companions but it was a little strange for her kindred to choose to stay among mortals when elf halls were but a few miles away. No doubt they had their reasons and she might learn them in time. Her nephew's hopeful voice interrupted her thoughts...
"Aunt Mithalwen, didn't you say something about presents?"
"I did but that can wait a moment or two more - do you know either of the elves who have just come in?".
With a total lack of subtlety the twins turned so that they could see the newcomers.
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