[Bekah]

Nurumaiel watched the crowd dancing, still looking for Rie's brother. Failing to catch sight of him, she moved over to the window and gazed moodily into the dusk. She thought to turn, and search again, when she suddenly caught a glimpse of two moving figures on the horizon, one dark and one light. They were coming steadily closer. Soon she could see that they were two horses and their riders. The dark one was wearing green habiliments and sat on the white horse. The other one was fair and wore blue raiment (sp?) and rode upon a black steed.

Soon they were only half a mile away. Nuru, on a sudden impulse, walked outside to greet them. Closer they came, and closer still, until she could make out each woman - for they were women, though seemingly only just out of their girlhood - now cantering their horses.

Nuru drew her breath in sharply. For she recognized one of the riders well. "Hail, Elentari! I looked long to see you here, but you did not come."

The girl in the blue cloak laughed. It was a beautiful laugh, a rich laugh, a laugh that enveloped all who heard it with warmth.

"It has been a long time indeed, my friend. I come far too late to witness the beginning of the party, but perhaps not too late to miss out on all the fun. Have the Awards been presented yet?" It was a rhetorical question, apparently, for she did not wait for an answer.

"This is Kementari, you remember her?" The dark woman smiled at Nuru.

Nuru stared at her. She was stunningly beautiful. Her vivid green dress peeped out from under the more inconspicuous cloak that covered her, which was clasped at the throat by a brooch in the image of mallorn leaf. Her steed standing patiently beneath her shone almost silver - perhaps a descendant of Shadowfax? A silver net set with emeralds covered the woman's dark brown hair, which otherwise flowed unhindered. Two thin strands hung on either side of her face, blowing across unchecked at each puff of wind. The face, too, was noticable. The skin was pale gold with full red lips adorning the lower half. Nuru could find no fault with her beautifully carved nose, nor the long eyelashes which surrounded her laughing eyes, a deep muddy brown with flecks of dancing green light, which had an almost hypnotic effect.

She shook her head and turned back to the first woman.

"How could I forget? The Queen of the Earth, of the green growing things. She is an unforgettable person, Elentari."

"Not to mention that she is a long unheard from friend. However, that will change in future. She will visit more often now, O Daughter of the Dawn..." Elentari's voice trailed away softly.

Rousing herself, she seemed to take in for the first time the growing darkness. She slid off her horse, while her friend did the same. "Nuru, my friend, where can these horses be stabled?"

Nuru took both horses by the halter, then started to lead them to the large stables around the back, which were nevertheless almost all filled up by now. "I'll take them. You go inside and warm yourselves."

"Very well. This - " Elentari indicated the midnight-black one - "is Coalblack. And the other is Snowflake."

Elentari turned to the hall, and started to walk inside. Kementari followed her silently.

They came up against the orcs, and after being made to understand their request and who was behind it, surrendered all weapons.

Then they entered the hall and slowly maneuvered their way over to an empty patch of wall. There they searched silently with their eyes, finding all the things they would need. There was the buffet table - Mithadan and the others were obviously doing a good job, as there was still a great variety of food and plenty of it. There was the drinks table, and the entrance to lavatories discreetly hidden behind a large potted plant. They located the dancing floor with ease, and noted a vacant table with no obvious reservations. They started moving about, getting food and drink.

After they had seated themselves down, a young male elf - with no apparent knowledge of their identity - came and sat down with them. Both women never stopped eating during their conversation with this young gentleman - or rather, gentle-elf - as they were famished with hunger after their long journey to witness such a great event as this.

Soon Nurumaiel came in. She found her friends quickly, but stopped short at the person conversing with them. For he was none other than her missing dance partner, Rie's brother.

She decided to go towards them anyway.

Her second look at Elentari in a fully lighted room took her breath away. She had discarded her cloak, which had been clasped at the throat by a diamond in the shape of a star, even more beautiful than the famous Evenstar the beautiful Arwen was named after. Underneath she wore a flowing dress of shimmering blue, which changed shades as quickly as the water runs in the chattering brook. It was embroidered with glistening patterns that reminded one of the the cold light of the stars. The neck-line and no doubt the bottom of the gown sparkled with pale gems, pearls and diamonds. Her long sleeves were slit to the shoulder, leaving her arms bare and exposed. Her hair was fair and long, french-plaited down to her ears but rippled down freely in golden streams to adorn her dress. Just below her hair a pair of grave grey eyes looked out from behind their soft eye-lashes, capturing the hearts of all who looked into them.

Meanwhile Nuru determined to get the elf to dance with her. So she set to work, at first engaging Elentari in conversation, and then moving on to him...

"So, Elentari, why have you been so long? And why has Manwe not come with you?"

"To answer your first question, I have been very busy, Nurumaiel, and I could not start the journey until a few weeks ago. Our steeds are the fastest in all Middle-earth, but the journey is still very, very long. I came as fast as I could.

"As to your second question, both Aule and my husband have been even busier than I, and could not find the time to make the journey."

"I see you have made a new friend....."