[maikafanawen]

Ani Dao could not remember a time when she had been so bored. She had covered Rivendell in the first two days and searched the library the third. Day four and Ani Dao was lying on her back on a stone bridge somewhere in the inner forests of Rivendell, her feet dangling off the edge. She had discarded her dresses and elegant clothing for her preference of earthen colored and maneuverable garb. Her boots were pulled up snug against her shins, covering the bottom of her new dark green riding pants like the kind Astarielle wore. Ani Dao’s favorite vest of deer hide brown was fastened tightly around her torso, her sleeveless tunic separating the itchy leather from her fair skin. Ani Dao’s hair was tied up with some leather straps and few small, brown feathers. Missing from her outfit were her leather gauntlets, her left armband, her rope, and all her weapons. She wore her feather pendant like always on a black leather chord around her neck.

It was an hour until dusk even though the thick canopy caused it to appear otherwise. No wind stirred the trees and the forest creatures were quiet. When they said Rivendell was deserted, they meant it.

Her surroundings had taken on a blue tint, a reflection of the crystal stream and sapphire blue sky, peeking through the tiny gaps in the treetops. Flowers of all sorts blossomed on the soil rich banks and vines encircled the collection of tall elms and hemlocks. A light fog covered the floor due to the collection of humidity from the pale darkness. Little grooves on the cool stone bridge housed clumps of moss, and lichen traveled along the length of the span.

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She dozed for a while then resolved to go check on Uesse, who had arrived with the first party of dwarves. The elf found her horse not in the stables with the others, but in the nearby field, grazing on the rich green grass. Ani Dao laughed and whistled for her horse to come to her. Uesse lifted his head momentarily then trotted over to his master.

“Sorry, no apples or carrots. I just came from boredom and didn’t think to bring you anything.”

“It’s alright, I have some.” Ani Dao starred at Uesse, thinking it was he who had spoken. Then silvery laughter came from behind, and the elf turned to see a young elf maiden holding a basket of grooming tools and some food. They both laughed. “I was just coming to bring him in. He wouldn’t come when Gorwen came to get him. I thought I’d try again and if he still didn’t I’d just groom him out here.” The elf maiden set down her basket and handed an apple to Ani Dao.

“Thanks.” She fed her horse some fruits and then left the maiden to her chore. Wandering back up to the palace she went to look for someone to talk to, whether it be someone from her company or just any elf in Rivendell, she needed something to do.

[ March 21, 2003: Message edited by: maikafanawen ]