Among Ruins

Sythril, a young Elven princess who ran away from her life, rode a young colt amongst the ruins of Rivendell. The stone walls were strong, overgrown vines clung to them as they reached for the sun. The river rapids were heard in the distance, gurgling as the water made it's way downstream.

"I think this could be our new home..." she mused, dismounting from her black colt and patting his weary neck. He nuzzled her chest, whickering gently and rubbing his face against her chest. "Yes, my dear, I love you too.." she whispered, looking around. Her chestnut pack horse, Adele, was happily munching away on the over grown grass. Satisfied that the horses wouldn't go anywhere, she decided to climb on the wall and look into the old courtyard where the Fellowship of the Ring was created.

Legends and stories were spread, but now she was seeing the truth in them.

There was a loud crash and a squeal, Syth rolled her eyes and jumped down into the courtyard as her friends joined her.

"Woah..." she whispered.

Calliah had been galloping on her horse, in the most unnaturally elegant way possible. Her beautiful eyes scanned over the history filled ruins. So many stories to be told, she couldn't wait to know what they had to say. Her curiosity did get the better of her at times, though within reason, she was young after all.

As she dismounted her lovely horse, and made her way into the old courtyard where the Fellowship of the Ring had been created. It was so amazing, she was nearly enthralled by the history. Not paying attention, she hadn't noticed that others were joing as well, and soon she went back to normal, scouting to see all who was there. Much to her relief, she saw Sythril, one of her fellow elf friends. "Isn't it amazing!?" she chirped to Syth, spinning around and taking in the whole area before stopping next to the girl. It was a new home.

Sythril laughed as Calli joined her, she looped her arm through the other girl's and sighed happily.

"A home filled with history, with a bit of cleaning and love.. it should look like it did in the scrolls... don't you think?" she mused, looking at the stone stools. "Once upon a time, the Fellowship sat here. Frodo put the ring on the stone bench in the middle..." she mused, placing her hand on it as if she could feel the old power that remained there.

"Elrond sat here," she giggled, sitting on a stone seat higher than the others. "I command ye to kneel before me and my awesomeness..." she laughed, smiling and standing. She swung her arms about.

"I wonder where our friendly and sour escort could be..." she chuckled and lead the way to where the bedrooms should've been. Elrond was still hanging about, somewhere but he had never returned to Rivendell for he feared it was not the place for his people. The descendants of Aragorn were still hanging around as well, but she had never met them.

After sailing over the ocean with her friends, they separated at the docks and vowed to eventually meet up at Rivendell.

Cal snickered as her arms were hooked with Syth's, and she nodded in agreement. She adore the ruins, and with time, she could see them place being a wonderful home. For prosperation of her people, of their people, to live among the ruins that had so much power and knowledge. "I am sure in no time we will make this place good as new!" she confrimed with a chipper attitude.

She listened and watched Sy and let out another giggle as she pretended to be a powerful ruler. Obligingly playfully, she fell to her knees and bowed her head. "Yes my lord!" she laughed as she looked back up. Young or not, she was going to make sure to have her fun, no matter the trouble she would get in.

Following to the bedroom area, she smiled. They looked... Cmmfortable in their own way. Cal smiled and gave her friend a playful nudge. "Well we can wait for sour escort, or we can look around more? I see there is much we have yet to see, and I want to see it before the others do, and I know you do too," she winked to Sy and smiled.

Sythril loved Calliah like a sister, like a twin. She was born and raised into the royal family, a full blooded elf but she had craved the love of siblings. When she was only a small lass, her father invited another royal family to come and stay with them while their palace was rebuilt after a destructive fire tore through the trees. They brought their daughter, also born the same time Syth was and they became fast friends.

Strutting along the corridors, a half opened door caught her eye. Leading her and Calliah over to it, she nudged the door open with her foot. It barely moved. Leaning against it with a little pressure, it pushed open with a groan. It was a bed chamber, a rather large one at that with a fantastic view of the mountains, a clearing and stream.

"Oh, that's beautiful.." she mused, a clean and crisp breeze blew through the open windows.

"I think we should make camp in here," she mused, looking over her shoulder to see if their escort had caught up. He had not, thankfully.

"We narrowly escaped him, he'd catch up with us soon... me thinks..." Sythril sighed, running a hand through her dark aurburn hair and pulling a twig out of it. "The colt thought he'd be funny to run me through a tree branch.."

Calli walked down the corridor with Sy, the elf who she had known nearly her entire life. She was an only child, just like her dark auburn haired friend. Though she was more than a friend. She was her best friend, sister, and twin. The only one whom she had a deep, nearly blood-line, connection with, and that made her smile. They had each other as family, and really, that was all that she needed.

Spotting that they had lost their escort, the found a room, a beautiful room waith a view that was to die for. She let out a soft sigh as she looked over the room and gave her twin a confirming nod. "It is fitting for us to stay here," she told her noble friend as she skipped into the room, feeling the breeze brush past her pale skin and light blonde locks and dress.

Her green eyes looked to Sy sweetly. "Well if he didn't treat us like kids..." she started before zipping her lips and pulling Sy out of the line of view as their escort made his way past. She wasn't ready to deal with him quite yet, she just wanted a moment with her twin.

As he passed by, for the time being, sure he would reappear soon enough, she let out a sigh. Calli giggled and picked out a leaf from Sy's hair and let it float to the ground. "He has a sense of humour. More than mine does. He is a testy little one, nearly threw me off a few times. I don't think he likes me too much," she sighed before shrugging.

"At the moment, he still doesn't have a name. I just call him Colt. Want me to jump on him and show him who is boss?" she said quietly, barely a whisper as their escort stalked by. He knew they were somewhere in Rivendell, their horses being a dead give away.

"He is always grouchy, but he's only one hundred years older than us. Pa only let us come here so we could start a new colony, you only came along cause you were sick of your mother making you wear skirts." she chuckled quietly, walking to the stone windowsill and sitting on it. "We stink... just for the record.... I totally beat you here!" she laughed, turning around and looking at her friend.

"I saw your horse dump you in the river too, is that why you're a little.... damp around the edges?" she smirked, her eyes still dancing at the playful side that was slowly taking over.

Calli snickered softly at her friends remark. The thought of her horse obeying anyone was amusing. He had always been a defiant one, though everyone loved Sy, he was boung to be more suceptible to her than Cal, that was for sure. "I am sure you will find a name for him soo enough," she told her friend.

Cal nodded in agreement. "Pa was a little more willing. My ma is really keen on keeping me in those pesky outfits," she sighed and rolled her eyes. It was ridiculous that her mum adored her in the proper outfit. "Our ecort needs to take the stick out of his butt, just saying. He is cramping our exploration," she mused in a mostly dramatic tone.

The girl rolled her eyes playfully to her friend as she walked up next to her. "This time, you beat me," she smirked. She let out a sigh as her friend pointed out that her horse had dumped her into the river. "Yes, well, what's a little dampness," she teased playfully, nudging her friend a bit.

Emrys eased the palomino out of it's trot to a walk as they approached the sacred city. Or at least it was to him. He Patted the stallion's neck as he dropped the reins and smiling lopsidedly, he crossed one leg over the horse's back and slipped off and landed gracefully on his feet. Letting the horse to wander, the male was curious to see other horses here as well. That was interesting. Emrys didn't know there would be others when he set out from Lothlorien to Rivendale. He should have expected it. Inspecting the horses saddles he could see that the owners were Elven or of Elven descent.

Walking carefully along the courtyard, his eyes happened upon the table. One hand went out to touch it reverently as he passed by it. Entering the keep, he let his eyes wander, his steps fluid and in no rush as he walked. Hearing voices ahead, he wondered which direction they were going. Perhaps he should go and let them know that he was here?

Following the voices, Emrys quickly caught up to the them and cleared his throat, eyes sparkling with mischief, hands behind his back. "Hello."

Sythril was about to reply to Calliah when she heard the faint footsteps of those who weren't in their group, she nodded her head to the side and made a move to tell Calliah to play along. She went about talking of nothing, until the person stopped behind them.

"Hello," said the deep voice, she spun around with a brow raised. A young man, Elven or half Elven, stood before her with dirty blonde hair and a cheeky glint in his eyes.

"Hello yourself," Sythril smiled, wondering who this dashing young man could be. She peeked at Calliah through the corner of her eyes, with a faint tilt of her head she asked the girl to investigate. Men were totally not her strong spot, well upon first meeting anyway. He could be a threat to them and the other girl was well known for her not so nice fighting tactics.

Calli heard steps in the corridor unfamiliar to her ears. The being was not of their group, that much was true. Her peretty green eyes locked onto Sy for a moment as she grinned. It seemed thrilling at the thought of an enemy. She gave a small nod back to her friend in respond to playing along.

The deep voice caled through the room as the being entered, and she could tell it was male, obviously, without even a glance. Sy turned around first, and before too long, motioned for the blonde girl to make her move. Spinning around elegantly, she took in the males features. Handsome was the first thing she caught, beyond his alluring voice. "Hello," she mused with a devious undertone

Giving Sythril a discrete nod, Cal walked up close to male, to get a better look. She was on her toes, ready if he attempted to prove as a threat. She placed her hand against his chest, allowing it to casually trace along his body as she walked a circle around him. "Half Elven," she stated as a matter of factly to Sy, sure she could have picked that much up. "What brings an attractive male like you around here?" she questioned him, not letting her guard go down just because she was interrogating him.

Eying the two females, Emrys felt his mouth curl up in a smile. They were very fetching he had to admit. Although they were very good looking, he wouldn't allow that to distract him into lowering his guard. Even female elves were taught how to fight and could possibly, well most likely, more skilled than he at fighting. They were sure to be older as well which meant they had more experience.

Standing still he allowed them to look him over, swallowing when the blond touched his chest. Nodding when she stated his heritage. Answering the question he didn't move away from the hand. Who knew if she had poison or some such under her nails? It might have been rude or bad of him to think this. Being paranoid, but he had heard such tales and thought even if it was not very fair, it was very clever.

"Just coming to see the sacred city where it all began. I was reared upon the tales and wanted to come pay my respects."

Awe was very evident in his voice and manner as he allowed himself to show no hostility towards the two women but rather curiosity. "And yourselves? Is anyone actually still living here?"

Syth inwardly laughed at how she approached the young man, her eyes danced with amusement as she stated his heritage.

"How old are you, young man?" she asked kindly, a bedazzling smile spread over her lips. As she pulled a strip of leather out of her back pocket, quickly plaiting her hair and tying it at the end.

"I think we might be scaring the wee one, C." she mused before nodding at his reponse to checking out the place.

"We were but wee ones when the Legend was true, weren't we C? The King of Gondor, Aragorn was a wonderful man. Our fathers had met him once, I think, in the north." she paused, her hearing picking up the Escort's footfalls. Her eyes wide, she motioned the other two to be quiet with a finger to her lips. As the footsteps passed, she answered his question.

"We've come to restore Rivendell to it's original state, where the Elves can return once more to Middle Earth if they so choose." she said, clasping her hands behind her back and turning to the open window.

"You have a lovely horse," she said, the smile still not disappearing from her lips.

Cal smiled as she looked over his features more. He was on his guard too. Good, pointed he was willing to fight if it came down to it. Her eyes flicked between Sy and the male as her friend questioned his age. He was young, like they were, but noticeably younger than them, she imagined.

She gave Sy a smirk and waved her free hand that wasn't touching the male in a passive manner. "Cute, but we have to keep him on his toes if he plans to stick around," she giggled, her eyes returning to his face.

Calliah heard Sythril explain their pressence in the ruins and gave a confirming nod to the facts she had just said. Her lips curled a bit more as she placed her finger against the male's lips and looked past his shoulder in silence as the escort passed by. He seemed a little more oblivious to their pressence in the room than she thought.

"To give our people the home we once had," she merely added with a simple smile, looking over to Sy for a second. She skipped over to the girl and looked down to male's horse. Beautiful. "The more attention we bring, the more our escort is bound to find us, you know, Sy."

The blonde girl lifted her long dress up and stripped it of her body and threw it out the window, the breeze letting it drift out into the distance. Maybe that woud get the escorts attention and lead him away for a bit. Stretching, she pulled the sleeves of the blouse she had been wearing beneath the gown down and made sure her tight pants were limber with her after falling into the water. "That's more like it!" she sighed happily, looking to the male. "What's your name," she inquired, realizing they hadn't procured that information yet.

The human part of him wanted to retort to the comment about being scared, but his Elven side knew that it was just a jest and wasn't meant as an insult. His eyes widened slightly hearing that they had been born and were old enough to recall those told in legend. Listening, Emrys wondered what they would allow those that hadn't left these shores to reside at Rivendale. With men pressing in and taking over the world, Elves had to find places to move just as the Dwarves were burrowing even deeper into their mountains.

Smiling at the compliment about his horse, he nodded a thanks and acknowledgment. Eyes going to the second one to speak, the one with her hand on him, he gave her a small smile. If they would allow it, he did plan on sticking around. He still had plenty yet to see here.

'An escort?' Only royalty and children had escorts. Smiling he stated, "I'm quite young but am an adult. My name I shall give in exchange for yours. This one is called Emrys," he stated as he bowed keeping his eyes on them.

Sythril hummed quietly, an old song from the years before she was born. She turned around to face the young man, the faint smile on her lips. "Believe it or not, yes. Our father's insisted, though once we've settled and we've regained our status we'll send him back. We came from the undying lands," she wandered up to him, looking a little bit closer into his eyes.

"You have a wild heart, your eyes tell a tale that I'm quite interested to hear." she tucked a strand of her hair behind her pointed ear, chewing on her bottom lip.

"My name is Sythril, Elven Princess of Hytheorian of the Undying Lands." she did a small curtsy.

"My sister here, Calliah, she's the Princess of Carhealthian. We're opposite ends of the forest, our land only separated by a large ravine." Calliah waved with a small curtsy, a playful smile on her lips as she turned back to the view.

Sythril hesiitated. "Our escort is Barmelon, my father's right hand man basically. Long story short, we ditched him at the docks and with a few of us... he couldn't pick which one to track first. He was following me, so I decided to make it a little hard for him. He was on foot after all.." she giggled, "He's trying to find us, but he's currently riding to follow Calliah's skirt. He knows I'm here and that I'll remain here...if I don't want to be found then people can't find me." she mused, her deep eyes were almost black but they dazzled with faint stars.

Scuffing her boot clad foot against the ground, she looked at the young elf. Her glance taking to her sister, of sorts, and smiled as she spoke of their escort briefly. She had hardly taken a liking to the guy, but she understood his purpose... to a point. He was more worth fighting than guarding Cal, that was for sure.

"Pleasure," she mused with a playful smile, a wave and a small curtsy to Emrys as Sythril introduced who she was. Not that she minded of course. Sy was the negotiative one, smooth talker. She was more of a fighter. Talking was hardly her style, but she knew what to say, though mostly at the wrong times.

She returned her gaze out the window and clasped her hands together behind her back. "He means well, I suppose," she chuckled and flipped her curly blonde hair, "But he is bound to find us. He does have a keen sense on finding Sythril when we least expect him to show. So when he comes around, don't be surprised if is a little testy toward you," she gave a pointed look to Emrys, "Cause you have that look about you that you will stay around and explore."

"But of course he will!" she mentally laughed and walked behind the male, her fingers dancing along his shoulder blades as if she were assessing him. "Tell me, dear Calli... do you think he could stand a fight against our escort? He has quite a toned back, smooth and rippled from years of practice. Horse riding, spear throwing, working the land and sword fighting. I can almost feel these muscles twitching beneath my touch..." she mused, leaning a little closer to his ear as she said the last few words... her voice barely above a whisper.

"Unless we invite him to stay of course!" she said happily, dancing away with the gracefulness only an elf could posess. "Remember that time he caught me with the stable boy? You and I both know Calliah that my own personal flower has never been touched or broken and our dear escort happened upon us right before it happened..." she giggled, wrapping her arms around Calliah's waist.

Meanwhile, the boy kept standing there silently.

"I wonder how quickly we can escape his sights, possibly meet up in Buckland. I'll call us fresh horses and ride bareback, living off the land..." Sythril laughed, starting her approach to climb out the window and scale down the stone wall. She turned to Calliah.

"Where are my manners my dear? I am a princess afterall, please my dear, after you..." she smirked, bowing and raising her arms to insist the girl go first.

Calliah could only lick her lips at the girls description. Young, but she still adored her men where she could get them, though Syth being the only one in knowledge of her little play times. "Oh, if there were ever a sight to see, it would be them fighting," she merely sang in a pleasing tone with a smile.

The blonde chuckled and placed her hands delicately along Sythril's and she gave her a wink. "The poor stable boy! Missing out on such a delicacy!" she snickered, waving off the boys silence.

Her brow arched a bit curiously and grinned. "Sounds like a wonderful plan! Lest our escort keep dragging us down," Calliah joked and watched Sy walk to the window, before offering the blonde the opportunity to go first.

"But of course! Can't let a delicate one like you go first, would be wrong," she teased as she ran her fingers through the girls hair, hopping over the edge, waving to the boy, and scaling down with Syth coming after.

Sythril turned to the young man, her eyes flashing in adoration of his fine features. A soft smile came across her lips, it wasn't amusement but sincere happiness.

"You may join us, if you so wish. We ride hard, our mission to escape the escort. How are you riding colts? Would you mind if we swapped horses and meet in Buckland?" she chuckled, sitting on the windowsill with one leg draped over the side already. She paused, waiting for his response.

"When our dear escort friend finds you though, until we tell you of his tricks you won't stand a chance. Besides, it'd be nice to have a man along that knows the terrain." she tried, wondering if he'd take the chance.

"We'll return here in a few days, perhaps... start cleaning up or something..."

She knew perfectly well that Calliah was sitting at the bottom of the wall, laughing at how nice she was being to Emrys. Normally, she'd have vanished without another glance at him but something about him made her curious.

Calliah stood at the bottom of the rocks and tapped her foot. She was not the most patient person, but she was figuring her nicer half was inviting the half-breed. Not that she minded, he seemed like good company, at least for Syth to enjoy overly.

Grinning, she looked up, and clapped her hands and laughed. Girl was far too sweet sometimes, it seemed unnatural. But she seemed to be taken by the male, so she figured she would let it pass for now.

"Sythril! Get down here and stop making googly eyes at the boy!" she teased as she smirked, though realizing that her yell could have triggered the possibility of their escort finding them sooner than they would have liked.

((OOC: Emrys, feel free to finish off the thread and GM us if you so wish, then head over to the Buckland thread. First the travel one and we'll eventually head over to the one made by Garion.))

Emrys' eyes widened slightly to find out that the two were sisters and were royalty from the Undying lands. So not blood but might as well be. Giving the two a half serious, half mocking bow he stared at the one called Sythril. So not blood but might as well be.

Sythril wrote:

"You have a wild heart, your eyes tell a tale that I'm quite interested to hear."

Was she flirting with him or being sincere? Stories were always good, but he wasn't that well versed in the telling of them. Hearing talk of their escort, Emrys wasn't sure he wanted to cross blades with him. He seemed to be the find the distressing damsel no matter the cost and sort out everything else once said person was captured.

Sythril wrote:

"Tell me, dear Calli... do you think he could stand a fight against our escort? He has quite a toned back, smooth and rippled from years of practice. Horse riding, spear throwing, working the land and sword fighting. I can almost feel these muscles twitching beneath my touch..."

Tensing at the touch Emrys was sure of a few things. One of which was he didn't want to get near this escort of theirs. Another was that Sythril was interested in him. As for the other one, Calliah she had a wicked sense of humor.

Calliah wrote:

"Oh, if there were ever a sight to see, it would be them fighting."

Watching the two, Emrys couldn't help but to find them rather amusing and quite interesting. Such a vast difference then those he grew up around in Lothlorien. Or many of the others he had met during his life. It was rather a nice change of pace and he felt himself openly grinning at their game. Although he had been confused at first when the one had at first appeared to be stripping. Then it was explained and a relief to see she was quite clothed beneath.

Deciding that the best course of action was to join the two females on their jaunt, Emrys quickly followed after them, smiling lopsidedly at Calliah's comment. Brown eyes shining, he quickly followed them. They would be back in a few days time so he would have plenty of time to look at the rest of the ruins. And his horse would know where to find him. With that in mind, he jumped.