[video] Open to all (backdated to the 26th)

[tawarwaith]

[Tauriel's locket was off and propped up on something so that she could look and talk while she worked. Except she was not currently working, despite having a number of tools and materials arrayed out in front of her and a half finished arrow resting on the table before her. Her attention was off to one side where she was busily chiding something out of sight.]

--No! That is not a toy to play with! Come, give it to me.

[Off screen, there is a playful bark followed by a soft whine. I causes her to laugh softly as the whining continues. We will go soon, I promise. She then leans down then, retrieving a wooden dowel that may or may not have been very recently clamped in the teeth of a puppy and sets it off to one side with the rest of the unfinished materials. Successful, she turns her attention back to the arrow she is currently working on, still smiling and clearly amused.]

Hesitant as I am of the courts, especially that of the Unseelie, I currently cannot fault them for the gift they gave me in the form of my companion. Even if he was not quite what I was expecting.

[There is another bark, To which Tauriel chuckles again, once again setting the arrow aside so that she could pick up the locket in order to show off her companion: a puppy that was somewhere in between nine to ten weeks old which resembled in many ways a wolf cub.]

His name is Braig.

[Having shown him off, she changes the angle of the locket to once more show her face.]

The point of all this is that I have never before raised a hound and would appreciate it greatly if anyone could provide me with advice. As you can see he is spirited and already likes to get into trouble!

Comments

[tawarwaith]

It is not that I am not keen on it, more that I have a hard time sitting still for long without something to do. Plus, history has never been my passion.

[No, she was definitely more for the active side of things, pushing her physical boundaries and exploring the full strengths and limitations of her abilities.

Currently she was sitting still because she was working on resupplying herself with arrows after that giant lawkamercyme had ripped through the Station after her.]

King Thranduil has a temper sometimes. He rarely raises his voice since the halls of the Woodland realm carry it so. Before that I I was very young when my parents passed, so I cannot say if they ever fought. It certainly was not in front of me.

The sundering of your parents must have come as a blow to you. How has it been since you saw her last in Arda?

[She knows he has seen her here, or at least talked to her by now, after all how can he not? He was not surprised when she spoke of Nerdanel.]

[bythewaves]

[ he smiles again at that and shakes his head slightly ] Ah, but they say that those who forget history's mistakes must be doomed to repeat them, so tis wise to at least learn what it is she seeks to say! But at the least I can try and make the tales ones not easily forgotten.

[ Sobering he sighs softly ]

Aye. It was very difficult but... we always thought, that this was merely one of their fights, and they would resolve it, as they always had. The last I saw of her was when we left her behind, there on the steps of our home in Tirion, she standing proud and defiant, unwilling to cry, as we followed our father into darkness... I looked back, and thought she had never seemed so lonely nor so proud. I did not dream to ever meet her again, and I am taken now at the end of what my cousin tells me they call the First Age of the world...

[tawarwaith]

Even knowing history there are those who are prone to repeat past mistakes.

[ Whoops! ]

Sorry for bringing forth such a painful memory. My curiosity got the better of me.

[ She grimaced a little, now feeling awkward and uncertain about how to speak to him. ]

[bythewaves]

True enough! Some must learn off their own mistakes, I guess.

[ Maglor shakes his head and manages a small smile ]

Nay - do not apologise. The memory may be bitter but thete is joy in the reunion unhoped for. I do not mind. It must be a strange thing for you, I suppose, to hear of such a large family as ours. You said you were the king's fosterling? Were there no others of your kin to take you in? Forgive me for prying - it is only that I grieve that times became so desperate for your folk.

[tawarwaith]

[ His question brings a touch of sorrow with it, so there is a moment before she can answer. ]

Our people are not numerous. Many died in the battle of the Last Alliance and so it took a long time for my people to flourish once more. My parents themselves had no kin alive among them.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor bows his head ]

I am sorry. Tis a grief to know things will come to such desperate straits. At the least, if you ever choose to sail you will have the opportunity to meet them again eventually.

[tawarwaith]

That is if I can ever return and set sail. I do not think Valinor can be reached here.

[ And there is the disquiet of where she went when she was returned the first time. She recalls being sent away, but not where she was nor did she recall anything further of the events which happened in Esgaroth. ]

I fear for what happens to us if we should die.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor nods, grimly ] You are not the only one. My brother is slain, and if his fea is not safely in Mandos... ah, I cannot bear it.

[ Softly] I hope their hold is not so strong. Mayhap Celegorm and I deserve to be forever sundured from Arda, but none of you deserve such a fate.

[tawarwaith]

[Whoops she had not meant to remind him of Celgorm and yet she had done just that.]

Forgive me... I did not mean to bring you pain... Why would those who rule here not allow our spirits to journey home to Arda? What need would they have for them?

[bythewaves]

[ He shakes his head ]

Tis alright. As to that, I do not know. More pawns for them to play with, I guess. And you must admit - the might of the Eldar, if swayed to their side, might accomplish much for whichever ruler could do so. Although I think me they have lost all chance of that, now.

[tawarwaith]

If we were gathered upon one side of this war, yes it could be done to terrible gains, but there are eldar are scattered between both courts. I will not fight my kinsmen.

[bythewaves]

I have done so four times already. I wish not to do it again. [ Maglor sighs, old and tired and weary ] And this time [ he says darkly ] there is neither Oath nor Jewel to drive me forwards.

[tawarwaith]

[ Of which Tauriel is infinitely glad. She is also glad that he has no desire to war again. It makes being around him a lot easier. Enough that some of her own misgivings are appeased. ]

That is good to hear. Truly. I do not think anyone's heart could bear another kinslaying.

[bythewaves]

I think to do so again might well slay me. [ Maglor confesses ] I am so near the edge already.

Tis why Celegorm was as reckless has he had been - he knows me well, my brother - he has been trying to protect me, for he knew full well that I would have no more choice than he, once the Silmaril surfaced.

And I cannot bear to think of Galadriel's choice, if it came to that.

[tawarwaith]

[She looks at the locket, her eyes full of surprise worry towards him.]

The edge? The edge of what?

[ Even with the blood on his hands and the crimes done in the name of the silmarils, she could not bring herself to contemplate fully and consciously the true depth of the meaning behind his words. For her, the only time she had witnessed the passing of any kin, had been in the throes of battle and not from grief or sorrow. ]

I do not think the Lady could bring herself to be involved unless it was to protect her child.That would truly be a sad day for all if someone as great as she could fall to the depths of darkness...

[ Sorry Maglor she has a sort of hero worship going on for the lady here. ]

[bythewaves]

[ a small wry smile and in answer he lifts his hand into view - when he turns it just right - for a moment, the sunlight shines through him ]

Galadriel has fought and killed before, Tauriel - but always in the defense of kin, you have the right of it. But tell me, how is her heart to decide, if Celegorm and I are set against her again? It would wound her beyond bearing - and that I cannot allow.

[tawarwaith]

[ She cannot stop the surprise from showing on her face, or the gasp that escapes her. Unlike her kin, she had not yet mastered fully the art of hiding her feelings and expressions. ]

I do not think to make her not be too glorified. I think there are two here among our people who have not taken a life. [ Celebrian and Idril immediately spring to mind. ]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor nods wryly and drops his hand - he knows - he is dying ]

At least one. [ he nods ] Maybe two, aye [ he does not know what Idril may or may not have done after all - but Galadriel, he knows, is a kinslayer - for she fought for the Teleri on the shores of Alqualonde, and again against their forces in Doriath. But if Tauriel does not know, he will not say - it is not his place, who is at least partially to blame that she stained her hands so. ]

But it is not a deed I wish any to have to countenance here...but I fear that we may have our hands forced.

[tawarwaith]

Is there away to prevent that? [ She very clearly means the dying thing. ] There are few enough of us here, I would not like to see you fade away...

[That part about Galadriel was usually downplayed. Most of what Tauriel had heard of her was rumor passed on wing or by marchwardens speaking to each other occasionally.]

I can still hope against such action, foolish as it might very well be.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor shrugs a little, but the light in his eyes gutters, if she looks carefully, that Treelight that shone so fierce in Feanor and even Nerdanel a faint echo of what it should be ]

I do not know - but ... Amme is here, and I would not grieve her so. I will fight it, if I can.

We can all do so. [ he nods grimly ] I would not have that sin on any of you. [ I would kill myself first, if it came to that ] We will need to find another way.

[tawarwaith]

Well if I have it in my power to do so, I will help you to remain here among us. Every life of our people is sacred and precious. Even yours for every loss diminishes us. Even if we are no longer on Arda.

[ Plus there were few she felt any sort of closeness to. Not that she felt particularly close to him, but he was one of the few people she had opened up to. On one hand alone she could count the number of people that had happened with. ]

[bythewaves]

[ A startled shy smile, and Maglor dips his head in thanks ]

I think you one of the few who would say so, and I thank you for it. You prove much the greatness and nobility of your king, to raise one who can speak so.

[tawarwaith]

[ A smile, even a shy one, was far better than seeing him fade. And it encourages a small grin from her. ]

I speak from the heart. It is something my king has on occasion found more frustrating than not.

... yes good after much searching I found a possible quenya word for hawk =D

[bythewaves]

[ He looks young, when he smiles, rather than the elf-lord old before his time ]

And it is a good heart, fion - one that any foster parent would be pleased to see nurtured, even if you exasperate him at times

\o/ Awesome!

[tawarwaith]

[The Quenya word is lost on her, but the spirit of it however is not. Her amusement is clear however from her tone of voice and her expression.]

It is said I reminded him of himself in his youth. I do not know if this is true or not, but I will think of it as mark in my favor.