(intro) o_o

[ofsandandstone]

Lystra is sitting at the window, alone. She's sent everyone away, not that there were many people to send away. Most of the others at the Pinnacles are dragon-knights, whose only interest in the queen and her newborn son is how well they are protected. Lystra isn't craving company or conversation, though. She's happy to sit quietly at the window,

Comments

[arid_white_lady]

It may be luck that has it - for the human queen may come then across an elven princess, bearing one on her chest and the other at her back, a set of baby twins. The girls are big - heavy and ripe with nine months of growth - but Aredhel is strong and does not fold under their weight.

She'll give the other young mother a small smile, polite, engaging.

"Good day," she ventures. She's not seen other nursing babes, Aiden and Etienne excepted, in a long time.

[ofsandandstone]

Lystra smiles shyly when Aredhel addresses her. She bobs her head a little, the closest thing to a bow she can easily manage while holding her son.

"Good day," she returns.

[arid_white_lady]

Aredhel can't really bow or curtsy either, loaded as she is. "I don't think we've met before," she ventures kindly. "Are you new come?"

[ofsandandstone]

Lystra nods in response to the question. "I am Queen Lystra, of the Endless Sea," she says, a bit timidly.

[arid_white_lady]

"Aredhel Ar-Feinel," she replies, "Daughter and sister to the High King of the Noldor."

No matter what Feanor says. :|

[ofsandandstone]

Lystra vaguely wonders how Aredhel could be somebody's daughter and sister at the same time.

"It is good to meet you," she says. "What are your children's names?"

She's found herself more interested in children recently, for obvious reasons.

[arid_white_lady]

Her father died, Lystra, so her brother got the job, then proceeded to die pretty much the same way his father did. Stupid recklessness is strong in this line.

"Hirilonde and Alquarinque," she replies, smiling. "What of the babe?" She's looking at the small child with interest. She's never seen an Atan child so small.

[ofsandandstone]

The names are a bit strange to Lystra, and rather long, but she'll try to remember them.

"He's yet to be named," she replies, smiling a shy, proud smile.

[arid_white_lady]

"Of course," she replies gently. "I forget that Atani ways differ from ours. My apologies, my lady."

[ofsandandstone]

"Atani?"

Lystra has no idea what that means.

[arid_white_lady]

Aredhel reaches to touch her hair, revealing a pointy ear. "I am elven - Eldarin is our name - Atani is the name we give the children of men." Her smile is gentle. "It is no slight, only a name, as you might have one for my people."

[ofsandandstone]

Lystra's eyes light up a bit. She's never seen ears like that before. It's new, and wonderful, and exciting.

"Your ears are pointy!"

[arid_white_lady]

Aredhel smiles a little. "So they are," she says, "That is the mark of my people." Her tone is kind and patient. "We are different from yours in some ways, alike in others. Some of my kin have even wedded amongst your folk."

And don't we know it.

[ofsandandstone]

"I have never heard of your people before," Lystra says, still excited, because this is amazing.

[arid_white_lady]

"Then you must come from the Fourth Age, in which your folk held Middle Earth, and mine have left it," she says gently. "One way or another."

Usually the other.

[ofsandandstone]

Blink. "Middle Earth?"

Lystra's never heard that name before, and she's quite sure she knows nothing about people with pointy ears who used to inhabit the land.