Galadriel steps out...
((open RP))
Galadriel surveyed the Gryffindor common room. It was very, very unlike the Golden Wood. But then again, differences were what she was here to learn about.
Speaking of which....
The Lady of Light stood upright, and said out loud, "I wish to meet a house elf. I am an elf myself, now of this house - Gryffindor. If this house has one, please make yourself known."
A loud popping noise sounded behind her. She turned, and was, for Galadriel, rather astonished.
A large number of creatures stood before her, none of them reached as high as their waist. Their ears were long, and rather pointy, and they had large, bulging eyes. Some were in rags, some in clothing - but she noticed that the ones in clothing and rags tended to stand a bit apart from one another. The clothed - house elves, she assumed - also had bright, shiny badges.
For their part, the house elves waited, quietly,
Galadriel had never seen elves of this kind before. "Mae Govannon," she said, head bowed and hand on heart. "I am Galadriel. You are a new kind of elf to me. I am an elf also, but it seems that elves in this world are of a different origin. How might I call you?"
One bright-eyed house elf bowed to her, saying, "Welcome, Galadriel! I am a free house elf, name of Brian." He proudly displayed the badge on his chest, reading 'S.P.E.W.' in gold letters. "I serve here for a wage, and because I like it. Those of us with clothes are free. The rest of us," here he looked about sadly, "refuse clothes in preference to bondage."
Several of the house elves, all in rags, to be exact, began looking particularly uncomfortable. A few bowed, then left quickly, glancing back at Brian over their shoulders.
"Bondage?" Galadriel was aghast. "Elves are in bondage here?"
Brian nodded, then shook his head. "Yes, and no, Galadriel. They may be set free, but choose not to, believing it to be against the house elf nature. It's regular for us, you see, to be bound to one family, or place, for a lifetime."
"How is one set free?" she demanded.
More house elves left.
Brian grinned widely, adjusting the absurd shoes he had - sparkly orange western-style boots with green and white striped socks that came up to his knees. "One is given clothes, miss. That sets them free. Then they can go where they want, and do what they want. Only most don't want it. Here at Hogwarts, we are all paid, but not everybody takes it, see. Only those who want to be free."
Galadriel turned to look at the amassed house elves. "Do you not wish to all be free?"
The remaining rag-dressed house elves left, with several loud 'pop' sounds. All that were left were the house-elves who were wearing the SPEW badges, and some form of clothing, from one sock perched on an ear, to ensembles that would have made the most flamboyant dresser weep.
"Have I offended them, Master Brian?" Galadriel asked.
"No more than we always do, miss," he assured her, "whenever we talk about freedom, or SPEW, the legacy given to us by Miss Granger."
The house elves suddenly chanted in chorus. "Hermione, the Generous! Long may she knit!"
Galadriel smiled, obviously recognizing a story for another time. "I am told you can help me obtain the things I need in this world, as I have come with few possessions. Is this so? What will you have in trade?"
Brian smiled, and bowed again. "Nothing, good lady. That's what we do!"
"Well then, I believe I am in need of some suitable garments, including Quidditch clothing and gear, and clothing that is rugged and appropriate for sword and archery practice. Is that obtainable?"
The house elves nodded, as one, and Galadriel suddenly was swarmed. Three house elves leapt up on one another's shoulders, and produced a long tape measure out of the air. They quickly got to work, and then disappeared with a series of pops.
"Any particular color, miss?" Brian asked.
"I am in your debt, sir. You may choose. Although..." she paused, "I believe hues of the wood, water, and earth would suit me most. And perhaps some things in white." She motioned to the white, shimmering gown she currently wore.
"Very good," said Brian, and popped out of the room, followed by the remaining house elves.
Galadriel, left alone in the room, sighed and seated herself in an overstuffed armchair by the fireplace to contemplate the discoveries of the last several days.
Galadriel surveyed the Gryffindor common room. It was very, very unlike the Golden Wood. But then again, differences were what she was here to learn about.
Speaking of which....
The Lady of Light stood upright, and said out loud, "I wish to meet a house elf. I am an elf myself, now of this house - Gryffindor. If this house has one, please make yourself known."
A loud popping noise sounded behind her. She turned, and was, for Galadriel, rather astonished.
A large number of creatures stood before her, none of them reached as high as their waist. Their ears were long, and rather pointy, and they had large, bulging eyes. Some were in rags, some in clothing - but she noticed that the ones in clothing and rags tended to stand a bit apart from one another. The clothed - house elves, she assumed - also had bright, shiny badges.
For their part, the house elves waited, quietly,
Galadriel had never seen elves of this kind before. "Mae Govannon," she said, head bowed and hand on heart. "I am Galadriel. You are a new kind of elf to me. I am an elf also, but it seems that elves in this world are of a different origin. How might I call you?"
One bright-eyed house elf bowed to her, saying, "Welcome, Galadriel! I am a free house elf, name of Brian." He proudly displayed the badge on his chest, reading 'S.P.E.W.' in gold letters. "I serve here for a wage, and because I like it. Those of us with clothes are free. The rest of us," here he looked about sadly, "refuse clothes in preference to bondage."
Several of the house elves, all in rags, to be exact, began looking particularly uncomfortable. A few bowed, then left quickly, glancing back at Brian over their shoulders.
"Bondage?" Galadriel was aghast. "Elves are in bondage here?"
Brian nodded, then shook his head. "Yes, and no, Galadriel. They may be set free, but choose not to, believing it to be against the house elf nature. It's regular for us, you see, to be bound to one family, or place, for a lifetime."
"How is one set free?" she demanded.
More house elves left.
Brian grinned widely, adjusting the absurd shoes he had - sparkly orange western-style boots with green and white striped socks that came up to his knees. "One is given clothes, miss. That sets them free. Then they can go where they want, and do what they want. Only most don't want it. Here at Hogwarts, we are all paid, but not everybody takes it, see. Only those who want to be free."
Galadriel turned to look at the amassed house elves. "Do you not wish to all be free?"
The remaining rag-dressed house elves left, with several loud 'pop' sounds. All that were left were the house-elves who were wearing the SPEW badges, and some form of clothing, from one sock perched on an ear, to ensembles that would have made the most flamboyant dresser weep.
"Have I offended them, Master Brian?" Galadriel asked.
"No more than we always do, miss," he assured her, "whenever we talk about freedom, or SPEW, the legacy given to us by Miss Granger."
The house elves suddenly chanted in chorus. "Hermione, the Generous! Long may she knit!"
Galadriel smiled, obviously recognizing a story for another time. "I am told you can help me obtain the things I need in this world, as I have come with few possessions. Is this so? What will you have in trade?"
Brian smiled, and bowed again. "Nothing, good lady. That's what we do!"
"Well then, I believe I am in need of some suitable garments, including Quidditch clothing and gear, and clothing that is rugged and appropriate for sword and archery practice. Is that obtainable?"
The house elves nodded, as one, and Galadriel suddenly was swarmed. Three house elves leapt up on one another's shoulders, and produced a long tape measure out of the air. They quickly got to work, and then disappeared with a series of pops.
"Any particular color, miss?" Brian asked.
"I am in your debt, sir. You may choose. Although..." she paused, "I believe hues of the wood, water, and earth would suit me most. And perhaps some things in white." She motioned to the white, shimmering gown she currently wore.
"Very good," said Brian, and popped out of the room, followed by the remaining house elves.
Galadriel, left alone in the room, sighed and seated herself in an overstuffed armchair by the fireplace to contemplate the discoveries of the last several days.