Sirevende had finally reached the river Anduin after two weeks of travelling from Mirkwood. She sighed for happiness and relief. She had run a good deal of the way, so that she would get to Lothlorien all the more quickly. It was getting late in the afternoon, and she had no desire to to spend another night east of the Anduin. While she didn't mind Orcs in the daytime- because that was when she could see them and protect herself- Orcs at night were a totally different story. She hadn't slept well the whole way down the edge of Mirkwood, and even worse when she had been nearest to Dol Guldur. But now she was at the Anduin. She made sure that her sword was strapped tightly to her side, rearranged her pack, bow and quiver so that they would not inhibit her swimming, and waded into the water. She swam across the river with great ease, as she was an excellent swimmer and had had much practice. When she made it to the other side, she took off her pack and sat down, facing the river. She was just on the eaves of the forest, and wanted to rest and dry off a bit. After a while, she got up, shouldered her pack and walked on. She wanted to get to the Nimrodel, eventually, but being anywhere in Lothlorien was comforting. Perhaps she would go to Caras Galadhon for a while... but perhaps not. Anyway, she could walk for a while before she had to decide. So she walked on, and as she walked, she started to sing a bit.

Luinye had seen the maiden wade across the water some minutes ago. It was a surprise she failed to notice Luinye. Perhaps it was because Luinye had decided to rest behind a large rock, for shade and seclusion. It was the singing that had moved her out of her haven.

"Your voice is strong and clear, traveler. May I inquire as to where you are leading?"

Sirevende's hand almost moved to her sword, simply as a reaction from being slightly startled. But when she saw the speaker, an Elf maiden, she replied, "I do not know where I am going, at the moment. I am debating whether or not to go into Caras Galadhon." She then introduced herself: "I am Sirevende, a visiting Elf from Mirkwood. I have been in Lothlorien before, but not often. In the past, I have made my way to the river Nimrodel, but perhaps I will visit Caras Galadhon, for I have never been there before." She stopped then, realizing that she did not know exactly where Caras Galadhon was. The general location she knew, but did not precisely know how to get there. "Would you be so kind as to tell me how to get to the city?" she asked.

Luinye shook her head. "Nay, I know not how to enter the Golden Realm." Luinye reached into her pack and pulled out her panpipes. "My cousin, does not favor my kin too much." Luinye thought on this for a moment and mumbled. "Well, at least my husband."

Luinye made a small bow and said. "I am Luinye. And I also come from Greenwood the Great."

"I see," said Sirevende. She was curious about what Luinye meant about her cousin, but she thought it better not to ask. She was especially sensitive to those kinds of things, simply because she did not like discussing her family or past. "It is indeed a surprise to meet another from the woodland realm. I know a bit of the land of Lothlorien, but only the parts directly between here and the Nimrodel." She paused, and then asked, "Have you a specific destination? For if you do not, I would ask you to walk with me a bit. I do not often have companionship, and it sometimes gets lonely." She looked hopefully at Luinye, for she had truly meant what she had said.

"I'm wandering, young one, so I shall walk with thee if it is your wish." she said.

Luinye fell silent for some moments and looked curiously upon Sirevende.
"Your face is familiar, are you Sylvan?" Luinye drew out a green cloth and began to polish her panpipes. "Or have I seen your face elsewhere before?"

Sirevende frowned a bit, trying to remember whether or not she had seen Luinye before. "Well, I am a Noldo, and I was born in Ost-in-Edhil. I remained there until Sauron (a thousand curses upon him) made war upon the city. I came here, to Lothlorien, and lived by the Nimrodel for a while. Then I moved into Mirkwood, and have been there ever since. Perhaps since we both hail from there we ran across each other once. But I do not even have a permanent home in Mirkwood, and go wherever the most Orcs are." She smiled a bit grimly at this, but then it went away. "We have most certainly met now, though. And thank you for walking with me."

A loud sound like a pop, than another sound, which was just as loud but more natural; the sound of crashing through leaves. Golden Leaves, as it was. A bright flash of silver streacked over the small black cat as he crashed throuigh the colorfull canopy and onto the ground.

He landed hard on his back, but with another flash of the bright silver he jumped up quickly and shot through the forest, feet sliding on the leaves. His ears were back, his tails straight behind him like a flag. He was aiming silply for speed, nothing more. A great fear sparkled in his eyes as he ran through One of the Elves legs.

Sirevende was a bit startled by the fact that a cat running at full speed had just gone between her legs. She said to Luinye, "Do you know what is going on? Did you hear that noise? The cat looks frightened. Shoud we follow it?" She was now slightly frightened, because there had never been any reason any living thing in Lorien should have been that scared during all her previous visits. And Lothlorien was supposed to be a quiet, restful place. "Or should we look for the source of its fear? Or disregard it as a case where a high-strung cat tripped over a root and thought it was attacked?" She knew her last suggestion was a bit ridiculous, but she wanted to lighten the mood a bit. And then she shut up, because she had already asked so many questions. In fact, that was more questions than she ever asked at one time in all her years. But she had been a bit unnerved by the cat's behavior.

Luinye smiled. "You ask many question, young one," Luinye turned around to see if she could spot the cat. "It was normal cat behavior," she said to the elf. "Though, this an odd place for such a cat to be in." She pondered for awhile and said, "Let us walk. Sing and I shall play." she blew a note on her instrument and smiled.

Sirevende blushed slightly. "I know I asked a lot of questions; I have not seen many cats before, and I am excited fairly easily, or so I gather." She smiled, then asked, "What shall I sing?"

Mor-Mor continued to run through the golden leaves, persued seemingly by an invisible attacker. But as the attacker jumped through the trees as well, you could see that it was not invisible but simply a being of deep shadow.

"Sing what you like," Luinye was hearing something. She decided to keep it to herself. "A song learned from Ost-in-Edhil. I hear fewer and fewer songs of my kin."

Once again Luinye heard something. Crashing through the leaves a little ways away. She sighed deeply and placed her instrument to her lips blowing a high note. "When you are ready..."

Sirevende nodded and began to sing a song that Celebrimbor had taught her; it was one of her favorites. She knew it would make her a little down, but she didn't care. She hadn't sung a song while someone else played in a long time. She heard some crashing noises, but she supposed it was the cat they had seen earlier. So she continued singing and put it out of her head.

Luinye's eyes shot open as Sirevende sang. Luinye stopped suddenly looking upon the elf-maid with a frown.

"You sing the song of Tyelpinquar," she narrowed her eyes. "Did you know him?"

Sirevende stopped singing. A pained look shot across her face. She hadn't talked about him in so long... "I knew Celebrimbor very well," she said. "He was as a brother to me, especially after my parents left." A tear started forming in her eye, and a catch in her throat. "I have not spoken about him to anyone since the day he was taken by Sauron. I was there... I saw it happen..." She choked back her tears, and continued. She didn't think about it, she just somehow knew that talking about it might help ease the pain in her heart when she thought of him... "I found him on the steps of the house of the Mirdain, and we talked. I wanted to stay, to fight with him, but he would not let me. He ordered me to go, because he did not want me to die. When I looked back... he was taken..." Tears were flowing freely down her face now, and she could not fight them anymore. She sat down, back to a mallorn tree, and hugged her knees to her chest. "He was the only one I had after m-my parents w-went to Valinor... Sometimes I wonder if he would still be here if I had gone back to help him..." she sobbed.

Sirevende was trying to stop the flow of her tears- she didn't like others to see her when she was that upset. "He told me not to come back to help him, no matter what," she said, her sobs easing. "Do you think I did right?" she asked, looking up at Luinye.

Senlin had been walking from Lothlorien, when she heard someone crying. She peared from behind a tree to see a young woman with dark hair and eyes crying while another woman tried to comfort her. Senlin thought on wether she should step out. "Why not," she mumred to herself, "They have nothing to fear from me, for I am partly Elf. And I know the Elves well." She stepped out from behind the tree. "Hello, may I be of any help to you?," she asked the two, "I am called Liritariel by your people. Who are you?"

Sirevende heard the voice and started a bit. She was a bit startled and wondered how much the newcomer had heard- she hoped it wasn't much.
"I am Sirevende," she replied, getting to her feet and wiping her face. "How much of that did you hear?" she asked, disregarding the question temporarily- she would answer the question when she knew what the stranger knew.

"I did not hear much , I had been walking when I heard you sobbing and asking if you did right. You have nothing to fear from me, for my grandfather was an Elf, from Mirkwood, where I have spent most of my life." said Senlin, and she asked once again, "Can I help you?"

Sirevende sighed inwardly with relief- her outburst had been as involuntary as it had been upsetting and she was glad Luinye was the only one to have heard it. "I had just been thinking about my past, and it was not the happiest part of my life." Then she paused, thinking hard. "You say you have been long in Mirkwood? That is where I hail from as well, as does Luinye here."

"Yes," said Senlin,"I first lived there for six years to be schooled by the Elves in many ways. That is where I was given the name Liritariel. A year later, I was taken back by my cousins because I was ill, having contracted the disease that killed my parents. I come from Minas Tirith, but have not lived there very long. It is a place of sorrow for me."

Sirevende nodded gravely. "So you too have no family left... My parents left Eregion long ago and went to Valinor, and the closest thing to a brother I ever had now resides in the Halls of Mandos..."

"You speak mostly truth, but I still have some family left in Mirkwood. I have four Elven cousins still surviving, the rest of my family was killed either by Sauron, or by disease. But I do not see them often, and I pray that I still speak the truth. I came here to ask if any news of them was heard, but no one knows of how they fare. If they die, I will have no one left to turn too," Senlin answered. She then continued.

"I am sorry for your loss, and my troubles are surely no comfort. I pray that you do not loose this close friend, and that all turns out well for you!"

It began to rain, and the grief that Senlin had held inside of her for such a long time came out, and she broke into tears. "I pray!," she murmured to herself through her tears, "I pray!" Her legs gave way, and she fell to her knees, crying silent tears.

Sirevende looked up at the sky as it started to rain. She loved the rain; it always made her feel better, refreshed. Sirevende saw Liritariel fall to her knees in tears. This seemed to be the day for emotional breakdowns. Sirevende wondered how she could help- Liritariel must be crying for her family, and Sirevende knew that if anything would have made her feel better when she was upset that it would be news of her parents, or news that Celebrimbor had not died after all, and was searching for her. Liritariel has four cousins in Mirkwood... thought Sirevende. I do not know all in the great forest, but I know enough... perhaps I can give her news of her kin.
Sirevende knelt down next to Liritariel and asked, "What are the names of your cousins? Perhaps I have heard news of them; I only left Mirkwood two weeks ago." She hoped she knew of at least one cousin- she figured she had gotten Liritariel's hopes up a bit, and if she knew nothing of the cousins, it would be a huge letdown, she was sure.

Senlin managed a small smile. "That would be good news if you knew of them. My cousins are Culfin Tauruial, Laurewen, his sister; and Thalion and Maegwen Celebel. I know you may not know of them, but it would give me some hope. Thank you kindly."

Sirevende thought hard for a moment. Luinye would probably be a better person to know about this, but she seemed to be not mentally there at the moment. Idril, Anarion... I might have heard news of those... she thought. "Is Anarion an Orc-hunter? Well, what I mean is, does he spend a lot of time roaming around searching for Orcs? Because if he is, I think I know him. You see, I also am an Orc-hunter, and we often run across each other. I might also have heard news of Idril... what does she do?"

"Yes, Anarion is an orc-hunter. It is good to hear that you may have met him. Idril is a healer, and often tends to the wounded orc-hunters. She Looks somewhat like I do, but her hair is darker. "

Sirevende brightened; she had indeed met both of these, and recently too. "I have indeed met Anarion; I ran across him about a month ago. He seemed to be doing very well. And Idril, I met her about a week before that. She was fairly close to the city and said she was going to stay nearer there, as the Orcs are growing more agressive and seem to be afflicting areas nearer and nearer the city these days... but as far as I know, they are both doing fine. I do not know if I have ever met your other cousins, though."

Senlin smiled, and her heart sang with joy. "Thank you greatly for this news! It brings me joy to know this. Anarion and Idril are the eldest of my cousins, and have kept us all together. If they are well, then the others must be safe too!"
She took out her flute to celebrate, and then remembered her manners. "I must ask if there is anything I can do to help you, for I am greatly in your debt. You have given me hope, and there must be something I can give you."

Sirevende shook her head slowly. "Unless you can give me news of Celebrimbor son of Curufin, you can bring me no hope." Her eyes became misty again, but the pain in her heart was somewhat lessened. Perhaps because she had finally allowed herself to think about him she had reconciled his death in her own mind... and yet she could not help but wonder what might have happened if she had gone back to help him...

Senlin frowned, trying to remember if she had ever heard the name before. She hoped so, for Siverende had already done so much for her. Finally she turned to Siverende. "I am sorry, but I have heard no news of him. Perhaps the Elves in Caras Galadon might know. I can take you there if you wish."

Sirevende smiled wanly. "I do not think they will be able to tell me anything I do not already know. Yet I do wish to speak with Galadriel. Could you tell me how to get to Caras Galadhon? While I have been in these woods before, I have never sought out the city and do not know properly where it lies..."

Senlin smiled. "Of course I can tell you how to get to Caras Galadhon! Idril has made me go there several times when both Mirkwood and Minas Tirith were not safe places. I am the youngest of the family, and she often worries about me. I suppose she is right in worrying, since I am young in both the years of Elves and Men. I was about to leave Caras Galadhon, but now that you have told me news of her, it would be best that I go back and wait for a message from her."

Senlin slowed down her talking. "I apoligize for talking so much. Sometimes I get a little excited and ramble on. If you're ready, I can take you to Caras Galadhon."

"Thank you kindly," said Sirevende, bowing slightly. "And I do not mind if you talk a lot. I often prefer to listen." She glanced behind her to see where Luinye was, but did not see her. That's odd, she thought. She turned back to Liritariel and asked, "Which way do we go from here?"

((OOC(I only said Luinye was gone because it would be really weird for us to just leave her here, and she hasn't been active for a really long time... i'll change it if necessary.)))

Senlin bowed in return, and looked around to gather her bearings. "This way, and straight ahead." she said, pointing to the direction. "If we walk quickly, we will be there soon."

Soon they arrived at the city. "Here it is, Caras Galadhon," she said, "Where would you like to go now?"

Sirevende looked around at the great city of Caras Galadhon. She did not rightly know if she would ever get to see Galadriel, but she could try. "I am looking for the Lady Galadriel," she said. "She and Celebrimbor were friends when he was yet living, and I would speak to her, if I could..."

"That will prove hard. I have seen Galdriel in this city before, but I have never found where she lives. If we ask someone, maybe we can find it. The city is very large . . ."

Sirevende nodded. "I'm sure the Elves of Caras Galadhon know where she resides," she said, looking around. She saw an Elf maid walking towards them. "She might know," she said in an undertone to Liritariel.
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Orniel was one of the Elves in Caras Galadhon who lived near the city's gates; as such, she was one of those who always greeted newcomers. She had observed an Elf, Noldorin by her looks, and a human, Gondorian. So she climbed down from her talan to welcome them. It did get boring after a while. But she had to do it, so she did. But that didn't mean she enjoyed it.
"Hail, visitors!" she called out as she walked towards them. Perhaps they would be interesting. "Welcome to the city of Caras Galadhon. My name is Orniel. And you are...?"
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Sirevende heard Orniel's greeting and was cheered by her seeming friendliness. "Hail, Orniel! I am Sirevende of Mirkwood, and my companion is Liritariel. I seek an audience with the Lady Galadriel; would that be possible? It is not a pressing matter, yet I would speak with her if I could..."
Orniel thought for a moment. Why did this Sirevende think that Galadriel had time to speak with any random person who came to the city? But Orniel was a nosy sort, and thought that she might be able to find out Sirevende's reason for wanting the audience if she were friendly. "Perhaps you could speak with her... I will go ask at her home myself. Would you like to go up to my talan or come with me?" she asked.
Sirevende said, "We will come with you, if you would not mind."
"Of course not," replied Orniel. Sirevende motioned for Liritariel to come as well, and followed Orniel through the trees of Caras Galadhon.

((OOC(App, you can play Orniel too, if you want... I don't mind)))

Senlin followed Orniel. She wondered why Siverende had to speak with Galdriel. She knew she would find out, if she waited. so Senlin waited.

While she was walking, she took out her flute. She knew neither of the Elves would mind. She began to play a tune that Melian had taught her.