Rohliriel walked back into the stables of Rivendell, brush in hand to groom the horses. She had been working in the stables ever since she arrived in Rivendell five years ago. The noble Elven-steeds were not, of course, stuck in their stables all day, but were free to roam about the land as they pleased, although they always knew when it was feeding time, or when they were needed. She stroked the mane of her favorite horse, Asfaloth, mount of the Lord Glorfindel. She longed for the day when she might be able to purchase a horse of her own... she greatly missed Felarof, her horse in Rohan, who she had been forced to leave behind. Once she finished grooming the horses that were actually there and made sure they all had water, she went outside and sat on a large rock at the end of the pasture, right where the trees began, watching the horses as they roamed across the land.

Koro had been napping for about two hours by the pool and had woken up. He had decided to explore. He had found the horse pasture and his beak was open. Then the image of the humans appeared and he stooped his flight, landing next to the human that had been sitting there, on the rock. He was not aware she was there though. He clicked his beak in annoyance. Darn them, They gave the horses this much room. Less room then they would have in the wild but here they were protected, he could not eat them without offending his friends.

Koro screached and ruffled his feathers when he noticed the human. He gave her and intense glare, as if he was searching her soul. He was waiting, waiting for her to behave as all humans he had met did. With anger and violence.

Rohliriel turned her head sharply when she heard the screech, although she did not know at that time what had caused the noise. When she saw the gryphon glaring at her, she scrambled up from the rock and stood behind it. She knew what the creature was immediately, a gryphon, for she had heard of them before. But she had never met one. She weighed her choices; she could just back away and try to escape, or she could try to talk to him. It never once occured to her to attack this huge creature. She knew that if she ran, he would be able to catch up with her in a trice, since he could fly and she couldn't. So she held her hands up so they were level with her shoulders and opened her palms, so he would see that she had no weapon. She looked back at him with what she hoped was a calm face-she had never blenched in the face of danger, real or potential. "I won't hurt you," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. Then she waited for him to answer, hoping he would stop glaring like that.

Elindomiel walked towards the stables. As she went she noticed that Koro had left the lake. She wandered what he was up to now. Suddenly she rounded a corner to see that Koro was giving a young girl quite a scare. No, not young. She reminded herself. Not for mortals. "Koro!" She yelled, recognizing the girl as one of the stable hands. "What are you doing?"

Koro turned around, was this girl everywhere? He still had the glare, but it left as soon as he saw Ellie. It was replaced by an innocent look. He had raised his voice and he now very much sounded like an innocent child. He had come to think of ellie as a friend and guardian type elf. "I was surprised and she scared me!" He squeaked out. The voice had always worked on his mother.

He turned his head back towards the human, "Besides," he muttered now in a lower whisper like tone, "Humans arn't peaceful towards me..."

He sounded like a whining child, which he was, but that was because he was just now realizing how far from his parents he was.

Now Rohliriel knew that the way- Koro- was telling the story was absolutely wrong, and that made her angry. "If you'll excuse me, mi'lady," she said to Elindomiel, "He's got it all wrong. I was sitting here on this rock, quiet as a mouse, and then he comes flying down, glaring and screeching at me. I jumped behind the rock here and held up my hands when you came around the corner... I never had any intention of hurting him," she added. "I don't know what humans he's met before, but they can't have been very decent." She put her hands down, as her arms were getting tired, but kept them in plain view. "And if you could ask the horses, they would tell you the same thing," she said.

Elindomiel shook her head. "I know you myself, Rohliriel. And I think Koro should be embarresed even to say that a human was able to scare him. I guess hes only a little gryphon..."

What she said wasnt very far from the truth, but she hoped it would make him feel ashamed of himself.

"What other humans DID you meet, Koro?"
she asked, with a note of concern, suddenly curious about what had happened to the gryphon that had made him distrust humans so....

(THis is the last time I will ever be on as ellie with this computer. The last time I will use this key board. :unsure: ........










:D

"Well she did scare me." he muttered.

He heard elindomiels question, but he didn't know how to respond. He was trying to forget that day. It had been cold and he was flying low, for a storm was coming. He had landed in a valley, close to a forest, to get shelter before the storms started. That was when they found him. He was huddled under a tree, and they were riding through the forest. They all had bows and swords. He had heard them coming but he had never met a human before. He had stood up, hoping they were friendly or at least had kind hearts, enough to invite him to thier homes. He was wrong.

These humans were vicious, beyond mean. They were beasts. They called him the beast, they said he was a monster. They attacked. He had tried fighting back with his two daggers, which were always on the feather pounch his mother had made him. It was a sewn bag from the elves, but it was covered in feathers he had molted. He could not fend off the twenty of them at once and soon he had three arrows buried in various points. He had slash marks all over his front legs and his head was in terrible pain. He hated them. Finaly one of them knocked him over the head with some large obect. He vaugley remembered them reporting to each other that he was dead and leaving him there.

He knew that the arrows had not hit any major organs, for most of them are in a gryphons wings, but he could have still died. He waited there for three days, unmoving and almost dead. He was found by three gryfalcons, who had helped and healed him. He hated humans. He hated them with so deep a passon that he could not possibly learn to trust them.

He shook his head in response to elindomiels question. His gryphon accent had returned with his anger, "That you ssshall learrrn in time, perrrhapsss." He said this with some hesitation, not sure how she would respond. He rembered his mother and he knew that his eyes were squinted, and his head was hanging, unhappily, studying the ground.

Rohliriel felt her anger at the gryphon ebb away- she could tell he was feeling powerful emotions from whatever the memory he was reliving was. She could tell how creatures were feeling pretty well from all the time she spent with horses. She stepped out from behind the rock and said, "I'm sorry if I scared you in some way." She really wasn't sure how in the world she could have frightened him, but if an apology would make him feel better, she would apologize for whatever she did or didn't do. She cared about animals like that. And while she wasn't quite sure it was proper to classify grphons as animals, as they could talk and everything, she couldn't think of a better word. And to make conversation, she said, "Are you going to be in Rivendell long?"

Koro squinted at her, then at ellie. He nodded, "I plan to be herrre forrr a while..." He growled in frustration, still a little bit angry at his recollection of that day.

He was still squinting at the grass and he heard something approching. It was a horse. The horse was beautiful, and looked like it was healthy. He could tell that it was watching him so he "scree'ed", the hunting or battle cry of a gryph. It was rather pitiful, since he was upset, but it achieved its purpose. Flapped his wings slightly in frustration as the horse galloped back aways.

"Oh, don't do that," cried Rohliriel. "That's just Asfaloth; he was just coming to see who you were." She paused, then said, "Do you have somewhere to stay? Because I know the land relatively well; I might be able to find a place you might like, if you want a place outside and everything..." She didn't know if he wanted to stay outside, or if he wanted to be inside, or even if he already had a place to stay. And while she didn't really like his behavior, she was trying to be as nice as she could be.

Elindomiel softened as Koro got all mad. She had already learned that one of the reasons he got angry was that he was upset, and Elindomiel felt sorry for him. He was only a little gryphon after all.

Another horse came out of the stables at the sound of Elindomiels voice. She was pure white, and slightly silvery. She was running as slowly as she could, still reaching the group in seconds. She had a fine but very full mane, and she rearecd up as she reached the group.

Rohliriel heard the horse's footsteps as it walked out of the stables towards them. She wasn't absolutely positive, but she was pretty sure that the horse was Elindomiel's. "Oh, is that not Sierra Nevada, your horse, milady?" she asked. She was a bit nervous too, as the horse had reared when it reached them, and she did not know how Koro would react- he had screeched at Asfaloth, and he had just been standing there...

Koro scree'ed yet again, flapping his wings until he was hoving about 4 feet off the ground. He was not at all happy and the horse pasture was not helping. He dropped onto all fours again, this time himself rearing up. He was rather afraid of this horse, for it looked well muscled and stronger than the other one had been. He made another sound, before stepping back a few steps, dropping down onto his front legs and stared at the horse so hard that if he had warmage abilities it would be on fire right now.

He was visibaly shaking as he had a break-down. He began breathing very heavily and he felt afraid of this new place. He didn't like all the questions and, whne he would have been running back to the nest, he realized he was at least a two weeks fly from his home. He had his eyes closed, and he had his ears flopped down. His wings were out and he was laying down, head on his front paws. He was rather pitiful looking

I hate this... they question me, and they torment me with all these horses. There is nothing I can do and I am afraid that they will hate me. What is wrong with me, why am I the one in this horse haven. Why was I the one they almost killed. WHy am I the one they torment with horses I can't eat. He thought to him self, trying to justify his behavior. He knew somehow that he needed something like a flight out for a day. He wanted to go fly and just be free, like he always been...

Rohliriel stood in shock and a bit of horror as she watched Koro's breakdown. All feelings of dislike for him left her, for the moment anyway. She wanted to shoo the horse away, since it was a source of Koro's anger, but instead Rohliriel knelt down on the ground so that she was on the same eye level as him. She could tell he didn't want to be in the horse pasture. She wasn't quite sure what gryphons ate, but maybe they normally ate horses and he was being sorely tried by the temptation to gobble one up. So she said in the calm, soothing voice she always used when the horses when they were upset: "Koro, come with me. Let's go into the woods a-ways; there's a clearing nearby, and the horses won't bother us there." Her hand reached out instinctively to pat his shoulder, another thing she always did with the horses. She hoped he would calm down soon, or he might hurt himself or someone else.

Koro watched the girl sourly. He felt him self instinctivly move away from her touch. He was tence as he stood up, legs straight. "you don't know... you don't know what it was like. They were monsters. They slashed and shot thier stupid little bows. And they tried to kill me. They... they left me to die." He muttered, voice softening as he finished, before he began his uproar again. This time flapping into the air, not steady anymore but jerking. "Why should you be any different... Why should you care when they didn't. How come I am the one placed with this burden, Why and I the one the that is hated so by YOUR race!" He screached, he was impossibly loud as he made a half scree, half human scream as he flew to the forest, the only haven he could think of.

Rohliriel cried out, "Koro, come back! You musn't judge all humans to be the same as those who hurt you!" He was flying into the forest, and she doubted he heard her. She was terribly upset by his reaction. If he had been on land, she would be running after him, trying to calm him down, but he was in the air; there was no way she could follow him now. She just had to hope someone would find him and settle him down. She sat back down on the rock, crying. She looked at Elindomiel, asking, "Oh, milady, whatever shall we do now? I fear for him; he does not know this land well; what if he gets hurt or lost? I feel like it's my fault he's being like this; I just wanted to help..."

I am sorry, Rohliriel, but you have no permission to control my horse. Please edit youre post accordingly.

In fact... we may have to delete the last two as well. :) I sorry.

((OOC(What's wrong with the last two? And I'm sorry I said your horse had run away, but you never said it was your horse, and Koro over there was screeching- if I were a horse, I'd run away... sorry about that anyway. But what ever is wrong with the other two?)))

(weve worked out a plan. We are starting at the point right before my horse somes and as long as we work up to Koro flying off in a rage we should be fine....

I think Kyrie hates me know anyway. She left one of the clubs im in and doesnt want to come over any more... and ;now shes all paranoid that I might be reading her PMs :unsure:

I DO NOT HATE YOU!!!!! would you stop thinking that. And i am gonna come over to your house, I am just going to a different club! So stop thinking I hate you, please, You make me feel bad for something that is not happening...

((OOC(ok then, um, i'll just repost that part when Rohliriel tells Koro not to scare Asfaloth (in a different way than before), which is the post immediatly before Ellie's post when Sierra comes out...)))

Rohliriel winced at the sound of Koro's screech, and when Asfaloth ran away, she was upset. "Koro, why did you do that? Asfaloth is one of the gentlest horses here; he was just coming to see who you were." She whistled for Asfaloth to come back, but he had been pretty scared by Koro. She sighed. Then, realizing she hadn't been all that polite, tried to make some polite conversation. "Do you have a place to stay, Koro? If you want, I could show you some of the land, if you need a place to stay and want to be outside. I can also show you some of the good hunting areas, if you like..." It wasn't as if she had anything better to do in her spare time anyway. And if she was busy showing Koro around, she wouldn't think about Folcred and Felarof as much. Even thinking that brought a small tear to her eye. She hoped it wasn't noticeable.

((OOC(ok then, let's start it over from here...)))

At the sound of Elindomiels voice, a horse came into view. It was a small horse, but somehow full of speed and stamina. It was an elvish horse, and more than that, it was Ellies. It would carry only her. As it neared, it reared slightly and whinnied in greeting, and then ran up and rubbed its head against Elindomiels blue duster.

Elindomiel worried about Koros reaction....... he didnt seem to take kindly to horses, and this was one horse he wouldnt be able to scare off

Suddenly her thoughts wandered. THis was one of her weaknesses. She was worried about the journey ahead of her, and she knew she had stayed in Rivendell too long.........

She unconsciously reached for the small pouch she wore around her neck.... and thought.

When Elindomiel's horse- its name was Sierra, she was pretty sure- approached, Rohliriel had inwardly thought Not again. She was afraid that Koro would react the same way towards Sierra as to Asfaloth... then she noticed that Elindomiel seemed a bit spacey at the moment, and trying to prevent a problem said, "See, Koro? The horses here are nice- they won't bother you if you don't bother them. This one is Elindomiel's horse." She pointed to the horse nuzzling Elindomiel and hoped Koro would relax a bit. While this kind of excitement kept her mind off her past, it was still a bit too much for everyday.

Koro scree'd in the horses face, nares flushing. He did not like these horses. They were protected and he could not touch them without offending his new friends. He Scree'd yet again in vain before ploping onto the grass, his features shorded in shadow. "I hate horses, all they are good for is meat..." He muttered, under his breath, trying to restrain his instincs and pounce the stupid animal.

Sierra snorted about this comment but decided that these new people wrent worth her time. With another whinny she ran off. "Sorry Koro, didnt mean to startle you..." she said. "I came to see Sierra one last time........... Rohliriel? I came to ask you if you would take care of Sierra for a while.... perhaps a long while.... While I am on a journey. Churrhi too...."

Rohliriel was thrown off a bit by Elindomiel's comment and seemingly dreamy voice. "Of course, mi'lady." Then she turned back to Koro, thinking perhaps Elindomiel would want to follow Sierra, if she were beginning a long journey soon...
"So, Koro, as you don't like horses, do you want to come into the forest a bit? They don't usually wander into the woods very much; they prefer the open ground." Then she asked again, "Do you have anywhere to stay yet? It's just that I know the land around here pretty well, and if you need a place to stay and want to be outside, I could help you find somewhere..."

Ellie nodded. "I think that would be a good idea Koro," she said. "I think youll find that the people of rivendell, humans and elves alike, are very kind and generous."

Rohliriel nodded. "So, Koro, do you want me to show you around a bit? Or would you rather explore on your own?"

Koro glared at Ellie, then the human. He jumped over and pushed the human diwn, standing over her he muttered to her, "You don't understand. You can try. You can say your nice and friendly and I should trust you. But Why should I?! I have never met a human with good intentions. I have never had any reason to trust one." His talons were holding Rohliriel down and he put more pressure on them.

Then he realized what he was doing. His eyes got wide and he stepped off her. he looked at ellie then at the human. He stepped back a few more times then timidly put out his wings. He wanted to fly away. He wanted to die. He didn't know what he was doing. He made a timid sound then laid down, rather depressed. He wanted to talk to someone but they wouldn't understand. They were completely different then him.

"Koro, Calm down!" Said Ellie, not at all happy with the way things were turning out. "You do to have reason to trust humans. Have you never met another Gryphon who was unkind to you? And yet there are others who are youre friends. It is the same with humans. We are not all the same..."

Rohliriel had screamed when Koro jumped on her; when she hit the ground, she was temporarily stunned. The force Koro was putting on her was unbearable and she had a hard time breathing. When he had gotten off her, she had remained lying on the ground, panting for breath. She saw him lie down on the ground while Elindomiel rebuked him, and slowly she sat up. She was fed up with this gryphon; his scaring the horses she could endure, but actual attacks on her own person were much worse; and yet if she got angry at him, she would not only make his next meeting with a human worse, but he might seriously hurt her... she spoke to him, trying to control the shaking of her voice. "The Lady Elindomiel is indeed right. Not all humans are the same, just as not all gryphons are the same. If I were like the humans you have met before, I would be attacking you right now, even as you lay on the ground. And yet I am but sitting here, though you have attacked me. Does that not tell you anything at all?"

:Ellieyell

"Koro..." began Ellie, then sighed in exasperation. "youre right, we cant understand you.... and you cant understand us either. Why dont you go have some time alone? The woods of Rivendell are a beautifull place to get lost.

Koro nodded. He wanted to tell them, to make them understand how he wasn't trying to be... horrible... monster like. He shuddered and made a slight sound. He needed to apologize before he went. He walked over to the human, reached his talons to his wings and he looked at her, "I... I..." He dropped a feather at her feet, "I won't kill you.... I promise..."

With that he flew off, not turning back hoping that she undrestood.

Rohliriel gazed sadly after the gryphon as he flew away. She stooped to pick up the feather he had dropped in front of her. "I never thought he was going to kill me..." she murmured, looking up at Elindomiel. She sighed; she had never dealt with a non-humaniod being that could speak before, and was unsure what Koro's reaction meant... "What would you advise me to do, mi'lday?" she asked, hoping Elindomiel would have an answer.

"Give him time, young one. And keep the feather near youre skin..." And with that she turned and walked off.

Rohliriel nodded as Elindomiel walked away. She really didn't know what the feather was for, but it was obviously something with a power of a kind. She pulled at a thin chain on her neck that she always wore and managed to attach the feather to it. The horses of Rivendell began to come around her, sensing her mood was not what it usually was. Asfaloth came right up next to her and laid down. She began to stroke his mane, and she felt the loss of her home in Rohan so keenly she began to sing one of the songs of the Rohirrim that she had not sung for years:
Where now are the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where are the helm and the hauberk and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harpstring and the red fire glowing?
Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing?
They have passed, like a rain in the mountain, like a wind in the meadow:
The days have gone down in the West, behind the hills, into shadow...
And she remembered no more of the song. Her eyes began to fill with tears and she thought of what her life would be like of Folcred was yet alive; she might be a mother with babies on her knee; she might still have Felarof by her side...

((OOC(Tolkien wrote that song; I'm not tryin to take any credit for it, I just thought it would be appropriate for Rohliriel.)))

The horses eventually got up and left Rohliriel alone again. She sat there thinking until the sun began to set. She rounded up most of the horses and let them go into the barn but left the doors open for the rest of them who had wandered off somewhere. She went back out into the field and looked up at the sky. The western horizon always looked so nice right before the sun's settting.
Rohliriel yawned and suddenly realized how tired she was. Being attacked, she concluded, was a very tiring thing. She turned away from the barn and walked the short way to her home, which was very close by. Once inside, she began to weave on her small loom, trying to keep her mind on her work. It was always like this now, had always been like this since... Don't think about that, she told herself.