A Warm Read by the Fire

[Tara]

Meneluin greatly enjoyed her new rocking chair. She wasn't sure who had left it, but she was grateful to whomever had. She rocked before the fireplace, now, awaiting customers in her thoroughly clean tavern, and reflected on times past. It seemed as though she'd lived several lifetimes in this room, and it took a lot of will power for her to return.

She had seen Skye recently, but still, she missed him. And her sisters, and her atar. She wore a most elegant dress this evening--she'd had plenty of time to create it. The fabric complemented her graceful figure and matched the harp that rested next to the chair. It was royal blue with white highlights that matched the horsehairs on the harp.

Meneluin appeared simply queenly sitting there, her bell sleeves falling evenly on either side of the chair. Eventually she bent down and reached not for the harp, but for a book, and began reading, the glow of the fire warming her fair face.

Sensing joy, the Elf at last smiled. The sun would soon rise on the Tula again.

[vonmashira]

~ soft flute decorated the tavern air. Musty scent loosing to the smell of freshly cut jasmine. Figures dance within a blaze as the songs of ancient days echoed on a wooden flute. Elegance in every tune. Perfected as time aged on. Like a far off lullibye playing to lul a sleepless heart. Delicate tones flickered as dancing creatures froliced in the flames of the hearth. An army of dryads, satyrs, and elves. A fiery phoenix flying overhead. Beautiful and prestine. Softly, oh so softly. The ancient flute carried away it's secrets.~

[Tara]

The Elf sat up abruptly at the sound of the flute, but then the melody was quite recognizeable. She relaxed, closing her eyes and rocking to the tune, mouthing the word "atar."

"The Tula is open again...surely you have known it, father."

She delicately closed her book and set it on her lap, rocking as the flames warmed her feet and enjoying the melody. She was eager to prepare and serve food for everyone; to wear the dresses that Von had given her, and to move with grace about the establishment, even when it got busy again.

[anzee]

-She meandered down the street, her usual spring green velvet dress gently kissing her skin. She also wore an old woolen Elvish cloak her husband had given to her before he left for battle.
Her neck was exposed as her red flowing hair was tied up in a net decorated with pearls.
Those amber eyes looked up from gazing down at her lovely toddler Ivy, who had the same red curly hair as her mother, but striking green eyes like her father had had.
Anzee looked at the tavern before her, she hadn't noticed it before, but the lights were on and there was smoke coming from the chimney...

Had there always been smoke and lights in this building...? What is it that that sign says....?

-She gasped and smiled a wide smile as she read the tavern's sign. -

"Ivy, my dear, would you like a nice warm cup of cocoa? Mama sure would."
-She said to her little daughter soflty and with a smile. Ivy smiled and giggled then nodded and lifted her arms up to her mother because she wanted to be picked up. Anzee smiled and laughed, bending down to pick up the little one.-

"Let's go in lovely. I'm sure that there is someone here who you would like to meet and who I haven't seen in a long time."

-She pattered up the steps and pushed open the door, stepping into the familiar building. She heard a genlte flutesong, a familiar one at that, and looking toward the fireplace she saw a familiar woman in a rocking chair...-

[Tara]

Meneluin's attention was turned rapidly toward the door. The red hair on the woman left no doubt as to who it could be, even before the Elf saw the woman's face. Recognition and love returned to Meneluin's face as she stood, arms open with the backdrop of Von's timeless music, awaiting the warmth, acceptance, and adoration of her other sister.

"After I've just seen dear Uryviel, too, you arrive. And the wee one..."

The Elf was almost in graceful tears over the beauty of the child.

"You have been born and have grown so well, little one. Do you know at all who I am?"

Meneluin simply beamed. She hoped the child knew little, for there was so very much to remember and know.

[elosia]

On a random day the spirited Silver Dragon had been soaring through the skies casually gazing on the lands below as powerful silver wings carried her through the wintery air. Then she spotted an Inn, getting some kind of familiar feeling about it. Out of just pure, random curiousty she dove down just enough to catch the Inn name or something outside the door. The name...very recognizable, her old and dear friend Meneluins Inn! A grin spread across her scaled silver maw. And she soar back away to return to her home to bring her young daughter.

Shortly she would return in her human form. Striding up the path towards the Inn with a young girl that stood alittle below her waist holding her hand. Elosia looked the same mostly. She wore black breeches with dark violet lace up knee high boots and a matching colored overcoat with black buttons. A design of roses embroided on the cuffs of the overcoat in silver and around the collar. She wore a silk black frilly shirt underneath. Long silvery blond hair draping down her back her one blue one green eyed gaze looking at the inn with a grand smirk on her face. Memories coming back. The youngling at her side peered up at her mother with big, strange silvery-black eyes. "Where are we going mama?"
"Visiting an old friend heartling. The one whom you got your name from." She smiled down at her daughter. Her children and Ala were the only people now adays that got *real* heart felt smiles from her instead of her thingyy smirks and grins.
"Oh." Well the little girl was a wee curious now. Her face resembled a lot like Elosia's, had different eyes from both parents, but had her fathers ebony hair. When Elosia reached the door a gloved hand turned the knob and pushed it open. She let her daughter enter first who wore black breeches like El, a dark blue shirt, and black boots. Entering afterwords she closed the door behind her and looked around. A grin pulling at her lips.
"Well if it isn't dear Meneluin and Anzee! I knew this was your Inn! Feels like it's been centuries!"She exclaimed hands resting on the shoulders of her daughter that was about 7 human years.

[anzee]

Ivy squirmed to get down, she knew her Aunty's face from paintings and pictures and drawings that her momma had shown her, so she definately knew! Anzee let her down onto the floor gently and as soon as those tiny leather bootie clad feet touched the hardwood she began toddling toward her, arms stretched out toward Meneluin.
"Aunty Mene!! Aunty Mene!" She squealed delightedly. She jumped up and down in front of Meneluin so that she would pick her up!

"Aunty Mene! Up, peease! Up!" She was practically vibrating with energy as she was so excited to see the person who she had only known in her bedtime stories.


Anzee laughed heartily as she let her squirmy worm of a daughter down. She had indeed told little Ivy of the best sister and friend she had ever known, right with Uryviel of course.

She had told her of the beautiful songs she had sung and that one day, Aunty Mene would sing her one, too! She told her of how beautiful and loving her aunty was and that she made the bed hot cocoa in the world!

Ivy was of course skeptical because Anzee made the best cocoa Ivy had ever tasted, so she was eager to see what Meneluin's tasted like, too!

Anzee smiled and then turned to Elosia and said hello. The woman seemed familiar but she couldn't place her. She felt bad that she couldn't but she'd soon enough know who the woman was.

However, as usual, Anzee automatically went to the kitchen to start a pot of water aboiling and to start some cocoa and cookies. She loved making cookies because they made her think of Skye, whom she missed dearly, that wonderful little cat-boy.

Smiling wistfully she then turned back to the quick mixing of the making of the cookies. She would do this very quickly, of course, since this is a magical realm, is it not? So, the cookies and tea and cocoa were all done in a jif!

(While Mene and Ivy acquiant themselves, of course this will be a-going on.)

[Tara]

Meneluin's book now lay at the foot of her rocking chair. She joyfully embraced Elosia--it took a moment for her to regonize her, but she did so rather quickly. The Elf then looked down to the child and smiled affectionately.

"Hello there, little one. Would you like something to eat and drink?"

Meneluin looked much the same as she had during Ar'Tauron times--she was smiling again, and looked healthy enough to start her own instrument-making shop once more. In fact, her craft room was the next project undergoing renovation at this Inne.

Turning around to face Anzee and Ivy again, she saw the little girl's arms in the air. She smiled warmly at her sister again, figuring Anzee would be making and bringing some food for the bunch--Anzee was the most resourceful lady she knew, always thinking ahead and ready to prepare.

Meneluin hugged Ivy, much enjoying the feeling of holding a wee one again. Without a terrible amount of sorrow, it reminded her of the way Laura had made her feel. As she embraced Ivy, she looked down to the girl she shared her name with, remembering that very fact.

"Oh my, girls, Elbereth has gifted me a hundred songs in each of your angelic faces," the bard said breathlessly.

[elosia]

Elosia smiled and returned the embrace. Gently ushering her own daughter to sit at a table with her nearby. Sitting she took off her hat and smiled lightly. "That is Anzee's daughter? Looks just like her." The dragon knew skye well and remembered Anzee as his mother. A dragon never forgets. Her own daughter, little Meneluin ^.^ was nothing like her mother. Very quiet, shy and a bit timid. She wasn't much for rouge-ery heh and not much of a spellcaster or fighter like her father. She had a voice but never picked up an instrument. Her twin brother on the other hand was wild and spontaneous and full of surprises. In a motherly nature that she had adopted now she stroked her daughters ebony hair while repeating the question to her. "Do you anything loveling, tea maybe?" Little Meneluin the mutt blooded Dragon...(Silver-Obisidan- and Ectoplasmatic Dragon) sat on her hands and nodded looking at her mother and nodded. Elosia nodded and waited since Anzee went to get it. Meanwhile she looked up at Meneluin. "Well what have you been up to these past years my friend?" She leaned back in her chair tucking her hands behind her head. Glancing at her daughter from time to time. The little dragonling, which resembled nothing of a dragon since Elosia carried them in her human form, gaze about the place curiously. Taking all the details in quietly while listening to her mother talk. Taking sometime to look over the woman she was named after and the other little girl.

[anzee]

Ivy wiggled and kissed her Aunty's cheek then looked at the other girl, who was much older than her. However, that never stopped the curious little Ivy! Ivy wiggled out of her aunty's arms and went over to the other girl and smiled brightly and spoke excitedly. "I'm.. Ivy! Who are you?!" She kind of bounced as she said her own name.. She was giggly and excited to meet so many people at the same time.

Anzee soon brought out a large tray, which she handled easily, with a plate of chocolate chip cookies, a kettle of tea and a kettle of cocoa. She moved to the table nearest Meneluin and set the tray down. There were also cloth napkins and smaller plates on the tray. She poured a cup of tea for her sister, for the little Meneluin and for Elosia. A small mug and a large mug, one for herself and one for her wee one she did pour. She served cookies, two to a plate and two for everyone.

"Will this be all...? Or is everyone very much more hungry? I am quite able to whip up some lovely stew as I used to if that's quite alright with everyone else..?" She beamed at the thought of cooking for more people than just herself and her daughter. She missed being a tendress and now she was lively again!

She smiled and winked to her sister, whom she had noticed hadn't changed much, though she has gone through many things since she had they had known each other.

[elosia]

"Thank you Anzee." Elosia said to her with a smile. Looking back to her daughter as Ivy approached her. Little Mene's obsidian-silver colored eyes peered at the spirited younger girl. She tightened her lips before replying,

"I'm Meneluin," Well 'Little Meneluin,' now heh."Nice to meet you Ivy." Corners of her lips pulled for shy smile.

Elosia watched her carefully, wondering where in the heavens that girl got her timidness from. Perhaps her father, he was always loner like. El leaned over and took up her tea. Placing little Mene's alittle closer to her just in case she didn't notice. She did and small, slender hands would pick it up and cool it with her breathe before taking ginger sips. "Do you live here?" The dragonling asked Ivy in that gentle, soft voice.

While El looked back up to Anzee and waved her hand. "No thanks, dun want you running all about. I have some news for you anyway." She paused in her words, licking her lips. Knowing that this would be a shock...They didn't know eachother all that well but the Dragon knew the old Ranger. "I have some news of Kemian. He sends word."

[Tara]

After Anzee returned and served the food, all thoughts of what Meneluin had been doing these past few years (and what everyone else had been doing) had completely disappeared. The Elf had gently put Ivy down before she had taken her own seat at the table. She thanked Anzee for bringing the food but had fussed about her doing anything more--Meneluin would be happy and able to get anything else, but all in all she was ecstatic over the fact that the kitchen was being used again. Along with the glowing hearth and candles, it made the place come alive again.

She smiled as she watched the children interact, but at the mention of Kemian's name, Meneluin's expression went straight to distress. It wasn't supposed to be like this. These people weren't supposed to come back to them. Kemian, especially, wasn't supposed to treat Anzee as if she were a toy, putting her away when she wasn't wanted. She refrained from saying anything to see Anzee's reaction, and decided to take a sip of tea instead. She kept a careful eye on the girls, making sure they didn't catch her new serious tone, like the Meneluin that she had been these past few years. She tried very hard to concentrate on the attitudes of the children--Ivy's overt happiness and Little Mene's reticence. Her gaze eventually turned back to Anzee as she locked her own feelings securely away.

Meneluin had considered going back to her ranger-hatred stage, glaring and glowering at any and all rangers that passed through the way. They had no right to love, the way they lived, or so she sometimes thought. They left pain, hurt, and fatherless children in their wake, and Meneluin would have it no more--not for herself and her kin, anyway.

The Elf gracefully brushed the hair from her face as she watched Anzee, and thought carefully of the little one. Ivy's spirit could only withstand so much; her spirit would be strong if not hindered. Meneluin sincerely hoped that Anzee wouldn't let Kemian emotionally mistreat her.

Meneluin herself knew a great deal about that first hand from her half-elven father--Branor of Rohan. She patiently awaited his return, when he might have the misfortune of coming face to face with Von, her true atar. All thoughts of drama and deviation aside, Meneluin felt most for the young Ivy, and wouldn't stand to see the girl in pain.

[elosia]

Elosia knew not much at all about the affair of Anzee and Kemian. Only that they were Skye's adopted parents and they were involved with eachother and he had left. She didn't know how many times he had left or what he had done. Remembering them from Ar'Anoron and one day randomly on a travel through the Elven lands he came across him and her memory triggered in. He asked her where she was going and if he ever found Anzee to give her a scroll he had written and if she decides to send work back to please deliver it. Elosia hoped Anzee wouldn't have much to say...El didn't feel like flying back to the Elven lands...rather hostile those wilder Elves were...but she would do it if asked.

Elosia sipped her tea. Grabbing a cookie and motioning with her hand for little Mene to take one. She did and nibbled on it, looking curiously at Ivy. Her energetic spirit attracted the dragonling and felt warm by it. Pushing her a little bit to come out of her shell...or maybe scales in her perdicament.

[anzee]

Anzee's jaw tightened gently as she heard his name. She still wore the ring he gave her, however it was out of sight at all times. She smiled lightly, because she was happy to know he was alive. They were married, but she would not let him come back and hurt her again.

"Oh? Did he send a scroll with you?"

She said this softly. She smiled and sort of brushed it off.

It had been 4 years (not literally, but I want Ivy older. Haha) since he left and the pain was pretty dull now. She ahd told Ivy about her father and what happened to him, so she thought he was dead.

As Anzee waited for a reply she looked to Ivy and Lil Mene and she sipped her cocoa and nibbled a cookie, smiling lightly.


Ivy giggled and blushed gently.

"Nice to meet you Meneluin." She aid politely, then she spok again.. " um... Do you.. Draw?" She said softly.

She smelled the cookies and took one then nibbled on it. She loved her mom's cookies! She smiled..

"I like to draw! My momma taught me."

She waddled over to her mom and tugged on her knapsack.

Anzee had let it fall to the floor as she sat down.

So, Ivy searched inside to get her drawing book then when she found it she waddled over to Lil' Mene.

She opened it to a page somewhere near the middle.

It was a picture of house. It had a chimney and a lovely front door and her mother was sitting on the front porch. She was only 4 but she did draw quite well!

[elosia]

The rogue watched her intently. And nodded. Looking down briefly to retrieve the scroll from the pocket in the inside of her long over coat. She picked it out and handed it to her. "I saw him about two months ago. Ran into him out of the blue really. I recognized him and he me. He asked me if I still had contact with any of you and I said no. He asked me to wait as he wrote something and gave it to me. Asking if that I ever saw you to give this to you, and I said I would. So there you go." She leaned back in her chair about. Tilting the black brim of her capitano hat up a bit while looking back to lil Mene and Ivy. The scroll opened up to read this,

Dear Anzee RedWinger,
How to start this? Hello? How are you? A foolish question from a fool person. I am no Elf of words Anzee and I know I hurt you. I just wanted to know how you are...and the little one. And if you would ever like me to pay a visit..or you here. Please send word. If you don't, I will understand.
-Kemian H. WildHeart.

Sad he didn't even know his daughters name. Well Elosia had no idea what was going on really and she wouldn't stick her nose in it. She continued to munch on a cookie, sip tea, and watch the two younglings.

Little Meneluin smiled alittle wider nodding, "Yes I do, sometimes on the cave walls." Which momma didn't like too much unless it was in her part of the cave. Yes they live in a cave there dragons! Heh. Mene looked at Ivy's drawing and smiling looking it over. "Wow that is really good, better than I can draw a house. Is that your mom?" She tilted her head liking the drawing a lot. She never drew a house. Idea to try and draw the tavern on her wall when she got home later.