Gypsy's Way

It had been a long age since the Elves of Lothlorien had mortals among them. Though apprehensive at first, they were quick to see the good heart of these people.
The Gypsy's soon found themselves welcome to stay and bide their time in the protected glades of the Golden-woods.
The Lord Celeborn appeared upon their arrival and bringing kind words from the Lady Galadriel herself.

They needed not shelter, as they traveled with such. But accepted provisions as the Eldar would not have it any other way.

The lands were fair and had a timeless dreamlike air about them. And Alden was glad for the safe harbor for his family.
They were welcome to stay out the time until they could depart when they it set them back on schedule.

Those who had first said "Time flies when one is enjoying ones self", certainly never had the honor of entering Lorien.
For Akilah, it seemed the time slowed down and was like a dream. The Elves were enthralled by them, not having seen ones so young as Her, Flura, Bo and Pendran for so very long.

She walked along, following Tinnuldur closely. A pair of Elven ladies walking gracefully past smiled and mummer amongst themselves in a most amused way.

"What do they say Tinnuldur?" she asked, watching them go.

"They find you intriguing, my lady" He said, giving her a sidelong look and a smile. "It has been very long since a child has graced Lothlorien's borders" His lips quivered, holding back his amusement at her expression.
She did not like being called a child.
"I shall be twenty one in Autumn, I am not a child" She was half annoyed and half confused. Could they not see she was a woman?

"Yes, yet humans and the Elves age differently. So to us, you are a child" This time he could not wholly keep back his grin, though he somehow managed not to laugh.
"Your parents begat you in the Fall, did they?" he asked casually, walking slowly along with her through the wood.

"No" Her cheeks darkened into a blush at such a scandalous idea. How did she know when her parents 'begat' her, that was none of her concern.

"I was born in October" she stopped and gave him a 'look'.
"What does the day my parents, begat, me have anything to do with it"

This time Tinnuldur could not help himself. He laughed and smiled brightly. "The Eldar do not celebrate the day they were born...but the day they were begat." He laughed again at her confused expression and opted to explain further.
"You see my lady, Elven children are more rare than human children as it takes more effort of spirit and mind in the bearing and conceiving of them. And so we have less children per family compared to others such as humans and the Periannath. There may be thousands of years between the ages of an Elvish woman's children, and her and her mates body must be in a state of synchronization, if you will, before a child can be conceived" Tinnuldur hoped that he had not become to complex in his explanation.

"How long does an Elf woman carry a child" Tempest asked curiously.

Tinnuldur smiled broadly, she was smarter than he thought. Slipping his hand through her arm, he took the lead once again through the wood.
"One year, Elvish babe's are mostly born in spring..."

He continued to relay all he could about his kin to her, and soon she spoke of mortals to him. Both very curious about the others people, and about each other.







How many days had passed Akilah could not tell. It was a fine spring that had come upon the golden wood and warm nights spent sleeping in her caravan with the window open to allow the breeze in. And soon temped rainy nights and spring showers turned into warmer days.

These she spend with Tinnuldur.

Today he had taken her into the trees themselves, aiding her in the climbing. Though clumsy as was the way of the Humans, she did have some skill. Akilah was awed yet again by his natural Elvish skills, and the excursion was immensely enjoyed by both.

Now they sit in a small hallow of soft grass that was surrounded heavily by trees. They were deep in the heart of Lothlorien and all was right with their world.

Tinnuldur lean back against the smooth bark of a towering Mallorn tree. The sun streaming down in rays here and there among them. A stream in the distance filled in background noise, but even the birds were mostly quiet, enjoying the suns warmth.
Anar's light highlighted dust and pollen and other particles in the air, making it seem even more ethereal.
Yet Tinnuldur, son of Calden, was not watching any of this.
He was busy watching Akilah.

His eyes dropped heavily as if dozing, something she had become use to the past few weeks. The sleeping habits of the Eldar were just one of many things she had come to know as normal here.
She also began to learn Elvish words and the freedom of living under the canopy of the Lord and Lady.

She lie fully on her back partially hidden in the soft grass and flowers. Her head-shawls blue material framing her face. In her hands she twirled a small yellow flower and drifted in and out of sleep the whole morning.
Through half open eyes Tinnuldur could watch her, faking sleep.

Part of him knew it was not wise. But what did his heart care for the wise and the right.
He was in love.

In all his years, considered young and just reaching his prime of life, Tinnuldur felt for someone else. And too his luck, she was mortal...and a gypsy.
He sighed with the weight of it, and closed his eyes completely. Shutting out the sunlight for a moment.
It was not the way of Elvish sleep, but it was not uncommon for one of his kindred to shut their eyes to rest.
Usually only when they were deep in a disturbed sleep, or ill.

Akilah turned her head to ask Tinnuldur something and was taken aback to see him with his eyes closed. From what she had learned, it was not well for an Elf to keep them closed for so long.
She pushed herself up and moved over to him, looking closer. Her hand crossed to the other side of his face and she ran a tentative finger lightly across his cheek.
Stormy blue eyes slowly met her amber ones, like ocean meeting earth.

He could not help himself, perhaps he was weakened by the laziness of the day in conjunction with her beauty, but he reach up and held her hand to his face. His piercing Elven gaze holding hers in place.
Of his other hand, a finger reach up just under her chin and drew her forward.

Perhaps it was the air of spring and the magical atmosphere of Lothlorien herself that made it so he could not stop himself, or the warm weather that hazed her mind and caused her not to want to pull away.
Whatever it may be, weather or environment-or the beauty each saw clearly in the other.
Tinnuldur beckoned her to come, and she came.
Her lips meeting his, his head tilting slightly, a breath escaping both.