Dark Nights

Eloen led into the foothills of the Cailleach Mountains, regardless of their reputation. She looked back to Aelwynn, then to the sun setting behind the mountains. "We should make camp for the night. Thoughts?"

Aelwynn looked uneasily at the mountain, "So long as we remain down here, arwenamin. The goddess has claimed the peak, and I do not desire to contest it."

Eloen looked up at the mountain as well. "I do not fear Cailleach...but you are right. Gods only know what live up there..."

"The goddess is a powerful force. You would do well to fear her." She mused.

Eloen looked back to the peak again before looking around the foothills. "Where do you think we could find a place to camp?"

"Somewhere well-hidden. We don't want to attract any unwanted attention to ourselves." She commented.

Eloen pointed to a nearby overhang. "Perhaps under there?"

Aelwynn nodded, "It looks good to me, arwenamin."

Eloen led the way, stepping beneath the solid wall of rock. She looked around, picking up a few dead branches. "Have we a way to start a fire?"

Aelwynn held up her hand, "I know a few small spells. I think I can manage a campfire."

Eloen nodded, pilling the wood and placing a handful of dried leaves and grass in the bottom. "When you're ready, a-arwen-nam-min..."

Aelwynn smiled, "Your pronunciation is improving, arwenamin." She turned to the wood and cupped her hands around the side, a few sparks lept between her fingers and set the tinder alight.

Eloen watches, intrigued. She settles by the fire, warming her hands. "Thanks you, a-a-arwen-n-namin..."

Aelwynn nodded, "How much of the tongue do you remember? I could always teach you, should you like."

Eloen shook her head. "Almost nothing...Teaching would be prefered, a-arwenamin..."

Aelwynn smiled, nodding, "What I have been calling you, arwenamin, is common for 'my lady', though it is an informal term for us. And our people are the tel'quessir. That's elves as a whole. There are separate names for the elves of different places." She explained, "the words I greeted you with, elen sila lumenn omentilmo, are the words our kings used to greet important guests. Even the Marcher Lords have heard them before. The mean 'A star shall shine on the hour of our meeting'."

Eloen nodded, patting the spot beside her. "Perhaps it would be best for you to take a seat beside me..."

Aelwynn nodded, starting the arduous process of removing her armor so she could sit.

Eloen removed her armor as well, leaving her in simples clothes. She looked into the fire for a moment. "Strange. I feel so safe in the fire, but I also feel safe in the dark. What does that make me?"

"You are a tel'quessir, and a child of the gods. Anything beyond that is of your choosing to be." Aelwynn stated simply.

Eloen smiled, leaning back on her hands. "Thank you, arwenamin..."

"I speak the truth. And you sound much more confident in your native tongue, mellon." She smiled.

Eloen tilted her head, looking at the other elf. "Mellon? Is that another elvish word or did you just call me a fruit?"

Aelwynn chuckled, "It means 'friend'."

((It's pronounced like Mehl-on))

Eloen giggled, leaning forward. "Forgive me. It feels like I'm learning my native tongue for the first time. It's new but at the same time I recognize it..."

OOC: I didn't know that...