The elf maiden and her parents walked on the banks of a crystal rill dancing through a bright green glade, while high above in the branches of the ancient oaks of Mirkwood, larks sang their songs of joy. The trees were timeless as they disappeared into the sky, rough with age, yet their roughness had been worn down by the soft greenness of moss that had slowly made them home. The children of the forest spoke of many things, past and present and future, for elleth was soon to set forth for the mortal lands of Middle-earth, far from her people. Rays of mellow sunlight filtered through the verdurous canopy, penetrating through the leaves and casting an unearthly green–gold luminescence over the ground.
They walked hand in hand, rejoicing the sweet scent of forest flowers, bespeckling the ground in bells of white and sprigs of lavender. Linglorel was fresh as a rose with her childlike grace, she seemed no more than a young maiden, and was so in heart for all her elven-years. But for when compared to all of eternity, no matter the count of years, an Elf is but a step or two along an endless path.
Her parents spoke of Linglorel's impending journey, alluding to what she might find, referring to her responsibilities thereupon. Back then, her whole world was the forest. She had never ever left it. Gentle west wind told her stories of the outside world. Stories of humans and of war. She became interested in these mortals who were unkown to her.
'But here, then, is another thing to ponder, Linglorel. What does it mean to have a mortal companion, a mortal friend?' her father looked at her seriously, his face was ageless, neither old nor young 'What does it mean to love a mortal? Man, halfling, dwarf, others... If you will accept one as a friend, soon he will be gone, and you will grieve. Think about this too, my daughter: mortal friend will be driven by his nature. A nature different from ours'.
'Yet is this cause to shun friendship with mortals, adar?' she asked seriously, raising her head adorned with flowers, her hair was not the silver of her mother, Galdrien, but the golden radiance of her father Tatharion and she wore it simpy, tumbling down her back in bright waves.
'The Elves have their own labours and their own sorrows, gwinig, my child, and they are little concerned with the ways of Men, or of any other creatures upon earth' her father shook his head slowly 'Our paths cross theirs seldom, by chance or purpose'
'Adar, I know I have all the time in the world... Eldalie can bleed to death, but they never die of old age' her voice welled with sympathy and she turned saddened eyes to her father 'But... I'm geting tired of this monotonus life. I wonder how mortals live out there. Will I be ignorant my entire life? Will I never know about the outside world?'
Tatharion felt a smiled beginning to tug at the corner of his lips, and masterfully restrained it.
'Adar, I've learned a lot from everyone over the years, and I'm not saying what I've learned is a lie, but...' she bit her lip and looked down 'Now I know that it's not everything. Light of truth can be found outside the forest too. So I am going to the outside world to seek my own answers' the girl's voice gained confidence.
With a sad, gentle smile her mother tugged on her daughter arm and lead her along the forest path. Merry singing could be heard as the other elves of the Woodland Realm praised beautiful day.
'Oh, my daughter, a long journey awaits you into this strange world of mortals, but love not a mortal Man, for if you do, then you will see how his youth slip out on the tides of time' the elf lady whispered softly in Linglorel's ear 'You will love him still, yet you will watch his slow descent into age, and it will shatter your heart'.
With a fond look at her daughter Galdrien continued her stroll.
'And this is what I would warn you of, Linglorel. Go, if you really want it. But never love a mortal Man, for time will come to claim him and it will shatter your heart, perhaps beyond all mending.'
The elf maiden listened in silence. Velvet brushed against her barefeet as she treaded lightly on moss covered ground. Sweet untainted air filled her lungs, and engulfed her body with sweet gentle kisses. At last, blue-eyed Linglorel looked into Galdrien eyes of grey.
'I heard you, Mother, and shall ward my heart against such fate'.
