In the Kitchen Miriel bursted out: "What did you do..?! Don't you realise what will happen?! To you yet also to us?" Miriel tried to control her breathing and immediately regretted the things she said.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

Rhavaniel stared at the girl blankly, then turned, picked up another tray and let the food on it drop to the floor, watching with grim satisfaction, as it splattered on the clean stone. "What should I care what happens to me? I never cared, and for the few moments I did, I realised how pointless this whole world is!"
She swept her hand back, and knocked a goup of glass goblets to the floor."Every thing breaks!, everything fades, the strong have the worst fears! Its only been a few hours, and I feel it has been eternity! It is eternity! For me it will be eternity!"
Long fingers grabbed hold of Miriels shoulder, her eyes seemed maddend by the despair that raged through her "Cant you see that?"
Her proud head drooped, and she stared with moist eyes at the ground "Cant you understand that?"
Tears slowly leaked out of the sides of her eyes, and her knees gave, letting her collapse into a kneeling, sobbing form of who she was.
__________________________________________

The King turned on Ilythiiri , his mouth opening to form words, no doubt some cruel comment, that would've crushed the girl, but he stopped, as he heard shouting from the kitchens. His eyebrows shot upwards, and he exchanged a glance with his mother. Addressing his guests he began "My dear friends, you must excuse that little outburst, and myself, I have some buisness to attend to, and I trust you will enjoy the rest of your meal."
He stood, and grabbed Ilythiiri 's arm, pulling her out with him.

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Miriel pulled an arm around Rhavaniel. "I'm sorry.." she whispered and looked at the teary face. "Your right. I did not see. I've lived too long in blind fear. Come with me." She pulled her arm around her waist and supported her through the white corridor into the cool evenings' air. White stones formed a small path and wild flowers grew everywhere. Miriel sat down with Rhavaniel in the grass of the large gardens of the King's house.
"Lets take a rest shall we?" Miriel's eyes glittered and felt suddenly more confident while she tried to comfort her friend.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

The elf shyly looked away, wiping at her eyes with the hem of her dress, obviously emabaressed by her outburst.
"I'm sorry.."she begann sheepishly, tangling grass around her fingers "Dont get yourself ino trouble by being here...."

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

"No," Miriel nodded determined "I've obeyed long enough. You reminded me of what freedome was."

They were startled by sound of loud footsteps

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

Ilythiiri immediately pulled back, trying to escape his grasp, but nearly lost her footing because of the speed at which he was going. She glanced around the kitchen worriedly, not seeing Miriel and Rhavaniel, and then almost lost her balance again as the King barreled through the door that swung open, leading to the garden. "Let go of me!" she finally shrieked at him, tugging futilely.

_________________

Miriel jumped on her feet yet unable to move she stood stil and saw the King approach, while he dragged Ilythiiri with him. Ignoring the fact she had tolower her head, she stared him in the eye while all the hate of the last years formed a knot in her chest.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

Boromir glared them down, taking in the fact that the elf had not even bothered to turn around, so she sat facing her friend.
"Get up." he demanded quietly, a sure sign that rage was on its way.
"Let her go then." came the soft reply "She did nothing."

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Ilythiiri looked from Rhavaniel to Miriel, bewilderment clear on her face. She attempted to twist away once more.

_________________

Miriel did one step back so that she stood behind Rhavaniel. She was determined to help her and Illythiiri.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

Boromir growled, and twisted the girl, so he had a clean grip on her throaght, gently he begann to cut off her air supply.
With a sad sigh, the elf stood up. "Happy now? Now let the girl go, she did nothing to deserve such treatment."
The king let the girl go woith a dissatisfied grunt, and watched as she hurried away from him.
"You have yet to learn your ways elf "

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Ilythiiri backed away, her eyes wide. One hand went to her throat and she bit her lip, looking at Rhavaniel, and then back to Boromir.
A voice cut through the dangerous silence, calling for the King, and suddenly Faramir emerged through the small garden door, still in mid-call. He stopped, and looked from his brother, who seemed to be breathing a little heavily, to the two girls and the elf.

_________________

Miriel laid a hand at Rhavaniel's shoulder and whispered: "please hold your tongue now. That's Faramir the King's brother."
From her eye corners she noticed that Boromir still looked very angry at them, but then he looked at his brother.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

"Brother!" Boromir greeted, flinging hiis arms open to hug his brother a little harder than ussual.

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Faramir smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. "Brother..." he echoed uncertainly. "I come to inquire what persuaded you to abandon your dinner - you are a little careless, the nobles are beginiing to sound affronted."

_________________

The Kings gaze flickered to his slaves "Problems with the staff little one, problems with the staff." HE beheld his brother criticaly "Why do you care so much?"

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .