Miriel nodded and looked suprised up at the Elf. "Rhavaniel.. did the fever pass..? Are you feeling better?"
Carefully she sat up and looked her friend in the eyes.
"Where is Aragorn?" her voice could barely be heard and Miriel stared at the ground and plucked the fabric of her dress.

_________________


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.

She looked up briefly "I'm fine..."
Her voice heldf something slightly detached in it, but other than that, she really did sound 'fine' as she put it.

_________________



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

She sighed, noticed in the Elf's voice a tone which showed she was everything but what she claimed to be.
"You don't need to pretend for me." she said quietly, "please.."
Her hand lightly touched her back and her face twinged by pain.

_________________


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 didn't say anything, wondering uncomfortably when the door would open and another unpleasant day would begin. She shook herself inwardly and curled up like a cat, chewing her bottom lip.

_________________

"If I say I am fine, then you will find, that that indeed is how I feel this morning. How do you two feel?"

_________________



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

Miriel looked briefly at Rhavaniel and nodded, then she shrugged and replied "Not so fine actually. But I'm glad you're feeling slightly better."

_________________


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 shrugged and then winced as the whip-weals on her back twinged. "Better than yesterday, I suppose."

_________________

She touched uncomfortably the ring which was around her neck and her face grimaced by the memory of the words Boromir had said.
Miriel gazed through the room restless and her eyes rested for a moment on the book that the elf was reading, but then she stared at the ground again.

((You need to forgive Miriel She's not such a morning person.. also emotionly unstable, I think ))

_________________


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.

((Okay, what happens now???))

_________________

[Umm... -pokes brain hard for an idea-]

Rhavaniel sighed, and snapped the book shut, oblivious to her surroundings, and stood up to make her way to the rather large window. Thoughtfully, she ran her hand through her thick locks, as her eyes beheld the lower layers of Gondor and all its beautiful but cold white gleam. In the distance, maybe two hours ride away on swift horses, a small troop of riders that picked their way through the scenery.
She sighed again, her breath misting the window gently. She felt nothing, neither the cold of the stone under her feet nor the coarsness of the fabrics she wore, or even the hunger that had been gnawing her insides for what seemed like years.

_________________



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

((I presume it's Eomer?))

Miriel slowly stood up and restlessly walked through the room, sometimes casting a look out of the large windows, which provided daylight in the room.
"They are coming," she remarked once she'd spotted the troop of riders on the large plains. Her voice showed no sign of panic or fear and Miriel walked over to Rhavaniel to take a closer look at the riders.

((Should Aragorn come back..? ))

_________________


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.

[Yes to the first, yes to the second if you like^^]


Rhavaniel slowly bowed her magestic head "So it would seem... "
She let fall her hands and pressed them to the glass, as if you would like to fall through it into the depths below.

_________________



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

The riders didn't remain unnoticed; the whole city and household of the King talked about the royal company which was approaching.
Aragorn returned to his quarters as he heard that King Eomer would arrive soon.
"They are," he answered as he heard miriel's remark when he entered. He bit his lip as he tried to tell them what Borommir had ordered him.But he couldn't..
"Boromir still wants you to be present at the feast."he finally managed to say quietly. He walked over to the large window and gazed at the seemingly infinite green plains.
"I tried to convince him this is impossible, but Boromir has his mind set on impressing his guests." He paused for a moment and he seemed lost with his own thoughts, but then continued: "I wanted you to know that you don't have to do this..If you refuse, I am willing to bear the consequences"

_________________


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.

It was Ilythiiri who shook her head vehemently from where she still sat, twisting a strand of hair around her finger. "No," she said quietly. "That's not right." She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

_________________

[Maybe I'll introduce a new character... -hmm...]
"We can manage." the elf said cooly, having built up layers upon layers of walls around her mind, making her seem suddenly cold, feelingless and fearless.
"We would not have you take our problems upon yourself, Estel, be you named Hope or not."
_
His name was Gale, or more to the point, that was what he told people he was named.
He was tall, almost to the hight of an elf, and his loose dark brown curls jiggled at shoulder length. His eyes were stunning, such as the eyes of the elf; a wild untamed beauty shone from them. A shadow of stubble grew on his unmarred face; and the women loved him for it.
A man of honour, a spy, and dashingly good looks are a dangerous combination.

_________________



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

((Hmm, interesting.. who is he..?))

Miriel nodded in agreement with her friends, secretly she lookedclosely at Rhavaniel, noticingchange in her behavior, but she said nothing.

---

Aragorn sighed "These are not your problems, Rhavaniel..." Then he pointed to his bed "the King brought these new dresses. If you need anyhting, please tell me."

_________________


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.