Tavern of Caras Galadhon

[Vána]

A small tavern in Caras Galadhon, all are welcome here.

[Vána]

Vána was sitting in the tavern with several soldiers who were on leave, some of them had been friends of her father others were admirers she had aquired when she reached maturity. She was nursing a glass of wine, not wanting the others to think she was too eger to drink.

[Oropher]

The green haired Elf sat silently at his table. Alone. Like always. To most it would become a depressing lifestyle. Living alone, but to him it became a relief. He had no one to worry about besides himself, and even then he didn't care to much. If tonight an arrow pierced his heart then it would have been the will of Eru, he wasn't one to argue. Or maybe he just didn't value his life enough to care about death. Either way he prefered it on his own. Now as he sat in the Tavern of Caras he found himself entranced. He was usually a dark person. A bitter shell of an Elf filled with the blood on a mortal. It was a useless existence that Oropher found to be a curse. Amidst his self-loathing he noticed the Elven woman in te Tavern. Surronded my solders. He smiled lightly wondering if she was some sort of royalty. Tearing his eyes away from her he looked over at the rest of the Elves. Drinking slowly from his glass he noticed his eyes fall back to the Elf surronded by guards again.

[Vána]

A soft laugh fell from Vána's lips at a joke told by one of the soldiers. Another hurried and refilled her wine glass. She looked around the room as she took a sip. Her gaze rested on an elf in the corner, over the rim of her glass. She had not seen that elf before and leaned to one of the soldiers to ask who he was. When no one seemed to know him she motioned for him to come over.

[Oropher]

Oropher had been watching the female Elf and had for the briefest of moments made eye contact with her. However in the seconds of looking into her eyes he saw why the soldiers hung so close to her. Why most had probably volunteered for the job, just to be in her company for one evening. To them it had probably been a dream. To Oropher however she was only another pretty face, and to someone who had grown up around Elven woman a pretty face wasn't that rare. Finally pulling himself away from her face he looked back into the Tavern studying everyone. His hazel eyes dancing from person to person. While in the process of watching them all he had endulged the guilty pleasure of looking upon her one more time. That was when he saw her signal. Reluctantly he stood and walked to her table sitting before her. Pushing one strand of hair from his eyes he looked at her offering the weakest of smiles.

[Vána]

"Who are you my lord?" Vána asked, noting his, somewhat tense or was it sad, smile. "I have not seen you here before. And you from Lothlorien?" No, he could not be, he did not look it. And she had never seen hair that color before, she was most intrigued by it. The soldiers with he sat up straiter, as if there was new competition for Vána's attention.

[Oropher]

Oropher looked up at her." I am no Lord." He said gently. The tone in which the words where spoken held no anger or hatred. It was the truth." My name I Oropher of Mirkwood." Oropher glanced over at the soldiers who perked up at his presence. He wanted to say' Easy boys', but held back the urge." What is it you wish to speak with me about, My Lady." He said in the most polite tone he could muster up. He was not use to formel conversation, and had never felt comfortable while talking to others. His trust issue always got in the way.

[Vána]

Vána studied him closely, he seemed reluctant to talk which only made her more dertmined to speak with him. "No one seemed to know who you were, and I was curious. So I thought I would ask you myself." She leaned forward on her elbows, smiling slightly. "So you are just a simple Mirkwood elf, named after it's one time king?" she asked lowering her lashes, "No one special?"

[Oropher]

Oropher listened to her silently." Well no one knows me becuse this is my first trip here, My Lady." He explained in a simple tone." Yes I am just a simple Elf." He said in a half life. In the honest truth he wasn't even a simple Elf, he had tainted blood." What can I say, my Mother had high hopes for me." He said smiling lightly thinking of his Mother. She had hoped a great name would divert attention away from his heritage, it had never worked." What about you though? Who are you?" Oropher asked eagerly wanting the attention away from him.

[Vána]

"Mother's do know best what to name their children," she said. "I am called Vána, my father was a Captain here in Lothlorien's army and my mother a Lady of Mirkwood." She gave her sweetest smile, "I'm no one important either."

[Oropher]

" For someone who claims to be unimportant you sure do seem to have quite a following." He said nodding his head towards one of the soldiers." Do you really think it is necesarry to have them around, or do you just like being reminded of your beauty?" He asked small traces of venom in the words. This was why he was never in conversations, it always resluted in him becoming his natuarly charming self. Of course he never knew it to be mean, he merely said what he thought." Well it has been great getting to know ou and sharing life stories." Oropher said standing and offering her one last weak smile." Good night." With that he turned his back and walked back into the bulk of the Tavern finding a crowded section and getting a table. He felt a wave of relief wash over him after escaping her company. She had been to curious for his liking.

[Vána]

Vána was shocked by his words, no one had ever spoken to her in such a manner. One of the soldiers with her started to draw his sword but Vána quickly stopped him. She stood and crossed the room to where Oropher had gone. She stood in front of him her hands on her hips, "I'll expect you to watch your tongue when speaking to a Lady. I was only decent to you and wanted to find out who you were." With a sharp turn she returned to her table and sat back down. Let him sit there and brood if he wanted to, if he was going to be rude she had better things to do.

[Oropher]

Oropher had sat there listening to her words. It had reminded him of back when he was a child, being scolded for anything and everything. It did not matter whether it was his fault or not. Her words however hadn't hurt him or struck a chord inside. He had been called far worse by his own family. When she turned her back and strode back to her table he had made no attempt to stop her or to apolagize. When she was gone from his life he turned back to the main pat of the Tavern and lost himself in the singing of the Elves and the joy they gave off. For several minutes he let it warm his soul and pretended to be a true Elf. Then the cold reality snapped in and he fell back into his shell, counting the minutes until sunrise. Until he would leave.

[Vána]

The night seemed to move along much too quickly for Vána's liking. Some of the soldiers who had been with her had the begining of the night had left with nothing more than a friendly kiss on the cheek from Vána. She found herself again looking over to Oropher. She had thought at first he was simply arrogant and wrapped up in himself. But then at least to her it seemed as if he needed a friend.

[Oropher]

Oropher had made it through yet another night in his seemingly never ending life. As the Elves began to leave he followed in suit. Standing from his table he realized how much he stood out in the crowd. Most seemed to be wearing white tunics and had blonde hair while he wore leather armor tat was tan and green and had that green hair of his. So moving with the crowd he made his way outside and carefully chose his path away from the others. Once he felt alone he sat down leaning his back against a beautiful trees and closing his eyes. He let the forest over take everyone of his senses. This was one of the few times Oropher could find peace of mind.