The stone fountain towered above her like a swan taking flight, and above the stars peeked through the canopy of leaves that rustled in the twilight.
"It is beautiful, is it not?", asked a voice beside her. Fairlain turned around to see who spoke.
It was the Woodlark...the lady Gladaewen...clad no longer in the traveling robe of grey, but wearing a simple dress of leaf green. Her hair hung loose about her shoulders, and the night breeze teased the honeyed strands...daring them to dance. She continued,
"When I was a child I played here often...and often would get into trouble! It did not please our nostari...our parents...that we would get completely wet in such a way!" She bent down and trailed her fingers in the water.
Fairlain looked at her with curiosity. She asked, "There are children here? I have not seen any..."
Gladaewen smiled, "Children are a very rare blessing for the Eldar. Because we endure, we do not truly have a need for any to come after, yet the One would not deny us the joy of a babe's innocence or the company of family. Even my playfellow from childhood was blessed with three children...", her voice trailed away thoughtfully.
Fairlain waited a moment then asked, "Do you have children?"
Gladaewen smiled, "No. I stand alone...but it is yet good...not all are blessed in the same manner." She sat gracefully on the edge of the fountain and motioned Fairlain to join her. Lifting her head, the Woodlark smiled into the starlight and began to sing softly.
"Tiro, tiro, dithenil
Na-chaered ammen dir
Or ardhon amrand ménel
Silviren gael be vir,
Tiro, tiro, dithenil
Na-chaered ammen dir."
Fairlain listened, then asked, "Do you sing pictures? Like my...father?"
Gladaewen looked down from the sky, the evening stars still reflecting in her green eyes, and smiled.
"Am I one of the Lindar? No, young one...that is not my gift." A bright smile flashed for a brief moment. "But I love to sing, nonetheless!"
The expression in the green eyes softened, "I hope you will find much here that will cause your heart to sing, as well."
