An Bhfuil Tu Damhsa Liom?

[seyennaathenial]

{In Gaelic it means 'Would you like to dance with me?'}

Date: Sometime in March
Time Frame: about 7:00 pm
Place: The Elven Kingdom
Status: Open to anyone

The elven kingdom was usually hushed and dead, like withered leaves on a forest floor. Today however, there was a silence sense of vibrancy that had not been there in a great long time, probably centuries even. Why? Because it was her grandfather Anarallath’s birthday. He was a good couple thousand years old, and doing very well for his age.

Ennya smiled softly as she helped her grandmother, Aurae, decorate. There was a contented happiness in the air as her friends, family, and relatives were bustling about. After all, their home wasn’t open to visitors quite yet. They still had to mash the maple roots for the drinks, which would cause them to fizz like mortal champagne. She chuckled as she watched her grandmother fuss over every little thing, as though she were grumpy, but Seyénna knew she was really quite proud of her husband and all his accomplishments, and she had every right to be…

Sighing however, Ennya couldn’t help but feel torn in half once again. She wished her father could be here to see his father celebrate his birthday, and laugh and talk and dance with all the other elves. She wished the bad blood would pass away, and something could be done to lower the prejudice against the half-bloods and the humans, but she did not know how to do this, and here with her grandparents, who were about as full blooded Nuada supporters as one could be, she didn’t dare mention it.

“Etera, an bhfuil pian ort??” A withered white hand stroked hers, soothingly, and Seyénna smiled and shook her head, clearing her thoughts. “Are you in any pain?”

“I am content, grandmother. Do not worry about me.” She told her, and gave her her brightest smile. “I suppose I am just nervous to see the rest of the family.” She told her, hating to lie to her grandmother, but needing to. How would she explain her neutral attitude, after all, to her? Exactly – she couldn’t.

“You should be.” Aurae murmured, and tucked a chestnut strand behind her ear kindly. “You look beautiful. Perhaps we won’t just celebrate a birthday here. Who knows…if a noble elf likes you enough, perhaps he will express an interest to Anarallath to court you.”

At this, Ennya fell silent and pretended to arrange the flowers. She didn’t want another suitor, and especially not someone who was a Nuada supporter, which they would be sure to be if her grandparents tried to fix her up. Still, for this occasion she had let her grandmother do all the things a mother might do – fix up her hair, dress her in a rather fancy dress and rub scented perfumes on her skin. It would keep the elderly elf happy, and that was what was most important today.

[solaufein]

"Just keep it calm kid, you're here to learn," said the voice buzzing in Solaufein's ear. he scratched nervously at the fresh bandages around his head. His handler had insisted he get cleaned up, threatening to take a hose to him if he didn't take a bath. He didn't like it.

"Hrrm," he replied finally in his rough, awful, voice.

"We're going silent in five. Just remember, calm. Deep breaths. When I click off, remove the earpiece. You're gonna do great kid."

"Disagree," was all Solaufein managed to croak out before he heard a soft click in his ear.

"Hrrrm." He reached up to his bandaged face, digging under them to remove the small plastic earpiece.

There were elven folk swirling around him now, and he reflexively withdrew, tugging at the fancy gray and silver cloak the BPRD had created for him. His hood was tugged firmly over his odd head, his hands bandaged fully; not an inch of his dark skin showed.

Slowly he made his way into the party center proper, watching the elves custom and dialect. He mapped it out, and was already practicing in his mind.

From time to time he would withdraw from the crowds, mostly to calm himself, but also so he could sit and make a quick sketch of the party guests. Clothes, styles, mannerisms, he was marking it all down in his little notebook - as though he wasn't memorizing it all anyway.

It was all so interesting and fascinating and completley awful. He wanted to be back in the BPRD library, away from all the noise and people.
But they needed him for this...and he owed them that much...he supposed.

[seyennaathenial]

The guests came in, and for the moment, it seemed like all the sadness and solemness of the realm was washed away. People talked in different dialects, depending on what type of elf they were, but all were understood, and their feelings were understood, and the feelings were happiness. Laughter was heard. Music. The sound of dancing...these were all things that had been scarce in the realm, and now that there was a chance to have them again, people flocked to the house, whether they had been invited or not.

Of course this bothered Aurae a bit. She had planned on having a large amount of guests, yes, she had not planned on quite this many. Soothingly Ennya (who she thought of as Etera,) comforted her, rolled up her sleeves, and helped the servants cook more, so that new guests could be welcomed in in the most hospitable manner.

"It's alright, grandmother." Ennya had told her. "Really it is. It will make the celebration that much more exciting!" Of course Seyénna had said nothing of her own nerves, being surrounded by people who mainly agreed with Nuada that humans were a sickness that needed 'cleansing,' but she said nothing on that. This was her grandparents day, after all.

The smell of food drew her out of her thoughts as one of the cooks brushed passed her, carrying a heavy platter of freshly cooked stag, surrounded with berries and a sauce that made her mouth water. "Mmm." She muttered to herself. She found among her grandparents people, no one said anything about her even looking remotely human...because the thought barely entered their minds. Why would a human be here after all? No, the shade of her skin, though just a touch pinker than their stark white, was because she had merely been blessed with the coloring of a fresh rose. Surely that's all it was...

Seyénna took off her own apron and came out of the kitchen, smoothed out her hair, (which was still quite a task,) and dress, and smiled. The place not only smelled lovely, it looked lovely as well. There were streamers on the walls, along with tapestries that had not been out in a good long while, and there was even a chandelier that she herself had composed completely out of roses and wire. Everything looked lush and tempting, and sunlight flooded the place.

Yet for all this happiness, she saw one who was not exactly comfortable. "I will be right back." She told her grandparents, who nodded absentmindedly, for both were in deep political discussion. With a rustle of her skirts, she approached the newcomer."Saol fada chugat...Long life to you." She smiled softly at him, and curtesyed. "My name is Etera Athenial." She rose from her curstey and added, "Are you enjoying yourself? I saw that you like art...I too care for it. If you would like, I could show you my grandfather's collection, and mine." She was careful how she spoke, for after all, he was an elven male, and that meant his position was higher than hers.