Káno was the one to wake Eve up. Laurelin glowed softly with the beginning of day, mixed with Telperion in the dawn. Eve smiled and put her cat in her pack. Changing stations had been set up nearby, large curtained off areas for men and women. Káno pointed her to the right place. She took her gold and red dress with her, changing quickly, before reconvening with the grandchildren of Finwë.

"What's the plan?" Eve bounced on the balls of her feet in excitement. All around her, elves moved about. She took everything in hungrily.

Nelyo walked over and drank from a glass bottle of water. Then he pointed towards a large crowd. "Tyelko has entered in the morning's horse race. He does it every year."

"Is he good?" Eve looked around and realized that the blonde haired brother had disappeared.

Moryo snorted. "Yeah. He always wins."

"He has the best horse," Káno explained quickly. "Oromë gifted Aranyë to him. She is one of the fastest horses I have ever seen."

"So we're gonna go watch, right?" Eve clapped her hands together. "This is so exciting. I'm so excited right now."

The brothers all laughed, even Moryo cracking a smile at her enthusiasm. A moment later, Findekáno came over to them from changing. He brought with him Findaráto and a maiden with warm golden blonde hair. She stood shorter than the prince, and her grey eyes sparkled joyously. A crown of pink blossoms adorned her head.

"Greetings, friends!" Findaráto waved to them and then turned to Eve. "Eve this is Amarië. She is a friend of mine."

"Hi there," Eve waved back.

Amarië smiled and spoke, her voice soft. "Hello, Eve. Elenwë got this for you, and asked that I bring it." She held out a flower crown of hundreds of tiny white blossoms. "She was right. It will look fantastic. May I?"

Eve nodded and while the men spoke together, allowed Amarië to place the flower crown on her hair and redo the braid. Once she had finished, Amarië's face beamed with pride. She told Eve how great it looked.

"Thank you!" Eve walked with Amarië to where the other elves stood. The broke into the circle between Findaráto and Findekáno.

"We should make for the track soon, if we want good seats," Nelyo said when they joined them. "Once we find seats, some of us may purchase food and bring it for the rest."

"A good plan," Findaráto agreed. "We should start over there now."

Eve walked in the midst of the group. Amarië was the closest elf in height that she had come across so far and she found this strangely comforting. They dodged through crowds heading this way and that. There seemed to be many different activities going on all across the area. Soon the race track loomed before them.

"Turvo is saving seats for us at the finish," Findekáno told them, taking the lead. "He and Elenwë found the seats this morning."

"Sweet!" Eve rubbed her hands together in excitement. When Moryo, who stood beside her, sent her a confused look she chuckled. "Sweet just means great."

"Is it a word similar to 'cool'?" Findekáno glanced back and smirked at her.

With a tiny eye roll she nodded. "Yes it is."

He laughed and guided them on through the thickening crowds. Without even turning back he shot back, "Ah, this is good! Another confusing word!"

Amarië chuckled beside Eve. "Ignore him."

"I've learned to," Eve replied, laughing along with her.

They reached the entrance to the seating area. Raised seats went about ten rows up, but Findekáno guided them along the inside walkway to the far side. The walk around the track took a good fifteen minutes. The seat already stood half full, and as they walked around it became even more packed in. Finally they reached the far side and saw Turvo sitting with Elenwë. Findekáno waved to them.

"Alright, who is coming with me to get food?" Findekáno asked them as Moryo, Findo, and Amarië climbed up into the seats. "Anyone?"

"Me!" Eve raised her hand.

Elenwë and Nelyo decided to join them. They left by a closer entrance. It popped right out into the makeshift food market. Eve walked alongside Findekáno, with Elenwë and Nelyo having dropped back, whispering between themselves and smirking like the mischief makers they were.

"What kind of food is there?" Eve looked around and saw many fruit stalls. They passed a dessert shop and a baker's tent. Then Eve stopped with a pause. "Wait a second."

Findekáno, a few steps ahead of her turned and cocked his head in confusion. "What?"

"That smell..." She closed her eyes, allowed the crowds to pass her by. "That sound!" Her eyes flashed open and she turned to the right, hurrying forward.

Nelyo, Finno, and Elenwë hurried behind her. When they caught up she stood before a small stand. She couldn't believe her eyes.

"Popcorn!" Eve nearly shrieked in excitement. "Oh my God you guys have popcorn!"

Nelyo burst out laughing, and Findekáno soon joined him. Elenwë grinned wide and handed a few copper coins to the merchant in exchange for a large bag of popcorn. She turned and handed it to Eve. "Popcorn seems not unfitting for a name. We call it popped corn."

Eve stuffed a piece into her mouth and nearly started crying. "Guys, you have popcorn." She thrust it forward to show them. "Popcorn!"

"You keep saying that word," Findekáno reminded her. "It is obvious that you have seen such food."

"I love popcorn." She held the bag of popcorn close to her chest with a devious expression. "No one gets my popcorn."

They spent another half hour picking out food for themselves and their cousins. Nelyo bought himself a bottle of wine to share with his brothers, but other than that it turned out to be mostly fruits and pastries. Once all had something, the four companions turned back to the track and found their seats. By the time they reached Káno, Moryo, Turvo, Findo, and Amarië, the place looked packed.

Eve settled in between Elenwë and Nelyafinwë. She could just see over Findekáno below her. The horse riders walked along the track and Eve did her best to find Tyelko.

"Tyelko is riding his white mare, Aranyë. There." Nelyo pointed out his brother, blonde hair and brown and red outfit shining. "The other favorite is Prince Ingil, King Ingwë of the Vanyar's son." This time he pointed to an elf whose golden hair went only to his shoulders. He wore gold and blue riding gear. "He's beaten Tyelko twice out of six years."

"I wish him only the worst," Eve said, narrowed her eyes and settling into her seat in the bench with her popcorn.

Nelyo looked at her in surprise and gave a short laugh. "Competitive?"

"Just a bit."

The other redhead chuckled and grabbed the wine from Moryo beside him. A moment later saw the elven horse riders lining up. Tyelko took the innermost spot. Between him and Ingil rode a small, silver haired Telerin rider upon a white horse. A few Noldor and Vanyar filled the other spots. Suddenly on the track, a woman in a pink flowing dress grew in stature until she stood at least twenty feet high. She waved to everyone.

"Who's that?" Eve asked Nelyo.

"Lady Nessa. She and her brother Lord Oromë organize the races." He spoke quietly. "They are Valar."

Eve nodded.

"Welcome to the races!" Nessa smiled wide and her hair flowed in the wind. "It is with great pleasure that myself and my brother judge these games. Enjoy yourselves at the Festival of Yavannië, and may the Games begin." She shrunk down again and joined a tan skinned man dressed in furs and leathers. A bolt of fire flew into the air and it exploded high above the race track.

Instantly the riders flew across the track. The dirt spewed into the air, and Eve watched as Tyelko sped away. Ingil and the small Teler kept up with him. Everyone sat tense in their seats as they rounded the first quarter. Tyelko and Aranyë led, barely, with Ingil and the Teler close. The thunder of the hoof beats filled the air so that everything else became white noise. A figure who stood beside the two Valar did the announcing. But Eve found herself focused only on the streaking form of Aranyë.

Around the final corner, Aranyë pulled ahead. But moments later, the Telerin rider matched his pace. Eve thought she saw Tyelko look over at him. He pushed Aranyë even faster, but it wasn't enough. At the wire only Aranyë and the mystery horse remained together, and the Teler came in half a strided ahead.

Nelyo and Moryo both sat open-mouthed. After several silent seconds among the descendants of Finwë, Moryo took a huge drink of wine and nearly laughed.

He spoke quietly with a tiny, smirk. "He's going to be so angry."

Eve looked at Nelyo in surprise. "Who was that?"

Nelyo shook his head slowly. "I have no idea. What about you, Finno?" He tapped the man in front of them on the shoulder.

"I do not know." His face told it all: he was as shocked as the rest. He stood and turned around, looking at the cousins. "We should probably go find him. And we should bring Huan."

"The official winner of the race is Hrávien, Maiden of Alqualondë!"

By now the horses had been slowed down and taken for care. Tyelko had disappeared with his horse. Findaráto told them to meet up again at their sleeping place.

"I am quite sure Tyelko does not need a crowd," Findaráto reminded them.

Nelyo agreed immediately. "You speak correctly."

Moryo snickered. "Especially after being beaten by a maiden."

In the end, Moryo, Káno, Nelyo, Eve, and Finno went to find Tyelkormo. They made their way to the track, sending Káno to get Huan, and Nelyo led the way to where Nessa and Oromë stood chatting with a few of the riders. When the Valar saw the small group approaching, Oromë nearly laughed, joining them.

"He is inside. And not very happy, I might add." Oromë pointed at a tunnel exit to a field behind the race track for the horses. "Be careful."

Nelyo sighed, folding his arms in frustration. "Have you spoken with him? Will he attack me when I enter?"

Oromë shrugged. "He did not attack me, but then, I am not his brother."

The redhead muttered, "That is not comforting."

Oromë smirked and shrugged, gesturing towards the exit. As they left, Nessa ran over and Oromë stopped Eve.

"How are you doing, child?" Nessa asked her with a smile. "Are the Eldar treating you well?"

"Yeah, they're great." Eve nodded, glad the others had stopped a bit away to wait for her. "They're cool."

"Cool?" Oromë looked at her in amusement.

She sighed and shrugged. "Never mind."

"Go, your friends are waiting." Oromë nodded to the elves.

"Thanks!" Eve bowed to them awkwardly before hurrying to join the others.

Together they walked into the field behind the track. A single person stood nearby, a certain blonde haired Noldo. A broken plank of wood lay thrown to the side and he sat, brooding, on a hay bale. Aranyë nuzzled his face with her big lips.

"Tyelko, you raced well." Nelyo ventured.

The elf looked up and rolled his eyes. "I do not need your sympathy, Nelyo."

"Hey!" Eve frowned and folded her arms. "Be nice. You already broke that piece of wood, don't break your brother."

Tyelko glared at her. But Káno appeared soon with Huan, and the dog bounded over and tackled Tyelko so fast he didn't have time to react.

"Come on, Tyelko," Káno shrugged. "Shouldn't you congratulate the winner instead of sulking?"

With a dramatic roll of his eyes, the elf stood and walked forward. He patted Aranyë and murmured something to her before leaving. They joined him.

The winner stood chatting with Oromë and Ingil inside the track. Tyelko fumed for a moment before catching Oromë's gaze and pushing his anger down. He approached the maiden and bowed his head.

"You rode well," Tyelko told her. "Your horse is fantastic."

"Thank you, Prince Tyelkormo. Lerina certainly is a wonderful horse. A gift from Lord Oromë."

At Tyelko's surprised expression, the Hunter of the Valar merely smiled. "I felt it time you and Prince Ingil had competition. She has proven herself worthy and will be joining you as a Hunter, Tyelkormo."

"I do not feel so bad losing then," Tyelko smirked. "To be beaten by another Hunter is no disgrace."

Hrávien chuckled, pulling her silver hair out of its ponytail. "I am glad you do not feel so disappointed now."

"It would have been worse losing to Ingil here," Tyelko explained with a smirk.

The Vanyarin prince laughed. "It is no great honor losing to you either, Tyelkormo."

Oromë interrupted them. "I am glad you approve of her, Tyelko. Go, join your brothers and cousin. They are waiting for you."