Five days later

Lilótëa sat perched on the soft, grassy hill she'd lived on all her life. The cottage she called home was behind her, its back end nestled protectively within woodland trees. The golden-haired maiden gazed at the skies, which were filled with a bright, warm yellow even as Laurelin was beginning to sleep. The endless rolling hills that lay in her direct view shimmered from the vibrant colour above.

With evenings such as this one, Lilótëa was always reminded of how much she loved residing between Yavanna's Pastures and Oromë's Forests. She'd made sitting out in the open her priority when this rare delight came to visit, so the sky could be welcomed and a vast gaze could be returned back to her.

Time seemed to still as she took in her solitude. When the yellow began to fade at last, she heard light footsteps from behind. Elenwë, Lilótëa's younger sister, sat down beside her. "May I join you?"

"Certainly," Lilótëa gave a nod that held her consent. During a quietness that was not unsettling, she mused to herself: Perhaps now I can bring about my meeting with Nelyafinwë. The incident still kept its affect on her after five days, and it became all the more difficult to keep her sundry thoughts stored within herself.

Lilótëa let out a gentle breath. "Have you ever experienced... meeting someone, and it frightens you inside, yet it still washes you in a wave of comfort and intrigue?"

Elenwë pondered on the inquiry for a moment, her chin pointed upward. "Yes... surely you recall when I had wandered into the wood and became lost? I trembled from fear of the howling wind that the Elder King sent over his lands. Everything around me was unfamiliar. But eventually, a familiar face did succeed in finding me... not you or our parents, but Atar's trusted friend, Alasselórno. His stern, unmoving look always made me want to lean closer to Amil, but at that time, my worries failed to triumph over joy. What mattered is that he was there to take me back where I belonged." Her head tilted in question. "Why?"

So this is when I confess. "Five days ago, I myself went into the Forests of Oromë. It was in there... where I met with Prince Nelyafinwë of the Noldor."

"The Prince Nelyafinwë!" Elenwë exclaimed, "Lilótëa, how fortunate you are!" She adjusted herself to lean more forward as her interest rose. "Why did you not tell me sooner? What was it like to converse with the eldest son of Fëanáro?"

Lilótëa looked on her sister with fondness. She was still in her adolescent years, always curious in learning more about the lives of others. Elenwë's communication skills had consistently surpassed her own- which Lilótëa was thankful for. "At first I wanted to flee immediately, for he had watched me dancing before I knew he stood there. But after he had spoken his first words to me, my biggest concerns had faded. We exchanged just a few words, and would have kept going. I, however, made an excuse to end the conversation early. My natural instinct of avoiding others had forced me to leave, even though he was pleasant to talk to."

Elenwë seemed to dismiss the fact that they barely talked. Instead, her lips curled upward in a conspiring smile. "Now that you've met him, you should go to him at the next festival."

"I don't know if that could be possible," Lilótëa said, letting the disappointment become evident in her voice. "Would he even care to see me again- a maiden so ordinary compared to him, who spoke too little for a first impression?"

Elenwë put her hand on Lilótëa's shoulder for reassurance. "Let there be a second chance. After all, he did meet you alone. That must make you stand out to him in some way."

The conflicted Elf nodded silently, contemplating whether or not she would have the courage to greet Nelyafinwë at a gathering where many eyes would be centred on him. By meeting with the prince again, she would get the attention as well.

* * *

Another five days, and I had arrived back at my home. The windows revealed a sleepy interior, which came as no surprise, for I had continued travelling when Telperion's light shone through the forest branches like glittering silver.

I led Telemna across our lawn to the stables. When inside the dark shelter, I briefly combed the knots out of her mane and made sure she had enough food.

"I bid you a good night, Telemna," I said in a hushed whisper, "You deserve it after taking me on such a fine adventure."

I laid a blanket over her back, and departed from the stables so I too could go back to sleeping in my own bed. I entered the house and ascended up the stairs to the hallway that held each of our bedrooms. Each step I took lightly in order to keep my brothers in deep slumber. My room was at the far corner, adjacent to my parents'. I had almost wrapped my fingers around the cold metal knob, but then a voice from behind stopped me from going further.

"Nelyo, you've returned," Káno said with a twinkling in his eyes. It was unmistakable that he'd been awake for quite some time.

"Brother, shouldn't your mind be swimming in dreams right now?" I said in a slightly playful tone.

He glanced at the book in his hand. I soon recognized it as the worn notebook he uses for his songwriting. "I had a sudden inspiration for the current piece of music I'm working on, so I was compelled to write it down next to the hearth while my creativity was still at its peak."

"And what tale does your new piece speak of?" I asked.

"This one speaks of no tale— unless you consider description as a story itself. It is about the fluttering wings of butterflies, and how they fill empty space with their dancing. Below them, flowers await their landing, each begging for a kiss from one of the jovial insects."

The image led me to thinking of Lilótëa in an instant— the girl who radiated wondrous light and all things good. "Káno, something happened on my excursion that I'd like to share with you before you take to your bedchamber."

He rolled his eyes at me. "Nelyo, surely you can wait until the morning— Telperion's zenith is nearly ended. But if you so wish, I suppose I shouldn't decline."

"It would not be wise," I said with a teasing smirk. He followed me into my room and softly shut the door behind him.

I tossed my satchel onto the floor, then flung myself onto the bed. "I talked to the voices of nature, and they answered back. The views were spectacular; they soothed me to great amounts. But what I did not expect was to see a maiden, whose name and beauty is still engraved in my memory."

Káno's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh? You met a maiden?" He lowered himself at the edge of the bed, next to my feet. "Now I understand why you were so eager to tell me."

I grinned with discernible fatigue. "Her name is Lilótëa Athyariel."

"Did you get to know her well?" asked Káno.

"Alas, our conversation was brief, but enjoyable. I came upon her when she was performing a dance with the air, gliding between the grasses in the Vanyarin style. I even gave her a name only I know her by- Caurëawen Lisseva."

"A Vanya with timid behaviour and grace? She sounds worthy to be inserted into my song." He warily looked around the room, as if someone was within earshot. "It may be best to keep quiet about this around Atar. He might not take kindly to the fact that you have an interest in an Elf with a possible relation to Indis' kin."

"I assume she has no royal parentage, and that her home is near the forest edge, away from the Vanyar of Taniquetil. Whether Atar reacts positively or not, I can only hope that five days ago is not the last time I see her."

Káno stood up and clasped my shoulder. "If she is a hesitant one, you may have to introduce yourself to her again first."

"Of course. At the next festival, I plan to search for her," I said wearily, even though keeping my pace on the journey was no challenge. Noting our conversation came to a reasonable end, my brother turned and left me to descend into my dreams.