Curuni quite enjoyed eavesdropping - not on anything important, of course – but especially when she heard the servants gripe and groan about the perfection required of them from the lady of the house. Said Lady was Curuni's proud and elegant Naneth, who was notorious for requiring everything to be ship shape and not a thing out of place. Sadly, that often included poor Curuni. So, she sympathized with the unhappy house maids as they whined about having to go out and beat the rugs again...the third time in a week! The young elleth did think this was a bit excessive, but her dear Nana could not abide a speck of dirt on anything, and so upon her Naneth's inspection clearly the rugs were deemed unfit for display.

Lying flat on her belly across the ledge of the marble balcony, with her bare toes raised and playfully tapping the nearest supporting column, she watched the comings and goings of the garden below with vested interest. It was a cool autumn day, the promise of heavy showers hanging in the air; Curuni loved the smell of approaching rain. She predicted that the days would be wet and stormy in the coming weeks, because she felt it, in her very bones. The earth was uneasy, thirsty, and bored...it craved something dangerous to awaken it, and this is how the young elf deviated the change of weather.

As much as Curuni was excited about the prospect of storms, because she loved the ferocity of them, this did mean her free time would not be spent wandering the outdoors with her dearest of friends. She couldn't imagine any sensible elf wanting to venture out in the wet and cold, unlike she of course, for she would happily spend every waking hour outdoors; rain, hail, or shine, it did not matter, although maybe Oropher would surprise her, but he did seem much too sensible for that sort of behavior. With a nostalgic grin, she plucked a leaf of ivy from the branches that wove the length and breadth of her spacious home, thinking of him as she did. She would happily admit she was enamoured with the silver haired ellon, with the kind grey eyes that where as soft as summer. She loved how he treated her like any ordinary townsfolk, that he never feared or felt intimidated by her, or worse that he would be too agreeable and false to befriend her only for her talents or her status. No indeed, Oropher was only interested in a friend in which he could share mutual interests, common loves, and one who would not mind his lack of conversation much.

"My lady, you mustn't crease your fine dress before supper," Gilron, a maid selected for Curuni by her Adar, stood by the doors, holding a wash bowl. Gilron was young, much younger than Curuni, with hair as white as snow and a face as sweet as honey, or at least this is what Curuni thought. She liked the young hand maiden, she seemed genuine, even a little gullible, which meant the wiser Curuni could manipulate her into helping her get away with lots of mischievous adventures.

"Why? Is there to be another fancy supper tonight with fancy guests all dressed in silk?" Curuni yawned lazily and stretched herself into a sitting position, cocking an eyebrow at the servant girl.

"That is what I hear my lady," Gilron sighed in agreement; the young maid felt comfortable enough to let her honest thoughts show in front of the elven lady, whom she admired greatly. Curuni merely rolled her eyes in agreement; she was becoming very bored very quickly, of these elegant feasts, filled with nothing but frivolous chatter.

"Would the lady prefer to be out in the woods this evening?" Gilron queried and then gave a sly grin; "With a certain young lord?"

"I would always prefer to be out in the woods," Curuni replied as she slipped off the ledge and instead turned to lean her weight onto her palms and stare out at the world. For she was lucky, her home looked out into the magnificent forests of Doriath, the scene teasing her. Although she chose to ignore the maid's comment about a 'certain lord', because the answer would most certainly be 'yes'.

"You know your Adar will never approve of him, Lady Curuni," Gilron mumbled giving her charge a sympathetic look.

Curuni bristled at the insinuation, not because the maid had assumed she was indeed interested in Oropher- because that much was plain- but because the statement was true. Her Adar would not approve of a mere Sinda elf, with no royal bloodline, as a suitable match for his only daughter. She could reason with her dear Ada, that Oropher was a lord by rank, but he would merely say it was gained by favour and not by entitlement. Unfortunately, Curuni could summarize that her Nana would side with her Adar on the matter, and all her arguments would be futile. Still, the young elleth could not help the daydreams of her wild heart, and even though her dear Oropher had never so much as hinted that he reciprocated her feelings, she still allowed herself to conjure up hopeful images.

"My lady?"

"Hmm?" Curuni snapped her head to the side, now registering the young maid was standing by her, frowning at a point in the distance.

"Is Lord Oropher attending the party tonight?" the elleth replied with a bemused expression, her light eyes landing accusingly on the lady.

"No, of course not," Curuni snorted amused by the very suggestion. This supper would be a gathering of all her Adar's fine friends, none of which interested her in the slightest. The King himself often made an appearance.

"But is that not his horse?" Gilron asked innocently and pointed to the approaching animal, as it boldly trotted past the servants and to the entrance of her home. "And is that not Lord Oropher?"

Curuni sucked in a sharp breath, and in one swift movement ducked down to poke her head through the gaps in the concrete pillars. Before young Gilron could articulate a question as to why the lady did such a bizarre thing, she was roughly caught around the wrist and yanked down beside a suddenly intensely interested Curuni. The lady pressed a finger to her pale full lips and made a shushing gesture, before pointing wildly at the shadowed figure that had stood to greet the very crass young lord who had entered their domain unannounced on the eve of their feast.

"Lord Taraquen," Oropher greeted the tall and lofty elf lord in a breezy tone filled with much confidence, as he reined in his horse by the steps of his dearest Curuni's home.

"General Oropher," Taraquen replied evenly and bobbed his chin, although his face held little expression, he was not entirely sure as to why the King's General would be gracing his home.

Taraquen was not a military man and had little to no dealings with that side of the Kingdom. He was ellon of status, a philosopher and counsellor, and therefore had not much interest in battle. His only interest would be in avoiding such bitter and uncomfortable things. Therefore he did not think much of this Oropher fellow. In his mind, the elf was rough and uncouth! No self-respecting lord of proper birth would brazenly enter his home and speak to him like they were old friends. The boy was bizarre and much too odd. He disliked his daughter spending too much time with him, it was not proper.

"Is the Lady Curuni at home this fine evening?" Oropher queried innocently, and glanced around the wide courtyard. "I should like to speak with her?"

"And what would the matter be, that cannot be discussed in front of her father?" Taraquen muttered, irritation evident in his voice. The elder elf folded his arms about his chest, and narrowed his navy eyes at the silver haired ellon, who suddenly appeared a little bashful, his earlier confidence waning.

"There is no problem with the discussing matter with you my lord, but the decision would be for Curuni to make," Oropher stated with a shrug and a smirk playing on his lips, as he spied a pair of pretty eyes watching him from the balcony above.

"Is that so, young sir," Taraquen answered, his scowl deepening as he followed the elf's gaze towards his daughter's balcony.

"Yes," Oropher grinned, but did not divert his attention to the Lord of the house as he should, instead he kept his gaze fixed on Curuni. "I should like to know if the lady would join me for a ride in the woods this evening?"

"No, she cannot," Taraquen replied triumphantly, "I am afraid she is otherwise engaged for tonight, my apologies-"

"Yes! Yes, she would!" Curuni shrieked in interruption, giving away her hideaway. "Just give me a moment, I will be right there."

Taraquen snapped his head upward just in time to see his daughter disappear from view. He felt his cheeks flush with temper, and his jaw clamp in place. He loathed Curuni's disobedience, and as much as he adored his daughter, there were times when he could happily choke her for her insolence. With an infuriated glower he met the suddenly smug looking Oropher's eyes, and for a moment had the satisfaction of watching the younger ellon shrink a little.

"My lord Oropher, do you think this appropriate? There is a chill in the air and the threat of a storm? I simply cannot allow you to take my daughter into the woods," he replied stonily, his long and rather plain face set in a stern mask. Just on cue and as if to prove his point, the heavens opened and the rain began to pitter patter down at an alarming rate.

"It is only a little rain," Oropher replied as he mustered some courage and defiantly stood his ground. He was expecting Curuni's father to be difficult, and had spent the day trying to build his courage for this very moment. Even though Oropher appeared to be handling it quite well, inside he was not so sanguine. But, if he wished to appear worthy enough for Curuni, he would have to prove he was not completely incompetent.

"No Oropher, no you cannot take my Curuni into the woods!" Taraquen hissed and haughtily turned on his heel, he was well and truly done with this conversation. "Please see yourself out."

"She is a grown elleth," Oropher snapped, his patience wearing thin, and his peeved tone surprised even him. He had not intended on being disrespectful, but this was just absurd.

Taraquen spun to face the uncourteous little whelp who had spoken to him in such a disgraceful manner. His dark eyes hard, and his presence slightly unnerving, but Oropher boldly shrugged in response. He had a valid point. The older ellon opened his mouth to voice his displeasure, but was abruptly halted when an excitable blur of movement skidded to halt beside him.

"Ai Ada, 'tis only a drop of rain, calm yourself!" Curuni grinned and playfully planted a kiss on his cheek before bouncing over to Oropher, who glady offered her his hand. In a flash, she was settled behind him on the chestnut horse, and smirking defiantly at her flustered looking father.

"Curuni, do not be foolish," Taraquen hollered and gestured wildly to the heavy rain as it hammered down around them.

Alas, Taraquen may as well have been speaking to a brick wall for all the good it did him. Both Curuni and Oropher were far too busy exchanging excitable and giddy looks, as the young ellon urged his mount onwards with a commanding cry. Taraquen could only watch in dismay as the horse sped off at a rapid rate, carrying away his disobedient daughter and her highly inappropriate friend. Although Taraquen feared that after tonight, this Oropher would no longer be just a friend.

"Where is she going? There is a feat tonight Taraquen, she was to be presented to her suitors! You must go out there and retrieve her!" a shrill and impatient voice demanded as Taraquen angrily stomped back towards his home, only to be met by the livid expression of his beloved wife, Urdien.

"Ai woman, leave it be," he grumbled as he ran a hand through his soaked, dark locks. "She is as unpredictable as a storm, there will be no retrieving her when she is in that mood, and I do not wish to ride out in that cursed weather."

"But the party Taraquen, she cannot keep shirking her responsibilities, you need to be firmer on that girl," Urdien fussed, as she held a delicate hand to her brow and winced at the oncoming headache.

"Well, by all means my love, carry on and try to find her!" Taraquen grumbled as he tramped up the stairs, gesticulating wildly at his wife in exasperation. "Besides, there will no need for suitors, she is enamoured with that silver haired General, you may as well prepare for the wedding announcement."

"Oh, do not be ridiculous, our Curuni is much wiser than that, she would not waste her interests in a mere solider when she could have her pick of princes," his wife sniffed haughtily as she smoothed out the non-existent creases of her dress for the hundredth time.

"Ah, but love is blind is it not," the lord groaned, gaining an irked expression from his dear wife, then muttered quietly to himself; "I certainly was."

"What did you say?" Urdien gasped in suspicion.

"I said, let us hope she is not blinded," Taraquen replied easily, with not a hint of panic, although it never ceased to amaze him the keenness of his wife's ears.

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Okay I fully admit, Braveheart inspired a good bit of the scene...sue me I love Scotland! XD

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