Still processing the fact that this sprightly girl was, in fact, seemingly one of the woodland folk of lost lore, I stuttured "Nice.....um. Pleasure to meet you....Faewyn? I'm Gianna."

"I like your name," she said."In our language, it means, I believe, that Eru watches over you."

Clearly, this was a compliment, so I nodded and said "Thank you."

She returned my nod and then said "Why were you scared of my birds?"

"I wasn't scared!" I said indignantly, hoping to at least appear somewhat more corageous than I actually was. "They just startled me, that's all." Faewyn regarded me with an amused expression.

"They won't hurt you," she assured me. "They're fine. Besides, they're almost all rid of the darkness."

"Which darkness?" I said confusedly. "And, hold on, they're your birds?"

"Not really," she admitted. "But we're friends. And after the Fall of the Lord of the Ring, Greenwood is being restored and it's former glory is nigh on being fully awakened." she continued matter-of-factly. "Forgive my rudeness, but have you been living under a rock for the past two ages?"

Again-- confusion. "I'm not really from here," I said with as much conviction as I could muster.

"Well," Faewyn said. "Judging by your disheveled state of being and obvious confusion, I can only agree with you. No offense meant."

"None taken," I said. "Now what?"

Faewyn led me through the forest, seemingly knowing where she was going even though I had no clue how she could navigate in such a directionless place.

"Hold on," she said quietly, stopping. The trees were lighter here and the unconcious hum of power felt stronger. "I must tell my Naneth that I am here."

Faewyn walked to the foot of a tree. "Nana, gar-im mellon nin sí." As soon as she spoke, a beautiful woman appeared in the tree. She had come out of a sleek, delicate structure built into the oak, and once I caught sight of it, it was impossible to miss. Although the intricate woodwork looked fragile, it clearly had insurmountable strenghth within it.

"Greetings, melloniel, friend of my daughter's." she spoke in a musical tone.

"Nana, nahe ohal hi." Faewyn explained.

"Then you are all the more welcome in our home," responded her mother. Her daughter had inherited many of her traits-the raven hair, elegant stature and evident eloquence of speech.

"Thank you," I responded, and out of impulse, I bowed slightly.

"It is a pleasure," she answered with a smile. "I see you may require some....Faewyn? Aes." she looked at her daughter for a quick translation.

"Food," she responded.

"Yes," affirmed the elf woman. "Please forgive my inept example of your Westron speech. Are you hungry?" I didn't remember ever being hungry in a dream, but this didn't seem like a dream anymore, and I was starting to get hungry.

"Just a little bit," I responded graciously.

"Please, come in." Faewyn quipped. She was already hanging halfway up a ladder I also seemed to have missed.

"Um....okay.." I awkwardly put one of my feet on the ladder and tried to hoist myself up. I made steady progress, but halfway there my soiled foot slipped and I hung there for a moment trying to remember how to breathe. A slender hand appeared in front of me.

"It takes a while to get used to elven ladders," Faewyn said, hoisting me up with apparently little effort.

"Thank you," I panted. I stepped inside the wooden structure, looking around in the shaded interior. It smelled like lilacs, and a delicious looking loaf of bread was on the table. The interior was beautiful and decorated with fine carved patterns.

"This is our flet," Faewyn explained. "It has been in my nothrim, or house, since the Second Age. It has seen much."

"It's very pretty," I said softly.

"Please take a seat at our table," came the melodious voice of Faewyn's mother. Faewyn pulled out two chairs and motioned for me to sit down. As I did so, Faewyn said quickly-

"Nana, this is Gianna."

"Gianna," mused her mother. "I have not introduced myself properly. I am Tawariel."

"It is an honor to meet you." I said, kinda improvising to make my greeting sound fancy. She smiled and retreated into the corner, where she took a bowl of berries and a covered plate.

"Here, take this." Tawariel placed the items on the small, wooden table. Faewyn eagerly uncovered the plate to reveal grilled trout with herbs.

"Gia, here." she said, handing me a plate. I served myself some bread, fish and a few berries and picked up a pale copper fork decorated with vines.

"Everything is so beautiful here." I commented in between bites. Faewyn nodded enthusiastically. She clearly had a large amount of food in her mouth which limited the amount of speech she was able to make. Soon, I gratefully finished the delicious meal.

"So, from where have you actually come?" Faewyn inquired presently.

"This may sound strange, but I'm technically dreaming."

"You aren't," Faewyn said. "You are awake."

"No, I am awake here, but asleep in....the land from where I come...." This was getting kinda confusing.

"How strange," commented Tawariel, appearing behind her daughter.

"I know, I don't really know myself. But if I wake up, I will disappear," I continued. That much had been apparent the first two times.

Tawariel spoke: "Well, before you fade back into your world-"

Faewyn inturrupted. "-I can take you scouting! Right Naneth?"

"That is fine." her mother responded. "But before you go, I want Gianna to have these." She unwrapped a leaf-colored tunic in a similar style as Faewyn's and small grey boots.

"You cannot go out in the woods in your nightclothes," grinned Faewyn.

"A-are you sure?" I said to Tawariel.

"Of course," she smiled warmly. "Faewyn grew out of them about thirteen years ago."

"Thirteen?" I said, agape. "How old are you?"

"Ninety-seven," she said with a blatant streak of irritation. "All the other elves who are somewhat young are over one hundred and fifty." I took a moment to process this.

"Wait--you're old?" It came out as a question.

"No, I just said I'm very young. I was one of the only elves born in my decade, due to extreme unrest and conflicts occuring in Middle Earth during that time."

"I....okay." I nodded, trying to act nonchalant.

Ninety seven! My grandparents weren't even that old.

"Do not think that strange," Tawariel added. "I can tell you are a daughter of man, with your race's short lifespans. We elves are immortal."

I looked up at her. "Immortal?"

"Technically," Faewyn inturrupted. "We can be killed or die of heartbreak," I took a minute to process this information.

"Um. Okay."

"Okay?" puzzled Faewyn.

"It is an affirmative." I said, thinking middle school english for the win!

"Oh," said Faewyn. "I have not learned that in my lessons."

"Lessons?" I asked.

"I take lessons for the Westron language because we have had increased dealings with Men since the Greenwood has flourished." she clarified.

"That's good," I said. "Unfortunately they don't teach Elvish in Seattle." Both mother and daughter laughed merrily, and Faewyn handed me my new clothes.

"Hurry now," she said, pushing me into a room. "Let us go explore."