The sound of music and laughter drifted delicately through the froest. Banners, flags and bunting festooned the trees. Delicate lanterns gave off a soft light. The forest city of Yomenïampa had once more surpassed itself in beauty, all because of one party. Gil-Estel wondered how many of the friends he had invited would attend, he hadn't sent many invites this year, but those he had invited were those who he felt particularly close to.

He walked slowly towards the large glade where the party was taking place. When he arrived he looked around at the large tables, groaning with food. There were many elves already sitting down eating but there were also many who had chosen to dance or to sing or to tell stories. All in all, everyone in attendance seemed to be having fun. Gil-Estel found a seat and sat down. Taking an apple, he began to eat, waiting for the arrival of his guests of honour.

Party? Christmas party? Christmas party with elfs? Jaina, somehow received invitation for a party, here in, Yomenïampa. It was saying that Gil-Estel, the elf whom have saved, her life not long ago, was inviting her to attend to his party. Though, Jaina have never been in Yomenïampa, she found her way to it, with the help of a friendly elf guide... who charged her gold to help her.

Once, inside the town, it was easy to get around and find the party. It was easy, not because , she knew the way or something, but because of the thoughts of the elfs, the travelers, the merchants. They were all thinking about some royal, gathering, with many guests invited. But, if it was a royal celebration, why was she invited to it? That did not matter now, because, Jaina would soon to understand why.

As, she made her way on the streets, she tripped about ten times, on some junk, ot commoners tripped her on purpose, due to her blindness. Thus fat, Jaina thought that the elfs are incapable, of such things but, she was mistaking for this. Then she reached a dead end, she did not knew where to go. Until that helpfully guide, showed himself, and led her toward the place of the meeting.

At the entrance, the guards let her pass, after she told them the absurd story about the invitation. When she entered, some cloakroom attendant, offered to take her luggage. Knowing that nothing, will be missing, Jaina agreed, and let him take the pack, with all of the tings inside it, and the blue cloak. But she kept her rag-tag staff, since she was using it as a cane, because without it, she could not move with the blindness.

When she was in, what appeared to be the main hall, she almost immediately, recognized a familiar pattern of thoughts. It was Gil-Estel, but he was not alone, there were great many, other guests in the room. She, approached him, guided by this thoughts, and when she was near him, (she thought that, she is infront of him). Jaina's upbringing, made her bow, graciously infront of him, and so she did, after all he was a prince. Greetings, my savior. I'm honored, to be invited on your celebration. She said, and awaited his reply.

Melusine was not far behind Jaina, although her leg was wrapped in a bandage. Her leg was still swollen and it was difficult to walk, but the prospect of seeing Gil-Estel again was too wonderful to miss this party. She was short of breath by the time she got to a seat, but other than being in a small amount of pain, she was well. Her cheeks glowed with health and her smile was as bright as ever. Her eyes sparkled with love as she waited for Gil-Estel to notice her. Meanwhile, Melusine busied herself with looking around at all the brilliant decorations. So this was an Eruionmereth party.

"Wheeeeeeee!"

Such an expression usually only came from complete and utter surprise, a joyous joining of the exciting and the unexpected and (usually) could not be maintained for very long. Such were the defaults of having a still living body after all- sooner or later breakfast, or lunch, or supper went flying out of the end it came in and then everything was brought to a steady ruination.

Of course, Robyn wasn't wholly alive. Not dead either, but not quite alive. And nausea was a thing of a very, very distant past.

This might have been just a bit disconcerting to the sentry that was standing guard. Elvish parties were quiet, private affairs when they weren't noisy and joyful and unwanted intruders were quietly dealt with while the guests- or so to speak- would come and never notice their presence.

The sentry, a fine fellow whose name roughly translated meant 'cornflower' was staring at an obscenity. An undead obscenity. And it was going 'whee!' as it bobbed up and down. He had managed to coax a rather sleepy vine to grasp its foot and hang it upside down where it... sort of... bobbed.

And went 'Whee!'.

Most curious.

Despite himself and his strict training the sentry called out. It was unwise, but he wasn't a barbarian out to kill anything that happened to be moving. This might have been a wizard of some sort that had been cursed, he had seen similar things happen before. Curses were awfully odd things, sometimes they stole nightmares right out of the heads they were attached to and turned what was once living... into something something just awful.

"Why are you-"

He didn't finish his sentence for the girl started giggling. No, laughing uproariously in her shrill, rather girly voice.

"Stop! Stop! It tickles!" And then she shrieked again. The sentry stared. He couldn't see even the slightest thing that might cause such a reaction and yet...

"So much fun-fun! Can Mr. Vine-vine let Robyn-rin go now? Robyn-rin has an important party to attend! With Mr. Gil! This time," she whispered confidentially, "we're playing with elvies!"

The Sentry groaned. Gil. GilEstel. Of course. Shaking his head half in amusement and half in despair he went looking for the party organizer, ordering the vine to stay put and definitely not let go of the odd little undead thing.

Stella approached the guards at the entrance and smiled shyly. She dug around in her sleeves for the invitation. Where did i put it... She thought, as she searched frantically. The guards eyebrows rose as they watched her.

At last! She found the invitation and presented it to him with flourish. He checked it over, then looked at her sort of strangely. She cocked her head to the side under examination. Today her glow seemed brighter, due too happiness she did not no, but the glow was truly magnificent.

It sparkled, and the men couldn't stop staring. She smiled at them coyly. "Is everything there?" She asked, referring to the invitation. The one holding it blushed and turned back to it, giving it back to her. She took it with a nod of thanks, then moved forwards. The place was full of music and dancing, people having a general good time.

She weaved through the crowds, swaying as though in time with the music. Spotting Gil-Estel at a table she nodded once, a thank you. Then made her way to a wall. She watched the dancers in envy. It reminded her that she had, in fact, never danced before. A elven women twirled past her and Stella laughed. It all looked so FUN!

She scouted the room for any one she knew. Jaina! Robyn! It was good to see them again. And of course there was Gil-Estel, but he seemed already surrounded by admirers to aproach at this moment in time, she would thank him fully later. Tonight she was accompanied by both Azulu and Nixi, her new Phoenix familiar.

Gil-Estel sat at his table, eating his apple, waiting for his guests to arrive. He had thought he had seen Melusine at one point, but it had turned out to be a humble serving girl with the same hair colour! Suddenly, a familiar face appeared in front of him.

"Ah! Jaina," said Gil-Estel, "I'm so glad you could come! How have you been since we first met?" He looked at Jaina, she didn't seem to have changed much since he had saved her life.

Stella made her way to the refreshments table, and removed it of a candy cane. Returning to her corner, she stood looking about the room, nibbling her cane of Candy. Mmm Minty. A new dance started and Stella watched jealousy.

The dance was fast, and the people moved around in some what unison. She laughed, and soon her candy cane became nothing more then a stump. She there it away, and once again prowled the room. There where quite a lot of familiar faces which was nice. But there where also plenty of new people visible who she had never seen!

More people to meet. Stella herself loved making new friends. Who didn't? She situated herself on a different corner, and leaned against a balcony. The moon was high and full, and it cast Stella's glow brighter. Her good mood also contributed.

A voice sounded behind her. "Would you care to dance miss?" Stella turned and smiled at the voice. "Id love too." She replied.

The Sentry couldn't find Gil. Out of all times for him to be running amok it had to be now, when they had some undead monstrosity out there willing to kill every last one of them! The Sentry sighed. This was definitely not what he had signed up for. Moral judgments like these... no definitely not. Definitely, definitely not. There were things one did and one did not do and one of the things one did not do was kill children. Even undead children. Even children who were murderers. Free people- truly free people, did not blame a child's actions.

And this was most certainly a child. She was tall but misformed and... definitely child-like.

So the Sentry stared and then got a bright idea! He could get the captain, the captain would surely know what to do in such a terrible moral conundrum situation as this and-

Why was he thinking like a child?

The Sentry shook his head suddenly wide awake and analytical. That hadn't been right. He was an elf! He had lived for eons already- what was he doing, rushing off crying to his commanding officer? He could handle this bloody nuisance on his own! It wasn't like he needed someone to tell him how to handle something as simple as this all he had to do was kill...

And then it had the temerity to giggle and then The Sentry was just as confused as before. What was he to do with this undead childe?

As Silimrial walked down between the avenue of tress leading towards the Eruionmeth party, she noticed an elven guard, obviously confused and stressed, walking back and forth as though trying to make some sort of decision. She approached him, "Man carel le?", she asked. The guard looked up in shock. "Aranel Silimrial!" he said, bowing. Then, he stepped aside to reveal a small girl hanging upside down from a tree. Silimrial stepped back in surprise as she realised that the girl was dead... no, not dead, undead!

After a few seconds, her curiousity overcame her repulsion and so she approached the girl. "Suilaid. Pedich Edhellen?"

Melusine hoped her dress covered the bandage on her leg as she hobbled over to Gil-Estel. Of course it probably wouldn't, but she hoped so anyway. She was feeling beautiful in spite of it, though... if still in a little pain. It was hard to believe she'd had a minor fracture instead of a sprained ankle now.

"Hello, Gil-Estel!" she called cheerily. "I sat down, but I don't think you saw me, so here I am! I arrived just a few moments ago."

Stella watched everyone while she twirled around with an unknown elf man. He was quite handsome... but then again, ALL the elves where nice looking. But alas the dance soon came to an end. He bowed, and so she curtsied, and made her way to the wall where she rested again.

She stood there admiring everyone. Feeling thirsty, she made her way to the refreshments table and got herself a hot coco. It warmed her fingers, and she drank it cheerfully. She was in a better mood now for sure. It was just beginning, and everything so far had been great.

She decided to scout the area. Walking around, she nodded to familiar people, and even to people she did not no. She stopped at a raised platform where some elven folk where playing instruments, singing there voices as smooth as honey as alluring. Stella stopped, listening, the voice luring her. It was like none she had ever heard, and she began to slip into a trans like state. She would do anything to hear this voice again.

Finding a seat, Stella sat, just listening... her drink forgotten and cold in her hands.

Almost, immediately after she bowed, in front of her savior, he spoke to her, asking a question. Well, i have been more, than better. We, did not have much time to speak, but when you saved me i was blind. Shortly after that i met a girl which helped me... only for a short time. So nothing, have changed, my lord. She said the, last few words with smile.

Then, only moments after that, another woman came to greet, the honored, host of this party. The, other woman greeted, him cheerfully, and said that maybe, he did not saw her earlier. Though, her voice was happy, and the music was loud, Jaina, caught a node of pain I her voice. Upon, using hearing her thoughts, Jaina understood that her, leg pained her. Ocram, nas. she muttered under, her nose. She spoke, the words for her greater heal spell, so that it may find and treat the would and the pain, of the stranger. Then she said. If you, excuse me, i will leave you two together.

Then she, walked away with a smile of somewhat, satisfaction. Because from, such small acts towards strangers, Jaina achieved, inner peace. As, she walked away from them, some thought became sharper than other. They were from the guards, they were having some problem, with a thing. But, Jaina took them lightly, for that was their job, to take care of strange things. Without, knowing what this, thing was, Jaina went to the balcony. There, she could breath fresh air, and could get away, from the music and the dances. Because she did not enjoyed the, dancing-parties, besides she knew, no one else unless Gil-Estel. Besides, there was no one with who to enjoy this party, since Juste was away. Only if, he was here, every thing would be perfect. BUt since he was not, here, Jaina would have to make due without him... for now.

"Melusine!" Said Gil-Estel getting to his feet. "Jaina, this is Melusine, she and I are very much in love. Melusine, this is Jaina, she was the one I met next to Lake Aelin, the one I told you about." Then Jaina excused herself and left. Gil-Estel turmed back to Melusine and smiled, "I haven't seen you since i returned from The Sanctuary of the Angels! I would have come to visit you, but I had so much to do! Come, let us dance!"

He took Melusine by the hand and led her around the dance floor in a traditional elven dance. Their bodies moved precisely and intimately to the sound of the music, keeping time and rhythm exactly. Gil-Estel looked straight into Melusine's eyes and smiled. "I love you Melusine."

He was happy. He had not thought about Raewyn as much as he had on the past few Eruionmereth parties.

Raewyn walked up the hill to the party. She stop numerous times really not beilving that she was even here. Once she even turned around and started walking away but some how she convinced herself to make way back up the hill. she clutched the locket around her neck as she stood at the outter area of the party before she made herself walk in. She sat in the chair closest to her. "Seven years." She murmured as she shook her head. She didn't even know why she was here but she was. An elf sitting beside her pulled her into conversation and it was confirmed. She was here and wasn't leaving for a while.

Oh dear gods. Why the hell am I here? Zémire thought to herself as she went into the party. She couldn't believe she even decided to come here, she recieved a invitation from a elf she had met at a inn, where he had helped with some trouble then. She normally hated help, especially in the type of mood she had been in then. Today, she was luckily a bit more cheerful, and willing to enjoy herself, even if she hated this terrible happy, and cheery noise, it made her frown in disgust.

When she walked by a group of chatting elves, she hid her true look and how she acted in a mask of cheerfulness, no one around her could be able to tell that she actually hated the entire place, and everyone in it.

Slung on her back, was a harp, in a special made sling, so it could stay strapped to her back, and not fall. She decided while here, she could entertain a little, and play a few yule tunes, though, she didn't want to, but it would be a good guest, and entertainer, and she was a bard after all.

Today, she wore a colorful skirt, all sorts of colors, but mostly red and green for the holiday. And then a white long sleeved shirt. Her hair hung loose, and over her shoulders.

She looked up, and at some faces, and saw the elf who had invited her, on the dance floor. She shrugged. She would have to say a "thank-you" later. She walked about, then stood at the corner of everything, where no one stood, and watched people dance, and talk, and laugh merrily. She kept her emotions down. She wanted to destroy all the cheeriness, and play sad, dark music, but no, not here, not unless she wanted to get herself in toruble.

She stayed quite, and watched everyone. She sort of hoped someone would come over, and talk with her, she almost wished she could be like most of the people, though, she could only think like that when she didn't mind the cheerfulness.

Thinking wasn't going to help apparently. And after the last time when he had discovered that the undead childe had gnawed right through the vine that he had ordered to capture her he had decided he was going to look after her personally. Some might have seen this as baby-sitter duty, but the Sentry found this far more entertaining than merely looking around for other vagrants. For one thing, it allowed him to sit quietly with a fascinating little girl that had the oddest flashes of intelligence he had seen. He had once wished to be a wizard, a testament to this was the magical net currently holding her down, but he had given up that particular aspiration.

He just didn't have the knack for it. That's all there was to it. So he talked.

"So you say that brains help the undead because of the residual soul left inside nourishes the dark energy keeping your kind alive?"

"Nope-nope and yes-yes." The little girl was frowning, concentrating on what was no doubt a very difficult train of thought. "A brain-treatsy has lots of memories. Sometimes, memories carry power. Undead fleshies need memories to survive, because they need to remember how to move and eat. An undead that forgets... is an undead that goes ka-plooey. Sleepy-bye. Flesh-treats carry memories too, but not as many as brain-treats."

"So it's not out of malice that you kill?"

She smiled then. It was a cheeky little smile and he was amused despite himself. It was nice having the alternate perspective explain things for a change.

"What's ma-lice? Can you eat it?"

"I love you too Gil-Estel." She kissed him softly on the lips as they danced. Suddenly, the pain seemed to have fled from her ankle. "Hmm...that's odd...I-I need to sit down. My ankle was fractured a few days ago. I have to check something-" It was very odd. She had not noticed Jaina muttering her heal spell a little earlier, so of course she would have no idea why she suddenly felt no pain. "Do you have any friends who have a heal spell?" Melusine asked. "That ankle..." She pointed to her right ankle. "It used to be swollen to three times its size. Then I had a friend take me to a healer, and it decreased in size and felt better, but I still wasn't quite out of pain... until just now. It's very strange..." She looked extremely confused, then remembered something else.

"Oh! I nearly forgot. I brought you a present. It's over there where my seat is."

Silimrial smiled and shook her head. As Gil-Estel's younger sister, she sometimes found that people payed much more attention to him than her. She slowly walked away from the undead girl and headed towards the main party. As she approached she saw an elf maiden whom she thought she recognised. She went over to the place where she was seated in conersation with an male elf and waited for the maiden to turn around.

(OOC: I'm referring to Raewyn btw)

Raewyn turned as the elf she was talking to got up and walked away. She saw an elf sitting beside her that she couldn't put a name to but the face was vaugely familar. Raewyn nodded her head at the elf.

"Pardon me but do I know you?" She asked in Sindarian.

Replying in the same language Silimrial said, "I am Princess Silimrial of Yomenïampa. I have an odd feeling that I recognise you. Have you been here before..." she trailed off. "You... you are the one Gil-Estel was with.. some years ago, here in this forest.. your name is.. Raewyn is it not?"

(OOC: I'm guessing that the present is the cloak :S)

As Gil-Estel took the cloak out of its parcel he smiled. Melusine had obviously known that he needed one! He turned to her and kissed her cheek. "Thank you Melusine my love. I hope you liked your dress. I'll be right back." He stood up and wandered over to the refreshments table (narrowly avoiding being knocked over by dancing couples going in all directions). As he picked up two glasses of elven wine he saw a sight that made his heart skip a beat. There, talking to his sister Thiliverenel, was Raewyn... He hurried back to Melusine and handed her a glass of wine. "Come," he said, "Let us move over to the other side of the glade, I hear someone is telling a particularly interesting story over there." He grabbed Melusine's hand and led her over to the opposite side of the glade. All of his heart's longing for Raewyn had returned. Why tonight? Why?

Melusine had also seen Raewyn as Gil-Estel led her away to the other side. She didn't cry, but her eyes turned very sad. "It's her, isn't it? Your other love. I saw her too. Do you love her more?" she asked in a trembling voice. Please say no, she thought, burying her face in him to keep him close. And yet she knew that even though she would be incredibly lonely if Gil-Estel said yes, if he still loved Raewyn she would let him. She had to. The past could not be changed, and in a way, neither could love. She knew Gil-Estel loved her, but she knew that she would always be his second love and Raewyn would always be his first. Nothing could change that.

Raewyn put her hand over her mouth and nodded. she knew the girl now. It was Gil-Estel's sister. Raewyn looked at the ground and shook. "I shouldn't have come. It was the worst thing I could have done. How is he?" Raewyn asked quietly. She cltuched the locket like a life line.

Making his way through the endless trees, Thobos read the invitation again. The brute wasn’t stupid, but he had trouble reading the elven letters. Once he began to hear the distant chatter of voices he knew he was close. The man hadn’t visited the city of the elves in many years, and even then he had only seen it once.

For one time in his life Thobos actually did not look completely repulsive. The skin on his face was shaven and smooth, Gil-Estel had never even seen him with a massive beard. His long hair was untangled and clean, for once no leaves or grass clung to it. Even the black cloak the barbarian wore was recently washed. When Thobos was preparing for the gathering he laughed at the fact that his little elf friend might not even recognize him, though, he doubted it.

The giant man walked out into the glade around the groups of people that Gil-estel had invited. Looking around at all the other people around him, Thobos began to feel awkward. He was surrounded by people not very much like him, and he didn’t know any of them. Simply his height made him stick out from all the other people gathered in the glade. Feeling uncomfortable Thobos began to scan the faces for Gil-estel, wanting to see how he had been since the last time they saw one another.

Gil-Estel looked Melusine in the eyes. "Yes.. it is Raewyn. But I do not lover her. I miss her of course. But I do not love her." He kissed her. "I could never love anyone more than you. If you like I can have the guards send her away, she has no invitation." He turned to Melusine and smiled again. "Shall we dance?" He took her by the hand and led her around the dance floor in a complicated elven dance. "You should pick it up pretty easily!" he said over the noise of the nearby band. "You dance as if you had lived here all your life!"

Silimrial put her arm around the shaking elf. "Do not worry Raewyn, you are welcome here. Elmelethron (that is Gil-Estel) will be pleased to see you. He has missed you." She smiled, and then frowned.. "There is one thing you should know.. he has another woman in his life. Her name is Melusine Flarell and they are very much in love..."

Melusine kissed Gil-Estel in relief and concentrated on dancing. He was right; she soon picked up the dance. It soon made her tired, however. and she realized that she had not yet taken off the bandage on her ankle because she had been so engrossed in watching Gil-Estel open the cloak. She looked over at Raewyn while at the refreshment table to get a hot cocoa and realized that she felt sorry for her. She would never have asked Gil-Estel to send her away.

"I didn't come to see him. I wouldn't be able to. I just had to make sure that he was okay." Raewyn spoke. She shook her head slowly and stood. "Tell him.... That I am happy he has moved on and that....I am sorry I didn't stay to talk." She turned and began to walk away.

As Melusine sipped her hot cocoa, she watched the dancers. This was so much fun, but it was also tiring. She envied the elves who did not have delicate feet that brought them pain. What was more, she hated that she envied them. Setting down her cocoa, she gently unwrapped the bandage from her leg. She wondered if heal spells applied to permanent conditions like these delicate feet of hers. Probably not...but she sure wished they would.

After of few moments Thobos located his elf friend. With a few long strides he moved quickly towards Gil-estel. A giant hand grabbed at the elf’s shoulder, getting his attention and turning him to face the barbarian. Thobos was enormous compared to the elves that stood around him. His voice rang out as he began to speak.

“Gil-estel, How ave you been? Oh, and by any chance is there any ale here?”

As the man spoke and giant grin crossed his face, this was rare.

Melusine saw Thobos and turned dead white. She set down her cocoa and sprinted to Gil-Estel. She knew she really shouldn't, this huge barbarian was easily twice her size, and her ankle had only just healed, but she didn't much care. She would die first before she let this barbarian hurt Gil-Estel. But once she had reached the pair, all she could do was stare in amazement. Thobos just wanted a pint of ale!

Stella stood alone, then sighed deeply. Why was she spending the party stood here... ALONE? She made her way over to Melusine Flarell. She smiled greatly when she saw her.

"Hi! It's nice to see you again! How's your ankles?" She asked, looking down at them worriedly. The last time Stella had seen her, she had aided Melusine when she had fallen. She hoped the healer had done a good job, and that her feet where okay, specially since lots of dancing was to be done.

She took a glass of hot coco while she waited for her reply, and supped it. It was warm and flowed into her stomach leaving a warm trail. Stella sighed in contentment at the feeling. SO warm...

Melusine tried to speak and found she could, but only when she looked at Stella- never at Thobos. Her pallor did not go away, however. "They're fine, thank you for asking. I never thanked you properly for helping me... so thank you. How do you like the party? This is my first one too."

The Sentry considered his charge reproachfully. He rubbed his eyes and considered her again. No, he hadn't mistaken it- there was... a blob of jelly. With eyes. On her head. And it made 'schloop' 'schloop' sounds. Vaguely disgusted, vaguely intrigued and completely confused as to how it had gotten there without him noticing it at all he decided he might as well ask. He had the bizarre urge to poke it but decided it was best not to. As his mother had always said, young elves who poked their fingers into dangerous looking objects got their due. It wasn't dangerous or an object but... having a self-preservation instinct and a rather large ball o' common sense meant that the Sentry absolutely refused to touch it.

Abso-fa-lutingly refused. Twice over. No, thrice.

"Errr... what is it?" He asked, making vague motions towards the top of her head.

The little undead monstrosity apparently didn't quite understand. "Robyn-rin is Robyn-rin." She looked at him, slightly puzzled. "Robyn-rin already told you this Mr. Elfy-elf."

"No... the... thing."

"Hair-hair?" She looked thoughtfully at the errant strands of stuff that tumbled around her where she could see it. "Well... according to TC, hair-hair is-"

The Sentry held up a hand, forestalling further confusing comments. He had quite enough intellectual things to consider, hair was definitely not on the menu. "The thing with eyes-" he saw confusion in her own dazzling orbs and hastily continued, "no, I mean that... jelly thing. Looks like dessert with eyes. And its making-" (this would be embarrassing, he was glad no one else was here) "'sha-loop,' 'sha-loop' noises." He said, doing his best to imitate the little creature.

She gave him another one of her cheeky smiles.

"He's Ursula of course."

{OMG my shortest post ever! Sorry, didn't no what to say really lol}

Stella smiled at her friend. "Yeah this is my first party, and I'm great thanks!" She downed the rest of her coco. She looked around. "I love this place, the lights and everything. It's soo pretty." She sighed. "So tell me, how's you and Gil?" She asked. The music started up again and she tapped her feet, closing her eyes, listening to the gentle signing of the elves.

She loved the voices of the elves, they sounded musical and it lured her. She used all her concentration not to walk over to the stand, and just sit and listen.

"We're in love," Melusine whispered conspiratorially. Stella was the first one she had told this, but it was okay, Stella was her friend now. A pleasant flush had come over Melusine's cheeks. "If you don't know what that means...well... it's when you care about someone very deeply. That's the best I can explain it. You care about someone so much that you want to spend the rest of your life with them."

Stella listened, her eyes wide. By the end of her description, Stella's mind went into a dreamy state. Love... it sounded nice. She smiled, still dreaming. "I'd like to fall in love." She whispered back, then giggled. But then again.... "but..." She sighed. "My appearance is so young, and i will never age, OR die naturally, who would want to spend there lives with some one like that?" She asked.

Her dreamy stated ended. She realised that her glow had dimmed, and she forced herself a smile. "But.. i don't need love!" She added quickly, her false smile faltering. "I hear women do well without men..." Her voice was filled with happiness, but Stella wasn't feeling terribly happy.

"Perhaps you'll find someone who's immortal, like you are. Then you won't need to worry. Besides, who could not like you? You are so happy all the time and you're fun to be around, and I can tell from you helping me that you would do anything for anyone. If someone chooses not to like you that is their problem and no one else's. And that goes for everything, not just love."

Stella eyes began to fill up with moisture, something a great man once told her they did some times. She hugged Melusine. "Thank you for your kind words." Her smile was dazzling. "You are truly a good friend." She looked around. "I guess there MAY be some one out there for me, but i will wait for the right moment." Stella smiled. She wasn't ready to LOOK for love, she wanted it to just happen, like with Melusine and Gil.

Speaking of Gil... Stella glanced the faces around her. "Where is Gil?" She asked. In truth Stella had yet to thank him for inviting her, and to not do so would be rude.

The fact that Gil-Estel could be missing frightened Melusine. "I-I don't know. All I know is that this big barbarian fellow was trying to get his attention. He looked like a human, but bigger and with more muscle than most of them have. If there's anything that frightens me more than humans it's probably that- that whatever he was! I'm sure he doesn't mean to be scary, but... he just is, to me. I hope we can find Gil-Estel." If they didn't, Melusine felt she would go insane. She was near tears as it was, such was the extent of her fright.