<b>Pegawen glanced up as the group at the head of the table arose and left. For a moment, she wondered if she should follow them, but it'd be rude of her to leave Horn so suddenly. Besides she had questions for him, and wished to learn the song he'd played earlier. “Lotharn,” she leaned over to whisper. “Why don't you go with them, see what's going on?” She didn't know if he'd do as she asked, but surely he was as curious as her. <br/>
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Turning back to Horn, she caught sight of Allasea and Haldir leaving, following a servant out of the tent. 'Likely to go tend her beasts.' She nodded as Allasea waved to her, before speaking again. “I'm unaccustomed to many of the rites and rituals of humans, but surely it's not common for someone to love someone and not say anything to them?” <br/>
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Horn shook his head, turning his attention away from the entrance of the tent back to her. “I'm afraid such things are all too common with men, my dear elf. I could tell you many such stories of unrequited love. Our songs are filled with words of woe from would be lovers turned away by duty and honor.” He sat back and studied her. “Do not your elves have such tales as well?”</b><br/><br/>“<b>A few ...” Pegawen chewed on her lip a moment before nodding. “But not often. We don't give emotions the same meaning as men, I think. Perhaps because we have much more time to explore them. Humans live so brief a time, how do you manage it?”</b><br/><br/>“<b>That, my dear elf, would take one of your own lifetimes to explain!” Horn hooted in laughter, his eyes sparkling for a moment, before growing serious. “The truth is, I'm not sure we do ever manage. Not truly. We make do with the short time we have, and we pick what is most important to us. Who is most important to us. And sometimes it works. Other times ..” He stared past her again at the entrance. “No matter. Come, would you like to see the horses here? We have some of the finest in the lands.” He stood up, holding his hand out to her.</b><br/><br/><b>She glanced around, noting that most of the people had already left. “Alright. I'd like that. Hannon le. Thank you,” she corrected, as he lifted an eyebrow.</b><br/><br/>“<b>Then come. Let's go to the stables. And while we do, you'll tell me of some of the songs of your lands. I'm always interested to learn more.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Only if you'll teach me the one you played.”</b><br/><br/><br/><b>As the group stood to leave, Allassiel looked over to where her cousin sat, deep in conversation with the bard that had played earlier. “Nothing unusual there,” she muttered to herself, knowing that Pegawen was likely prying new songs and tales from Horn's lips. But as the man glanced over at the head of the table once more, his gaze seeking out the young woman sitting there, she tilted her head. “That's interesting. He's clearly enamored with Ellawynne, yet she doesn't seem to notice him.” <br/>
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Following the rest of the group out and across to the main tent, Allassiel considered the culture of men. She knew, from her brief experience, that they did things much differently from the elves when it came to matters of the heart. It seemed to her that a person's station in life counted for more than it should, rather that what was in their heart or their actions. Of course, there were exceptions. Arwen had been one such, for she'd loved Aragorn regardless of his being the prophesied king to unite the lands. Had given up her immortality to stand at his side.</b><br/><br/><b>'Could I do that?' She glanced up at Thorgan who ushered her ahead into the tent. 'I think I must, for he will not live near as long as we.' She found, rather than fear such a thing, a sense of calm in her decision. It was the right thing, and she'd lived long enough already. <br/>
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She took her seat next to him, half paying attention to the conversation that flowed around her as she considered what life would be like as a mortal. She knew she wouldn't age the same way, elves – even ones who'd given up their immortality – never did. Would she pass that along to their children? Children! She'd not even considered that, but surely he'd want them, and his kingdom would require he provide them heirs. It'd been centuries since she'd had her own, hadn't even thought to have more. <br/>
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Through her scrambled thoughts, she heard Ellawynne speak of the stones, and that one such stone was buried with her ancestors, guarded by beasts to keep those who would use it for ill away. Surely if she knew this, so did Morgan, and was making plans of his own to send someone to retrieve it. <br/>
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Before she could voice her concerns, the young woman made a request – retrieve for her a pendant buried with her ancestor. Something of sentimental value to her. A strange request, but then humans never ceased to ask for the unusual. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>Fear not for your man,” the young woman said with a grin, before explaining to the group about some prophesy involving her marrying outside her clan. Allassiel had hardly been worried, though admitted to herself that she'd been ready to snatch the woman's hand away from Thorgan's person if it had touched him again. Still, this prophesy sounded like a contrived tale to her.</b><br/><br/>“<b>Tell me more about this prophesy, or rather about the shaman that spake it. How is it your are sure they were to be trusted?”</b>