Ready for food and dancing...

[Arwen]

Dima Yvis caught Shieg's gaze at him out of the corner of his eye, and turned to her curiously as they neared the Dining Hall and the noise of the music and chatter reached their ears.

"What?" he asked in the same curious manner, cocking that single, right brow again as he continued to gaze at her with that odd, yet still charming smile pulling at his lips. He recognized the caring in her gaze, yes.

And though he did not know her thoughts of his losing a friend and earning a bash on the head, his own thoughts were near the same place. And that bruise had not been the only thing gained through Silas death, though he wished with all his heart it had not happened; he'd earned a friend that he somehow knew would be there. A friend much like Tiire, but one that he already felt much closer to, with only perhaps an hour's interaction time.

[Tiire]

She shook her head a little, sighing ever so softly.

"It... nothing. I care for you, and I dont like it that you lost somone so dear to your heart."

She said as they entered the hall, gasping softly at the beautifuly dressed elves that chatted in the room. All fair skinned, so lithe and beautiful, she felt slightly out of place with her tanned skin and exotic hair/eye colour.

"Oh Dima... its beautiful!"

She murmured, her face still kept serene, she wasnt about to openly gape at the fey creatures.

[Arwen]

"You're not out of place at all," he murmered softly as he led her towards the head of the table. And he left the meaning open to be guessed. Perhaps he meant beauty. Perhaps her race. Perhaps he'd percieved her thoughts of being out of place, and taken her words, thus giving an all-round support.

Regardless, he did not say more to the effect, only pulled out a chair one seat from the left of that of Lord Aricin, who was already seated, hands folded, elbows resting on the table-- and motioned for Shieg to sit. His own seat was that between the two.

"My Lord," Dima gave, dipping his head even as he pulled the chair out for Shieg.

"Well then! I'd heard you'd returned, Yvis, but had seen naught of you! Your errand is complete?-- But never mind that. Have you seen Erados? And who is this fine lass you've brought with you?"

Dima did not answer. Only turned to Shieg to let her introduce herself, same charming smile resting over his features, despite a certain weariness inside himself.

[Tiire]

Sheig curtsied gracefully to Lord Aricin before taking her seat. she introduced herself to him with a charming smile,

"My name is Sheiliyah Cutspur, M'lord."

She said modestly, tilting her head slightly, and as she did so, the coloured glass shards cought the light, making her seem to glow with radience even as her chimes tinkled softly.

She wondered absently if he had ever met a plains elf before...

"Many know me as Sheig, though..."

[Arwen]

Dima took his seat then, turning to Aricin as he spoke again.

"Shieg, aye, m'lady? 'Tis a pleasure then. How long do you plan to be staying with us then? Or-- Ah, escuse me a moment, no?"

He stood, lifted his hands to silence those at the multiple, long tables, and adressed all in a loud voice.

"Friends, you've come to eat, so let that commence! Eat, drink, and be merry!"
((and we wondered where that phrase began. ))

He then took his seat again, even as many began to help themselves to the food before them. Meat, fruits, vegetables, bread, cheese, wine... If it could be named, it was there. Only-- none of Avalbane's brew. That was served on the feasts of the new year.

"Excuse me... But there are duties. We wouldn't want to cause a mob, would we? Forgive me... Where were we? Ah yes-- would you know how long you plan to stay?"

Dima shook his head once more in humour as he reached forth for a skin of red wine and poured some into his goblet.

[Tiire]

Sheig, although revenous, answered Aricin before even touching any of the food.

"I truley do not know, m'lord. Perhaps a shart while, perhaps a little longer... I really dont have anywhere else to go right now. You see, I was traveling to visit a friend in residence here, but she was murdered the very night I came..."

Sheig looked slightly mournful, but glanced at Dima, silently asking him to reveal the story instead of her.

She reached forward and placed on her plate only a small hunk of cheese, one strip of beef, and a pear, fulling her glass with water.

[Arwen]

Aricin could but tilt his head in wonder, then gaze at Dima, who turned to him once more, with furrowed brows.

And the young man could but lean forth, giving Aricin the story from begining to end in whispers just audible over the noise of the music and the merry-making of the other elves.

The whole time, Aricin could but listen intently, gazing off at nothing, then straight at Shieg for a few moments with the same, thoughtful expression, away again, and then back at the girl.

This so-called Lord, with his silver-blonde, nearly white hair, slightly darker brows, and handsomely chisled features, could be no more than thirty-so in human reckoning, despite his true age.

And each time he turned to Shieg, the gaze became more of the emotion he held. Some would say it was remorse... sadness... regret... Those that knew him better would say it was some sort of paternal theme that rose in his veins. Those that knew him best-- would not say. Those that knew him best would know that there was no way to tell what the emotion underneathe it all was.

But when the whispered story was over, he simply nodded, and concentrated on serving himself his food and gazing around for his son, who should have already been seated at his right hand.

Dima served his plate in silence, lifting his gaze to Shieg only once, gaze sad.

[Tiire]

When the oh so perceptive sheig saw the look on Aricins face, she Unconciously reached over and squeezed his hand gently, as she would a friend, even though she had only just met the lord.

She offered him a gentle smile before retracting her hand and concentrating on her food a moment.

She had cought Dima gaze and hand rested her head lightly against his shoulder for a split second, a hug without the use of arms.

After a few minutes she let her gaze finully trace over the other peple present, and over the decorative hall itself as she ate.

[Arwen]

The elder man turned quickly back to Shieg as her hand fell over his own. So mature she was, yet so young. One could only wonder how one of her stature had become so.

And Dima was filled with the same wonder, even after interacting with that branch of the young woman's personality before hand.

Again, both were surprised by her head on Dima's shoulder. But the dark haired fellow only gazed at her a moment, then back to his food before he joined her in examining those present.

Lomadia... Laralen, among others sat just a bit down the table. Ah, and Kalmyr was back! He gazed at the red-blonde haired fellow a moment until the other met his gaze, then motioned to him. Kalmyr stood and made his way over.

"Kalmyr! BAck from the human towns, nay? Tell me first, friend... How was the ale out there?"

"Rancid and rank, Yvis. But it appears we've both returned at the same time. How was your journey?"

"Well. Ah, but meet m'lady Shieg... A plains elf, as she calls herself. Shieg, this is Kalmyr."

Kalmyr politely extended a hand, giving a smile that, if possible, was more charming than that of Dima.

[Tiire]

Sheig had been captured by the sight of this charming elf just moments before Dima had motioned him over, and she smiled politly to him, standing and inclining her head in greeting, her fingers lightly brushing his extended ones.

Who would have thought a plains elf would know how to act so courtiously? well, truth be told, this was only her second tinme in court, the first time she had broken three glasses, knocked over twelve statues and smashed a pricless vase.

"My greetings Kalmyr."

She said lightly, glad she hadent stuttered.

[Arwen]

"Ah-- just a moment." The elf walked quickly back down the table, retrieved his goblet, and returned.

"And mine to you, Lady... And a pleasure to meet you. What brings you to the citadel, if you don't mind my asking?"

"She is a weary traveler, as most, my friend," Dima interjected calmly, taking a sip of his wine to finish it off, then pouring another glass.

And he decided on more food. After all-- despite sadness, he was famished. So he pulled a bit more bread and cheese from the platters, sopping up the juice from his meat with the bread and eating the cheese with the rest of it. He was done with this in a matter of moments-- quickly, but politely.

Kalmyr watched curiously before kneeling between the two chairs, propping his elbows on the ends of the arm rests.

[Tiire]

Sheig smiled gratefully at Dima for lettting her not have to relive the story again. Sheig returned to her seat gently, finishing off her water and glancing for a moment at Kalmyr before finishing off her food.

Although she had been ravashed with hunger, when she actually had the food infront of her se felt more like vomiting than eating.

She couldent wait to start dancing though, she loved music and dance.

[Arwen]

Just as the thoughts entered her head of dancing-- though no one could have known it --folk began standing up to dance.

The song was a lively one, fast paced, but not quite to the point of a throw dance-- one that required two changes of partners. One to another, and then back to the original one.

Dima cleared his throat. "Excuse me Kalmyr... Would you like to go for that dance now, Shieg? Or one of them? Kalmyr, find yourself a partner... Lomadia per chance?" He winked.

Kalmyr grimaced. Dima liked to imply something deeper than the friendship between himself and Lomadia, though there was certainly nothing in between.

Regardless, he moved back down the table, took Lomadia by the hand, and the two laughingly made their ways to the dance floor. Laralen soon followed with one of the other elves. And Dima remained standing by Shieg, a hand held out to her.

[Tiire]

Sheig smiled and took Dima's hand, but before they moved to the dance floor she turned and politly inquired to Aricin if he would be joining the dance.

Aricin seemed like a very kind man to her, and despite what she tryed to convince herself, she was still angry and Silas for hurting those two, and was angry at Tiire for making Silas die, and was angry at Dinendel for cousing the whole bloody thing...

[Arwen]

Aricin waved the two on with a polite smile, grey eyes catching Shieg's again with that same kind look.

"I don't dance any more, Lady Shieg. But you youths have your fun... It is your age for that."

Dima led Shieg off onto the floor, and immediately pulled into the dance. He was fleet and sure of foot as he made through the steps, remembering as he went, until he caught onto the rhythm again.

"Not so hard," he muttered, then gazed at her again. "You must forgive Aricin. He is simply... like that, I suppose. He's been through so much in his life. So much that I do not know-- that no one knows."

[Tiire]

"He is a man of many wisdoms, yes. But still, I would have enjoyed sharing a dance with him, he is so kind and does not deserve such pain as was recent..."

Although Sheig had said she was a terrible dancer, her feet where flighter than most and she moved with a fluidity water itself would envy.

Her dress fluttered around her like a cloud of silk,

"Perhaps when one of the slow dances com along he would join me?"

She asked to no one inparticular.

[Arwen]

"I highly doubt it, Shieg," he murmered sadly. "You may try, but I doubt he would. The last time he danced was before his lady Efion died. That was many years ago. I would say... half a century. At least. The years go by rather quickly."

He sighed even as he kept up the upbeat dance.

"Partner change in twenty-four beats. Join Kalmyr. Soon as the music changes back to this specific rhythm, back to me."

He instructed her not as if she were ignorant, but because it was a dance specifically of the elves of the citadel-- of Avalbane. Thus he spun her around a moment later.

And then pulled away from her, spinning fleet-footedly towards Kalmyr's parner and took her hands, changing the step ever so slightly, and turning to the side to see Kalmyr taking Shieg's hands and leading into the step as well.

"Ah, lovely to see you again," Kalmyr exclaimed in mock surprise with that same charming grin.

[Tiire]

Sheig was still pondering Dima's words about Aricin when they switched partners, and she smiled brightly at kalmyr, although her face was still shrouded with thought.

Her eyes drifted up to where Aricin sat, one of only about three or four others that wherent on the dance floor,

Half a century and you still ache for her? dear Aricin, I wish I could take such a burden from you

she thought as she gazed upon the man, then turned back to Kalmyr with a smile,

"Always pleasent to see you, Kalmyr!"

She chukled, letting herself be twirled gracfully before returning to the beat.

"Do you live here?"

[Arwen]

"But of course-- though some might disagree with all the traveling I do!" he responded brightly, still, as ever, smiling.

"But, my dear Shieg-- you have yet to inform me of how long you would be remaining here. So? Have you an idea? Or would you-- Ah, excuse me, but the change is short, and I believe I should return to my partner now! We shall converse in a few minutes!"

He moved away with the last few words, and Dima took Shieg in his arms again, dipping her down gently, then pulling her up and rejoining the step.

"Having any fun yet?" he asked mockingly, eyes bright despite inner emotions.

[Tiire]

Aheig still had her mouth half open to answer kalmyr when they switched and she laughed heartily as she twirled in Dima's arms,

"This night has lifted many sorrows from my heart, but..."

Her face fell slightly,

"It has added perhaps another or two."

Her eyes flickered slightly in the light, but then she had a smile placed back upon her beautiful face once more,

"But it does not matter! time for sorrows later, now, we dance. Perhaps you would join me in one of the slower ones later on?not the next, perhaps the one after..."

she still had the means to try and get Aricin to lighten the load off his heart, even a little, on the dance floor.