The SONGS of SPRING

A COLD NIGHT

She stood with eyes wide open as Legolas freed her hand. At length they watched the mammoths trudging to the pool, splashing water through their long grey snouts. Alas Raen was tempted to get closer, leaving all her fears.

'Do they get easily frightened?' she asked as she pulled her boots off and jumped to the water.

'Do you think mountains look
up to the hills?' Legolas stayed at bay, eyes following her. 'Do not get too close berrypicker, they will squeeze you to bits. '

'Berrypicker?' Raen threw a glance over her shoulder, wondering on what he said. Curious as she always have she felt overly awkward when a stranger whom she hated called her peculiar titles. 'You like calling me many strange names elf. How do you explain that?'

But no words escaped his lips. Legolas drew a sigh and then lifted the corners of his mouth to a smile. If only he could tell her the truth he thought, that she used to pick berries for his king father, pourer of wine to his glass and a sweeper of many hallways. But beyond all her humble purpose in the Elven cavern, she is a vaurg, and that means a great deal. Indeed, she was a dragon.

Raen went on admiring the scene, mammoths stomping their massive feet, tossing their long grey snouts up and down the water, some blew a low cry echoing from their giant lungs. Two males dueled at the shallows, locking their curved ivory tusks.

And she had sparkles in her eyes as she waddled asshore. 'Answer me elf,' she asked. 'it wounds to know how little you think of me.'

Legolas offered a hand to hoist her up from the water, she did not hesitate a little
or perhaps Raen didn't realise her pride was slowly falling down. For whatever reasons there were, she took his hand and let him pull her up to his side.

'It is too polite of me to call you a haggler Croplady, you are full of deceit and mischiefs. Need I say more? '

'You are lord to the Southern elves, surely you have plenty of coins in your coffers.'

'I am not rich.'

'Depends on how you measure wealth I suppose.' Raen smiled and it was as warm as the setting sun. 'What is plenty for the poor is little to the rich. What is plenty for the rich is too great for the poor. It saddens me that Gondorians measure treasure by cartas when true wealth is something that is not measured nor counted.'

'And such treasures you desire multiples when shared and grows immensely when valued.'

Treasures that brings content, Raen stared at him pondering the thought not expecting the elf's response. She pinned her eyes on him for a while, tracing the edges of his face while Legolas was looking up the greying skies. Light was fading fast and the warm air fell heavy upon their shoulders. Every breath was deep and Raen could hear the beating of her heart to her chest. And before she could mutter her words Legolas took her hand and led her back to the path.

'Galdohir must be worried,' he said, and they hurried back to where they came.

Soon it began to drizzle, and the night fell cold but merciful. The Moon was incredibly bright despite the light rain, peeking from behind the shifting clouds. The two ran as fast as their feet could carry them but when the moderate rain started to fall heavily, Legolas convinced her to seek shelter from the lone barn at the field. First Raen was too grumpy to thank him. Who would've not? She was all wet and cold, she stumbled twice and her boots were three times heavier than when it is dry.

It was a small wooden barn with wooden floor with a square pit for the fire at the middle, haystack and chopped wood tucked and piled at both sides, filling half of the space. It stood strong against the howling wind, braving the thunder that followed short after.