omne quod dulce est cito satiat

[heloise]

Who: EVERYONE!
When: Dec. 15
Where: Ballroom!
What: Borgia-Mills Saturnalia party, basically, that party!

The garlands and wreaths of leaves decorating the ballroom sure look similar. Almost Christmas trees. Pagan origins for an otherwise religious holiday. This occasion has no purpose, however, aside from merriment, freedom and lots and lots of eating!

The cooks Henry gathered are welcome to place their creations on a long table set to one side, while most of the ballroom is left clear for dancing of any form. Most of the sofas have been pushed against the walls as refuge for tired feet. The wine flows freely, with uncountable goblets here and there!

Oh, one more thing, beware the nutcrackers.

[ ooc; make your own threads, there are no rules except for go wild! ]

Comments

[heloise]

She twirls the stick on her mask, a smirk dancing on her lips. "Always with the compliments. I might begin to wonder if you mean to retaliate?"

[inafadingcrown]

"Retaliate? Whatever do you mean, dear one?"

[heloise]

"For all the praises I have flung your way," like weapons to ensnare the heart. "You should know they are unneeded."

[inafadingcrown]

"As are yours." Galadriel has never been one to be easily swayed by flattery.

[heloise]

"Look at us," she grins, mischievous. "Too lavished with flattery to care anymore."

[inafadingcrown]

"Flattery means little to me, true enough." Her smile is fond. "But affection is another matter."

[heloise]

She returns the smile. "Could anyone have too much affection? Or grow to overlook it?"

[inafadingcrown]

"I think not. Or rather, I hope not. Many take for granted such treasures, but I never shall."

[heloise]

"Good," she tries to take Galadriel's hand in both of hers. "You must show me how to stay so."

[inafadingcrown]

Galadriel will gladly allow her to take her hand. "There is much you would have me teach you."

Not that she minds, precisely. She still seems faintly amused.

[heloise]

Then she will look down on the precious hand, seemingly memorizing its curves and lines. "There is much I must yet learn and you are among the wise. Unless I am mistaken?"

[inafadingcrown]

"You are not." She actually quite enjoys this. So many people are afraid to touch her, as if she's made of glass and might shatter at the slightest touch. "And I am glad to teach what I may. Yet there are some lessons best learned through experience."

[heloise]

Lucrezia's smile drops a little at that last phrase. She has heard that before and during less pleasant circumstances. "Which lessons require experience, Galadriel? Are they only the ones that bring pain?"

[inafadingcrown]

"Not all." Her other hand reaches up to brush Lucrezia's cheek. "Love, for instance. I may tell you a great deal, but it is nothing compared to experience."

[heloise]

Lucrezia leans into her hand. "I have loved, I think, and lost, yet I fail to grasp what lesson that serves than to deter me."

[inafadingcrown]

"It has taught you what a great power love may be, has it not? The source of our greatest pains and our greatest pleasures."

[heloise]

"It has only taught me to keep it at bay if I have any wish left to go on." She is bitter, yes, and makes no effort to hide it.

[inafadingcrown]

"Oh, dear one." Her hand drops back down to her side. "Would that I could heal the wounds of your heart."

[heloise]

"Would you?" Lucrezia takes that hand instead, not quite wanting to let go of the physical comfort. "Was there a reason, Galadriel, a lesson worth my pain that you would be wise not to take from me?"

[inafadingcrown]

"I think that each of us must take what lessons he can from his pain. I may give reasons, lessons that I wish you to take to heart, but if you do not feel the truth of them for yourself what meaning is there?"

Hearing something, even agreeing with it rationally, is not the same thing as understanding it.

"But, perhaps, I would wish for you to learn to treasure that which is fleeting while it is within your grasp." It's a very Elven lesson, at that.

[heloise]

Lucrezia hazards that Galadriel has seen far more grief than she, than she can even imagine, but one sees one's own problems as greatest.

"To live in the moment, my Radiant One, is that advisable?"

[inafadingcrown]

Galadriel has seen far more grief, but also far more joy. It is the nature of a long life- a burden and a gift.

"I would not advise living solely in the moment. It is always wise to look to the future. Yet I would not allow the fear of future loss to prevent you from enjoying what treasures you have in the present."

[heloise]

"But do you not fear the inevitable?" Though she wonders now how much of that Galadriel would understand, things like death touches her not. "Everything ends, pleasures and treasures fade. Kings die and empires fall."

[inafadingcrown]

"And I have watched them do so. I hold with in my memory many precious things that once were but are no more. The partings grieve me and they always shall, but I take the bitter with the sweet. For what is my choice?

This place is unnatural; it is an exception. But were things as they ought to be, I could befriend very few here without bringing grief upon myself. Even you, my dear one. I would watch you grow old before my eyes and I would see you pass from this world. And yet to not know you would be another sort of pain."

They say elves do not age, but that's not precisely true. It's subtle; something that can be seen in the eyes- a weariness and a melancholy that Galadriel usually tries to hide. Speaking with Lucrezia now, it becomes a little more evident.

[heloise]

Lucrezia notices it, something she can't quite fathom hiding behind Galadriel's eyes, though she thinks it has something to do with loss and sadness. Her complaints must seem small to the things the elf has seen in her long life. How can she ever begin to understand?

She takes her hand to kiss her knuckles instead, each of them. "I would not have you grieve even if you did watch me age. You will see, I would be the happiest still when I am with you."