[Larien Gil'dae]

A shy smile touched Larien's lips as she watched the blush paint itself across Eraisuithon's angular face. It had been long since last she had had someone to give her affection to... she hadn't realized how much she had missed it. Simple, innocent, delicate touches... how she loved such things. A tender caress, a soft kiss, a warm embrace -- she had once thrived on such interaction, had once practiced it as an active part of her life. Not a brightening had gone by, a few eras ago, that Larien had not been met with such physical contact and had returned it in full. But everything was different. Everything had changed. Telath had changed. Those she loved had changed. She herself had changed. Like winter's chill clinging to the land, a numb coldness had taken reign over her heart, driving all warmth from her being until she was nothing but a shadow of her former self. Hardship, heartbreak... it had all been too much for the young woman to bear.

But... slowly, very slowly, she had started to warm once more. She had smiled again. She had relearned to laugh. The Tawnleaf had known her song. It was an achingly slow process, and a painful one at that, but maybe one brightening the elven maiden's life would take on some sense of normalcy. Maybe, one brightening, she could truly be happy again. Eraisuithon was a start... this strange elven man who had come into her world so suddenly... her brother. "Thank you..." The feel of his cool fingers slipping into hers was a comfort -- one that she didn't take for granted. Returning his gentle squeeze, Larien then led the way down the corridor, her footsteps silent upon the rugs. As they descended the stairs, the young woman chewed on her bottom lip lightly, her mind dancing with the questions she held in her thoughts. There was much she wanted to speak with him about... but where to begin?

A smile touched her lips as she was suddenly struck with an idea. Glancing towards the other from the corner of her eye, she lilted softly to him, "I have something to show you," before saying nothing more on the subject. He would see soon enough. To the kitchen they went, Larien leading the way into the bustling frenzy that always seemed to be present within the room. Keeping to the doorway so as to remain out of the way, the young woman flagged down one of the kitchen staff in passing. "Could we take our breakfast in the Quicksilver Hall?" The girl smiled and nodded, saying that it would be delivered shortly. Smiling in return, Larien turned back around and promptly led the way out of the kitchen and back to the entrance hall. "Quicksilver Hall is my most favorite place in the whole Cheb," she explained over her shoulder as she started towards an opening to the side of the stairs... except instead of leading up, this corridor led down.

Perhaps one of the most frivolous places in the Starshadow Keep, the Quicksilver Hall is the location used for ultimate relaxation and the feeling of getting away from everything. At the far end of the entrance hall of Starshadow Keep, the underbelly of the building opens up to a lavish foray where the family and any they invite can gather informally. To the left is a moss-covered tunnel with soft walls of smooth stone. The edifice is polished from constant moisture and water trickling, while pocks in the walls have created small homes with a lifespring of moss and lichen. The tunnel is of the purest green, stretching nearly a hundred feet. There was a slight degrade in the ground, alluding to the sensation that one is traveling deeper into the earth. On the other side of the tunnel a vast hall opens up to reveal even more elven architecture. Cool air blasted through. Pillars fifty feet high reached up to grope the dirt and stone ceiling. Roots had coiled down the stone carvings, and some have great hanging gardens blanketing over a clear pool of crystalline water. Laughingwater flowed into this pool, and in this pool was a small canoe, able to fit no more then four. One could easily paddle up the Laughingwater to another location along it if desired, though deeper in was a small grate that would have to be lifted to allow one to pass through to the main flow of Laughingwater. This whole was yet another extension of it created by none other then Siluvanade himself. This signature location was one common among his designs. Almost identical in design to a similar location in Moonwillow, this one however also contained tables with books, as well as a few instruments if any of the escapees wished to try their hand at one of them. Along the edge there are tables with incense, perfumes, and salves. Pillow piles litter the stone edges along the pool, and many several more plants shaped to be seating arrangements adorn the location.

Downwards she went, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Erai was following before descending deeper beneath Starshadow and into the Quicksilver Hall. Despite how many times she had been within the place, her eyes still lit up as she followed the line of the pillars upwards, taking in the grandeur of the place. To her, it was one of the crowning achievements of the keep... beauty and comfort molded into one to create a perfect place to lounge or entertain. Or take breakfast. Kicking off her slippers and pushing them out of the way with her pale feet, Larien then settled herself down into one of the seats shaped from the plants located there, her legs tucked beneath her. Smoothing out her blue skirts, the young elven woman glanced upwards towards her brother, an amused smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Welcome to the Quicksilver Hall." No sooner had she sat down than the servant girl from the kitchens entered, carrying a tray laden with food for the two. Larien's mouth watered appreciatively as she took in the sight of the pastries, bread, butter, and jam. The pot of elfin tea was especially noted by the young woman as well. "Thank you," she murmured, smiling to the girl before the young thing excused herself from their presence.

The tray had been set on a low table between Larien's seat and one across from hers where Erai could sit if he so chose. Leaning forward, the elven woman carefully poured herself a cup of the hot tea before moving to pour one for Eraisuithon as well. It was her favorite drink. Handing Erai his cup, she then leaned back in her seat, cupping her mug in her pale hands before taking a delicate sip. Her pale green eyes sparked happily as she gazed at the other over the rim of her cup. "I hope you're hungry," she lilted with a soft laugh, setting her tea down on the tray before she snatched a pastry for herself. It was flaky and warm and smelled delicious... how had she survived before living in the Cheb? Taking herself a big bite, Larien savored the taste as she chewed slowly, her expression thoughtful as she regarded Eraisuithon. Swallowing, she continued to watch him with her curious yet intent stare for a few more moments before gracing him with a warm smile once more. "There is still so much I do not know about you... and yet I feel as though I've known you forever." It was a rather bold and forward thing to say, but such was Larien's style.

OOC: Gahhh sorry about the length x.x'