A s he takes her by the hand to the wonderous vale given to him by the elves for his and his lady's privacy, he takes her through the forest, the soft grass under their feet, the smell of nature's purity giving them both a love of life itself, the various trees, ferns, oak , birch, all standing tall as soldiers at attention as they pass by. The sweet smell of the various bright flowers all about them as they continue up the path, after running and laughing down it like innocent children.

He puts a finger to his lips,"Shh," he says very softly,"I want to show you something," as he leads her quietly up the path now. He very slowly extends his arm to push aside a low hanging fern that blocks their vision, a soft smile towards her as he pushes it out of their way and moves to the side so that she can see what is in the hidden glade. She leans forward and peers through the fonds of the ferns, as she looks to see what he sees, curious as to the sight she is about to behold. Glancing up towards him, her face almost of a child's, curious and believing, as she peers back toward the hidden glade.

S he looks upon a magnificent creature, one whom she has heard about and yet, cannot remember laying eyes on before. It's coat, a glistening white, the noble musculature apparent, as it grazes in the glade having not noticed them. It's mane, so noble bearing, she senses that this is a creature blessed by perhaps Yavanah herself. A horse it looks like and yet, what is unique of such a creature is the long white horn that protrudes from its forehead. The creature looks up for a moment having sensed something perhaps, but after a while as if at ease and fearing nothing, it slowly lowers his head and continues to eat the sweet grass found in the glade. Slightly tilting her head, she continues to patiently watch the creature, awed by it's magnificence, maintaining her silence, feeling honored being allowed to witness such a noble sight. He smiles as he stands behind her watching her reaction to the creature.

K nowing these creatures are rarely sighted, the beauty of it takes her breath away as she draws in shallow breaths so as not to disturb it. He leans over to her and whispers softly in her ear,"Sing to it, my love." Holding onto his hand, she moves it to her face against her cheek as she watches still, her eyes slightly widened, maintaining her silence as she then hears the soft whispers of her love. Slowly smiling, her voice soft and low, she begins to sing a vibrant melody depicting the mythical creature, the head of a horse, the hind legs of a stag with the tail of a lion and the wonderous horn that adorns it's head. The creature stirs, at first, hearing the melody that sounds strange to it's ears and yet pleasant. Her voice becomes gentler as the notes float through the vale, swirling around the unicorn, as the words ponder as to how this creature came to be. The mighty head of the creature raises as it's eyes search out the sound that comes to it. The nightingale within her pendant takes up the soft melody, offering a harmony unmatched by any others as they sing together. "What magical enchantments have you, dear unicorn, what enchantments may I see?" The unicorn rises on it's powerful hind legs as it responds to the voice, wondering where it comes from. She smiles as she looks up toward Troy as the unicorn seems to react. Troy smiles at her.

H er voice continues low as she keeps her eyes upon it, a slow sensation comes to her from within...one as if knowing what the unicorn feels, ancient times behind him yet mysterious to this day. She slowly straightens as she sings, holding unto Troy's hand, stepping foward upon slippered feet, not making a sound. The unicorn then proceeds to canter around the clearing in the glade, as if he is searching for the voice and yet it prances about proudly as if showing of its beauty for the voice to behold.

A brief glance to Troy then her eyes drift back to the unicorn as she steps foward slowly showing herself, standing still, awed by the dance of the beast her eyes fixed upon it. With a slight hesitation, she holds out her hand whispering, "Oh beautiful and proud one, will you not come close to me? I mean you no harm but wish to just touch my hand against your flanks for you are as if a dream." The creature stops, for a moment it was lost in the joy of the song, but now the source of the song is shown before it and it's waryness is evident. It's black eyes look upon her, the body still as stone as it evaluates. Minutes go by and then she sees the black eyes soften as it tilts his head and slowly...very slowly moves towards her. She remains still trying to gain the trust of the unicorn, her hand extended and unmoving as her eyes look into it's eyes as he approaches. The Paladin stays back watching on. She lifts her eyes slightly away from the unicorn's so as not to look threatening realizing her direct gaze might startle the creature. It slowly moves in her direction, it's black eyes on her, hackles tensed and ready for any action it considers a threat.

S oftly, she coos melodically to the creature, hoping her voice will calm him as he approaches lowering her eyes towards his once again to meet, briefly, showing him she does not threaten him. It comes right up and looks directly at her. She keeps her eyes averted, lowered, as she allows him to look at her for a long moment. Minutes pass during their assessment of each other and when she feels he will no longer take off upon her gaze, she looks directly at him. With the meeting of their eyes, knowledge is exchanged between them. The unicorn lowers it's head. Slowly, she reaches out her hand, ever so slowly, to lightly stroke his forehead avoiding the horn. She hears a soft neighing as it seems to enjoy the touch. Upon hearing the unicorn, she smiles slowly as she becomes braver and strokes his mane all the while quietly whispering to him. It carefully nuzzles her, seemingly aware of it's horn as to not impale her with it.

H er eyes merry, she leans her head inward towards the unicorn as he nuzzles her, feeling his soft touch as she places her hands upon his mane as a light laugh escapes her. The beast snorts as it continues to gently nuzzle her. Her eyes seek out her love, amusement apparent at the snort. The unicorn's head lowers and then it lowers on its haunches. It lies down on the soft grass. The Paladin sits down under the fern tree, watching his lady's joy with delight on his face. Upon seeing him lie down, she looks to Troy once more as she makes up her mind...she slowly lifts herself onto it's back gently placing her weight upon him holding onto it's mane. The Paladin's eyes widen a bit at seeing her do this.

T he creature jumps and is startled by her weight upon him, for never has it suffered itself to be ridden. The unicorn jumps up aggressively at first but the empathy that is emitted from the rider and it's song has given it a sense of melancholy and it stills its movement not wishing to hurt the songstress. She leans into the neck of the unicorn as it is startled, holding on, until it settles down...upon thinking as to the feelings of this noble and mystical creature, she starts to slip off his back shaking her head slowly never wishing to break the spirit of it. The unicorn starts to trot off before she can dismount from it, seemingly uncomfortable at first, but it's pride is still strong and untainted, because of this heavenly creature who's song has stirred its heart, will now be rewarded with being the only one to ride it.

B efore she can dismount, the unicorn takes off slowly as she leans down upon his neck once more whispering into it's ear,"Ride with the winds, dear one..ride with the winds." At her words as if understanding, the creature takes off on a fast gallop. It flies through the forest, staying not to any path but making its own. The Paladin jumps up in fear as he watches his lady ride off with the creature. He never anticpated this and wonders if all will be well as he runs off after it.

T he unicorn gallops through the brush with a certain reckless abandon, seeming to ignore any and all possible hazards. What is strange, is that as it rides through heavy brush and other growth, the trees and branches and over hanging vines that would certainly injure or knock a rider from off its back, seem to part out of the way, as if the horn spreads the area before them, so that it and it's rider are unharmed.

F aster it goes through the forest. Her hair whips behind her as they gallop off, she having no fear, her confidence in the animal, as they ride faster and faster. Gracefully, they ride as one as the trees part before them both free for the moment as if flying. Unseen by her, is the Paladin who uses all his skill as a woodsman to try and keep them in his sight, but soon all is lost from him as the underbrush and vines closes up to block his progress. The relentless Paladin continues to track the creature nonetheless.

S he feels the sinewed muscles of the creature beneath her as they ride steadily, her eyes bright towards an unknown destination only the creature knows. The unicorn flies tirelessly through the forest. Her knees pressed into it's side for balance leaning down upon his neck, her hair and his mane blended by the breeze, they ride onward.

S he sees sights and places that she has never seen before as it takes her through the forest, a hidden waterfall, a glade filled with fairies, various other creatures only known in legends and myths, but very rarely seen, go by her quickly as it flies onward. Beholding the secrets of the forest as they speed by amazed at the vastness of them, she rides on. She can only hope to remember all that has passed before her this eve. She knows these secrets would not have been revealed had she traveled upon her own feet, tis the magic of the unicorn that brings all to her. They ride for what seems hours but only within her mind, as the unicorn circles back to the hidden vale they came from.

T he Paladin knows that all his efforts are for naught in trying to catch them for they are now long gone from him and yet he continues onward not giving up on his love. They pass the creatures of legends, the glade filled with fairies and the hidden waterfall with an urgency to return to the vale. They ride as one, they ride as the wind... urgently onward. Soundlessly, through the forest, they swiftly pass as she slightly lifts her head up from his mane seeking her love for she feels him within her soul needing to return to him once more.

T he creature somehow feels this longing within her and he turns in a direction that she is not sure of, but in what seems like hours they come upon Troy following a fruitless path, a look of concern on his face. The unicorn slows without a command and stops in front of Troy. He turns, hearing the creature and seeing his lady is alright, a slight smile forms on his once grim demeanor and he bows to the unicorn in respect and gratitude for having returned her safely to him. She quickly slides off his back and rushes into Troy's arms embracing him tightly. He wraps his arms around her and looks up at the unicorn with a smile on his face as he winks to it, unknown to Luthien.

T he creature bolts off into the woods after it lowers its head slightly to him and is gone from sight. Her faced flushed from the wind, she holds onto him, grateful to return to his arms once more and his warm embrace but the memory of her ride shall stay with her forevermore....