Firiel looked out at three o'clock: the grey night was going; far away a golden cock clear and shrill was crowing. The trees were dark, and the dawn pale, waking birds were cheeping, a wind moved cool and frail through dim leaves creeping.
She watched the gleam at window grow, till the long light was shimmering on land and leaf; on grass below grey dew was glimmering.
Over the floor her white feet crept, down the stair they twinkled, through the grass they dancing stepped all with dew besprinkled.
Her gown had jewels upon its hem, as she ran down to the river, and leaned upon a willow-stem, and watched the water quiver.
A kingfisher plunged down like a stone in a blue flash falling, bending reeds were softly blown, lily-leaves were sprawling.
A sudden music to her came, as she stood there gleaming with fair hair in the morning's flame on her shoulders streaming.
Flutes were there, and harps were wrung, and there was sound of singing, like wind-voices keen and young and far bells ringing.
With harp in hand they sang their song to the slow oars swinging;
'Green is the land the leaves are long, and the birds are singing. Many a day with dawn of gold this earth will lighten, many a flower will yet unfold, ere the cornfields whiten.
'Then whither go ye, boatmen fair, down the river gliding? To twilight and to secret lair in the great forest hiding?
To Northern isles and shores of stone on strong swans flying, by cold waves to dwell alone with the white gulls crying?'
The oars were stayed. They turned aside: 'Do you hear the call, Earth-maiden? Firiel! Firiel!' they cried, 'Our ship is not full-laden.
One more only we may bear. Come! For your days are speeding. Come! Earth-maiden elven-fair, our last call heeding.'
Firiel looked from the river-bank, one step daring; then deep in clay her feet sank, and she halted staring.
She donned her smock of russet brown, her long hair braided, and to her work came stepping down. Soon the sunlight faded.
But the tide of time turned, and to her amazement Firiel found herself thousands of years later, at the beginning of 21st century, in the world parallel to ours. And beautiful faeries, The Uninvited, the descendants of Mirkwood Elves, now called the fair folk of Laoris, found Firiel and, singing sweetly, welcomed her to join their dance. And they sang: Kelis, Firiel Kelis, Firiel Kelis, Firiel Firiel Firiel Firiel.