"Truly? That was you?" and Ilúvatar's smile shone like a beacon. "You raced Evriathias didn't you? We'd never seen one of the white ones run so fast. She trained for a month before that race, and spent a month recovering from all the ale she drank to drown her sorrows."
Ilúvatar did not mention the rest of the story for fear that it would make Aeotha feel guilty. Evriathias had been quite drunk, but still quite mobile as well, and she had taken to challenging men to races. It was not uncommon but a wedding feast was a gathering of racial solidarity, not a proving ground. Most refused. One drunken young thing had actually accepted her challenge out of foolhardiness. Both of them raced their hardest, and Ilúvatar was certain that if Aeotha had run again she would have lost to Evriathias. But it was young Gilfol who raced, and young Gilfol who won. Thinking it nothing more than friendly sport the young elf had taunted Evriathias extensively. Pouring a flagon of ale onto the ground in her memory.
Hoisting her tribe's colors and waving them as a conquered war trophy.
It was the sort of thing that young, boastful creatures did. Only Gilfol had not accounted for the fact that Evriathias was also a fine shot with a bow, and was known to take Orcs mid-stride from a handful of yards away. She proceeded to put this skill to the test by shooting Gilfol in the chest from two dozen yards away. The young elf had survived - and how could he not, with so many creatures of light about - but Evriathias had disappeared into the woods rolling a barrel of ale ahead of her, daring anyone who thought they were faster than an arrow to try and stop her.
No one had.
They all laughed about it now, with Gilfol going on to be a Captain of the Thunderbolts. The young fellow showed off his scar, proclaimed Evriathias the love of his life, and eventually she married him. Gilfol said it was out of admiration - he was the only thing that ever survived being shot by her. Evriathias said it was out of guilt.
A laughable story, but Aeotha might not see it that wayy.
"I never raced," he finally said next. "Too big. The games were a strong suit of mine, but never the sprints."