Warmth
Waiting many months for his return the Dancing Hall seemed dull to Ariende and her dancing was dimmed yet she still took part. As the seasons past and the weather had considerably chilled Beleg returned once more and rested his bow.
As she walked to the Dancing Hall Ariende felt her hand taken by another. She looked up in reaction to the face of the elf. Beleg smiled
"And how does life treat Ariende?" No answer was needed as her laughter sounded in his ear as she threw her arms about him, she moved away slightly afraid she had pushed contact too far but smiled nevertheless. He led her into the hall and they waited for the musicians to start
"So where have you travelled this time?" she asked
"Oh, here and there" Beleg answered with a grin "Yet it became unpleasant in this bitter season and something at home called me back." Ariende wanted to enquire of this last comment but Beleg brushed aside her questions and began to spin her around in the same manner as the last time he had returned, yet that night they did not swap partners; after the lively tune had finished they stood looking at each other and waited for the next song to be started. It was a slow tune and Ariende looked at Beleg to see what he would do; without hesitation he slowly drew her closer to him and spun her in small circles amongst the other dancers. Looking up at his face Ariende met his eyes and could not look away from them. She often avoided eye contact, seeing it as a confrontation, but this was different, there was no penetrating stare, just a shine.
Thoughts rushed in and out of her mind as she they twirled around. His muscles could be felt under his supporting touch around her waist but his touch was never too strong or forceful as Ariende first expected it to be, and despite the travel and battle scars his hands delicately held her own. It now didn't seem unbelievable to Ariende that she was falling in love with this warrior.
Beleg had loved her from afar at first for many a year, watching her quiet and careful movements. The last few stays at Doriath had brought him even closer to her and his love was the reason he had left the previous time. It was the first thing that he couldn't defeat or handle, and in his wanderings he had realised all he could do was accept his feelings and hope that she returned them. The relief that she did feel something, if only a little, for him coursed through him as they danced closely together.
There was a thought in him that he could stay with her like that forever but it was brief and flickered out like a small lamp left in a breeze. He would never be able to stop his wandering, he loved Arda more than anything and he worried that Ariende would not accept that.
Crisp winter morning air surrounded Beleg as he waited outside the main halls for her to meet him. Idly he drew patterns in the snow with his foot while he waited. He heard the main doors open and saw it was her, a heavy cloak protected her from the snow and strands of her brown hair fell out from under the hood. Smiling he waited for her to reach where he stood and then just as she neared him he let the handful of snow he had hidden from her fly towards her. Ariende let out a childish shriek as she tried to dodge the missile but it showered her face in a blast of icy coldness. Moving toward her Beleg reached out and wiped the moisture from her face laughing at her, he realised the closeness in which they stood but did not move away.
"Do you know what they are saying in the halls after such a display of dancing last night?" Ariende said with laughter tinting her voice
"I can imagine," Beleg replied laughing "So, are you ready for your walk my lady?"
Ariende took his hand in reply and he led her off the path into the trees around them. As they walked Beleg pointed out small things to her that no elf other than the famed bowman and hunter of Doriath would notice. Ariende was delighted by all of this and more so when, later on, it began to snow, taking her hand from Beleg's she spun and danced alone in the falling flakes. As she looked up to the darkening sky her hood fell back and her hair tumbled down her back, catching flakes of snow in it. She spun closer to Beleg and then finally stopped in front of him. Gently, he smoothed her hair back and put her hood back up, his hand lingered near her face and softly brushed off flakes of snow.
"We must not stay out too long" he said glancing to the sky, "Much more snow will fall and I cannot let a lady be stranded outside the halls for a night. The places I know to stay are not fit for such a maid as Ariende."
Touched by his compliments and concern, Ariende did not protest as he guided them back to the halls. True to Beleg's word the snow had began to fall thicker and heavier, it was becoming hard for her to see between the thick and fast falling flakes. Keeping a tight hold upon Beleg's hand she strived to draw her cloak about her and keep out the cold. The icy touch of winter seemed to hold her in its cold grip and Ariende had not realised quite how far they were from the halls. Whether Beleg was feeling the cold as much as she was, Ariende could not fathom. Glancing to him she doubted he was; the stories he had told of sleeping out in the wilds in conditions that must be worse than this. In the snow blanketed world Ariende could recognise no familiar landmarks that would tell her where she was. Reassured by Beleg's strong hold on her hand she simply hoped it would not be too far.
It was not too long a time before they left the eaves of the great forest and the doors to the Halls of Doriath had never seemed more welcoming to Ariende. Hurrying inside they both cast off their damp cloaks in the entrance and began to feel the drip of water off their hair. Taking their cloaks in one hand and putting an arm about Ariende's shoulders to warm her, Beleg began to walk in the direction of their rooms,
"I do not think dancing would be a wise choice this night."
