CHAPTER THREE
"What's she doing?"
With a silent huff through her nostrils, the woman merely sat there, listening and wondering how exactly the next few seconds would go.
"Think she's sleeping Merry?"
"She can't sleep Pip, she's an elf."
"Not an elf, Master Merry." The two hobbits nearly tangled together in their haste to back away from the woman who was most definitely awake. She had thought she had found a secluded enough spot, hidden amongst the thick of the trees on the outskirts of the city.
Apparently not.
As the weeks went by while waiting for word on the Black Riders, space was needed with the continued proximity of the Ring. It wasn't so much that it was actively trying to seek her out, something alone that gave her concern, but it wasn't doing anything. Which meant it's influence moved onto another target, one that could prove to be detrimental should it be too late to hinder.
"What were you doing?"
They were still standing there, big eyes and happy smiles. Simple but colorful clothes that always stuck out amongst the subtle but finely clothed elves. Their curled hair draped over their large ears and flopped on their foreheads with almost every action. She had encountered one briefly, many years ago in this very city. He was here again now, she found out, but hasn't been to speak with him for their friendship was nearly non-existent. His nephew however, was the Ring-bearer and the reason behind the Fellowship.
"It is called meditating, Master Pippin."
They both made faces of what she thought was disgust.
"Meditating? Seems a bit boring if you're just sitting there."
"Are you sleeping? Since you're not an elf? And what are you then?" Merry shot an emerald clad elbow out to Pippin's midsection, hitting with enough force to make the young hobbit grunt and step to the side. He rubbed the area and threw a hostile glare to his friend.
"Don't look at me like that, you can't just ask someone what they are Pip. It's rude." To this, Pippin mumbled something back that sounded even more rude but Merry seemed to simply ignore it. Perhaps it was a regular occurrence?
"Would you like to try?" Adorable as they were, they were wasting her time. She couldn't remember the last time she had done something frivolous but it wasn't likely to change now.
"Try what? The not-sleeping thing?" It was Pippin again who voiced the question. She was beginning to learn that, though they both were mischief makers, he was the more… free-spirited of the two.
"Meditation, yes."
They traded looks before plopping down in front of her, identical faces of blatant curiosity.
"I'm assuming that neither of you have heard of this practice before?"
She watched as their shiny curls went flying as they shook their heads and she sighed.
"Very well. I will do my best to explain, stop me if you need clarification." She gave them both a stern look before continuing. "Meditation is a very old and very useful tool to have. It's purpose is to essentially train your mind. You see the elves practicing daily on the training grounds, yes? This is the same, but for your mind instead of your body." Two pairs of eyes widened as the example set in. "It is primarily used amongst my kind to clear and calm the mind, to be at peace. It helps to sharpen our mental focus as well."
"And you think we can do this too?" Merry's head tilted to the side in clear question.
"Absolutely Master Merry. Anyone can do it, though it might come easier for some than others."
"Great! How's it go?" The right side of her mouth twitched up for barely an instant at the sight of Merry and Pippin's excitement. It was a welcome change, the young ones of her homeland had every excuse imaginable to skip out on meditation. Or they used it to sleep.
"Mimic me. Sit with your legs crossed, loosely. Maintain good posture, keep your back straight but try not to tense up. We have a specific way of positioning the hands, as well as what to do with the head, tongue, eyes, shoulders, and elbows. But we won't get into that right now." She nearly chuckled at the look of shock and relief written across their faces.
"Now, become aware of the comings and goings of your mind. Your thoughts, the distractions around you, think about them, bring them to the forefront." She watched as their eyes closed and their breathing slowed. Her eyes jumped here and there to follow their muscle twitches. Sometimes the tips of their ears would move, sometimes it was their fingers tensing where they rested on their knees. The hobbit's nostrils would flare ever so slightly and their eyelashes fluttered as the breeze passed.
"Good. Now, focus on your breathing. Concentrate on keeping it steady. As you breathe, visualize those worries, thoughts, and distractions, flowing out of you with each breath. As you inhale, bring in peace. Think of wind, gently and softly carrying everything out. Or water, calmly washing over it."
In truth, she hated meditating. Utterly despised it, in fact. But she knew the benefits outweighed the negatives and it truly helped keep the madness at bay, something she learned the hard way long ago.
"This is it?" Merry was still in the seated position, hands in his lap now and his breathing slow and even.
Asleep.
"Yes, Master Pippin. These are the basics." The young hobbit looked over at Merry and she knew then that he had no idea the state his friend was in. He merely rolled his eyes before closing them and went back to a steady rhythm of breathing.
She sat there for just a little while longer before Pippin's shoulders slumped over and a loud obnoxious snore dredged it's way up.
She finally allowed herself to chuckle before standing and straightening up. Smoothing her hands over her dark trousers, she dusted herself off before grabbing her twin scabbards that lay by her feet. Nárhína lightly stepped between the two young hobbits and softly brushed callused fingertips through each of their golden brown curls as she left. She made it only a small distance before she stopped and turned her face up into the trees.
"Watch over them."
She did not wait for an answer, but continued forward to the training grounds, knowing full well the Sentry would guard the young hobbits with all that he was capable.
Or answer to her.
"You're just going to leave them there?" Despite the unwelcome addition, the woman never broke stride, making the elf lord turn and keep her pace if he wished to keep talking. Foliage broke and tore under her feet and she wanted to cringe at the necessary noise. Usually, she was able to walk silently. But, she was displeased to say, this elf unnerved her. Which meant she'd do anything to return the gesture. Even if it happened to annoy her in the process.
"Glorfindel. Are you implying that they are in danger, well within the boarders of Rivendell?" She wanted to smile when the elf lord's jaw twitched, giving away his irritation. This banter had been going on for millennia, starting when Elrond first invited her here before he began building in the valley. She was positive he was experiencing some form of jealousy.
Not unlike that of a puppy, actually.
She actually did smile at this and unfortunately, he noticed.
"Why are you smiling?" Though his facial features didn't change from the stoic position it was mostly always in, he sounded distinctly grumpy.
"You. It's quite funny."
He smiled. She stopped.
Why does he look like that?
He stopped as she did but moved in front of her, well within her personal space.
"So you think of me and smile?"
The small hair on the back of her neck rose as he moved in closer to her, that insufferable smirk still on his lips.
Arrogant. That's not what I meant at all and you know it.
She would not move, would not give him the satisfaction, though it caused goose-flesh to prickle on her arms with his closing proximity.
"Nárhína."
Gods.
Why was he saying her name like that. As if they were… more.
She was horrified to find her breathing had sped up. Deeper breaths caused her chest to rise perilously close to his.
Too close.
Lips parted, she brushed her tongue quickly and smoothly against them and nearly ran when his eyes caught the small movement. His nostrils flared at her action and she noticed his shoulders tense shortly at the bottom of her vision.
This can't be happening.
As if he heard her silently pleaded words, Glorfindel took a step back and in that instant, became wholly composed as if the previous few seconds had not taken place. All except that smirk.
With a snarl, Nárhína nearly lunged to the side and took off out of the edge of the tree line, the hopefully deserted training ground panted firmly in mind.
With a wooden target reminiscent of a certain unbearable elf lord.
