Orophin and Rumil had heard of Naurarwen's return from Lady Galadriel, they warmly welcomed her to their home with tight embraces, one after the other. They told her stories of the Fellowship coming to Lothlorien and gave detailed descriptions of each of the members. In return, she told them stories of her adventures with Raina Deomene, her best friend and the princess of the now destroyed Deomené Isle. They laughed and joked, drinking fine wines and eating a variety of glorious foods that Naurarwen had brought back with her from her travels. Some of the finest examples were the vibrant and fruity wines from Mirkwood, the rough but delightfully seasoned and smoked meat of the dwarven butchers and the rich filling foods of the hobbits.
As the wine and food dwindled to a few scraps and droplets, the elves slowed their conversation as the stories faded into the night's cooling air. With soft words the brothers, Rumil and Orophin, excused themselves to the recesses of their Talan and whispered quietly to one another. Naurarwen slowly lowered herself to sit on the edge of the platform, her legs dangling freely over the sides as the soft leaves tried to catch them in the gentle breeze. Haldir, who had left to discuss the violent events of Naurarwen's arrival with the Lady Galadriel, came upon the scene with a fond smile. His brothers were now in deep thought, their eyes closed and their breathing soft and silent. Naurarwen appeared in a similar state, her eyes open but distant, looking past the trees as if she was searching for the soul of the wind itself. Deciding that disturbance would be a cruel fate to those so far gone, Haldir leaned upon the balcony at the opposite side of the platform. Quietly he admired the gentle twinkle of the stars as they glittered through the gently undulating waves of leaves above.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Naurarwen whispered as she moved to stand beside him, leaning forwards on the railing to gaze across the landscape. They did not turn to speak to each other but kept their vision forwards, into the distance.
"Yes, there is no greater sight in the entire world than that from the trees of Caras Galadhon. Except, perhaps the sight of the lady who calls it so." Slowly Haldir turned to look at her with a gentle smile, he seemed different now, happier it seemed. Naurarwen tilted her head to contemplate this turn in appearance before turning to face him. He closed the distance between them and placed his hand on her cheek, she felt warm under his touch, yet still he felt the small shiver that coursed through her. Slowly he leant forwards, his lips a whisper across her own, his hand moving from her cheek and settling on the nape of her neck to pull her towards him. Her hands moved to rest on his sides, the kiss was soft, tender, and she could taste the hint of fine fruits that still lingered on his lips. Naurarwen broke the kiss taking a few steps back from him, her hands hanging limply at her sides.
"I cannot do this," she whispered only audible for them to hear, "It is not right." She shook her head and turned quickly on her heel. Her hair swirled around her and shone as brightly as spun gold in the pale light. She rushed past Rumil and Orophin, shocking them both from their thoughts as she swept past them and down the ladder as quickly as her feet would carry her.
Once she had made it to the bottom of the talan she looked up after a moment's pause taking a deep steadying breath. Haldir was not following her instead he was still leant on the railings, staring down at her with a look of confusion. She sighed with relief as she quickly hurried back to her home. She had asked Galadriel for a cot to be left at the bottom of her talan; for tonight she would sleep under the stars. She moved to the cot and sat down upon it, she cradled her head in her hands. Why did he do it? He's like a brother to me. She looked up at the stars and slowly took long, deep breaths. She stood after a moment, removing her weapons respectfully and laid them under the small cot, she placed her cloak on top, hiding the weapons from sight. She slipped her boots off her feet, sighed with the relief of the cool night air, and laid them at the side of the cot, and her jerkin at the side of them.
It was now several hours past midnight. Naurarwen lay wide- awake staring at the distant stars through the leaves as hundreds of thoughts rushed through her mind. Even the distant whispering lyrical voices of the elves could not lull her to sleep. She continued to have a sleepless night, watching as the stars began to fade and make way for the golden glow of the warm sun as it began to rise. Its glittering early morning rays made the leaves on the trees shine like gold. The gentle beauty of it astounded her, it was a sight she had truly missed, she thought to herself as finally, her eyes closed and she slipped into a fitful slumber.
Clashing swords and screams were all she could hear, the smell of burning all around her. She was surrounded by death. Naurarwen lifted her hands slowly, they were covered in blood and, her vision filled with red as she spun around and time itself seemed to stop. She could see the faces of all those she loved, they had been slain, their bodies now battered and broken, lay at her feet. Her eyes fell upon Haldir his lifeless eyes boring into her. Her eyes fell to her hands, which had come alive with fire. She screamed.
Naurarwen sat bolt upright instantly wide awake once more, her breaths coming short and sharp. She raised her hands shakily and studied the pale skin, there was no blood or fire. She shook her head running her fingers through her hair in an attempt to soothe herself, Just a nightmare, she told herself just a nightmare…
She dragged herself from her cot, pulled her boots on and tied the laces as a voice entered her mind, What troubles you my child? I felt your fear as you woke, something is causing you to worry, the voice was Lady Galadriel's. Running a hand through her hair Naurarwen quickly blocked all thoughts from her mind. Rapidly she plaited her hair in to one solid plait down her back and donned her tunic, she grabbed her sword and belt and hung it low about her waist before throwing her bow and quiver over her shoulder.
She began walking out of the city but thoughts of Haldir and the kiss crept into her mind. She could not stop thinking about it; the thoughts chased her everywhere she sought to hide her mind. Naurarwen closed her eyes as she walked; other elves saw her and slowly slipped past her, making no sound as if they were avoiding her.
Finally, she made it to the edge of the city and looked out into the gently lit forest. A sight she had missed so potently, there had been nothing like this on her journey. In Mirkwood when awakening it had always been dark as the sun barely pierced the thick and numerous trees. In the Shire, there was the sight of the small creatures called hobbits coming from their little holes in the hills but otherwise it was an open simple farming land. Near Moria, it had been dark and cold though the temperature and time of day did not bother her it had just seemed so perpetually dull. In Rohan, the land of the horse people, it was breath taking to walk out of the small hut and look around and all that surrounded you were mountains and rolling open plains. Nothing compared to Lorien though, here the sun's rays hit the leaves of the trees, they glowed like liquid gold, and the bark shone a faint silver colour. The sky only visible as the branches of the trees swayed. A cool breeze rushed through the woods most mornings. This was her home, and this was the place she wished to stay forever.
Impulsively, Naurarwen decided to travel towards the South of the Golden Wood where she had once guarded the border. She moved swiftly through the slender tree trunks, keeping to the leaf strewn ground, deciding not to take the route through the trees until she came closer to the edge of the forest where the views would be more spectacular. Now only a few miles from the border she climbed easily up one of the huge trees with great stealth and ease. She reached the high branches and stopped, looking out towards the border. From her vantage point, she could see the edge of the woods and where it led out on to the grassy plains beyond. She travelled from tree to tree getting closer and closer to the edge of the woods; finally, she stopped only a few meters away from the last of the trees. Here she sat, leaning back onto the tree, the leaves shading her from all but the most observant and curious of eyes. She closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the wood calm her mind and soul, she relished how everything around her seemed so peaceful.
A/N's: Again thank you to my best friend and beta PilgrimDragon you rock! Would like to say I may or may not have hit a slight brick wall right now as chapters one and two were pretty much already rewritten and just needed beta reading before publishing where as from here on out all my chapters need revising so please stick with me but be prepared for a slightly wait.
