You guys rock! I don't think Ive had this many faves and alerts! As I promised, shorter time between chapters. I don't expect it to be this short everytime, I was struck by inspiration, and I'm on spring break so yay!
"She is healing quickly," Nestarion observed as he and his daughter tended to the wounds. Another week had passed and already her external wounds were healed. Still Nestarion could feel the severed nerve unhealed and raw.
"Should we wake her?" Marrowyn asked, an almost childish gleam lighting her eyes.
"Let her wake in her own time, Marrowyn," Nestarion warned. "Then you may speak with her." Marrowyn nodded a bright smile lighting her face.
It wouldn't be another two days until the woman woke up. The day was overcast, reflecting Haldir's dismal mood. Desperate for contact with someone other than Marrowyn he had attempted to venture to Orophin's talan, failed miserably and settled himself with moping on a branch in the topmost canopy of the Healing talan tree.
A chill wind swept into the room, pushing past the curtains and brushing gently over the sleeping woman's face. The humid cold seeped into the woman's mind, waking her. Gingerly she turned her head to the side, taking in the room around her. It hadn't been a dream, the room was still simplistically beautiful. In the white wicker chair sat a tall and beautiful woman that she didn't recognize. Immediately when the woman came awake Marrowyn was on her feet hovering over her.
"Your awake," She chimed forcing the woman to drink from a cup. The cold water splashed sweetly down her throat, waking her completely.
"Where am I?" She asked attempting to push herself up on her elbows. Marrowyn instantly pushed her back into the bed, chastising her hastiness.
"You are in Caras Galadhon, the heart of Lothlorien." Marrowyn informed her with pride.
"Oh," The woman made no sign of recognition, merely stared out the window.
"I am Marrowyn, a healer," Marrowyn said, the curiosity and excitement glowing in her eyes.
"Its nice to meet you, Marrowyn. I would tell you my name, but I don't remember it." The woman's brown eyes darkened with pain.
"Well then we shall give you one," Marrowyn said cheerfully. The woman looked at her a trace of a smile tugging at her lips. Marrowyn sat back down in the chair looking extremely thoughtful. "Vanwamin, we shall call you Vanwamin."
"I like it," Said the woman after a moment of deliberation. "Its pretty, it's nothing I've heard before."
"Its a mixture of Quenya and Sindarin, it means Lost One," Marrowyn smiled brightly. Vanwamin gave a weak smile back, adjusting to her new name. It seemed fitting enough, she certainly was lost. "What was your city like?" Marrowyn was eager in her pursuit of knowledge.
"Big," Vanwamin said casting her gaze to the ceiling. She could remember living in a huge city, though which one, she couldn't say. "Noisy, polluted. Not exactly a great place." She laughed lightly and breathed deeply. "We don't have air like this there."
"That is sad indeed," Marrowyn mused sadly. "You have a strange accent, where are you from exactly."
"I, I don't know," She said shaking her head. "I don't remember much, just little things, my favorite color is blue and my birthday is November 15th. Things like that."
"I'm sorry," Marrowyn bowed her head.
"It's not your fault," Vanwamin insisted. "Oh! The man, who was injured, I- is he okay?"
"You mean Haldir," Marrowyn laughed. "Yes he is more than fine, if that is what you mean, he's been here every day actually."
"That's good, I'm glad he's okay," A smile graced Vanwamin's lips, brightening her face.
"Yes, he and his brothers are very grateful for what you've done," Marroywn smiled as well. Her smile suddenly faded and she began to toy nervously with the hem of her sleeve.
"Is something wrong?" Asked Vanwamin carefully.
"Don't think me imprudent, but... may I see your ears?"
"My ears?" Vanwamin laughed and drew her hair behind her ear. "There, a perfectly normal ear."
"How peculiar," Marrowyn gasped her blue eyes lighting up as she leaned closer, not that she needed to.
"Peculiar?" Vanwamin said in alarm. "What's peculiar? Whats wrong with my ear?" Frantically she pressed her hand to her ear and found it perfectly normal to the touch.
"No, no," Marrowyn corrected herself waving her hands. "Forgive me, there is nothing wrong with your ear, its just that I have never seen a human, and our ears are very much different." Marrowyn pulled the hair away from her delicate ears.
"Oh, my..." Vanwamin stared, this certainly wasn't normal. "You are aware that your ears are pointy, right?" Marrowyn gave crystal laugh and lowered her hair.
"I am, indeed," She laughed sitting in the chair again. "No matter, tell me more about your city." Before Vanwamin could question Marrowyn pointy ears, the enthusiastic woman had her talking about trivial things that she referred to as human.
The next few week continued in this manner, every morning when Vanwamin would wake, Marrowyn would be in the white wicker chair ready to question her endlessly. Vanwamin found the elf's curious nature endearing and it was not without its advantages. With every question Marrowyn asked, Vanwamin found herself remembering tiny details of things. Nothing important of course. Vanwamin was beginning to be able to sit upright for a few minutes at a time, stretch her arms and legs. Everyday after their inquisition Marroywn would work on healing the severed nerve, everyday it got a little better.
Warm sunshine filtered through the trees and gently waking Vanwamin, lazily she stayed still not opening her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Finally she turned her face to the left and opened her eyes expecting to see Marroywn in her usual place, instead there sat the blond elf she had healed.
"Oh, jeeze," She gasped pulling up the blanket and moving against the wall.
"Your awake," Said Haldir nonchalantly.
"Yes, yes I am," Vanwamin said pushing herself into a sitting position. "You must be Haldir."
"And if I said I wasn't?"
"Well, then I'd have to wonder who was watching me sleep," She said laughing lightly. "Since your either Haldir or very liberal, I have to ask you if you're okay?"
"Okay?"
"Are you well?" She asked kindly. She often forgot that these people spoke in a more sophisticated way than she. " Last I saw you weren't exactly... in good health."
"I am perfectly well," Haldir said sitting forward. "And you would be the reason why." Vanwamin turned her gaze away from him. His piercing gray eyes causing blood to flood her cheeks.
"Not the only reason," She said twisting the soft material of the blanket between her fingers. "That wasn't me, it couldn't have been."
"In any circumstance, I thank you." Haldir continued to stare at her. She was a very strange human, he had every intention of holding her in contempt, disliking her. But she held a gentle curiosity, an innocents, and a humbleness that was not common in humans.
"Your welcome," She smiled, a sweet and true gesture.
"Marrowyn tells me that she has christened you Vanwamin."
"Yeah, its... pretty," Vanwamin said, an awkward and tacky air surrounding her.
"You dislike it?" Haldir asked.
"No! No thats not it," Vanwamin shook her head and raised hand. "Its not my name though."
"A name does not make the person," Haldir assured her. His wariness of human nature consuming him again.
"No, but when you have lost everything, it means something." Pain laced her voice and she turned her gaze to her hands.
"May I ask a question?"
"Anything."
"Why would you stake your life on a stranger?" Haldir asked with tentative gesture.
"Truthfully, I didn't know I was," She said keeping her eyes fixed on her worrying hands. She glanced up quickly to see the disappointed and almost hurt look cross Haldir's features. "But that doesn't mean I would take it back! Even if I had know, I would like to think I would still do it."
Haldir was taken aback. What had he been expecting? Her ardent hatred for wounding her so severely? Or perhaps her valiant proclamation that he owed her his life? Either way it was not the calm and sincerely unsure answer he had gotten. She was beginning to completely baffle him.
"Are you aware that I cannot go far from you?" Haldir's voice was bitter and hash, harsher than he had intended it.
"What?" The alarm in Vanwamin's voice rang out clearly.
"I cannot reach the edge of the fourteenth stair down before a flame ignites in my chest." His voice was softer this time, yet still held an edge.
"No, no I didn't know," She shook her head and sank into bed, her back aching sourly. "I'm so sorry."
"You're a very apologetic human," Haldir in defeat reclining in the wicker chair.
"Your a very spiteful... whatever you are." In truth Vanwamin wasn't sure what these creatures were yet. She had never thought to ask Marrowyn, she was much too likeable and distracted her ever time she thought something was different about her.
"Elf, I am an elf, you are a human, I am immortal, you are mortal." At his chesty outburst Vanwamin laughed. Loud and throaty, humorously with an edge of ill temper.
"You are arrogant arn't you?" Put off, Haldir rose from the chair and stalked out of the room. Vanwamin laughed quietly to herself, feeling to urge to ask the empty room if it was something she said. Marrowyn entered the room almost immediately after Haldir took his leave, looking confused.
"What did you do to irritate the Marchwarden so?" She asked while settling into the chair he had abandoned.
"I only called him arrogant," Vanwamin said the humor still in her voice. Marrowyn smiled sadly at the woman and began to embroider the tunic she had.
"Haldir is a tolerable elf, arrogant no doubt, but kind and genial none the less." Marrowyn spoke her words carefully. "And loyal, you will find none here who would be more willing to serve and protect this city."
"Tolerance and loyalty are no excuse for pride and prejudice," Vanwamin said, sobering suddenly. Marrowyn lowered her eyes, a deep flush coming over her.
"I am sorry," She said putting the stitchery aside. "We do not play host often to humans, because they are known for their greed and compulsive behavior."
"I would be insulted if it weren't true," Vanwamin said shaking her head. "You don't need to apologize."
"You are not like the humans I have learned of," Marrowyn said her eyes alight again. "You are kind and it seems imprudent that we judge all men by a singular behavior. However I feel that its important to tell you that Haldir is no so easily swayed. Despite his cold facade, he has suffered greatly and does not trust easily."
"Well its good that I like a challenge then," Vanwamin said with a laugh. "Or at least I think I do..."
Labyrinth Lover: Yes poor Haldir... I think he's being kind of a baby really. haha, just kidding... Thank you for being the first to review and reviewing every chapter since.
Haldirsbaby: I am glad you like it so much! :D
Emzy2k11: Here's your update. Not sure she really has any abilities... :)
Thanks to everyone and remember reviews make me write faster! They make me happy and such, even if they arn't good ones!