Haldir rubbed his hand brusquely along his jaw line. He could not shake the searing heat of his anger…or the image of Ainë's light-colored shirt clinging to her sinewy body. But her impudence! It was mortifying that such a young elleth would behave in such a way, and to an ellon of his standing!
The leaves on the ground rushed into the air with every stride he took towards the archery grounds. He needed to shoot something, and there was a frustrating lack of orcs available for target practice.
He passed the guest pavilions where the humans were staying. Men. In his forest! And she was responsible for that, as well. Unbidden, violent thoughts entered his mind. He whipped his longbow off of his back, strung an arrow, and fired the first of a rapid succession of shots into the hay-bale targets. They'd been artfully decorated by someone-Haldir suspected his brothers-to look like uruk-hai…with clownish, smeared red mouths, menacing eyes, pointy teeth, and ugly, black bodies.
"Something the matter, Haldir?" Camthalion, the resident smith, bowcrafter, and fletcher walked up behind him, admiring his shots. "You seem…tense."
"Everything is fine," he replied coolly, setting his bow at his side. "I will simply be happier when the Men are safely outside of our borders."
Camthalion gave him a wry look. "Funny, that you should be so wary of humans. You were, as I recall, close to Elessar, son of Arathorn, several years ago."
Haldir sighed. "Humans, I am afraid, are not all quite the same, mellonamin."
"So I've heard."
"Haldir! You'll never guess who I've just seen. And in such a state!"
"Whom, Orophin?" He asked with a sigh.
"Ainë. Soaking wet. In a white shirt. Walking from the forest." Orophin's grin grew wider with every word.
Haldir actually smiled at the thought of her walking through the city, sodden and immodestly dressed. The tips of his ears and his stomach warmed a bit from the thought, as well. He mentally shook his head. How could he harbor such lust for an elleth like that?
"It seems as though she has the need to relearn some manners," he said dryly. "Spending so much time with Men must have that uncivilized effect."
Ainë wet her lips as she looked at her reflection in the stone basin. The silver water illuminated her hair and eyes, but she was still an elf of unremarkable beauty. Her skin was too white. It never darkened in the sun, no matter how long she'd been riding on the plains. Her cheeks were hollow-looking. She frowned at herself.
As she noticed the silly lines between her eyebrows and childlike pout on her lips, a smile caught her by surprise. It spread across her lips, reaching even her stern eyes. The act made her face look fresh, like it had been bathed in sunlight. "That's better," she thought, turning from the table and sliding off her wet tunic and dirt-stained trousers. Telperien would be angry that she'd dirtied her new things already. Ainë stood for a moment, bemused. She did not want to incur the wrath of her hosts, especially on her first night in Lorien in decades.
A dark purple gown was strewn over a chair in the corner. She picked it up, scrutinizing its plain neckline and simple cut. The fabric slid over her shoulders and down her body like liquid amethyst. She smiled at the freeness of the flowing skirts, and raised her arms above her head, twirling slowly on her toes, with abandon. Her burden had seemed to slip off, little by little, since she'd emerged from the forest.
She tiptoed down the steps from the talan, hands skimming the bark of the thick tree it was nestled in. Twilight befit the forest, which now looked more silver than gold. Instead of singing, the leaves seemed to whisper in the breeze.
As Ainë tramped barefoot through the gardens that led to the dining area, she inhaled deeply. The humans. They wouldn't be invited to dine with the elves, of course. It wasn't customary, and she did not yet have good feelings about them. Aldas possessed a true heart, she was certain, and Artamir was a decent leader, but Gareth was so young, so naïve…
"No," she decided, "Best not to fully trust them, not yet." As sad as the determination made her.
Her ears pricked, her senses sharpening. Someone approached from behind. Someone with light, elven feet and soft breathing.
" 'Tis only me," flaxen-haired Alcarie murmured, grasping Ainë's forearm. "May I have the pleasure of walking with you?"
"Of course, cousin," Ainë said, wrapping grasping her hand and looping it through the crook of her elbow. "It has been ages since we've spoken alone!"
Alcarie giggled softly. "How funny you are, Ainë. I have missed you, you know."
"Ah, but you've probably missed everyone more than ever, especially since you've been trapped in these woods with the same few elves. Rumil would have driven me mad, by now."
Alcarie looked at the dirt path, still smiling. "The solitude is noticeable, love, but not stifling. I've found the isolation comforting, actually. We've sort of built our own worlds here, now, each of us with our own ways of living." She sighed glowingly. "I am happy."
Ainë looked at her cousin. "How very whimsical, Alcarie."
"Do not laugh at me, Ainë Calliel!" Alcarie's own laughter was audible now, echoing through the mallyrn. As they approached the glowing pavilion where the elves took their meals, she tucked her loose golden braids behind her ears, gazing at Aine. "I would see you settled, dear," she said. "Your light dims a little more each time I see you."
Her tenderness made tears prick at Ainë's eyes. She took a stalwart breath. "You are going to hurt my light's vanity, Alcarie. Besides, I am as settled as I need to be," she said. "Who needs to be settled with so many kingdoms to look after? And so much power! I am such a power-hungry warmonger that I've no need for an actual home. With actual permanency. The very idea!" She shook her head, as if to rid it of the thought.
Alcarie grinned. "There you are, covering your true feelings with mirth. You may have real problems, one day."
"Darling, you shall be the first to hear of it."
"There's our honored guest! Come along, everyone!"
Ainë groaned, releasing Alcarie's arm to cover her face with her hands. "Orophin, leave me alone! Can't you leave me in peace, just this one evening?"
"Can you imagine?" Poldon muttered in her ear, appearing out of nowhere to guide her out of the small throng of elves appearing to greet her. "Those brothers actually being decent, for once? I shall never live to see the day."
"Ironic," Ainë mused, "considering the fact that you shall live forever."
Poldon shrugged, his platinum hair glittering in the torchlight. "I may not survive the next time Rumil tramps through the Lady's gardens. If I find one more bed of elanor trampled to death, I may fade from the grief of it."
They sat at a long, unpolished wooden table near the middle of the room, with everyone filling in around him. Ainë sighed with relief as she saw Alcarie's lily-green gown settle a short distance down the bench from her. Surprisingly, Rumil and Orophin flanked her, with Halliel sitting opposite them. She noticed that Haldir sat far across the room from his brothers, near the door…far from her. Instead of relief, she felt a small surge of frustration. And anticipation.
"So," Poldon said, "the Marchwarden has been ranting about your stupidity and insolence this afternoon. I trust your revelation in the woods went well?"
Ainë snorted. "That elf has spent too many long days alone guarding this place. To use a human expression, he needs to 'get out more'."
Poldon smiled. "I do not doubt that. And I wouldn't worry, if I were you. The Marchwarden has quite the bark, but not much of a bite. Socially speaking, that is. I wouldn't recommend meeting him on the sparring courts anytime soon."
"I can take him," Ainë said, puffing up with false bravado, evoking smiles from the elves around her. Unwillingly, her eyes wandered over to where Haldir was sitting with Telperien. Uncomfortable, unbidden warmth snaked through her chest. She inhaled, pushed the feeling aside, and continued the conversation.
The sun warmed the rocks around the small pool, causing the whitish limestone and quartz within them to glisten. Alcarie was draped over one boulder, clothed in only her white chemise, her pale green gown spread out next to her. Ainë was sunning herself on a rock nearby, while Halliel reclined with her legs in the water, looking much like a mermaid or a siren from the tales of Men. The day was young, and seemed as though it would stretch on forever.
Ainë concentrated on the warmth of her skin and hair, absorbing the energy of the sun with every fiber of her being. She couldn't help but be reminded of the nights she'd spend in the caves of the Misty Mountains, covered in snow, even her elven immunity not quite enough to keep her from feeling the bitter cold. She wanted to retain the sensations of that sunny morning forever.
Alcarie finally spoke, breaking the silence with her gossamer voice. "Ainë? Have you ever loved anyone?"
Ainë chuckled. "It's a little early for that question, isn't it?"
Halliel laughed, smoothing her black hair back. "She doesn't wish to answer."
"No, I will, I will." Ainë allowed her head to loll to one side, so that she looked into the water. "I've loved many people. Whom do you want to know about?"
"Lovers?" Alcarie probed, with an uncharacteristically devilish smile.
"Valar, no!" Ainë gasped with mock propriety. Alcarie sat up, and Halliel sharpened.
"Really? As in, you have had none?"
"I am as pure as freshly-fallen snow."
Halliel looked aghast. Alcarie frowned. "How old are you?"
"Older than you, that is for certain. Don't look so shocked!"
"Is it on principle that you've stayed celibate for centuries?" Halliel asked, turning over so that she lay on her stomach, legs still resting in the water. "Or are you just more socially inept than we thought?"
Ainë looked pensive, resting her hands on her stomach and looking up at the trees. "It isn't that I haven't wanted a lover. It's just that I've never had the right partner…or the right opportunity. I've always had camaraderie and friendships to fulfill me." She grinned. "Aiya! To befriend any hobbit is enough love and commitment for even an elvish lifetime." She turned serious. "Once you have something so very precious, it is difficult to consider replacing it."
Alcarie pondered the statement, for a moment. "You need something. Something other than responsibility and duty to add to your existence."
Halliel sighed. "You need to relax, Ainë."
Sorry it's been so long! (I just finished finals this week.) Thanks for reviewing, guys. I'll try to be faster with the next chapter, promise.