Chapter 3

                  Artanis bit the end of her stylus, her brow wrinkling up a bit.  Her eyes seemed to glow with anger before she turned to the paper and began scribbling the fine letters.

Dearest Finrod, or should I say my betraying brother? The words I use do not matter.  I hope I haunt your thoughts always, for you have killed again.  I pray for your tortured soul.  I hope it ends in Mandos.  Do not fear for me.  Here they treat me like kin, which is less I can say for you, my own brother.  Tell Fingon, I curse him, and tell Fingolfin he is unworthy to be a king.  They have done great disservice by harming the Captain of the guard.  He has wronged no one.

                  " Artanis, should you not be in the library?"

                  Her head swung up, looking at the very captain she wrote of.  She lifted her chin, glaring a little at him for catching her in her free time.  He leaned against the doorway, raising his eyebrows and crossing his arms.  She returned his stare, crossing her own arms.

                  " No, Melian said I could use today for my own.  There are no lessons, so I am transcribing a letter to my wonderful brothers and the others that left me here," her voice dripped with sarcasm at the mention of the other Noldor.

Celeborn chuckled slightly as he lounged a little more on the door.  He glanced behind him, as if checking for any soldiers milling about.

                  " When do you return to duty?"  Artanis asked.

Celeborn's eyes lit up at his one love.

                  " As soon as I can.  Melian and Thingol wish another week of rest, but I shall be fine by tomorrow."

Artanis nodded.

                  " They are overly protective of you."

                  " They are no less to you.  We are both somewhat related to Thingol," Celeborn pointed out.

Artanis shrugged.  Celeborn glanced behind him, hearing his name.

                  " Excuse me, but I believe duty still calls, even when I am out of action."

She shook her head, turning back to her letter.

I will not condone any invasions against Doriath.  Leastways, you would all perish if one were attempted for the watch upon Doriath is endless.  Tell Idril that I miss her terribly and that I will be sending her letters.  Namarië, Artanis.

~*~

                  Celeborn listened as intently as he could.  The dull ache in his back had only intensified from the tiring amount of standing as he listened to the report.

                  " My lord, are you well?" the Elf picked up on it.

Celeborn waved a hand dismissively.

                  " I am fine, just a dull ache.  Tis nothing."

                  " I disagree."

Celeborn almost groaned.  She had a knack for trying to baby him.

                  " Melian…"

The Maia shook her head, her glossy black hair shimmering.

                  " You are in pain and I wish you to be healthy again."

~*~

                  Artanis tilted her head. 

                  " How do you protect Doriath?"

Melian looked up surprised.

                  " Have you finished already?"

Artanis nodded and watched with questioning eyes as Melian picked up the paper.

                  " Melian, how do you protect Doriath?"

                  Melian glanced around, closing the door to her study.

                  " That is my secret, Artanis."

                  " I can keep secrets," Artanis was on the edge of her seat.

Melian blinked at the sudden vision of this great Elf-lady standing before a mirror.  Melian looked at Artanis, studying the girl from her toes to the tips of her gold and silver braid wound around her head.  Melian motioned for her to lean in.

                  " I served Estë.  She taught me of the power in the mind."

                  Melian looked into Artanis' eyes.

*You remember how I could control your arms the day the secret came out?  That is only a tidbit of the power to be found.

Artanis' eyes lit up.

                  " Teach me."

Melian leaned back with a smile.

                  " You are an insatiable pupil, Artanis."

                  " I want to know everything there is to know.  No one shall surpass me in knowledge."

~*~

                  Artanis pulled her braid from her hair and shook her head, allowing the crimped strands to fall freely.  She allowed her horse to trot among the trees and glanced around, glad to be alone for once, or at least partly alone.  She did not count Celeborn as company.  He was busy inspecting the trees, pausing by each one in their path and laying a hand on them as if it was an old friend.  She just shook her head.

*He is odd.  I take that back.  It is far too much an understatement.

                  Celeborn glanced up at her, sensing her irritation at his lagging.

                  " If you wish to go ahead, then by all means, make me happy and leave me be."

Artanis' lips curved into a smile.

                  " I think I will stay if it makes you that happy.  I know you absolutely adore me."

Celeborn faked a smile.

                  " Of course.  You know that my heart belongs to you and you only, lady.  Here," he got off his horse dramatically, enjoying her contained laughter, " I make my vow of love."

Their eyes met and both broke into peals of laughter.  Artanis used her sleeve to wipe her eyes.

                  " You missed your life's calling, Celeborn.  You should have been a court jester."

Celeborn remounted.

                  " I believe all the Elves thank me for being a guard instead.  A jester's life would have bored me."

                  " Really?"  Artanis was intrigued, " And why is that?"

Celeborn shrugged.

                  " Jesters are cooped up inside all day.  They have to please the king and queen and if they do not, they are out of a job.  It is too difficult a profession," he sent her a humorous look, " Leastways, no jester is ever found in company with beautiful she-Elves."

Artanis pushed him.

                  " So you do this for your own pleasure?"

Celeborn sent her a fast headshake.

                  " Nay, I love this.  Being outside, among the trees," he touched one, and then glanced at her, " Celeborn means silver tree in our tongue."

                  Artanis' lips formed an O.

                  " It fits you perfectly," she replied, " Your hair and height were the first things I noticed about you."

                  " Really?"

Artanis rolled her eyes.

                  " Do not take it personally.  There are very few males of my people that wear their hair so long as you do.  And," she paused, glancing at him, "There are few my height or taller."

Celeborn still wore a smug look.  Artanis almost leapt across to his horse and tackled him off, but she restrained herself.  Instead, she aimed to spook the horse with a quick slap to the rear.  His horse bolted.

                  Artanis' shoulders slumped when he almost effortlessly jumped off and let the horse ride on.  A loud low whistle resonated through the trees.  Seconds later, the horse returned.  Celeborn rode back to her.

                  " You just cannot win them all," he stated.

Artanis leapt over and tackled him then.

~*~

                  Celeborn sat with his feet in a hot spring, as he tried to pull the many mini acorns from his tangled locks.  He splashed his feet a little, glancing at the cooling water that had been run for his bath.  Thingol had not seen the humor in his mud-splashed appearance. 

                  " Are you almost…"

Celeborn glared at the Elf entering the room.

                  " What is it, Oropher?"

The young Elf only grinned.

                  " What happened to you?"

Celeborn only glared more.

                  " For being part of my guard, you walk a thin line."

                  Oropher became solemn.

                  " Thingol wanted to see if you were finished yet, but it seems you have only just begun.  He is most definitely in a grumpy mood."

A giggle came and a little head peeked around the doorway.

                  " Celeborn, you're all dirty."

Celeborn sighed, leaving the small prickly ball in his hair.  Lúthien sat beside him.  She giggled, hiding her mirth behind two hands.  Celeborn just raised an eyebrow.

                  " Where is your watcher, Lúthien?"

She just laughed, leaning over to free the prickly from his hair.

                  " You have tree seeds all in your hair, Celeborn."

                  " Do you want to help me and pull them all out?"

Lúthien pulled out another in answer.

                  " I was helping Nana get them out of Artanis' hair."

                  Oropher's eyebrows shot up to the ceiling. 

*Celeborn and Artanis having things in their hair that come from the ground. 

A smile formed.

*The formidable Captain of Doriath subdued by a fiery Noldo.

                  " So what were you and Artanis doing?"

Celeborn glanced up, his eyes dark at the implications.

                  " Whatever we were doing, it is not what you think."

                  " Nana thought Artanis had been naughty," Lúthien informed, " Nana was telling her about our customs.  That a union means-"

                  Celeborn had dropped his head into his hands.

                  " Dear Eru."

Oropher's face was tinged a bit pink at the implications of a…ahem…union; something that was not spoken freely of within the confines of Menegroth. 

                  " Lúthien, go to your mother, please," Oropher lifted her from the platform on which Celeborn sat.

Lúthien obeyed, trotting out of the room.  Oropher sat beside him.

                  " It is perfectly normal for an Elf to fall in love with a she-Elf.  Artanis is exceptionally beautiful and-"

Celeborn's head whipped up.

                  " We were fighting, like we always do.  We were far from thinking of this union business.  I would never wed a Noldo.  You know where my eyes are set."

Oropher nodded.  There was a beautiful maiden that was enamored with Celeborn, and he, her.  She resided by the Sea now, with his parents and they kept in touch only by correspondence.  Oropher clasped his shoulder.

                  " Take your bath.  Dinner is soon and you smell worse than an orc."

Celeborn cupped some water to throw at Oropher.  Oropher skillfully outmaneuvered it, shutting the door firmly behind him.  Celeborn shook his head, discarding his last filthy garments.  He slid under the water and closed his eyes.

*A Sindar could never love a Noldo.  It is utterly impossible.