A/N: N: Here the next chapter. This more of a filler one but still important for building relationships. There also a glimpse of what's to come. Enjoy and please carry on reading! I have lots of ideas left for this story!
E:Hello guys glad we've had so much interest in this story it's great since this is our first one and Foofie01 you are very quickly becoming my favourite person so far being our only reviewer. Please guys R&R and let us know what you think.
I don't own any of Tolkien's work or characters, only my own.
Eärendur and Nienna lay on the field with their arms wrapped around each other, it was still night as the moon was still present in the sky.
"May I ask you something, my lady?" Eärendur asked her.
"What would that be, my lord?" she wondered.
"Would I have your permission so I could court you?" Eärendur asked as Nienna looked at him in shock.
She paused a while before replying, "Um…Well I don't have any family for you to ask so the decision is all mine. I will give you your answer once you have been to see Haldir".
"Ok, my lady. I will go first thing in the morning, I wouldn't want to disturb him with my presence now" he replied.
"That is very thoughtful, my lord. I suggest that we head back to our talans now, don't you?" Nienna suggested. He thought this was a good idea so they stood up and walked away from the field towards their talans.
Eärendur awoke as soon as the sun had risen in the sky, this was his day to make everything right. He finally had the chance to be happy himself, he knew that she would be safe now, especially in the arms of the March Warden. He could focus on being a really good friend to her, he had done his duty of being her protector. He couldn't get Nienna out of his mind, he wasn't used to showing his soft, caring side, but she definitely bought it out in him. No elleth had ever caught his eye before, so it was a new experience for him but he wasn't about to let the opportunity slip through his fingers. This was his last chance. He knew Nienna was the only elleth that would ever make him feel this way. He then decided to get up out of bed to change ready to go and see Haldir in the healing quarters. Once he was ready he made his way to the healing quarters.
Lillieth was waiting in the hall outside the quarters because a healer was reassessing Haldir's wound. It was then that Eärendur came through the door. She was surprised to see him and smiled at him and walked up to him. She stood in front of him then put her arms around him to embrace him in a hug, he then after the shock of not being slapped again he put his arms around her.
"I'm sorry, Penig [little one]. Will you forgive me?" he pleaded.
"Of course I will you idiot, I am sorry too!" she replied, joy in her voice.
"How is Haldir?" he questioned.
"He is fine, the wound had opened a bit but the healers have helped. They are reassessing him now, that is why I am out here" she replied.
"That is great news, I must see him and make amends" he said.
"He wishes that too, the healers shouldn't be much longer now. I'll give you some time alone with him when they are done." She replied. The healers then exited the room where Haldir was and said that he had made good progress. Eärendur went inside to speak with Haldir.
Lillieth noticed Lady Galadriel approaching the healing quarter, looking as radiant as ever. She bowed before her and gave her a smile.
"Lady Galadriel, What brings you here?" she asked.
"I come to see the fool that I call my March Warden. I heard about yesterday's antics and those of the last few days. You have certainly bought a right character along with you to Lórien" the lady replied while smiling.
"Aye, my lady. Don't be too harsh on them please" Lillieth begged.
"Don't worry, my child. I only come to check on Haldir's condition and maybe give them a few wise words" she replied. Lillieth bowed her head, she felt responsible.
"I feel so guilty, it was all over me. I could be the reason if anything bad happened" Lillieth said with a panicked tone.
"You have done the opposite, my child. Your feä are now connected, this is helping his healing. His recovery should be much quicker than before" the Lady replied while placing a hand on Lillieth's face. This made Lillieth happy, knowing she was helping him without even knowing.
When Eärendur had entered into the room, Haldir looked in his direction. He was shocked to see him there. Eärendur walked over to the bed where Haldir lay and sat upon the chair next to his bed. Haldir was about to speak before he was cut off by Eärendur.
"Please let me begin. I wish to apologise for yesterday, I didn't mean for it to go so far. I am the reason you are lying here now" Eärendur spoke, there was an apologetic tone in his voice.
"I forgive you, I know your intentions were pure, you were just trying to protect her. She told me everything last night, how you helped her escape. If you weren't there anything could have happened to her and she wouldn't be with me now. I owe you everything." Haldir replied.
"No, I let the thought of him consume me. I thought everyone would treat her the same way, for that I am sorry. I really do give you my blessing, you make her happy. That is all I wish for" Eärendur said with a bowed head. Haldir held out his hand which Eärendur grasped to shake his hand.
"I thank you. You have shown your true self and that is someone I am sure I can be great friends with" Haldir stated.
"One word of warning. If you ever hurt her. I will put you back in here. That is a threat and a promise" Eärendur said, still smiling.
"I will never hurt her, you have my word." Haldir replied.
Lady Galadriel and Lillieth then walked through the door to where the two ellyn's were. They walked over to them and Lillieth went to Haldir's side grasping his hand.
"Do not look worried, I am only here to check on our March Warden. It is a great sight to see you have already spoke and offered your apologies to each other. However, if this ever happens again, I will have no choice but to intervene." She paused before continuing and looking in Haldir's direction. "I am very grateful that you two have found each other and become connected. Her feä is helping you to heal, March Warden" she finished with a smile. Haldir looked at Lillieth and smiled in appreciation while placing his other hand over hers.
"Thank you for your kind words, my lady. I assure you this will never happen again, I'm sure you will find that we will become great friends and comrades." Haldir said to the lady before him.
"That is a pleasant thing to hear, I will now depart from your presence and leave you to heal. I have some business with Nienna. I am sure she will be free this evening for your company" she said giving a look in Eärendur's direction.
Without warning she entered into Haldir's mind. She spoke to him, "I see something dark approaching from the corner of my vision. I see in your mind about Lillieth's past, I believe that he could be the darkness I see. Alert your brothers, tell nobody else. Everything is strangely unclear, you must be prepared for anything". He nodded to her. They all bowed their heads to the lady before she exited the room.
"What is that about, Eärendur?" Lillieth asked him bringing Haldir's attention back to the room.
"I have asked to court her, I will get her reply this evening it seems" he replied.
"That is excellent news, I am sure she will accept" she smiled at him.
"I do hope so. I will leave you two alone, I have something I need to prepare" he replied before leaving. "Don't do anything I wouldn't" he smiled before closing the door behind him, a pillow hit the door, missing its target. Lillieth sighed, she had hoped he had matured if only a little.
Haldir turned to look at Lillieth and stroked her face before placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
"You have made me the happiest ellon alive; I will never let anything happen to you. Once I heal I will take you back to finish our swim that got interrupted the other night" he told her staring deep into her eyes, he was worried about what Galadriel had told him.
"I would very much like that" she replied as she moved closer to him, he then put his strong arms around her. She could feel his chest next to her body and she placed her hand on his chest to feel the warmth and the muscles that lay beneath the material of his tunic. His heart beat in a steady pace but increased when her lips met with his.
"Until then I am not leaving your side" she added, blissfully happy in the moment.
"There is one thing I must tell you, I was using that pillow" he chuckled. Lillieth giggled in response, "I am sorry".
The sun was setting over Lórien and Eärendur was sitting his talan awaiting the arrival of Nienna, he hadn't long arrived back at his talan from preparing a surprise for her. A knot grew in his stomach in anticipation of the answer she was yet to give. Seconds seemed to last like hours, the only thing he could think about was their embrace they shared last night in the training field. He checked his appearance in the mirror, for what seemed like the hundredth time. He wanted to impress her so he wore a tunic which was green, which matched the shade of his eyes. His hair was braided to keep strands from out his face and a brooch of the Lórien leaf. He smoothed down his clothes, once again checking his appearance, but he had no time to prepare anything else.
He then heard a knock on his door. His mouth went dry, palms started to sweat and his heartbeat quickened to a pace that any elven ear could decipher from afar. On the other side of the door stood Nienna. His heart nearly stopped as he beheld her.
"Nienna, you look…." He was lost for words, "…beautiful". She smiled at his remark. Her hair was left to hang freely over her shoulders, curls framed her face. She adorned a headdress which a small gem hung from; it fell just between her eyebrows. Her gown of the finest elven silk was of a soft pink which complimented the slight colour in her cheeks, it also clung to every curve of her body. Eärendur was left speechless, after all, this elleth could be his.
"It is a special night, isn't it? I do have your answer" escaped her lips which he watched intently, wanting them to meet with his. He stayed silent for a moment, drinking in the sight that was before him. Nienna giggled to herself at how entranced he appeared. She couldn't help but admit he was looking rather handsome tonight.
"Well, will you put me out of my misery, my lady?" he asked impatiently.
"Yes, my answer is yes" she replied with a beaming smile on her face. He looked at her but couldn't speak. 'This beautiful elleth actually likes me' he thought to himself. He tried to compose himself before he opened his arms and placed them around Nienna.
"You have just made me very happy, my lady" the words managed to escape him.
"You are not the only one" she replied as they continued to hold each other. He had suggested they take a walk in the forest so they could be alone. They walked hand in hand, what seemed like forever.
"Have you a place in mind for where we are going, you don't seem to be wandering aimlessly" Nienna questioned him.
"Just wait and see, my lady" he replied.
After a while Nienna noticed light coming from in between the trees, this intrigued her. As they walked closer she noticed a blanket laid out with a basket placed upon it. Surrounding the blanket and in the branches of the trees was the light which she saw earlier. She now saw that it came from what seemed like hundreds of candles.
"Oh Eärendur, it is beautiful" she said as she looked around, admiring the view. She took in a deep breath and she could smell that something was burning. "Eärendur, I can smell something burning. I hope none of the trees have caught alight." She said inspecting the area. It was then Eärendur snapped out of his daze of staring at Nienna. He noticed he had walked too close to one of the candles and set his sleeve alight, but patted it out before she could notice. He then ushered her to sit down on the blanket while he opened the basket full of food.
"You set this up, before knowing what my answer would be?" she asked as she helped herself to the food that was laid out for her.
"I was more than a little confident you would say yes. I was more nervous about showing up and everything being on fire" he replied.
"Well, it is perfect. Thank you for going to so much trouble" she said smiling.
They sat there eating and enjoying small talk for the rest of the night, greatly enjoying each other's company. While they were talking, Nienna noticed the mark on Eärendur's sleeve, it came to her that it must be the burning smell she had noticed earlier.
"You set yourself on fire didn't you?" she asked holding back a laugh.
"No it was my passion for you that set me alight" he replied, trying to hide the truth. Nienna couldn't help but laugh at him.
"Just admit it, you walked to close to a candle" she said.
"Ok, I admit it. Please never speak of it again. Especially to Lillieth and definitely not Haldir" he replied, feeling embarrassed but laughed at the thought of it. They sat there all night in each other's arms, staring up at the stars through the canopy of trees.
