The House of the Golden Flower

Disclaimer:
I do not own any of it, nor do I claim to. The only part of it that is in any way mine is the personality of the character Nîdae/Laurind. The rest belongs to JRR Tolkien – or, more specifically, his estate. No copyright infringement is intended. (So please don't sue.)

Author's Note:
Yes, I've been bad. It's been what, five months since I updated? I apologize. I lost interest in 'Lord of the Rings' (gasp, shock, horror!) and thus, in writing fanfictions on it. But then, one bored bored evening, I decided to re-read 'The Games of the Gods', which led to the re-reading of this story, and shortly after that, I went on vacation and…next thing I knew, I was thinking of where to go in this story and wishing I had what I had already written of this chapter with me so that I could write on it. But alas, I didn't, and so I had to wait until I got home.

But here I am, with a shiney new chapter, which is dedicated to any Slash fans out there. Not because there's slash in it. Well, depending on how you look at it. We'll just call it tribute to my brief, disturbing LotR slash period. (which stopped after a really really weird dream)

Anywho, the next update probably won't be until mid-December. Sorry, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. I have a 50,000-word novel to finish by the end of November, I'm 9 sections behind in physics, I'm on chapter 3 of a book that I was supposed to have finished in October, and I have all of season 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which I've been waiting for for almost a year) sitting around needing to be watched in one week. So, I'm a little busy. I actually shouldn't have even tried to finish this chapter before the end of the month, but...well, writing should be labelled as an incurable addiction.

Chapter 8: Water Fights, Staring Contests, Clouds and a Siege

After getting out of the city, Laurind and Thranduil – both effectively being new to the area – had absolutely no idea where to go, so they looked for the closest tree and went in the direction the lowest branch was pointing. After having a short, playful argument over whether the direction the base of the branch or the tip was pointing was where they should go, as it was a rather 'artistic' branch, as Thranduil put it.

The branch had been generally pointing north, however, so that was, in the end, the way they went. They soon became glad that the branch had pointing in this direction, as it led to fields of wild grasses and flowers, with copses of trees scattered around – mainly along the bank of a small stream that cut through the fields. A small copse of trees on the bank of that stream ended out being where Laurind and Thranduil stopped for lunch…and for most of the afternoon, really, as while they were eating, they decided that they quite liked this particular batch of trees.

Furthermore, Laurind decided that she liked this section of the stream, which was slow-moving and warm, and decided to hike up her dress and wander around in the stream while trying to find interesting rocks in it. Thranduil couldn't work up the willpower to suggest they leave – even when Laurind accidentally dropped the edge of her skirt in the water, and then decided that Thranduil was entirely too dry. Thus followed a water fight which would have scandalized anyone back in the Lindon court…and most of the wood elves, Thranduil mused as he and Laurind lay on rocks 'drying out' afterwards. Of course, most of the wood elves would be absolutely horrified that Thranduil had gone off for a day alone with a Noldorin Lady, period.

"What areyou thinking about?" Laurind asked curiously as she looked over at Thranduil and found him grinning.

"How my father's court would be utterly horrified that I was out for the day with a Noldorin Lady." he said with a chuckle.

"Oh?" Laurind asked. "Do they truly dislike the Noldorin that much?" Thranduil nodded.

"They haven't since Gil-galad tried to suggest that they do something that was for their own good." he said. "I was too young to be involved in court politics at the time, but I have heard tales of it. The Silvan elves make it out that Gil-galad ordered them, and the Noldorins make out that Gil-galad merely suggested a course of action. I believe it was probably, in reality, only a request."

"It was." Laurind mused. "Now that I think on it, I recall that I had wandered into Gil-galad's study when he was composing that letter."

"He let you wander in?" Thranduil asked, arching an eyebrow.

"I have had complete freedom to roam anywhere in the palace since the year after Gil-galad found me, barring personal quarters." Laurind replied with an amused twinkle in her eyes.

"How interesting. And full of opportunities." Thranduil said.

"Yes, if only I had been in the state of mind to use it to my advantage, I might have had quite the time." Laurind said, smiling fondly, and then turned to Thranduil with a mischievous grin. "And anyways, if anyone of your father's court finds out you spent the day out here with me, and protests, feel free to point out that I am Vanyar, not Noldor." Thranduil chuckled.

"A fine difference, there." he said.

"But still a difference!" Laurind declared.

"You sound extremely proud of that." Thranduil commented.

"I have been ever since the Crossing." Laurind said tightly. Thranduil, recalling his history lessons, wisely decided not to inquire further as to why.

Most of the rest of the afternoon was spent wandering around that particular copse of trees, until finally, Thranduil and Laurind realized that they needed to head back to the palace if they were to return before darkness fell. So they fetched their horses from where they had been dozing in the sun right outside the trees and headed back.

Laurind and Thranduil were, of course, not stupid enough to think that there wouldn't be anyone waiting for them when they returned to the palace around suppertime. After all, Thranduil, the Crown Prince of the Greenwood, had just skipped out on a Council meeting, and Laurind was riding the High King's warhorse. However, they were not quite expecting the combination of people that was awaiting them when they returned. But then, it would have been hard to, considering that Elrond hadn't even been in the city there when Laurind and Thranduil had left. The fact that it was only Elrond and Gil-galad, however, was somewhat worrying – especially when, for several minutes after Laurind and Thranduil rode up to them and dismounted, the duo only frowned at them very disapprovingly.

"You two need romantic female influences." Thranduil finally said with a shake of his head, breaking the silence, then turned and took the reins of the High King's horse from Laurind with a courteous smile and led both horses off to the stables. It didn't occur to Laurind until after Thranduil had disappeared into the stables that he had effectively escaped and left her alone with Gil-galad and Elrond. Laurind scowled after him. And the day had been going so well.

"May I ask what possessed you to take MY horse?" Gil-galad asked irritably, bringing Laurind's attention back to the two in front of her.

"I didn't have a horse and you were the only one that Thranduil knew wouldn't be using your horse today." Laurind said with a shrug, and then smiled. "Besides, I like your horse." Gil-galad let out a very un-kingly snort.

"Of course." he said. "And may I also ask what possessed you two to take off for the day without any warning?"

"I opened Thranduil's eyes." Laurind replied meaningfully as Thranduil appeared in the direction of the stables. Gil-galad arched an eyebrow.

"Ah, yet more evidence that you are selectively intelligent." he replied scathingly.

"Does he really love his horse or something?" Laurind asked, turning to Elrond. Elrond's lips twitched, but he said nothing as Gil-galad shot him a warning glare. The glare lost the warning aspect and gained a peeved one as it turned to Laurind and Thranduil.

"I do hope you're both pleased with yourselves, and have gotten your fill of each other." the High King said. "Because the Council is leaving tomorrow morning – we would have left this afternoon if not for you two – along with half the army that is stationed here to go tend to a siege that has begun on our eastern border." Thranduil immediately went stock still, and a look of guilt flashed across his face. Laurind snorted.

"So that's what this is about." she said, then suddenly marched up to Gil-galad in a way very similar to how she had when she'd been reaming the High King out when she had been watching him as a child, and Gil-galad instinctively hunched his shoulders and shrunk in on himself, much to his chagrin. "We could not have predicted that some mysterious siege on the eastern border would be mounted today, and you know it. You are a King. You are THE High King of the Noldor. You should not go around blaming things on hapless people who had nothing to do with said things simply because these people were having a good time while you were receiving news you did not like." Gil-galad, who at first had drooped under Laurind's tirade, began straightening at her reminder that he was a King, and by the time she'd finished, he was returning her fierce look with equal strength.

"I've been thinking the same thing since he decided you two were at fault." Belldaug's voice came from the doorway the High King and the all-but-forgotten Elrond were standing in front of.

"Belldaug!" Thranduil greeted warmly, causing everyone except Laurind and Gil-galad to blink in surprise. Laurind and Gil-galad were too busy trying to stare each other down.

"I have got five thousand years on you, Gil-galad, you cannot win." Laurind said after a time.

"As you so astutely pointed out, I am the High King of the Noldor. I WILL win." Gil-galad replied, his gaze never wavering. "Besides, you spent the last three millennia consumed by grief. You're out of practice." There was a funny sound from Elrond's direction as he, and the other two watching, realized that what had started as an angry stare-down had become a staring contest.

"What is it with you two and staring contests?" Belldaug asked rhetorically. "You get into any little argument, and next thing one knows, you're both locked in a staring contest. Granted, it was amusing when Gil-galad was about 10 years old to see you two having a staring contest, especially when he won…" All heads turned towards Belldaug, even Laurind and Gil-galad's. Elrond frowned. Belldaug returned the frown, looking somewhat puzzled.

"I'll have you know that you started it." Laurind said. Belldaug blinked and looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Oh. Right." he said suddenly. There was a pause. "It did look like a pumpkin."

"It was clearly a squash! Anyone could have seen that!" Laurind retorted.

"Then why did it look like a pumpkin to me?" Belldaug replied with slight annoyance.

"Because you're mentally deranged." Laurind replied. "Any brains you have come from me."

"Oh really?" Belldaug arched an eyebrow. "What's the difference between a mace and a flail?"

"One does the whirly thing and the other…doesn't." Laurind replied vaguely, waving her hand through the air. Belldaug smirked.

"A flail has a chain, is sharp, and is ball-shaped at the end." he said.

"Exactly as I said." Laurind replied.

"Excuse me, but what looked like a squash?" Thranduil piped up.

"It was a pumpkin!" Belldaug said indignantly.

"It was a bloody cloud." Laurind replied, rolling her eyes. Belldaug paused, and then nodded.

"That it was." he said. Silence fell on the group for a moment.

"I am going to regret admitting this – but I am so confused." Elrond said finally with a sigh.

"Belldaug's reborn, I knew him the last time he was alive." Laurind explained simply. Gil-galad and Thranduil snorted, and Laurind looked at them in annoyance.

"'Knew'?" Gil-galad asked, arching an eyebrow. "As I recall, you two were so close you even passed your preference for romantic partners onto him. Much to the dismay of Turgon, every mildly attractive male in Gondolin, and all the females of the same region." Laurind's cheeks reddened.

"There was never any proof that I had anything to do with that." she mumbled. "And besides, I think being reborn changed that."

"Nope." Belldaug said mildly. All heads snapped towards him, and Thranduil edged himself closer to Laurind.

"Wonderful." Gil-galad said after a moment.

"Indeed." Belldaug said with a carefully blank expression, and Laurind caught a stray thought from him concerning his doubts that he could get away with leering at the High King, even in jest. She snickered and sent back a mental affirmative to that. Belldaug promptly fell over – or at least, almost did, he caught the door frame at the last moment, then looked over at Laurind in bewilderment.

"Exactly how close were we?" he asked. Laurind just smiled serenely and turned to Gil-galad.

"Isn't supper set to begin soon?" she asked. Gil-galad paused, and then nodded. "Good. I had best go change, then." With that, Laurind curtseyed lightly to all assembled and headed inside, patting a still bewildered-looking Belldaug on the head as she went past. The four males stared after her for a moment.

"She really is going to make sure I remember the hard way, isn't she?" Belldaug asked after a moment.

"I think she's using it as revenge for dieing on her." Gil-galad replied dryly. "Now – Belldaug, I leave you to fill Thranduil in on what happened today at the council. Elrond, come, I shall explain further." With that, the High King herded Elrond off into the palace, leaving Belldaug and Thranduil alone on the steps. They looked at each other for a moment, unsure.

"I take it you've gotten over whatever snit you were in?" Belldaug asked after a moment. Thranduil arched an eyebrow.

"It was not a snit." he replied. "It was a period of mistaken thinking." Belldaug smiled slightly, knowing that that was as close to an apology as he'd get out of Thranduil.

"Right." Belldaug said, then came down the steps, brought himself level to Thranduil, and held out his hand. "Friends again?" he asked. Thranduil didn't even hesitate in grasping in, a small smile on his lips.

"Yes." the Prince replied.

"Good. Because as soon as I finish telling you about what you missed, I want to hear all about your day." Belldaug said with a grin, draping his arm over Thranduil's shoulders as he steered the Prince into the palace. Thranduil just chuckled.

---

Supper that night was an interesting affair. Belldaug's memory seemed to have gone into overdrive, and for the first half of the meal, he was constantly stopping his conversations in the middle of a sentence to ask Laurind if something he'd just remembered actually had happened. Then he recalled the way Laurind had mentally Sent to him earlier, and started sending his questions that way, nearly shocking Laurind out of her chair the first time he did it. In-between these questions to Laurind, Belldaug was talking almost non-stop with Thranduil, both wanting to catch up on what the other had been doing. Elrond, for his part, was rather silent, alternating between a thoughtful frown and almost awe-filled glances towards Belldaug. Gil-galad alternated between trying to get Elrond to talk, talking to Laurind, trying to shut Laurind up when she decided to tell stories of him as a child, and interrupting Belldaug and Thranduil's conversation to 'correct' them on some fine point or another. Laurind was just adding to the general chaos at the head table as much as she could.

However care-free and easy the mood was at supper, though, it changed drastically afterwards. Thranduil and Belldaug decided to walk Laurind back to her rooms, and along the way Laurind made a casual comment about needing to pack. So it was revealed that Laurind was planning on leaving with them the next day, which Thranduil and Belldaug strongly objected to. As soon as they reached Laurind's rooms, Belldaug left Thranduil to try and talk some sense into Laurind and went to fetch Gil-galad to settle the matter by forbidding Laurind to go. However, that did not work out quite the way they thought it would.

"Do you know how to fight?" was the first thing Gil-galad asked when he stepped in the room. There was no question of who he was talking to.

"Yes. Gl–my brother wouldn't let me leave Gondolin, even to look after you, unless I'd learned." Laurind replied promptly, quickly stopping herself from saying Glorfindel's name as she remembered Belldaug was in the room. There was no telling what hearing his name from his last life would do to Belldaug's memory at this point.

"And did he teach you himself?" Gil-galad asked. Laurind nodded. "Very well." And with that, Gil-galad turned and walked out of the room. Belldaug and Thranduil gaped after him, and then slowly turned to Laurind.

"Belldaug, my brother killed a Balrog." Laurind said calmly, addressing him first. Understanding lit on the reborn Lord's face, and then he nodded in acceptance, so Laurind turned to Thranduil. She stepped closer to him and spoke quietly, so that Belldaug could not hear, "I know you want to protect me by getting me to stay here, but you, more than anyone, know my fear of losing him once again. I would fade if he died and I could have saved him had I been there – even your love could not stop me." Thranduil sighed, nodded, and then pulled Laurind to him in a hug.

"Just don't exchange your life for his." Thranduil said softly into Laurind's ear before releasing her.

"Now, unless you two want to help me pack, out!" Laurind commanded. Thranduil and Belldaug left with hurried goodbyes, causing Laurind to chuckle before turning to call her maids from where they had hidden in her bedroom when she'd come in engaged in what was practically a shouting match with Thranduil and Belldaug. Unsurprisingly, not a single one of the maids objected when Laurind informed them that she needed to pack for a trip with the army.

---

Thranduil and Belldaug weren't the only ones to complain to Gil-galad when they found out Laurind was coming to the siege with the army – everyone who had sufficient rank to complain to the High King did so the next day, it seemed. Still, Gil-galad insisted that Laurind come. He wasn't stupid, and knew exactly why Laurind wanted to come. For that, Laurind was grateful. Still, she stuck close to Thranduil and Belldaug that morning, hiding behind them from the disapproving glares of others. They found it quite amusing, and took the opportunity to suggest that maybe Laurind would like to stay after all, just to get away from the glares. Unfortunately, they made that comment right before the army set out, and thus had no time to wash the mud off the back of their armor. It amused those that marched or rode behind them for the entire day, especially when Laurind drew little smiling faces in the mud. It was gone the next day, however.

It was several days before they reached the besieged town, but long before that, Belldaug, Thranduil and Laurind started wondering about what could be going on in this small little town that their besiegement required the full council and most of the standing army. Because truly – it was a small little town. There were maybe twenty villagers. And, granted, every Elvish life was precious, that still didn't account for the SIZE of the force going, especially when Gil-galad, upon being questioned, said that the town was being besieged by a group of around fifty men. Finally, the night before they were supposed to reach the town, Belldaug, Thranduil and Laurind cornered Gil-galad. (the perks of Thranduil's rank allowing them to do so)

"How can it require half the standby Elvish army to clear a besieging army of fifty men from a small town of twenty?" Thranduil demanded once they finally had Gil-galad cornered. Gil-galad, not quite realizing he was cornered, looked around the clearing in which Belldaug, Thranduil and Laurind had set upon him, only then realizing that no one besides the three information-wanting Elves before him was within sight.

"Last I checked, twenty Elves could clear out a siege of fifty men." Belldaug pointed out when Gil-galad remained silent. Gil-galad sighed.

"You do realize that it's terribly improper to corner your liege lord and demand information?" Gil-galad tried.

"You are not my liege lord." Thranduil said with amusement. "Hence why I am asking you why we need half the standby army on this trip. Belldaug and Laurind are simply here to remind you of helpful pieces of information." Gil-galad eyed the Lady and Reborn Lord suspiciously.

"Right." he said, clearly disbelieving.

"So?" Thranduil demanded, and Gil-galad sighed.

"The leader of the besieging army is a wizard." he admitted. The three inquiring elves' eyebrows shot up.

"A wizard?" Laurind asked with no little disbelief. "Impossible."

"So we all thought." Gil-galad said. "Then the messenger came to the council reporting a group of fifty men led by a man who darkened the sky and lit fires with the touch of a hand." Thranduil, Laurind and Belldaug looked at each other.

"Is it, by any chance, too late to make you go back?" Belldaug asked Laurind. Laurind snorted.

"This only makes me even more glad I came." she replied.

"And this will be the only time you get away with such a thing." Gil-galad commented pointedly.

"But –" Laurind started to protest, only to be cut off by Gil-galad.

"I have had every single soldier of rank complain to me during the past several days about your accompanying us. While I respect your abilities as a fighter, I simply do not have the time to put up with such complaints while planning military strategy. Plus, inadvertently or not, you distract everyone, especially when you fling mud at two of my commanders." Gil-galad said sternly. Thranduil and Belldaug smirked at the inadvertent, and advantageous, revenge. Laurind sighed, looking forlorn, and Gil-galad looked at her in amusement, then, while Thranduil and Belldaug were too busy being pleased with Gil-galad's new decision to stop him, the High King of the Noldor fled the Lady and two Lords and escaped back to camp.

"He is perfectly correct, you know." Belldaug pointed out after Gil-galad had escaped. Laurind wrinkled up her nose and stuck her tongue out at Belldaug.

"Careful were you stick that." Thranduil said with amusement.

"He might just bite it." Belldaug said with a smirk, and then dashed off at Thranduil and Laurind's cries of outrage. The two gave chase, and by the time they settled down for the evening meal, they all had hearty appetites which shocked even the soldiers. The three found themselves the butt of gluttony jokes the entire evening.

The next morning, however, everyone was serious as they approached the besieged town. The column of Elves was eerily quiet as they came to the hill over which the besieged town was located – not even their armor seemed to make any noise as they walked. Silently, Gil-galad made motions with his hands, and commanders split off with their squadrons to encircle the town. Laurind stayed with Gil-galad, as did Belldaug, though Thranduil had been put in charge of a squadron that was to go to the other side of town.

Finally, riders that had gone with the squadrons came back, indicating that everyone was in place, and with a blow of a horn, the Elvish army moved out of hiding. The besieged town was in a valley between hills, with scrubby ground, some tilled for crops, surrounding it on all sides. A small river, which the besieging army had dammed, ran through the valley, and the center of town. The remains of a small, central pond could be seen in the center of the town from Laurind's vantage point on top of one of the hills next to the town.

However, the besieging group of men was no where to be seen.

"Where are the attackers?" Belldaug murmured.

"Already inside." Gil-galad replied grimly. Laurind and Belldaug looked at him in surprise. "One of my scouts encountered an injured messenger from the town two days ago. The men broke through the town defenses the day after we left the palace. Every Elf inside now is either dead or dying." Laurind and Belldaug swore at the same instant, turning angry glares on the town below. "Now it is simply a matter of holding on to what land is ours. If we can."

"We are three times their number. We can defeat them without trouble." Belldaug said with a snort.

"I would not be so sure. You have not seen their guardian." Gil-galad said softly.

"Their what?" Belldaug asked, frowning, and then a rumble sounded from the town. Laurind turned, eyes wide, as the sound pulled up memories. Belldaug, too, seemed to remember the sound, and turned his attention to the town. They watched the largest building in the town, a hall several stories high, as it trembled and shook. Neither Elf noticed as the sky darkened, their gazes fixed on the building that had begun to glow with an eerily familiar red light.

Then, with a tremendous noise, the sides of the building exploded outwards, revealing a Balrog of Morgoth.