In the morning, Niamh, on her floor with Merry and Pippin, had decided that after breakfast she would join the Hobbits in trying to find somewhere to learn and practice swordsmanship, she could not rely on luck all the time. Thinking back to last night she knew it had not been as perfect a union as she would have liked, but she found she would not change a single part of it for anything in the world. She dressed and braided her hair down her back, not wanting to have it in her face all day then they set off down the tree. At the bottom, leant against the trunk waited a certain Elf eager to see Niamh.
"My Lady," The Elf beamed.
Niamh froze, she had not expected to see him this early in the day. "Haldir," She nodded curtly.
The Elf pushed off the trunk and held out his arm. "Care to join me for a spot of breakfast?" He asked seductively.
"No thanks," She answered, linking arms with her two Hobbits. "I have company enough, thank you." She did not really know why, but she did not want to be left alone with Haldir.
The Elf did not give up. "Ah, but surely you would prefer one of your kin, to accompany you, to keep you from harm."
"Merry and Pippin are my kindred also; they are loyal friends of stout heart." She countered. The two Hobbits swelling with pride at their compliment.
"You did not seem to require escorts when we met by the springs, in fact you seemed very upset when we were… interrupted." The Elf hissed, his voice filled with hidden meaning.
Niamh glared at him, he seemed impervious to her cutting stare. "If you are quite finished implying that there is anything more between us than there is, my friends and I are going to find some food." She spat, sweeping the Hobbits away with her.
The Hobbits told her to pay the Marchwarden no mind and enjoy the food. They chattered happily, Frodo and Sam meeting them having had their first breakfast already. The spread was fantastic; there were eggs, and bacon, and toast and the most marvellous looking broths. Is this how the Elves here eat? If it was then they had a metabolism very close to that of a Hobbit for they were all slim and toned - Show offs, thought Niamh. Once they had eaten their fill of the delicious fare, the group went to retrieve their weapons and proceeded towards the Combat Zone. The Hobbits, becoming extremely interested in the archery station, begged to make it their first stop. Niamh agreed, but only so as not to have four angry Hobbits on her back.
The station was in a secluded area of a grassy field with targets placed in front, increasing in distance from a line, which they were to stand behind to aim. Upon a tree were hung row upon row of glorious bows of different sizes and woods, all engraved with intricate patterns and runes.
They each selected a bow that fit their size, Niamh's considerably bigger than those held by Hobbits and yet the creatures' bows were still not adequate for their stature. Beginning to fire, it was obvious that the Hobbits, especially Pippin, were never going to be amazing archers, Pippin repeatedly forgot to load his arrow the right way around, much to Niamh's amusement. Niamh, on the other, hand, was actually getting the hang of it, at least she was hitting the targets, even though she never hit them dead in the middle, it was good for a first attempt.
She lined herself up, perpendicular to her target, her left shoulder extended with her bow, she notched the arrow, its golden feather winking in the sun, settling the front end in the arrow rest, and attaching the nock at the end of it to the string. She took a deep breath, lightly pulling the bowstring back to the anchor point of her ear, she prepared for the release. Fully in the zone, she relaxed her fingers on the string, not quite releasing it when a shout from Pippin crashed through and sent her arrow wildly off target. Merry, who was just getting the hang of shooting, had tried to experiment shooting two arrows at once, one spinning in the release towards a very lucky Pippin who ducked just in time, meaning the arrow lodged itself harmlessly into the bark of a nearby tree. A small chuckle from behind informed her that they were no longer alone shooting.
"I think it would be safer if you stuck to a single arrow at a time, Meriadoc." Snickered Aragorn, by whose side stood Legolas, if anyone could teach them how to shoot, it would be the Elf.
Niamh notched another arrow and, in raising her bow, felt two well-muscled arms follow her own enclosing their fingers around hers, the rest of his body echoing hers as close as a shadow. He pulled her fingers back with the bowstring back to her ear, lifting her arm high in front of her. He breathed softly at her ear, his scent intoxicating at this proximity: earth, leaves, and cinnamon – almost irresistible. It was definitely an unfair disadvantage to be so distracted, and yet Niamh could not find any part of her that cared.
"You will have to breathe sometime soon, Elbereth." Legolas reminded her, she had ceased doing so the second his arms touched hers. Exhaling deeply, and becoming a lovely shade of beetroot, she did as instructed, the two took simultaneous breaths, becoming incredibly still for what could have been minutes or hours. She took her aim and the pair loosed their arrow, hitting the first target right on the bull's eye.
Legolas corrected her stance and they began again, he notched her arrow and together they shot the target further along. When they had shot all the targets, ending at one half a mile away, he peeled himself from her, leaving her feeling somewhat cold. "Now try on your own, same target." He instructed.
Though somewhat disappointed at the lack of contact, she positioned herself as he taught her, notching herself an arrow, lifting her arm staring down the line of the arrow following the line of her previous arrow, taking aim. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Inhale. Release the arrow. Her fingers relaxed, slipping from the bowstring. Her arrow flew, straight as anything, it seemed to take an eternity before it hit home and she heard the sharp splinter as she cleaved her last arrow in two.
Applause erupted behind her and she turned to see the others had all been watching her. The Hobbits begging her for tips, Aragorn imparting a light hug, accompanied by kind words of commendation. Legolas' eyes gleaming with pride as his Halfling sauntered to his side.
"Well aimed for a beginner." He teased, tucking a stray strand of gold back behind her ear.
"All thanks go to my tutor," She began in response slipping her slender arms around his neck, reaching up to plant her lips upon his nose. "He's a little bit good, but I'm sure I could easily beat him with practice." She taunted. Niamh noted how his chest swelled proudly at the first part and how he kept in what would definitely have been a splutter of indignant laughter.
"I doubt it, my Lady." He growled playfully.
"If you two are quite finished, the rest of us should like to learn also." Piped up Sam, eager himself to actually hit the target. All the day he had tried his best, he could fire his arrow well enough, and yet he could not seem to get the hang of actually aiming.
Aragorn and Legolas set-to teaching the Hobbits whilst Niamh split arrow after arrow, her speed increasing, allowing her to loose seven arrows in under a minute before the day was out. The Hobbits (and Niamh, though for slightly different reasons) had coerced Legolas into promising to spend the following day teaching them also.
After a swift dinner they retired to their quarters, Legolas had requested that he be allowed to share with Niamh, Merry and Pippin. To Niamh's delight, the Hobbits had agreed. Wide-awake they all decided a round of cards was in order, Merry suggesting they play Cheat again. The Hobbits in particular delighted in this new game that Niamh had taught them, Pippin in particular as he appeared to have a proclivity for sensing when people were being untruthful about their cards.
The game began. "Two sixes." Called Pippin.
"One six." Declared Sam.
"One six." Repeated Legolas, playing his card. A perplexing frown gracing his expression.
Frodo gave the Elf a curious glance, before placing his card down. "One six." He echoed his gaze unflinching from Legolas.
"One six." Niamh announced, placing her card down gently.
"Hang on that's six sixes down now!" Cried Merry.
"Do you want to call it, my little friend?" Joked Niamh, daring him to call Cheat.
"Nope," Replied Merry chewing upon his lip. "Three sevens." He said continuing the game.
Pippin burst into laughter. "I knew you never put down no sixes!" Shouted Sam.
"Too late now." Returned Pippin, waggling his tongue at the older Hobbit. Pippin had played an eight and a three.
"Now, now, boys," Warned Niamh, "Either we play nicely or you all go to bed right now." She ordered laughing. "God, I sound like your mother!" She laughed, the Hobbits and Legolas joining her. The Hobbits calling her 'Mum' for the rest of the night, before she really did send them to bed.
She climbed into her bed, Legolas behind her, tucking herself into the softness of the covers, Legolas curling his arms around her, fixing her to his chest, the smell of her hair surrounding him as they both drifted together into a peaceful oblivion.
The days wore on in Lothlórien and the company sank into a routine, Legolas accompanying the Halfling and Hobbits, teaching them to shoot and wield a sword, whilst Aragorn, Boromir, and Gimli argued over which path they should take from Lórien. Niamh could tell that Legolas regretted not being part of these meetings and discussions, but did not want to be separated from Niamh, by whose side he could always be found.
"Leggy," She began, using the nickname she and the Hobbits had decided on. "You should maybe meet with them tomorrow." She suggested one evening as they returned to their lodgings minus the Hobbits, who had decided they would be content only when they had had the equivalent of four regular meals, instead of one.
"I told you before, Elbereth, I do not need to go to them, the others can reach a decision without my help, I am sure of that." He replied, already having answered the same thing the night before, pulling her to rest in his lap.
"I know, but you want to go, I can tell." She insisted.
He avoided her eyes, fixing his stare on a rather interesting grain of wood that had graced their floor. "It really doesn't -"
"Seriously, don't give me that, just tell me you're going, I can look after the Hobbits and myself for one day, we'll even stay away from the shooting range, if it makes you go." She said, cutting him off.
Legolas peeked down at the Halfling, sighing, admitting defeat. "Fine, my little Elbereth." He agreed. "I'll attend one meeting."
"Good," She chuckled triumphantly. "I knew you would."
They turned in for the night in their usual fashion. Their touches were near constant, but never going too far than what would be appropriate for early courtship, even when they were alone. Though she relished in his hold, he had yet to kiss her again as he had that night after the feast. She longed to feel his lips once again; those small touches and possessive holds only serving to stoke the frustrated fire already alight within her. She fell asleep with thoughts and fantasies of something more.
Trying not to wake the sleeping girl next to him, Legolas crept from their bed and dressed quickly, secretly not wanting to miss a second of the meeting, which always took place in one of the many studies in the Hall of Light.
Niamh had woken, but did not alert him, he would feel guilty, and then he would wake the Hobbits with his apologies. Shortly after he had left, Niamh took out her iPod and snuck out of their lodgings for a stroll in the gardens, she was beginning to forget the lyrics to her favourite songs, something that had scared her; music was the only thing she had enjoyed in her old life, losing that would be like losing herself.
The air was light and the sun just shaking off the chill of night, clouds scampering away to avoid its rays. Niamh, wound her way through endless paths, reacquainting herself with the music of Ed Sheeran, singing along under her breath hoping no Elves around would hear but not caring enough to stop herself. It did not matter anyway, the gardens were almost deserted and no one present minded the rise and fall of her voice wrapped around such sweet words, they completely fit with the feel of the gardens especially 'Little Bird', cheerful and bright.
Niamh found a wooden bench overlooking a field of stunning sky blue and shocking pink flowers that melded together creating purples as the breeze rippled through like a tiny creature hidden beneath were running around under cover of the plants, the bench itself was shaded by a gigantic Mallorn tree. Sighing, she sat not quite seeing what was in front of her, which was why she did not know she had company until it was too late.
"Haldir!" She exclaimed realising the Elf had been stood before her for some time now. Obviously waiting for the moment that she would become aware of his presence, the glint in his eye told her it had taken far longer than he had expected.
"My Lady," He said bowing low. He sat beside her, arms spread along the back of the bench.
Niamh hastily hid the iPod away in her pocket, too late to avoid him seeing the device but enough to demonstrate that she did not want to discuss it. "What do you want?" She snapped, the day had started so well.
"Now, now, be nice, Child," He grinned. "I have yet to even try to offend you." He sneered.
"But you will." She stated simply, shifting on the bench so that his arm did not graze her.
"If I recall correctly, I am yet to offend you, I have done nothing but compliment you, even if you are too modest to accept said compliments." He contradicted.
Niamh shrugged, she knew this was probably right and yet, it did not feel too safe to admit it. "Okay, then." She sighed, deciding to let him have the conversation he obviously wanted, that way she could get it over with and go back to her music. "What's up?"
Haldir snickered. "You do have such an… interesting way of speaking; I must confess it amuses me somewhat."
Niamh laughed. "Now that could be construed as insulting, Marchwarden." She returned, waggling her finger at him in mock disapproval.
"Marchwarden?" Haldir repeated. "Oh dear, I did not realise we were to be so formal, Princess." Haldir replied sarcastically.
"Ugh!" She groaned. "Please, never call me that again." She begged.
"Would you prefer Elbereth?" He enquired in false innocence - where had he heard her called that? She found she preferred the name far better when falling from Legolas' lips, even when the Wood Elf teased her with the name, it still held a modicum of respect. The Marchwarden was not as generous in his usage.
Niamh attempted to get up and leave, but the Marchwarden held her still. "I'm sorry; I did not mean to upset you. I had thought that was a nickname amongst your group." He apologised.
"Well, it isn't." She spat curtly.
Haldir thought for a moment. "Then, what nickname would you prefer, my Lady?"
Niamh considered this; it would not hurt to have another nickname, would it? She could have friends outside the company after all, yet again though Legolas did not necessarily like Haldir… but that was before she and Legolas got it together, he would not care now that Haldir posed no threat, surely. "What did you have in mind?" She heard herself ask, realising too late the seductive tone her voice had taken on.
Haldir paused again, a look of concentration clouding over his chocolate eyes. "Hmm…" He mused. "How is it you spell 'Niamh'?" He questioned. He pronounced it as N-E-E-V-E.
"N-I-A-M-H." She explained.
He considered this. "How unusual… Leave it with me and I shall think of one eventually. For now I shall use your ordinary name, if it pleases you."
"For now." She giggled, almost enjoying the Elf's company, though the talk of nicknames reminded her eerily of one of her and Legolas' early conversations, shaking off the thought, she changed the subject. "So… What does a Marchwarden actually do?" She asked.
"Well, young Niamh, we are terribly important." He began to drawl, his lips quirking up at the corners. "It is our job to patrol the Eaves of Lothlórien, protecting the Golden Wood from Orcs and other such creatures who would threaten our lands. We also are entrusted with ensuring the welfare and comfort of our visitors is seen to."
"Is that why you seem to follow me everywhere?" Teased Niamh, chuckling at the Elf's look of indignation.
"I do no such thing!" He exclaimed. Despite the fact that he clearly did.
"I was only jesting, don't stress yourself." Niamh returned.
The Elf relaxed a little, his arm stretching out on the bench behind her once again. "And even if I were, it would be my duty… and if it were not…"
"If it were not…?" Echoed Niamh in question, raising her brow, challenging him.
The Elf smiled wickedly, leaning in to the shell of her ear. "I would still watch your every move." He threatened teasingly. Both his words and proximity caused her to shiver with an unidentifiable feeling coursing down her spine.
Silence enveloped them, holding them awkwardly in place. Haldir smirked, whilst moving away. "At any rate," He chuckled. "Do not get to thinking that you are important enough for me to watch over at all times."
"Oh, so you just happened to be walking through the gardens when you came across me?" She taunted.
"Of course, what else would I be doing?" He drawled.
Niamh gave a polite giggle. "You're really not that good a liar; you should come play Cheat with us sometime." Seeing his confused look, she explained. "It's a card game where you have to lie."
Haldir joined her mirth. "I admit, it is a game I doubt I would fare well in," He paused "Or would I?" He asked mockingly, double bluffing, earning himself another bout of amusement from Niamh, who secretly began to doubt that he would be such a horrific liar.
"So…" Haldir said, filing the gap of conversation. "You and the Hobbits have been learning to fight, so I've heard."
"That surprises you?" She was baffled by this, Elf maidens often fought and trained with the males.
"Oh no, on the contrary, I expected as much of you. I did not, however, believe you would be any good at it." He mocked.
"Well, I can lift a sword and my aim is quite good." She confessed modestly.
Haldir snickered. "Well, you did once tell me you were able to defend yourself, I confess I did not think it could be so, yet the rumours tell that you have skill of bow to rival the Master Legolas, some say you are better than he even."
Niamh blushed, but something tugged at the back of her mind. She had always practiced with Legolas, Aragorn, and the Hobbits. No one else. "How can there be rumours if there were no others present?" Niamh asked, eyeing the Marchwarden suspiciously.
Haldir remained calm. "Alas, I have yet to observe your skill," He rushed defensively. "The tales do not start with me. There are eyes in this Wood that travel unseen, yet they see every happening. The Lady knows all." He finished ominously.
"So she knows I've been training?"
"Why do you think she has not requested your presence once more? She knows you will need these skills." He answered, leaving the impression that he, too, knew more of her path than Niamh herself.
Niamh suddenly felt as though thousands of eyes were glued to her, ridiculous really, as she could find no one around when she searched her surroundings. "Well, that doesn't freak me out at all." She laughed nervously, swatting him on the arm.
"Forgive me, my Lady, but not a thing goes on in Lórien without the knowledge of its Wardens." Haldir continued, ducking as she made to cuff him around the head. "The Lady of the Light will hear of this!" He threatened playfully.
"Then I must give her more to hear about," She countered, successfully batting the back of his head gently.
The result of this was a small flurry of light hits from both parties; Haldir resorted to tickling the Halfling, causing her to shriek with fits of laughter. Coming to her senses Niamh pushed him away, standing erect as though she had done something terrible, her ribs aching from laughter, her breathing heavy; but she was not sure if that was accounted for by mirth or by the strange sensation that his touch filled her with.
"What ails you, little one?" Haldir asked, puzzled by her sudden change of heart.
"I should be going," She whispered harshly, knowing his Elvish ears would pick up her words. "The Hobbits will be worried." She babbled, the only excuse she could think of to get out of his company before she did something stupid.
She raced down the path from the gardens, blocking out Haldir's shouts of bewilderment, winding her way towards the Combat Zone, a bout of shooting would surely rid the tension from her body. Once there she put her iPod back on, shutting out the world.
'Autumn Leaves' got her through the fifth quiver of arrows, with Niamh moving the target back to shoot from one and a half miles, splitting each arrow with the next, until she felt herself relaxing again. She stretched for another quiver, but her hand was beaten by that of another, who snatched them out of reach.
She removed her headphones, looking up into the face of the arrival. "Aragorn," She said, startled, smiling at the pleasant surprise.
He was not smiling. "My Lady, we've been searching for you, come quickly." He briskly led her away without explanation.
"What's going on?" She questioned, her smile long gone, almost running to keep up with the Ranger.
"Legolas." Was all the response he gave and all the response she needed. They increased their speed, stopping a few yards away from their tree lodgings; it took Niamh a moment to take in what was occurring before her.
Legolas and Haldir were grappling on the floor, kicking and punching whatever part of the other they could reach, a crowd had formed, but no one seemed too eager to separate the two, leaving them to draw blood and bruise one another, dust billowing around them whenever they rolled.
"Legolas!" Squeaked Niamh, taking control of her faculties. She marched over to the two fighters who had taken no notice. "Legolas! Haldir! What the hell is going on?" She screamed, drawing both their attention and causing the crowd to retreat as, clearly, the show had been brought to an early termination. The Elves shoved themselves apart, dusting themselves down, each glaring contemptuously at the other. Neither answered her question so she switched to Aragorn. "Do you know of what this is about?" She asked the Ranger, hoping beyond hope that at least one person here would explain this ridiculous event.
"Alas, I find myself as curious as you, my Lady." He replied apologetically, then, turning to the Elves "Would one of you two care to explain this travesty?" He barked, voice flooded with authority.
Haldir smirked at Niamh, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "I merely told him of our… chance meeting earlier."
"What of it?" Niamh spat.
Legolas sent her a searching look, eyes filled with hurt. "He spoke of you wanting him, how you left because you wanted him too much."
Though he had not said the exact words Niamh guessed his meaning. "It is a lie, poison from his own wants." She tried to convince him, she had never wanted Haldir, and at the very least, she had never said anything to that effect to Haldir for him to draw such conclusions. She strode beside Legolas, her hands reaching to check a cut, laying open at his temple. He brushed her hands away.
"Then why were you not with the Hobbits? Why did you sneak away?" Legolas demanded, his body rigid with rage and pain. He was not the only one; Niamh herself was royally peed off with the accusation in his voice, had she not told him often how she felt? Did he not trust her?
"Aragorn, Haldir, would you two mind leaving me and Legolas alone for a while, please?" She requested. Aragorn nodded and bowed in his exit.
Haldir grinned. "Don't get yourself into too much trouble, Princess." He hissed, to which Niamh hissed an incredibly impolite version of 'go away'.
She turned back to Legolas, her hands taking her iPod from her pocket, in explanation. "This is why I was not with the Hobbits."
"What is it?" He did not trust the strange object of flashing metal and wire.
She held out an earphone to him, indicating for him to place it in his ear, turning the music down a little before pressing play, so that it would not hurt his sensitive ears. "It plays the music of my old home." She told him.
He still had not placed the thing in her ear. "And that is your excuse?" He turned, still furious.
Niamh grasped his hand and pulled him to sit as she sank down, their backs resting against the silver bark of the tree. "You misunderstand me." She smiled sadly. "It is for the music I needed to be alone, I went into the gardens because I was beginning to forget the very thing that got me through so much before I came to this world." She pressed the tiny device into his hands, showing him how to work it, without speaking. "Music was my lifeline and I didn't want to lose it." She sighed when he still did not respond. "I didn't seek Haldir, nor do I want him in anyway, surely you believe that." Niamh sighed, lowering her gaze to her hands, empty and useless.
A hand tugged at her chin, hoisting it up to rest inches from his. "I do," He breathed against her lips - there was that shudder again. "Forgive me, Elbereth, the Marchwarden baited me." When she didn't answer, he picked up the device and, after a few stumbling attempts, picked a song he thought would be appropriate, copying what she had done in placing the ear bud in his pointed ear. He pressed the play button to start and positively cringed as the music began. His Elven ears were still too sensitive for even the lowest volume.
Niamh could not help but stifle a giggle. "You hate it, don't you." She said a statement rather than a question.
"Not at all." He lied, wincing as another verse came in. Niamh took the iPod earphone gently from him, putting it at a distance that she thought he would enjoy more. "I did not expect it to be so loud." He defended, chuckling. They sat a while longer before Legolas asked another question.