Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with the Tolkien estate or New Line Cinemas. All elves and people of Middle Earth belong to Tolkien. Any movie scenes are owned by Peter Jackson and new Line Cinemas. All Original Characters are mine as is the plots and any facts, not in book or movies, are mine and mine alone. This piece is a work of fiction. No money is being made from this work of fiction.
Chapter Eighteen: Haldir Returns and then Fights the Lord of Lorien
Arlothiyenne...
A month had passed since the day of the meeting with her parents, Arlothiyenne had been training as much as she could with other wardens, her father's presence ever looming nearby. She was slowly getting stronger, the changes in the air marked the beginning of a new season, Winter.
Daily, she kept up her training, her mind always setting upon one thought. Her task. Lately her rest was beginning to show peace. Somehow in the midst of it all, she began to dream of Haldir at night. In those dreams they would talk of things to come, promises of seeing her soon. But in the mornings she woke saddened he was not there.
A week ago, her ada sent word that Haldir had sent a message stating he would be home within the week. Hearing it brought joy into her aching heart. How much her love for him had grown in his extended absence.
This morning, was the day HE would return, and Arlothiyenne rose for the day, her heart near bursting with happiness. She dressed in her best, made sure her hair was just so, and could barely eat her excitement was so great.
She stood waiting near the gates for the call that the wardens from the northern borders was coming.
Haldir...
Haldir and his brothers, with the company of wardens began their journey before dawn this day. All feeling joy in their hearts, but none so much as Haldir. It was though he walked on air, knowing that in just a few short hours, he would home and to see the elleth that had captured his heart so easily. He smiled at the thoughts on what would happen when they saw each other.
As of late, with all the turmoil on the borders, and the looming shadows had caused a great feeling of doom to lay heavily on his heart. The feeling of this morning, was a welcomed change. His demeanor and his happiness did not go unnoticed. Rumil and Orophin eyed him, with smiles on their faces.
"Brother, you look particularly happy today. What has gotten you so joyful?" Rúmil asked walking next to his eldest brother keeping his eyes fixed on his expression.
"Today is a joyous one indeed. We are returning home to the safety and warmth of our beloved city. These long weeks on the border, has dampened and wore me down. Now we shall be able to relax and only focus on the task of training Arlothiyenne," Haldir told him, his voice filled with the joy his heart was feeling.
"Aye, I believe that his the true joy he feels, is not for our fair city, but for one particular fair and beautiful Lady," Orophin chimed in with a smile looking at Rumil.
"Yes, that is it. I have missed the Lady of Light greatly," Haldir said with a jesting smile.
"Ah, Brother, you jest. We know who it is you truly have missed. Our most beloved princess!" Rúmil said laughing.
The jesting of the brothers, caused a great laughter among the wardens close by them, but it did not hinder their pace to reach the city.
Brothers return...
Arlothiyenne stood there, the call came just moments ago from the sentinels upon the wall into the city, that the wardens were returning. A crowd had begun to gather just moments ago and was filled with elleths both married and unattached. It seemed to Arlothiyenne, it was always out of control when it came to the Three Lorien Brothers in the return entourage. As the wardens, led by Rumil, Orophin and Haldir rounded the corner, the elleths all squealed in delight. She stood there watching as the wardens were all attacked with Haldir being the first. Many of the elleths threw themselves at him. Arlothiyenne just shook her head as she watched him fight his way through the crowd. So shameless. Haldir, with an elleth hanging about his neck, looked to Arlothiyenne's directions smiled at her and rolled his eyes. She just looked at him, shaking her head, and holding back her laughter.
Many moments passed, he fought to free himself and finally succeeded. He made his way to stand in front of her. She looked up into his eyes lovingly. She had missed him more than words could say. She playfully told him, "Finally, you are home, Haldir of Lorien and, my, don't we have a bit of a welcoming party today," She held back the urge to laugh at him.
"Yes it seems that way, Princess," Haldir said smiling as he finally pulled yet another elleth off his neck. "So did our princess come to say 'hello' to her gallant warriors today?"
"Most assuredly,Marchwarden,"she smiled up at him. Haldir took up her hand and lightly kissed it. "Oh, Haldir, we are beyond that now. Why so formal?" she asked giggling.
"I am only showing the Princess of Lorien the respect she deserves," he said smiling from ear to ear. The look reminded her of a mischievous elfling playing a prank.
Arlothiyenne appraised him a moment, then in a burst of utter joy, she threw her arms about his neck and giggled. "I missed you so much." she said to him, kissing his cheek and then burying her face in his hair. Haldir wrapped his strong arms about her waist, picked her up and twirled her around. She giggled, "Haldir! Put me down, I am not a little girl anymore!" Her joy coming out fully in her voice.
He chuckled, "I know, I could not hold it in any longer. I have missed you more than you know." He held her by the waist and looked down at her, but in the corner of both their eyes, they caught sight of Orophin and Rumil approaching. Arlothiyenne lit up again.
Orophin shook his head, acting annoyed. "Brother, can you for once, not hog all the 'hellos' from a certain lady of importance?" he said holding out his arms for her to hug him. She ran into his embrace and kissed his cheeks. He looked down at her, kind of shocked. He then reached a hand to a cheek and muttered. "Princess, to what do I owe the honor of a kiss?" he asked smiling, amused at her actions.
"Only that I have been incredibly bored without the three of you here." she said turning to Rumil and embracing him, kissing his cheeks.
Rumil, in his normal way of jesting, saw the opportunity to tease his eldest brother. With his grin as wide as his face, flashing his dashingly white teeth, he bragged at the fact she had kissed him and Orophin. "Ah, I see it now. Haldir, it looks as if this beautiful lady saw you UN-fit for a kiss." he told him, then puckered out his bottom lip. "Too bad, you aren't worthy of her sweet lips's attentions." he said rubbing the spot. Haldir seemed peeved by his brother's words, but looked down at Arlothiyenne.
Arlothiyenne smacked Rumil's arm lightly. "Stop teasing him, Ru. It is not nice. Besides.." she stopped looked up at Haldir, flashed him a devilish smile, "I will give him one later."
That did it, that smile. Haldir loved it more than any other. Just the look of it sent feelings deep into his loins, the need rose up in him. His mind wandered to other places, fantasies that he should not be having now. He wanted her, then, now. But what could he do about it? Apparently his thoughts made him develop a look, that forced Arlothiyenne to laugh out loud. He snapped out of it and looked down at her.
"What is so funny?' he asked his voice giving away his flustered reaction to her.
"If you had just seen your look, you would have laughed to, brother." Orophin said honestly.
Arlothiyenne still laughed, and was now wiping the tears of it away. "Haldir, are you forgetting, I can see your thoughts?" she eyed him again, slightly smiling up at him. "Behave, Haldir of Lorien. Down boy!"
Rumil lost it, laughter rolled from him. He started to walk away, dragging Orophin with him.
Arlothiyenne told them to stop. They did, she looked at him. "Haldir, my ada and nana want to speak to you. I will see you later." She nodded and joined Rumil and Orophin who each held out an arm to take.
Haldir mentally scratched his wondering what had just happened.
Claiming His 'Hello'...
Later that afternoon, Arlothiyenne made her way to the training field finding it quite unoccupied. She shrugged and decided the peace and quiet would be a perfect opportunity to practice her skills with the knives. The picked the closest target, which happened to be the large oak under which on any given day, would be used by wardens to cool off. She picked up her knives, and took her stance throwing it with deadly accuracy in the center of the knot on the trunk.
Taking her stance again, making the same aim, when she was startled as a strong arm grabbed her around her waist from behind. She panicked, not expecting anyone and quickly turned to throw her attacker to the ground. She saw the flash of fair blond hair fly about his face, and the color of his clothes. She stared at him, her breathing labored from her exertion. She quickly regretted her actions when she realized just who it was she had thrown. Haldir. He laid there upon the ground, propping himself upon his elbows looking up at her, no anger passed his fine elven face, but a smile played upon his lips. His deep blue eyes stared at her with great amusement.
Her hand shot to her mouth, the look of surprise plastered in her eyes. He chuckled light-heartedly. "Well, that was quite a 'Hello'. Shall we start again?" he asked, humor dripping from his words.
"Haldir, I am so sorry. I did not realize it was you. Please forgive me!" she said falling to her knees beside him. He must have been still tired from his journey, and recovering from her attack, because he then fell back flat upon his back, looking up at her and smiling. He reached for her wrists and pulled her to him slightly so that they were almost nose to nose.
"It is quite alright, lirimaer. I should have made my presence known to you before I grabbed you."he said looking at her deeply in the eyes. He reached a hand to her face and brushed a stray hair from her eyes. "I should have known better."
She stared at him, then her demeanor changed to agitation, not merely toward him, but to her herself. "I could have killed you, you big oaf! Don't sneak up on me like that again!" she told him harshly. She was serious, he knew this, but seeing her looking like this, made her seem more beautiful than before.
Soon her irritation changed, a look of quiet felt joyed played into her darken auburn eyes, he reached and pulled her closer to him. Half on the ground, and nearly on top of him, she looked down into his eyes, she searched his face. "I thought you were meeting with my parents." she said, not a question, but as a statement of fact.
"I did, and then came here. I knew you would be here." he looked at her, smiled and then continued on, "You know, I came here to claim something you promised." His smile spoke of mischief. Arlothiyenne just laid there over him for a moment to look at him, cocking a brow of curiosity.
"Really? And what pray tell is that?" she asked, an answer she already knew of came to mind. She smiled and looked at him waiting for an answer anyway.
"The kiss I did not receive upon my arrival," he said. Haldir leaned up on his elbows waiting for her.
"I do not think I will give you such a gift after scaring me like you did," she said as she began to move away from him getting on to her knees. He saw the smile behind her eyes and knew she was toying with him. He took initiative and began to grabbed her hands.
Haldir stopped her from moving. Sitting up a little more, he quickly placed his strong hand behind her neck forcing her to him. His lips crushed to hers in a fiery kiss that seemed to make the world stop. His lips danced and played across hers tasting hers fervently wanting more. He ran his tongue gently across her bottom lip, begging for the entrance, he so desperately craved, powerless to stop him, she did. The pull between the two was inevitable. In the intoxication of the moment, Arlothiyenne snaked one arm about his midsection and her other arm about his neck, moving herself closer to him. She laid there, half on top of him, half still to the ground, the moment seemed to stop in time. Neither of them could stop, it was if they were entranced, mesmerized. This kiss, this one kiss, ignited a fiery warmth inside them both. Their lips locked in a dance of pure desire. Without breaking the kiss, Haldir rolled them both over, his body now encasing hers to the ground. The kiss was deepened. Their tongues mated, danced, and the taste of each other was all there was. They moaned feeling each other kiss the other. Haldir reveled that this beauty, his love, kissed him back so wantonly, while she responded to his kisses as he moved to the base of her neck. The kissed, nipped and gently bit at the skin of her neck, she moaned out his name. Haldir looked up at her only for a moment, his heart bursting with ecstasy watching her eye hood over in pleasure. He continued to kiss her deeper. They were lost to the world, until they were stopped.
"Ahem."came the booming sound. Haldir quickly pulled up away from Arlothiyenne, to find Lord Celeborn. He smiled but then quickly wiped the smile away, his authority ran out in their ears. Arlothiyenne, in a moment of embarrassment, covered her face to hide the redness that was now her cheeks. "March Warden, I was coming down here to check on my daughter and fetch her for her mother." His face was stern, but the amusement was still there behind his blue eyes. His voice came out like a taunting memory. "And here I find you taking advantage of her." He looked to his daughter, then back at Haldir. "So if you would kindly remove yourself off my daughter, I would appreciate it." Deep down, he was laughing inside. He knew he had embarrassed them both, but was enjoying this opportunity to play around with them. Being a great Lord of a realm, gave no such opportunity often, so he seized the moment. Seeing her father's thoughts, the humor deeply embedded within his mind, she burst out laughing never knowing that this playful side was a apart of who he was. Haldir felt her quiver and shake from laughing so hard, and stared down at her in utter disbelief. Celeborn knew why she laughed, but to continue on with his chance at jesting around, he looked down at her and said to her in a mock stern look, "And what pray tell is so funny, my daughter?"
Arlothiyenne bit her bottom lip, trying to stop the bubbling laughter, and sat up next to Haldir. She smiled at him, "Nothing Adar. Is naneth at her mirror again?"Haldir had stood up now and held out his hand for her to take, but just as he did this, Celeborn did to. Arlothiyenne saw this and took Celeborn's hand. She looked to Haldir, "I shall see you at dinner, Haldir." she said, then looked to her father, "Adar, will we take another stroll later this evening?" Celeborn looked at his daughter, shook his head 'yes'. Inside she was shaking off the fact she had been caught, cur-rosing with Haldir. She bowed to them both, kissed each of their cheeks, and ran off to find her mother..
Haldir and Celeborn watched her go, niether addressing what had just transpired. Celeborn finally reached out and touched Haldir's arm, smiling at him, Celeborn spoke. "So tell me, Haldir, what exactly are your intentions with my daughter?" Haldir looked at him, and saw the humor hid behind his lord's eyes.
Haldir smiled slightly, "My Lord, I apologize for the display. I have no true reasonings for my actions, but I assure you, my intentions are strictly honorable." Celeborn eyed him, looked to the ground and smiled.
He cocked a brow, looked at Haldir sideways. "Haldir, you never seem to quite get the meaning of things, do you? I understand perfectly your feelings toward her." he looked to see Arlohtiyenne's retreating form disappearing down the path. "I know exactly how it feels, to love someone. I, too, once was a young elf madly in love." He stopped as if thinking on his own past. He let out a small sigh of remembrance. "She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Her eyes sparkled like blue diamonds, but it was her power and ferocious passion I was drawn to most. Just to look at her excited me, but then one day, to my surprise, she noticed me." He told Haldir reminiscing on his past. He got silent and did not finish the story. His mind elsewhere.
Haldir eyed him sideways, waiting on the rest and when it did not come, he spoke, "My lord? What happened?"
Celeborn shook from his reverie and looked to Haldir. "I married her." he said bluntly, with a delicate brow raised. Haldir looked at him, stunned that HIS Lord spoke so candidly. Never had he heard him speak of his past so. Celeborn and Galadriel was like his parents, having taken he and his brothers in after his parents both faded. Celeborn smiled, reached out and patted his shoulder. "Do not think me angry at your open display of affections toward my daughter, Haldir. It is only natural to feel the bonds of love and souls." he stopped, stared at Haldir a moment then continued, "But just as a word of caution, remember, Arlothiyenne must stay pure of heart and body. I know it will be a challenge, but I know you can do it." he looked out upon the training field as if assessing it. He raised a brow, and looked back at Haldir. "You know, my Marchwarden, long has it been since I indulged in swordplay. Would you care to join me in that task?" he eyed Haldir who was take aback. To fight against the Lord of Lorien was a great honor indeed.
"Yes My Lord. I would be honored. Shall we?" Haldir said waving a hand toward the field.
They walked toward the center of the field, Celeborn removed his outer robes, leaving him only in his under tunics. He bent down and retrieved Arlothiyenne's sword that she had left. "Now March Warden, I do not expect special treatment. I want a fair fight."
Haldir smiled and said politely, "Absolutely, My Lord. But I fear for my safety should I wound my lady's mate."
Celeborn chuckled and then sighed. "No need to fear for that. Who do you think trained the first March Warden of Lorien all those millennias ago?" Haldir just smiled. He knew the stories well. It was Celeborn who trained the first March warden of Lorien after he and Galadriel settled in the Golden Woods. In essence the skills passed down, had been started by Lord Celeborn.
The two stood at a stance and prepared to spar.
Note: Okay, this was strange. Original posting was only about 5000 words. I do not know how I did it, but a one chapter part is now three chapters Long...How on earth that happened I do not know. Hope you enjoyed...Please Review.
Next up: Meeting with MUM, News of the Fellowship, and Haldir Leaves AGAIN.