Beta by Wendwriter - thanks.
Faelwen slept more soundly that night than she ever had in her entire life. In fact, when she woke the next morning, she found that she did not even remember coming to bed – largely due to the fact that Glorfindel had carried her up there from the Hall of Fire, deeply asleep. She slept late the next morning too; only rousing when a pair of gentle lips brushed against hers and slender fingers caressed her cheek, startling her out of slumber. She blinked owlishly, but broke into a smile when she found Haldir beaming down at her.
"This is a pleasant way to wake up!" she mumbled with a smile. Haldir grinned.
"I thought I had better wake you – it is almost nine o'clock. Everyone has already partaken of their break of fast."
"Nine o'clock?" Faelwen practically jumped out of bed, tangling her ankles in her bedclothes as she did so, and, as a result, landed flat on the floor. Haldir burst into peals of merry laughter, standing at the foot of her bed with his arms crossed over his sturdy chest.
"I am so glad you find this amusing, Marchwarden!" said Faelwen in a mock-angry voice, as she swept the hair out of her eyes and glared up at him. "I am honoured to be entertaining you!"
"Not at all, you are an enchanting sight when you are flustered! Here, let me help you," laughed Haldir impishly, as he extended a hand to pull her to her feet. He immediately burst into silvery laughter again and gently tucked back an errant stand of golden hair that had fallen into her eyes once more. His laughter was so infectious that Faelwen could not help but to giggle along with him.
"I shall leave you to dress, my lady," he told her with another impish smile, bowing to kiss her brow, before he became suddenly grave. "Truly, Faelwen, I am very happy that everything is turning out so well for you with your blood family. It warms my heart to see you so happy!"
"I am always happy when I am with you," said Faelwen, putting her arms around his waist and resting her forehead against his. "I am sorry we have not been able to bring up the subject of our betrothal with Ada this visit. I certainly did not expect anything like this to happen."
"Fret not, 'tis of no consequence," said Haldir reassuringly. "We can talk it over with him the next time I am here. Another thing – I did a lot of thinking after I retired to my chamber last night. I did not get to broach the idea with you because you fell asleep so quickly – nay, do not blush! You had every cause to be tired. What I meant to ask was – if you truly do decide to accompany your twin to Mirkwood on a visit; then why not return by way of Lorien? You have not yet seen the Golden Wood and I know in my heart that you would like it and I should love to show it to you."
"That is a wonderful idea!" said Faelwen, eyes dancing. "I am no longer afraid to leave Imladris, now that my past has finally caught up with me. If Ada agrees to it, I should like that of all things." Haldir smiled in answer, bestowed another, longer, kiss upon her and then left her to dress.
"I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to rise, lazybones!" teased Glorfindel good-naturedly as he met her on the stair. "Still, it looks as if some sleep has done you a world of good. You look much more like your usual self this morning."
"I feel a lot more like my usual self!" Faelwen answered seriously. "I feel as though a shadow has been banished from my mind. I know that things are far from over with my brothers, but it is such a relief not to be hiding anymore. I feel…free."
"A burden lifted is a joy indeed," said Glorfindel gently, remembering how it had felt to finally be rid of the guilt he had carried after the fall of Gondolin. It had taken a long time but, with the patient help of Elrond and Erestor, he had finally admitted to himself that there was nothing else that he could have done. "Your father is in the healing wards checking over your brother, Faelwen, if you are looking for him."
Faelwen nodded her thanks and hastened towards the healing rooms, where she found Elrond removing Feredir's bandages. Although scars remained to tell of her twin's ordeal at the hands of the wargs, they had closed cleanly and were less vivid. Both elves smiled in welcome at her as she entered.
"Good morning, iel-nin," Elrond greeted her. Faelwen was observant enough to notice a flicker of distress in Feredir's eyes at the words 'my daughter'. "I take it that you slept well."
"I did. How are you feeling this morning, brother?" Faelwen questioned, crossing the room to join them. "Those scars look to be healing well!"
"They are. I feel practically recovered now," Feredir gestured for his sister to sit beside him. "Ala…Faelwen, I have been talking to Lord Elrond about what we were saying last night. I really would like you to come with us to Greenwood, even if it is only for a couple of days. Truly, you have no idea how overjoyed Ada will be to see you alive."
Faelwen turned her head to look to Elrond for guidance. He gave her and encouraging smile but gave no sign of deciding one way or the other. "It is completely your decision, Faelwen," he said. "I certainly will not oppose you and you will have my blessing if you do decide to go."
"I…I think I would like to…." said Faelwen thoughtfully. "I do not remember my blood father at all now. I would like to meet him."
"We will have to depart at the end of this week," said Feredir, flexing his stomach muscles experimentally. "We are overdue as it is and Ada will be worried about us. You could come with us then, if you like. It is a week or so journey if we travel quickly and I give an oath to the Valar not to let anything happen to you." Faelwen could hardly help but smile – it seemed she acquired yet another elf willing to fuss and worry over her.
"I can use a bow, Feredir," she told him mildly. "I am not completely helpless."
"I suspected that may be the case," said Feredir with a merry laugh. "What with you being beloved of a Marchwarden of Lorien. My Lord, may I get out of bed today?"
"Certainly," said Elrond. "Provided that you take care not to strain your wounds and do not overdo things. I know what my own sons are like when they are recovering from injury. You are healing well; it would be a pity to cause yourself a setback."
"I will be careful, my lord, I promise," replied Feredir earnestly, grinning delightedly when Elrond said that he might get up then, and directed him to where he could bathe and change. As he hurried away, with an energy that Faelwen could hardly believe after a couple of days of being in a healing sleep, she turned to look at Elrond.
"Thank you, for being so understanding," she said, planting a kiss on the elf-lord's cheek. "Ada, I promise that, whatever happens in Mirkwood; nothing will change. I don't want it to change. Please do not think that I am turning my back on the twins or Estel by going with them. You will always be my father and this visit will not alter that."
"Of course it won't," said Elrond firmly, embracing her tightly. "Just as you will always be my daughter, no matter what happens. Faelwen, I am glad that fate brought your brothers here. I wanted nothing more than for you to be able to finally shut the door on your past. And I do not expect you to have to choose between your blood or your foster family. Just because you love your twin, it does not mean that you love Elladan and Elrohir any less. Trust me, iel-nin, do I understand."
"Thank you!" said Faelwen gratefully. "Ada, Haldir has asked if I may return from Mirkwood via Lorien. I would dearly like to see the Golden Wood with him and it has been more than twenty years since I have seen Arwen. May I have your permission?"
"Of course," said Elrond, and then he laughed. "Tis a beautiful place, Lorien. You may find yourself reluctant to return to Imladris after you have seen it."
"Nowhere can ever rival Imladris, Ada!" grinned Faelwen. "I will go and tell Haldir, then. I suspect he is on the archery range." She rushed off quickly, still hardly able to believe that everything was turning out so well.
As soon as Feredir had bathed and dressed, he went in search of his brothers. Elrond, on the other hand, went in search of Elladan and Elrohir, to tell them of Faelwen's planned journey.
"We will go with her," said Elrohir as soon as his father had finished talking. It was a statement, not a suggestion. "I still do not trust them, Ada. Elladan and I will travel with them until they reach Calanon's dwelling. We can visit with Legolas and Thranduil while she is there and then collect her to escort her home. I refuse to let her go with them into the wild without us there to watch out for her – Faelwen may be a forgiving elf but they have yet to prove themselves to us!"
"So be it, if your sister agrees," replied Elrond, knowing that the twins would be accompanying her regardless of whether she liked it or not. "Faelwen has asked my permission to visit Lorien on the way back; it seems Haldir is eager to show her the delights of the Golden Wood."
"That is fine with us," said Elladan. "It has been too long since we have visited there ourselves; and far too long since we have seen Arwen and our grandparents. I would welcome the detour."
"I also," said Elrohir. "Faelwen has been with us for centuries now and I think it is about time she saw some of Middle Earth! We will make sure she returns in one piece, Ada."
"I admit, I will feel a little more at ease, knowing that the two of you will be there to look after her," said Elrond honestly. "Despite all the evidence you constantly provide to the contrary, the two of you are sensible elves and I know that she will be safe with you."
"I'm not sure how her…brothers – if you can call them that – will take our joining them on the journey. But just let them complain!" said Elrohir darkly.
Strangely enough, Calannon's sons made no objection at the twins' decision; knowing that they were in no place to argue. They knew that had yet to prove their trustworthiness to the Peredhil family. In fact, the only person who objected to the whole idea was Estel…because Elrond completely forbade him from accompanying them.
"Why not?" he had demanded angrily, when he had been told.
"Estel, you are only seventeen," Elrond had told him patiently. "Faelwen and the twins will be gone for several weeks. Your studies and your training are very important for you right now, and it is not wise for you to take so much time away from them. Furthermore, the twins have much experience of travelling in the wild; you do not yet have any at all. It is a journey across open country and, having seen the injuries that Faelwen's twin sustained, I do not want you going into that danger!"
"That is not fair!" Estel had responded, furiously. "I can wield a sword and a bow almost as well as the twins can!"
"I do not doubt your courage or your ability, Estel, but you are yet too young and inexperienced to be roaming across Arda!" Elrond said sternly. "You have only been on patrol once."
"Estel, we will look after her, you know!" Elrohir had hastily intervened, seeing a full blown Estel sulk brewing. "She will be fine."
"But that is not fair! The three of you are off gallivanting to Mirkwood and you're leaving me behind!" Estel had cringed, knowing he sounded like a five year old.
"It is not through choice, little brother," Elladan had soothed him. "Ada is right. If you intend to be a fully-fledged warrior, then you need to complete the training with Glorfindel. Experience is an essential in the wild and lack of it can be fatal. Ada has decided this for your own safety penneth. Prove your maturity by being calm about it."
The rest of the week practically flew by and in no time at all Faelwen, the twins, and her six brothers by blood were preparing to depart. Elrond, Glorfindel, Erestor, Estel and Haldir gathered to see them off.
"May the Valar guide your journey, my children," said Elrond solemnly, embracing each of them in turn. "Take care, and do not take any unnecessary risks." All three swore that they would not, and Faelwen found that she suddenly had a lump in her throat. It felt strange to be bidding farewell to people she had seen every day for several hundred years.
"So we are finally to be rid of you, for a few weeks!" grinned Glorfindel teasingly, before he grabbed her into a tight hug. "Take care of yourself, little one. Safe journey and a swift return to us." No sooner than did Glorfindel release her, then Erestor took his place.
"You have come a long way, since those first few months," he told her gently. "And I am so proud that you are able to take this step. I hope that everything goes well for you, Faelwen, but I will be glad to see the three of you back."
"Thank you, Erestor," said Faelwen, her voice a little shaky. "You take care too. I will miss you!" As Erestor and Glorfindel proceeded to say their goodbyes to the twins, Faelwen turned to Estel who had thrown maturity to the wind, and was looking mutinous. She could not help but laugh.
"Your face will stick like that, little brother!" she said merrily. "Do not do anything dangerous while we are gone, please! Listen to Ada and Glorfindel; they really are trying to help you, you know. Please take care."
"I will," said Estel unhappily. "It won't feel like Imladris without you three here, though. Hurry back! I love you." He suddenly hugged her with enough force to squeeze the life out of her.
"I love you too, brother," Faelwen laughed, slightly breathless. "But I would like to breathe a little. Go and squeeze the air out of the twins, or they shall be feeling left out." Estel hurried to do as he was bid and Faelwen moved to make her final farewell of the day; to Haldir.
"Take this," he said solemnly, unclasping the cloak she wore and replacing it with an exquisite grey one, fastened with a leaf. "It can hide you from unwelcome eyes, should the need arise." Then he grinned for, added to the green tunic and leggings she was wearing, Faelwen now looked like a true woodelf.
"I cannot take this! It is yours!" Faelwen protested, but Haldir stemmed her words by playfully tugging the hood up and over her eyes.
"Yes you can," he said with a smile. "I have a spare. And it will let any smitten Mirkwood elf know that you are loved by a Galadhrim, in case they get any ideas! Be safe, and I will eagerly await your arrival in Lorien."
"I am truly looking forward to it!" Faelwen beamed. "Have a safe journey there, my warrior." Haldir pulled her close but his face became suddenly grave once more.
"Never mind me," he said firmly. "Just you worry about taking care of yourself. Should anyone of them hurt you, I will personally hunt them down! Please be careful" I love you."
"I love you too!" Faelwen threw her arms around Haldir's neck and kissed him, far more passionately than she usually would in public, but this was a true parting after all.
"Ahem!"
"Aiya! Every time!" Faelwen sighed in exasperation, and scowled at Elrohir over her shoulder. The dark-haired elf simply grinned cheekily in reply.
"If you two have quite finished, it is time for us to be setting off," he remarked airily. "We want to cover as much distance as possible, today, and the others are waiting for us by the gates."
"Until Lorien," Haldir gave Faelwen a last quick kiss before walking her over to her horse and handing her bow and quiver up to her once she had mounted.
Elladan and Elrohir called their last goodbyes before spurring their horses onward. Faelwen raised a hand in mute farewell to the elves – and human – who she loved so dearly.
"Namárië!" she called, before urging her mare, Soryca, forward and into a trot in order to catch up with the twins. Her blood brothers were waiting for them as Elrohir had described and together the group quickly rode out of the valley.
As they came to the top of the first hill after the valley, Faelwen's breath was taken completely at the vast expanse of land and mountain that she could see. She threw her head back and let the wind caress her face, readily returning the grin that Elladan sent in her direction. It felt very strange to be leaving Imladris, even for a short time, but there was a bright excitement about being able to feast her eyes on the beauties of Arda that she had never see before. And now, free from all her past fears and worries, she was ready to enjoy them.