Welcome back to TBFF! I'm so glad you're here! My thanks go out to mystarlight, Addy White, riahsparks, and PrettyRecklessLaura for reviewing the last chapter! Please enjoy this extra long installment of the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything associated with Lord of the Rings or Tolkien Enterprises.
ooOoo
To Be Forever Faithful
By: Ponytail Goddess
Chapter 56: In Vow
"Am I really seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Rumil asked as he approached Haldir from behind. Shock was evident in his voice as he spoke to his brother. Together, the two brothers watched the archery field intently, not quite knowing what to expect from the two elves who had congregated over there.
"It seems rather unbelievable, does it not?" Haldir asked in response, not even bothering to look at Rumil as he gazed upon the same scene that he was asking about. It was rather odd to see what was taking place before his eyes.
"But… how did this come about? And why?" Rumil asked as he studied the sight before him, seemingly perplexed by elves who were talking to one another far more cordially than he would have ever expected. "Do they not both hate each other?"
"I think whatever was between them got resolved after Helm's Deep." Haldir replied calmly. "I know in Belegwen's mind, she sees this as a valuable opportunity for improvement. I imagine he feels the same way."
"Of all wardens she could have chosen from, why did she settle on Eregdol though? That smug old grouch of an elf is truly functioning as Belegwen's training partner? What can he offer her that others cannot?" Rumil questioned slowly in a voice which sounded pained at the very thought of his best friend spending time with such a difficult elf.
The two brothers watched in silence as Belegwen shot a few arrows into a target, then proceeded to receive some pointed guidance from the very same elf who had tried to remove her from her marchwarden status a few months ago. Even Haldir had to admit this seemed rather farfetched after all that had happened between Belegwen and Eregdol, but for whatever reason, it was working.
"Because he does not like her, he does not go easy on her." Haldir replied as he watched Eregdol correct Belegwen's bow hold in such a little way that Haldir could barely see it move at all. He was now speaking to her quietly as she took aim once again.
"They are both experts at different fields of weaponry and want to take advantage of the other's knowledge. They seem to at least respect one another and both are hoping to improve in the other's specialty field. When you think of it that way, it seems rather intuitive." Haldir remarked as he watched Belegwen shoot her bow once again with her newly adjusted grip.
Haldir turned to face Rumil after he overheard his brother sigh. "I suppose you are right. I just worry about him upsetting her. Belegwen has enough on her plate right now." He answered cautiously before asking, "How has she been faring recently gwador?"
"So far we have found two things that trigger her memories. Thusly, we have been avoiding them to try and prevent further episodes." Haldir replied warily as he remembered Belegwen's violent reactions to him whispering in her ear and holding her arms down during intimacy. "Linedhel is trying a special type of spirit healing on her to see if he can dampen the effects of those particular memories, but the brain's reaction to such healings is often fickle and he is uncertain whether or not it will be a success."
"And if it does not work… What then?" Rumil questioned, looking at Haldir curiously. "Will you simply have to live with the memories?"
"Perhaps." Haldir answered with a grimace. He hated the idea of Belegwen suffering with this problem long term and was trying to remain hopeful for the future. "It is also possible the effects of the memories will fade over time as she learns to deal with the trauma she endured."
"Would you ever consider sailing west with her if she was unable find healing here?" Rumil asked quietly, leaving an uncomfortable silence between the two brothers. Haldir knew in his heart that this was an option, albeit one he was not ready to explore just yet. Hearing it now from his brother unleashed a stirring of anxiety within his heart as he thought about what he considered to be his last resort.
"Yes," he murmured as he cringed at the thought. "Not unless I absolutely have to though. I have pledged my life to the lord and lady, as has Belegwen. It would be best for us to stay until they choose to leave, if possible. I would see my oath fulfilled in full, as would Belegwen. I am certain she feels the same way about this matter."
Haldir shook his head as he became frustrated with the direction of the conversation. "Let us not dwell on such a depressing topic any longer. Tell me, what news do you have concerning our project?"
He watched as his brother's face lit up with a mixture of mischief and joy at the very thought. "Worry not gwador; even as we speak, a few wardens are working on it. As long as everything goes according to plan, we should be done by next week. Once we know Belegwen's schedule for your wedding day, I will find some wardens to help me transfer everything quickly and efficiently."
"Very good." Haldir said, enjoying the thought of surprising Belegwen in such a large way. "Thank you for your help with this and with the rings. I could not have done this without you—not in my current state." He said, frowning as he looked down at the cane in his hand. Truly, he was needing the assistance less and less as the weeks passed by, but it was still frustrating that it was taking him so long to recover. There was nothing he wanted more at this point than to regain full control over his body and return to his former level of physical fitness.
Rumil smiled back at him and squeezed his shoulder with his hand. "I am happy to help you gwador. That is what family is for. Seeing to your happiness with Belegwen is an absolute pleasure and delight."
"Speaking of Belegwen, do make sure you find some time to stop by and visit with her soon." Haldir directed him as he started to turn away. "She misses your company and is starting to become suspicious because she has seen so little of you over the last week."
"Of course she is!" Rumil said with a laugh, unsurprised by this predicament. "Hmm… I shall have to think of something to throw her off the trail. Perhaps news of my latest dalliance with an elleth would be sufficient enough explain my absence."
"Oh? And who is the lucky elleth this time?" Haldir questioned, grinning salaciously at his brother. He was instantly prepared to commence teasing him once more about making his rounds through the city.
"There is not one currently, but I am sure one can be found if a legitimate excuse is needed to keep the project a secret." Rumil answered with an eye roll, knowing precisely where Haldir had been about to go with the conversation. "I am quite popular in the city, so it should not pose a problem."
Now it was Haldir's turn to roll his eyes, as his brother had clearly puffed himself up to a new level of pride. He briefly wondered if he was in good enough shape to wrestle Rumil to the ground and take him down a few pegs as he used to do with Orophin. Deciding the pain would be worthwhile, Haldir pushed his brother onto the ground and had soon kicked up a large cloud of dirt as he finagled him into a headlock on the dusty path that led through the training grounds.
He did not let go of Rumil until he cried for mercy, then proceeded to lightheartedly tease him about it, as his status of being the older brother dictated. For his part, Rumil withstood the teasing gladly, enjoying the attention as he always did. Yes, things were starting to feel as they used to between himself and Rumil; Haldir was pleased to be in a close relationship with his brother once more.
ooOoo
"Come, I have a couple of gifts for you." Lord Celeborn said as he began to lead Belegwen up the stairway of the largest mallorn in Caras Galadhon. The two had just finished walking through Galadriel's gardens while enjoying the sunset and now Belegwen followed the Lord of Lorien as he led her up the familiar stairway that spiraled into the heart of the tree.
"My lord, such things are unnecessary-" Belegwen started, only to be cut off by Celeborn's rather insistent voice.
"Since when has doting on a beloved family member ever been unnecessary?" He countered as the two slowly made their way up the stairs, side by side. The magical blue lights of the city were shining down on them, cutting through the darkness. "I only seek to give you the same attention your adar would if he were here to partake in these joyous times with you."
Belegwen flushed a bit, but nodded with acceptance, as she did not wish to hurt Lord Celeborn's feelings. Together they headed towards the lord and lady's personal quarters once they had ascended to the top of the tree.
Stepping into Lord Celeborn's private office, Belegwen found herself surrounded by the familiar walnut-stained bookshelves and the smell of musty old scrolls that dated back to the second and first ages. His large desk sat in the corner, facing towards the open balcony. There were also a few pieces of comfortable looking furniture in the center of the room, including a burgundy settee and three brown leather-winged chairs.
A couple of small end tables held golden shining oil lamps, which dispelled some of the blue magical light of Lorien with a warmer glow through stained glass lampshades. The fanciful designs of nature on the shades were cast upon the walls, creating the shadows of leaves, flowers, and trees on the darkened walls around the room.
It was here that Belegwen had received much of her schooling, having been tutored daily by the lord during her formative years. While Celeborn was heading behind a free-standing divider, which was painted with famous historical scenes from the First Age, Belegwen basked in the memories of days gone by. Her fingers gently traced scroll after scroll, which were stacked haphazardly in a pile on one of the bookshelves as she remembered her days of studying in this room as Lord Celeborn went about the business of maintaining the city.
Being in the room made the memories come to life again, as if they had just occurred yesterday. Many good memories had taken place in here, as well as a couple of her worst. Belegwen shivered as her mind briefly returned to the darkest of days…
The door swung open abruptly after the warden banged on it violently over and over again. A flash of silver robes caught Belegwen's eyes as she looked up at the lord of Lorien himself. Even in her current state, she could tell he looked alarmed.
"My Lord Celeborn, I am sorry for coming in unannounced, but I have urgent news from the borders."
"What has happened?"
"A terrible tragedy, my lord. A few orcs escaped into the woods during a large border skirmish and made it all the way to the outskirts of the city. My lord, they entered Belegond's talan and murdered him and most of his family."
A loud intake of air could be heard and then deeply penetrating silence lingered between them as Lord Celeborn studied her with unreadable eyes. "Belegwen has survived?"
"She is the only one, my lord. We found her hidden in a broom closet. The others… they have perished." He whispered emotionally. Belegwen felt him squeeze her shoulders as he stood behind her while the lord's intense blue eyes settled on her, full of grief and remorse for her situation. Unable to withstand the emotion in his eyes, Belegwen looked at the floor and shivered as a wave of anguish nearly overtook her. Their words had forced her to remember what she had seen when she opened the unlatched door to their talan-
"Belegwen? Are you well?" Lord Celeborn asked, rousing her from her darkest memory when his hand rested upon her own. A few scrolls rolled off the shelf because of the added weight simultaneously as Belegwen returned to the present time with a gasp.
"Yes. A memory of the past was lingering in my mind, but I am well." She replied, smiling a bit to try and reassure him. Lord Celeborn did not fall for her feeble attempt at hiding her feelings though and quickly embraced her. The warmth of his arms brought her some temporary relief from the pain that was dwelling within her heart.
Sighing, she quickly came to the conclusion that Haldir must have told Celeborn about her lingering memories from the battle. While she was not thrilled about him knowing, she understood why Haldir would tell him. After all, Lord Celeborn was like family to her and had been for over 3,000 years now. He would want to know if Belegwen was struggling and would try to help if he could. That side of him had never gone away, not even now that she had been fully-grown for several millennia.
When he drew away from her, he kissed her on the cheek and reassured her by saying, "You will heal and be whole once more. Haldir will help you through this; he loves you deeply and wants the best for you. You could not have chosen a better ellon as your hervenn Belegwen."
This time, Belegwen's smile was genuine as she nodded in agreement. "He is truly wonderful and I am blessed to be by his side."
Belegwen's happiness was short-lived though, as the scene with the warden who saved her flashed through her mind once again. She knew Lord Celeborn was probably the only one who could tell her the identity of the warden, though she had always been afraid to ask him. Like many in the city, Celeborn also did not relish reliving those particular memories and Belegwen did not want to force them upon him.
Today she was feeling particularly courageous though and the warden had been on her mind more and more recently. She had dreamed about the broom closet multiple times since she had returned from Helm's Deep. Belegwen believed the vision she had of her adar had brought the long ignored memories back to a place of prominence within her mind. Now, she desired to know who he was more than ever before.
Bolstering her courage as best she could, Belegwen forced herself to begin what promised to be an uncomfortable conversation. "My lord… There is something I have been meaning to ask you for a while now; something I wish to know about from that day… the day my family passed." She said, stumbling over her words in her nervously.
Sensing this would be a serious conversation, Celeborn silently gestured her over to the burgundy settee and they sat side by side with their knees angled towards one another. The lord gently took Belegwen's hand in his own and asked, "What is it you would like to know?"
"I do not remember the warden who saved me; the one who brought me to you in this very room. Will you tell me who he was and what has become of him?" Belegwen asked tentatively, not fully convinced as to whether or not she was prepared to hear the answer to her own inquiry.
Lord Celeborn watched her for a long while as a series of emotions flickered through Belegwen's mind. At last, he squeezed her hand to reassure her and looked at her with sad acknowledgement of her pain. "Why do you wish to know now, after all this time?" He asked earnestly, clearly trying to understand her mindset.
"I-I just want to thank him. I do not believe I have ever seen him since the day of the tragedy, so I am assuming he must have moved on from Lorien or sailed shortly afterwards." She admitted. "It would be nice to know if he is well. I want to make sure he knows how appreciative I am of all the things he did for me on that day."
The lord nodded in response, but his gloomy expression did not change. "I have the answer to your inquiry Belegwen, but the lady has advised against it. She has seen something in her mirror that suggests it would be best to wait and find out in due time."
"She thinks I will eventually find out on my own then?" She asked while feeling confused and a bit let down by his answer. "Please help me understand—what reason could there possibly be for withholding this information?"
Celeborn closed his eyes and took a breath before answering. "I realize it seems unfair for me to withhold this from you and for that, I am very sorry. However, the lady has told me that knowing will cause a great pain within you; she says you will be unable to endure it at this time. Already, you struggle with the horrible memories of that day as well as the trauma of the battle. To add this on top of everything else is a recipe for disaster." He said, then lowered his voice more. "She does not want you to fade. Not now that you have Haldir and your son to think of."
Belegwen looked down at her lap and watched as she moved her clenched hands together nervously. Truly, Celeborn was as wise as the legends said, for he had seen what she had thought only she could see. He and the lady both somehow knew that Belegwen was at the very brink of what she could endure. One wrong move and she would fall from the precipice into the welcoming arms of the sea.
She did not want that for herself, not when she was about to marry Haldir. Not when she desperately wanted to watch Halendil grow up in Lothlorien as she had all those years ago. No, she needed to be strong and move forward. She did not want anything to hold her back from having the future she desired.
Slowly, Belegwen started to nod and looked up to find the Lord of Lorien staring at her intensely. "Okay." She agreed. "I do not understand how it could cause me pain, but the lady has never steered me in the wrong direction before. I will trust her judgment on this matter."
Lord Celeborn squeezed her hand and reassured her. "Belegwen, you will meet this warden again. At some point, it will become unavoidable and when it does…" He said, pausing as she blinked the tears out of her eyes, "Then, you will understand."
Belegwen nodded again, then let go of Celeborn's hands and wiped at her eyes as he stood up. "Now, let me see about those gifts. Perhaps they will lighten the mood a bit."
With a small, sad-looking smile adorning his face, the silver-haired lord beckoned her to follow him to the divider. Once she had followed him over, Lord Celeborn reached behind the divider and said, "This is long overdue, but better late than never."
His hands then revealed a finely crafted metal scabbard and belt, much like the one Haldir had worn to battle, but clearly having been crafted for a much smaller sword. The silver flank gleamed in the light above them as Belegwen slowly took the present from Lord Celeborn's hands and admired the inherent craftsmanship of the elves. In the lamplight, a subtly engraved mellyrn leaf pattern became visible, but disappeared when she moved the scabbard into the shadows.
"My lord, I do not know what to say," Belegwen murmured as she next inspected the belt, which also had the same faint pattern engraved upon it. She gently fiddled with the latch that would hold it tightly to her hips, finding it strong and sturdy. "It is a most wonderful gift. Thank you!"
"You need not say anything, as it pleases me to grant you the honor of owning this." Lord Celeborn said. "I had the scabbard molded to be an exact fit with your sword the day Haldir took it to Valtaur to have it sharpened. It is past time that you owned the mark of a marchwarden. Do try it on."
Upon hearing his request, Belegwen quickly swung the belt around her body and latched it in the front. She was relieved to find that it was much lighter than Haldir's belt and did not hinder her range of motion much differently than her leather sword belt.
"It fits perfectly." Belegwen stated as she walked around a bit to get a feel for the new weight and positioning of the scabbard.
"I had hoped as much. I also believe it will look perfect when you wear it atop this." Celeborn said, then pushed the divider aside to reveal something more.
Belegwen's blue eyes widened at the sight. "Oh my. My lord, I have not worn anything such as that in… well…"
"A few millennia?" Lord Celeborn asked with a chuckle. "Yes, I daresay I have not seen you in such since you were occupying these halls with me."
Belegwen stared at the present before her for over a minute before she shook her head and murmured, "It is too much. I will not be accepted as a marchwarden if I wear such a thing-"
"Nonsense." Lord Celeborn countered. "The wardens have come too far to see you as anything other than a marchwarden at this point."
Still, Belegwen frowned as she remembered her 21 years of growing up with Lord Celeborn fathering her in Belegond's place. She quietly argued, "They will compare with Celebrian again if I wear that."
Dealing with comparisons had been one of the hardest parts of living with the lord during Belegwen's formative years. Why it always happened, Belegwen did not know. Perhaps it was because she was another elleth being raised by Lord Celeborn or possibly because they both shared the same silver-colored hair. Either way, Belegwen had always struggled with overhearing random elves compare her and Celebrian to one another.
The two could not have been any less alike though. Celebrian had been a very calm, peaceable elleth who was of the mindset that elves should not harm any living things, but instead heal them. On the other hand, Belegwen had a bit of a defiant streak within her and liked to have things her way. She never had any qualms about doing what was necessary to defend the forest either and would not even bat an eye before shooting an orc. Once her family had been killed, Belegwen had felt it was her duty to defend the other elves and prevent tragedies such as hers from reoccurring.
Though Belegwen had never met her, Celebrian's memory always seemed to be a dark cloud lingering over her. It was as if Celebrian was the very height of what elven society should look like and Belegwen could never hope to measure up.
The worst part of it was that Belegwen did not even want to be like Celebrian. She had only ever desired for the elves of the city to say she was like her adar. However, no one wanted to dwell on the tragedy that had befallen Belegond and his family, so it was rare for anyone to offer her any comments regarding him other than condolences. Linedhel had been the first elf other than Celeborn to speak openly about Belegond without mentioning his death during the last 3,000 years.
"I knew this was once a source of frustration for you Belegwen. Tell me, do those feelings truly still linger inside you after all of this time? If so, is it really such a horrible thing that you would refuse this gift?" Lord Celeborn asked quietly. The question was not what caught Belegwen's attention though; it was the sadness in his voice that brought her out of her faded memories.
Belegwen knew she had filled a void in Lord Celeborn that was left by the tragedy that had befallen Celebrian all those years ago. His daughter had been precious to him and her untimely sailing had broken his heart. Upon seeing Belegwen so lost and afraid the day her family had been ripped away from her, there had been no hesitation on Celeborn's part. Immediately, Belegwen had been accepted as if she was his own flesh and blood.
He had not been able to save Celebrian from her fate, but he had saved Belegwen from hers. However, Belegwen could see in this moment that she had not filled the empty void in his heart; at least, not fully. Could anything fill the void of such a loss? Having now feared for her own son, Belegwen knew for herself that nothing could.
Lord Celeborn was still broken from it all these years later, as any loving adar would be. He needed a daughter of his own to feel complete and Belegwen was the only one who could currently fill that void.
Perhaps being compared with Celebrian for a night would be not be so bad after all…
"No," Belegwen finally answered, hoping to dispel the sadness that remained in the lord's blue eyes. "It would not be so bad."
"Very well then. I chose this gift for you because of your recent realization. Now that you know you can be both a warden and a wife, I thought perhaps you might like to embrace the newer side of yourself." He replied softly as he indicated the gift in front of him with a flourish of his hand. "A side that has long been lost."
Belegwen slowly looked back at the extravagant gift. "This will definitely show a different side of me to the ranks. Are you certain they will not refuse me as a marchwarden if I show up wearing this?" She asked calmly, looking to the lord for wisdom.
For his part though, Celeborn merely grinned down at her and said, "If they do not, you can simply challenge a few of them to duel you the next day. You will promptly put them back in their place—flat onto their backsides, I presume!" He said with a chuckle.
Then, in a more serious tone, he continued. "I doubt it will happen though Belegwen. You should not underestimate the wardens. They honestly do want you as a leader now. They would not have begged for you to be released from the trial if they did not feel thusly."
Sighing, Belegwen decided to give in, if for no other reason than to make Lord Celeborn happy. For one night, she could be another Celebrian if it would bring joy to his heart. After all, he had helped her in countless ways over the years. Perhaps by wearing this and giving the old elven lord what he had always hoped for, she could help him in return.
"I will try it then." She said, walking closer and taking some of the delicate fabric into her hand. After inspecting it a long while, she looked back with a smirk on her face. "Do you think Haldir will even recognize me in this?"
With a quiet laugh, he replied. "I am sure he will, my dear. I am sure he will."
ooOoo
"Scattered all over evenly would look best!"
"No, let's do a waterfall with more at the top and less at the bottom!"
Belegwen rolled her eyes as Rumil and Kalwen, one of Galadriel's ladies in waiting, argued over the best way to place a handful of tiny crystals into her hair. Kalwen had been sent to help Belegwen get ready for the wedding, but Rumil had already promised to do her hair ahead of time. Now the two ex-lovers were butting heads over the silliest of things, which Belegwen found to be rather obnoxious.
Uncomfortable with the scene the two were causing in Galadriel's spacious powder room, Belegwen quietly wandered away from them to look in the golden, full-sized mirror again. She sighed as she saw a side of herself she was rather uncomfortable with. She had not worn a dress in nearly three millennia now and it felt odd to don one again after spending her years in breaches and a tunic.
She could openly acknowledge that Celeborn had good taste though and had chosen well. The dress was made of white satin with a lacy overlay. The lace had been woven into a large mallorn leaf pattern, letting her skin show through on the tight long sleeves before it met up with the sleeveless satin dress beneath. The lace was made up of white, gold, and silver threads that were intermingled and gave the white dress a shiny gold and silver shimmer when it caught the light. The dress clung tightly to Belegwen's arms and curves, showing off her tiny figure and fanning out a bit below the hips.
When Belegwen turned to the side, she could see that her body was completely healed from the pregnancy at this point. Her breasts were still larger than before, but her torso had finally returned to normal, much to her delight.
Looking up, she admired the work Rumil had done on her hair thus far. Dozens of tiny braids were intermingled with unbraided locks of silver hair all over her head. As it was a particularly special occasion, he had also heated some large metal rollers up in the hearth and then wrapped both the braids and loose locks in them to form large curls that rolled playfully down Belegwen's back.
This alone made her look like she was a completely different elf. Such finery was normally reserved for elves of a much higher status than she. However, Rumil had argued that her connection to Lord Celeborn and her new position as marchwarden dictated that she was of a high enough status for this unlikely look. When Kalwen had agreed, Belegwen had let the two of them set about their work, not wanting to start an argument the only time the pair had managed to agree with one another that night.
"Belegwen, which would you prefer? Crystals evenly dispersed over your head or more on the top and less on the bottom?" Rumil asked her grumpily, clearly seeking her favor for his side of the argument.
"I would prefer none at all. If the two of you cannot come to an agreement, then that is how I will exit this room." She threatened, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
"No!" They both shouted simultaneously, then continued to squabble. Thankfully, they both had the grace to stop when Tinuloth came in with Halendil, who was squealing with glee in her hands.
"Nana! Umi!" He called out joyfully as he caught sight of Belegwen and Rumil. Belegwen watched as Tinuloth struggled to keep a hold of the squirming elfling who was now reaching for two of his favorite elves rather insistently. Quickly stepping forward, Belegwen plucked her little ball of energy out of Tinuloth's grasp, giving him a quick toss into the air, which drew another silly squeal from the little ellon's lips.
Looking over her little one, Belegwen admired the fine white tunic with gold and silver mellyrn leaves upon its lapels. The little one's look was complete with black leggings and the tiniest black elfling boots, which were soft to the touch. She drew her hand over the top of his head to ruffle the sprinkling of silver hairs that had started to emerge a couple of weeks ago and then kissed the elfling upon the head.
"Kalwen, the lady is requesting your assistance in the green room." Tinuloth relayed, causing Kalwen to grumble about the crystals one last time before exiting the room quickly with a huff.
Belegwen mouthed the words 'thank you' to Tinuloth, who winked at her before quickly following Kalwen out the door. Meanwhile, Rumil proceeded to start layering a waterfall of crystals into her large silver curls. He hummed a merry tune as he worked, occasionally reaching in front of Belegwen to tickle Halendil, causing him to giggle and peek behind Belegwen's shoulder to see what 'Umi' was doing.
"So… What's this I hear about you with a new elleth? Should I prepare to meet this special someone or is it another flight of fancy?" Belegwen asked quietly as she smoothed down the hairs on Halendil's head, which had become ruffled while he played with Rumil.
"It will probably be just a bit of fun," he replied quietly, clearly focusing more on getting her hair to look just right than on the conversation. "I have only been with her for a few weeks now. We barely know each other."
"Hmm," was Belegwen's only reply as she felt him twisting the little crystals into place throughout her hair. "Do you ever think about finding someone to marry Rumil?"
She felt him stop messing with her hair for a moment while he considered it for a moment. "Honestly, I had not entertained the thought much until recently. I have presumed for a long while now that I was happy with the lifestyle I have always had. However, now that I have seen what you share with Haldir, I would be lying if I did not say that I would like to experience something similar."
As he set about finishing her hair again, Belegwen murmured, "I would like to see you happy too Rumil. I hope you find her."
"Me too." He said quietly, before countering his own words. "I am happy though Belegwen. It is a joy to spend these days with you and my brother." He said as he clutched her shoulders gently for a moment.
"And then there's this lad." He stated as he peeked out from behind Belegwen's shoulder and surprised Halendil, who called out, giggled, and clapped before trying to grab for Rumil. He responded by ruffling Halendil's hair once more, much to Belegwen's annoyance. "He brightens every day with his smiles and is a joy to be around. Being an uncle has turned out to be a wonderful affair indeed."
"I am glad it brings you joy." Belegwen replied as she bounced Halendil happily on her lap. "I do not believe I have gotten the chance to thank you for all of your help with him on the journey home. You have done much for us both Rumil, going well beyond your promise to Haldir. I wanted to make sure you know how grateful I am. I could not have done any of this without you."
"Think nothing of it Belegwen. It was my pleasure to help. You have been my friend since before Haldir announced his feelings for you and I would have helped you with or without a promise because you are important to me." She heard him say as she felt his hands leave her hair again.
Belegwen caught sight of him grinning at her as he turned her so she was facing the mirror once more. He watched her as she admired the crystals in her hair, nodding to him in approval of their placement. "Never in a thousand years did I think I would see myself looking like this…" She murmured, more to herself than to Rumil.
"You are now a both an elleth and a warden. A perfect blend of the two." Rumil commented as he took Halendil into his arms so Belegwen could better see herself.
"Almost. I think I need a couple more things." She said, then went and opened the closet where her belongings had been stashed for the day. She returned wearing her new sword belt, complete with Nimrodel's hilt sticking out. The silver metal shined in the soft blue light of the room. Her leaf pin was in her other hand and she gently pinned it over her heart while looking in the mirror. "There. Now I am both an elleth and a marchwarden."
"And beautiful. Don't forget you are beautiful." Rumil said with a grin, pulling her in towards him to kiss her cheek as she admired her finished look. "Haldir will be speechless when he sees you."
"He will probably wonder who this elleth is he's marrying and what she has done with Belegwen." She said with a smirk. Underneath it all though, she was quite nervous. She had taken care for so long to not show anyone this side of herself, as she did not want to give any wardens a reason to try and remove her from the ranks or doubt her abilities. To parade herself in front of them dressed this way still felt like a risk.
"Ha! Unlikely. Come, Lord Celeborn awaits you outside the door." He said, gesturing for her to leave as Halendil pulled at his own braids. "It is time."
Indeed, she found the lord of Lorien waiting outside the door for her. A gasp escaped his lips when he saw her and immediately, he placed a fist over his lips. He appeared to be overwrought with emotion at the sight of her. A tear glistened on his cheek as he walked over and embraced his long-time ward.
"I did not think this day would ever come." Celeborn said emotionally, kissing her on the forehead before pulling away from her. "Belegond would have been so proud, as am I. You look perfect, my dearest marchwarden."
"Thank you my lord," Belegwen answered timidly, giving him a bow of acknowledgement.
"Shall we?" He asked her as he offered her his arm. She took it gently.
"Yes." She replied with a large smile adorning her glowing face. "I am ready."
ooOoo
Haldir stood in front of the high table in the large gathering area designated for city events. Sitting in the top of four conveniently planted mellyrn, the room's glass ceiling was covered in beautifully crafted metal leaves. The light of the moon shined down through the metalwork, casting leafy shadows onto the white marble floor where dancing would later take place.
The glow of Lorien's magical light was much brighter in this special room, with several lamps illuminating its walls with hues of blue, green, and white in areas. Candles brought a warmer glow to the tables below that were covered with a variety of potted plants and decanters of wine. This was where the wardens, their families, and the other elves of the city were gathering, talking and making merriment while taking their seats.
Several gasps and whispers broke out amongst the crowd, which made Haldir immediately look around to find its source. Ah… His brother had arrived at the head table, holding Halendil in his hands. The youngest elf of the city often attracted the attention of many, as there had not been an elfling in Caras Galadhon in over 50 years. Already he could see many ellyth smiling and waving at the cheerful youngling, who giggled and clapped. Upon spotting Haldir, he reached out to him and cried, "Ada!"
"Did you miss me, ion-nin?" Haldir asked the little ellon as Rumil handed him over to Haldir before taking a seat next to Bragolith at the table.
"Ada!" Halendil answered with glee, which was followed by some babbling. The little one grabbed onto one Haldir's braids and tried to stick it into his mouth before Haldir stopped him. Haldir distracted him by bouncing him in the air and tickling him underneath his chin. As he played with his son, he noticed that someone had bothered to dress him in a replica of the outfit Haldir was wearing tonight—a white tunic with gold and silver leaves embroidered down the lapels with black breeches and boots. He chuckled a bit at the inanity of this little detail, knowing some elleth had probably thought such a thing would be 'cute.'
"Is Belegwen almost ready?" He asked Rumil once he was certain his hair was out of grabbing range.
"Yes, she is ready. I imagine we will start once the lady arrives." He replied, signaling for Haldir to hand Halendil back to him.
Excited to be handed back to his uncle, Halendil cried out, "Umi!" Rumil received the little one and sat him on his lap, pulling out a stuffed doe for the little one play with while they waited. Rumil made the toy lope across the table several times and Halendil's eyes were entranced with it. He tried to grab it repeatedly and giggled when Rumil made it move across his shoulder and onto his head.
Haldir smiled at them before turning back to the front of the room, where Lady Galadriel had finally made her appearance. As if riding on a cloud, the lady floated across the dais towards Haldir until she stood next to him. He bowed in respect towards her and she nodded to him as well before turning to the quieted room.
"Welcome one and all to the Warden's Ball. Tonight will be a night full of laughter, food, and dancing—a joyous time indeed. We have come together in celebration of the wardens of Lothlorien. The safety they have provided our great city over the years is unmatched in other nations. By putting their lives on the line on a daily basis, we are able to live our lives in peace, without the fear of invasion. Their burdens are heavy and their sacrifices are great. Let their devotion to the elves of these woods be honored tonight!"
Applause broke out amongst the tables. Haldir looked at the long tables closest to him, eyeing the wardens before him. Dressed in their uniforms with their leaf pins proudly displayed at the top of their tunics, they were the pride of the golden woods on this night. His own leaf pin was attached to his heart, the location that was appropriate when wearing it on anything other than the warden's uniform.
Meeting the lady's eyes with his own, Haldir smiled at her as she proceeded. "Tonight, we also celebrate a most joyous union between our two marchwardens, Haldir and Belegwen. Together, they have served the golden woods for countless years and have taken their vows of protection to these woods most seriously. Tonight they will enter into a new set of vows to show their devotion to one another. We are blessed to be witnesses to such vows on this night."
Haldir nodded at Galadriel, who in turn looked across the room to the large double doors leading to the great hall. Two elves pulled the doors open and revealed Lord Celeborn, who was holding Belegwen by the arm.
What a sight she was to behold! Haldir's eyes widened exponentially, as he had not seen Belegwen wear a dress since shortly after she had come of age. Even then, they were almost always simple frocks; the only exception had been the night of her coming of age party, where she had been dressed quite extravagantly.
This though—this was something else entirely. To Haldir, she looked as if she was royalty, dressed in the finest satin dress with gold and silver lace shimmering in the changing light. Her hair was done in a style that looked as if it had come straight off the Lady Celebrian; her fat silver curls and braids were woven with tiny crystals, causing her head to sparkle as if it was laden with stars.
How she moved as she walked was what truly captivated Haldir. Though Lord Celeborn escorted her down the stairs, Belegwen needed no introduction. She walked in with her head held high. Her confident stride was that of a marchwarden, not an elleth. One of her hands rested comfortably on the hilt of Nimrodel, which hung from her side in its new metal sword belt. The mark of the marchwarden seemed to suit her and looked oddly natural over the dress she had worn for the occasion.
As the two made their way down the staircase and into the great hall, warden after warden took a bow of respect before their lord and their marchwarden. As they made their way across the room towards him, Haldir could not take his eyes off her. He was enthralled by her looks and the feelings of love and excitement that were radiating off of her through their bond.
The feelings only intensified when their eyes met at last. Her blue orbs sparkled with joy and he heard her breath catch in her mouth as she looked up to meet his gaze from upon the dais. His heart practically leapt from his chest when the pair ascended the stairs leading up to him at long last.
Finally, she would be his in all ways! He had won her heart and now it was his to protect. He promised himself internally that he would always hold it carefully, never to let it go.
Haldir held his arm out to her in invitation when only a mere stair separated Belegwen from him. He watched as Celeborn leaned in and kissed her on the forehead, then gently took her hand from the hilt of her sword and placed it on Haldir's offered arm. "Take care of her." Lord Celeborn bid him as he bowed down before the lord of Lorien, Belegwen reflexively bowing to him as well.
"I will," Haldir pledged as he came back up and met the lord's eyes. He saw the trust there and was pleased that Celeborn seemed satisfied with the match. Turning towards the lady now, Haldir and Belegwen both bowed together before her too. When he arose, Haldir could not contain himself any longer and gently lifted her hand off his arm for a moment to kiss it before setting it back in its place on the crook of his elbow. Meeting Belegwen's almond-shaped eyes for a moment, the two admired one another before turning to the lady to begin the ceremony.
The lady took a large box from the table and opened it to reveal a small silver circlet, which was comprised of several small curved pieces of silver that were intricately intertwined, dipping down in the front to wrap gracefully around a large crystal. "This was worn by Haldir's naneth on her wedding day." Galadriel said as Belegwen leaned forward to receive it. The lady gently pushed the circlet into her mass of curly silver hair. Haldir saw how the light caught the crystal and thought it looked perfect on her. He was pleased to see her wearing one of his family heirlooms.
A second, smaller box was retrieved by the lady from the table and opened before Haldir, revealing a golden ring with swirling scrolls surrounding a large blue sapphire stone. "And this was worn by Belegwen's adar on his wedding day." When Haldir held out his hand, the lady gently pushed it onto his ring finger. It was a lovely ring indeed. He felt Belegwen's fingers rub his shoulder gently and looked down to see that her eyes were full of emotion and unshed tears. She gently leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek before admiring the ring on his finger and gripping his arm tightly.
"Please face one another." The lady commanded and the two complied, letting go of one another briefly. Lady Galadriel then took Belegwen's hand and set it over Haldir's leaf pin, directly on his heart. She also took Haldir's hand and did the same so they were both touching one another's hearts to take their vows.
"Belegwen, please repeat after me," Lady Galadriel said gently, looking at Belegwen. However, Belegwen was busy looking at him, her eyes glistening in the bright blue light of the Lorien Halls. Haldir felt her heart start to pound a little faster underneath the warmth of her hand as he heard her echo the words he had longed to hear.
"In the name of Eru Iluvatar, I pledge myself to you, Haldir Galadirion."
"In the name of Eru Iluvatar… I pledge myself to you, Haldir Galadirion." Belegwen echoed softly, her eyes never leaving his as she made her vow.
"I promise to love you and care for you for all the days of eternity, never to forsake you."
"I promise to love you and care for you… for all the days of eternity… never to forsake you." Belegwen vowed, her hand shaking a bit on his heart as she became emotional. He could feel her love and devotion for him through their bond and reveled in the moment as she took her vow.
"Haldir, please repeat after me," the lady bid him. Haldir was fast to comply, eager to complete the union.
"In the name of Eru Iluvatar, I pledge myself to you, Belegwen Belegondiel."
"In the name of Eru Iluvatar, I pledge myself to you, Belegwen Belegondiel." He echoed confidently, feeling her heart flutter upon hearing his pledge.
"I promise to love you and care for you for all the days of eternity, never to forsake you."
"I promise to love you and care for you for all the days of eternity, never to forsake you." He said gently as he flooded their bond with his love for her, hoping to show her precisely how much he meant what he said.
"Repeat this part together," the lady bid the couple and they happily complied.
"When I walk through fire, I will stay by your side."
"When I walk through fire, I will stay by your side." They said in tandem, using their bond to speak together with clarity. Haldir felt her love for him flood the bond as well and he relished the feeling of being completely unified with her.
"When I stroll through the peaceful valley, I will rejoice alongside you."
Haldir felt the bond's tingling increase under his fingers as he stared into Belegwen's eyes. Was it possible this ceremony would draw them even closer to one another?
"When I stroll through the peaceful valley, I will rejoice alongside you." They said in a unified voice. Haldir smiled down her, as he could tell she meant every word.
"In the best of times and in the worst of times, for all time, we will be united as one flesh."
"In the best of times and in the worst of times, for all time, we will be united as one flesh." They said as a greater power passed between them, causing both to gasp internally as the bond tightened. When Belegwen's eyes widened, Haldir knew she had felt it too.
"Forever and always, may this be our vow." Galadriel finished.
"Forever and always, may this be our vow." They said together, concluding their vows. Belegwen removed her hand from his heart and Haldir let his hand slide onto her shoulder, caressing down her arm until he took her hand into his own once again. He gingerly grabbed her other hand too and squeezed them both in his own as he smiled down at her.
Lady Galadriel held out a third box to Haldir, which he opened to reveal their wedding rings. They were of the same leaf design as the silver rings, but were made of gold instead. Haldir handed her the larger of the two and took the smaller of the two into his hand before handing the empty box back to Galadriel.
"With this ring, I thee wed." Haldir said, taking her hand into his once more and slipping off her silver ring gently. He then slowly slid the golden ring onto her pointer finger, looking up to meet her eyes as he did so.
"With this ring, I thee wed." Belegwen replied and also replaced his silver ring with its golden counterpart.
To the side, Haldir caught a glimpse of Lady Galadriel, who was smiling brilliantly at the couple. His heart filled with appreciation for her and Lord Celeborn, who had went out of their way to make sure the city would see their approval of his and Belegwen's relationship. "Thank you," He suddenly whispered to her, "For everything."
"You are very welcome Haldir," Galadriel replied quietly, before announcing to the room. "By the proclamation of the name Eru Iluvatar and the vows that were pledged, you are now to be known as hervenn and hervess for all of eternity."
Haldir smiled down at Belegwen, who smiled back as a tear rolled down her face. "You are mine now." He whispered as he pulled her in close to seal their vows with a kiss. He lifted up her chin in anticipation and drew near to her.
"Forever." She whispered back. His lips then found hers and all time seemed to stop as the two met and became one. The bond tingled vibrantly, causing his arms to be covered in gooseflesh as the passion of their love filled his body and blood with fire. Their minds met in unity as well, filling one another to the brim with their loving emotions.
Belegwen's body felt both firm and soft against his own as he pulled her against him to savor the sweet moment. When the kiss was over, Haldir held her close for a few moments longer, his hand pushing into her delicate silver locks above the nape of her neck. He closed his eyes and kissed her forehead as he held her against him, overcome by the emotion of the moment.
For a long time now, Haldir had dreamt of this moment. At last, she was his! He not only had her bond and body, but also her eternal vow. There was nothing in this world that could tear them apart now.
As they finally separated, Haldir vaguely became aware of the applause of the elves at the tables. He glanced down to see that many of the wardens were pounding their hearts with their fists in approval of the wedding. He gave them a nod, then turned back to Belegwen and quickly wiped the single tear that was trailing down her face, which was adorned with an expression of awe and wonder. Silently, Haldir led her behind the table and sat next to her.
The toasts commenced shortly afterwards, Bragolith speaking on Haldir's behalf and Rumil speaking on Belegwen's. If Haldir was honest though, he heard very little of the toasts because he was so entranced by his hervess and the love shared between them. He found he could do little else other than stare at her as she watched the toasts, admiring the glowing smile on her face and the way the blue light made her silver hair shimmer.
Next came the feast, which led to all the tables being filled with a variety of delicious delicacies. Haldir kept catching Belegwen glancing over at him as they ate. He too, could hardly keep his eyes off her. At one point she winked at him and inwardly, it made Haldir feel young, as if he was once again the strapping suitor at her dance lesson with Lord Celeborn. Truly, he was enjoying every moment of this night and knew he would cherish these memories for thousands of years to come.
After dessert had been completed, Lady Galadriel invited them to the dance floor to share their first dance together as a married couple before the other wardens and their wives joined in. This made Haldir slightly nervous, as he had just started walking around without his cane and was still not fully healed from his injuries. However, the tension was dispelled when he looked into Belegwen's eyes and saw her quiet confidence.
"Would you like to help me lead?" He asked in her mind's eye, remembering how much she had wanted to control their dance together when they had first met. "We could use the bond and work together."
"No meleth, the honor is meant to be yours and I want you to have it. I trust you will lead me well. I am willing to follow you for all of eternity." She answered kindly as he gently set his hand on her back and took hold of her hand with his own. The two waited for the music to begin, only to both look to their side when a throat cleared near them.
It was Khilrom, the harpist from the day he had attended the dance lesson with Belegwen, all those years ago. He was standing a few paces away from them by the rest of the musicians, his harp poised between his knees in a readied position.
Looking at Belegwen, he whispered in a teasing voice, "Do watch out for his toes this time."
Belegwen laughed brightly for a moment, then lifted her skirt a bit to show off her shoes. "He has nothing to fear tonight, for I am not wearing heals!" She said with a grin, nodding to Khilrom happily before setting her hand upon Haldir's shoulder.
A single violin started to play, which was soon followed by the dulcet tones of a mandolin. Suddenly, Haldir's feet started to move to the music. He was cautious at first, worried he might lose his balance in this moment when the entire city watched them. As the music flowed on and nothing happened, he slowly became more and more certain of himself and began to move Belegwen in more intricate patterns to the lovely duet.
Though Belegwen was allowing him to lead, he could feel her in his mind analyzing his movements in advance, enabling her to move very smoothly with him in time with the song. He gently twirled her around one and a half rotations so she ended up facing away from him. His hands gently rested on her torso as he moved her forward and back while she held her arms out in a graceful position.
Now others were starting to enter the dance floor as well, much to the relief of Haldir. He did not feel fully steady and was happy to no longer be the center of attention. Grinning with a bit of mischief in his smile, he set about trying to tease his hervess.
"Meleth… I remembered something the other day from our journey to Helm's Deep." He said gently within Belegwen's mind.
"Oh? What is that hervenn?" She asked in response as he twirled her one and a half rotations and she landed back in his arms facing him. Her eyes looked up at him, the twin blue orbs appearing magical to him as she met his gaze.
"There was a day in which you had the most delightful of daydreams…" He hinted, winking down at her to see if she would remember. Judging by her stare, she did not. However, Haldir did not allow this to sway him from his goal.
"Let me refresh your memory meleth," he said softly. "In the dream, my finger started here." He then touched her lips gently with a gold-banded finger. "And then it slowly descended until…" He murmured, dropping his finger and using his eyes to indicate where it would end.
When he saw the pink flush of her cheeks, Haldir knew she had remembered. "I did not know you saw that," she replied with embarrassment as he leaned down to kiss her on the forehead, right beside the circlet. "I should not have been thinking those thoughts during our-"
Haldir interrupted her guilt trip by saying, "If there had not been an army of elves behind us, I would have thrown you down and had you right then and there." The very thought of it lit a fire in his blood and he knew Belegwen could also feel the tension burning between them as they continued to dance.
"After tonight," he continued as his dark stare delved deeply into her eyes, "It will no longer be a dream, but a pleasant memory." He enjoyed the way she gasped inwardly at his words, her cheeks becoming a bit more flushed at the very thought of his proposal. Her eyes lingered on his, so full of want that he nearly hauled her off the dance floor and out the doors of the halls to finish what he had so impishly started.
Unready to be done with these thoughts, he took a moment to show her one of his own vivid daydreams. Together, they watched in their minds as Haldir leaned her against a wall and lifted her muscular leg up higher and higher, until it rested on his shoulder. His eyes met hers and he kissed her calf as his lower body connected with hers…
"You desire this," he heard Belegwen murmur in his mind. "Perhaps we will both have some pleasant new memories after tonight." She said with a look in her eye that seemed to agree to the challenge he presented.
The desire that lingered between them continued to grow as they danced. Every touch between them sweltered and a raging fire soon burned between them. If he had been a less disciplined elf, Haldir would have already stole away into the night with his hervess, hand in hand. However, he wanted to enjoy the full ceremony and thus they stayed, dancing beneath the light of the stars with the shadows of leaves passing over them as they swept rhythmically across the floor.
Together, they danced through several songs, only stopping when Halendil was in need of his supper. Thus, Haldir waited as Belegwen took the youngling out of the room to feed him. He joyfully accepted well wishes from several elves, including Bragolith and Rumil. Both could not stop expressing their delight at his decision to wed Belegwen.
"You have chosen well Haldir. Belegwen is a delightful elleth, a strong marchwarden, and a wonderful friend." Rumil said as he toasted Haldir yet again. Bragolith and Haldir drank to that vigorously, Bragolith squeezing Haldir on the shoulder as he finished his wine.
"At last, you have caught up to me and found your happiness! It took you long enough, gwador!" Bragolith said cheerfully, pulling Haldir into an awkward hug while he tried not to spill his refilled glass. "Such joy now lies ahead for you and your new family! May Eru Iluvatar rain down countless blessings upon you!"
Their toasting and boisterous conversation continued until Belegwen returned with Halendil, who was surprisingly awake after his supper. "He does not wish to sleep tonight, for some reason." Belegwen stated as she handed him off to Haldir.
"Well, I suppose 'Uncle Umi' can try to sing to him in a half hour or so. Surely he will grow weary by then." Haldir said, gently handing the giggling ellon off to Rumil, who happily received him.
"Do not forget to bring him back after four hours." Belegwen reminded Rumil as he tickled the elfling's chin. "He will become grouchy if he does not get his last meal of the night on time."
"I will be there gwathel," Rumil said reassuringly as he stroked the little one's head gently. "Now off with you both! Make haste and enjoy the night!" He teased, winking at them before he turned away and headed towards a few ellyth who were already 'oohing and ahhing' over young Halendil.
Haldir and Belegwen hugged the remainder of their friends and accepted well wishes before departing the halls. Once they had descended the stairs, Haldir pulled her body against his and kissed her deeply, savoring the feeling of pleasure that rushed through his body and the ever-present tingling of their bond. Then, with a wicked grin, he ran down the street and a teasing chase ensued.
"Haldir!" Belegwen cried out in shock, still breathless from the kiss he had stolen from her.
"Race me!" He cried as he ran down the pathway, glancing back at her with a teasing look on his face. Laughing, he slowed down as he watched her quickly take off her shoes before trying to run after him. When she found her speed severely hampered by the dress, she lifted the bottom up to her knees with her hands and then chuckled lightly and called his name repeatedly as she followed him as best she could.
In spite of his injury, Haldir still found running to be quite natural to him and only stumbled a couple of times as they flew through the streets of Caras Galadhon together, laughing and merrily calling out to one another. Most elves were still in the great hall celebrating the wardens, so there were few who witnessed this most interesting display, as both marchwardens let loose and acted freely upon their desires.
When Haldir next looked back, he could see that Belegwen was gaining on him, as he could not run as fast as he normally did with his injuries. However, he chose to use that to his advantage as they neared his desired destination. At the last possible second, he turned behind the stairwell leading up a large mallorn tree and braced himself tightly before reaching out and swiftly grabbing Belegwen around the waist and pulling her against the tree.
Belegwen shrieked with surprise at this, then giggled as he drew her against himself for another deep, heart-felt kiss. Her laughter soon morphed into a soft moan as he pushed her gently against the bark of the tree and kissed her repeatedly. His fingers dragged lightly down her torso as their mouths fused together, rekindling the fire that had been raging while they danced with one another earlier. Soon he heard Belegwen's shoes clatter to the ground as he took hold of her bare knee, pushing her dress up her leg further as he guided it onto his hip. Reveling in the feel of her, Haldir leaned into her warm, firm body as he kissed her lips, neck, and chest with scalding passion.
"I will love you right here if we tarry much longer," Haldir eventually whispered breathlessly, his lips rubbing gently against her forehead as he released her bare knee from his grasp. Belegwen's leg lowered back down to the ground, her skirts falling back into place along with it.
"Why have you led us here Haldir?" Belegwen murmured airily as she tried to catch her breath from his romantic onslaught. "We have run further away from the warden's halls, rather than towards them."
"I have somewhere else in mind." He said softly, watching as intrigue danced in his hervess' eyes. "Come, I will show you." Taking her hand gently in his, he led her up the steps of the mallorn tree in silence.
The night air felt cool against his body as he climbed the stairway that spiraled around the trunk of the tree. They had passed several telain on their way up, but finally stopped in front of the one at the very top. A canopy of silver leaves rose gracefully over the wooden talan, shining brightly in the blue light of Lorien. A couple of oil lamps were lit on the veranda. The smell of freshly cut wood lingered in the air as the couple made their way towards the well-lit entryway.
"Haldir, who are we visiting?" Belegwen asked, appearing perplexed by what they were doing. "Who lives here?"
Smiling back at her as he led her up the three stairs to the door, Haldir said nothing. "Haldir, I thought…" He heard her start to say, disappointment apparent in her voice, as she still had not caught on to what was happening. Her argument died down though when he opened the door without knocking and stepped carefully inside.
A gorgeous home it was indeed. The floors and walls where made of a honey-stained wood. The front doors opened up to a large living area, complete with two sage settees and four bergere chairs that had white cushions and lavish silver trim. Several glowing lamps were set on small round tables in between the pieces of furniture, which rested atop a finely woven silver and white rug.
The glass ceiling was elevated far above their heads with each large triangular panel of glass meeting in a sharp point at the center of the octagonal room. Elaborate leaf trim that was stained with a dark walnut color lined the ledge where the wood met the glass around the entire room and live plants rested in small silver pots atop the ledge. Though the vines on the plants were small now, Haldir knew they would expand and start to drape around the room over the next two years, the happy leaves reaching up to the glass to try and get closer to the sun.
The right side of the octagon opened up to a lovely kitchen. The cabinets within each had a gorgeous leaf-pattern carved into them and had been stained the same dark walnut color as the trim and tables in the living area. These had a special element to them—a magical paint had been applied to the carved edges of the leaves. This special paint glowed silver at night, illuminating the details of the leaves with a light glow. In the daytime, the leaves would glow gold under the light of the sun. A table with six chairs around it sat in the kitchen, its thick, vine-embellished base the center of attention. Each chair had the same leaf pattern as the cabinets carved into their backs and had soft looking, sage colored cushions on the seats.
"Haldir," Belegwen said again as her eyes roved over the details of the room. "Who lives here?"
He smiled at her as he took her trembling hands into his own. "We do. I had it built for us." He said as he gently squeezed her hands in his own. "I thought we would be better off in a place of our own. The warden's halls are no place to raise an elfling Belegwen. They are far too small and filled with easy access to dangerous weapons of all sorts. This is a much larger and safer area for Halendil, with plenty of places where he can run and play in a year or so."
Belegwen was silent for a very long time, looking him very seriously in the eye. Haldir held his breath momentarily as he awaited some sort of reaction, hoping he had not overstepped his bounds in doing this.
"Haldir," she finally said as she took his head in her hands, "This is the finest talan I have ever seen. I had never even imagined something such as this…" She said, then kissed him on the lips gently and asked in disbelief, "Is it truly ours?"
Nodding merrily, Haldir took her by the hand and led her to the hallway, which was built to curve around the trunk of the mallorn tree, with one wall actually consisting of the tree's exposed bark. He wasted no time showing her the nursery for Halendil, which was decorated with soft blue and silver hues, complete with a finely carved walnut-colored cradle, dresser, changing table, and rocking chair. Belegwen noticed the balcony was fully enclosed with a thick wall, rather than a slatted-railing, making it much safer for when the little one started to crawl and walk.
The final room at the end of the hallway was the master bedroom, which was a large and airy room with an elevated glass ceiling. The moon and stars twinkled down into the room, lighting up the white and silver coverlet on the bed. It had four fluffy pillows up against the dark walnut headboard, which was carved with an elaborate pattern of mellyrn leaves of various sizes. The silver paint from the kitchen accented the veins of the leaves and glowed in the light from the outdoors. Each side of the bed had a small, dark nightstand complete with a crystal lamp on each, glowing warmly in the darkness.
There was a large mirror in the corner, a chest full of drawers, and a locking closet where Belegwen found their collective armor and weapons stored, with room to spare for clothing. Sheer white curtains blew into the room from the balcony, which had a large stone bench complete with light blue cushions on it, as well as a few potted plants.
It was here that Haldir led Belegwen after she had a chance to admire the room and motioned for her to sit next to him on the bench. She sat so close to him that her thigh softly pressed against his own. Haldir tenderly wrapped his arm around her small figure, his hand coming to rest gently over the lace on her waist. "The talan is to your liking then?" He asked again, still not fully convinced that he had satisfied her.
"Oh yes, it is wonderful!" She declared as she leaned into his embrace and pressed one of her hands lightly against his chest. "In fact, it is so wonderful that I can scarcely believe it is real! What a lovely surprise this was Haldir." She said, snuggling her face into the top of his shoulder as he held her close.
"Did I not assure you that I wished to make everything right between us? You are the most important elf in my life, meleth, and I want to have a true married lifestyle with you." Haldir confirmed, using his free hand to lift her chin up so he could look into her eyes. Her skin was smooth and warm beneath his light touch and the power of their bond thrummed at the connection. Once again, he was reminded of how their bond had changed.
"Our vows…" He marveled quietly to himself. "They have further strengthened our bond."
"They have," Belegwen said in agreement, settling back in against his chest to look up at the stars. A silence fell between them for a while as they both stared into the navy blue heavens, the stars shimmering brightly down upon them. Both felt in awe of love they shared and the blessings they had received tonight.
Haldir admired how the moonlight lit up Belegwen's porcelain skin and gleamed atop her silvery hair. His sweet warden was ever so fair and would always be the most beautiful elleth he had ever laid eyes upon. He remembered how she looked that day when he first saw her on the talan he shared with Bragolith at the border. A skinny little thing back then, she had been dressed in a plain lavender gown and had captured his attention with her gorgeous hair and elusive smile.
Now her smile was much more common; she bestowed this little blessing upon him several times each day. Yet, each time it still pleased him and reminded him of how much he wanted to make her smile in his youth. Even today, knowing that he could bring a small measure of joy into her life pleased Haldir greatly.
"The stars are beautiful tonight…" He heard her whisper as he was brought back into reality from the foray he took within his memories. When he looked down, he saw that her gaze was fixed upon him, the very smile he had been daydreaming about lingering on her placid face.
"But not as beautiful as you." He finished quietly, caressing her cheek with the backs of his fingers before tenderly dragging them across her lips. At once filled with a painful longing, he brought his lips down to her own and started to kiss her slowly and deeply until they both were gasping for air and trembling at the power that pulsated between them.
With careful hands, Haldir reached behind Belegwen to start undoing the hooks on the back of her dress. Judging by the seductive look on her face, she very much approved of his actions.
ooOoo
Belegwen slowly awoke to the golden sun shining in through the glass ceiling of the newly constructed bedroom. As her eyes blinked their way out of reverie, she became aware of a dull ache in one of her legs and immediately thought back to the night she had shared with her hervenn.
Their first time coming together had been gentle and slow. It had taken a while for Haldir to free her from the elaborate dress she was wearing and once he had, he took his time worshiping every part of her body slowly and reverently, first with his hands and then with his mouth until she thought ever fiber of her being might combust from the heat he drew from her. Soon, she found her fantasy from the trip to Helm's Deep was more than fulfilled. Beneath the stars, he had made love to her on the bench and Belegwen had stared up at them during the aftermath, totally in awe of her luck in finding an ellon like Haldir.
After laying with him under the stars, Belegwen had went to hang up her dress in the closet, only to be caught up in his arms once again and kissed with surprising passion. Needless to say, they had not even made it to the bed the second time. Haldir had fulfilled his own fantasy up against the closet door, lifting her leg onto his shoulder as he loved her with astounding speed and a need that had nearly overwhelmed her through their bond. The two had slid to the floor in the aftermath, staring into one another's eyes and holding each other close with possessive thoughts passing through the bond.
Belegwen smiled, knowing full and well why her leg ached. It had been most enjoyable though and the memory of their coming together was indeed a delightful memory in her mind. Smiling as she remembered all that happened between them, Belegwen turned her attention to the ellon lying next to her.
From the crook of Haldir's arm, Belegwen admired his resting figure. His face was peaceful, his eyes blankly staring up at the ceiling in reverie. He was pleasantly disheveled, Belegwen noted upon seeing how his golden hair, now free from the fancy braids that had adorned it last night, lay spread out gloriously across his pillow, shining beneath the first rays of sunlight that filled the room.
How Belegwen had longed for such a sight. So many times during their relationship had she desired to have something of permanence with him, a promise and the hope of a future spent together. She had thought it only a dream though, something wonderful to hope for, but likely to never be fulfilled. Against all the odds though, Haldir was here with her and they were now wearing matching golden rings, sleeping in a new bed within a talan they could call their own. The expectation of her dream had been fulfilled, perhaps even surpassed.
Remembering what she happened upon in the middle of the night, Belegwen felt her smile grow even larger. She had woken up only to find herself alone in the new bed. Perplexed by this, Belegwen had donned her robe and went in search of Haldir. She did not have to go far though, as she found him in the nursery, holding their son. Rumil had brought the elfling home to them in the middle of the night in order for the Halendil to get his final meal of the night.
What a sight it was to behold though, for Haldir had the sleepy elfling in his arms as he stood on the balcony with him, soothing the fussing little one with his calm voice. She listened, entranced by the sight, as he spoke to the little ellon about his commitment to the city as a warden and about how important it was to protect the other elves. Belegwen beamed with pride upon hearing this, certain in her heart that the elfling would grow up to be much like the honorable ellon whom she now called 'hervenn.'
Haldir was a good adar—he had taken to the job quickly and Belegwen loved watching him with his son. Reassured by finding him, Belegwen had went back to bed, only to be enveloped into his arms upon his return a few minutes later. Words of love had been whispered between them as they had fallen back into a peaceful reverie together.
Now as she caressed his soft tendrils of golden hair, Belegwen felt him begin to stir beside her. She listened to his heart beating beneath her ear until he started to roll towards her, his blue eyes meeting her own in gentle communion. Twirling several tendrils of his shiny hair around one of her fingers, Belegwen tenderly guided them behind his pointy ear before running her hand down them to the bottom, where she beheld the bundle in admiration.
"Good morning my sunshine," came her gentle greeting as she gazed into his expression of love.
"Good morning my starlight," he whispered back, lost in her eyes and all that they shared together.
And in that moment, everything was perfect. At last.
ooOoo
I'd love to hear from you! Please review and let me know what you think. I'll be back with more very soon!
-P.G.
