Chapter 13
'Ellie, careful, you will knock me off my feet' my father exclaimed
'Not likely' I say, and burst into tears.
For some time I cried, all the confusion and emotional upset of the last few weeks has been too much for me to cope with. Finally my sobs ceased, and father, who always seems to be prepared for anything, gave me his handkerchief and told me to dry my eyes. I do so, and then we both sit down on a stone bench near the white tree.
'Well now, and here I was thinking you would be pleased to see me', Father said trying to lighten my mood.
I shot a glare at him, and then found myself smiling at him. 'Of course I am pleased to see you, I thought that you would have left by now', I reply.
'No, but soon. Maybe not as soon as I had thought, from what I am told you have a big dilemma daughter, and may need my help'.
I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, I should have known, father always out everything first. 'What do you mean, father, I said.
'You know perfectly well. I did come through Lothlorien on my journey, and Lady Galadriel has spoken to me of your problem.' He stops speaking, clearly waiting for my response.
'Which one,' I say, hoping he is not on the right track.
'I believe this one is a certain Elven Archer named Haldir', he said
'Please don't tell the twins, not yet anyway, I don't think I could stand their teasing right now', I said with a deep sigh.
'The twins know, but they have promised not to speak to you of this. Even they know it is not a matter for their pranks.' Father looked at me, and then continued 'What is more important is what are you going to do?'
'I have no idea. I just can't think logically about this at all', I said.
'You are not supposed to think logically about loving someone. It just happens', Father said quietly. 'You really do have no idea what to do, do you, child',
'I'm mortal, he's an elf, Why me? This situation never occurred to me', I say feeling so confused that I don't really even what to talk to father.
'I am an elf, your mother was mortal, had I been in a situation to marry her I should have', he said
'What!!, but…but..' I splutter confused.
Father than handed me a small book I had noticed him carrying. 'Here is your mother's diary, it does not cover every year or event in her life, but should clear some things up. Read it, and then you will understand.'
Silently I take it, and look at Father. There seems to be so much I do not know.
'Now, back to you. You do know that not every marriage between an elf and a mortal requires the choice Arwen made?' he said.
'Yes. I do. But I don't know if I even want to marry Haldir. I'm frightened, Father; you know why I have never thought of marriage'. I reply to him, scared to death about what he will say next.
'That is something you cannot keep to yourself forever. Ellie, ELANDRA, look at me'.
Reluctantly I look at my father. 'Promise me that you will speak to Haldir', he insists.
'Yes, I promise', I reply, feeling trapped again.
Father speaks again 'I will ask Lady Galariel to speak to you. Better than I she will know answers to some of the questions you will have. I can give you some answers now if you wish.'
I nod, speechless, and listen as he continues, 'You know you are mortal, but I have never told you that your lifespan will be many times longer than that of your mother's people?'
'No, I thought about 200 years, like the rest of the Dunedain. Why would I think differently', I answer stunned.
'Your Elven blood through me. If my brother, my parents and myself had not been able to make our choices, we would all have had life spans of several thousands of years. You could easily live a thousand years or more.' He replies.
'Why did you never tell me', I gasp in shock.
'The time was never right, and I wanted to speak to Galadriel first.' He said.
I was in shock. It had not occurred to me that being part elf from father, and coming of long-lived mortals on my mother's side would mean such a long life. Then I saw a flaw in father's reasoning. 'What about your brother, Elros. He did not live that long?'
I question.
'Yes, but he choose to judged of the mortal race, and renounce his Elven blood. That shortened his life considerably', father replied.
'I see, I think' was all I could say.
Father reached over and took my hand. 'Little one, I have other things to attend to; and you have much to think on. Do not forget your promise to speak to Haldir. I will see you tonight,' he smiled as he spoke, and then kissed my hand in farewell.
I watched him walk away, my mind reeling. Much to think on, Father always had a habit of understatement.
'Ellie, careful, you will knock me off my feet' my father exclaimed
'Not likely' I say, and burst into tears.
For some time I cried, all the confusion and emotional upset of the last few weeks has been too much for me to cope with. Finally my sobs ceased, and father, who always seems to be prepared for anything, gave me his handkerchief and told me to dry my eyes. I do so, and then we both sit down on a stone bench near the white tree.
'Well now, and here I was thinking you would be pleased to see me', Father said trying to lighten my mood.
I shot a glare at him, and then found myself smiling at him. 'Of course I am pleased to see you, I thought that you would have left by now', I reply.
'No, but soon. Maybe not as soon as I had thought, from what I am told you have a big dilemma daughter, and may need my help'.
I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, I should have known, father always out everything first. 'What do you mean, father, I said.
'You know perfectly well. I did come through Lothlorien on my journey, and Lady Galadriel has spoken to me of your problem.' He stops speaking, clearly waiting for my response.
'Which one,' I say, hoping he is not on the right track.
'I believe this one is a certain Elven Archer named Haldir', he said
'Please don't tell the twins, not yet anyway, I don't think I could stand their teasing right now', I said with a deep sigh.
'The twins know, but they have promised not to speak to you of this. Even they know it is not a matter for their pranks.' Father looked at me, and then continued 'What is more important is what are you going to do?'
'I have no idea. I just can't think logically about this at all', I said.
'You are not supposed to think logically about loving someone. It just happens', Father said quietly. 'You really do have no idea what to do, do you, child',
'I'm mortal, he's an elf, Why me? This situation never occurred to me', I say feeling so confused that I don't really even what to talk to father.
'I am an elf, your mother was mortal, had I been in a situation to marry her I should have', he said
'What!!, but…but..' I splutter confused.
Father than handed me a small book I had noticed him carrying. 'Here is your mother's diary, it does not cover every year or event in her life, but should clear some things up. Read it, and then you will understand.'
Silently I take it, and look at Father. There seems to be so much I do not know.
'Now, back to you. You do know that not every marriage between an elf and a mortal requires the choice Arwen made?' he said.
'Yes. I do. But I don't know if I even want to marry Haldir. I'm frightened, Father; you know why I have never thought of marriage'. I reply to him, scared to death about what he will say next.
'That is something you cannot keep to yourself forever. Ellie, ELANDRA, look at me'.
Reluctantly I look at my father. 'Promise me that you will speak to Haldir', he insists.
'Yes, I promise', I reply, feeling trapped again.
Father speaks again 'I will ask Lady Galariel to speak to you. Better than I she will know answers to some of the questions you will have. I can give you some answers now if you wish.'
I nod, speechless, and listen as he continues, 'You know you are mortal, but I have never told you that your lifespan will be many times longer than that of your mother's people?'
'No, I thought about 200 years, like the rest of the Dunedain. Why would I think differently', I answer stunned.
'Your Elven blood through me. If my brother, my parents and myself had not been able to make our choices, we would all have had life spans of several thousands of years. You could easily live a thousand years or more.' He replies.
'Why did you never tell me', I gasp in shock.
'The time was never right, and I wanted to speak to Galadriel first.' He said.
I was in shock. It had not occurred to me that being part elf from father, and coming of long-lived mortals on my mother's side would mean such a long life. Then I saw a flaw in father's reasoning. 'What about your brother, Elros. He did not live that long?'
I question.
'Yes, but he choose to judged of the mortal race, and renounce his Elven blood. That shortened his life considerably', father replied.
'I see, I think' was all I could say.
Father reached over and took my hand. 'Little one, I have other things to attend to; and you have much to think on. Do not forget your promise to speak to Haldir. I will see you tonight,' he smiled as he spoke, and then kissed my hand in farewell.
I watched him walk away, my mind reeling. Much to think on, Father always had a habit of understatement.