I do not own The Lord of the Ring or its characters.
Page 6
Kalin awoke to the sounds of the new morning clean and refreshed. She had luxuriated in the heated bathing pools, eaten a simple but delicious meal, and slept in a real bed, all in the same day. After her audience with Celeborn, Haldir had left her in the capable hands of Serwen, one of Galadriel's former maidens. Serwen and her friends had adopted Kalin immediately. They had removed her soiled and torn traveling clothes, then washed and laughed with her in the bathing pools, pampering her with sweet soaps and soft towels. Then they had brushed her hair, provided her with a long sleeping gown, and seen her to a small pavilion the elves had raised for her near the tree that held Serwen's talan. There they had brought her meal, and trundled her off to bed.
Now, Kalin thought, if she could just be rid of the headaches that still occasionally bothered her, and if she could actually behold the morning, her world would be perfect. Kalin opened her eyes. No, not even a glimmer. Kalin fought to quell a sudden rush of self-pity. One day at a time, she told herself.
"Kalin, it is Serwen. May I come in?"
"Of course you may, Serwen. Good morning." She rose to greet the elf with a warm hug. Serwen spoke more Westron than most of her companions, and they had talked for a while before Kalin slept. Serwen was a vivacious, motherly elf whose high spirits were contagious. Kalin felt completely at home with her, and they had quickly become friends.
"Actually my dear, it is closer to mid-day. Now no long faces! Lets get you dressed and fix your hair. You have a busy day ahead of you."
"I do?" Kalin asked in surprise as she fingered the lovely fabric of the long dress that Serwen had brought her. The elf had already lifted her spirits.
"Yes indeed," Serwen said as she helped Kalin change clothes. "Lord Celeborn and Haldir, who brought you to us and seems to be taking some interest in your adjustment to your new life here, have been plotting your future for half the morning. But I won't spoil their fun. Haldir will be here soon enough to reveal all and "begin your training," as he put it."
"That all sounds very serious."
"Well, our march warden is a very serious elf, as you may have noticed. It is fortunate for us that his shoulders are broad, for he carries great responsibilities. He has earned the right to command respect, and his guards are completely dedicated to him. Do not be troubled if his manner sometimes seems arrogant. I have known Haldir since he was young, and beneath his stern exterior lies the gentlest of hearts."
"I thought as much, Serwen. He described the woods for me as we passed through them on our way toward the city, and I could hear some of that gentleness in his voice."
"Did he really do that?" Serwen mused, smiling to herself.
"Serwen, are you saying that Haldir is actually shy?"
"About expressing his feelings? Yes, I suppose so."
Serwen started brushing Kalin's hair. "Please don't bother Serwen, I can manage," Kalin said, a little embarrassed at being waited on so much.
"Tomorrow perhaps, but allow me today while I plait some flowers into your hair. I can't wait to see you catch the elves' eyes, you look so lovely."
"Oh Serwen, I'm nothing to look at, especially not to an elf. Tirendil told me that the elves of Lorien are tall and graceful, with long silver-blond hair and blue eyes, just like his...Is something the matter?" Kalin asked when Serwen's hand jumped as she arranged her hair.
"I'm sorry, dear, I'm not used to hearing his name spoken freely yet, though I am glad for it. But yes, we look much like...Tirendil..did, which is why that long brown hair and dark eyes of yours will turn even an elf's head. And I must congratulate myself - that wine-colored dress compliments you nicely."
"There, we are done. I will send word to Haldir that you are ready. But wait, I see that His Highness approaches even now."
Kalin and Serwen fell into a fit of giggles, and Kalin rose as Serwen held the cloth of the pavilion open for Haldir.
"Good afternoon Serwen. How fares our newest inhabitant?" Haldir asked.
"Come in and see for yourself," Serwen invited.
"Greetings, Kalin," Haldir said as he entered the pavilion and turned toward her, then stopped abruptly. "You look...well rested."
"I told you so," Serwen whispered to Kalin.
"I leave her in your hands, march warden," she then said aloud. "I will return to you this evening, Kalin."
"Thank you Serwen, you have been most kind," Kalin said as Serwen departed.
"Haldir, I am glad to greet you again so soon. I had thought that your duties might already have taken you out of the city again."
"That will be the case soon, but as our borders are peaceful for now, I have left another who serves as "watchkeeper of trees" in my stead, and I am also happily charged with directing your training."
"You are going to try to make me pay for that comment, are you?"
"Most decidedly," replied Haldir sternly.
Celeborn was indeed wise, thought Haldir. Goading Kalin into accepting challenges and ensuring that she was busy, they intended to keep at bay the depression over her loss of sight that they knew could surface now that her reason in coming to them had been fulfilled. Appealing to her spirited nature might ease her path beyond it and assist her in finding new purpose in life.
"You will begin in the mornings by learning under my guidance the paths to the kitchens, bathing pools, and other essential areas on the grounds. Once you have learned these, you will progress to the Great Hall and other common talans in the mellyrn. Then you will take lessons in Elvish from my brother Orophin, who also will benefit from practice with you in Westron. After the mid-day meal, Serwen and other maidens of her choosing will instruct you in such of our customs and skills as you might find talent or interest in. For the time being, Lord Celeborn desires that you take your evening meal with him so that you might tell us more of your homeland. I will return to you afterward to escort you here, where you will relate to me all that you have learned. The rest of the evening is your own."
"Is that all?" Kalin asked, overwhelmed.
"No. As time permits, we will also instruct you in battle and self- defense."
"Battle?" Kalin asked in disbelief. "What good can I possible do in battle?"
"In these times every one of us must be prepared to come to Lorien's aid if needed. You are sightless, but not helpless. You may be surprised at what you are capable of."
"Also," Haldir continued, "this pavilion will not be your permanent home; we dwell in the security of the trees. As soon as you are capable with our stairs and ladders, you will be provided a talan in the lower branches near Serwen's home. It will be fitted with protection on the outer sides so that you may be secure within."
"As it is now near the mid-day meal, your first lesson today will be to learn the path to the kitchens. Do you have any questions before we begin?"
"Haldir, I don't know what to say. You are all doing so much for me; I don't want to be such a burden on all of you."
"That is exactly the objective of your training, Kalin, that you may learn quickly to depend on yourself and to benefit others as well. Are you saying to me that you are unwilling to do so?" "Of course not! It's just that.."
"Then let us begin," Haldir interrupted. "Where is the entrance to your pavilion?"
Page 6
Kalin awoke to the sounds of the new morning clean and refreshed. She had luxuriated in the heated bathing pools, eaten a simple but delicious meal, and slept in a real bed, all in the same day. After her audience with Celeborn, Haldir had left her in the capable hands of Serwen, one of Galadriel's former maidens. Serwen and her friends had adopted Kalin immediately. They had removed her soiled and torn traveling clothes, then washed and laughed with her in the bathing pools, pampering her with sweet soaps and soft towels. Then they had brushed her hair, provided her with a long sleeping gown, and seen her to a small pavilion the elves had raised for her near the tree that held Serwen's talan. There they had brought her meal, and trundled her off to bed.
Now, Kalin thought, if she could just be rid of the headaches that still occasionally bothered her, and if she could actually behold the morning, her world would be perfect. Kalin opened her eyes. No, not even a glimmer. Kalin fought to quell a sudden rush of self-pity. One day at a time, she told herself.
"Kalin, it is Serwen. May I come in?"
"Of course you may, Serwen. Good morning." She rose to greet the elf with a warm hug. Serwen spoke more Westron than most of her companions, and they had talked for a while before Kalin slept. Serwen was a vivacious, motherly elf whose high spirits were contagious. Kalin felt completely at home with her, and they had quickly become friends.
"Actually my dear, it is closer to mid-day. Now no long faces! Lets get you dressed and fix your hair. You have a busy day ahead of you."
"I do?" Kalin asked in surprise as she fingered the lovely fabric of the long dress that Serwen had brought her. The elf had already lifted her spirits.
"Yes indeed," Serwen said as she helped Kalin change clothes. "Lord Celeborn and Haldir, who brought you to us and seems to be taking some interest in your adjustment to your new life here, have been plotting your future for half the morning. But I won't spoil their fun. Haldir will be here soon enough to reveal all and "begin your training," as he put it."
"That all sounds very serious."
"Well, our march warden is a very serious elf, as you may have noticed. It is fortunate for us that his shoulders are broad, for he carries great responsibilities. He has earned the right to command respect, and his guards are completely dedicated to him. Do not be troubled if his manner sometimes seems arrogant. I have known Haldir since he was young, and beneath his stern exterior lies the gentlest of hearts."
"I thought as much, Serwen. He described the woods for me as we passed through them on our way toward the city, and I could hear some of that gentleness in his voice."
"Did he really do that?" Serwen mused, smiling to herself.
"Serwen, are you saying that Haldir is actually shy?"
"About expressing his feelings? Yes, I suppose so."
Serwen started brushing Kalin's hair. "Please don't bother Serwen, I can manage," Kalin said, a little embarrassed at being waited on so much.
"Tomorrow perhaps, but allow me today while I plait some flowers into your hair. I can't wait to see you catch the elves' eyes, you look so lovely."
"Oh Serwen, I'm nothing to look at, especially not to an elf. Tirendil told me that the elves of Lorien are tall and graceful, with long silver-blond hair and blue eyes, just like his...Is something the matter?" Kalin asked when Serwen's hand jumped as she arranged her hair.
"I'm sorry, dear, I'm not used to hearing his name spoken freely yet, though I am glad for it. But yes, we look much like...Tirendil..did, which is why that long brown hair and dark eyes of yours will turn even an elf's head. And I must congratulate myself - that wine-colored dress compliments you nicely."
"There, we are done. I will send word to Haldir that you are ready. But wait, I see that His Highness approaches even now."
Kalin and Serwen fell into a fit of giggles, and Kalin rose as Serwen held the cloth of the pavilion open for Haldir.
"Good afternoon Serwen. How fares our newest inhabitant?" Haldir asked.
"Come in and see for yourself," Serwen invited.
"Greetings, Kalin," Haldir said as he entered the pavilion and turned toward her, then stopped abruptly. "You look...well rested."
"I told you so," Serwen whispered to Kalin.
"I leave her in your hands, march warden," she then said aloud. "I will return to you this evening, Kalin."
"Thank you Serwen, you have been most kind," Kalin said as Serwen departed.
"Haldir, I am glad to greet you again so soon. I had thought that your duties might already have taken you out of the city again."
"That will be the case soon, but as our borders are peaceful for now, I have left another who serves as "watchkeeper of trees" in my stead, and I am also happily charged with directing your training."
"You are going to try to make me pay for that comment, are you?"
"Most decidedly," replied Haldir sternly.
Celeborn was indeed wise, thought Haldir. Goading Kalin into accepting challenges and ensuring that she was busy, they intended to keep at bay the depression over her loss of sight that they knew could surface now that her reason in coming to them had been fulfilled. Appealing to her spirited nature might ease her path beyond it and assist her in finding new purpose in life.
"You will begin in the mornings by learning under my guidance the paths to the kitchens, bathing pools, and other essential areas on the grounds. Once you have learned these, you will progress to the Great Hall and other common talans in the mellyrn. Then you will take lessons in Elvish from my brother Orophin, who also will benefit from practice with you in Westron. After the mid-day meal, Serwen and other maidens of her choosing will instruct you in such of our customs and skills as you might find talent or interest in. For the time being, Lord Celeborn desires that you take your evening meal with him so that you might tell us more of your homeland. I will return to you afterward to escort you here, where you will relate to me all that you have learned. The rest of the evening is your own."
"Is that all?" Kalin asked, overwhelmed.
"No. As time permits, we will also instruct you in battle and self- defense."
"Battle?" Kalin asked in disbelief. "What good can I possible do in battle?"
"In these times every one of us must be prepared to come to Lorien's aid if needed. You are sightless, but not helpless. You may be surprised at what you are capable of."
"Also," Haldir continued, "this pavilion will not be your permanent home; we dwell in the security of the trees. As soon as you are capable with our stairs and ladders, you will be provided a talan in the lower branches near Serwen's home. It will be fitted with protection on the outer sides so that you may be secure within."
"As it is now near the mid-day meal, your first lesson today will be to learn the path to the kitchens. Do you have any questions before we begin?"
"Haldir, I don't know what to say. You are all doing so much for me; I don't want to be such a burden on all of you."
"That is exactly the objective of your training, Kalin, that you may learn quickly to depend on yourself and to benefit others as well. Are you saying to me that you are unwilling to do so?" "Of course not! It's just that.."
"Then let us begin," Haldir interrupted. "Where is the entrance to your pavilion?"