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Page 7
By the time that Kalin met Orophin the next day, she was exhausted and her head was spinning. As soon as Haldir introduced them she sat down with Orophin and asked, "How do you say 'Your brother is a menace,' in Elvish?
"I like her already, Haldir," Orophin called as Haldir strode off, shaking his head.
Serwen and her companions took Kalin with them for whatever their activities were for the day: The gathering of rushes for baskets, the arranging of flowers for the tables of the Great Hall, and a myriad of other duties. Kalin found them interesting, but she had found nothing so far that she could be useful in. She felt at best like a puppy, tagging along behind them as they worked, listening while Serwen and the others told her tales of how it was ".when the Lady Galadriel was still with us."
"Flowers grew everywhere, even in the winter," or, "She doted on Lord Celeborn so, it warmed the heart to behold." "He must miss her terribly," Kalin commented.
"Yes, we all do," said Serwen nostalgically, "but he knows that he will be with her again eventually, when he feels the call of the sea. Now, I don't mean to say that he is not magnificent as well. He is the wisest indeed of all the High Elves that dwell still in the east, and of most that have returned into the west as well. Lorien is still counted fairest of all the dwellings of the elves in Middle Earth."
* * * * *
Lord Celeborn was more approachable than Kalin had at first supposed. Although she had the distinct impression while in his presence that he could read the thoughts behind her words when she spoke, she found this strangely reassuring rather than uncomfortable.
"I would like you to have something," she declared one early evening as she rose to take her leave from Celeborn's table. From about her neck she removed a simple but elegant silver chain cradling a single, irregular gray stone, which she placed in Celeborn's hand.
"It is not a precious jewel or rare stone. It is only a gray agate from the shore near my home, but the best one I have ever found. I prefer it to the white or amber agates that are easier to find among the stones of the beach. Come, hold it up to the light if the sun has not set, and you will see its inner beauty revealed."
Celeborn offered Kalin his arm and walked her outside to a deck off his chambers. There in the fingers of evening sunlight reaching through the branches, he held the agate aloft.
"It has been long indeed, Kalin, since I beheld the sea," he said in a low voice full of remembrance. "In the depths of this stone I see the swirling tides, of a raging storm or of gentle waves in morning fog."
"Yes, that is what I hoped you would see also. May you hold it as a token of the sea until you behold it and your Lady once more."
"You have touched me deeply, Kalin. Like you, this agate holds much more inside than is apparent at first glance."
"Now, I see there is an elf waiting impatiently for you within. Shall I deliver you now to his care?"
"Yes, please," Kalin requested happily.
This had quickly become the part of her day that Kalin looked forward to most. Haldir and she had fallen into a pleasant habit of taking long walks, talking comfortably to each other of their day. Much like during her first day in the woods of Lorien, he would begin to relax and describe their surroundings, which often led by his design to a bubbling fountain or along a murmuring stream, for he had observed that such places were soothing to her. There they would sit together in silence for a time. Upon returning, he would deliver her either to her door, or linger with her for a while with groups of elves who gathered in the starlight to tell tales and sing.
As Haldir stood waiting respectfully out of earshot for Kalin and Celeborn, one of his guards entered, spoke to him in a low voice, and departed.
Haldir looked up to see Celeborn notice him and then speak to Kalin. Kalin's face broke into a beautiful smile as they turned to approach him. Kalin has smiled very little since she arrived. Was that rare smile for him? Haldir wondered, then mentally chastised himself. She was no elf- maiden, and he had high expectations for himself in that regard. Perhaps he had simply been spending too much time with her. Time, he now admitted to himself, that he had greatly enjoyed. Was it because she was sightless that he found it so easy to talk to her of things that he had never been comfortable sharing with anyone else? Or was it because he felt her loneliness, and confided in her out of pity? He had let his guard down too much, he decided. Besides, what he now had to say would quickly remove that radiant smile from her face.
"Good evening, Haldir. You have news for us," stated Celeborn perceptively.
"I bring word from those who have returned at last from the search for Malach, Kalin's companion. They discovered the place of his attack, but no further sign of him, and the fainter trail of the horsemen was lost, for it had rained. I am sorry," he added.
"Are they sure, Haldir?" Kalin beseeched him.
"I chose our most skillful trackers to look for him. There are no better in Middle Earth, except perhaps for myself."
"Of course you did, forgive me," Kalin said quietly, lowering her head. "Please thank them for me, will you?"
"I will give them your thanks."
Haldir and Kalin slowly made their way down the steps winding around the great mallorn to the ground in silence.
"Where shall we walk tonight?" asked Kalin, trying to rouse herself from thoughts of her lost friend.
"I am returning you to your talan, for I have other duties this evening that I must attend to."
"Oh," Kalin said, disappointed. "But you mean to my pavilion, don't you?"
"No, your talan. It has been prepared for you," replied Haldir as he led her to a tree near where her pavilion had been. Here is the ladder," and he led her hand to the slim rope ladder dropping through the leaves. "It is not far aloft. I will watch you climb and then follow."
Proficient enough, Haldir observed to himself as he watched Kalin ascend, feeling her way. Trying to remain detached, he told himself he would orient her quickly to its layout and depart.
The talan had been fitted with sturdy waist-high screens around the perimeter and ladder opening, and draped with tent-like curtains above and on the sides. Kalin felt the strong but delicate fabric. Her few belongings had already been organized within. A soft breeze rustled the leaves in the great tree beyond the curtains, and the scent of its flowers filled the room.
"This is wonderful, Haldir. Now I truly feel that I am at home here."
"I am glad it meets your needs," he said shortly. "I will return in the morning. Our healer has requested that she might examine you then, to see if something can be done for your eyes. After, I must depart the city for the southern fences once more. It will be many days before I return. Orophin and Serwen will see to your further training while I am away."
"Does the healer really think that she can help me?" Kalin breathed.
"I do not know," Haldir said as he turned and began descending the ladder.
"Haldir, please wait. There is something that I have been meaning to ask of you, but if you do not want to I will understand."
"What is it?"
"Will you allow me to 'look' at you before you leave, I mean, by touching your face, if you do not find the request too personal?" Kalin awkwardly responded to Haldir's blunt manner. Kalin's sense of touch had quickly become the most important replacement for her eyes. Haldir had seen her 'look' at objects such as garden sculptures in this way for long minutes, and even Serwen's face on one occasion.
Haldir came back up the ladder slowly to stand in front of her. "I see no reason to refuse."
Hesitantly, Kalin raised her head and reached both hands up to find the face of the tall elf. Starting at the hairline of his forehead, she slowly and reverently traced every surface down Haldir's face with her fingertips as Haldir closed his eyes, trying to ignore how inviting her lips looked as she raised her face to his own. Sometimes returning to certain features with great concentration, she committed every curve of his face to memory. Reaching his ears, she found and slid her fingers down the long locks of hair on each side of his face, and Haldir reopened his eyes to see a look of wonder crossing her features. Returning to his face, she traced the outline of his strong jaw and chin, then Haldir swallowed and held his breath when with fingers trembling slightly, she gently trailed them over his lips.
"I must go now," he forced himself to say, grasping and removing Kalin's fingers from his lips.
"Haldir, what's wrong?" Kalin asked, afraid that she had offended him somehow ever since he had arrived in Celeborn's chambers. "If I have angered you in some way this evening, please tell me."
"Nothing is wrong, I simply must leave," Haldir said gruffly as he backed away again toward the ladder. At the bottom of the ladder, Haldir ran one hand through his hair and then down his face, trying to wipe off the haunting feeling of Kalin's soft fingers on his eyes and lips. He had to go, out of the city and back to the edges of the forest where he belonged, where he was at home in the quiet woods. After the healer's visit tomorrow, he really had to have some solitude and straighten himself out.
Page 7
By the time that Kalin met Orophin the next day, she was exhausted and her head was spinning. As soon as Haldir introduced them she sat down with Orophin and asked, "How do you say 'Your brother is a menace,' in Elvish?
"I like her already, Haldir," Orophin called as Haldir strode off, shaking his head.
Serwen and her companions took Kalin with them for whatever their activities were for the day: The gathering of rushes for baskets, the arranging of flowers for the tables of the Great Hall, and a myriad of other duties. Kalin found them interesting, but she had found nothing so far that she could be useful in. She felt at best like a puppy, tagging along behind them as they worked, listening while Serwen and the others told her tales of how it was ".when the Lady Galadriel was still with us."
"Flowers grew everywhere, even in the winter," or, "She doted on Lord Celeborn so, it warmed the heart to behold." "He must miss her terribly," Kalin commented.
"Yes, we all do," said Serwen nostalgically, "but he knows that he will be with her again eventually, when he feels the call of the sea. Now, I don't mean to say that he is not magnificent as well. He is the wisest indeed of all the High Elves that dwell still in the east, and of most that have returned into the west as well. Lorien is still counted fairest of all the dwellings of the elves in Middle Earth."
* * * * *
Lord Celeborn was more approachable than Kalin had at first supposed. Although she had the distinct impression while in his presence that he could read the thoughts behind her words when she spoke, she found this strangely reassuring rather than uncomfortable.
"I would like you to have something," she declared one early evening as she rose to take her leave from Celeborn's table. From about her neck she removed a simple but elegant silver chain cradling a single, irregular gray stone, which she placed in Celeborn's hand.
"It is not a precious jewel or rare stone. It is only a gray agate from the shore near my home, but the best one I have ever found. I prefer it to the white or amber agates that are easier to find among the stones of the beach. Come, hold it up to the light if the sun has not set, and you will see its inner beauty revealed."
Celeborn offered Kalin his arm and walked her outside to a deck off his chambers. There in the fingers of evening sunlight reaching through the branches, he held the agate aloft.
"It has been long indeed, Kalin, since I beheld the sea," he said in a low voice full of remembrance. "In the depths of this stone I see the swirling tides, of a raging storm or of gentle waves in morning fog."
"Yes, that is what I hoped you would see also. May you hold it as a token of the sea until you behold it and your Lady once more."
"You have touched me deeply, Kalin. Like you, this agate holds much more inside than is apparent at first glance."
"Now, I see there is an elf waiting impatiently for you within. Shall I deliver you now to his care?"
"Yes, please," Kalin requested happily.
This had quickly become the part of her day that Kalin looked forward to most. Haldir and she had fallen into a pleasant habit of taking long walks, talking comfortably to each other of their day. Much like during her first day in the woods of Lorien, he would begin to relax and describe their surroundings, which often led by his design to a bubbling fountain or along a murmuring stream, for he had observed that such places were soothing to her. There they would sit together in silence for a time. Upon returning, he would deliver her either to her door, or linger with her for a while with groups of elves who gathered in the starlight to tell tales and sing.
As Haldir stood waiting respectfully out of earshot for Kalin and Celeborn, one of his guards entered, spoke to him in a low voice, and departed.
Haldir looked up to see Celeborn notice him and then speak to Kalin. Kalin's face broke into a beautiful smile as they turned to approach him. Kalin has smiled very little since she arrived. Was that rare smile for him? Haldir wondered, then mentally chastised himself. She was no elf- maiden, and he had high expectations for himself in that regard. Perhaps he had simply been spending too much time with her. Time, he now admitted to himself, that he had greatly enjoyed. Was it because she was sightless that he found it so easy to talk to her of things that he had never been comfortable sharing with anyone else? Or was it because he felt her loneliness, and confided in her out of pity? He had let his guard down too much, he decided. Besides, what he now had to say would quickly remove that radiant smile from her face.
"Good evening, Haldir. You have news for us," stated Celeborn perceptively.
"I bring word from those who have returned at last from the search for Malach, Kalin's companion. They discovered the place of his attack, but no further sign of him, and the fainter trail of the horsemen was lost, for it had rained. I am sorry," he added.
"Are they sure, Haldir?" Kalin beseeched him.
"I chose our most skillful trackers to look for him. There are no better in Middle Earth, except perhaps for myself."
"Of course you did, forgive me," Kalin said quietly, lowering her head. "Please thank them for me, will you?"
"I will give them your thanks."
Haldir and Kalin slowly made their way down the steps winding around the great mallorn to the ground in silence.
"Where shall we walk tonight?" asked Kalin, trying to rouse herself from thoughts of her lost friend.
"I am returning you to your talan, for I have other duties this evening that I must attend to."
"Oh," Kalin said, disappointed. "But you mean to my pavilion, don't you?"
"No, your talan. It has been prepared for you," replied Haldir as he led her to a tree near where her pavilion had been. Here is the ladder," and he led her hand to the slim rope ladder dropping through the leaves. "It is not far aloft. I will watch you climb and then follow."
Proficient enough, Haldir observed to himself as he watched Kalin ascend, feeling her way. Trying to remain detached, he told himself he would orient her quickly to its layout and depart.
The talan had been fitted with sturdy waist-high screens around the perimeter and ladder opening, and draped with tent-like curtains above and on the sides. Kalin felt the strong but delicate fabric. Her few belongings had already been organized within. A soft breeze rustled the leaves in the great tree beyond the curtains, and the scent of its flowers filled the room.
"This is wonderful, Haldir. Now I truly feel that I am at home here."
"I am glad it meets your needs," he said shortly. "I will return in the morning. Our healer has requested that she might examine you then, to see if something can be done for your eyes. After, I must depart the city for the southern fences once more. It will be many days before I return. Orophin and Serwen will see to your further training while I am away."
"Does the healer really think that she can help me?" Kalin breathed.
"I do not know," Haldir said as he turned and began descending the ladder.
"Haldir, please wait. There is something that I have been meaning to ask of you, but if you do not want to I will understand."
"What is it?"
"Will you allow me to 'look' at you before you leave, I mean, by touching your face, if you do not find the request too personal?" Kalin awkwardly responded to Haldir's blunt manner. Kalin's sense of touch had quickly become the most important replacement for her eyes. Haldir had seen her 'look' at objects such as garden sculptures in this way for long minutes, and even Serwen's face on one occasion.
Haldir came back up the ladder slowly to stand in front of her. "I see no reason to refuse."
Hesitantly, Kalin raised her head and reached both hands up to find the face of the tall elf. Starting at the hairline of his forehead, she slowly and reverently traced every surface down Haldir's face with her fingertips as Haldir closed his eyes, trying to ignore how inviting her lips looked as she raised her face to his own. Sometimes returning to certain features with great concentration, she committed every curve of his face to memory. Reaching his ears, she found and slid her fingers down the long locks of hair on each side of his face, and Haldir reopened his eyes to see a look of wonder crossing her features. Returning to his face, she traced the outline of his strong jaw and chin, then Haldir swallowed and held his breath when with fingers trembling slightly, she gently trailed them over his lips.
"I must go now," he forced himself to say, grasping and removing Kalin's fingers from his lips.
"Haldir, what's wrong?" Kalin asked, afraid that she had offended him somehow ever since he had arrived in Celeborn's chambers. "If I have angered you in some way this evening, please tell me."
"Nothing is wrong, I simply must leave," Haldir said gruffly as he backed away again toward the ladder. At the bottom of the ladder, Haldir ran one hand through his hair and then down his face, trying to wipe off the haunting feeling of Kalin's soft fingers on his eyes and lips. He had to go, out of the city and back to the edges of the forest where he belonged, where he was at home in the quiet woods. After the healer's visit tomorrow, he really had to have some solitude and straighten himself out.