I do not own The Lord of the Rings or its characters.
Page 9
Upon returning to the city Haldir had slept and bathed, and was now making his way along the forest path to the talan that he shared with his brothers to ready himself for the council. As he approached, he beheld Orophin and Kalin appear along the path, and all of the days Haldir had spent away trying to deny the effect Kalin had on him were for naught.
Orophin had resolved that he would accept whatever fate Haldir chose for himself, as long as Haldir was happy. Yet, he caught the look in Haldir's eyes as he looked at Kalin, and his heart sank. He would make the best of it. Orophin called out in Elvish, "Brother, greetings! I see all is well at the fences or surely you would not have returned, and returned soaking wet at that!"
Haldir returned the greeting, explaining his purpose in returning, but Orophin knew no more about the council than he. "Now, if you will excuse me, I must ready myself."
"May I assist you in some way?" Kalin asked, also in Elvish. Haldir and Orophin looked at each other in confusion. "Kalin continued, "I mean, it is an important ritual among my people for the women to assist the men in preparing for important events."
"Just any man?" Orophin asked pointedly.
Ignoring him, Kalin continued, "It is but a small thing I can offer to repay you for the great kindness you have shown me.."
"You owe me nothing, Kalin. But if you are so inclined, what would you do?"
"I would adorn your hair as our people and the elves that live near the sea do for such occasions. Would you permit me to show you?"
Orophin raised his eyebrows at Haldir, who, also ignoring him, found himself responding, "Yes, that would interest me," before he could stop himself. "By the way, Orophin," he said dismissively, raising his eyebrows back, "Don't you have duties to attend to?"
"Come then," said Kalin again in Elvish, "There are items at my talan that we will need." Haldir led Kalin away, but a short way along the path, Kalin removed her hand from his arm, and, taking him by the hand, she said "I will guide you the rest of the way."
"Your Elvish has improved greatly," observed Haldir innocently.
"Yes, thanks to someone who gave orders that no one be allowed to speak one word of Westron to me while he was away!"
Reaching her talan, Kalin collected a brush and two worn but ornately tooled leather pouches that Haldir had seen on her belt when she arrived in Lorien. Kalin directed Haldir to a chair with a stool near the entrance. She took the stool and knelt on it behind him. "Along how many more paths can you now find your way unassisted?" Haldir asked as he sat.
"I can now visit the artisans near the walls of the city. And I can find the waterfall," she said, locating and drawing his long, thick, still-damp hair down his back, "and the path to the healer's, which I tread daily. Ever since I told the healer that I thought I was seeing shadows, she has been plying me with remedies."
"You're seeing shadows?" Haldir replied excitedly.
"Not you, too. It's nothing," Kalin said, trying not to get her hopes up again. "I'm sure it's just my mind playing tricks on me, like it does when I'm dreaming. Besides, I don't know how much more of the smell of those herbs I can stand! At any rate, I learn more every day. Your bretheren have been very patient with me. I must be a strange sight to them, groping along while I commit to memory the sweet paths of Lorien. This much is satisfying to me, but I am still searching for some way that I can be useful and not only a burden on you and your folk."
Twisting around to her and taking her hands in his, Haldir said firmly, "You are not a burden, Kalin. Celeborn has welcomed you to dwell with us for a reason. You will find your place here when the time comes, I am sure of it."
Receiving no answer but a small, hesitant smile, Haldir slowly released her hands and turned back around. Kalin resumed brushing his hair slowly down his back, breathing in his clean, fresh scent. She had dreamed of doing just so for days, she realized, and it dawned on her how much more she had missed him than she had admitted to herself.
"Have you done this ritual for others?" Haldir asked suddenly, somewhat stiffly.
"Once formally, for a family member," Kalin said, and offered no further explanation, but continued after a slight pause. She began to feel the deep silkiness of Haldir's long hair emerge as it dried. Haldir began to relax and closed his eyes as the slow, meditative strokes repeated, until all other things disappeared to his senses except the hypnotic rhythm of the brush and the touch of Kalin's hand caressing his hair. Whenever Kalin's brush came to each side, she placed two fingers of one hand protectively over the tips of his ears lest the brush strike them, not comprehending the effect that this touch had on the elf.
Much too soon, Haldir thought, Kalin put down the brush, reached forward, and combing her fingers through his hair from the temples back, she plaited it down Haldir's back, leaving the lower half of his hair to fall free. The rest would be done differently from the elves of Lorien. Placing one hand lightly on his shoulder and then his knee as a guide, she rose and moved around him to draw the stool up close before him and kneel on it again. Surely he could hear her heart beating harder, she thought, and sighed. For the first time since Kalin had touched his hair, Haldir shifted slightly in his chair, losing a small amount of his legendary composure. He prayed to the Valar that she had not noticed him react to her so.
Taking a calming breath, Kalin reached to each side of Haldir's face and, tucking the rest gently and slowly behind his ears, she separated slightly thicker sections of hair than the Lorien elves were accustomed to wearing in front of their ears, gathered it gently along each side of his face and ran her hands down to the ends of each tress to smooth them. Reaching with one hand to locate and open one of the leather pouches on the table beside her to reveal a neat arrangement of softly shaded cording, and then another with an assortment of bird feathers the likes of which Haldir had never seen, she raised her eyes and said softly, "These are among the heirlooms of my family. This is strong hemp cord, with which my people and the western elves tie their fishing nets and dye in tones of the beach, sky and sea to adorn themselves. Each color has its own source and meaning in the lore of that land. Say to me which speaks to you and why, and I will tell you of it while I work."
Although Kalin could not see, her eyes seemed to find and hold his. Without glancing at the pouch again, Haldir paused but briefly, and said, "The golden-green one, for it reminds me of the highlights in your dark hazel eyes."
While brushing, Kalin had unconsciously fallen forward until she could feel Haldir's breath faintly on her face. Now perceiving this she dropped his hair and pulled back quickly, face flushed, and responded, "Do not tease me, March Warden, for although I can see you not, your smirk I can detect in your voice even as it begins to form on your lips."
"I would not!" he protested, startled. Her reaction, he thought, was as though an open door had suddenly been shut in his face. "Here, let me assist you," he offered as he began to reach for the leather pouch. Counting quickly from the left to the correctly dyed item without hesitation, Kalin separated the cord from its tie, as Haldir recovered from his surprise.
"The golden-green color comes from the Erigeon flower. It blossoms on the warm side of the sand dunes in summer. It represents truth and wisdom. I was told it was the first flower that the High Elves beheld upon their journey from the north passages to Middle Earth."
"How does a daughter of man know of such stories? When did the lore of your people become entwined with that of the Firstborn?"
"As to the second, I know not. As to the first," she said as her voice became sad, "Tirendil taught me."
Straightening then, she ordered as she reached forward again to tug firmly on Haldir's hair, "Now I must concentrate if I am to make proper work of this in time for the Council." Beginning at the earlobe to wind the cords down each tress to his shoulder, Kalin felt for and selected three long grey and white feathers that her fingers deftly plaited in one by one with each cord. Knotting the ends, she arranged the rest of each lock to fall on his chest as was his usual custom. When she was done, to Haldir's astonishment she found and cupped his face in her hands and, closing her eyes, leaned forward to touch her forehead and nose to his, drawing in a slow, deep breath. Reluctantly, it seemed, she then drew away and stood, signaling the end of the ritual. Haldir was grateful again, somewhat guiltily, for her lack of sight should she otherwise have been able to read his expression at that instant. Although quite chaste, this ritualistic moment as she held his face was, for no reason he could think of, the most intimate Haldir had ever experienced, and no woman or elf had ever caused him to lose his composure so completely. Scolding himself silently as he stood, he made his voice steady and said, "These feathers are from sea birds, are they not?"
"Yes, gull feathers. I have presented them only to you and to the Lord Celeborn, but as your Lady is now away, I did not offer to plait them into his hair."
"Indeed that would have been most improper!" exclaimed Haldir, then quickly added, "but I am honored that you have done so for me."
"Look now, you may be frank if it does not please you, for I will take no offense and remove it if you wish. "
"I will wear it in honor of your people and of mine in the West, for I am greatly pleased."
Standing and regarding her silently for some moments, Haldir stirred himself and turned to go, wondering that it took so much effort for him to do so. This did not go unnoticed by Kalin. Although he moved silently as all elves did, she felt the subtle shifting of the air around her as he departed. Once the air was still again, all that remained was the thought and scent of him, and the growing longing in her heart.
* * * * *
Haldir joined the elves conversing in the Great Hall, awaiting Celeborn's arrival. Presently he appeared, greeted them warmly and bade them to be seated.
"We have a pleasant task appointed to us. Our friends and kin King Elessar and Queen Undomiel travel from Gondor to their house in Annuminas, by way of Rohan. Yet first will they come north to the Field of Celebrant with emissaries of the Rohirrim, to meet with us and consider matters of common cause between our peoples. There we may reaffirm our friendship with the king and ensure the sanctity of our home among the growing world of men.
March Warden, I would call upon you for this task, to go forth with a conpany of those here present as ambassador to welcome Elessar and his Queen, and whoever of the Rohirrim accompany him."
"I would be greatly honored to do so, but is this not a distinction that should rightly be enjoyed by the Lord of the Wood himself?" asked Haldir in surprise.
"Haldir, most loyal of friends, it is not my fate to dwell in Lorien forever. Yet, if I read your heart rightly, you would choose still to remain, though our glory fades in this place."
"Indeed, I do not yet feel the call of the sea, my Lord, and Lothlorien I love deeply though often now in sorrow. I would remain."
"Then, Haldir of Lorien, let all here present know this: You are as a dear son to me, and upon my eventual departure, I would name you Lord of Lothlorien for as long as it or you endures. Although, love and sorrow may go hand in hand for you as Elvendom and Lorien diminish on the earth. Go therefore to the Field of Celebrant and represent our people well. You will leave in three weeks time."
Haldir bowed low in humbleness to Lord Celeborn, and all departed the Hall, but Celeborn bade Haldir remain. Celeborn embraced him and said, "I know of the turmoil that is in your mind. I do not see your destiny in this matter, for I know not what the will of the Valar may be, and only your own heart may guide you. My only counsel is to take this chance to speak to Queen Arwen of her choice, for she may have wisdom to offer you."
Celeborn then examined the cord and feather bindings of Haldir's hair. "This is skillful work, even for one who has the sharpest of eyes. Tell me, has one of us asked of Kalin what her craft might have been before she came to us?"
Celeborn smiled, looking intently into Haldir's eyes, upon which Haldir suddenly declared, "It is I who have been blind!" and rushed from the Great Hall.
Page 9
Upon returning to the city Haldir had slept and bathed, and was now making his way along the forest path to the talan that he shared with his brothers to ready himself for the council. As he approached, he beheld Orophin and Kalin appear along the path, and all of the days Haldir had spent away trying to deny the effect Kalin had on him were for naught.
Orophin had resolved that he would accept whatever fate Haldir chose for himself, as long as Haldir was happy. Yet, he caught the look in Haldir's eyes as he looked at Kalin, and his heart sank. He would make the best of it. Orophin called out in Elvish, "Brother, greetings! I see all is well at the fences or surely you would not have returned, and returned soaking wet at that!"
Haldir returned the greeting, explaining his purpose in returning, but Orophin knew no more about the council than he. "Now, if you will excuse me, I must ready myself."
"May I assist you in some way?" Kalin asked, also in Elvish. Haldir and Orophin looked at each other in confusion. "Kalin continued, "I mean, it is an important ritual among my people for the women to assist the men in preparing for important events."
"Just any man?" Orophin asked pointedly.
Ignoring him, Kalin continued, "It is but a small thing I can offer to repay you for the great kindness you have shown me.."
"You owe me nothing, Kalin. But if you are so inclined, what would you do?"
"I would adorn your hair as our people and the elves that live near the sea do for such occasions. Would you permit me to show you?"
Orophin raised his eyebrows at Haldir, who, also ignoring him, found himself responding, "Yes, that would interest me," before he could stop himself. "By the way, Orophin," he said dismissively, raising his eyebrows back, "Don't you have duties to attend to?"
"Come then," said Kalin again in Elvish, "There are items at my talan that we will need." Haldir led Kalin away, but a short way along the path, Kalin removed her hand from his arm, and, taking him by the hand, she said "I will guide you the rest of the way."
"Your Elvish has improved greatly," observed Haldir innocently.
"Yes, thanks to someone who gave orders that no one be allowed to speak one word of Westron to me while he was away!"
Reaching her talan, Kalin collected a brush and two worn but ornately tooled leather pouches that Haldir had seen on her belt when she arrived in Lorien. Kalin directed Haldir to a chair with a stool near the entrance. She took the stool and knelt on it behind him. "Along how many more paths can you now find your way unassisted?" Haldir asked as he sat.
"I can now visit the artisans near the walls of the city. And I can find the waterfall," she said, locating and drawing his long, thick, still-damp hair down his back, "and the path to the healer's, which I tread daily. Ever since I told the healer that I thought I was seeing shadows, she has been plying me with remedies."
"You're seeing shadows?" Haldir replied excitedly.
"Not you, too. It's nothing," Kalin said, trying not to get her hopes up again. "I'm sure it's just my mind playing tricks on me, like it does when I'm dreaming. Besides, I don't know how much more of the smell of those herbs I can stand! At any rate, I learn more every day. Your bretheren have been very patient with me. I must be a strange sight to them, groping along while I commit to memory the sweet paths of Lorien. This much is satisfying to me, but I am still searching for some way that I can be useful and not only a burden on you and your folk."
Twisting around to her and taking her hands in his, Haldir said firmly, "You are not a burden, Kalin. Celeborn has welcomed you to dwell with us for a reason. You will find your place here when the time comes, I am sure of it."
Receiving no answer but a small, hesitant smile, Haldir slowly released her hands and turned back around. Kalin resumed brushing his hair slowly down his back, breathing in his clean, fresh scent. She had dreamed of doing just so for days, she realized, and it dawned on her how much more she had missed him than she had admitted to herself.
"Have you done this ritual for others?" Haldir asked suddenly, somewhat stiffly.
"Once formally, for a family member," Kalin said, and offered no further explanation, but continued after a slight pause. She began to feel the deep silkiness of Haldir's long hair emerge as it dried. Haldir began to relax and closed his eyes as the slow, meditative strokes repeated, until all other things disappeared to his senses except the hypnotic rhythm of the brush and the touch of Kalin's hand caressing his hair. Whenever Kalin's brush came to each side, she placed two fingers of one hand protectively over the tips of his ears lest the brush strike them, not comprehending the effect that this touch had on the elf.
Much too soon, Haldir thought, Kalin put down the brush, reached forward, and combing her fingers through his hair from the temples back, she plaited it down Haldir's back, leaving the lower half of his hair to fall free. The rest would be done differently from the elves of Lorien. Placing one hand lightly on his shoulder and then his knee as a guide, she rose and moved around him to draw the stool up close before him and kneel on it again. Surely he could hear her heart beating harder, she thought, and sighed. For the first time since Kalin had touched his hair, Haldir shifted slightly in his chair, losing a small amount of his legendary composure. He prayed to the Valar that she had not noticed him react to her so.
Taking a calming breath, Kalin reached to each side of Haldir's face and, tucking the rest gently and slowly behind his ears, she separated slightly thicker sections of hair than the Lorien elves were accustomed to wearing in front of their ears, gathered it gently along each side of his face and ran her hands down to the ends of each tress to smooth them. Reaching with one hand to locate and open one of the leather pouches on the table beside her to reveal a neat arrangement of softly shaded cording, and then another with an assortment of bird feathers the likes of which Haldir had never seen, she raised her eyes and said softly, "These are among the heirlooms of my family. This is strong hemp cord, with which my people and the western elves tie their fishing nets and dye in tones of the beach, sky and sea to adorn themselves. Each color has its own source and meaning in the lore of that land. Say to me which speaks to you and why, and I will tell you of it while I work."
Although Kalin could not see, her eyes seemed to find and hold his. Without glancing at the pouch again, Haldir paused but briefly, and said, "The golden-green one, for it reminds me of the highlights in your dark hazel eyes."
While brushing, Kalin had unconsciously fallen forward until she could feel Haldir's breath faintly on her face. Now perceiving this she dropped his hair and pulled back quickly, face flushed, and responded, "Do not tease me, March Warden, for although I can see you not, your smirk I can detect in your voice even as it begins to form on your lips."
"I would not!" he protested, startled. Her reaction, he thought, was as though an open door had suddenly been shut in his face. "Here, let me assist you," he offered as he began to reach for the leather pouch. Counting quickly from the left to the correctly dyed item without hesitation, Kalin separated the cord from its tie, as Haldir recovered from his surprise.
"The golden-green color comes from the Erigeon flower. It blossoms on the warm side of the sand dunes in summer. It represents truth and wisdom. I was told it was the first flower that the High Elves beheld upon their journey from the north passages to Middle Earth."
"How does a daughter of man know of such stories? When did the lore of your people become entwined with that of the Firstborn?"
"As to the second, I know not. As to the first," she said as her voice became sad, "Tirendil taught me."
Straightening then, she ordered as she reached forward again to tug firmly on Haldir's hair, "Now I must concentrate if I am to make proper work of this in time for the Council." Beginning at the earlobe to wind the cords down each tress to his shoulder, Kalin felt for and selected three long grey and white feathers that her fingers deftly plaited in one by one with each cord. Knotting the ends, she arranged the rest of each lock to fall on his chest as was his usual custom. When she was done, to Haldir's astonishment she found and cupped his face in her hands and, closing her eyes, leaned forward to touch her forehead and nose to his, drawing in a slow, deep breath. Reluctantly, it seemed, she then drew away and stood, signaling the end of the ritual. Haldir was grateful again, somewhat guiltily, for her lack of sight should she otherwise have been able to read his expression at that instant. Although quite chaste, this ritualistic moment as she held his face was, for no reason he could think of, the most intimate Haldir had ever experienced, and no woman or elf had ever caused him to lose his composure so completely. Scolding himself silently as he stood, he made his voice steady and said, "These feathers are from sea birds, are they not?"
"Yes, gull feathers. I have presented them only to you and to the Lord Celeborn, but as your Lady is now away, I did not offer to plait them into his hair."
"Indeed that would have been most improper!" exclaimed Haldir, then quickly added, "but I am honored that you have done so for me."
"Look now, you may be frank if it does not please you, for I will take no offense and remove it if you wish. "
"I will wear it in honor of your people and of mine in the West, for I am greatly pleased."
Standing and regarding her silently for some moments, Haldir stirred himself and turned to go, wondering that it took so much effort for him to do so. This did not go unnoticed by Kalin. Although he moved silently as all elves did, she felt the subtle shifting of the air around her as he departed. Once the air was still again, all that remained was the thought and scent of him, and the growing longing in her heart.
* * * * *
Haldir joined the elves conversing in the Great Hall, awaiting Celeborn's arrival. Presently he appeared, greeted them warmly and bade them to be seated.
"We have a pleasant task appointed to us. Our friends and kin King Elessar and Queen Undomiel travel from Gondor to their house in Annuminas, by way of Rohan. Yet first will they come north to the Field of Celebrant with emissaries of the Rohirrim, to meet with us and consider matters of common cause between our peoples. There we may reaffirm our friendship with the king and ensure the sanctity of our home among the growing world of men.
March Warden, I would call upon you for this task, to go forth with a conpany of those here present as ambassador to welcome Elessar and his Queen, and whoever of the Rohirrim accompany him."
"I would be greatly honored to do so, but is this not a distinction that should rightly be enjoyed by the Lord of the Wood himself?" asked Haldir in surprise.
"Haldir, most loyal of friends, it is not my fate to dwell in Lorien forever. Yet, if I read your heart rightly, you would choose still to remain, though our glory fades in this place."
"Indeed, I do not yet feel the call of the sea, my Lord, and Lothlorien I love deeply though often now in sorrow. I would remain."
"Then, Haldir of Lorien, let all here present know this: You are as a dear son to me, and upon my eventual departure, I would name you Lord of Lothlorien for as long as it or you endures. Although, love and sorrow may go hand in hand for you as Elvendom and Lorien diminish on the earth. Go therefore to the Field of Celebrant and represent our people well. You will leave in three weeks time."
Haldir bowed low in humbleness to Lord Celeborn, and all departed the Hall, but Celeborn bade Haldir remain. Celeborn embraced him and said, "I know of the turmoil that is in your mind. I do not see your destiny in this matter, for I know not what the will of the Valar may be, and only your own heart may guide you. My only counsel is to take this chance to speak to Queen Arwen of her choice, for she may have wisdom to offer you."
Celeborn then examined the cord and feather bindings of Haldir's hair. "This is skillful work, even for one who has the sharpest of eyes. Tell me, has one of us asked of Kalin what her craft might have been before she came to us?"
Celeborn smiled, looking intently into Haldir's eyes, upon which Haldir suddenly declared, "It is I who have been blind!" and rushed from the Great Hall.