I do not own The Lord of the Rings or its characters.
Page 12
Kalin ran her hands lovingly along the finished length of fabric that she had just removed from the loom, letting it tell its story to her. Yes, it had exactly the texture and weight that she had worked so hard to give it. She would need to include Serwen in her plans now. Her help as a seamstress would be necessary to fashion the garment that the many yards of fabric were meant for.
Serwen and she had joined the excitement as the elves had seen Haldir's company off over the Nimrodel. There had been nearly seventy of them, Serwen had said, describing the scene to her. Haldir and his emissaries in traveling clothes, but carrying finery resplendent with mithril clasps on their cloaks; bearers with Lorien's flowing blue standards with the silver stars of Elendil sparkling in the rising sun; gifts, tents, and provisions; and finally an impressive contingent of guards bearing ceremonial, but superbly functional, bows and quivers with the whitest of feathered arrows.
That had been nearly a fortnight ago. Telling no one of her awkward parting with Haldir, not even Serwen, Kalin had thrown her thoughts, her skill, and all of her love into the creation of this garment that would be her gift to him. She meant to have it finished before he returned.
Thinking back to those last moments together before Haldir left her alone in the garden, Kalin was still perplexed. She no longer doubted that he cared for her. He would not have made this incredible staff for her if he did not, and she had felt the depth of emotion in his embrace as surely as she had felt her own. Why then had he suddenly pushed her away, withdrawing to a place she could not reach? Was he afraid of something? Would he be thought less of by the others, lose his standing among them, if they knew he cared for a woman and not an elf? Kalin dismissed this. Haldir was hardly weak of character; he would demand and receive respect no matter what his personal choices were, and she didn't think the others would judge him in that way. He certainly was not one to be afraid of anything, quite the opposite. Was he repulsed by the thought of loving a woman who would grow older as he stayed forever youthful? Perhaps she should talk to Orophin. But no, Haldir would not appreciate her breaking his confidence, not even to his brother. She would have to wait until he returned.
* * * * *
Haldir's scouts returned from the crest of the rolling plain ahead. They had spotted the king's encampment in the field, still several miles off. Haldir signaled the company to halt along the bank of the Celebrant where evening fog was beginning to form.
"Shall we rest here for the night, and enter the camp in the morning?" Rumil asked as he and Haldir strode up the hill. Although the elves could see the two adjoining camps of Gondor and Rohan in the distance, they knew that the men would not know of their own presence until they were much closer.
Haldir smiled a mischievous and rather arrogant smile that Rumil loved and recognized well since childhood. "No, little brother. I have a better idea."
* * * * *
Aragorn's eyes opened in the dark night. It was not so much a sound as a feeling that had awakened him, his senses attuned from years of sleeping lightly in the wilderness. He carefully slipped away from Arwen breathing lightly beside him so as not to wake her, and crept silently over to part the flap at the entrance to their pavilion and look outside. A wide smile broke across his face. Chuckling slightly, he returned to bed.
* * * * *
Horns of Gondor and Rohan together sounded the announcement of dawn in the encampment. The first men who began to stir and step outside their tents stopped dead in amazement. There in the field before them, on a rise slightly higher than their own tents, spread the glowing white pavilioned encampment of the elves in all its splendor, flying standards shining in the early morning sun that had not yet reached the tops of the tallest tents. As a growing crowd of men stood to gawk and rub their eyes, King Elessar, Queen Evenstar, Eomer King of the Mark and their counselors proceeded regally up the rise to stop before the main pavilion, where elven guards in helmeted dress uniform stood in motionless attention at their posts.
As though heeding a silent command, two of the guards removed their helmets and drew open the pavilion in perfect unison. Four attendants emerged and Haldir appeared between them, luminous in white and silver with white fur edging his cloak, to stand majestically in front of the king. A silent moment passed during which the crowd held its collective breath. How dare this admittedly impressive elf stand so in front of their king, looking as though he expected Elessar to bow to him? Should not the elves have come to the king's pavilion instead to pay their respects?
"Mae govannon, mellon amin, Elessar aran ai Dunedain," Haldir spoke first. The crowd's silent amazement increased as their great king touched his hand to his heart, then extended it in respect and greeting to the elf. Trying with all his might to keep a straight face, Aragorn replied, "Mae govannon, friend, Haldir kano ai Lorien. Your presence is most welcome, and most exquisitely timed." Unable to hold his laughter any longer, Aragorn stepped forward and enthusiastically embraced Haldir, who responded in kind, smiling broadly. The queen Haldir greeted as a dear sister and kissed her hand. Then turning to Eomer Haldir said "Mae govannon, Eomer aran ai Rohirrim. It is too long since our people have met in friendship. I am come to forge that alliance once again." Eomer replied, "Well met, Haldir, emissary of Lothlorien the fair. We are come also to renew the friendship between our people."
Haldir then stood aside, bowing his head the smallest fraction, touching his hand to his heart and extending it to invite the company to enter. The crowd let out its breath and broke into thunderous applause. This would be the first of many councils to be held on the field, first in the pavilion of the elves, then in the pavilions of the kings of men in turn.
Page 12
Kalin ran her hands lovingly along the finished length of fabric that she had just removed from the loom, letting it tell its story to her. Yes, it had exactly the texture and weight that she had worked so hard to give it. She would need to include Serwen in her plans now. Her help as a seamstress would be necessary to fashion the garment that the many yards of fabric were meant for.
Serwen and she had joined the excitement as the elves had seen Haldir's company off over the Nimrodel. There had been nearly seventy of them, Serwen had said, describing the scene to her. Haldir and his emissaries in traveling clothes, but carrying finery resplendent with mithril clasps on their cloaks; bearers with Lorien's flowing blue standards with the silver stars of Elendil sparkling in the rising sun; gifts, tents, and provisions; and finally an impressive contingent of guards bearing ceremonial, but superbly functional, bows and quivers with the whitest of feathered arrows.
That had been nearly a fortnight ago. Telling no one of her awkward parting with Haldir, not even Serwen, Kalin had thrown her thoughts, her skill, and all of her love into the creation of this garment that would be her gift to him. She meant to have it finished before he returned.
Thinking back to those last moments together before Haldir left her alone in the garden, Kalin was still perplexed. She no longer doubted that he cared for her. He would not have made this incredible staff for her if he did not, and she had felt the depth of emotion in his embrace as surely as she had felt her own. Why then had he suddenly pushed her away, withdrawing to a place she could not reach? Was he afraid of something? Would he be thought less of by the others, lose his standing among them, if they knew he cared for a woman and not an elf? Kalin dismissed this. Haldir was hardly weak of character; he would demand and receive respect no matter what his personal choices were, and she didn't think the others would judge him in that way. He certainly was not one to be afraid of anything, quite the opposite. Was he repulsed by the thought of loving a woman who would grow older as he stayed forever youthful? Perhaps she should talk to Orophin. But no, Haldir would not appreciate her breaking his confidence, not even to his brother. She would have to wait until he returned.
* * * * *
Haldir's scouts returned from the crest of the rolling plain ahead. They had spotted the king's encampment in the field, still several miles off. Haldir signaled the company to halt along the bank of the Celebrant where evening fog was beginning to form.
"Shall we rest here for the night, and enter the camp in the morning?" Rumil asked as he and Haldir strode up the hill. Although the elves could see the two adjoining camps of Gondor and Rohan in the distance, they knew that the men would not know of their own presence until they were much closer.
Haldir smiled a mischievous and rather arrogant smile that Rumil loved and recognized well since childhood. "No, little brother. I have a better idea."
* * * * *
Aragorn's eyes opened in the dark night. It was not so much a sound as a feeling that had awakened him, his senses attuned from years of sleeping lightly in the wilderness. He carefully slipped away from Arwen breathing lightly beside him so as not to wake her, and crept silently over to part the flap at the entrance to their pavilion and look outside. A wide smile broke across his face. Chuckling slightly, he returned to bed.
* * * * *
Horns of Gondor and Rohan together sounded the announcement of dawn in the encampment. The first men who began to stir and step outside their tents stopped dead in amazement. There in the field before them, on a rise slightly higher than their own tents, spread the glowing white pavilioned encampment of the elves in all its splendor, flying standards shining in the early morning sun that had not yet reached the tops of the tallest tents. As a growing crowd of men stood to gawk and rub their eyes, King Elessar, Queen Evenstar, Eomer King of the Mark and their counselors proceeded regally up the rise to stop before the main pavilion, where elven guards in helmeted dress uniform stood in motionless attention at their posts.
As though heeding a silent command, two of the guards removed their helmets and drew open the pavilion in perfect unison. Four attendants emerged and Haldir appeared between them, luminous in white and silver with white fur edging his cloak, to stand majestically in front of the king. A silent moment passed during which the crowd held its collective breath. How dare this admittedly impressive elf stand so in front of their king, looking as though he expected Elessar to bow to him? Should not the elves have come to the king's pavilion instead to pay their respects?
"Mae govannon, mellon amin, Elessar aran ai Dunedain," Haldir spoke first. The crowd's silent amazement increased as their great king touched his hand to his heart, then extended it in respect and greeting to the elf. Trying with all his might to keep a straight face, Aragorn replied, "Mae govannon, friend, Haldir kano ai Lorien. Your presence is most welcome, and most exquisitely timed." Unable to hold his laughter any longer, Aragorn stepped forward and enthusiastically embraced Haldir, who responded in kind, smiling broadly. The queen Haldir greeted as a dear sister and kissed her hand. Then turning to Eomer Haldir said "Mae govannon, Eomer aran ai Rohirrim. It is too long since our people have met in friendship. I am come to forge that alliance once again." Eomer replied, "Well met, Haldir, emissary of Lothlorien the fair. We are come also to renew the friendship between our people."
Haldir then stood aside, bowing his head the smallest fraction, touching his hand to his heart and extending it to invite the company to enter. The crowd let out its breath and broke into thunderous applause. This would be the first of many councils to be held on the field, first in the pavilion of the elves, then in the pavilions of the kings of men in turn.