Tears of the Moon Chapter Three: Heria Eden
[The Third Age during the Solar year 130 in the vale of Rivendell known to the elves as Imladris]
"Slow down hiril nin! You're horse will die of exhaustion if you press much harder!" Elen nearly cried as he fought the urge to tell his horse to go faster as well. The blonde elf nearly groaned as they pushed their horses over the last stretch that led into the valley of Imladris. It wouldn't be good if he lost her, but the rest of their party was sorely starting to fall behind. None of them had been to Rivendell before.
"I can't Elen!" Calling over her shoulder, Ithil had to glance quickly at her friend through the veil of silvery platinum hair that trailed behind her licking at the wind along with her cloak. "Dûring knows the way to Imladris Elen! Follow him!" Then pressing harder still, Ithil leaned forward and whispered into her horse's ear. "Noro lim, Losrhîw! Noro lim!"
With that command, the horse's steps and gait increased drastically carrying it's rider with unknown speed toward her final destination. It had been years since she'd seen Imladris, and it was still beautiful as she remembered it. But that wasn't why she was there. Scenery was not on the list of things to do, and the only thing on her mind was her fair sister who was soon to give birth. Silently she cursed herself for not being there sooner when her little sister needed her. But the least she could do was be there now. Oh how she missed Celebrian. But after telling Elrond how she felt, not even the love she held for her sister could make her wish to visit Imladris. That is, until now.
Approaching the borders, she was well aware that she could no longer hear the hooves of the horses her companions rode, but that didn't stop her. She'd wasted enough time as it was. But something caught her sharp elven eyes and drew her to a complete stop. Pulling the reins back on Losrhîw, the horse eager to rest obeyed without a second thought as it struggled to catch its breath. The dapple gray and white stallion seemed to sway, but due to its loyalty to its beloved master, it would do no such thing.
Taking in a deep breath, Ithil almost gasped as an elf with long sun kissed locks on the back of a brilliant white horse stepped out onto the road blocking her way from further progress. Sharp sapphire eyes pinned on her as strong hands held to the reins of his horse. "Daro… Who is it that comes to the borders of Rivendell?"
Tilting her head to the side slightly, Ithil had to blink to make herself stop staring at the war hardened handsome elf. "I am Ithil o' Lorien! I come to see my sister Celebrian with great haste! Allow me to pass, I beg of you!"
The blonde seemed to look a touch startled at first before he swiftly turned his horse to face toward his home of Imladris while still looking over his shoulder at her. "Surely you do not come alone hiril nin!"
"Nay! Four escorts and a visitor from Lorien are not too far behind me and will arrive soon. I wish to make haste hîr nin! Please!" Ithil gave him a look of impatience as the blonde nodded to her and soon turned toward the woods and gave a soft call.
"Erestor! Come and wait for those from Lorien. I will accompany Lady Ithil to Imladris." At his calm words, his companion suddenly appeared from the cover of woods as his dark brown steed stepped onto the road.
"Very well. Make haste Glorfindel." The dark haired elf managed a weak smile in Ithil's direction before riding past them up the road in order to meet those still to come.
Even in her rush, Ithil had to blink in surprise at the golden elf before her that beckoned her to follow him. "Y-your Glorfindel? THE Glorfindel?"
The blonde merely smiled at her quickly before speaking to his horse. "Noro lim Asfaloth! Come Lady Ithil!"
With that, the beautiful white horse and it's equally radiant rider sprang forth into motion barely giving Ithil time to do the same. Breathing a quick sigh of surprise, Ithil finally brought herself to reality and clucked at her horse encouragingly. "Noro lim Losrhîw, only a bit farther. I promise you.." With that the horse heeded only her promise and leapt one last time into motion trying with all it's might to catch up with Glorfindel.
If this was the Glorfindel she'd heard only about in her mother's stories, then she was staring at a living legend. And at once she realized that tales about this elf of the Golden Flower were an understatement. Elrond surely did hold some of the most amazing friends. Smiling softly to herself, she then pressed her mind to more urgent matters. A matter that would soon make her an aunt, and that both terrified her and amazed her all at once.
In a short time, the duo was approaching the main courtyard and her tension only grew. Losrhîw came to a skidding stop as she quite nearly leapt from his back and bounded up the stairs to the entrance. Behind her she could hear Glorfindel asking someone to take their horses to the stables, but she was far too close to her goal to stop then. As though on autopilot, she flew with the grace only an elf could have. Finally making herself stop, she hadn't even noticed that Glorfindel was standing at her side giving her a far too amused look. "Would you like me to show you the way Lady Ithil?"
Suddenly turning a bright shade of red, her silver blue eyes met his for only a moment before she nodded her head. "I'm sorry… It's just…"
"Please do not apologize to me hiril nin. I understand. Lady Celebrian has been rather melancholic over your absence." Smiling softly, Ithil noted how it never once touched his startling blue eyes.
"Hannon lle, Lord Glorfindel." The two exchange a brief smile before the blonde finally turned and made his way up the main staircase with Ithil closely in tow. "Has she been well hîr nin?"
"Aye, but you should ask her that yourself."
"You're right, but I feel like a failure for not being here sooner." Ithil said it softly with no intention of allowing him to hear it. It wasn't often that she shared her feelings, lest the person happened to be her good friend Elen.
"You had your reasons I'm sure." Stopping in front of a large double door, Glorfindel stood aside and looked to her with a look of stoicism. "Lord Elrond has spoke of you nearly as often as Lady Celebrian. You are in high regards with both of them."
Smiling at the elven lord softly, Ithil merely nodded and then entered through the doors and slowly made her way through a large and elegantly furnished sitting room. Glancing about quickly, her eyes were drawn to one door in particular that lay open slightly. Stepping lightly in that direction she knocked softly and waited an answer hoping that this was indeed the bedroom. The rooms here were far more elaborate than any in her wing of Caras Galadon. Then again, Imladris looked more so like a city than a series of elegant tree houses. "Who is it?"
A bright smile suddenly filled her porcelain visage as she placed the fair voice to that of her sister. "Tis I pen-neth! And if you do not let me in soon I shall faint from the long ride with no rest right before your door." A weak giggle was sent in reply.
"Do come in muinthel nin!" Pushing the door open quickly, Ithil entered and pinned her sweet younger sister with a loving smile before closing the door behind her. "I feared you wouldn't come…"
"And miss the first appearance of my niece or nephew? Surely you jest! Besides, I could never let you suffer without my being here to at least try and comfort you pen-lend." Crossing the room with grace, she paused at the side of the bed before quickly dropping her eyes to look at the dirty dark blue traveling tunic and black leggings. "It seems I should bathe and change before sitting up your fine sheets!" The lady of the dawn smiled sweetly in reply as Ithil felt her heart melt. No matter how much pain Celebrian was in, she still smiled with all she was. "Oh pen-neth… I've so missed you." Reaching out a somewhat calloused hand, she caressed the long blonde hair with a wistful sigh on her lips.
Staring up at her sister with wide eyes, Celebrian saw how the last two decades had seemed to make the female warrior elf look stronger yet older all at once. Traces of grief still shimmered in the depths of her eyes, but it wasn't nearly as intense as it had been the last time she'd seen Ithil. And sadly, where she and Ithil had always shared everything, Ithil never told her what had grieved her so. "I've missed you as well muinthel. My heart seems halved as I'm here without you… without nana… ada. I wish somehow I could have you all. Oh muinthel nin! Elrond has been so wonderful. He's so very attentive."
Ithil froze her hand in place for a moment as her eyes went unfocused. She could have went all night without hearing her sister speak such endearments about the one that she'd fallen for. "I'm glad you are well cared for Celebrian… As long as you are happy, so am I." And that was the truth. That was why she had let this happen in the first place. "Now! When is that baby coming? I rode my horse to death trying to get here!"
Laughing softly at this, Celebrian could only shake her head as a hand instinctively laid to rest on her swelled stomach. "You were always impatient Ithil… Hopefully soon though. I long to see my children and hold them in my arms."
"Children? Are you having more than one?" Celebrian once again giggled at the look of confusion on her sister's face.
"Elrond believes I'm going to have twins." Eyes of light blue sparkled at this declaration, and Ithil knew that her younger sister was more than happy. Sighing softly, Ithil merely smiled and gently allowed one of her strong hands to lie upon her sister's hand while closing her eyes. "I want you to be as a second mother to them Ithil… Will you do that?"
Nodding her head slowly, the silvery haired elf could only take a deep breath and let it out at the thought of having any elfling looking up to her. Then again, Cúrolend looked up to her as an aunt and they weren't even related by blood. That was a miracle in itself, for Ithil hadn't really meant to play such a large role in anyone's life. "I would be honored muinthel nin."
~*~
The day of Elladan and Elrohir's arrival came not long after their arrival. In the haste, Ithil had forgotten her party from Lorien and hadn't even checked on them since she'd reached her sister's bedside. With the help of Lindir, Elrond was able to deliver his own twin sons with the utmost grace and unmistakable perfection as the second best healer in all of endore. Standing at the bedside, Ithil had winced with every scream of pain as she desperately clung to Celebrian's snow-white hand. But what felt like an eternity lasted only hours and soon Celebrian was weakly holding the oldest by mere seconds in her arms.
Elrond soon offered the youngest to Ithil whom cautiously received her small nephew with both fear and adoration in her silver blue eyes. Staring down at Elrohir, she didn't even notice the look of pure exhaustion on Elrond's face as he collapsed into a chair just opposite of Ithil and beside his wife's bedside.
One bow strengthened hand then softly caressed the infants cheek as she realized that her mouth was gaping slightly. Never had she been so close to an infant of her line, especially one that she was to be a near mother to in the future. Taking in a shaky breath, the silver moon like elf managed a shadow of a smile as she managed to speak in a nervous tone. "Mae govannen, Elrohir…"
"Well met indeed… and long awaited." Elrond smiled at Ithil before dropping his gray colored eyes onto his wife. There he saw the lady of the dawn holding onto Elladan with a look of pure awe and happiness written all over her face. She looked more radiant to him that moment than she had any other time before.
"I think they're right on time meleth nin." Celebrian smiled up at her husband before glancing over at her older sister. "It seems you are love struck muinthel nin."
"Aye… I am I fear." Giving the couple a weak smile, she then stood and walked over to Elrond where she gently laid Elrohir into his awaiting arms. "I'm glad they've both arrived safely." Glancing down at the beautiful younger twin, Ithil suddenly blinked as she realized that neither looked anything like Celebrian. Eyes of gray blue were fogged by their recent birth, but the color was still distinguishable. But it was the tuft of ebony hair crowning their heads that made her instantly think of the Lord Peredhil. "They are far more beautiful than words could describe."
Turning slowly to brush her fingertips over Elladan's small head, she only smiled before moving the hand to caress Celebrian's cheek. "Please rest pen-neth. I will come to check on you again. For now I'll leave you with your husband and two beautiful children." The blonde merely smiled up at her as she gave a faint nod. Glancing once at Elrond, she noted that he refused to look up at her even as she began to walk toward their bedroom door. "I'll be back pen-lend."
That being said, Ithil drifted from the room and down the long halls of Imladris only to stop as she passed a large balcony. Tilting her head to the side, she then turned and went out to look upon the beauty of the small city with tired eyes. Sighing softly, she felt her heart thrum in her chest from all that had just occurred. Elrohir had to have been the most beautiful creature in all of arda in her mind at that moment. Even his sire was paling in comparison to the sweet little elfling that was her nephew. Maybe her grief would lessen as she became close to he and Elladan. It was more than she could hope for. But then, the fact that they looked so much like Elrond would surely be a problem.
Shaking her head with a sigh, she then crossed her arms and allowed them to rest on the railing that surrounded the balcony to keep one from falling. Silver like locks of spun silk fell forward as she tilted her head downward in thought, not truly seeing the grounds below as misted eyes roamed them. "With every joy comes bitterness."
"That is no way to live hiril nin." Turning sharply at the melodic voice, her eyes found themselves locked on a pair of ancient sapphire that sparkled dimly with the light of the eldar. Surely he was the Glorfindel that she had heard of in tales her mother had told her. For the dim light she saw in his eyes were a ghostly reflection of the same light she saw in her mother.
"I fear I've forgotten how to live hîr nin." Ithil stated that plainly with no emotion as she slowly broke her gaze away from him in order to focus on the laughter coming from down below. There her eyes found Elen with his arms crossed as Cúrolend turned her affections on the poor elven lord Erestor who tried with all his might not to respond. Even if one wasn't attracted to the blonde elven beauty, it was still hard not to at least smile at her bubbly spirit. What made her smile though, was the look of annoyance on her father's ageless face as he shook his head.
"I see Erestor has fallen prey to the lovely lady that was in your party." Glorfindel's voice was a bit amused as he then mimicked her style of leaning on the rail and looking down upon those on the ground. "I think that she is rather full of life and a light that many wish they had. Though, I must admit I ran like a rabbit being hunted when she started following me."
The image of Glorfindel running from the young elven maiden suddenly caused the rigid lady to choke as she tried hard not to laugh. Yet at the same time, a beautiful smile ran swiftly over her visage that seemed to greatly please the blonde elven lord at her side. "You hîr nin? Running from my little Cúrolend? I find that highly amusing."
Surprise seemed to color his features as his smile instantly vanished. "You're Cúrolend?"
Blinking at the question, she suddenly turned a dark shade of red as she swiftly shook her head. "Nay! Not in that way hîr nin! I am but a surrogate aunt to the child and nothing more. I saved her father in the last alliance and he made me her namesake."
Glorfindel smiled softly at this and nodded his head slowly. "Surely you must have greatly impressed him. The name is very heartfelt in both meaning and gesture." Ithil once again beamed down upon Cúrolend and Elen only to hear Glorfindel lean closer in order to speak softly. "That smile tells me you haven't wholly forgotten how to live hiril nin."
"Aye… I suppose not." Arching a brow slightly, she then turned to look at the blonde's profile with a touch of curiosity in her eyes. "Are you the Glorfindel of Gondolin?"
"Mayhap hiril nin. But that is yet to be discerned and of little importance." A cryptic smile touched his lips as he then turned to face her with a thoughtful look. "Would it make a difference one way or the other? Even if I am, you are not that much younger than I and therefore just as amazing."
Blushing lightly, Ithil then shook her head with the vehemence of a child. "But I've slain no Blarog!"
"You needn't do such a thing Lady Ithil. You have proven yourself in both battle and loyalty. For both of those attributes are well known to most all of the elves. My slaying a Balrog was out of the same loyalty that you hold for the golden wood. I only protect that of Elrond's line instead. We are not that different hiril nin… Elye nar alcarin sulë-esse." Glorfindel then stood up from his spot beside her and turned to leave the balcony ignoring the look of embarrassment and surprise that lay within Ithil's eyes and reddened cheeks.
"Lord Glorfindel!"
Stopping in mid stride, the blonde lord turned his head only slightly to let her know she had his attention before replying softly. "Aye milady?"
"It…" Stopping short, she gave the ground a quick thoughtful look before gathering herself and standing tall and proud, as the daughter of Galadriel should. "You're right hîr nin. It doesn't matter if you are or not. You are just as noble and important with or without such deeds. I am glad that we have met and hope that I will speak with you again."
"Truly you are the Lady of the woods daughter." Turning then to face her, Glorfindel could only smile and to her amazement it touched his eyes causing them to light up with radiance. "Bain Ithil, Lorien-iell a tirith o Lothlorien. Hannon lle… You're words console me to know that even without my past I am still one you respect."
Smiling at this, she knew that he had affirmed her suspicion in a way so elegant that she could say nothing worthy in comparison. "Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo."
"Uireb silai." With that, the elven lord bowed before swiftly taking his leave. All Ithil could do was stand there smiling at the spot he had once stood.
"And it ever shall, Elbereth willing…"
~*~
[The Third age, Solar year 131 – the road to Lorien]
"Did you enjoy your visit hiril nin?" Ithil blinked at the sudden invasion of her thoughts and merely nodded her head to her blonde companion. "You… didn't have any run ins with Lord Elrond did you?"
Smiling softly at Elen's gentle prying, she then turned her silver blue eyes on him and shook her head. "We avoided each other like the plague I fear."
Sighing softly, Elen let his eyes drop to the ground momentarily as their party leisurely made their way back to Lothlorien. They'd been away for over a year, and Ithil knew he was dying to return home to his wife. "I expected that I fear. How you managed a whole cycle is beyond me though. Who was the blonde elf that I often found you speaking with?"
Tilting her head to the side, she thought a moment about which blonde Elen was referring to. For it seemed there were more elves with blonde hair than any other color. "Do you mean Elrond's seneschal? That was Lord Glorfindel I believe. You should be more specific when speaking of 'blonde' elves Elen." Laughing softly, Ithil noted the wide-eyed look that washed over Elen's face.
"Glorfindel? The Glorfindel?"
Why did that comment seem so familiar? Shaking her head as she laughed softly to herself, she merely continued to stare on ahead of her party. "Aye, the Glorfindel. I find it rather funny you never figured that out for yourself."
"You shouldn't tease me hiril nin!" Elen nearly pouted in her direction but stopped short as the sound of quickened hooves met their ears. In moments, both he and Ithil found a new blonde figure wedging her way between the two of them.
"You two quarrel like brother and sister!" The sweet voice filled with a teasing tone reached their ears and instantly caused the two older elves to blush. "Do you two always tease each other ada?"
Elen looked away obviously embarrassed by the whole situation. "Need you tease me iell-nin?"
"Aye! You know I must ada!" Falling silent a moment, Cúrolend then turned her attention to the silver haired elf on her other side noting the perfect posture that only a warrior would have. Ithil was truly her idol. "Aunt Ithil! When you go back to Rivendell next can I come along once more? Please?"
Ithil blinked at this as she turned to look at her surrogate niece forgetting how close she was to the borders of Lorien and that her attention was needed elsewhere. "You wish to go back?"
"Do I ever?" Beaming brilliantly at the daughter of Galadriel, Cúrolend then looked to her father and allowed a flicker of mischief to flare in her sapphire eyes. "The people there are rather lovely."
Groaning softly, Elen shook his head and Ithil just knew that the blonde was pleading silently to the Valar that Cúrolend would grow out of this flirtatious stage in her life. "You threw yourself at nearly ever good looking elf Imladris had to offer! I had to literally pry you off of that poor elf Erestor! If you go again to Imladris I refuse to go and allow you to embarrass me!"
Ithil instantly broke out into laughter at the mental image. Elen prying the sweet elfling off of the dark haired seneschal was far too enticing not to react to. "Surely you hold not her youth against her Elen! One day you will have to allow her to do as she pleases when she finally seeks a husband."
"Hush hiril nin! I wish not to think of that day!" Both Cúrolend and Ithil laughed at this as Elen scowled on ahead of him feeling rather defeated. "It's not fair when you females gang up against me!"
"Of course not mellon nin. That's what makes it so entertaining." Ithil smiled softly at her long time friend before feeling her ears twitch. Looking up with narrowed eyes, they searched the surrounding area only to briefly catch sight of a figure shifting out from behind a grove of trees. Holding up a hand to her party, Ithil spoke in a low commanding tone. "Daro…"
"What is it?" Elen whispered softly for only his lady to hear as he followed her gaze. Focusing slowly on the three figures exiting the woods before them, his eyes suddenly widened in surprise. "Haldir! Rúmil!" Leaping from the back of his horse, Elen sprinted across the distance and wrapped his arms swiftly around the two young elves. "Mae govannen! Where is my brother? Surely your father is close by…"
Elen looked about wildly but it was Ithil that noticed the look of despair in the older elf's eyes as his hands reflexively gripped harder the shoulders of the elfling that stood before him. "Elen…" Speaking softly, the blonde looked up at his friend and gave her a shining smile totally missing her cautious look.
"Hiril nin! These are my nephews Haldir and Rúmil! And I can only assume this little one is also of my kin!" Turning back to Haldir, Elen beamed brightly with a questioning look in his eyes.
Haldir moved uneasily and dipped his head downward in order to glance at the young elf pressing hard against his lithe form. Speaking softly from behind a startling curtain of starlight kissed hair, Ithil winced at the arrogance and pain that twisted in the elegant voice. "This is Orophin, Uncle Elen."
"Is it? Mae govannen Orophin! I would be your uncle." Kneeling before the youngest elf, Elen gave the child a winning smile. "I hope that you will learn to love me as family as I already love you."
The younger looked at him with deep colored eyes before smiling brightly and wrapping his small arms about Elen's neck. At the movement, Haldir seemed to frown deeply but only muttered his words. "Orophin na estel an avorn…"
Ithil smiled softly at this before dropping off the back of her horse and stepping forward. "But that is the beauty of youth."
Turning sharp midnight eyes on Ithil, Haldir frowned deeply. "Who are you?"
"Show respect to Lady Ithil!" One of the elven riders behind her barked at the youth starting a glaring contest that lasted a few moments.
"Why should I show respect to a female?" Ithil knew there was bitterness in his voice but something caused her to grow angry instantly.
"Do you not know who I am?"
"Do I really care?" The response was quick and it was evident to all those present that it was rather reflex for the young elf.
Narrowing her eyes slowly, she was going to retort until Elen dropped a hand on her shoulder timidly. Turning to glare at him sharply, she then stopped as her eyes met the wide dark eyes of Orophin that sat in his uncle's arms. "Forgive me." Turning away quickly, Ithil tried hard to control the need to stomp her feet as she returned to her horse. There she saw Dûring holding Losrhîw's reins tightly as he glared with flaring green eyes in Haldir's direction. "Peace Dûring." Looking up at the brunette's expression, the elf then gave her an apologizing gaze.
"Why do you warriors obey orders from a mere female?" Haldir grumbled only to stop as Rúmil tugged lightly on his sleeve. Arching a dark brow at his younger brother, he saw a pleading there in the light blue eyes he would have rather to ignore.
At Haldir's silence, Rúmil gave the warriors a timid look that stood close to the lady elf and bowed slightly in repentance for his brother. "We… we need help…"
Elen blinked at this and gave the middle brother a worried glance. "What is it Rúmil? What help do you require? Where is Halmir?"
Instantly a shadow washed over both his fair face and Haldir's. "He's gone…"
Orophin gave a soft whimper and clenched Elen's tunic in his hands. "Mandos…"
Ithil could only gape at the poor younger elves as they looked to the ground in their silent despair. "Both he and mother were killed." All eyes lifted to Haldir who seemed unfazed by his flat tone.
Elen then collapsed to his knees and stared at the ground with wide eyes. His arms fell limply away from Orophin as his pain drenched words left his lips. "By the Valar… Sweet Illúvatar no…"
At this, Cúrolend leapt from her horse and quickly hugged her father around the neck pulling him close. "Don't cry ada!"
At the sight before him, Orophin suddenly began to cry and back away from his uncle only to feel a warm form behind him. Looking up with wide tear filled eyes, he found the warm gaze of silver blue. "Do not cry little one. The halls of waiting cannot hold those we love forever more. Tolo pen-tithen." At her soft loving voice, Orophin instantly fell into her waiting embrace and sobbed into her black tunic and gray Lorien cape.
Haldir didn't seem pleased at this at all as he pinned her with a dark glare of warning. It was then that Elen allowed his daughter to help him to his feet. "Forgive me iell-nin." Smiling at her weakly, he then turned his weary gaze to Rúmil and Haldir. "You two may ride on my horse. I will ride with my daughter." With that, Cúrolend led him to her horse where he shakily mounted the fair creature before pulling her on behind him.
Ithil smiled softly down at Orophin as he clung to her hard. By the knowledge she held, she knew Haldir to be a little over two hundred, meaning Rúmil was only a little older than Cúrolend. To her it seemed that Orophin was no more than ten years of age, but elflings did not grow as quickly as humans so it was hard to say. Caressing the starlight hair of the child's head, she easily mounted her horse once more and cradled the child in her arms. "Mind riding with me pen-tithen?"
Shaking his head slowly, Ithil felt her heart break at the look of pain in his dark colored eyes. Reflexively she held him closer thinking of her sweet nephews and suddenly wished she could be there to hold them. Not far behind her, Elen rode along side Haldir and noted the look of wariness that the young elf pinned on Ithil's back. "Lady Ithil will not harm little Orophin. You need not look so worried."
Haldir only frowned as Rúmil gave a slow nod. It was easy to say that Haldir didn't trust anyone. "Who is she that she speaks with such authority that the elves of Lorien quiver?"
Frowning deeply at Haldir, Elen tried to speak but was cut off by the angry retort from his daughter. "You shouldn't speak so coldly against aunt Ithil! You should respect the daughter of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel! Surely you know who they are." Giving her older cousin a dark look, the normally bubbly blonde looked away scowling. "Your ignorance befuddles me."
"Just as your feminine stupidity drives me insane." It seemed as though Haldir hissed the comment through his teeth. But had not Elen caught the look of surprise in his eldest nephew's eyes, he would have scolded him.
Cúrolend snorted softly as she stared hard at her father's back. "You aren't worth my time."
Elen had to fight hard not to laugh, but he knew he'd better say something before Haldir exploded again. "You must stay with my wife and I my dear nephew. You and your brothers are welcome in our home." Haldir gave a defeated nod as he dropped his eyes to the ground.
Ithil had listened to their words and felt a growing dislike for the beautiful but arrogant elf. Yet at the same time, something intrigued her. None had challenged her before, and the idea excited her. It felt somehow releasing to hear someone treat her like a normal elf instead of one that needed respect by birth alone. "Don't hate him…"
Looking down at the pleading voice, Ithil's heart melted at the wide dark pools that seemed to beg and plead without words. "Don't hate who pen-tithen?"
"Haldir… Brother is just trying to protect us." Orophin pleaded again, this time tightening a small fist in the gray fabric of her cloak. "He is very kind…"
It was hard to picture the hard elf as kind, but something told her to heed the small elfling's request. "I do not hate him. Fear that not."
"Are you really the daughter of the Lord and Lady?"
"Aye, I am. But do not concern yourself with that. I wish to be as kin to you, just as I feel I am to your uncle and cousin." The child nodded and slowly broke into a soft smile that won her over completely. "Rest now, we will reach the borders of Lorien all too soon. I will guard your dreams."
Orophin nodded slowly before allowing his eyes to grow vacant letting her know he was in a deep sleep. "Step lightly Losrhîw, you have precious cargo now." The horse nickered softly in reply and almost like magic steadied its gait so that he would not disturb the sleeping elfling.
Elen merely smiled and let out a long sigh as he caught Ithil's last remark to her loyal steed. "Please Haldir, do not be so cold to Lady Ithil. She knows pain already." Cutting short a moment, he then turned to his nephew and suddenly grinned. "And if you still wish to be a guardian then you'd better learn to respect her."
"Why?" Giving his uncle a wavering look, he almost choked at his reply.
"She is the head guardian. The March warden of Lothlorien."
~*~
Chapter Three:Heria Eden – Begin anew
* Dûring means roughly cold nightfall
* Losrhîw means roughly winter snow
Hannon lle – thank you
Pen-lend – sweet one
Elye nar alcarin sulë-esse – Even thou are glorious in spirit (Quenya)
Bain Ithil, Lorien-iell a tirith o Lothlorien – Fair Ithil, daughter of Lorien and guard of Lothlorien
Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo – A star shines on the hour of our meeting.
Uireb silai – may it shine eternal
Orophin na estel an avorn – Orophin is fast to trust (Estel means both hope and trust)
Pen-tithen – little one