Author's Note: Thanks go out to my beta buddy, Wendy, without whom my story would be a steaming pile of kaakaa.
Also, thanks to all those readers who took the time to write a review!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 18 – TAKING AIM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It's been four days!" exclaimed Taelyra as she threw herself to the ground next to her brother.
"Apparently, Helm's Deep is a two-day march away." Rumil informed her.
Taelyra let out an exasperated sigh as they lay upon their backs watching cottony clouds skud across the blue sky above. She shut her eyes and focussed on the sound of the brook babbling next to them, wishing it could speak. Bringing news from Rohan. Any news of the Lorien regiment. She wondered if they were in battle yet against Saruman's great forces.
As though reading her thoughts, Rumil made a suggestion.
"Why don't you show me this beautiful waterfall you told me about."
"I'm not sure that I'm allowed to take others to it."
"Oh. Is it sacred?'
"Yes."
"Hmmm," was all Rumil could manage. He would have suggested a sword fight except they'd just spent the whole morning training. His mind cast about trying to think of something, anything, to take Taelyra's thoughts off Haldir's absence. Suddenly, an idea sprang forth.
"Perhaps the Sentinels are practising archery?"
"We can go see."
They rolled up onto their feet and strolled off through the forest.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The arrows whistled as they cut through the air, ending in a satisfying thud as they impacted the targets. Rumil and Taelyra stood quietly watching the Lorien guards hit their marks time and again. While it was somewhat monotonous to watch, she found the sounds comforting. It was the sound of skill and strength.
Unlike Taelyra, who was lulled into a calm by the archery, Rumil was highly alert, poised, like a cat ready to pounce. His attention was attuned to something or someone in the line of archers. She scanned the guards, trying to see what intrigued him so.
She noticed a very attractive and serious-looking female elf near the end of the line, closest to them. The elf seemed unaware of Rumil's attention and continued to fire arrows, her last one hitting so close to the previous one, it split it in half.
"She has very good aim." Commented Taelyra.
"Who?" said Rumil with a slight start.
"The elf you're staring at."
"Was I staring? I didn't mean to."
"You seem, dare I say, captivated by her."
"Oh no!" Rumil countered. "I was merely studying her technique. She is quite lithe but holds her bow with remarkable strength. Her aim is incredible."
"Yes, quite."
Taelyra barely suppressed a smile; Rumil could be hopeless sometimes. Though his behaviour gave her hope that perhaps she wasn't the most inept member of their family at disguising feelings.
"Why don't you go over and introduce yourself?" she suggested.
"Well, she's obviously busy right now. Perhaps some other time."
This was a first. Taelyra had never known Rumil to balk at an opportunity to meet another elf, especially an attractive one of the opposite sex.
The pretty elf had emptied her quiver of arrows and turned away from the firing line. She began walking straight towards them.
"Hello," ventured Taelyra.
The female elf stopped before them. "Hello."
"I am Taelyra and this is my brother, Rumil."
"Yes, you are members of the Telerin Guard."
Rumil nodded in confirmation but remained uncharacteristically silent. Taelyra carried the conversation. "You are a skillful archer. We've been watching you practise."
"Thank you. My father taught me when I was young and I have been a member of the Lorien Guard for many summers now. My name is Calinë."
The three elves left the practise area and walked together down a nearby path.
"Calinë," Rumil finally spoke. "In our tongue that means 'light'."
"Yes, it has the same meaning in Sindarin."
Relieved that Rumil had recalled his ability for speech, Taelyra wasted no time. "I am afraid I must part with you now and seek out Father. It was a pleasure to meet you, Calinë. I hope our pathes cross again soon."
"A'laena sar," she replied.
Taelyra swiftly crossed the meadow but stole a last look at the two elves as they meandered down a wooded trail together.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Taelyra stood at the fork in the path. If she took the lefthand course, that would lead her to the Secret Pool. A part of her desired to lie upon the pool's grassy banks, looking up at the sheer curtain of falling water, letting its beauty take her mind elsewhere. But in her heart, she knew where that place would be. Haldir. She would think of nothing else but his face and warm kisses, his loving embraces and declarations while she lingered there.
"Taelyra, I've been looking for you."
Her father's voice tore her from the forked path dilemma.
"Please, will you come with me to meet with the Lord and Lady and our King." He offered her his arm and together they made their way to Galadriel's chambers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The three Elvish monarchs stood at the top of the short flight of steps. Their luminescence fell upon Taelyra and Daintáro as they stood before them. Rumil and Kieran were already present, as was Rávion, Haldir's second-in-command.
"The hour of war is upon us." Spoke Celeborn solemnly.
"Now is the time," Ciriáran declared, "for all the Elves of Middle Earth to stand and unite against the Dark Lord."
"Will you join in this task?" Galadriel's unwavering gaze fell upon Taelyra, sending shivers up her spine.
The Lady of the Wood, held Artanis in her outstretched arms. Taelyra stepped forth and took the magnificent sword from its sheath. She knelt before the High Elves but did not lower her head. Looking up at them, she thought that they appeared indominitable.
"I will lead our great peoples in the war against Sauron and we will vanquish his Dark Forces together."
"So be it." Said the three sovereigns in unison.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A'laena sar = Until we meet again