Chapter 06
They continued their lessons for many months. Haldir slowly learned the full names of all of the horses as he also learned and became familiar with each individual personality.
Calmacil was a fearless leader, defying all who threatened his heard. The magnificent stallion was also tender and patient especially with the foals.
Bil and Dil were inseparable and quiet, generally staying close to their mother; although Bil had a tendency to pick on his smaller brother. It reminded Haldir of his own twin brothers, Rhúmil and Orophin.
Mil, Tril, and D'carin were gentle and sweet, not having a mean bone in their bodies. These three enjoyed Haldir and Élharma to scratch their backs in the places that the mares could never seem to reach themselves.
Gllm was a mean and crotchety mare, never trusting anyone or anything. She had been enslaved by men and made to do heavy labor, so Haldir understood her mistrust.
He watched in amazement as Flia's stomach slowly expanded over the summer and fall, it intrigued him because even though he was learned as a healer, the woman healers usually tended to the pregnant elves.
Maaio and Daaio were closest to him, forming a deep friendship.
Maaio was the most curious horse Haldir had ever seen, always having a tendency to get into trouble. Once, she had a run-in with a porcupine and Élharma had to pull the spines out of the coal muzzle. Haldir put a saave on the wounds to help them heal. Maaio moaned and groaned while she ate until the lesions were well past healed. Also, she was the only one which managed to fell a giant beehive and get it stuck on her foot! To say the least, after that encounter Maaio feared the very scent of honey. Maaio had a way of always making them laugh almost uncontrollably.
Daaio, on the other hand, was the most sensitive to his thoughts and emotions. When he was having a difficult day, she would calmly approach him and lip his hand, nickering gently. When he was frustrated and discouraged at Élharma, Daaio would butt her dainty head into his back and push him towards the menacing she-elf in a way that would put strength in Haldir's resolve.
Over the summer, Élharma taught Haldir how to read and interpret the horse's body language, how to walk among them without being stepped on, kicked or generally bumped into or squashed. He learned how to listen to their keething, he could hear it in a way but the sense was faint. She taught him to ask of the horses rather than demand or order their compliance. They began riding upon the great beasts when Calamcil moved the heard to another field. He learned to ride without saddle or bridle, suggesting the horses to move to his voice and weight.
Haldir also came to notice that over time, Élharma's gaze lost some of its frostiness. When she was playing with the horses, letting their joy turn her into a wild, carefree elf, she would look at him and it would take longer and longer for her smile to disappear. By the middle of winter, her cold iciness was gone, replaced by an impenetrable politeness. While it was not the warmth he desired to see in her gaze, it was better than nothing. Haldir, on the other hand, came to love her with such an intensity that it left him dizzy and light-headed at times. He wanted her love as he had never wanted anything before.
It is early spring now and the trees are just beginning to bud, and the frost is beginning to become less and less. Signs of life were springing up all around them. Not just in the fields but in lorien as well. New life was reverberating through the air and it affected all. In the halls of lorien, Celeborn would sneak a kiss from Galadriel whenever he thought no one was watching. Rhúmil announced to all that he and his wife were expecting their first elflet. One would see many couples walking hand in hand through the golden wood.
Élharma stood in front of Haldir's door and knocked quietly. She heard a groan from inside, so she knocked louder.
"Go AWAY!!!" Came the sleepy cry.
She kept rapping loudly upon the thick wood.
"It is the middle of the night. Cant it wait until morning?" He called, now fully awake.
"Come on, I have something to show you." She called in a strained whisper, afraid to wake any other elves.
She heard a thumping about and then Haldir emerged, his hair tousled and his clothes askew.
"I am sorry to wake you at such an early hour, but I think that you will want to see this." She whispered hurriedly.
"I hope this is really, REALLY good." He grumbled as she led him quickly down the path to the eastern hills where the horses now grazed. The half-moon shone brightly, lighting their path in the darkness.
They came to the place where all of the horses slept peacefully. Élharma veered off of the path to the right, through a small thicket into another small clearing. In the center of this clearing lay Flia.
Élharma looked at him and smiled cautiously. Male elves were not accustomed to being present at a birthing but she deemed it worthy because it is an important aspect of horse-lore.
Haldir stood in shock at the sight of the mare lying helplessly upon the ground. A tremor tore through her body and she groaned. He spoke quietly to the distressed mare, caressing her sweaty neck. He was incredibly nervous but determined within himself not to let that hinder him.
"Don't worry, Flia, you will be fine." He murmured. When he saw Élharma's smile, his heart leapt further into his throat.
"You are doing great, don't forget to also keeth your comfort and strength to her, she needs it right now." Élharma instructed
She positioned herself next to him, her shoulder gently grazing his own. She then gently took his hand beneath her own and moved it over the straining mare's bulging stomach. His eyes widened as he felt the foal slowly move further down the mare's body.
Élharma lead him to a seat a small ways away, explaining, "Continue keething with her, but we must stay back now, she needs all of her concentration to birth her foal."
They watched as the miracle of life enfolded before them. Haldir was amazed at the incredible wonder that few of his kind had witnessed before. A new life was born right before their eyes! He watched in awe as the tiny, delicate foal drew its first breath, and look for the first time upon the wondrous world. They saw the foal struggle to stand even before its curly coat had dried, marveling at the drive of this newborn being to live.
Élharma and Haldir stood, reading to leave the mother and daughter to their newfound life. Haldir realized that his cheeks were wet with tears. He looked at Élharma and saw her own face wet.
"Every time I witness that, it reminds me of the true beauty of life." She whispered faintly.
"Thank you for letting me share it with you." He solemnly said.
By this time, the sun had begun rising, reaching its pink and gold fingers across the sky in the marvels of a sunrise.
"Come, we must begin early today. There is much that has to be done." Élharma commanded
"What are we going to do today?" Haldir asked, curious.
"Today, Maaio and Daaio need baths. They still smell of skunk "
Haldir burst out laughing. The previous day, the mischievous duo had gotten mixed up with a skunk, much to the horror of the rest of the heard.
The two elves made their way to the heard, smelling the two yearlings before they saw them. Haldir knew the routine, he approached Maaio as Élharma walked to Daaio.
"Come, my friend. Today we must rid you of that awful smell." He said gaily
'surprise/question/' The obnoxious filly keethed to him, gently bumping him with her shoulder.
"Yes, you still stink. What do you think would happen? It would just go away?" Haldir laughed loudly.
'acceptance/approval' he sensed
"Well, I'm glad you agree. Now, we must be off to the pools." He lightly skipped to Élharma and Daaio while Maaio cheerfully followed him.
Arriving at the pools, the fillies merrily jumped into the water, playing beneath the waterfall. Élharma had gathered some herbs known for their cleansing power.
"That's enough fooling around you two, come on out for your cleaning herbs." Élharma laughed.
The two yearlings clamored out of the water and trotted up to the elves. Haldir and Élharma sprinkled the herbs over the two wet bodies, gently massaging the plant leaves into the thick coats.
Then, without warning, Maaio and Daaio roughly pushed the elves into the water. Élharma came up spluttering, indignently calling for payback. Haldir surfaced a few feet from the giggling she-elf. With a gleam in her eye, Élharma swiftly dunked him again beneath the surface and quickly jumped back out of the water, giving Daaio a playful shove. Haldir resurfaced grinning. As of yet, she had never included him in her games with the wily fillies and her sudden ardor encouraged him. He ran, soaked through and through, after the three girls. He caught up easily, and all four of them played a rough game of tag.
Later that afternoon, they lay next to each other in the sun, allowing its warm rays to dry their still wet clothing. Haldir heard Élharma's breath deepen, and a sigh escaped her lips. He looked at her and realized that she was sleeping. He watched her there upon the rock, her face totally relaxed, devoid of any emotion, completely peaceful. Her chest rose and fell in a slow, lazy rhythm. She was incredibly beautiful, and he longed to touch her, to physically express the love that had been held in his heart for so long. His mind begged him to kiss her full, lush lips.
He felt a soft muzzle give his back a gentle shove. He glanced sharply over his shoulder and saw Daaio standing there, a look of impatience in her soft eyes.
He turned back to the elf of his heart. Dare he kiss her? What would she do? He wanted to believe that she would return the kiss but he knew that she would either get up and run away or slash his throat with the dagger that was always tucked in her belt.
Daaio shoved him again, harder this time. He knew what she was trying to tell him.
He leaned over the peaceful form again, and lightly pressed his lips against hers for the briefest of moments. A hunger to know more of her sweet lips coursed through his entire body.
With a start, Élharma's eyes flew open, their irises a steel gray.