Chapter 23: Giggles, Wiggles and It

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One thought

One idea

it haunted him, it consumed him, it was his every waking moment and in every fold of his dreams. It became more than just a thought, almost tangible, almost physical, it became part of him.

He scanned the quiet forest with acutely attuned senses, not only with his eyes but also with his ears, his mind and his sense of smell. A fox ran from her den. An owl gave a sleepy 'hoot', a stag munched easily on the foliage.

Despite such serine surroundings, Haldir was preoccupied with that one notion, one concept that haunted his very existence. His mind was warring, full of tumult, agitated. He could think of nothing else.

His performance as sentry was in no way hampered or hindered; his duties came as more than a reflex, his body continued to function while his mind was caught up in a whirlwind.   

one thought…

one idea…

it haunted him.

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She awoke with the crisp breeze of  early morning caressing her skin in the gentlest of manners. It carried on its wings a hint of honeysuckle, a suggestion of something pure and sweet. A bird called, filling the very air around her with its merriment. And she was merry, for the joy of life filled her soul and made her glad. The sun beat upon her face. She could not see it, the bandages were effective in that aspect, but she could feel it, she could smell it. It warmed her skin. She thought that it must be very early, for the rays did not fall upon her bed except for when the sun was just peeking over the horizon.

            It must be a beautiful sunrise

These thoughts dampened her spirits only slightly, to miss seeing but one glorious arrangement of color upon the heavens.

True to form, though, she quickly discarded these thoughts and looked forward to the adventures that the day would bring. And an adventure it would be!! She giggled and wriggled with mirth beneath the silken sheets.

"I hear our sleeping beauty has finally awakened." Came a soft voice through her door.

Élharma heard the door slide open on its well- oiled hinges.

"How are you feeling this morning, my dear?" Galadriel asked

"Ready to be up and going on this wonderful, beautiful day!" She answered enthusiastically, rising to a sitting position.

She keethed that Galadriel was smiling, "Then let me see how your wounds have healed."

Élharma leaned forward, giving the lady access to the bandages upon her back and shoulders.

Cautiously, the Lady peeled the soft material away from Élharma's creamy skin. It was not surprising that all she found were scars, for elves heal quickly. Deep, jagged scars, though they be, running a criss- crossing pattern over the fair skin, they were only scars.

"It looks as if these can come off this morning!" Galadriel finally exclaimed.

Élharma grinned, "Good! They were starting to itch!"

"You are in a good mood this morning." Galadriel remarked.

"It is a beautiful morning, the sun is shining and I am home. Why shouldn't I be in a good mood?" Élharma teased.

Galadriel ignored Élharma's sarcastic question and told the maiden, "I will not be taking the bandages off of your eyes this morning."

Nothing could dampen the maiden's high spirits, but she tried to feign a pout anyway, "But Galadriel…"

"No excuses," The lady teased gently, "The bandages stay on today."

Élharma stuck out her lower lip, pretending to be upset.

The lady paused

Élharma continued, hoping to persuade the lady in a different decision.

"Okay, I will try to take the bandages off…" The lady began, suddenly interrupted as Élharma squealed and launched herself at Galadriel for an embrace. "BUT," the lady continued, "but, it you experience any pain, you will; I repeat: WILL replace them immediately."

Élharma nodded enthusiastically, grinning, barely containing her mirth, which threatened to boil over and spill onto the bed.

"If you don't sit still, I cannot do the deed." Galadriel scolded softly.

Élharma realized that she had been wriggling, bouncing upon the soft coverlet of the bed. She quickly contained herself, quieting the excitement that burned through her very skin.

The bandages fell away easily, and the maiden felt the fresh air blow lightly upon her clenched eyelids.

Cautiously, she opened one eye. The room was blurry and out of focus, and a little to bright, but she could see!

Galadriel smiled at the comical sight before her. Élharma's very good mood must be contagious, for the lady felt almost intoxicated with mirth.

When Élharma opened the other eye, it sent Galadriel over the edge. She burst out laughing.

"What?" Élharma asked, puzzled, but grinning. It was nice to hear her lady laugh. Galadriel seldom laughed. She was not mournful, but she was very stoic, and Élharma was glad to hear the lady's soft voice filled with uncontrolled mirth. Unfortunately, the room was incredibly fuzzy, and very blurred, so she could not directly see the lady.

"What is so funny?" She asked again, quirking her eyebrows in question. This only sent Galadriel further into her reverie, and the two elf-ladies' laughter filled the hall.

"Your eyes…they are crossed!" Galadriel finally gasped.

Élharma's back straightened, "What? Are they clear? Will the blurriness go away?"

Galadriel answered, "Yes, they have returned to their old, mesmerizing deep-sea-green color with no trace of cloudiness. The blurriness will go away by tomorrow. And Élharma, you had better take today off, I am not in need of your services and I don't see any reason to bottle your enthusiasm in the bore of today's business."

Éharma grinned. Yes, this would be a good day, a VERY good day.

Galadriel left, her duties as lady of lorien called.

Élharma dressed in one of her favorite gowns, of a soft velvet blue, a summer dress as it had no sleeves, and an open neckline and back. She bundled her thick, heavy curls into a loose ponytail, tying it up in a blue ribbon.

Leaving her feet bare, she was then ready to face the challenges of the day.

With a hop and a skip, she descended upon Calas Galadrim, a star filled with joy and mirth, infecting everything she touched with the light of her blissful ecstasy.

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Haldir had not moved all morning, he just watched and waited. Part of him was glad that the creatures of the shadow were calm, yet another part of him begged for relief from the thought, the idea that was consuming his consciousness.

"What is troubling you, big brother, you appear to be upset." Orophin asked softly from somewhere behind Haldir.

Hadir did not answer.

"He is troubled." Rhúmil replied for him, "It is haunting him. You would not know it because it has not come into your mind yet. I know it because I have felt it."

Orophin just rolled his eyes and resumed his watch.

"How did you get it to go away?" Haldir asked desperately

"I did it." Rhumil answered simply

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Élharma sat in the cookery with a steaming pile of food in front of her. There were only a few elves there: the cook, a couple of guards, and a hooded figure sitting in the corner. The cook, with nothing else to do, sat with the chattering maiden, listening patiently as Élharma pattered on about any random thing that came into her head.

Finally, as Élharma paused to eat some of the delicious food, the cook, Fallealda,

Remarked, "Is this the same stiff that came into my kitchen such a short time ago?" She stood and slowly circled the table, "You look the same… you sound the same…. You even have the same name. Élharma."

The maiden giggled, "It is me, Fallealda. I have just changed slightly."

The cook snorted, "Slightly? The Élharma I remember looked as if she could break stone with her stare!"

Élharma grinned, "Okay, I admit a little more than just slightly."

A voice, hollow and cold, came from the figure in the corner, "She who once was has changed from what could be to she who should be."

Élharma raised and eyebrow, "Who are you? How do you know me?"

The figure, moving slowly, walked over and seated herself in the chair adjacent to the maiden, "The joy that was robbed has been returned to its owner ten fold only with the finding of true love."

"Élharma," Fallealda said, "This is Linwe. She is one of the Silvan elves who wander this land."

"Linwe? It is a pleasure to meet you! I am…" Élharma began.

"D'immaren Calaelen" The old elf finished for her.

"But how…" Élharma asked, shocked at hearing someone use that name

"I know many things. I have been waiting for you, D'immaren. I will be traveling to the gray havens to sail to Valinor. I promised your mother that I would do this before I left. Kneel, young one."

Élharma, bewildered, obeyed.

"It is with the power vested in me by the Lady Gilraen Calaelen and by the fall of Elendil," She produced a mirithril crown, studded by one pale green gem in the center, and held it aloft, "To give you the heritage of your house. You are Lady D'immaren Calaelen, last heir to the throne of the lost elven realm of Maeglin. I present to you the treasures of your house: A crown of valor," She placed the mirithril crown on Élharma's golden head, "The scepter of love," Producing a daintily wrought scepter from the folds of her attire, "And the blessing of the Miiran from your mother."

Élharma took these things from the elf silently, her mind racing. She did not move when the elf rose from her seat and left. She did not move when the other patrons left. She did move when more of the sentries came in for their morning meal.

"Élharma?" Fallealda asked uncertainly, laying a hand on the maiden's shoulder.

"Yes?" Élharma asked distantly

"Are you okay?" The cook asked.

"Okay?…" The maiden answered

Fallealda gave her a slight shake, successfully bringing Élharma from her trance. Élharma stood suddenly, and charged the cook, "Tell no one of the happenings this day." And left.

Fallealda shook her head and resumed the job of feeding the new patrons of her kitchen.

Élahrma ran to her room, holding the scepter and mirithril circlet in her hand. She felt so much joy that day that she did not want to spoil the mood and think about either of her parents. It was too much of a beautiful day to be spending it mourning the past.

She slipped the artifacts into a drawer before racing back outside. On her way out, she came across Ewara and Jillathia, Rhúmil's wife and daughter.

"Jillathia, you are getting so big!" The maiden cried out.

 "Élharma!" The child exclaimed, racing to engulf the maiden in an embrace.

"She has missed you, Élharma. She asked about you every day for the last three months. I am glad you are back, my friend." Ewara said.

"I am going to go swimming, will you two be joining me on this beautiful afternoon?" She asked, kissing the elflet's soft, silvery head.

"We are going for breakfast." Ewara answered, smiling.

Élharma grinned, "When you are finished, come and find me!"

"By By Elhama" Jillathia called, waving a chubby hand in the air.

Élharma launched herself into a full-blown run down the path, her heart racing in its gladness and joy.

It only took a few minutes for the maiden to reach her favorite pool, it was the one that Haldir had watched her sit by her first day in Lorien.

Stripping of her clothes, she jumped into the sparkling water, yelling and splashing about in glee. The waterfall was her favorite part, and she stood beneath it and let the refreshing liquid fall with force upon her head and shoulders.

For hours she jumped and dived and swam in the pool, her merriment only growing with each passing moment.

It was midday when she heard voices upon the path. They were drawing near quickly, but Élharma continued swimming. She presumed that it was someone who also had the grand idea to take a swim on this glorious day.

True enough, a pair of elf maidens appeared in the glade. Élharma grinned at them and called, "Come on in! The water is fabulous!"

The maidens regarded her with distaste, "You are Élharma?" she asked flatly.

She nodded, smiling, seeing no reason why she should deny the fact.

One of the she- elves, having stripped down, entered the water and slowly circled Élharma silently.

"She is flawed." The elf in the water called suddenly to her companion.

Élharma grinned and said merrily, "Yes, I know I have some scars. Galadriel assures me that they will eventually fade away!"

The other elf, having also stripped stepped into the water. She turned slowly, holding her arms out, displaying the perfection of her body, "Do I have flaws?" she sneered.

"Well, no…" Élharma said, suddenly uncomfortable.

The first elf who had gone into the water mimicked her companion, slowly turning in a circle, her straight, blonde hair shining with water and her perfectly creamy skin almost glowing. "Am I flawed?" She asked.

"No, you aren't…." Élharma responded quietly, now desperately wishing that she had stayed in her bedroom.

The second elf said, "Than Haldir is as good as ours. You see, before you came and ruined everything, I almost had him. I will explain it slowly so that you can understand it. Haldir is one of the most sought after elves. He is March Warden, Captain of the Galadrim, and very much unwed at the moment. I plan to change that. He will marry me. He will not marry you. How could he love someone who is as…" she paused either for effect or truly because she was searching her mind for the word, "As blemished as you are?"

With a sudden, cruel laugh, the two elves left, leaving Élharma standing stunned, shocked and feeling very alone in the now un-wonderful water.

Élharma gazed at her reflection in the water. Her sight had cleared enough that she could see it. Staring back at her was her own face, but she had one small scar over her right brow, and her hair was mussed, tightly curled from the water. In the reflection, it appeared without sheen, being a drab color of dust and mists.

She turned slightly and the sight in the water made her shudder, for upon her back and shoulders ran long, ragged scars, bubbling up a harsh red against her alabaster skin.

With a troubled heart, she slowly rose from the water and dressed once again. She walked heavily back towards Calas Galadrim, finding her way to her room. As the tears began to spill upon her cheeks, she threw herself upon the bed, sobbing uncontrollably.

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"Are you?" Rhúmil asked impatiently

"I don't know." Haldir answered uncomfortably

"You have to, or it wont go away." Rhúmil said truthfully, "Besides, you know that you want to."

Haldir contemplated this for a moment before answering, "I am."

"You are what?" Orophin asked, curious

"I am going to do it." Haldir answered

"You will?" Rhúmil asked in disbelief

"Yes." Haldir said with growing certainty

"Then go and do it now so that we don't have to put up with your moping any longer." Orophin said.

"I am on duty." Haldir answered

"Our shift is virtually over. Look: here comes our replacements as we speak!" Rhúmil said

"Then you will do it? Tonight?" Orophin asked uncertainly

"Yes. Tonight." Haldir answered.

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Well? Let me know what you think!