Stolen Hearts

Chapter Two

Revelations!

Disclaimer: The plot of this story is based on the film Marnie, directed by the great Alfred Hitchcock. The characters are borrowed from the works of JRR.Tolkien. I do not own or claim to own either the plot or the characters. Any original characters are created by my own warped imagination.
I make no profit from this story and post it only for entertainment. Thank you.

Authors Notes: I am so sorry, I did not include the disclaimer with my first chapter. Please forgive me!
The name Sairalindë Súrion, by the Elvish Name Generator site means Beautiful Desire, yes corny I know. But if you notice, all of Hitchcock's leading women were cast as glorious Mary-Sue's, and sometimes I think we all need a good dose of MS.

This story seems to be following its own line in the Tolkien universe. I am not an expert on LotR, so I have used much poetic licence with this story. Please take it as the distraction it's meant to be, and not a serious Tolkien story.

Diplomatic Immunity. There is a law I believe in some countries, well I think most countries actually, which grants diplomatic immunity to ambassadors and their families. Hence they cannot be prosecuted for some crimes. However, I am not a legal expert, so I have bended and twisted what little I know about this law to suit the purpose of this story. Again I'll remind you, my reason is to make a fun story to give you ten minutes peace from life's difficulties. That's all, nothing more.
Thank you.

Dedications: For Tabbitha the cat, a strong companion for eighteen years, and the terror of two counties
For Beverly, a true friend in my hour of need and an inspirational voice in the dark. Thank you.

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Haldir once more prowled the empty, half-lit corridors of Gondor's palace. He held the jewel encrusted necklaces tightly clenched in one fist, periodically squeezing them with frustration.

Stopping at the last room Sairalindë had visited, he stood beside the door listening intently for any movement inside. Not hearing anything, he turned the gilded handle, swinging the door open silently. Haldir walked in, his eyes searching the room. On a small ladies dresser stood three ornately carved boxes. He sighed heavily. Which box had the jewels come from?

Standing beside the dresser, he glared viscously at the boxes, hoping that some divine force would tell him which was the right box. Shaking his head slowly, he knew he couldn't choose wrongly in this, for Saira's sake.

Why was he allowing himself to become involved with? What did he expect to gain from this? What was his personal motivation in this? Breathing deeply, laying one hand against the dresser, his answer not so unsettling as he had hoped. Sairalindë the quandary, the enigma that was encompassed in the waif like body with long flaxen hair and sapphire eyes. The woman whom he had left sobbing uncontrollably on the floor.

Standing straight, realising he'd been stood staring for a while, lucky to not have been caught. He decided that he would need some help on this issue; he needed to find some start to this maze. And prayed to the Seldarine upon high that his decision was the right one.

~*~

Elesaar, King Elesaar! The title and name still seemed so unfamiliar. Twice he had been addressed thus and not answered until his beautiful wife had poked him in the ribs, delicately reminding him of his status.

He watched his undomiel mingling with his guests, her father, Elrond, hovering near to her. The wise Elf seemed to be painting a portrait of his daughter in his mind. Elesaar's gaze dropped. Oh, how much his strong, beautiful wife had given up for him. Composing his thoughts he looked up, seeing Arwen's face. Her peach lips tilting in an exotic smile, a smile he would never grow weary of, for each time he saw it his breath stopped.

"Your Highness."

Elesaar turned to address the smooth voice he had come to know very well. Its underlying arrogant tone still there, despite all that this noble being had suffered.

"Haldir?" Elesaar smiled at the elf, welcoming him nearer with an outstretched arm. "What may I do for you, fine Captain of the Galadrim?"

Elesaar watched the pale pink tint warm Haldir's cheeks, laughing jovially at the bravest warrior he knew.

Haldir, for his part, seemed nervous, his face holding a grimness he'd not seen in quite a while. Which only piqued Elesaar's interest. The elf shuffled over to him, his body movements stiff. The King believing he knew the difference between an injured elf walking, and one with a great weight- metaphorically- on his shoulders.

Haldir stood before him, and Elesaar once more wrapped his arms around the elf, much akin to what he had done the night of a great battle where man and elf stood as allies. Placing his lips near Haldir's ear he whispered to the elf. "What is wrong, mellon?"

"Amin ant a' quen yassen lle ereba!"

Elesaar's eyes met Haldir's, searching the iron blue orbs for a clue. With a small nod, the King stepped back. Glancing over Haldir's shoulder at his new bride, he smiled. Before turning to the few guests that surrounded him.

He was worried, already had he received word that Haldir had been keeping Sairalindë company. He feared the elf's reaction to her, had Haldir witnessed first hand the 'madness' that could take the girl during a storm? Or perhaps he'd found out her 'other' secret. What would be the fierce captain's reaction? Questions, many questions rose in him, and there were those he brushed aside. Not wanting to give in to a truth, that only he knew about Sairalindë.

Elesaar made his excuses then strode away from the spacious banquet hall; his eyes for once not focused on the huge marble statues, and weapons that adorned each side of the long corridor to his private study.

Elesaar looked up, seeing Haldir pacing in front of the closed oak door. The elf would not meet his gaze, and inside Elesaar began to worry. He dreaded what Haldir might say; honestly debating with himself if he could protect the young woman now he was king. Could he? Would he, ever rise above his own laws just for her sake? Elesaar knew that although he considered himself a fair and just man, realisation dawned on him, that perhaps not all that he tried to help could be helped.

Without stopping or speaking, Elesaar marched past the captain and pushed open his door, shutting it once Haldir had had entered. The elf stood by one of the three great arched windows that in the day would cast great light into the room. Now only a stormy dusk could be seen.

Elesaar seated himself, allowing the elf to speak first. Haldir, though still stood in silence, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. To see this guardian of the golden wood, stood at his window, many would think it were another of the marble statues that adorned the palace already.

Haldir drew in a deep breath, releasing it with a low hiss. Elesaar just watched. The tense set of Haldir's shoulders beginning to make the King nervous. Slowly the elf turned, and fixed Elesaar with a tormented gaze.

His heart sunk, he knew what Haldir would say. Before the elf could open his mouth, Elesaar opened his. "She has done it again, hasn't she."

His broken tone made him sound so much older, he sighed glaring down at the heavy oak writing desk. Folding his hands in front of him, he could not look at the elf. "I failed," he mumbled to himself.

The ivory hand appeared, placing in his sight a small pile of trinkets. Elesaar wanted to weep; he had tried so hard and new that this day would be a great challenge to her.

"I am sorry, mellon." Haldir shook his head slowly, hoping that this would perhaps all turn out to be a bad dream. He wished Haldir would speak; say anything, just so he could explain. Though in reality he could not, even he didn't know why she would steal.

"What do you wish for me to do?" Elesaar had to know, would he want Sairalindë to face mortal justice or Elven Justice?

"Tell me," Elesaar looked up at Haldir seeing the same conflict mirrored in the elf's eyes. "Tell me why?"

Elesaar shook his head in puzzlement, not sure what the elf truly wanted to know. Haldir glanced down, before raising his head again. "Tell me why she does this? Tell me, how her sweet soul was corrupted?"

"These questions I cannot answer my friend, for I do not know myself. Only do I know this, something happened to her, as a babe I presume, that has made her this way all her life."

Haldir gave a sharp nod, his face showing he absorbed all this information and wanted more. Hope sprang up in Elesaar, could the Captain of Lórian perhaps succeed where he had failed. He wished fiercely that his friend would help, that someone could discover the truth.

"I can only tell you what I do know: Many years before, when I was still a ranger. I came across her as a child; she had stolen some money from a trader in a market at Edoras. He was about to cut off her hand in punishment. I stopped him."

"Naturally." The elf replied, with a smile that now held genuine warmth.

Continuing his tale, Elesaar stood, rounding the desk to stand in front of the elf. "Even then I could see that there was somethingwrong, with the young one. I found that she was raised in an orphanage, brought there when she was four years of age, by our standards of course. There were no leads to her past, no documents. She had been found wandering the streets of Edoras, and placed in the orphanage. The only clue to her identity was a small bracelet, made for a child, engraved with the name Sairalindë Súrion."

Elesaar stepped back from his friend, allowing the elf to inhale all this new information. Watching as the jaw of the elf moved slightly, his pose still tense though.

"Why was she not handed over to her own kind?"

Elesaar shrugged his shoulders at Haldir's question. Chiding himself for forgetting, that one elf would most assuredly know another if its kind. "I know not, Haldir. I have spent many a year trying to unravel this mystery, and each time I found only dead ends. She does not know herself, which is why, I believe, I have had more compassion for this burning weakness of hers."

Haldir was staring into his eyes. Elesaar looked away, trying to gain back his composure for asking a question such as this. "What do you intend to do, Haldir?"

"She should be punished as all thieves are punished."

Elesaar wilted, Haldir was right. He had tried hard, very hard. Whenever his duties led him back to Rohan, he would always try to help her. His earlier thought resurfaced, he was but a mere man, and he could not help all people, regardless of their circumstances.

He nodded his head dejectedly. He looked up as Haldir's smooth voice spoke closely to him, not even hearing the elf move.

"However, I find myself at odds as to how she should be punished. To lock her away, an elf imprisoned would surely fade. A fate I wish on no elf. However, she cannot be trusted Elesaar, she needs that puzzle solved if she is to have a life."

This time Haldir stepped away, his hands outstretched in a pleading manner. "This 'madness' she suffers. It must be cured. She is immortal; she can not live forever this way. One day she will be caught, and no-one will be there to protect her. To save her."

The last sentence was breathed out quietly, Haldir's eyes closing as if to sweep away such a hideous fate for the young she-elf. Elesaar was not sure whether to laugh or cry. Only once before had he bore witness to the fierce determination of this proud elf. Now here he was again, proclaiming his intent to fight for a just cause, albeit a rather attractive young cause.

Both were drawn from their silent aspiration, a commotion in the corridor making both rush to the door.

"My jewels! My jewels!"

The high-pitched voice was heading towards them rapidly, a quieter, male, voice trying to placate the panicked female. Her voice became haughty and loud. "I demand to see the King, he must know that there is a thief in his midst."

Haldir and Elesaar both turned, glaring at the incriminating jewels lying on the desk. Elesaar rushed forth, gabbing them up, swiftly throwing them into the drawer he now held open. He slammed it shut, just as his study door burst open. Haldir was forced to move swiftly out of the heavy wooden door's way, lest he ended up crushed.

Elesaar stared as the door, left open by the middle aged noble woman, halted. Sure he heard an indignant grunt from the elf now hidden behind his door. One of his aides followed the barrelling woman; he bowed to his king. About to explain the interruption, though Elesaar waved for him to leave. His eyes widening as the aid bowed then pulled the door shut behind him, exposing the elf.

"Your highness, I am truly sorry to impose upon you, on this glorious day. However, I felt you should be aware, that I, have been robbed!"

Elesaar bit back his smirk, painting his most serious expression onto his features. The woman carried on, regardless of whether he wanted her to or not.

"I demand that the palace be searched, from top to bottom, until my jewels are found, and this culprit is brought before the proud justice of Gondor."

Elesaar stared at the black haired woman; her pose and clothing told him she was a woman of great wealth. The jewels alone, if they were all hers, could feed his entire army for a year with their value.

"Now, your aid has already called out the guard. And we found a witness, who has spoken of a vagabond boy, seen roaming the palace. I believe that the thief is still here, your highness. And we will have him brought to justice within the hour."

Elesaar flicked his eyes over to the elf; Haldir's face had become stone. Elesaar felt the true weight of balancing friendship with duty. He could not refuse the woman her right to justice, mainly because that would arouse suspicion, especially within this woman's noble household. A household he could very possibly need to ally himself with.

However, Haldir's face told him that, if Sairalindë was found, her secret would be known and nothing would save her. He could not override his own laws, and didn't want to anger the elves at the same time.

Haldir's face relaxed to that of contemplation, the woman still prattling on. Elesaar blocked her out, seeing the elf's eyes widen with a solution.

"Now that I have said my piece, I will take my leave, your highness."

Haldir shook his head, and Elesaar grabbed the woman's wrist tenderly. He smiled in earnest, wide and toothy. Soothing her fears and thanking her gracefully. All the time keeping her back to the elf. Though, if she had been able to see the comical situation behind her, she would have discovered the king's real reason for his wide smile.

It was a sight he would never forget. Proud Captain of the Galadrim, MarchWarden of Lóthlórian, hero of Helms Deep, sneaking along the wall to a full size armoire, easing the door open and slipping inside quietly.

Finishing his speech, Elesaar walked the woman to his door, allowing her to take her leave.

He shut the door, his face cracking with the smile on it. Turning he leaned against the door, wiping a hand over his face. The grimness of the situation presented itself along with the disgruntled curse muttered in Orkish. Grinning at the whole debacle of this afternoon, he walked over to the armoire, yanking open the heavy door.

He wished he had time to savour this moment; Haldir's thunderous face was nothing short of hysterical. However, first they had to save Sairalindë, then they could both laugh about it later.

Stepping from the armoire, Haldir stood tall in front of Elesaar. "You have a plan?"

The elf nodded sternly, and Elesaar knew this was perhaps an awful plan, yet there were no other ideas at that moment.

Elesaar waited; when nothing was forthcoming he began to badger the elf. "For the love of the Valor, Haldir. Tell me?"

"Diplomatic immunity, your highness."

Elesaar mouthed the words, unsure how the old ancient law could save the young she-elf. "Haldir, she is no ambassador?"

Haldir gave him a look that could melt Mithril, "I am more than aware of that."

"Then how do you intend to use"

Elesaar shut his mouth, his teeth clicking together. This had gone from bad to worse, was Haldir truly suggesting, that in order to save this girl he was going toMarry her!

Key:
Seldarine ~ Gods
Undomiel ~ Evenstar
Mellon ~ Friend
Amin ant a' quen yassen lle ereba! ~ I need to speak with youalone!

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