A/N: There are spoilers in here for The Two Towers if any of you have not
read them then maybe you shouldn't read this chapter until you do. Just a
quick warning, but otherwise, enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Lord of the Rings books, or anything associated with Middle Earth, they belong to Tolkien.
Chapter 22: A Visitor to Lothlorien
In the days following the departure of the Fellowship, Celebfaer sat by her favourite pond in Lothlorien, deep in thought. All who saw her thought that she was mourning, when in fact she was planning. She knew that she could not stay in Lothlorien for much longer, she wanted to go and find her people, but she had promised Legolas she would wait until he came back to Lothlorien before she left.
It had been three days since they had left when an unexpected visitor came to Lorien. As soon as they arrived though, they were ushered to the Lady's chambers and not many heard who it was that had come and Celebfaer felt a change in the atmosphere, but she paid no heed to it.
When a few more days had passed Celebfaer got up before dawn and walked to the edge of the wood to watch the sun rise. She remembered what Legolas had said when she had showed him and it cheered her up. There was hope for her to find her people yet. She did not linger there for long and eventually she walked to the outskirts of the wood, to the borders, near the Nimrodel River, seeking Haldir.
He had seen her coming but he wanted to watch her search for a little while before he spoke up. He did not like seeing her as she had been the past week looking as though there was no hope left in the world. His foster sister had sadness in her eyes that he could not pin point and he had hoped that he would never see again. Though today as she searched the trees for him, there seemed to be a new form of hope in her eyes and that made Haldir's heart jump in happiness.
She was looking up at the trees, searching the branches for Haldir, when suddenly she heard a voice coming from a tree ten meters to her left.
"Has not the Lady advised you against walking in these parts of the woods. You could very well be mistaken for an Orc." The voice said.
Haldir had also heard the voice and he smiled when he did. It was his youngest brother Orophin and Haldir hoped that he did not give away his position to Celebfaer, because he had been enjoying watching her wonder about the wood. She had actually been smiling and he had not seen her smile in over a week.
"Orophin. Where is your brother? I wish to speak with him."
"My brother is supposed to be on the look out for Orcs and with such a beautiful maiden walking around it is hard to scout for something so ugly as an Orc. You are a distraction Celebfaer, but I know not of where either of my brothers are at this time, expect that they are in the area." Orophin called back down and Celebfaer walked to the foot of the tree that he was sitting in and she looked up to see his face, so much like Haldir's looking down at her.
"Surely you flatter me, for none are more beautiful than the Lady Galadriel or the fair Arwen." She said and then she smiled at him "Now, where is Haldir? Surely you must know, for where one of the three brothers are, the other two are not far behind."
"I'm afraid I cannot answer your question my lady." Orophin said with a smile, then he raised his voice a little so that Haldir would be able to hear him. "I am sure he will be off duty in a few minutes, so if you wait around you may be able to see him." He said and sure enough, it evoked the correct reaction from his brother.
"Orophin, you assume much. I am the head of the Lady's guard and I am always on duty." Haldir said, then he swung through the trees until he was in the one next to Orophin. "Celebfaer, I am sorry for tormenting you but I wanted to see if you could indeed find me." Haldir said then he turned to his brother and said something that Celebfaer did not catch.
About a minute later, Haldir dropped out of the tree and landed beside her.
"What troubles you Celebfaer? You have not been yourself this past week and I believe it has something to do with Legolas leaving. Come, we shall walk through the woods as we talk, as I can afford to take some time off, my brothers are capable of taking the watch in my absence." He said and she could hear Orophin's laughter as they walked back towards the City.
"Haldir, he will come back won't he?"
"So you do not deny that you feel something for the Elf Prince of Mirkwood?"
"Nay, I do not. Has he said something to you?" She asked and Haldir laughed.
"If he had I would not be permitted to say what for matters of the heart are not what I am experienced in. However as a friend, I see the anguish that you are feeling and I suggest a cure." Haldir said and she laughed emptily at him.
"What does the all great Haldir, head of the Queen's Guard recommend."
"Training." He said and because they had made it to a small clearing, he turned to face her, then he took off one of his knives and placed it on the ground, then walked some meters away, drawing his other knife. "I know that you intend to leave Lothlorien one day, I can see it and though I know I cannot stop you from leaving, I shall not let you leave until I deem you capable of defending yourself properly." He said and she sighed then picked up the knife he had left for her throwing it from hand to hand to get a feel for the weapon.
So, they trained and she felt good, even though she was in a dress and limited to some of her moves, she did okay and Haldir complimented her.
"I think that you are merely fighting with your anger, and pain. To fight truly one must fight from the heart, or they will be caught off guard. Remember, emotions blur your judgement." He said and the came a laugh from the trees above them.
"Haldir, you work her way to hard. The sun is almost due down, and I think we should be heading back to the City." Rumil, Haldir's other brother called and then he dropped to the floor and approached them. "Orophin sent me to search for you and a good thing I found you because you are leading Celebfaer astray brother." He said then he turned to Celebfaer, drawing one of his knives and looking at it, before looking back to Celebfaer. "Emotions only blur your judgement if you are heartless like my older brother here. The rest of us let our passion for revenge drive us in battle."
"Yes kind sirs." She said, bowing and the brothers laughed.
"Come, or we shall miss dinner." Rumil said then and so the three walked back to the City.
They were in time for dinner, but Celebfaer took her plate and went to sit outside, not wanting to be surrounded by people and Haldir followed her.
"What ails you Celebfaer?"
"There is an odd atmosphere in the air Haldir, do you not feel it?"
"I do, but I am normally on watch when that air is about and it is not outside, it is within the boundaries of Lothlorien." He said and Celebfaer frowned.
"It has something to do with the mysterious visitor every one keeps talking about, does it not?"
"He was not well when he came so the Lady is tending to him, but he brings ill news." Haldir said.
"Who is he?"
"You should go see for yourself. I am surprised that you had not gone earlier." Haldir said a trace of a smile on his face and so Celebfaer finished her food, then she headed up to the Lady's chambers.
The maid would not let her pass, but Celeborn came out when he heard them arguing and he admitted Celebfaer.
"Who is this visitor that I have heard about?" She asked him and the Lord of Lothlorien bowed his head.
"You shall see for yourself." He said and then he paused in front of a door, mentioning for Celebfaer to go in, so she entered and stopped when she heard Galadriel's voice.
"Celebfaer, I have waited and wondered when you would come for our visitor would interest you greatly. Please do not linger in the door, come and see who it is." She said, so Celebfaer walked into the room, seeing Galadriel sitting beside a bed, looking down at the frail figure in the bed.
But Galadriel was forgotten when Celebfaer saw who it was in the bed. His beard was still the same, but his face looked stretched and he had lost a lot of weight but there was no mistake. Gandalf the Grey was lying in the bed, alive and awake. He smiled when he saw Celebfaer and she rushed forward to stand beside the Wizard, too glad to say anything.
"Celebfaer, you look well." He said and she smiled happily for the first time in almost a week.
"Mirthrandir, you are alive. My heart is filled with joy at the news." She announced and he laughed.
"I am here, but barely. I shall recover soon, but when I do I shall need to have a talk with you." He told her and she nodded.
"Of course Mirthrandir." She said.
The next four days passed quickly for Celebfaer as she took to daily training sessions with either Haldir, Rumil or Orophin and when she was not training she was sitting in Gandalf's room tending to him, while the Lady tended to other important matters. On the fourth day, Gandalf was back to his normal self and he spent most of the day with Galadriel, but when he came to Celebfaer's rooms at night he was clothed in white instead of his normal Grey.
"Mirthrandir, come in and make yourself comfortable." She said and the Wizard walked in and sat down and waited for her to sit before he spoke.
"Celebfaer, you must tell me of the events from the time after I fell to the time that you came to Lothlorien, but be quick for I fear I must leave again, there are evil things at work on the world." He said and she nodded, then began to tell him all the events that had taken place.
When she was finished, he gave her a very brief account of what had happened to him with the Balrog.
"Mirthrandir, I couldn't do anything to help because my mind went blank when I saw it close up." She said and he shook his head.
"It is alright, do not trouble yourself with such thoughts." He said.
When he had finished, he stayed for a short time longer before he left, because he needed to get to Rohan as quickly as he could.
The next three weeks flew past and Celebfaer was getting better at her combat with the knife. It was late at night on the tenth day of March when Haldir was sitting with Celebfaer, in her rooms, talking to her about her skills.
"You have improved greatly in spirit as well as in combat." He said and she laughed lightly.
"Why thank you Haldir. When do you think I shall be ready to leave the woods and journey by myself?" She asked testing him, and he laughed.
But before he could answer, they heard a yell from outside and Haldir rushed to the door, his knife at the ready and an arrow in his bow, ready to be fired.
There was not a band of Orcs in the city of Caras Galadhon, as Haldir had feared, it was merely one of the guards returning with ill news.
"Haldir, Captain of the Guard, you presence is required!" The guard called and Haldir ran down to where he was standing, Celebfaer following, her weapons in her hands, in case she needed them.
"What is it Ishmael?" He asked the Elf and the Elf looked at Haldir.
"There is an army of Orcs attacking the eastern borders of Lothlorien, we believe them to be from Dol Guldur. I have sent all the scouts there and we are awaiting your command sir." The Elf said and Haldir nodded, then walked towards the stables, where Celeborn and Galadriel were to be found.
"My Lord, My Lady, it appears as though we are under attack." Haldir said to them and Celeborn nodded, then mounted his horse.
"Indeed we are Haldir. The guards are already on their way to the eastern borders, I wished to wait for you before we rode."
"Let me come!" Celebfaer spoke up then, as Haldir's horse was brought out and Galadriel turned to look at her.
"Celebfaer, you wish to go to battle?"
"My Lady, Haldir believes that my skills have improved ten fold in the last few weeks and I may be of some assistance." She said.
"I never said......." Haldir started but Galadriel just nodded.
"She shall go, it will be a good test of her skills, but Haldir, if harm comes to her, then you will have to contend with one very angry Elf." She said and Haldir knew which Elf Galadriel was talking about.
So, Celebfaer's horse was brought out and she rode off to join the battle, behind Ishmael, Haldir and Celeborn.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Lord of the Rings books, or anything associated with Middle Earth, they belong to Tolkien.
Chapter 22: A Visitor to Lothlorien
In the days following the departure of the Fellowship, Celebfaer sat by her favourite pond in Lothlorien, deep in thought. All who saw her thought that she was mourning, when in fact she was planning. She knew that she could not stay in Lothlorien for much longer, she wanted to go and find her people, but she had promised Legolas she would wait until he came back to Lothlorien before she left.
It had been three days since they had left when an unexpected visitor came to Lorien. As soon as they arrived though, they were ushered to the Lady's chambers and not many heard who it was that had come and Celebfaer felt a change in the atmosphere, but she paid no heed to it.
When a few more days had passed Celebfaer got up before dawn and walked to the edge of the wood to watch the sun rise. She remembered what Legolas had said when she had showed him and it cheered her up. There was hope for her to find her people yet. She did not linger there for long and eventually she walked to the outskirts of the wood, to the borders, near the Nimrodel River, seeking Haldir.
He had seen her coming but he wanted to watch her search for a little while before he spoke up. He did not like seeing her as she had been the past week looking as though there was no hope left in the world. His foster sister had sadness in her eyes that he could not pin point and he had hoped that he would never see again. Though today as she searched the trees for him, there seemed to be a new form of hope in her eyes and that made Haldir's heart jump in happiness.
She was looking up at the trees, searching the branches for Haldir, when suddenly she heard a voice coming from a tree ten meters to her left.
"Has not the Lady advised you against walking in these parts of the woods. You could very well be mistaken for an Orc." The voice said.
Haldir had also heard the voice and he smiled when he did. It was his youngest brother Orophin and Haldir hoped that he did not give away his position to Celebfaer, because he had been enjoying watching her wonder about the wood. She had actually been smiling and he had not seen her smile in over a week.
"Orophin. Where is your brother? I wish to speak with him."
"My brother is supposed to be on the look out for Orcs and with such a beautiful maiden walking around it is hard to scout for something so ugly as an Orc. You are a distraction Celebfaer, but I know not of where either of my brothers are at this time, expect that they are in the area." Orophin called back down and Celebfaer walked to the foot of the tree that he was sitting in and she looked up to see his face, so much like Haldir's looking down at her.
"Surely you flatter me, for none are more beautiful than the Lady Galadriel or the fair Arwen." She said and then she smiled at him "Now, where is Haldir? Surely you must know, for where one of the three brothers are, the other two are not far behind."
"I'm afraid I cannot answer your question my lady." Orophin said with a smile, then he raised his voice a little so that Haldir would be able to hear him. "I am sure he will be off duty in a few minutes, so if you wait around you may be able to see him." He said and sure enough, it evoked the correct reaction from his brother.
"Orophin, you assume much. I am the head of the Lady's guard and I am always on duty." Haldir said, then he swung through the trees until he was in the one next to Orophin. "Celebfaer, I am sorry for tormenting you but I wanted to see if you could indeed find me." Haldir said then he turned to his brother and said something that Celebfaer did not catch.
About a minute later, Haldir dropped out of the tree and landed beside her.
"What troubles you Celebfaer? You have not been yourself this past week and I believe it has something to do with Legolas leaving. Come, we shall walk through the woods as we talk, as I can afford to take some time off, my brothers are capable of taking the watch in my absence." He said and she could hear Orophin's laughter as they walked back towards the City.
"Haldir, he will come back won't he?"
"So you do not deny that you feel something for the Elf Prince of Mirkwood?"
"Nay, I do not. Has he said something to you?" She asked and Haldir laughed.
"If he had I would not be permitted to say what for matters of the heart are not what I am experienced in. However as a friend, I see the anguish that you are feeling and I suggest a cure." Haldir said and she laughed emptily at him.
"What does the all great Haldir, head of the Queen's Guard recommend."
"Training." He said and because they had made it to a small clearing, he turned to face her, then he took off one of his knives and placed it on the ground, then walked some meters away, drawing his other knife. "I know that you intend to leave Lothlorien one day, I can see it and though I know I cannot stop you from leaving, I shall not let you leave until I deem you capable of defending yourself properly." He said and she sighed then picked up the knife he had left for her throwing it from hand to hand to get a feel for the weapon.
So, they trained and she felt good, even though she was in a dress and limited to some of her moves, she did okay and Haldir complimented her.
"I think that you are merely fighting with your anger, and pain. To fight truly one must fight from the heart, or they will be caught off guard. Remember, emotions blur your judgement." He said and the came a laugh from the trees above them.
"Haldir, you work her way to hard. The sun is almost due down, and I think we should be heading back to the City." Rumil, Haldir's other brother called and then he dropped to the floor and approached them. "Orophin sent me to search for you and a good thing I found you because you are leading Celebfaer astray brother." He said then he turned to Celebfaer, drawing one of his knives and looking at it, before looking back to Celebfaer. "Emotions only blur your judgement if you are heartless like my older brother here. The rest of us let our passion for revenge drive us in battle."
"Yes kind sirs." She said, bowing and the brothers laughed.
"Come, or we shall miss dinner." Rumil said then and so the three walked back to the City.
They were in time for dinner, but Celebfaer took her plate and went to sit outside, not wanting to be surrounded by people and Haldir followed her.
"What ails you Celebfaer?"
"There is an odd atmosphere in the air Haldir, do you not feel it?"
"I do, but I am normally on watch when that air is about and it is not outside, it is within the boundaries of Lothlorien." He said and Celebfaer frowned.
"It has something to do with the mysterious visitor every one keeps talking about, does it not?"
"He was not well when he came so the Lady is tending to him, but he brings ill news." Haldir said.
"Who is he?"
"You should go see for yourself. I am surprised that you had not gone earlier." Haldir said a trace of a smile on his face and so Celebfaer finished her food, then she headed up to the Lady's chambers.
The maid would not let her pass, but Celeborn came out when he heard them arguing and he admitted Celebfaer.
"Who is this visitor that I have heard about?" She asked him and the Lord of Lothlorien bowed his head.
"You shall see for yourself." He said and then he paused in front of a door, mentioning for Celebfaer to go in, so she entered and stopped when she heard Galadriel's voice.
"Celebfaer, I have waited and wondered when you would come for our visitor would interest you greatly. Please do not linger in the door, come and see who it is." She said, so Celebfaer walked into the room, seeing Galadriel sitting beside a bed, looking down at the frail figure in the bed.
But Galadriel was forgotten when Celebfaer saw who it was in the bed. His beard was still the same, but his face looked stretched and he had lost a lot of weight but there was no mistake. Gandalf the Grey was lying in the bed, alive and awake. He smiled when he saw Celebfaer and she rushed forward to stand beside the Wizard, too glad to say anything.
"Celebfaer, you look well." He said and she smiled happily for the first time in almost a week.
"Mirthrandir, you are alive. My heart is filled with joy at the news." She announced and he laughed.
"I am here, but barely. I shall recover soon, but when I do I shall need to have a talk with you." He told her and she nodded.
"Of course Mirthrandir." She said.
The next four days passed quickly for Celebfaer as she took to daily training sessions with either Haldir, Rumil or Orophin and when she was not training she was sitting in Gandalf's room tending to him, while the Lady tended to other important matters. On the fourth day, Gandalf was back to his normal self and he spent most of the day with Galadriel, but when he came to Celebfaer's rooms at night he was clothed in white instead of his normal Grey.
"Mirthrandir, come in and make yourself comfortable." She said and the Wizard walked in and sat down and waited for her to sit before he spoke.
"Celebfaer, you must tell me of the events from the time after I fell to the time that you came to Lothlorien, but be quick for I fear I must leave again, there are evil things at work on the world." He said and she nodded, then began to tell him all the events that had taken place.
When she was finished, he gave her a very brief account of what had happened to him with the Balrog.
"Mirthrandir, I couldn't do anything to help because my mind went blank when I saw it close up." She said and he shook his head.
"It is alright, do not trouble yourself with such thoughts." He said.
When he had finished, he stayed for a short time longer before he left, because he needed to get to Rohan as quickly as he could.
The next three weeks flew past and Celebfaer was getting better at her combat with the knife. It was late at night on the tenth day of March when Haldir was sitting with Celebfaer, in her rooms, talking to her about her skills.
"You have improved greatly in spirit as well as in combat." He said and she laughed lightly.
"Why thank you Haldir. When do you think I shall be ready to leave the woods and journey by myself?" She asked testing him, and he laughed.
But before he could answer, they heard a yell from outside and Haldir rushed to the door, his knife at the ready and an arrow in his bow, ready to be fired.
There was not a band of Orcs in the city of Caras Galadhon, as Haldir had feared, it was merely one of the guards returning with ill news.
"Haldir, Captain of the Guard, you presence is required!" The guard called and Haldir ran down to where he was standing, Celebfaer following, her weapons in her hands, in case she needed them.
"What is it Ishmael?" He asked the Elf and the Elf looked at Haldir.
"There is an army of Orcs attacking the eastern borders of Lothlorien, we believe them to be from Dol Guldur. I have sent all the scouts there and we are awaiting your command sir." The Elf said and Haldir nodded, then walked towards the stables, where Celeborn and Galadriel were to be found.
"My Lord, My Lady, it appears as though we are under attack." Haldir said to them and Celeborn nodded, then mounted his horse.
"Indeed we are Haldir. The guards are already on their way to the eastern borders, I wished to wait for you before we rode."
"Let me come!" Celebfaer spoke up then, as Haldir's horse was brought out and Galadriel turned to look at her.
"Celebfaer, you wish to go to battle?"
"My Lady, Haldir believes that my skills have improved ten fold in the last few weeks and I may be of some assistance." She said.
"I never said......." Haldir started but Galadriel just nodded.
"She shall go, it will be a good test of her skills, but Haldir, if harm comes to her, then you will have to contend with one very angry Elf." She said and Haldir knew which Elf Galadriel was talking about.
So, Celebfaer's horse was brought out and she rode off to join the battle, behind Ishmael, Haldir and Celeborn.
