Disclaimer: All characters belong to Tolkien except for Lutheriel, she is mine.
Author's Notes: This is the second chapter of my story. I hope you are enjoying it so far.
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Those You Love
Lothlorien
by Celebrian
High up in the great trees called Mallorn, in the realm of Lothlorien, Elven sentries kept watch at the borders. Long ago only two or three at each post was sufficient enough, but now with the changing times more were needed.
"When is that company of Elves from the Woodland Realm supposed to arrive?" A tall blond-headed Elf asked impatiently as he kept his gaze out across the border.
"Five days from today....If all goes well for them, that is." Another blond Elf replied, not taking his eyes off the border for a second, he barely even blinked.
The other Elf huffed about, as he tried to get comfortable on the talan they were standing on. "Haldir!" He said as he finally looked away from the borders. "I can't take this anymore. We've been out here for three days already and not one orc have we seen!"
Haldir did not turn his head to look at the other Elf. "This is our job, Rúmil. I know you are very anxious to get back to your new wife but, duty before love as I always say."
Rúmil shook his head. "I think you got that backwards, brother. Love before duty." He corrected. "Just because you have never experienced love, doesn't mean it's a terrible thing."
Haldir finally took his eyes off the border and looked to his brother, crossing his muscular arms. "I have experienced love. I love Lothlorien and the great Mallorn trees. It is my duty to protect what I love."
"I'd say so....You didn't even come to my wedding. I bet you don't even know the name of my wife, do you?" Rúmil asked.
Haldir was silent for a moment. "It's Aduial." He guessed.
"Well, well...I am surprised you knew that." Rúmil snorted. He fell silent again and sighed. "It's just not fair that I got pulled all the way out to the furthest post the day after I was married...and to be stuck here with you of all people." He joked.
"Bite your tongue, dear brother...or I will bite it for you." Haldir said in his typical dry humor, looking back at the borders.
Rúmil proceeded to fidget, tapping his fingers against the post he was leaning on. "Seriously Haldir, you are the oldest of both myself and Orophin....We both have lovers...and you....well, you have never had anyone...why is that?"
All the talk about love was getting to Haldir. He growled in the back of his throat. "Maybe because there are more important things to worry about than love for a Elf-maiden. Look at the world we live in, Rúmil...we're under constant threat of attack. As I said before... I do love but, not love for another person. I love my homeland and I intend to protect it to the best of my ability. And I love my job as March Warden...I do not have time to love anything else." He said with his upper lip curling slightly.
Rúmil grew silent, wishing he never opened his mouth about love. He knew that Haldir was always uncomfortable around the subject but he wanted to know why it was so. He turned his head back to the border, vowing to himself never to speak of love to Haldir again.
Haldir inhaled a deep breath through his nose and exhaled slowly. "Love...who needs it...Love brings nothing but pain...." He thought, as he looked out over the borders. Though in the back of his mind, deep down there, he secretly yearned for it, though he'd never admit it to anyone and hated to admit it even to himself. It was there though.
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