Those You Love
Dinner
By Celebrian
Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel stood waiting for Legolas and Lutheriel to come forth. The Lady knew even before the company set out from Mirkwood, that the escorts would be slain before the arrival in Lothlorien. She had seen all of this in her mirror. Her eyes fell upon Haldir, who led them to the base of the stairs. He seemed more withdrawn than usual, something...or rather someone was making him uncomfortable. Galadriel smiled to herself knowing exactly what it was. The Prince and Princess approached and stood looking up at the Lord and Lady. "Mae Govannen Legolas and Lutheriel of Mirkwood." She spoke slowly, giving them a warm smile.
Legolas bowed deeply. "We our honored to be in your presence, My Lady." He said as he straightened back up, returning Galadriel's gentle smile.
Lutheriel's mouth was slightly open, as she stared upon the Lady of the Light. Even though she had royal blood in herself, she had didn't know how to act. She was scared to move scared to speak, and even scared to breathe. "This is Galadriel...One of the wisest Elves in all of Middle-earth...and I am in her presence." Lutheriel thought to herself.
Galadriel's eyes shifted to the Princess and she laughed slightly. "Do not be afraid Lutheriel." She said warmly. She could sense that the girl had a pure heart like her brother. "In Lorien you are welcome to anything we have to give."
Lord Celeborn nodded his head. "We know of your attack last night. We are sorry for the loss of your friends. There have been a lot of orcs attacks right outside of our borders in the last few months."
The grief in Legolas was still too near. He tried not to think about it, so he just nodded his head. "They died noble deaths..." Was all he could manage to say.
"You two look famished. We have had dinner prepared and would be honored if the two of you would join us." Galadriel said changing the subject of death to something lighter.
Legolas looked at his sister and she smiled. "We too would be honored." They were honored just to be standing in Caras Galadhon.
Lutheriel felt more at ease now and smiled generously at the Lord and Lady. Then her gaze slightly shifted over to Haldir, who stood proudly off to the side. Proud and cold he looked; and Lutheriel couldn't figure out why. He hadn't said one nice thing to her or her brother since they came into Lothlorien. In fact he hadn't said much at all. His brother Rúmil was quite nice though. There was something about Haldir that Lutheriel liked, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. "It's definitely not his attitude; he has no humor so to speak of...at least none that I have seen. So what is it about him that I like?" She watched him a few more moments, trying to think what it was. "Maybe it's because he looks so strong...He seems focused...He must really care about Lothlorien and the Lord and Lady." She came to the conclusion. She also admitted to herself that he was very handsome. His piercing blue eyes and his well-built body sent chills down her back. A small smile crept across her face as she continued to look at the March Warden.
Their eyes locked on each other.
Lutheriel felt her cheeks grow warm and she quickly looked away. "Stupid...stupid..." She cursed herself.
Haldir had known that Lutheriel had been staring at him for quite awhile. Though he couldn't do anything about it in the presence of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. If they weren't present he would have snapped at her. "Why are you staring at me!?" He thought coldly, narrowing his eyes at the Princess.
"Haldir?" Galadriel said as she arched her eyebrow at her March Warden. She had been calling him for the past few seconds. All eyes were on him.
Haldir snapped out of his thoughts and looked wide eyed at Galadriel. "I'm sorry, My Lady." He bowed.
Galadriel smiled. "I would like for you and your brother to attend dinner with us. Since you have been away for over a week, you two deserve at fine meal."
Rúmil stepped forward, before Haldir could answer. "My Lady, would it be okay if I returned to my flet instead. I have missed my wife, Aduial, terribly over the last week and would love to spend an evening with her." Rúmil glanced over at Haldir, and a sly smile spread across his face. He looked back at Galadriel. "But my brother Haldir would be honored to dine with you and our guests."
Haldir shot his brother a death look and then opened his mouth to protest to Galadriel. "My Lady...I am very tired...I wish to rest."
Celeborn nodded. "Rest and be merry with us! A good meal first and then rest."
Haldir nodded. "Yes...My Lord." He said. "And now I have to socialize with them. I suppose the Princess will ask me all sorts of questions of my travels and make me speak Westron. I rather be fighting a Balrog." He thought bitterly.
Galadriel and Celeborn took each other's hand and turned away, walking up the stairs. Haldir gestured for Legolas and Lutheriel to follow them. "This way to the dinning hall." His eyes locked onto Lutheriel and she gave him a soft smile. Haldir didn't smile and he didn't glare back. He simply motioned for her to start moving.
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The smells of the food wafted in the dinning room. Lutheriel inhaled deeply and smelled the roasted meats and sweet desserts. There was a large table set in the center of the room. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel took their seats at the two ends. Legolas was seated near the Lord. Lutheriel stood next to a chair, waiting for someone to pull it out for her. Haldir began to take his seat across from Lutheriel.
"Haldir, help the Lady with her chair." Celeborn said to his March Warden.
Haldir sighed inwardly and then walked around to the other side of the table and pulled the chair out for the Princess. Lutheriel smiled and sat down. Haldir pushed the chair into the table quickly and Lutheriel felt herself sandwiched tightly between the back of the chair and the edge of the table. She could barely breath. "It's a little tight..." She said with out trying to sound mean.
"Sorry..." Haldir muttered, pulling the chair out a little. It's not that he meant to make it seem like a mean gesture, it's just that he had never had to do that before. Haldir walked back to his seat and sat down.
Dinner was served and the drinks poured. Haldir barely looked up from his plate, but when he did it was usually to grab his wine. In silence he sat eating and listening to the conversation around him, and as usual he did not take part in adding anything to it. "The faster I eat, the sooner I can leave..." He kept telling himself.
"Lord Haldir?" Lutheriel asked.
Haldir slowly looked up from his plate. "What?" He said with a mouth full of food.
"Would you pour me another glass of wine?" She asked, holding out her glass. Haldir shrugged and reached for the pitcher, pouring the red wine into the Princess's glass. He set the flask back down and nodded. "Thank you....So....how far have you traveled before?" She asked. She had wanted to speak to him the whole night but was waiting for the right moment. The evening was almost over and she knew now had to be the time.
"Here we go..." He said shaking his head. "I've traveled to Rohan before...well, actually a few times. Mostly to deliver messages. I have been to the Misty Mountains but never inside of Moria. Any place where Dwarves have dwelt...I will not go."
Lutheriel laughed. "Who wants to live in the mountains anyways? Not while you have the beauty of the trees of Lorien..."
"Exactly!" Haldir said. Then a strange thing happened. He smiled. It only lasted a moment though, when he had realized what he had done, he stopped, hoping no one saw. He returned back to eating, vowing not to speak again.
Lutheriel noticed though (as did Galadriel). "I got him to smile...I got Haldir to smile! I wonder if that has ever happened before?" She thought happily. She smiled at Haldir, even though he was looking down at his plate.
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Legolas looked at Lord Celeborn after the meal was through. "Thank you, that was the best meal I have eaten in a long time."
Celeborn nodded to the Prince. "You are very welcome, Legolas." He said as he filled his wife's glass and then filled his own.
Legolas sat silently for a moment. He knew what he wanted to ask, but didn't know if this was the right time or not. He took a few breaths and then looked up at the Lord and Lady. "If I may ask.... Why have I been summoned here?"
Galadriel nodded. "Tomorrow you will learn why we have called you here. Tonight you and your sister should relax and enjoy Lothlorien...."
Legolas nodded, though what Galadriel said worried him. How could he possibly rest now? "Yes, My Lady."
Celeborn looked around the table. "We will not keep you two any longer. I'm sure there are things you'd like to see and do. There is a flet for each one of you. They are not too far away from here. I'll have Haldir show you where they are."
Legolas stood up. "I will find my own, My Lord, but Haldir may show my sister hers."
Galadriel nodded. "As you wish. I'll give you the directions so you can find it easier, instead of
walking aimlessly around Lorien." She joked. She then began to tell Legolas where his flet was.
Lutheriel looked at Haldir and he looked back at her, with narrowed eyes, but they didn't seem as harsh as they had previously been. She half hoped that her flet would be a ways away...maybe then she could talk to him more and possibly make him smile again. She got up from her chair and walked over to her brother. Before she wished Legolas a good night, she turned to bow to the Lord and Lady. "Thank you." She smiled and then turned to her brother. "Goodnight Legolas. Have good sleep." She said kissing her brother on the forehead.
Legolas kissed her back and gave her a hug. "Sleep well. See you in the morning." He looked at Haldir and then leaned closely to his sister. "You are not worried to go with him are you? Maybe I should go after all..." He whispered.
"Nonsense! I will be fine. The Lord and Lady trust him...." Lutheriel smiled, she gave her brother's hands a quick squeeze and then walked over to Haldir. "I am ready for you to show me my flet now, Haldir.
Haldir nodded. "As you wish. Follow me." He bluntly said. He looked at Lutheriel. "It's growing dark out...do you...." He stopped before he said anymore.
Lutheriel raised her eyebrow. "Do I?..."
Haldir rolled his eyes. "Do you ...do you..." Why couldn't he just say it? What was so hard about speaking? Perhaps if he done it more often this wouldn't be so hard, but all he was used to was either giving commands or sarcastic remarks. He gritted his teeth. "Do you wish to take my arm so that you do not trip over something and fall.... Because I do not want to have to carry you if you hurt your foot." He added, so it didn't sound like he was being nice.
Lutheriel smiled and slipped her arm through his. "I would be delighted, March Warden." And with that the two left the dinning room of Celeborn and Galadriel and headed out into the night.
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Author's notes: I hope you liked it. Please review...I like reviews :D Sorry for the delay in the update. I hope to have the next chapter done in a couple of days (if not sooner).
