Those You Love
Reconciliation
by Celebrian
Orophin had been silent for the remainder of the time he was on watch with Haldir. He decided not to ask anymore questions about Lutheriel. He was actually surprised that Haldir told him as much as he did. The day dragged on and on and all Orophin wanted to do was go back to his flet and relax for the night. The sun was setting now and he smiled when he realized that he's soon get his wish.
"You can leave if you'd like.." Haldir finally spoke, looking over at his brother. "I know you are just dying to get out of here..."
Orophin nodded. "I will not lie about that." He looked over at Haldir. "It's about time we both went home for the evening."
"Not me." Haldir said abruptly. "I'm going to stay for another watch-"
"Haldir!" Orophin said as he stood up. "Stop moping around-"
"I'm not...moping." Haldir said defensively. "I just have nothing better to do tonight...besides...." He stopped and looked away.
Orophin shook his head. "Suit yourself. Good night, Haldir." He said as he began to climb down the ladder.
There were soft footsteps that were nearing the Elves. A voice came called out from below. "Haldir? Haldir? Are you out here?"
Orophin stopped and looked back to his brother. "Will you talk to her or are you going to ignore her?" He whispered.
Haldir's eyes widened for a moment and then narrowed. "What does she want now??" He asked himself. He had hoped that this wasn't going to happen; he had hoped that he was never going to see her again. To be honest, he didn't know what he wanted to do. Part of him wanted to send her away and part of him wanted to see her face again. Why was he so torn between this maiden?
"Are you going to talk to her or are you going to ignore her?!" Orophin hissed.
"Well, I'm not going to do anything with you here!" Haldir hissed back. "Now leave, Orophin."
Orophin gave his brother a stern look that seemed to say 'don't screw this up'. He looked at him for a moment longer and then descended the ladder to the ground and moved quickly and quietly away before Lutheriel saw him. He didn't go too far though, he stopped once he was safely behind a tree. He decided that he'd observe and make sure Haldir didn't do anything foolish.
"Haldir?" Lutheriel called out again. "I can understand if you don't want to speak with me again...but I wish you would..." She said as she looked up, hoping she's see the March Warden. "Please Haldir?"
Haldir listened to the soft voice of Lutheriel, fighting the urge not to call out to her. She had hurt him and he wasn't about to let her do it again. "Go away..." He repeated in his mind, hoping she would just disappear.
Lutheriel walked along the soft grass. "Where is he? I know he's out here someplace. I bet he's just ignoring me..." She was a bit hurt if he was ignoring her but, she probably deserved it. "Haldir, please just give me a minute to speak with you..." She practically begged.
"Just give her a minute Haldir..." Orophin thought as he peaked out from behind the tree. "Don't be so stubborn and listen to what she has to say..." He ducked his head quickly again just as the Elven Princess looked in his direction.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry I hurt you..." She finally apologized. If she couldn't see him face to face, then speaking a loud was the next best thing. "It was just so sudden...So unexpected..."
Haldir rolled his eyes.
He had lost the battle.
"I'm up here." He called out. "I'll come down to you..." He said as he got up and began to climb down the ladder to the forest floor. When he got down he turned to her and looked into her blue eyes. "What do you want?"
"I-I uh, I..." She began, the words were much harder to speak now that she was looking at him.
Haldir smirked. "That's all you had to say?" He asked raising his eyebrow. He almost enjoyed seeing her get flustered.
Lutheriel cleared her throat. Where could she even begin? How could she tell him all that was on her heart? She looked away from him and then began to speak slowly, it was better than looking into his icy blue eyes. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry...I know I must have hurt you last night-"
"You most certainly did not...I can assure you that!" Haldir broke in. His voice was filled with a bit of distress. "Is there anything else you need to say to me?"
Lutheriel felt her anger rising again. "Why is he so bullheaded?" She thought as she narrowed her eyes at him. "Why can't you just listen to me Haldir?"
"Because there is nothing you need to apologize for!" He retorted. "What is done is done! Let's just forget about last night."
Lutheriel crossed her arms and sighed. "But I don't want to forget. I do love you, I have not changed my feelings about that." She paused and took a deep breath. "I-I was thinking all last night when I returned to my flet...." Her voice broke off, and she had to keep herself from sobbing.
From behind the tree Orophin listened carefully. "Haldir, don't make her cry...she sounds so sweet...just listen to her..." He kept thinking as he watched the spectacle.
Haldir didn't want to see her cry, he never intended to make her so upset. He softened his face and reached out with his hand and touched her gently. "I'm...sorry if I made you upset, Princess." He said with sincerity.
Lutheriel looked up to meet his gaze. "No...you didn't make me upset..." She whispered. "I'm just so upset on how I treated you last night. I can't believe I was so cold hearted to you...I-I..." She couldn't go on and she started to cry.
Haldir watched for a moment as her shoulders heaved up and down and tears fell from her eyes. It made him sad to see her like this but he didn't really know what to do. Should he comfort her or not?
"Take her in your arms you fool!!" Orophin screamed at Haldir in his head. He couldn't believe how dense his brother really was.
"I'm sorry..." Lutheriel said between her sobs. She couldn't believe how silly she must be looking but the thought of her loosing him scared her.
"Come here," He whispered as he took her in his arms and embraced her tightly. He wasn't sure what made him do it other than it seemed like the right thing to do. He rubbed her back gently, hoping that he was comforting her. He really didn't know what else to do. He wanted to be tough. He wanted to be strong, but it seemed he was hopeless at the power of this maiden.
Lutheriel rested her head against Haldir, taking deep breaths to calm her nerves. She wrapped her arms around him and caressed his back softly. She hoped she wasn't dreaming his, she hoped this was all real.
Orophin smiled. "This is going better now...I should give Haldir more credit.." He thought, as he peaked out from behind the great tree again. "Let's just hope it keeps going..."
"I'm sorry." Haldir said again. "I'm sorry I rushed into things and asked you to marry me..."
Lutheriel looked up into his eyes. "...That's what I wanted to talk to you about...That's what I have been thinking about all night and all morning." She started, hoping she'd find enough courage to tell him that she wanted to marry him, and hoped he'd still have her. "Haldir...I..I will marry you...if...you'll still have me that is.."
Haldir stood there with a frozen look on his face. He didn't know how to respond, he was at a loss for words again. "I..I..." He paused. "What made you change your mind, My Lady?"
Lutheriel smiled and rested her head back against his chest. "You are my eldar, I love you." She smiled up at him again. "I guess I was thinking about what I said about traveling Middle-earth and I came to the realization that it will probably never happen, and even if I did...I'd be to scared to travel outside of the Elven territories. But I had a great Elf that wanted to marry me and take care of me...."
"You still do." Haldir smiled. "Amin mela lle..."
"Amin mela lle." Lutheriel whispered back. She still awaited his official answer if he'd take her back or not.
Haldir brushed a strand of stray brown hair away from her face and looked deeply into her eyes. How could he have been so mad at her. "Lutheriel, my lady..." He started and then stopped. He bent down to his knee and took her hand, kissing it softly. "Lutheriel, my love, will you take me for your husband? I know we just met but I promise to you, I will cherish and protect you for all eternity. I swear to you, I will love you always." He whispered. The words shocked him as they came out of his mouth, never did he think he could be so capable at a sentence so romantic as that.
Tears rolled down Lutheriel's cheek as she watched Haldir propose to her. His words touched her deeply and she believed every word that he spoke. "I do Haldir." She whispered back, her voice getting a little choked up. "And I promise to you that I will take care of you for all my days. I will love you always."
Orophin's mouth gaped open. He never knew Haldir was so romantic...he didn't even know that Haldir had a romantic side to him. "Now kiss her..." He thought as he watched his brother get up to his feet and take Lutheriel back into his arms.
Haldir hugged his wife to be tightly. "Never did I think that this would happen. I had always assumed I'd be alone...I'm glad I was wrong." Haldir gently touched her chin with his fingers and brought her lips up to meet his and slowly began to kiss her.
They could have stayed like that forever but night was drawing near and they parted their lips. "Do you want me to walk you home, My love?" Haldir asked.
Lutheriel smiled and shook her head. "Not tonight..." She hoped that he'd understand why she wanted to be alone. She just needed to think about all the changes in her life that were about to take place. "I hope you understand?" She whispered, bringing his hand up to her lips and kissing it sweetly.
"I do." Haldir said, caressing her cheek with his hand. He felt the same way. So much to sort out now, he didn't even know where to start. But they were all changes for the better. "Goodnight, My Princess." He said giving her one final kiss on the cheek.
"Goodnight." Lutheriel said returning his kiss. "I will see you in the morning?"
"Of course." Haldir smiled.
Lutheriel nodded and then slowly began to walk away, feeling light as a feather. Every sense in her body tingled and her mind spun as she thought about her years to come with the March Warden of Lorien. She also thought about her father and brother and hoped they'd be as happy for her as she was. Though she doubted that Legolas would accept Haldir right away.
Haldir grinned as he watched Lutheriel walk away until she was out of sight. Then his smiled faded and his eyes narrowed. "You can come out now, Orophin!" He said sternly.
There was a rustle behind the trees and Orophin came out from behind it with a sheepish grin on his face. "How did you know?"
"You breath like a dwarf." Haldir said snottily, but couldn't help but to break out in a grin. He was too happy right now to pick a fight with Orophin. He walked over to his brother and patted him on the back. "Come on brother, let's go home." He said and then with out waiting for Orophin he began to walk towards his flet.
Orophin stood there for a moment watching his brother. "So is this the start of a new softer, gentler Haldir?" He questioned. He smirked and then began to follow after him.
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Author's notes: Big thank you's to everyone who has been reviewing. I never thought I'd get so many of them. You guys are awesome!! Please keep them coming!
Amin mela lle~ I love you
