"You're not holding it right."
Avarcaliel looked behind her to see who was speaking. A young blonde elf walked out of the shadows of a large Oak tree and strode towards her with a glint of teasing in his eyes.
" You're not holding it right." He repeated. "You know to lower your left hand just a little and pull tighter on the string before you let go."
Avarcaliel ignored him and turned to shoot. " Of course I'm holding it right. This is how I always hold it." She missed her target.
"And that's why you hit your target only two out of five
times." He took the bow, whipped an arrow out of her quiver and shot within
seconds and hit the target in the middle." He handed the bow back to her. "Now
you try."
Avarcaliel shook her head. "You're much older than me
Haldir and have had many more years of practice than I have."
Haldir nodded. "That may be true but it doesn't mean you
can't be the same way."
Avarcaliel turned away from her practice and looked up at
him. "What are you doing here? You're a long way from home."
Haldir feigned hurt. "Can't I visit a good friend of
mine?"
She shook her head. "Every time you've ever come to Rivendell has been because Galadriel sent you. What are you here for this time? Father's in Lothlorien with The Lady right now so I'm a little curious as to your purpose here."
Haldir nodded, some blonde hair falling over his
shoulder. "I'm here to collect your sister."
Avarcaliel's eyes widened. "What are you going to do to her? I won't let you hurt her!"
Haldir placed a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down
Avarcaliel. I have no intent on harming your sister."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because Galadriel has sent me to collect your sister; you are to come as well." He reached out and grasped her bow as if to take it.
Avarcaliel looked up at him with confused eyes. "Me as
well? I don't understand. What does Father have to say about this?"
Haldir pulled the bow from her nervous hands. "Lord
Elrond also wishes for you and Lariel to join him. Do not ask me why I have
come to collect you because I was not told why. I only carry out my orders. I
do not question my authority."
Avarcaliel gave him a stern look. "Neither do I Haldir, I was just curious and a little frightened as to why both Father and Galadriel want us in Lothlorien now. I thought Father went to visit her because she's family…I didn't know there was an ulterior motive."
Haldir squeezed her shoulder. "Maybe he wants you there to visit with Galadriel as well. Don't always think that there's an ulterior motive." Haldir grabbed her hand and started walking towards the city of Rivendell before she had a chance to refute that last statement.
Avarcaliel looked down at the strong hand holding hers. Haldir never spoke to her much unless he needed to, but whenever he did, he always made sure he had her complete attention and never broke eye contact with her. Those piercing blue eyes always did unnerve her. He also always found a way to touch her. If it wasn't a friendly hug then it was a hand on her shoulder, or holding her hand like he was now. Sometimes she wondered if he had feelings for her, of course that was just speculation because other than touching her there was no other indication of any feeling but friendship.
"Avarcaliel?"
She looked up suddenly, now very aware that she had been staring down at their intertwined hands the whole time. "Yes?" She asked trying to keep down the light shade of pink she was turning.
"Are you alright?" He wondered what was going on in her mind. She had been staring at their hands the whole time. Did she not want him to hold her hand? She never gave any indication of whether she minded or not; sometimes he didn't know what to think.
Avarcaliel nodded and looked away. "Yes I'm fine. I just got lost in though is all."
Haldir studied the raven-haired beauty. "Would you like to talk about something?"
Avarcaliel shook her head. "No no, it's alright."
Haldir reached over with his free hand and guided her
face to where she was looking directly at him. He made sure he could see her
eyes. "You know if you ever need a listening ear I will always be here to
listen to you."
Avarcaliel nodded. "Yes I know, you've told me before."
Haldir squeezed her hand just before he let go to open the Grand Doors for her. "I mean it to. I will always be here for you if you need anything."
Avarcaliel looked at him as she passed him to enter. " You're always so kind to me
Haldir. What I have done to deserve this from you?"
Haldir closed the doors then turned and looked down into her emerald eyes wanting so much to tell her why but knowing the time wasn't right; the time it seemed was never right.
He opened his mouth to reply; however he was interrupted when Lariel flew into the room "Haldir!" She threw herself into his arms giving him a long hug. "What brings you here?"
Haldir smiled and hugged her back before setting her down and took a step back. "Its nice to see you as well Lariel. I was sent here to bring you and your sister to Lothlorien."
Lariel grinned and clapped her hands excitedly as she turned to her sister. "You hear that Avarcaliel? We're going to Lorien! I haven't been to Lothlorien in years, probably since my two hundredth birthday."
Avarcaliel nodded and gave Lariel a small smile. "Yes I know."
Haldir spoke up, hurrying the process along. "The Lady wishes for you to come as soon as possible. Bring only what you need; we will not be stopping often."
Avarcaliel nodded and walked towards her sister. "Why
don't you go up and get ready now? We'll be leaving in the morning."
Lariel nodded and eagerly left the room anticipating the trip.
Avarcaliel sighed and walked over to the balcony and leaned against it studying the view. It was beautiful, as always, what seemed to be a never-ending fall since the tree leaves always seemed to have wonderful colors in them. It was beautiful but Lothlorien was exquisite! It always seemed to be on the edge of evening and always seemed to have some mysterious yet calming aura about it. She never felt more at home anywhere else, not even Rivendell.
Haldir stepped up beside her looking out at the scenery as well. He was surprised when he felt a small delicate hand slide over his and looked down at the young elf princess.
"Avarcaliel?"
She didn't look at him but he could tell something was wrong. He put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him. Something was defiantly wrong. "Avarcaliel are you alright?" He heard a soft sigh escape her lips.
"I'm afraid Haldir. I'm afraid of what's going to happen."
Haldir pulled her closer against him not answering. What was he gong to say? He didn't know what was going to happen either and if he was going to be honest about this himself, he was a little apprehensive as well.
