*Author's Note: Lady Undomiel- Thank you for your kind words, I hope that I can live up to your expectations in my writing.
As any author, I love reviews and more would be awesome. And if you feel the need to flame, try to be gentle.
And now, on with the show...
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Chapter 3: A Prisoner and a Decision
Londe felt as though she had walked the length of the fields of Rohan twice over by the time they had begun to reach the city of Caras Galadhon. Haldir, whose name she had discerned from what little speech there was between him and the two elves that accompanied them to the city, walked beside her holding her upper arm in a bruising grip. The rest of the party stayed at the borders while Haldir brought Londe to be judged by the Lady Galadriel and the Lord Celeborn. As they stepped closer and closer to the city Haldir's vice-like grip became more apparant to her, the tense and ready behavior of the two other elves was evident to her as well. She soon realized that she was a prisoner and this brought a worse state of panic to her than during her journey to the borders.
Londe's breathing became eratic and caught in her throat. Her knees began to weaken, and she fell to the ground as they gave out from under her. Haldir slackened his hold on her arm for a moment. As he bent to retrieve her from the forest floor he hesitated, looking upon her with a changed expression in his eyes. The two elves, who had been travelling some paces ahead, paused to observe this exchange. Giving the girl a moment to catch her breathe he pushed away the unwanted emotion and his face became passive and unreadable once more. He helped Londe up and continuted the journey to the Lord and Lady.
The air of Lorien seemed to laugh at Londe as she regained part of her composure and carried on with her attempts at keeping up with Haldir's pace. It's not fair...his legs are longer, She thought with what little humor she could muster. She was truly embarrassed by her clumsy behavior and began to chide herself. This was the land of her elven kin and here she had gone and made a fool out of herself for a first impression.
The sun's influence on her surroundings wanned and the stars crept up the sky as they entered into Caras Galadhon. The first thing Londe noticed about the city was that it seemed to be nothing but forest, until one looked up and saw the splender of the ornate talans, and heard the voices, singing and laughter of the people within.
The two elves, whose names Londe had not learned, bid their farewells to Haldir and left them to ascend the stairway to the great talan of Galadriel and Celeborn. Londe could not find room in her heart for worry or fear, even knowing she was so close to the deciders of her fate. Looking around her, all she could feel was wonder, amazement, and sense of familiarity, as if she had come home. The talans of trees in her vicinity seemed to reflect the starlight in every crevice and line of architecture. The leaves on the trees seemed to shimmer with liquid serenity and the air itself held a silver hue that was intoxicating. Immidiately she could not understand why anyone would fear this land. She fell in love with it even as she climbed to her fearful meeting.
The shadow of a smile that had appeard on Londe's face soon faded as she stepped onto the platform of the Lady's court and looked about in naked awe. Flowers were etched into the floor that seemed to consist of no material of that world. An air of importance and diplomacy was mixed with an air of love and kinship. Haldir led her to the bottom of a set of stairs and that was when she noticed the two beautiful beings descending them. They stood equal in height and importance, their love for eachother clearly visible as they came toward her hand-in-hand. They emitted an ethereal silver glow as elves have a tendency of doing on warm nights when the stars shine bright in the sky. Galadriel's features were strong and yet softened in a womanly way. She stood with the importance of a man, and the beauty of a woman. The Lord Celeborn, standing beside, her held no more or less importance than his love. His features were strong and fair as are the features of all elves. The two rulers looked down upon Londe with unreadable expressions in their eyes.
"Haldir, trusted guardien of our Wood, what news have you?" Celeborn asked in a calm monotone.
"This young she-elf, claims to be of kin to an elf woman of Lorien. She was caught within the borders of the Wood and apprehended to be brought before you and the fair Lady Galadriel for her intentions to be judged.
"In such times as these there are few who we can trust,"Celeborn repeated Haldir's words as he turned to face Londe. He gazed into her eyes for what seemed like an infinity before speaking once more,"We find your intentions to be true, and though we do not adore your timing, we wish to hear more of your Lorien relative and your purposes for travelling to our Realm."
It was clear to Londe now, that Celeborn had been conversing with Galadriel while he had looked upon her. Galadriel had not uttered a word so far, she merely fixed Londe with an intent gaze.
A chair was brought for Londe by a tall female elf with long flaxen hair and a mischievous face. Londe sat and began to speak,"My mother's name was Nimranwen. She was a beautiful being..."
Londe went on to describe her mother and her union with Londe's father, Borim. She told of their happy life together and of how it was all stripped away on the night of the orc attack.
All the while Haldir had stood silently to the side, he spoke to the Lord Celeborn when she had finished her tale,"Those orcs were the reason our guard was heavy on the southern borders."
Celeborn acknowledged Haldir's comment with a contemplative nod. At length he spoke to Londe,"I did not know your mother personally, but she sounds like a beautiful spirit and her loss must be heavy upon your soul. I understand your desire to learn more of the Galadhrim. You have grown up in the world of men, and now you seek the other half of your destiny. You may stay in Lorien. We wish for you to find solace and we mourn for your loss. That one so young should have to suffer such a tragedy is one of worse fates in this world."
Galadriel finally spoke,"Haldir, the coming week is your mandatory holiday is it not?"
Haldir's eyes held something that was almost annoyance at the mention of this new rule. The Lord and Lady had decided he worked himself too hard, so every six months he was required to take a one week rest period."Yes, my Lady it is."
"It would be good for you to have some social contact with someone other than your brothers, Haldir." Galadriel's eyes did not hide her amusement,"You shall be Londe's companion as she begins to adjust."
Haldir was less than thrilled with Galadriel's suggestion. However he knew it would be folly to spurn her. He could feel that she was keeping something from him. Some of her foresight perhaps. Haldir bowed in agreement rather than have his voice betray his dissappointment.
"There is an unoccupied talan close to yours is their not?" Galadriel inquired.
Haldir nodded.
"Would you show Londe to it and see that she is settled in for the night?"
"Of course my Lady."
With that Haldir and Londe were dismissed and they exited the court.
As any author, I love reviews and more would be awesome. And if you feel the need to flame, try to be gentle.
And now, on with the show...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 3: A Prisoner and a Decision
Londe felt as though she had walked the length of the fields of Rohan twice over by the time they had begun to reach the city of Caras Galadhon. Haldir, whose name she had discerned from what little speech there was between him and the two elves that accompanied them to the city, walked beside her holding her upper arm in a bruising grip. The rest of the party stayed at the borders while Haldir brought Londe to be judged by the Lady Galadriel and the Lord Celeborn. As they stepped closer and closer to the city Haldir's vice-like grip became more apparant to her, the tense and ready behavior of the two other elves was evident to her as well. She soon realized that she was a prisoner and this brought a worse state of panic to her than during her journey to the borders.
Londe's breathing became eratic and caught in her throat. Her knees began to weaken, and she fell to the ground as they gave out from under her. Haldir slackened his hold on her arm for a moment. As he bent to retrieve her from the forest floor he hesitated, looking upon her with a changed expression in his eyes. The two elves, who had been travelling some paces ahead, paused to observe this exchange. Giving the girl a moment to catch her breathe he pushed away the unwanted emotion and his face became passive and unreadable once more. He helped Londe up and continuted the journey to the Lord and Lady.
The air of Lorien seemed to laugh at Londe as she regained part of her composure and carried on with her attempts at keeping up with Haldir's pace. It's not fair...his legs are longer, She thought with what little humor she could muster. She was truly embarrassed by her clumsy behavior and began to chide herself. This was the land of her elven kin and here she had gone and made a fool out of herself for a first impression.
The sun's influence on her surroundings wanned and the stars crept up the sky as they entered into Caras Galadhon. The first thing Londe noticed about the city was that it seemed to be nothing but forest, until one looked up and saw the splender of the ornate talans, and heard the voices, singing and laughter of the people within.
The two elves, whose names Londe had not learned, bid their farewells to Haldir and left them to ascend the stairway to the great talan of Galadriel and Celeborn. Londe could not find room in her heart for worry or fear, even knowing she was so close to the deciders of her fate. Looking around her, all she could feel was wonder, amazement, and sense of familiarity, as if she had come home. The talans of trees in her vicinity seemed to reflect the starlight in every crevice and line of architecture. The leaves on the trees seemed to shimmer with liquid serenity and the air itself held a silver hue that was intoxicating. Immidiately she could not understand why anyone would fear this land. She fell in love with it even as she climbed to her fearful meeting.
The shadow of a smile that had appeard on Londe's face soon faded as she stepped onto the platform of the Lady's court and looked about in naked awe. Flowers were etched into the floor that seemed to consist of no material of that world. An air of importance and diplomacy was mixed with an air of love and kinship. Haldir led her to the bottom of a set of stairs and that was when she noticed the two beautiful beings descending them. They stood equal in height and importance, their love for eachother clearly visible as they came toward her hand-in-hand. They emitted an ethereal silver glow as elves have a tendency of doing on warm nights when the stars shine bright in the sky. Galadriel's features were strong and yet softened in a womanly way. She stood with the importance of a man, and the beauty of a woman. The Lord Celeborn, standing beside, her held no more or less importance than his love. His features were strong and fair as are the features of all elves. The two rulers looked down upon Londe with unreadable expressions in their eyes.
"Haldir, trusted guardien of our Wood, what news have you?" Celeborn asked in a calm monotone.
"This young she-elf, claims to be of kin to an elf woman of Lorien. She was caught within the borders of the Wood and apprehended to be brought before you and the fair Lady Galadriel for her intentions to be judged.
"In such times as these there are few who we can trust,"Celeborn repeated Haldir's words as he turned to face Londe. He gazed into her eyes for what seemed like an infinity before speaking once more,"We find your intentions to be true, and though we do not adore your timing, we wish to hear more of your Lorien relative and your purposes for travelling to our Realm."
It was clear to Londe now, that Celeborn had been conversing with Galadriel while he had looked upon her. Galadriel had not uttered a word so far, she merely fixed Londe with an intent gaze.
A chair was brought for Londe by a tall female elf with long flaxen hair and a mischievous face. Londe sat and began to speak,"My mother's name was Nimranwen. She was a beautiful being..."
Londe went on to describe her mother and her union with Londe's father, Borim. She told of their happy life together and of how it was all stripped away on the night of the orc attack.
All the while Haldir had stood silently to the side, he spoke to the Lord Celeborn when she had finished her tale,"Those orcs were the reason our guard was heavy on the southern borders."
Celeborn acknowledged Haldir's comment with a contemplative nod. At length he spoke to Londe,"I did not know your mother personally, but she sounds like a beautiful spirit and her loss must be heavy upon your soul. I understand your desire to learn more of the Galadhrim. You have grown up in the world of men, and now you seek the other half of your destiny. You may stay in Lorien. We wish for you to find solace and we mourn for your loss. That one so young should have to suffer such a tragedy is one of worse fates in this world."
Galadriel finally spoke,"Haldir, the coming week is your mandatory holiday is it not?"
Haldir's eyes held something that was almost annoyance at the mention of this new rule. The Lord and Lady had decided he worked himself too hard, so every six months he was required to take a one week rest period."Yes, my Lady it is."
"It would be good for you to have some social contact with someone other than your brothers, Haldir." Galadriel's eyes did not hide her amusement,"You shall be Londe's companion as she begins to adjust."
Haldir was less than thrilled with Galadriel's suggestion. However he knew it would be folly to spurn her. He could feel that she was keeping something from him. Some of her foresight perhaps. Haldir bowed in agreement rather than have his voice betray his dissappointment.
"There is an unoccupied talan close to yours is their not?" Galadriel inquired.
Haldir nodded.
"Would you show Londe to it and see that she is settled in for the night?"
"Of course my Lady."
With that Haldir and Londe were dismissed and they exited the court.