Chapter 4: A walk
Haldir and Londe descended the steps to the base of the tree. In the open once more Londe breathed in the atmostphere of Lorien. She felt as though she had stepped into the clearest pool in Middle-Earth and was instantly cleansed of all her troubles. But as she approached the surface problems at hand began to return. She realized that she was in the middle of a deafening silence between herself and the marchwarden. Stealing a glance at his face, she saw that his expression was passive and emotionless; Londe began to realize that this seeming apathy was a constant part of his personality and demeanor. She wondered at the reasons for such a trait.
Not being accustom to uneasiness between herself and a companion, Londe attempted conversation,"Your city is fair, marchwarden. It fills one with dreams just to look upon it. I cannot imagine the life of someone gifted with these images each day."
"No you cannot." Haldir replied rather shortly. He did not try to hide his disdain from her at the thought of spending an entire holiday, which was unnecessary in the first place, with some wench he barely knew. It was unusual for him to show a guest of the Lord and Lady any deviation from perfect diplomacy, but the sudden arrival of this she-elf and the assumption on her part that in such times of darkness the guardians of Lothlorien would just allow her to permeate their borders was something that clung to the front of his thoughts, irritating him to no end. And yet she stood in the heart of Lorien.
The simple meanness dripping from Haldir's short reply cut through Londe like the sword of the finest warrior in Middle-Earth. She didn't know the elven-warrior, but Londe had been brought up in a sheltered environment, she was not used to negativity being directed toward her and his blatant dislike of her discouraged her spirit. She did not speak for the rest of the walk.
Presently they arrived at the site of Haldir's talan. They climbed the spiraling steps up to the platform. He indicated the entrance of his abode and told her that if she needed him for any reason he could be found there. They proceeded upwards towards the talan where Londe would be staying only to be met with an exhausting surprise.
Haldir's face fell into a frown when he stepped inside the platform and found someone there, one of his own wardens, Gildoreion. The warden looked up to see the intruder and stiffened when he saw his superior.
"Sir, am I needed at the borders?"
Haldir was silent for a moment collecting his throughts, he recalled the mischievous glint in the Lady Galadriel's eyes, and thought he realized what her intention was,"No, Gildoreion, you are not needed. We have a guest of the Wood,"he motioned to Londe,"and I was told that this talan was still vacant. I see now there must have been some error."
Leaving the platform with Londe trailing confusedly after him he fully realized that the Lady had intended to throw the two together. And, knowing that he should not defy the Lady of Light, Haldir concluded that Londe would have to reside in his talan temporarily until further arrangements could be made. He made his way back down to his place and invited talan inside.
"Come in, Londe."
Londe entered the sparsly furnished area and stood awkwardly glancing about. She was confused as to what was happening and Haldir did not seem sparing in information.
"Am I to reside here during my stay, then?" She asked after gathering some of her wits.
"This,"Haldir replied, very put out,"is a temporary arrangment until we can make further plans to find you your own quarters. I have an extra down mattress that you may use to retire on."
His words were short and she was quickly becoming accustomed to his haughty behavior.
"I have had a long day,"Haldir went on."And you, have had some trying times over the last week. The only sane thing to do, would be to rest."
Haldir showed her to a small room with a comfortable bed and a wash basin, before retiring to his own room.
Haldir and Londe descended the steps to the base of the tree. In the open once more Londe breathed in the atmostphere of Lorien. She felt as though she had stepped into the clearest pool in Middle-Earth and was instantly cleansed of all her troubles. But as she approached the surface problems at hand began to return. She realized that she was in the middle of a deafening silence between herself and the marchwarden. Stealing a glance at his face, she saw that his expression was passive and emotionless; Londe began to realize that this seeming apathy was a constant part of his personality and demeanor. She wondered at the reasons for such a trait.
Not being accustom to uneasiness between herself and a companion, Londe attempted conversation,"Your city is fair, marchwarden. It fills one with dreams just to look upon it. I cannot imagine the life of someone gifted with these images each day."
"No you cannot." Haldir replied rather shortly. He did not try to hide his disdain from her at the thought of spending an entire holiday, which was unnecessary in the first place, with some wench he barely knew. It was unusual for him to show a guest of the Lord and Lady any deviation from perfect diplomacy, but the sudden arrival of this she-elf and the assumption on her part that in such times of darkness the guardians of Lothlorien would just allow her to permeate their borders was something that clung to the front of his thoughts, irritating him to no end. And yet she stood in the heart of Lorien.
The simple meanness dripping from Haldir's short reply cut through Londe like the sword of the finest warrior in Middle-Earth. She didn't know the elven-warrior, but Londe had been brought up in a sheltered environment, she was not used to negativity being directed toward her and his blatant dislike of her discouraged her spirit. She did not speak for the rest of the walk.
Presently they arrived at the site of Haldir's talan. They climbed the spiraling steps up to the platform. He indicated the entrance of his abode and told her that if she needed him for any reason he could be found there. They proceeded upwards towards the talan where Londe would be staying only to be met with an exhausting surprise.
Haldir's face fell into a frown when he stepped inside the platform and found someone there, one of his own wardens, Gildoreion. The warden looked up to see the intruder and stiffened when he saw his superior.
"Sir, am I needed at the borders?"
Haldir was silent for a moment collecting his throughts, he recalled the mischievous glint in the Lady Galadriel's eyes, and thought he realized what her intention was,"No, Gildoreion, you are not needed. We have a guest of the Wood,"he motioned to Londe,"and I was told that this talan was still vacant. I see now there must have been some error."
Leaving the platform with Londe trailing confusedly after him he fully realized that the Lady had intended to throw the two together. And, knowing that he should not defy the Lady of Light, Haldir concluded that Londe would have to reside in his talan temporarily until further arrangements could be made. He made his way back down to his place and invited talan inside.
"Come in, Londe."
Londe entered the sparsly furnished area and stood awkwardly glancing about. She was confused as to what was happening and Haldir did not seem sparing in information.
"Am I to reside here during my stay, then?" She asked after gathering some of her wits.
"This,"Haldir replied, very put out,"is a temporary arrangment until we can make further plans to find you your own quarters. I have an extra down mattress that you may use to retire on."
His words were short and she was quickly becoming accustomed to his haughty behavior.
"I have had a long day,"Haldir went on."And you, have had some trying times over the last week. The only sane thing to do, would be to rest."
Haldir showed her to a small room with a comfortable bed and a wash basin, before retiring to his own room.