Hey guys! sorry for such a long wait. I've been really busy with school and
family stuff. thankfully I'll be graduating soon, so I'll be able to devote
more time to the story. It also seems that I've been ambushed by plot
tribbles. Every where I turn I'm being attacked by them. Lately they have
joined forces with writes block. Fear not. I've managed to cram all the
plot tribbles into a box and sit on the lid. This story will not die. (It
may just take longer than expected. ) Speaking of long, this chapter is
huge! At least compared to the other chapters. It has been brought to my
attention that I forgot to include a disclamer. Well, here it is: I own
nothing of Tolkien's( bowing -"I am not worthy") I also wanted to thank you
all for your reveiws. They are much appreciated. Enjoy!
P. S. I will understand if you want to kill me at the end of this chapter,
but if you do that I'll never finish the story.(hehehehehehehehehehehehehe)
Comfort
The sun dawned bright on the new day. Its golden rays cast a warm glow on the waking forest. The creatures of the wood stirred to life. The birds took up a song for the new morning, as other woodland beings began to wake. The mist shrank from the light, into the dark places of the forrest. A new day had begun.
Haldir, as with all elves, woke at sunrise. Usually he would have welcomed the sunlight as it poured thruogh the windows of his large bed chamber. Any other morning he would have enjoyedthe golden rays splashing across his face, gently coaxing him rom his slumber. This morning was different, the sun was no longer a friend, but an enemy.
Haldir had been up late into the night, thinking about the situation he now found himself in. The longing that had plagued his heart for weeks was now replaced by desire. And that desire was dirrected at Marsaili. Every time he touched her, he felt some sort of strange energy that tantalized and stunned his senses. Even more strange was the way he felt in her mere presence. When he laid eyes on her his heart beat faster, his palms grew sweaty, and his stomach turned in anxiety. But most disconcerting was the way his heart and mind now warred with each other.
His heart told him that he wanted Marsaili. It also told him that his desire was fed by more than just lust. He wanted all of her, her body and her mind. The latter of wich he had never before considered in any other female interest. She had awakened somthing in him that had lain dormant for his entirre life and was now taking hold of his heart, although he had no idea what it was. It was most frustrating to know that he had lost control of something within himself and was powerless to restrain it. He found her suprisingly intelligent. She was not like most of the she- elves in Lorien. She didn't flirt and flaunt herself at him. She had a mind, will, and tongue of her own and wasn't afriad to use them. She was very different from the typical females he was used to getting his way with. she challenged him openly with her words and actions. She was agresive with her body and her mouth. She was actually able to keep up with his verbal banterings and best him at his own game. Somehing about her mesmerised him. Her soul seemed to capture his own. Could she be his soulmate? Was this love?
The logic of his mind, however, told him that it most certaintly was not. He could not be in love with ther when he knew almost nothing about her. True, he had learned some of her story from Lord Celeborn, but he knew next to nohing about the type of person she was. Not to mention the fact that he had only met her the day before. It was also clear to him that she harbored no loving feelings towards him, for she had either been terse, silent or raving when in conversation with him. Besides, why should he care, she was only a woman; and a human at that. He ws an elf, one of the Galadhrim. If anything were to developit would probably never work anyway. She was also connected to this feeling of danger that had ben looming over him. Those who were after her would eventually find her and if she was in Lothlorien when this happened, then hi people were also in danger. His strong sense of pride reminded him that he was the a Marchwarden of Lothlorien. He did not go chasing after females, they came to him. he did not need anyone, he was independant and he liked it that way. To tell the truth, love scared him. He also saw it as a sign of weakness; something he did not need at this moment. He finaly justified his denial by telling himself that if he tried to act on his feelings for her they would only get in the way of her training, and he would not let anything stand in the way of completing his assignment.
Haldir finally found sleep in the early morning hours. Even in sleep he could not escape his inner turmoil. Hil mind refused to rest. What little rest his body found was full of fitful tossing and turning. When dawn came, Haldir fought the urge to curse the sunas it robbed him of his reprieve. He wearily opened his eyes and prepared to face a new day.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Marsaili's point of view *~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*
Marsaili's evening was also less than pleasant. At the end of her audience with Galadriel and Celebourn it was decided that she would be given a better room to make her stay with the elves comfortable. She, of sourse, saw no problem with this arrangement. That was, untill she learned of the room's location.
Her suite was right next to Haldir's! She realized this as Haldir carried her down the hall, following a sevant that was to lead them to her new room. They had said nothing to each other since thier argiment that afternoon and the tension between them was almost tangible.
Her mind wandered to thoughts of the home she was sure she would never see again. It was the only place she dhad ever known; her birth place. She would never bask in the warmth of her cozy fireplace again. Marsaili would never tend her quaint garden once more, or bathe in the quiet stream that flowd through her beloved forrest. She would never be allowed to walk the familiar woodland paths.
Along with loosing her home she lost all links to her past and her parents. They had been murdered when she was ten years old and had left behind only a few treasured herilooms, one of wich was a thin golden ring with a tiny emerald that she wore on the her left hand. She absentmindedly fingered the ring as memories of the happier times she spent with her parents flooded her mind. Marsaili could see herself with her parents as they strolled the sunlit paths of a forrest. She walked between them, holding thier hands as they swung her back and forth. She musts have been ten at the time. She came back to reality as shse felt Haldir's body tense next to hers and turned in his arms to see what hadcaused him to react so strongly.
Marsaili took in the scene bfore her. The hallway was bustling with many servants. They were moving what appeared to be someone's personal belongings. Papers, weapons, books, clothing and many more things were piled high in large boxes. She marveled at the simple carvings on the boxes and the subtle movements of the elves carrying them down the hall and into the room before her. It truly amazed her to find that the elves were able to take things so ordinary as boxes and the act of walking a new found grace and beauty. She grew frustated with heself as she began to realize tht however friendly and hospitable the elves of Lothlorien were, she had no hope of ever fitting in.
She was confused sas to why Haldir should be upset that someone's perlonal belongings were being moved. That was, of course, unless those things were... his! Marsaili's eyes grew wide as the realization dawned on her.She turned to look at Haldir and his stormy expresion only served to confirm her thoughts.
She followed his steely gaze as it came to rest on a rather scrawny looking elf who seemed to be dirrecting the other servants in thier tasks. Marsaili came to the conclusion that he must be the one charge.
Haldir carrieds her over to the small chair wich stood outside the room that was to be hers. She expected to be summarily plopped down upon it, but was suprised as he gently set her down, bringing a box over to prop hser legs on so that her feet would not suffer any pressure or the pain that she had earlier experienced. However her shocked reation to his unexpected tenderness was short lived. She was promptly brought back to a state of annoyance when he grufflly told her,
" Stay where you are and don't move."
" Hail Master of the obvious, " she said in a sarcastic tone, " does it really look like go anywhere on my own if I wanted to?!" All she recieved in reply, as Haldir strode toward the head servant( now shaking in his boots) , was a glare that told her to keep her smartmouthed comments to herself. Not that she was going to listen anyway. Her attention came to rest on the servant as he looked warily around him and came to realize that Haldir's wrath was being dirrected soley at him. She truly began to pity the poor elf that was shrinking away from Haldir's advance.
Marsaili saw Haldir bring himself to a halt in front of the pitiful elf. She could see Haldir struggle to restrain his rage as he clenched and unclenched his fists. His gaze of cold blue steel, however, was not so civilized. It conveyed a message of anger so strong that the soul standing before him looked away, suddenly finding his boots to be the most intersting things on this plain of existance.
She continued to watch the two elves speak to one another, or rather the one spoke at the other. Haldir asked in a low, barely civilised tone if the elf, petrified before in his path, happened to know why his belongings were being moved without his knowledge. All he received in reply was a shaky hand holding out a note, or letter of some sort. She watched with increasing curiosity as Haldir snatched the message from the quivering hand, and barked an order to the servant who oblingingly rid himself of his presence, propelled by a glare that would put dager to shame.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Haldir's point of view ~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Haldir stared hard at the servant. He was very much in need of an answer to his question and the stunned elf's silence was not serving to improve matters any, but rather to annoy Haldir further, until he found he would very much like to wring the scrawny little neck in front of him. Haldir's anger was replaced by confusion as the elf produced a small letter from the folds of his robe.
Haldir took the message from the servant's trembling hand and noticed Galadriel's seal upon it. He looked up from the letter to find the servant still cowering before him. Haldir's annoyance returned and he forcefully told the servant to "be gone"; enforcing his point with a glare that would send a balrog back to the depths from wich it came.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Haldir,
I am sure you wonder why your belongings are bieng moved. I apoogize for any inconvenience, or distress this situation has cause you.
As you know, the day for the winter celebration draws near. There was a greater number of guests than expected this year. We have given your previous chambers, as well as Marsaili's to the guests.
You will find your new rooms to be of greater quality than those you previously frequented. Also, I have arranged for them to communicate thrugh a bathroom, should you need to aid Marsaili with anything, as most of the sevants will be looking after the guests. Celeborn and I appreciate your cooporation.
Hav faith.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Marsaili's point of view~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Marsaili watched Haldir read the letter. She was amazed that such a small thing could evoke the elf's normaly impassive, or contempyuous countenance into mixed with confusion, anger, and an overwhelming sense of weariness. She wasn't sure that even if he had known how his face had looked at that moment, that he would have been able to change it. Marlaili knew that whatever the letter contained, it must be quite ominous, because she had never seen him look so defeated.
The more she saw him this way the mores she wanted to help him, for even though he had been harsh with her, she was begining to see a softer side of him through the cracks of thes arrogant and proud mask he wore. Marsili wanted to lighten his mood and comfort him, but she didn't know how. She was afraid that any comforting words she said would be twisted by her pride into nothing short of malice.
As Haldir stopped in front of her she turned her wide eyes to look at him. His misty grey eyes met with her deep hazel stare. She said nothing,but gave him all the comfort she could as they coninued to stare at each other. He seemed to draw strength fro her and she could see him start to regain his normal, confident demeanor.
He brode the contact when he bent down and retrieved her from the chair. The hall was now clear of servants and a quiet peace replaced the previous bustle. Haldir carried Marsaili through the open door, and sat her on the soft mattress and silken sheets of her new and spacious bed. He then left towards the door of what she assumed to be the bath. As she watcheds his retreating form she thought over what had just ocurred. She had seen something in his eyes that made her heart leap in her chest, but despite her best efforts, she could not determine what it was.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Sometime in the early mornign hours~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Marlaili slowly, cautiosly, opened her eyes. Her light slumber had been disturbed by a dark presnce. She could feel a pair of haunting eyes watching her. The evil wich emmenated from them was startlingly familiar. She had encountered it before in the hunters who had slain her. Her breath quickened in short, terrified spurts as adrenain pumped through her veins. She looked about her wide, spacious apartment with wide, terrified eyes, but she could see no one. After what seemed to be an eternity she forced herself to rest her head and close her tired eyes. She had contemplated calling out for Haldir, but thought betterof it. He was sure to look upon her request as frivilous and childlike. So it was with anxious nerves that her body succumbed to a deep and dreamless sleep.
Comfort
The sun dawned bright on the new day. Its golden rays cast a warm glow on the waking forest. The creatures of the wood stirred to life. The birds took up a song for the new morning, as other woodland beings began to wake. The mist shrank from the light, into the dark places of the forrest. A new day had begun.
Haldir, as with all elves, woke at sunrise. Usually he would have welcomed the sunlight as it poured thruogh the windows of his large bed chamber. Any other morning he would have enjoyedthe golden rays splashing across his face, gently coaxing him rom his slumber. This morning was different, the sun was no longer a friend, but an enemy.
Haldir had been up late into the night, thinking about the situation he now found himself in. The longing that had plagued his heart for weeks was now replaced by desire. And that desire was dirrected at Marsaili. Every time he touched her, he felt some sort of strange energy that tantalized and stunned his senses. Even more strange was the way he felt in her mere presence. When he laid eyes on her his heart beat faster, his palms grew sweaty, and his stomach turned in anxiety. But most disconcerting was the way his heart and mind now warred with each other.
His heart told him that he wanted Marsaili. It also told him that his desire was fed by more than just lust. He wanted all of her, her body and her mind. The latter of wich he had never before considered in any other female interest. She had awakened somthing in him that had lain dormant for his entirre life and was now taking hold of his heart, although he had no idea what it was. It was most frustrating to know that he had lost control of something within himself and was powerless to restrain it. He found her suprisingly intelligent. She was not like most of the she- elves in Lorien. She didn't flirt and flaunt herself at him. She had a mind, will, and tongue of her own and wasn't afriad to use them. She was very different from the typical females he was used to getting his way with. she challenged him openly with her words and actions. She was agresive with her body and her mouth. She was actually able to keep up with his verbal banterings and best him at his own game. Somehing about her mesmerised him. Her soul seemed to capture his own. Could she be his soulmate? Was this love?
The logic of his mind, however, told him that it most certaintly was not. He could not be in love with ther when he knew almost nothing about her. True, he had learned some of her story from Lord Celeborn, but he knew next to nohing about the type of person she was. Not to mention the fact that he had only met her the day before. It was also clear to him that she harbored no loving feelings towards him, for she had either been terse, silent or raving when in conversation with him. Besides, why should he care, she was only a woman; and a human at that. He ws an elf, one of the Galadhrim. If anything were to developit would probably never work anyway. She was also connected to this feeling of danger that had ben looming over him. Those who were after her would eventually find her and if she was in Lothlorien when this happened, then hi people were also in danger. His strong sense of pride reminded him that he was the a Marchwarden of Lothlorien. He did not go chasing after females, they came to him. he did not need anyone, he was independant and he liked it that way. To tell the truth, love scared him. He also saw it as a sign of weakness; something he did not need at this moment. He finaly justified his denial by telling himself that if he tried to act on his feelings for her they would only get in the way of her training, and he would not let anything stand in the way of completing his assignment.
Haldir finally found sleep in the early morning hours. Even in sleep he could not escape his inner turmoil. Hil mind refused to rest. What little rest his body found was full of fitful tossing and turning. When dawn came, Haldir fought the urge to curse the sunas it robbed him of his reprieve. He wearily opened his eyes and prepared to face a new day.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Marsaili's point of view *~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*
Marsaili's evening was also less than pleasant. At the end of her audience with Galadriel and Celebourn it was decided that she would be given a better room to make her stay with the elves comfortable. She, of sourse, saw no problem with this arrangement. That was, untill she learned of the room's location.
Her suite was right next to Haldir's! She realized this as Haldir carried her down the hall, following a sevant that was to lead them to her new room. They had said nothing to each other since thier argiment that afternoon and the tension between them was almost tangible.
Her mind wandered to thoughts of the home she was sure she would never see again. It was the only place she dhad ever known; her birth place. She would never bask in the warmth of her cozy fireplace again. Marsaili would never tend her quaint garden once more, or bathe in the quiet stream that flowd through her beloved forrest. She would never be allowed to walk the familiar woodland paths.
Along with loosing her home she lost all links to her past and her parents. They had been murdered when she was ten years old and had left behind only a few treasured herilooms, one of wich was a thin golden ring with a tiny emerald that she wore on the her left hand. She absentmindedly fingered the ring as memories of the happier times she spent with her parents flooded her mind. Marsaili could see herself with her parents as they strolled the sunlit paths of a forrest. She walked between them, holding thier hands as they swung her back and forth. She musts have been ten at the time. She came back to reality as shse felt Haldir's body tense next to hers and turned in his arms to see what hadcaused him to react so strongly.
Marsaili took in the scene bfore her. The hallway was bustling with many servants. They were moving what appeared to be someone's personal belongings. Papers, weapons, books, clothing and many more things were piled high in large boxes. She marveled at the simple carvings on the boxes and the subtle movements of the elves carrying them down the hall and into the room before her. It truly amazed her to find that the elves were able to take things so ordinary as boxes and the act of walking a new found grace and beauty. She grew frustated with heself as she began to realize tht however friendly and hospitable the elves of Lothlorien were, she had no hope of ever fitting in.
She was confused sas to why Haldir should be upset that someone's perlonal belongings were being moved. That was, of course, unless those things were... his! Marsaili's eyes grew wide as the realization dawned on her.She turned to look at Haldir and his stormy expresion only served to confirm her thoughts.
She followed his steely gaze as it came to rest on a rather scrawny looking elf who seemed to be dirrecting the other servants in thier tasks. Marsaili came to the conclusion that he must be the one charge.
Haldir carrieds her over to the small chair wich stood outside the room that was to be hers. She expected to be summarily plopped down upon it, but was suprised as he gently set her down, bringing a box over to prop hser legs on so that her feet would not suffer any pressure or the pain that she had earlier experienced. However her shocked reation to his unexpected tenderness was short lived. She was promptly brought back to a state of annoyance when he grufflly told her,
" Stay where you are and don't move."
" Hail Master of the obvious, " she said in a sarcastic tone, " does it really look like go anywhere on my own if I wanted to?!" All she recieved in reply, as Haldir strode toward the head servant( now shaking in his boots) , was a glare that told her to keep her smartmouthed comments to herself. Not that she was going to listen anyway. Her attention came to rest on the servant as he looked warily around him and came to realize that Haldir's wrath was being dirrected soley at him. She truly began to pity the poor elf that was shrinking away from Haldir's advance.
Marsaili saw Haldir bring himself to a halt in front of the pitiful elf. She could see Haldir struggle to restrain his rage as he clenched and unclenched his fists. His gaze of cold blue steel, however, was not so civilized. It conveyed a message of anger so strong that the soul standing before him looked away, suddenly finding his boots to be the most intersting things on this plain of existance.
She continued to watch the two elves speak to one another, or rather the one spoke at the other. Haldir asked in a low, barely civilised tone if the elf, petrified before in his path, happened to know why his belongings were being moved without his knowledge. All he received in reply was a shaky hand holding out a note, or letter of some sort. She watched with increasing curiosity as Haldir snatched the message from the quivering hand, and barked an order to the servant who oblingingly rid himself of his presence, propelled by a glare that would put dager to shame.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Haldir's point of view ~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Haldir stared hard at the servant. He was very much in need of an answer to his question and the stunned elf's silence was not serving to improve matters any, but rather to annoy Haldir further, until he found he would very much like to wring the scrawny little neck in front of him. Haldir's anger was replaced by confusion as the elf produced a small letter from the folds of his robe.
Haldir took the message from the servant's trembling hand and noticed Galadriel's seal upon it. He looked up from the letter to find the servant still cowering before him. Haldir's annoyance returned and he forcefully told the servant to "be gone"; enforcing his point with a glare that would send a balrog back to the depths from wich it came.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Haldir,
I am sure you wonder why your belongings are bieng moved. I apoogize for any inconvenience, or distress this situation has cause you.
As you know, the day for the winter celebration draws near. There was a greater number of guests than expected this year. We have given your previous chambers, as well as Marsaili's to the guests.
You will find your new rooms to be of greater quality than those you previously frequented. Also, I have arranged for them to communicate thrugh a bathroom, should you need to aid Marsaili with anything, as most of the sevants will be looking after the guests. Celeborn and I appreciate your cooporation.
Hav faith.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Marsaili's point of view~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Marsaili watched Haldir read the letter. She was amazed that such a small thing could evoke the elf's normaly impassive, or contempyuous countenance into mixed with confusion, anger, and an overwhelming sense of weariness. She wasn't sure that even if he had known how his face had looked at that moment, that he would have been able to change it. Marlaili knew that whatever the letter contained, it must be quite ominous, because she had never seen him look so defeated.
The more she saw him this way the mores she wanted to help him, for even though he had been harsh with her, she was begining to see a softer side of him through the cracks of thes arrogant and proud mask he wore. Marsili wanted to lighten his mood and comfort him, but she didn't know how. She was afraid that any comforting words she said would be twisted by her pride into nothing short of malice.
As Haldir stopped in front of her she turned her wide eyes to look at him. His misty grey eyes met with her deep hazel stare. She said nothing,but gave him all the comfort she could as they coninued to stare at each other. He seemed to draw strength fro her and she could see him start to regain his normal, confident demeanor.
He brode the contact when he bent down and retrieved her from the chair. The hall was now clear of servants and a quiet peace replaced the previous bustle. Haldir carried Marsaili through the open door, and sat her on the soft mattress and silken sheets of her new and spacious bed. He then left towards the door of what she assumed to be the bath. As she watcheds his retreating form she thought over what had just ocurred. She had seen something in his eyes that made her heart leap in her chest, but despite her best efforts, she could not determine what it was.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Sometime in the early mornign hours~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Marlaili slowly, cautiosly, opened her eyes. Her light slumber had been disturbed by a dark presnce. She could feel a pair of haunting eyes watching her. The evil wich emmenated from them was startlingly familiar. She had encountered it before in the hunters who had slain her. Her breath quickened in short, terrified spurts as adrenain pumped through her veins. She looked about her wide, spacious apartment with wide, terrified eyes, but she could see no one. After what seemed to be an eternity she forced herself to rest her head and close her tired eyes. She had contemplated calling out for Haldir, but thought betterof it. He was sure to look upon her request as frivilous and childlike. So it was with anxious nerves that her body succumbed to a deep and dreamless sleep.