A/N: Okay, this is a short chapter, because that's the way it worked out.
The next piece would have distracted from this particular bit of sub-plot.
I wanted you all to think on this one for a while. But aside from that,
what do you guys think of it? Tell me if the dialogue makes sense and such.
I want some CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. Don't just tell me it's good. Tell me
what I can do better! Okay, enough ranting for now. Too many late nights.
Elladan smiled up at Laurelen. "Lost the trail so soon, lady? Even Aragorn could not teach you a sense of direction? Well, you are lucky mine is better. I know where we are."
Laurelen glared at him and opened her mouth to make a retort, but he cut her off with a grin and a wave of his hand. "I forgive you, Laurelen. I have lived here for more than two thousand years; you cannot live in a place for that long without eventually finding all the secluded spots like this one." He gestured about the clearing. "My brother and I used to come here often, simply to be alone. Especially after our mother left."
A shiver ran down Laurelen's spine at the look in Elladan's eyes. They were dark with sadness, but also anger and vengence. She did not know that the same look was often seen in her eyes.
With a strange smile on his face, Elladan continued, "It is a story you must hear, if you have not already." When she shook her head, he nodded and swung up onto his horse. "Then I shall tell you as we ride." He swung his horse around with a touch of his leg. "Come, this way."
They soon found a little-used trail weaving through the trees. Elladan smiled to himself and motioned for Laurelen to follow as they followed the trail. He was silent for a moment, and then began to tell the story of his mother, Celebrían.
Laurelen listened grimly as he told of what started as a simple trip to visit her mother, Galadriel, in Loríen, and then of her capture by orcs while traveling back to Rivendell. He spoke with growing anger of how he and Elrohir rescued their mother, and the torture she had undergone. His voice shook as he explained that they had come too late, and how his father grieved when Celebrían departed for the Havens. With eyes blazing, he turned to Laurelen. "Do I not have as much reason as you to hate? I cannot trust even my own race to protect my mother. All of her escort were killed, and what for? She still suffered!" His sudden outburst seemed to surprise him, and he quieted. Finally he spoke again, with a voice soft and rough. "Alas. Alas that such evil should come to us, especially to my father. Already he bears the weight of Mordor. As we all do to some measure." His eyes were full of tears as he turned to Laurelen again. "That is why we have each other: to share the burden. But without trust, you bear it alone. I learned to trust again. Can you?"
Sulien stopped of her own accord, sensing her rider's turmoil as she answered the question. "I can. Already I have learned to trust you, and your brother, and sister. Aragorn I trust, and Poppy, of course. But not wholly. I cannot trust anyone with my life or future. Can you understand that?"
Elladan slid off his horse and looked up at her. He place a hand on Sulien's neck and answered, "I understand. It will take many years to heal. I know." He thought to himself, but did not say out loud, Someday I hope you will trust me fully.
Gently, Laurelen also got off her horse so she could look him in the eye. She could not help but grin a little as she found she came only up to his chin. But her eyes were serious as she said, "Thank you."
With a courtly bow, Elladan replied, "You are welcome." He picked up her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the back of it. "I am sorry to have judged you so."
Laurelen cut him off with shake of her hand. "Do not apologize. Only good came of it." She gripped his hand tighter. "Now I know I am not alone."
His free hand reached to brush a wayward lock of hair out of her eyes and came to rest on the side of her face. "You will never be alone."
She nodded slowly, and they turned to follow the trail once more, this time on foot. The horses followed behind, and for once Sulien seemed content to be beside another horse. The two elves walked on, hands clasped firmly, and for the first time in a long while, there was peace in Laurelen's heart.
Elladan smiled up at Laurelen. "Lost the trail so soon, lady? Even Aragorn could not teach you a sense of direction? Well, you are lucky mine is better. I know where we are."
Laurelen glared at him and opened her mouth to make a retort, but he cut her off with a grin and a wave of his hand. "I forgive you, Laurelen. I have lived here for more than two thousand years; you cannot live in a place for that long without eventually finding all the secluded spots like this one." He gestured about the clearing. "My brother and I used to come here often, simply to be alone. Especially after our mother left."
A shiver ran down Laurelen's spine at the look in Elladan's eyes. They were dark with sadness, but also anger and vengence. She did not know that the same look was often seen in her eyes.
With a strange smile on his face, Elladan continued, "It is a story you must hear, if you have not already." When she shook her head, he nodded and swung up onto his horse. "Then I shall tell you as we ride." He swung his horse around with a touch of his leg. "Come, this way."
They soon found a little-used trail weaving through the trees. Elladan smiled to himself and motioned for Laurelen to follow as they followed the trail. He was silent for a moment, and then began to tell the story of his mother, Celebrían.
Laurelen listened grimly as he told of what started as a simple trip to visit her mother, Galadriel, in Loríen, and then of her capture by orcs while traveling back to Rivendell. He spoke with growing anger of how he and Elrohir rescued their mother, and the torture she had undergone. His voice shook as he explained that they had come too late, and how his father grieved when Celebrían departed for the Havens. With eyes blazing, he turned to Laurelen. "Do I not have as much reason as you to hate? I cannot trust even my own race to protect my mother. All of her escort were killed, and what for? She still suffered!" His sudden outburst seemed to surprise him, and he quieted. Finally he spoke again, with a voice soft and rough. "Alas. Alas that such evil should come to us, especially to my father. Already he bears the weight of Mordor. As we all do to some measure." His eyes were full of tears as he turned to Laurelen again. "That is why we have each other: to share the burden. But without trust, you bear it alone. I learned to trust again. Can you?"
Sulien stopped of her own accord, sensing her rider's turmoil as she answered the question. "I can. Already I have learned to trust you, and your brother, and sister. Aragorn I trust, and Poppy, of course. But not wholly. I cannot trust anyone with my life or future. Can you understand that?"
Elladan slid off his horse and looked up at her. He place a hand on Sulien's neck and answered, "I understand. It will take many years to heal. I know." He thought to himself, but did not say out loud, Someday I hope you will trust me fully.
Gently, Laurelen also got off her horse so she could look him in the eye. She could not help but grin a little as she found she came only up to his chin. But her eyes were serious as she said, "Thank you."
With a courtly bow, Elladan replied, "You are welcome." He picked up her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the back of it. "I am sorry to have judged you so."
Laurelen cut him off with shake of her hand. "Do not apologize. Only good came of it." She gripped his hand tighter. "Now I know I am not alone."
His free hand reached to brush a wayward lock of hair out of her eyes and came to rest on the side of her face. "You will never be alone."
She nodded slowly, and they turned to follow the trail once more, this time on foot. The horses followed behind, and for once Sulien seemed content to be beside another horse. The two elves walked on, hands clasped firmly, and for the first time in a long while, there was peace in Laurelen's heart.