~^*^~
"Do not worry, Gliriel, you are among friends of your own kind. There is no reason to feel inferior here." A man, sitting near, but not next to the woman spoke up in a tranquil tone. His voice held kindness and unimaginable wisdom that I had considered possible. Hair seemed to be the only thing I noticed that night; he was the only one of us that was not blonde.
In response, I cocked my head to the side, and muttered, "My own kind?" I had never associated myself with such a people who seemed so. like me. yet, not so.
Without answering, the woman with the beautiful golden hair asked where I lived. I answered as truthfully as I knew, but she seemed slightly taken aback when I replied that I lived nearby. She then spoke in the strange language that was completely lost on me. this was getting frustrating. The man with the sword, Haldir, layed his hand on my arm, and I spun around to receive a face-full of blonde locks and armor. Surprised at his stealth -and the fact that he was standing so close behind me- I stepped backwards and almost fell onto the silver haired Celeborn, but Haldir's arms wrapped around my waist before I completely lost my balance. and dwindling dignity.
As soon as I was on my feet, Haldir looked at me almost tenderly, and asked if I was all right. I shot him a strange look, and recovering almost instantly, he grabbed my arm to guide me again. He turned and walked to the entrance of the tent when the brown haired man said something positively humorous that 1) made Haldir grimace and loosen his tight hold on my arm and 2) caused the two other people to laugh hysterically. Well, I at least, agreed with Haldir: I didn't find whatever he said the smallest bit funny. at all.
Once outside, I jerked my arm from Haldir's grasp, only for him to put another death-grip on my elbow. Again. Boy, this adventure was turning out to be a lot of fun.
"So tell me. Hadlir. where are you taking me?"
"My name is Haul-deer, Lady Gliriel." He growled, apparently he was short of sleep, or the one dude's comment was really getting to him.
Ahh, so he can't stand to have his name pronounced wrong. This will be fun.
"My name is Gleer-ee-el, not Gleer-ee-ail. Now, where are we going?" I repeated my question, and tugged slightly on my arm, testing his hold. Still strong.
"Ninety-two, seventy-six, eleven, twenty-eight." Don't get me wrong; I'm a great helper when I want to be. But not right then. Haldir seemed to be counting tents as we passed them, and I decided to "help" him. He steered me down one row after another, paying my voice no heed, as if he couldn't understand me, though I knew he did.
"Where are we going? Are we there yet?" I repeated for a third time. He looked sidelong at me while I grinned sardonically to him.
"You heard the Lady Galadriel." He replied, his voice clearly stretching from my annoyance. I was getting to him.
"Oh, yeah. Couldn't miss her voice.. She was the one with the long hair, right?"
They all had had long hair.
Haldir nodded tersely and flung me around a corner.
"Calm down, bud. Where are we going?"
"I thought you said you heard her."
"Oh, I heard her all right, but-"
"Then good. That's where we're going."
"But I didn't understand a thing she said."
He stopped so suddenly that I was pulled back onto him when I tried to continue walking. "What? How could you not?"
I turned on my most sarcastic smile; it was obvious when I didn't like someone, and here was a classic example. "They seemed to grasp that idea well enough. It seems to take a bit longer to sink through sheet metal." I poked at the weak spot in his armor. He swatted at my hand.
"No, no, no, NO, NO!" He cursed lightly. "I can't believe this."
"What?" He was staring wide-eyed at a tent.
"Galadriel and Celeborn made me take the long way when they told me where you were to stay.. My tent." He sounded disbelieving of his own words.
"What?" I didn't believe his words either. He looked at me, his face aghast at having to camp with me. Of course I didn't want to be anywhere near him either.
"The Lady will talk to you in the morning, but for now you are staying here."
"Did they not believe me? I have a home just a few minutes ride from here. I can't stay here. my parents will kill me if they wake up and find I'm gone."
"That's all well and good, but you aren't leaving."
"Yes, I am!" I pulled (or at least tried to) my arm from his hands, but the damn bastard still didn't let go. I planted my feet firmly on the ground and he tugged on my arm. I did not move an inch, but I could tell he wasn't using all of his strength.
He stopped pulling, and took a deep breath. "They put you in my care, young one-"
"I am not young! I'm eighteen!" I interrupted angrily.
"Which you have made quite obvious through your immaturity. And, yes, you are young, compared Lady Galadriel, Lord Celeborn or Lord Elrond or even myself."
"Oh, and how old would you be?"
He proudly drew himself up to his full height and puffed his chest. "I am just over three thousand years old, Lady Galadriel is nearly three times that."
My mouth dropped open. Elves. That was why these people were so beautiful (with a noted exception to Haldir) and seemed to glide about. As for Haldir, I wouldn't have placed him a day above my father's age. Never would I have said above forty, either.
Haldir took advantage in the temporary lull in my resistance and shoved me inside the tent. Once inside, he threw me on his cot, and told me to remain there until he got back.
(AN: I know what this sounds like. but trust me, it's not.)
Haldir left and apparently visited the neighbor's tent to fetch something. I knowing I might not have another chance, made a break for it. Sneaking to the tent flap, I peeked out. Not seeing Haldir or anybody else, I ran to the end of the row of tents. Glancing around the corner, I felt an arm wrap around my waist. I was lifted cleanly off my feet and carried under Haldir's arm, in similar fashion to the pile of blankets under his other arm. Frantically I started kicking and hitting him wherever I could. Mostly, I hit the metal of his armor, but my fist did find one unprotected spot. I wouldn't be the only one with bruises in the morning after all.
He gasped, dropped me to the ground and crumpled over in pain, grabbing the affected area. Mwuhahaa, he won't be walking without pigeon toes any time soon! I, grinning, took off at a run, but - much to my annoyance- Haldir called out a few names and words, causing elves to come rushing out of tents.
Oh, shoot, Dad's really gonna be pissed now. I've got four. no, five elves chasing after me. Dammit! I sprinted as fast as I could, but my pursuers easily caught up. Deeming it useless to run much further, I slowed down and was escorted unhappily back to Haldir's tent.
This time, I was thrown on the cot while an irate looking Marchwarden limped painfully in when the elves left. His eyes were narrowed, I could tell, and his fists were balled. I could also tell he was using a lot of self-control not to hit me.
"I told you earlier, I need to get home." I stated indignantly, realizing happily that no matter how angry he was at me, he wouldn't want to hurt me.
"Promise me, Gliriel, that you will not try to leave again." He sunk into a chair and put his head in his hands. Nice show of fake emotion. "If you go to sleep, the Lady will sort out the matters of your parents in the morning."
"And if I don't go to sleep?"
"I suspect she will deal with your parents anyway, you won't be in trouble, I don't think." Something about his voice made me want, subconsciously mind you, to get up and comfort him, but I was suddenly very tired and I tried to stifle a yawn. Didn't work, my arms involuntarily stretched over my head, and my feet kicked out in front of me.
When I refused to lie down and permit myself to sleep, Haldir tiredly muttered an apology and a promise followed by a string of elven words. Suddenly, I felt even more exhausted, so much so that I could do nothing but flop onto the cot. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
~^*^~
"Do not worry, Gliriel, you are among friends of your own kind. There is no reason to feel inferior here." A man, sitting near, but not next to the woman spoke up in a tranquil tone. His voice held kindness and unimaginable wisdom that I had considered possible. Hair seemed to be the only thing I noticed that night; he was the only one of us that was not blonde.
In response, I cocked my head to the side, and muttered, "My own kind?" I had never associated myself with such a people who seemed so. like me. yet, not so.
Without answering, the woman with the beautiful golden hair asked where I lived. I answered as truthfully as I knew, but she seemed slightly taken aback when I replied that I lived nearby. She then spoke in the strange language that was completely lost on me. this was getting frustrating. The man with the sword, Haldir, layed his hand on my arm, and I spun around to receive a face-full of blonde locks and armor. Surprised at his stealth -and the fact that he was standing so close behind me- I stepped backwards and almost fell onto the silver haired Celeborn, but Haldir's arms wrapped around my waist before I completely lost my balance. and dwindling dignity.
As soon as I was on my feet, Haldir looked at me almost tenderly, and asked if I was all right. I shot him a strange look, and recovering almost instantly, he grabbed my arm to guide me again. He turned and walked to the entrance of the tent when the brown haired man said something positively humorous that 1) made Haldir grimace and loosen his tight hold on my arm and 2) caused the two other people to laugh hysterically. Well, I at least, agreed with Haldir: I didn't find whatever he said the smallest bit funny. at all.
Once outside, I jerked my arm from Haldir's grasp, only for him to put another death-grip on my elbow. Again. Boy, this adventure was turning out to be a lot of fun.
"So tell me. Hadlir. where are you taking me?"
"My name is Haul-deer, Lady Gliriel." He growled, apparently he was short of sleep, or the one dude's comment was really getting to him.
Ahh, so he can't stand to have his name pronounced wrong. This will be fun.
"My name is Gleer-ee-el, not Gleer-ee-ail. Now, where are we going?" I repeated my question, and tugged slightly on my arm, testing his hold. Still strong.
"Ninety-two, seventy-six, eleven, twenty-eight." Don't get me wrong; I'm a great helper when I want to be. But not right then. Haldir seemed to be counting tents as we passed them, and I decided to "help" him. He steered me down one row after another, paying my voice no heed, as if he couldn't understand me, though I knew he did.
"Where are we going? Are we there yet?" I repeated for a third time. He looked sidelong at me while I grinned sardonically to him.
"You heard the Lady Galadriel." He replied, his voice clearly stretching from my annoyance. I was getting to him.
"Oh, yeah. Couldn't miss her voice.. She was the one with the long hair, right?"
They all had had long hair.
Haldir nodded tersely and flung me around a corner.
"Calm down, bud. Where are we going?"
"I thought you said you heard her."
"Oh, I heard her all right, but-"
"Then good. That's where we're going."
"But I didn't understand a thing she said."
He stopped so suddenly that I was pulled back onto him when I tried to continue walking. "What? How could you not?"
I turned on my most sarcastic smile; it was obvious when I didn't like someone, and here was a classic example. "They seemed to grasp that idea well enough. It seems to take a bit longer to sink through sheet metal." I poked at the weak spot in his armor. He swatted at my hand.
"No, no, no, NO, NO!" He cursed lightly. "I can't believe this."
"What?" He was staring wide-eyed at a tent.
"Galadriel and Celeborn made me take the long way when they told me where you were to stay.. My tent." He sounded disbelieving of his own words.
"What?" I didn't believe his words either. He looked at me, his face aghast at having to camp with me. Of course I didn't want to be anywhere near him either.
"The Lady will talk to you in the morning, but for now you are staying here."
"Did they not believe me? I have a home just a few minutes ride from here. I can't stay here. my parents will kill me if they wake up and find I'm gone."
"That's all well and good, but you aren't leaving."
"Yes, I am!" I pulled (or at least tried to) my arm from his hands, but the damn bastard still didn't let go. I planted my feet firmly on the ground and he tugged on my arm. I did not move an inch, but I could tell he wasn't using all of his strength.
He stopped pulling, and took a deep breath. "They put you in my care, young one-"
"I am not young! I'm eighteen!" I interrupted angrily.
"Which you have made quite obvious through your immaturity. And, yes, you are young, compared Lady Galadriel, Lord Celeborn or Lord Elrond or even myself."
"Oh, and how old would you be?"
He proudly drew himself up to his full height and puffed his chest. "I am just over three thousand years old, Lady Galadriel is nearly three times that."
My mouth dropped open. Elves. That was why these people were so beautiful (with a noted exception to Haldir) and seemed to glide about. As for Haldir, I wouldn't have placed him a day above my father's age. Never would I have said above forty, either.
Haldir took advantage in the temporary lull in my resistance and shoved me inside the tent. Once inside, he threw me on his cot, and told me to remain there until he got back.
(AN: I know what this sounds like. but trust me, it's not.)
Haldir left and apparently visited the neighbor's tent to fetch something. I knowing I might not have another chance, made a break for it. Sneaking to the tent flap, I peeked out. Not seeing Haldir or anybody else, I ran to the end of the row of tents. Glancing around the corner, I felt an arm wrap around my waist. I was lifted cleanly off my feet and carried under Haldir's arm, in similar fashion to the pile of blankets under his other arm. Frantically I started kicking and hitting him wherever I could. Mostly, I hit the metal of his armor, but my fist did find one unprotected spot. I wouldn't be the only one with bruises in the morning after all.
He gasped, dropped me to the ground and crumpled over in pain, grabbing the affected area. Mwuhahaa, he won't be walking without pigeon toes any time soon! I, grinning, took off at a run, but - much to my annoyance- Haldir called out a few names and words, causing elves to come rushing out of tents.
Oh, shoot, Dad's really gonna be pissed now. I've got four. no, five elves chasing after me. Dammit! I sprinted as fast as I could, but my pursuers easily caught up. Deeming it useless to run much further, I slowed down and was escorted unhappily back to Haldir's tent.
This time, I was thrown on the cot while an irate looking Marchwarden limped painfully in when the elves left. His eyes were narrowed, I could tell, and his fists were balled. I could also tell he was using a lot of self-control not to hit me.
"I told you earlier, I need to get home." I stated indignantly, realizing happily that no matter how angry he was at me, he wouldn't want to hurt me.
"Promise me, Gliriel, that you will not try to leave again." He sunk into a chair and put his head in his hands. Nice show of fake emotion. "If you go to sleep, the Lady will sort out the matters of your parents in the morning."
"And if I don't go to sleep?"
"I suspect she will deal with your parents anyway, you won't be in trouble, I don't think." Something about his voice made me want, subconsciously mind you, to get up and comfort him, but I was suddenly very tired and I tried to stifle a yawn. Didn't work, my arms involuntarily stretched over my head, and my feet kicked out in front of me.
When I refused to lie down and permit myself to sleep, Haldir tiredly muttered an apology and a promise followed by a string of elven words. Suddenly, I felt even more exhausted, so much so that I could do nothing but flop onto the cot. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
~^*^~