A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long. I have been busy with basketball
tryouts.
*"blahty-blah"* = mental speech
**
Squnch. gurgle. Squish. Squnch. gurgle. Squish.
Such was the sound that filled my ears. That, coupled with the raspy sound of calm breathing, and the faint thump of a heartbeat, which I realized matched my own. but how could my head be on my stomach? That was physically impossible. Then I felt the coarse fabric of a bandage on my cheek, and a hand - not my own, mind you - stroking my hair and pushing it past my sensitive and pointed ear.
Haldir.
What should I do to him in return? I knew he tricked me somehow, I just couldn't remember how. just that I wouldn't naturally sleep like this..
I couldn't do anything while asleep, and he knew that, so why not let him think that I am asleep just for a while longer? It would be hard, for every time he would touch my ear, my spine would tingle unbearably.
My hand, which had been dangling off of the bed, snaked up under the covers and jabbed him in the stomach, right where I knew the edge of the stitches were, while my other hand lay limp on the bed next to him. He gasped and his hand flew from my head to catch my fist, which had balled up, and was about to punch him again. I heard something light fall to the bed. Keiro's book. My eyes narrowed and a deep frown lined my face.
"Now, Gliri, don't be angry with me." He squeezed my fist, pried my hand open with his thumb and clasped his fingers in mine. "It was for the best."
"For the best? FOR THE BEST!?" My head shot up, and a wave of nausea hit me so instantly I knew what he had done. I had to retaliate, though I'm sure the punch was a "good blow." My time would come, though. If there were five things that living in close contact with Haldir for two months had taught me, waiting for the perfect opportunity to even the score had to be one of them.
I took a deep breath to slightly compose myself. "Angry? How can I not be angry? You switched our drinks and completely threw away my trust."
He feigned a hurt look, but answered with a "yes, and your problem lies where?" scoff. Meaning, essentially, that I was awake again, so why was I angry? There was the cutest smile on his lips, as if he were an elfling who had just received his first set of bow and arrows. Also, there was an unfamiliar - at the time - glint in his eyes that he had had when he left my archery lesson and gotten himself into all of this mess. I don't know how I let my countenance melt, but he had to be the most adorable thing I had ever seen. I shook my head and a drunken-like grin appeared on my face for a moment.
"I can't stay mad at you. and you know that. you. you great twit! It's not fair. I poked his chest with my free hand, and before I could move, he had caught it in his other hand. He clasped it just like my other hand. Stupid Lothlórien guard training! They're all too fast!
"Let me go." I tried to pull a hand away.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes! Or. or I'll force-feed you the rest of that sleeping draught! All of it!" I struggled against his hands, yet my strength was not match for his, even when he was at a distinct disadvantage by being bed ridden.
He grinned again. "Now, do you really think that that is any decent incentive for me to let you free?" Grinning broader than before, he squeezed my hands just to show he was in control. My eyes narrowed again, but I stopped resisting. While I glared at him, he laughed! Laughed, I tell you! He succeeded in making me want to hurt his elf butt so badly. But, given my current situation. I couldn't.
"You arrogant, self-centered, outrageous, greedy, haughty elf!" I yelled at him. He nodded to each of these terms (with no shame, I might add), that annoyingly charming grin still plastered between two dimpled cheeks.
Suddenly, he flung his arms straight out to his sides, pulling me towards him and kissed me. I don't mean a gentle fatherly kiss on my forehead, or a courteous yet friendly peck on the cheek, but an all out mouth on mouth kiss! I was so shocked that I didn't fight, but otherwise found it quite. likeable. I even surprised myself when he let my hands go and I didn't pull away, and instead relaxed onto his chest.
When we stopped, I reluctantly pushed myself back onto my chair - my hands shaking enormously, and my heart was fluttering uncontrollably - and Haldir only smiled. Not that smug "I-am-more-powerful-than-you-and-in-control" smirk, but a quaint "I-enjoyed-that-and-don't-even-try-to-deny-that-you-did- to" smile.
I looked away from him, shook my head and rolled my eyes, but could not suppress the "you're-right" grin that escaped my flushed lips. I sighed, but continued to shake my head. That was my first real kiss, and I honestly had expected something a little more romantic, especially from Haldir. Not that that wasn't nice - because it was.
His hand found its way to my leg, and gripped my knee. Still not looking directly at him (I honestly didn't know if I could trust myself), I slipped my fingers under his and clutched his hand.
"Galadriel was right."
This caused my head to flick around to see that he had been staring at me and he smiled again seeing me look at him.
"Galadriel was right about what?"
He now looked confused at my question. I could not normally read his thoughts, only the ones he would send me intentionally. And although this is not as much the case anymore, his eyes remain an undecipherable mystery to me.
Without answering, he suddenly withdrew his hand from my leg, and his gaze snapped to the now opening door. Celeborn peeked in before entering with Rúmil and Orophin in tow, with each Warden carrying a small plate of fruit, bread, and another glass of wine for our (my and Haldir's) breakfast. Both of us were famished, so Haldir and I helped ourselves to the plates of strawberries, blueberries and Lembas. His brothers sat on the opposite side of the bed from me, whereas Celeborn leaned on a tree branch that, over the ages, had been allowed to grow into the room.
"I thought we could try walking today." Celeborn proposed carefully as he eyed the nearly empty bottle of wine on the desk. Haldir, I'm sure, looked slightly surprised, but Rúmil and Orophin made no response, giving me the impression that they had been briefed on this already, and had acclimated to the idea. I, too, was astonished; it seemed to be too soon to ask Haldir to try to walk.
Not being able to pass up the idea of a surprised looking Haldir, I looked sidelong at him. To my surprise, he was staring innocently at a strawberry, and I nearly gagged on a piece of dry Lembas at what he mentally told me.
*"Celeborn only wants to have his own room back. I wonder why."*
When I saw his face after he said that, I did choke. He seemed not in the slightest way affected by what he utttered, and took a dainty bite of the berry suspended by its leaves in his fingers. I could never have pulled off a line like that and not died of laughing afterwards.
I started giggling, then Haldir copied my giggle causing me to laugh harder, then he started laughing, and soon we were laughing at nothing but our own foolishness.
Having heard me choke, Celeborn glanced at me, then to the wine glasses on the table (the one was still full), and finally to Haldir's perplexed looking brothers. I am sure the three of them speculated as to why Haldir and I were laughing so hard in the presence of alcohol (though most elves do not feel the effects until we are terribly inebriated), but it does not matter, for what Haldir said will remain between the two of us forever.
When the Marchwarden and I had calmed and eaten our fill, the Lord of Lórien asked me to leave the room for a moment. I reluctantly obliged, but Orophin guided me from the room by my shoulders. With an apologetic pat on my arm, he shut the door in my face.
After a few unbelievably long minutes Celeborn opened the door, and stepped back to let me pass. Haldir was sitting on the edge of the bed, clothed in a white tunic and loose leggings (so that's why they wanted me out of the room) but he was barefoot. I smiled, never before having the opportunity to see his feet - without the leather boots he always made sure were shined - which were undeniably cute.
Now, really, what has changed about me to make me think these sorts of things? When I first met Haldir. I wanted to kill him - not that I ever would have. I just would have never called his feet (or anything about him) cute.
And most certainly not his feet.
Anyway, Haldir's brothers were seated on either side of him, their hands and arms all behind one another's backs. The three blonde heads were very sweet together like that, the image made me smile again. I looked over at Celeborn who seemed to be seeing the same picture as I.
"On three." Orophin suddenly called to his brothers, silently gearing up to have at least a third of Haldir's weight added to his own. Haldir was, and is, no light elf. He may be tall and thin, but is all muscle and no fat.
"One. two. three-ee. arg.!"
I bit back a laugh. Rúmil had shot up on two pulling Haldir's right arm, and Orophin stood up after three with Haldir's left arm.
But, surprisingly, the sandwiched Marchwarden managed to travel a few feet across the floor suspended between his brothers, only wincing once when they had to turn around.
**
This is totally unrelated to the chapter here. should I make Gliriel's family a band of traveling merchants, where her "family" is at least larger? So it would seem a little more plausible for her to feel sad about "killing them?"
The reason I'm asking is that I realized that the book said somewhere that no one "lived" on the plains of Dunland, and then I noticed that I had them permanently living there.
*"blahty-blah"* = mental speech
**
Squnch. gurgle. Squish. Squnch. gurgle. Squish.
Such was the sound that filled my ears. That, coupled with the raspy sound of calm breathing, and the faint thump of a heartbeat, which I realized matched my own. but how could my head be on my stomach? That was physically impossible. Then I felt the coarse fabric of a bandage on my cheek, and a hand - not my own, mind you - stroking my hair and pushing it past my sensitive and pointed ear.
Haldir.
What should I do to him in return? I knew he tricked me somehow, I just couldn't remember how. just that I wouldn't naturally sleep like this..
I couldn't do anything while asleep, and he knew that, so why not let him think that I am asleep just for a while longer? It would be hard, for every time he would touch my ear, my spine would tingle unbearably.
My hand, which had been dangling off of the bed, snaked up under the covers and jabbed him in the stomach, right where I knew the edge of the stitches were, while my other hand lay limp on the bed next to him. He gasped and his hand flew from my head to catch my fist, which had balled up, and was about to punch him again. I heard something light fall to the bed. Keiro's book. My eyes narrowed and a deep frown lined my face.
"Now, Gliri, don't be angry with me." He squeezed my fist, pried my hand open with his thumb and clasped his fingers in mine. "It was for the best."
"For the best? FOR THE BEST!?" My head shot up, and a wave of nausea hit me so instantly I knew what he had done. I had to retaliate, though I'm sure the punch was a "good blow." My time would come, though. If there were five things that living in close contact with Haldir for two months had taught me, waiting for the perfect opportunity to even the score had to be one of them.
I took a deep breath to slightly compose myself. "Angry? How can I not be angry? You switched our drinks and completely threw away my trust."
He feigned a hurt look, but answered with a "yes, and your problem lies where?" scoff. Meaning, essentially, that I was awake again, so why was I angry? There was the cutest smile on his lips, as if he were an elfling who had just received his first set of bow and arrows. Also, there was an unfamiliar - at the time - glint in his eyes that he had had when he left my archery lesson and gotten himself into all of this mess. I don't know how I let my countenance melt, but he had to be the most adorable thing I had ever seen. I shook my head and a drunken-like grin appeared on my face for a moment.
"I can't stay mad at you. and you know that. you. you great twit! It's not fair. I poked his chest with my free hand, and before I could move, he had caught it in his other hand. He clasped it just like my other hand. Stupid Lothlórien guard training! They're all too fast!
"Let me go." I tried to pull a hand away.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes! Or. or I'll force-feed you the rest of that sleeping draught! All of it!" I struggled against his hands, yet my strength was not match for his, even when he was at a distinct disadvantage by being bed ridden.
He grinned again. "Now, do you really think that that is any decent incentive for me to let you free?" Grinning broader than before, he squeezed my hands just to show he was in control. My eyes narrowed again, but I stopped resisting. While I glared at him, he laughed! Laughed, I tell you! He succeeded in making me want to hurt his elf butt so badly. But, given my current situation. I couldn't.
"You arrogant, self-centered, outrageous, greedy, haughty elf!" I yelled at him. He nodded to each of these terms (with no shame, I might add), that annoyingly charming grin still plastered between two dimpled cheeks.
Suddenly, he flung his arms straight out to his sides, pulling me towards him and kissed me. I don't mean a gentle fatherly kiss on my forehead, or a courteous yet friendly peck on the cheek, but an all out mouth on mouth kiss! I was so shocked that I didn't fight, but otherwise found it quite. likeable. I even surprised myself when he let my hands go and I didn't pull away, and instead relaxed onto his chest.
When we stopped, I reluctantly pushed myself back onto my chair - my hands shaking enormously, and my heart was fluttering uncontrollably - and Haldir only smiled. Not that smug "I-am-more-powerful-than-you-and-in-control" smirk, but a quaint "I-enjoyed-that-and-don't-even-try-to-deny-that-you-did- to" smile.
I looked away from him, shook my head and rolled my eyes, but could not suppress the "you're-right" grin that escaped my flushed lips. I sighed, but continued to shake my head. That was my first real kiss, and I honestly had expected something a little more romantic, especially from Haldir. Not that that wasn't nice - because it was.
His hand found its way to my leg, and gripped my knee. Still not looking directly at him (I honestly didn't know if I could trust myself), I slipped my fingers under his and clutched his hand.
"Galadriel was right."
This caused my head to flick around to see that he had been staring at me and he smiled again seeing me look at him.
"Galadriel was right about what?"
He now looked confused at my question. I could not normally read his thoughts, only the ones he would send me intentionally. And although this is not as much the case anymore, his eyes remain an undecipherable mystery to me.
Without answering, he suddenly withdrew his hand from my leg, and his gaze snapped to the now opening door. Celeborn peeked in before entering with Rúmil and Orophin in tow, with each Warden carrying a small plate of fruit, bread, and another glass of wine for our (my and Haldir's) breakfast. Both of us were famished, so Haldir and I helped ourselves to the plates of strawberries, blueberries and Lembas. His brothers sat on the opposite side of the bed from me, whereas Celeborn leaned on a tree branch that, over the ages, had been allowed to grow into the room.
"I thought we could try walking today." Celeborn proposed carefully as he eyed the nearly empty bottle of wine on the desk. Haldir, I'm sure, looked slightly surprised, but Rúmil and Orophin made no response, giving me the impression that they had been briefed on this already, and had acclimated to the idea. I, too, was astonished; it seemed to be too soon to ask Haldir to try to walk.
Not being able to pass up the idea of a surprised looking Haldir, I looked sidelong at him. To my surprise, he was staring innocently at a strawberry, and I nearly gagged on a piece of dry Lembas at what he mentally told me.
*"Celeborn only wants to have his own room back. I wonder why."*
When I saw his face after he said that, I did choke. He seemed not in the slightest way affected by what he utttered, and took a dainty bite of the berry suspended by its leaves in his fingers. I could never have pulled off a line like that and not died of laughing afterwards.
I started giggling, then Haldir copied my giggle causing me to laugh harder, then he started laughing, and soon we were laughing at nothing but our own foolishness.
Having heard me choke, Celeborn glanced at me, then to the wine glasses on the table (the one was still full), and finally to Haldir's perplexed looking brothers. I am sure the three of them speculated as to why Haldir and I were laughing so hard in the presence of alcohol (though most elves do not feel the effects until we are terribly inebriated), but it does not matter, for what Haldir said will remain between the two of us forever.
When the Marchwarden and I had calmed and eaten our fill, the Lord of Lórien asked me to leave the room for a moment. I reluctantly obliged, but Orophin guided me from the room by my shoulders. With an apologetic pat on my arm, he shut the door in my face.
After a few unbelievably long minutes Celeborn opened the door, and stepped back to let me pass. Haldir was sitting on the edge of the bed, clothed in a white tunic and loose leggings (so that's why they wanted me out of the room) but he was barefoot. I smiled, never before having the opportunity to see his feet - without the leather boots he always made sure were shined - which were undeniably cute.
Now, really, what has changed about me to make me think these sorts of things? When I first met Haldir. I wanted to kill him - not that I ever would have. I just would have never called his feet (or anything about him) cute.
And most certainly not his feet.
Anyway, Haldir's brothers were seated on either side of him, their hands and arms all behind one another's backs. The three blonde heads were very sweet together like that, the image made me smile again. I looked over at Celeborn who seemed to be seeing the same picture as I.
"On three." Orophin suddenly called to his brothers, silently gearing up to have at least a third of Haldir's weight added to his own. Haldir was, and is, no light elf. He may be tall and thin, but is all muscle and no fat.
"One. two. three-ee. arg.!"
I bit back a laugh. Rúmil had shot up on two pulling Haldir's right arm, and Orophin stood up after three with Haldir's left arm.
But, surprisingly, the sandwiched Marchwarden managed to travel a few feet across the floor suspended between his brothers, only wincing once when they had to turn around.
**
This is totally unrelated to the chapter here. should I make Gliriel's family a band of traveling merchants, where her "family" is at least larger? So it would seem a little more plausible for her to feel sad about "killing them?"
The reason I'm asking is that I realized that the book said somewhere that no one "lived" on the plains of Dunland, and then I noticed that I had them permanently living there.