Chapter Three: The Trouble With Siblings
Even through her elation at having Tiniond back in Caras Galadhon and a festival to attend that evening, Lirinwen could sense that something was not right with her sister. Andúnil had been unnaturally quiet the past few days, and though she was not a characteristically loud sort of being, she was at least usually engaging. The younger maiden was concerned, it was not like her sister to be so withdrawn. It was as if she were permanently distracted, sometimes even unhearing when Lirinwen spoke aloud. This would simply not do.
"Dearest sister," the younger Elf-maid spoke, touching Andúnil lightly on the shoulder, "we must start preparations for the festival, it is a scant few hours away!"
The elder maiden glanced up as if surprised to see someone standing beside her. "Oh, yes, of course, what have you decided to wear then? I'll help you put it on."
Lirinwen frowned, "why, the white gown you helped me sew specifically for the festival of course, do you not remember?"
"Oh! Yes, certainly I remember! My apologies sister, I know not where my mind ran off to!" Chirped Andúnil, quickly standing. She bustled over to the wardrobe where their dresses hung neatly and pulled from its depths a beautiful white garment, one they'd toiled on together for nearly a fortnight. "You will look so enchanting!" Proclaimed the elder, managing to muster some enthusiasm. "Come! Let's see it on you!"
Lirinwen obliged happily.
"I am not attending and that is final," insisted Haldir. His brothers glanced at each other with matching frowns.
"But it is the autumn festival!" Protested Rúmil, "you cannot refuse to attend!"
Haldir replied without even glancing up from his book. "Watch me."
"Be reasonable Haldir!" Chimed in Orophin, "this is a very important event in the Golden Wood, how would it look if the Captain of the Galadhrim did not attend one of our most anticipated celebrations?"
"Perhaps it would look as if he had no appetite for frilly clothes, silly maidens and unnecessary frivolity," suggested the eldest brother, still avoiding their gazes.
"Oho!" Purred Rúmil, trying a different tactic, "so our brother is afraid of maidens! At last the truth is revealed!"
"Don't be daft Rúmil," came the Captain's disdainful reply, "what you see as fear is more accurately described as contempt."
"Oh my! Brother, did you hear that?" Gasped Orophin, "our Haldir finds maidens contemptuous! All these long years and we've been mistaken in his gender preference!" Rúmil's eyes widened in mock horror at his younger sibling's startling revelation. At last Haldir looked up from his reading to fix an icy glare upon Orophin.
Rúmil could not suppress the giggle at seeing his older brother's face, "indeed, you seemed to have unearthed a great secret!"
Haldir took a half-hearted swat in their direction, but both were able to remove themselves from his reach in time. "Be gone, both of you!" He growled, returning his attention to his book, "I grow weary of your mischief." The younger brothers exchanged frowns again.
"If you do not put on something nice and come with us to the festival, we are going to encourage every male who has ever looked at you amorously that you wish to be ardently and publicly pursued!"
Haldir snapped the book shut so suddenly both his siblings jumped back. "You wouldn't dare," came the snarl.
Orophin took a deep breath and held his head high, "even the humans, and dwarves too, if we can find any!"
"Damn the both of you!"
Rúmil and Orophin exchanged small, victorious grins.
"What do you mean you don't want to attend?!" Cried Lirinwen, parking her fists on her hips in annoyance.
Andúnil sighed, "I've already been to dozens of autumn festivals dearest, I've...grown weary of them," she lied.
"Andúnil, sister mine, that is a complete falsehood! You'd best tell me the truth or you'll not ever hear the end of it, that I promise you!"
The elder maiden suddenly seemed to find the study of her lap most intriguing. "I have made a fool of myself in front of someone very significant, and I do not wish risk finidng myself in that someone's presence again."
"I beg your pardon?" Lirinwen was caught completely off guard, not having expected her sister to give up so easily.
"I have it on good authority that the someone I wish to avoid will be at the autumn festival, so you see, I cannot attend dearest."
"Oh," replied the younger Elf-maid. She pondered this revelation for some minutes. "Well, who is it then?" She asked at length. Andúnil pursed her lips as if the name forming in her throat was set to leave a bitter taste in her mouth. She hesitated, shooting Lirinwen a quick glance, the younger Elf tilted her head and leaned forward. "Come along then, out with it!" She persisted. Andúnil sighed.
"Well, it seems there is an individual of high stature come recently to attend our Lord and Lady..." began the elder Elf-maid.
"Sweet Elbereth!" Gasped Lirinwen, "you don't mean...?"
Andúnil's head sunk in shame, "aye, the one and only, oh sister, it was positively mortifying!"
Lirinwen wedged herself next to her sibling and grasped the elder maid by her shoulders. "I have heard his beauty is beyond compare! Tell me, what was he like?" Her tone held none of the concern or pity Andúnil had been hoping for.
"Back you orc!" Cried the mourner, "you'll see him well enough for yourself at the festival, leave me to my misery and be gone! I'll not hear any more of these insignificant questions while I am in such a state!"
Lirinwen pouted, "come now dearest, surely it could not have been so awful as all this? What did you do?"
Andúnil sighed again, "well, I insulted him and made a mockery of myself."
"That is all?" Quipped the younger maid.
Andúnil shot her sister a glare. "That is plenty I assure you!" She snarled, then blinked and regained her distraught composure, "oh yes, and also I headbutted him."
"Oh," replied Lirinwen with a frown, "now that is unfortunate."