Thanks all for the lovely reviews. Hoping to break my review record.
That's only 10, so I think I'm in with a shot. :-/ Oh to be one of the
great ones!
Just got extended DVD for Fellowship. Overdosing on Lothlorien scenes. Still not enough though.
I'll be quiet now. Enjoy.
'Part 3'
That woke Haldir up. "Why?" he asked.
Tulienne shook her head in exasperation. "He claims he's heard that Rumil has been seen out with another girl, getting hot and heavy in the gardens."
"Why didn't you tell him it was not true?" Haldir demanded, grabbing the tunic he had discarded the night before and pulling it over his head.
Tulienne stared at him in disbelief. "I did. Several times. But all I could say was that I didn't believe it, it's not like I can prove it. And you know he's been desperate to find fault with Rumil ever since he met him."
"How is Ceilwyn?"
"Bad. Crying herself sick as we speak. I shouldn't even be here."
"Indeed you shouldn't. Your uncle would not take kindly to it."
Tulienne raised an eyebrow. "Would I be right in thinking that he questioned your motives when he kept you on the balcony last night?"
Haldir grimaced. "I'm afraid so."
"Thus proving how unhinged he is. But you're right, I wouldn't like to see his face if he found us like this. Just go to Rumil - I didn't want him to face my uncle without being forewarned."
"Thank you," Haldir said. It felt strange saying that to her.
Tulienne smiled. "You're welcome," she said. She paused at the door and turned back. "For future reference, Haldir," she said. "You snore like a dwarf."
Haldir scowled at the door for quite some time.
***
"We will find a way to make him change his mind," Tulienne announced firmly, from her spot on the grass.
"How?" Rumil asked despondently.
"I don't know," Tulienne said. "I haven't worked that part out yet."
"You're a tremendous help," Haldir remarked sarcastically.
"Shut up, March Warden, at least I'm trying."
"How does it help for you to raise his hopes when you have no plan?"
"How does it help for you to encourage him to forget about my cousin four days before he was due to marry her?"
"That is the sensible course of action."
"They're in love! Sense doesn't come into it!"
"Stop," Orophin finally commanded. "Neither of you are helping."
Haldir grunted. "Why does your uncle allow you to stay here with us when he disapproves so firmly of Rumil?"
"One, because he doesn't know. He thinks I'm doing laundry - and if you tell him otherwise I'll tell him you propositioned me and he'll string you up by an extremely delicate appendage. Two, he doesn't picture me as a child since he never met me as one. Three, I'm the only one past my majority. Which is a shame, since if Ceilwyn was she could marry without his consent. Although she most likely wouldn't." Tulienne stopped for a breath and glared fiercely at him. "And stop trying to get rid of me. Unlike his eldest brother, I know Rumil is kind and honourable and I want to help."
"You are not succeeding."
Tulienne's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm so sorry if I can't instantly think of a plan. Forgive me for believing that we were finally safe. I suppose you think it would have been better if I had never introduced them and this had never begun?"
"Since you mention it."
"So this entire thing is my fault?"
"It could be argued so."
Tulienne's fist connected surprisingly hard with his jaw. Haldir very nearly retaliated on reflex, but stopped himself.
"Consider that further retribution for kissing me."
"Kissing you?" Rumil and Orophin repeated in unison, and turned as one to Haldir. The tip of his ears went ever so slightly pink. "It was not intentional."
"Nor enjoyable. Clearly you need to practise your technique."
"I suppose you will volunteer."
"Hardly."
"Then why bring it up?"
"Sir!"
Tulienne's reply was lost as the young warden spoke, heading for Haldir. Haldir's fists unclenched and his expression melted into its usual calm one as he prepared to hear the message.
"Yes, warden?"
"Sir, I was instructed to inform you that we have visitors from Rivendell."
Haldir noticed Tulienne lean forward, their argument apparently forgotten. "Visitors? Who?" she asked.
The warden bowed slightly to her in respect. "Lord Elladan and Lady Arwen, of the house of Elrond."
Tulienne jumped to her feet, an expression of pure delight on her face. "They've come!" she said excitedly, sounding most unlike herself.
Haldir turned to her sharply. "You knew of their coming when I did not? Why?"
"Because I invited them, March Warden," was the reply. "To the wedding that still will be. I didn't think they would be able to come, but clearly they have."
She turned to the warden. "Can you take us to them?" she asked.
"Please do," Haldir said, not liking that he was merely seconding her. He got to his feet and followed. Rumil and Orophin exchanged glances and went too.
They arrived in time to see the visitors walking across the grass into the city. Their horses and belongings had clearly already been taken. Haldir had been to Rivendell several times and had met both Elladan and the Evenstar before. In fact he and Elladan had got on quite well, although he had found more in common with the more serious Elrohir. He started to move forward to greet them.
Before he could, however, Arwen turned in their direction and saw their impending arrival. Their poised entrance was instantly forgotten as their expressions melted into ones of delight.
A blur went past Haldir and the next thing he knew, Elladan had Tulienne in his arms and was swinging her round. Haldir felt a stab of irrational dislike for the Rivendell lord. He could not imagine what had caused it.
Elladan released Tulienne, rather reluctantly it seemed to Haldir, and she and Arwen embraced. Clearly there were strong bonds between them and yet Tulienne had never once mentioned the relationship in her time in Lorien. Or perhaps she had just not mentioned it to him.
The three came towards them. Elladan had his hand on Tulienne's shoulder. Haldir found himself trying to remove it by telekinesis.
"Haldir, we meet again," Elladan said warmly as they reached them.
Haldir nodded, not able to match his friendly attitude. "Lord Elladan, Lady Arwen, welcome to Lorien. I am sorry I was not at the borders to greet you on this occasion."
"Tuli said in her letter you would all be here preparing for the wedding," Arwen said.
"Just four days and you will be back on your precious borders, Haldir," Elladan added, still grinning. "You should be enjoying yourself."
Haldir stiffened further. "That may be difficult. At present the wedding is not to take place."
Concern flickered in Arwen's eyes. "Why is that?"
Tulienne rolled her eyes at her and Elladan, acting more like her usual self. "Because my uncle has finally succumbed to insanity. He believes - or at least claims to believe - that Rumil was seen in a compromising situation with another maiden and has cancelled the wedding."
"Ah," Elladan said, glancing at Rumil. "Is it true?"
"No," Rumil, Orophin and Haldir all said in unison. Haldir fists clenched involuntarily at his sides.
Elladan held up his hands. "Just checking. What are you going to do?"
"Thus far," Haldir grudgingly admitted, "we have no specific plan."
"Actually," Tulienne said thoughtfully. "I do have one thought. And with Elladan to help it might be worth a shot."
Elladan's eyes gleamed. "I'm at your service, my lady," he said, bowing to her. "But for now we must greet our grandparents. I will find you later and you can fill me in on your diabolical plan."
"You assume my plan to be diabolical?" Tulienne said archly.
"Only because I know you," was the reply. Elladan bent his head and kissed Tulienne's hand. "My lady, Haldir, Rumil, Orophin farewell."
Haldir did not realise he was scowling at Elladan's retreating back until Orophin asked him why he was doing it. Then he realised he didn't know.
"I was not scowling," Haldir said, quite untruthfully. "Your eyes are playing tricks on you."
It was perhaps fortunate that neither Haldir nor Tulienne saw the raised eyebrows on their companions' faces.
Haldir turned to Tulienne. "You never mentioned you were a friend of Elladan's."
"You never asked."
"I never had reason to before."
"You have no reason to now."
"It is not an unreasonable question."
"I noticed no question, merely an accusation."
"What is your relationship with him?"
Tulienne regarded him strangely. "March Warden, you sound suspiciously like a jealous lover and I'm sure neither of us wants that. If you had asked in a normal tone, I would simply have told you that I am generally considered a friend of theirs. I am much the same age as Arwen and as my parents were on good terms with Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrian at the time they thought we might become friends. As it is, since I became old enough to participate in his general mischief I have been closest to Elladan. I have made no secret of any of this, it has merely not come up in our acquaintance."
Haldir saw Rumil and Orophin nudge each other out of the corner of his eye and wondered what had happened to himself. Despite a strong desire to demand more details, he shut his lips up tight and resolved not to speak of it again.
***
"So," Elladan said, when they had managed to get together again. "This meeting of the Save the Wedding Club will come to order. Are all members present?"
Elladan (presumably with the consent of the Lord and Lady of Lorien although no one dared to ask) had procured the key to the private gardens. The lawn was now crowded. Elladan, Arwen and Tulienne were sitting together, Orophin and Salia were beside them. Ceilwyn was being held in Rumil's arms, in her greatest act of disobedience to date. Haldir was sitting on their other side, trying not to scowl at Elladan.
"All present and correct," Tulienne replied, completely unnecessarily in Haldir's opinion.
"Excellent," Elladan said, rubbing his hands together. "Now then, what is your diabolical plan?"
Tulienne smiled. "Well, after extensive thought, I've come up with two things I think could possibly make my uncle change his mind. The first is obvious - a little elfling on the way."
Everyone turned to grin at Rumil and Ceilwyn, who both flushed bright red and loosened their grip on each other somewhat. Elladan laughed.
"But that would also damn the whole of the family forever in his eyes," Tulienne added, "so wedding number two would probably require the same tactic."
Eyes shifted again and the next couple blushed.
"So we come to option two," Tulienne said. "For which, for the reason mentioned above, I propose we recruit Elladan to help."
"What exactly did you have in mind?" Rumil asked, with a suspicious look not entirely unlike the one on Haldir's face.
"I'm suggesting that Elladan try to seduce Ceilwyn."
"Absolutely not," Rumil said immediately. Ceilwyn's eyes widened in shock.
"Wait," Tulienne said. "Hear me out. What I'm proposing is that we engineer it so that my uncle sees Rumil save Ceilwyn from Elladan's unwanted advances, thereby defending her honour and all that stuff. That's the only thing he really values so it's the only thing that will make him change his mind about Rumil. But if anyone has a better suggestion, I'm all ears."
Silence.
"Wyn?" Tulienne said, turning to her. "Are you willing to do this? I know it's not ideal, but I think it could work. And you can trust Elli, believe me. He's all talk."
Haldir barely suppressed a laugh at Elladan's face. Tulienne turned back to him. "And I mean that in the least offensive way possible."
"Thank you," Elladan said dryly. "That makes me feel so much better."
"I'll do it."
Everyone looked in surprise at Ceilwyn. She turned to Rumil. "That is, if you don't mind," she said.
Rumil obviously did mind. He turned to Elladan. "This seduction," he said, "had better not involve any more than the absolute minimum of physical contact."
Elladan held up his hands. "You have my word. No offence to the lovely bride to be, but my heart is taken."
Arwen turned to him in surprise. "Since when? You haven't said anything to me about it."
"I do not tell you everything, Sister," was Elladan's uninformative reply.
Haldir couldn't help noticing his steady and deliberate look at Tulienne when he said it.
***
Tulienne came running up to them, breathless. "He's on his way," she told Rumil. "Count to ten and go in."
They could just see Elladan and Ceilwyn in the shadows from their position. They were still talking, although Haldir personally thought Elladan was standing closer than strictly necessary. Tulienne made a soft bird call noise and got an answering one back. Haldir idly wondered where she had learnt that.
"One," Rumil said, watching them with narrowed eyes. "Two. Three."
Elladan had one arm around Ceilwyn's waist and the other was stroking her cheek.
"Four." Rumil's voice got more and more strained. "Five. Six. Seven."
Elladan pulled Ceilwyn into a kiss. Rumil leapt up. "Ten," he said, and took off at a run.
The timing was perfect. Ceilwyn's father came into the garden just in time to see Rumil yank Elladan off her and nearly break his jaw with an over- enthusiastic punch. He pushed Ceilwyn gently behind him before starting on Tulienne's carefully prepared speech about Elladan's disgraceful disregard for Ceilwyn's honour. Except he did it rather too convincingly. And added a view remarks about Elladan's elfhood that definitely hadn't been in the script.
Ceilwyn's father arrived on the scene at a fast pace, Salia half-running to stay by his side. "What is going on here?" he demanded. "How dare you attempt such a thing with my daughter!"
Elladan was rubbing his jaw and trying to work out whether to look repentant or angry.
Ceilwyn's father turned to her. She had her arms around Rumil and he was stroking her hair.
He turned back to Elladan. "You will stay away from my family. I will not tolerate such behaviour, whatever your origins. Ceilwyn, Salia, come with me."
Ceilwyn moved away from Rumil very reluctantly. Her father paused and slowly turned back.
"I will expect you at my talan tomorrow after breakfast," he said to Rumil. "And we will discuss this further."
Rumil nodded, trying not to smile. "Yes, sir."
***
"Did you have to paw her like that?" Rumil demanded, as soon as they had put enough distance between them and Ceilwyn's father.
"I did not paw her," Elladan said, still rubbing his jaw. "I couldn't very well make it look like I was trying to seduce her without stealing a kiss. I warned her I was going to do it, I didn't harm her, there was no reason for you to rearrange my face."
"Touch her again and I will."
"I have no intention of doing that again. In case you've forgotten, I was trying to help you!"
"Boys," Tulienne said impatiently. "You're both forgetting the point and that is that I think it worked. Therefore Elladan did you a great favour, Rumil, and you should apologise."
"Sorry," Rumil said grudgingly.
"Don't worry about it," Elladan said, fairly sincerely. "I'll heal."
"And all we need to do now is wait and see what he says tomorrow," Tulienne said. "Which hopefully will be 'welcome to the family'. So go to bed. One, because you don't want to be late tomorrow and two, because if it didn't work we'll have to move onto the aforementioned plan B and you'll need your rest."
As they started to head back to their talans, Haldir saw Elladan put a hand on Tulienne's arm.
"Mind if we take a walk?" he said.
Tulienne shrugged. "Sure," she said. "I think I've got an hour to kill before my uncle remembers I'm not there."
Haldir found himself lagging behind his brothers and briefly wondered why they didn't seem to notice. He fought with himself for quite a way. Then he did something even he had no explanation for.
He doubled back. And followed.
***
Elladan settled down onto a bench and patted the seat beside him. Tulienne sat down, looking curious.
"Don't try to be mysterious, Elli, it doesn't suit you," she said.
Elladan laughed. "I wasn't trying to be mysterious, I was just trying to get you alone. Everytime I tried to speak to you today Haldir seemed to pop up. Is there something you haven't told me?"
"About what?"
"About you and Haldir."
Tulienne laughed. "Other than the fact that we can't stand each other? Nothing. We're temporarily on the same side, that's all. He does seem to have taken a dislike to you, though. I can't imagine why."
"He doesn't like competition."
"Competition for what?"
Elladan smiled. "For you, Tulienne."
Tulienne stared at him. "You think that Haldir . . . ?" She shook her head, then turned back to him. "Wait. Competition? Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Elladan took her hand, suddenly very serious. "What I'm saying is that I want you to come back to Rivendell with me . . . as my wife."
Haldir froze in his hiding place, ears straining to hear her answer. He heard nothing. Finally, he dared to take a look.
Elladan was kissing her. And she wasn't pushing him away.
Silently, Haldir left them and headed back to his talan, feeling terribly hurt for no logical reason.
***
About half a second later, Tulienne shoved Elladan away with such force that he fell off the bench.
"What in middle earth is going on?" she asked, stunned. "Is marriage catching? The last time I saw you in Rivendell you were pulling my hair and dumping me into rivers fully clothed. What happened?"
"I've had two years to think about it," Elladan said from the ground. "And I've realised what you mean to me. I don't want you in Lorien, I want you in Rivendell with me."
"Yes, but marriage? Until a minute ago, I didn't know you didn't think of me as another sister! I love you dearly, Elladan, I always have, but I don't know if I love you like a wife should."
"Well I'm not planning on running off," Elladan replied, picking himself up again and sitting back down beside her. "Think about it. I'm prepared to wait."
Tulienne stood. "I'm going to go to bed," she said, running a hand through her hair. "I'll give it my utmost consideration."
"Do you want me to walk you home?"
"No," Tulienne said quickly. "I'd rather be by myself. Besides, you're not popular at my uncle's house just now, remember?"
"True."
"Goodnight, Elladan."
"Goodnight Tulienne."
Tulienne hurried off, out of the garden. Once past the gate and out of sight, she veered off. In the opposite direction to home.
***
Haldir had never felt so utterly depressed. And there was no reason for it at all. What could be better than having Tulienne out of his hair for good? He had asked Valar for that plenty of times.
Perhaps his brothers were right and he had started to enjoy their sparring. He'd never thought he would see the day when he enjoyed being insulted by someone.
He pulled his tunic over his head and added it to his laundry pile, preparing to go to bed and hopefully forget all the events of the day.
There was a knock on his door. He sighed. No doubt Rumil was having another crisis.
Instead he found himself facing Tulienne, looking thoroughly confused.
"Can I come in for a minute?" she said.
Haldir stood back and let her enter, wondering what could possibly have brought her here. He got his answer soon enough when she turned to him.
"Haldir, believe or not, I need your help with something," she said. "An experiment, you might say."
"What does this experiment involve?" he asked curiously.
"Not much. Just close your eyes."
Now almost as confused as she looked, he did.
The next thing he knew, she was kissing him. And it didn't seem as though this kiss would end in a slap.
Haldir found himself pressing closer, his fingers tangling in her hair, his mouth opening to hers, and felt her respond in kind.
Just got extended DVD for Fellowship. Overdosing on Lothlorien scenes. Still not enough though.
I'll be quiet now. Enjoy.
'Part 3'
That woke Haldir up. "Why?" he asked.
Tulienne shook her head in exasperation. "He claims he's heard that Rumil has been seen out with another girl, getting hot and heavy in the gardens."
"Why didn't you tell him it was not true?" Haldir demanded, grabbing the tunic he had discarded the night before and pulling it over his head.
Tulienne stared at him in disbelief. "I did. Several times. But all I could say was that I didn't believe it, it's not like I can prove it. And you know he's been desperate to find fault with Rumil ever since he met him."
"How is Ceilwyn?"
"Bad. Crying herself sick as we speak. I shouldn't even be here."
"Indeed you shouldn't. Your uncle would not take kindly to it."
Tulienne raised an eyebrow. "Would I be right in thinking that he questioned your motives when he kept you on the balcony last night?"
Haldir grimaced. "I'm afraid so."
"Thus proving how unhinged he is. But you're right, I wouldn't like to see his face if he found us like this. Just go to Rumil - I didn't want him to face my uncle without being forewarned."
"Thank you," Haldir said. It felt strange saying that to her.
Tulienne smiled. "You're welcome," she said. She paused at the door and turned back. "For future reference, Haldir," she said. "You snore like a dwarf."
Haldir scowled at the door for quite some time.
***
"We will find a way to make him change his mind," Tulienne announced firmly, from her spot on the grass.
"How?" Rumil asked despondently.
"I don't know," Tulienne said. "I haven't worked that part out yet."
"You're a tremendous help," Haldir remarked sarcastically.
"Shut up, March Warden, at least I'm trying."
"How does it help for you to raise his hopes when you have no plan?"
"How does it help for you to encourage him to forget about my cousin four days before he was due to marry her?"
"That is the sensible course of action."
"They're in love! Sense doesn't come into it!"
"Stop," Orophin finally commanded. "Neither of you are helping."
Haldir grunted. "Why does your uncle allow you to stay here with us when he disapproves so firmly of Rumil?"
"One, because he doesn't know. He thinks I'm doing laundry - and if you tell him otherwise I'll tell him you propositioned me and he'll string you up by an extremely delicate appendage. Two, he doesn't picture me as a child since he never met me as one. Three, I'm the only one past my majority. Which is a shame, since if Ceilwyn was she could marry without his consent. Although she most likely wouldn't." Tulienne stopped for a breath and glared fiercely at him. "And stop trying to get rid of me. Unlike his eldest brother, I know Rumil is kind and honourable and I want to help."
"You are not succeeding."
Tulienne's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm so sorry if I can't instantly think of a plan. Forgive me for believing that we were finally safe. I suppose you think it would have been better if I had never introduced them and this had never begun?"
"Since you mention it."
"So this entire thing is my fault?"
"It could be argued so."
Tulienne's fist connected surprisingly hard with his jaw. Haldir very nearly retaliated on reflex, but stopped himself.
"Consider that further retribution for kissing me."
"Kissing you?" Rumil and Orophin repeated in unison, and turned as one to Haldir. The tip of his ears went ever so slightly pink. "It was not intentional."
"Nor enjoyable. Clearly you need to practise your technique."
"I suppose you will volunteer."
"Hardly."
"Then why bring it up?"
"Sir!"
Tulienne's reply was lost as the young warden spoke, heading for Haldir. Haldir's fists unclenched and his expression melted into its usual calm one as he prepared to hear the message.
"Yes, warden?"
"Sir, I was instructed to inform you that we have visitors from Rivendell."
Haldir noticed Tulienne lean forward, their argument apparently forgotten. "Visitors? Who?" she asked.
The warden bowed slightly to her in respect. "Lord Elladan and Lady Arwen, of the house of Elrond."
Tulienne jumped to her feet, an expression of pure delight on her face. "They've come!" she said excitedly, sounding most unlike herself.
Haldir turned to her sharply. "You knew of their coming when I did not? Why?"
"Because I invited them, March Warden," was the reply. "To the wedding that still will be. I didn't think they would be able to come, but clearly they have."
She turned to the warden. "Can you take us to them?" she asked.
"Please do," Haldir said, not liking that he was merely seconding her. He got to his feet and followed. Rumil and Orophin exchanged glances and went too.
They arrived in time to see the visitors walking across the grass into the city. Their horses and belongings had clearly already been taken. Haldir had been to Rivendell several times and had met both Elladan and the Evenstar before. In fact he and Elladan had got on quite well, although he had found more in common with the more serious Elrohir. He started to move forward to greet them.
Before he could, however, Arwen turned in their direction and saw their impending arrival. Their poised entrance was instantly forgotten as their expressions melted into ones of delight.
A blur went past Haldir and the next thing he knew, Elladan had Tulienne in his arms and was swinging her round. Haldir felt a stab of irrational dislike for the Rivendell lord. He could not imagine what had caused it.
Elladan released Tulienne, rather reluctantly it seemed to Haldir, and she and Arwen embraced. Clearly there were strong bonds between them and yet Tulienne had never once mentioned the relationship in her time in Lorien. Or perhaps she had just not mentioned it to him.
The three came towards them. Elladan had his hand on Tulienne's shoulder. Haldir found himself trying to remove it by telekinesis.
"Haldir, we meet again," Elladan said warmly as they reached them.
Haldir nodded, not able to match his friendly attitude. "Lord Elladan, Lady Arwen, welcome to Lorien. I am sorry I was not at the borders to greet you on this occasion."
"Tuli said in her letter you would all be here preparing for the wedding," Arwen said.
"Just four days and you will be back on your precious borders, Haldir," Elladan added, still grinning. "You should be enjoying yourself."
Haldir stiffened further. "That may be difficult. At present the wedding is not to take place."
Concern flickered in Arwen's eyes. "Why is that?"
Tulienne rolled her eyes at her and Elladan, acting more like her usual self. "Because my uncle has finally succumbed to insanity. He believes - or at least claims to believe - that Rumil was seen in a compromising situation with another maiden and has cancelled the wedding."
"Ah," Elladan said, glancing at Rumil. "Is it true?"
"No," Rumil, Orophin and Haldir all said in unison. Haldir fists clenched involuntarily at his sides.
Elladan held up his hands. "Just checking. What are you going to do?"
"Thus far," Haldir grudgingly admitted, "we have no specific plan."
"Actually," Tulienne said thoughtfully. "I do have one thought. And with Elladan to help it might be worth a shot."
Elladan's eyes gleamed. "I'm at your service, my lady," he said, bowing to her. "But for now we must greet our grandparents. I will find you later and you can fill me in on your diabolical plan."
"You assume my plan to be diabolical?" Tulienne said archly.
"Only because I know you," was the reply. Elladan bent his head and kissed Tulienne's hand. "My lady, Haldir, Rumil, Orophin farewell."
Haldir did not realise he was scowling at Elladan's retreating back until Orophin asked him why he was doing it. Then he realised he didn't know.
"I was not scowling," Haldir said, quite untruthfully. "Your eyes are playing tricks on you."
It was perhaps fortunate that neither Haldir nor Tulienne saw the raised eyebrows on their companions' faces.
Haldir turned to Tulienne. "You never mentioned you were a friend of Elladan's."
"You never asked."
"I never had reason to before."
"You have no reason to now."
"It is not an unreasonable question."
"I noticed no question, merely an accusation."
"What is your relationship with him?"
Tulienne regarded him strangely. "March Warden, you sound suspiciously like a jealous lover and I'm sure neither of us wants that. If you had asked in a normal tone, I would simply have told you that I am generally considered a friend of theirs. I am much the same age as Arwen and as my parents were on good terms with Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrian at the time they thought we might become friends. As it is, since I became old enough to participate in his general mischief I have been closest to Elladan. I have made no secret of any of this, it has merely not come up in our acquaintance."
Haldir saw Rumil and Orophin nudge each other out of the corner of his eye and wondered what had happened to himself. Despite a strong desire to demand more details, he shut his lips up tight and resolved not to speak of it again.
***
"So," Elladan said, when they had managed to get together again. "This meeting of the Save the Wedding Club will come to order. Are all members present?"
Elladan (presumably with the consent of the Lord and Lady of Lorien although no one dared to ask) had procured the key to the private gardens. The lawn was now crowded. Elladan, Arwen and Tulienne were sitting together, Orophin and Salia were beside them. Ceilwyn was being held in Rumil's arms, in her greatest act of disobedience to date. Haldir was sitting on their other side, trying not to scowl at Elladan.
"All present and correct," Tulienne replied, completely unnecessarily in Haldir's opinion.
"Excellent," Elladan said, rubbing his hands together. "Now then, what is your diabolical plan?"
Tulienne smiled. "Well, after extensive thought, I've come up with two things I think could possibly make my uncle change his mind. The first is obvious - a little elfling on the way."
Everyone turned to grin at Rumil and Ceilwyn, who both flushed bright red and loosened their grip on each other somewhat. Elladan laughed.
"But that would also damn the whole of the family forever in his eyes," Tulienne added, "so wedding number two would probably require the same tactic."
Eyes shifted again and the next couple blushed.
"So we come to option two," Tulienne said. "For which, for the reason mentioned above, I propose we recruit Elladan to help."
"What exactly did you have in mind?" Rumil asked, with a suspicious look not entirely unlike the one on Haldir's face.
"I'm suggesting that Elladan try to seduce Ceilwyn."
"Absolutely not," Rumil said immediately. Ceilwyn's eyes widened in shock.
"Wait," Tulienne said. "Hear me out. What I'm proposing is that we engineer it so that my uncle sees Rumil save Ceilwyn from Elladan's unwanted advances, thereby defending her honour and all that stuff. That's the only thing he really values so it's the only thing that will make him change his mind about Rumil. But if anyone has a better suggestion, I'm all ears."
Silence.
"Wyn?" Tulienne said, turning to her. "Are you willing to do this? I know it's not ideal, but I think it could work. And you can trust Elli, believe me. He's all talk."
Haldir barely suppressed a laugh at Elladan's face. Tulienne turned back to him. "And I mean that in the least offensive way possible."
"Thank you," Elladan said dryly. "That makes me feel so much better."
"I'll do it."
Everyone looked in surprise at Ceilwyn. She turned to Rumil. "That is, if you don't mind," she said.
Rumil obviously did mind. He turned to Elladan. "This seduction," he said, "had better not involve any more than the absolute minimum of physical contact."
Elladan held up his hands. "You have my word. No offence to the lovely bride to be, but my heart is taken."
Arwen turned to him in surprise. "Since when? You haven't said anything to me about it."
"I do not tell you everything, Sister," was Elladan's uninformative reply.
Haldir couldn't help noticing his steady and deliberate look at Tulienne when he said it.
***
Tulienne came running up to them, breathless. "He's on his way," she told Rumil. "Count to ten and go in."
They could just see Elladan and Ceilwyn in the shadows from their position. They were still talking, although Haldir personally thought Elladan was standing closer than strictly necessary. Tulienne made a soft bird call noise and got an answering one back. Haldir idly wondered where she had learnt that.
"One," Rumil said, watching them with narrowed eyes. "Two. Three."
Elladan had one arm around Ceilwyn's waist and the other was stroking her cheek.
"Four." Rumil's voice got more and more strained. "Five. Six. Seven."
Elladan pulled Ceilwyn into a kiss. Rumil leapt up. "Ten," he said, and took off at a run.
The timing was perfect. Ceilwyn's father came into the garden just in time to see Rumil yank Elladan off her and nearly break his jaw with an over- enthusiastic punch. He pushed Ceilwyn gently behind him before starting on Tulienne's carefully prepared speech about Elladan's disgraceful disregard for Ceilwyn's honour. Except he did it rather too convincingly. And added a view remarks about Elladan's elfhood that definitely hadn't been in the script.
Ceilwyn's father arrived on the scene at a fast pace, Salia half-running to stay by his side. "What is going on here?" he demanded. "How dare you attempt such a thing with my daughter!"
Elladan was rubbing his jaw and trying to work out whether to look repentant or angry.
Ceilwyn's father turned to her. She had her arms around Rumil and he was stroking her hair.
He turned back to Elladan. "You will stay away from my family. I will not tolerate such behaviour, whatever your origins. Ceilwyn, Salia, come with me."
Ceilwyn moved away from Rumil very reluctantly. Her father paused and slowly turned back.
"I will expect you at my talan tomorrow after breakfast," he said to Rumil. "And we will discuss this further."
Rumil nodded, trying not to smile. "Yes, sir."
***
"Did you have to paw her like that?" Rumil demanded, as soon as they had put enough distance between them and Ceilwyn's father.
"I did not paw her," Elladan said, still rubbing his jaw. "I couldn't very well make it look like I was trying to seduce her without stealing a kiss. I warned her I was going to do it, I didn't harm her, there was no reason for you to rearrange my face."
"Touch her again and I will."
"I have no intention of doing that again. In case you've forgotten, I was trying to help you!"
"Boys," Tulienne said impatiently. "You're both forgetting the point and that is that I think it worked. Therefore Elladan did you a great favour, Rumil, and you should apologise."
"Sorry," Rumil said grudgingly.
"Don't worry about it," Elladan said, fairly sincerely. "I'll heal."
"And all we need to do now is wait and see what he says tomorrow," Tulienne said. "Which hopefully will be 'welcome to the family'. So go to bed. One, because you don't want to be late tomorrow and two, because if it didn't work we'll have to move onto the aforementioned plan B and you'll need your rest."
As they started to head back to their talans, Haldir saw Elladan put a hand on Tulienne's arm.
"Mind if we take a walk?" he said.
Tulienne shrugged. "Sure," she said. "I think I've got an hour to kill before my uncle remembers I'm not there."
Haldir found himself lagging behind his brothers and briefly wondered why they didn't seem to notice. He fought with himself for quite a way. Then he did something even he had no explanation for.
He doubled back. And followed.
***
Elladan settled down onto a bench and patted the seat beside him. Tulienne sat down, looking curious.
"Don't try to be mysterious, Elli, it doesn't suit you," she said.
Elladan laughed. "I wasn't trying to be mysterious, I was just trying to get you alone. Everytime I tried to speak to you today Haldir seemed to pop up. Is there something you haven't told me?"
"About what?"
"About you and Haldir."
Tulienne laughed. "Other than the fact that we can't stand each other? Nothing. We're temporarily on the same side, that's all. He does seem to have taken a dislike to you, though. I can't imagine why."
"He doesn't like competition."
"Competition for what?"
Elladan smiled. "For you, Tulienne."
Tulienne stared at him. "You think that Haldir . . . ?" She shook her head, then turned back to him. "Wait. Competition? Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Elladan took her hand, suddenly very serious. "What I'm saying is that I want you to come back to Rivendell with me . . . as my wife."
Haldir froze in his hiding place, ears straining to hear her answer. He heard nothing. Finally, he dared to take a look.
Elladan was kissing her. And she wasn't pushing him away.
Silently, Haldir left them and headed back to his talan, feeling terribly hurt for no logical reason.
***
About half a second later, Tulienne shoved Elladan away with such force that he fell off the bench.
"What in middle earth is going on?" she asked, stunned. "Is marriage catching? The last time I saw you in Rivendell you were pulling my hair and dumping me into rivers fully clothed. What happened?"
"I've had two years to think about it," Elladan said from the ground. "And I've realised what you mean to me. I don't want you in Lorien, I want you in Rivendell with me."
"Yes, but marriage? Until a minute ago, I didn't know you didn't think of me as another sister! I love you dearly, Elladan, I always have, but I don't know if I love you like a wife should."
"Well I'm not planning on running off," Elladan replied, picking himself up again and sitting back down beside her. "Think about it. I'm prepared to wait."
Tulienne stood. "I'm going to go to bed," she said, running a hand through her hair. "I'll give it my utmost consideration."
"Do you want me to walk you home?"
"No," Tulienne said quickly. "I'd rather be by myself. Besides, you're not popular at my uncle's house just now, remember?"
"True."
"Goodnight, Elladan."
"Goodnight Tulienne."
Tulienne hurried off, out of the garden. Once past the gate and out of sight, she veered off. In the opposite direction to home.
***
Haldir had never felt so utterly depressed. And there was no reason for it at all. What could be better than having Tulienne out of his hair for good? He had asked Valar for that plenty of times.
Perhaps his brothers were right and he had started to enjoy their sparring. He'd never thought he would see the day when he enjoyed being insulted by someone.
He pulled his tunic over his head and added it to his laundry pile, preparing to go to bed and hopefully forget all the events of the day.
There was a knock on his door. He sighed. No doubt Rumil was having another crisis.
Instead he found himself facing Tulienne, looking thoroughly confused.
"Can I come in for a minute?" she said.
Haldir stood back and let her enter, wondering what could possibly have brought her here. He got his answer soon enough when she turned to him.
"Haldir, believe or not, I need your help with something," she said. "An experiment, you might say."
"What does this experiment involve?" he asked curiously.
"Not much. Just close your eyes."
Now almost as confused as she looked, he did.
The next thing he knew, she was kissing him. And it didn't seem as though this kiss would end in a slap.
Haldir found himself pressing closer, his fingers tangling in her hair, his mouth opening to hers, and felt her respond in kind.
