-THE GAMES OF THE GODS-
-Disclaimer:-
Halbarad: ...
CS: *poke*
Halbarad: *shakes head firmly*
CS: Aw, come on, you said you'd do it!
Halbarad: Only because I was drunk.
CS: So?! You're a Ranger of the North, next in command to Aragorn! You promised, and even if you were drunk at the time, you should stick to your word!
Halbarad: *shakes head*
Aragorn: *popping out of nowhere* She's right, you know. You did promise.
Halbarad: *sighs* Fine. *ahem* *sings* Oooooh, I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK, I work all night and I sleep all day...
CS: *snickers and sits back to enjoy*
(Rachel: What, were you expecting the disclaimer?
Glorfindel: It does bear mentioning, however, that Crimson Starlight owns nothing.)
-46: Tour-
"So he...dumped a bucket of water over the Captain's head..." Glorfindel said, arching an eyebrow at me, and I nodded, giggling slightly as I remembered the look on the Captain's face once the water had finished falling. Glorfindel chuckled.
Glorfindel and I were still - technically - on a tour of Lothlórien. Apparently my little nickname giving the night before hadn't put Galadriel entirely off of snooping into my business. She had been prepared to give me - and the accompanying Glorfindel - a tour personally, but, unfortunately (note the sarcasm), a maid arrived and announced that Lord Celeborn wished to talk to her. She then proclaimed that since Glorfindel knew Lothlórien fairly well, he could start the tour and she'd catch up and continue it later.
That had been three or four hours ago, before we had gotten a lunch at the kitchens and set out again.
Since then, Glorfindel had shown me to whole myriad of places, telling me what they were for and other such stuff. Did I remember any of it? No. It really wasn't my fault, though - when the briefly jealous glances of other Elf maidens wasn't making me smirk in satisfaction, the thought of Glorfindel working as a tour guide in Disney World or someplace else back on Earth was making me struggle not to laugh.
I think Glorfindel realized after the first hour or so that I wasn't paying attention, because he started asking me questions, instead of just telling me stuff and letting me nod and make interested noises in all the right spots. Which was how we got onto our current topic.
We had started going through the practice grounds - someplace I would have paid attention to even if Glorfindel hadn't been asking questions - and Glorfindel had asked about Boromir and my weapons training. That, somehow, had given way to the topic of Faramir and Boromir's antics, which led to the retelling of the particular prank that had driven the then-Captain of the Gondorian Royal Guards to gallop out of Minas Tirith a week later, heading west, and leaving all his belongings, along with a nasty letter, behind. It involved a few pigs, some alcohol, a dress, a mischievous bar wench (not me), and was topped off with a bucket of water.
All in all, it had been quite humourous at the time, and even Denethor had had to closet himself in his office for half an hour when he'd finally heard the entire tale. He had, of course, forbidden the boys to carry out anymore pranks, and given them chores, but as per usual when I was around, Faramir and Boromir ended out only doing about an eighth of their chores. It was amazing, really, how willing the lads in the lower rings of the city were to do work in the palace - any work. It sounds like we took horrible advantage of them, I know, but the boys honestly wanted to do the work, and I had enough money stored up over the years I was always able to pay the lads something. To this day, I only had to appear in the lower rings of the city wearing a dark purple cloak with a big, floppy hat, and I'd be accosted by several dozen boys wanting to go up to the palace.
Anyways. While Glorfindel and I were still recovering from our mirth over the retelling of the tale, we wandered through a copse of trees and found ourselves at the archery range. We stopped walking as I discovered, to my utter surprise, that Kari was practicing on the range - in what looked like an identical match to a tunic and trousers I'd seen Elladan wearing not long ago. I arched an eyebrow and wondered if Elrohir even noticed the clothes were missing, or if he'd simply stopped caring when his wife stole his clothes.
"She has become quite good at archery." Glorfindel commented, glancing down at me, as he spotted who was practicing.
"And I still suck worse than Boromir at it." I said, then pondered for a moment. "Actually, with Boromir's most recent revelations about archery practice, I'm probably around the same as him."
"Oh?" Glorfindel asked with interest.
"Apparently the only reason Boromir's target ever got any holes in it was that Faramir occasionally yoinked one of Boromir's arrows and shot at his target." I replied with a small grin. Glorfindel chuckled.
"Boromir and Faramir are sounding more and more like Elladan and Elrohir with every story you tell." he said.
"Yes, I had noticed that." I replied. "It's too bad I'll never be able to get all four of them together."
"Why not?" Glorfindel asked curiously, then immediately held up a hand to stop me from answering. "Do not answer. I have a feeling it will result in you revealing something you should not."
"Damn straight." I said with an emphatic nod.
"Lord Glorfindel! Care for a competition?" one of the other archers on the range had spotted Glorfindel, and now all heads - including Kari's - turned towards us in interest. With the strangely eager looks on their faces, I took it that they rarely got someone new to compete with.
"I am afraid I do not have my bow or arrows with me." Glorfindel declined politely.
"I am sure someone would let you use theirs." another elf commented, and the nods of the other archers backed him up. Glorfindel, however, chuckled and shook his head.
"No, I know better than to use another's bow and arrows in a competition." he said. "Perhaps some other time." The archers looked disappointed, but nodded and turned back to their archery - all except Kari. She had been looking at me and Glorfindel intently throughout the short exchange, which I doubt she'd even heard. Her stare was making me uncomfortable, so I discreetly gave Glorfindel a little push, directing him away from the archery grounds. Glorfindel didn't seem to mind.
"So is there any place in Lothlórien you HAVEN'T shown me yet?" I asked once I felt the prickling between my shoulders that was Kari's gaze go away. Glorfindel thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled, causing me to have to force myself to concentrate extremely hard to pay attention to his answer.
"There are a few places." he said, and then led me away from Caras Galadhon and into the forest surrounding it.
"I hope you know where you're going." I said after a few moments, peering around and knowing I was thoroughly lost.
"I know." he said, shooting me another smile, and I had to do a little hop-skip to stop myself from falling over. That elf should not be allowed to smile unless all females within seeing range were sitting down already.
Anyways. We tramped through the forest for awhile in a comfortable silence, until I suddenly realized that the air was getting rather - humid. And a little hot. I glanced curiously at Glorfindel, wanting to ask him where we were going, but something telling me he wouldn't answer even if I did. The humidity and heat were familiar, though - they reminded me of baths back home. But not quite. There was that extra little smell, as if -
I abruptly stopped, my eyes widening, as I remembered where I'd come across that sort of humidity and heat before.
"Lothlórien has a HOT SPRING?!" I exclaimed gleefully, and Glorfindel looked back at me with amusement.
"Yes." was his reply, and with a squeal, I scampered after him as he continued walking. A short time later, however, he stopped and motioned for me to stay here.
"Someone may be IN the hot springs." Glorfindel explained with a small smile as I looked at him curiously. Then he gave me a mischievous grin before disappearing into the trees. I shook my head with amusement - hot springs? He was most definitely trying to turn the tables on me again.
It occurred to me, then, that normally, at least in Middle-Earth, it was usually the male trying to attract the female, not the other way around. I grinned. Glorfindel was just following nature's path, then. Well, he was acting as if he was well and truly hooked, so I suppose I could just let nature take it's course. I skipped around the tree Glorfindel had disappeared into once, then sat down to wait for him. I didn't have long to wait, as he arrived not long later, grinning like a madman.
"Did you lose your marbles into the hot springs?" I asked, peering at him. Glorfindel looked at me in momentary confusion, then brushed it off and continued grinning.
"Apparently Haldir has found a lady friend since I was last here." he said. I looked at him for a moment, then started cackling.
"Hah! That would be the lady I saw him with last night, I bet." I said with a snigger.
"Oh? Who was this lady?" Glorfindel asked curiously. I shrugged.
"Didn't stop to ask. You know how most of Haldir's and my conversations end up." I said. "She was blonde, though." Glorfindel rolled his eyes.
"Most female elves in Lothlórien are." he said.
"Except for me." I said with an impish grin, and Glorfindel nodded.
"Except for you." he said, and gave me a smile that I KNOW would have caused my legs to give out if I had been standing up. As it was, it left me temporarily without a working brain, so I stayed silent, and Glorfindel came and sat down beside me.
"There are some other natural places in Lothlórien I could show you to if you wish." he said.
"Lothlórien IS a natural place." I managed to respond, despite the fact that when Glorfindel had sat down, his arm had somehow ended up behind my back in a way that was almost - but not quite - wrapped around my waist. "At least compared to Minas Tirith." I added, forcing my mind to start working again.
"I had heard that Minas Tirith was a green city." Glorfindel commented with a slight frown.
"It was, once, I suppose." I said absently. "But the green was fading even when I first arrived. Now it lives up to its name as the White City. Hardly any green plants, except in the carefully tended gardens of the wealthy."
"That shall have to be changed." Glorfindel announced, and I nodded.
"And Rohan needs to get back to being its cheery ol' self." I said emphatically, and Glorfindel nodded.
"So you have been to Rohan, as well?" he asked, and I nodded again.
"Every once and awhile. Kept getting jobs in the kings stables." I replied, then smiled ruefully. "Can't imagine why." Glorfindel laughed.
"No matter how one tries to hide it, one cannot fool the creatures of the earth about their Elven blood." he said.
"Indeed." I replied. "The damned horses just walked over to me and obeyed me without a qualm, even if they were the most troublesome horse in the entire pasture."
"Well, you ARE a natural with horses, as Liltalen and Asfaloth have shown." Glorfindel commented.
"Asfaloth?" I asked curiously. "How did HE show that I was a natural with horses?" Glorfindel quirked an eyebrow upwards.
"You think Elvish horses let just anyone ride them, even if they have met them before?" he asked. "The only reason Angahonda let me ride him was because Asfaloth was injured not long ago, and Elrond let me use Angahonda until Asfaloth recovered."
"Oh." I said, blinking in confusion. A natural with horses, eh? Not long ago, I would have taken that as a sure-fire sign that I was turning into a Mary-Sue. But now...now it was just a skill I'd never realized I'd had. Not like I'd had much chance to discover it - I think I'd been around a total of four horses back on earth, and two were an aunt's high-strung Thoroughbreds who my parents wouldn't let me all that close to.
There was a comfortable silence for a time, and then suddenly I heard voices, coming from the direction of the hot springs. I shared a glance at Glorfindel, and as one, we both stood and hauled ourselves up into the tree. I had to have a little help from Glorfindel - learning how to climb trees was not something I had done in the past 800 years - but we both got up there in time for Haldir and the lady I had seen him with last night to stroll into view. Wet clothes draped over Haldir's shoulder, and their wet hair, showed that they had just been swimming, not engaging in...other activities, like I had supposed.
Haldir, it was to be noted, was wearing nothing but trousers and boots - hence the wet clothes over his shoulder, instead of being carried carefully as not to get his clothes wet - while his lady was fully dressed and seemed to be hoarding the rest of his clothes. At least, Haldir occasionally made snatches for the bundle that she was holding in the hand farthest from him. It was actually rather cute to watch. It showed a nice side of Haldir that my relationship - or lack there of - with him had never shown.
Glorfindel and I stayed silent as Haldir and his lady friend walked underneath our tree, and until they were well out of sight. There was a brief scuffle when, just after they'd gone underneath our tree, Haldir managed to catch hold of his clothes, but thankfully his lady knew when to leave well enough alone, and once Haldir got his clothes, she simply made a slightly disappointed face while he slipped them on, then handed her the wet clothes to hold. She did so carefully, making sure they didn't get her dress wet, as they continued on off to Caras Galadhon.
Once they were out of sight, Glorfindel and I dropped down from the tree and shared amused glances. Glorfindel's seemed infinitely more amused than the simple encounter could account for - he was grinning - so I arched an eyebrow at him in a silent question.
"The last time I was in Lothlórien, Lady Valinlot was completely besotted with our dear Marchwarden." he said, his grin growing slowly. "Yet Haldir did not even know her name."
"Oh ho. How interesting. I wonder how the change came about?" I asked curiously.
"I shall have to ask her later. I am curious as to how it happened, as well." Glorfindel replied with amusement.
"Indeed." I said. There was a pause.
"Well, I can show you the hot springs now. Or we could head back to Caras Galadhon..." Glorfindel said.
"Hot springs!" I squealed happily, and latched onto Glorfindel's arms. He laughed, and then headed in the direction Haldir and Lady Valinlot had appeared from.
----To be continued...with hot springs!----
(Need I say more?)
-Amusing Tidbit:-
'Valinlot'? Means 'Happy Flower'. *grin* Yes, I find that amusing! Who wouldn't, especially when you consider her relationship to Haldir?!
-Authors Note:-
Be kind to your author, she had to re-write some scenes in this chapter three times as she did more research on Elven customs...(certain reviewers are hereby labelled Evil In A Good Way for pointing me towards books that had details on Elvish customs, which in turn lead me to spend an evening watching the Extended Edition of the Fellowship of the Ring and wondering whether I should go by Tolkien canon or not, which in turn lead to the decision that yes, I should, which in turn lead to re-writing.) And anyways, I'm updating about 12 hours early...because otherwise I won'te be able to update for about...oh, 18 hours or so.
In other news, there's something I'd like to address in this Author's Note that seems to be of growing importance to you reviewers. It started out with just one or two of you per chapter. Then it became half a dozen or so. And last chapter, I swear half of the reviews I got mentioned something about it. What is this 'it'? It is the chapter not being up when FanFiction.Net says it's up.
Don't review in a panic when this happens thinking that something's happened to the chapter and you won't get to read it. You will, trust me - this is all just part of what I like to call 'FanFiction.Net's Weird Chapter Posting Dance'. It does all sorts of funky stuff during this time, including showing the chapter in the story summary, but not having a link to it in the story, having a link to the chapter but saying it doesn't exist, and so on and so forth. It aggravates me no end, as well, when I run into this in my own readings, but if you'll just wait a a few hours, it should fix itself up and you'll be able to read the chapter.
It does touch me, however, that the fact that you can't get to my newest chapter causes you all to get so worried. It's wonderful to know my story is so appreciated by you all, and I thank every single one of you, reader and reviewer or just reader - especially any new ones. I'd 'give' you all something, but I think I've just about exhausted everything I could 'give', and anyways, I have a feeling you'd all appreciate me just going and working on the next chapter more than any cyber-goodie I could give you, right? :)
And with that, I'm off to write more - see you on Tuesday!
~Crimson Starlight
(PS: If you ask a question in a review that you expect to have answered and doesn't have to do with the plot of the story? Make sure you leave a way for me to reply. I like to respond to reviews occasionally, but I'm not about to go searching way the heck and gone when, if it's your first review and you're anonymous, you don't leave an email, or if, when you leave a signed review, you don't let your email be shown in your profile.)
-Disclaimer:-
Halbarad: ...
CS: *poke*
Halbarad: *shakes head firmly*
CS: Aw, come on, you said you'd do it!
Halbarad: Only because I was drunk.
CS: So?! You're a Ranger of the North, next in command to Aragorn! You promised, and even if you were drunk at the time, you should stick to your word!
Halbarad: *shakes head*
Aragorn: *popping out of nowhere* She's right, you know. You did promise.
Halbarad: *sighs* Fine. *ahem* *sings* Oooooh, I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK, I work all night and I sleep all day...
CS: *snickers and sits back to enjoy*
(Rachel: What, were you expecting the disclaimer?
Glorfindel: It does bear mentioning, however, that Crimson Starlight owns nothing.)
-46: Tour-
"So he...dumped a bucket of water over the Captain's head..." Glorfindel said, arching an eyebrow at me, and I nodded, giggling slightly as I remembered the look on the Captain's face once the water had finished falling. Glorfindel chuckled.
Glorfindel and I were still - technically - on a tour of Lothlórien. Apparently my little nickname giving the night before hadn't put Galadriel entirely off of snooping into my business. She had been prepared to give me - and the accompanying Glorfindel - a tour personally, but, unfortunately (note the sarcasm), a maid arrived and announced that Lord Celeborn wished to talk to her. She then proclaimed that since Glorfindel knew Lothlórien fairly well, he could start the tour and she'd catch up and continue it later.
That had been three or four hours ago, before we had gotten a lunch at the kitchens and set out again.
Since then, Glorfindel had shown me to whole myriad of places, telling me what they were for and other such stuff. Did I remember any of it? No. It really wasn't my fault, though - when the briefly jealous glances of other Elf maidens wasn't making me smirk in satisfaction, the thought of Glorfindel working as a tour guide in Disney World or someplace else back on Earth was making me struggle not to laugh.
I think Glorfindel realized after the first hour or so that I wasn't paying attention, because he started asking me questions, instead of just telling me stuff and letting me nod and make interested noises in all the right spots. Which was how we got onto our current topic.
We had started going through the practice grounds - someplace I would have paid attention to even if Glorfindel hadn't been asking questions - and Glorfindel had asked about Boromir and my weapons training. That, somehow, had given way to the topic of Faramir and Boromir's antics, which led to the retelling of the particular prank that had driven the then-Captain of the Gondorian Royal Guards to gallop out of Minas Tirith a week later, heading west, and leaving all his belongings, along with a nasty letter, behind. It involved a few pigs, some alcohol, a dress, a mischievous bar wench (not me), and was topped off with a bucket of water.
All in all, it had been quite humourous at the time, and even Denethor had had to closet himself in his office for half an hour when he'd finally heard the entire tale. He had, of course, forbidden the boys to carry out anymore pranks, and given them chores, but as per usual when I was around, Faramir and Boromir ended out only doing about an eighth of their chores. It was amazing, really, how willing the lads in the lower rings of the city were to do work in the palace - any work. It sounds like we took horrible advantage of them, I know, but the boys honestly wanted to do the work, and I had enough money stored up over the years I was always able to pay the lads something. To this day, I only had to appear in the lower rings of the city wearing a dark purple cloak with a big, floppy hat, and I'd be accosted by several dozen boys wanting to go up to the palace.
Anyways. While Glorfindel and I were still recovering from our mirth over the retelling of the tale, we wandered through a copse of trees and found ourselves at the archery range. We stopped walking as I discovered, to my utter surprise, that Kari was practicing on the range - in what looked like an identical match to a tunic and trousers I'd seen Elladan wearing not long ago. I arched an eyebrow and wondered if Elrohir even noticed the clothes were missing, or if he'd simply stopped caring when his wife stole his clothes.
"She has become quite good at archery." Glorfindel commented, glancing down at me, as he spotted who was practicing.
"And I still suck worse than Boromir at it." I said, then pondered for a moment. "Actually, with Boromir's most recent revelations about archery practice, I'm probably around the same as him."
"Oh?" Glorfindel asked with interest.
"Apparently the only reason Boromir's target ever got any holes in it was that Faramir occasionally yoinked one of Boromir's arrows and shot at his target." I replied with a small grin. Glorfindel chuckled.
"Boromir and Faramir are sounding more and more like Elladan and Elrohir with every story you tell." he said.
"Yes, I had noticed that." I replied. "It's too bad I'll never be able to get all four of them together."
"Why not?" Glorfindel asked curiously, then immediately held up a hand to stop me from answering. "Do not answer. I have a feeling it will result in you revealing something you should not."
"Damn straight." I said with an emphatic nod.
"Lord Glorfindel! Care for a competition?" one of the other archers on the range had spotted Glorfindel, and now all heads - including Kari's - turned towards us in interest. With the strangely eager looks on their faces, I took it that they rarely got someone new to compete with.
"I am afraid I do not have my bow or arrows with me." Glorfindel declined politely.
"I am sure someone would let you use theirs." another elf commented, and the nods of the other archers backed him up. Glorfindel, however, chuckled and shook his head.
"No, I know better than to use another's bow and arrows in a competition." he said. "Perhaps some other time." The archers looked disappointed, but nodded and turned back to their archery - all except Kari. She had been looking at me and Glorfindel intently throughout the short exchange, which I doubt she'd even heard. Her stare was making me uncomfortable, so I discreetly gave Glorfindel a little push, directing him away from the archery grounds. Glorfindel didn't seem to mind.
"So is there any place in Lothlórien you HAVEN'T shown me yet?" I asked once I felt the prickling between my shoulders that was Kari's gaze go away. Glorfindel thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled, causing me to have to force myself to concentrate extremely hard to pay attention to his answer.
"There are a few places." he said, and then led me away from Caras Galadhon and into the forest surrounding it.
"I hope you know where you're going." I said after a few moments, peering around and knowing I was thoroughly lost.
"I know." he said, shooting me another smile, and I had to do a little hop-skip to stop myself from falling over. That elf should not be allowed to smile unless all females within seeing range were sitting down already.
Anyways. We tramped through the forest for awhile in a comfortable silence, until I suddenly realized that the air was getting rather - humid. And a little hot. I glanced curiously at Glorfindel, wanting to ask him where we were going, but something telling me he wouldn't answer even if I did. The humidity and heat were familiar, though - they reminded me of baths back home. But not quite. There was that extra little smell, as if -
I abruptly stopped, my eyes widening, as I remembered where I'd come across that sort of humidity and heat before.
"Lothlórien has a HOT SPRING?!" I exclaimed gleefully, and Glorfindel looked back at me with amusement.
"Yes." was his reply, and with a squeal, I scampered after him as he continued walking. A short time later, however, he stopped and motioned for me to stay here.
"Someone may be IN the hot springs." Glorfindel explained with a small smile as I looked at him curiously. Then he gave me a mischievous grin before disappearing into the trees. I shook my head with amusement - hot springs? He was most definitely trying to turn the tables on me again.
It occurred to me, then, that normally, at least in Middle-Earth, it was usually the male trying to attract the female, not the other way around. I grinned. Glorfindel was just following nature's path, then. Well, he was acting as if he was well and truly hooked, so I suppose I could just let nature take it's course. I skipped around the tree Glorfindel had disappeared into once, then sat down to wait for him. I didn't have long to wait, as he arrived not long later, grinning like a madman.
"Did you lose your marbles into the hot springs?" I asked, peering at him. Glorfindel looked at me in momentary confusion, then brushed it off and continued grinning.
"Apparently Haldir has found a lady friend since I was last here." he said. I looked at him for a moment, then started cackling.
"Hah! That would be the lady I saw him with last night, I bet." I said with a snigger.
"Oh? Who was this lady?" Glorfindel asked curiously. I shrugged.
"Didn't stop to ask. You know how most of Haldir's and my conversations end up." I said. "She was blonde, though." Glorfindel rolled his eyes.
"Most female elves in Lothlórien are." he said.
"Except for me." I said with an impish grin, and Glorfindel nodded.
"Except for you." he said, and gave me a smile that I KNOW would have caused my legs to give out if I had been standing up. As it was, it left me temporarily without a working brain, so I stayed silent, and Glorfindel came and sat down beside me.
"There are some other natural places in Lothlórien I could show you to if you wish." he said.
"Lothlórien IS a natural place." I managed to respond, despite the fact that when Glorfindel had sat down, his arm had somehow ended up behind my back in a way that was almost - but not quite - wrapped around my waist. "At least compared to Minas Tirith." I added, forcing my mind to start working again.
"I had heard that Minas Tirith was a green city." Glorfindel commented with a slight frown.
"It was, once, I suppose." I said absently. "But the green was fading even when I first arrived. Now it lives up to its name as the White City. Hardly any green plants, except in the carefully tended gardens of the wealthy."
"That shall have to be changed." Glorfindel announced, and I nodded.
"And Rohan needs to get back to being its cheery ol' self." I said emphatically, and Glorfindel nodded.
"So you have been to Rohan, as well?" he asked, and I nodded again.
"Every once and awhile. Kept getting jobs in the kings stables." I replied, then smiled ruefully. "Can't imagine why." Glorfindel laughed.
"No matter how one tries to hide it, one cannot fool the creatures of the earth about their Elven blood." he said.
"Indeed." I replied. "The damned horses just walked over to me and obeyed me without a qualm, even if they were the most troublesome horse in the entire pasture."
"Well, you ARE a natural with horses, as Liltalen and Asfaloth have shown." Glorfindel commented.
"Asfaloth?" I asked curiously. "How did HE show that I was a natural with horses?" Glorfindel quirked an eyebrow upwards.
"You think Elvish horses let just anyone ride them, even if they have met them before?" he asked. "The only reason Angahonda let me ride him was because Asfaloth was injured not long ago, and Elrond let me use Angahonda until Asfaloth recovered."
"Oh." I said, blinking in confusion. A natural with horses, eh? Not long ago, I would have taken that as a sure-fire sign that I was turning into a Mary-Sue. But now...now it was just a skill I'd never realized I'd had. Not like I'd had much chance to discover it - I think I'd been around a total of four horses back on earth, and two were an aunt's high-strung Thoroughbreds who my parents wouldn't let me all that close to.
There was a comfortable silence for a time, and then suddenly I heard voices, coming from the direction of the hot springs. I shared a glance at Glorfindel, and as one, we both stood and hauled ourselves up into the tree. I had to have a little help from Glorfindel - learning how to climb trees was not something I had done in the past 800 years - but we both got up there in time for Haldir and the lady I had seen him with last night to stroll into view. Wet clothes draped over Haldir's shoulder, and their wet hair, showed that they had just been swimming, not engaging in...other activities, like I had supposed.
Haldir, it was to be noted, was wearing nothing but trousers and boots - hence the wet clothes over his shoulder, instead of being carried carefully as not to get his clothes wet - while his lady was fully dressed and seemed to be hoarding the rest of his clothes. At least, Haldir occasionally made snatches for the bundle that she was holding in the hand farthest from him. It was actually rather cute to watch. It showed a nice side of Haldir that my relationship - or lack there of - with him had never shown.
Glorfindel and I stayed silent as Haldir and his lady friend walked underneath our tree, and until they were well out of sight. There was a brief scuffle when, just after they'd gone underneath our tree, Haldir managed to catch hold of his clothes, but thankfully his lady knew when to leave well enough alone, and once Haldir got his clothes, she simply made a slightly disappointed face while he slipped them on, then handed her the wet clothes to hold. She did so carefully, making sure they didn't get her dress wet, as they continued on off to Caras Galadhon.
Once they were out of sight, Glorfindel and I dropped down from the tree and shared amused glances. Glorfindel's seemed infinitely more amused than the simple encounter could account for - he was grinning - so I arched an eyebrow at him in a silent question.
"The last time I was in Lothlórien, Lady Valinlot was completely besotted with our dear Marchwarden." he said, his grin growing slowly. "Yet Haldir did not even know her name."
"Oh ho. How interesting. I wonder how the change came about?" I asked curiously.
"I shall have to ask her later. I am curious as to how it happened, as well." Glorfindel replied with amusement.
"Indeed." I said. There was a pause.
"Well, I can show you the hot springs now. Or we could head back to Caras Galadhon..." Glorfindel said.
"Hot springs!" I squealed happily, and latched onto Glorfindel's arms. He laughed, and then headed in the direction Haldir and Lady Valinlot had appeared from.
----To be continued...with hot springs!----
(Need I say more?)
-Amusing Tidbit:-
'Valinlot'? Means 'Happy Flower'. *grin* Yes, I find that amusing! Who wouldn't, especially when you consider her relationship to Haldir?!
-Authors Note:-
Be kind to your author, she had to re-write some scenes in this chapter three times as she did more research on Elven customs...(certain reviewers are hereby labelled Evil In A Good Way for pointing me towards books that had details on Elvish customs, which in turn lead me to spend an evening watching the Extended Edition of the Fellowship of the Ring and wondering whether I should go by Tolkien canon or not, which in turn lead to the decision that yes, I should, which in turn lead to re-writing.) And anyways, I'm updating about 12 hours early...because otherwise I won'te be able to update for about...oh, 18 hours or so.
In other news, there's something I'd like to address in this Author's Note that seems to be of growing importance to you reviewers. It started out with just one or two of you per chapter. Then it became half a dozen or so. And last chapter, I swear half of the reviews I got mentioned something about it. What is this 'it'? It is the chapter not being up when FanFiction.Net says it's up.
Don't review in a panic when this happens thinking that something's happened to the chapter and you won't get to read it. You will, trust me - this is all just part of what I like to call 'FanFiction.Net's Weird Chapter Posting Dance'. It does all sorts of funky stuff during this time, including showing the chapter in the story summary, but not having a link to it in the story, having a link to the chapter but saying it doesn't exist, and so on and so forth. It aggravates me no end, as well, when I run into this in my own readings, but if you'll just wait a a few hours, it should fix itself up and you'll be able to read the chapter.
It does touch me, however, that the fact that you can't get to my newest chapter causes you all to get so worried. It's wonderful to know my story is so appreciated by you all, and I thank every single one of you, reader and reviewer or just reader - especially any new ones. I'd 'give' you all something, but I think I've just about exhausted everything I could 'give', and anyways, I have a feeling you'd all appreciate me just going and working on the next chapter more than any cyber-goodie I could give you, right? :)
And with that, I'm off to write more - see you on Tuesday!
~Crimson Starlight
(PS: If you ask a question in a review that you expect to have answered and doesn't have to do with the plot of the story? Make sure you leave a way for me to reply. I like to respond to reviews occasionally, but I'm not about to go searching way the heck and gone when, if it's your first review and you're anonymous, you don't leave an email, or if, when you leave a signed review, you don't let your email be shown in your profile.)