Author's Note: Wow, I can't believe all the reviews I got for the last chapter! Thank you so much! Here is my fourteenth chapter, don't worry, I promise you that there are lots more to come. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Tolkien's work.
Chapter 14 Determination
Haldir was sitting on a fallen log, tears falling from his eyes as his laughter increased in volume. Lintelin sat opposite him on a low hanging tree branch, smiling at my husband. He wiped his eyes and finally got his mirth under control.
"Oh," he rested his hand upon his side, "that is one of the funniest things I have ever heard! Where did you hear that?"
"One of my close friends told me such," she said. "I thought the jest was rather amusing myself." I sighed in relief. It was just a joke! He was laughing at a simple joke! I should not have been so paranoid and untrusting of my beloved. I had no reason not to be. A since of peace flowed through me and the knot in my chest loosened considerable. Well, now that I was here I should say hello to him. After all the healer had just told me how vitally important it was to spend as much time with him as I could. I rounded the bend fully, my arms outstretched.
"Haldir!" my voice rang through the frosty air. I watched him jump. He had been quite startled which surprised me. Usually his senses were very keen, having been the March Warden for hundreds of years.
"Elenwen!" he seemed just as equally happy as I ran over to greet him. I let him cradle me in his strong arms and got lost in his sweet embrace.
"I am just coming from the healers," I lifted my head and looked into his eyes. The snowflakes were falling silently. I watched as they landed in his golden hair and on top of his shoulders. I must have been equally covered in snow, for he reached up and brushed off my shoulders.
"Oh and what did they tell you?" he smiled and pulled me closer in an attempt to warm me, even though I wasn't cold. "You shouldn't be out in this weather," he added almost as a side note. "It has to be bad for the babe and you."
"I am an elf!" now I was laughing. "You read too much into humans, I cannot catch a sickness like them, besides the healers made no mention of it."
"You are well than?" concern lit his blue eyes.
"Yes of course I am well," I buried my head in his chest, quite aware that Lintelin was watching us. "But, mayhap you could try to come home early this eve." He had been stroking my back gently, but suddenly paused.
"Why?" Haldir asked. I nearly started laughing, thinking he was again just teasing me. But when I looked back up into his eyes I saw that he was quite serious. The shock must have shown on my face, for his eyes narrowed as he gazed down at me.
"It is important for you to spend time with me Haldir," I whispered. "Not just for my happiness, but for the health of our child. The healer just told me such."
"But I cannot leave my position," his voice was gentle as if explaining something to an elfling. "I am rather busy."
"You did not appear to be busy when I came upon you," my gaze traveled to Lintelin who remained sitting on the branch. It occurred to me that she had not even greeted me, how utterly rude! "Please Haldir," I looked back up at him, all of my being begging for his love. "Come home with me now. Leave your post early, I wish to spend time with you. Please, please." It was then that I heard a disgruntled noise coming from the other elleth. She had hopped off her branch and was now sauntering over to stand before me.
"When I first met you Elenwen," the maiden drawled, "I suspected you of being a possessive, selfish elf that did not give her husband any freedom. But because I never judge anyone on my first impressions, I tried to be as pleasant as possible. But now you have just proved that my instincts were right. I cannot believe you! Leave the March Warden alone for Eru's sake! Don't you know that he has a job that he must attend to? He is busy enough without you coming around to disturb him! Please, you are disrupting my training, be gone!" My mouth was hanging open, I must have looked daft at the moment, but I could not speak. I could not do anything. Haldir was silent. He did not meet my eyes.
"Haldir?" I moved closer to him. Why was he not defending me? He had always rushed to my aide when I had called upon him. But now, he would not even look at me. Had I been a brave elleth and a much stronger one at that, I would have stepped forward to slap Lintelin. But now, with my husband silent and my situation dire there was nothing I felt I could do. Finally after a few tense seconds past, he spoke.
"Go home Elenwen," he muttered softly. "I will try to return early tonight. But I cannot leave with you now. Namaarie." And with that he turned his back to me.
Before, when something bad had happened regarding Lintelin and my husband, I had flown into despair. Yet now, as I sat in our flet, I felt nothing but pure rage at her. My fists were clenched together tightly and I was trembling. She had crossed the line this time. No longer would I allow that she-elf into my home. No longer would she feast on my food or borrow my weapons. No, I did not want to be a pushover, someone who was trampled on constantly. Now, I was on my knees digging through the deep abyss that was one of our many closets. The child within me seemed to be disturbed by my anger and squirmed forcefully. But this I tried to ignore as I searched for my prey. Finally, my small fingers brushed upon the wood. With a mighty tug I freed it from its prison. My child would be proud of its mother. I propped up my old harp upon my lap. It was small, but finely carved. One of the strings had snapped, but that I could easily repair. Music would once again flow from both my instrument and my mouth. And Lintelin wouldn't be able to take that away from me!
Elleth: Female elf
Namaarie: Farewell