Chapter 10- Tales and Tails
They had visited everywhere in Lothlórien it seemed... to the gardens, to the armory, to the libraries, and still Indilisse could find nothing that she felt particularly akin to. As the morning wore on, she became increasingly worried that she would never decide upon one thing, and her indecision also appeared to be wearing thin on Haldir. Indilisse sighed heavily, peering up at Haldir for a short moment. What was it like to know exactly what he was good at and suited for? To have a certain calling in his life and the ability to do it? Had he always known that he was going to be a warden? She chewed thoughtfully on her lip and turned back to watching the path in front of them. Sometimes she wished...
"My Lord and Lady," she jerked her head up when she heard those four words flow from Haldir's mouth. Sitting on a masterfully carved stone bench near a small pond in the garden were the two high elves, smiling dreamily at each other, Celeborn gently stroking Galadriel's flowing golden hair. Such a vision of tranquility and loveliness was the couple; no matter how turbulent Indilisse's thoughts were at the moment, she was instantly calmed by their glowing appearances.
"Ah Haldir, it is good to see you," Galadriel spoke quietly as she sat up from her lounging position against Celeborn's broad chest. "And Indilisse, you as well."
Celeborn stood up and adjusted his robes. Indilisse tried not to pay any attention to what he was doing since it was evident that she and Haldir had interrupted something they should not have, but it was not worth it not think of it because Galadriel glanced at her with knowing eyes and a soft smile. She and the Lord should heed their own advice about doing things behind closed doors, Indilisse thought, trying to find out if Galadriel really was listening to her thoughts.
Galadriel laughed and glided over to where she stood, placing a matronly arm around Indilisse's shoulders. "Would you walk with me, Indilisse? I would much like to speak with you."
"Yes, of course my Lady." Indilisse replied, going with the Lady without so much as a glance backwards in Haldir's or Celeborn's direction.
"Tell me, Indilisse, how has your stay been so far?" Galadriel asked after they were a safe distance away and walking through a small meadow of elanor and niphredil.
"It has been wonderful, my Lady." She breathed in the heavily perfumed air and sighed. "The hospitality of the Wood is always the finest."
Galadriel smiled, and drew her arm from Indilisse's shoulders, clasping her hands easily in front of her white gowns. "It cannot be compared to the great halls of Minas Tirith."
"Lórien is far superior." Indilisse smiled, "Of all realms, this is where my heart belongs."
"Though, I feel something amiss, Indilisse." Galadriel looked over her for a few moments, and Indilisse could feel Galadriel's powers reaching into the depths of her mind, trying to find something. "You do not think you will be able to stay in Lórien if you do not find a trade?"
Indilisse moved her eyes to the ground in front of her, trying to conceal her embarrassment. "I do not think that it is appropriate for me to live here and not contribute something useful."
"Your propriety it commendable, Indilisse." Galadriel smiled warmly and walked further ahead, beckoning for Indilisse to follow her. "However, I hope you would choose to stay. You are a sharp elleth, very astute and intelligent, and I feel that our Wood would greatly benefit if you remained among the mellyrn."
"Thank you, my Lady." Indilisse fell into step with the lady. "But still I..."
The Lady held her hand up to silence Indilisse. "You may not realize it, but already you have added something back into the life of the three brothers. It is not always what you knowingly do that gives you a purpose in life, pen neth."
"My lady, I do not understand." Indilisse glanced at the Lady, and tried to read her eyes, but as always they were deep blue pools of ambiguousness.
"Did you ever consider that you were not meant to come back to Lórien to learn a new trade?" Galadriel asked. "Perhaps you were meant to return for some other greater purpose."
"My lady, I say this with the greatest amount of respect," Indilisse sighed, "but you speak in riddles."
Galadriel turned to her and stopped, letting a low laugh escape her lips. "You will understand in time, Indilisse, when you least expect it to make any sense."
"Aye, my lady." Indilisse nodded her head and realized that they had come back around a path and they could hear Haldir and Celeborn speaking in hushed tones.
"For now, though," Galadriel glanced at her, "I would like to ask of you a very important task."
She paused and looked closely at the Lady, "Anything you would ask, my lady."
Galadriel smiled, "Targon tells me that you are a wonderful storyteller, and I feel that the people of this Wood need to learn of all the other places in Middle Earth besides Caras Galadhon and all other Elven realms. Celeborn and I wish to have you write the tales you have learned."
"That could take two thousand years, my lady." Indilisse remarked, though very excited about the post being handed her by Galadriel herself.
The Lady smiled and nodded, "That is just something we will have to reflect on when you realize your full purpose."
Her full purpose? Whatever could Galadriel mean by this? Would it be a test of strength in mind, or of body? Was there a hardship she would have to overcome? Or would she just suddenly realize what she had been missing for the entirety of her life? Indilisse sighed heavily, now with a whole new slew of questions going through her head. Some were worrisome, while others were happier, but without regard to these thoughts, Galadriel pushed them towards Celeborn and Haldir, with Indilisse's mind twisted into confused knots. She figured that it was the Lady's way to leave people like this so they would have to think for themselves, but still, she could have been a little more forthcoming with her details.
"Fair Galadriel," Celeborn took his lady's arm and afforded her a small smile, "where did you run off to?"
"Only on a walk, my lord." Galadriel giggled.
Indilisse found this exchange between them uncharacteristic, but still she found it to be particularly heartening with Celeborn trying to act as Galadriel's keeper, while anyone who had met the fair couple knew it was actually Galadriel who was Celeborn's keeper.
"And Indilisse has agreed to our plans." Galadriel added, "She seemed very eager for it."
Indilisse nodded, feeling Haldir's scrutinizing gaze upon her. "I have my Lord, I could not have imagined a better task to complete."
"This is magnificent news, Indilisse." Celeborn looked at her, "I much look forward to reading your manuscripts."
Why would Celeborn and Galadriel need to know of the tales from abroad? They already knew so much; this added so much more to her perplexity. She gave him a feeble smile.
"Well, my lady," Celeborn glanced at Galadriel, "We should be heading back to the talan before we are missed."
Galadriel smiled, "Yes my Lord. Namarie, Haldir and Indilisse."
Indilisse and Haldir watched the fair elves retreat to the staircase that led to the large talan they occupied. She sighed and glanced up at her escort, "She is very difficult to understand."
Haldir looked down at her with curious eyes, "I think she prefers it that way, Indilisse."
She giggled, "It certainly will make life more interesting."
"Aye, that it will." Haldir chuckled, and took her arm again. "So now shall we go to practice field as it seems you have found your calling?"
Indilisse raised a challenging brow at Haldir, "Only if you wish to be bested by an elleth."
He smirked arrogantly, "No elleth can beat me, fair Indilisse."
"I shall try." She replied, "And when I do beat you, you will be sorry." ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________
"I believe that means I win," Indilisse smiled triumphantly, setting the tip of her bow on the ground and leaning against it. She looked at the farthest target, where her arrow was deeply embedded and still quivering, perfectly centered.
"You cheat." Haldir exclaimed in an exaggerated scoff. "There is no way..."
She giggled at the flash of outrage in his usually placid gray eyes, handing him the bow. "I warned you that you would be bested this day."
"You must have won by using some spell." Haldir accused, "You must tell me what it is. Perhaps Galadriel taught it to you."
"There is no magic, Haldir." Indilisse smiled, leaving his side to go collect her arrows. She giggled to herself the entire time while she carefully pulled the arrows from the trees and other targets. Haldir had not joined her side, so she turned to look back at the line form which they were shooting, and found him still standing there dumbfounded that he had lost the archery match. He shook his head, looking over her bow, trying to find something bad with it. Unable to do so, Haldir slumped his shoulders and finally looked up in her direction with a bewildered look that made her double-over in laughter.
He sauntered slowly up to her, and stood over her with his full height. "You are lucky there is no one else here to witness this."
"No, I believe you are lucky." She replied and gave him an egotistical smirk, "So, Haldir, how does it feel to be knocked down a few notches?"
"Is that what all this was about? You teaching me a lesson, since I taught you one with a sword?" Haldir asked, folding his arms across his chest as a skeptical look appeared in his eyes.
Indilisse shrugged, "If that makes you feel better about losing."
He chuckled and pulled the last arrow from the target, inspecting it closely, handing it to her. She reached out for it, but in one swift movement he dropped it from his grasp and instead took hold of her hand, pulling her against his chest. Indilisse looked up at him with worried eyes, and took in a sharp breath. She gazed up at him, finding that he seemed pleased with her reaction to this. With a scowl, she tried to push away from him, but he held her tighter, leaned into her and whispered lowly and breathily, "There are many more lessons I could teach you, Indilisse."
"Let go of me Haldir." She said, trying to ignore the feel of his warm breath on the tip of her ear and the shiver up her spine that it caused. Indilisse pushed back on his chest again, and was surprised when his strong grip was loosened quickly, sending her stumbling back a few paces. She regained her balance and stood still, looking over his face for moment. A retort bubbled up inside of her and before she could stop it from surfacing, she seethed, "Who said I would let you teach me those lessons? Are you so sure of yourself, Haldir of Lórien, that I am reckless with my ways?"
Haldir chuckled lowly, "Turnabout is fair play, Indilisse. If you are going to act like this, then I have a right to be suggestive."
"Act like what?" She questioned, "I beat you at archery fair and square, you have no right to act like I am your... your sex slave."
His laugh grew louder and more menacing. He leaned against a tree and looked over her for a few moments, appraising her. "Indilisse, for pity's sake, I was only kidding. But now I see a way to throw you off guard."
Indilisse dropped her shoulders and bent down quickly to grab the arrow that he had let go of a few moments before. She placed it back into her quiver and righted herself, looking back at him. Normally such a suggestion would not have bothered her so much, she had received many like this over her many years, but coming from Haldir it made her feel different. Not necessarily dirty, but it was a strange feeling- almost one that made her think that Haldir's jest was only half that, and that she was amenable to his advances. Indilisse diverted her eyes from him and shook her head, "I will see you about March Warden, for I am late."
Haldir watched her scurry away towards her talan to deposit her weapons and grab a few things for the bathhouse. He smiled to himself, glad that he had made such an effect on her. Really, he had not wanted to do such a thing, because he was almost positive that it would scare her off, but a demon had entered him at that moment, and he had grabbed her and pulled her close. It had been the wrong decision for his own sanity. With her so close, her lean body pressed against his, he had to struggle not to throw her over his shoulder and carry her to his talan. It seemed that she had even enjoyed it to a certain degree, and that simple thought egged him on to say what he had.
She was comical when she finally freed herself from his grasp, the way she had tried to act proper, but then he saw that thought flash through her hazel eyes. The thought that told him she was considering him in a less than friendly foe sort of way. It gave him hope that one day he could experience her, in more ways than just one.
Rúmil glided through the practice field, on a mission. Haldir chuckled, "You would not be heading for the bath house, now would you, Rúmil?"
His brother glanced over at him, and stopped in his tracks, a slight blush creeping to his ears. "Why would you wish to know?"
Haldir walked to his brother, and placed an arm over his shoulders, guiding him in the direction of his talan. "Come, I have just decided that you will be going with me to the borders. You must prepare."
"Haldir..." Rúmil started, but stopped instantly upon seeing the warning in Haldir's eyes.
"Do you not respect the authority of your Captain?" Haldir asked.
Rúmil glared, "This is not the authority of my Captain speaking, this is the tyranny of my eldest brother."
Haldir laughed and pushed Rúmil forward. "Aye, I may be a tyrant, dear brother, but I will preserve the dignity of one elleth, maybe two."
"Like you were just preserving here on the practice field?" Rúmil questioned, "Do not begin to think that no one saw you."
Haldir recoiled and was silent for a few moments, but kept pushing Rúmil ahead. They stopped in front of Rúmil's talan. "You are still going to the borders with me, Rúmil. I suggest you prepare."
With that, Haldir turned on his heels and started down the stairs and across a bridge to head for his talan. Half way home, he realized that he was passing close to the bath house and could hear the soft chatter of female voices. Intrigued, and figuring that stopping on the bridge was not as bad as peering down into the bath, he stopped and listened closely. At the first mention of his name, to which he was extremely surprised to hear, he inched forward and climbed over a railing to a tree branch. Edging closer, he stopped on the branch and listened again, picking up on the different voices and knowing who was speaking. He glanced around to make sure he was still concealed by the dense foliage. Satisfied, he sat down.
"You must have had an interesting night, Indilisse, to be invited to the March Warden's talan for the morning meal." He heard Nindë remark.
"Perhaps she did not need to be invited, maybe she stayed the entire night." Came Valaina's voice. Haldir did not like this elleth all that much, as she was even more insipid than Nindë.
There was a sarcastic chuckle that escaped Indilisse's mouth. Haldir took this time to see if he could peek in to the thickly shrub-lined bath, and he found that indeed he had a perfect vantage of Indilisse lowering herself into the warm water, however, it was already past her breasts. She moved carefully across the pool and sat down on a stone step, resting her head back against the edge. She looked at Valaina, "I did not stay the entire night, and I would not stay the entire night even if he propositioned me."
Aye, that is true, Haldir nodded his head.
"Even though he is the March Warden?" Nindë asked, this time flabbergasted more than anything.
'To you, Nindë, he may seem like a great prize to be won because he is March Warden, and insomuch powerful." Indilisse replied. "And as far as I am concerned you could have him even if he were Manwë himself. I do not desire power or prestige more than anything else."
"You seem to think that you would join for love." Valaina sniffed and let out a false laugh. "It is a ridiculous obsession, if you ask me. The only reason to marry is to provide heirs and to be championed above everyone else for winning that certain ellyn. That is love."
Indilisse was quiet for moment and sighed heavily, "Your omnipotent March Warden could be hung like a horse and I would not care. Because even though he is good to join with, and a smart match, that is not the reason I would 'love' him. You seem to forget that he is an elf as well, and can be hurt just as much as you can."
"You obviously do not know Haldir then." Nindë said. Haldir could not believe that Indilisse had made that comment about a horse, and he found himself blushing. Him, Captain of the Galadhrim, blushing. And then all at the same time, he was angered by what Valaina and Nindë were saying. He had only ever pictured Nindë as a fleeting play thing, but she seemed to think that she meant more to him than that. And the fact that even if he were to see her differently, that she would use him, have her fill and then do Elbereth knew what, was despicable to him. No dignified elleth would act like that. There had to be something else up Nindë's deceitful sleeve.
"I do not pretend that I do, Nindë, as you have obviously spent so much more 'quality' time with him." Indilisse remarked, and Haldir could see her amused smile all the way from his branch.
Nindë stood from her spot and walked over to face Indilisse. She lowered herself to look straight into Indilisse's eyes and she sneered, "You will not have him, he is mine to conquer."
Indilisse stood up and pushed past the elleth, walking towards the steps to exit the pool. She began to emerge, and Haldir watched as the water from her hair rolled down in rivulets down her smooth back, and he held his breath, waiting to see the rest of her body exposed and for her to turn around. He could feel his elfhood slowly tingling to life in his leggings. That was until he heard soft footfalls and a quiet laugh.
"I see you are partaking in some fine elleth watching as well." Rúmil replied, "Keeping them all to yourself."
"Narië is not there." Haldir croaked out, standing up quickly on the branch and moving towards the bridge he had climbed from.
"Haldir, wait, something is wrong." Rúmil called, following his brother.
Haldir turned around and stopped Rúmil, "Nothing is wrong. Anyways, nothing that I did not already know was wrong, but failed to pay attention to it."
Rúmil chuckled, "Ah, you must have heard an interesting conversation between Nindë and Valaina then."
"Leave me be, brother." Haldir said quietly and walked quickly towards his talan, to relieve himself and also to ponder what he would do about Nindë.
They had visited everywhere in Lothlórien it seemed... to the gardens, to the armory, to the libraries, and still Indilisse could find nothing that she felt particularly akin to. As the morning wore on, she became increasingly worried that she would never decide upon one thing, and her indecision also appeared to be wearing thin on Haldir. Indilisse sighed heavily, peering up at Haldir for a short moment. What was it like to know exactly what he was good at and suited for? To have a certain calling in his life and the ability to do it? Had he always known that he was going to be a warden? She chewed thoughtfully on her lip and turned back to watching the path in front of them. Sometimes she wished...
"My Lord and Lady," she jerked her head up when she heard those four words flow from Haldir's mouth. Sitting on a masterfully carved stone bench near a small pond in the garden were the two high elves, smiling dreamily at each other, Celeborn gently stroking Galadriel's flowing golden hair. Such a vision of tranquility and loveliness was the couple; no matter how turbulent Indilisse's thoughts were at the moment, she was instantly calmed by their glowing appearances.
"Ah Haldir, it is good to see you," Galadriel spoke quietly as she sat up from her lounging position against Celeborn's broad chest. "And Indilisse, you as well."
Celeborn stood up and adjusted his robes. Indilisse tried not to pay any attention to what he was doing since it was evident that she and Haldir had interrupted something they should not have, but it was not worth it not think of it because Galadriel glanced at her with knowing eyes and a soft smile. She and the Lord should heed their own advice about doing things behind closed doors, Indilisse thought, trying to find out if Galadriel really was listening to her thoughts.
Galadriel laughed and glided over to where she stood, placing a matronly arm around Indilisse's shoulders. "Would you walk with me, Indilisse? I would much like to speak with you."
"Yes, of course my Lady." Indilisse replied, going with the Lady without so much as a glance backwards in Haldir's or Celeborn's direction.
"Tell me, Indilisse, how has your stay been so far?" Galadriel asked after they were a safe distance away and walking through a small meadow of elanor and niphredil.
"It has been wonderful, my Lady." She breathed in the heavily perfumed air and sighed. "The hospitality of the Wood is always the finest."
Galadriel smiled, and drew her arm from Indilisse's shoulders, clasping her hands easily in front of her white gowns. "It cannot be compared to the great halls of Minas Tirith."
"Lórien is far superior." Indilisse smiled, "Of all realms, this is where my heart belongs."
"Though, I feel something amiss, Indilisse." Galadriel looked over her for a few moments, and Indilisse could feel Galadriel's powers reaching into the depths of her mind, trying to find something. "You do not think you will be able to stay in Lórien if you do not find a trade?"
Indilisse moved her eyes to the ground in front of her, trying to conceal her embarrassment. "I do not think that it is appropriate for me to live here and not contribute something useful."
"Your propriety it commendable, Indilisse." Galadriel smiled warmly and walked further ahead, beckoning for Indilisse to follow her. "However, I hope you would choose to stay. You are a sharp elleth, very astute and intelligent, and I feel that our Wood would greatly benefit if you remained among the mellyrn."
"Thank you, my Lady." Indilisse fell into step with the lady. "But still I..."
The Lady held her hand up to silence Indilisse. "You may not realize it, but already you have added something back into the life of the three brothers. It is not always what you knowingly do that gives you a purpose in life, pen neth."
"My lady, I do not understand." Indilisse glanced at the Lady, and tried to read her eyes, but as always they were deep blue pools of ambiguousness.
"Did you ever consider that you were not meant to come back to Lórien to learn a new trade?" Galadriel asked. "Perhaps you were meant to return for some other greater purpose."
"My lady, I say this with the greatest amount of respect," Indilisse sighed, "but you speak in riddles."
Galadriel turned to her and stopped, letting a low laugh escape her lips. "You will understand in time, Indilisse, when you least expect it to make any sense."
"Aye, my lady." Indilisse nodded her head and realized that they had come back around a path and they could hear Haldir and Celeborn speaking in hushed tones.
"For now, though," Galadriel glanced at her, "I would like to ask of you a very important task."
She paused and looked closely at the Lady, "Anything you would ask, my lady."
Galadriel smiled, "Targon tells me that you are a wonderful storyteller, and I feel that the people of this Wood need to learn of all the other places in Middle Earth besides Caras Galadhon and all other Elven realms. Celeborn and I wish to have you write the tales you have learned."
"That could take two thousand years, my lady." Indilisse remarked, though very excited about the post being handed her by Galadriel herself.
The Lady smiled and nodded, "That is just something we will have to reflect on when you realize your full purpose."
Her full purpose? Whatever could Galadriel mean by this? Would it be a test of strength in mind, or of body? Was there a hardship she would have to overcome? Or would she just suddenly realize what she had been missing for the entirety of her life? Indilisse sighed heavily, now with a whole new slew of questions going through her head. Some were worrisome, while others were happier, but without regard to these thoughts, Galadriel pushed them towards Celeborn and Haldir, with Indilisse's mind twisted into confused knots. She figured that it was the Lady's way to leave people like this so they would have to think for themselves, but still, she could have been a little more forthcoming with her details.
"Fair Galadriel," Celeborn took his lady's arm and afforded her a small smile, "where did you run off to?"
"Only on a walk, my lord." Galadriel giggled.
Indilisse found this exchange between them uncharacteristic, but still she found it to be particularly heartening with Celeborn trying to act as Galadriel's keeper, while anyone who had met the fair couple knew it was actually Galadriel who was Celeborn's keeper.
"And Indilisse has agreed to our plans." Galadriel added, "She seemed very eager for it."
Indilisse nodded, feeling Haldir's scrutinizing gaze upon her. "I have my Lord, I could not have imagined a better task to complete."
"This is magnificent news, Indilisse." Celeborn looked at her, "I much look forward to reading your manuscripts."
Why would Celeborn and Galadriel need to know of the tales from abroad? They already knew so much; this added so much more to her perplexity. She gave him a feeble smile.
"Well, my lady," Celeborn glanced at Galadriel, "We should be heading back to the talan before we are missed."
Galadriel smiled, "Yes my Lord. Namarie, Haldir and Indilisse."
Indilisse and Haldir watched the fair elves retreat to the staircase that led to the large talan they occupied. She sighed and glanced up at her escort, "She is very difficult to understand."
Haldir looked down at her with curious eyes, "I think she prefers it that way, Indilisse."
She giggled, "It certainly will make life more interesting."
"Aye, that it will." Haldir chuckled, and took her arm again. "So now shall we go to practice field as it seems you have found your calling?"
Indilisse raised a challenging brow at Haldir, "Only if you wish to be bested by an elleth."
He smirked arrogantly, "No elleth can beat me, fair Indilisse."
"I shall try." She replied, "And when I do beat you, you will be sorry." ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________
"I believe that means I win," Indilisse smiled triumphantly, setting the tip of her bow on the ground and leaning against it. She looked at the farthest target, where her arrow was deeply embedded and still quivering, perfectly centered.
"You cheat." Haldir exclaimed in an exaggerated scoff. "There is no way..."
She giggled at the flash of outrage in his usually placid gray eyes, handing him the bow. "I warned you that you would be bested this day."
"You must have won by using some spell." Haldir accused, "You must tell me what it is. Perhaps Galadriel taught it to you."
"There is no magic, Haldir." Indilisse smiled, leaving his side to go collect her arrows. She giggled to herself the entire time while she carefully pulled the arrows from the trees and other targets. Haldir had not joined her side, so she turned to look back at the line form which they were shooting, and found him still standing there dumbfounded that he had lost the archery match. He shook his head, looking over her bow, trying to find something bad with it. Unable to do so, Haldir slumped his shoulders and finally looked up in her direction with a bewildered look that made her double-over in laughter.
He sauntered slowly up to her, and stood over her with his full height. "You are lucky there is no one else here to witness this."
"No, I believe you are lucky." She replied and gave him an egotistical smirk, "So, Haldir, how does it feel to be knocked down a few notches?"
"Is that what all this was about? You teaching me a lesson, since I taught you one with a sword?" Haldir asked, folding his arms across his chest as a skeptical look appeared in his eyes.
Indilisse shrugged, "If that makes you feel better about losing."
He chuckled and pulled the last arrow from the target, inspecting it closely, handing it to her. She reached out for it, but in one swift movement he dropped it from his grasp and instead took hold of her hand, pulling her against his chest. Indilisse looked up at him with worried eyes, and took in a sharp breath. She gazed up at him, finding that he seemed pleased with her reaction to this. With a scowl, she tried to push away from him, but he held her tighter, leaned into her and whispered lowly and breathily, "There are many more lessons I could teach you, Indilisse."
"Let go of me Haldir." She said, trying to ignore the feel of his warm breath on the tip of her ear and the shiver up her spine that it caused. Indilisse pushed back on his chest again, and was surprised when his strong grip was loosened quickly, sending her stumbling back a few paces. She regained her balance and stood still, looking over his face for moment. A retort bubbled up inside of her and before she could stop it from surfacing, she seethed, "Who said I would let you teach me those lessons? Are you so sure of yourself, Haldir of Lórien, that I am reckless with my ways?"
Haldir chuckled lowly, "Turnabout is fair play, Indilisse. If you are going to act like this, then I have a right to be suggestive."
"Act like what?" She questioned, "I beat you at archery fair and square, you have no right to act like I am your... your sex slave."
His laugh grew louder and more menacing. He leaned against a tree and looked over her for a few moments, appraising her. "Indilisse, for pity's sake, I was only kidding. But now I see a way to throw you off guard."
Indilisse dropped her shoulders and bent down quickly to grab the arrow that he had let go of a few moments before. She placed it back into her quiver and righted herself, looking back at him. Normally such a suggestion would not have bothered her so much, she had received many like this over her many years, but coming from Haldir it made her feel different. Not necessarily dirty, but it was a strange feeling- almost one that made her think that Haldir's jest was only half that, and that she was amenable to his advances. Indilisse diverted her eyes from him and shook her head, "I will see you about March Warden, for I am late."
Haldir watched her scurry away towards her talan to deposit her weapons and grab a few things for the bathhouse. He smiled to himself, glad that he had made such an effect on her. Really, he had not wanted to do such a thing, because he was almost positive that it would scare her off, but a demon had entered him at that moment, and he had grabbed her and pulled her close. It had been the wrong decision for his own sanity. With her so close, her lean body pressed against his, he had to struggle not to throw her over his shoulder and carry her to his talan. It seemed that she had even enjoyed it to a certain degree, and that simple thought egged him on to say what he had.
She was comical when she finally freed herself from his grasp, the way she had tried to act proper, but then he saw that thought flash through her hazel eyes. The thought that told him she was considering him in a less than friendly foe sort of way. It gave him hope that one day he could experience her, in more ways than just one.
Rúmil glided through the practice field, on a mission. Haldir chuckled, "You would not be heading for the bath house, now would you, Rúmil?"
His brother glanced over at him, and stopped in his tracks, a slight blush creeping to his ears. "Why would you wish to know?"
Haldir walked to his brother, and placed an arm over his shoulders, guiding him in the direction of his talan. "Come, I have just decided that you will be going with me to the borders. You must prepare."
"Haldir..." Rúmil started, but stopped instantly upon seeing the warning in Haldir's eyes.
"Do you not respect the authority of your Captain?" Haldir asked.
Rúmil glared, "This is not the authority of my Captain speaking, this is the tyranny of my eldest brother."
Haldir laughed and pushed Rúmil forward. "Aye, I may be a tyrant, dear brother, but I will preserve the dignity of one elleth, maybe two."
"Like you were just preserving here on the practice field?" Rúmil questioned, "Do not begin to think that no one saw you."
Haldir recoiled and was silent for a few moments, but kept pushing Rúmil ahead. They stopped in front of Rúmil's talan. "You are still going to the borders with me, Rúmil. I suggest you prepare."
With that, Haldir turned on his heels and started down the stairs and across a bridge to head for his talan. Half way home, he realized that he was passing close to the bath house and could hear the soft chatter of female voices. Intrigued, and figuring that stopping on the bridge was not as bad as peering down into the bath, he stopped and listened closely. At the first mention of his name, to which he was extremely surprised to hear, he inched forward and climbed over a railing to a tree branch. Edging closer, he stopped on the branch and listened again, picking up on the different voices and knowing who was speaking. He glanced around to make sure he was still concealed by the dense foliage. Satisfied, he sat down.
"You must have had an interesting night, Indilisse, to be invited to the March Warden's talan for the morning meal." He heard Nindë remark.
"Perhaps she did not need to be invited, maybe she stayed the entire night." Came Valaina's voice. Haldir did not like this elleth all that much, as she was even more insipid than Nindë.
There was a sarcastic chuckle that escaped Indilisse's mouth. Haldir took this time to see if he could peek in to the thickly shrub-lined bath, and he found that indeed he had a perfect vantage of Indilisse lowering herself into the warm water, however, it was already past her breasts. She moved carefully across the pool and sat down on a stone step, resting her head back against the edge. She looked at Valaina, "I did not stay the entire night, and I would not stay the entire night even if he propositioned me."
Aye, that is true, Haldir nodded his head.
"Even though he is the March Warden?" Nindë asked, this time flabbergasted more than anything.
'To you, Nindë, he may seem like a great prize to be won because he is March Warden, and insomuch powerful." Indilisse replied. "And as far as I am concerned you could have him even if he were Manwë himself. I do not desire power or prestige more than anything else."
"You seem to think that you would join for love." Valaina sniffed and let out a false laugh. "It is a ridiculous obsession, if you ask me. The only reason to marry is to provide heirs and to be championed above everyone else for winning that certain ellyn. That is love."
Indilisse was quiet for moment and sighed heavily, "Your omnipotent March Warden could be hung like a horse and I would not care. Because even though he is good to join with, and a smart match, that is not the reason I would 'love' him. You seem to forget that he is an elf as well, and can be hurt just as much as you can."
"You obviously do not know Haldir then." Nindë said. Haldir could not believe that Indilisse had made that comment about a horse, and he found himself blushing. Him, Captain of the Galadhrim, blushing. And then all at the same time, he was angered by what Valaina and Nindë were saying. He had only ever pictured Nindë as a fleeting play thing, but she seemed to think that she meant more to him than that. And the fact that even if he were to see her differently, that she would use him, have her fill and then do Elbereth knew what, was despicable to him. No dignified elleth would act like that. There had to be something else up Nindë's deceitful sleeve.
"I do not pretend that I do, Nindë, as you have obviously spent so much more 'quality' time with him." Indilisse remarked, and Haldir could see her amused smile all the way from his branch.
Nindë stood from her spot and walked over to face Indilisse. She lowered herself to look straight into Indilisse's eyes and she sneered, "You will not have him, he is mine to conquer."
Indilisse stood up and pushed past the elleth, walking towards the steps to exit the pool. She began to emerge, and Haldir watched as the water from her hair rolled down in rivulets down her smooth back, and he held his breath, waiting to see the rest of her body exposed and for her to turn around. He could feel his elfhood slowly tingling to life in his leggings. That was until he heard soft footfalls and a quiet laugh.
"I see you are partaking in some fine elleth watching as well." Rúmil replied, "Keeping them all to yourself."
"Narië is not there." Haldir croaked out, standing up quickly on the branch and moving towards the bridge he had climbed from.
"Haldir, wait, something is wrong." Rúmil called, following his brother.
Haldir turned around and stopped Rúmil, "Nothing is wrong. Anyways, nothing that I did not already know was wrong, but failed to pay attention to it."
Rúmil chuckled, "Ah, you must have heard an interesting conversation between Nindë and Valaina then."
"Leave me be, brother." Haldir said quietly and walked quickly towards his talan, to relieve himself and also to ponder what he would do about Nindë.