A/N: My beta has suggested that I define my view elf sexual practices. It
is much like Tolkien in the fact that if both parties are willing, and they
have a bodily union, they are bound together. However, I cannot imagine
elves such as Haldir (3,000+ years old) or Indilisse (2,000+ years old) not
having any experience in ways of the flesh, as most elves (according to
Ways and Customs of the Eldar) bind shortly after they have come of age, be
that anywhere from turning 50-200 years old. I only put this in now
because there are some controversial topics coming up.
On a lighter note- Guest Appearances from everyone's favorite elves in the next episodes of As Lothlórien Turns... (As the World Turns is an American soap opera- just incase you did not know).
Chapter 12- Many Guests
Orophin stood atop a tall branch, carefully examining the northwestern lands for any foul trouble coming close to the fences. He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the large tree trunk. When they had left the borders a month before to return to Caras Galadhon, it had been so quiet, he was not even sure they were in the right place anymore. The northern fences were notoriously the apex of many evils with the roving bands of orc and the fell creatures from Dol Guldur and the Misty Mountains. And now, upon returning two weeks ago, it was just as quiet, and extremely tedious to have more guards standing watch than necessary.
He sighed heavily and decided to sit down on the branch until Rúmil came to relieve him of his post- whenever Rúmil thought it right to so take over the position. Sometimes his younger brother could be so childish and deceitful to get out of accomplishing tasks that were originally assigned to him. Orophin wished he could possess those cunning and charming ways of speaking to others; it would have helped him out immensely when trying to entice maidens back to his talan. It amazed Orophin every single time that Rúmil barged in on a conversation he had no right to disturb, all attention was always focused on the youngest. Just like when they had left the city and Rúmil had shoved him out of Indilisse's arms. True, Orophin was not with his ladylove, but still he wished that for once in a great while, Rúmil would let him have his own friendships.
The sound of a light elf jumping over a branch and landing easily on another caught his attention. Orophin turned to find Rúmil making his way slowly, but surely, towards him. "It took you long enough."
"That cannot be happiness I hear in your voice, brother." Rúmil smiled and sat next to him.
"Do not tell me that you expect me to be pleased after you have left me to stand watch for an entire night and day without rations." Orophin replied dryly, looking over the land through the trees in front of him.
Rúmil sighed, "I am truly sorry, Orophin, Haldir required my attention elsewhere."
Orophin snorted and shook his head. "He has been odd the past few weeks."
"He has." Rúmil replied, "But on that issue, I do have insight."
"And that is?" Orophin asked curiously, already forgetting about his troubles with Rúmil. Information that could possibly be used to blackmail Haldir in the future was a splendid enough reason to forget them.
"Our brother is infatuated with an elleth." Rúmil looked around, to make sure Haldir was not close by.
"Who? Nindë?" Orophin asked, "She is no good. All she wants is-."
Rúmil held his hand up to silence his brother. He laughed, "He knows that. She was but a fleeting twinkle in his eyes. Who I am talking about is Indilisse."
"Indilisse. Indilisse?" He exclaimed, "But she just..."
"Aye, of course, that is why I said infatuation." Rúmil nodded, "Though, I do think it is, on a degree, love. They have that whole sordid past when she was an elfling."
"It was not so sordid," Orophin looked back out on the horizon, thinking he heard the cry of an orc. "I seem to remember Haldir having quite the interesting time trying to keep that elfling under his thumb. He may say he did not, but you know he enjoyed it."
Rúmil chuckled, following his brother's gaze. "He cared for her like he did us, and that is love I think he has for her now. Except now, he has realized she is a full grown elleth who has many feminine wiles, and he is having troubles coming to terms with that."
"What of Indilisse?" Orophin asked. No matter how long she had been gone, Orophin would always look at her as a young sister who he needed to protect and be big brother to.
"I do not know." Rúmil shrugged, "There is no doubt that she still sees us as friends and surrogate brothers, but she keeps her other emotions somewhat veiled through her plucky comments and actions."
Orophin sighed and brushed back a piece of hair from his face. "She has always been like that. But now she has two millennia and her travels to broaden her comments on these issues, which makes her all the more unreadable."
"Like Haldir." Rúmil added with a smile, "If you ask me, they are perfect for each other."
"I would not wish Indilisse on anyone, especially my brother who controls where I am posted." Orophin replied.
"Well, think about it," Rúmil continued. "They both are as haughty as anything, only she can annoy Haldir like she does, and he has this need to be the powerful one in any relationship. You know his rule about elleths in his sleeping chambers."
Orophin shrugged, "And you think Indilisse is the one to break him of having to be powerful?"
"If he acts anything like he did when we went horseback riding, then yes." Rúmil said, "He was fantasizing about her in broad daylight, astride his horse, Orophin. That is not the self-restrained, proper March Warden Haldir we know."
"You know this for a fact?" Orophin asked, now truly enthralled with the news Rúmil was telling him.
Rúmil smiled, "When we stopped to water the horses, we went off and I thought he was about ready to fall from the tree he sitting on when she tossed her hair back and batted her eyelashes. And it was not even at him!"
"Then to who was it?" He looked at Rúmil, finding that his younger brother was very enthusiastic about the subject.
Rúmil was silent for a moment and chuckled, "Narië."
Orophin raised an eyebrow, and laughed loudly, "Dear brother, I believe both you and Haldir will have to work to woo them if they are doing that to each other."
"Nay," Rúmil said, "Indilisse was showing her how to flirt, hopefully with me, but that was all that was going on."
"She is a bad influence on your Narië, then." Orophin looked at Rúmil.
They were silent for a long while, until Rúmil sighed heavily, "And I caught him elleth watching in the trees over the bath house when Indilisse was there."
"Now that, I do not believe." Orophin said, "Never would Haldir let anyone know he pandered to our levels."
"Nay, it is true, Orophin." They turned around to find their brother walking towards them across another branch. "Some wardens you are. You both could have been spotted and killed before you had even noticed an arrow lodged in your body."
Orophin glared at Rúmil who was smiling ever so sweetly. "We are sorry, Haldir."
Haldir came and sat next to his brothers, "Do not be sorry. I know if there was really any danger, you would have noticed it."
"Hopefully," Rúmil remarked, earning him two stern glances.
"How long were you listening to us?" Orophin asked.
"Around the part where I was fantasizing atop my horse." Haldir replied, scanning the distance, seeing a large moving group of walkers and others astride horses. "And it is very true that I find Indilisse particularly enchanting, especially now with all of her... attributes."
The brothers saw the distant specks as well, coming away from the mountains, but Rúmil turned back to Haldir, "What do you propose to do about it?"
"About what? Her attributes?" Haldir questioned seriously, then laughed, "I do not know. We shall see."
"You mean you do not have a plan?" Orophin asked, "With such an elleth, you should have a plan. Indilisse being who she is, ball of fire and all other manner of things, you need to know how to approach it."
Haldir raised a brow, "Do you really think I need romancing advice from my younger brothers?"
Rúmil shrugged, "You may not need advice, but you will need help."
"No!" Haldir said, "No help from you. Do you forget the last time you tried to 'help'?"
Orophin snickered and Rúmil harrumphed. "It was not my fault you ended up in Colindo's talan instead of hers! You were the one that could not follow my directions."
"Yes, Rúmil," Orophin said, "we know. You just like to reuse parchment and forgot to scratch the previous writing out."
Rúmil scowled again and crossed his arms over his chest, resembling an elfling better than a two-thousand plus year old warden.
Haldir clicked his tongue against his teeth and let a low whistle come from his lips as his laughter left him. "But if there is one matter you can help me with, it would be Nindë."
"That is a large matter." Orophin replied, "Especially where she thinks she is concerned."
The eldest nodded his head and sighed, "If you do anything, just do not get yourselves into trouble."
"Yes, Ada." Orophin and Rúmil replied in unison before turning back to look out at the traveling group.
"I know we were expecting a party from Mirkwood with Lady Vanima, but there seems to be Imladris elves as well." Orophin said.
Haldir chuckled and stood on his branch, "Lord Elrond and his sons are not any Imladris elves, Orophin. They have a right to be here."
Rúmil sighed and stood as well, watching as Haldir made his way to a lower branch. The youngest brother smiled slyly at Orophin, and slapped his back, "The twins have come, Orophin. Do you know what that means?"
"They can help us with our plans." Orophin said. "This should be interesting."
"Indeed." Rúmil nodded and hopped down a branch. Orophin sighed and shook his head. He only hoped that this did not become too big an ordeal. ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________
"Indilisse, your naneth's traveling party is only a league off."
She looked up from her parchment, placing the quill back into the pot of ink. "Thank you for letting me know Narië."
Narië sighed, and sat in a chair beside her friend, "And that means that we will soon be having the fall festival, and I will be able to speak with Rúmil."
"I thought you did not think you could," Indilisse smiled and held the bound book open for a few moments to let the black ink dry a little further before closing it. "I remember three weeks ago you were embarrassed to even speak of it."
Narië giggled, "I know, and I still am, but you teaching me was fantastic. Now I am slightly more confident."
Indilisse chuckled and leaned back in her seat, stretching her legs out beneath the table. It seemed like she had been in this position for the entirety of these three weeks, not including the times she and Narië ate together and went to the bath house. Taking her mind off of the situations at hand was her main goal, and completely throwing herself into beginning her writing had successfully done it. That was until she hit a block where her muse simply ceased to work on a story of the Rohirrim. When this happened, Indilisse had sat back and started to let her mind wander about, and it eventually always landed on Haldir. Much to her chagrin, but nonetheless, he was someone who was taking up her every solitary waking moment. To get him off of her mind, she had started to write a diary, which eventually turned into an all out tale of love, chivalry, and a nameless elf in which she could insert anyone she wished. Hopefully no one would lay eyes upon it except herself, though she was secretly proud of it.
Honestly, she could not figure out why she was thinking of Haldir so much. They never had any real time to relearn what the other was about, but she figured she was pretty one-sided, and still very much like her elfling self. Haldir was also the same, to an extent, though he had many more cares than just worrying about his brothers and her. Now he had the entire Gladhrim military to command, and had to follow the directives of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. He was powerful, wise, physically superior to all other elves or men she had met...
Nindë was right when she said that anyone binding with the March Warden would receive all his best qualities, and Indilisse was sad to say that it would not be an extremely horrible happening if she married him and all she received was those three vain things. Indilisse had to push those thoughts from her head. Yes, she found Haldir attractive. Yes, he was a good match. But still, she constantly reiterated to herself that she would not bind unless she was in love and knew their relationship could last all of their long years together, here and in Valinor. And she did not yet know if Haldir would ever be that one.
"You seem so distant." Narië said.
Indilisse blinked her eyes a few times and pushed away from the table. She stood up and stretched her arms above her head, "Let us go down to the gates, Ada will already be down there."
They took each other's arms and walked down to the gates. Narië sighed, "I am suddenly nervous."
"Do not be nervous." Indilisse instructed, "You are the one in command, remember?"
Narië gave a small nod, halfway convinced. "Aye, I am."
Indilisse giggled, "I am not doing this for you, Narië. He will get the wrong idea."
"I know." Narië said, "It is just one of those things, Indilisse. What if we do confess our love, and it is mutual?"
"Then you kiss, make love, and bind for the rest of your immortal lives." Indilisse said, giving her friend a quick smile as they turned around a tall stone wall and found that the party had already arrived. Her mother had already seen her before Indilisse had time to look at all who had joined her.
"Indilisse!" She called, and began long strides to greet her daughter.
Indilisse removed her arm from Narië's and went at the same pace as her mother, both soon colliding in a long awaited loving embrace. "Naneth, I have missed you so much!"
"No more than I could have missed you, pen neth." Vanima said, squeezing her tightly before pulling back. She placed her hands on her cheeks and turned her head form side to side. "And your adar has taken good care of you."
Indilisse giggled, "He fears your wrath, Mother."
"As well he should." Vanima replied, glancing back at Targon who was standing with the rest of the party and welcoming them. Indilisse looked up at her father and the group, finding that they were all watching the happy reunion. Vanima leaned into her daughter and whispered, "I brought you a gift from Mirkwood, where the twins were staying, and another happened to tag along from Imladris when we stopped there."
Indilisse giggled at her mother. In addition to the accompanying wardens from the border, there stood Prince Legolas and two others of Thranduil's guard to the right, and then four high ranking Imladris elves: Lord Elrond, Lord Glorfindel, and the twins, Elladan and Elrohir. She looked at Vanima and sighed, "Why do you call them a gift, naneth?"
"You think I do not know of your dealings with Glorfindel and Elladan." Vanima smiled, "Your father tells me everything, pen neth, whether you are two thousand years or no."
"You are quite possibly too much, Mother." Indilisse replied and watched as the rest of the traveling party finished handing off their things and being welcomed by the group of elves that had shown up to help them. She saw Arwen run to greet her father in an enthusiastic hug, out of the corner of her eye.
"Well, my daughter, I have much to speak of with your father." Vanima looked back at an alone Glorfindel and sighed. "He has been excited to see you again."
"Who Mother?" Indilisse asked watching Arwen welcome the Mirkwood prince, her friend since she had been an elfling.
Vanima smiled, "Glorfindel. I do not know what it is about you, and I do not like it. He is too old for you. You had your fun, now end it."
"I did when I first left Imladris, Mother." Indilisse sighed and afforded Glorfindel a smile, "And I refuse to believe that he is acting like this. He is Glorfindel, Keeper of Many Elves' Purity."
"I know, that is what I worry about." Vanima shrugged and kissed her daughter's cheek, whispering lowly, "I tell you now to end it."
"Mother!" Indilisse exclaimed, wishing to argue with her, to tell her the truth of their relationship, but Vanima quickly moved to Targon's side and away from her. Indilisse shook her head and looked around, finding that Haldir and his brothers were speaking with Elladan and Elrohir now, Elrond with Arwen and Legolas' company. Glorfindel was in this conversation, only partly, and Indilisse saw her chance to bid him a fond hello. She walked to him and smiled, which seemed enough to pull him from the conversation.
"My lord, Glorfindel," Indilisse said, bowing slightly before looking up at him.
He laughed merrily and grabbed her arms, pulling her close. "I think we are beyond that, Indilisse."
She giggled, "Aye, we may be, but that was many years ago."
"Too many years ago." Glorfindel replied.
"Let us get one thing straight right now, my lord," Indilisse smiled as sweetly as possible, "you were only a teacher."
Glorfindel recoiled in a mocking air, and chuckled, "Yes, I remember so vividly you screaming my name beneath me. Or was that someone else who looked like you?"
She could not believe he had said that aloud, especially in such a hearing range from Elrond, and the other nobles elves close by. Indilisse was sure that anyone who had been in Imladris around the time of their dalliances knew of it, especially Elrond, but she did not wish to have it transmitted throughout the Wood. "I cannot believe you just said that."
"You forget who you are speaking with, lirimaer." Glorfindel looked down at her with a cocky smile and his vivid blue eyes. "I can be many more times worse than you or any of your Lórien wardens."
"That is only because you think you are the mightiest for defeating a Balrog." She shot back.
He laughed good naturedly and released her after placing a friendly kiss on her temple. "We shall see, milady. For you know there are rumors that I even made a Balrog blush..."
Indilisse shook her head, "I do not doubt it, but now you are being summoned by Lord Elrond to go greet the Lord and Lady."
Glorfindel sighed, "We shall continue this later, Indilisse."
With that, the fair party left the field and started up for the meeting with the high elves. She was left with the wardens and Narië, as she did not wish to go on that long trek. Narië, seeing that she was alone, ran to her and pulled her away from the others. "Indilisse, you must tell me what Glorfindel meant."
"You heard that?" Indilisse grumbled to herself. They walked awhile around different paths and finally Indilisse sighed, "When I was Imladris, I was curious. I had never joined before, and Glorfindel, well everyone knows of his past indiscretions. He and I had a fancy with each other, and on one night where we both particularly imbibed too much Miruvor..."
"Do not stop there!" Narië cried.
Indilisse looked at Narië and sighed, "Truly, I feel uncomfortable, mellon."
Narië scoffed and pushed Indilisse against a tree, "Tell me elleth! After all of the... things... you have said to me in such a frank manner, I deserve a little of these tales."
"But-." Indilisse paused, looking into her friend's eyes. Narië really did look miffed about her dodging the subject. Indilisse sighed, "Well, we were moonlighting in the rose garden after most of the party goers had gone to bed. I was acting like Nindë towards Glorfindel, as he was so much older and more powerful than me. He enjoys that constant ardor to his Balrog slaying, younger, more virile days. Somehow, I do not remember how, not even after that night did I, we ended back in my room. His chambers would have been safer, as they are surrounded only by other males. My room was next to my parents'. This just shows you how inebriated we truly were."
Narië stood back for a moment and looked over Indilisse again, and let a smile come to her lips, "This was the tale you would not tell me when we went riding."
Indilisse nodded, "Aye, it is."
"Well go on, finish the story." Narië commanded.
"You should be able to figure out the rest," she sighed, truly not believing Narië's new found prowess in outspokenness. Indilisse smiled, "I asked him to show me what it was like to know the love of a warrior, even though now I know it was just pleasure for both of us. We were too loud, finished our deed, and then there came the banging on my door from my father, worried I had been attacked."
Narië giggled, "Attacked by Glorfindel."
"Aye." Indilisse nodded sadly, "He did hide in the wardrobe, as our minds were still not clear from the wine, and my father found him. Ada did not even say anything, he just left the room and shut the door. To this day I do not know what he thought about it. He chooses not to speak of it, and tries his hardest not to be around Glorfindel. I think it is something about him invading an impressionable young mind because he was so much older, though he has to have known our state of mental clarity. Since then, Glorfindel has always seen the incident as a funny anecdote to bring up at inopportune times."
Narië was quiet and stared at her wide-eyed. "I have so many questions, and all I can think of to ask you is, was Lord Glorfindel as good as what I have heard?"
Indilisse shrugged, "He is good, but I have had nothing to compare him with."
"Then, since I have been nurtured from your nurturing hand," Narië giggled, "then I will find you someone to compare him to."
"You are suddenly adventurous." She replied, "But I think I can find my own. I do not wish for any casual dalliance anyway, in the case of giving into my desires with Glorfindel, it ended badly. Those things always end horribly. You can see in the instance of Nindë and Haldir. That is why elves should only join if they wish to be married..."
Narië smiled as they began to walk away, and looked at Indilisse, "Orophin then. You said when you were younger he was who you watched."
Indilisse wanted to stop her right there, but if she was made to tell the truth, Narië would know of her thoughts of Haldir which would inadvertently cause huge problems when Narië found out of her past with Elladan, as a falling out from her tryst with Glorfindel. On the other hand, anything with Orophin would be wrong on so many levels, as she would be betraying her fondness for Haldir.
*-*-*-*-*
Ada- dad Naneth- mother Pen neth- little one Lirimaer- lovely one
On a lighter note- Guest Appearances from everyone's favorite elves in the next episodes of As Lothlórien Turns... (As the World Turns is an American soap opera- just incase you did not know).
Chapter 12- Many Guests
Orophin stood atop a tall branch, carefully examining the northwestern lands for any foul trouble coming close to the fences. He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the large tree trunk. When they had left the borders a month before to return to Caras Galadhon, it had been so quiet, he was not even sure they were in the right place anymore. The northern fences were notoriously the apex of many evils with the roving bands of orc and the fell creatures from Dol Guldur and the Misty Mountains. And now, upon returning two weeks ago, it was just as quiet, and extremely tedious to have more guards standing watch than necessary.
He sighed heavily and decided to sit down on the branch until Rúmil came to relieve him of his post- whenever Rúmil thought it right to so take over the position. Sometimes his younger brother could be so childish and deceitful to get out of accomplishing tasks that were originally assigned to him. Orophin wished he could possess those cunning and charming ways of speaking to others; it would have helped him out immensely when trying to entice maidens back to his talan. It amazed Orophin every single time that Rúmil barged in on a conversation he had no right to disturb, all attention was always focused on the youngest. Just like when they had left the city and Rúmil had shoved him out of Indilisse's arms. True, Orophin was not with his ladylove, but still he wished that for once in a great while, Rúmil would let him have his own friendships.
The sound of a light elf jumping over a branch and landing easily on another caught his attention. Orophin turned to find Rúmil making his way slowly, but surely, towards him. "It took you long enough."
"That cannot be happiness I hear in your voice, brother." Rúmil smiled and sat next to him.
"Do not tell me that you expect me to be pleased after you have left me to stand watch for an entire night and day without rations." Orophin replied dryly, looking over the land through the trees in front of him.
Rúmil sighed, "I am truly sorry, Orophin, Haldir required my attention elsewhere."
Orophin snorted and shook his head. "He has been odd the past few weeks."
"He has." Rúmil replied, "But on that issue, I do have insight."
"And that is?" Orophin asked curiously, already forgetting about his troubles with Rúmil. Information that could possibly be used to blackmail Haldir in the future was a splendid enough reason to forget them.
"Our brother is infatuated with an elleth." Rúmil looked around, to make sure Haldir was not close by.
"Who? Nindë?" Orophin asked, "She is no good. All she wants is-."
Rúmil held his hand up to silence his brother. He laughed, "He knows that. She was but a fleeting twinkle in his eyes. Who I am talking about is Indilisse."
"Indilisse. Indilisse?" He exclaimed, "But she just..."
"Aye, of course, that is why I said infatuation." Rúmil nodded, "Though, I do think it is, on a degree, love. They have that whole sordid past when she was an elfling."
"It was not so sordid," Orophin looked back out on the horizon, thinking he heard the cry of an orc. "I seem to remember Haldir having quite the interesting time trying to keep that elfling under his thumb. He may say he did not, but you know he enjoyed it."
Rúmil chuckled, following his brother's gaze. "He cared for her like he did us, and that is love I think he has for her now. Except now, he has realized she is a full grown elleth who has many feminine wiles, and he is having troubles coming to terms with that."
"What of Indilisse?" Orophin asked. No matter how long she had been gone, Orophin would always look at her as a young sister who he needed to protect and be big brother to.
"I do not know." Rúmil shrugged, "There is no doubt that she still sees us as friends and surrogate brothers, but she keeps her other emotions somewhat veiled through her plucky comments and actions."
Orophin sighed and brushed back a piece of hair from his face. "She has always been like that. But now she has two millennia and her travels to broaden her comments on these issues, which makes her all the more unreadable."
"Like Haldir." Rúmil added with a smile, "If you ask me, they are perfect for each other."
"I would not wish Indilisse on anyone, especially my brother who controls where I am posted." Orophin replied.
"Well, think about it," Rúmil continued. "They both are as haughty as anything, only she can annoy Haldir like she does, and he has this need to be the powerful one in any relationship. You know his rule about elleths in his sleeping chambers."
Orophin shrugged, "And you think Indilisse is the one to break him of having to be powerful?"
"If he acts anything like he did when we went horseback riding, then yes." Rúmil said, "He was fantasizing about her in broad daylight, astride his horse, Orophin. That is not the self-restrained, proper March Warden Haldir we know."
"You know this for a fact?" Orophin asked, now truly enthralled with the news Rúmil was telling him.
Rúmil smiled, "When we stopped to water the horses, we went off and I thought he was about ready to fall from the tree he sitting on when she tossed her hair back and batted her eyelashes. And it was not even at him!"
"Then to who was it?" He looked at Rúmil, finding that his younger brother was very enthusiastic about the subject.
Rúmil was silent for a moment and chuckled, "Narië."
Orophin raised an eyebrow, and laughed loudly, "Dear brother, I believe both you and Haldir will have to work to woo them if they are doing that to each other."
"Nay," Rúmil said, "Indilisse was showing her how to flirt, hopefully with me, but that was all that was going on."
"She is a bad influence on your Narië, then." Orophin looked at Rúmil.
They were silent for a long while, until Rúmil sighed heavily, "And I caught him elleth watching in the trees over the bath house when Indilisse was there."
"Now that, I do not believe." Orophin said, "Never would Haldir let anyone know he pandered to our levels."
"Nay, it is true, Orophin." They turned around to find their brother walking towards them across another branch. "Some wardens you are. You both could have been spotted and killed before you had even noticed an arrow lodged in your body."
Orophin glared at Rúmil who was smiling ever so sweetly. "We are sorry, Haldir."
Haldir came and sat next to his brothers, "Do not be sorry. I know if there was really any danger, you would have noticed it."
"Hopefully," Rúmil remarked, earning him two stern glances.
"How long were you listening to us?" Orophin asked.
"Around the part where I was fantasizing atop my horse." Haldir replied, scanning the distance, seeing a large moving group of walkers and others astride horses. "And it is very true that I find Indilisse particularly enchanting, especially now with all of her... attributes."
The brothers saw the distant specks as well, coming away from the mountains, but Rúmil turned back to Haldir, "What do you propose to do about it?"
"About what? Her attributes?" Haldir questioned seriously, then laughed, "I do not know. We shall see."
"You mean you do not have a plan?" Orophin asked, "With such an elleth, you should have a plan. Indilisse being who she is, ball of fire and all other manner of things, you need to know how to approach it."
Haldir raised a brow, "Do you really think I need romancing advice from my younger brothers?"
Rúmil shrugged, "You may not need advice, but you will need help."
"No!" Haldir said, "No help from you. Do you forget the last time you tried to 'help'?"
Orophin snickered and Rúmil harrumphed. "It was not my fault you ended up in Colindo's talan instead of hers! You were the one that could not follow my directions."
"Yes, Rúmil," Orophin said, "we know. You just like to reuse parchment and forgot to scratch the previous writing out."
Rúmil scowled again and crossed his arms over his chest, resembling an elfling better than a two-thousand plus year old warden.
Haldir clicked his tongue against his teeth and let a low whistle come from his lips as his laughter left him. "But if there is one matter you can help me with, it would be Nindë."
"That is a large matter." Orophin replied, "Especially where she thinks she is concerned."
The eldest nodded his head and sighed, "If you do anything, just do not get yourselves into trouble."
"Yes, Ada." Orophin and Rúmil replied in unison before turning back to look out at the traveling group.
"I know we were expecting a party from Mirkwood with Lady Vanima, but there seems to be Imladris elves as well." Orophin said.
Haldir chuckled and stood on his branch, "Lord Elrond and his sons are not any Imladris elves, Orophin. They have a right to be here."
Rúmil sighed and stood as well, watching as Haldir made his way to a lower branch. The youngest brother smiled slyly at Orophin, and slapped his back, "The twins have come, Orophin. Do you know what that means?"
"They can help us with our plans." Orophin said. "This should be interesting."
"Indeed." Rúmil nodded and hopped down a branch. Orophin sighed and shook his head. He only hoped that this did not become too big an ordeal. ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________
"Indilisse, your naneth's traveling party is only a league off."
She looked up from her parchment, placing the quill back into the pot of ink. "Thank you for letting me know Narië."
Narië sighed, and sat in a chair beside her friend, "And that means that we will soon be having the fall festival, and I will be able to speak with Rúmil."
"I thought you did not think you could," Indilisse smiled and held the bound book open for a few moments to let the black ink dry a little further before closing it. "I remember three weeks ago you were embarrassed to even speak of it."
Narië giggled, "I know, and I still am, but you teaching me was fantastic. Now I am slightly more confident."
Indilisse chuckled and leaned back in her seat, stretching her legs out beneath the table. It seemed like she had been in this position for the entirety of these three weeks, not including the times she and Narië ate together and went to the bath house. Taking her mind off of the situations at hand was her main goal, and completely throwing herself into beginning her writing had successfully done it. That was until she hit a block where her muse simply ceased to work on a story of the Rohirrim. When this happened, Indilisse had sat back and started to let her mind wander about, and it eventually always landed on Haldir. Much to her chagrin, but nonetheless, he was someone who was taking up her every solitary waking moment. To get him off of her mind, she had started to write a diary, which eventually turned into an all out tale of love, chivalry, and a nameless elf in which she could insert anyone she wished. Hopefully no one would lay eyes upon it except herself, though she was secretly proud of it.
Honestly, she could not figure out why she was thinking of Haldir so much. They never had any real time to relearn what the other was about, but she figured she was pretty one-sided, and still very much like her elfling self. Haldir was also the same, to an extent, though he had many more cares than just worrying about his brothers and her. Now he had the entire Gladhrim military to command, and had to follow the directives of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. He was powerful, wise, physically superior to all other elves or men she had met...
Nindë was right when she said that anyone binding with the March Warden would receive all his best qualities, and Indilisse was sad to say that it would not be an extremely horrible happening if she married him and all she received was those three vain things. Indilisse had to push those thoughts from her head. Yes, she found Haldir attractive. Yes, he was a good match. But still, she constantly reiterated to herself that she would not bind unless she was in love and knew their relationship could last all of their long years together, here and in Valinor. And she did not yet know if Haldir would ever be that one.
"You seem so distant." Narië said.
Indilisse blinked her eyes a few times and pushed away from the table. She stood up and stretched her arms above her head, "Let us go down to the gates, Ada will already be down there."
They took each other's arms and walked down to the gates. Narië sighed, "I am suddenly nervous."
"Do not be nervous." Indilisse instructed, "You are the one in command, remember?"
Narië gave a small nod, halfway convinced. "Aye, I am."
Indilisse giggled, "I am not doing this for you, Narië. He will get the wrong idea."
"I know." Narië said, "It is just one of those things, Indilisse. What if we do confess our love, and it is mutual?"
"Then you kiss, make love, and bind for the rest of your immortal lives." Indilisse said, giving her friend a quick smile as they turned around a tall stone wall and found that the party had already arrived. Her mother had already seen her before Indilisse had time to look at all who had joined her.
"Indilisse!" She called, and began long strides to greet her daughter.
Indilisse removed her arm from Narië's and went at the same pace as her mother, both soon colliding in a long awaited loving embrace. "Naneth, I have missed you so much!"
"No more than I could have missed you, pen neth." Vanima said, squeezing her tightly before pulling back. She placed her hands on her cheeks and turned her head form side to side. "And your adar has taken good care of you."
Indilisse giggled, "He fears your wrath, Mother."
"As well he should." Vanima replied, glancing back at Targon who was standing with the rest of the party and welcoming them. Indilisse looked up at her father and the group, finding that they were all watching the happy reunion. Vanima leaned into her daughter and whispered, "I brought you a gift from Mirkwood, where the twins were staying, and another happened to tag along from Imladris when we stopped there."
Indilisse giggled at her mother. In addition to the accompanying wardens from the border, there stood Prince Legolas and two others of Thranduil's guard to the right, and then four high ranking Imladris elves: Lord Elrond, Lord Glorfindel, and the twins, Elladan and Elrohir. She looked at Vanima and sighed, "Why do you call them a gift, naneth?"
"You think I do not know of your dealings with Glorfindel and Elladan." Vanima smiled, "Your father tells me everything, pen neth, whether you are two thousand years or no."
"You are quite possibly too much, Mother." Indilisse replied and watched as the rest of the traveling party finished handing off their things and being welcomed by the group of elves that had shown up to help them. She saw Arwen run to greet her father in an enthusiastic hug, out of the corner of her eye.
"Well, my daughter, I have much to speak of with your father." Vanima looked back at an alone Glorfindel and sighed. "He has been excited to see you again."
"Who Mother?" Indilisse asked watching Arwen welcome the Mirkwood prince, her friend since she had been an elfling.
Vanima smiled, "Glorfindel. I do not know what it is about you, and I do not like it. He is too old for you. You had your fun, now end it."
"I did when I first left Imladris, Mother." Indilisse sighed and afforded Glorfindel a smile, "And I refuse to believe that he is acting like this. He is Glorfindel, Keeper of Many Elves' Purity."
"I know, that is what I worry about." Vanima shrugged and kissed her daughter's cheek, whispering lowly, "I tell you now to end it."
"Mother!" Indilisse exclaimed, wishing to argue with her, to tell her the truth of their relationship, but Vanima quickly moved to Targon's side and away from her. Indilisse shook her head and looked around, finding that Haldir and his brothers were speaking with Elladan and Elrohir now, Elrond with Arwen and Legolas' company. Glorfindel was in this conversation, only partly, and Indilisse saw her chance to bid him a fond hello. She walked to him and smiled, which seemed enough to pull him from the conversation.
"My lord, Glorfindel," Indilisse said, bowing slightly before looking up at him.
He laughed merrily and grabbed her arms, pulling her close. "I think we are beyond that, Indilisse."
She giggled, "Aye, we may be, but that was many years ago."
"Too many years ago." Glorfindel replied.
"Let us get one thing straight right now, my lord," Indilisse smiled as sweetly as possible, "you were only a teacher."
Glorfindel recoiled in a mocking air, and chuckled, "Yes, I remember so vividly you screaming my name beneath me. Or was that someone else who looked like you?"
She could not believe he had said that aloud, especially in such a hearing range from Elrond, and the other nobles elves close by. Indilisse was sure that anyone who had been in Imladris around the time of their dalliances knew of it, especially Elrond, but she did not wish to have it transmitted throughout the Wood. "I cannot believe you just said that."
"You forget who you are speaking with, lirimaer." Glorfindel looked down at her with a cocky smile and his vivid blue eyes. "I can be many more times worse than you or any of your Lórien wardens."
"That is only because you think you are the mightiest for defeating a Balrog." She shot back.
He laughed good naturedly and released her after placing a friendly kiss on her temple. "We shall see, milady. For you know there are rumors that I even made a Balrog blush..."
Indilisse shook her head, "I do not doubt it, but now you are being summoned by Lord Elrond to go greet the Lord and Lady."
Glorfindel sighed, "We shall continue this later, Indilisse."
With that, the fair party left the field and started up for the meeting with the high elves. She was left with the wardens and Narië, as she did not wish to go on that long trek. Narië, seeing that she was alone, ran to her and pulled her away from the others. "Indilisse, you must tell me what Glorfindel meant."
"You heard that?" Indilisse grumbled to herself. They walked awhile around different paths and finally Indilisse sighed, "When I was Imladris, I was curious. I had never joined before, and Glorfindel, well everyone knows of his past indiscretions. He and I had a fancy with each other, and on one night where we both particularly imbibed too much Miruvor..."
"Do not stop there!" Narië cried.
Indilisse looked at Narië and sighed, "Truly, I feel uncomfortable, mellon."
Narië scoffed and pushed Indilisse against a tree, "Tell me elleth! After all of the... things... you have said to me in such a frank manner, I deserve a little of these tales."
"But-." Indilisse paused, looking into her friend's eyes. Narië really did look miffed about her dodging the subject. Indilisse sighed, "Well, we were moonlighting in the rose garden after most of the party goers had gone to bed. I was acting like Nindë towards Glorfindel, as he was so much older and more powerful than me. He enjoys that constant ardor to his Balrog slaying, younger, more virile days. Somehow, I do not remember how, not even after that night did I, we ended back in my room. His chambers would have been safer, as they are surrounded only by other males. My room was next to my parents'. This just shows you how inebriated we truly were."
Narië stood back for a moment and looked over Indilisse again, and let a smile come to her lips, "This was the tale you would not tell me when we went riding."
Indilisse nodded, "Aye, it is."
"Well go on, finish the story." Narië commanded.
"You should be able to figure out the rest," she sighed, truly not believing Narië's new found prowess in outspokenness. Indilisse smiled, "I asked him to show me what it was like to know the love of a warrior, even though now I know it was just pleasure for both of us. We were too loud, finished our deed, and then there came the banging on my door from my father, worried I had been attacked."
Narië giggled, "Attacked by Glorfindel."
"Aye." Indilisse nodded sadly, "He did hide in the wardrobe, as our minds were still not clear from the wine, and my father found him. Ada did not even say anything, he just left the room and shut the door. To this day I do not know what he thought about it. He chooses not to speak of it, and tries his hardest not to be around Glorfindel. I think it is something about him invading an impressionable young mind because he was so much older, though he has to have known our state of mental clarity. Since then, Glorfindel has always seen the incident as a funny anecdote to bring up at inopportune times."
Narië was quiet and stared at her wide-eyed. "I have so many questions, and all I can think of to ask you is, was Lord Glorfindel as good as what I have heard?"
Indilisse shrugged, "He is good, but I have had nothing to compare him with."
"Then, since I have been nurtured from your nurturing hand," Narië giggled, "then I will find you someone to compare him to."
"You are suddenly adventurous." She replied, "But I think I can find my own. I do not wish for any casual dalliance anyway, in the case of giving into my desires with Glorfindel, it ended badly. Those things always end horribly. You can see in the instance of Nindë and Haldir. That is why elves should only join if they wish to be married..."
Narië smiled as they began to walk away, and looked at Indilisse, "Orophin then. You said when you were younger he was who you watched."
Indilisse wanted to stop her right there, but if she was made to tell the truth, Narië would know of her thoughts of Haldir which would inadvertently cause huge problems when Narië found out of her past with Elladan, as a falling out from her tryst with Glorfindel. On the other hand, anything with Orophin would be wrong on so many levels, as she would be betraying her fondness for Haldir.
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Ada- dad Naneth- mother Pen neth- little one Lirimaer- lovely one