Chapter 19- The Morning After
He sighed and leaned back in his chair, a vision of Indilisse still fresh in his head from the evening before. The image that stayed with him was the look of her face, her eyes half closed with lashes long and her breathing labored against his mouth as he grew closer and closer to her. It had been what he needed to do, whether or not she liked the course in which they were moving. But he was much pleased to feel her body relenting into his and their thoughts mingling into one for a short moment. They had been so close, so dangerously close, that he was now at the point where their previously simple interactions would no longer be satisfying. He would have to touch her whenever he was near, and kiss her whenever the alone time allowed. He wanted to make her feel loved, feel excited, feel bothered enough to act upon her urges so he did not have to.
So involved with his thoughts, Haldir had not noticed Orophin sit down in front of him. And he had barely listened to the audience he and Targon had with Lord Celeborn earlier this morning about a new warden training group. Oh, Indilisse was not a good thing for him if he was going to start neglecting everything else that was important besides her. Though now he could not justify anything more important than Indilisse and completely making her clay in his hands.
"You seem far too pleased this morning." Orophin commented, pouring himself a cup of tea. "I saw that you were being pretty friendly with Inwë last eve, when you should have been wooing your true love interest."
Haldir sipped his own tea and sat up in his seat, "Aye, she is a sweet elleth, but you saw with your very own eyes and heard with your very elven ears the argument we had last night. I am quite sure the last thing she wanted to do was dance with me."
"Maybe you should be a little more persistent, Haldir. As I have said before, she is not just some elleth that can be bought with quick glances and smiles. With her you will have to work, show her you care about her." Orophin said, "The only reason you argue with her is because you do not know how to appropriately show your feelings through actions and words."
"I know well enough." Haldir defended.
"When have you ever really needed to communicate with another elleth?" Orophin asked, "Every communication you have with them, you end up in each others arms when there is no need for deep conversation."
Haldir sighed, knowing that his brother was painfully correct. A flip of his hair, a flex of his muscles and a show of his skill with weapons would not be enough to make Indilisse fall in love with him. However, it was enough for him to fall completely in love with her. Oh how he hated to be in this completely helpless position. "Then what do you suggest I do?"
"Do something that involves one of her interests." Orophin said, "Both of you are very much alike in interests and pursuits, so it should not be so hard for you to find something."
Haldir could not help but feel that there was a double meaning to what Orophin was saying, but decided he did not want to press the topic now. He had too many other things to think of and sort out in his head. "Have you seen your brother yet?"
"He was out showing Narië off to everyone." Orophin laughed, "I swear, you would think he was just handed one of the Silmarilli or Rings of Power."
"To be in love is to be in control of a great power." Haldir replied. "But I will speak with him later. I only wanted to tell you two that we are to start a new training syllabus four days hence. The twins have already agreed to help because they will be staying in Lórien longer than the others, and Targon wished to do this before he departed for Valinor."
"So Targon will be running..." Orophin asked.
Haldir shook his head, "Nay. He has placed full responsibility with me. That surprised me more than anything; he said that I have become a better commander than he could have hoped for anyone."
"Amazing." Orophin said, "Then, Brother, I must congratulate you on winning Targon's approval. It is not easy to do, but I do not wish to bring up the subject that you are now in the process of winning the heart of his only child. A child he is far too protective of."
"Indilisse is full grown now and can make her own decisions." Haldir said plainly, drinking the last bit of his teas before standing.
"But her parents can always advise against it." Orophin added.
Haldir smiled slightly and sighed, "Then I will have to make her see that I am so in love with her, and make her fall so deeply in love with me that she will be able to disregard what they advise her to do."
Orophin chuckled, "Now that is the Haldir I know. Always ready for the challenge. I thought we had lost you there for a bit with your moodiness on the subject of Indilisse."
"Farewell Orophin," Haldir said, adjusting his tunic. "I need to go make arrangements for the invitations to the elves who I wish to be in the curriculum."
Haldir did not wait to hear what his brother had to say, and disappeared along a path towards the calligrapher to have him write out the number of invitations he would then send over to the herald to be delivered. He found the writer in his small room amidst the tall-tree palace of the Lord and Lady, concentrating on a piece of fine parchment in front of him. Various pieces of parchment in different shades of white, gray and yellow were littered about him; books of all sizes were open and strewn around. He was a very odd elf, and Haldir attributed it to the fact that he spent his days stooped over parchment and with no one to talk to. That was why he liked to concern himself so closely with the business of others. Haldir chuckled to himself as he thought of this, the calligrapher's eyes rising to meet his. Maybe that was why they got along so well.
"Luinil, mellon nin." Haldir smiled, stopping in front of the large desk. "What are you writing today?"
"Your invitations." Luinil replied, "After speaking with you yesterday, I figured it would be wise of me to begin on the lettering."
Haldir nodded, "True. How many have you made thus far? We will need about thirty and five."
"I have made half of what you request." Luinil set his quill into the ink well before sitting back in his cushioned seat. "But we now have another in Lórien with superior writing capabilities, though I think she may have a little more flourish with hers."
"Really, who?" Haldir asked, trying to think of all the elleths in Lórien.
Luinil glanced up at him with a half smirk and went back to his work. "Why, do you enjoy elleths who enjoy writing?"
Haldir grumbled, "Fine, do not tell me."
Luinil was silent and wrote a few words in the elegant Tengwar, and Haldir watched him closely, hearing someone making their way towards the room. An odd shiver traveled up his back just then, and he knew who it was entering the room. She shuffled into the room, not looking up from the stack of parchments in her hands, as if rereading them to make sure that they were correct and she did not need to go back and remake them. Indilisse breezed by him, and his nose picked up on the clean scent of the niphredil. She placed the parchments on the desk next to Luinil, her long hair falling over her face as she reached for Luinil's quill, plucking it right out of the calligrapher's hand.
"Woman, for the love of all that is green in this world, get some manners!" Luinil exclaimed, "Now you made me mess this lettering up."
"That is the least of my worries, Luinil." Indilisse said, looking up at him and pushing a thick section of her hair behind an ear. She paused for a moment, as if she finally caught the presence of the other elf in the room, standing and watching them converse. Indilisse turned back to whatever she was writing. "Do you know what underhanded things your friend does, March Warden?"
Haldir smiled slightly, and crossed his arms over his chest, glancing at Luinil with a curious expression, "Nay, I do not. But I would like to hear them."
Luinil grumbled and stole the quill back, dipping it into his inkpot. Indilisse sighed and looked up at Haldir, meeting his eyes, "In order to get another book of parchment to write in, he made me write the messages for your warden training."
"Really, is that true?" Haldir asked, slightly amused, but also slightly angry that Luinil made her do this. He did not know why exactly, but it did.
"She takes it too far out of context." Luinil said, "She was sitting around here trying to get another book form me and I gave her something to do until I could procure one."
Indilisse scoffed, "Then where is this book?"
Luinil reached to the floor beside him and produced a thick leather bound book. "Now tell me why you need this one so soon and already bound? What if you were to make a mistake?"
"This is for my own notes." She replied, leafing through the thick pages of parchment. "Among other things."
"I must know what these other things are before I can let you take the book." Luinil said.
Indilisse laughed, "They are none of your business, Luinil."
"If I were to go looking for this, where should I go?" Luinil asked.
She laughed again and smacked his arm on her way by him again. Haldir found their banter quite amusing, and he was glad that his friend could get along so well with his love, but insomuch he was mortified that Luinil had used her in such a way because things like this and the matter of his and Luinil's friendship, meant that Indilisse probably made her opinions not solely on the time she spent with Haldir. It could have only reflected poorly upon Haldir.
"Well, mellyn nin, garo aur." Indilisse said, placing the book under her arm and walking back out of the room. My friends, have a good day.
Haldir watched her retreat and then turned back to Luinil. "I cannot believe you did that."
"Why? It is only a dose of Indilisse's own poison." Luinil replied, "As you well know, she brings on the teasing herself."
"Still, though, do you not think..." Haldir trailed off.
"That I reflect poorly on you?" Luinil finished with a sly smile. "My friend, if you are so worried about someone reflecting poorly upon you to Indilisse, then you must take a good hard look at your brothers. Rúmil is worst of all."
Haldir bit his lip, not wanting to argue about this.
Luinil sighed, "Why are you still standing there anyway? I will send these to the herald when I finish mine. You know you wish to go after her."
"You are positively the worst elf in the whole of Arda." Haldir said brusquely, before turning on his heals and walking out of the room. He could hear his friend's laughter as he retreated, and a few paces away, Haldir let his shoulders slump and he let out a tiny laugh. Friends and brothers could be such pains at times, but he did not know what he would do without them.
He paused for a moment realizing that he did not know where Indilisse had gone. Maybe she was in the library. Haldir turned in that direction and came upon the large door to the volume-lined room, and pulled it back, peeking inside. Not there. Then he walked to her talan. She was not there either, and in a last effort to find her, he went to their flet. Again, no one was there but a small squirrel that had come down from the tree branches. On his way back down to the main level of city, he ran into Rúmil and Narië and told him of the training that would occur, but it was clear that both of the lovers were obliquely occupied and not the least bit interested in anyone but each other.
"Is there anything else that requires my attention, Haldir?" Rúmil asked.
Haldir grumbled, seething, "Gen fuion!" You disgust me
With that, he turned sharply and headed back to the main level, deciding that a walk would best suit his needs. It would allow him time to think and not be cramped up in his talan. A few minutes into his walk, however, all he could think of was Indilisse and being able to touch her. Then, as if by the Valar's intervention, he found the elleth sitting bellow a large tree by a bubbling stream in a small glade that not many knew about. She was scratching away at the book of parchment, her inkwell beside her and on a flat root protruding from the ground.
He watched her for a moment, remembering the night before as she groomed Mornhîr and told the horse a story in a language he did not understand. Listening to her speak in the different languages of Arda was amazing to hear, and he held a great deal of respect for those who cared for learning other languages besides her own, to communicate easily when she visited the other lands beyond the fair elven homes. Whatever language she had been speaking in was a mystery to him, and he could not have known what the story was about, but she had recited it with such emotion that he had been utterly enthralled with her words and the way her mouth moved to form those words.
Haldir sighed and walked slowly over to her, allowing her time to look up at him if she wished, but she did not and kept her attention securely on the book in front of her. "It is a lovely day, is it not?"
Indilisse smiled and closed her book, moving her eyes up to his, the bright sun casting complimentary shadows upon her face. "Aye, it is. Fall is my most favorite season. I was just thinking about going riding."
"You enjoy riding?" He asked, "You go often."
"I do." Indilisse nodded, "I enjoy the feel of wind on my face and through my hair, without having to use my own feet to carry me."
Haldir chuckled and sat on the high root to the side of her. "What are you writing?"
"My observations." She said, leaning her head back against the tree trunk and closed her eyes. "It is a valuable exercise that I do to expand my capabilities of telling a story."
"I do not think you need any lessons in story telling," He said, "Not after the story you were telling Mornhîr last night. I did not even know the language and I was enthralled."
Indilisse smiled warmly and opened her eyes slowly. "That was Rohirric. Does Mornhîr come from Rohan? He seems to enjoy it very much when I speak to him in that tongue."
Haldir nodded his head, "Aye, he does."
She sighed, closing her eyes again. This allowed Haldir time to gaze upon her lovely face in a soft repose and not have to worry about her thinking him strange. The lines of her face were soft and feminine, her brows naturally high and arched over her expressive green-brown eyes. Her nose was small, thin and dainty, her lips rose colored and lusciously plump. The line of her jaw met at a determined point; the length of her lashes long and the darkest of browns. So beautiful. He had been watching her so closely that he did not notice her eyes open. When he did, Haldir tried to say something but he soon felt soft fingers upon his lips to silence him.
There was a special light in her eyes, and as she smiled wider, he saw them sparkle like the heavy incandescent jewels that adorned Galadriel's gown. There was so much mirth and contentedness within them... so much warmth, he could not bring himself to look away to face the harsh reality of the bright sun. And before he knew it, he found himself smiling brightly, greater than he had ever smiled before. Her fingers left his mouth to cup his cheek, and then a finger grazed down the line of his jaw. The shiver up his spine returned, and the short hairs upon the back of his neck raised with her light touch.
"Haldir, you should smile more often." Indilisse said.
"I smile," he replied.
She sat up and collected her things, "Not as often as you grimace or remain stone-faced."
"I must remain that way or people will not have respect for me." Haldir watched her stand easily and reposition her dress on her shoulders.
"I respect you, Haldir." She glanced at him, "But I would respect you more if you could also show a softer side."
"Your father never has shown me a softer side." Haldir countered, wishing he had not brought her father into the conversation now. But surprisingly, she did not grow angry.
Indilisse snorted, "He could stand to do it a little more as well. The only time he smiles is if someone had complimented him on what a fine family or daughter he has."
"You do not like that?" Haldir questioned, following her as she started back for the path.
"I like that he has pride in me, but I sometimes want him to also show me that I am not a lowly, young elleth." She sighed, "If I am to bind with another, I would to find one that realizes that."
He looked at her closely, smiling to himself. She was dropping hints. This was a very good sign for him. They walked for a long while, coming to the end of the path that lead to a staircase around a tree. Haldir looked down at her, "Would you care to go riding, Indilisse? This time not as your escort, but as a friend."
"Only a friend?" She raised a brow and smiled, her hand touching his shoulder lightly, "But I cannot go in a gown, so give me a few moments to go change into my riding clothes."
"I will go prepare Mornhîr for us." He replied, waiting to see her reaction. "And gather the noon meal to take with us."
Indilisse blushed slightly, "I will be down to the stables in a little while."
Haldir chuckled and turned on his toes for the stables. This was promising.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair, a vision of Indilisse still fresh in his head from the evening before. The image that stayed with him was the look of her face, her eyes half closed with lashes long and her breathing labored against his mouth as he grew closer and closer to her. It had been what he needed to do, whether or not she liked the course in which they were moving. But he was much pleased to feel her body relenting into his and their thoughts mingling into one for a short moment. They had been so close, so dangerously close, that he was now at the point where their previously simple interactions would no longer be satisfying. He would have to touch her whenever he was near, and kiss her whenever the alone time allowed. He wanted to make her feel loved, feel excited, feel bothered enough to act upon her urges so he did not have to.
So involved with his thoughts, Haldir had not noticed Orophin sit down in front of him. And he had barely listened to the audience he and Targon had with Lord Celeborn earlier this morning about a new warden training group. Oh, Indilisse was not a good thing for him if he was going to start neglecting everything else that was important besides her. Though now he could not justify anything more important than Indilisse and completely making her clay in his hands.
"You seem far too pleased this morning." Orophin commented, pouring himself a cup of tea. "I saw that you were being pretty friendly with Inwë last eve, when you should have been wooing your true love interest."
Haldir sipped his own tea and sat up in his seat, "Aye, she is a sweet elleth, but you saw with your very own eyes and heard with your very elven ears the argument we had last night. I am quite sure the last thing she wanted to do was dance with me."
"Maybe you should be a little more persistent, Haldir. As I have said before, she is not just some elleth that can be bought with quick glances and smiles. With her you will have to work, show her you care about her." Orophin said, "The only reason you argue with her is because you do not know how to appropriately show your feelings through actions and words."
"I know well enough." Haldir defended.
"When have you ever really needed to communicate with another elleth?" Orophin asked, "Every communication you have with them, you end up in each others arms when there is no need for deep conversation."
Haldir sighed, knowing that his brother was painfully correct. A flip of his hair, a flex of his muscles and a show of his skill with weapons would not be enough to make Indilisse fall in love with him. However, it was enough for him to fall completely in love with her. Oh how he hated to be in this completely helpless position. "Then what do you suggest I do?"
"Do something that involves one of her interests." Orophin said, "Both of you are very much alike in interests and pursuits, so it should not be so hard for you to find something."
Haldir could not help but feel that there was a double meaning to what Orophin was saying, but decided he did not want to press the topic now. He had too many other things to think of and sort out in his head. "Have you seen your brother yet?"
"He was out showing Narië off to everyone." Orophin laughed, "I swear, you would think he was just handed one of the Silmarilli or Rings of Power."
"To be in love is to be in control of a great power." Haldir replied. "But I will speak with him later. I only wanted to tell you two that we are to start a new training syllabus four days hence. The twins have already agreed to help because they will be staying in Lórien longer than the others, and Targon wished to do this before he departed for Valinor."
"So Targon will be running..." Orophin asked.
Haldir shook his head, "Nay. He has placed full responsibility with me. That surprised me more than anything; he said that I have become a better commander than he could have hoped for anyone."
"Amazing." Orophin said, "Then, Brother, I must congratulate you on winning Targon's approval. It is not easy to do, but I do not wish to bring up the subject that you are now in the process of winning the heart of his only child. A child he is far too protective of."
"Indilisse is full grown now and can make her own decisions." Haldir said plainly, drinking the last bit of his teas before standing.
"But her parents can always advise against it." Orophin added.
Haldir smiled slightly and sighed, "Then I will have to make her see that I am so in love with her, and make her fall so deeply in love with me that she will be able to disregard what they advise her to do."
Orophin chuckled, "Now that is the Haldir I know. Always ready for the challenge. I thought we had lost you there for a bit with your moodiness on the subject of Indilisse."
"Farewell Orophin," Haldir said, adjusting his tunic. "I need to go make arrangements for the invitations to the elves who I wish to be in the curriculum."
Haldir did not wait to hear what his brother had to say, and disappeared along a path towards the calligrapher to have him write out the number of invitations he would then send over to the herald to be delivered. He found the writer in his small room amidst the tall-tree palace of the Lord and Lady, concentrating on a piece of fine parchment in front of him. Various pieces of parchment in different shades of white, gray and yellow were littered about him; books of all sizes were open and strewn around. He was a very odd elf, and Haldir attributed it to the fact that he spent his days stooped over parchment and with no one to talk to. That was why he liked to concern himself so closely with the business of others. Haldir chuckled to himself as he thought of this, the calligrapher's eyes rising to meet his. Maybe that was why they got along so well.
"Luinil, mellon nin." Haldir smiled, stopping in front of the large desk. "What are you writing today?"
"Your invitations." Luinil replied, "After speaking with you yesterday, I figured it would be wise of me to begin on the lettering."
Haldir nodded, "True. How many have you made thus far? We will need about thirty and five."
"I have made half of what you request." Luinil set his quill into the ink well before sitting back in his cushioned seat. "But we now have another in Lórien with superior writing capabilities, though I think she may have a little more flourish with hers."
"Really, who?" Haldir asked, trying to think of all the elleths in Lórien.
Luinil glanced up at him with a half smirk and went back to his work. "Why, do you enjoy elleths who enjoy writing?"
Haldir grumbled, "Fine, do not tell me."
Luinil was silent and wrote a few words in the elegant Tengwar, and Haldir watched him closely, hearing someone making their way towards the room. An odd shiver traveled up his back just then, and he knew who it was entering the room. She shuffled into the room, not looking up from the stack of parchments in her hands, as if rereading them to make sure that they were correct and she did not need to go back and remake them. Indilisse breezed by him, and his nose picked up on the clean scent of the niphredil. She placed the parchments on the desk next to Luinil, her long hair falling over her face as she reached for Luinil's quill, plucking it right out of the calligrapher's hand.
"Woman, for the love of all that is green in this world, get some manners!" Luinil exclaimed, "Now you made me mess this lettering up."
"That is the least of my worries, Luinil." Indilisse said, looking up at him and pushing a thick section of her hair behind an ear. She paused for a moment, as if she finally caught the presence of the other elf in the room, standing and watching them converse. Indilisse turned back to whatever she was writing. "Do you know what underhanded things your friend does, March Warden?"
Haldir smiled slightly, and crossed his arms over his chest, glancing at Luinil with a curious expression, "Nay, I do not. But I would like to hear them."
Luinil grumbled and stole the quill back, dipping it into his inkpot. Indilisse sighed and looked up at Haldir, meeting his eyes, "In order to get another book of parchment to write in, he made me write the messages for your warden training."
"Really, is that true?" Haldir asked, slightly amused, but also slightly angry that Luinil made her do this. He did not know why exactly, but it did.
"She takes it too far out of context." Luinil said, "She was sitting around here trying to get another book form me and I gave her something to do until I could procure one."
Indilisse scoffed, "Then where is this book?"
Luinil reached to the floor beside him and produced a thick leather bound book. "Now tell me why you need this one so soon and already bound? What if you were to make a mistake?"
"This is for my own notes." She replied, leafing through the thick pages of parchment. "Among other things."
"I must know what these other things are before I can let you take the book." Luinil said.
Indilisse laughed, "They are none of your business, Luinil."
"If I were to go looking for this, where should I go?" Luinil asked.
She laughed again and smacked his arm on her way by him again. Haldir found their banter quite amusing, and he was glad that his friend could get along so well with his love, but insomuch he was mortified that Luinil had used her in such a way because things like this and the matter of his and Luinil's friendship, meant that Indilisse probably made her opinions not solely on the time she spent with Haldir. It could have only reflected poorly upon Haldir.
"Well, mellyn nin, garo aur." Indilisse said, placing the book under her arm and walking back out of the room. My friends, have a good day.
Haldir watched her retreat and then turned back to Luinil. "I cannot believe you did that."
"Why? It is only a dose of Indilisse's own poison." Luinil replied, "As you well know, she brings on the teasing herself."
"Still, though, do you not think..." Haldir trailed off.
"That I reflect poorly on you?" Luinil finished with a sly smile. "My friend, if you are so worried about someone reflecting poorly upon you to Indilisse, then you must take a good hard look at your brothers. Rúmil is worst of all."
Haldir bit his lip, not wanting to argue about this.
Luinil sighed, "Why are you still standing there anyway? I will send these to the herald when I finish mine. You know you wish to go after her."
"You are positively the worst elf in the whole of Arda." Haldir said brusquely, before turning on his heals and walking out of the room. He could hear his friend's laughter as he retreated, and a few paces away, Haldir let his shoulders slump and he let out a tiny laugh. Friends and brothers could be such pains at times, but he did not know what he would do without them.
He paused for a moment realizing that he did not know where Indilisse had gone. Maybe she was in the library. Haldir turned in that direction and came upon the large door to the volume-lined room, and pulled it back, peeking inside. Not there. Then he walked to her talan. She was not there either, and in a last effort to find her, he went to their flet. Again, no one was there but a small squirrel that had come down from the tree branches. On his way back down to the main level of city, he ran into Rúmil and Narië and told him of the training that would occur, but it was clear that both of the lovers were obliquely occupied and not the least bit interested in anyone but each other.
"Is there anything else that requires my attention, Haldir?" Rúmil asked.
Haldir grumbled, seething, "Gen fuion!" You disgust me
With that, he turned sharply and headed back to the main level, deciding that a walk would best suit his needs. It would allow him time to think and not be cramped up in his talan. A few minutes into his walk, however, all he could think of was Indilisse and being able to touch her. Then, as if by the Valar's intervention, he found the elleth sitting bellow a large tree by a bubbling stream in a small glade that not many knew about. She was scratching away at the book of parchment, her inkwell beside her and on a flat root protruding from the ground.
He watched her for a moment, remembering the night before as she groomed Mornhîr and told the horse a story in a language he did not understand. Listening to her speak in the different languages of Arda was amazing to hear, and he held a great deal of respect for those who cared for learning other languages besides her own, to communicate easily when she visited the other lands beyond the fair elven homes. Whatever language she had been speaking in was a mystery to him, and he could not have known what the story was about, but she had recited it with such emotion that he had been utterly enthralled with her words and the way her mouth moved to form those words.
Haldir sighed and walked slowly over to her, allowing her time to look up at him if she wished, but she did not and kept her attention securely on the book in front of her. "It is a lovely day, is it not?"
Indilisse smiled and closed her book, moving her eyes up to his, the bright sun casting complimentary shadows upon her face. "Aye, it is. Fall is my most favorite season. I was just thinking about going riding."
"You enjoy riding?" He asked, "You go often."
"I do." Indilisse nodded, "I enjoy the feel of wind on my face and through my hair, without having to use my own feet to carry me."
Haldir chuckled and sat on the high root to the side of her. "What are you writing?"
"My observations." She said, leaning her head back against the tree trunk and closed her eyes. "It is a valuable exercise that I do to expand my capabilities of telling a story."
"I do not think you need any lessons in story telling," He said, "Not after the story you were telling Mornhîr last night. I did not even know the language and I was enthralled."
Indilisse smiled warmly and opened her eyes slowly. "That was Rohirric. Does Mornhîr come from Rohan? He seems to enjoy it very much when I speak to him in that tongue."
Haldir nodded his head, "Aye, he does."
She sighed, closing her eyes again. This allowed Haldir time to gaze upon her lovely face in a soft repose and not have to worry about her thinking him strange. The lines of her face were soft and feminine, her brows naturally high and arched over her expressive green-brown eyes. Her nose was small, thin and dainty, her lips rose colored and lusciously plump. The line of her jaw met at a determined point; the length of her lashes long and the darkest of browns. So beautiful. He had been watching her so closely that he did not notice her eyes open. When he did, Haldir tried to say something but he soon felt soft fingers upon his lips to silence him.
There was a special light in her eyes, and as she smiled wider, he saw them sparkle like the heavy incandescent jewels that adorned Galadriel's gown. There was so much mirth and contentedness within them... so much warmth, he could not bring himself to look away to face the harsh reality of the bright sun. And before he knew it, he found himself smiling brightly, greater than he had ever smiled before. Her fingers left his mouth to cup his cheek, and then a finger grazed down the line of his jaw. The shiver up his spine returned, and the short hairs upon the back of his neck raised with her light touch.
"Haldir, you should smile more often." Indilisse said.
"I smile," he replied.
She sat up and collected her things, "Not as often as you grimace or remain stone-faced."
"I must remain that way or people will not have respect for me." Haldir watched her stand easily and reposition her dress on her shoulders.
"I respect you, Haldir." She glanced at him, "But I would respect you more if you could also show a softer side."
"Your father never has shown me a softer side." Haldir countered, wishing he had not brought her father into the conversation now. But surprisingly, she did not grow angry.
Indilisse snorted, "He could stand to do it a little more as well. The only time he smiles is if someone had complimented him on what a fine family or daughter he has."
"You do not like that?" Haldir questioned, following her as she started back for the path.
"I like that he has pride in me, but I sometimes want him to also show me that I am not a lowly, young elleth." She sighed, "If I am to bind with another, I would to find one that realizes that."
He looked at her closely, smiling to himself. She was dropping hints. This was a very good sign for him. They walked for a long while, coming to the end of the path that lead to a staircase around a tree. Haldir looked down at her, "Would you care to go riding, Indilisse? This time not as your escort, but as a friend."
"Only a friend?" She raised a brow and smiled, her hand touching his shoulder lightly, "But I cannot go in a gown, so give me a few moments to go change into my riding clothes."
"I will go prepare Mornhîr for us." He replied, waiting to see her reaction. "And gather the noon meal to take with us."
Indilisse blushed slightly, "I will be down to the stables in a little while."
Haldir chuckled and turned on his toes for the stables. This was promising.