Title: Black Swan; Shadow on the Water
Disclaimer: I make no financial gain what-so-ever from this story, although good reviews do feed my already big enough ego.but no financial gain is made so please don't sue me.
Chapter 2: Nothing but Trouble
It had been a long day of riding for Haldir, March Warden of Lothlorien, and there was an even longer night ahead of him. It was time again for one of Thranduil's famous feasts. Haldir had always attended these, even though he found them excruciatingly boring. But this year, he was actually looking forward to it, almost. ~*~Flashback~*~
Haldir leaned against a tree and sipped his wine. The evening had gone slowly, each minute seeming to last an hour. He could barely wait until Midnight; it was then when he would be able to leave. His eyes drifted over the crowd, taking in everything, filing it away for later use. And that was when he saw her, a small, fragile girl sitting in the shadows, staring up at the stars. She was beautiful, more than beautiful. She was perfect. ~*~End Flashback~*~
Haldir smiled as the memory of the nameless beauty he had glimpsed came flooding back. He had made himself a promise. This time, when he saw her, he would go and speak to her, at least learn her name. Haldir smiled again, this feast was going to be the best yet.
Missalah stood in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection. She was wearing a full-length, purple ball gown with long, bell shaped sleeves and a high cut neckline. She smoothed the material over her stomach again and sighed. Her father was right; purple did make her look fat. It was too late now to change, it didn't matter anyway, and she wasn't trying to impress anyone, least of all herself.
Everything and everyone in the room seemed to disappear the minute she walked through the doors. Haldir's jaw dropped, she looked amazing. But instead of trying to be sociable, she walked over to the far wall and sat down under the direction of the man she had entered with. Haldir frowned. There was something not right about the man, something that made Haldir dislike him even from such a distance.
Haldir's gaze swept back to his nameless beauty. She sat in a corner, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her head down. Her shining black hair fell around her face making her look like a lost child.
He started to make his way over to her, but he was stopped by the man she had entered with, and now that Haldir had seen him up close he guessed he was her father, or very close relation.
"I'm sorry sir, but you have no business talking to her. She is deaf and dumb. You would be wasting your time." The man's tone clearly said he was lying, and that he wanted Haldir to stay away from her.
Haldir nodded his head and bowed. "I would like to introduce myself good sir, I am Haldir, March Warden of Lothlorien. May I ask your name?"
The man stiffened at Haldir's name. "I am Conourenë, and Missalah," he pointed to the girl in the corner, "is my daughter."
Haldir smiled, Missalah, Black Swan. His Black Swan.
"Well my good Conourenë, I would be of you to allow me to speak with her, she looks terribly lonely." Haldir's tone suggested he would not take no for an answer.
"Very well March Warden, you may talk to her. But I warn you, that girl is nothing but trouble, it would be best for you if you chose not to get involved with her." Conourenë's subliminal threat was wasted on Haldir.
"Hello Missalah."
Missalah's head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprised, and for a minute it seemed she indeed could not speak. But she composed herself quickly.
"Good evening, I'm sorry but I do not know your name." Missalah's voice trembled slightly.
Haldir took her hand in his and pressed his lips against it gently, "I am Haldir, March Warden of Lothlorien, Protector of the Golden Woods."
The colour drained from Missalah's face, and for a brief second Haldir feared she might faint. She snatched her hand from his, jumped to her feet and after stammering a quick goodbye she all but ran from the room. Haldir remained, rooted to the spot, a look of pure astonishment on his face. Conourenë watched the exchange and smiled.
"Nothing but trouble." He whispered, but no one heard him.
Missalah ran from the Great Hall, for once she was more afraid of something than her father. Haldir, March Warden of Lorien had spoken to her. But why? She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, although she didn't understand why. She could still feel his lips on her hand, as though she had been branded.
Missalah ran out into the night, into the forest of Mirkwood. She needed to get away, even if it meant facing her father's wrath later. She didn't stop running until she reached the small clearing beside the river that she loved to frequent. Being there relaxed her, soothed her soul. The constant sound of running water washed away her troubled thoughts.
She sat down amongst the wild flowers and breathed in their sweet perfume. It was then she became aware of another's presence.
~*~ * * * ~*~
Ok, I'm sorry it was so short, but I'm suffering from a severe case of writer's block, which no doubt you can tell. I promise the next chapter will be longer. Well, enjoy, and please review! Love you all!
Laivinë
Disclaimer: I make no financial gain what-so-ever from this story, although good reviews do feed my already big enough ego.but no financial gain is made so please don't sue me.
Chapter 2: Nothing but Trouble
It had been a long day of riding for Haldir, March Warden of Lothlorien, and there was an even longer night ahead of him. It was time again for one of Thranduil's famous feasts. Haldir had always attended these, even though he found them excruciatingly boring. But this year, he was actually looking forward to it, almost. ~*~Flashback~*~
Haldir leaned against a tree and sipped his wine. The evening had gone slowly, each minute seeming to last an hour. He could barely wait until Midnight; it was then when he would be able to leave. His eyes drifted over the crowd, taking in everything, filing it away for later use. And that was when he saw her, a small, fragile girl sitting in the shadows, staring up at the stars. She was beautiful, more than beautiful. She was perfect. ~*~End Flashback~*~
Haldir smiled as the memory of the nameless beauty he had glimpsed came flooding back. He had made himself a promise. This time, when he saw her, he would go and speak to her, at least learn her name. Haldir smiled again, this feast was going to be the best yet.
Missalah stood in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection. She was wearing a full-length, purple ball gown with long, bell shaped sleeves and a high cut neckline. She smoothed the material over her stomach again and sighed. Her father was right; purple did make her look fat. It was too late now to change, it didn't matter anyway, and she wasn't trying to impress anyone, least of all herself.
Everything and everyone in the room seemed to disappear the minute she walked through the doors. Haldir's jaw dropped, she looked amazing. But instead of trying to be sociable, she walked over to the far wall and sat down under the direction of the man she had entered with. Haldir frowned. There was something not right about the man, something that made Haldir dislike him even from such a distance.
Haldir's gaze swept back to his nameless beauty. She sat in a corner, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her head down. Her shining black hair fell around her face making her look like a lost child.
He started to make his way over to her, but he was stopped by the man she had entered with, and now that Haldir had seen him up close he guessed he was her father, or very close relation.
"I'm sorry sir, but you have no business talking to her. She is deaf and dumb. You would be wasting your time." The man's tone clearly said he was lying, and that he wanted Haldir to stay away from her.
Haldir nodded his head and bowed. "I would like to introduce myself good sir, I am Haldir, March Warden of Lothlorien. May I ask your name?"
The man stiffened at Haldir's name. "I am Conourenë, and Missalah," he pointed to the girl in the corner, "is my daughter."
Haldir smiled, Missalah, Black Swan. His Black Swan.
"Well my good Conourenë, I would be of you to allow me to speak with her, she looks terribly lonely." Haldir's tone suggested he would not take no for an answer.
"Very well March Warden, you may talk to her. But I warn you, that girl is nothing but trouble, it would be best for you if you chose not to get involved with her." Conourenë's subliminal threat was wasted on Haldir.
"Hello Missalah."
Missalah's head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprised, and for a minute it seemed she indeed could not speak. But she composed herself quickly.
"Good evening, I'm sorry but I do not know your name." Missalah's voice trembled slightly.
Haldir took her hand in his and pressed his lips against it gently, "I am Haldir, March Warden of Lothlorien, Protector of the Golden Woods."
The colour drained from Missalah's face, and for a brief second Haldir feared she might faint. She snatched her hand from his, jumped to her feet and after stammering a quick goodbye she all but ran from the room. Haldir remained, rooted to the spot, a look of pure astonishment on his face. Conourenë watched the exchange and smiled.
"Nothing but trouble." He whispered, but no one heard him.
Missalah ran from the Great Hall, for once she was more afraid of something than her father. Haldir, March Warden of Lorien had spoken to her. But why? She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, although she didn't understand why. She could still feel his lips on her hand, as though she had been branded.
Missalah ran out into the night, into the forest of Mirkwood. She needed to get away, even if it meant facing her father's wrath later. She didn't stop running until she reached the small clearing beside the river that she loved to frequent. Being there relaxed her, soothed her soul. The constant sound of running water washed away her troubled thoughts.
She sat down amongst the wild flowers and breathed in their sweet perfume. It was then she became aware of another's presence.
~*~ * * * ~*~
Ok, I'm sorry it was so short, but I'm suffering from a severe case of writer's block, which no doubt you can tell. I promise the next chapter will be longer. Well, enjoy, and please review! Love you all!
Laivinë