The Starlord and the Warlady
Disclaimer: Shadowsong no own LOTR or Aida. You no sue Shadowsong. Shadowsong own Leahnlah, Lissie Cairdal, and Stella. You ask and Shadowsong no sue you. You have question?
Author's Notes: To explain the disclaimer: This is a Haldir/Original fic. The original character is Leahnlah. She is Aragorn's twin sister. She falls in love with Haldir, of all people. Lissie and Stella will show up later. In this chapter, there is some *lovely* Haldir-mockery.so if you are an advocate for pompous elves' rights, (can't see why you *would* be.) then you should CEASE AND DESIST to read this chapter. Just as a warning.
Chapter 4: Chasing the Wind
I had no idea who she was, but she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. And, living in Lorien for over two thousand years, I had seen many, many beautiful things. This beautiful creature, performing a seemingly pointless exercise, was nothing less than enchanting. She had very long, very curly, dark brown hair, and she was wearing a white dress. She steadied herself at one end of the clearing, completely oblivious to the fact that I was just behind her. I was fascinated. Wondering what she was doing, I decided to stay and watch.
"One last run, Estel. Then never again." She closed her eyes and bowed her head. "One more run."
She ran from one end of the clearing to another and spun around and around and around until she fell. Giggling, she picked herself up, and ran, stumbling slightly-from dizziness, I assume-and then she fell, giggling, to the ground.
"What are you *doing?*" I asked.
The woman shrieked and jumped up, spinning around to face me. "What do you want?" she whispered.
"I would like to know what you're doing, if you please," I responded, smiling slightly.
"Why?" she asked suspiciously.
"Is it a crime to be curious?" I asked, beginning to get annoyed.
She relaxed slightly. Very slightly. "No. I'm sorry. I was.I was chasing the wind."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I was chasing the wind. It's an old game I used to play with my brother and our best friend. What you do is run from one end of a clearing to the other, then spin around and around and around until you fall. As soon as you can, you pick yourself up and run back. The first person there wins."
"I see," I said, still rather confused. "But.what's the point, if you don't mind me asking?"
"The point?" she asked, cocking her head, staring at me with startlingly bright gray eyes.
I blinked. Where had I seen those eyes before.? "Have we met?"
She grinned, suddenly. "Why, yes, I believe we have." She reached up and twisted her hair around her head.
"You're the.the." I trailed off, torn between horror at the fact that I had actually found a *human* attractive and the fact that she had the most beautiful gray eyes I'd ever seen.
"The human intruder you caught on the edge of the forest yesterday? Yes. You were asking what the point of chasing the wind was?"
I came back to myself quickly. "Yes. What *is* the point?"
"To enjoy oneself as much as possible without endangering the lives, safety, or health of your friends."
"But what do you *gain?* It doesn't make sense."
"Gain?" She cocked her head again, studying me. "Do you have to gain something for an action or game to be worth it?"
"I suppose not." This woman was very, very confusing.
"Do you want to try?"
It took me a moment to register what she had said. "Are you asking me if I would like to chase the wind with you?"
"Yes." She looked at me as if she was explaining something obvious to a toddler. A very, very *slow* toddler. "So do you or not?"
Not only was she confusing, she was also very, very irritating. I wasn't exactly sure what to answer, so I decided to stall for time. "Your name is Leahnlah, correct?" I asked abruptly.
"Yes. And you're deliberately stalling so you don't have to answer. It is far more than fairly obvious. And, while we're on the subject, what's *your* name?"
"Haldir," I snapped. She was *really* starting to get on my nerves.
She cocked her head-yet again-and put her hands on her hips. She smiled slyly. "You're still avoiding my question," she said wryly. "Are you going to answer or not?"
By this time, I was *thoroughly* annoyed. "Fine." I stalked over to one end of the clearing. "Are you coming or not?"
"You're fun to irritate," she said, and, with dignity, walked over to stand next to me. "Are you ready?"
"Of course," I said. "Why do you think I'm standing here?"
"Are you set?"
"Yes, yes, just get ON with it!"
"You are *so* much fun to aggravate.GO!"
It was like nothing I had yet experienced. There was only one thing comparable to it, and *that* is something I do not discuss with civilized company. (A/N: Oooo.Haldir, you dirty-minded little elfy-poo.) I had never before run for pure pleasure. It was an interesting change, and not at all an unpleasant one.
I completed the circuit and flung myself onto the ground right where I'd started. Breathless, I sat up and looked around for Leahnlah. She was leaning against a tree and looking very smug.
"What kept you?" she asked sweetly. "Ooh.this *will* be fun."
"What?" I asked suspiciously. This human had given me *one* too many surprises that afternoon.
"Didn't I tell you? Winner gets to claim a forfeit from the loser."
I glared at her. "You didn't mention *that* minor little detail.it would have been *polite* to tell me."
"Haldir, love, whoever told you I was polite has no brain whatsoever," Leahnlah said, smiling. It was amazing how very *catlike* a human's smile could be.I forced myself to pay attention to what she was saying. "I've spent the last several years playing cat-and-mouse with goblins, which you would know if you had listened to my lovely plea for sanctuary from your Lord and Lady. Any politeness I ever had I lost a long time ago."
I glared at her. "Fine, then. Do. Your. Worst."
"Oh, don't worry, Haldir. I will," she said with her slyest smile yet. I began to regret what I had said. Aunt Galadriel always said I was far too impetuous. Oh, well. Leahnlah walked back and forth in front of me. She circled around me. "Got it!" she crowed triumphantly.
"Got what?"
"Nervous, are we?"
"No."
"Right.anyway, I've come up with your forfeit."
"And what stupid human ritual must I perform for your pathetic amusement?"
Leahnlah laughed. "You know, despite the fact that you just insulted me and my entire race, that *was* amusing.my amusement must come from being raised by elves."
"You were raised by elves?"
"Who did you think raised me, goblins?"
"Well, no.I mean, I-you're deliberately trying to confuse me, aren't you."
"No, I'm deliberately trying to annoy you."
"Ah. Well, unlike you, I have duties to perform, so will you please tell me what my forfeit is, so we can get this tedious business over with?"
"Ooh, the elfy-poo is being feisty.well, Haldir, I happen to *like* 'em feisty." Leahnlah said, smiling that *irritating* sly smile.(A/N: Why, *Leahnlah,* you dirty-minded little human thing.)
"I will not dignify that with an answer," I said, with as much dignity as I could possibly manage, seeing as a human was defeating me in a battle of wits. A *human!* (A/N: Stupid elf-snob.) "Now, are you *going* to tell me what my forfeit is or not? I am losing my patience."
"*What* patience?" Leahnlah asked sweetly.
For the first time in my life, I seriously considered killing something for no reason except to SHUT IT UP!
Perhaps some of this feeling showed in my face, because Leahnlah's smile slipped off her face. Finally. "All right. Do you want to hear your forfeit?"
"I have been *asking* to hear for quite some time. Please tell me," I said, carefully forcing myself to be *somewhat* polite. I made a mental note to give Leahnlah a lesson in manners the next time we met.
"Very well. Your forfeit will be very, very simple. All I want is a kiss."
* * *
A/N: *Damn,* that was fun! And the score reads: Leahnlah: Erm.a lot. Haldir: Zero. Zippo. Zilch. Nada. Niente. Goose egg. You get the picture. See ya in the next chapter!
Disclaimer: Shadowsong no own LOTR or Aida. You no sue Shadowsong. Shadowsong own Leahnlah, Lissie Cairdal, and Stella. You ask and Shadowsong no sue you. You have question?
Author's Notes: To explain the disclaimer: This is a Haldir/Original fic. The original character is Leahnlah. She is Aragorn's twin sister. She falls in love with Haldir, of all people. Lissie and Stella will show up later. In this chapter, there is some *lovely* Haldir-mockery.so if you are an advocate for pompous elves' rights, (can't see why you *would* be.) then you should CEASE AND DESIST to read this chapter. Just as a warning.
Chapter 4: Chasing the Wind
I had no idea who she was, but she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. And, living in Lorien for over two thousand years, I had seen many, many beautiful things. This beautiful creature, performing a seemingly pointless exercise, was nothing less than enchanting. She had very long, very curly, dark brown hair, and she was wearing a white dress. She steadied herself at one end of the clearing, completely oblivious to the fact that I was just behind her. I was fascinated. Wondering what she was doing, I decided to stay and watch.
"One last run, Estel. Then never again." She closed her eyes and bowed her head. "One more run."
She ran from one end of the clearing to another and spun around and around and around until she fell. Giggling, she picked herself up, and ran, stumbling slightly-from dizziness, I assume-and then she fell, giggling, to the ground.
"What are you *doing?*" I asked.
The woman shrieked and jumped up, spinning around to face me. "What do you want?" she whispered.
"I would like to know what you're doing, if you please," I responded, smiling slightly.
"Why?" she asked suspiciously.
"Is it a crime to be curious?" I asked, beginning to get annoyed.
She relaxed slightly. Very slightly. "No. I'm sorry. I was.I was chasing the wind."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I was chasing the wind. It's an old game I used to play with my brother and our best friend. What you do is run from one end of a clearing to the other, then spin around and around and around until you fall. As soon as you can, you pick yourself up and run back. The first person there wins."
"I see," I said, still rather confused. "But.what's the point, if you don't mind me asking?"
"The point?" she asked, cocking her head, staring at me with startlingly bright gray eyes.
I blinked. Where had I seen those eyes before.? "Have we met?"
She grinned, suddenly. "Why, yes, I believe we have." She reached up and twisted her hair around her head.
"You're the.the." I trailed off, torn between horror at the fact that I had actually found a *human* attractive and the fact that she had the most beautiful gray eyes I'd ever seen.
"The human intruder you caught on the edge of the forest yesterday? Yes. You were asking what the point of chasing the wind was?"
I came back to myself quickly. "Yes. What *is* the point?"
"To enjoy oneself as much as possible without endangering the lives, safety, or health of your friends."
"But what do you *gain?* It doesn't make sense."
"Gain?" She cocked her head again, studying me. "Do you have to gain something for an action or game to be worth it?"
"I suppose not." This woman was very, very confusing.
"Do you want to try?"
It took me a moment to register what she had said. "Are you asking me if I would like to chase the wind with you?"
"Yes." She looked at me as if she was explaining something obvious to a toddler. A very, very *slow* toddler. "So do you or not?"
Not only was she confusing, she was also very, very irritating. I wasn't exactly sure what to answer, so I decided to stall for time. "Your name is Leahnlah, correct?" I asked abruptly.
"Yes. And you're deliberately stalling so you don't have to answer. It is far more than fairly obvious. And, while we're on the subject, what's *your* name?"
"Haldir," I snapped. She was *really* starting to get on my nerves.
She cocked her head-yet again-and put her hands on her hips. She smiled slyly. "You're still avoiding my question," she said wryly. "Are you going to answer or not?"
By this time, I was *thoroughly* annoyed. "Fine." I stalked over to one end of the clearing. "Are you coming or not?"
"You're fun to irritate," she said, and, with dignity, walked over to stand next to me. "Are you ready?"
"Of course," I said. "Why do you think I'm standing here?"
"Are you set?"
"Yes, yes, just get ON with it!"
"You are *so* much fun to aggravate.GO!"
It was like nothing I had yet experienced. There was only one thing comparable to it, and *that* is something I do not discuss with civilized company. (A/N: Oooo.Haldir, you dirty-minded little elfy-poo.) I had never before run for pure pleasure. It was an interesting change, and not at all an unpleasant one.
I completed the circuit and flung myself onto the ground right where I'd started. Breathless, I sat up and looked around for Leahnlah. She was leaning against a tree and looking very smug.
"What kept you?" she asked sweetly. "Ooh.this *will* be fun."
"What?" I asked suspiciously. This human had given me *one* too many surprises that afternoon.
"Didn't I tell you? Winner gets to claim a forfeit from the loser."
I glared at her. "You didn't mention *that* minor little detail.it would have been *polite* to tell me."
"Haldir, love, whoever told you I was polite has no brain whatsoever," Leahnlah said, smiling. It was amazing how very *catlike* a human's smile could be.I forced myself to pay attention to what she was saying. "I've spent the last several years playing cat-and-mouse with goblins, which you would know if you had listened to my lovely plea for sanctuary from your Lord and Lady. Any politeness I ever had I lost a long time ago."
I glared at her. "Fine, then. Do. Your. Worst."
"Oh, don't worry, Haldir. I will," she said with her slyest smile yet. I began to regret what I had said. Aunt Galadriel always said I was far too impetuous. Oh, well. Leahnlah walked back and forth in front of me. She circled around me. "Got it!" she crowed triumphantly.
"Got what?"
"Nervous, are we?"
"No."
"Right.anyway, I've come up with your forfeit."
"And what stupid human ritual must I perform for your pathetic amusement?"
Leahnlah laughed. "You know, despite the fact that you just insulted me and my entire race, that *was* amusing.my amusement must come from being raised by elves."
"You were raised by elves?"
"Who did you think raised me, goblins?"
"Well, no.I mean, I-you're deliberately trying to confuse me, aren't you."
"No, I'm deliberately trying to annoy you."
"Ah. Well, unlike you, I have duties to perform, so will you please tell me what my forfeit is, so we can get this tedious business over with?"
"Ooh, the elfy-poo is being feisty.well, Haldir, I happen to *like* 'em feisty." Leahnlah said, smiling that *irritating* sly smile.(A/N: Why, *Leahnlah,* you dirty-minded little human thing.)
"I will not dignify that with an answer," I said, with as much dignity as I could possibly manage, seeing as a human was defeating me in a battle of wits. A *human!* (A/N: Stupid elf-snob.) "Now, are you *going* to tell me what my forfeit is or not? I am losing my patience."
"*What* patience?" Leahnlah asked sweetly.
For the first time in my life, I seriously considered killing something for no reason except to SHUT IT UP!
Perhaps some of this feeling showed in my face, because Leahnlah's smile slipped off her face. Finally. "All right. Do you want to hear your forfeit?"
"I have been *asking* to hear for quite some time. Please tell me," I said, carefully forcing myself to be *somewhat* polite. I made a mental note to give Leahnlah a lesson in manners the next time we met.
"Very well. Your forfeit will be very, very simple. All I want is a kiss."
* * *
A/N: *Damn,* that was fun! And the score reads: Leahnlah: Erm.a lot. Haldir: Zero. Zippo. Zilch. Nada. Niente. Goose egg. You get the picture. See ya in the next chapter!