Lizzie POV
We arrived in Lorien and went to a parley with Galadriel. She welcomed us and as I suspected, talked to our minds.
'Is Legolas coming?' I asked her.
'Be quiet, I'm talking.'
'Aragorn.' I knew she would give.
'Yes, he is.'
'Can you tell him about me? Make him like me?'
'I can't- you... and... AUGH!!! Fine, I'll send a scout to tell him about you.' I smiled.
'Please and thank you!' She grumbled inwardly and walked away. Then I realized that she had been saying something that involved me.
"Come on, Lady Celemir." Rumil and Orophin took my arms and led me to their talon.
"Are you used to sleeping on a grass mattress? We have goose feather ones." Orophin said, whilst grabbing some extra pillows. He led me to their bedroom and Rumil was pushing their two beds together for one big one.
"I hope that you will be comfortable, Lady Celemir."
"Oh, please. Call me Lizzie, or Lady Lizzie." I looked at the bed and shivered. "Where are you two sleeping?" Please don't say on the bed.
"Oh the floor in the doorway, so that we may protect you if need be." I laughed inwardly.
"Good night, Lady Lizzie." They laid down on their cots and went to sleep.
'If only Haldir was like that.' I laughed and flopped down on the bed.
I woke up the next morning to Rumil and Orophin, of all things, watching me sleep from the doorway. Boys!
"Good morning my kinsmen." They laughed... although, I'm sure that they didn't know what that means.
"How ghastly one feels after sleeping in one's clothes." I quoted The Silver Chair and thanked God that I had it and the other Narnia books in my bag.
Breakfast was interesting. Of course, what happened before then was even better. I followed my Elvish men to Haldir's talan and was greeted by the sounds of someone being tickled.
'Oh boy.' I rolled my eyes, thinking up all sorts of bad stuff that was happening in the bedroom. We found Haldir on top of Heather, tickling her and holding her hands above her head. I stifled a scream and resisted wanting to rip him off of her. Instead, I laughed. I didn't hear anything that Rumil, Orophin, Heather or Haldir said. I didn't laugh out loud so I bit my hand and banged my head in the doorway to try not to. Then I heard the name "Legolas" and perked right up.
Haldir POV
I stayed outside and talked to Orophin as I watched Heather go inside my talan. The situation from earlier with her state of undress still plagued me. Lust had flowed through my veins all through dinner, I felt myself begin to fall for her. I was calmer now. After saying good night to my brother, I went inside and was stunned. It was so quiet.
I walked into my bedroom and stripped down to my under leggings. I pulled the blankets back from my bed and lay down. Something was amiss, the blankets, the bed, for that matter was warm. I froze. There she was, sleeping peacefully in MY bed! I thought I had told her to sleep on the floor. I guess it didn't matter. Then I looked at what she was wearing. Her shirt and some really short short pants. I wanted her right then too. I yanked the covers over to my side and thought about Orcs, goblins, and Rumil's hairy back (shudder). She then reached out and hit me, before yanking all the covers back for herself. I turned so that I was facing away from her. But I could still hear her soft breathing and smell her flowery scent. It was exotic, I'd never smelled anything like that before. I had trouble sleeping that night.
I had slept a dreamless sleep. I woke up the next morning and found a naked from the waist up Haldir doing his sleep trance thingy next to me. Oh my dream of dreams was coming true!
The blankets came up to his waist and he looked so peaceful. Not at all like the jerk I first met when I was deposited here. His physique looked like it had been carved from marble. Like a statue from the Renaissance. I peeked under the covers to make sure...to make sure he was decent. Of course he was, he was wearing something that looked like boxers, but they weren't. It's hard to explain so I won't explain the concept of Elvish underpants.
Out of curiosity, I reached over and touched his arms, they were so sculpted...oh God he was HOT! I squeezed it and almost fainted. His skin was so smooth and warm, the muscles underneath in contrast were hard and yummy.
And that's when he woke up. "What are you doing?" he asked blearily.
I smiled sheepishly.
"Good morning to you too!" I said chirpily.
He just looked at me.
"And just what are you doing in this bed, Haldir?" I asked him teasingly.
"It's my bed, Lady Heather."
"Oh stop with the formalities. We ARE sharing a bed now."
He blushed.
I rolled over facing him, only a few inches away from yummy Elf muscles. I propped my head up, resting on my elbow.
"So, what are we doing today?"
He turned his head towards me, "We?"
I rolled my eyes, "Remember? Lady G. gave you a mini vacation since I have to live with you. What is your problem anyway? Why do you hate me so much?"
"I don't hate you."
"Ok, why do you harbor such a dislike for me?"
"I don't."
"Then why are you so mean to me?"
"Because you pulled a chunk of my hair out, you're loud and obnoxious, and you've the manners of an Orc."
"Ouch," I said, offended. I paused, "But you do have to admit, I am pretty."
He looked at me incredulously.
I scooted closer, "Are you sure you don't like me?" I purred.
He rolled his eyes, "Of course I like you."
"I don't think you mean that."
He growled.
"Meow to you too, Mister."
"Why are you so irritating?" he asked.
"I wasn't aware that I was irritating."
"You are."
"You have pretty hair," I said, changing the subject, touching a strand.
He looked at me dubiously, "What?"
"You have really pretty hair," I repeated. I sighed, "I wished I had pretty hair."
"You do."
"You think so? I've always wanted blonde hair."
"You are very strange, you know that?"
"So people tell me."
He rolled over so that we were facing each other, inches apart.
"So are you really unhappy here?" he asked suddenly.
"Well, this is only my third day here. I don't know. I already miss my life."
"Do you think you could be happy here?"
"I don't know," I admitted sincerely, "do you think you can be nicer?"
He smiled, "I could try."
I smiled too, "And I guess I could try to be happy here." I can't believe it! I am actually falling for Haldir of Lorien! Like for real!
"Are you ticklish?" I asked suddenly, feeling impish.
"What? I don't know."
I said nothing, but got that mischievous glint in my eye. He looked a little concerned.
"Why?" he questioned.
I waited a nanosecond before pouncing him and tickling him. His eyes widened as he began to laugh. His laugh was deep and genuine and so infectious.
"Ha ha! Haldir of Lorien! I have bested you!" I said triumphantly, sitting on top of him, with one leg on either side.
And that's when it happened, Haldir, the Marchwarden stinky guy, began to play. He reached up and tickled me, despite my futile attempts to block his hands. We wrestled in a fit of giggles and he managed to pin me down, "Ah ha, Lady of Lorien, it seems that I, Haldir have bested you!" he said, his voice low and husky.
The giggles subsided, and I looked into his eyes. Was he going to kiss me? Oh God I hope so! And then the worst thing in the world happened. Stupid friends J.
"Haldir! Come on get up! The Company from Mirkwood and Gondor are coming today..." It was Rumil. And then they were all there, Rumil, Orophin, and Lizzie. Their eyes all wide with shock. The serious Marchwarden and the silly girl from nowhere caught in a compromising position. We froze, our eyes locked together behind a curtain of his silver-blonde hair. The covers were strewn everywhere, his hands pinning my wrists over my head, our lack of clothing. My heart was pounding hard in my chest, and I was breathing hard.
Orophin was the first to begin laughing, and then the rest of the three began to laugh. Hidden behind his hair, our eyes still locked together, I smiled at him and he winked at me. He then let me up.
I stood up, fixing my disheveled hair into a ponytail. "So, uh good morning everyone," I said, blushing, "What's the plan for today?"
Rumil spoke up in a fit of laughter, "Well, today, sister dear, the Company from Mirkwood is coming to Lorien on diplomatic visit. Prince Legolas shall be coming!" he said. Sister? Oh, this will be interesting.
At that, I saw Lizzie's eyes lit up. I smiled.
I picked up my jeans off of the floor, and began to put them on. Orophin spoke then, "Lady Heather, we have a dress for you to wear today," he said, "A gift from the Lady of Light." He handed me a wrapped parcel. I opened it and the dress it contained was beautiful. It was a pale silver blue dress, the color of Arctic Ice. It was very plain in decoration, a typical day dress, but so much more than my formal gowns at home, including the Dior hanging in my closet that cost more than my car. That had been a gift from an ex-boyfriend with too much money. I marveled at the workmanship of the wonderful dress. I wanted to put it on right then and there, but I came back to reality and noticed the three were still standing in the doorway.
"You three can leave us now," said Haldir in his regular Haldir-the-dork tone, "We will see you in the dining halls shortly."
The three exchanged glances and began laughing as they left. So that left Haldir and I. Me with my pants unbuttoned, the beautiful dress in my hands and Haldir, standing in his warrior stance in his underwear no less with his arms crossed, staring at the doorway.
"So," I said uncertainly, "Where can I get a bath around here?"