Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR, or any of its characters. Legolas: Hey! I heard that you've been stroking Haldir's ego. You NEVER stroke my ego Me: You have enough fangirls to do that. Legolas: It's not my ego that they're looking to stroke. Me: That's just nasty, Lego, nasty. Haldir: I have fangirls, too, you know. Legolas: I have more. Haldir: Says who? Legolas: Says everybody. Me: There is not enough room in here for the three of us and your swelled heads.
Chapter 16
Queen Gets Rooked
Rumil and Orophin provided an honor guard of sorts, escorting the Fellowship into the Golden Wood. Caladria was astounded at how much the two Elves resembled their older brother in everything but the attitude.
Both brothers were of light spirit, smiling broadly as they welcomed back Gimli, Sam, and Legolas to Lothlorien, and gracious in their greeting to her. They even smiled at the warg pup, though they had raised an eyebrow when they were first told of its existence.
Haldir had blindsided her by telling Rumil and Orophin that Caladria would explain the necessity of the warg being with the party. She really wanted to slap the smirk right off his face as his brothers turned to her, waiting. "I told Haldir that I wouldn't lieso the truth is what they get," she thought to herself, smiling at the brothers.
"The mother warg attacked us at our camp, and was killed by Legolas and your brother. The pup was nearby, and completely defenseless. It would not have survived without its mother. The pup would not have been orphaned if Haldir had not chosen that very spot for us to camp. She attacked only to protect her pup. Nature intends for every mother to have the right to raise her offspring. We interfered by being in a place we would not, under any other circumstances, have been. So, I took pity on the pup, and brought it with us. I will raise it until it is old enough to survive on its own, then release it back into the wild."
"Perfectly reasonable," Rumil said, giving the warg pup a scratch.
"What else could you do?" Orophin added, shrugging his shoulders.
Caladria decided that Haldir must have been adopted.
Entering the Golden Wood, Haldir noticed a bittersweet look on Caladria's face as they passed through the mallorn trees, and realized that she must have been thinking of the first time she was there, and the desperate act of her fiancée to save her. He looked down at the Whatzit that still hung from his belt, marveling at how her life had come full circle.
"Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadrial await you, Haldir. The Lady is most anxious to meet the One and hear the translation of the Great Ring Ceeunsae," Rumil said as they approached the settled area of the Golden Wood. It was late afternoon, and the sun had begun its decent, casting garnet shadows on the silver leaves of the mallorns.
"I'll just bet she is," Haldir thought to himself. Aloud, he said, "Perhaps the Lord and Lady would not mind if the Fellowship freshens up before appearing before them. It has been a long journey."
"Of course, that was expected. Talans have been provided for you, but do not tarrythe Lord and Lady await you."
"Great," Sam said under his breath. "First we miss elevenses and afternoon tea, and now we miss supper! I swear these Elves are all in some plot together to starve me to death!"
They were led up one of the winding staircases that encircled the giant mallorn trees to the high platforms above. Caladria started to follow Legolas, Gimli and Sam into one of the talans, but Haldir stayed her by grabbing her arm.
"Oh, noyou follow me," he said tersely, turning and walking into the next talan. Her face burned with indignation, but she followed Haldir, not wanting to show her temper so soon after arriving.
Alone in the talan, she turned immediately on Haldir.
"Exactly why did you insist I come in here with you?" she asked, glaring at the big Elf.
"I need to know what you are going to say to GaladrialI want to be prepared. Why else would I have you follow me in here?" he replied snidely, glaring down at her.
Caladria turned from him and pretended to be absorbed in the baby warg so that Haldir wouldn't see the blush creeping into her cheeks. She wasn't sure herself what she thoughtand wasn't ready to admit that his words had hurt.
"When Galadrial asks for an interpretation, I will pull the string and tell her that the Great Ring Ceeunsae wishes to educate Elves about various species of wildlife in otherworlds. Depending on what animal the arrow points to, I will give a brief explanation of the animal's habitat, diet, and reproductive cycles."
"Why would Elves care about animals in another world? You've had a week, and this is the best you can come up with?"
"Do you have any better ideas? I know how little you care for nature, Haldir, but from what I understand, the vast majority of Elves have it in them to bond closely with it. I think everyone - but you - would be interested in this information."
"I care about nature!"
"You didn't care about the warg pup, and she's a part of nature!"
"I care about naturejust not about smelly, ugly, wrinkled bushrats like that thing!"
"All creatures, great and small, Haldir, even smelly, ugly wrinkled bushrats have their place in nature. Look at you for example!"
Haldir face twisted at the insult, and he spun on his heel, stomping away from her. He looked out the doorway, surveying his home, trying to get a hold of his temper. "Great Eru, but this woman is infuriating!" he thought. An image of her in the river rose in his mind, but he forced it away.
"I suggest you clean upwe leave in a very few minutes to meet with the King and Queen of Lothlorien," he spat. Without turning around, he left the talan, leaving her alone.
"My," Caladria said to the pup in her arms, "that went well." Sighing, she put the pup down, and set about changing into the green gown she had worn in Gondor.
A short while later, Legolas poked his head in the talan, and signaled to Caladria that it was time to go. She picked up the pup, which had been eagerly exploring the talan, poking its nose into all the corners, and snuffling excitedly. Following Legolas, she looked but did not see Haldir.
She spotted him at last, near a brightly-lit pavilion in a tree not too far from the one she was standing on. The pavilion sparkled with thousands of tiny lights, the source of which she couldn't fathom. He was speaking with his brothers, Rumil and Orophin, and obviously waiting for the rest of the Fellowship to arrive. She noticed that he had changed into a more formal tunic of silver, and she thought for a moment of how stunning he looked.
Legolas led them across several wooden walkways and up a ramp to the pavilion where Haldir waited. Haldir nodded at the group, then motioned for them to follow him into the pavilion, where the Lord and Lady waited.
The pavilion twinkled with tiny lights that reminded Caladria of the fireflies back home. She looked up to see a beautiful pair of Elves descending a staircase from an upper level of the pavilion. She assumed that these were Lord Celeborn and his wife, Lady Galadrial. Caladria could only stare at the pair as they glided to a rest at the foot of the staircase. She was certain she had never seen two more beautiful creatures in her life. It was a shame that the Lady was such a jackass.
"Haldir, you have brought the One back with you? I thought you were going to bring only the translation," Galadrial said, eyeing Caladria and the warg pup.
"My Lady, I thought it best that you hear the Great Ring's message directly from the OneI did not want to risk misinforming you," Haldir replied.
"Very wise, Haldir. You have shown good judgement in bringing the One back with you to the Golden Wood," Celeborn commented, not seeing Galadrial cut her eyes to him in annoyance.
"Wellwhat does the Ring say?" Galadrial asked impatiently, her lovely blue eyes narrowing at Caladria. "And what exactly is that thing you are carrying?"
"A warg pup, Lady. I rescued her on our journey here."
"Put it down so that Haldir may kill it."
"I will not allow this pup to be harmed!" Caladria said forcefully. She turned to Haldir and said, "Is she related to you?"
"Who is this mortal who dares speak to me in this fashion?" Galadrial screeched, pointing a long elegant finger at Caladria.
"Dear, pleasenever mind the pup! Ask for the translation!" Celeborn sternly advised, putting a hand on Galadrial's arm.
"Mind your own business! This mortal insulted me! Will you stand by and let her get away with it?"
"She didn't insult you. Honestly, if I had any idea how self-centered you were I never would have married you. My mother tried to warn me, but I wouldn't listen! 'Celeborn,' she told me, 'that Elleth spends entirely too much time looking at her reflection in the scrying mirror!'" Celeborn shouted, glaring his wife into silence. Turning to Caladria, he asked, "Lady, will you please translate for us?"
Galadrial sputtered, but remained silent.
Handing the pup to Legolas, and taking the Whatzit from Haldir, Caladria pulled the ring. The Whatzit said, "The bird says, TWEET."
Looking directly at Galadrial, Caladria said, "The Great Ring Ceeunsae has a warning for you, My Lady."
Galadrial paled, her skin becoming nearly translucent. "I don't believe I need to hear a warning from an animal Ring, or from a mortal who insists on cuddling a beast!"
"Of course we need to hear itwhat's wrong with you?" Celeborn admonished. "This is exactly why the scrying mirror told you to send Haldir on the quest in the first place!" He nodded for Caladria to continue. "Please excuse The Lady's outburstshe seems not to be herself today," Celeborn shot his wife a warning look.
"The Great Ring Ceeunsae has said that the scrying mirror has become infected with an insidious evilyou must no longer rely on the images you see."
"That's ridiculous! She's lying!" Galadrial hissed, trying to grab the Whatzit from Caladria.
"MY LADY!" Celeborn shouted, pinning Galadrial's arms to her sides. "The One would not lie! We will heed the warningand destroy the mirror!" He nodded his thanks at the Fellowship, and walked his obviously distraught wife back up the stairs. Her wailing and cursing eventually fading in the distance. The Fellowship remained, staring after Galadrial with open mouths, except for Haldir, who stared at Caladria.
"Wow,' Sam said, "Amazing turn of events. Can we eat now?"
