Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1 for full disclaimers. Thanks!
Before we get started, much appreciation to...
Evenstar Elanor/Elaine... I don't know, you and the water thing. Just kidding! Thanks as always for the consistent reviews and for keeping me honest.
Mercury Gray... You were one of my very first reviews when I first posted on , and I don't think you've missed a story yet. "Slow, gentle, and sweet?" I can handle that kind of review.
Utsuri... Welcome! Thanks for taking a look at my story. Hope to hear back from you again.
Chapter 10: Handfasted
The handfasting took place at sunset. For Runevalas, the morning was spent with her sister and her aunt. They bathed in one of the warm pools and spent some time together before setting themselves to the task of dressing Runevalas and arranging her hair. Haldir's day was spent in similar endeavors while in the company of his brothers.
The sun was reaching its orange fingers down towards the tops of the trees when the Elves of Lothlorien and Dol Amroth gathered for the handfasting. The dark colors of the sun gilded the leaves and warmed the air. The Elves who gathered were dressed in their finest attire and sparkled as if they were jewels draped among the tree branches.
The Lady Galadriel appeared and each and every head bowed in respect. She looked resplendent in a light blue gown with silver trim and the woven silver circlet that covered her head was intricately designed to resemble intertwined tree branches. She went to the head of the clearing and waited. As was tradition in the Lothlorien Elves, the Lady of the Golden Wood presided at all handfastings.
The peal of a trumpet rang through the clearing and the Elves gathered in the middle parted, leaving an open grassy path from one end of the clearing to the other, where Galadriel waited. Rumil and Orophin appeared at the edge of the clearing. Each had his sword drawn and held it erect in front of his chest. Over their shirts they wore finely wrought chain mail, symbolic armor for Haldir's honor guard. They walked solemnly in to the clearing.
Haldir entered behind them. He paused at the edge of the clearing and glanced over the crowd. Today begins a new age for me, he thought. A part of my life I am finally ready for. A part of my life that I will cherish, for it was bought and paid for in blood many years ago. He squared his shoulders and followed his brothers down the path.
Rumil and Orophin stopped before Galadriel and lowered their swords.
"Who do you bring before me?" she asked.
"We bring our brother Haldir before you, Lady," answered Orophin.
"And why have you brought him here this day?"
"To fulfill his desire to be handfasted to his chosen mate, Lady," answered Rumil.
"You serve as his honor guard," she said. "Do you stand here today, prepared to lay your own lives down for his honor? Would you be prepared to die in his stead? Is he worthy of that sacrifice?"
"He is, Lady," said Rumil. "I would gladly trade my life for his."
"His honor is beyond compare and I would fight for him until the end," said Orophin.
Behind them, Haldir's expression softened. He was touched by his brother's words. It was left up to Rumil and Orophin to decide what their answers would be to the Lady's questions. They were not allowed to share them with him prior to this moment. He felt as strongly about his brothers as they did about him, but to hear the words from their own mouths on a day like this meant even more to him.
With a nod from Galadriel the brothers took up positions on each side of her and faced the crowd. They both managed a surreptitious glance at their brother and a quick smile.
"Haldir, Marchwarden of 'Lorien and son of my heart, come forward."
He walked up, obedient as always to Galadriel's command.
"Do you come to this handfasting willingly?"
"I do, Lady."
She smiled at him fondly. "Will you willingly accept the gift that will be given to you this day?"
"I will for it is my heart's desire," answered Haldir.
Galadriel smiled again for his answer was unexpected. He had sheltered his heart behind a thick shield for so long... she was pleased beyond words to hear him speak of his heart's desire now. She did not, however, have long to reflect for another ringing trumpet announced the arrival of Runevalas and her escort.
First to enter the glade were Gilanduin and Raedalin for they were Runevalas' closest relatives older than she was. Their walk was serene, but Gilanduin was beaming, a clear reflection of the joy she felt. Behind them walked three soldier Elves from Dol Amroth in full armor. Each carried a trident spear, a symbol of the ocean that was so dear to them. The Elves of Lothlorien watched, fascinated, for many had never seen the soldiers of Dol Amroth. Their armor glittered like fish scales and there were ribbons with shells hanging from the tridents, a traditional accoutrement for a handfasting ceremony.
Torvalen came next, her gown matching the grey-green of her eyes. Ropes of woven pearls were braided into the sides of her hair. Her steps were light as she walked the carpet of soft grass and came to stand before the Lady of the Golden Wood. Torvalen curtsied and then waited.
After a pause, Galadriel said, "Who do you bring before me?" she asked.
"I bring my sister Runevalas before you, Lady," answered Torvalen.
"And why have you brought her here this day?"
"To fulfill her dream and desire to be set handfast to her chosen mate, Lady."
"You serve as your sister's honor guard," Galadriel said. "Would you sacrifice your own honor to protect hers? Would you give up your life this day to defend her?"
"Without question, and a hundred times over if needs be," answered Torvalen.
At that, the three soldiers from Dol Amroth rushed out to Torvalen, surrounding her, and leveling their tridents. The tines of the weapons came so close that Torvalen could feel them prick her through the fabric of her gown. During this, and as the crowd gasped in surprise, Torvalen never took her eyes from Galadriel. She raised her arms, exposing herself even further to the trident spears.
From where he stood near Galadriel, Haldir took note of how the Elf maiden did not waver and did not flinch as the spears came at her. Even knowing it was for ceremony, it took nerve and steel to stand fast before those soldiers, and he respected her greatly for her courage and for her devotion to her sister.
"If my life will prove Runevalas' worth and honor, then take it, and I will go to Mandos with my head high. There will be no shame in my death." Torvalen's voice was clear and proud.
"Your pledge and your devotion speak well for your sister's worth. Let her come forth. She is a gift to Haldir as he is a gift to her," said Galadriel.
The soldiers raised their tridents and returned swiftly to their places near Gilanduin and Raedalin. Torvalen turned and looked at the end of the glade. Four Elves came in, each carrying a pole that held a corner of a canopy. From the edges, layers of thin silk in many colors hung down. They were sheer but just opaque enough to obscure the Elf who walked within the canopy's sheltering wings.
Haldir stood up a little straighter – Runevalas! – and felt his stomach flutter for a moment. It seemed to Haldir that it took a day past an Age of Man for the canopy bearers to walk the length of the glade, but he forced himself to be still and not fidget. Rumil, who could sense his brother's impatience, glanced up once and offered him a smile. From the other side Orophin winked and Haldir refused to look at him again after that for fear that Orophin would do something foolish in an attempt to make him laugh.
The canopy stopped and Raedalin and Gilanduin each took a sheet of cloth. They pulled the front of the canopy shelter open and Torvalen escorted Runevalas out. She looked radiant in a white gown sewn with gold thread. A belt of gilded scallop shells surrounded her waist and came to a central point, and two strands of the shells dropped nearly to the ground from that point.
On her head she wore a circlet of hammered gold. The edges were curved to give the illusion of waves, and hundreds of tiny, tear-shaped pearls hung from the wave edge, creating a shimmering, frothy whitecap. From the back of the circlet, swaged ropes of pearls cascaded down Runevalas' hair. Torvalen walked her sister forward and Runevalas blushed as she saw the unabashed admiration in Haldir's stare.
"Haldir of 'Lorien," she said, "today we give you one of our most treasured gifts. We give Runevalas into your care gladly and willingly for we know her heart truly lies here with you in the woods of Lothlorien. Know that she is dear to all of our hearts and we release her unto your care only because we believe you return her love fully and will care for her and protect her as devoutly as we would."
Haldir walked three steps down and held out his hand. Torvalen escorted Runevalas three steps up and placed her sister's hand in Haldir's.
"I adore you," she said to Runevalas, and then she turned to Haldir. "My sister is a treasure beyond compare," she told him, and then she took her place near her aunt and uncle.
Galadriel took two silken cords – one red and one teal – and twisted them together to make one cord. She walked down the steps and draped the spun cord over their hands.
"Our handfasting happens at sunset," she said. "It happens at the time when the day wanes and the night waxes. As day transitions to night so do two single lives transition into a bonded life." Slowly, she began to wind the cords around Haldir and Runevalas' hands. "As the cord binds their hands, so do the lives of Haldir of Lothlorien and Runevalas of Dol Amroth become one." Galadriel tied a loose not with the ends of the cord and stepped back. "Speak now and seal the bond between you."
Haldir began. "My heart wandered alone for many years until you found it. It was wounded beyond reason and you healed it. For that, Runevalas, I will be forever in your debt. But more than that, you taught me that it was possible to love again, and my eyes have been opened to a world I had never seen before for vanilme sila tir (your beauty shines bright)."
She smiled up at him, her eyes glowing.
By the grace of the Valar, someday I will have someone look upon me the way she looks upon my brother, thought Rumil.
"I bind myself to you this day, and for all the days forward," said Haldir. "My heart beats for you, melamin (my love), and I will care for you and watch over you until the sun no longer gives way to the night."
"And I choose to bind myself to you, a'maelamin (my beloved)," said Runevalas without hesitation. "If I have taught you to love again, know that you have taught me that it is possible to love at all, for there was a point in my life where I despaired of ever finding someone who would love me. I am yours, Haldir, for as long as you would have me. I will care for you and watch over you until the sun no longer gives way to the night. Amin mela lle (I love you.)."
"Amim mela lle," answered Haldir.
The Lady of the Golden Wood raised her hands. "And so the words of promise and binding have been spoken freely before all here today." Galadriel unwrapped their hands and separated the two cords. She gave Haldir's red cord to Runevalas, and Runvalas' teal cord to Haldir.
Then she said, "In front of all, you have bound yourselves to each other, but you still remain two individuals. When you return to your dwelling tonight, weave the cords back together and hang them over your threshold. This will be the first thing you do to begin weaving your two lives together. Each day when you leave your dwelling, let the sight of your woven cord remind you of the joy you will return to each night."
"We will, Lady," said Runevalas with a soft smile.
"Then I declare you handfasted. Go with our blessings and let your love deepen and become richer as the years go by."
The crowd cheered and as Haldir and Runevalas turned toward the crowd, Haldir decided to do something impulsive. He threw his arm around Runevalas' waist and pulled her in close to him, and kissed her. She gasped in surprise as he pulled her in and for the first moment of the kiss she was frozen. Her shock, however, did not last long and she threw her arms around Haldir's neck and was not shy in the least about returning his kiss.
Well, that was a bit of a long chapter, but I didn't want to split the ceremony up. I hope you liked it – I enjoyed writing this one. Enjoyed it, actually, more than I expected I would. Please read/review, I'd like to know what you think of the handfasting...! More to come as soon as I can get it written!