A soft tap on the bedroom door awoke Alanya later that evening. She sat up, brushing the straggling hair from her eyes. A female elf was standing in the door, holding a tray and smiling.
"I've been sent to bring you dinner, my lady."
Alanya's stomach twisted, reminding her it had been sometime since she had eaten last, as the morning she left she had only had a cup of tea. "That sounds excellent," she said, rising out of bed. She smoothed the few strands escaping the braid back, glad she hadn't undone it before bed or it would be in a right awful mess. "What is your name?" she asked the maiden.
"I am called Linwe, my lady."
"Please, just call me Alanya.
"As you wish, Alanya. I've been assigned to act as your attendant here in Lorien, if there is ever anything you need, you have only to tell me."
Alanya smiled as she sat down to the table, looking at the food in front of her with unbridled interest. "Oh, thank you so much Linwe. I'm not very used to being waited on, so I'm sure I won't be too difficult." She picked up a piece of fruit and begun to eat. "What do you do here in Lorien?"
"I am one of the handmaids of Lady Galadriel." Linwe replied. "I've been serving her ever since I was a small child." Linwe smiled, putting away the bundle of clothing she had brought. "I count myself fortunate that I am able to do so." Alanya sat eating while Linwe looked at her curiously. "The only talk is that you are from another world, this is passing strange to us."
Alanya shook her head. "If you think it's strange to you, its doubly strange to me. I expected to be returning home by now with a stack of books for my friend, not off where no one knows where I am." She stared moodily in the distance. "I don't know if they know I'm missing yet." She looked down, her appetite gone for the moment.
"I am sorry, my lady...be not troubled. I am certain that everything will turn out for the best."
Alanya smiled. "Ah, an optimist." She stood, brushing crumbs from her robes. She looked down at them and frowned. "You know, these needed cleaning before I left, and they're much worse now. Dare I hope some of that fabric you brought is clothing I might borrow?"
"Yes," Linwe nodded. "The Lady Galadriel has sent some dresses over to you, you and she being of the same build. Come, I am certain you would wish to bathe. I will take you to the bathing pools and then clean clothes." "Oh that would be a wonderful thing," Alanya sighed. She followed Linwe down the steps of the talan to the forest floor. This time she was able to take a closer look at everything around here, as Haldir had hurried her about. The tall trees reached nearly to the sky. The dim sunlight that filtered through dappled the ground with its light. "I've never seen anyplace so wonderful in my life," she said almost to herself.
"Lorien is reputed to be the most lovely of the Elvin realms in Arda." Linwe informed her. "Mirkwood was once untainted, but the shadow is always a threat there. I have heard though also that there is great beauty in Imladris, the house of Master Elrond the Wise. Many seek refuge there when they are in need. Lorien has few visitors, however. In years past travel between the realms has become perilous."
Alanya grew curious. Haldir had mentioned a name, Sauron. She wondered if he was the cause of the trouble. She thought of asking Linwe, but some inner caution stayed her from speaking. Instead she enquired on daily life in Lorien, to which Linwe talked on while Alanya thought. She was brought out of her muse by arriving at the bathing pools.
"Here we are, Lady Alanya," Linwe said, gesturing towards a set of rocky springs. Mist hung in the air from a small waterfall that emptied into the top pool. Alanya sighed in contentment and undressed, wading into the water. Dunking under the water, she swam into the center, letting the buoyant water float her about. She relaxed as the water floated her about, and she found she could almost forget that she was here on a matter of some urgency. Going underwater once more, she swam over to Linwe, who was standing at the edge. She reached for what she assumed was the soap, and Linwe chided her, reminding her that she was here to serve Alanya.
Alanya smiled and gave in with good grace, leaning back where Linwe gestured so she could allow the elf maid to unbraid and wash her hair. The maid's gentle fingers soothed Alanya into a half trance, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation.
"Thank you Linwe. I always love to have someone else wash my hair, but am typically such a solitary person I never have the chance."
"Well, if this is all you need me to do for you Lady Alanya, then my duties will be simple." Linwe said as she chuckled. "Now, if you stand, we can dry you off and head back to the talan to find you a dress out of the ones I've brought." Alanya nodded and stood, squeaking a bit at the cold water that Linwe rinsed her hair out with. Wrapping her hair up in a towel, Linwe held out a long soft robe for Alanya to wear back to the talan.
Once back at the talan Linwe pulled a dress from the wardrobe. "I think this will go very well with your unusual coloring." She turned towards Alanya, with a pale silvery gray dress. "Your hair is so strangely colored, but it is very lovely. It shimmers like the feather of a bird."
Alanya could only stare at the dress. "Thank you, but I'm sure that dress is far too nice for me," she protested. Silver threads shot through a shimmering gray silk. Long angel-winged sleeves trailed from the elbow in transparent gauze, reaching nearly to the floor. Silver leaves were embroidered about all the openings, and here and there emeralds sparkled to accent the leaves.
"Nonsense," Linwe chided. "If Galadriel has sent you these, she must mean for you to have them." Alanya said nothing, and in response to Linwe's gentle coaxing was dressed in one of the finest gowns she had ever seen. She had seen richer colors, but never nicer material, and certainly never seen better style in any of the king's courts she had had chance to be in over the years. She sat before a window on a low couch, while Linwe stood behind her and brushed her hair dry, and braided it into an elvish style.
"There, I believe I am done, possibly none to soon." Linwe said as a knock sounded at the door. Alanya began to rise and Linwe pushed her down. "No, that is my duty. You are still tired, I can tell."
Alanya smiled and did as she was bidden. "I know better then to argue," she said with a grin. When she saw who was on the other side of the door it was only through strong self-control that her mouth did not drop to the floor. She had thought Haldir pleasing to look at before, but in her assessment he cleaned up even better. He stood in the door in a pure white shirt, over which there was a tunic of the same silvery gray that Alanya wore. Deer suede leggings ended tucked into knee high boots laced tight to his muscular legs. A silver circlet confined his hair, which flowed in a graceful fall down his back.
He looked like royalty, and stood there with all the assured grace of someone who exercises power on a regular basis and is quite comfortable in that fact. He nodded at Linwe, who turned to inquire if Alanya needed anything else that night. Alanya could only shake her head in the negative as Haldir gave her the once over while she sat.
"I will see to any needs of the Lady Alanya tonight Linwe, you may go." Alanya couldn't help but feel a warm thrill rush through her at the thought. Ignoring that, she rose gracefully, smoothing down her skirt.
"If I did not know better I would say you are of elvin kin, my lady. Our dress suits you very well," he said. "I do not know how much Linwe explained about our people, but I would like to show you Caras Galadhon. It also occurs to me, that we know nothing of each other, and are yet somehow linked. I would know more of you, Lady Alanya." He offered her his arm. "Perhaps you will walk with me and we might discuss things."
She nodded, and was able to work past the stunned feelings to give him an affirmative in response. "Actually, I would like to stop by the stables before anything else, I really should have settled my mount in by myself. I'm sure your people are very good with animals, but still, Tam's an old friend and he and I have been through much together." Haldir's eyes warmed at that.
"We can certainly take care of that first. I find it refreshing to see a mortal who understand that value of treating their beasts well." He opened the door for her and they walked out into the cool evening air.
"There's no mystery there," Alanya replied as she tucked an errant hair of hers behind an ear. She secretly eyed Haldir's ears, thinking the upswept point very graceful-looking. Attractive, she thought. Aack. Get back on track, woman. "Before I was taken into a school for mages, I lived with my parents, who were innkeepers. All of us children worked in the inn as a way of getting to know the business. They found that I was good at working with the horses, although I was only five, I could keep them quiet. I was too little for any real work, but I would run and fetch for the stable lads."
Haldir looked at her, shocked. "You were taken from your parents?" She could see his opinion of her people plummet as he frowned.
"No, no! It's not what you think!" She hastened to reassure him. "It was just that it was obvious from the time I was seven that I had a very powerful mage gift. It wasn't safe for me to proceed without some instruction. If you don't learn how to use the mage gift, it can be unleashed in an uncontrollable fashion that can be fatal to all those around. Once it became apparent that I had the gift, they contacted a mage school, and the school sent someone to evaluate my gift. It was decided that my gift was strong enough that I would need a great deal of instruction, and so my parents decided that I should go away to school to be certain that I got all the teaching I needed." She paused as they hopped a small stream on the way, her sleeves drifting in the air as she landed.
"I took to the instruction like a duck takes to water," she continued as she paced besides Haldir. He was listening with great curiosity, and for the first time since she was here she felt she had his full attention. His gray eyes were fixed on hers steadily, causing her to blush as she continued, her cheeks glowing slightly pink. He smiled at her analogy, apparently amused at human terminology. "I grew up to have a strong talent, I'm rated as a First Class Adept. I work as a guardian in my country, being sure there are no dangers from magic."
"What dangers could there be from it?" He asked.
Alanya shivered, thinking about some of the mages she had tracked down. "Well, there's plenty." She thought for a minute about how to explain so he might understand. "You see, with magic you can bend the very nature of reality. Space and time, these are things that to a higher level mage such as myself have no meaning. I can change them to suit my will." She could see him beginning to frown and thought that he begun to grasp the problem.
"So someone could say, go back in time to alter events."
"Not quite," she said as she shook her head. "No one person has enough energy to do that. Err...well, at least not without some kind of powerful being augmenting your working, or performing it for you. What it means in practicality is that you can bend them to travel from place to place within your world, compressing a journey that might takes months into one step. You create a hole in space, and that hole links the gate portal and terminus, and transports you instantly from one place to the next in the blink of an eye." Haldir appeared shaken by the concept. "It's entirely safe, or, was supposed to be until I somehow was hijacked into this world."
"It seems an odd concept. I am not certain it is something I would wish to try." He replied.
Alanya smiled gently. "I don't know too many non mages who are comfortable with the concept. For that matter I know some mages who refuse it outright. Actually, my best friend is none too thrilled about it. He complains whenever I take him somewhere by gate." She sighed, concerned about what her friend was thinking about her absence. She knew that when she didn't arrive home in time, and it was found out that in fact she never arrived at her destination, he would be afraid something horrible had happened.
"What thought crossed your mind right now," Haldir asked after she had been silent for several moments.
"I just wish I could let my friends know there is nothing wrong with me." She chuckled a little. "I suppose this will be that vacation Korry has been trying to get me to take for some time now. The Gods have a sense of humor, I think." She shook her head, falling silent once more.
She was saved from having to make any conversation as they came across the stables. Unlike mortal stabling, there were no locked doors anywhere, merely a baffled building that the animals could shelter inside of in case of inclement weather. Alanya could see Tam grazing with other horses. She gave a sharp whistle, and the horse's head shot up. He whinnied and trotted over her, much to her pleasure. Several minutes spent scratching him on all those spots he couldn't reach himself and Alanya was assured that he was quite happy to be where he was.
"He seems content," Haldir noted, patting his own steed, which had wandered up at the same time, on the nose. He gave away no hints of emotion, but Alanya could see Haldir's pleasure at the attention of his mount.
"Haldir, would, uh, would you like to go riding sometime?" Alanya asked him, ruthlessly pushing down any embarrassment. "I try to get Tam out as often as I can, and I thought that you might like to exercise your mount as well." She noted his surprised face and this time did flush. Damn, I hope I didn't just make some social gaffe. "I'm sorry, if you're too busy I'll certainly understand." She stopped as Haldir cut her off.
"No, I'd be glad to when we have the time. Lady Galadriel wishes to speak with us on the morrow, but I will make time to show you the Forests of Lorien." He seemed surprised that she asked, but Alanya couldn't tell if he was pleased or not. "Come, let me show you more of the city so you are not so dependant on us to guide you."
Haldir showed her all the salient portions of the city, the kitchens, the baths, the training fields and armories. They were nearing his talan when they were beset upon by two slightly inebriated but very joyous elves.
"Haldir! My most favorite older brother, who is this lovely young elleth you have on your arm?" Alanya attempted to stifle her giggles as Haldir glared at the elf that had just spoken. His glare became sharper when the elf took her hand and bowed low over it.
"Yes Haldir, you have failed to introduce us to your latest conquest in the romantic field.! Please, we must know your name, liramaer." Alanya's eyebrows shot up at being addressed as Haldir's conquest. The second elf bowed also, stumbling slightly as he did so. Haldir let out an exasperated sigh.
"For starters, Rumil, I am your only older brother. And you Orophin, how is it you are back from the borders already. And," here he sniffed, "reeking of wine as well."
Orophin hiccupped before answering. "If you must know, El'wen is taking over for me, as I was taking over for you." He paused and appeared to be deep in thought. "Yes...yes that is as I meant it to come out."
Haldir drew himself up to his full height and stared at the two with a decidedly cool stare. "Since you two have so much spare time to indulge in wine, you can meet me for a dawn practice tomorrow, before the Lady Alanya and I are to speak to the Lady Galadriel." Alanya kept her face as cool as Haldir, but she could feel the corner of her mouth twitching when she saw the looks on the brother' faces.
"Yes Haldir," they echoed in unison, obviously long used to obedience to his ways. Alanya turned away to avoid laughing out loud and coughed, turning back only when she was certain she could control herself.
"As to the identity of our guest, Rumil, Orophin, this is the Lady Alanya Mystewalker, honored guest of the Lady Galadriel herself. I would expect you treat her with every courtesy. Lady Alanya, these are my younger brothers Rumil and Orophin. Notorious troublemakers, the both of them. Noble Ellons, I expect to see both of you at dawn tomorrow morning." Haldir swept away, Alanya regal on his arm. Once they were out of earshot Haldir's face did crack a smile. "Sometimes, there is satisfaction in being the older brother." His eyes sparkled and Alanya was entranced by the laughter she saw there.
"I admit to pulling similar stunts on some of the younger students when I was helping the professors," she confessed. "I was especially satisfied to assign them extra-messy tasks when they had booby-trapped my door, raining down red dye on me when I had opened it. I think it was worth it when I dispelled it immediately and began teaching the class as if nothing had happened. What really made it worth it though was the 20 page research paper on the application of magical processes to the dyeing industry." She laughed. "It involved long, boring research, something younger students hate."
Haldir nodded. "My brothers mean no insult, my lady. It is just that they are very exuberant."
"No, I took none. Really, I'm sure when they sober up they are perfectly sweet."
Haldir winced at the term 'sweet'. "Perhaps not quite," he hastened to say, "But not nearly so outright obnoxious as they were a moment ago."
He looked up at he darkening sky and Alanya was reminded that it was very nearly night. There were so many lamps and lanterns about that the deepening twilight did not have any effect on the city. She was enjoying exploring the city; it was wholly unlike any human city she had ever been in. The term city was a misnomer as far as she was concerned. Their living spaces were so entwined with the natural world that there was really no separation. It was a harmony of being that Alanya felt she could loose herself in.
"I should probably get you back to your talan, I am certain you still require rest." Haldir said, breaking into her reverie of the city. He turned towards the path that led to the talan where she was staying.
"Hmmm...I would say you are right. I've still got to rest up from yesterday and this morning. Where should I meet you and when for our council with Lady Galadriel?"
"I will come to you," he replied. They negotiated the steps silently, stopping before her door. "Look for me in the early morning." He paused, and smiled faintly. "After I take the time to thoroughly trounce my wayward siblings, that is."
Alanya giggled in response. She was surprised to see him joke, as her first impression of him was seriousness but it appeared there was a streak of dry wit there that suited her. "Until tomorrow, then."
Haldir regarded her for a moment. "Yes, until tomorrow." And then he did something that shocked her completely. He leaned forward and kissed her, the lightest touch; such that she could barely be certain that it happened. He smiled one last time at her expression and turned, pacing down the steps towards his dwelling.
The startled mage stood there for a moment with her heart racing before turning to enter her talan. She closed the door behind her, and leaned on it, knees suddenly weak. "Oh dear," she said, fanning herself. "I think I'm in for it." Breathlessly she pushed away from the door and undressed, pulling her nightgown on and undoing her hair before rebraiding it for sleep. The bed was calling her, but it was sometime before thoughts of the march warden allowed her to slip into slumber. And this night, instead of dreams of terror she dreamt of a pair of strong arms surrounding her.
"I've been sent to bring you dinner, my lady."
Alanya's stomach twisted, reminding her it had been sometime since she had eaten last, as the morning she left she had only had a cup of tea. "That sounds excellent," she said, rising out of bed. She smoothed the few strands escaping the braid back, glad she hadn't undone it before bed or it would be in a right awful mess. "What is your name?" she asked the maiden.
"I am called Linwe, my lady."
"Please, just call me Alanya.
"As you wish, Alanya. I've been assigned to act as your attendant here in Lorien, if there is ever anything you need, you have only to tell me."
Alanya smiled as she sat down to the table, looking at the food in front of her with unbridled interest. "Oh, thank you so much Linwe. I'm not very used to being waited on, so I'm sure I won't be too difficult." She picked up a piece of fruit and begun to eat. "What do you do here in Lorien?"
"I am one of the handmaids of Lady Galadriel." Linwe replied. "I've been serving her ever since I was a small child." Linwe smiled, putting away the bundle of clothing she had brought. "I count myself fortunate that I am able to do so." Alanya sat eating while Linwe looked at her curiously. "The only talk is that you are from another world, this is passing strange to us."
Alanya shook her head. "If you think it's strange to you, its doubly strange to me. I expected to be returning home by now with a stack of books for my friend, not off where no one knows where I am." She stared moodily in the distance. "I don't know if they know I'm missing yet." She looked down, her appetite gone for the moment.
"I am sorry, my lady...be not troubled. I am certain that everything will turn out for the best."
Alanya smiled. "Ah, an optimist." She stood, brushing crumbs from her robes. She looked down at them and frowned. "You know, these needed cleaning before I left, and they're much worse now. Dare I hope some of that fabric you brought is clothing I might borrow?"
"Yes," Linwe nodded. "The Lady Galadriel has sent some dresses over to you, you and she being of the same build. Come, I am certain you would wish to bathe. I will take you to the bathing pools and then clean clothes." "Oh that would be a wonderful thing," Alanya sighed. She followed Linwe down the steps of the talan to the forest floor. This time she was able to take a closer look at everything around here, as Haldir had hurried her about. The tall trees reached nearly to the sky. The dim sunlight that filtered through dappled the ground with its light. "I've never seen anyplace so wonderful in my life," she said almost to herself.
"Lorien is reputed to be the most lovely of the Elvin realms in Arda." Linwe informed her. "Mirkwood was once untainted, but the shadow is always a threat there. I have heard though also that there is great beauty in Imladris, the house of Master Elrond the Wise. Many seek refuge there when they are in need. Lorien has few visitors, however. In years past travel between the realms has become perilous."
Alanya grew curious. Haldir had mentioned a name, Sauron. She wondered if he was the cause of the trouble. She thought of asking Linwe, but some inner caution stayed her from speaking. Instead she enquired on daily life in Lorien, to which Linwe talked on while Alanya thought. She was brought out of her muse by arriving at the bathing pools.
"Here we are, Lady Alanya," Linwe said, gesturing towards a set of rocky springs. Mist hung in the air from a small waterfall that emptied into the top pool. Alanya sighed in contentment and undressed, wading into the water. Dunking under the water, she swam into the center, letting the buoyant water float her about. She relaxed as the water floated her about, and she found she could almost forget that she was here on a matter of some urgency. Going underwater once more, she swam over to Linwe, who was standing at the edge. She reached for what she assumed was the soap, and Linwe chided her, reminding her that she was here to serve Alanya.
Alanya smiled and gave in with good grace, leaning back where Linwe gestured so she could allow the elf maid to unbraid and wash her hair. The maid's gentle fingers soothed Alanya into a half trance, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation.
"Thank you Linwe. I always love to have someone else wash my hair, but am typically such a solitary person I never have the chance."
"Well, if this is all you need me to do for you Lady Alanya, then my duties will be simple." Linwe said as she chuckled. "Now, if you stand, we can dry you off and head back to the talan to find you a dress out of the ones I've brought." Alanya nodded and stood, squeaking a bit at the cold water that Linwe rinsed her hair out with. Wrapping her hair up in a towel, Linwe held out a long soft robe for Alanya to wear back to the talan.
Once back at the talan Linwe pulled a dress from the wardrobe. "I think this will go very well with your unusual coloring." She turned towards Alanya, with a pale silvery gray dress. "Your hair is so strangely colored, but it is very lovely. It shimmers like the feather of a bird."
Alanya could only stare at the dress. "Thank you, but I'm sure that dress is far too nice for me," she protested. Silver threads shot through a shimmering gray silk. Long angel-winged sleeves trailed from the elbow in transparent gauze, reaching nearly to the floor. Silver leaves were embroidered about all the openings, and here and there emeralds sparkled to accent the leaves.
"Nonsense," Linwe chided. "If Galadriel has sent you these, she must mean for you to have them." Alanya said nothing, and in response to Linwe's gentle coaxing was dressed in one of the finest gowns she had ever seen. She had seen richer colors, but never nicer material, and certainly never seen better style in any of the king's courts she had had chance to be in over the years. She sat before a window on a low couch, while Linwe stood behind her and brushed her hair dry, and braided it into an elvish style.
"There, I believe I am done, possibly none to soon." Linwe said as a knock sounded at the door. Alanya began to rise and Linwe pushed her down. "No, that is my duty. You are still tired, I can tell."
Alanya smiled and did as she was bidden. "I know better then to argue," she said with a grin. When she saw who was on the other side of the door it was only through strong self-control that her mouth did not drop to the floor. She had thought Haldir pleasing to look at before, but in her assessment he cleaned up even better. He stood in the door in a pure white shirt, over which there was a tunic of the same silvery gray that Alanya wore. Deer suede leggings ended tucked into knee high boots laced tight to his muscular legs. A silver circlet confined his hair, which flowed in a graceful fall down his back.
He looked like royalty, and stood there with all the assured grace of someone who exercises power on a regular basis and is quite comfortable in that fact. He nodded at Linwe, who turned to inquire if Alanya needed anything else that night. Alanya could only shake her head in the negative as Haldir gave her the once over while she sat.
"I will see to any needs of the Lady Alanya tonight Linwe, you may go." Alanya couldn't help but feel a warm thrill rush through her at the thought. Ignoring that, she rose gracefully, smoothing down her skirt.
"If I did not know better I would say you are of elvin kin, my lady. Our dress suits you very well," he said. "I do not know how much Linwe explained about our people, but I would like to show you Caras Galadhon. It also occurs to me, that we know nothing of each other, and are yet somehow linked. I would know more of you, Lady Alanya." He offered her his arm. "Perhaps you will walk with me and we might discuss things."
She nodded, and was able to work past the stunned feelings to give him an affirmative in response. "Actually, I would like to stop by the stables before anything else, I really should have settled my mount in by myself. I'm sure your people are very good with animals, but still, Tam's an old friend and he and I have been through much together." Haldir's eyes warmed at that.
"We can certainly take care of that first. I find it refreshing to see a mortal who understand that value of treating their beasts well." He opened the door for her and they walked out into the cool evening air.
"There's no mystery there," Alanya replied as she tucked an errant hair of hers behind an ear. She secretly eyed Haldir's ears, thinking the upswept point very graceful-looking. Attractive, she thought. Aack. Get back on track, woman. "Before I was taken into a school for mages, I lived with my parents, who were innkeepers. All of us children worked in the inn as a way of getting to know the business. They found that I was good at working with the horses, although I was only five, I could keep them quiet. I was too little for any real work, but I would run and fetch for the stable lads."
Haldir looked at her, shocked. "You were taken from your parents?" She could see his opinion of her people plummet as he frowned.
"No, no! It's not what you think!" She hastened to reassure him. "It was just that it was obvious from the time I was seven that I had a very powerful mage gift. It wasn't safe for me to proceed without some instruction. If you don't learn how to use the mage gift, it can be unleashed in an uncontrollable fashion that can be fatal to all those around. Once it became apparent that I had the gift, they contacted a mage school, and the school sent someone to evaluate my gift. It was decided that my gift was strong enough that I would need a great deal of instruction, and so my parents decided that I should go away to school to be certain that I got all the teaching I needed." She paused as they hopped a small stream on the way, her sleeves drifting in the air as she landed.
"I took to the instruction like a duck takes to water," she continued as she paced besides Haldir. He was listening with great curiosity, and for the first time since she was here she felt she had his full attention. His gray eyes were fixed on hers steadily, causing her to blush as she continued, her cheeks glowing slightly pink. He smiled at her analogy, apparently amused at human terminology. "I grew up to have a strong talent, I'm rated as a First Class Adept. I work as a guardian in my country, being sure there are no dangers from magic."
"What dangers could there be from it?" He asked.
Alanya shivered, thinking about some of the mages she had tracked down. "Well, there's plenty." She thought for a minute about how to explain so he might understand. "You see, with magic you can bend the very nature of reality. Space and time, these are things that to a higher level mage such as myself have no meaning. I can change them to suit my will." She could see him beginning to frown and thought that he begun to grasp the problem.
"So someone could say, go back in time to alter events."
"Not quite," she said as she shook her head. "No one person has enough energy to do that. Err...well, at least not without some kind of powerful being augmenting your working, or performing it for you. What it means in practicality is that you can bend them to travel from place to place within your world, compressing a journey that might takes months into one step. You create a hole in space, and that hole links the gate portal and terminus, and transports you instantly from one place to the next in the blink of an eye." Haldir appeared shaken by the concept. "It's entirely safe, or, was supposed to be until I somehow was hijacked into this world."
"It seems an odd concept. I am not certain it is something I would wish to try." He replied.
Alanya smiled gently. "I don't know too many non mages who are comfortable with the concept. For that matter I know some mages who refuse it outright. Actually, my best friend is none too thrilled about it. He complains whenever I take him somewhere by gate." She sighed, concerned about what her friend was thinking about her absence. She knew that when she didn't arrive home in time, and it was found out that in fact she never arrived at her destination, he would be afraid something horrible had happened.
"What thought crossed your mind right now," Haldir asked after she had been silent for several moments.
"I just wish I could let my friends know there is nothing wrong with me." She chuckled a little. "I suppose this will be that vacation Korry has been trying to get me to take for some time now. The Gods have a sense of humor, I think." She shook her head, falling silent once more.
She was saved from having to make any conversation as they came across the stables. Unlike mortal stabling, there were no locked doors anywhere, merely a baffled building that the animals could shelter inside of in case of inclement weather. Alanya could see Tam grazing with other horses. She gave a sharp whistle, and the horse's head shot up. He whinnied and trotted over her, much to her pleasure. Several minutes spent scratching him on all those spots he couldn't reach himself and Alanya was assured that he was quite happy to be where he was.
"He seems content," Haldir noted, patting his own steed, which had wandered up at the same time, on the nose. He gave away no hints of emotion, but Alanya could see Haldir's pleasure at the attention of his mount.
"Haldir, would, uh, would you like to go riding sometime?" Alanya asked him, ruthlessly pushing down any embarrassment. "I try to get Tam out as often as I can, and I thought that you might like to exercise your mount as well." She noted his surprised face and this time did flush. Damn, I hope I didn't just make some social gaffe. "I'm sorry, if you're too busy I'll certainly understand." She stopped as Haldir cut her off.
"No, I'd be glad to when we have the time. Lady Galadriel wishes to speak with us on the morrow, but I will make time to show you the Forests of Lorien." He seemed surprised that she asked, but Alanya couldn't tell if he was pleased or not. "Come, let me show you more of the city so you are not so dependant on us to guide you."
Haldir showed her all the salient portions of the city, the kitchens, the baths, the training fields and armories. They were nearing his talan when they were beset upon by two slightly inebriated but very joyous elves.
"Haldir! My most favorite older brother, who is this lovely young elleth you have on your arm?" Alanya attempted to stifle her giggles as Haldir glared at the elf that had just spoken. His glare became sharper when the elf took her hand and bowed low over it.
"Yes Haldir, you have failed to introduce us to your latest conquest in the romantic field.! Please, we must know your name, liramaer." Alanya's eyebrows shot up at being addressed as Haldir's conquest. The second elf bowed also, stumbling slightly as he did so. Haldir let out an exasperated sigh.
"For starters, Rumil, I am your only older brother. And you Orophin, how is it you are back from the borders already. And," here he sniffed, "reeking of wine as well."
Orophin hiccupped before answering. "If you must know, El'wen is taking over for me, as I was taking over for you." He paused and appeared to be deep in thought. "Yes...yes that is as I meant it to come out."
Haldir drew himself up to his full height and stared at the two with a decidedly cool stare. "Since you two have so much spare time to indulge in wine, you can meet me for a dawn practice tomorrow, before the Lady Alanya and I are to speak to the Lady Galadriel." Alanya kept her face as cool as Haldir, but she could feel the corner of her mouth twitching when she saw the looks on the brother' faces.
"Yes Haldir," they echoed in unison, obviously long used to obedience to his ways. Alanya turned away to avoid laughing out loud and coughed, turning back only when she was certain she could control herself.
"As to the identity of our guest, Rumil, Orophin, this is the Lady Alanya Mystewalker, honored guest of the Lady Galadriel herself. I would expect you treat her with every courtesy. Lady Alanya, these are my younger brothers Rumil and Orophin. Notorious troublemakers, the both of them. Noble Ellons, I expect to see both of you at dawn tomorrow morning." Haldir swept away, Alanya regal on his arm. Once they were out of earshot Haldir's face did crack a smile. "Sometimes, there is satisfaction in being the older brother." His eyes sparkled and Alanya was entranced by the laughter she saw there.
"I admit to pulling similar stunts on some of the younger students when I was helping the professors," she confessed. "I was especially satisfied to assign them extra-messy tasks when they had booby-trapped my door, raining down red dye on me when I had opened it. I think it was worth it when I dispelled it immediately and began teaching the class as if nothing had happened. What really made it worth it though was the 20 page research paper on the application of magical processes to the dyeing industry." She laughed. "It involved long, boring research, something younger students hate."
Haldir nodded. "My brothers mean no insult, my lady. It is just that they are very exuberant."
"No, I took none. Really, I'm sure when they sober up they are perfectly sweet."
Haldir winced at the term 'sweet'. "Perhaps not quite," he hastened to say, "But not nearly so outright obnoxious as they were a moment ago."
He looked up at he darkening sky and Alanya was reminded that it was very nearly night. There were so many lamps and lanterns about that the deepening twilight did not have any effect on the city. She was enjoying exploring the city; it was wholly unlike any human city she had ever been in. The term city was a misnomer as far as she was concerned. Their living spaces were so entwined with the natural world that there was really no separation. It was a harmony of being that Alanya felt she could loose herself in.
"I should probably get you back to your talan, I am certain you still require rest." Haldir said, breaking into her reverie of the city. He turned towards the path that led to the talan where she was staying.
"Hmmm...I would say you are right. I've still got to rest up from yesterday and this morning. Where should I meet you and when for our council with Lady Galadriel?"
"I will come to you," he replied. They negotiated the steps silently, stopping before her door. "Look for me in the early morning." He paused, and smiled faintly. "After I take the time to thoroughly trounce my wayward siblings, that is."
Alanya giggled in response. She was surprised to see him joke, as her first impression of him was seriousness but it appeared there was a streak of dry wit there that suited her. "Until tomorrow, then."
Haldir regarded her for a moment. "Yes, until tomorrow." And then he did something that shocked her completely. He leaned forward and kissed her, the lightest touch; such that she could barely be certain that it happened. He smiled one last time at her expression and turned, pacing down the steps towards his dwelling.
The startled mage stood there for a moment with her heart racing before turning to enter her talan. She closed the door behind her, and leaned on it, knees suddenly weak. "Oh dear," she said, fanning herself. "I think I'm in for it." Breathlessly she pushed away from the door and undressed, pulling her nightgown on and undoing her hair before rebraiding it for sleep. The bed was calling her, but it was sometime before thoughts of the march warden allowed her to slip into slumber. And this night, instead of dreams of terror she dreamt of a pair of strong arms surrounding her.