Chapter 9
Candlelight flickered softly, dancing gently across the room as he watched her enter hesitantly. She quickly shut the door behind her, her eyes on the floor. He watched as his human daughter looked around the room, her eyes darting to each person's face, until they lit on him. He smiled reassuringly to her, willing her to be unafraid.
As his daughter walked to him, he heard a collective breath from his guests, as well as his sons: the girl wore one of Arwen's dresses, a green one that fitted her flawlessly. He smiled as he thought of the other dresses Elenia would have; the smile turned inward as he looked at his daughter's appearance objectively. She was beautiful, with her braided hair like fire and dark eyes. He wondered if her hair was something common among humans.
He had smiled to her, his gaze soft and comforting. She had noticed the other Elves as soon as she has come in; how could she not? They were as fair as her family was dark; quite the contrast between them. She had never seen so many beautiful people in her entire life, let alone in one room.
Taking shy, quick steps, Elenia walked to Elrond's side. Taking her hands in his own, Elrond whispered in her ear:
"You look beautiful, my child; Sílanor chose well."
Smiling nervously, she allowed him to brush her hands with his lips, then turn her toward his sons.
"Come, iynnen, and greet your sister."
Gracefully the dark-haired Elves bowed to her. At the last second, Elladan looked up at her, his eyebrow arched and a small smile playing upon his lips.
"Have you recovered enough from our last meeting, pen-velui? Will you behave?"
An adorable flush covered her face as she said quickly:
"Yes, of course," she turned to Elrohir, saying in a low voice, "I really am sorry; you startled me, that's all."
The frown on his face slipped slightly at her apology. Bowing stiffly to her, he answered:
"As long as I am still able to draw a bow, sister, you have my forgiveness."
Elladan elbowed him in the ribs, then spoke in an overly loud voice in Elenia's ear, taking her hand in his:
"Yes, as long as he is still able to match against the beautiful Haldith!"
Chuckling at Elrohir's furious expression, Elrond spoke to his younger son:
"Iônnen, call to Luinmir for food and wine."
/What on earth do they put in this stuff?/ she wondered, reaching for another roll, /I guess hunger seasons everything./
Ignoring the tight band around her heart, Elenia filled her plate twice with food, to the amusement of her family and the guests. She listened quietly to their talk, in Elvish and English.
Panic seized her as she realized she didn't even know what language she was speaking. After all, they could hardly call it English if there wasn't an England or US of A.
"Elladan," she whispered to her left, leaning in close to speak quietly, "What language are you speaking? The one I can understand?"
He looked puzzled, then answered with a slight shrug of the shoulders, "The Common Tongue, sister: Westron. Why do you ask?"
She shook her head, a curl tumbling over her shoulder as she replied:
"Just curious, that's all. Don't mind me."
With that, she resumed eating, leaving Elladan with a confused expression in his eyes, both at her sudden request, and the beauty of that soft curl.
Conversation was stilted, but as the night progressed, and the wine passed, with Elenia declining each round as she stood with her father, talk flowed easily amongst the blond Elves and the twins. Her stomach took to dancing whenever one her father's guests turned their eyes to her, then just as quickly changed direction, as if they were sizing her up. Unconsciously, she squared her shoulders and set her jaw.
To the amusement of the only other female and the approval of the males, a determined spark of fire made her eyes glitter in the candle light, their color deepening to an exquisite emerald.
"Ada, would you escort me to your guests?" she asked, placing her arm on his.
He nodded to her with approval, tucking her hand in the crook of his arm as he led over to the group of young Elves. He spoke in a quiet voice:
"You realize, pen-dithen, you were already introduced to them before dinner."
Embarrassment flushing her cheeks, she giggled nervously.
"Of course, Ada, it's just that I was so nervous I forgot their names."
Elrond chuckled.
"Were, pen-dithen? How do I know you will not forget their names a second time?" he teased her gently, enjoying her presence.
"Ada!" she hissed desperately, "Just do it, please?"
"Very well, iellen," he answered in a low voice, then continued in his normal tone, "Lady Haldith, my daughter would have your company on the balcony. She has many questions concerning the Golden Wood."
The lady in question broke from laughing with her blond companions and Elenia's brothers, arched a delicate eyebrow, and said:
"As you wish, my Lord."
Elenia watched, with a little bit of envy, as the female Elf rose gracefully from her cross-legged position and walked to them.
"The one in blue is Prince Legolas of Mirkwood Forest," he whispered to her, "And the one beside him in green is his friend, young Isénduil."
Elenia nodded, taking note of the two handsome Elves, even as she kept her eyes fixed on the female coming toward them.
Sensing the human's distress and determination, Haldith paused in front of her, extending an elegant arm in a gesture of courtesy:
"Will you accept my company, hirilen, as poor as it may be?"
Elenia looked at the perfectly formed hand, then at its owner. She felt the band around her chest slacken just the smallest fraction as she realized she was being gently teased. A smile formed on her lips as she grasped the hand and said:
"If my brothers' laughter is anything to go by, your adventures are quite amusing therefore worth enduring your poor company."
Haldith laughed, nearly doubling over Elenia's hand, wiping tears from her eyes as she led her to the balcony.
The younger Elves looked on in confusion at Haldith's outburst, having paid their attention to Isénduil's story. Elrond merely shook his head and sat in his chair, watching over his sons and their friends, keeping an eye on the south terrace.
"You look well, hirilen. The air of Rivendell has brought life to your eyes," remarked Haldith, perfectly serious as she walked with Elenia.
The human girl looked at her, a mixture of surprise, relief, and confusion in her eyes.
"You know me? Where I was found?"
"Yes, hirilen."
Haldith looked on, amused, as the girl grew irritated at her choice of words.
"Please don't call me that," said Elenia, brushing back a strand of hair from her face, "I'm not a lady: I never was, and I never will be. My name is Br-Elenia."
"Of course, Lady Elenia; as you say."
The human made a small noise in the back of her throat, turning her body from the night sky to glare at Haldith. Opening her mouth to retort, Elenia snapped it shut as she looked carefully at the Elf.
"You're mocking me."
It was not a question, her voice neutral and her eyes bewildered.
"Nay, lady," laughed Haldith, resting her arms upon the railing, "Merely teasing you."
She watched, amusement sparkling in her eyes, as the girl grew even more confused. Just as suddenly, the girl's face flushed horribly, cheeks stained red, and her voice grew tight with emotion:
"I don't like being made fun of. Don't do it again. Please."
Surprised, the Elf looked closer at the human girl, using the skill taught to her by her brother. Delving beneath the girl's embarrassment, she saw a tightly restrained anger; having seen such buried resentment before, she wondered what had hurt this child so terribly. In a calm voice, Haldith replied:
"I refer to you as lady as a mark of respect to Lord Elrond. I do not understand the reason for your anger."
Elenia shook her head, as if to rid herself of dark thoughts, and looked again at the beautiful Elf before her.
"I..I think I should go inside. It's a little cold out here, and it's making me irritable."
/Why does she hide the truth of her feelings?/ wondered Haldith, watching the pretty human girl walk away from the balcony, then observed carefully /Her memories bring such trouble to her eyes/
The girl halted suddenly at the terrace door, turning around and asking quietly:
"Are you coming?"
"Yes, in a while; I would like to see the stars before my rest."
"All right," murmured the girl, turning her eyes again to the door, and left Haldith standing alone at the railing, wondering /Are all humans so at odds with their emotions?/
He had seen her return alone from the terrace, and had wondered where the Lórien Elf was; it did not sit well in his heart that she returned unaccompanied: she had so obviously been determined to become acquainted with Haldith. Turning back to the fire, he marveled at the similarities between the flames and Elenia's hair; Legolas laughed suddenly at a tale Elrohir spoke of, and Isénduil mentioned wryly of a time when an elleth had once desired to "fletch the arrows" of both himself and his brother Thraldor at the same time, speaking of the benefits she had learned while staying with the brothers of Imladris.
Turning his mind from the Elves gathered by the fire, he wrapped himself in solitude, his thoughts quiet and long.
Another had seen her return from the balcony, as well as noting her crimson cheeks and hurried footsteps. He waited as she walked to his side and knelt beside his chair, her lips placing a kiss on his hand before her head rested upon it. Bringing his own head to her level, he asked quietly:
"Are you well, pen-dithen? Why is it you return alone?"
His daughter sighed, her breath blowing warm upon his skin, and answered:
"It was cold outside; I wanted to come in and get warm. Actually," she said, raising her head and lowering her voice, careful to keep her eyes downcast, "I'm a little tired and should probably get some sleep."
/What troubles you now, iell o guren?/ he thought, but answered, "If you wish it, my child; would it be reasonable to expect you at breakfast tomorrow?"
"I-I'm an early riser. Usually at the crack of dawn, as a matter of fact; I'll just get directions to the kitchen from Sílanor."
Raising an eyebrow, he merely nodded in response. As she stood, however, she bent down again, leaning in close to his ear, whispering:
"Will you come later?"
Her eyes held a silent plea, unconscious he knew it to be, and firmly thought their expression was her best feature. He nodded, and, giving him a breathy smile, she skirted quickly past the great oak door.
"Ada?"
He turned at the sound of his son's voice, and was surprised to see the worry apparent in Elladan's somber eyes.
"Man gen presta iôn nîn?"
"Preston am muinthel. Se maer?"
"She spoke of feeling fatigued and desired to go to her room to rest; what of you, Elladan?"
His son shook his head, braids rustling among the dark strands of his hair.
"Im maer, Ada. Do not worry yourself with me, I am merely concerned, that is all; she is my sister, I would not wish her to be uncomfortable in her home."
His father nodded, and Elladan turned to take his seat once more by the fire, only to discover that Haldith had tiptoed passed him while he faced away from her, to his chair, and was now lounging quite elegantly in it, telling a tale that had Isénduil and Elrohir laughing boisterously.
Smiling to himself at his son's expression, Elrond sipped from his glass of wine, and rose to meet his promised appointment.
Soundlessly, the Lord of Rivendell glided through his house, passing the beautiful views from open windows without a glance. Reaching the door of his newest daughter's room, he listened for a sign of Elenia's state of mind, and, hearing no sounds of weeping or distressed cries, he opened the door and stepped inside.
Expecting to see her in bed and sound asleep, he did not anticipate seeing her pacing the length of her room, her bare feet making no sound on the ground. She had not heard his quiet entry, and as such he found himself a rare opportunity to study her objectively.
She had changed from her green evening dress to a light blue night dress, its color making her hair all the more startling, and seeming to soften her light skin. She did not have the beauty of the Elves, but he believed for a human, she was quite pretty in her own right; Elvish clothing, however, brought her best features to light, as that evening's dress had already done.
He loved this daughter; though he did not know why the Valar had graced him with her trust, he knew it for the gift it was. When she finally turned in his direction, she jumped, having not noticed him, and winced as vibrations ricocheted along her body, tingling her painful nerves around her wounds.
He came toward her, taking her hands in his and sitting her down upon the bed. Gently pulling up her gown, he clinically looked at her bandages, detaching the fact that she was a desirable woman from his mind. Satisfied with his assessment, he replaced her dress, and sat down beside her. She blew a strand of hair from her face, her foot tapping a fast beat, until finally she yanked the strand of hair behind her ear and stood up, ignoring the pain stabbing at her gut from the sudden movement.
She began to pace, her bare feet making light, smacking sounds against the stone as she spoke:
"Ada, I'm so confused. I'm comfortable with you, Elladan and Elrohir, and Sílanor, of all people, but not around the others. Haldith, I think that's her name," she took a breath and forcibly sat beside him, "I just don't get her. I don't understand her, like I'm sure everyone else does, and when she tried to joke with me, like Elladan did, I nearly lost it with her. I'm so mixed up, I don't know which way's up or down."
With a sigh, Elrond put an arm around her and she, in turn, laid her head on his shoulder; together they sat in silence, Elrond thinking what to say, and Elenia drinking in the calmness of her Ada's presence. Whenever she was with him, her troubles would go away, with only her and Elrond remaining.
His words carrying on the breeze brushing past the trees outside, at last, he spoke:
"You have given me your trust, as well as to Elladan and Elrohir. That is why your anger came when Haldith teased you, yet did not with Elladan," he said, his voice quiet and gentle, "I believe you acted so strongly to Haldith because no matter that I trust them: you do not."
She sighed again, shifting her hair across her back, and asked:
"How do you always seem to know the right thing to say? Exactly when to say it?"
He smiled and chuckled slightly, his eyes glinting:
"It is because I have lived so long, pen-dithen; is it not said in the world of Men that the wise speak only of what they know?"
She snorted into his shoulder at this, and turned her gaze to his; her mocking eyes matched his own calm grey as she spoke, her voice derisive in a way he didn't quite comprehend:
"The men in my world think only to act on what they don't know, and ask questions later. They're philosophers and war-mongers, neither thinking of the consequences of their actions nor caring for the lives of others. I don't care what kind of mask they put on: deep down inside, men are weak."
His expression was thoughtful, and an ironic smile quirked at the corners of his mouth: it was not so long ago that he himself had spoken those same words, and later proven wrong.
A.N.:
Quote: "The wise speak only of what they know" is NOT mine; this pearl of wisdom belongs entirely to JRR Tolkien, a man whose words I live by.
NOTE: The ideas expressed by Briana/Elenia are not meant to offend anybody: honestly, considering the life she's shown me, do you seriously believe she'd have a good opinion of Men?
A.N. II:
Translation:
Iynnen my sons
Pen-velui lovely one
Iônnen my son
Luinmir meaning "blue jewel"
Pen-dithen little one
Iellen my daughter
Hirilen my lady
Ada Father
Pen-dithen Little one
Iell o guren Daughter of my heart
Man gen presta iôn nîn? What troubles you, my son?
Preston am muinthel: se maer? I am concerned for my sister: does she fare well?
Im maer, Ada I am well, Father