Hunters' Moon

Chapter Nine:

Lanterns hung from the branches of the Mellryn, their glow like tiny stars in the fading light. A dais with chairs for Lord Celeborn, Lady Galadriel, their counsellors and guests sat at one end of the clearing, covered by a canopy of blue and silver. Another, with chairs for musicians and bards, sat nearby. Runners of the same hued fabric of the canopy lined the sides and other end of the field and upon them was placed a veritable feast of meats, fruit, nuts, sweets, and other bounties from the harvest. Garlands of ribbon interwoven with the beautiful night blooming Môrellothas (1) and fresh boughs of evergreen served as decoration and the fragrance of the blooms permeated the air. Barrels of the finest wine lay ready to be opened and many elves had already seated themselves around the makeshift tables, talking and laughing and singing.

Haldir and his brothers found a place with a good view and began conversation with those nearby. As the numbers swelled, anticipation grew. All waited for the entrance of their lord and lady, for that would signal the festival's start.

To the sounds of bells, flute, harp and pipes, Celeborn and Galadriel walked into the clearing hand in hand, the lady in white and her husband in silver, flowers in their hair and mithril circlets upon their brows. Behind them walked Lord Glorfindel of Imladris and another lord from the Grey Havens. Glorfindel wore a robe of blue dappled with yellow flowers, a circlet of gold upon his head. The other lord was in a gown the colour of the sea with shells and strands of pearl woven into his dark hair. Following, were the advisors of the lord and lady and the musicians and bards of Lothlórien and Imladris.

The lords and lady took their places on the centre dais and the entertainers settled on the other. A minstrel stood and played a short series of notes on his pipes. Lord Celeborn raised his hands to the sky and spoke.

"Tonight as narbaleth (2) passes into rhîw (3), we give our thanks to Ilúvatar (4) for our bountiful harvest and successful hunt, and to Yavanna (5), who has gifted us with all that is green and growing and necessary to our way of life. And we forget not those of our kin who have left Lothlórien and Middle-earth. We pay honour to them in song and story, for they will stay forever in our hearts, until we all meet again on the shores of the Undying Lands. But let us not be filled with sorrow at their passing, for they, tonight, will be part of our feasting and merriment. As midnight approaches, we shall lift our cups in toast to all that is past and all that is to come. Let the festivities now begin." (6)

The musicians began to play softly and plates were brought to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel and they both tasted of the harvest. That was the sign for all to fill their plates and their glasses with drink and many elves broke into happy song. Rúmil served a plate for Haldir and placed it in his hand. His brother was staring mournfully at Lindir, who sat on the dais with the other minstrels. Lindir was clothed all in shades of green and his hair fell unbound over his shoulders and down his back. He never once looked in Haldir's direction, instead kept company with those elves from Imladris, ignoring everyone else, except those with whom he played.

The middle of the field was kept clear as later that night the elves would dance upon its green carpet. While the elders ate and talked, the children played games and tag in the large area, and their high pitched voices and merry laughter brought a smile to many an eye.

When all had eaten their fill, or at least the first course, an elf shooed the children back to their seats and told a story of his parents, who had sailed this year to Aman. After he had finished, an elleth sang of her brother, who had fallen at the border defending Lothlórien from enemies without. Others came forward and told or sung similar tales. Their stories were not sad, but a loving recitation of the happier moments they had shared with their relatives and friends.

Later, as darkness fell, Lindir came forward and in a sweet voice sang of those of his home, while his fingers plucked his harp in accompaniment. Haldir and many others were entranced by the loveliness of his song, for Lindir had a voice that could rival the birds. He left the field to much applause when his performance was over.

At midnight, Celeborn and Galadriel toasted the end of narbeleth and welcomed the coming of rhîw. Blessings and good wishes were expressed for those who had left Middle-earth and all elves as one lifted their cups and drank. Lord Celeborn led Lady Galadriel to the centre of the field and they clasped hands and danced under the hunters' moon.

Slowly, other couples joined them. Haldir saw Tilliel dance with a scribe who worked in the library and could not help but glance Lindir's way to see if the minstrel noticed. But Lindir looked only to his harp. The musicians would rotate throughout the night, so they could enjoy the dance and partake of the food and drink. Haldir would have to wait until then to try and approach him.

Rúmil stood and walked to where Claurech was sitting with his family and Orophin's eyes narrowed. But when Claurech came to join them, Orophin gave Rúmil a grateful smile. Claurech apologized to Haldir and when Rúmil rose to find a partner, took up conversation with Orophin. Orophin hoped when he had drunk a bit more wine, he would find enough nerve to ask Claurech to dance.

As more wine was consumed by the elves, the dancing grew merrier and more couples took to the grassy floor. Rúmil chose many different partners and Orophin finally offered his hand to Claurech, who nodded in acceptance. Haldir smiled as he saw that they did not immediately sit down after the music stopped but waited for the next piece to be played. Orophin and Claurech danced for a long while before returning breathlessly to their seats.

As expected, many asked Haldir about his eye and he told only that he had been injured in a fight. He suspected most knew the details already. He also received many offers to dance and sighs of disappointment when he shook his head. Every so often, he would glance at Lord Glorfindel who sometimes returned his look with a glare. But that was not often, for the elf-lord was quite popular as a dance partner due to his stately bearing and handsome face.

A time came when Lindir stepped from the dais to take his break. He was handed a glass of wine and stood alone sipping it slowly. He also refused the offers of those who asked him to dance. Haldir slipped from among the elves with whom he sat and with a confidence that he did not feel, walked over to Lindir's side.

"I would ask for a word with you, Lindir." Haldir held his breath and waited to see if Lindir would agree to speak with him.

"So you have heard what happened, marchwarden, and have come to apologize for your guardians. Did the lord and lady place this task upon you or do you consider it your duty as leader of your men?" Lindir's voice was cool and it stung Haldir with its sharp tone.

"I have come to tell you that I started that which led to the embarrassing moment in the glade. It is I who spied upon you before any one else." Haldir's voice trembled slightly as he spoke, but before he could continue, Lindir stopped him.

"You need not explain anything to me. The incident is in the past and I do not care to dwell on it. In a few more days, I will return to Imladris and forget my rude treatment here. Now, if you will excuse me, I wish to refill my glass."

Haldir placed a hand on Lindir's arm. "Please, do not leave. I meant you no harm Lindir, if you would listen to what I have to say, you would understand that."

"If you had a part to play, Captain Haldir, it would seem you were punished for your deed already. I assume that Lastad paid you back for the shame you caused his sister." Lindir's voice was still cold and he made as if to leave once more.

"It was I who gave Haldir the black eye, Lindir, not Lastad. Haldir more than deserved it. Never say that Imladris does not protect its own. I only wished I had arrived a few days earlier." Lord Glorfindel had come up behind them both while Lindir was speaking.

To the astonishment of both Glorfindel and Haldir, Lindir turned on the tall warrior in anger.

"And who appointed you as my protector? Do you think me so weak and naïve that I cannot look out for myself! Captain Haldir says he started the incident, but you, Lord Glorfindel, seek to make me look worse, treating me as a child who cannot fight his own battles! I would ask both of you to leave me alone." Lindir stalked away angrily wishing he were anywhere else but in Lothlórien.

Haldir sighed as he watched Lindir leave then turned to Lord Glorfindel. "I deserve this black eye for the hurt I caused Lindir, but I did not do so out of a misguided sense of fun. Lindir has tormented me since first I saw him in Imladris. I do not wish just to bed him, Lord Glorfindel, I have fallen in love with him."

"You may slay the skin from my bones, but I will not heed your warning. Lindir deserves to hear those words from my own lips and I will keep chasing after him until he gives me the opportunity to do so. I followed Lindir and spied on him not to humiliate him, but because my heart could not stand being separated from him for a moment, even though he sought the arms of another. He has bewitched me so that I cannot eat or sleep without seeing his face before me. If he rejects me, at least I will know it is not because I did not try."

Glorfindel's blue eyes lost the anger in their depths and he placed a hand on Haldir's shoulders. "Lindir is right. If I had not threatened you in Imladris, maybe none of this would have happened. I owe you an apology, Haldir. Lord Celeborn told me I was an interfering fool and I did not listen. Instead I barged in where I had no business. If you can find it in your heart to forgive an old warrior, then I beg you to do so."

Haldir laughed. "I wished to strangle Tilliel many times these past few days, and if she was not an elleth, I might have done so. Come, let us drink a glass of wine and commiserate. It seems we are both on Lindir's bad side tonight."

Glorfindel laughed also and put his arm around Haldir. "We are not so different, you and I. Apparently, we have much to learn about our friend. Perhaps, it will take more than a few glasses of wine to soften the sting of Lindir's words."

The two walked off together heading toward the wine barrels, seeking also to fill their cups. It was to be the start of a long friendship between the arrogant captain and the stubborn balrog slayer. But that is not the tale that is to be told here.

Under the hunters' moon, many things can happen, and this night was far from over.

To be continued

Sindarin words and phrases used in this chapter

1. Môrellothas – collection of dark flowers, a field of dark flowers. Variations: môrellyth – a bouquet or vase of dark flowers. Sindarin translation by Orchyd Constyne.

2. narbeleth - the name for the season of late autumn, 54 days lying between modern 8 October and 30 November. From the Elven Kingdom Website.

3. rhîw - the name for winter; 72 days between modern 1 December and 10 February. From the Elven Kingdom Website.

4. Ilúvatar - the name among Elves of Eru the One, from whom the Ainur had their being. Through the Music of the Ainur, Ilúvatar created the World and the beings who inhabit it, and only he fully knows its fate. Encyclopedia of Arda.

5. Yavanna - called the 'Giver of Fruits', Yavanna was the Vala whose province was all growing things upon the earth. . Encyclopedia of Arda.

6. Thanks to Vesta and Soledad for their help directly and indirectly with the paragraph on the narbeleth festival.