Hunters' Moon

Chapter Ten

When Haldir returned to his seat, Rúmil was there, but Orophin and Claurech were nowhere to be seen. "Haldir looked questioningly at Rúmil. "Where is Orophin?"

Rúmil grinned. "Orophin told Claurech he deserved to be punished for spying therefore they went to find a secluded place."

"Oh?" Haldir raised his eyebrows. "Orophin's idea of punishment is different than mine."

"Punishing kisses is more like it," Rúmil said with a laugh. "Claurech did not mind the few that Orophin stole while they were dancing."

Haldir laughed also. "And what of you, Rúmil, has anyone caught your interest tonight?"

"Many, dear brother, but I am not in such a hurry to pair myself as are you and Orophin."

Haldir smiled sadly. "The way I see it, Rúmil, Orophin is the only one of us who has paired."

"If I talked to Lindir, do you think it would help? I owe him an apology, even if he did not see me in the tree." Rúmil cocked his head at Haldir.

"No, Rúmil, leave him alone. That is what he wants, to forget what happened here and return to Imladris." Haldir sighed.

"I have never known you to give up pursuit so easily. If it is truly Lindir that you want, why do you just sit here? Why do you not speak with him, tell him how you feel?" Rúmil hated to see his brother looking so dejected.

"I have tried, Rúmil. He does not wish to speak with me. If you have noticed, Lindir is miserable. This should be a night of celebration. Lindir has not danced, nor looked at any elf here. He spends time only with Garilon, that minstrel from Imladris, his friend. When he plays, he looks only at the strings of his harp. Not once have I seen him smile. I am the cause of his unhappiness. I will trouble him no more."

Rúmil shook his head. "There is no point in both of you being unhappy. Dance, Haldir, if not with Lindir, then with another, do not waste this night in sorrow."

"Yes, Haldir, come and dance." Glorfindel, who had wandered over their way, grasped Haldir's arm and pulled him to his feet, dragging him toward the grassy clearing, giving a cheeky smile to Rúmil.

Haldir tried to protest, but Glorfindel would have none of it. He whirled Haldir into the midst of the other dancers and spun him around. "A smile, if you please, I do not wish my partner to be melancholy."

Haldir frowned, but then gave in and laughed. The two made quite a handsome pair and those couples dancing smiled to see the marchwarden finally enjoying himself.

Lindir, who had gone back to playing, and who had secretly been watching Haldir, suddenly missed a note on his harp. He bit his lip at his mistake, but not before he heard a tittering from Garilon. "Shall we play a slow tune next?" Garilon teased. Lindir glared at his friend and turned his eyes back to his harp. But he could not concentrate on his playing. As long as Haldir had kept to himself, Lindir had been content to wallow in his misery. It had been easy to pretend that Haldir cared about what happened and was truly sorry. Lindir was honest with himself. He realized that he had not given Haldir a chance to fully explain his actions, as he did not wish to hear the marchwarden admit that he had started the joke at Lindir's expense. He had been foolish enough to think a warrior like Haldir might find him attractive and now that he knew better, it hurt. And what made it even worse, Glorfindel was now interested in the elf that Lindir wanted. He might as well admit defeat right here and now.

Garilon had become tired of Lindir's self-pity and was determined to at least see Lindir enjoy himself before the night was through. He put down his pipes and without saying a word, stepped from the dais. Lindir stared at him, but could not stop playing to inquire where his friend was going without disrupting the music. He could not believe that Garilon had just walked off.

Garilon was set on finding Rúmil and speaking with him about Lindir and Haldir when another elf touched his shoulder and pulled him aside. After a brief conversation, Galiron returned to the dais, a smile upon his face. Lindir, who did not see who had waylaid his friend, wondered again where he had gone and why he had returned so quickly. During their next break, he found out.

"The lady wishes you to play for her, Lindir, a song of Yavanna." Garilon hummed the tune. "Do you know it? It is an old song."

"I know the melody, Garilon, but I do not know the words. Is she to sing?" Lindir asked.

"No, you will accompany another. See, she is leading him to the dais now."

"Haldir! I am to accompany Haldir!" Lindir groaned, this could not be happening. But he could not refuse the Lady Galadriel, and so with a smile that he did not feel, Lindir sat next to Haldir at the lady's feet and began to pluck the introduction to the song on his harp.

Haldir had a surprisingly beautiful voice, deep and resonant, as he sang the words of the song in the old tongue. The lady smiled and the elves gathered in the clearing to listen. Lindir forgot his qualms and was soon into the music himself, enjoying it for what it was, a fitting tribute to the Vala that the Silvan elves so loved.

The song was long, with many verses, and when it was finally over, there was a reverential silence. Then Lord Celeborn stepped forward and bade the celebration continue. Galadriel took Lindir and Haldir aside and thanked them for performing on such short notice. Then she smiled at Lord Celeborn and he took her hand and led her to dance, motioning for Haldir and Lindir to join them. When Haldir took Lindir's hand, Galadriel gave Celeborn a secret smile.

Garilon, waiting for just that moment, led the minstrels in a slow, romantic tune that brought wistful smiles to the lips of many elves. He smiled to himself. If the lady wished for Haldir and Lindir to come together, then all was well, and he put his heart into the music, glad for his friend.

Haldir said not a word to Lindir, just led him to the clearing and held him in his arms, drinking in the sight of the elf that he longed for. Lindir was silent at first then spoke. "I am sorry, Haldir, for my rudeness earlier. I accept your apology."

Haldir smiled. "I am glad, Lindir, for I did not wish you to leave with bad feelings between us. But you did not let me explain fully what caused my guardians to act the way they did."

"It matters not, Haldir, let us put the matter aside." Lindir said with a sigh. "I was a fool, playing a foolish game."

"No, Lindir, I am the fool. I am the one who did not realize what could have been until it was flaunted before my eyes."

Lindir looked at Haldir in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean, Lindir, what I have been trying all night to tell you, is that it was I who followed you and Tilliel all over Lórien, climbing trees and spying upon you, making a total fool of myself."

Lindir frowned and opened his mouth to speak, but Haldir stopped him, placing a finger upon his lips. "You captured my heart, Lindir, back in Imladris, and but for a balrog slayer, I would have declared my love for you then. Glorfindel, knowing my reputation, warned me off, as he thought I only wished to take you to my bed. And I, unused to these new feelings inside, used that as an excuse to stay away."

"Lord Elrond asked me to escort you to Lothlórien and again, I was a fool. Every time I looked at you, my heart was in my throat, but I suddenly did not know how to tell you of my feelings. My body reacted to your every look and I spent my time trying to hide its secret from you. I was miserable."

"Then when we reached Lothlórien, matters became worse. I had doubts. I wanted to tell you how much you meant to me, but I was scared that you would reject me. So, I avoided you, avoided the problem. Until the day I happened upon you and Tilliel. Never have I been so jealous of another elf in my life. So jealous, that I climbed trees and tortured myself seeing you with her, watched as she kissed lips that I wanted all for myself. My brothers, who at first thought it funny to see me so tortured, soon tried their best to help. I am sorry; Lindir, but Rúmil and Orophin paid those elves to interrupt your tryst with Tilliel. As to the rest…"

Lindir had been listening to Haldir in amazement, not believing the words that the elf was saying. Haldir loved him? Haldir, the elf he so admired and respected; the elf that Lindir had wanted all along instead of Tilliel? Haldir loved him…Lindir! By the Valar, Haldir had made just as big a fool of himself, if not more, than Lindir had, and all on account of him!

And Haldir was looking at him now with worried eyes, thinking perhaps he had once again played the fool. Lindir began to laugh at the absurdity of it all. He laughed until he could not breathe, wanting to tell Haldir that he loved him also, but not able to do so. Poor Haldir, he just looked at Lindir with a sad face, made all the more pitiful by his black and bruised eye.

With tears of laughter rolling down his cheeks, Lindir finally managed to control himself long enough to let Haldir know he felt the same. "You are a foolish elf, Haldir, we both are, all the more reason why I love you!"

To be continued