The musicians were already playing by the time the three elleths reached the forest floor, and Laurel could hear the sweet sounds of lute and harp above the excited chattering of her companions. Lanterns hung everywhere, casting their golden glow on the path that led to a large clearing between the trees. Long tables, covered with food, wine, and flowers were placed in the center, and everywhere she looked elves gathered, either standing or sitting on the soft grass, eating, drinking, and laughing merrily.
There were far more elves in Caras Galadhon than in Imladris, she realized, falling back behind Merelind as they drew closer. There were at least twice as many, if not half again more than that. She fell further behind, feeling a bit overwhelmed at the sight of so many, especially when they were finally noticed.
Merelind had warned her that being new, she would be of great interest, as Lórien elves were every bit as curious as their Imladris counterparts, though they tended to be less trusting of strangers initially. Because she had arrived in such illustrious company, however, there was no suspicion in the eyes that met hers. Only open curiosity. Having so many pairs of eyes watching her made her terribly self-conscious, and she was seized by the urge to simply turn tail and flee back to her talan.
Unfortunately, that wasn't an option as at that precise moment, Elladan and Elrohir appeared, as if by magic, at either side of her.
"Come and greet Iaurnana," Elrohir said, taking her hand and placing it on the crook of his arm, his twin doing the same with the other. "She wishes to speak with you."
Laurel looked at both of them mistrustfully, waiting for the teasing comments to begin. Surprisingly, neither looked the least bit mischievous. As if sensing her train of thought, Elladan gave her a rueful smile.
"Arwen told us to look after you, at least until you are more comfortable. And we are to apologize for our earlier behavior."
Elrohir nodded, his lips twisting into a wry grin. "Aye. Though it was fun at the time, perhaps we carried the joke a bit far. It was not fair of us to tease you thus in front of the others."
"Will you forgive us?" Elladan asked with a disturbingly charming smile.
Laurel's body gave a responding lurch, but she ignored its hormone-induced pleas. "I suppose," she said finally, laughing at their delighted grins. "That doesn't mean I'll forgive you next time."
"Of course not," Elrohir replied. "But I hope that does mean you will save us a dance."
The Lady of Lothlórien looked surprisingly young and girlish, sitting on the grass with her bare feet peeping out beneath her dress. When Laurel had initially met her, she was every inch the Lady of her realm, tall, powerful, and somewhat intimidating. Seeing her sitting on the grass with her hair unbound, her eyes sparkling with happiness and welcome, Galadriel seemed much like any other elleth she had met.
Laurel obligingly sat next to her at Galadriel's invitation, and hid her own bare feet beneath the edges of her dress.
"I am glad to see you attend our celebration, Laurel," Galadriel said kindly. "I hope you will enjoy our hospitality?"
"Thank you," Laurel replied, smiling as the twins loped off like young gazelles in search of food. "I'm sure I will." She felt Galadriel's gaze on her and shifted nervously, feeling as if suddenly her entire life was being laid bare before her.
Galadriel gave her a faint smile. "Elrond has told me about you," she said simply.
"Oh?" Laurel relaxed slightly, relieved that Galadriel knew and did not seem to censure her for it. "Well, that's good then."
"Celeborn knows as well, of course, for it is right that he should; there are no secrets kept between us," the lady continued, her smile warming at the mention of her husband. "You will find him most curious about your life before you came here, I will warn you. He can be quite single minded in his pursuit of knowledge." She laughed softly.
Laurel nodded faintly. "Lord Erestor mentioned that Lord Celeborn might be willing to continue my education, if I asked him."
Galadriel inclined her head gracefully, her hair sliding across her shoulders with the movement. "You will have to put the question to him yourself, Laurel, but I imagine he will be glad to do it. He enjoys teaching others very much, especially if they share his thirst for learning."
"I don't know about thirsting for it," Laurel said, shifting slightly so her feet now appeared from beneath her dress. "But I really enjoy it. It helps me to fit in with the others better." She studied her toes, curling them in the grass, not minding the silence that fell between them.
"Elrond is worried for you," Galadriel said finally, and Laurel looked up in surprise.
"Worried? Why is he worried?"
Galadriel raised an arm and gracefully gestured to the scene laid out before them. "You have learned much over the short time you have been among us, yet he sees that you are still alone; you have not opened your heart to others."
Laurel looked at her in disbelief. "He's worried about my love life?"
The lady laughed, shaking her head. "No, Laurel. It is not that. It is that while you have learned and adjusted to your new life, you do not fully embrace it. You act as though you are merely playing the part expected of you. There is little happiness for you in such a role, Laurel." Her smile faded and she regarded Laurel seriously. "You must embrace your new life and live it fully. Open your heart to others; they are waiting for you to let them in. It is not physical love that I speak of, but of trust and friendship. The other may come later, if you so desire, but do not hold those who care for you at arms length." Galadriel surprised her by reaching out and touching her face, smiling gently. "Do not squander the gift you have been given by being alone, locked within yourself. Such a lonely existence would bring you no peace, no happiness."
"I – I suppose I never really looked at it that way," Laurel said softly. Her hands folded the material of her dress, twisting it slightly. "Maybe you're right." Her confession earned her a dimpled smile from Galadriel. "Well, you have been around a bit longer than me, I suppose that gives you some insight."
Galadriel laughed softly. "Indeed."
Laurel sighed. "I guess I'm just afraid. I have accepted that I'm here, that this is my life now. But it's hard, you know?" She looked up at Galadriel, searching for understanding on the wise lady's face. "I'm not like you. I'm not like the others. I'm afraid that if I let someone in, they won't accept me for who I am."
"Elrond has accepted you," Galadriel reminded her gently. "As have Erestor and Glorfindel."
"That's because they know the truth," Laurel said, sighing again.
"So do Arwen, Elladan and Elrohir," Galadriel said quietly.
Laurel's head shot up in surprise. "What?"
Galadriel nodded. "They know. There are no secrets within our family, Laurel. Their father told them the truth shortly after your arrival." A knowing smile curved her lips. "You did not know this? Tell me, have they treated you any differently?"
"No," Laurel whispered, shaking her head. "They never acted like they knew."
"They accept you, Laurel, and so will the others if you let them close. Share the truth of your secret only with those you feel you can trust with its knowledge, but do not hide any longer in fear." Galadriel touched her cheek again, cupping it gently. "You are young, and your life is ahead of you. Go, enjoy the gift of it." She dropped her hand away and smiled. "I see Elladan is returning to fetch you."
Laurel rose to her feet, brushing the bits of loose grass that had stuck to her dress. "Thank you, lady," she said. "I will try to do as you suggest."
Eros laughed, rubbing his hands together with glee. The Lady had unwittingly eased the way, and he was quite pleased with the results.
Seeing no reason to interfere - however indirectly - at this point, he poured himself a Guinness Stout (really, one of the best things to come from the realm of Earth) and sat back to watch as the drama unfolded before him.
Dropping her guard was a little easier after her third glass of wine. She leaned on Elladan's arm, smiling up at him occasionally, and thoroughly enjoyed being escorted by him as he introduced her to his friends.
Their names all ran together after a while, but she decided it didn't matter; they could hardly expect her to remember after the eighth or ninth one. Elladan flirted outrageously with her, and for a change, she flirted back, made overbold by the wine and strengthened by Galadriel's advice.
"You really must drink wine more often," Elladan told her, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "It makes your cheeks flush quite becomingly."
Laurel felt goose bumps shiver her skin as the warmth of his breath lingered on her neck. "I have not had enough wine to fall for your charms though," she replied, laughing as he gave her a crestfallen look.
"You wound me," he exclaimed. "To think that I would have to ply you with drink to woo you into my arms. I do not know whether to be insulted, or to fetch you another glass!"
She opened her mouth to reply, and felt herself whirled away into another pair of arms. Elrohir grinned cheekily down at her surprised expression, before smiling smugly at his brother, holding up a small, white blossom, stolen from Laurel's hair.
"You are going at it entirely the wrong way, muindor," Elrohir laughed, twirling the flower in front of Laurel's nose. "Though I agree with the sentiment. You should have more wine, if it makes you smile so freely."
Laurel flushed, aware of Elrohir's arms around her waist, pressing her body close to his. "I think I've had enough," she managed, trying to extricate herself from his embrace.
Elrohir nodded, tucking the flower rakishly behind his ear, the effect making him look somewhat silly. "True," he said. "For you were fast falling for my brother's brand of charm." He tsked, shaking his head. "He is a rake and a scoundrel."
"And you are not?" she retorted, still pushing at him ineffectually.
He grasped her hand, spinning her away from him and back, pulling her against him once more. "I, dear Laurel, am much worse," he leered teasingly down at her. The sight of it made her laugh, though her body couldn't help but respond.
Elladan made a sound suspiciously like a snort. "You will get no argument from me on that, muindor."
Elrohir ignored him. "So, what favor shall I claim from you, meldis?" he asked, his eyes alight with mischief. "Since I believe I am the first to steal a flower from your pretty head."
"Elrohir," Arwen's voice came from behind him as she made her way gracefully to where they stood. "Behave yourself."
Giving his sister a thoroughly unconvincing innocent smile, he turned his attention back to Laurel. "A dance then, since my sister says I must behave?"
Laurel felt the color rise to her cheeks, noting that their antics had caught the attention of many. "No one else is dancing," she protested.
"They but wait for us," he said with a lofty air, eliciting a laugh from her. He smiled, wrapping his arm firmly about her waist. "A dance and I shall be satisfied."
Before she could utter a word of protest, Elrohir had pulled her out into the clearing where the musicians were. With a nod in their direction, he grasped her hands in his and waited for them to begin.
Laurel stopped feeling self-conscious about her dancing by the beginning of the second dance, for Elrohir had her so distracted by his teasing comments, his whispers tickling her ears and sending delightful shivers down her spine, that she forgot to worry about anything else.
"Surely you do not mean to keep this elleth all to yourself this evening," a voice said as the dance came to an end. "It would be most unfair."
Elrohir spun her around and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw who waited.
Orophin inclined his head politely and offered her his hand. "Will you honor me with the next dance, Laurel?"
Orophin folded his arms, frowning. "Look at them, muindor. I say we are too late, for 'tis obvious to me that Elladan has already won Laurel's affections."
Rúmil shook his head, taking a deep drink from his cup and letting the wine warm his belly. "No," he said finally, his eyes following the couple. "I think not. There is affection there, yes, but I think it friendship, nothing more. See? He could have stolen a kiss right then, and yet he did not."
"Perhaps," Orophin agreed grudgingly. "Though it is obvious that she is not unaffected by him."
"Look," Haldir said abruptly. "Elrohir has stolen her away. She looks a bit disconcerted." He sighed, wrapping his hand around his wine cup and staring into the contents of it moodily. "I think you might be right, Orophin."
Rúmil sighed in disgust. "Will you both give up on our wager before it has even begun?" he asked. "I see nothing in their behavior that tells me that Laurel's heart is already claimed. Look, she wears flowers, an open declaration of interest to any male who has the courage." He finished his wine, setting the cup on a nearby table. "I will go and ask for a dance."
"No," Orophin said, straightening and lifting his chin. "I will ask her, muindor." He stalked towards the couple without a backward glance.
Rúmil and Haldir exchanged a glance.
"Well played, muindor," Rúmil murmured, lifting his cup in salute.
Haldir's lips curved into a teasing smile. "He deserves a chance, at least, before I steal her for myself."
Rúmil chuckled, shaking his head with a soft sigh. "As you say, Haldir," he replied, and watched as Orophin approached Elrohir and Laurel.
Elrohir bowed and handed Laurel to Orophin with a swift kiss to her cheek. "Enjoy yourself," he whispered, and then he was gone, leaving her alone with an elf who was little more than a stranger.
Other dancers had joined them in the clearing. Laurel saw Arwen with one of Elladan's friends, and Elladan himself dancing with a lovely silver-haired elleth. Elrohir was pulling Galadriel to her feet, teasing his grandmother if her laughter was any indication.
Orophin smiled then, his fingers entwining with hers as he tugged her closer. "I do not bite," he said, then added as an afterthought, "Unless you wish me to."
It was such a typical come on line that Laurel laughed. It seemed males were males, no matter the species. Orophin brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them, and her laughter stopped abruptly. Dark gray eyes studied her with open interest, before he pulled her into his arms to dance.
Although she had been pleasantly distracted by Elrohir's maleness as they danced earlier, she was suddenly very conscious of Orophin's each time some movement brought their bodies into close contact. The breadth of his chest beneath his soft gray tunic, the unconscious strength in which he lifted and spun her, the narrowness of his hips as they occasionally brushed against hers; all these things were terribly distracting.
But she didn't miss when he went for a flower and caught him at it red handed.
Orophin bowed, a smile curving his full lips and his eyes gleamed with curiosity and undisguised male awareness. "What shall you ask of me?" he asked softly. "Ask anything within my power to grant and it is yours."
Laurel flushed at the look in his eyes. She hadn't thought that far ahead. "Well," she flailed, searching her mind vainly for something suitable to ask for. A wicked thought danced through her brain as she looked at him, wondering not quite so idly if he was any good with his tongue. It had been an awfully long time, and she could all too easily imagine the way his hair would feel tickling her bare thighs. She gave herself a mental shake, banishing the erotic thought. "A glass of wine," she said, settling for something innocent and easily accomplished. She was thirsty after all that dancing.
Someone brushed behind her and she turned, startled as Rúmil appeared before her. "While my brother fetches your wine, would you honor me with a dance?"
"Do you always do this?" she asked bravely, as he swept her into the crowd of dancers.
Rúmil gave her a smile and tilted his head. "Do what?"
"Work together," she answered, enjoying the feel of his hand against her waist as he guided her. He was an excellent dancer, not as powerful as Orophin perhaps, but definitely more graceful. He was slightly taller than his brother, his chest not nearly as broad, but his hands were gentle and sure around her waist as he lifted her.
"Oh, aye," he replied with a wink. "More often than not."
"So will Haldir dance with me after you?" she asked, resting her hands boldly on his narrow waist, shivering slightly as he pressed his cheek to hers.
"Hmm," he replied softly, his lips inches from her ear. "I do not know if I can bear to be parted from you, now that I hold you in my arms."
It was such a silly and sweet thing to say, she felt herself liking him all the more for it. His lips pressed chastely against her cheek before he spun her away from him again, his smile mischievous. "You owe me a boon, fair one."
Laurel laughed as he produced the flower he had hidden behind his back. "You tricked me."
Rúmil nodded, giving her another wink. "Aye, and it worked quite well. Now, what favor shall I ask of you?"
She was blushing again, she was certain of it, and he seemed amused by the way she avoided his gaze.
"Fear not, fair Laurel," he chuckled, his long fingers grazing her cheek. "I will ask only that you save another dance for me later."
Laurel didn't know if she was disappointed or relieved, but she didn't have much time to react one way or the other, for Orophin had returned with her wine. She accepted it from him gratefully and took a sip to cover her confusion.
Merelind whirled by, laughing in the arms of an ellon Laurel recognized as being one of Elladan's friends, but she could not remember which. Niním approached Rúmil and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Will you dance?" she asked, giving him a flirty smile.
Rúmil spun her away, smiling as she wound her arms around his neck and Laurel watched as they danced, a trifle envious at how familiar Niním was with the handsome elf. It wasn't that she wanted Rúmil for herself, but that she wished she were as easy and familiar with him as Niním obviously was. The intensity of the feeling surprised her.
"They make a lovely pair, do they not?"
She'd forgotten that Orophin was still there, standing beside her, his own wine glass held loosely in his hand.
"Yes," she replied, giving him a sidelong glance. He gave her a slow smile in return, tilting his head slightly.
"Will you dance with me again, when you finish your wine?" he asked, lowering his eyes as he took a sip from his own cup.
Laurel opened her mouth to answer, when someone else answered for her. "I do not think so, muindor." And a white blossom was held in front of her nose. She turned to see who had been stealthy enough to steal a flower from her hair without her even noticing and shook her head. "You do work together, don't you?" she accused.
"Will you dance, Laurel?" Haldir asked, tucking the flower he had stolen from her hair behind his ear. It should have made him look ridiculous, the way Elrohir had looked ridiculous, but it didn't for some reason. He didn't smile broadly at her nod of acceptance, or flirt as she took his hand and allowed him to lead her to where the others danced. He seemed somewhat bemused as he guided her steps, and she wondered what he was thinking.
"I was considering what to ask for the remaining two blossoms," he answered quietly, and she realized she must have spoken aloud. His answer confused her.
"Remaining two blossoms?" she repeated. He gave her a smile that for some reason, made her blush, though she couldn't have said exactly why. "I only saw one."
Haldir's smile widened slightly. "I only showed you the one. I have two more, tucked inside my tunic."
Laurel half expected his smile to turn sly and teasing, and to have him offer to let her check. He did neither, instead, his arms pulled her close and he leaned his cheek against hers. The touch was completely innocent, but her body's reaction to it was not. Suddenly, she wished he had offered to let her check his tunic, if only to touch more of his skin. Oh my, she thought, mentally shaking that vision from her head. She either needed to stop drinking the wine now, or have several glasses more.
"You could ask for two more dances," she said finally.
A soft chuckle vibrated through his chest. "I am not so foolish as my brothers," he said, half-jokingly. "Before this evening is done, you will have danced with many." His voice dropped low, caressing her ear. "I do not wish to be forgotten."
Goose bumps prickled her skin, and Laurel pulled back so she could see his face. He was not smiling, but his eyes were. "What will you ask for?"
Haldir finally smiled and spun her away, chuckling as Elladan caught her effortlessly. Elladan gave Haldir a cocky grin. "Hannon chen, meldir."
Rúmil had claimed her for his second dance sometime during the course of the evening, and he had made her blush with his sweetly spoken flattery. Though he did not steal another blossom, he did manage to get her to agree to let him show her the city. His handsome face was so earnest, he didn't have to work very hard in persuading her, and she did enjoy his company.
By the time the musicians called it a night and many elves had already left for their beds, Laurel's feet were killing her from dancing, and her head was mostly bare of blossoms. Many an ellon managed to snag one from her, and by the time she fulfilled all the promises made to them, she figured she had danced with just about every male elf in Lórien, including Lord Celeborn. Now there was an elf who really knew how to dance.
If she'd been Galadriel, she would have kept him all to herself. He'd made her feel light and graceful as a leaf in his arms, all the while keeping pleasant conversation, as if it were no effort at all. Though she hadn't broached the question of having him continue her learning, when their dance had ended, he had given her a solemn wink.
"I expect to see you in my study in the morning, pen-neth, after breakfast. Do not be late."
She didn't have time to reply before another ellon was whisking her away.
Haldir, of course, had been right. She'd quickly lost track of the names and faces of many she'd danced with, but she remembered him for certain. Because there was still the little issue of two more blossoms to atone for.
Muindor = brother
Meldis = female friend
Meldir = male friend
Hannon chen = thank you
Pen-neth = young one
To be continued…