A/N: Dress… based on a dress worn by Arwen, but only shown for a millisecond in the films. The color means something. ;-) The idea for the ceremony comes from the idea of a Medieval knighting ceremony. I have found some very interesting information on the subject, culled it all together and made this chapter. Since Elves really did not have 'church' or God and Country to protect, I had to change a lot of the real knighting ceremonies, as the cleansing of one's soul through prayer was predominantly the things leading up the actual ceremony in front of everyone. Besides that, the ceremony fits well.

Sorry about the long wait... Uni is hectic...

Now on with the story…

Chapter 8- Nothing Has Changed, Or Perhaps It Has

She had never felt such luxurious cloth in her life; it was a rich color of the deepest ruby and of the softest velvet. The gown that the Lady sent to her was amazing in all it's qualities from the large bell sleeves to the gold thread embroidered bullion in delicate patterns around the low collar line and low back, and around her arms. Such a gown was something she was not used to, though she had been privileged with many articles of clothing all her life. This gown was specifically for a lady of the court, or a ruler of a realm, not for a writer of fiction. But she imagined she could live with this rather beautiful thing for the night, even though she was sure no one else would wear such a bright color.

There was a knock at her chamber door, and she walked over to open it, finding Cuileth in a gown of finest silk satin, the color a dark navy with an inset in the bodice of a delicate ivory lace. Laereth smiled at her sister, "We will definitely stand out tonight."

"We?" Cuileth questioned. "Your dress is far more magnificent than mine is."

Laereth laughed, "I have never felt such fine cloth, besides the cloth you work with for Thranduil and his family."

Cuileth nodded, and stepped closer to her, reaching up to run her hands along the golden bands on the arms. She moved even closer, bending down over her to inspect the fine detail, "This is truly amazing. I have never made anything like this before."

"It has been said that the weavers and seamstresses here that came with Galadriel are very skilled," Laereth said. "But I feel ostentatious in this."

"She obviously sent it to you for a reason," Cuileth replied.

"I know, that is why I am wearing it," she chuckled. "It only will make me feel odd to be noticed. It is Haldir's day."

Cuileth smiled softly, "That it is."

"I have missed him and his brothers so much," Laereth replied, walking over to the dressing table and reaching for the brush.

Her sister took the brush from her hand, and went to brushing her hair out for her. Cuileth sighed, "Haldir is very handsome. I do not recall him being so before."

"You were young," Laereth said. "Even as a young ellon he was fair of face beyond many of the other Elves here. But he has changed a great deal since then… since his duties on the border."

"How so?"

"His physique is superior to that any other male Elf I have seen… except perhaps Thranduil's, and Lord Celeborn's," she said quietly, resting her chin on her hand.

Cuileth continued to brush her hair, even though Laereth was slumped slightly, and chuckled, "He is, though I much enjoy my husband's lean athletic body to the bulkiness."

"But he is not bulky," Laereth said. "He is only completely lean, sculpted muscle."

"You know, if I did not know any better, I would say you have a new interest in him," Cuileth said furtively, and stopped brushing.

Laereth sighed wistfully, "Nay, I am only remembering what it was like on those nights after we put you children to sleep, and we would sit and talk for hours by the fire. I would end up falling asleep on his chest…"

The younger sister laughed, "Thêl nín, this is the sound of elleth who wishes for something but cannot seem to have that something."

"I really do not wish to talk about it tonight," Laereth said.

"Fine," Cuileth said quietly, and stepped back. "We should be heading down… there are many Elves already gathered around the field where this is taking place."

"Let us not waste another moment, then," Laereth smiled and linked her arm with Cuileth's. They made their way down the long flights of stairs toward the forest floor and where the honoring ceremony was to take place. They were met with many curious stares from the other Elves. She recognized many of them, but could not quite remember their names. Within their eyes too, she supposed, was that same look of recognizing someone, but not quite knowing who exactly it was.

She smiled at a few of them as they went by, but she was not made to mingle with anyone when Orophin appeared out of nowhere. He smiled and bowed his head slightly to them, "My ladies… I have come to escort you to the processional."

"Thank you," Laereth laughed as he offered both of his arms and she and Cuileth took them.

He looked at both of them and smiled, "I feel like a very lucky Elf right now, walking through the forest with both of you."

"I would say likewise walking with you, Orophin," Laereth replied with a smile. They walked along the path, and were greeted with the sight of the fair Lord and Lady, Haldir, Rúmil and a few other severe looking Elves she thought would be other wardens. Perhaps Haldir's second and third in command… or anything of the like, as she wondered what place his brothers held. Haldir turned with the others upon their arrival, and smiled at them…

That was before he took to regarding them with his grey eyes. He spent a few moments upon Cuileth, but then his eyes traveled to her, and remained on her for a good while as he looked up and down her body. Laereth blushed slightly, pleased that she was being regarded in such a way by him, but it still made her feel slightly uncomfortable… as it had when he first saw her again. The way he had looked at her then was just unnerving… but then she had done her fair share of ogling as well when she saw him.

"Good, the last of you have arrived," Celeborn said.

Orophin handed Cuileth off to Rúmil and glanced down at Laereth, "We are to follow the Lord and Lady out. Then Haldir will come after that."

"That is fine with me," she smiled, and without saying anything to Haldir, fell into line behind the Lord and Lady, the other two Elves then behind them. She had not pictured so much pomp and circumstance over such a thing as this, but it appeared, as they made their way to their places on the field, that the Lord and Lady had spared nothing in creating this ceremony. She could only imagine what was to come in the evening at the feast. Once everyone was in their place, Haldir stood before his Lord and Lady, wearing only black leggings and a black under tunic.

Celeborn spoke aloud, "Since our time here among you honorable Elves, we have come to realize one thing. The wardens of Lórien are a very prideful bunch… they are all very skilled and very deserving of the high credit we give them. However, there is one Elf whom stands here to be honored this afternoon who has taken his call of duty so seriously, and with so much integrity, that he deserves a higher distinction among us. He will continue to protect the weak, right wrongs, and honor all ellyth in his capacity as March Warden and Guardian."

Laereth smiled softly to herself as the buckling of the golden armor to Haldir commenced, both Orophin and Rúmil doing this task. He stood there, so full of pride, and yet with an air of humility. As contradictory as it was, the energy coming from him was powerful. He was powerful… he was just arrogant enough, and yet held the deepest gratitude for being chosen for this position among all the other wardens. She had heard all of the ideals he spouted when he was young about how he could improve, even more so than the others before, the service in which he held so dear to his heart. How he could restore the glory that was once the guard of Lórien under Amdir, before Amroth came along and made Tirithion the March Warden. And she had the greatest confidence in him that he could do this. Haldir was ready for this task; he was equal to it.

Haldir held such a profound love for his people, and the greatness of the realm, he would never founder.

She sighed happily. She was very proud of him.

If only his parents were here to see this. Orthordir would have been so proud with his son… nay, all of his sons.

That was when noticed the slight sadness in his eyes. He was thinking of them. She wished she could go to him and embrace him, to tell him that his father was watching this from wherever he was in the Halls. However, she put that thought into the back of her mind to do later in the evening when she gave him the ring that his mother gave to her on her departure.

The leather gauntlet upon his right arm was put into place and tightened, this the last piece of his golden armor. Next, a steward came to her and bowed. She looked at him, wondering what was going on, and then down at the crimson folded cloth he was holding out to her. And Celeborn spoke, "Haldir will be vested with the colors of his position, and now of his house."

Laereth understood then why Galadriel had this red gown made and sent for her, she just hoped that Galadriel did not do so this because she thought there was something else between them besides friendship. Deciding it best just to operate on the thought that Galadriel knew of their past, as a make-shift family, and that was why she had the red dress sent to her, Laereth smiled at the steward and nodded her head. She removed the cloak from his hands and looked down at it quickly, hoping it was not too complicated to fasten around him, because the last thing she wanted was to appear unable to do this. But she knew before she even stopped in front of him, it would be difficult to do this.

She took a claming breath as she stood in front of him, facing him as he regarded her with a curious expression. As she took the cloak in her hands, and prepared to place it about his neck by moving her arms about him, she realized it would be impossible for her to reach up and around easily. Not one to give in, though, she set her jaw and quickly tried to figure out how she was going to accomplish this- Orophin and Rúmil had already gone to the side to watch this.

Then she heard him chuckle softly, and glanced up at him, "You find this funny, do you?"

He smiled brightly and bent down slightly so that she could reach around him and bring the two pieces together with the large gold fastener that was intricately carved with mallorn leaves. Glad that it had not been too difficult to accomplish, stepped back to make sure everything was correctly placed. She reached up to move his hair out of the way that had accidentally shifted as she fastened it about his neck, and met his eyes as she did so. Again she felt the same things she had only a bit before, watching as the armor was attached to his body. There was also some other thing there in his grey eyes, but she dared not interpret it beyond perhaps gratitude that one might feel for a dear friend taking part in this special honoring ceremony.

Laereth smiled, feeling emotion come to her eyes and again she was overwhelmed with the pride she felt for him. She reached out and touched his cheek softly, a simple touch to let him know that she was proud to be his friend, and stepped back from him. In a show of propriety to the very soon to be March Warden, she curtsied lowly before making her back to stand beside Cuileth.

The ceremony continued on, as Celeborn spoke again and Orophin and Rúmil placed Haldir's sword about his waist and his quiver upon his back, but Cuileth gazed at her suspiciously for a long while after she returned. Laereth tried to ignore it as best as she could, but it grew hard to do after a long while. She glanced at Cuileth and admonished lowly, "Not today."

Her sister nodded and turned back to proceedings as Haldir was just standing from receiving his accolades as March Warden from Celeborn. The Elf lord smiled and spoke to the rest of the congregates, "To continue honoring our March Warden, a feast will commence in an half hour's time on the celebration lawn."

And so she found herself with Cuileth, Orophin and Rúmil down at the feast, enjoying themselves immensely while Haldir made his way around the crowd, speaking with everyone and accepting their praises and best wishes as he began his new post. Laereth had not spoken to him since the ceremony because Orophin and Rúmil pulled him away to help remove his armor so he could put on real, more comfortable clothes for the feast. He had returned quickly, dressed in dark leggings, but with the most beautiful white silk tunic she had ever seen. Perhaps it was so because it was on his body, but it was still fine fabric and brocaded with golden thread and tied loosely about the waist with a red satin sash. Spectacular was too loose a word to describe such magnificence before her eyes, and she was sure that the other ellyth agreed with her by the way they had instantly attached themselves to him upon his arrival.

Haldir played along with their cunning advances, smiling and caressing cheeks whenever necessary, but he never did anything more than that. Laereth wondered if he would later, in privacy, have the company of one or many of these ellyth. It seemed likely to her that he would, and she was not very pleased about it. Of course she would have gladly switched her place with any of the ellyth who had held onto him so tightly during the evening, but she knew that was impossible. He would never see her in that light, or give into his feelings (if they were already there).

Laereth sighed and sipped her wine, turning back to the conversation going on about her, Orophin and Rúmil regaling them with yet another tale of their many scheming plots since they had been in Mirkwood. Most of them she could not believe, but there were a few that were just too outlandish not to believe. Except she enjoyed listening to them as they told of their pranks and schemes, as they had both turned into vivid story tellers. She wondered what it was like for Haldir to raise them with all of these troubles after she left.

After she left…

A sudden wave of guilt spread over her then, as she thought of what she left Haldir to deal with- alone. She should have never gone, but she had to. Cuileth deserved time to grow up with her brother, and see Mirkwood, where their family had originated. On a more personal note, Laereth had to leave before she did anything she would regret… like make a fool of herself by trying to kiss him or by proclaiming what truly was within her heart. He would have just laughed at her and shooed her away like he usually did, not caring about what she had said to him. To this day she wondered if he even realized the true feelings she showed but did not speak of with him while still here in Lórien.

"Laereth?"

She jerked her head up, not realizing she had gone so deep into thought and meditation, her eyes meeting a red sash. Laereth moved her eyes up his body and met his eyes, "Yes, Haldir?"

"I was wondering," he paused and smiled. She hoped he would ask her to dance, and she waited on baited breath. He turned to the Elf beside him. She had not noticed the Elf standing beside him before. "If I could reintroduce you to Arphenon…"

Laereth tried to mask her disappointment with a smile, looking at the Elf. He was one of the Elves that had walked out with them and helped with the ceremony, and she had not recognized him. Arphenon had grown much the same ways Haldir had. She sighed, "Arphenon? I did not recognize you earlier, I feel horrible."

Arphenon laughed, "I did not recognize you either, Laereth. I thought you were some visiting lady. Haldir only just told me."

She watched as Haldir slipped away, leaving them to talk. Laereth grumbled to herself as she took another sip of her wine. "It is good to see you again."

"As it is you," he smiled and held his hand out to her. "May I have the next dance?"

Laereth hated when males did this… stick their hand out as though she would say yes under any circumstance. It was so presumptuous of them. Perhaps they did it to secure a dance with her, because they knew she was not a rude person and would not brush the hand away. Nevertheless, she let out another sighed and smiled faintly, reaching out for his hand. She had nothing better to do anyway since Haldir had neglected his visitors the entire night, though she had to remind herself it was really only herself she was worried about receiving no attention from Haldir.

They made their way to the clearing and jumped into the moderate tempo dance, going about it easily. This dance was almost finished, so they stayed in for the next one, a much slower, pleasant one that allowed them time to talk, even though she found herself looking about the field for Haldir and not paying her total attention to her dance partner.

"It is no use looking for him," Arphenon said. "He has left the celebration for an undetermined amount of time."

Laereth knew what this meant, and scowled slightly, "He has not changed?"

"Nay," Arphenon said. "He still goes about with any elleth he can find, but only speaks of you."

That comment caught her off guard, "What do you mean by that?"

Arphenon smiled slightly, "Laereth you know you hold a place in his heart, a greater place than any other thing in this world besides his brothers."

"He has an odd way of showing it," Laereth replied. "And I do not expect much after I left so suddenly."

"Do you know that when you were still here he warned every ellon who ever spoke a word to you to stay away from you?" Arphenon questioned.

"No," she said, pausing for just a moment, and getting off the flow of the dance.

Arphenon nodded his head, "There were many times I wished to court you, but Haldir only glared at me when I spoke to him of it. I imagine it was like that with all the other ellyn. He wished to keep you for himself, though he did not realize what he was doing at the time. He still does not know it, but it is there. The other elleth re just to take his mind from you and what he cannot have with you."

"Does he not know I would give him everything and anything I could?" she questioned quietly.

"That is what I have not been able to figure out all these years. It is obvious he wants you so, and yet will not bring himself to uttering those words to you," he said.

Laereth pursed her lips together, "Why do you tell me this now? We have not seen each other in such a long time, and we end up speaking of something long past that he did nothing about long ago."

Arphenon stopped and pulled her aside, away from the other dancers. "I say it now because I saw how he looked at you during the ceremony, and it is obvious he still feels the same."

"I really do not wish to talk any more of this," Laereth said. "If he is going to be thick-headed about it again, then I do not wish to deal with it. He is still my friend and we will be friends, and I will care deeply for him. Thank you for this dance, Arphenon, but I must take my leave now. My travels are catching up with me."

Without waiting for a reply, she turned quickly on her toes and walked toward the edge of the celebration field, and started on her long trek back to her talan. She had enough to think about as it was, until Arphenon added all of these riddles to her mind. Laereth walked slowly, breathing in the fresh air and letting the sound of the party revelers drifting away. Except they were replaced with the sound of high pitched giggles and then the sounds of low moans. She tried to block out the sound, but when she heard Haldir's voice it was hard not to listen.

The least he could have done was take the elleth back to his talan instead of doing whatever he was out in the open for others to hear. When she fully expected words of honeyed reverence to the elleth he was bedding, she was surprised to hear what he actually had to say.

"Caladiel," he uttered, through a heavy breathing.

"Yes, maethron?" she giggled.

Laereth sighed to herself. So Caladiel had turned into one of these elleth Arphenon was speaking of.

"I cannot do this," he mumbled, as it sounded like she muffled him with a kiss.

"And why not?" the elleth questioned. "You certainly feel like you can do this."

Haldir grumbled, and there was some ruffling of clothes (or something to that extent). "Caladiel… I cannot as much I wish for this release."

"When have you ever not been able to do this?" she laughed in a sickeningly sweet way.

"I do not wish to explain myself now," Haldir said.

Laereth found this odd. She had never known Haldir to back out of a situation where and elleth was willing and literally throwing herself at his feet. Apparently so did Caladiel. "Let me at least take care of that for you… you cannot go back to the feast in that compromising state."

"I can take care of this myself… it would not be the first time," he replied authoritatively. "I am sorry, Caladiel, but I just cannot."

"If you tell me that it is because of Laereth, then I will not keep bothering you Haldir," Caladiel said. "It is obvious you are still in love her."

There was no reply from Haldir, and only the rustling of leaves. Laereth thought to try to hide behind a tree, but it was too late as Haldir came out of the bushes, and truly in quite a compromising state. She blushed, turning away from him to make it appear like she had just been walking by and not listening into the conversation. It was useless, though. When he saw her, he let out a heavy sigh, shook his head and walked as swiftly as he could in the direction of his talan.

thel nin- my sister

maethron- warrior