Chapter 12: A perfect Feast
Haldir was quick to take a seat between Thranduil and Illiendal, and looked at the food, then at his empty plate. Haldir was nearly heartbroken to look at such an empty plate, so reached forwards to grab a piece of bread. Illiendal took his hand quickly and put in down on his lap.
"Wait Haldir… You know better than to eat now."
"No I don't." Haldir smiled and reached for the bread again. Orophin, who was seated beside Illiendal, reached over and smacked his brother's hand. This time, Haldir withdrew his hand and rubbed it in pain.
"Owwy." Haldir whispered, this time not returning for the bread and just looking at his empty plate sadly. Haldir looked up at Illiendal and tried to convince her to feed him, but it did not look like his adorable faces where going to get the princess to slip him any of the delicious food.
Thranduil stood up and began his speech. Once again, Haldir was not paying any attention; he did not even look up when his name was spoken quite a few times by his father-in-law. His eyes where, as usual, stuck on the food in front of him, just watching it, planning out his entire meal.
When Thranduil finally sat down, after what Haldir believed to be the longest, stupidest, boring, dumb, pointless speech he had ever heard in his entire life (which at this point, wasn't very long), Haldir saw all the other elves where being served. A servant where pouring wine into their glasses, and more and more food was being placed on the table or opened.
When he was Orophin reach for the bread, he smacked his brother's hand much like Orophin had done earlier. Orophin glared at his little brother and looked ready to attack him.
"You said no. No eating bread." Haldir shook his head and frowned his best "disappointed in you" frown, as best as one could be by a little young elfling like he. Orophin sighed and rolled his eyes.
"That was because Thranduil had not started to speak yet, and he was about to. Now it is TIME to eat and we are SUPPOSED to eat. Now, you may eat as well, so do not hit. I only hit you because you did not listen to Illiendal." Orophin said and he took a piece of bread. Orophin put it on his plate and dipped it in the gravy that had just recently been served to him along with potatoes and some meat.
Haldir took a piece of bread and poked Orophin. Orophin looked over at the little elfling, and Haldir offered him the piece of bread he held. Orophin smiled, but shook his head no to the little elfling.
"I already took some bread," Orophin began, holding up his damp gravy coated piece, "You can have that piece for yourself, I don't need another." Orophin finished with a smile, but Haldir still looked upset.
"I wasn't giving it to you to eat, stupid. I wanted you to butter it! The butter is to far away and I don't know how to put the butter on. And mommy doesn't like it when I use knives, she says I'll get hurt and mommy doesn't want that. I get in trouble if I use knives when I'm not allowed and I don't want to get in trouble just because I want butter on my bread." Haldir stated, Orophin a bit embarrassed that he did not realise that. Orophin took the bread and buttered it, and handed it back to the eager hungry elfling, who looked very unsatisfied by the work Orophin did.
"Oh come now! What is the matter with it this time? I buttered it as you asked and everything! Just eat the damn food!" Orophin handed Haldir the bread, which gave him it back.
"You did not cut off the gross yucky brown disgusting crust. YOU should KNOW that I HATE crust! How can you be my brother if you don't know THAT? Everyone knows THAT. Eeew!" Haldir angrily through the bread on the floor, and Orophin gasped and frowned.
"Haldir, you wasted a perfectly fine piece of bread. You have to understand that when you where that age last, I was only a little baby and I surly would NOT have known what and how you ate! Now, I do not think I should even butter you bread if that is what you do when you are not satisfied." Orophin scolded his brother, who suddenly burst into tears.
"I'M SORRY!" Haldir sobbed, making all the elves around him whisper and wonder what was going on, wondering what kind of brother Orophin was and if Haldir was being mistreated. They all knew by now of what happened to Haldir, but they did not expect him to actually act his little tiny age.
"Hush, hush! I am sorry, Haldir stop crying! I wasn't that mad… Here, look, I am getting you more bread, happy? Yes… Be happy!" Orophin quickly grabbed another piece, threw on some butter very nicely and cut the crusts off as nicely as he could in such a panic and with so many questioning elves staring at him.
Orophin quickly gave the bread back and Haldir looked at it, ignoring all the elves that watched for a reaction and even ignoring Thranduil who was not approving of this sudden fit the elfling had. Haldir sniffed the bread and observed it more, poking it and licking a bit of the butter off the top. Once Haldir was completely satisfied with what had been given to him, the elfling hungrily and happily ate it all.
Many elves, especially Orophin, where relieved to see the elfling ate the bread happily and ended his fit of crying and sadness. The elves continued talking and eating merrily, and Orophin just calmed himself before he continued his meal and the conversation he had been having with Illiendal.
Thranduil, noticing all Haldir was doing was eating alone and quietly, began to speak to the elfling more about the situation. Haldir continued eating, and it took him a while until he realised Thranduil was talking to him (for a moment, Haldir had believed that Thranduil had truly lost his mind and was talking to himself and no one. Haldir looked up and when he heard of what Thranduil was speaking of, this situation that kept on being mentioned, Haldir knew it wouldn't be interesting and Haldir believed it was not very important, so instead, he looked across the table to Legolas.
Legolas was fun to play with. Legolas knew all kinds of games he had never heard of, and they where all very fun. Legolas even knew games that HE had invented, so he wondered how Legolas had learned of those. Legolas was a good friend. As Haldir thought of these, Haldir nodded his head when a new fun game idea game to mind, and luckily for him, his nods where at just the right times, for Thranduil had been asking questions to make sure Haldir listened and understood, so nodding made it seem that he was paying his full attention and agreeing.
As Thranduil's long "discussion" continued, so did Haldir's wandering mind. He wondered what he would eat next, and he would nod in agreement with himself, which to Thranduil was also a nod in agreement, or sign of understanding.
When dessert came out, Thranduil finally left Haldir alone because then he knew Haldir would not pay any attention. Haldir's eyes where big and looked at every desert, and took a bit of each. Thranduil smiled and left the elfling to eat, taking a bit of some chocolate cake for himself and helping his little elfling of his own get some cake.
When the feast was over, all the elves began to say goodbye. Haldir just stood by himself, a few elves wishing him good night, but since he did not even know who the elves where and they seemed to know him very well, this scared Haldir more than it made him feel good.
Once everyone had left, Illiendal and Orophin came to him. Orophin picked up his little brother carefully and brought the boy to the guestroom. Orophin found a ball for the elfling and rolled it to Haldir, who would roll it back. Orophin played this game with Haldir until late into the night. When Haldir was noticeably tired, Orophin carried him into the bed and tucked him.
"Goodnight brother. I will see you off tomorrow afternoon… I love you." Orophin kissed his brother on his brow and blew out the candle, saying goodnight. Haldir looked so peaceful as Orophin left.
As Orophin walked down the halls, he looked heartbroken, and Illiendal saw him. She was heading to say goodnight to the tiny sleepy husband of hers, but Orophin needed someone to comfort him, and she new that, so she quickly came over to him.
"Orophin? Are you alright?" Illiendal asked. Orophin was gazing at the floor, but sadly looked up with tearful eyes.
"Tomorrow Haldir is going home, and I am not going. It will be the last time I ever see my brother again. He is going to die, and I wont be there with him, supporting him or comforting him… He's always been my idol. He was never going to die. And now… It's not fair, he doesn't deserve this, he's a father and a husband and I should have been cursed!" Orophin began crying softly, tears rushing down his face. Illiendal grabbed him gently and pulled him close.
"I know Orophin… I love your brother so much… I try to forget about it…" Illiendal rubbed Orophin's back and let him cry into her chest.
To be continued…
I am SO sorry for the lack of updates! It's busy for me, and time is flying, I don't even realise how long it has been! Now…
THE JEDIGOLLUM SHOPI will be opening an online shop and I need YOUR help. Tell me things YOU would be interested in BUYING. Tell me designs and products you'd like… Just remember that it cannot contain copyrighted materials. ELVES are allowed, just not TOLKIEN elves like Haldir or Legolas, but instead it must be ones like Cield and so on. I already have some designs and products for sale, so ANYONE who wants something, just SEND ME AN E-MAIL FOR THE SHOP WEBSITE. You can e-mail me at: jedigollum at () yahoo or through the e-mail on my user profile. I also have art at a site called DEVIANTART (which I can give you a link through e-mail) so feel free to see if something there you'd like on a product. I can put NEARLY anything for sale, so PLEASE consider it and just send me an e-mail to take a look at what I have to sell…
And… Review Responses for Chapter 11
Tanja: Don't worry… your English is fine!Bberry06: Silly little hobbit.
Mistopurr: It did sound nice, and it made me want food… I understand, that's why I have been so busy.
NuEvil: Well we might just see a certain wizard soon…
Mesozoic Flower: Yes, but it's still hard for Haldir to believe…
Haldir's Heart and Soul: You're scaring me…
CapriceAnn: I have gotten a lot of suggestions like that… I do plan to do something like that.
Review Responses for Chapter 10
Aranna Undomiel: How is what I put?Cymrulady: Well, thanks for dropping a comment, I really do appreciate it!
Mistopurr: I know. I wish there was more elfling stories… Reading your own can only is so interesting.
Mesozoic Flower: Yes he shall… Not in this particular story, mind you.
Bberry06: Good job Bberry.
NuEvil: Hhmm… That would be a very good idea.
Caprice Ann: I am so sorry that I am so slow at updating…
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Naps are evil…
