Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Warnings: Again, mentions of child abuse. If you don't like don't read.
Chapter 26: Revelations
Megilindir resisted the urge to either bang his head off the nearest wall until the welcoming arms of darkness took him or bang both Elrohir's and Elladan's until they shut up. Directly after breakfast they had started in on him. It seemed as though now they were focusing on him instead of splitting their attention between him and Zinnia.
You must be gentler with females, kinder. He rolled his eyes and looked to Elladan.
I know how to treat a female, I am old enough. I do not need you to tell me this.
If that is the case then why are treating Zinnia like one of your trainees? his attention turned to Elrohir.
She does not seem to mind it.
That is not the reason we are having this discussion.
Oh, then please remind me as to why we are having this discussion.
Because your attempts at romancing her consist of shoving her to the ground.
She started it. The twins both looked to him and he threw his hands into the air as he stood. She did! She was the one who wished to spar. I am not going to stay here and listen to this. I need no help from either of you!
Help for what? All three looked to the doorway to see Glorfindel standing there a smirk on his face. The twins paled slightly seeing Haldir standing next to him though his expression was unreadable.
They were just trying,
To help him grasp the realities that his archery could improve, said Elladan quick to cut off Megilindir's answer.
What? My archery skills,
Leave room for improvement. Nodded Elrohir standing. In fact we were on our way there now. Good day. The twins practically dragged a confused Megilindir out of the room.
They are up to something. Glorfindel looked to Haldir and smiled.
Ah when are they not? I would not worry for it, even though he is younger the ranger tends to calm them down more often then not. Haldir raised an eyebrow at Glorfindel who only laughed in response. Come the maps are in here.
And these are the most detailed you have?
Yes. Glorfindel smiled knowing the reason he asked of them was for his daughter. The rangers are actually one of our biggest resources for these. They travel over the land collecting much of the information we have outside our own kingdoms. Haldir only nodded as he went through some of them.
How long would it take to copy these?
For all of them 8 months. They would be done by solstice if you wished it. Haldir smiled slightly. It would be no problem to have them delivered to Lórien when they were completed.
That would be best. I know she will like them.
Have you told her of your plans yet?
No, I thought it best to wait until solstice when I gave these to her. I will study these and make a few routes I think she would find acceptable.
You have asked your Lord and Lady for a leave from duty though?
Yes, I have been planning this since she was 16 and expressed a desire to travel. A year should be sufficient to visit the places that are allowable. The maps in Lórien are not near as detailed as these.
Well then let us take these to Erestor and he can have them copied. Glorfindel rolled the maps back up and gestured for Haldir to walk ahead of him.
~~~~~~
For the last time Elrohir no I do not need any help! They had made it to the archery range though none had their equipment. Instead they had settled and relaxed on the ground continuing their argument from earlier.
You do though, we only wish to aid our friend. We know for a fact that another has already begun a courtship. Leaving her flowers.
I know about the flowers. This perked up the twin's slightly.
Oh? Then who is sending them. Megilindir sighed and relaxed back against the tree. He hadn't wanted to tell them of it until he had word defiantly from Zinnia. It would be easier to explain everything to them at once than to wait to tell them the end result. For elves they were quite impatient.
I am.
You? Elladan voiced enough surprise for both the twins.
Do not sound so surprised. Megilindir laughed at their expressions. I have told you I have had experience in these matters. Not much, but some. He sighed then and leaned back against the tree. In the note today I left a meeting time and place.
When?
Where? Both twins spoke at the same time causing Megilindir to smile and look at his friends.
Tonight in a place I have always found to be quite enchanting. If she shows up she does, if she does not. . . well then perhaps it will be for the best. He shrugged slightly.
~~~~~~~~
Arwen I need your help. There was almost a desperate quality in her voice and Arwen frowned slightly.
Come sit and relax. Arwen led her to a chair and sat across from her. What do you need my help with. Zinnia didn't answer but simply handed Arwen a note. A note that was written in the same hand that all of the ones the girl had received with the flowers had been.
If you wish to know me, meet me in the night gardens before dinner. Arwen read the note twice before looking up to Zinnia. It seemed as though the girl was in an almost flat out panic judging by the nervous picking of her clothes and movement.
What am I going to do?
Why are you so scared?
I do not know. Zinnia stood and started pacing the room. What if it is not him? What if it is? I do not know how to act with this. The flowers were nice as I could . . I did not have to speak with him of it. And. . I do not know what to do. I mean. . with Legolas it was different. It was more a curiosity than anything. I was nervous but not this nervous because I knew that . .well he was my friend. This is different and I do not know how to explain it any better than that. Arwen smiled slightly as Zinnia kept pacing.
You do not need to explain it any more. I understand your feelings to some extent. Zinnia looked to her a moment before resuming her pacing.
What does he expect of me? I have never been around a human before. Not one I did not have to be around.
You are so sure that it is Megilindir.
It has to be. There are none others that I interact with that have various scratches and bloody gashes on their hands and fingers from rose bush thorns. Arwen laughed and Zinnia smiled calming somewhat.
Since when have you known?
Since the second one. she sighed and sat back down in the chair. I had thought. . that it was just a fancy of his or. . something. I did not think he was serious. I do not think. She groaned and relaxed back in the chair. I can tell you that I never expected him to want to meet.
Do you not wish to? If not simply do not go.
I think I do Arwen. I think I do wish to go.
That is what scares you then. Not that it is him, not that he is human, not that you do not know how to act, but that you wish to go. Zinnia bit her lip for a moment.
Yes. Arwen smiled.
You have feelings for him. Zinnia tilted her head and thought.
I could have feelings for him. Do I now? He is a friend. Not as close as Legolas, but I know. . well I think should I become closer friends with him. . well. . it. .
It might turn into something other than friendship.
It might. Agreed Zinnia slowly nodding her head. I am intrigued by him, not only because he is human but he is a ranger. I have never told ada but since I heard the stories I have always imagined that life. I know that I could never be a guard, I am simply not qualified enough. Had I been an elf, then yes, that would afford me the years to train that it takes to meet their standards. I do not have those years.
I believe that I could become a ranger though. My skills are above any other of my age I would think. Ada says I am competent, and he does not give compliments freely. Perhaps about my drawing or carving. Something done for leisure, but not my weapons skills. He would never tell one that they are anything other than what they are with skills that could make them over confident in a battle. Not even to his daughter.
No, if Haldir says you are good enough with a blade then you are good enough with a blade. Arwen smiled slightly. He trained me and my brothers for a few years when I was younger. I remember those sessions. Though I have never fought in a real battle I know the fact that he deemed me able to hold my own fact.
Then you understand. Arwen nodded and there was silence for a few moments. I do not know if it would be wise to meet him or not. I do not even know my own feelings on this matter and perhaps meeting with him in anything other than friendship will only confuse me further.
Zinnia, I think that would be wrong. Zinnia looked up to Arwen. Meet with him tonight. Talk to him of this. She blushed and Arwen smiled. Perhaps not of your growing feelings for him, but your confusion. Tell him that you would like to be friends. Nothing in any of his notes or manner suggests that he would be adverse to that. Nor do I think he would be adverse to anything more than that. Perhaps he feels the same as you.
I have known Megilindir since he was to my knees. His parents brought him here frequently and his friendships here run deep. Never in all the years that I have known him has he been shy. He actually reminds me a little of you or you of him. There are similarities between you that would draw you together as friends. Do not deny his friendship for fear that you could feel more for him.
Zinnia propped her elbow on the arm of the chair before resting her chin on her hand. Her gaze was settled out the window as she thought on Arwen's words. In her heart she knew that Arwen was right. In the end, she would leave and go back to Lórien most likely never seeing Megilindir again. Even if she did, it would probably be years until their paths would once again cross. She didn't think she could take years of not knowing how she truly felt. Speaking to him of it might clarify her emotions.
Well I do know one thing. She sat up and grinned at Arwen. I am not wearing another dress.
~~~~~~~~~
Megilindir once again smoothed out his tunic as he waited patiently in the garden. Nervousness was making him twitchy as he sat there. It had been building in him since he had written the note, only growing through the day. As he sat there now once again the question of her showing up or not weighed on his mind. And once again the foolishness of this whole thing slapped him in his face.
He had never done anything like this before. Normally if he found a female attractive he had no problems approaching them. Of course none of them had stirred his interest as the human Galadhrim did. He had been with a few maidens before, enough to know what he did not want. Zinnia made him wonder what he was looking for, or even if he was looking.
He knew that her spirit was strong. That was even more attractive than how her eyes would spark with annoyance at one of the twins or even himself. And though he would never admit it, a few times when they spared he allowed her to best him simply to feel her weight on him. As ungentlemanly as he thought that was, it was a temptation that he had been unable to resist. He smiled when he realized that had only been a few times, the others she had taken him to the ground with a skill that had surprised him at first.
'Perhaps that is it.' He drummed his fingers on the small table he sat at. Though they were few, he did know of female warriors. There were a handful in the ranks of the rangers. Even more along the out skirts of Rohan. The settlers far away from the protection of the King did not hesitate to train their women. Two swords were better than one, no matter the gender holding it. That was only in the world of men. Elves saw no gender, if one wished to be a warrior one was trained. If they had the skill for it, they were allowed their wishes.
He had to admit that she was as well trained as any of his rangers. She may not have the experience, but the skill was there. Thinking further he decided that he liked that. The knowledge that he would not have to worry for her safety. A frown formed on his lips then. 'Why am I worried to protect her? She is not my charge. . she is. . a friend.' He sighed and shook his head once again smoothing out imaginary wrinkles from his tunic.
"Thank you for the flowers." He jumped and turned seeing Zinnia standing at the entrance way. She was wearing a high collared tunic with matching leggings, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "You were distracted, I could not resist."
"I did not think you would come."
"For a few hours I did not think I would either." Her eyes traveled to the table behind him before looking back to his questioning.
"I thought you would like to share dinner with me this night." He held his hand out to the chair across from the one he had been sitting at. Her answer was to smile at him and move to the chair sitting down. He sat across from her a small silence stretching between them as they regarded each other. He suddenly realized he was happy that she wore leggings instead of a dress. She was beautiful in a dress, but even more so when she was comfortable.
"Your notes. . . they were very flattering." She blushed slightly but didn't drop her eyes. "Thank you for such sentiments." He cleared his throat and shifted slightly.
"You are welcome, I'm afraid that I am not the scholar that you seem to be though. I have no head for writing."
"They were lovely." She moved and sat up straighter pressing her palms against the table. "I do trust you will not be mangling the rose bushes any longer though." He grinned at her playful tone.
"You have been talking to Erestor."
"No, simply saw the aftermath."
"The bushes will grow back." She grinned and her eyes dropped to his hands.
"I was also speaking of your hands. It was how I knew it was you." This time he did blush not even having thought of that. He looked down seeing the various scratches.
"An oversight." She was still smiling when he met her eyes again.
"You had this all set up just for me?" The table they sat at had been brought out from the main house. A tablecloth of a deep blue covered it with plates set up fit for any meal at Elrond's table.
"Yes, I had some help." He would have to remember to thank Glorfindel and Erestor for setting this up for him. Glorfindel had caught him ordering a simple plate of fruits and bread for dinner. After a short interrogation the reason had come out and the Eldar had dragged him down to the library enlisting the dark haired advisor's help to make sure no one else knew of it. They had of course then, in their wisdom, expanded on his plans slightly. Silence stretched again before Zinnia moved and settled back into the chair.
"Are you as confused as I am?" A sort of relief came over him.
"I. . think I am." She nodded slowly and looked down to the empty plate in front of her.
"I like the time we spend together." Her eyes moved up to meet his but otherwise she was still.
"As do I." He moved forward grabbing the wine bottle and opening it. She nodded when he motioned to her glass and he filled it before filling his. "I propose we spend more time together before you leave." Moving forward she took her glass and looked down into it as if thinking.
"As what?"
"Friends, I would like to know you more." She looked up to him. The answer had been immediate and she relaxed slightly knowing that he was not expecting anything more. If he had answered any other way she would most likely have left.
"Then it is a proposal I can not refuse, it is my want as well." He smiled and relaxed himself.
"A toast." He said holding up his glass. She smiled and leaned forward.
"To what?"
"Friends."
"To friends," said Zinnia with a nod as their glasses clinked together. They both took a drink. "Now friend." She set the glass down and leaned forward. "Tell me more of being a ranger." He laughed seeing the curiosity in her eyes.
~~~~~~~~~
Megilindir = bladesinger
Ada = Father