He lowered his eyes again, for she was so beautiful, his eyes ached. He could not comprehend the idea that a female would have power. Why her? Why not the silver haired Lord sitting by her, who also seemed to radiate power, just not of the same potency.
"Galdrion of Cahras Galadron, you come to the lands of Lorien seeking something that was lost to you long ago. Would you tell all assembled what this item of such extreme importance to you is, that you would leave your homeland in order to search for it?" enquired Celeborn coldly.
Galdrion looked around him, noticing for the first time the presence of others, even females, assembled within the bright room. Even in matters of business, always must they have their females present! He finally found his tongue. "My Lord, what I have to say is males business, not for the ears of unworthy ones."
There was a collective gasp around the circle of those assembled, and all hand flew to their knife hilts. Celeborn regarded he elf before him coldly.
"There are no 'unworthy ones' here", Celeborn said.
"Unless you count the sand running scum before you, My Lord and Lady," all looked up to see the golden haired March warden leaning against the doorway, his face eerily expressionless.
"Marchwarden, you speak out of turn. Is there a reason behind your insolence towards a visitor of Lorien?" enquired Celeborn, intent to see this scenario play out to its fullest degree.
"Yes My Lord. Unprovoked, he not only beat a young elleth he claims is his wife upon the borders after raping her, but he struck the Lady Warden Ardenia." Another gasp could be heard in the room, for any one who struck the Lady Ardenia was either bereft of their senses, or in pieces by now.
Galdrion turned to see Haldir in the doorway also. "She interfered with my right to punish my wife. If she had dared such insolence upon my lands, she would be beaten and left for the raiders of the desert to have their way with."
All of the Lorien elves present went white with fury, and many a one had to be restrained by their neighbours, eager to tear this foreigner apart for his crimes against both females and their beloved commander alike. Haldir walked over to the upstanding figure of the sand runner.
"What makes you think you won't meet the same fate, foreigner, if you cannot keep that offending tongue behind your teeth, or your hands to yourself?" he asked icily. Ardenia was capable of taking care of herself, but he would let no male raise a hand against her if he could possibly help it.
"He won't, Haldir, because his crime was against his wife and the Lady Ardenia. If she wishes to avenge it, (which, knowing the Lady, she more than likely already has) then it is her say. No Haldir. Come stand in your place upon council, and hear what this foreigner seeks in our lands, or remove yourself before your actions make you the one on trial."
Scowling, Haldir took his place among those assembled, to the left of the Lord, and finally, The Lady spoke.
"Will you now tell the assembly why you have come? Or do I speak for you?"
Galdrion stopped glaring at the March warden to address the Lord.
"I come seeking an errant wife, one who escaped my ruling and fled, defying me. I come to reclaim her. She bore the name Lorasar."
Haldir sat forward, his hand gripping the table before him, his knuckles turning white. The tension was thick within the air. Whispers resounded off of the smooth walls. Lorasar, one of our own? The female warden? She is in Imladris. Yes Imladris. She is married there. But this man is her husband, so he claims. Vile foreign filth, believing he can own such a female.
"Galdrion, if you will not address the Lady when you answer her question, then you will not be permitted to speak anymore, and she will speak your motives for all to hear and judge."
"Galdrion of Cahras Galadron, the Lady you seek came to us some centuries ago, and we cared for her, and gave her a home. But she is no longer hear. She is in Imladris, with her husband, Glorfindel, the Slayer of Darkness, and it is up to her whether she returns with you or not." A voice was heard from the doorway, and in walked Ardenia, a bruise already appearing upon her fair face.
Galdrion grit his teeth against his rage for this female, who dared speak out against him. "Do not say any more, woman, you speak out of turn."
"She speaks within her right, Galdrion, and you would do well to realise that your foreign customs regarding females do not apply here, so you should treat all with their due respect."
"My Lord, Lady, I come baring news of the wife, her name is Sahara. She is being cared for, and is healing. Also, he brought six other wives with him, and hey will not speak to any, to scared to defy their 'Lords'" she spoke the title with disdain "ruling."
"You speak of the one once called Sahara. She is 'She Who Weeps Pale Tears' now. And she is mine. I demanded no medical attention for her! What has so given you the right to interfere yet again, you insolent inferior female! Your husband should have beaten this insolence from you long ago!"
A collective murmur an through the group, before all went deathly quiet. Haldir was being physically restrained by Celeborn and Orophin, who had been present all along. Ardenia approached the smirking foreigner slowly, who was happy about the rise he had gotten about their commander. Obviously, he was this females husband. Maybe he had hit a sore spot when he brought up this females lack of discipline. Ardenia stopped inches from Galdrion. "I demand the right of combat with the foreigner, as is my right for the insult he has given both me, the March warden, and the female in the healers as he speak."
"I accept the 'challenge'", replied Galdrion, his eyes never leaving hers for a second. This would be the easiest combatant he had eve face.
"The request is justly made, and is within your right Ardenia, but I cannot allow it. He must leave Lorien as quickly as possible."
"Galdrion, you are permitted to stay the night in Lorien, no more. Your wives are welcome, should they seek to stay, but you will not raise your hand to any whilst you are here. You can continue your journey tomorrow, but I'll warn you, you will find none gracious to your cause here, nor at any other elven dwelling."
Galdrion turned, and left the room, pushing past Ardenia as he did. Ardenia stood still, keeping her anger firmly in control, before she too left the room, followed by Haldir.
"I would have killed him for speaking thusly of you love." Haldir ground out, as he came to walk beside her on the way to their talan.
Ardenia smiled at him. "I know. I would have killed him for speaking thusly of me. But we can't, as we have been ordered not to, so we need to avoid contact with the foreigner, and I suggest that we channel our rage in to something more productive."
"A beating?" Haldir asked suggestively, running his hand over his wifes behind, and slapping it lightly, playing on the words that the foreigner had suggested. She laughed, leaning up to whisper seductively in his ear, "Only if I get to be the one holding the stick!" before running to their talan, he following quickly behind, their rage forgotten, replaced by their ever present lust for one another.
Elladan and Elrohir had been waiting a long time. They impatiently began to pace the room, awaiting Allarahs expected declaration of undying love. They had not been 'allowed' to make love to her since that one night, the longest of all nights, in which she had submitted to them and let them claim her. Now, she spurned their advances, and played 'hard to get', she called it. It frustrated them no end. The left the room at long last, and went to speak to their father."Adar, it has not worked. She has not come to us."
Elrond, highly amused by the way this entire situation was unfolding, made a show of looking surprised, then said, "My sons, it is likely then that these Lorien females are difficult to please. May hap you bring her expensive and rare gifts. Perhaps then she will see how stubborn she has been, and give in to you." The two twins looked at each other.
"What do you mean, expensive and rare? What would you suggest Adar?"
"Jewelry of Mithril, exotic perfumes and silks. You know, all the things that females consider luxuries. A rare song bird. Use your imaginations my sons." The two left their fathers study as quickly as they had come, talking excitedly. If all went well, they may have Allarah again by the end of the week!
Allarah came out of the shadowed alcove she had been hiding in, barely able to contain her laughter. Elrond had tears of laughter in his own eyes, and the two laughed long and hard at the two rascals so obviously gone on the Lorien warden. When Allarah had finally stopped laughing long enough to speak, she turned to Elrond.
"Did you have to tell them I wanted perfume? It aggravates my sinuses!"
Glorfindel and Lorasar paused outside the study, and heard the laughter of two within the room. They knocked, and entered to see Allarah and Elrond both dashing tears of mirth from their eyes.
"Yes, Allarah, we will finish this conversation another time," Elrond spoke up, before proceeding to inform the two newcomers of the twins folly.
"Well, at least the kitchen staff will be safe from their antics for a while." Commented Glorfindel, sitting in a chair by the fire. Allarah left then, and Elrond smiled at her fondly. She was much like a daughter to him now, and she did make him feel younger. It was high time his sons settled down, and she was the perfect elleth to keep them in hand!
"Lorasar, I have received a message from Lorien, regarding the arrival of a dark skinned visitor demanding to see you." Lorasar paled.
"He is on his way to Imladris, and will be here in a matter of weeks."
"Lorasar? Who is this dark skinned visitor?" asked Glorfindel, confused by both his wifes reaction, and the 'dark skin'.
"Galdrion." She whispered, a look of disbelief and shock on her face.
"Who is he?" asked Glorfindel, intent upon knowing who could possibly make his wife so fearful.
"My husband." She whispered huskily, before tears began to fall down her pale face.
A/N: okay. This will be the last chapter for a week sorry guys. I'll get the next one up by hopefully Sunday, but think you can wait until then? Sorry.
And as for the retreat…blerch.
I don't want to go.
I want to stay and ebat the crap out of Galdrion. Even I hate him, and I created him!
And thanks for your review Silmarwen. It's always nice to hear from readers. And I wanted to give him so much more than a blood nose, but hey, Ardenia had to restrain herself. Otherwise there would be nothing left for Glorfy and Lorasar to kick the crap out of later!
Lady Anck su Namun. I didn't know elves made chocolate! An idea is forming….lol. it involves chocolate body paint and the twins. Mmmm. Or maybe Glorfy…yummy. A chocolate covered Glorfy. There's no way I could say no to that!
So last chapter for now, so I made it a long one