having fun with the entertaining funny stuff. But I guess love isn't always
fun eh? shrug Well I still don't own the elves, but I did have a bit of
fun with our new friend Haldir the other day. He was wearing this uh
coconut, leaf concoction. I didn't get it really, and I wondered how he
er..hid everything so I did a little exploring. He did not mind one bit. If
you ever see an elf walking around in a couple coconuts, and a pot leaf,
jump him! IMMEDIATELY. Anyway I'm off to watch the elf dance... I'm taking
bets on how long it takes to expose something.
Chapter 22 - Two Paths For One Heart
"Galadriel, she is the lady of Lothlorien." Legolas answered with a smile, as he walked
over to where she lay on the bedroll. He reached his hand out to her, which
she took and helped her to stand. Laura's mind was full of questions, and
she wasn't sure she should ask them. What would she tell him if he were to
ask the reason for these questions? 'Oh, the lady told me I need to chose an
elf to stay with and Haldir is the other choice.'
No, she could not tell him such a thing. He had already seen her kiss, or
rather being kissed by the elf before. He didn't need to hear about her new
found doubts, and rather private thoughts regarding Haldir. She would have
to work these questions out in her own mind, and quickly. They would reach
Lothlorien, and her fork in the road in ten days.
Legolas offered her breakfast, which she declined, her thoughts too
confusing and jumbled to be hungry. He then packed the remainder of their
things on the horses, and they were off. Travel was swift, and boring as
Laura already knew. She would rather have stayed in Gondor, would rather be
talking to Arwen, or exploring the labyrinth like passageways, and halls of
Minas Tirith.
The long days of travel passed slowly, and mostly in silence. Legolas began
to wonder if Laura was growing tired, so they would make camp earlier each
night. Still however her state did not change, and she withdrew into her
head more and more. On the fifth night of their travels, Laura lay asleep on
her bedroll, while Legolas sat away from her by the small fire he had built.
He looked on Laura with concern as she thrashed about in her sleep, moaning,
and crying. He stood from the small rock he'd been sitting upon, and was
crossing to wake her when she bolted upright with an ear piercing scream. He
rushed to her side, and knelt. Taking her hand, he observed how her chest
rose and fell quickly in fright.
He took her into his arms, and rubbed her back soothingly. He whispered into
her ear words that she did not understand, but comforted her just the same.
Soon her breathing returned to normal, and he felt she had fallen into sleep
once more. He gently lay her back onto her bedroll, and lay on his own
beside her. His presence was a comfort for her, and she did not dream again
that night.
When the ninth day approached its end and darkness had fallen without the
two stopping to rest Laura grew angry. She didn't want to go to Lothlorien,
and she didn't wish to get there any faster than they should. She was about to
complain that he was pushing the horses too hard when ahead of them she
spotted what she knew to be the darkness of a forest.
Tall trees stood in front of them and Laura felt as though she were suddenly
torn in two. As if her heart longed for this place as strongly as it longed
for the elf beside her. Suddenly she noticed Legolas was pulling his horse
to a stop. She looked back questioningly. "Legolas? What is it?"
Legolas looked at her with a sad smile and pushed his horse forward to stand
near by her own horses side. "Those are the first words you have spoken to
me in days. That that lay ahead is Lothlorien, the Golden Wood. We rest here
until morning. We will approach the border in day light. We will then spend
the day there in rest, and peace."
Laura closed her eyes and laughed. "Sorry Legolas, I've had a lot to think
about these last days of our journey. I love you." His smile brightened
immediately and he reached a hand over to caress her cheek. "And I you."
The two camped not far from the Southern border of Lothlorien, and lay or
rest in peace all night. Laura found her heart at ease and she felt nothing but
comfort in Legolas' arms. When morning came Legolas made his way
to the woods alone to warn of their coming and ensure Laura's safety.
He was met by three elves known to him though he felt others lay in hiding
above them. The three to drop effortlessly to the forest floor were
brothers. Haldir the Marchwarden, Rumil, and Orophin his brothers. The four
exchanged warm greetings and Legolas told them he traveled with another and
they wished to take refuge in the Golden Wood for the day, and night.
Haldir told Legolas their kin from the North would always be welcome in the
wood, but asked who it was he travels with. As Legolas now walked back to
where he'd left Laura and the horses he thought he did not like the way
Haldir grinned when Legolas told him that it was Laura he traveled with.
Laura stood and greeted Legolas upon his return to camp. She had already
packed everything they'd removed for camp and was ready to move on. Each
took the reins to a horse and set off on foot for the trees. Laura's heart
felt lighter, and freer with each step she took towards the woods she had
feared reaching for so many days.
Legolas however felt an unexplained feeling of unease. He felt as though he
was running into a trap rather than into the most peaceful, wonderful forest
in all of Middle Earth.
"Welcome Lady Laura to the Golden Wood, my beloved home. Fair Lothlorien."
They heard his voice before they saw him, jumping effortlessly again from
the trees, and landing directly before them.
Laura's heart fluttered within her chest, and the butterflies that had lay
in hibernation for most of her life woke now in full force. He was
beautiful, breathtaking, a piece of real, breathing art. He wore a grey and
black tunic made to blend into his surroundings, and she noticed his sword
at his side. She let the joke on the edge of her lips pass, as her eyes
roamed over this elf.
The three stood in silence for some time and at one point Haldir shut his
eyes as if he were listening to some unseen, and unheard voice. When he
opened his eyes again his face held a warm smile. "Come, I will show you to
your talan that you may take your rest in. Later you will be shown to the
bathing area as well if that is your wish." Legolas nodded, and placed a
possessive hand on Laura's back.
Both followed closely behind Haldir. Laura had placed an arm around Legolas'
waist while his hand remained firmly on Laura's back. Soon Haldir stopped
under a tree that looked very much like the others. The only difference
being that when Haldir put his hand to it, a white rope appeared as if from
no where and Laura followed it's length seeing that it ran the entire length
of the tree.
This he presented to Legolas. Reluctantly removing his hand from Laura's
back he ran up the long rope until he disappeared between branches, and
leaves. A whistle was then heard and Haldir took the rope again, and handed
it off to Laura. She looked from the rope to the trees where Legolas had
disappeared, then to Haldir, panic on her face. "My Lady?" Haldir
questioned, concern in the tone of his voice.
Laura tried to speak but all she could manage was a squeak. "Do you need
assistance in ascending?" Laura shook her head no furiously, and managed to
squeak out one word. 'high' before she ran from the woods and back to where
they had entered the wood. Legolas cursed silently as he jumped from the
trees much the way Haldir had, only landing slightly less effortlessly at
the bottom.
"Where had she gone?" He asked Haldir.
"She had run back to the border. It would appear she dislikes heights."
With a quick glare aimed at the other elf, Legolas had run off in search of
Laura leaving an amused Haldir behind. He muttered a 'humans' under his
breath, and set off after them.
"Laura." Legolas found her standing on the edge of the border, arms wrapped
tightly around her shoulders.
"Laura? What is it?" He asked, putting a comforting hand on her back.
She gave a short uncomfortable laugh and turned to Legolas. He could see her
cheeks grew red as she began to speak.
"Err, well you see, I'm uhh slightly afraid of heights, and well those
trees, they are tall."
Legolas offered her a sympathetic smile but Laura saw the amusement in his
eyes. He then pulled her into his arms for a comforting hug.
"Come,"
They heard a voice behind them, and Laura tore herself from Legolas' arms.
Both looked and found Haldir standing impatiently near.
"I will take you to a place you may rest and the ground."
Legolas noted with annoyance that Laura smiled a little too gratefully at
Haldir before walking over to his side, and pulling him into a hug. Legolas
also noted the satisfied grin on Haldir's face as she did this. Legolas
could not help the scowl that he sent to Haldir then.
Haldir led the two deeper into the wood until they came to a large pond with
a waterfall flowing freely down from a rocky cliff side.
"This is where you may take your rest and bathe. It is far enough from the
borders to be safe and." He paused for a moment, and looked Laura in the
eye. "private. You know where to find the borders should you need me."
Legolas nodded his thanks while Laura took to staring at Haldir again. His
eyes seemed to shine in a new beautiful way while he was here among the
trees, in his beloved home. She thought Legolas' blue eyes were beautiful,
and they are, but Haldir's were a sort of hauntingly beautiful ice blue she'd
never seen before. She was mesmerized by their beauty.
Before she knew what she was doing she had left Legolas' side, and was
rushing after a retreating Haldir.
"Wait Haldir!" She called after him. "May I speak with you a moment in
private?"
Legolas who had taken several steps in pursuit stopped immediately with a
frown upon hearing the word private. Haldir stopped his retreat and turned
to await her at his side.
"You may my lady, come." Turning Laura waved to Legolas and taking Haldir's
arm they walked.
"Let me know when we're out of earshot of pretty boy back there will you?"
Haldir turned and looked at Laura as if she had grown an extra head, and
Laura sighed. "Inform me if you will when we have walked far enough from
Legolas so we may speak and he will not hear."
Haldir nodded, and turned from the path they walked on and took her into a
small clearing completely surrounded by tall bushes. He turned to her once
they had reached the middle, and with a warm smile, reached out and pulled
a green leaf from Laura's hair.
"You may speak, this clearing is protected from those outside it in both
sight, and sound." Laura took a deep breath, and taking his hand in her own
began with difficulty.
"Haldir I. well I had a dream several nights ago. I was running through a
beautiful golden wood and I remember feeling free and happy. Such as I have
never felt before in my life. But then a musical voice began speaking to me
as if it were on the cool wind that swept through my hair, and past me.
"The voice said I was bound for her home, she never said the name of the
wood. However when I awoke, I knew her, the voice who had spoken to me
belonged to Galadriel. I asked Legolas who she was and he told me she was
the lady of Lothlorien." Laura stopped speaking then as fear of the choice
she must make once again took hold.
She began to fidget with his hand that she held, and shifted rapidly from
foot to foot. Haldir sensed her nervousness.
"It is not unheard of for my lady to speak to distant travelers bound for
our woods. Is there more to this dream?"
Laura looked down to their clasped hands and nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Go on then." Laura looked up into his eyes and found warmth, and comfort in
them so she began again.
"She told me that here in these woods I would have to come to a difficult
decision. She said here I would have to choose my path, that one would be
full of love and happiness, and the other danger but that path goes with
Legolas whom I love, while the other is here in these woods with."
She paused again unsure if she should tell him when he spoke.
"With me." It was said in a whisper.
Laura gasped and released Haldir's hand.
"How did you know?!" He smiled.
"Galadriel has shown me in her mirror my lady. That is where she has learned
of it herself. I have seen what may be should you choose this path. I
welcome you into my heart if that is what you wish."
Laura was shocked that two immortal elves would allow her into their lives.
"You should not be so free with your heart Haldir. You know I am mortal, and
will die do you not?"
A look crossed Haldir's face that Laura though to be anger, but when he
spoke again he spoke calmly and warmly.
"My lady, elves do not give of their hearts and selves lightly. I know the
risks and yet I have seen the joy this can bring for both you and I. You are
indeed mortal but has Legolas also not given you his heart freely? I do not
doubt my lady, and her foresight. I do not doubt what can be, and I will not
doubt my heart. I do not doubt Legolas's heart and as he thinks highly of
you says much of you." Laura laughed.
"I'm not all that great, I think he just likes playing the hero, and I need
to be rescued quite often." Haldir smiled.
"If you worry I will not grow to love you as Legolas has, spend the day with
me. Let me see the real you, as well as allow you to see the real me."
Laura frowned, and looked back the way they had come. "Legolas?"
Haldir took Laura's hand back in his and lifted it to his lips where he lay
a feather light kiss on her knuckles.
"I will return you to Legolas if that is what you wish." She turned back to
him with tears in her eyes.
"I feel torn in two Haldir. I love him, I love Legolas. I do not wish to
hurt him but do I not owe it to myself as well as you to explore this other
path?"
Haldir nodded. "As well as to Legolas Laura."
The tears in her eyes fell freely now, and Haldir's free hand wiped them
away as they fell.
"I will tell him the truth, and I will spent the little time I have here
with you." Haldir grinned, and pulled Laura into a hug.
She laughed, and wiped at her face. "I was beginning to suspect elves did
not hug one another."