Disclaimer: Belongs to Tolkien not me.
Mel0Yel0#03: Sorry for the wait. I had computer problems. As for finding the posters...I would try someplace like a music or movie store. They might have them.
Niere-86: I'm glad you like it.
Raz 42492: Thanks.
ElvenMaidenHobbitGirl: Thanks! I'm glad you think so.
loveroflegolas: Thank you.
Lady Fae: Thanks.
TriGemini: I hope they do :)
Stormy: Thank You.
Ilenya the fair: I'm glad you like it. :)
Anonymous: Thanks.
Okanim: Thank you. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
GinnyPotter4eva: Thanks. As for the curtsies...she won't be giving to many of those. She'd end up falling over. hehe
Mel0Yel0#03: Don't worry, I was just giving you a hard time. :) I knew what you meant.
Myri78: What part didn't you like? If it was the part about her staying with Haldir, well lets just say that it won't be quite like the other stories where that happens. :)
aewnaur: Thanks. I'm glad you liked that part. :)
Angel312: I'm glad you like it. :)
Brianna stumbles out of bed and dresses in the silver-green garb of the Galadrim. She brushes the tangles out of her hair and pulls it back in a low ponytail and then walks out of her room. Haldir is sitting at a desk looking over some papers with a scowl on his face.
"Its about time you awoke. You missed the morning meal," Haldir says without looking up from what he is doing.
"I don't eat much in the mornings anyway." She grabs an apple out of a nearby basket and plops into a chair on the other side of his desk. "Are you normally this cheerful?" she asks sarcastically.
"Only in my present company," he replies dryly. He sighs and looks up at her. "Today you will train for three hours and then you will tour the healing talans and make out a list of the supplies you will need for this MASH unit. Then we will discuss possible recruits for your unit. After that there will be a ceremony where you will be officially named Captain of said unit," he tells Brianna.
"Great! So who will be training me?" she asks.
"Me," he replies as he stands up and retrieves his weapons from the corner of the room.
"Oh, great," she says in false enthusiasm and stands up. "I'm gonna die," she mumbles to herself as she follows him out the door.
Once they get to the training fields he finds her a suitable sword to train with from the weapons shed. Brianna pulls the sword out of its sheath and admires it. "Somehow I thought it would weigh more," she says in amasement when she is able to hold it with one hand.
"Elvish swords are crafted to be light and deadly. This one however, is not sharpened so that any injury during training is minimal," Haldir tells her as he unsheaths his sword.
Brianna eyes his sword wearily. "That's nice for you but what happens when I get hit with your sword?"
"That won't happen," Haldir says and motions for Brianna to raise her sword. Brianna raises her sword and grasps it with both hands in front of her she instictively widens her stance to brace herself for an attack. Haldir reguards her stance for a minute and then lowers his sword. "Why may I ask did you chose to postition yourself like that?"
"It just felt natural," she shrugs. "It's not right is it?"
"On the contrary," he says. "It is almost perfect. It gives you balance for defending an attack and allows you to easily step in to attack your opponent," he tells her as he demonstrates what he's talking about.
The next hour is spent on him showing her different blocks and attacks. Haldir would never admit to it but he is very impressed at her ability with the sword. Her skill with the bow, he discovers later, is not so good.
"You're still holding it wrong," he sighs and steps up to her. He repositions her stance and then moves her hands to the proper positions. "Now, release the arrow," he says after stepping back. Brianna lets go and the arrow sails about halfway to the target before sticking into the ground.
"I'm never going to get this," Brianna sighs.
"It just takes time and practice," he assures her but inside he's beginning to agree with her. "That's all for today. Tomorrow we will start with the bow."
The rest of the day is spent with the healers, forgers and then unfortunately Haldir again. She and Haldir had spent about three hours arguing over recriuts for the hospital unit. Brianna was more interested in how much they knew about healing and how easily they could be trained while Haldir was looking for more soldiers. Brianna finally won when Haldir's brother Rumil stepped in and pointed out that whoever they chose could be trained to fight easier than they could be trained to heal.
That evening Brianna is trying to braid her hair without much luck. She knows how to braid hair, just not her own especially with Haldir standing nearby filling her in on what is expected of her at the ceremony. She sighs in frustration and brushes out the mess she created, again.
Haldir rolls his eyes and steps behind her. He quickly seperates and braids her hair in the style of the Galadrim soldiers. "Now, if you are ready, its time to go," he states in irritaion.
Brianna gives him a dirty look but remains silent as she follows him out the door. Haldir leads her through a series of walkways and stairs before they arrive in a large clearing in the center of the city. Brianna looks around in awe at the lavish decorations. Garlands made of flowers are strung everwhere and lanterns hang from the trees and set on the tables to light the clearing.
Haldir leads Brianna to a seat at the head table and after she's seated he sits two chairs down from her. All of the Captains of the Galadrim have the honor of sitting at the Lord and Lady's table. Brianna turns and glances at the Elf next to her. "Calenril," she smiles. "It's good to see you're doing well."
"Lady Brianna." He returns her smile but his eyes give away his confusion as to what she said until Rumil, who is sitting on the other side of Calenril, translates her words for him.
Calenril smiles and begins saying something in Elvish for Rumil to translate.
"He says that he wouldn't be if it wasn't for you. And he says that you deserve the title that will be bestowed upon you tonight and thank you for saving his life. He also says that I should teach you Elvish so that you know what Haldir is ranting about when you are training," Rumil grins.
Brianna glances down the table at Haldir and chuckles. "I think I have a fairly good idea. I know that I'm terrible with the bow and it irritates him."
Rumil repeats what she said in Elvish for Calenril and then the three of them begin laughing which draws a scowl from Haldir.
Celeborn and Galadriel enter the clearing and everyone stands and bows to them. After Brianna sits back down Galadriel, who is seated to the left of Brianna, turns to her and smiles.
"I hear that your training is going well."
"With the sword, yes. But with the bow, well...," Brianna trails off.
Galadriel smiles at her. "Do not worry. You will improve with time. How are things fairing with you and Haldir?" Galadriel smiles knowingly. She knows the answer to her question already but she wants to hear what Brianna will have to say about it.
Brianna sighs. "Is he always so cold toward people or is it just me?"
"You have to understand something about Haldir," Galadriel replies softly. "His parents died before he reached his majority leaving him to care for his two younger brothers. He joined the guard and took on the responibility of raising Rumil and Orophin at an age where most would still be carefree children worried about nothing more than which elleth they could gain the attentions of. He had to give up many things in order to get where he is today and that has taken it's toll on him. He has built a wall around his emotions that I fear he doesn't know how to break through."
Brianna glances down the table at Haldir and then looks back at the Lady. "That's so sad that someone would have to go through that."
"Indeed," Galadriel replies softly.
Lord Celeborn stands and Brianna's attention focuses on him along with everyone else's. "I am honored to announce that we are here to celebrate a new addition to the Galadrim." As Celeborn speaks Galadriel translates his words for Brianna in her mind."Not only are we gaining a new unit that will be most benificial to assuring the safety and well being of our warriors on the battlefield but we are also gaining a Captain, who with her advanced knowledge in healing will reassure us all that our loved ones are in good hands during our times of worry. Lady Brianna?" Lord Celeborn motions for Brianna to stand next to him. He smiles down at her and then nods to Haldir.
Haldir approaches them and subtly indicates for Brianna to kneel down in front of Lord Celeborn and himself. He then recites the Captain's oath of the Galadrim in Elvish and asks her if she willingly pledges to hold to the oath. While no one translates the words to her Haldir has already told her the meaning and instructed her on the proper response to this important part of the ceremony.
"Antan vandanya. (Quenya: I give my solemn promise.) Amin naa lle nai. (I am yours to command.)" Brianna replies.
"You are hearby named Captain of the Galadrim and will from this day forth be addressed as such," Haldir says and then steps to the side.
"It is tradition that I present a gift to the new Captain," Lord Celeborn tells her and holds out his hands which holds a beautifully decorated sword. "This sword's name is Telemmaitë. It means firey spirit. I believe it suites you well," he grins.
Brianna takes the sword from him. "Thank you Lord Celeborn. I am honored to receive such a gift."
Celeborn nods. "Rise Captain Brianna, it is time to feast."
Brianna stands up and turns to go back to her seat but comes face to face with Haldir. "Well done, Captain," he says before continuing to his chair.
Brianna watches him in surprise. She never expected to hear a compliment from the cold Marchwarden. 'Miracles do exist,' she thinks to herself as she sits back down. "Haldir is not as cold and uncaring as he tries to be. Look closer and you will see his true nature," Galadriel's voice whispers in her mind. "Did he not comfort you when your fear of heights overcame you? Would someone so cold and uncaring as you claim him to be do such a thing?"
"Ah, the old don't judge a book by its cover thing. Alright, I'll try to get to know him a little better before I decide how big a jerk he is," Brianna replies in her silent conversation with the Lady. Galadriel looks over at her and laughs softly.
After eating many of the Elves begin dancing. Brianna watches them for awhile before finding a secluded spot near a fountain at the edge of the clearing. She sits on the ground and sighs as she leans against a tree and closes her eyes.
"You should be dancing and enjoying yourself."
Brianna looks up to find Haldir sitting on a branch above her. "I'm not one for dancing," she replies. Brianna stands up and leans on the branch he's sitting on. "What about you? Why aren't you dancing?"
"I'm not one for dancing either," he answers as he swings off the branch. "Yesterday the Lady said that you are here because of a wish. What did she mean by that?"
"Oh," Brianna sighs and slowly walks toward the fountain. "It's really kinda silly."
Haldir falls into step next to her. "It must not be silly if the Valar granted it."
Brianna glances up at him and laughs softly. "First off you have to understand. In my world there is no magical powers such as the Lady and the wizards here have. There are people that claim to have magical powers but really none of its real. And in my world man is the only race of people," she explains as they continue to walk down the path behind the fountain.
"Anyway, children who still believe in magical places and fairytales believe that if you wish on the first star you see in the night sky your wish will come true. The night I came here I had, had...well, lets just say I had a bad day..."
"And so you wished on the first star you saw," Haldir says with the first real smile Brianna has seen from him.
Brianna chuckles. "When I was a child I wished on a star millions of times." She stops and looks at him. "So why was this wish granted when the others weren't?"
"Perhaps," Haldir starts as they begin walking again. "You truly wanted this one wish where as the others were just hopeful wishes of a child."
Brianna glances at Haldir and notices that he looks more relaxed than he has been and she smiles. "You should relax more often. It suits you."
Haldir looks at her and sighs. "Not very often do I have the luxuary of relaxing. My duties don't allow it."
Brianna looks up at him and shakes her head. "You may be the March Warden, Haldir but you have Captains for a reason. You just need to learn how to delegate."
Haldir chuckles. "Lady Galadriel has said that before."
They stop when they get back to the clearing and Brianna looks over at him. "You should take her advice. She is the wise Lady of Light, is she not? Now, with that said, I enjoyed our walk but if you will excuse me I believe I will turn in for the night."
"Goodnight, Lady Brianna," Haldir says with a slight bow.
"Goodnight, March Warden."