A/N;
Words in '….' are Sindarin. This is mainly in conversations which involved Rúmil since he does not speak much Westron. Words in "…." are Westron.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The journey to Lórien was fairly uneventful save for Brego's excited gallop across Rohan's plains. Thankfully Faerveren had been handed over to her mother and Aragorn was an experienced enough rider to cope with sudden change in pace.
After a week and a half the group arrived on the outskirts of the Golden Wood. Haldir inhaled deeply.
"Home," he breathed turning to watch Eldarion's and Elboron's reaction. For once both boys seemed to be incapable of speech. Faramir's reaction was similar while Aragorn, Arwen and Glorfindel looked joyous. Éowyn who had never had any dealings with Elves until she met Elrohir and Elladan in Minas Tirith was a little apprehensive.
"Lady Éowyn," murmured Haldir reaching over and taking her hand. "There is no reason to fear."
Éowyn looked at Haldir and took a deep breath. "I know, but I cannot help but remember the stories of a sorceress in the Golden Wood."
"The Lady Galadriel sailed West three years after the War," said Haldir, hoping to allay Éowyn's fears. "Estel we should dismount. It is easier to traverse on foot," called Haldir. "And boys, I need you stay close!"
Eldarion and Elboron, who had been edging further and further from the group, stopped in their tracks and looked disgruntled.
"What's the danger?" asked Eldarion.
"That is," said Haldir as two Elves appeared from the trees. Both were dressed in the silver garb of the Lórien guard and held a loosely drawn bow in their hands.
'Who are you and what is your purpose in Lothlórien?' asked one of the guards. He spoke in Sindarin so the question went straight over Elboron and Éowyn's head while Eldarion and Faramir only caught the first part.
Haldir stepped forward and gripped Eldarion's shoulder. The guard who had spoken lowered his bow when he recognised his Captain.
'Marshal Haldir,' he said, dipping his head in greeting.
'Stand down, Celeblas,' commanded Haldir. 'May I introduce King Elessar, Steward Faramir and their families. And Lord Glorfindel.'
'My Lords,' said Celeblas and both he and his companion bowed Aragorn, Glorfindel and Faramir returned the gesture.
'We will take you to Lord Celeborn,' said Celeblas.
"Why didn't he recognised you?" Eldarion asked his father as they set off again.
"Lothlórien is a large forest. A guard can spend as long as a month on patrol. The last time I saw Celeblas, I was about your age," replied Aragorn.
"Oh," said Eldarion. "So he didn't meet you either?" he said turning to Arwen.
"No. I spent a lot of my time here with the other maidens of the Court. We did not often meet the guards other than Haldir and his brothers."
The party travelled in relative silence for about an hour, Elboron and Eldarion trying to take in as much of the forest as possible. Aragorn smiled at their behaviour as he cradled Faerveren his arms. She too was taking in her surrounding but not with the same enthusiasm as he brother.
Eventually they came to a halt in a large clearing Celeborn requested that the company stay put while they went and reported to Celeborn. Haldir gave the boys permission to run around in the glade so long as they did not leave sight of the adults.
Said adults settled on the grass and watched. Aragorn cast his mind back to the last time he had been in the glade and suddenly inhaled sharply.
"Estel?" asked Arwen, resting a hand on his arm.
"The last time I was in this glade, Boromir was at my side and Kalya angrily recounting some part of her history in Gondor to Haldir," replied Aragorn. Haldir looked up sharply. He too remembered that night before the Fellowship had left Lórien.
"Why was she angry?" asked Faramir. "That doesn't sound like Kalya."
"Your brother was persuading us to return to Minas Tirith. Kalya was having none of it and fled. When we found her, Kalya was fuming about what Denethor had done to you," Faramir's eyes widened.
"She didn't want to return?" Aragorn and Haldir shook their heads.
"It took Haldir's fading to persuade her to return," said Aragorn as their escorts reappeared.
'Lord Celeborn will see you now,' said Celeblas.
As the group climbed the stairs to Celeborn's flet, Eldarion and Elboron were trying to take in as much detail as was possible.
"Boys, you will be here for at least a fortnight, you don't have to see everything now," laughed Aragorn.
"Now why does that reprimand sound familiar?" asked a voice. Elboron and Eldarion stopped in their tracks, glancing around for the owner of the voice. Their mouths fell open as a male Elf with white-blonde hair and sharp blue eyes descended the steps in front of them.
"Close your mouth," whispered Haldir, resting a hand on Elboron's shoulder.
'Lord Celeborn, may I present King Elessar and Steward Faramir for the renewed Kingdom of Gondor. And Lord Glorfindel of Imladris,' said Celeblas. All formalities really because Celeborn knew who each adult was having watched Aragorn and Arwen grow up, fought with Glorfindel and met Faramir and Éowyn at Aragorn's coronation. His attention was caught however by the three children.
"And who are these little ones?" he asked.
"Eldarion, son of Aragorn," replied Eldarion with a bow. Following his friend's example Elboron introduced himself.
"Elboron, son of Faramir."
"And this little one is Faerveren," said Aragorn turning his daughter in his arms. Celeborn smiled at each. Faerveren herself was oblivious to the proceedings as she was fast asleep.
"And what do you mean, 'why does that reprimand sound familiar'?" demanded Aragorn.
Celeborn chuckled. "I remember your father saying the same thing when you first visit to Lórien."
"What?" shrugged Aragorn as they began to follow Celeborn to his lounge room. "It's a beautiful land. And I was eight!"
"You weren't the worst. Kalya was!" smiled Celeborn.
"Which made a change," muttered Haldir. Eldarion and Elboron giggled.
"Why do I feel got at?" asked Aragorn, looking desperately at Arwen who smiled back.
"What do you want me to say. You were the worst one of the pair, except when it came Lórien."
"I give up!"
"Mamma?" asked Faerveren as she woke. Aragorn handed the girl over to her mother and she snuggled into Arwen's dress.
"Are you awake, pen dithen?" asked Arwen, tucking a strand of Faerveren's hair behind her ear. Faerveren nodded into her shoulder and raising her head, glanced around. little one
"Where are we?" asked Faerveren.
"Lothlórien," replied Arwen. She turned her daughter around to see those gathered around. Faerveren recognised all except Celeborn.
"Who's that?" she asked, pointing at the Elf Lord and looking up at her mother.
"That is Lord Celeborn. He is my grandsire," replied Arwen. Faerveren fidgeted to be place on the floor. She tottered towards Celeborn and asked to be picked up. Celeborn hoisted her on to his knee and turned wide-eyed to Glorfindel. Kalya had greeted the Elf Lord in more or less the same way nearly hundred years ago!
Getting over his shock, Celeborn said; "How long are you in Lórien?"
"Couple of weeks. May be longer, depending on how long you can spare Rúmil and Haldir," replied Aragorn.
"Oh? How so?" asked Celeborn.
"Well, this pair," Aragorn indicated Eldarion and Elboron, "Have a tendency to take the law into their own hands especially when Kalya is concerned. Haldir offered to help calm their aggressiveness."
"I see. Well, Rúmil comes off rotation this evening so he is off duty for the next three weeks. While Haldir starts his rotation again in a weeks time, I can post him closer to the City so he will be around in the evenings," said Celeborn.
Eldarion and Elboron looked nervous. Neither knew Rúmil, the Elf having only visited Minas Tirith once in their lifetime, when Eldarion was a babe. They got along fine with Haldir but they had gotten to know him on their own territory. Rúmil was a new entity and they were going to be meeting him on his turf.
"You'll be fine," whispered Haldir, smiling gently at the pair. Eldarion and Elboron nodded but didn't look completely convinced.
"Now, Estel, tell me what has been happening in Minas Tirith," stated Celeborn, having settled an again sleeping Faerveren comfortably in his arms and turning to his adopted grandson.
Rúmil was exhausted. He had been on patrol of the eastern border for the past month and a half and Orcs, Crebain and a variety of other foul creatures had been attacking the borders. Now, finally, he was able to hand over the reins of command over to someone else for the next three weeks.
Ditching his weapons in a corner of the deserted talan he grabbed a change of clothes and set off in the direction of the baths.
The chamber was empty when Rúmil arrived and he gratefully peeled off his uniform and slid into the water. He sighed as the heat of the water began to relax his muscles, only to jump violently when hands brushed his shoulders.
'Peace, Rúmil,' murmured the owner of the hands. Rúmil gasped and turned sharply. He caught sight of his elder brother, stripped down to the waist and kneeling behind him. His hands were covered in foaming soap and hovering a matter of inches from Rúmil's tired skin. Ignoring the fact that he was soaking Rúmil embraced his brother tightly. Haldir gladly returned the gesture.
'When did you get back?'
'Three hours ago,' replied Haldir. 'Now relax and let me take care of you.'
'I missed you,' whispered Rúmil, turning around and relaxing into his brother's hands. Haldir bent down and kissed Rúmil's shoulder.
'I missed you too,' he said. 'Celeborn wants to speak to you after you have clean up.'
'Mas?' why?
'Now that would be telling,' teased Haldir, beginning to work on the knots between his brother's shoulder blades.
'Now that is not fair!' shot back Rúmil. 'I would tell you!'
'And I can fly. You will find out when you see him.'
Rúmil sighed contentedly. 'Alright.'
'You're not going to pester me?' asked Haldir, slightly surprised. Rúmil shook his head.
'It is good to have you teasing again,' confessed Rúmil. 'You have been too serious over the past three years.'
'So have you,' replied Haldir. 'Rúmil, have you tried letting him go?'
Rúmil turned sharply again and stared at his brother, his turquoise eyes blazing. 'How can you say that? You who has lost so much more!' demanded the younger Elf.
'Because I know Orophin is safe,' replied Haldir. 'He is resting in Valinor and is simply waiting for us to follow him.'
'It's not that easy,' muttered Rúmil.
'You still haven't grieved have you?' asked Haldir. Rúmil shook his head and gripped Haldir's hand.
'Haldir help me release him, please?'
'Im sí anno dulu achen,' murmured Haldir and mindless of his leggings, the silver-Elf slipped into the water beside his brother and brought his head to his shoulder. It was the least he could do. Rúmil had pieced him back together twice within a decade, never allowing his own feelings to interfere with his care. Now it was Haldir's turn to help Rúmil find the peace he had earned many years ago. I am here to support you
Exhaustion and grief washed over Rúmil in such a violent storm that he was soon clinging to Haldir as he sobbed heavily into his brother's muscular shoulder. Haldir was not as surprised by Rúmil's emotional outburst as he thought he would be and gently held the younger Elf as he wept, all the while singing softly. The two brothers stayed in the water until their skin began to wrinkle drastically and the liquid's temperature had dropped, simply sitting and allowing their love for each other act as a balm to calm their souls.
'Tolo,' murmured Haldir, shrugging Rúmil's head from his shoulder and climbed out off the bath. 'Celeborn will be wondering what has happened to us.' come
Reluctantly Rúmil stood and stepped into the warm towel that Haldir was holding out to him. As Haldir made to turn and change into the dry leggings and shirt his had brought with him, Rúmil caught his arm. Haldir looked at him, head cocked to one side.
'Hannon le,' whispered Rúmil. thank you
'I'm always here for you Rúmil. All you have to do is ask.' replied Haldir.
'I was about to send out the search parties!' smiled Celeborn as Haldir and Rúmil joined him and his guests in his lounge.
'We had some thing to discuss,' said Haldir, silently begging Celeborn not to ask what. Celeborn caught the begging gleam in his March-Warden's eye and continued no further with that particular train of thought. Rúmil was glancing around at the guests. When his eyes fell upon Aragorn and Arwen he gasped. Aragorn stood and embraced the younger Elf tightly before Rúmil turned and kissed Arwen's hand. Celeborn cleared his throat and Rúmil turned back to face his Lord.
'Rúmil, I would like to introduce Lord Faramir and Lady Éowyn,' he said indicating the two Edain sitting opposite Aragorn and Arwen. Rúmil shook Faramir's hand and kissed Éowyn's in the same manner as he had with Arwen. It was then that Rúmil noticed Celeborn was sitting with a child on his knee.
"Man sa?" he asked. who's that?
'This is Lady Faerveren, Princess of Gondor,' said Celeborn.
'Celeborn, where are the boys?' asked Haldir, noticing that the room was unusually quiet.
'Glorfindel took them down to the glade where the Fellowship camped to relieve them of some of their energy,' replied Celeborn. 'I think, yes here they come.'
'Boys?' asked Rúmil. As Haldir nodded, the door opened and in spilled Eldarion and Elboron, Glorfindel following them at a more dignified pace.
'Rúmil, may I introduce Eldarion son of Aragorn and Elboron son Faramir,' said Haldir. Eldarion and Elboron stood stock still when they were introduced, neither entirely sure how to react around this new Elf.
"Eldarion, Elboron, this is my younger brother Rúmil," finished Haldir. Both quickly gave the salutation of the Elves which Rúmil returned with a smile. Well, that was a good start.
"Boys move forward and let Glorfindel in," suggested Celeborn. Both Princes scampered to the feet of their respective father's and sat down. Rúmil and Haldir sat down together, Haldir on the chair with Rúmil at his feet.
Rúmil turned his attention to Celeborn. 'Haldir said you wanted to see me, sir.'
'Yes. How would you feel about giving the Prince's some training while they are here?' said Celeborn.
'Training in what?' asked Rúmil.
'Combat and meditation,' replied Haldir. Rúmil turned his head to look behind him.
'Pardon?'
'We need to train them as to how to keep control of their emotions. They have a habit of lashing out, particularly when Kalya is concerned,' elaborated Haldir.
'You helping?'
'Until I am back on rotation.'
'Alright. When do we start?'
Response to reviewers;
IwishChan; Probably not, but it has something to do with it.
CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur; Here ya go
Angel of the Night Watchers; Thank you. And yes they are.
Haldir's Heart and Soul; Something will happen. Not sure what, but it will more than likely be in Imladris.
Cute Little Legolas; Glad ya think so. Update as you requested.
The Lady of Light; LOL. They are indeed, not that any of them know I am doing it. Update as requested.