CHAPTER ELEVEN
The next few weeks seemed to fly past and Eldarion and Elboron warmed to Rúmil and Lothrín in the same way as they had Haldir much to everyone's relief. Faramir of course was in his element. He had adored the Elven culture since he was a child and it went largely unsatisfied as his mother died when he was five, Boromir had little interest in Elves and his father had little time for his youngest to start with. Now being surrounded by Elves, the fox-haired Steward was rarely seen without a smile and he was either bombarding Celeborn with questions or wandering around Lórien, taking in the Elven land. Even Éowyn seemed to experience a change towards the Elves. While she was not a confident around them as the rest of the company, she would happily engage in conversation with Celeborn and some of the Elves of his court. Arwen rarely left her side which was a relief for the Rohirrim.
Two nights before the company were due to depart for Imladris, Haldir arrived back from his guard duty an hour before sunset and hunted out Eldarion and Elboron. The two were in the glade where the group had rested on their first day in Lórien. Faerveren was toddling as fast as her two-year-old legs would allow after from her brother and Elboron while Rúmil and their families watched. None of the children noticed Haldir's appearance until Faerveren was lifting off the ground causing her to shriek. Turning sharply, fearing that the girl had fallen, they spotted Haldir holding Faerveren in his arms and the little girl was clapping her hands in delight.
"Haldir!" cheered Eldarion and flung himself at the silver-Elf.
"Gen suilon, Eldarion, Elboron," smiled Haldir and wrapped an arm around the boys in turn, Faerveren still in his other arm. He turned to glance at Aragorn who nodded once and Haldir inclined in consent. He placed Faerveren back on the ground and turned to Eldarion. "Eldarion, could you come with me? There is something that I wish to speak to you about." I greet you, Eldarion, Elboron
Eldarion and Elboron looked at each other. "Just me?" asked Eldarion. Haldir nodded. "I'm sorry Elboron, but it is something private between Eldarion and myself."
"Alright," murmured Elboron and saying farewell to Eldarion and Haldir he moved off to join his parents.
"You can tell him later," said Haldir noticing Elboron's hurt expression. Eldarion nodded and followed Haldir from the glade.
Haldir and Eldarion walked through the trees until they reached another glade with a shallowly rising mound rising in the middle which was covered golden elanor and silver niphredil. Two circle of trees, white barked and golden leaved stood on the top proud and tall.
"Where are we Haldir?" asked Eldarion looking around in amazement.
"This is Cerin Amroth," replied Haldir. "Take a seat. It's where I first met your father and Kalya. Your parents were betrothed here when Estel was forty-nine. But I didn't bring you here to give you a history lesson. Eldarion, do you remember when your father told you the story about Kalya during the War?"
Eldarion nodded; "You didn't talk for four days. It was scary."
"I apologise but I was hurting too much to think about anything or anyone else. But after Estel had finished telling the story, Kalya…. this is going to sound odd…. but she appeared to us. She asked that I look after you in the same way I cared for her."
"She appeared to me as well. She told me that everything was going to be alright and that she'd be watching me," said Eldarion.
"She told Estel and Elrond the same thing. Eldarion, I was wondering if you would wanted to become my charge officially?"
Eldarion looked startled and stared wide eyed at Haldir. "You're joking?" he spluttered. Haldir didn't say anything but shook his head. "You're serious? No Haldir I can't do that. You were, are, Kalya's guardian. I couldn't take that honour away from her and I don't want to take her place in your heart."
"You have your own special place in my heart and so does Kalya. I told you that when I woke up over a month ago. I will not force or coerce you into any form of agreement but I thought that I would give you the chance."
"Will you still look after me? Even if I'm not your charge?" asked Eldarion suddenly a little nervous concerning his response.
"Of course I will," smiled Haldir and opened his arms to Eldarion. The boy moved gratefully into Haldir's arms. "Whether you are my official charge or not, I will always be there for you."
"Thank you," whispered Eldarion, snuggling up to the Elf's chest, his nose going instinctively to Haldir's neck. Haldir chuckled slightly.
"What is your obsession with my neck?" he asked.
"It's warm," mumbled Eldarion. Haldir chuckled again and strengthened his embrace around the child.
"I will always be there, Eldarion. Don't ever forget that."
"What did Haldir want to talk to you about?" asked Elboron once Eldarion had reappeared in their room an hour later. He tried to hide it but he felt a little jealous of not being involved in the conversation between the two. It was a ridiculous feeling and one that Elboron was ashamed of but at the same time the pair had done everything together since Eldarion was old enough to run around with him.
"He asked me if I wanted to become his charge officially," said Eldarion, pulling his sleep clothes from under his pillow.
"What did you say?"
"No," replied Eldarion.
"No?" repeated Elboron in disbelief. "I thought that was one of the things you wanted most."
"I do, but to be named Haldir's charge it would mean taking Kalya's place and I could never do that. Not in Ada's life, not in Daerada's and certainly not in Haldir's. If I was to be named someone's official charge then it would have to be someone who had no intimate connection to Kalya," said Eldarion as he changed. grandfather's
"But he's still going to look after you right?"
"Yes. But I will not be his official charge," smiled Eldarion before climbing on to the bed beside Elboron. "That will always be Kalya."
'What did he say?' asked Rúmil as Haldir emerged into the talan inhabited by his brother and family.
'He doesn't want to be my charge,' replied Haldir, sitting down cross-legged on the floor. 'I can't say that I am surprise.'
'Oh. What makes you say that?' asked Lothrín handing him a glass of water.
'He has a strong sense of loyalty. The whole reason he is going through the training with Rúmil is because he lost his temper with another boy because he slandered Kalya. He said that the position of charge would always belong to Kalya and that he doesn't want to take her place in my heart.'
'Yet he has wormed himself in, otherwise you would not have offered,' reasoned Rúmil.
'I will help him for as long as he needs me, but it is his decision whether he wants to bind in such a manner. He doesn't so I will not force him,' replied Haldir. 'It is the least I can do for her.'
'Why you would want another mortal charge is beyond me,' muttered Tathar as he entered the main room. 'Especially considering the heartache your last one gave you.'
'Heartache is something that no one can escape, be they mortal or immortal,' replied Haldir glancing up at his nephew. 'You should know that from you own experience.'
'I didn't go looking for it though,' said Tathar.
'And neither did we,' fired Rúmil. Lothrín swallowed her mouthful of fluid and glanced between the three males of her family. Why did they all have to be so opinionated?
'Gentlemen please,' she began. 'Nobody goes looking for heartache but it is a fact of life. Unlike you Tathar, your father and uncle have witnessed it on many an occasion. Yes you lost Orophin but that is about it. Both of them have lost their own parents, their brother, Kalya, countless warriors under their command and the Lady Celebrian whom they watched mature and who they helped protect. However they are still willing to take the risk by loving mortals. Do not begrudge them that choice.'
'Yes, Naneth,' said Tathar with an incline of his head.
'And you two, try to be a little more understanding. It is difficult for you to see how your grief hurts others, Tathar was just trying to protect you from more heart break if you choose the path which you plan to tread.'
'Yes, Lothrín,' mumbled the brothers.
A/N;Well that is definitely NOT one of my better chapters. Please don't be too harsh but feel free to give me your brutally honest opinion.
Response to Reviewers
The Lady of Light; Sorry, the translation was 'sleep well little one'. Again, nit-picks appreciated, thank you. Minor point in your review, Elboron is Faramir's son but he is still an archer. Also, the boys aren't going into Lórien with no weapons training, just bad training. Elboron's slightly more advanced because he is a couple of years older than Eldarion.
CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur; Alright then. Maybe I should wait a little longer before the next update…….
IwishChan; My mum was slightly more sympathetic. If Aragorn sounds innocent around Rúmil and Haldir, how do you think he will be around Elladan and Elrohir? Pity Elrond sailed, that would have been interesting.
Nolitari; No sorry, I'm from Scotland. I have no idea where the "KC" comes from, just like the two initials together. Glad you're enjoying the story
Haldir's Heart and Soul; I agree, though I don't usually go swimming in the Sea. Being on the east coast of the UK the water is FREEZING!
Hel5gen; My finals were my end of year exams at Uni. I am glad that my story has such an appeal (am chuffed) Thanks for reviewing