Amrawo: Thanks for taking the time to review- much appreciated!
Sivaroobini Lupin-Black: Sorry I had to kill him-I am evil after all :) - thanks for your review!
A whole chapter of flash backs, hehe hope you like it and keep the fantastic reviews coming please!
Vesper
One Elf
Chapter 16: Looking back
As she lay there her mind swam, memories of old times in Lorien with Haldir flooded her mind, the time they first met.
Flashback
A horse whisperer had arrived to back the new colt that belonged to Haldir's brother Orophin (is that right?), his brother had wanted someone who knew what they were doing instead of doing it himself and risking messing up. Haldir rounded the corner of the yard to see Orophin leaning on the stable door of Dúrvain (dark beauty) and talking to someone inside. Haldir walked over and stood next to his brother, the black colt looked up and whickered gently before coming to check his pockets, Haldir produced a small sugar lump for him which was snaffled up gently.
A ginger haired elleth walked forwards with the horse, her hand on his withers (shoulders), her eyes were shiny emerald green, her lips pale red and her hair braided back in tiny plaits. She was wearing dark khaki breeches, a pale green tunic, dark brown boots and a silver-grey cloak. She was dressed as of the Mirkwood kin, Haldir had heard she was a warrior also but obviously carried no weapons when in Lorien; he was greeted with a friendly smile.
"Govaded vaer gen (Good meeting you), your brother has told me about you, Eneth nîn (I am called) Nenmîr" She said and extended her hand, which Haldir shook while keeping eye contact, she was defiantly genuine- he liked her.
"I'm Haldir obviously- I hope you haven't been saying things behind my back Orophin!" He joked "So what do you think of Dúrvain?" And that was how their friendship started.
End of flashback
The memory passed leaving her feeling warm and content and allowed the next one to snare her attention.
Flashback
"They said she was impossible." Haldir explained.
"Well, she's in perfect physical condition, she's a beautiful thing and she has such a sweet and gentle nature, not to mention lovely manners" replied Nenmîr frowning, Haldir knew her well enough to know it would only make her all the more determined.
"Well apparently nine people bought her then returned her due to her problem." Haldir said.
"Challenge please Haldir- not problem." Nenmîr corrected.
"Challenge" Haldir rolled his eyes and fiddled with the lead rope he was holding. He'd come across a piebald (black and white) cob mare, ten years old already but she hadn't had a proper home for two years. He'd brought her with him to Lorien for Nenmîr to cure, he'd felt a horrible surge of guilt when he knew Nenmîr could cure the poor horse and she'd cost next to nothing when Haldir promised he would not be returning her.
"I'll join up with her today; you say you think the problem is when she is ridden?" Nenmîr asked her companion but kept her eyes on the horse before her, she had thick long feathers, a long mane and tail and a lovely shining coat thanks to the regular feeds and turn out, sweet fresh hay, oils and remedies she'd been given.
"Apparently so, but nobody was very keen to tell me so as not to ruin the deal," Haldir smiled as he watched the mare pulling hay out of the manger inside her stable, they'd brought her onto the yard to assess her progress but the mare had managed to stick her head back in.
"We still need a name, you can choose while I join up," Nenmîr concluded and snapped the long line onto the mare head collar while the other elf took off the lead rope. They walked the small distance to the circular sand school where elflings were taught how to ride and Nenmîr based a lot of her work with horses.
Haldir shut the gate behind his friend and looked on as she unclipped the long line and instead pitched it at the mare quarters to drive her away. He loved watching her join up, it seemed like magic though it wasn't she'd tried to teach him how to do it but he'd rather watch her. The mare trotted away, looking a little hurt, Nenmîr drove her round using the long line to push her into a canter, she kept eye contact, used jerky movements and squared her shoulders in dominant and aggressive body language. The finally, after quite a while, she began showing signs of join up that Nenmîr had described, her head was low and she was decreasing the size of the circle, finally she got her que when the horse started chewing and licking. The elleth slumped her shoulders and looked to the ground, showing submissive body language, the mare stopped and stood still her ears pricked up out of her bushy forelock and slowly walked up to Nenmîr until her muzzle was about an inch from her neck. She slowly walked away, not looking at the horse, and immediately the mare followed her, keeping her nose in the same place, Nenmîr walked up and down then in a couple of circles before stopping turning round to rub her head and praise her.
"Success!" she called, Nenmîr got a buzz out of that no matter how many times she did it and felt proud and content with the mare performance, there would be no need to do it again-their bond was nice and strong. Haldir grinned at her. "Have you got a name then?" She asked and lead the horse over.
Haldir opened the gate for them and took the long line from Nenmîr the mare followed them obediently without a rope. "Orél (Morning star)"
Nenmîr went on to ride her the next day, Orél was perfect when tacked, Haldir and Rumil came to the sand school with her- incase anything went wrong- she halted Orél in the middle then mounted, the horse was not tense. How strange. She asked her to walk on and the mare complied and proceeded in a smooth stride, after changing direction a couple of time she asked Orél for a trot, they trotted round the school, stopping then starting and changing rein until Nenmîr was happy. Having tested her stops, transitions and gaits Nenmîr found the mare was not by any means forward going and she had to keep squeezing her on, but putting that aside she firmly asked for a canter-this was when it happened.
Orél let out a loud squeal and started broncing, Nenmîr's first reaction was 'what the hell? Get off quick' but she stopped and clung onto the front of her saddle as she buck, reared and leapt, trying her best to move in time with the broncing horse she ignored Haldir's and his brother's worried calls. If she could show Orél wasn't going to get her off any time soon she might stop, and so because one can only go on like that for so long Nenmîr's prediction was proved true.
The next time she rode Orél co operated nicely, and for Haldir, and Rumil and with a little time she was ready to be sold on to a good home.
End flash back
Nenmîr had successfully cured many horses but most of them had had far more complex problems than that. Yet that one time had shown itself to her for some strange and random reason, she allowed her mind to carry her on to the next memory.
Flashback
Nenmîr appeared back in the clearing, Haldir looked up as he loosed his arrow hitting a perfect bull's eye, and she looked hesitant, if not a little shocked yet pleased about something. She'd been gone a while when an elven messenger came to tell her the lady Galadriel wished to speak to her, she'd been practicing with Haldir before she left.
"You've been gone a while, what happened?" asked Haldir inquisitively.
Nenmîr flopped down against a huge Mallorn tree, the golden carpet of leaves fluffed up about her as she rested her back against the beautiful silvery bark and patted the space beside her with a smile but no word. Haldir lowered himself down next to her.
"Well, it's a long story, and once I get going I'm not going to stop so you aren't allowed to interrupt" Started Nenmîr, looking Haldir in the eye, she was serious.
"Go on" he urged eager to know what had happened.
Nenmîr went on to explain about what Galadriel had foreseen, the fellowship, the deaths and her joining. She waited for Haldirs reaction.
"I don't know what to say, it's a blessing and a curse," Haldir swallowed, this quest may claim her life more of a chance it would than wouldn't; he felt emotion well up inside him. Nenmîr shuffled over to him and pulled him into a friendly hug.
"I won't die, I promise you," she whispered as the blonde elf hugged her back, "whatever happens I'll come back."
"You must not promise anything, I want you to do this for yourself, for me for Middle earth." He said a little thickly, he angrily wiped a tear. "You are a skilled warrior, but I'll miss you so much-we all will Mellon nîn."
They broke apart, Nenmîr had shed a few tears but Haldir's discreet tear had vanished. He felt rather shocked and sad that she was risking her life yet happy for all the opportunities this opened for her.
"I'm proud" He said.
"You're not my father!" Nenmîr exclaimed, the usual grin returning.
"Well, I'm older than you!" laughed Haldir batting her gently over the head.
"Ai I'll miss you Mellon vuin (beloved friend)" she admitted looking into his silver- blue eyes.
"And I you Mellon" smiled Haldir fondly.
"Well it shall be until we meet again" Nenmîr proclaimed, placing her hand to her chest then out to Haldir.
"Until we meet again" concluded Haldir returning the action.
End of flashback
Her eyes felt heavy and her lids began to close, everything faded as she let sleep claim her.