A work in progress
Chapter four
POV: Haldir
Written by: Pixie
I like horses, I really do, but after riding for five days straight it becomes quite tiring as does the keeping watch on your own, cooking on your own, finding and making a fire on your own, and wallowing on your own.
I was going to marry, of that I was sure, but my bachelorhood would now be over. No more Elleths fawning over me in their hundreds. They will no longer sigh when I laugh. But she will, this Aglarebwen, this glorious maiden, she will love me, she will adore me, for the glorious elf that I am, we will be glorious together.
I was late, I knew I was late, By Aldarian was in full gallop, I was leaning forward my cheek against his neck
I nodded at the elves guarding the gates, who looked at me startled at least I think they were startled; I went past very quickly. The reason for them being startled was because I usually come in rather leisurely as I plan out my journey well, but I had not the time.
I arrived at the stables; gave Aldarian to the stable elf and hurried off. I usually like to brush him down, make sure he has a sweet bed of hay, with plenty of freshwater. It always has to be fresh, or it gets stale and I know my horse can taste it. Both of us have a liking for- "Ahh!"
I looked at the ground in surprise there was a rather thin, though obviously very strong, line of string. I could recognize it as the thread used for outdoor cloaks that blend in with the background.
I did not have long to contemplate on this as suddenly something coiled around my ankle and promptly jerked upwards sending me falling to the floor, my back immediately being poked by pine needles.
I was then dragged up into the air. This was not good, falling leaves embedded themselves in my hair. I could not meet Lord Elrond or my suitor like this!
"Ahhhh!" I screamed loudly, though don't be mistaken it is a manly scream. Mud; mud, leaves and was that tree sap? I was ruined! Ruined, I tell you, and no I'm not being melodramatic!
My lovely, beautiful, soon-to-be wife could not see my like this! Though that still leaves the question of; how was I going to get down?
I wriggled and suddenly I noticed that I was above a lake! A march-warden I was soon to be, but I had never been in such a situation. And rightly so! No one would dare do such a thing to me in Lorien; they had more respect and intelligence. My beloved, my glorious maiden, I knew she would not consort with such foolish elves.
Then I heard it, a dreaded noise; the sound of the vines holding me up snapping c-r-ack! I gasped and suddenly I was in the water! And I thought the day could not have gotten any worse.
My arms got caught in reeds, and as I struggled to get free, I got even more caught up. My lungs started to burn, I had been breathing out when I fell and I was rapidly running out of air.
I managed to untangle one arm and promptly reached for a dagger held in my boot. I cut my self free and swam to the lighter blue, to the surface.
I gasped as I reached the top, taking hurried breaths to fill my deprived lungs. My hair was plastered to my face, rivulets of water making streams down my face, dripping of my eyelashes and nose.
I hurriedly made my way to the bank, but as I reached there I looked up to see, two dark blue, very angry eyes. That was all I made out before I was shoved back into the water.
I quickly hoisted myself out, the elleth would have to wait, I knew it was an elleth, I saw the dress.
I squelched my way to the building, hurriedly trying to find my way to Lord Elrond's study.
Elves stared at me, this isn't an odd thing, I get stared at all the time, but usually in admiration, I am not one to be laughed at! Some elves laughed, while some stared in disgust. That Elleth, I would track her down and report her! Elrond could not have such a miscreant running around his halls.
I arrived at his office and knocked on the door before patting my hair, and brushing my tunic down. The door opened, Elrond smiling widely, though it quickly left when he saw me. His arm came out as quick as an arrow leaves a bow. I was dragged into the room and the door was quickly slammed.
"Do not let Erestor see you!" He burst out, his eyebrow quirked in question "He has been cleaning from top to bottom in light of your arrival. Havo dad sit down" He motioned to sit, but I stood. The chair he had offered was very ornate and old. I could not desecrate such an object.
"Or maybe you would like to change 1st?" I nodded, Lord Elrond was always looking for small things that help improve ones life. He should, as a leader, remember such things. I will have to remember such things when I become march-warden.
"Aye" I replied, crinkling my nose at the mud that was smeared across my once pristine tunic.
He sent me off to a side room and I changed and I must say, I looked positively dashing in my new blue and silver ensemble.
I then had a long conversation where we started of with small talk. How was my family? Were the boarders holding up? Developing into what I was looking for in a wife. Why? I do not know, my beloved had already been chosen, albeit I did not choose her, but with a name of Aglarebwen there could be nothing wrong with her.
He then went on to tell me about her, she was the daughter of one of his most important advisors, she was well versed in the flute and had a good voice. She could cook, clean; though when Elrond said this his eyes twitched. I did not however, tell him, such a Lord should not have his imperfections pointed out.
He then left to get her, leaving me to contemplate what I had been told.
I turned my chair to the window, and gazed out over the surrounding hills, the protection, to this lovely place that truly is the last homely house. I could see patrols on the mountains, though I shouldn't be able to, I should have a word with Elrond about this, an elf at such distance should not be able to be seen, even if I do have superior eyesight for an elf.
I looked at the lake that I had previously been dropped in and frowned. Why would an elleth do that to me? How did she know that I would walk that way?
I was knocked out of my reverie, literally, when some one closed the door. Lord Elrond was not here but I answered it anyway, turning around to see those eyes!
The eyes of deep blue, as blue as that blasted lake she had pushed me in. I stared at her, she stared at me and we both let out "YOU!" Glaring at each other. How dare she come in while I was waiting for my beloved! Why was she breaking into Lord Elrond's study? She was not an advisor, of that I was sure, and she was not a helper, Elrond would not choose such an irresponsible, inconsiderable, elleth as a helper!
"Aglarebwen?" I questioned perplexed, unconsciously quirking an eyebrow.
"Nay, Do not call me that, for it is not my name" She said this calmly, giving me hope. Mayhap she was really one of Lord Elrond's trusted servants
"Not your name? You are not my suitor, my beloved, my soon to be wife?"
"Oh that I may be, but what you have just called me is not a name that I respond to"
She walked over to a chair on the other side of the room; she sat in Lord Elrond's place. I followed her and asked, "So you are not the glorious maiden?" Bad, very bad, I shouldn't have said that, sounded cocky, and I am not here to flirt.
"Indeed I am that maiden, therefore you must be the unfortunate mishap that I am doomed to be with" She said this looking straight ahead; she did not look at me.
"Mishap? Do i look like the embodiment of evil? If fair lady, you believe it so, this will be a tiresome match, for no one has ever though that I was the embodiment of evil, in fact most people like my body" I was trying to break the ice, if she laughed she may stop using this argumentative tone. It didn't work; she glared at me briefly and again looked away
"Yes, I would have though so, exactly how many maidens that have been close enough to see it must be uncountable for you"
I expected this question to be asked, just not so soon "I see my reputation proceeds me, I feel I must tell you that these report are in fact unfounded, their thoughts and feelings unprecedented. I have had much interaction with Elleths as I'm sure you have had with other elves"
"That is very unlikely, I despise your sex" I guess it's just not with me then. I looked away and rolled my eyes, it was typical.
"Aglarebwen, I believe you are the daughter of one of Elrond's foremost advisors" Maybe small talk would break the ice.
"That once again is not my name, and so what if I am the daughter of one of Elrond's advisors?" small talk is ruled out I guess
"You are not one for conversation are you? Or perhaps you simply wish that I know nothing of you, I will talk of myself instead. I have two brothers; Rumil and Orophin, both of which are in the north western army of Lothlorien, the sector I am to become march warden over"
"Is that the reason you wish to marry me, and not one of your admirers?"
"I wish to protect my people"
"Have you know consideration for me feelings upon the matter?"
"You agreed did you not?" It seemed this sham of a conversation was going to go on for a while, so I sat further into the seat, making myself comfortable "and you will be doing something for your fellow elves."
"Nay" That did not bode well "I for one did not agree the choice was forced upon me. And what would I be doing for my fellow elves? I should have known that one who has had so many suitors would not care an ounce for my feelings"
She is insufferable! "And you seem to care not for mine. You offend me, am I really such an inequitable elf? Your rejection wounds me deeply. And you speak of my many suitors? Yet you know nothing. I have risen through the ranks of the Lorien guard quickly; do you think I would have such time for simple-minded elleths? I have worked hard for my position, and I deserve the recognition from that. I am admired, I know that, yet I do not take advantage of that, it would do you well to remember this as we are spending eternity together are we not?" That is not a good thing.
"An eternity. Do not even remind me of such a horrid thing. And as for your feelings, I did not know that one who could kill so many, without regret had any feelings! You elves are all the same. It is all about you is it not? Well Haldir try having a look at it from my point of view!" She looked at me, which was a surprise as she had kept her eyes averted "As far as I know, I am having to marry you, just for the good of your people." She said this coldly, and I suddenly realised that she had a temper and she did have to marry me, she had not chosen, she just had to accept. Yet, she had to learn to bear with it. This was her fate.
"What benefits to I receive from this? Your presence for an eternity? Huh! I would rather be eaten alive by orcs!" By the Valar, this elleth despised me, and I could not see why. We had only just met for the first time.
"There has to be a reason for you allegedly being forced to marry me. You have to have done something." my anger flared, and was slowly burning, this elleth knew exactly how to annoy me "You have obviously never seen an orc to make such a comment, or it would chill you to your very bones." My mind went back to my first fight with an orc, and I inwardly shuddered, the memory came back, vividly knocking my senses as a carthorse would, but I continued my tirade, not thinking, which is very rare for me.
"You think not of me, and you accuse me of the same. I was told you were a sweet, intelligent elleth, ready to marry. Instead I got.... you!" I had overstepped the boundaries, I realised that. Her whole demeanour shifted, her hands clenched
"What is that supposed to mean?" Her voice was harsh "Haldir your reputation over compliments you! You are supposed to be patient" How would she know? What reputation, of patience? What of my skill with a bow? Or sword? "Yet your temper has gotten the better of you. I can be sweet, and I am intelligent" Look who's blowing her own trumpet "but I am in no position to marry!" Again I ask, why did you agree? "Especially to an elf like yourself! And as far as I can see, I have done nothing to deserve this!" She said this as if I were the plague, a punishment. She stood up, her anger rising up.
"This? By saying 'this' what do you mean? Receiving the marriage of myself" I was angry, how dare she insult me in such a blithe way, and then say I am not courteous? "I am here to marry-"
"And I am not!" She interjected rudely interrupting what I had been saying. Her father is a friend of Elrond, surely she has been taught manners
"-Whether it be to a simple minded elleth or an elf like you, who seems to enjoy dunking her future husband in a lake, and then pushing him back in for the fun of it!" This was getting to the crux of the matter. I had every right to be angry with her and yet here was she angry with me! Her prank was a mark against my self-respect! My honour!
"Don't flatter yourself, that was not set for you. However I wish that now I had drowned you when I had my chance!" This Elleth will be the bane of my existence! She leaned down to pick up the gloves that had fallen to the floor when she stood, as she did this a rose fell out, the colour of blood, the colour of death.
"I am SURE that you cannot mean such a thing, or you know not for what you speak. For you have never seen death and you no nought of the consequences of it" Crimson petals fell.
"Are you saying that I am delusional? Or drunk? For both I am not! I know perfectly well of what I am speak. Conscious of death or not I still wish you dead!" The wench! I have done nothing to deserve such an opinion!
"I believe you are delusional to say or even mean such a thing." I am the only one of a stable mind in this room! "You know nought of me, mayhap you may like me in another situation. But unfortunately we are not in another situation. And as for drunk, I know not, this is the first time I have seen you, and maybe I hope, I hope that you are drunk and that you do in fact have a promising personality that I can mould into a good wife." I knew that I had angered her further, my wording perhaps wrong, I had stepped on a chord definitely.
"Mould?" She asked incredulously "I am not something from the ground that you can simply mould. Perhaps Haldir, with one of those simple minded elleths you could have mould, but that chance has long since past!" Yes I had defiantly hit a nerve, but what did she expect? In a marriage there is a certain amount of give and take.
Myself, the male, husband and protector taking what she gives.
Suddenly her hand came up, ready to slap me, I quickly caught it, my military prowess did not simply exist by chance.
I caught her by the wrist and I could see she was surprised. My grip was firm; yet gentle she would not hit me.
Suddenly there was a shooting red-hot pain across my right cheek. She had hit me with her left hand! This elleth is both violent and childish, and I still did not know her name, she went to storm out, and I stood to follow her, she needed to be reprimanded and punished!
Suddenly gloves came flying at me, as fast as an arrow, and I swiftly ducked, only to hear both the door slam, and a vase crashing to the ground as the gloves hit them. Shudders along the wall caused by the slamming doors sent paintings swaying.
I looked around the room in abject horror it was a mess! A tip! I could not leave the room like this! I then ran out of the room, she would help me clear this!
Honestly this terror left destruction wherever she went.
A/n well that was definitely a long chapter! Well I wrote it so it would be…Poor Mo for having to type it up in my illegible and writing! *Shrugs*
Littlesaiyangirl: Yes it was Haldir, and he was oh-so-happy about it was he not?
Tigger-180: Thank you
chibi: What do you mean the last chapter was very short? Mo was very unhappy with that comment, but I think most chapters are slightly longer then the last. This one is slightly above average; so far the longest chapter is 12 pages long! Though I'm trying to beat Mo on that in the chapter I'm currently writing! We should have another chapter mid-week I think, a special Christmas pressie to you all!
Haldir's heart and soul: I don't think Legolas is in this fic, no he's not sighs probably a good thing because suddenly Haldir might go gay and pursue Legolas.
Me: You may have the hobbits, not Pippin though; he's my little baby!
Neisa: The 1st chapter is un-beta'd because Mo couldn't be bothered to send it to me, the other chapters have been *coughs* so if there is mistakes it's my fault, but I'm only human (well part elf…but anyway)