A work in Progress

chapter 8

POV: Haldir

By: PiXiE

A bell was shrilling loudly in a call for dinner. I had been up early this morn and had breakfast at an early hour; I was most defiantly ready to sup.

I wondered idly why they had a bell, for in Lorien we arrived as we pleased, though seemingly at the same time. Lorien was a quiet place, tranquil, a place for contemplation and spiritual learning.

Imladris, Rivendell, the last homely house was, however, a bustling place at times, especially in the main halls, visitors arriving and leaving as they pleased. This was perhaps why they had such a bell; to remind those who where not familiar with the routine, that meals were ready.

I passed the hall of fire, and walked hurriedly towards the main hall, my hunger, now ignited needed to be quenched.

I entered and sat down hurriedly opposite Elladan "You are late again"

"The bell is still ringing is it not?" I asked, the twins had not yet forgiven me for letting them take the blame, though it was for their friend.

"It is rude to the kitchen staff who have spent many an hour, since before dawn, cooking"

"You only say that because your punishment was to help the kitchen staff" I replied coolly.

"But it is the principle! My eyes have bee opened! I -"

"You say that every time you get put in the kitchen as punishment, which is more often then not" interrupted Arwen, taking a seat by myself.

"I do not follow" Elladan replied innocently

"More often then not you are put in the kitchen. You are then remorseful for all of five seconds where upon you deign that another hapless soul must be preyed upon for your own amusement. "

"Hapless?-"

"Yes! Hapless! You have no regards for-"

I watched the argument in interest, the 'fight' between the siblings were very much for their own amusement, an actual argument short and far between.

"AHEM!" Lord Elrond's fake cough had stopped the Arwen in mid-stride.

"Yes Ada?" She asked, innocence of Luthien coming out.

"I was about to make an announcement"

"Oh" She nodded, picked up her glass and fork and tapped the polished metal against the shining glass.

The murmur and babble quickly quieted all eyes on Arwen "My father" She replied gesturing towards him as he himself stood up.

"My fellow elves and esteemed guests" His eyes briefly darted to a table of dwarves and men "It is a great pleasure for me to announce the engagement of Aglarebwen, Golwen's daughter. She is a wonderful elleth of great strength and character. Her betrothed" Oh why did I come today? My eyes scanned for her "Haldir ó Lorien, soon to be March-Warden"

I smiled, while my mind grimaced as he gestured that we should stand up.

I did so resolutely; I would share my fate with her. I stood and noticed that she had not don as I had, in fact my eyes could not find her among the dining elves.

"I appears she is not here, so we will ask a few words of Haldir"

He must be jesting! A few words? That was a synonym for a speech, a speech I was not prepared to give!

"Ah, hello" I greeted ignoring the sniggers from Elladan" As lord Elrond has said my name is.……Haldir, yes Haldir of Lorien" Elladan's sniggers increased, not knowing my name was not something of great fortune!

"I will wed, Laingalad" The name was unfamiliar upon my lips, I would not deign to say it in her presence but a sense of familiarity must be upheld "In Lorien, the date is yet to be said" I paused, what else should I say? I was saved as her mother continued for me

"Most definitely in Lothlorien, where she will settle, and hopefully produce an heir for Lorien's esteemed Haldir"

Heir? We had yet to be married! Why was she talking about heirs? Surely she knew this was just an arrangement of convenience of work! A murmur went around the hall; maybe they too believed that the very notion was ridiculous!

Days passed and I had yet to see Aglarebwen. Mayhap she was involved in the preparation for the engagement party, which was to held tonight.

This concept seemed ridiculous as she was clearly against this marriage. I had not dared ask; her mother was overbearing and I did not want t full her with a false sense of security. I could see she was working hard to make Aglarebwen and myself 'love' each other, something which I could not perceive happening.

I was asked inundated by questions 'what was my favourite food?' Those lovely apricot pastries the kitchens are fond of making 'flowers?' Who has a favourite flower? Rose, pretty yet with thorns 'song?' Nimrodel, I had been asked many more, each becoming more and more absurd.

Eventually the sun set and I made my way towards her rooms dressed in soft blue, complimenting my quicksilver hair, which had been brushed to a shine and tied back as I normally do.

I arrived at the solid wooden door that marked the entranced to their home. I had never been here before and knocked carefully in case I had come across the wrong door.

The door was swung open exuberantly, the lady of the room standing in front of me, cheeks glowing in pride. "Haldir!" The proclamation was one of great delight.

"Lady Doldaer" I greeted bowing respectfully

"Aglarebwen is getting ready" The though of her spending hours readying herself for this ball sounded odd to say the least.

From what I had seen in our two previous meetings she was not one for dressing up, in fact she seemed quite uncomfortable in the dress she had been in, had she cared about it, she would not have mucked out her horses stable in it.

I nodded looking around, for the room was of some interest, tapestries decorating the walls and gauzy fabrics used to soften the light that would come streaming through their windows. She started to talk, to twitter noisily, I didn't really listen; it was rude, that I know, but her incessant talking was aggravating.

I nodded politely and replied in monosyllables whenever I could, hoping that Aglarebwen would turn up soon and save me from the horror that was her mother.

I declined an offer of cake; however tempting it would most likely ruin my appetite.

Just then my betrothed vacated her room dresses in a dress changing from white at it's top to plum purple at it's bottom.

"Good evening, Aglarebwen, how do you fair?" I greeted

"As well as a summers day and you?" It seems she could be quiet poetic when she wanted to be.

"I am well, all the more better for your presence" The line sounded bad in my own head, but I had said it now, it could not be taken back. "Where have you been residing of late? I have not seen you since.....the stables...."

I trailed off fully aware of her mother's surprise, as far as she knew we had only met the once.

"A little preoccupied in my own thoughts, unfortunately" I could sympathise with this, my thoughts of late had cantered around this engagement

"I pray that you have overcome these thoughts. Hopefully they no longer trouble you" This was the advice I would give my soldiers. I suppose as long as I could draw parallels with what I already knew I would 'pass' this Marriage.

"Thank you" She spoke as if she meant it "They trouble me no more, shall we depart?" The way she shook off these troubles was not plausible. Yet I ignored it, her troubles did not need to be shared, yet."

"Aye, we must. For this engagement party is in our honour is it not? Arriving tardily would be most impolite"

"Yes, most impolite" She echoed her thoughts not fully on what I had said

I took her arm and we started walking towards the door "Shall we?" The engagement party awaited.

"Let's"

We started walking down the corridor, I asked questions whilst she seemed quite unresponsive.

I tried a different tack, perhaps if I spoke of her mother she would attempt to converse

"You mother has been most.... helpful in the preparation for this event. Though she is...." I trailed off, although she did not like her nana it would be rude to insult her...

"Is what?"

"Slightly overbearing" I replied. Staring ahead. I would gauge her reaction through her voice

"Yes at times she does slightly over do things, she is easily excited" Was the reply, this was said without any remorse, she truly meant it, I got the feeling that the relationship between the two was somewhat tenuous

"And I see you are not. You are remarkably calm. Most elleths become over excited when the chance to dance and dress up is presented. Though, you are not all elleths" This sentence did leave a chance for offence to be taken.

"A well observed fact Haldir, I hold my feelings inside" This seemed quite odd; she had thrown gloves at me! If anything she seemed to let her emotions run quite freely.

"A unhealthy thing, so you are undoubtedly ecstatic on the inside?" I said this dryly; hopefully humour would break the rather aloof elf I was facing

"One can always assume" This remark threw me

"Meaning?"
"I shall let you be the judge of that" She smiled. This elleth was truly an enigma, I paused "You are a mysterious elleth"

"And do you not like that?" Was she asking for my acceptance?

I frowned in thought. This line of conversation was not going well. I would have to change it as she was making no attempt to do so.

"What is you favourite flower?"

"A flower you have seen before" She still insisted on being enigmatic

"I have seen many a flower. The golden Eleanor, the white Niphredil, tulips all colours of the rainbow, flowers blossoming as the sunrises catching the crystals of dew that have formed through the night" My thoughts strayed to our first meeting and the..."Yet, I believe your favourite flower to be a rose, and not just a rose, but the crimson rose; the colour of passion" It is odd how you can make an assumption of a character so quickly.

"It is only the colour of passion in your eyes" There was a slight edge to her voice, perhaps she did not want me to know so much about her in a short time, but I continued.

"You are a passionate elf, it represents you. A beauty, yet prickly with thorns"

"I shall take that as a compliment" It was meant to be a compliment!

I did not respond, however, as we reached the doors to the hall of fire....

A/N Pixie here, as per usual, replies will probably be short, I'm not really in the mood for replies at the moment…

littlesaiyangirl: I'd probably cry as well, though then I'd get a tension headache and Ow…But yeah, she's a strong character, if slightly misguided.

Haldir's hear and soul: I agree with you, I think…

Tigger-180: *nods* yeah, I think we want people to feel slightly sorry for her, I think *frowns* Laingalad is Mo's area of expertise, I will not pretend to know to much about her…(a/n- Hi mo here, yeah a little bit of pity is what I was trying to get at, so yay! I'm happy,! :)

Chibi: First of all, the American grade system confuses me, but in British standards we're in yr 11, making us all 15, Mo and Fran will be 16 in 5 months and I will be in 8 months.

scorpiochick103: Thank you, rest assured we will always update until we finish, whether it kills us…(a/n Mo here- right yeah! I dare say I die 1st if i keep nagging them, so sssshhhhhhhhhhh :))

PiXiE