Disclaimer: See first chapter
A work in Progress
Chapter twenty
POV: Haldir
By: PiXiE
I had been practicing my archery for nearly an hour before two familiar shadows appeared on either side of me. Sighing I took my last shot before turning around to see both my brothers grinning widely, their eyes sparkling with laughter and mystery.
"I see your aim is still as perfect as ever," Orophin started.
"Though I would suggest moving targets," Rumil mused.
"Shall I start with you?" I asked before going to fetch my arrows.
Upon my return Rumil started talking without hesitation, "I had a most intriguing conversation with Laingalad."
"Really?" I asked surprised, Laingalad hadn't said anything about a conversation with him. "So you decided that she is not manipulating me into a marriage without my consent?"
He laughed humorlessly, "nay, she is not manipulating you, the Lord and Lady are. But, Orophin and I did not come to have this conversation with you."
"And what did you come to tell me?" I questioned glancing at Orophin who was still grinning unchangingly.
"Laingalad! Well, both you and Laingalad" Orophin noted.
"Really? And just what do you have to say?" I asked not quite wanting the answer to the question.
"Well she told Rumil-"
"Yes?" I asked impatiently, not quite liking the gleam in Orophin's eyes.
"-that you do not sleep in the same bed!"
I sighed not surprised that they had found this out "and you would like to know?"
"Why you do not, if you are to marry her, you may as well reap the benefits," Rumil stated bluntly.
I shook my head "I will not speak of this with you, Laingalad and I have yet to discuss it."
"Have you both decided not to talk about this? For that is what she said!" Rumil leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed.
"Your marriage will have to be consummated, so you will have to discuss it eventually," Orophin said softly staring at me intently.
"Laingalad has only just accepted the fact that we will marry, I will not jeopardize that and scare he."
"And when will she be ready for this discussion?" Rumil persisted "You have just over a month and you will be leaving for two weeks, in four days, do not let her delude herself into thinking it will not happen."
"At least you will not be her first," Orophin mused aloud.
"I wish I could be so sure," I replied, surprisingly uncomfortable about this conversation.
"You jest!" Said Rumil amazed. "I know they like to keep up propriety in Imladris," I snorted at this but he continued to speak, "But she is well into her second millennia, surely she would have...."
"With Elladan or Elrohir perhaps?" Orophin ventured, "She said they were her best friends."
I shook my head "They are like her brothers." I frowned in thought. "She seems opposed to the thought of romantic ventures with males in general."
"I do not think flattery will help you," Rumil decided.
"Help me?" I questioned "Help me do what exactly?"
"Bed her off course!" Rumil exclaimed.
Several elves turned in surprise to see who had caused such an outburst. "Rumil!" I hissed, "I will not have this discussion with you especially not on the archery ranges!"
Orophin continued, "I suppose tact and tenderness will be needed. What exactly have you done with her?" Why was I having this conversation with my brothers? I pursed my lips, "Nothing I have held her hand and that is it."
They both stared at me, shock written across their features "You have not even kissed her?" Orophin ventured.
"Nay, I told you, she does not even like males. At the moment I am attempting to be her friend rather then the keeper she believes me to be." It was true that she was starting to win over to me, she trusted me of that I was now sure, but I do not think she will ever think of me as more then a friend.
"Might I suggest maybe a chaste kiss just before you leave?"
I laughed at this, "To come back and find that she has left? Nay, I will not risk such a thing, I will leave all of these talks between us until I come back, at least then I can keep an eye on her."
They both nodded, "So you will leave the seduction until after you come back."
"There will be no seduction! Everything will be done on her terms when she is ready," I said plainly.
"And what if she is never ready?" Rumil persisted.
"So be it," I said firmly not quite knowing what I was signing up for.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
The conversation with my brothers weighed on my mind, but I was resolute, if anything were to happen between the two of us, she would initiate it. A life of celibacy, however, did not appeal. While I had not been so frivolous in the last four hundred years due to Cerina, the thought of an eternity… it didn't bear thought.
The object of my thoughts was currently wrapped up in a book, a common past time for her this last week.
After staring at her from a doorframe I eventually asked, "What are you reading?"
Laingalad grinned up from her book "Your Naneth's diary"
I frowned "The only copies of my mums diaries here are from my conception to when I became an elfling (a/n- becomes and elfling at the age of 5, before that he's an elflet) I then looked at her in horror.
"Exactly! It seems your personality was decided at a young age, before you were even born."
I smiled, "I have to admit I have never read them. No, don't worry I do not mind, it would feel odd to read them. I have Rumil's as well somewhere."
"Why doesn't he have his own? And what about Orophin's?"
My families very simple politics, "Rumil has never had closure with our mother, he still feels the abandonment and insecurity due to her loss, he refuses to read it."
"But surely that would help him achieve closure, if he could see the obvious love your Naneth shows from this diary."
I nodded slightly "I have told him so. And as for Orophin's...he owns his, though I don't know if he has read it. Though he is more somber, our Naneth was full of obvious pain during that time, Orophin does not like to speak of it."
Laingalad nodded, her brow slightly creased, midnight blue eyes full of sorrow. She was about to ask a question, but I cut her off.
"But I have come for a different reason, come get up, we are baking bread today."
Laingalad looked quite perturbed at my sudden change of topic, but nodded nonetheless. Untangling her legs, she eventually stood, brushing her skirt for none existence specks of dust.
"I shall wash my hands!" She announced before walking off at a steady pace. While she did his I decided she was indeed an enigma that needed to be cracked.
"Well? Where do we stat?" She questioned drying her hands on a towel, before unceremoniously flinging it over the back of a chair.
"You can grease the tin whilst I clean down a surface to knead the bread on," I replied. "I have already put the flour over the heat to warm up, along with the water."
Laingalad appeared pensive for a moment, "Do you ever do anything spontaneously?"
An odd question, "I am a very thorough person, everything has too be well ordered and thought through."
She nodded slightly before turning back too her task, a frown on her face.
I took both the flour and the water away from the heat, placing them both on mats, so as not to burn my wooden worktable.
"Laingalad?" I asked suddenly, and idea wormed its way through my mind.
"Yes?"
I smirked slightly, "you have flour on your nose."
"How could I have flour on my nose? I haven't touched any yet," She replied frowning slightly.
"You have now!" I sprinkled the flour I had in my hand across her face, catching her hair and cheeks in the white substance as well.
She gaped at me, grabbing for the bowl of flour, "Why did you do that?" She demanded, pulling at one arm, whilst attempting to pin the other one to my side.
"I was doing something spontaneous." I deadpanned, easily removing the bowl from her weak grasp and held it above her head.
"Give me the bowl!" She insisted, jumping for it.
"Why?"
"I want the flour!" She exclaimed pouting.
"Fine," I tipped the bowl slightly causing a waterfall of flour to descend through the landing, and thoroughly covering her hair and shoulders.
Staring at me disbelievingly she made a few noises before turning on heel and walking to the larder.
Throwing open the door, she took out a jar, and I was dimly aware that the flour was usually stored in it, a wave of flour came in my direction. I ducked but unfortunately I had reacted slightly too late, and her aim had been poor, a mouthful of flour, did exactly that, causing me to cough and splutter. This was enough of a chance for Laingalad as she quickly dumped the rest of the contents over my head.
"Now this is a surprise, my dear brother, bested by an elleth, what would the sentinels say?"
My gaze slowly shifted from Laingalad, to the doorframe, which was currently housing Orophin, as he casually leant against it, a grin spread across his face.
"Why are you here?" I questioned attempting to brush off some of the flour.
"Oh, it's about Laingalad's horse," he said languidly his gaze shifting to look around the room. Laingalad frowned,
"What is wrong with her?" She questioned urgently, stepping towards the door.
"The stable master said there was something wrong with-"
Laingalad bolted out past Orophin and through the front door, not even pausing to close it.
"Is she as bad as you when it comes to her horse?"
I merely shrugged before following her out of the door, Orophin trailed behind.
"This should be interesting." He muttered more to himself to then to anyone else.
I turned back to look at him in question but he merely gave me an indulgent smile before continuing ahead of me.
As we walked to the stables, I received many odd looks, which wasn't really surprising as I was covered in flour.
We arrived at the stables at the same time as Laingalad, who in her rush had taken some wrong turns, meaning she had to turn back. She hurried into the stables and immediately made her way to Celairclaur's stall, which currently had a stable hand next to it, putting fresh hay into her stall.
"What is wrong with my horse?" She demanded absently stroking Celairclaur.
"Well..." He trailed off, appraising our flour-covered garb.
"Stop staring, and just tell me what's wrong with my horse!" Laingalad glared at the unfortunate stable hand, who straightened up under the intensity of her gaze.
"Well, we believe your horse to be pregnant," Laingalad visibly stiffened. "Its aura has changed slightly. We have not checked yet, we were waiting for your permission."
Laingalad stepped towards her horse protectively.
"You are going nowhere near my horse, and how can she be pregnant? She can't be pregnant!" She stared at the brilliant white horse pleadingly.
"Well you could check," I said slowly, not wanting to cause her ire.
"Fine!" She entered the stall, slamming the stable door closing with a bang.
We waited as Laingalad put her horse though the invasive probing. She came out of the stable, her face sour, before washing her arm in a nearby bucket of water.
"She's about 17 days pregnant, which can't be possible...that was when we were traveling here," She paused frowning before whirling around to glare at me, "You got my horse pregnant!" She accused, taking a step towards me, her eyes narrowed.
"I don't think that's quite possible." I replied eyebrow raised. I should have realized that humour rarely soothed her anger, especially when I was involved.
"You know perfectly well what I mean! 'Leave them alone, they'll be fine'" She parroted "Yes Haldir, my horse is perfectly fine, your brute of a horse impregnated mine," Her voice was starting to rise, though luckily, we seemed to be the only ones there.
Orophin leant against a pillar laughing at Laingalad's anger, which I seemed to be remarkably good at encouraging. "I'm sure she enjoyed it as well."
"Don't you dare!" She burst seething, "how could you let him do that to my horse?"
"You are acting as if I stood there and watched!" I retorted, arms crossed.
"How do I know you didn't?" She replied scathingly.
"What a lovely picture you must have of your betrothed," Orophin muttered riley, enjoying our exchanges, though I continued to ignore him.
"I can assure you that I did not know what my horse was doing. It is not myfault your mare happened to be in season," I said reasonably, surely logic would calm her.
"'Tis your fault, you cannot control, nor keep watch on your horse." Logic was clearly not working for her either but I persevered.
"And I'm sure I would have been able to haul Aldarian off of your innocent and naive horse." Where did that sarcasm seep in from? "Anyway, this may not have happened had you been watching Celairclaur, you are the one that can not control your horse." How could she pass all the blame onto my horse and I?
Suddenly the stable hand who I had forgotten about spoke, his tone surprised "These two are betrothed?"
Orophin interceded attempting to mediate, "You are acting as if these horses are children you can control! They are horses, and they did something they have been doing since arda was created! If they have the ahh...urge shall we say, who are we to stop them?"
Laingalad's gaze shifted from me to Orophin, "Keep you and your urges out of this," She turned back to look at me "And you, Haldir, were the one who told me they'd be fine by themselves, and that I wouldn't have to watch my horse."
"I was inferring that they would not run back to Imladris, and leave us stranded." I defended.
Laingalad turned to stroke Celairclaur who seemed to be looking at us in a vague amusement. For a minute I wondered how long they had known each other, then I head Laingalad mutter something,
"My poor beauty....'tis a conspiracy! Now not only can I no longer ride you, they made sure I could not leave by any other means then foot...and they know I would never leave you behind."
Did she truly believe this? Was her anger causing her thoughts to rise? I thought she had finally decided to stay.
Orophin looked between the two of us slowly.
"Laingalad, calm down, I can assure you that Haldir did not tell Aldarian to impregnate your horse."
"If I wanted to stop you from leaving, I would do so without involving my horse, he is too precious!" As if I would use an innocent creature to do such a thing.
"If they love each other, why would she want to leave?" The befuddled stable hand ventured,
"They argue so they can enjoy making up" Orophin explained cheekily.
"Dina Orophin" I said, sharply sparing a glance at him before returning to the hysterical Laingalad, who looked as is she were about to cry. "Don't cry! If you ever feel like riding you can ride Aldarian."
This was, apparently, not the right thing to say,
"I'm not going anywhere near your warg of a horse! Not after this." She said with conviction. How dare she just brush of an act of kindness like that, and calling my noble horse a warg!
"Insulting is not going to help anyone," Orophin seemed to notice my back stiffening.
"I am going to leave you to calm down, I will see you later," I stated calmly, realizing my anger would set my progress further back. As I stepped into the sunlight, still covered in flour I heard the stable hand brightly say,
"Well that went surprisingly well"
After a few hours of aimlessly walking around Caras Galadhon, the sun eventually set, the light shivering down through the sky. I had conversed with various friends I had not had a chance to speak with since my departure. All were surprised that I was to marry, as far as they knew, I had had no intention of marrying in the past, and then there was the question of why we were not waiting a year span to marry.
A haphazard explanation would then follow whereby I stated we had become engaged on my last visit some twenty years previously. Luckily I had not had any...activities with elleths since my last stay in Imladris, much to my brother's amusement. Though this was not because of lack of appreciation, more my aim of achieving march-warden status stood for most in my mind.
Most friends took my reassuring dubiously though seemed to accept it, merely asking for an invitation to the wedding, which I of course gave.
The sun had been set for some two hours and I was slowly making my way up the familiar stars leading to my talan.
I started to open the door only to find that it stalled. I frowned in thought before hearing Laingalad shout aggravated,
"GO AWAY! KELA!"
"Have you barricaded the door?" I asked slowly, slightly incredulous at her cheek.
"Leave me alone and go away!" She called back irritatingly.
"I believe I live here," I stated plainly, hoping that calm reasoning would placate her and allow me a good nights rest; I had too leave early the next day.
"I don't care" Was the impertinent reply.
"But I do, I am not willing to sleep in a tree."
"Well go and camp in the wood, I'm not talking to you" All of this over a horse.
"My sleeping does not require your talking."
"But It does require my being in the same room as you" She retorted. General thuds and bangs could be heard; she was putting more things against the door!
"You are being ridiculous. I tried not to let the frustration seep into my voice.
"You are being inconsiderate," She replied childishly, I could visualise the pout on her face as she glared at the door, arms crossed petulantly.
"What am I supposed to be considering?" I sighed.
"I am not going to spell it out for you," she never does, "You're old enough to figure it out yourself"
"And you are old enough to act like a petulant elflet!" I responded sharply.
"Go away!" the pleading tone in her voice made me reconsider my actions.
"She can not keep me out all night," I murmured to myself. "I will go" I called slightly louder, so that she could hear.
An hour later I decided to make my chances against Laingalad. Ingenuity would be needed; going through the door was not an option. After slight consideration I decided to climb through a window in the kitchen. All I had to do was open the shutters and climb through. I could outwit orcs Laingalad would be easy.
I pulled myself onto a nearby branch and stealthily made my way up the tree. Eventually I came to a branch that ran parallel to the kitchen, odd that I had never noticed this before in all the years I had lived there. About eight feet separated where I was and the windows, though the question of how I was to open the shutters still needed to be answered.
Scanning the area I noticed that another branch came about four feet from my talan, It was, however, smaller and obviously less sturdy then the branch I was currently standing on.
If I jumped onto that branch, leant and pulled open the shutters and then grabbed the windowsill to pull myself up into the room I would be fine. I had attempted and succeeded such a feat as an elfling I could do it again.
I precariously leaned over to the shutters, and pulled them open before a sharp and commanding voice shouted "DARO!"
Unfortunately the momentum was lost so I resigned myself to the inevitable. I landed on my feet with a slight thud, a jolt of shock upon impact, rippling through my body.
I stared at the woe-begotten elf with disdain; he had stopped me from getting into my talan,
"Can I help you?" I questioned patiently.
"What were you doing? Entering an elleths talan without their permission."
An elleth has never not allowed me into her talan.
"I think that you'll find that, that talan is in fact mine."
"And you just decided to enter via a window?" He asked sarcastically "I would like the truth this time, I am a sentinel" fear me I appended for him, with a derisive snort.
"While I am a March-warden," I drawled "Four of my type and 100 of you, I wonder which is more important?"
The sentinel was taken back slightly, but to his credit he persisted,
"No march-wardens live here, give me your name so I may speak to the Lord and Lady, who will then decide on an appropriate punishment.
I scoffed at that, being punished for entering your own home?
"While I disagree, your inclinations need to be noted I will acquiest. My name is Warden Haldir, soon to be March-warden."
The elf took a step back in surprise, but persevered,
"And why would you be entering your house through a window?"
"I was ahh...testing a theory. You may not know this, but I am betrothed, and my brothers being the elves that they are, will find it most amusing to ahh...interrupt us. Locking my door will, quite simply, not work so I am trying to find out whether they can enter in another way, they can be quite creative at times." The sentinel was starting to believe this obscure explanation, "Also, I have recently been preparing new ideas."
"Such as?"
I floundered before eventually replying,
"I shouldn't tell you but, we have recently been pondering over the idea of bridges in the trees on the outskirt of the woods."
His eyebrow rose at this "The branches form the bridges, why would you need a bridge?"
I took a deep breath ready to go into a complicated explanation "The mellyrn on the outskirts are not as all or sturdy as those in Caras Galadhon. They are interspersed with other trees such as oak, beach, and poplar, which are not as strong. Bridges would greatly help. However, weaker branches surround some of our outpost. So using my talan as an example I was trying to find out if it was at all possible."
The sentinel blinked rapidly trying to take this information in "ahh...well continue your work then."
I grinned broadly before starting to climb the tree again. This time my attempts were successful and I easily hoisted myself up into the kitchen.
I quietly walked into the main room and got out a blanket, sleeping in a sitting position would be no problem.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Just before dawn I awoke and started to get ready, I ignored the mess in the kitchen she could clear it up. Grabbing my weapons and my bedrolls I slowly made my way to the stables.
Most of the troop had already assembled and their wardens, Dinengwath was giving out orders; He nodded his head at me in greeting breaking apart from Rumil, his general.
Rumil stride up to me clasped my arm before grinning widely "how's the mother to be?" He asked loudly his voice carrying easily through the clearing.
A few heads turned in surprise, while I suppressed a groan.
"I have not seen Celairclaur but Laingalad is not impressed" I dropped my voice to just a whisper, "She locked me out last night."
Rumil stared at me before breaking down in fits of laughter, causing even more stares.
"You realise I'm assessing you singularly as well as a whole troop? You know I have to choose a new warden, from the remaining generals."
He immediately quieted; this would be an interesting trip.
A/n sorry for the delay, I actually finished the chapter 3 days before it needed to be posted. But then it was Frufru's 16th birthday so we were out all weekend. Then we had French orals which are 12.5% of our grade so we spent the week busy with revising for that. Then it was Mo's 16th and we were all at her house so she tidied her room our something and promptly lost the chapter and she didn't find it again until Thursday ::takes a deep breath:: I think we're posting next Sunday, but I don't know if Mo will be finished, it's a very long chapter and she'll have to type it up. Also, it's the first week of our GCSE's, which are like the American S.A.T's so yeah…work, work, work.
Haldir's heart and soul: Why is it such a surprise that she can cook? Lol. She just doesn't cook meat…ever.
chibi: ::smiles nervously:: this chapter was just a bit late as well.
Maeve: Erm…no I wouldn't call it a lemon, as you can see from the last 20 chapters there is a recognizable plot. But yes there will be 'R-rated' bits you're just gonna have to wait…a while. As you can see the horses are getting more action then our protagonists.
Gammaball: Hi Zoe! I'm wondering if you're reading this, as you should be revising like me (ok I've done 11hours 30 minutes this week, go me! That's 41 hours since Easter ::collapses:)
Tigger-190: Yes, tolerating each other ::twitches::
Wells no Haldir in the next chapter, how ever will you all cope?
PiXiE
Posted: 23rd May 2004