ON THE NORTHERN BORDER
The three fatigued elves ran hard into the covering of trees. Finwe collapsed to his knees and grasped the soft grass in his head bowed panting. Fervor leaned on a tree beside the Warden and gasped for air. Earlinde put a hand on Finwe's back panting, and then realized they had entered the Golden Wood.
She quickly took a deep breathe of air in, and pulled Finwe to his feet. She brushed him off and fixed his uniform looking over to see Fervor had already done so and was standing to her left at attention. If they were going to lose their warden, they would do it in dignity.
The stoic warriors flanked the greatest March Warden in Imladris as the three marched into the forest. After a few moments of marching they paused and the warden without turning looked at the vast trees around them.
"They have many trees. The mellyrn of Lorien was well known to all elves. Earlinde looked up into the trees looking for the great Lorien guard but was met with silence.
Welcome Earlinde of Imladris to Lothlorien
Earlinde pulled her sword and turned to her left. Nothing was here. Her two guards alarmed loaded their bows and turned to be back to back. Earlinde turned right. Nothing there either. She looked around her, and gripped the sword tightly.
-I came to help, and they are attacking us?-
Do not let your heart be troubled March Warden, you are safe.
Was her mind playing tricks on her? The three guards put there helmets on quickly and just as soon as they had lifted their weapons again two goblin arrows shot out at them from trees. Earlinde, with a quick move of her wrist, had sliced both arrows cleanly down the middle.
She gave a short bird call and the three elves march in a quick jog towards the heart of the forest. After a few minutes, 8 elves dropped from the surrounding trees, encircling the trio. The two lower ranking guards, held their arrows fast, and Earlinde dashed forward in a swift motion and placed her sword at the throat of the elf in front of her.
He looked down at the elf his gazed harsh but his face calm. Earlinde searched his expression for fear but saw none. They were outnumbered.
She steeled herself; she hadn't come all this way to be killed.
The elf with the sword at his throat nodded his head. In one swift motion all the elves encircling the trio brought down their arrows. Earlinde satisfied put her sword down, and returned to the center of the circle of elves, and was flanked by her guard.
"You are the elves of Imladris?" the elf she had pinned before spoke, his eyebrow arched. Three nods answered his question. Upon the answer the company let out a sigh of relief, and 4 dark hair Mirkwood elves scaled the trees once more, leaving the three Lorien elves standing before the trio.
The middle elf, the one who had spoken stepped forward, and bowed.
"Mae Govannen, gwadors." He bowed and waited silently.
Earlinde sheathe her sword, and pulled off her helmet. She heard her companions doing the same and waited for them to finish.
"We are here to speak to the Lady." She said returning the bow. Haldir stood with a stunned look on his face. He turned and walked briskly behind the she elf, and stood before Fervor and Finwe. Both elves gave him no heed, staring straight ahead of them.
"I am the March Warden of Lorien. I welcome you to Lorien; tell me which one of you is the March Warden?"
Earlinde stood tall and the corners of her mouth turned up. She tucked her helmet under her arm. She stood at attention and gazed at the twin faces before her. They had a striking resemblance to the arrogant elf behind her.
Haldir stood patience running out, looking from one elf to another.
"Well?" he arched his eyebrow at the two. He received his answer from behind him.
"They will not answer you March Warden, for you have no authority over them." Earlinde remained stoic and facing the twins who sniggered.
Haldir whipped around, a vicious look on his face, "Then the March Warden has fallen? Or are you just messengers?"
"Wrong, I am the March Warden of Imladris." Her gaze shifted from the twins who were biting down laughs as tears came down there eyes, and gazed into the menacing face before her. He didn't scare her, someone who lost their patience that easily wasn't worth wasting her breathe on.
-March Warden, pfft.- She smiled. His eyes darkened as he watched a smile crept across her face.
Fervor cleared his throat, and Earlinde turned to face him. Fervor and Finwe had pained looks on their faces. Earlinde nodded
"March Warden, we wish to see the Lady and Lord, I have a message to them from Lord Elrond."
"Then you are messengers." He spat through gritted teeth, and then turned at his heel and tore through the trees. Earlinde shrugged and followed. Her guards marched behind her, and the twin elves brought up the rear, pointing at the marching elves, and making jest.
Earlinde, becoming tired of the March Warden darting through trees closed her eyes.
Straight ahead there is a cliff, a rope bridge is already tied there, cross over and walk in a straight line for 3 miles. Then you will reach the city gates, someone will gladly escort you in, if you tire of the Warden.
That annoyingly eerie pleasant voice, she would listen to it now. She turned to her guards, and nodded for them to follow her. She broke off into a run, leaving the twins surprised. Haldir tore out of the trees and started to chase the three elves, who he thought didn't know where they were going. By the time he had reached the cliff, the female followed by the two males running across the rope. He followed suit and then when they all had landed he rushed ahead of the elves, stopping in front of the female, stopping her. The two behind her froze in their tracks.
"Do you know where you are going, messenger?" He spat.
Earlinde had her hand resting on the hilt of her sword and looked defiantly into the eyes of the haughty March Warden. "Yes, now step out of my way." A rustling noise behind them and the four turned to face the twins coming out of the trees.
One twin walked over to the March Warden of Lorien and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Brother, we should make haste; the borders need your leadership." Haldir looked at his brother.
"Indeed Rumil you are correct, haste then, (he turned to the trio) Lets go."
The 6 ran through the remaining 2 miles, and then trekked through the city. When they finally reached the central talan, Haldir and his brothers walked in and bowed, and then the Imladris elves walked in.
Earlinde gazed into the face of the beautiful Galadriel and gasped. So overtaken by emotion she boldly stepped forward, kneeled on one knee, balanced her helmet on it with her hand and placed her fist on the floor, head bowed.
Startled, Haldir strode forward his sword drawn but was stopped by the gaze of the lady. The two guards of Imladris followed suit behind their leader.
Galadriel closed the distance between herself and Earlinde, when her robes were brushing the elf's head, she asked her to stand.
Three elves stood, Earlinde taking a step back in order to look at the Lady.
"My Lady, by my life I am honored to finally look upon such beauty and grace." Earlinde bowed.
"Welcome Earlinde, March Warden of Imladris, we were expecting you to be here at the end of the week. How come you to make a journey of one hundred days in 5?"
"We traveled by water my Lady." Earlinde answered bowing again.
In the corner Haldir stood mouth agape.
-March Warden! March Warden! A female? I have not allowed females to join my Guard, and even now with the Mirkwood battalion there is naught one female in our vast company! What joke does Imladris play? Send us a woman! That shows how good their guard is. Pfft.-
He watched the exchange between the Lord and Lady and Earlinde. Then she turned to leave, and was face by her two companions.
"Lady? May I be given permission to escort my men to the border, to see them off well?" A simple nod was her answer as three giggling hand maidens emerged from behind the lady and handed Fervor and Finwe packs.
LOTHLORIEN BORDER
Earlinde stood before her guards. Her crimson cloak blew in the silent winds. Her head was down, as she tried to compose herself. She looked at the two guards both trying to compose themselves as well.
Haldir and his twin brothers, Orophin she learned was the second twin's name, stood watching the three elves.
"IMLADRIS GUARD!" Haldir's head snapped up as he watched the female yell, he arched his eyebrow.
The two guards stood at attention, and took two steps toward their leader.
"HAIL!!" Earlinde's sword flew up and her hand went to her heart.
"HAIL!!!" came the response and mimicked movements. She held her stance and looked each in the eyes, and nodded. Each bowed respectively.
"I hold strong to my oath, taken as an honorable guard of Imladris, and I hold my binds to my March Warden! HAIL MARCH WARDEN!" the two departing elves lowered their hands and sheathed their swords in one motion. After bowing again to their leader they took off towards the misty mountains.
Earlinde held her stance until the riders were not longer in sight, then lowered her sword. She steeled herself and turned around to face Haldir. She sighed.
She walked up to the March Warden and looked him straight in the eyes.
"I am not March Warden here, so I will try not to impose my command over your company, as I will try with the Mirkwood Captain. You have my sword." She bowed her head, and Haldir returned the gesture, uneasy at the change of attitude.
ON THE GUARD TALAN
Haldir stood over the Earlinde while her nimble calloused fingers traced over a map, and she pulled colored needles out of a leather sack she had pulled out from under her cloak. Thankfully, she had not protested when Haldir offered her a gray color, she had welcomed it. He winced as he recalled the loud audacious comments of the Mirkwood Company.
In the few hours Haldir had known Earlinde his feelings towards her had changed drastically, he had hated, loathed her in fact, when he first laid eyes on her. But now that he had gotten to know her, his resentment eased into acceptance. But he still wasn't happy working with her. She acted like she was better than his men.
Haldir snapped out his thought as the candle light she was working with blew out. She heaved a frustrated sigh and then the light went back on. He walked around the crouched form and stood in front of the candle light. She looked up into his face as he crouched down, protecting the candle with his body from anymore wind.
She carefully traced over the Lorien borders, and then looked at him.
"Show me, Haldir." He closed his eyes. She had refused to call him March Warden and used his name, and insisted that he not call her 'milady' or warden but simply Earlinde. He looked at her. He like the way his name sounded on her lips. His eyes widened.
-I didn't just think that. Nope, not at all. Valar, yes I did. Okay that will never happen again then. Indeed. Haughty Warden. Moron she is. She isn't my equal-
"Haldir…" she looked at him, her voice tinged with irritation.
He looked at the map. He dropped to his knees to be comfortable and placed a hand down on the floor.
"Here… there… there… here… and here… here… there, by the water… there by the bridge. Here by the glade." He looked warily at the map. She had suggested that they mark where all the attacks were, and if they were wins or losses, and she also wanted to total the casualties.
"Anymore?" She said looking into his eyes.
"Uh, yes, two there… here and here… that's all."
"Okay that's, um, two, four, six, eight, ten, eleven. Okay, now, wins and losses, and casualties?"
"Win no casualties here, here, here, there, here, and here. Win one casualty there. 15 men there. 19 there. 4 here. 6 dead there."
"Okay, so that's, one red here, for the dead. Four blue for casualties, and 6 gray ones for the wins with no casualties. Now in what order did they happen?"
He pointed the battle sites out according to order and she quickly numbered them. While he was bent over her, his hair brushed over her face and she subconsciously tucked it behind his ear, and looked at him irate.
When they were done she sat cross legged on the ground and stared at the map. Her father had always taught her to use a map. No matter what she was doing she could always predict what she was going to do by using a map.
Her eyes widened as she looked over at Haldir who was staring at the candle in between them. "Haldir!"
He looked at her.
"Look Haldir, do you see a pattern forming?" He looked into the map, and then shook his head.
"Look! Haldir the rivers that surround Lorien, the Nimrodel, Celebrant, and the Anduin. Now look, on the east we have the Anduin. On the west we have the Nimrodel, and Celebrant, that join together and run in between the Northern Border and the great city. Two days ride south is the Limlight River." She smiled triumphantly.
He looked at her, "Mi—Earlinde, I have lived all my 6000 years in this city. I have been guarding it for four millennia. What you say is not new to me."
Her shining eyes, dulled immediately. She reached out and grabbed his chin and forced him to look at the paper again.
"Look March Warden," she said as her hand on his chin moved to the back of his neck to hold his head down, "The first attack was at the Limlight, the second was in the Anduin, the third was in the Celebrant! You fool! The reason you cannot track them by land is because they travel by water! And, they are surrounding you!" she let go of his neck and he sat up again, his anger died down as he realized what she was talking about.
He sat stunned as her words sank into his mind.
"They are moving like they had planned this for a while." Haldir said taking the map in his hands.
She lay on her back still cross legged and looked at the treetops.
"Some force organizes these fell beasts against your land."
Haldir put the map down and looked up, and started when he realized that he was starting between her legs. A fire inside him woke, as he looked away, his ears flushing.
"Indeed, some force we cannot foresee." He found his eyes wandering again, but she snapped up. He gasped at the sudden movement, and his eyes snapped to meet her eyes.
"So, we must figure their next move! They move in an orderly fashion, so we can easily detect them!"
Haldir nodded. The two spent the next hours suggesting the next attack areas, and positioning men there.
Orophin and Rumil watched the two elves huddled in a corner of the windy talan whispering and nodding furiously.
"Lets play a game, gwador." Rumil suggested.
"Sure, let's pretend to be them and say what they are thinking." Orophin suggested.
"Indeed that is a good choice. I shall be Haldir," Rumil smiled.
"Nay, brother, you were Haldir when last we played this game."
"Indeed, then I shall be Earlinde,"
"Who should go first?"
"You shall, Orophin."
"Okay, here goes. Hark damsel! Do you wish any assistance?"
"(Rumil batting his eyes at Orophin) Oh Haldir! I wish for you to take me to your talan and show me you March Warden!"
"Hahaha!! Good one brother!! Okay, ha, okay! I will my precious! I will show you how to proper run your guard!!"
"Oh yes Haldir! Command and I shall obey!!"
"On your knees!!"
"(Rumil gets down on his knees laughing hysterically) Oh mighty one, reveal yourself to me!!" Orophin and Rumil start laughing manically.
Haldir shouts at both them and looks at them as they fall into silence.
Haldir turns to face Earlinde again and smiles.
"Then we will separate for now, you go to the West, and I to the East. I will call to you if I need more guards." He winked at her and then beckoning his brother to follow him jumped off the talan.
Earlinde gathered up her Map and ran over to the Western Border. She slowed down and stopped beside the captain of the Mirkwood Company. She approached him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Findar, it has been a long time." He whipped around at looked at her.
"Earlinde? I never thought I'd see you again. What are you doing here its dangerous?"
"Indeed danger lurks in every corner of this world." She met his gaze. His soft eyes were reminiscent, but she stepped away from him, and shook her head.
"What was cannot be now." His eyes saddened, and he opened his mouth to protest but she waved a hand to silence him.
"You left me Findar, when I most needed a male companion. I am now the March Warden of Imladris, and my men stand behind me."
Flash Back
Jet black hair entangled in brown, fingers interwoven and skin kissed skin.
Earlinde looked up into Findar's eyes as they both climaxed and cried out in unison.
Findar collapsed on top of the shaking elleth, and she wrapped her arms around him. They finally relaxed and Findar rolled down to the pillows and held each other.
"Findar, ada is leaving to the west, and I was thinking about joining the Imladris guard…" she whispered into his ears.
"What?" He jumped out of the bed and glared at her.
"Melamin, what's wrong? Come back to bed." Reluctantly he slide down beside her and sat up, the sheets up to his chest.
"The guard is for Male elves, it is no place for the elleth, and the home is."
"What does that mean?"
"It means I will not marry a soldier! I deal with them everyday! I want to come home to a dainty little princess, who is hot and wet, and waiting for me, in the bed. Not a sweaty smelly, scarred guard!"
"I am joining the GUARD!!" she screamed.
"Then I regret to tell you, I no longer wish to see you."
She watched as he dressed, tears in her eyes as he left her. He never came back. She broke into heart wrenching sobs and swore she'd never take another lover.
End Flash Back
Subconsciously Earlinde found herse4lf stroking her collarbone, where she had a big scar left from an orc blade.
She moved forward to look at the water, her eyes widening she turned to warn the guard of the orcs moving toward them.
Findar let out a short bird call, and then readied his arrow. Earlinde joined the archers and fired a few arrows until she threw down the bow and charged to the shoreline. She met the orcs head on. Slashing and tearing into their hearts.
Findar watched stunned as her sword shone with thick black blood, as she swung it over her head and kicked the creature behind her and sliced at another's throat. Mini daggers flew out of her other hand, like magic.
Findar was pulled out of his fantasies of making love to her in the Celebrant by a charging orc.
EASTERN BORDER
Haldir wiped blood from his face and turned swinging his sword again. He severed to more heads, and turned to look at his comrades. The waves of orcs had ceased and he turned to look for any casualties.
SOUTHERN BORDER
Haldir's 3rd in command wiped blood from his lip and held his fallen brother in arms. He called out to the rest of the company to assemble before him.
"Any more casualties?"
"Nay, Commander Lolindar. No more."
"Come! We make for the city!"
-That March Warden from Imladris was right! They are out for death! This was the big one.-
WESTERN BORDER
Earlinde turned to see the last orc headed for a wounded elf holding his leg and grimacing. She swung her arm back, and let go of her sword. It flew true and landed in the creature's skull. The guard sitting on the ground saw the end of a sword come out between the orc's eyes and gasped.
Earlinde carefully stepped over the dead orcs pulling her daggers from them and cleaning them on various the bodies. She finally pulled her sword out of the orc, and sheathed it, still bloody. She then looked at the injured Lorien elf. She walked briskly to him and looked at his foot.
He had an orc blade jammed into his leg splitting it cleanly down the middle. He was holding it as blood gushed everywhere. She wrapped her hand around the top of the blade, and looked at the warrior who put his hands in his mouth to stifle the scream. But she remembered that orc blades have a tip that is bent outwards so if she pulled it out, she would take the bone with it.
She shook her and bent down and picked up the injured elf in her arms. She turned to the rest of the company.
"Check for our casualties!! Burn the orcs!!" she commanded as the company hesitantly followed the orders.
"The rest of you, come back to the city!" she called, stepped towards the tree.
She heard foot steps shuffling towards her and looked at the guard in her arms that looked more uncomfortable than hurt.
"What's wrong?" she said looking at him. Even in her arms she had to look up at him.
"You pick me up as if I was a babe." He muttered.
"Well would you prefer walking?"
"Nay milady, I am just so used to picking up elleths and carrying them around, not the opposite."
"What is your name, brave one?" she asked arching her eyebrow at him.
"I am Earendur, milady."
"I am Earlinde, please, call me that, not milady." He nodded, and relaxed.
NORTHERN BORDER GUARD TALAN
Haldir paced around the talan. He was confused, furious, happy, sad, lost. His mind raced in ten different directions.
It irked him that this elleth was able to predict the attacks of the orcs, and it upset him even more when he associated her with his bed sheets.
He sighed and turned to Lolindar.
"Report!" Haldir barked.
"Commander, sir, we burned the orc bodies in the south, and had one casualty. Figwort, sir. He's dead. The guard has retired and been replaced by new guards."
"You are dismissed." Haldir watched his 3rd in command turn and walk away. Rumil and Orophin stood cleaning their weapons on rags in a corner.
Lolindar stopped in his tracks and stared at the sight in front him. A loud gasp escaped his lips as he watched a blonde head float up the stairs on the side of the talan. Everything moved in slow motion as Haldir turned to the site, followed by Rumil and Orophin's gazes.
What they saw shocked them. A Blonde elf was being carried up the stairs. His head came into view followed by a jet black mane, which was matted and caked with dark thick blood. Earlinde came into view her clear blue eyes turning to meet Haldir's as a drop of dark blood fell from her head and trickled down between her eyes and down her nose, to her mouth, filling the small of her mouth and trickling down her chin.
Orophin stood mouth agape as the male elf was carried into the talan by a disheveled elleth, soaked in blood. She put him down on the floor and wiped her mouth and spat off the talan. Four male elves looked from Earendur to Earlinde as the elf on the ground hung his head in shame.
"What's wrong with you all?" She glared at Lolindar, and Rumil and Orophin in turn then turned her gaze to Haldir.
She walked up to him and saluted, and waited patiently for a command. Then exasperated she put her hand under his chin and closed his mouth for him. She stood before him awaiting his command, but all he could do is look from her to the injured elf.
She saluted the March Warden once more, and stood at attention.
"Report to follow Commander, sir," she stated, and watched as Haldir snapped out of his daze.
"Western Border cleared and orc bodies burned. 300 strong. 2 injuries. No fatalities. Western Patrol awaiting your direction before retiring!" She saluted him again and her gaze bore into his eyes.
She stood shocked looking at her. He had never heard a more thorough report before, unless it was by him. He recollected himself and met her piercing gaze.
"Well done Commander. The Western Patrol is to retire. See to it that the reinforcements know what is happening."
"Refreshments have been briefed, sir"
He broke out into a smile. "See to it that the area is scouted."
"It has been I sent two boats into the water to look out, and a few more to scout the entire area. Alarms will be sounded if they need anything." She smiled at him and for the first time he noticed her fingers had several cuts zigzagging over them.
"You are dismissed."
"Thank you." She smiled again and turned on her heel to slam into Findar.
She stepped back and walked around him.
"Do you require a report great March Warden?" Findar's words wiped the smile from Haldir's lips.
"Nay, you are dismissed."
CARAS GALADHON
Earlinde moaned happily as she settled into the hot bathe the maid had run for her. She put her head on the brim of the tub and lathered up her legs, humming a strange tune.
Haldir stood outside her door and listened to her humming and heard the splashing of water and decided not to barge in on the elleth. On his way to his talan he wished he wasn't the gentle elf he was, and had walked in. Fire burned within him once more. As he stepped into his room he slapped himself, he hated these thoughts.
Few Hours Later
Earlinde sat at the table facing Haldir. At the head of the table sat the Lord and Lady and the other end sat Orophin and Rumil.
Dinner was served, and Earlinde realized for the first time that she hadn't eaten since her first night out of Imladris, a week ago. She smiled as the smell of the food rose to her nose.
Haldir watched the elleth with hooded eyes. The dress sleeve slipped of her shoulder for the third time and she irritably pulled it up to its regular place. Haldir watched as the deep scar in her collarbone disappeared a third time under her dress collar.
Findar finally walked in and took his seat next to Earlinde, and smiled at her. She nodded, with a scowl, Haldir noted. He also noticed as Findar pushed his seat closer to Earlinde, and she shifted over away from him.
Something inside of him upset him to see Findar feigning for the affections of the Lady Earlinde.
Wait!!! - Lady Earlinde?- he chuckled to himself. -I am foolish, that I am-
Dinner started after the Lord and Lady took a bite of food from their plates. As Earlinde reached for her fork her sleeve slid down her arm again, and she heaved a frustrated sigh while pulling the dress up again.
Findar, seated next to her, could not contain the lust in his eyes. Galadriel stood up from her meal and quickly Haldir, Rumil, Orophin and Earlinde stood up and stood behind their chairs. Findar reluctantly stood up, clearly upset that his meal was interrupted. Galadriel walked up to Earlinde and put her hands over the shoulders of her dress, and pulled a few laces in the back of the dress. The shoulders slid up, and the drooped a little. Galadriel pulled a pin from Earlinde's hair letting it cascade down the side of her face, and put it in her dress, and the Earlinde's eyes brightened as the dress held fast to her shoulders.
She thanked the Lady and patiently walked for her to be seated. Findar seated himself at the table, and then shocked realized he was the only person seated other than the Lord and the Lady. His face flushed as his gaze met a rather annoyed Lord Celeborn. The lady then motioned for the standing company to sit. Again they waited for the Lord and Lady to eat before they dug in.
After dinner Earlinde walked slowly to her room and stretch out onto the bed. She quickly fell into Elven Reverie.
She dreamt of Haldir, as he did a few trees down.
A/N: What is this?? Love? No, no that can't be right!!! R/R!! thankies!!