Elven Script: Good for you! Now that I am in college, my math lecturers are pure angels! And thanks for the review.
Anonymous: And I will be writing more and more each time! (I guess…)
L a y d e e: Your story was so good! Are you writing a sequel? I'd love to know! And keep informing me what you think of this one.
Radbooks: Thanks for your review and please don't think Haldir is that mean! He is just being stupid. It doesn't mean he is 'mean'!
Haldir's heart and soul: Weren't we all touched when Haldir walked the plank? But thanks for the review and keep them coming in!
Crecy: Yes indeed! But it has its own benefits. Got to agree with me on that point. Thanks for the review!
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Disclaimer:
I don't own Hogwarts or Middle Earth. Duh!
Thoughts or dreams are in Italics
- Anarya of Lorien
CRYSTAL DREAMS
Chapter – 12 (Plans for tomorrow)
Haldir's Point of view:
"Haldir!" She seemed shocked her voice, merely a whisper. I couldn't look at her face as my eyes looked down at my toes. Then sensing the long silence, I looked up to see myself standing there alone. I stepped inside to see her backing away from me. Did I scare her that much? I felt guilty but I knew it was no avail now. What was I to do by feeling guilty?
"Anya-" she looked at me with her eyes as wide as they could go, and then slowly I saw tears slowly brimming and falling down, cascading over her cheeks, which were turning red. Her tears did to me what countless leagues of orcs couldn't. I froze where I stood as I saw her slide to the floor crying bitterly. What was I to do? I mentally cursed myself for having pulled the both of us into such a situation, which could have serious implications mentally to the both of us.
"Anya, please. I beg of you." But her cries continued on. I took a deep breath as anger slowly rose up within me. Here I was all but begging her to listen to me and to what I had to say, and she would not do that but go crying. I felt my body stiffen out of tension and a bit guilt mingled with annoyance as I said, my voice too cold even for me.
"I shall be leaving for Border Duty, Lady Anya. And I expect Lady Galadriel to be taking care of you in my absence. You need not fear her or feel uncomfortable in her care and I hope we shall meet again-" I looked up at this. She was staring at me, shock clearly visible in her eyes as her mouth gaped at my response to her tears.
"- If possible." She gasped as I said this and steeling my mind against any foolish wishes my heart would ask me to do, I turned around and shouldered my quiver and my bow and equipping myself with the cloak and additional clothing that I might need for my watch, I entered the hall where she stood there as though etched of stone. As I was about to leave my talan, I turned back to see her watch me leave her there with no sort of explanation for what had happened last night. No consolation for what I had done or for what she had been through. It was partly anger on myself that had brought out the harsh words, but I merely bowed down a little and turned around.
"Namarië, Lady Anya." I whispered and moved away, leaving behind a statue of shock.
Anya's Point of view:
"Namarië, Lady Anya." My surprise grew with each syllable he uttered. He was leaving for duty in the Border. He was leaving me. One part of my heart felt relieved. He wouldn't be here in the night. It would not happen again but another part, it wanted him to stay. It wanted him to enfold me in his arms and take away all troubles that plagued me, to do away with all uncertainties that harbored within my heart. When he had gone out, I felt some sensation returning and I ran towards the railed balcony, calling out for him.
"Haldir!" but it was too late. It surprised me how fast elves could move if they wished it to be. I turned around and slowly sank back my head leaning on the railing as I ran my hand through my hair. Tears flowed anew as I remembered the way his fingers had searched through my tresses last night as his lips molded with mine, in a heat of passion. But now that flame had died and the cold that emanated from him now, was unbearable, just like his flame of passion. But now, I wouldn't feel either. He had left me…in his house, to do as I bid.
And slowly the part, which yearned for his presence, seemed to gain strength and I wept anew for him until sleep overcame me and I welcomed the sweet forgetfulness that sleep would temporarily provide me with.
Ithilwen's Point of view:
Why had she called me? I pondered only to be more confused than I was before. Galadriel – the Lady of the Golden woods. I stood now, before her Talan, waiting for the horn of the guards above so that they could let me see her. The boom of the horn startled me as I shook myself out of my reverie. I stepped up the stair, two at a time. I was to take up my duty in the Border and if Haldir was to see me here, he would surely, shout first ask questions later. I smiled as I thought of him… his smile and the way he moved but then again, the guard stopped me.
"Mae govannen, Karnil." I greeted her. The only female bodyguard of the Lady. She smiled back at me and nodded her head towards the room where Lady Galadriel was probably sitting. I smiled back at her in a way of gratitude and walked towards the doorway. As I was about to take another step towards the doorway, I felt her voice in my head.
Good morning, Ithilwen. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you this morn.
I smiled a little as I nodded my head. I walked into the room to find the Lady seated on an ornate chair with the Lord beside her. Lord Celeborn smiled at me as I strode towards them. It amazed me how he could remember each and every guard in his service. I bowed down and placing my hand over my chest I greeted my Lord and Lady.
"May the sun shine upon the wise ones of Lorien!" The Lady smiled.
"Indeed," she said, "Let Anor smile her way into Lorien. Now and forever." She bade me to sit across them in an empty chair put there perhaps for that purpose. I obeyed them and as soon as I was seated, I felt the Lady look at me with an intense gaze, as though trying to find out some secret I harbored. It troubled me. At length she spoke,
"Haldir is not himself lately, is he?" she turned to Lord Celeborn. He merely nodded and turned to look at me.
"Is it not your turn to do the duty in the Northern Border?" he asked me, as though meaning to clear some doubt regarding the shifts. I merely nodded my head affirming their query. The lord seemed to acknowledge this and closed his eyes in thought.
"I have asked Haldir to take your place. And you shall act as guide to our guest Anya." He said in one fluid sentence. I felt jolted and I shook my head. It seemed to amuse the Lady for she smiled serenely.
"I bed your pardon, my lord! But I seem to understand very little of what is going on here." I said, afraid I might sound too rude in front of them, whom I served. Celeborn merely smiled and shook his head.
"My child! You are merely to befriend that poor girl who seems to have no friends and she shall be brought to Caras Galadhon. She cannot stay all by herself in Haldir's talan when he goes off to duty."
"But my talan is closer to the borders. Will it be safe for her?" I asked incredulously. If Haldir's talan is not safe then how in the name of Eru did they think my talan could be safer? The Lord nodded his head.
"I understand. But she cannot remain in Haldir's talan any longer. It is for her betterment that I say this. Please understand that whatever you might learn from her when you meet her and bring her here to Caras Galadhon is but the truth. She has no need to lie and I know her. She will not."
The lady looked at me, her thought boring into my head,
Laurelin was you sister. Had she been desperate, would you not help her?
I turned sharply to gape at her. I merely nodded my head.
"Then do as you're told to, my child. Remember, Haldir loved Laurelin and she loved him back." I nodded my head. Had she read my feelings towards my brother–in–law?
"You may leave, Ithilwen. And let the Valar be your guide. Remember, a talan shall be made ready for you and Anya. She is our guest and you shall find her a good friend." That was the last of our discussion. I bowed and left the room to descend the steps of the mighty mallorn and soon found myself facing the gates of our fair city. Anya… what was it this time? I slowly made my way up his talan only to find her resting there, with her head leaning on the railing and face clearly tear stained. Something serious had happened. I slowly made my way towards her as noiselessly as possible and knelt beside this sleeping human. Her face seemed innocent and guileless. I slowly brushed away a stray strand of brown hair away from her face and she started awake. I sat beside her smiling at her as she slowly opened her eyes to look at me.
"Lady Ithilwen?" she whispered, her surprise something I had been prepared for.
"Haldir-" I started only to have her look away towards the Border.
"-shall not be coming." She completed my sentence. It was now my turn to be surprised. She smiled sadly at me. Was she crying because he left? Did she feel anything for him? I felt my heart beat erratically as this new possibility arose within my mind. But any doubts I had about this girl vanished as thin smoke when I saw her face. She had been crying all right! But had Haldir been there when she was crying, she wouldn't be sleeping by the railing.
"Is something the matter?" I asked. She turned to look at me startled. She shook her head slowly.
"No. Nothing is the matter. Why are you here?" I smiled as she tried to correct herself.
"I – mean it was unexpected. What brings you here, lady-"
"Just Ithilwen, please." I interjected. She smiled a little and it was clear it was her first for some time now.
"Lady Galadriel wishes you to come and abide in Caras Galadhon." She turned to look at me as I said this.
"Why?" her question was simple. But I had no answer I could give her.
"I beg your pardon. I do not know the exact reason. But since Haldir is on duty in the Borders, the Lady feels it would be safe if you were to stay in the city rather than here, all alone." I said. It was all that I knew and I had nothing more to hide.
She nodded her head. "But what of this talan?" I laughed a little.
"No living creature would dare rob the talan of the March Warden of Lorien. Haldir has a good reputation in such matters." Her smile died a little as I turned to look at her.
"In what other matters does the March Warden have a reputation to save?"
"What do you mean?" She simply shook her head and walked inside. She was not the same girl I had taken to Nimrodel once. She had changed but I shrugged it off as 'excessive Haldir influence' not knowing how close to that reason I had hit.
Anya's Point of view:
I was to go to Caras Galadhon. I sighed as anger slowly raked up through my body. I had a certain Lady of the Golden Woods to meet and I had certain issues to settle.
You shall remain with Haldir, in his talan and you can trust him far better than you can trust yourself sometimes.
Those words burned into my soul. If I could trust him far better than I could trust myself, I wouldn't be in this situation I found myself in now. No. I did not trust him. It was a mere illusion of the mead he had drunk. It was not love. It was merely lust. I put the only other dress I had beside my school robe into a canvas saddlebag that I found inside the cupboard in the bedroom and slowly made my way to the hall, where Ithilwen waited for me.
She was seated on the couch with her hand over her face, sleeping probably.
"Ithilwen, I am ready." I called out. She jerked awake and turned to look at me, standing there with a saddlebag.
"Good. Then shall we move?" she asked me. I merely nodded my head. She must have sensed something amiss, for her face lost some of its cheer but what thought had been running in her mind, I did not know, but she questioned me no further.
We walked towards the city gates. Ithilwen, carrying her weapons and another bundle probably containing her clothing and myself clinging onto the one costume that I owned.
"We need to see about your dress. You cannot live by one dress alone!" she said, eying my luggage. I nodded my head.
"What ails you, Anya?" she asked abruptly. Her query was so abrupt that I stopped. She proceeded for a while before stopping and turning back to see me stare at her. Her eyebrows rose in question. When I remained silent, she walked towards me and placed her hands around me.
"What is it, my friend?" she asked, her eyes softening with care. I felt tears stinging my eyes again. I shook my head and tears slipped down my face. Her eyes widened as she saw me cry. I sank to the forest floor and she knelt beside me.
"What is it?" she asked me. Her voice as soft as that of a mother enquiring the well being of her off spring. I leaned into her shoulder. Somehow I had a feeling I had leaned on her for many time before. I could say nothing as I sobbed worse than I had ever done before. Maybe it was that there was a shoulder to lean upon now.
"If you feel you cannot tell me now, then mayhap after we go to our talan, inside the city?" I nodded my head.
She smiled and placed a kiss on my brow. Were all elves this loving? But then there was Haldir. My cries redoubled as my thought wandered on him. Ithilwen hugged me tightly and hushed my tears.
"We shall come into the city very soon and if this is how you shall present yourself before the Lady, then let me beg to differ." I smiled at this. The sight of Galadriel seeing me like this was a treat worth having but now I felt too weak to argue and I slowly got up from the forest floor and soon we were resuming our trip to Caras Galadhon – the heart of the elven habitations in this world.
Okay, some might want to murder me for this chapter but please!! Everything turns out for the better. So please hit the GO button and review away! And since my model semester exams are coming up on this side of the planet, I can guarantee my readers, one chapter per week. But after that I shall find some extra time for writing this story, which I don't intend to leave dangling in the middle.
- Anarya of Lorien
