KellseyKisaragi: I am so honoured to think that you like my story. I hope you find this chapter just as enjoyable.
L0stL0ve: Thanks for the review and here's the next chapter!
Lady Light: Then worry not, my friend. Here you are! The next chapter.
Valinor's Twilight: I was a hard-core Legolas fan once. But now I am a hard core Lord of the Rings fan. I seem to appreciate the books a little more than the movies, these days. But I feel you're right. Haldir is a wonderful character and his personality is more diverse in a way! But nothing against Legolas anyway! I guess it depends on the way you write. I am so glad to know you're writinga story!I would love to read it soon. Please post it!Thanks for the review and here's another chapter!
Corrina: Oh my! I hope I didn't disrupt your duties! If so, I apologize profusely. I am touched to know you find my story quite interesting. Thank you! .
Princess Shadowcat: Well, I am not that patient myself. But I was way too busy with college and stuff. Sorry! Have a nice read!Now that all is settled, let the story begin!
Disclaimer:
Oh! How I wish I owned Haldir! But misfortunes aplenty! I don't! So, please trouble me no more – ye black robed lords of the court! Phew…on with the story, folks!
Thoughts or dreams are in Italics
- Anarya of Lorien
CRYSTAL DREAMSChapter – 25 (The wedding)
Anya's Point of view:
I was nearing the middle of my ninth month…and sure enough the belly looked like a water balloon about to break! It amused me how funny I should have looked…lumbering here and there like a huge walrus! Olwen was about to get married to Orophin that evening in a secluded glade with very few friends attending the ceremony they had so graciously arranged for the public. My friend was indeed trying her robe for the evening and Ithilwen looked more like a seamstress than a soldier as she stood there, holding the robe here and there in accordance to the orders from the bride.
"Ai Elbereth! I am getting impatient here! Olwen, decide for Eru's sake!" Ithilwen muttered through gritted teeth. I laughed at the expression she had on her face. Ithilwen was a person with lesser fuss and Olwen was really particular about her dress. And one couldn't blame her! It was her wedding after all!
"Oh come on, Ithilwen! I promise to be bullied around by you on your wedding day! Now please tuck this bit into the sash! It hangs around quite foolishly!" Ithilwen sighed as she tucked the said piece of cloth into the sash and stood back looking at the effect. Olwen was obviously pleased for she smiled at her reflection and then turned to look at me with a questioning look.
"Hmmm…maybe we could change the basic shape a little bit." I said with a critical gaze. Olwen turned to Ithilwen who was staring at me with her mouth open.
"You must be jesting me, Anya!" I smiled as I nodded my head, having enjoyed the silly expression that my friend bore. All three of us laughed.
Then there was a knock on the door. Ithilwen opened it to find Rumil stand there with bottles of mead in his hand.
"I hope you're not planning to drink it all here! I would be very angry indeed if I was forced to clean my house on my wedding night!" Rumil smiled at Olwen who looked at the mead bottles and the tankards with a look that clearly wished them out of the talan.
"Oh, worry not dear Olwen! We shall take all of it away at night. We wouldn't want fuel when there's enough fire already!" he ducked just in time for Olwen had thrown a cushion at him. We laughed at Olwen's expression which seemed to be somewhere between embarrassment and annoyance.
"You shall find a maiden soon enough Rumil, and by the Valar, I shall mock you then!" Rumil laughed as he walked back to the door. Just as he was about to leave the talan he turned towards us, his gaze resting on me,
"But not before you mock Haldir, Olwen. He would be the next one." He smiled as he closed the door behind him. When he had left the talan, the other two turned to look at me.
"What did he mean by that and what did he imply by looking at you?" Olwen's voice sounded my very doubts. I remained silent as I was too absorbed in thought. What had he meant by that?
"Níriniel…" I started as I turned to look at Olwen.
"What?"
She merely shook her head as she walked towards the table in the living room where there was a basket of fruits.
"It wouldn't be long now." Olwen smiled as she clasped an apple tightly. I smiled understandingly. She was really nervous. I walked towards her and placed my hand on top of hers…a sign of reassurance.
"It shall all end well." She smiled as I walked her back to the couch. There were still a few hours for the commencement of the ceremony. It was not that much of a ceremony…all they had to do was party! The real ceremony of marriage was a private affair…one where they both united as body and soul. They did make a good pair. Maybe it was luck that spoke when it came to a perfect life partner…and perhaps I was very unlucky.
"Haldir would be coming." Ithilwen stated…breaking into my reverie again. I turned to look at her,
"And what does that have to do with me?" she opened her mouth as though she had something to say but then thought better of it and closed her mouth. I sat down beside Olwen who seemed subdued. Was it the wedding jittersor was it the topic of discussion? I did not know.
I hardly saw him after that day. I hardly left my talan after that incident. Though Séregon visited me a couple of times a week, I did not see Haldir at all. One part of my being was glad. I need never see him…need never fear his sharp tongue and the way he hurt me…but there was another part that was subdued and feeble that seemed to reiterate the small wish of how I longed to have him beside me…to tell him all my fears and insecurities…to feel safe. Yet it was not to be so. Haldir would always be that stubborn, proud elf who considered the likes of me below him.
I sighed as I walked to the door and opened it. The sun was slowly descending down the western skies as the day progressed. It would soon be twilight…time when Olwen shall wed her beloved…to stay together for an eternity.
Haldir's Point of view:
I smiled a little as I saw Orophin fuss about the way his cloak fell around him. He was to wed Olwen in a few hours time. And Rumil was on the verge of a nervous breakdown having attended to Orophin and the wedding arrangements with equal earnestness.
"Orophin, another time you remove your cloak, I swear I shall strangle you with it." Rumil grumbled as he sat beside me. I looked at him; all three were dressed in one of our best robes. Orophin had donned a golden tunic and crème leggings with a fur-lined white cloak to finish his attire off. Rumil was dressed in a midnight blue velvet tunic with black leggings while I wore a silver tunic and white leggings. I smiled as I remembered how I had behaved on my wedding day. I was merely a recruit and hence it was a simpler affair. Yet…even then…she had looked so beautiful! In a simple crème robe, her face radiant with joy…all the wealth in the world could not replace that image!
"Shall we leave, Haldir?" I started a little as I turned to look at Rumil who had spoken. He was apparently waiting for me to leave my talan by the way he was holding the door open. I got up from the couch and walked out of the room into the cool evening sky. It was autumn now…when the entire world sported autumn leaves, the Golden Woods looked like the haven of beauty that night. The silver mellyrn were full of golden leaves that rustled gently in the wind. There wasn't a better time to get married. I smiled at Orophin who was walking ahead of us – the most impatient of the three of us, perhaps. I understood.
We were soon in the glade where a few elves we knew had already gathered. Orophin waved his hand acknowledging the various greeting he got from all his friends. We had also invited the Lady and the Lord and they had graciously consented to attend. Yet the seats where they ought to have been seated stood empty. Mayhap they shall come a little late.
I looked around trying to find Olwen. In reality, I was trying to find Anya. I doubted if she would come, seeing how heavily pregnant she was. I felt guilty when it occurred to me that I had to be there for her now. I found her, adjusting a loose strand of Olwen's hair, her face lively and happy. I did not know if her expression would change if she saw me. She turned around to talk to Ithilwen when our gazes met. I did not smile but stared intently at her…not sure what to do. I saw her eyes widen as she stared back at me. Ithilwen, who had expected Anya to talk to her, looked at her quizzically before turning to my direction. When she saw me, she smiled a little and whispered something to Anya, who merely nodded and turned the other way.
Though we hardly spoke, I could sense her anxiety…a kind of discomfort, for which I knew I was to blame. I was about to walk towards them when I heard trumpets. The Noble ones had come.
I walked up to the Lady with my brother as did Olwen with Anya. The Lady looked at me for an instant and with a mysterious smile which confused me, turned to Orophin and Olwen and blessed them. The Lord smiled serenely as he presented them a beautifully carven box of silver. They thanked him and the Lady and escorted them to the seats that were arranged for them. There would be feasting and merriment aplenty. Yet my heart seemed to linger on none of these. She stood there, her face pale and her eyes everywhere but on me. I was about to walk towards her once more when I heard Orophin address the gathering. I stayed my ground. I couldn't have asked for a worse timing.
Anya's Point of view:
I had seen him…his face pale and anxious. Was he anxious because of me? Or was he just scared I might somehow let the secret out to the people around us…besmirch his name! I closed my eyes as I lost interest in what Orophin was speaking about.
There were cheering as Orophin completed his speech and turned to the musicians, who taking hint started playing mellifluous strains. I was about to head for a place to sit, as my condition was not that very conducive for standing for a long period.
"Why don't you sit here, Anya?" I started as I turned around to find Haldir stand there with a hand on the back of an empty chair. I turned the other way and walked as briskly as I could. He easily caught up with me.
"Anya…stay where you are." There was something in the way he said it that made me stop. It held a command that I had always felt…yet now there was a tinge of gentleness.
"What is it March Warden?" I asked in clipped tones. I had to be away from this elf. This elf who had changed my life so drastically!
"Anya-"
"Anya! There you are!" I turned around to find Séregon stand there with two goblets in his hands. I smiled at my friend and giving the elf behind me a sour look, walked towards Séregon.
"You look ravishing tonight, Anya." He smiled as he gently kissed my hand. Did God believe in contradictions so much? Why else would he send Séregon and Haldir into the same place? I knew Haldir was behind me by the way Séregon's expression changed.
"Good eve, March Warden." He said in a strained voice. I felt the wind leave my lungs at what Haldir did next.
I felt his hand on my waist as he pulled me gently towards him, his hand lying protectively over my waist…over my child. I saw Séregon narrow his eyes as he saw this.
"Good eve to you too, Séregon." The way he said his name clearly spelt the hatred the both of them shared. I placed my hand over Haldir's and tried to remove his grasp. But my feeble fingers couldn't pry them off. He merely caught my hand and held them in his tightly. I squirmed slightly…trying to break free.
"Are you enjoying the evening, Séregon?" Haldir asked mockingly. Séregon was looking at my hand in his with a very ugly look.
"I was, until a short while ago." He said, looking at me. I was pleading…asking him to shut up. If a fight started out now…here…all would know. I turned to the gathering where sat, the Lady.
Why wouldn't you help me here? I thought with all my might. If she was reading my mind…then I wanted her to look in this direction where there were two elves on the verge of locking horns…on the verge of revealing everything! I closed my eyes as Séregon stepped a little closer. I also felt Haldir's hold tighten uncomfortably...
"Haldir! There you are! The lady would like to see you immediately!" Rumil was running towards me, his face quite animated. I felt his hands leave my waist as he turned to leave behind his brother who was indeed retreating back towards the Lady. So she did listen! I thanked God that day! Before he left, however, he turned to look at me…a slow and calculating look. He then placed his fingers to his lips and blew me a small air kiss. I glared at him as he smiled and walked away.
"He's abhorrence in manifestation!" someone stated from my right. Séregon was glaring at the retreating figure of Haldir. He then turned to look at me with pity mingled with the love he bore for me. I smiled uneasily as I shook my head gently and turned towards the gathered elves…Séregon as my escort now.
Haldir's Point of view:
The way he looked at her made my blood boil. Even though I knew I was partially to blame for this…he had no right to be staying around her! Not when she was bearing my child!
And so, your perspective would change after she gives birth? I felt the Lady's voice in my head.
I looked up at the white robed one before me. Her expression was unfathomable. The way her blue ceruleans probed into me made me a little uncomfortable.
"Good evening, Haldir." She smiled at me. I bowed down, showing the respect I bore for her. I then turned to the Lord; he was looking at me with an expression that bordered amusement and pity.
"I see that you have finally decided to step into Caras Galadhon." I smiled as I felt myself flush. I was indeed trying my best to be away from the city and in the process, immersed myself into the Border duties that I shouldered.
"Indeed, my Lord." I smiled a little as I bowed down before him.
"Olwen seems to be happy." The Lady remarked casually. I turned around to find the elf in discussion talking happily to Ithilwen. Anya was nowhere to be seen. I let my eyes wander across the glade only to spot her smiling at something that hideous excuse for an elf (Séregon) was saying.
"You seem to have forgotten what I had told you earlier, Haldir." I turned to look at the Lady bemused. What had she told me that I had forgotten? I racked my brains trying to remember. All the orders regarding the Border duties were executed immaculately.
Did I not tell you she would never hate the child that was part her in existence? I felt my heart beat faster. I turned to look at the Lady who was surveying me with a stern look. I lowered my eyes, unable to meet her gaze.
"She was hurt that day, Haldir." I looked up at her. I knew she was hurt and wasn't that why I ran to meet her? To see if she was?
"She was hurt by what you said." She was right. I had said things I didn't mean to. But then…wasn't she also in the wrong? How could she be with another elf when she bore my child? And the way Séregon looked at her when he was near!
If it were to appease you, he does know that she bears your child.
I looked at the Lady surprised. Did he know everything? The Lady merely smiled as she nodded her head. Then…did she… even then…did he?
He said he loved her nonetheless. She refused. She said she did not think of him the selfsame way.
She looked at me…waiting for some sort of reaction. I merely stood silent. I did not know what to say. She had refused the love of an elf who seemed to love her even after knowing everything?
"All for your child, Haldir. All for your child." She whispered for me to hear. I turned around to find Anya run her hand over her bloated abdomen, probably caressing the life that lay within her. I felt guilt rise within me.
"There are certain other things that I would like to discuss with you." The Lady's voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to look at her. I pleaded to her…I needed to talk to her. This time perhaps we could reach a sane decision. The smile that the Lady gave me told me she had read my thoughts.
"These things might help you find clarity regarding your decisions, which I assure you I shall not force down upon you." Her voice seemed so soft, as though she was talking to a child…and wasn't I one in front of this ancient one? I nodded as I silently followed the Lord and the Lady back to their talan. I avoided Anya's eyes as Olwen and Orophin came to bid good night to the Noble ones. After what I had heard…I did not know what to think of her. This mortal who seemed to have some connection with my darling Laurelin! She had even succeeded in making me forget Laurelin momentarily. It stunned me. What was happening? I followed the two great ones in front of me and soon, the music of the glade died out and we found ourselves facing the Mallorn which housed the Lady's talan.
All shall be clear, Haldir. Do not worry yourself. The lady was looking at me sideways. I smiled a little…a watery smile as I nodded my head. Yes. All shall be clear. I repeated the same within me as we climbed up the stairs.
TADA! The end of another chapter. You know what to do! Please read and review! Your words of encouragement and critiques keep me motivated! So please hit the 'Go' button and tell me all you care to say!
- Anarya of Lorien.
