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"Oh won't you come with me,
and walk this land
please…take my hand"
-Iron Butterfly
I woke up to a cool breeze and the dark sky. Night had fallen as I rested in the garden. I stood up, brushing fallen leaves and grass from the back of my dress. All around me were night sounds, unlike anything that I was accustomed to. I turned my gaze to the sky; littered with millions of stars, diamonds strewn across a blue blanket…a back lit canopy with holes punched in it; Incubus. Yet another reminder that I wasn't home.
I sighed and began to search the sky for the North Star; maybe it would comfort me in this foreign world. I don't know how long I searched, several hours perhaps, but I couldn't find it at all. "Where is it?" I said into the darkness.
"Where is what?" a voice said. I turned towards the sound; Haldir of Lothlorien surveyed me from the entrance to the garden. The shadows played with the light tones in his blue eyes, giving them a somewhat ethereal glow.
"The north star," I said quietly, turning away from him.
"You were so still, I almost mistook you for a garden figurine," he drew closer, a teasing smirk on his face.
"Funny," I said.
"May I share your sky?" Haldir asked gently, his eyes kind.
"It isn't my sky, but yeah." He stood beside me, a silent presence. "There are so many stars," my voice was a whisper, "I've never seen the sky look so alien."
"How do you mean?"
"You really wanna know?" I looked over at him.
"Well that is why I asked, yes, I'd like to know," he smiled at me in the darkness.
"Well, like, the sky doesn't look like this back ho-back where I used to live. There are not as many stars, because there's too much artificial light." I looked down, watching the wind blow through the grass at my feet, "It bothered me then, the man-made light, but…it was really a comfort."
"Man-made light?" He was puzzled.
"Yes," I shook my head, "but this world is so different to me."
"Well you've only been here for one day, you cannot expect to feel at home so soon."
"How did you know I've only been here for one day?"
"Your husband." He was silent a moment, and I took the opportunity to study him out of my peer vision. He stood perfectly still, his ramrod posture so like a soldier. HE is a marchwarden, Linwe, I thought to myself with a smile. His blue eyes were lifted to the sky, and there was a thoughtful, relaxed expression on his face. "Yes?" He said, turning to meet my eyes.
"I didn't say anything," I said, looking away.
"But you wanted to." He raised a pair of perfectly arched eyebrows.
"Well…" I trailed off.
"Mm-hm?" He waited expectantly.
I exploded.
"That's just it Haldir, they expect me to know everything so sudden. What I used to do, how I used to behave, the way things are here." Exasperated I threw my hands up in the air, then realized all I'd said. I had only just met Haldir, and already I was telling him my life story. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be saying this. You don't wanna know my life story."
"There is no need to apologize Linwe, I do not mind."
"Of course that's what you say-"
"I never say things I don't mean." The sincerity in his voice made me trust him, this elf I barely knew. We talked under the stars, and I learned about Haldir, Lothlorien, and what it means to really listen to someone.
When the sun began to streak the sky with hues of pink and orange, I blinked, realizing it was morning. "We have talked all night…its morning."
We had settled ourselves on the soft grass side by side, our backs pressed against the fountain. Haldir looked up in surprise, the sun caught the spun gold that was his hair.
"So we have," his lips parted in an unconscious smile, as he turned his gaze to the rising sun."
"I don't want to," I murmured, knowing confusion awaited me.
"But you must," he said, rising to his feet, "and so must I. come," he held out his hand, helping me to my feet, "we shall return to the palace."
"Linwe," the voice of Legolas broke through the reverie of the garden. Haldir immediately released my hand; the open, relaxed expression on his face changed to one of indifference.
Legolas, looking about as well rested as I felt, came into the garden. His eyes flitted from Haldir to me, and then back to Haldir again. "Where have you been Linwe?" He turned to me, "I have been looking everywhere for you. I went to your room and found it empty."
"Perhaps you should have checked the garden," Haldir commented dryly. Legolas gave him a look, then turned his attention back to me.
"I have been here all along Legolas," I said, twirling a flower I'd plucked from a bush, "if you would have passed by, you would have found me. Where were you?" An amused expression settled on Haldir's face, a small ghost of a smile on his lips.
"I was out searching for you," Legolas sighed in exasperation, "I looked everywhere."
"Except here…why?"
"I suppose I stopped briefly to talk with Crysyne," why did you not come to bed?"
"It's not like were in it," I retorted, slightly annoyed.
"How would you know?"
"Legolas please, you're wearing the same thing you wore yesterday, you know you didn't go to your room." He looked down, noticing perhaps for the first time he hadn't changed.
"Well…maybe I just wanted to wear this again."
"And maybe, you didn't."
A peevish sigh escaped his lips, "perhaps this was not the best way to approach you."
"Damn straight." At this both Haldir and Legolas looked shocked; and I figured, perhaps the noble women of Middle-Earth did not use such coarse language.
"You must not say such things Linwe," Legolas chastised, "they are inappropriate."
"Yeah, okay, but I have a question," I tucked the flower behind my ear, "why, if you were so concerned, didn't you check the garden?"
"It's just as well, I didn't, you seem perfectly alright, socializing with the Marchwarden," his eyes sparked with accusation, "or maybe that's not all you were doing?" He picked a piece of grass out of my hair; it must have fallen from the fountain.
"Legolas, I came out into the garden to sort out my thoughts and I fell asleep. When I woke up, it was nightfall, and Haldir had come-and why and I explaining this to you?"
"Because I am your eldar, your husband, and I deserve an explanation."
"But you didn't give me one," I said.
"Well, I apologize. After the meeting with my father, the king, I paused to talk with Crysyne." Haldir, who had been making his way out of the garden, stopped in his tracks, and turned around.
"All night?"
"Well…"
"And you just left me here!"
"Linwe please."
"Please? Please what?"
"Control yourself, you are making a scene."
"So I guess now you've just declared yourself my daddy."
"You're what?"
"Why were you with Crysyne?" Haldir broke through our heated conversation.
"Do you not see me talking?" He raised his eyebrows, and I did the same. "We're trying to have an argument, can we please have our argument, do you mind? Thank-you."
"You may have your argument just as soon as I am told what Legolas was doing with Crysyne."
"Don't you know it's rude to interrupt people?"
"Linwe, silence at this moment, is golden." His tone changed to one of extreme annoyance.
"Oh, so now you think you can tell me what to do as well?"
"Maybe you should listen."
"Don't tell my wife what she can and cannot do," he slid his arm around my shoulders possessively, but I didn't appreciate it.
"How about both of you stop telling Linwe what to do," I said, sliding out of Legolas' reach.
"Someone has to do it," Haldir murmured, blue eyes sparked with mischief. I realized then he was deliberately trying to annoy Legolas.
"And it should be me," the insulted elf replied waspishly.
"Maybe not," Haldir smiled.
"What exactly are you trying to imply Marchwarden," his voice was ice now.
"What do you think I'm trying to say, your Highness?"
"Okay can we just stop with these senseless mind games?" I was exasperated with both of them. Both elves turned towards me in shock. "Legolas," I said softly, "I know you wouldn't lie to me.
"Never, I"-
"Fine. I believe you when you say you were only talking with Crysyne. I believe you lost track of time as I did. No one's trying to steal anyone else's wife/husband/girlfriend/fiancé/boyfriend/eldar/ whatever you wanna call it." The two elves regarded me, each with an expression of expectance, as if wondering when I'd shut-up.
"Are you finished?" Haldir asked, a smirk on his face.
"I give up!" Exasperated, I stalked out of the garden. My peaceful morning had been ruined by male bravado.