Chapter 8
Warnings: none – but some sexy elf sparring and another cute scene! don't worry ppl, its getting there.
xxxxxxxxx - passage of time
italics - thoughts or memories
(Galadriel)
I watched her as she bent low over her work. She was weaving a tapestry.
Greens, grays, white, yellows, black.
Her character seems to be woven into its very fabric.
She is learning fast.
Dear child, you are so like her
She works silently, without a sound, her fingers flying over the cloth.
We all thought you were dead.
(Elenna)
I lost myself in my work, line after line, weaving my story onto its smooth surface.
Trees, birds, rivers, streams, all woven into a portrait of my life.
My life.
Then I felt a prickling sensation on the back of my neck. The sensation of being watched.
I tore my eyes off my work and looked up to see the Lady staring intensely at me, deep pools of blue boring into my soul.
"My lady?" I asked.
Her eyes locked mine in their gaze, pulling me towards those deep wells of memory.
"My lady?" I asked again.
"Go child." she said finally. "You have worked enough for the day."
I nodded and rose to gather my things.
"Elenna."
I turned around to face the Lady.
"You do not need to come back tomorrow." she said.
I looked at her with astonishment. I had gotten used to coming in the morning by now, weaving has been part of my routine for nigh on three turns of the moon. It was surprising how fond I had gotten of it.
"I do not need to come tomorrow?" I repeated with disbelief.
She smiled. "No child, go and do what you like to do best. Your lesson is finished."
I nodded mutely and left the round chamber where I had spent the last three months weaving.
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Three turns of the moon I have seen in the fair woods of Lothlorien. Laer, summer, it was when I came here, iavas, autumn, it is now. The days are cooling, but in fair Lothlorien, it is but another face of its beauty.
The leaves of the mallorn trees have turned gold.
The forest is a world of golden light, flashing this way and that in the autumn sunlight.
It is all so unreal, I dared not believe I was not dreaming.
My white skirts blew around me as I stood looking down over the Golden Wood from the platform of the abandoned watchtower. A sea of glittering gold extended as far as the eye can see.
The cool wind whipped across the tops of the mellyrn, making the leaves shudder, and the woods as dazzling as the sun as the afternoon sunlight caught in its gold.
I do not ever want to leave these woods.
I breathed in deeply the scent of the forest. The musty smell of the earth and of wood filled my nostrils.
I love these woods too much.
Gathering up my dress, I climbed back down the ladder and headed for my talan.
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I left my talan again after changing back into my grey tunic and cloak. Although the dresses were beautiful and comfortable, I did not really get used to wearing them. And I had nowhere to wear my daggers underneath them. With my cloak, I feel like I can become invisible again, melting into the forest, becoming the forest, feeling its life surrounding me.
I slipped my way through the pathways, this time descending to the forest floor. All the time I had been here in Lothlorien, I had not really left the lofty pathways up in the trees. I had spent most of my days weaving with the Lady, or sitting in the abandoned watchtower alone. I had not explored the forest floor.
The mighty mellyrn towered above me, their thick roots protruding from the earth. I walked silently through them, making my way out of the city.
I came to the tall green gate, hung with many lamps, to light it in the shadowy forest. Two guards dressed in white stood by it.
"I wish to go out into the forest for awhile" I told them.
They looked at me skeptically.
"I wish to go out." I repeated.
"It is dangerous to leave the city walls, my lady." one replied.
"I wish to go out." I said again.
"My lady – " the guard protested.
"I wish to go out, if you will not let me, I will climb these walls myself." I said firmly, staring intensely at both of them.
They looked at each other and then nodded hesitantly.
They opened the gate and as I started to walk through, one followed behind me.
"My lady, if you insist on going out, at least let me escort you. It is not safe outside these woods anymore." He said.
"I wish to go alone." I said. I turned and walked out into the woods. I could still feel him following me.
We will see how long you can follow me.
I picked up my pace and strided swiftly into the trees. He was still following. As we went farther and farther into the woods, I gained my distance. Soon I was well ahead of him. I quietly slipped behind the gigantic trunk of a mallorn tree and molded myself into the shadow.
Moments later, he passed by the mallorn I was hidden behind, searching. I watched him silently. He soon left still looking. I came out from behind it and continued with my walk in the woods.
When I wanted to be alone. I will be alone.
It has been so long since I was truly alone, it is kind of strange. Ever since I came here to the golden wood, there have always been people near me. Even when I was in the abandoned watchtower, I felt the people in the city below me. Although I have only been here for three months, it feels like it has been much longer since my days in the wilderness.
I sighed. To be alone again…
It felt like I was in a dream, walking amongst the pillars of silver and gold, like I was lost in the halls of the gods themselves. The cool autumn wind brushed past me as I walked there, in the woods of Lothlorien.
But then I felt something I have never felt before. An overwhelming feeling of emptiness filled me, suffocating me.
I have never felt so alone in my life before.
The world spun around me, I felt lightheaded all of a sudden. My legs gave way and I found myself sitting on the forest floor, in a carpet of grass sprinkled with the occasional gold leaf.
What is this feeling that is choking me? It left me feeling so alone, so alone. My heart started beating rapidly, my hands felt weak. I needed someone to be near me, to comfort me.
Why was nobody here?
(Flash)
We were sitting beside his favorite creek, in the woods of the grey elves.
"Have you ever felt lonely, little sister?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No. What does it feel like?"
"Like you are the only one left in the world, no one left to be there with you, to comfort you, to laugh with you, to love you…" at this he trailed off, eyes glazed in a faraway thought.
I looked at him curiously. "Have you ever felt lonely before?" I asked.
"Many times…"he answered, looking back at me.
"You have never felt lonely before, when you lived in the woods by yourself?" He questioned.
"No," I answered. "There were always the stars…"
He smiled.
"One day, when the one you love the most leaves you, you will feel lonely."
(Flash)
Is this really how loneliness feels like?
Was there someone I loved? Love. I do not even know the meaning of that word, let alone feel it. He never really told me how it felt. Every time I asked him, he would change the subject.
My love was for the woods, and the creeks, my friends the stars of the night. I have never felt the same affection for another, I do not even know if it is the same feeling.
I have not had many friends.
I ran my hands through the soft grass and picked up a single gold mallorn leaf. Holding it up in to the sunlight, I carefully examined it.
What is love?
I got to my feet and started walking blindly forward. I was looking for something, but I don't know what. Why do I feel so helpless all of a sudden?
Why?
As I walked contemplating, I heard the clashing of metal on metal in the distance.
I cautiously approached the source of the noises.
And then I saw him.
There in the clearing, he stood, sparring with a younger guard, all around them the columns of the tall mallorn trees towered into the sky. His sword glinting in the sunlight, white blonde hair flashing, he looked like some forgotten god locked in battle long ago, in the deeps of time.
I watched, hidden in the trees, taking in the sight before me.
The younger guard's strength started wane and he prepared to make his finishing move.
(Haldir)
The guard was young and inexperienced. His technique was lacking and his moves were executed poorly, I had no problem finding a weakness in his defense to bring him down. I made a mental note to correct his grip on the sword afterwards.
That day we were down at the training grounds to test the younger recruits for the guard. They were all fairly new to sword play and we were showing them the basics that afternoon. When I asked for a volunteer to spar with me, they all paled three shades of skin color. The one I was sparring with now looked like he was going to faint any moment if he wasn't so scared of being hit by the sword attacking him. I had been going easy on him but I was looking for a chance to finish off to session now. After he attempted to block my jabbing blow, he tripped, and as he struggled to regain his balance, I brought my sword down in a finishing blow…
But instead of it coming down to a halt inches from his neck, it clashed against metal.
There, standing in front of me, with a long dagger locked with my own sword, was her.
She was looking at me with her head tilted slightly to the right, her gaze challenging.
"Care to spar?" she said.
(Orophin)
I watched my brother raise his sword to finish off the miserable-looking youngling. I was glad this was going to be over soon. Watching the young guard try to take on my brother was just painful, I almost felt sorry for the poor thing. But as he brought down his sword on the young guard's neck, it was suddenly stopped in its path by a dagger.
I sat up straight from the tree I had been leaning against. Elenna was standing there in front of the guard, staring intensely at Haldir, her dagger entwining with his sword. At her side, she held an identical dagger in her hand. The fortunate youngling behind her scrambled fearfully back onto his feet and stole quickly back to his comrades, still looking somewhat shaken.
I was curious. Where had she gotten her weapons from? Certainly they were not hers? But then again we had not searched her when we brought her back to Caras Galadhon…
And then they sparred.
She fought with a deadly grace, movements exact, never more, never less. Her blows were lethally precise, grazing inches from their target as my brother repelled them with equal precision. Their blades flashed in a blur of silver, moving so fast that I could not even follow their attacks. I would be even ashamed enough to say that her skill greatly surpassed my own. Only one in all of Lothlorien could have matched her proficiency.
Haldir.
The two of them fought, silently, without a word, locked in a deadly dance so fast that it was starting to become frightening. The young guards just stared wide-eyed unblinkingly.
Rumil, me and the other guards faired no better, we could only look on speechless.
All was silent. The air was crackling with tension as Elenna and Haldir continued, locked in their mortal combat, and the only sound was the ringing of their blades. They fought on and on, neither appeared to give way, and it looked like neither of them was going to win. Even though Haldir had the advantage of the longer blade, Elenna had the flexibility of two. They were equally matched.
After what seemed to be hours, but maybe it was only a few minutes, they each brought their blades to the other's throat at the exact same moment. Time seemed to freeze, everything was silent, and we all held our breath. They just stood there, holding in each other's gaze.
And then they lowered their blades. It was then that I noticed they were both breathing heavily. Me and Rumil could only look on, stunned. No one, absolutely no one, before had ever fought with Haldir and come even. There was a reason why he was the Marchwarden of Lorien – He was the best at sword play in the entire realm. How did she achieve such a feat?
(Elenna)
He was highly skilled in art of engagement. No one had ever been able to match me since my youth, not even my friend, who had taught me all I knew about the sport. We stood there, blades still pointed at each other's throats, his eyes holding mine in their powerful gaze. He was looking at me with a faint trace of wonder.
We lowered our blades at the same time. It was only then that I realized I had been holding my breath. I was still slightly winded from our spar.
"You fight well, Ranaew." he said finally.
I gave him a curt nod.
It was then that we realized his brothers, the other guards, and a whole troop of young recruits were still staring wide-eyed at us.
He turned to face the young guards. "That is an example of what you should be trying to work at."
They all just stared blankly at him.
"Well? What are you all still staring at? Keep practicing!"
At this they all paired up again and kept on practicing.
Haldir then turned to his brothers. "Help them with their technique, I want to talk to Elenna." They nodded and he turned back to me.
I slid my daggers back into their sheaths, hidden under my cloak.
"Come, let us walk." he motioned me to follow.
We walked back out into the golden woods, a comfortable silence ensuing. Somehow, the silences with him were always like that: comfortable, companionable, peaceful.
Finally he spoke.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" he asked.
"I learned to fight with the woodelves." I answered.
"I never knew their skill was so great." he said.
"No," I shook my head, "It is not. Only you have been able to match me. Not even my own teacher has been able to do that since I mastered the skill."
He laughed.
"You truly are amazing Ranaew, just when I thought I knew everything about you, you come up with another trick like that."
"You don't know everything about me. Even I don't know everything about me." I said quietly.
He looked at me curiously.
"I came here in hopes to find my family. But I found them not." I sighed.
"Did the Lady know who they are?" he asked gently.
"She knew. But she would not tell me." I said sadly.
"The Lady is wise, she must have her reasons." He reasoned.
"Perhaps it is so." I said, looking down at my hands.
I felt his hands lightly stop me by my shoulders. I stared at down at the grass.
"Ranaew…" I turned my face away from him.
I felt him gently lift my chin to face him. I lowered my eyes.
"Ranaew, look at me."
I tentatively look up at him. He was looking at me with concern.
"Do not lose hope." he said. "The Lady must have her reasons for not telling you. You should not doubt her."
"I am so tired of not knowing." I whispered.
"I know." he said. "But you must be patient."
Patience is a virtue you must have.
The Lady's words rang again in my head.
Patience
I suddenly understood.
I smiled at him. "Thank you." I said. "You have helped me more than you know."
He gave a slight bow. "Glad to be of service." He said, smiling. I smiled warmly back at him.
"My Ranaew…" he said softly.
I laughed. "You still think I am a wandering little bird."
"Of course," He said "You will always be my little bird." I raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"My deadly little bird, the only one who can fight me and not lose." he added.
I laughed again, he always made me laugh. "I missed you." I said softly. "I have not seen you for so long."
"You left me, that night on the watchtower." he said.
"I –" I began, and then drifted off as his hand wandered along my cheekbone.
"I thought it had all been a dream. Was it?" he said.
"No." I answered, all my coherent thoughts starting to wander as his hands moved past the tops of my ears to brush a strand of my hair back behind them. I gave a sharp intake of breath.
"Haldir–" I whispered. He was looking at me with a soft look in his eyes.
"I…I must go." I said quickly looking away. He looked at me questioningly.
I turned and swiftly walked back to the city, leaving him standing there behind me.
(Haldir)
She looked so beautiful there under the golden mallorn trees.
"I missed you." she said softly.
You do not know how much I miss you as well
Her skin looked so soft, glowing with golden light reflected off of the mallorn leaves. Before I knew what I was doing, I was tracing the shape of her cheekbone with my hand, tucking a strand of her silky hair behind her delicately pointed ears.
Inside, my head was screaming: what are you doing!
Then she said my name. It was naught more than a whisper, but it was like music to my ears. So lovely, like the sighing of wind on water…
She suddenly moved away. "I must go." she stammered. I could only look back at her questioningly.
She turned away and swiftly left, leaving me. I closed my eyes.
What have I done?
(Elenna)
I was confused, so confused.
Why was a rush of unfamiliar feelings all bombarding me today?
First an overwhelming feeling of loneliness, then an overwhelming feeling of longing.
Longing for him. To be close to him.
What is this I am feeling? I had no name for it.
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and by the way the next chapter is going to be very interesting –winks -