As they walked through the silent woods, Gimli whispered to Frodo, Merry, Sam and Pippin. "Stay close, young Hobbits! They say that a great Sorceress lives in these woods, an Elf-Witch, of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell…and are never seen again" He finished ominously and the Hobbits all looked about fearfully. Aerlaer nearly snorted in laughter but caught herself in time.
Aragorn, noticing her reaction, turned to her and grinned, sharing in her secret she was quite certain, only he and Legolas knew of. Gimli continued cockily. "Well, here is one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" Suddenly Legolas raised his bow, Aerlaer quickly knocking an arrow to hers, as there was movement from behind trees.
"Oh." Gimli stuttered as an arrow appeared under his nose. Aerlaer eyed the Lórien guard who pointed an arrow at her, holding back a delighted laugh. It was Rúmil. He could not possibly recognize her beneath her hooded cloak! There were a total of six Elves, surrounding them.
"The Dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." The leading Elf, Aerlaer immediately recognized to be Haldir, spoke with dry humor. She wanted to throw her arms around her Lórien friend. She refrained although, it was now all too funny, the situation she found herself in. Gimli simply replied by growling at Haldir but, at least he had the sense not to move. She knew the Lórien Elves had not dealt with Dwarves in recent times, unlike Imladris.
Haldir motioned for them to follow and, she indicated for Legolas to lower his bow as Rúmil and Orophin flanked their sides. Three more Elves followed further behind them but, she could not tell who they were. They did not walk far before Haldir halted beneath a mallorn tree.
"We shall speak up there." Without waiting, he began climbing the rope ladder. Aragorn followed him and, Aerlaer sent Frodo up next, with Sam before following herself. Gimli went next, grumbling the entire way, followed by Legolas. Finally Boromir, Merry and Pippin emerged, along with Haldir's two, younger brothers.
Rhe Marchwarden of Lórien gestured them through a curtain of fibrous material. they stepped onto a large, wooden talan, which had delicate, twinkling lights hanging above from the trees branches that could not be seen from below. Finally, they could clearly see one another's faces.
Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil." Haldir greeted Legolas in reverence. Aerlaer gazed at him in surprise, she did not expect that they had met. "Many times have the leaves fallen since you last graced these woods, Estel." He added and Aragorn nodded, before placing his hand over his heart in greeting. "My brothers here are Rúmil and Orophin and, I am Haldir." Haldir introduced himself to the others. Again Aerlaer tried not to laugh. She wondered how long until they recognized her.
"Our Fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lórien." Legolas replied respectfully to the other Elf who then turned his attention to her with a frown before stepping closer. To her surprise, when Haldir made to reach for her hood, Legolas half barred his way.
"No need to fear her safety, Thranduilion; I would lay down my own life for our Princess." Haldir spoke quietly, a smile quirking the corner of his mouth as he gave a half bow. She removed her hood.
"Don't say such things, Haldir, and, for Eru's sake, don't you dare bow at me!" She berated the older Elf, knowing full well he would be holding back a larger smile for the duties to the realm he currently had.
"Why did you conceal your identity?" He asked instead, a frown creasing his strong features.
"It was not intended but, admittedly, when you found us, it was rather amusing. I would not have liked to be let into the realm simply on blood merits." Aerlaer replied and, bedside her, Legolas barely muffled his quiet laughter. Haldir simply shook his head.
"Indeed. Well, here, always you are welcome. I must ask, why are you here? All of you? A strange group you are." Aerlaer watched as Haldir's eyes shifted to coolly appraise Gimli. His brothers, already had their eyes warily on the Dwarf.
"We seek rest and protection. Our journey has been long and perilous. I do not know how much I can say here." Aragorn spoke up before switching to Sindarin. "Gimli is a companion of ours, he means no harm." Rúmil snorted at that.
"We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days." Haldir looked distastefully down at Gimli who glared back.
"And you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!"
Aragorn, appalled, reprimanded the Dwarf. "That was not so courteous." He growled. Aerlaer was not certain what the insult was and, it seemed, neither were the three Lórien brothers although, Haldir's frown deepened.
"The Dwarf, as rude as he may be, is not an issue." He looked instead to Frodo. "You bring great evil with you, I can feel it. You can go no further." Haldir turned away dismissively and strode to the other end of the talan.
Annoyed with his abrupt and typical attitude, Aerlaer went to give the Marchwarden a piece of her mind, but Aragorn stopped her, shaking his head before going after Haldir himself. They both walked across to the adjoining talan, speaking quietly in Sindarin. Holding in a sigh, Aerlaer turned to the brothers she had not yet greeted. They did not know the Westron common tongue, only the Sindarin and Quenya of the Elves
…
Legolas watched the other two Lórien Elves respectively from the corner of his eye. He had met Haldir once in Imladris but, he had not met his brothers. Rúmil eyed the Hobbits with interest and Gimli with detest. It bothered him, Gimli had done nothing wrong. Well he had insulted them but, he doubted they understood the hard words of Dwarves as he did. The other brother, Orophin, caught Aerlaer's eye and moved a couple paces towards her. Again, he wanted to step in front of her, protect her but, from what? She was, as Haldir had said, their Princess. She was the safest of them all. He forced himself to remain still as Aerlaer shifted across to speak with Haldir's younger brother and refocused on listening to Aragorn's conversation with Haldir. So far, it was not going well.
"It has been nine winters since you last graced the woods of Lothlórien with your beauty my lady. You have been missed dearly by all." Orophin murmured silkily to Aerlaer and Legolas, found himself directing all his attention into the conversation unfolding before him.
Aerlaer regarded the Lórien Elf a moment before answering and Legolas wondered what she was thinking. "I had been meaning to spend this summer under the cool canopies, had I not joined the Fellowship, I would have undoubtedly traveled here from Imladrisl." She replied before a smile graced her lips. "If Haldir gets out of his high tree, and lets us into the city, I can then at least say I have visited this winter."
"You know my brother nearly as well as I, he takes keeping danger from the city very seriously but even he could not turn you away. I wouldn't." He added, smiling broadly at the elleth. She laughed cheerily, the sound musical and Orophin winked roguishly. Legolas was stunned.
Was this Lórien Elf flirting with her? Surely not? Haldir and Aragorn returned but he was too busy watching the elleth now, from the corner of his eye, to notice what they spoke of. Surely, she saw nothing in this conceited male? She obviously knew them all well enough. Was she not close to Glorfindel? Had he not seen that in Imladris? Yet, she had never spoken of the Balrog Slayer. Why am I even wondering about this? Does it matter?
"You get your visit." Orophin briefly touched her forearm as Haldir declared they were granted access to the city. Aerlaer beamed up at him and Legolas felt his stomach clench. It was a strange feeling and he couldn't recall when he had last felt his insides do such a thing or what it meant. It wasn't a good thing he was sure. He decided he did not like this Elf who watched Aerlaer a little too intently.
"You will follow me." Haldir spoke, breaking Legolas from his odd trail of thoughts. The Marchwarden deftly made his way back down the ladder, followed by his brothers. Aerlaer followed and, Legolas following her, did not miss how Orophin offered the elleth his hand, when she reached the last three rungs. He was very glad when instead of walking with the Lothlórien brothers, she chose to drop back walking near Gimli and Boromir, just behind him; after the three other guards, upon recognizing her hood-less, bowed deeply.
"A Princess." Boromir quietly stated, humor in his voice. Legolas knew the man knew her heritage but, he was unsure if they really had put two and two together, that, she was Galadriel's youngest granddaughter. "Goodness, a third of our Fellowship is purely made up of royalty!" He smirked at her. She sighed and shook her head at him.
"A status that is equally a privilege and a curse. I do love Lothlórien but, I do not enjoy all the attention my status holds here. Although, my friends which dwell here do not treat me too different, thankfully. If I lived here, I would be forbidden to fight and protect the borders although, I am permitted to train. In my herd, my brother and I were the strong, quick, fighters in the guard he commanded."
This admission only made Legolas wonder, where would she go once the quest was over? If Lórien was not for her, that left Imladris. In a sense, they were not so different. Neither of them had a realm. Instantly he felt bad for thinking such a thing. Aerlaer had her realm destroyed when her kin were slain. He still had the choice to return to his, if he wished it.
"It was only with my own soldiers and my own brother I could be completely myself back in Gondor and that was only in an inn, with ale flowing." Boromir spoke to the elleth, seeming cheerier than he had been when they first entered the Golden Wood.
"Forgive me for my ignorance but Legolas is a prince yet, they did not fall over their knees upon recognizing him, just you, I don't understand?" Gimli rumbled and Legolas glanced back over his shoulder as Aerlaer laughed lightly.
"You know the scary, Elf-Witch you spoke of earlier?" The Dwarf nodded in confusion. "She is my Grandmother."
"Oh." Gimli replied, feeling foolish. Legolas was certain it had a lot less to do with her heritage on one of those Elf's parts.
"And, yes, she can be fearful but, you will see she is kind of heart too." She smiled kindly to Gimli who looked a little more reassured. "Besides, I think Legolas will soon be surrounded by elleth falling at his feet." She snickered "It is not every day the young and single, altruistic and striking Prince of Mirkwood graces the woods of Lothlórien." Gimli and Boromir snorted with laughter and Legolas turned his head back again to be greeted by a very mischievous looking smirk from the elleth.
He shook his head at them with a small smile and turned back to the way they were going. He was well aware he wasn't bad looking as far as his already fair race went but, to have Aerlaer state so herself, even if she was teasing him, made him smile. He wasn't entirely sure why he was so pleased by it, he had been complimented before by others but, somehow her words held more sincerity. Perhaps because she treats me as her equal not her superior like other Elves have in the past and, still undoubtedly would.
…
"Just how did a Lady Elf of Lothlórien meet an Elfhorse Prince? Boromir asked curiously after they had walked in silence a little while. Aerlaer knew this story well and, although it pained her a little now, she pushed feelings of sorrow away and grinning up at Boromir, began to explain how her parents had met.
"My mother was Gwaloth, second daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn. My father, who was still at the time, Prince Falas, son of King Gaear of the Edhelroch, stole my mother's heart. At least that is how the folk of this wood tell the story." She laughed.
Legolas had dropped back to listen to the story too, walking on her left side. "How did he manage that?" He asked intrigued.
"It was during a journey from the Gladden Fields before Mirkwood toward Pinnath Gelin. The herd was quite, in those days, and roamed all Middle Earth; journeying often to the Sea. They passed the fringes of Lothlórien and my mother, who was wandering the woods with another elleth, caught sight of the herd. She always told me her eyes were drawn to a strong young chestnut with a mane and tail like the autumn leaves. The horse, walked up to her and, bowing before her, he suddenly became a handsome Elf. He took her hands in his and declared she was the most fair and beautiful lady he had laid eyes on and, to go with him to the Sea.
Falling instantly in love with him as he had her, she agreed then and there to go with him. The elleth, who had been with her, ran all the way back to tell the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn that their youngest daughter had been taken by the wild herd of Edhelroch. Celeborn himself and a small group of his most skilled warriors ran to catch the herd before they had roamed too far away and there he consorted with the Elfhorse king. He was a mighty Elf and mightier horse. It was then, Celeborn saw his youngest daughter with the young Elfhorse Prince and, the pure happiness in her smile and love in her eyes. He realized she had truly fallen deeply and completely in love.
What could he do but give the Prince his own blessing and it was there at that very moment, they exchanged rings. Not rings of mithril but rings of the silvery bark of a mallorn tree, woven delicately. Oaths were spoken and, Celeborn returned to the city, happy in the knowledge, his youngest daughter had found happiness and, the other half of her heart
My mother went with the herd and drank from the stream in the Hidden Valley of the Horses and, soon became Elfhorse herself. A beautiful, dainty and fair palomino she was with a cascading mane. The Edhelroch lingered for a time in the valley and then went on to the Sea where King Gaear passed his throne down to his son and took the grey ship west with some of the herd and his lifemate. The remaining herd, now lead by their new King and his Queen, continued to roam Middle Earth until it became too dangerous and they settled the herd in the open and safe, Gladden Fields, close to Lórien and Imladris.
When my brother and I were born, she would often journey with us to Lothlórien and we would visit our grandparents. I often stayed a little while in Lothlórien, even after my mother returned. I enjoyed seeing my mother's family here and running beneath the trees. The three brothers leading ahead of us, Haldir is the eldest followed by Rúmil and Orophin the youngest. He is older but we did grow up together during my time here. They are all dear to me." She finished with a small smile. Legolas cast her a sidelong glance and she looked questioningly back at him but, before she could ask him what bothered him, if anything, Haldir suddenly drew to a halt as they reached the rise which lead down into the city.
"Caras Galadhon, the heart of Elvendom on earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light." The Marchwarden announced and, for all the nice memories of the Golden Wood, she had lightly shared with her companions, an old feeling crept up on her, unbidden and; a shadow briefly crossed her heart. Shaking it back to the furthest corner of her mind, where it belonged, she followed Legolas, who waited for her.