Part: 11
Rating: Strong R
Pairing: Haldir/OFC
Characters: Just about every other elf that Tolkien created that's in the LoTR books and movies.
Warning: descriptions of wounds and sexual situations
Disclaimer: All known characters are owned by the great Tolkien, all others are of my own creation.
Beta(s): Marta, Novedhelion, and Vi
Timeline: 80 years before LoTR and extends to post RoTK events
Notes: I want to thank Marta, Zee, Mal, Kay, Suse, Phyllis, Vi, Novedhelion, and Dorothy for their expertise. Without their input this story would not be what it is today.
Sinda speach is shown with ""
Westron speach is show with
This story follows the movieverse.
Once Arianel reached the flet, she looked around warily. This was an entirely new situation for her. What memories she could recall had nothing to do with being in the branches of trees. "Are all dwellings like this?"
"In the trees, milady?" Eladur asked.
Arianel nodded as she slowly sat down.
"Yes, but those have walls and partitions for rooms. This is only a simple flet for guarding the fences."
"Oh," she answered looking around again. Her eyes strayed to Haldir. He was standing at the edge beside one of the trees and looking out into the forest. Something seemed different about him, she thought for a moment.
"He takes guarding the Lord and Lady's realm very seriously," Eladur murmured when he saw where her gaze took her. "And he has been a warden for a long time."
Arianel nodded then broke her gaze to look around her again. It wasn't as bad as she thought it was going to be. Yes, she was way off the ground, but her fear seemed to be muted, and under control.
"Why am I not nervous being this far up?" she wondered out loud.
"'Tis the power of the Lady. Her presence calms all our fears. 'Tis the power of Lothlórien," Eladur spoke with reverence in his voice.
Arianel gave a slight smile as she thought about Eladur's words. Imladris was never like this.
When he was satisfied that they had not been followed, Haldir turned around and looked at the group assembled before him. Most of the wardens had already gone back to their assigned posts, making the flet seem deserted, although Eladur had remained.
Rúmil was digging around in his traveling bag for the food they had packed before leaving. Because they had foraged along the way they left the bread only for emergencies. "Here, milady." Rúmil handed her a package folded up in a couple of leaves.
"What is this?" Arianel asked as she turned it over in her hand. This was something she had never seen before.
"Way bread. It will sustain you until we reach the City."
She nodded while opening up the leaves. Not knowing what it tasted like, she broke off a small piece. She was surprised by how full she felt after a few bites. She was full after only a few small bites. "I am sorry, I cannot eat anymore." Arianel handed the uneaten portion back to Rúmil.
The warden gave a slight smile. "'Tis very filling." He placed the bread back in the pack then set the bag off to the side. The stress of the day and now having been filled made Arianel very tired. She glanced to Haldir. He gave a slight nod and vague smile. Giving him an answering nod she laid down using her arms as support for her head.
"Has she had nightmares?" Eladur asked late in the evening when he was sure she was asleep.
"Aye," Haldir nodded then gave a sigh. "They seemed to pass when we were in Imladris, but once we began to travel, they came back." They were drawn from their quiet conversation when Arianel gave a slight whimpering sound and started shifting positions. Haldir placed a rolled up blanket under her head to give her more support. Quickly, she settled back down.
Do not worry, she will rest well.
"Haldir?"
Haldir shook his head as if to clear it. He was oddly relieved that she would not be plagued by nightmares this night. He turned back to Eladur, "I am sorry; did you say something?"
Eladur shook his head. "Nay. What did the Lady speak of?"
"That she will rest well and we do not have to worry about keeping her calm." Haldir looked out to the forest again.
Eladur nodded then jumped off the side of the flet. Soon he was climbing up the tree a short distance away.
Because of where they were, Haldir felt he did not need to worry about keeping watch. Looking off to the side he could see that his brothers felt the same way, those two were already settling down. Haldir looked around one last time then stretched a blanket out to rest upon. He was near to Arianel's position, but not too near, he did not want the wardens to start rumors about them when he didn't really know himself.
The wind blowing gently through the trees brought Arianel from the realm of peaceful dreams. This was one of the few times that she did not have any nightmares.
"Good morning, milady."
Arianel looked around the almost empty flet and found one of the wardens, Amolith, watching her. Everyone else had left for some reason.
"Good morning," she said quietly while tucking an errant strand of her black hair behind an ear. "Where is everyone?"
"Haldir left with some of the wardens. He wanted to know what happened when he was in Imladris. Rúmil and Orophin followed him, also." Amolith handed her some of the way bread.
"Is this all you eat?" She broke off a small piece and took a bite of it.
"Only when we are guarding the fences."
Arianel nodded and handed the uneaten portion back to the warden. Hearing a sound from below, she carefully looked over the edge and saw Haldir swiftly climbing up to their position.
When he reached the flet he stood for a moment letting his eyes sweep over the branches of the trees surrounding them. When all seemed safe to him he turned his attention back to the two on the flet. "Are you ready? We should arrive in Caras Galadhon by eventide."
Arianel nodded, though she slightly hesitated. "How will I get down?" She looked over the edge to the ground far below.
"The same way you got up here yesterevening." The side of Haldir's mouth quirked up slightly. Turning he cupped his hands to his mouth and let out a bird call. She realized it was a signal when some leaves rustled and the branches moved in odd manners. Soon the flet had several more occupants. After some discussion they quickly readied the ropes then secured them around the elleth.
"Orophin is with the horses below," Haldir spoke softly then gave the command for them to lower her down through the trap door in the center of the flet.
When she was clear of the flet Haldir nodded to the wardens then went over to the closest tree and started climbing down to the forest floor. By the time he reached the ground Rúmil had joined Orophin in helping prepare the horses. Several minutes later Arianel arrived and they helped her out of the makeshift rope chair. When she was free Haldir gave a short sharp tug on the rope, letting the wardens know that all went well.
Soon after the ropes disappeared they were mounted on their horses and on the move towards the City.
They had traveled for over an hour when they reached a fast running stream. "This is the Nimrodel."
"Named after the elleth in that song?" Arianel asked suddenly.
Rúmil turned to answer her, "Yes, milady."
She is remembering more, Haldir thought to himself. It was a good sign. Even though the water was cold, the horses easily crossed the stream and moved deeper into the ancient elven realm. When Haldir reached the top of a hill he pulled his horse to a stop which, in turn stopped the rest of the small group. All of them were able to see the tall stand of mallorn trees that marked the center of the city. "That is Caras Galadhon, Arianel." Haldir turned to see her reaction. She didn't say anything, just gazed at the city with wide eyes. It was very obvious she had never seen anything like this in her life.
After a short break for the horses, they were on the move again. Arianel strangely missed the amazing view she saw at the top of the hill, but the trees were completely surrounding them now and the trunks were getting progressively larger as they neared the core of the city. In what she could remember she never saw trees this large before. The trail eventually led them south of the city.
"Where is the entrance?"
"To the south, milady," Rúmil answered. He had been riding beside her for some time now. A short time later they rested the horses again and also ate some of the way bread.
TBC.................