The Journey
Part: 13
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, Kika 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.
Summary: With no memory of a possible alliance with Mirkwood, an elleth, lone survivor of a devastating attack, is brought to Rivendell. This is her story.
Chapter 13
The next morning Arianel rose slowly from the bed she had been offered. She looked at it for a moment thinking it was quite luxurious compared to what she remembered in what she could only call her former life. Looking around, she found the door to the armoire slightly open. It had not been like that the previous evening. Moving across the room, she opened it and found several gowns already there. Opening up the drawer below she found more clothing, when removed she found them to be various underpinnings and what she assumed was a set of sleep clothes. The sleep clothes were a welcome sight since she had slept in her shift.
"Oh good, you are awake," came a cheerful voice from behind her.
Arianel whirled around quickly while holding the sleep clothes in front of her. Her eyes were wide with fright until she began to recognize her visitor.
"P-please, Sydia. I-I do not l-like that."
Sydia bowed her head. "I am sorry I frightened you. I will remember not to do that next time. The Lady wanted me to help you prepare for breakfast."
Arianel felt drained when the feeling of fright finally left her. With the words Sydia spoke Arianel had a feeling of familiarity wash over her. Opening her eyes she found Sydia already beginning to rummage around in the drawer for some of the appropriate under clothing.
"If you turn around I will help into a new one, and then a clean dress."
Arianel nodded as she turned around. With her back now to Sydia she let the shift pool around her feet and then step out of the material. Within minutes she had the new shift in place and soon after the dress, also. The material molded to her figure, easily outlining her natural curves.
With a few minutes of brushing, her hair was free of any tangles that were formed when she slept.
"The Lord and Lady are waiting for you now." Sydia moved towards the door.
"Are you going to eat with us?" Arianel asked.
"Nay, I only work for the Lady. You are a guest in their home." Sydia shook her head.
Arianel looked at her with uncertainty, "I am not sure I can do this."
Sydia placed a hand on her shoulder, "I believe you can. You came all the way from Imladris with three wardens as escorts. I know from personal experience, that trip is a long and hard one. But, you're here now. Plus, you have already met the Lady."
"I have?" Arianel's eyes widened slightly.
"Ai, she was the one that brought you here to choose a room." Sydia nodded while smiling brightly.
Arianel nodded and slowly rose to her feet to follow Sydia out the door. They went in another direction and Arianel found herself in another room, but with a table that had several people already gathered around it. Orophin had shown up along with an elleth next to him she had not greeted yet. The one that she met last night was there, along with another elf, this one silver in coloring.
"Come and join us, child." The elleth that spoke to her last night smiled at her. Arianel glanced to Sydia. The elleth was making a slight shooing motion in the direction of the table. Sydia then hesitated for a moment, but quickly returned her attention back to Arianel.
There were three seats left open. Slowly moving up to one of them, she sat down and looked at her hands for a moment. Looking up she found the elleth she had did not know give her a kind smile, almost as if she understood what she was going through.
Galadriel spoke first, "Do you approve of the room?"
"Yes, thank you." Arianel nodded while looking towards her host.
"Arianel," Celeborn spoke for the first time. "I am Celeborn. You are welcome in Lórien as well as my home."
Arianel nodded, her eyes widening slightly.
"You are also more than a guest here. You are a member of my family."
Arianel turned to look at Orophin for a moment. He also gave her a kind smile. When her eyes strayed back to the unknown elleth Orophin gave her a wider smile. "I know you will not remember everyone's name right now. Do not worry about that."
Arianel nodded again.
"This is Thriniel, my hervess." Orophin gave Thriniel's hand a small squeeze.
The elleth's green-brown eyes danced with humor for a moment before settling down to rest on Arianel again.
Arianel turned her attention back to Galadriel. "Who, who else is coming?"
"I am sorry I am late," a voice came from the doorway. Arianel turned and found an elleth of almost the same coloring of Elrond.
"Come, join us, Arwen," Orophin called out.
There are too many people here, Arianel thought desperately while closing her eyes. For a moment all she wanted was to feel strong arms around her. Somehow he always made her feel safe when he was near. When she felt Galadriel brush her mind she looked up and found a compassionate look on her face.
Arwen looked to Arianel for a moment, not sure of what she should do. Orophin leaned over and spoke quietly, "Be easy, she is still healing. Your adar had her brought here for healing."
Arwen nodded in understanding then turned to Galadriel. "Is Haldir coming?"
"He did not say yea or nay when I asked him earlier." Galadriel shook her head.
At the mentioning of his name Arianel turned quickly to look at Galadriel, surprised that they spoke about him in such a familiar manner. Orophin's actions were strange, too. None of them ever made mention that they knew these two people personally.
"And Rúmil?"
Galadriel shook her head. "He has decided not to come this morning."
Arwen nodded.
It was only later that Arianel realized that Sydia had slipped out of the room when she saw she Arianel no longer needed her.
It was a few years later when Arianel found Galadriel's personal garden. While there she had quickly developed a fondness for all plant life, though she did not know why. Most of her earlier memories were centered in a city with the sea as a constant companion. Not all of her memories had come back though, and somehow she knew that she did not want to know what the missing memories consisted of.
Thinking she was alone in the garden, she started humming and then singing Nimrodel's song. She had learned it a year ago and it had quickly become a favorite of hers. Sydia joined her soon after she had found her way down to the garden, but not to sing. They had become good friends in the years since they had met.
"You do know there will be singing at the gathering tonight."
Arianel nodded while fiddling with some of the leaves of a nearby plant. There was always singing at one of the many festivals they held.
"Well, I think you should sing," Sydia stated.
Arianel's head shot up quickly and shook it. "Nay, I will not."
"Oh, come now. I think you have a lovely voice."
Arianel shook her head again. "I will not."
"I hear Haldir will be there."
Arianel rolled her eyes. "Now why would I want him to come? I have not seen him since, since. . .I don't know when."
Sydia leaned towards her, "Sounds like he's avoiding you."
"Now why would he do that?" Arianel's brow furrowed with confusion.
"I don't know." Sydia shrugged her shoulders. "Anyway, it will be good for you to get out more often."
Arianel sighed but was still undecided about the request. "Who else do you think will be there?"
"Rúmil," Sydia answered rather quickly. "And my brother, I do know. Other than that there will be many that I do not know."
Haldir had stopped on the edge of the garden. He would always pass the garden when he was traveling from the practice field to his own talan. Passing the glade he heard singing, and then talking. Coming around some bushes he could see it was Arianel and Sydia. They were far enough away that he could not tell who it was that had sung. Seeing Arianel, he felt a slight stab of guilt over how he had been treating her since he had brought her to the realm. My duty is finished, he thought stubbornly to himself and turned to continue his walk back to his talan.
"I really do not know if I can do this." Arianel shook her head. Truth be told, she was terrified of the prospect of singing in front of such a group. What if she forgot some of the words?
"Arianel, you live with the two most intimidating occupants of Lothlórien. Have you sung in front of them?" Sydia asked.
Arianel shook her head. "No."
"Then let it be a surprise." Sydia smiled.
"I do not want to draw attention to myself." Arianel sat down on a nearby bench.
"Or you do not want to know if Haldir will not like it." Sydia had a thoughtful look on her face.
"Why are you so preoccupied with Haldir?" Arianel asked exasperated while throwing her hands up into the air.
"Oh, I don't know." Sydia gave a small smile.
"There is nothing between us." Arianel crossed her arms and turned away from her friend.
"How do you know?"
Arianel closed her eyes. "He made me feel safe coming here," she whispered. "When we reached the Outer Fences, he changed."
Sydia sat beside her friend and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Then we'll just have to show him, and this is the best way."
"Show him what?"
"That he's been avoiding you for no real reason that you can think of, when he is in the city."
That evening with her heart pounding, Arianel took the steps down to the glade where the festival was to be held. If it had not been for Galadriel's presence, she would have never left the talan. Large gatherings of people still bothered her, so much so that she would not attend the festivals, even with Sydia's coaxing.
This would be the first time she had ever ventured out into one of the many gatherings.
"This is a surprise," Celeborn said when he first caught sight of her joining the group. He turned to Galadriel for a moment and saw a knowing smile on her face, she had known that Arianel was going to attempt to join them.
Giving the couple a small smile, she moved towards the group that was going to provide some of the entertainment.
Eventually, she realized that it was now or never, and started her song. The elves in attendance quickly quieted down and watched her, mesmerized at her voice.
When she finished, she found off to the side and in the back of the crowd Haldir staring at her. She blushed when the listeners applauded enthusiastically. Feeling everything closing in on her, Arianel quickly tried to escape the gathering crowd. She eventually attempted to hide behind the two she was living with.
Thank you for gracing us with your voice, Galadriel's voice echoed in her mind.
"There are too many people," Arianel whispered.
Do not worry, you will be safe.
Arianel jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see who it was, fear clearly written on her face. Her shoulder slumped when she realized who it was. Still semi-lost in her world of fear, she was able to catch Celeborn's voice. "You know large crowds still bother her, Haldir."
"I thought as much."
She felt arms around her again, arms that guided her away from the many voices. When all seemed quiet he stopped and sat down against a nearby tree. He easily pulled her down to join him there. When she was nestled against him he finally asked, "Why did you not tell me you could sing?"
"Why have you been avoiding me?"
Haldir looked down quickly at her, she felt good in his arms, but he was unprepared for her question. "Wardens are busy."
"Eladur visits Sydia when he comes back from the fences. Why can't you?"
"Visit Sydia?"
Arianel slapped his shoulder lightly, "No silly! Why can't you visit me when you're not at the fences?"
Haldir opened then closed his mouth. "I -"
"I missed the feeling of your arms," she whispered.
TBC............