Part: 18
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, Becky, 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 18
"Sydia?" Arianel rapped softly on the door to her friend's flet. For several days now Sydia had avoided her for several days, and she didn't know why. When there was no answer, she pushed the door open slowly to find the main room empty. She went to her friend's room. The door to the bedroom was ajar and she found Sydia sitting on the bed with her head in her hands.
"Are you all right?" Arianel moved to her friend's side.
"Please." Sydia sniffed. "I just want to be alone."
Arianel looked at her for a moment, now not sure if she should talk to her about her earlier offer. "You know where I am." Arianel placed her hand on the distraught elleth's shoulder, then stood up and left the room, shaking her head not understanding what was wrong with her friend.
Arianel decided to hold off on the first celebration until Haldir came back from the fences. Sydia was definitely not in the mood to go with her. So, she sat in the Lord and Lady's informal study looking through her other requests. Pulling out some parchment and writing instruments she started writing notes to the different families, wanting to know when each celebration was to be conducted. She thought, if she had to go, she might as well know when and where they were to take place. Some of the messages, already had a date, but most did not.
When all her replies were ready she would have them delivered to the correct flets. She knew this would be the easiest step of all.
"Young one, why are you here?" Celeborn's voice came from the doorway. He held a small package in his hand.
Startled, Arianel turned around quickly and spoke haltingly, "I am sorry. I was answering some of the notes sent to me." She looked down to her hands, twisted her hands in her lap. "I wished to know when the celebrations would be. If you want me to leave, I can."
"Did I ask you to leave?" Celeborn asked lightly.
"Nay." Arianel shook her bowed head.
"I know it is hard for you to understand, but you are welcome to all but my private chambers." Celeborn moved across the room silently and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It is hard to overcome." Arianel shook her head.
"Little one, you have come a long way since you first arrived here." He looked over to the desk and at the notes.
"Thank you." She hesitated before starting, "My Lord, what is wrong with Sydia?"
A smile crept across his face before answering her. "Have you asked her?"
"Yes, but she refused to answer." Arianel shook her head.
Celeborn went over and sat in his chair before answering, "I believe she has fallen in love." He set the package off to the side.
"Who?" she blurted out.
"It is something that I will not reveal, it is her choice. Why do you ask?"
"She had agreed to accompany me to the celebrations when she could. Is that all right?" Arianel asked, remembering that Sydia did have her regular duties with the Lord and Lady.
Celeborn's expression thoughtful. "Do you have someone else when she is required elsewhere?"
"Aye," Arianel looked down at her hands again. "I asked Haldir." Her voice was quiet.
"You know he is a warden, and is required to be at the fences every other cycle."
"Aye, I do know. I was hoping Sydia could come when he is on duty."
"So your first choice is Haldir?"
Arianel looked up to Celeborn's twinkling silver eyes then down again. "I guess so. He did say that he would go with me."
"Good. I'm glad that we have that issue worked out." He looked over his desk at the parchment. "How many messages do you still need to answer?"
"One or two, I think." Arianel stood and leaned over the desk and rummaging through the papers. Finding the ones in question, she sat back down and finished writing the last few messages.
"Arianel, do not worry about how they will arrive at the different talans. I will make sure that is taken care of." Celeborn gave her a smile as he gathered the completed notes together.
"Thank you." She gave a quick curtsey and almost fled the room.
Several minutes later Sydia came into the room. She had been avoiding a lot of people including Arianel since Rúmil had left for the fences. "My Lord, is there anything you require of me?" She looked down forlornly.
"Only that I need to give this to you." Celeborn picked up the package and stood. He walked easily around the desk and handed it to her.
"What is this?" She turned it over, not daring to open it or think of what it might contain.
"I think you know that already. It came from the fences."
"Fences?" She looked up quickly, eyes wide with surprise. Joy surged in them before it was hidden behind a tenuous mask of calm.
"Were you expecting anything, from someone maybe?" Celeborn took a step back while looking at her closely.
"I, uh, yes." She clutched at it tighter, crinkling the papers. Turning, she fled from the room.
Celeborn chuckled quietly. To be newly in love, 'tis a wonderful thing.
Sydia made it to her talan in record time. He did it! He did it! The mantra repeated over and over in her mind. With the door closed and security latch in place she looked at the package, almost afraid to open it. With shaking hands she finally broke the seal and opened it. She spread the pieces of parchment across the table in front of her, all but one were written in the same flowing handwriting. She read the one written in the different hand first, it was clearly addressed to her.
Sydia,
I will not reveal what I know of between you and my brother. That is your duty. I can tell you that he did confide in me about his feelings for you. As far as I know, I am the only one who knows it is you for whom he cares, and it will stay that way until you say otherwise. Yes, the other wardens know of his feelings, but not about you. I am sending these through Lord Celeborn so questions will not be raised or rumors spread. Rúmil will bring the rest when we have returned.
Haldir
With trembling hands she picked up the first sheet and began to read the words Rúmil had written for her.
The closer the group of wardens were to the city, the better mood Rúmil was in. Everyone around him was giving him small knowing smiles, but he did not seem to notice it. Because he was not in any position of authority, Rúmil did not have to meet up with Celeborn. That was Haldir's duty. And one that Rúmil found amusing most of the time.
When Haldir finally dismissed them, they slowly scattered in different directions, mainly to their own talans. Rúmil seriously thought about heading to Sydia's talan first, but decided to at least put his weapons away. It would not be good traipsing around Caras Galadhon with all of them. They were not at war, well not at the moment, and hopefully not for a very long time.
Moving in what he thought was a normal pace for him, he went back to his talan then cleaned and put his weapons back in their places. Looking in the polished metal surface that doubled as a mirror, he checked to see if all was in place. Seeing he was presentable, though still dressed in his wardens tunic, he left his talan and moved towards Sydia's. Just before he left he turned back around and grabbed his bag. The rest of the poems were in there. He had worked too long and hard on them to forget to bring them. Plus, he would never forgive himself if he did forget them.
Reaching the tree her flet was attached to did not take too long. He was looking forward to this, but terrified at the same time. He had never felt this way towards any of the elleths before. Yes, he had flirted with many of them on occasion, but that was meaningless. This was very different, and for a moment felt completely insecure about what he was doing. What if she didn't like my poems, he thought suddenly. The words brought an unfamiliar feeling of panic, he had not felt this way since the first time he tested for a wardens position before Celeborn.
He forced himself to calm down. It would not do him any good to go running. Of all the things he has done in his long life, this was one of the most terrifying. Before he knew it he was standing outside her talan. Looking around, he made sure he was not followed then slowly raised his hand to knock softly of the door.
It seemed to take forever before the door opened. Sydia stood before him, looking miserable. When she recognized who it was, her demeanor changed dramatically. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him inside and let the door close by itself. He dropped his bag on the floor and gathered her up in his arms and kissed her hungrily.
"My sweet, it pained me greatly to be away from you," he spoke into her mouth. He just could not get enough of her.
"I know, I felt the same thing." She clung to him when his mouth started wandering. When he reached the crook of her neck she felt her legs give way. Only the delicious feeling of his arms kept her from collapsing completely to the floor.
Working his way up to her ear he took the delicate flesh into his mouth. He froze for a moment when she moaned. It took a moment before he realized that he was the cause of her reaction. This was definitely something he would have to remember, he thought. Pulling away slightly, he looked into her eyes. Her eyes were odd though. It took him another minute or so to realize her look was the same one that Galadriel would give Celeborn on occasion. There was only one thing he could do, and that felt right at the same time. "I love you."
Sydia's arms tightened around his shoulders and she closed her eyes. What did I say? He felt desperate as she bowed her head against his chest. He knew she was going to reject him when she looked back up. Her eyes were shining as she brought her arms up around his neck. "Rúmil, I love you, too."
He was the one to close his eyes this time. Pulling her closer, he searched out her mouth again.
The sound of the door opening then closing startled the two, only enough though to stop their deep sensuous kiss.
"Sydia?" Elaldur asked as he slowly walked around the couple. He had had a feeling that she was falling in love with someone, but he never expected it to be Rúmil.
"Brother, I can explain." She trembled slightly in Rúmil's embrace.
Elaldur knew he had startled them out of what they had been doing. "And?" He crossed his arms.
"Let me," Rúmil spoke softly to her. He had said it to her, now he felt he could easily tell others. "I love your sister, and she loves me."
Elaldur nodded his head slowly as if he was deep in thought. When he turned back to them they could see both his approval and permission. Pulling out of Rúmil's arms she went over to her younger brother and hugged him.
"When are you to bind?" he asked.
Sydia looked to Rúmil for a moment then back to her brother. "I do not know."
"When the time is right, we will bind," Rúmil said.
"Do the Lord and Lady know?" Elaldur asked. He wondered how they would take the choice of their youngest to marry a common elleth.
"I would not be surprised if they already know," Rúmil gave a slightly roguish grin. "And don't worry about rank. To be honest, Haldir has told me that of what he remembered, we had no real rank either." He shrugged his shoulders.
Elaldur looked down for a moment at the bag sitting on the floor. "Why did you bring your bag?"
"Bag?" Rúmil questioned for a moment before he remembered. "Oh, just something I wanted to give Sydia." Rúmil shrugged his shoulders as he watched Sydia move over to the table. Reaching down, he picked up his bag and brought it over to the table. He opened it up after he placed it on the table. "I finished them," he said quietly as he pulled out the rest of the parchment.
"Thank you."
TBC...