Part: 20
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.
Sindarian 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 20
Orophin looked around for a moment, waiting for Haldir to come by He knew his older brother was leaving for the fences early. "Haldir," he called to get his older brother's attention when he came into view.
"What is it?" Haldir stopped and turned.
"How goes it? I heard that Arianel's been invited to sing at several personal celebrations."
Haldir nodded. "Yes, and she is doing quite well."
Orophin raised an eyebrow. "That is good. How many other events will you escort her to?"
"Not sure." Haldir shrugged his shoulders. "Anything else you want to say before I head out?"
"Not really," Orophin gave him his best innocent look.
Haldir gave him a dark look as he left for the western border. A few days before, he had accompanied Arianel to another private celebration, and now he was on his way to the fences. His short conversation with Orophin made him wonder what his brother was up to. He did know the wardens would be surprised to see him arrive when he wasn't expected to show up for another few weeks or so. The two days it took to reach the boarder went quietly, it was always quiet.
"Haldir!" Amolith called down in a surprised voice from his high perch in the branches.
"Sulidad, Amolith." Haldir looked up to the tree where the voice came from.
A few moments later Amolith had reached the ground and stood in front of him. "Why are you here?"
"It is because of the Lord and Lady. Lord Círdan is expected to arrive in the next few days and Lord Celeborn wanted me to guide him and his escort to the city." Haldir looked up into the trees, he could just barely see some of the flets hidden in the high branches.
"Lord Círdan is coming?" Amolith's eyes widened. This was indeed news to him.
"Aye. Lord Celeborn received word of his coming last year."
Amolith nodded and moved over to one of the large trees. "All has been quiet."
"That is good. Even though he is coming with his own guard, I still feel it better if it is quiet."
"Aye." Haldir scanned the trees around him.
All was quiet until word came that a company of elves were approaching the edge of Lórien. "That should be Círdan," Haldir commented absently.
"It is." Amolith's eyes were squinting slightly while looking towards the west.
When the group was fairly close to the first of the guard flets, Haldir climbed down quickly to the forest floor to greet them.
"Lord Círdan," Haldir called out as he stepped into view. It would not be good to be shot through with an arrow. And Arianel would not be pleased about that either. Haldir smiled internally at his thought.
"Warden," Círdan answered from his position in the middle of the group.
Haldir bowed his head in respect to the ancient elf. "The Lord and Lady wished that I guide you to the city."
A smile flitted across Círdan's face for a moment then disappeared before he spoke, "I thought as much, though I did not know it would be you."
Haldir cocked his head questioningly to the side, not quite sure how to handle the comment. Shrugging it off, Haldir started turning around.
"Warden, why do you walk?"
"Because I have no horse, Lord." Haldir worked hard to keep sarcasm out of his voice. It was quite obvious that he was going to walk back to the city.
"We have already prepared for that, Warden." Círdan turned around to address one of the elves behind him, "Amémir."
"Yes, my Lord?" The elf that answered was rather tall and had long blond straight hair. He came forward leading another horse by a lead rein.
Círdan inclined his head towards Haldir, letting his guard know that the elf on foot was to use the animal for the trip to the city.
"Do you not have horses?" Amémir questioned as he came up beside Haldir.
"Yes we do," Haldir answered after he mounted the animal. "But they stay in or around the City. It is easier this way since we do not have any stables this far out, and it is a forest we have to defend." Giving the horse a slight nudge, Haldir moved towards the city. He knew they would arrive by eventide.
When the horses were stabled, Haldir brought them up to the formal reception area of the Lord and Lady's talan. This time they were met by the elven couple at the base of the final set of stairs.
"Greetings, Círdan," Celeborn nodded.
"Indeed it has been a long time," Círdan looked to both elves standing before him. "Haldir," Celeborn called. "I need you to show Círdan's guards where they will be staying. Also, in the morning I wish for you to show them the way to the practice fields are." With a nod the three leaders went up the stairs and into the living area of the high talan.
"Yes, my Lord." Haldir bowed his head and turned to leave, leading the wardens out. The guest talans were all located in the same tree that harbored the Lord and Lady's talan. The visiting elves talked amongst themselves and worked out who would be staying with whom then retired for the night.
When finished Haldir went back up to the high talan and where he hoped to meet Arianel. He rapped quietly on her door, wanting to get her attention. Moments later the door opened up and she stood there in her sleeping gown, but covered with a modest robe.
"Are the visitors here?" she asked.
Haldir placed a hand on her cheek. "Aye."
She closed her eyes for a moment and leaned into the touch. "Will I see you tomorrow?"
"I am not sure. Adar wants me to do some things, at least in the morning. It might end up being late in the day when I am finally able to."
Arianel nodded then turned to go back in her room. Haldir stayed there, standing by her door for a few minutes before turning and leaving the talan for his own.
Círdan stepped out Celeborn's office and stopped in the hall. "Celeborn, how long has this been going on?"
"What do you mean?"
Círdan turned to look back into the room then turned back towards the hall when Celeborn joined him.
Following Círdan's eyes he immediately understood his earlier comment. "Nothing has happened yet, though I believe they will come to their senses soon enough."
Círdan gave a short laugh. "You make it sound like they are completely blind to what is in front of them."
"Not really, he is just very cautious. She has been through much."
"So when will I be able to meet her?"
"Perhaps at the informal meeting tomorrow evening?"
"I will finally be able to see what she is really like," Círdan mumbled as he left Celeborn in the hall and decided to retire for the night.
Opening up the armoire in his borrowed room triggered an explosion of small white feathers, ones that are normally found inside a pillow.
To say Círdan wasn't surprised at the amount of small feathers floating in the air would be an understatement. Even his own elves had a propensity for pulling pranks. He wasn't at all angry, although he did have a feeling he was not the one the prank was intended for.
Brushing off most of the feathers from his outer robes, Círdan stepped from his borrowed room and stopped in front of Celeborn. Lórien's lord did not have a happy expression on his face.
"Where?"
Círdan turned and looked at the door to his temporary chambers. Following Círdan's direction, Celeborn's own silver hued eyes narrowed. A few quick steps later he was inside. He stalked back out with a dark look on his face. Stopping in front of Círdan, he took a deep breath, attempting to calm down. "I am sorry for your inconvenience. I will find the one who pulled the prank and have him or her properly chastised."
"Cleaning it up should be suitable enough. It is your decision." Círdan gave Celeborn a slight smile.
Celeborn paused for a moment then turned as Galadriel came from another part of the talan.
"Rúmil," Galadriel shook her head. "He is the one that did this."
Celeborn pressed his lips together. It was one thing to pull a prank to friends and family, but to have a visiting leader to get the brunt was something totally different. "I will have him clean up the mess that was created." Celeborn turned to Círdan who had followed him, "Again, I am sorry about what has happened."
"I will not say that I am angry about it. I do know you have your duty of chastising the creator of this particular prank."
"He should know better." Celeborn shook his head. "I am very sorry with what has happened."
"Do not worry about it, Celeborn." Círdan shook his head and had a small smile on his face. "I was rather amused at it."
"Amused or not, you are a visiting leader."
"Let it go, Celeborn. His punishment of cleaning it up is enough for me." Círdan paused for a moment, "Who do you think he hoped to catch?"
Galadriel thought for a moment, "Most likely Orophin. It is his room you are staying in at the moment."
Círdan nodded thoughtfully.
Galadriel turned back to Celeborn, "I do hope you will not be too hard on him."
"Just because he is newly bonded does not give him the authority to do something like this." Celeborn shook his head.
Galadriel gave him a bemused smile. "Maybe not. I am relived, though, that he is back to himself."
"I only hope she. . ."
Galadriel placed a hand on Celeborn's shoulder. "Herven, if he wants to change for Sydia, he will. We can do nothing about it."
TBC...