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All Calaereth could see was darkness, extreme darkness. She was laying on a cold cot from what she could tell, and she could hear voices talking around her. Musical voices that Calaereth quickly recognized to be elven voices. Calaereth instantly wondered where Haldir was, was he okay? Had he gone back to Lothlórien without her? The thought nearly broke her heart. Then Calaereth heard a familiar low elven voice beside her. Calaereth quickly recognized it to be Haldir's. The image of his silver eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness. Calaereth then found herself waking up, she opened her eyes then blinked for a moment to bat back the blurry vision before her. Calaereth found that the room had been purposefully kept dark, curtains kept light from filtering inside. Some candles lit up dark parts of the room. Calaereth looked over to her right and found silver eyes watching her, and looking for anything to bring him concern at all. Calaereth suddenly realized with a funny feeling in her stomach, that Haldir meant to protect her from any further harm.
"Haldir." Calaereth's voice came out hoarse and croaky, and sounded raspy to her own ears. Haldir immediately grabbed for a goblet of water that lay beside him, in case that she needed it. Haldir gently lifted Calaereth's head, cradling her head in his one hand. With his other hand Haldir carefully lifted the water to Calaereth's lips. He made sure not to give too much water, he could not have her choking on it. After a few moments, Haldir pulled away and set the water back down.
The cold water felt amazing to Calaereth's dry lips and throat. It immediately soothed her uncomfortably hot body. Calaereth noticed this quickly, as well as how much it hurt to barely shift her right arm. Calaereth glared at the thick cotton sheets that covered her body, she quickly kicked them off of her body. Calaereth breathed a sigh of relief when the cool air met her extremely hot body. Calaereth's head fell back against the pillow beneath her. Voices traveled outside of the room frequently to Calaereth's annoyance.
"Where am I?" Calaereth turned her head back to Haldir.
"We are in Edoras, where the celebrations have been existing for a while now. Saruman is dead, and Isengard has been destroyed." Haldir declared proudly.
Calaereth's eyes widened in realization of Haldir's statements. "Well how long have I been asleep?" Calaereth asked, wondering how long it had been.
"Only two days." Haldir looked at Calaereth, "I am surprised. Your injuries are so great that you should have been sleeping for a week."
Calaereth was shocked at the prediction, had she truly been that greatly injured? Calaereth groaned in frustration seeing that she could not move her arm without it hurting badly.
Haldir seemed to notice her irritation towards her arm. "You are not to use that arm for an entire month. The bone is broken. There is not much Elves can do for a broken bone, hopefully as an elf, you will heal quickly." Haldir said thoughtfully, but the word elf brought him much pain. Haldir feared, now that the battle of his life was over, that Calaereth would leave. Her destiny had been fulfilled, would she now go back to her own kind and forget all about the elf who loved her so? Calaereth had promised to marry him but Haldir found himself questioning, especially after she had disobeyed his orders. But Haldir could see now that it had been an act out of love not of rebellion, as he had first thought.
"I certainly hope so." Calaereth muttered in response, glaring at her arm.
Suddenly the door to the room burst open and Aragorn stormed inside, when his eyes landed on a conscious Calaereth he let out a yell of joy. Aragorn was so overwhelmed with happiness that he nearly hugged her, forgetting about her broken hand, and cut arm. Luckily for Calaereth, Haldir was there to remind Aragorn of her injury,
"Sorry." Aragorn apologized quickly, offering a bashful smile to Calaereth. "My friends and I have been most eager for when you awoke."
"Friends?" Calaereth asked, and looked behind Aragorn to notice other figures in the doorway. She quickly recognized Legolas and Gimli, and then there were two small figures. Calaereth's eyes widened in realization at the identities, "Merry? Pippin?" The two small hobbits came running to the bedside to look at Calaereth.
"Miss Mermaid!" Both hobbits exclaimed at the same time in recognition of the woman.
Pippin's eyebrows suddenly rose to an impressive height. "Miss, I thought you were a mermaid, how are you in human form. I did not think this was possible!" Pippin questioned.
"It shouldn't be. But Lady Galadriel has great powers and has turned me into an elf." Calaereth explained.
"An Elf?!" Merry nearly yelled in surprise, "Is it permanent?" Merry asked.
Calaereth exchanged a glance with Haldir, before turning back to Merry. "It depends, I have a decision to make."
Haldir's heart pounded nervously at what seemed to be a reluctance to decide on Calaereth's part. Hadn't they discussed already that they were going to get married? Haldir understood that it was a large commitment and also the giving up of her old life as a mermaid. A life that she has long been adjusted to and has been comfortable with, taking that away is certainly something that would be uncomfortable for her or for anyone who would have to give up the life they are used to. Haldir comprehended that, she had agreed to save the world and be a temporary elf because she had been certain she would return to her life as a mermaid after she had fulfilled her quest. Calaereth had never imagined that she would have fallen in love with an elf that would make the decision between her past life and a new life suddenly difficult. Haldir hated to be the cause of her distress, but he would not give up a woman that he already believed was to be his wife.
"Well, as soon as you feel up to it. You should certainly join the celebrations with us." Pippin said, nodding before he left the room, the others leaving, they too noticed the sudden tension in the room between the couple. Even many of Haldir's friends retreated in fear of the inevitable argument to come.
For a moment the room was filled with an eerie silence and Haldir turned away from Calaereth and opened the curtains slightly to look outside. But he remained quiet in his unhappiness with her words.
Calaereth wriggled in her uneasiness, then she finally summed up enough courage to say his name. "Haldir." Calaereth said his name quietly and weakly, and Haldir turned and looked at her. Calaereth felt guilt in her heart when she saw a stormy grey in his eyes, a storm of emotions raged inside him. Calaereth knew she had caused it, and she truly regretted it. Especially when she could see how hurt he was by her reluctance, Calaereth cursed herself for her inability to make a decision and stick with it. Calaereth's mouth was dry and she searched for the correct words to make up for her indiscretion. But all she could say in the end was, "I'm sorry."
Haldir stared at her for another long moment, and blinked in response to her apology. Then Haldir looked away and back out the window. "If you do not want to marry me, now is the time to tell me. Do not give me hope where there is none." Haldir stated coldly.
Haldir's words stung like a slap to the face, and Calaereth winced at his icy tone. "But I do want to marry you, Haldir." Calaereth used a gentle voice in hopes of having him understand.
"Then why were you so hesitant in your words to the hobbit earlier, regarding whether or not you would stay as an elf?" Haldir questioned, turning on her.
"I wasn't thinking!" Calaereth defended herself, "I have been asleep for two days and you expect me to think straight the moment I wake?!" Calaereth's voice raised in anger.
"I can tell when one is awake and thinking clearly, my dear. I am old enough to judge whether or not you were fully awake, you were carrying a conversation easily. You were thinking. Thinking twice from what I could see." Haldir retorted, his voice still dangerously calm.
Calaereth knew he was right, she had been thinking about her family and how much she would miss them if she remained an elf to live with Haldir for an eternity. But she refused to admit it to him, instead she defended herself by attacking him instead. "And so are you it seems. Are you trying to find one little thing to prove that you shouldn't marry me? Is that what it is? Is that why you continue to assault me with your criticism? Maybe its not me, did you ever think of that? Maybe its you who is trying to get out of a marriage!" Calaereth accused him, and instantly regretted the words once they were out of her mouth.
Haldir felt anger inside him at her accusations, but he knew she was saying these things to defend herself, she knew she was at fault, and she was thinking twice. But she used words out of her fury to distract him. As much as Haldir hated to admit it, it had worked. And he was beyond displeasure with her, for her actions. Haldir knew what he would say next would be harmful, but he was too angry to care. An unfriendly chuckle came from his throat as Haldir approached her and leaned over her bed making sure to be in her face. "I am the one who has wanted this marriage, but with your latest temper tantrum perhaps marrying you is not a wise decision on my part. It might be one of the worst mistakes I could make in over a thousand years of my life, I will have to reconsider this before I marry you. Maybe you are right afterall, you are better off a mermaid, the only good thing you tend to be at is deceiving people." Haldir smiled coldly.
Calaereth felt heat in her chest, heat that speaks of anger. Tears quickly pooled in the corners of her sad brown eyes, and she hated to say it but his words hurt. The thought that she was incapable of doing good and only deceiving was maybe true. After all it was what she had been trained to do ever since she began hunting. "Get out!" Calaereth screamed pushing him away from her, ignoring the pain she felt in her arm. The pain was nothing compared to what she felt in her heart.
Haldir felt guilt at the tears in her eyes, and he knew he had made an unwise decision on his part. But he allowed her to push him and hit him, he felt that he deserved it for such a comment. Mermaids were only able to survive through deceiving their enemies and prey, and Haldir knew that what he had said had been wrong. Calaereth was good, too good for someone as cruel and harsh as Haldir was. He killed many as well, he had no room to judge her. Haldir knew he should be apologizing and holding her but he could not, he ignored her cries and closed the door behind him. But not before he heard her let out a strangled cry of "I hate you!"
Haldir stood outside the door for a few minutes listening to her cry, her crying told of her great pain that she felt. Haldir despised himself for doing this to her, he did not deserve her. No she deserved much better than him. Once her crying slowed to soft sobs, Haldir walked away from the door and headed for the celebrations, he needed something to drink. To get away from the hurt woman of his dreams, whose cries still echoed in his ears.
Haldir quickly approached the bar ignoring the pats on the backs of his comrades. He sat down next to Aragorn and Legolas, ignoring their attempts at conversation. When the bartender came over Haldir was slightly relieved. "Your strongest drink." Haldir demanded.
"Of course, sir." The bartender nodded and moved away to find some aged Dorwinion wine that had been gifted to them by the elves. But the men had found it to be too strong for their tastes. The bartender poured the wine into a nice glass and handed it to Haldir who accepted it graciously and offered money but the bartender refused. "Everthing is on the house tonight." The bartender smiled, before turning away. Haldir took a small sip of the rich wine, it was definitely some of the finest Dorwinion wines from what he could tell.
"I know you well, Haldir. You do not often drink something so strong unless something is greatly troubling you. What is it?" Aragorn asked bluntly, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Trouble in paradise." Haldir frowned, swirling the burgundy liquid in the glass. "Calaereth has me convinced that she does not truly want to marry me. After everything we have been through, and her promises. She decides to show her uncertainty now." Haldir glared at the liquid.
"Calaereth will marry you, Haldir. I can see her love for you in her eyes, if she did not love you she would not have sacrificed herself to save you. Besides, she knows her life as a mermaid would mean an arranged marriage to some merman that she does not know, and may not ever love. You are lucky, my friend. You still have time to decide with her. I'm afraid my marriage to Arwen is all up to her now. I have tried my best to get her to leave her people, but she loves me. I love her as well. But you still have a chance." Aragorn stated slightly going into depth with his relationship with Arwen. Oh how Aragorn missed her now, and in his heart he hoped that Arwen would stay in Middle-Earth and marry him after this war. But there was no telling, she may have listened to him and her father for once, and left Middle-Earth with her people.
Haldir groaned in sudden realization, "I'm afraid I may have spoiled any chance to marry her now." Haldir held his head in his hands.
"What did you do?" Aragorn asked curiously.
"We had a bad argument." Haldir confessed, then took a large sip of the wine to make it easier to say his next words. "I made it very clear that I am also doubting this marriage and that she is incapable of any good."
Both Aragorn and Legolas were quiet and they stared at Haldir in surprise. It was very unlike him to say such harsh words.
"I was upset with her, Calaereth knew very well that she was thinking twice, but she did not want to admit it. So I allowed her words of denial to have too much power over me, and I forgot to hold my tongue and keep my calm. I became upset because I want her as my wife and I cannot stand to see her have any doubts." Haldir sighed.
Aragorn sighed, he and Arwen never had many arguments. "I would definitely recommend you apologize to her soon. But I'm thinking you might need more of that wine." Aragorn gave his friend a sad smile. Haldir returned it as well and returned to his wine, hoping to drown his sorrows.
Calaereth wasn't sure how long she had laid in the room curled up in a ball on the floor, crying her heart out. But now it had slowed to sobs that shaked her body violently, she was so cold, but she was too upset to even get a blanket. Shivers overwhelmed her body in waves but Calaereth did not care, no she wanted to make Haldir feel bad and regret his mistakes. Calaereth knew it was not right thinking, especially since she could die this way. She was an elf, but she was injured. She was not entirely immortal as she may have liked to think.
A loud knock at the door disrupted Calaereth's thoughts, and she quickly jumped up. "Who is it?" Calaereth asked, her voice a little shaky.
"I am Éowyn, niece of King Théoden. Can you come outside? It is very urgent!" The woman, had a nervous voice.
"Yes. Just one moment!" Calaereth agreed and wiped furiously at her tears as she slid on a dress that laid on the bed. Smoothing out the dress and checking her appearance in a long mirror, Calaereth ran a brush through her hair before going outside. Calaereth closed the door and a young human woman turned towards her with wide eyes. She had long, golden hair that was a darker shade than Calaereth's. Her eyes were a pretty blue.
"Sorry to inconvenience you, miss. But it seems Haldir has become very drunk and refuses to leave the party, and he continues to yell your name in his drunken state. So Aragorn and Legolas decided that maybe bringing you here would appease him to leave with what little dignity he may have left." Éowyn explained, "Follow me." Éowyn demanded and lead the way to the dining hall where it was silent except for the drunken voice of Haldir, as well as the voices of Legolas and Aragorn trying to console Haldir.
"I have ruined everything for my beloved!" Haldir yelled, "It is all my fault! I am too lowly of scum to marry Calaereth!" Haldir declared.
Calaereth's eyes widened at his words, he must have drank too much indeed. But how was it possible, elves hardly became drunk, the only thing that could have caused this would have to be Dorwinion Wine, strong wine that the Mirkwoodian elves make, that could make even the strongest of elven drinkers, drunk. Unfortunately for Haldir, it was working on him.
Calaereth was angry, and quite embarrassed by his pathetic drunken confession. So she strode across the room, and nodded at Legolas and Aragorn and mouthed apologies to them before touching Haldir softly on the shoulder. "Haldir." Calaereth spoke gently as if speaking to a child.
Haldir froze recognizing the voice easily. He slowly turned his head to look at her, and he was suddenly quiet. "My love." Haldir's voice slurred before he grabbed her and hugged her.
Calaereth considered staying rigid and doing nothing to welcome the hug but she did not want him to express his unhappiness so loudly and damage his reputation even further. If that was even possible, Calaereth thought dryly. Calaereth's arms wrapped around him and patted him on the back in hopes to calm him. If the situation hadn't been so awkward Calaereth would be laughing at Haldir's state of intoxication. But she knew better than to offend a drunk person, she had many encounters with drunk humans before. Many of them she saved from drowning in the waters. From what Calaereth could see drunk elves and drunk humans proved to be similar. Except Haldir had a little more control of his words, and did not curse like the humans did.
"I'm sorry." Haldir mumbled his head on her shoulder.
Calaereth turned towards him, surprised at his words. Was he sorry for his words and actions, or sorry for being in his drunken stupor? All anger Calaereth felt for Haldir at his hurtful words disappeared, instead, she felt pity for the poor elf. All Haldir had wanted was for her to be honest with him, and Calaereth had failed. Calaereth gave Haldir a reassuring smile, "Come, I think you need a nap." Calaereth grabbed his hand with her uninjured hand and led him back to her room. Haldir stumbling behind every once in a while, a hilarious thing, since he was supposed to be graceful and quick-footed. Once they were inside, Calaereth gave him her bed, and grabbed a pitcher of water and poured the water into a goblet. Calaereth kneeled by the bed and let him take small sips of water, in hoped to ease any hangovers he might have.
"I'm sorry." Haldir mumbled again, sounding a little more miserable. He turned and looked at her with sad grey eyes, that nearly brought Calaereth to tears.
"I know." Calaereth, brushed a hand through his hair to try and comfort him. Haldir grabbed her hand and kissed it. Calaereth moved onto the bed beside him and cradled his head in her lap. She brushed through his hair once more with her kissed hand. Finally after a few minutes Haldir fell asleep, and Calaereth cradled her head in her hand and laid against the headboard.
Sleep welcomed the couple.
Author's Note: Thats Chapter 17 folks! Sorry for the long wait, I've been busy lately with my classes. :( But I wanted to get in a chapter for my ever patient followers and favoriters! Thank you so much for your patience guys! It is very much appreciated! Anyway, tell me what you guys thought, I cannot wait for your reviews! Happy Thanksgiving! :)
P.S. I got the title idea, There's a Tear in My Wine, from There's a Tear in My Beer, by Hank Williams. In case any of you noticed. :)
-Garnette