YES! The tenth chapter. I wouldn't have made it this far without any of my reviewers, YOU ROCK! Enjoy this chapter cause it's for you! Thank you to everyone who suggested any ideas. I think I have a good idea of where this story is going now.
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Chapter Dedication: Dedicated to the loyal and aways cheerful Sweetblonde13, let us hope you can get through the tough time in your life right now, our prayers are with you!
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Disclaimer: Do not own anything…. yet. Jk I never will. Darn.
.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o-Chapter Ten-o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.
In an odd way, being on her own for a week seemed liberating to Anira. No longer did she have to do guesswork as to when he would be coming home for his meal. The only disadvantage was the fact that she missed his safe presence that always brought security and peace of mind. At night, she jumped at every sound and lay awake wondering what it was.
During her stay in Lothlorien, she had yet to meet another elleth. Even when she went to the stream to do chores, there were rarely if any there at the same time she was. She had begun to think of others that were in her same predicament. She knew that there were other maids, but why hadn't she met one? And were they all struggling with feelings for their superiors?
She continued to mend tunics whilst pondering these ever so interesting thoughts. After an hour or so, she set them back in the basket and took them back into Haldir's room. As she walked out of the talan, her eyes once again caught the gleam of the weapons.
She stepped out into the crisp, warm day and felt a cool breeze blow heavily. Her hair, done in simple work braids, blew around her face as she decended the steps from the talan.
When she reached the moist forest floor, she headed towards the stables. The tall, towering trees cast great shadows and the sun barely went through to let meager rays of sunlight hit the occupants below.
Reaching the stables, she walked along the rows of stalls, each horse looking at her curiously and smelling for food. Most were either a brown or chestnut color, while some had startlingly white coats or dapple gray ones. In the training arena, many elves were working with the beautiful beasts.
Remembering her reason for a venture in Caras Galadhon, she started off for the market, basket in tow. Along the way, she met Rumil in a very...compromising situation. Leaving him and the giggling elleth behind in the small clearing, she continued her journey, though very red faced at what she had intruded on. Matters were made worse when she met Orophin.
"You haven't seen Rumil along here have you? I could have sworn I had seen him heading for the training fields like he told me but he wasn't there," Orophin said, quite flustered at his brother's disappearance.
"I...uhh...I think...I saw him back there a ways, he looked a little busy actually." Feeling the blush creep up her neck, she turned away trying to be fascinated in the flower on the roadside.
"Oh," he swore in elvish, "I should have known. It was that green eyed elleth wasn it?"
"Well...I...couldn't really see, he was...in the way." The blush grew deeper.
"No matter. I'll find him. He was supposed to meet me an hour ago to help me with the new trainees. A sorry lot, can't even tell an orc from their own comrade. We've sent twelve of them to the healer's talan this week. Goodbye Anira," he turned swiftly to catch his brother.
"Goodbye, mellon," she called back to him. He acknowledged her with a wave and continued on.
At the market, she picked up needed things like fruit and bread. She was trying to keep her social interactions at a low when she mistakenly ran into a remarkably tall elleth. Her hair was the silver of the Galadhrim, long and shimmering. Her eyes, a similar gray but filled with a constant cheerfulness, took Anira's form in with curiousity.
"Mae Govannen! I don't believe I've met you before, you aren't from here are you?" Her voice dripped with laughter and was a pleasant sound.
"No. I am from Mirkwood. My name is Anira," she was hoping to find out her name.
"I am Minaethiel. How do you find fare Lorien?" She asked, her eyes alight with happiness.
"Oh very well, it is a beautiful forest," Anira replied.
"Good, good. Come to think of it, I have seen you while doing laundry. You are a maid for a Galadhrim soldier, I presume?"
"Yes. And you would be one as well?'
"Yes. It can be quite enjoyable at times, but it is mostly just a burden to run and clean a household."
Anira agreed and the two laughed together. They conversed for a while longer before Anira excused herself to get back to the talan before evening.
"May I ask, my new found friend, who it is you are ward to?" Minaethiel inquired, while gathering her things.
"The March warden, Haldir. He is stubborn and arrogant, but I am used to it by now," she replied.
"Good luck with that, Feredir is the same way," she called back. Anira remembered the name, Haldir had mentioned him as a good friend a few days ago. His name brought back unneeded memories, the memory of his scent was the strongest. Quickly clearing her mind before it ran off with her, she walked calmly back to the talan.
Haldir stood tall and stiff as he looked out on the horizon. It was nearing dusk and he would soon switch shifts with anewgroup for a few hours. A troop of Galadhrim took watch on each border, and within these groups they were divided into three. Each new group took turns between watching and resting, however they all had weapons near to defend the forest if needed.
His replacement came within the next few moments and he sat down near the edge of the flet next to his fellow warden. His thoughts strayed to other things as he sat leaning against the tree. First to Anira, then to his brothers, and finally to Feredir, who was stationed at the south borders. He was currently at the east.
He loved being on watch, it was a time to think. Peace surrounded them and usually it was quiet. The calm atmosphere was a good respite if one had spent to much time in the somewhat noisy city.
He sighed, they had four days left before the return to Caras Galadhon.
The sun shone brightly through the window in Anira's room. She yawned and crept back under the coverlets. Gracious that she did not have to rise until later, she took advantage and slept soundly for few more moments.
When the birds became too loud, and the sun too bright, she was forced to rouse herself and prepare for the day. She selected a light green dress, made of cotton as she hardly got the chance to wear silk because of her work, and ran a bath for herself.
She basked in the warm water, usually she bathed later in the morning or mid-afternoon when Haldir was absent. Today she had planned to do a bit of her own washing and try to meet up with Minaethiel.
She piled the dirty clothes in a basket and plucked a book from the shelf. Most of the time she brought something to do while the clothes dried.
She washed them quickly, and hung them neatly. She read her book in peace.
Two days passed. The borders were increasingly uneventful. On the day before they were to leave, the watch spotted a group of human men traveling towards Lorien. Haldir took two of his trusted wardens with him and approached them.
When they entered the forest, he was able to get a good look at them. There were six men, presumably from Gondor or a neighboring city. They sought rest for the night and shelter. To Haldir, they looked untrustworthy and dangerous. But upon law, they were to be taken into the city and presented to the Lady Galadriel.
Taking four more soldiers with him, hehad them follow him into the city. Haldir instructed the others to keep a close eye on them in Caras Galadhon.
They were taken to the Lady, and she met them as she always had visitors. Kindly and graceful. Lord Celeborn seemed to sense the same thing as Haldir, but nonetheless he agreed to let them stay a night. The travelers were taken to some ground homes as they were not used to the high talans of Lothlorien.
After they were settled, Haldir moved a ways away to talk with a soldier about border duty. He did not see one of the men sneak off to do some exploring of his own.
Anira once again set off to the stream where she had been earlier, it appeared she had left the book on a rock while laundering that day. Not taking a cloak becuase of the warmth that still lingered, she set off.
For some reason, as she neared the stream, she felt a presence following her. Whenever she turned around, however, there was no one there.
This continued and now more than ever she wished that Haldir was by her side. She entered the clearing and her arm was grasped from behind. Before she had a chance to yell,a hand clapped over her mouth and pulled her towards it.
"Quiet, my sweet flower. Your beauty astounds me even from afar." It was a harsh voice, definitely not the one of an elf.
She turned just enough to see that it wasn't. It was a man.
He shoved her roughly against a tree trunk and pressed his lips to hers. She fought back and managed to keep him away from her so she could call for help. Her screams echoed in the forest. The man only fought harder, and silenced her more efficiently.
Haldir was cut off by a terrified scream of an elleth. He and his companion turned, soon joined by Orophin as they sped across the forest floor. When Haldir stepped into the clearing, he saw red. His anger overwhelmed him and he picked the man up by the back of his cloak, throwing him across the clearing.
"You ask for our hospitality and you give us this!" He pointed to Anira who was huddled up against the tree trunk and sobbing.
"You will pay for this crime against the eldar! Thalion! Escort this man to the cell block." He watched his friend clasp the man's arms roughly and drag him away. Orophin was already comforting Anira, her sobs reduced to only silent tears flowing down her face. Orophin moved away as Haldir knelt down next to her. Her eyes flooded with relief when she saw him and she put her arms around his neck. He carssed her hair while she took comfort in his strong arms.
Not long after, he picked her up and carried her back to the talan.
Think it a worthy tenth chapter? Took me a while to write it. Reviews are NEEDED! Please tell me how I am doing! As always, suggestions welcome.
If any of you out there pray and/or are a christian, I ask you to keep my friend Sweetblonde13 in your prayers.
-ElfLuver13
