Welcome to chapter eighteen. I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me so far on this story, without ALL of you it wouldn't have been possible. Thank you!
All elvish I use and elvish that I have learned has come from Merin Essi ar Quenteli and Ardalambion. Thank you to the web masters/mistresses who made those sites possible.
Finally, here is your chapter. Hope you like it and please REVIEW!
Disclaimer: It should be obvious. My mind is not complex enough to invent the world Tolkien created, therefore it belongs to him. I am just borrowing it for the purposes of the story.
--------------Chapter Eighteen--------------
"What are they doing?" Anira asked as she and Haldir walked back to his talan. She looked at the elves decorating different things in a large clearing.
"Preparing for the festivities," Haldir said distractedly.
"The ones you hate?" She replied.
"I did not say I hated them, I merely implied that I do not enjoy them," he answered.
"There is hardly a difference."
"Yes, there is."
"I think not. What do you plan on doing the night of the festival?"
"The nights, you mean? It lasts two days. And to answer your question, I will be sitting peacefully in my talan enjoying two very quiet evenings. I've not had any inmany weeks," he responded matter-of-factly.
"Will you be going?" He added a moment later.
"Of course not. I think I will join you, it sounds more appealing than participating in...how did you phrase it...a long, boring, drunken revelry night in which much needless activity occurs?"
"I believe so, yes."
As they approached the talan, they could see Maethor standing at the bottom, apparently waiting for them to get back.
"March warden," he bowed out of respect, Haldir doing the same.
"I wonder if I may borrow my sister for a few moments? I promise to return her," he said. Haldir nodded, giving him an odd look.
Anira followed Maethor as he pulled her away to talk. Her eyes wandered back to Haldir as he ascended the talan steps.
"I'm leaving," he said quietly. She looked up sharply to meet his eyes, full of apprehension.
"Already?" She did not mean her voice to come out so emotionally, but it did anyways.
"We were sent to make sure Lothlorien was able to get through the raid and did not require any other assistance. Tomorrow morning, sister, we depart," he said. She was silent.
"I guess we will say our farewells tomorrow then? No need to get all worked up until you actually leave," she said shakily. After a brief hug, she left him.
Anira hurriedly wiped the few tears that had gathered. She pushed open the door tremulously, hung up her cloak, and began to busy herself with all possible chores imaginable. She dusted, sewed, sweeped, and cleaned, all while Haldir sat comfortably in a chair reading.
Her thoughts drifted towards Maethor. She knew he would leave soon, but she didn't anticipate it. He had a wife, probably even an elfling on the way. Anira smiled at the thought of being an aunt. The only good thing that would come of the Mirkwood Company's leave would be the departure of Orthorien. He and Haldir might have settled the rift between them, but there was still a chance that their cold feelings towards each other might set it off again.
"You know, even though you can scrub that plate forty times, it won't get any cleaner," Haldir's deep voice said amidst the silence. She looked up at him and blushed, realizing that she had been distracted by her thoughts and had been continuously cleaning one plate for five minutes. He set his book down and walked towards her.
He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. She shivered slightly as his warm breath clouded the sensitive skin beneath her ear. Anira turned her head enough for him to capture her lips in a sensitive kiss.
"Don't you have anything to do? Since you're not on the borders, they would probably-"
"Find something boring and tedious for me to labor on so that they can at least get some use out of me while I rest?" He interrupted. "I have training and border schedules to write out," he said.
"Well, get them done as soon as you can and you might be able to catch up on those quiet evenings that you complain you are missing," she stated.
"Not tonight I won't. My brothers will be joining us tonight," Haldir said calmly. She stared at him in shock.
"Just when did you think to tell them they were coming over? And when did you think you were going to tell me?"
"Right before we left the training grounds. Do not fret, they will not arrive until later, four hours at the most," he said soothingly. Still flustered, she began to prepare the evening meal.
Adding the finishing touches to the main dish, Anira swept a stray lock of hair up behind her ears. The plates had been arranged, the wine poured, and she collapsed into a chair from exhaustion. Moments later she realized the effect that sitting would have on her dress and jumped back up again with a squeak.
"You look fine," Haldir said, laughter in his voice. She appeared outraged at his humorous tone. This made him more amused.
"What are you laughing at?" She said disdainfully.
With a confident smirk, he grabbed her waist and pulled her against him, staring down at her.
"You, of course," he murmured. Haldir bent down slightly to catch her lips, but moments before he could, the talan sounded with a summoning at the door.
He drew back with an irritated sigh, and started for the door. Anira went back to the kitchen. She heard Rumil's voice in greeting to his brother. Orophin was next, his voice the same cheerful tone as his brother's.
"Anira! How lovely to see you!" Rumil said.
"You as well, Rumil," she answered. Orophin greeted her the same. She retreated back into the kitchen, to her relief, while Haldir led them to the table.
Anira tried her best to make it through the meal, answering when spoken to, trying to sound interested in whatever they had decided to elaborate on. The conversation revolved around battle techniques, the new recruits, border duty, and the chance of another orc uprising. Minaethiel referred to it as 'warden talk'. Anira smiled fondly as she remembered her friend's tirade on the Lothlorien ellyn's choice topic of conversation.
"Anira, I trust my brother has alerted you to the Autumn festivities?" Orophin's voice brought her back to reality.
"Yes, he has," she answered.
"Why bother? Haldir will not be going," Rumil contributed.
"He never has. I don't see why either, he needs to get out more," Orophin agreed. Haldir raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Why, dear brother, do you see the need for me to get out more?" He responded questioningly.
"You shy away from social events, you haven't courted ellith for a while, and I do believe if Anira hadn't come along you would have never even entertained another female for the rest of your immortal life," Orophin said. Haldir looked to Rumil.
"It's true," Rumil said, to the best of his abilities as he had his mouth full.
"Do you think the same way, Anira?" Haldir said, turning to face her. She pondered on the tight spot he had put her in.
"I have not known you long enough to access that, Haldir," she answered.
"Smart elleth. She already knows her way around Haldir's tricks," Rumil said.
"Rumil, you have no idea," she replied. All four burst into laughter.
"Alright then, I will go," Haldir said. The other three silenced immediately, not believing their ears.
"You will go to...the festivities? Really?" Orophin asked.
"Don't make a big ordeal of it, or I'll turn back on my word,"Haldir responded testily. Rumil gave a disbelieving snort.
"You'd kill yourself a thousand times over before going back on your word," Rumil said.
"You know what this means, brother? You need a partner," Orophin countered, paying no attention to Rumil's comment.
"Done," Haldir said confidently.
"You haven't even asked anyone yet!" Rumil said indignantly. "Not even I can sustain an elleth that fast."
"Anira, you wouldn't mind accompanying me, would you?" Haldir said, turning to face her once again.
"Not at all," she responded. Anira desperately tried to stop the blush from rising into her face while all three Lorien brothers focused their eyes on her.
"That's settled then," Haldir said. The awkward silence hung in the air like smoke. Anira began to clear plates away, excusing herself from the table.
Later that evening, Rumil and Orophin decided to depart. They reminded Haldir of the Mirkwood company's leave taking, and left.
"Are you really going to go to the festivities?" Anira asked him after they were gone.
"Yes, and you will be going with me. I have no doubt that the Imladris elleth will be there, hopefully your presence will drive her off," he said. He pulled her down to sit next to him on the terrace.
"I'll do my best, but I make no promises. She finds a way to worm into everything," she said. Haldir smiled at her comment.
"You'll need your sleep for tomorrow," he told her. She reluctantly rose and accepted his farewell kiss, drifting off to her own room.
"Promise to write," Anira's muffled voice said as she embraced her brother one last time.
"I promise, as long as you will," she nodded against his shoulder.
"Anor sílatha erin râd lîn," Maethor said.
"Boe i bedich. Nallon or vaded lîn," she replied.
He mounted his horse and joined his company, giving her one last look before passing through the city gates.
I deeply apologize for the complete lack of updates. If I had waited till this Thursday, it would have been one month since I had last updated. Now that I am over the worst of my school work, I should get back to regular updating. Hopefully.
Anor sílatha erin râd lîn-May the sun shine upon your path.
Boe i bedich. Nallon or vaded lîn-You must go. I cry upon your leaving.
Reviews are appreciated. Questions, tips, praise, warnings, critiscism, or anything. Thank you to all who do review! You make my life wonderful and my writing easier!
-ElfLuver13
