Thank you! I would like to thank the reviewers of the Eighteenth Chapter: sweetblonde13, Lady Anck-su-namun, ArwenEvenstar83, Elfinabottle, Nelarun, Jedi X-man Serena Kenobi, chelsea, luvthefluf, lovenhope, Aisuhana, Sivaroobini Lupin-Black, Rin, Haldir's Heart and Soul, Elwen of Lorien, Naomi Polaris, Icea, Lady Luthien, and...Muddie21!
Your reviews are greatly appreciated, I love them. Here is the Nineteenth Chapter, enjoy! I hope you like it. It's pretty long.
Disclaimer: Why do I even bother...it's not mine!
----Chapter Nineteen----
"Haldir!"
Haldir looked up from sorting through tunics. In his opinion, this night had come too quickly. His mind was quickly regretting ever agreeing to attend the festivities.
"Your brothers wish to speak with you!" Anira yelled to him. He saw her flustered look as she ran past his door, trying to prepare in time. He walked out into the main room to see Rumil and Orophin waiting for him, their partners standing next to them. Haldir recognized Randiriel, Minaethiel's sister, clinging to Rumil's arm.
"Come to see if I would actually go through with this?" He asked.
"We know you are not the type to go back on your word, but we had our doubts," Orophin said. Haldir did not recognize the elleth with him, but her eyes were a vibrant silver.
"You can wait, then. Neither Anira or I have finished getting ready," Haldir answered. He looked into Anira's room to see her lacing up the last ties of her dress, made of light green silk, and starting on her hair.
"What did they want?" She asked, pulling her golden hair into two braids along the side of her head.
"They thought I would back out," he replied. She looked at him doubtfully as he went back to his quarters to finish dressing.
"Ready?" Haldir asked. With a slight nod of her head, Anira accepted the arm he held out for her. Rumil and Orophin had tired of waiting, and had already left.
Anira saw very few elves she recognized, let alone had ever met, but Haldir seemed to know everyone. She could see in their faces that they were very shocked to see him with her. Feredir and Minaethiel waved from across the clearing, but could not make it over to them because of the large crowd. It was then that Anira began to notice the stares being directed at her and she realized that most of Lorien had gathered, and most of Lorien did not know of her courtship with Haldir.
"Do not look at them, look straight ahead," his voice whispered in her ear. She clutched his arm tighter, anxiety setting in. They stopped to talk to Indilwen and Ralanth, her betrothed, when they saw them.
"Ah, Haldir! You've finally arrived," Rumil said, walking up to them.
"Where is Orophin?" Haldir asked.
"Dancing. He is quite taken with Merilwen," Rumil replied. "She is a seamstress for the Lady."
Anira watched Orophin twirl the silver eyed maiden amidst the other elves, and saw his love for her in his eyes. Rumil gave a mock bow and returned to Randiriel, no doubt to rescue her from the clutches of her over-protective sister.
"Would you care to dance, milady?" Haldir said, turning to her.
"Not at all, milord," she answered coyly, accepting his hand.
He swept her into the center of the clearing, an arm capturing her waist and the other clasping her hand. She placed a hand on his shoulder and supressed a shiver at the strength she felt beneath the tunic. He locked his eyes with hers, pulling her closer with each step until she was inches from him.
"Haldir," she said softly. "They are staring."
"Let them stare."
He lowered his head and kissed her gently, pulling back after a few moments. The dance lightened and the beat picked up the pace. They moved faster, Haldir wove her in and out of the other couples effortlessly.
"I didn't know of your talent for dancing, March warden," Anira said playfully, as he spun her away from him.
"You never asked," he replied, in mock hurt, before turning her into him again. The dance continued a little while longer until the music stopped.
They were hailed by Feredir and Minaethiel as they headed for a bench.
"You looked like you were having fun," Minaethiel whispered. Anira blushed.
"How long have you been here? You were standing on the other side of the clearing when we arrived," Anira asked.
"I felt as though we were swimming upstream. The crowds are huge," she answered. "We got here before it started getting dark."
Feredir and Haldir were absorbed in a conversation neither of the ellith wished to listen to, so they headed over to where a table was set up with wine. Minaethiel handed her a glass and they moved over to less crowded area.
"So," Minaethiel began, after they had sat down, "are you enjoying yourself?"
"So far, I have. I was weary at first, leaving Haldir's side," she said, with a sigh.
"No one likes to be stared at, I understand. Haldir is of a great millitary position, his private life and relationships do not go unnoticed," Minaethiel replied. A few other elves were grouped in the small clearing with them, talking with quiet voices and enjoying the sweet wine.
"Do you remember any of the...others...he has been with?" Anira asked curiously.
"They used to come and go like the seasons themselves. The last hundred years, however, he has had very few that catch his eye. Less than ten I suppose," Minaethiel answered. She took a sip of the wine, and her eyes glanced at Anira over the rim of the glass.
"Why would you want to know?" Minaethiel's voice sounded inquisitive and accusing at the same time,as if she wasquestioning a child.
With a raised eyebrow, Anira responded, "I was just interested, you wouldn't think me to be jealous, would you?" Minaethiel gave her an incredulous look.
"Is this where you've run off too?" Feredir's voice broke the silence as he approached them. He sat himself down next to Minaethiel and put an arm around her.
"Run off? You were the ones who ran us off. Archery and blade skills are not our conversational strong points," Minaethiel said indignantly. She looked at him with narrowed eyes before bursting into laughter, startling the other elves around them.
"Ah, Anira, Haldir is looking for you. Last I saw, he was chatting with the Lord and Lady. They are hard to miss, so I am sure you'll find him," Feredir said, addressing her. Anira was daunted and highly intimidated at having to brave Lothlorien's citizens yet again, and alone. She stood up and took a deep breath before walking determinedly to the large center clearing.
The clearing was loud, filled with bustling elves and soon to be drunk elves. Never a good mix, Anira thought. Her eyes scanned the clearing, looking for the white radiance that betrayed the Lady Galadriel's presence. Towards the middle, she saw them. That is, the Lord and Lady, but no Haldir. Panicked, she searched faster, eyes moving rapidly to catch his silver hair. Then she groaned moments later when she remembered that every elf in the vicinity of the Golden Wood had those same shining white tresses.
"Lost?" A voice breathed into her ear. She turned swiftly, expecting to see Haldir's familiar face close to hers.
Her sigh of relief was cut short when she realized she was looking at a completely different ellon than Haldir. His sharp features were set with striking bright blue eyes, high cheekbones were framed by silver wisps of hair that had escaped the customary warrior's braids he wore. His height was the same as Haldir's, causing him to have to look down at her.
"I am sorry if I frightened you, you look terribly confused. Are you looking for someone?" He asked.
"Yes, have you seen the March warden?" Her shaky voice showed her nervousness.
"Maybe I have, Maybe I haven't," he replied. Anira frowned perplexingly, not sure at what he was saying.
"I beg your pardon?"
"If you would grace me with one dance this night, I will show you to your precious March warden," came his sneaky reply.
"I don't even know your name, and what would make you think that I could not find him on my own?" Anira said, while thinking over this proposition.
"My name is Curuthion. As for your not being able to find Haldir, one can judge quickly that you are not of Lorien. There is no way you could possibly find him in all of this, you are foreign to the many paths and clearings even if you have lived here for some time," Curuthion stated matter-of-factly.
She knew he was right, but if Haldir were to see her, he would get the wrong idea. She ran out of schemes on how to get her out of the situation and hesitantly agreed.
"Do not be so tense, I will not hurt you," Curuthion said to her as he pulled her into the dancers. She cautiously began to dance with him, glancing around her lest she spot Haldir sooner rather than later.
Where was she? Haldir's mind went through all possible circumstance she could have gotten herself into. She would be easy to spot, golden hair was drastically different than the silver of Lorien. Yet, she was no where to be found. He hoped she hadn't become lost somewhere in the forest, an outsider would not be able to find their way back in the dark like so many others that had lived there forever.
"My lord, how very good to see you," a silky voice said to him. He looked around suspiciously before laying eyes on the Imladris elleth standing right behind him. He stepped back quickly, alarmed at her sudden closeness.
Her dark blue dress seemed even darker against her porcelain skin. She had done her black hair into an intricate knot with smaller braids along the sides of her head. Silima smiled invitingly, taking his stunned stare as an admiring gaze.
He nodded briefly to her before trying to step around herto continue his search. She moved into his way, blocking him.
"Why leave me so soon? Are you looking for someone? I wished to have a conversation with you," Silima said, her voice coated with sensual tones.
"If you do not mind, I am looking for someone and I am in quite a hurry," he replied quickly.
"Who?"
"Anira, a Mirkwood elleth," he saw her eyes cloud with jealousy at the mention of Anira's name.
"I might have seen her, once or twice. I could tell you, if you would only dance with me," she pleaded.
"But-"
"Oh, but just once! It would take you hours to find your elleth in this mess," she gestured to the many elves grouped around them.
Haldir wanted to refuse again, but she had a point. As much as he loathed doing it, he accepted.
"If you promise to tell me the exact location of Anira, I will dance with you," he said begrudgingly.
"Done. Now come, the next one is starting!" She dragged him into the same dancers Curuthion and pulled Anira into and the dance began.
Silima smiled inwardly at her good fortune. It had been easy enough to bribe the foolish mason into getting rid of Anira. He had seemed eager to help, and she had promised to pay good. She looked longingly at Haldir's stature as they danced. How she loved millitary men.
Anira began to become more anxious as the dance progressed, already thinking up explanations for her absence and for the presence of Curuthion. Everyone seemed so different and strange, she knew no one around her. Bright colors of gowns flashed before her eyes as the dance moved faster.
As Curuthion twirled her out, Anira was face to face with the person she had wanted to see the most at the moment.
"Haldir?"
"Anira?"
Both caught in the same trap, they reluctantly continued their dance but never let their eyes leave one another. Silima noticed this exchange and was outraged. When the dance ended, Haldir left her immediately and went straight to Anira.
"Where have you been?" His voice was relieved and slightly confused.
"I was looking for you, of course," she answered. "Curuthion, the ellon I was with, offered me your location in pay of dancing with him. Now I am sorry I ever left you in the first place."
"Strange, Silima offered the same terms to me. I was worried you were lost in the woods or had left me," Haldir said.
"Leave you? Never. I think I would have enough sense also to not go wandering in the woods at this hour," she said.
"I think we should head back, we can stay longer the second night. Tomorrow we will not separate," he said. She agreed and they left.
Silima sat pouting next to a very rejected Curuthion. She had already expressed her displeasure with him. With a huff of frustration, she stood suddenly and stormed out of the clearing. Curuthion winced and walked off somewhere else
Okay, reviews needed DEFINITELY as the second night will be the next chapter. Liked it? Didn't like it? Have some questions or critiques? Review please!
Another long wait, I know. I deeply apologize for the delay. As always I will try to do my best next time and get the next chapter out sooner.
-ElfLuver13
