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Chapter 9
Elegain sat at her vanity staring at herself. Her parents were being buried on this day. She had taken a bath this morning and the house servant, Gwen, was brushing her long hair out for her. Elle knew Haldir had requested Gwen to help her prepare for the day. She felt as though there was no feeling left in Middle Earth. She had stopped caring. Rumil, Haldir's brother, had been very attentive towards her making sure she ate, but she refused to heal. There was a soft knock at the door and Gwen went to answer it.
"Lady Elegain, it is almost time."
Elle made no move to get up from the vanity. Her eyes never left the mirror.
"Lady Elegain?" Haldir stood behind her watching her. Before he really knew what he was doing he had crossed the room and pulled her to her feet. "Lady Gaealis!"
Elle looked at him with shock. Haldir had never spoken to her like that. He sounded weary and saddened. She continued to look at him, hurt on her young features.
"What do you know? Elves live forever, you do not know loss!" Tears had formed in her eyes again and she was close to screaming at him.
"Lady, you know little about elves. We can die, we do experience loss." Haldir had released her, but did not back away from her anger. "My father was badly wounded in an orc skirmish outside of the Lorien borders. My mother faded when the news of my father was grave. They sailed to the Undying Lands when my brothers and I were very young. I became the adult to care for my younger brothers. I know what loss is, I know what you suffer with day by day, but Lady, you are alive." Haldir hated to be harsh with her, but wasn't sure what else to do. "What would your father and mother say is they saw you like this? Think about that. Live to be what they would have wanted you to, do not let yourself fade with them."
Elle looked away. "I am sorry my lord, I did not know."
"I did not mean to sound cruel. You are not alone even though you feel like it." Haldir turned and headed towards the door. "I will escort you when you are ready." He left to leave her to her thoughts and prepare for the day.
Elle dismissed Gwen then turned to the mirror again. She braided her long hair and fastened it securely. She went to her closet and replaced the dress Gwen had set out for her. Elle left her room turning right out of the door and moved into her parent's room on the other side of the staircase. She pulled open her mother's closet looking for a particular dress.
Haldir was waiting at the bottom of the stairs reprimanding himself for his behavior. He caught his reflection in a mirror. He stopped to straighten his shirt and run a hand through his hair. He pulled at his cloak to make it even along his shoulders. Haldir turned towards the stairs hearing Elle step onto the landing. He stood smiling at her for several moments.
Elle had chosen to wear the dress her mother had worn on special occasions only, which included the founding of Limduin. The dress was a black material with the royal crest of Gaealis on the front. The silver belt sat low on her hips and she wore the Gaealis seal on a silver necklace hanging from her throat. The circlet she wore seemingly wove into her blonde hair also bearing the Gaealis crest.
"You look regal Lady Gaealis." Haldir walked up to Elle, bowed, and then offered her his arm.
"Thank you my lord." Elle took his arm and gave him a mischievous smile. "I see elves are as vain as my father said."
XxXxX
The funeral was difficult; Elle wasn't sure how she had gotten through it. Every time she had felt overwhelmed Haldir had been there. When she thought about it now, she realized just how much she had used him for support. All of Limduin had been there to pay their respects to the fallen Lord and Lady. A royal messenger from Rohan had been sent on the king's behalf to give his condolences and offer his support in anyway. The ring ceremony naming Elle as the heir and governess of Lindium had been brief because of the circumstances. Elle was to govern one day, but recent events had brought the day on faster than she ever thought.
XxXxX
Elle knew there would be trouble with some of the elders of the village. They sat in a circle around a small fire in the garden talking about the issue.
"Elegain, its not that the village does not want you to govern one day." The elder man was looking nervously at Haldir who sat quietly and slightly back from Elle. "You are young, it would not be fair to put such a heavy weight on you shoulders… especially after such a horrible blow. We just ask that you step down for a few years so that you can gain some experience."
"I may be young and I know that disturbs you, but I intend to make an offer that we could all benefit from." Elle had thought hard about what was to be done with the elders. They had whispered during part of the funeral until Haldir turned a cold glare at them. Elle had smirked at the silenced response.
"Very well my lady, we will listen." The other elders nodded in agreement. No one wanted to insult Lady Elegain Gaealis. Even if she did agree to step down, most of the money made at Limduin had something to do with the Gaealis family.
"I wish to ask the elders to become advisors to me. Meet with me as a council, so that I can gain experience and still be involved in the ruling of Limduin."
The council regarded her. There was some conversation around the small fire. "Lady do you mind if we consider this a moment?"
"Not at all." Elle nodded to the council. She turned in her seat, without rising, to speak quietly with Haldir. "How did I do?"
"Fine Lady, you are right to keep you position among the town."
The elders realized Elle wasn't leaving her place in the circle. The three men and two women stood quietly and moved off a bit to discuss the matter. When Elle had spoken to Haldir earlier he had warned her of looking weak by leaving the circle, as though asking for permission. Several minutes passed before the elders took their seats in the circle.
"Lady, we have reached a decision." The elders nodded in agreement. "We think it would be wisest to become your advisors until such a time when you are able to rule yourself."
Elle smiled, nodding her head at them. "Then I will take my father's position as leader of Limduin with the help of my advisors."
Behind her, Haldir smiled at her quick assessment of the situation. She had known there would be problems and she had asked for counsel then. There would be no problems in Limduin. His smile faltered then to think of how fast she would have to grow up.
"First thing then my lady, what of the horse herd?"
"There are scouts out looking for the herd. Our Elven friends are assisting us even now." Elle had been ready for this. She was about to go into detail about what was happening when a horn could be heard across the plain.
The group rose from their seats to look out over the fields. In the waning light they could see the horses moving across the valley followed by several elves.
XxXxX
The horses had been herded back into the large paddock by the elves when Elle reached the gate.
"You found them!" Elle was beside herself with excitement. She called to the grooms who had been hanging around to talk to her, "Check them all for any signs of hurt and then they may be released back onto the land." The grooms' amazed faces were replaced with happiness. There were loud cheers from the people who had come to visit Elle after the funeral.
The elves maneuvered around the horses and out through the gate. Elle approached them to give her thanks. Haldir beat her to them.
"What happened?" He sounded angry to Elle, and she wasn't sure why.
"Lord Haldir." The elves bowed respectfully.
Elensar stepped forth, "My lord, I overtook the thieves on my way to Lorien. I followed behind so that I would see where they set up camp. I had planned to leave directly afterward, but Tathar caught up with me at their encampment. My lord," Elensar hesitated looking at Elle, "there was a situation. When we went to retrieve the weapons, Aranel had found us. We attacked. The thieves are being brought in by Aranel's guard."
"Lady Elegain, perhaps you and the council should meet to discuss the trial of the thieves." Elle nodded and returned to discuss the fate of the men responsible for horse thievery and murder. Haldir turned back to Elensar, "What did you not want to tell her?"
XxXxX
Elle walked out to the paddock. The evening had grown into early night and yet she felt restless. Her parents' killers had been brought to justice and the counsel had decided for her to sentence them to death. She walked into the paddock stroking horses as she went. Elle knew they were happy to be back. The horses had crowded together when she had entered the repaired gate seeking attention from her. She searched through the herd but could not find the colt she was looking for. Elle returned to the manor quickly.
"Haldir?" Elle waited a moment. "Lord Haldir?"
He came out of the study holding a blade. "Lady, what is wrong?"
"I can't find Pharaohirrim. He isn't in the herd." Elle grabbed her boots by the fireplace. "We must find him."
"Lady, a moment, please." Haldir pulled her into the study and sat her down in the large chaise next to the desk. "Pharaohirrim is being brought in by Valandil. He was injured by the thieves when he would not let them ride him."
"How bad is he?"
Haldir shifted in his seat, "They beat him. They were trying to make him submit to their wills. Being elven bred and because he did not know them he refused to let them even touch him. They will be here by tomorrow morning."
"He needs medicine…" Elle jumped up from her seat.
"Valandil is a skilled healer. He will watch the colt and protect him." Haldir led her to the stairway. "He is an elven breed colt, Lady. He will heal with speed and has been receiving the proper care since being found." They walked up the stairs to Elle's bedroom door, Haldir supporting Elle as they walked. "There is tea in your room to help you sleep dreamlessly. Drink it and go to bed. It has been a long day and tomorrow you will see your elven horse."
Elle nodded and wished Haldir a goodnight. She paused in the doorway then turned quickly capturing Haldir in a tight embrace. Haldir accepted her need to be held then released her when she entered her room and closed the door behind her to change for bed. Elle looked at the goblet filled with a honey colored tea and drained it in one swift motion. She crawled into bed and pulled the covers up to her chest. She lay silent for a moment then turned onto her side and curled around one of her pillows. Elle felt the first tears spill over her eyes then turned to weep bitterly in her pillow for the loss of her parents and Pharaohirrim's pain.
Outside Elle's door, Haldir bowed his head at the uselessness he felt upon hearing the girl's sobs.
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