A/N: Glad to see there are a few of you who like my story so far! Sorry it has taken a few days to complete but I have had work to do for Uni, hope guys understand! Also would like to thank foofie01 for our first review! Here is the second chapter enjoy!~
Again I do not own any of Tolkien's work or characters, only my own.
Lillieth hadn't slept much that night, she was too afraid to sleep. Tears flowed from her eyes down her face as she remembered how she obtained the bruises that discoloured her wrists. She then heard a knock on the door of her talan.
"Lillieth, it is Nienna. I don't mean to bother you but I need to take measurements for the dress I am due to make for you. May I come in?" Nienna asked.
"Yes you may come in" shouted Lillieth from her bedroom while wiping the evidence of her tears off her face.
"Are you ok my dear?, please tell me if there is something wrong" Nienna pleaded to her.
"It is nothing, I'm fine, just memories from back home" she mumbled.
"What happened if I may ask? You can trust me." asked Nienna as she places one of her hands over Lillieth to provide her with comfort.
Lillieth, unsure at first, didn't know whether she should open up to her. But there was a nice friendly warmth about Nienna that made her feel at ease. She described everything that had happened to her back home in Mirkwood, and why Eärendur wished to bring her to Lórien.
"I understand, but I promise you, you will be very safe here under Lady Galadriel's watch and mine, of course." Nienna told her giving her a reassuring smile. She then embraced her in a comforting hug.
"Thank you, but I shouldn't keep you any longer from you work, you should take my measurements." Lillieth demanded, smiling back at her friend whilst pulling away from the hug.
She recorded her measurements and Lillieth chose the fabric and colours she would like her gown to be made of. Nienna then accepted a goblet of water off Lillieth and waited outside for Eärendur who she knew would appear soon.
Light passed into Eärendur's talan which made him rouse from his sleep, the smell of flowers filled the air and birds were singing outside. He decided to step out of bed at this point to get something to eat and dress before checking on Lillieth. He washed his face in the basin by his bed and looked at his reflection in the mirror. His hair was long and straight of the richest brown, eyes green which glistened like dew upon grass and he seemed to be the only ellon that grew facial hair. This made him unique, something he wished Nienna would appreciate about him .He then opened a chest containing his clothes, it contained only one tunic and one pair of leggings along with his travelling cloak. He thought he should ask Nienna to make him some clothes, or he would have nothing to wear. He smiled to himself remembering her face, quickly putting on the clothes in his chest. Walking through the archway in his Talan he nibbled on some bread before deciding to check on Lillieth, then departed from his talan.
When he arrived at her talan he was surprised to see Nienna was already there standing outside sipping water from an intricately carved goblet. The dress she wore was of light material of the lightest blue, flowers were braided into her hair and she looked breath taking.
"Ah! Good morning Eärendur, did you have a pleasant sleep?" she asked him with a smile on her face.
"Aye! My lady. Very good indeed, you look lovely if you don't mind me saying" he shyly pointed out.
"Oh, you are too kind, I made this especially for today, I'm glad you like it" she replied not knowing the true meaning of what he had told her. Lillieth heard voices from outside so decided to open her door and investigate.
"Eärendur, I thought I could hear your voice. I wish to thank you for suggesting bringing me to a wonderful place. Also I wish to thank you for being a truly amazing friend" Lillieth said as she walked through the door to where they stood. She winked in his direction because she knew he liked Nienna.
All flustered, Eärendur managed to say "No, it is my duty to care for you, I promised your parents". She then saw fit to depart from their company and start preparing for the feast.
"I will leave you two to enjoy each other's company, I need to bathe myself" she stated.
"Eärendur, while Lillieth is bathing, would you come with me for measurements. Then I can make your outfit for tonight?" asked Nienna.
"Of course, my lady" he replied. Lillieth said to them she would see them later then retreated into her talan to prepare to get ready as the festivities were due to start later in the day. They headed to Nienna's workshop in the great hall. On their walk there they talked to each other about various things including work, the whole time he admired her. She too was looking at him with a smile on her face, they seemed to like each other's company a great deal.
Upon entering the room filled with tapestries, Nienna ushered Eärendur to stand with his arms raised to the side as she slipped the measure around his waist and hips. He enjoyed this as he could feel her warmness close to him, her soft hands wrapped around him to grasp the other end of the measure. This made them both blush. She then drew the tape measure from his ankle to the top of his inner thigh, which made him jump.
"Oh, I am really sorry about that" Nienna apologised whilst trying to hide her glowing cheeks.
"That is fine, my lady, I was not expecting it, that is all" replied Eärendur.
Nienna smiled then asked "So, how are you finding Lórien, is it to your liking?".
"There are a great many things to my liking here, my lady" the words spilled out his mouth before he even thought about it.
"That is good to know, but forgive me, is there anything else you require besides clothing?" asked Nienna.
"There is one thing, I only came equipped with a bow and quarrel of arrows, and since Lady Galadriel wishes for me to help protect Lórien I am need of a sword. Is there is a forge or armoury from where I could acquire one from?" He questioned.
"Actually, I have an old friend who used to be a guard. He now works to produce all of Lórien's arms" she stated.
"Where may I find him?" he asked.
"Ah, he works by the market, you cannot miss him. Just tell him I sent you. He is always happy to supply defenders of Lórien. I am now finished with your measurements, so you may go speak with him now, I shall have your outfit for tonight finished in no time. Come with Lillieth here later, you can change here with her" she replied.
"Thank you, my lady. I cannot wait to be in your company once more" rolled of his tongue.
He then departed to head to the market.
He approached the market where he would speak with Nienna's friend. This was then that the thought had not occurred to him to ask of his name, which would make this harder for him. Soon enough he came across what looked like a forge. He entered the building which had on display many weapons along the walls all engraved with elven words. As he walked through the door he could hear hammering and the heat from furnaces. It was then Eärendur saw an ellon working on a sword at a bench, he was of a thin build, had long dark hair and adorned an apron over his tunic and leggings.
"Excuse me, I do not mean to bother you but I have been sent here by Nienna, I am in need of some weaponry." Proclaimed Eärendur over the hammering. The ellon looked up, finished what he was doing and walked over to where he was stood.
"Ah, any friend of Nienna is a friend of mine. I am Teren, at your service. What is it you require?" he asked in reply.
" I am Eärendur, I am an ellon from Mirkwood, here as a guest of Lady Galadriel. I will be in aid of Lórien's defence if I am needed. I wish to obtain a sword and a dagger, if that is possible" he asked.
"It is very possible, just tell me which kind you require, I can make you custom weaponry but I would need time. In the meantime I can allow you to borrow some" said Teren.
"That is most gracious of you. For the sword I require it to be a one handed blade and the dagger possibly longer than a dagger but shorter than a normal sword." Described Eärendur.
"That is most possible my young friend." Said Teren then walked over to his weapon racks that line the walls. After a moment of consideration he pulled down two blades of different lengths and handed them over to Eärendur.
"The sword is just a standard blade used by all people of Lórien as is the dagger. But the blades I will make for you will be custom to what you have described." Stated Teren.
"Thank you, these will most definitely do for now. How much do I owe you" he asked.
"I require nothing from you, my friend. If you offer your service to Lórien it is the least I can do for you" Teren replied.
"You are most kind, I must leave now. I will see you again soon." He said.
"You will if you want these weapons, I do not deliver" reported Teren. On that note, Eärendur took the weapons and departed for his talan. He walked back to his talan to store his weapons there before going to meet Lillieth. Before meeting Lillieth he strapped the dagger to his waist, as a precaution.
He arrived at Lillieth's talan where she was stood outside waiting for him.
"Ah! Finally, there you are! We must go to see Nienna straight away, which I am sure you have no objection to" joked Lillieth.
"Careful Penig [Little One], I wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of all of Lórien by sharing some of the stories of our childhood" he said in a mocking tone.
"You would not dare" she said calmly as she walked away heading towards Nienna's workshop.
"Why is that?" he asked.
"I have stories too" Lillieth winked.
They then arrived at Nienna's workshop where she was waiting for them.
"Here are your outfits for tonight, as well as some other pieces that you can wear for now. I will make you some more over the coming days. I hope you like them" .
Lillieth walked forward and picked up the gown which was lilac in colour, adorned with small flowers around the neckline. It was long and flowing and soft to the touch.
"Nienna, it is beautiful thank you so much" Lillieth thanked her as she went to put it on in the adjoining room. Then Eärendur picked up the tunic which lay in front of him. It was of a rich green with leaves embroidered into the material, with gold trim around the collar and cuff. It was of the highest grade of silk any elf could have made. Eärendur smiled, he had never worn anything so fine before. Lillieth then walked out in her gown, to both Nienna and Eärendur she looked breath taking, but he still admired how gracious the blue gown made Nienna appear.
"Not Bad Penig [Little one], too bad she couldn't make you taller" mocked Eärendur.
"I can always buy shoes to make me taller, unfortunately you will always be that ugly" she replied. Nienna couldn't help but laugh even though she disagreed with the comment, she knew they were only playing.
"I think that is my cue to go change" he stated then quickly made his way into the adjoining room.
"Why does he call you Penig?" questioned Nienna.
"He has called it me since we were children, I was younger than him. I guess it just fit" she replied.
Eärendur came out of the room and walked over to where the two elleth's were. He held out his arms and gestured that they both put their arms through his to escort them to the feast.
Please don't forget to review, it will help me. Since we are snowed in here, the next chapter should be up shortly. Thanks for reading!