Chapter Ten
"Falling Hard"
The wardens led the remaining members of the Fellowship to a large mellorn in the middle of the city. A stair case wound its way up the side of the ancient tree all of the way up into the canopy far above their heads. Leading the group Haldir guided Jesse and the rest of the fellowship up the many stairs toward the tree palace of the Lord and Lady. The glow of the city seemed to glow even brighter the closer they came to the palace.
"I envy you Haldir," Jesse said as she looked at the city around her, "I lived in a city in my old world but it was nothing like this. You are so lucky to be able to call this place home." "You lived in a world of men did you not? What was it like," his curiosity getting the better of him. "Yes in the world I grew up in there were no elves and to be honest it was entirely too over crowded. Men have taken most of the beauty out of the world. The sheer numbers of the people require a great deal of the world to be taken up for living space. Wild places like this forest are threatened for the simple reason that people are running out of other places to live there. I often found myself longing for the sounds of the forests. Grams would send me off on trips just so that I could get away from the city and be surrounded by trees. I don't think she knew I was an elf but I believe she understood that I needed the forests as much as I needed air to breath. Don't get me wrong I was happy with my adopted family there but since I have come to Middle Earth I have realized that this is truly my home," she tried to explain as they came to a landing.
As the group gathered on the landing a bright light came from another set of stairs across from them. The light dimming slightly revealed the figures of a tall handsome ellon and a beautiful elleth, whom Jesse recognized immediately. The Lady Galadriel's eyes were the only things to give away her true age.
"The enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone," Lord Celeborn spoke in a calm and firm voice as he looked at the group of tattered travelers before him, "Nine there are here, yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar." "Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land," the Lady answered as she looked at the sad and tired faces of the group, "He has fallen into shadow."
"He was taken by both shadow and flame. A Balrog of Morgoth," Legolas exclaimed in despair, "For we went needlessly into the net of Moria." "Needless were none of the deed of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full purpose," Galadriel said looking gently into the Mirkwood Prince's eyes, before turning toward Gimli and adding, "Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart, Gimli, son of Glóin. For the world has grown full of peril and in all lands love is now mingled with grief." Her gaze drifts briefly over Boromir's proud features before it moving on to smiling gently at Jesse.
Celeborn looked to his wife and asked, "What now comes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost." "The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all," his beautiful queen answered, "Yet hope remains while company is true," she added smiling first at Jesse, then Sam and finally at Boromir, "Do not let your hearts be troubled, go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight, you will sleep in peace."
As the group began to follow Haldir toward the stairs leading off of the platform, the Lady took Jesse's hand and said with a kind smile, "Jessica go with Lórwyn and she will show to our bathing pools to allow you to refresh yourself before you rejoin your companions for the evening meal." "Thank you for you kindness my Lady," Jesse said as she was led to a different set of stairs. "You are most welcome child, and fear not for we will have plenty of time in which to speak of the questions which are still plaguing you," the Lady answered as she rejoined her husband and was led back into their home.
Lórwyn led Jesse to a small glade surrounded by tall hedges. Near the back of the glade was a large steaming pool. "Oh that looks like heaven," Jesse commented with a smile on her face. "There is a basket on the side of the pool with everything you might need. I will return shortly with a gown for you to wear," the maid said turning and heading back the way they had come.
Walking to a bench that sat next to the pool Jesse began to remove her weapons and removed her traveling clothes before stepping into the inviting water. A sigh escaped her lips as the warm water began to sooth away all of the tension in her tired body. Feeling more relaxed than she had since the Fellowship departed from Rivendell, shebegan to carefully remove the braids that she had worn since that fateful morning. She closed her eyes as memories of faces of the ellons that helped her that morning came to her mind. She had been through so much since that day and yet she could still remember it as though it had just happened. Releasing the last of her hair from the warrior braids she sank completely under the water to wet her hair, before finding a gentle rose scented shampoo for her hair.
She had just finished her bath and was drying herself when Lórwyn returned in the company of the Lady of the Wood. "I believe this gown shall compliment your eye color beautifully, my child," the Lady said as she held out a gown of deep rich green velvet. "Oh, my Lady it is beautiful. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. I have to admit that it is nice to feel like a girl again," Jesse said with a smile as she stepped into the gown and allowed Lórwyn to lace up the back. "It has been my pleasure child. Your father was as dear as a brother to the Lord Celeborn and your mother as a sister to me. Now let us tend to your hair," with that the lady began to run a mithril comb through Jesse's long hair.
As the finishing touches were added to Jesse's hair Lórwyn came forward with a chest carved from mellorn. "Tonight the Fellowship shall dine in our dinning hall and I would like for you to wear this circlet. I foresaw your coming and ordered its crafting," the Lady said as she placed the circlet atop Jesse's head. "Thank you my Lady, it is so beautiful," Jesse said breathlessly. "It was my honor, Jessica. Now come Celeborn and Haldir are awaiting us. I have asked my March Warden to escort you to the feast," a knowing smile gracing her lips as the Lady of Light spoke.
As the three elleths exited the glade, Jesse could see three handsome ellons waiting for them. Lord Celeborn and Haldir she knew but the third was new to her though he seemed somewhat familiar to her. Haldir was the first to notice the arrival of the Lady of Light, Jesse and Lórwyn. Noticing Haldir's attention being drawn from their conversation Celeborn looked up into the smiling face of his wife and said, "Now I see why the subject of border patrols was not enough to maintain our March Warden's attention. As always my love you look most lovely and Jessica your mother's beauty shines brightly in you. You are truly Noldor's most prized treasure, and Lórwyn, as always lovely my dear," a smile gracing his handsome features as he offered his arm to his wife. "The Lord Celeborn is most correct in his descriptions, you are truly lovely sister," the strange ellon said offering his arm to Lórwyn. 'No wonder he looked familiar,' Jesse thought as Haldir walked up to her. "I must agree with my Lord as well," he spoke, offering his arm to Jesse, "Your beauty shines as brightly as the stars this night."
"Thank you, Haldir, you look quite handsome yourself," Jesse said as she seemed to get lost in his endless gray eyes. "Your companions will be most pleased to see you, especially the young hobbits. They were most concerned with your well being when I escorted them to their pavilion," he commented with a smile, "It would seem that they are as protective of you as you are of them." "Well we have been through a lot together and in a way I look at them as brothers. I only had sisters growing up and it is a fun change," Jesse replied laughing, "Though with the way I aged in my world I am not sure if you would call them my little brothers or big brothers." "That is an interesting question, how old were you in your world?" he asked curious of what her answer would be. "Well there I was just about to turn thirty before I left to come to Middle Earth. So I guess I would be thirty, in human years anyway," she answered truthfully, "Grams always celebrated my birthday on the day they found me on their doorstep. I shared it with my sister Phoebe who was born that day in the same year." "Yourtrue age would be a question you should ask the Lady. I am certain she would know the answer," he said as they stepped into a beautifully laid out dinning hall.
As Haldir led Jesse up to the dais the Lord of Lothlórien stood with the Lady at his side, and quiet descended upon the elves gathered for the evening meal. "We would like to extend our welcome to the Fellowship that has come to our fair city this day. Their coming has brought both immense sorrow and great joy to all of our hearts. This day we have lost not only a great ally but also a very dear friend in Gandalf the Grey. He will be greatly missed by us all," Lord Celeborn said bowing his head in a silent prayer. "Though all is not lost, as Lord Celeborn said the Fellowship has also brought with them a light that we thought lost to Arda forever," the Lady of Light continued smiling at the young elleth next to her on the arm of one she considered a son, "It is with a heart full of joy not sorrow that I present someone to you today that is as dear to me as my own daughter. Her mother was as dear to me as a sister and loosing her left a great emptiness in my heart. The coming of the Fellowship has brought with it the arrival of the Lady Jessica Halliwell daughter of Ereinion Gil Galad and his queen, Aredhel Súrion, and the Crowned Princess of Noldor." As it had happened in Imladris, the people of Lórien were just as shocked. Haldir gave Jesse's hand an encouraging squeeze and Jesse smiled gratefully back at him.
Once the shock of the announcement wore off everyone settled into his or her meal. Even with all the Fellowship had been through since their leave-taking Imladris she still held hope that they would succeed in what they had pledged to do. Her thoughts turned to the handsome ellon next to her; she couldn't understand why she was so drawn to him. Of course she found him handsome, and once you got passed his arrogant outer shell he was actually very sweet to be around. Even though he tried to maintain a dislike for dwarves she could tell he was slowly starting to at least tolerate Gimli, which was in her mind at least a start in the right direction. She knew from experience that if they were ever going to stand a chance in the war ahead of them that the old prejudices would have to be laid aside. Now she just had to make sure that this brave handsome elf lived to see the end of this war.
As the meal came to a close Jesse excused herself from the rest of the Fellowship and went in search of the council of the Lady of Light. Her steps seemed to automatically take her to a small glade near the base of the tree that contained the royal talan. As she entered it she realized that it was the glade that contained the Lady's mirror and standing near a bubbling stream was Galadriel herself.
"I have been awaiting you child. I know that you have many questions and have come seeking my council. I will try to answer as many of your questions as I am able," the beautiful elleth said as she took Jesse's hand and led her to a small bench that was hidden in the back of the glade. "Now that I am here my Lady I am not sure where to begin," Jesse said nervously wringing her hands together in frustration. "I oft find it easiest to begin with the simplest questions and allow the others to follow as they may," the older elleth replied smiling at the nervous energy that seemed to encompass Jesse, much the same as it had her father in his younger days.
"Ok. The simplest question first, I can do that," Jesse replied with a slight laugh, "I guess that would have to be the one that Haldir and I were discussing on our way to dinner tonight. How old am I? I mean in the mortal world that I grew up in I was only there for about thirty years but I know the battle that my father died in was in three thousand four hundred forty-one of the second age and I know I was born before that." "You were born in three thousand two hundred and fifteen of the second age on the winter solstice. I believe you celebrate a date near that as your birthday in the mortal world you were raised in," the Lady explained, "Your are approximately three thousand two hundred forty-four years of age in this world." "Ok, ahhh… Wow… And to think I thought being thirty was old," Jesse laughed, "I guess now I know I am really old enough to be the high-priestess of the Halliwell coven after all. Though I guess in the eyes of elves I am still pretty young though huh." "Yes in the eyes of our kind you are still very young. You are about the same age as Orophin actually. I believe you met him when you entered the forest," the lady said, "Though I believe it was his older brother's age which really concerned you," she added with a knowing smile.
"Alright you have me there. So I guess that leads to my next question," Jesse said with a laugh, "Why am I so drawn to Haldir? I know it can't be just because I am supposed to save him." "You are correct the reason why you are drawn to my March Warden is not merely because you are meant to save his life. He is quite simply your other half. The Eru created him for you and you for him. Your fëar were destined to be as one. That is why it is most imperative that you are successful in saving his life," Galadriel said in all honesty. "He is the one in my dream isn't he? I never saw his face," Jesse sat there in shock of what she had just been told.
"I have known Haldir from the day he was born into this world Jessica, and have seen him live through the sadness of loosing both of his parents, one to war and the other to grief, through the trials he endured to become the March Warden of this realm, and he and his brothers are as sons to my husband and I. He has lived through thousands of years of waiting for you to return to us, though he never knew you were what was missing from his life. You were both robbed of many long years of happiness and it pains me that you have found one another in such perilous times," the Lady explained, taking Jesse's hand into her own as she watched tears stream from the eyes of the distraught young elleth and finally allowed her own tears to flow.
Sensing his wife's distress, Celeborn called out to her mind, 'My love what has distressed you so?' 'I am in my glade with Jessica. I have told her of her connection with Haldir,' Galadriel answered sadly, 'They have been robbed of so much, my love.' 'Is there anything that I may do to ease your heart,' worry for his wife and adopted son evident in his thoughts as well as sorrow for the orphaned elleth in his wife's company. 'Would you please ask Haldir to join you and come to my glade. I believe that the only way to set things right is for him to know the truth as well and they will need love to see them through the trials ahead I fear,' she asked knowing he would be there shortly gave her the strength to go on.
Turning her attention back to the crying elleth next to her Galadriel spoke softly, "Child I have asked Celeborn and Haldir to join us here. I believe now is the time to relieve you of some of the burden in which you carry. We must plan for what is ahead." "Of course my Lady," Jesse said attempting to wipe away her tears before the ellons arrived.
Any further conversation was stilled as Haldir arrived in the glade and upon seeing the tears in Jesse's eyes made his way quickly to her side. Kneeling next to her he asked in concern, "What has upset you Jesse?" The concern that flashed across his handsome features brought a smile to Jesse's face as she touched her hand to the side of his cheek as she spoke, "I am alright Haldir. I was just a bit overwhelmed by the information the Lady was able to give me. It has just shaken me a bit." The fact that Haldir's mere presence seemed to strengthen Jesse was not lost on the Lord and Lady of the Wood.
"Jessica, I believe now is the time to allow Haldir to see one of the gifts in which you used to aid the Fellowship on its journey in the mountains. Looking up Jesse realized that there was only the one small bench on which she and the Lady sat and her eyes fell on a stone that sat across from her. Closing her eyes she pictured the stone transforming into a bench identical to the one on which she sat. Opening her eyes in satisfaction of the look of shock that graced the features of not only Haldir but the Lord of the Wood as well. "It is called transmogrification and I taught it to young witches at the Magic School. I also have the gift of what you would call foresight, I can hear and speak to animals using my mind, and have the ability to see the thoughts and emotions of others. I am also able to communicate with them using my mind, much like the Lady can. I also have a knack for spells and potions," Jesse explained to the stunned pair.
"Jessica, was raised by our own descendants my husband. The woman she called Grams was a direct descendant of our darling Arwen. Their line will greatly strengthen the world of men," Galadriel revealed. "I didn't know. I always wondered where the power came from but now it all makes perfect sense," Jesse exclaimed in complete awe, "That also explains why I am already so attached to Arwen and Aragorn. It is the link they represent to my old world. To my family." "That is correct. Just as the relationship you carry with you for the dwarf Gimli and the young hobbits has residual ties to their own descendants Dailin and Daisy. While the one you call Gideon set out to take you from this world he failed to see that those descendants existed and that you would naturally be drawn to them," the Lady further explained. "Gideon did not realize that he was placing me in the hands of Aragorn and Arwen's descendants. Boy I bet he would have kicked himself had he realized that," Jesse exclaimed with a slight laugh.
"Now," the Lady of Light declared as she turned to face Haldir, "Haldir, I must ask you to be completely honest with your answer to my next question, though I am sure it may make you a bit uncomfortable." "I will endeavor to answer as truthfully as possible my Lady," he answered in complete faith of the Lady of the Wood. "Did you not feel yourself drawn to Jessica when she entered our wood?" the Lady asked a smile playing on her gentle timeless features. "Though I knew that she was a Princess and above me in station. I must admit that I did feel drawn to her," he admitted hanging his head in shame.
"Do not feel shame for that which you have no control over my loyal March Warden. For in matters of the fëa station and protocol have no bearing," the Lady assured seeing his guilt, "I did not wish to bring you discomfort but the information I am going to impart upon you now required me to know your heart. Eru has gifted yourself and Jessica with a bond that is very rare even among our people. Your fëar were destined for each other. It is a bond that is older than Arda itself and the only others of our kindthat have such a bond left in this world are Lord Celeborn and myself. For many years Jessica has dreamed of an elf of which she never saw his face but she felt his love for her through the dream. I believe that you, Haldir have also had a similar dream of an elleth. The love that you both felt in you respective dreams was quite real and a product of your fëa reaching out to its other half. The wedding, which you have seen in your dreams, should have taken place long ago, but the actions of the one called Gideon prevented it from coming to pass. Do not loose hope, for the Valar have blessed the two of you and I believe that you may still have that which you have dreamed."
Gracefully the Lady moved from her seat next to Jesse and into the arms of her husband on the neighboring bench. They watched together as Haldir processed the information that had been given him, and as he slowly moved to sit next to a nervous Jesse. Celeborn and Galadriel held their breath as Haldir looked into the eyes of the silent Jesse, and brushed a wayward lock of hair behind her delicately pointed ear with a trembling hand. The years of loneliness seemed to melt away from the younger elleth and ellon before their eyes. Sensing the young pair's need for solitude the Lady gracefully stood and on the arm of her eternal love walked from the glade, silently declaring that matters of war would wait until the morning.
"It seems as though the Lady has decided to leave the rest of our discussion for the morning," Jesse commented as she touched her hand to Haldir's cheek. "It would seem and I find that I am grateful for the pardon," he replied relishing in the feel of her simple touch. Slowly the pair leaned into one another until their lips met in a gentle caress. Jesse relished in the feel of his lips against her own and felt a great sense of loss when they parted. 'Oh boy I am falling hard,' she thought to herself.
Looking deeply into her eyes Haldir tried to regain so sense of control over himself as he asked, "There is something I would like to show you. If you will permit me to take you there?" "I would love to Haldir," Jesse said honestly, smiling up at him. Taking her hand with a smile Haldir led her out of the glade along a winding path that seemed to be hidden from view. "It is not far, but I go there often when I need to find peace," he explained as they reached a narrow gap in what seemed to be an old broken wall.
Stepping through to the other side Jesse was greeted by a sight that took her breath away. "Ohhhh… Haldir.. It is so beautiful," she exclaimed at the sight before her. "I found it by accident when I was an elfling. I fell asleep here that day andit was thenI had the first dream," he explained as he led her to an ornately carved stone bench that sat at the edge of a carved out pond at the base of natural hot spring waterfall, "It has been my private sanctuary ever since. The Lady told me that it was once the courtyard of a great Noldor watchtower, built in the time of your father. I thought I should share it with you." "Oh, Haldir," she said as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest, "Thank you so much. I will cherish this sight forever. Thank you."
Haldir had no words for the way having her in his arms felt. He simply laid his head against hers and held her tightly in his arms for long moments, before she pulled back enough to look up into his eyes. Then without saying a word Jesse brought her lips to his in a heated kiss that left both of them breathless. Looking up into his eyes once more Jesse found her own need mirrored in the endless gray depths of his eyes. Reaching up with trembling fingers she released the broach that held his cloak in place and laid it beside her on the bench. She watched with anticipation as he reached behind her and skillfully pulled free the tie that held her gown in place and the fabric slipped away from her skin. She made short work of the ties of his tunic and he raised his arms above his head so that she could easily remove the offending fabric. She marveled in the chiseled contours of his broad chest and how with his every breath the muscles flexed just beneath the skin.
The tight reign on his control slipping Haldir pulled Jesse into his arms and seized her mouth with his own. As his tongue slipped within her welcoming mouth, he stood still holding her tightly in his arms, and made his way to the pool. Setting her down on her feet once more he watched as if in slow motion her gown pooled at her feet leaving her in gossamer shift. As her hands began to undo the lacings of his leggings, he began to slowly leave a trail of kisses down the side of her neck until he reached her shoulder where he slipped one finger under the strap that held her shift in place and slid it free, then repeating the action on its twin, before returning his attention to her lips.
Stepping out of her pool of clothing, Jesse stepped carefully into the heated pool, her eyes never leaving that of the March Warden. She made her way over to the waterfall and stepped under its spray of water, using it as a shower. From her vantage point she watched as Haldir quickly rid himself of his boots and leggings and climbed into the water, making his way to her. As the warm water began to caress their bodies, Jesse thought that she was going to explode as he began to suckle gently on her breasts.
Gently picking her up, Haldir made his way to a bed of moss that lay just outside of the spray of the waterfall. Slowly he laid her down before covering her body with his own. "Your beauty has rendered me blind to all others my love," he declared as they finally became one. A single tear slipped from her eye as she looked up into his loving face, and smiled as she began to move with him in a rhythm as old as time. As the power of their union reached its ultimate peak she allowed the words that she felt in her heart to spill from her lips, "I love you." Almost in slow motion their lips met in one final passionate caress, as their souls bound together for all eternity.
"Beloved love of my life," he answered as he rolled himself onto his back and pulled her lovingly into his arms, "My beautiful, Jesse, what have I done to deserve such a wondrous gift." Smiling up at him through half lidded eyes, as she ran her fingers over the expanse of his muscular chest she whispered her voice tight with the strength of her emotions, "You gave me back something that no one else ever could have. You gave me back my soul."
That night as they slept held tightly in each other's arms, there were no dreams, there was no loneliness, there was only the feeling of their love amplified by the binding of their souls forever. No matter what happened in the days, weeks and months to follow they would face it together as one.