Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings, only my two clinically insane OCs.
A.N: I decided to cheer everyone up after the two depressing chapters. Also, I have finished my exams and my 4,000 word essay. Just a reminder: "" is someone speaking, '' is someone thinking, almost always my character and italics for another language. Let me know if there are any grammatical mistakes. Once again, no romance between Nina and any character, only awesome friendships.
Strawberry Shortcake and Music Boxes
I stared at Haldir in complete and utter shock.
"How…how did you know?" I stuttered.
"I heard you singing happy birthday to yourself when you left the Healing House." Replied Haldir. He entered the room carefully, like I was going to explode if he did something wrong. I must have looked like a woman on the edge.
"You did?" I asked, astounded.
Haldir nodded and pulled something out from behind his back. I stared at him in amazement before gingerly taking it from him.
"Thank you Haldir." I said sincerely.
I looked up. His eyes were completely clear. Megan had no power over him anymore. Insert me cheering like an idiot here. Haldir looked faintly embarrassed and shrugged. I have to admit, I never thought I would see the day an elf looked embarrassed. Oh how the mighty have fallen. I unwrapped the gift and gasped in shock. It was a beautiful wooden box with incredible carved patterns all around it.
"I can't possibly accept this Haldir."
"Why not?"
"It's too precious."
"You saved a lot of people's lives Nina, lives are precious. You should be rewarded for that selflessness you showed. And…you saved my life as well. Thank you. How is your back by the way?"
"Oh, how…? It's fine, a bit sore and I'll probably be stiff for a few days.
I stared at him and then tried to push the box into his hands, saying that it was ok and that he would of done the same thing, but he had a steely glint in his eyes and refused to take the box back. I gave up knowing that no matter how hard I tried the box would always end up back with me somehow.
"I also have to thank for removing Megan's spell." Said Haldir, sitting on my rumpled bed. That was an even weirder sight in itself.
"How on earth did you know?" I gasped. I am gasping too much. This has to stop. Now.
"Gandalf told me after I was released. He said it was something to do with you."
He raised an eyebrow at me, which was extremely disconcerting. I sighed and flopped, rather awkwardly, onto the bed wincing slightly due to my back. Haldir's lips twitched.
"I am her opposite."
"Ah. You are. Be flattered." He added, after seeing my dejected face.
I smiled grimly. I had never considered myself to be even remotely attractive and I had to admit that it did bother me. I had never had a boyfriend or a girlfriend and I was now twenty. I wasn't desperate, but…I wouldn't mind one. It was made worse by being surrounded, at school, by stunning girls. Curvy, petite, with pale skin and pink lips. You know the kind. I was teased for my flat, gawky and thin body, my height, my dark skin and my peculiar features. I had gotten my revenge by topping every single class, but I loathed school with a fiery passion. It was better, now that I was in university, but it still bothered a little. I pulled a face and called myself an idiot. Haldir was watching me closely and it made me feel uncomfortable.
"What was it like, being under Megan's spell?" I asked abruptly. I didn't like the way he was looking at me.
He cocked his head to one side and considered my, slightly rude, question.
"It was like…being surrounded by fog. I could see everything and do my usual activities, but everything was like it was…blurred out, like the volume had been turned down or the lights had gone out. But, when Megan appeared, all I could see was her. There was a light around her and she seemed to be more defined than everyone else. Maybe that is why I was attracted to her, she being the only clear thing in a blurry world. But you where there too, much clearer than everyone else, always in the corner, but soon you became the centre and everything else became clearer over time. It's a bit hard to explain without actually experience it."
"And I hope I never do." I added.
I could feel my eyelids drooping and so could Haldir, as he was sniggering, that's right, sniggering at me. I have to rethink my whole view on Haldir. I guess he's not as stiff and cold as everyone thought him to be. He was just doing his job during an extremely dark and terrible time. And he's an elf. I always found the elves to be kind of glacial when compared to the humans. That might be one of the reasons why everyone adores Legolas. Smoking hot, perfect but still approachable. Or, I'm thinking too much or giving the fans too much credit. Whatever. Focus on the conversation.
"I think I should let you sleep now little one." Smirked Haldir.
"Oi, I object to the 'little'. I'm nearly taller than you!"
Haldir merely chuckled and rose, but not before I hugged him. He froze in surprise before gingerly hugging me back. I stopped, worried that I was freaking him out, which was probable as I can be very strange and scary at times. I released him and laughed at his confused face, which caused him to scowl a little. I lay back onto to the bed feeling absolutely exhausted and happier than I had ever felt after Boromir had died.
I mumbled "Thanks Haldir."
I heard the door close, but not before I distinctly heard Haldir chuckle again.
"Oi! Lass."
"AGH!" I fell out of the bed, causing Gimlí to laugh.
"What?!"
"Happy birthday lass."
I stared at him but soon stopped as he was going a strange shade of red that clashed with his beard.
"Thank you."
I sat up and rubbed my back a little and winced again. I accepted Gimlí's offer of a hand. He tugged me up with surprising ease. Gimlí had stopped blushing, thank God and was now leaving the room, indicating that he wanted me to follow him. I ran after him and he refused to tell me to tell me what was going. We eventually ended up in the kitchens and he strode in, me hurrying in after him.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY NINA!"
'Well, fuck a duck, as Donny would say.'
Gimlí, Éowyn and Haldir were standing in the kitchens, surrounded by some of the kitchen staff, grinning like a bunch of impish children. Behind them was a cake, nothing huge and fancy, but a cake nevertheless. Standing to the left of Haldir was the elf, Caelon who I had treated for concussion. I then realised that I was gawking at them so I pulled my jaw off the floor and grinned at them before hugging Éowyn. I doubted that Gimlí would like me hugging him.
"Thank you so much." I mumbled into Éowyn's shoulder.
Éowyn was returning the hug thankfully and I could see Haldir and Caelon smiling. I pulled away from Éowyn's hug still grinning like a maniac. I was practically bouncing up and down in excitement as I was led to the cake. It was similar to strawberry shortcake, with fresh strawberries, fresh cream and icing sugar dusting. I was almost drooling. I was handed a knife by Caelon and I cut the knife and it came out dirty.
"You have to kiss the nearest boy." Squealed Éowyn in a very uncharacteristic manner.
"You do that here?" I asked astonished. I thought that was an Earth thing only.
Éowyn grinned and nodded. I stared at her in amazement before turning and noticing that Haldir and Caelon were backing away. Grinning I kissed Gimlí soundly on the cheek, causing him to go bright red and mutter something under his breath. Éowyn and I burst into laughter at his reaction and at the two elves' astonished faces.
"Alright, enough kissing, it's cake time!" I said cheerfully.
This caused the unfortunate dwarf to go bright red again but he cheered up after I handed him a piece of cake. It was a wonderful way to end the day, eating cake and chatting about small, amusing things, mostly about bearded female dwarves. A subject that could have an essay written about it.
"Hey! Two elves and a dwarf are having a reasonable conversation without arguing" I blurted out.
I should not have done that. Immediately an argument broke out between the three…blokes. Yeah, I'm going to call them blokes as I can't call them men. Éowyn sighed and I pulled an unattractive face. Soon insults were being thrown back and forth. The situation was getting out of hand.
"OI! No more arguing. It's my birthday and what I say goes."
That was a low blow, but it was highly effective. The three blokes, yeah probably should come up with another group term for them, fell silent and apologised. The conversation moved onto how on earth elves stay clean after being in a long, dirty battle. I poked fun at Caelon, discussing how filthy he had been and thus toppling the perfect and flawless idea that surrounded elves. This cheered up Gimlí greatly. Soon night fell and I left the kitchen, exhausted and full of cake.
'I'm very lucky. I have people here who are willing to be my friend and look after me as I would with them. I should count my blessings on this adventure, I could have been very much alone and that would be even harder.'
I opened the door to my room and collapsed onto the bed, wondering if I had the strength to get up and get changed. I did. Just. I flopped on the bed again and stared at the box Haldir had given me. I sat up and opened it and music flowed from it, but I couldn't see why it was coming from. It was sweet, ethereal and almost inhuman. I closed the lid and smiled.
'Maybe I should tell them. Would they believe me? I want to tell someone. Last time I did Boromir died. I want more people to know, more than just Gandalf. I want to go home, but I also want to stay here. I miss home. I miss Boromir. I need sleep, I'm not thinking clearly. There's always tomorrow.'
I rolled over and fell deeply asleep.
A.N: Reviews craved, needed and deeply desired. Also, post if you think Nina should tell someone again and if so, who?