Sorry for the massive delay in updates, but I've had an insane amount of coursework of late.
Betad by the fabulous Wendwriter - thanks Wendy!
Now washed, dried and presentable once again, the two groups of young elves met outside the two bathing pavilions. Arwen watched, smiling fondlyas Faelwen and Haldir immediately linked their hands together and fell back to the rear of the party. They both radiated happiness when they were together and she could not remember ever having seen either of them so joyful before. With any luck, she might be assisting Faelwen in making her wedding gown soon!
They all walked together [along various paths] and climbed several winding staircases until they came upon a wide, neat lawn of velvet green, upon which an exquisitely beautiful fountain was shimmering. Bubbling musically, it was lit with silver lamps, which swung from the boughs of the trees, and it fell into a basin of silver, from which a wide stream spilled. The entire glade seemed to exude serenity. It was a place of almost impossible beauty. To Faelwen, it felt ancient butyoung at the same time - like the race of the Eldar themselves.
At the south side of this lawn there stood what Faelwen was certain was the mightiest of all the trees in Middle Earth. Its great grey trunk shone like a pillar of silver as it towered over all the other trees. Its first branches, far above their heads, opened its huge limbs under a shadowy cloud of leaves. Faelwen's breath quickened with the sheer wonder of it, and she heard Haldir chuckle gently at her side,[; ]his face full of happiness to see his home so well-received by the elleth he loved.
At the foot of the tree, a broad white ladder stood, and beside it were seated two elves of the Galadhrim, wearing similarcloaks to the one Haldir had given to Faelwen at the outset of her journey to Mirkwood. They stood smartly to attention as soon as they laid eyes on their Marchwarden, who greeted them with both friendliness and authority in his manner, and stood aside to let the party climb up. Arwen went first, then the twins, then Orophin, Rumil, Faelwen and finally Haldir.
"It is a long climb," Orophin called down, as they began to ascend. "But it is worth it for the view when you get to the top."
As they climbed, Faelwen looked about continuously; almost afraid to blink lest she miss something; her eyes eagerly drinking in every detail of this beautiful and ethereal place. They passed many flets; some on left hand side, some on the right and others set about the bole of the tree so that the ladder passed through them. They also passed many elves she did not recognise; most of whom called out greetings to the others. Higher and higher they climbed until, at last, the ladder disappeared through a hole into a flet above them, through which the twins, Arwen and Orophin had already vanished.
"Stay where you are for a moment, Faelwen," said Rumil kindly, halting on the ladder above her. "I shall climb through and then help you up. This entrance takes a bit of getting used to, and plays havoc with one's dignity."
Rumil easily climbed through the hole above his head and held down his hands to help Faelwen through. She accepted them gratefully, unused to such methods of climbing a tree, and allowed him to help pull her up; Haldir guided her ankles. With their help, she was able to ascend into the talan above with no great incident. The view was breathtaking! Miles of woodland stretched out beneath them; a carpet of green and gold, while the rich colours of the earth and the pale beauties of the sky raced each other off into the horizon. Faelwen decided that if this was what the birds saw every day, then they were lucky creatures indeed! She suddenly noticed that Elladan, who did not have a good head for heights, was already standing well back from the edge, looking rather uneasy and, taking pity on him, she turned away from the spectacular view to join him. She soon found that the view from the edge was not the only thing worth gaping at!
The talan beneath her feet was the largest she had yet seen. Built around the trunk of the mighty tree, it stretched across the branches in all directions, like the deck of a great ship; solid and sturdily made. Upon it was built a large and handsome house, which would not have looked out of place amid the beauties of the valley of Imladris. She barely had enough time to take all of this in, before a very familiar voice broke through her curiosity.
"Welcome, young ones!"
Faelwen looked around to see the approach of Lord Celeborn; splendid in silver and white. The silver-haired kinsman of Thingol exuded a calm and natural authority wherever he was – but here in his own realm, he was revealed as a great lord; powerful and wise, with the wisdom of ages past in his eyes and the strength of a hale warrior in his shoulders.
Celeborn greeted the travellers affectionately; embracing the three of them in turn. "I am glad to see you have arrived safely, and looking so well," he told them. "How was the journey?" Between the three of them, Elladan, Elrohir and Faelwen assured him that it had gone very well, that they had faced no difficulties, and that they were glad to be in Lorien.
"What think you of the Golden Wood then, pen-neth?" he enquired of Faelwen.
"I think it is beautiful!" said Faelwen simply, unable to think of any other words to describe it; but the warmth in her voice spoke volumes.
"I am glad it pleases you," chuckled Celeborn affectionately. "Come now, your grandmother is waiting inside, and there is much to catch up on."
Faelwen had always been of the slightly biased opinion that no place on Arda could ever compare to Imladris. However; as she followed the others into the house, and then into an oval-shaped chamber, she was forced to acknowledge that this room could rival even the Hall of Fire. The walls were of silver and green and the roof was the colour of gold. [In the typical elvish manner, it was ornate and beautiful without being opulent. Sitting in a chair against the far wall, clad all in white, the Lady Galadriel was waiting for them.
Faelwen unconsciously stood a little straighter. Though Galadriel had never been anything but kindness itself to her, she had always been slightly nervous of the lady of the Golden Wood. Before such grace and regal serenity, she felt like a clumsy child.
With a merry smile, Galadriel rose to her feet and greeted her grandchildren as affectionately has her husband had moments before; embracing each of the twins, and then Faelwen, before gently placing her hands on the younger elf's temples and meeting her eyes. Faelwen felt as though she had suddenly been pierced to her very soul. In an instant, she knew that her grandmother was aware of all that had happened in Mirkwood, down to the last detail. "Such a large burden has been lifted from your mind since the last time we met, pen-neth," Galadriel said. Faelwen nodded in confirmation. "Never have I known you so at peace!"
Faelwen smiled. It had taken many years, but Galadriel was, of course, absolutely right. Complete peace of mind had been a long time in coming, but she was glad it finally had.
After enquiries had been made after Thranduil, Legolas and the realm of Mirkwood, and everyone in Imladris, the company all retired to a separate chamber, where they shared a happy, meal, during which the younger elves constantly talked though and over the top of each other. As they ate, Rumil informed Faelwen that there was to be a dance in the woods that evening. "You have chosen the perfect day to arrive," he said. "Tonight, there is a full moon, and upon every full moon we gather in the glade at the bottom of the city to dance under the stars."
Faelwen and Haldir exchanged what they believed to be subtle smiles, already looking forward to it.
When the meal was over, the twins, Orophin and Rumil announced that they intended to take a stroll together through the woods as far as the Nimrodel, and asked the others if they wished to join them.
"I shall not accompany you, if you do not mind," Faelwen told them, as they left their grandparents' dining hall. "I have much to tell Haldir, and I should like to do so in private."
There was much eye-rolling and muttered comments of 'There is a surprise!' but their brothers dutifully left them alone, and proceeded outside again with Arwen in tow.
"Come," said Haldir, with the gentle smile she loved so much. "My room is just down the corridor. We can talk properly there."
Faelwen followed him down a corridor to their left until they arrived at his bedchamber. It was spotlessly neat, with a soldier's tidiness, and there were orderly piles of books stacked in several places. Removing his boots, Haldir sat down on the top of the bed while Faelwen sat down cross-legged opposite him.
"Now," said Haldir, reaching for her hands. "Tell me all that has passed since last I saw you."
"I am very glad I went to Mirkwood," Faelwen said with a soft smile. "It did not go precisely according to plan, but it was still so worthwhile. There are no more secrets now...everything is known by my father and by my twin."
"How did they react when they discovered the truth?" Haldir enquired, though he was not very anxious – the sheer contentment in Falewen's eyes proclaimed that it had not gone badly.
"Initially, not very well," Faelwen confessed. "Feredir became very angry and lashed out at Alyan; and he could not understand why I was so determined to shut the door on what [has] happened. I think he rather expected me to be destroyed by it all. My father did not get angry though...he simply looked distraught."
"That is understandable," Haldir nodded. "Finding out that his sons have lied to him for centuries must have hurt incredibly!"
"When I left, they were going to talk it through. I hope that they will be able to put it behind them, as I have. It would be nice to think that, finally, it is completely done with, and I think my father has been unhappy for long enough as it is. I will write to Feredir when I return to Imladris and enquire how things went. We can take it from there. If all is well, I think I would like to visit them again."
"I am glad that it turned out so well," Haldir smiled, leaning over to kiss her forehead. "You have never been out of my thoughts this past fortnight. I was so worried for you!"
"And the past is at last done with!" Faelwen said happily. "Now all I want to think of is the future! Our future."
"Shall we ask Ada tomorrow?" Haldir's eyes were suddenly dancing with delight.
"I think we should," Faelwen smiled happily, nodding. "Nothing would make me happier than to be betrothed to you."
"And nothing will make me prouder than to announce it!" Haldir said, a grin plastered on his face.
"Then we shall ask tomorrow then!" said Faelwen, eyes shining brightly with delight, as she leaned forward and met his lips with fervour.
The two spent the rest of the afternoon together, sitting talking in Haldir's room; simply enjoying each other's company. Haldir was overjoyed to find Faelwen so relaxed and content. Seeing her so happy made him happy in turn. He lay with his head pillowed on her lap and they spoke for hours; on Lorien, marriage and a dozen other subjects; planning their future together eagerly.
When darkness fell that night, they joined the other elves of Lorien as they made their way in groups down to the glade that Rumil had spoken of. The light and merry music of elvish harps and flutes greeted them as they arrived. The glade was already full of dancing couples; with laughter and snatches of song ringing through the air. Orophin, Elladan and Arwen had already found partners and were caught up in the midst of a dance, while Rumil and Elrohir watched, laughing, from the sides. Haldir reached for Faelwen's hands and whisked her into the middle of crowd, blending seamlessly into the dance.
"She truly does make him happy," said Rumil to Elrohir, as they watched from the side. "He is far too solemn for his own good sometimes, and I have never seen him smile so much as he does when he is with Faelwen."
"For all we tease them, they are a good match," Elrohir agreed. "And they clearly love each other. As long as he looks after her, he has my blessing."
"Look at the way they gaze at each other," cried Rumil with a grin. "I rather think you will be called upon to give your blessing very soon my friend. I give them a month before they announce their betrothal." Elrohir opened his mouth to reply, but before he could speak, Rumil drew his attention to two very beautiful ellith who were currently without dancing partners, and the pair hurried to rectify the situation.
After dancing half a dozen times with the others, Faelwen and Haldir retreated to the side of the glade when the next one began, under the pretext of catching their breath.
"Not that I am complaining, but Elladan and Elrohir have not tried to torment us once all evening," said Haldir in confusion. He was used to the constant jibes that came from either Faelwen's brothers or his own whenever they were together in their presence.
"That would be because I told them that one of your lieutenants is smitten with Arwen," Faelwen giggled mischievously. "They shall be far too busy glaring at him for the rest of the night to pay any attention to you and me."
"Faelwen Elrondiel, I am impressed!" cried Haldir, laughing. "I did not know that you could be so devious!"
Faelwen graced him with an impish grin and, accepting the hand he offered, rushed off with him into the trees unnoticed.
For several hours, they wandered beneath the fair leaves of Lorien; running and chasing each other under the silver glow of the lamps, and kissing in the gentle shadows of the glowing full moon. Their voices joined in a warm harmony as they sang together; each totally immersed in the other and utterly oblivious to anything else. They climbed Cerin Amroth hand in hand and sat on the grass together at the top. As they sat there, Haldir plucked some of the elanor blossoms from the grass beneath them and threaded them through Faelwen's hair until her blond tresses shimmered in the moonlight like liquid gold.
"Haldir, do you ever wish that you could just stop time from moving?" asked Faelwen suddenly, looking at Haldir with the stars reflected in her eyes.
"Sometimes," Haldir answered softly, stroking the side of her face. "Why?"
"Right now," said Faelwen softly, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I am the happiest I have ever been, here with you. Everything has been put right and I have everything I have ever wished to have. I wishwe could stay like this forever. I never want this moment to end."
"Who says it has to?" Haldir replied, intensity glowing in his eyes, as he pulled her towards him and claimed her mouth. Faelwen closed her eyes and gave herself to him completely, until the need to breathe eventually forced them to part.
"I love you," Haldir said, his eyes open and sincere, as he pressed his forehead against hers.
"And I love you," Faelwen replied fervently. "And tomorrow, I am yours forever."
But the next day, the unthinkable happened...Celeborn said no.