Chapter 6

Long Winter Days

The winter festivals were over. Deep cold had crept into the wood and snow covered the golden trees and drifted in deep folds at the bases. The weather was fit for neither man nor beast, so only the light-footed elves stirred under the trees' heavily laden branches. Hylin watched the world going by below her, wrapped in heavy fur and velvet to keep her frail human body from becoming weak with the chill.

Roswyth kept the fires burning hot and high in the flet, but the walls had been reinforced to keep out the cold that only a human would feel. The nights were long and freezing and darks only gave way to darkness as little sunlight broke through the canopy of trees. It would have been a perfect time, to curl up with a book by the fire, but they did not have books written in the common tongue.

"You seem to be progressing little sister," Celeborn observed, his fingers held delicately over her wrist, "Your heart is strong."

"Yes," she answered, pulling away and pulling her heavy sleeve down her arm, "Thank you."

She was avoiding his eyes. Not from any wish to be secretive, but rather from her mind being elsewhere then in her flet room. A robust fire was crackling in the brazier and her eyes followed the dancing flames with heavily lidded eyes.

Celeborn narrowed his eyes as he continued his examination of his patient.

Hylin was improving. Her eyes were brighter, her complexion becoming rosier and she had even gained some weight on her thin frame. And yet-and yet there was a listlessness about her. He finished her examination and sat on a wide low chair nearby her. Resting his hands on his knees, Celeborn

"What do you do to pass the hours little sister?" he asked.

"We embroider," she answered, "And talk. When it isn't too cold, we walk the balcony."

"Good, good. Have you any visitors?"

"None save you, Lord."

"None others?"

She blinked and drew back, "No, not anymore."

"I see." He turned to Roswyth who hovered to the side and spoke to her in elvish.

"She seems sad."

"Aye Lord, she misses her people no doubt." Roswyth surmised, "We have had no word from them?"

"Nay, the snows came too deep and fast for them to do little but hear of her safety with us before the pass was closed. It will be many months before we have news of them."

"I suspected so much."

Celeborn watched Hylin during this conversation and she first listened and then ignored them when she realized they were not going to include her in the discussion. An idea came to him in that moment.

"Little sister," he began.

"Please, please don't call me that," Hylin said exasperatedly, "My Lord." She added hastily at Roswyth's aghast look over Celeborn's shoulder.

Celeborn smiled broadly, "Forgive me, I was given to understand Haldir called you that. I shan't use it again."

"Well," Hylin murmured, "He doesn't call me anything anymore."

"Mhm," Celeborn nodded and said with a tone of finality, "I have decided that you should learn our tongue, Hylin"

Roswyth started and Hylin stared at him in shock.

"I? Learn Elvish?"

"Certainly, it will fill your days and give you something to bend your mind to other than these never-ending winter days. Besides, you need other conversation than what dull topics I or Roswyth can offer you. No doubt you and she have exhausted every topic that is common between you."

Roswyth demurred, but Hylin sat forward eagerly, "Thank you! Thank you so much. I-I look forward to it."

"Then you shall begin tomorrow." Celeborn patted her hand, "I shall have books, and writing tools and study volumes sent to you this evening. I warn you; the task will not be easy. I hope you are a good student."

"I shall try to be," color had brightened her cheeks and Hylin almost looked happy. Celeborn knew he had made a wise choice for this little one.

As he stood, Hylin caught in his big hand in hers and thanked him again. He pressed her fingers gently and departed. Now to find his warden. Haldir was by far his best option for a teacher for the girl, but he also had questions of his own for the warden. Why had Haldir left off visiting the girl? There were many reasons and all were harmless except one.

Celeborn paused on his way to the forest floor and looked over the white expanse of snow that crusted the wood. Snow was beginning to fall anew and the flakes were big and spidery. The silence that comes with a heavy snow settled onto the wood as Celeborn considered the potential that Haldir had feelings for the girl. It was unlikely, impossible one might say, for the elf to let himself fall in love with such a fleeting creature, and yet-

If it was the case, then the truth must be known. Haldir should make a choice either way. Whoever, whatever Hylin was, she seemed to care something for the Marchwarden, and Galadriel had said she was important to their future. Celeborn carried on his way and sent a servant to find Haldir and bring him to the royal flet.

"Well, I am excited for you," Roswyth said after Celeborn had left, "I have never seen the Lord offer our language to a human before."

"Surely I am not the first," Hylin said.

"Nay, surely you are not," Roswyth shook her head, "Certainly there have been ambassadors and others that have been taught. I have just never seen it offered."

Hylin stretched out her hands and feet toward the brazen with a smile, "I shall do my best to learn well. Your people have such rich histories I would be able to learn from. I feel I shall be the most educated woman in the land."

Roswyth smiled brightly as the young girl's enthusiasm. There had been little lately that had caused her to be so animated. She had just begun to walk well when Haldir's duties pulled him away from visiting. She and Hylin had continued the exercise until the girl could walk unassisted, but Hylin seemed less interested in the pursuit afterward. Then the snows had put an end to any out-door activities.

That evening, Gault arrived at the flet, shaking the snow off his cloak and bright red hair to reveal a small parcel under his arm.

"Come, come, and see what I have brought you," he invited, "Lord Celeborn selected all of these for you especially."

Hylin drew near and opened the soft wrappings around the volumes. Warm and lush, the books slid softly against each other as she examined the covers. One volume was deep blue and was covered with silver scroll work, another was red like the flesh of a blood orange with gold workings. Long feather quills and black ink in crystal pots filled out her supplies for her lessons

"They're beautiful," she breathed, "I could not have imagined such beautiful books in all my life."

"And this is for you to fill," Gault handed her a smaller, green covered volume with blank pages of creamy white, "No doubt this is to fill with your exercises."

"For me?" Hylin took the volume in her hands, "It is too pretty to write in! My thoughts are not high enough for such a fine book."

"You will learn plenty once you start your education," Gault smiled widely, "Besides, you will have a strict teacher to guide you."

"Are you going to be my teacher?" Hylin asked curiously

"By the wood, no!' Gault laughed lightly, "I am lucky I learned common tongue at all. My brain does not easily turn to language. No indeed. No, you will be learning from Haldir."

Hylin froze, "Haldir? Are you sure? He is not-too busy?"

"He makes himself busy," Gault answered lightly, "Winter is a good time for us of the wardenhood. Enemies are snowed in much as we are and our duties are light. But Haldir finds work for himself."

"I see," Hylin bite her lip and then shook her head a little. "Then I will look forward it."

"Ah yes, you will be surprised at what a good teacher he actually is," Gault swung his clock around himself as he stepped to the door, "If he can teach a brick like me, he can teach anyone."

"Good night!" She called out as the snow swirled through the door as he left.

Hylin took her seat with the books heaped on her lap. There were beautiful pictures in some of the volumes and she poured over them as the snow piled high outside her door.