It did not take long for Isla to become unfamiliar with her surroundings. After all, she'd never been permitted far from Imladris. When she was younger, she hadn't noticed, being too easily distracted by other pursuits. But as she got older, the difference she and her siblings became more obvious. Her older brothers routinely did orc patrols in the bordering lands. Arwen, on more than one occasion, had served as her father's ambassador to foreign lands. Yet Isla had never been called to leave her homeland. She saw her grandparents whenever they visited Imladris, yet she knew her siblings had more occasion to visit them whenever their journeys took them close to Lothlorien. The last straw had been when she wasn't allowed to join her friends on a group trip to the Greenwood, on the occasion of their coming of age a decade ago. The princess of Imladris had thrown a fit the likes of which the land had never endured, yet her father could not be persuaded. She had refused to speak to him for a month, to no avail.
All those who knew Isla well understood that once she had determined to do something, she would see it through. She was dedicated to being allowed to leave Imladris, to go explore the world beyond it. Thus began a sustained campaign to visit Lothlorien. She had chosen the destination as the road was well travelled to ease her father's excessive concerns. Furthermore, Elrond could not deny his daughter's desire to see her grandparents. Isla new her Ada could not deny her anything if she persisted. And he had finally relented! Isla smiled to herself at the thought.
"Isla, you're mind wanders. You must be atune to your surroundings, for danger may lurk at any corner" a stern voice interrupted her thoughts. Isla wondered to herself whether the marchwarden had any other tone.
Flashing a bright smile, Isla fixed her eyes squarely on the marchwarden, whose own were roving the surroundings. "I don't live my life thinking there's a mortal threat behind every rock Haldir. Besides, you're here to protect me!"
The marchwarden sighed inwardly, for not the first time since he'd met his charge. "Isla, I'm glad you have never seen danger or violence. But it is not the world we live in. There are plenty of creatures who would do an elleth harm, especially you."
"Why me? I haven't hurt anyone."
By the valars, she was a true innocent. It suddenly struck Haldir how rare it was, in Middle Earth, to meet someone who was as pure a light as the elleth riding beside him. And he suddenly understood Elrond's desire to shield her from the darkness of the world, for he now shared that goal.
"You don't have to have done anything to be hunted. Unfortunately, it is sometimes simply because of who you are."
"An elf" Isla answered, thinking she understood.
"Not just any elleth – you're royalty. Your kin hold great power, there will always be those who wish to have it, and will use whatever means to get it." Haldir paused, cautioning himself not to reveal that which had been carefully hidden from the princess.
Isla held silent for a moment, thinking on Haldir's words. "I always though Ada was being overly cautious, yet you seem share his sentiments."
The whole realm shares his sentiments, Haldir thought to himself. Not just Imladris, his Lord and Lady Celeborn and Galadriel had made it clear to him before he left for the mission that every effort must be made to keep Isla safe. Hell, even Thranduil himself would not risk having Isla journey to Greenwood several years ago. If you only knew, Haldir wished he could say.
Sensing the marchwarden was not going to share any more, Isla changed topics.
"So tell me about our journey Haldir."
Clearing his throat and happy that he would not have to outright lie to Isla, Haldir obliged.
"The road is well travelled, the journey is usually 6 nights, depending on the weather. The first 3 nights we will camp, for we journey in the plains. There is then a pass between mountains separating us from Lorien. Though the distance is not long, the pass is harder to navigate. This is the place where often weather delays the traveller. Once over the pass, there is a short ride to your grandparents' realm." He spoke matter-of-factly, trained from years of military communications.
Isla pondered his answer for a moment. "Camping, I've never done that, I expect the heavens will be beautiful at night" she said wistfully.
By the time night had fallen and Haldir had chosen a site to bed down for the night, Isla was hungry and exhausted. The marchwarden ran the journey with military precision, providing short rest breaks and only a slightly longer one for lunch. Her last meal had been hours ago, and consisted of lembas – she could see why it was a good option for travellers, lightweight and easily portable, though consuming it for an entire meal was less than appetizing. Isla had never ridden for as many hours as she had that day, and she had days more of it to look forward to. She squeaked ever so softly when dismounting, her sore muscles protesting. She was determined not to let on her lack of riding fitness to the marchwarden, whom she was quite sure already thought of her as a pampered princess. That's because you basically are one, she said to herself. She would just have to learn to toughen up, her inner voice responded.
By the time Isla had removed the satchel bags from Luna and brought her sleeping sack to the campsite, the marchwarden had accomplished the same and started a fire. Clearly, this was not his first journey into the wild.
Upon the campfire stood a small pot, with a mouthwatering aroma coming from it.
"What is that" Isla asked, careful not to drool.
"Vegetable stew"
"Where did you get the vegetables from, I thought we only carried lembas."
"I foraged it, during the rest breaks."
"Hmpf, I didn't even notice. I supposed that's why I need you Haldir, for an orc may have murdered me without me realizing it" Isla said disconcertedly.
"Don't even joke about that" Haldir replied seriously.
"Come on, it's funny, because it's true! I'm determined to bring out the real you, marchwarden!"
"The real me?" Haldir lifted an eyebrow, betraying his amusement.
"Yes the real you. For you simply cannot be this robot that you present to everyone. I know down there you have feelings and opinions, and I will get to the bottom of it!"
"I'd like to see you try" Haldir snorted, before he could stop himself.
"Ha! See! I'm already getting to you" Isla smiled brightly. The marchwarden turned his head away, lest he show anything else. He hid it well, by reaching for bowls and utensils.
Within minutes, Isla was digging heartily into the stew. "Haldir, this is delicious! I can't imagine what you could do with a real kitchen and ingredients" Isla said enthusiastically between bites, not very lady-like of her she knew, but they were out in the middle of no-where, who was going to mind her table manners?
"You didn't seem to enjoy lunch as much."
"Well it was all lembas, are we going to have that again tomorrow?" And Isla duly groaned when Haldir nodded.
As Haldir cleaned up after dinner and stoked the fire, Isla was overcome by her exhaustion. Without a care in the world, for she was beyond tired, she threw off her riding clothes and donned her sleeping attire. Shaking his head as he averted his eyes to respect his charge's propriety, Haldir once again thought how easily anybody could take advantage of the princess. The thought burned a protective rage within him that took him aback. She's your mission, nothing beyond that, he reminded himself.
When he glanced towards Isla again, she had haphazardly unrolled her sleeping mat and crawled under her blanket.
"Alright there?" he ventured, seeing Isla grumbling to herself.
Her eyelids were half closed already, as she shifted herself within her sleeping gear. "You know, when I pictured sleeping under the stars, I imaged the ground less hard and the air less cold" Isla slurred.
Had Isla's eyes been open, she would have seen a ghost of a smile on the marchwarden's face. By the time he reached her, Isla's words had already been replaced by soft snoring. He studied her face, perfect skin without any creases or marks. There was a slight furrow of her brow, likely from her ongoing discomfort. Otherwise, she looked peaceful. Adorable, the marchwarden thought. And he knew what he must do.
Isla awoke early the next morning to the rich scent of coffee brewing over a cackling fire. Haldir must have awoken already and restarted the flame. Perhaps that's why she was so much warmer than she remembered last night. Yet, the fire would not explain why the ground had suddenly also become softer, more comfortable. The answer dawned on her as she moved to sit up. Isla realized that she was atop 2 sleeping mats and below 2 blankets. She had gone to sleep with only one of each. The owner of the addition became obvious when she saw the emblem of the galadrim stitched onto them.
