After the last sips of tea had been drained from their cups and nothing but crumbs remained on the small white and gold plates, Erestor crossed his arms on the top of the table and closed his eyes. "We should leave as soon as we are able," he said. "If you believe Galade is still out there somewhere, we should not waste time."
"What? Really?" Alatariel rubbed her temples. "Wait. It can't be this easy."
"It isn't. Not exactly," said Erestor. "For you to understand there are things you will need to know. For you to know those things, you will need to trust me."
The ladies looked at one another, each of them trying to recall what they had read about Erestor, in either Tolkien's or Zhie's works. Finally, Cel sighed and bowed her head. "I knew we should have at least skimmed those stories marked slash," she said, unable to help it as she glanced down at Glorfindel, and then back to Erestor.
Glorfindel and Orophin looked positively confused, but Erestor retained his calm demeanor. "It is important you make your decision quickly. I know this is difficult, but necessary. Will you trust me?"
"This is all happening so fast," said Alatariel, rubbing her neck. "I think I'm getting a headache."
"Erestor," Orophin said, playing with his teacup. "I know you're worried, but they are far from anyone else. To pick up their thoughts, they would have to be concentrating on just that, and I do not think they are. Actually..." Orophin put down his cup and closed his eyes, relaxing as his shoulders and head drooped. He had a faraway look for a bit, and then smiled and shook his head. "Everyone's fairly busy at the moment, according to my wife. Celebdreth's coerced everyone into a pre-dinner fishing contest. She wants to know if we might convince you to join us for supper," he said to Erestor with a wry smile.
"Obviously, I shall decline, but 'tis the thought that counts," he replied with narrowed eyes, his voice ever calm and gentle. Each time he spoke, Cel and Alatariel felt more and more like they were in a dream.
"Perhaps I can give it a go," suggested Glorfindel, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Before Erestor or Orophin could protest, Glorfindel said, pointing to Erestor, "He's a peredhel."
"Really?" asked Alatariel. "You must pardon me, but I didn't expect that. Master Erestor, you look much too... fair, to be a half-elf."
"Oh, but he is," grinned Glorfindel.
"Fin..." warned Erestor.
"I never knew you were partly of the race of men," added Cel.
"I am not," he said pointedly, standing up abruptly. He looked at Orophin. “Would you?"
"Gladly," said Orophin, trying to hide his smirk.
"Fin. House." Erestor's mood was stormy now, and Glorfindel picked up the bottle of wine from the table and followed the dark elf into the cottage.
"Oh, no. Is he in trouble?" asked Cel.
Orophin shrugged. "It'll be fine. Erestor just likes to draw things out, while Glorfindel tends to get right to the point."
“And the point is?” questioned Alatariel.
“I think it best you hear it from Erestor. Just, please say you’ll trust him,” advised Orophin rather seriously. “Believe me ... he will do everything within his power to help. I think I can also safely say that without his help, you won’t have an easy time of crossing the sea, if you even cross it at all.”
“That is the goal,” nodded Alatariel. “I suppose we really have no reason not to trust him.”
Cel agreed. “Still, I hope Glorfindel isn’t in trouble.”
“Glorfindel is always in trouble, to a varying degree,” remarked Erestor quietly as he came back to the patio. “He wouldn’t be Glorfindel if he wasn’t.” His large dark eyes looked from one lady to the other before he asked, “Do I have your trust?” They nodded their heads. “Then what I am going to tell you may not be shared with anyone, save those who come with us. Orophin,” Erestor looked to the younger elf. “Perhaps you should go in the house and see what Glorfindel is doing.”
Orophin rose immediately, leaving his empty cup and saucer. Without a word to the ladies, he made his way swiftly to the house and closed the door.
“Now, before we discuss anything further,” said Erestor, “I have it within my power to lock your minds from those around you. It will only work when you are nearby, so it is important you stay close until we set sail, and that we sail quickly.”
“You can? Will it ... hurt?” asked Cel.
“’Tis done,” he simply said. “But it would have been rude of me not to tell you first.”
“Oh.” Cel fidgeted a little and spoke what both she and Alatariel were thinking. “You’re not quite an elf, are you?”
Erestor smiled warmly. “You know I am peredhel, let us leave the rest for now. You have questions, and I will answer what we have time for, but we must make haste to return to the House by the Sea.”
"Do you think we will be able to find Galade and bring her back?" asked Cel.
"Of course. I have visited that part of the world before and know it well. How do you plan to contact her? Do either of you have her telephone number?" He asked.
Both ladies sat stunned for a while at his words. Finally, Alatariel responded. “We can email her once we get there.”
"That would not be wise considering you are both presumed dead," Erestor said. "But the idea has merit. We won’t be able to sail directly to Wisconsin, being that it is landlocked, although... we could take the Erie Canal. Never done that before.” He drummed his fingers on the table and shook his head. “Flying is faster, once we get across the sea. I will arrange passports and identification for both of you."
Again, both ladies looked stunned. “How do you know all of this?” Questioned Cel. “Wait – what’s your favorite movie?”
“We waste time with such queries,” he said, but sighed and answered, “‘The Seven Samurai.’ Now, let us speak of our rescue attempt, for we have little time now to plan.”
*~*~*~*~*~*
They discussed their plans as they had more tea and soon Orophin brought out a cake for them to have. It was not very long before Glorfindel emerged from the house, but with him he had an unexpected visitor.
“Legolas!” exclaimed Cel, “We did not expect you to follow us!”
“I was worried. I …” Legolas paused, unsure of whether to say that he was suddenly unable to sense Cel and that the feeling was unnerving. He had taken a horse as soon as he had finished helping Rumil and rode swiftly to the cottage. “You were taking a long time.”
Alatariel smiled and lifted her cup. “We were having tea,” she explained as Legolas was motioned to a seat by Erestor.
“Perhaps,” concluded the dark elf from the way Legolas was glancing around warily, “I should explain things to you.” He did, and it seemed to relax Legolas a little, but he was still not at all pleased when he heard the plans that they had to travel back across the sea. “Time is thin,” said Erestor suddenly. “I shall return in a moment and we will go to the house together. Orophin, perhaps you should ride back now on Legolas’ horse and report our coming, lest someone else comes looking for the ladies.” Erestor entered the house, and Glorfindel picked up the teapot from the table and followed.
When finally Orophin left and Legolas and the ladies were alone, he turned to them and said, “Why didn’t you tell me of your plans?”
"Would you have taken us to visit Erestor?" Cel asked.
"Probably not," Legolas said.
"Well, there's your answer then." Alatariel added.
“If I had known that this was within Erestor’s power that would have been different. Still… I cannot say I approve of you returning so soon.” Legolas frowned. “The twins will not be any more pleased than I am at your plans."
"They'll get over it. Besides, I know how much they love their uncle, so I will just explain why we are doing this and they will be just fine. I think," she stated.
"We shall see," was all Legolas said before the door opened, but only one elf exited. Erestor held out his hand to Alatariel, while Legolas offered his arm to Cel. The four walked to the carriage and entered quietly. Legolas drove the horses while Erestor and the ladies all thought on various matters. The entire trip home was made in silence.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Galadriel was sitting on the porch between Elladan and Elrohir when the carriage returned. The twins bounded down the steps to help the ladies from the coach, while Galadriel glided across the sand to them. Legolas almost immediately threw down the reins and leapt over the side, pulling the confused twins back to the porch. Erestor heaved a great sigh, patted the horses on their necks, and joined the trio of elves near the house.
Alatariel wrung her hands as she watched Legolas gesticulate as he spoke, catching only bits and pieces of the conversation. Galadriel seemed not to notice the strange behavior occurring so close by, and instead saw to the well being of the ladies. “Are either of you tired?” she asked
“Not exactly, we really only ate and talked,” said Cel. “However …” She had a few worries on her mind, and motioned that they might find a better place to talk. Galadriel nodded and led them to Haldir’s log, abandoned for the moment by the elf. “Lady Galadriel, you said that the connection I have with Legolas is already strong, and indeed, I can feel it. I can feel his struggle to be honest with me. He is afraid to open up to me, yet he is protective of me as well. To ride across the island as he did was not a simple gesture of friendship -- that much is obvious. How close does he believe we have become?”
“My knowledge on his thoughts is less than that of the twins,” she admitted. “While Elladan and Elrohir are my own kin, Legolas is related to my husband, not I. Therefore, I cannot read him as well. Still, from his actions, it would seem he already cares very deeply for you. I have never seen him act so… possessive…” Galadriel said.
Cel nodded. “I worry I may do something inappropriate. I admit I am not very learned in true Elvish customs. I cannot help wanting to touch him – each time his fingers brush against mine; I feel a surge, like electricity. He looks at me and I feel weak. He calls me meleth-nin. That means something good, right? Something like lovers would call one another.”
“Meleth-nin means ‘my love’,” nodded Galadriel, allowing Cel to continue.
“I feel like I have always known him. If I believed in reincarnation, I would swear we knew each other from another life. I have never felt so strongly about a man… well, I suppose I should say Elf,” she added, grinning. “Maybe this isn’t the most proper thing to say, but I would give myself to him right now if I were sure this was truly meant to be.”
Galadriel smiled – not her comforting smile, nor her motherly smile, and not even the smile that accompanied laughter. This smile was the sort brought forth from memories long forgotten, now rediscovered. “Perhaps it isn’t the most proper thing to say, but you are not the first to have such thoughts,” she assured Cel. “The Valar truly have blessed you. Both of you,” she added.
“You also said King Thranduil would be pleased that his son had found a mate. I am peredhil – is there anything that would prevent the relationship? Make it forbidden?”
“Oh, no, absolutely not,” said Galadriel. “Lord Elrond himself is a Peredhel, and he quite obviously married my daughter. Never once did I think of his heritage while he courted her, I worried only that he would make her happy. I am sure that Thranduil will think the same way.”
There was a noise behind them, and the three ladies turned to see Erestor standing with his arms crossed. “I calmed them as best I could, Artanis, but they demand to speak with the ladies, and that I go elsewhere.” He offered his arm to Galadriel and said, “I don’t suppose I might offer you a cup of coffee and a bit of friendly conversation?” The same smile that recalled the memories of the past shone through, and she gladly accepted, leaving the ladies on the beach with three very unhappy elves.
"What were you thinking?" Elladan asked Alatariel once Erestor and Galadriel had entered the house.
"What if you are not able to return?" Elrohir asked sadly. Erestor had calmed them upon his arrival, for they too had experienced panic when they lost their connection with Alatariel. Although Elladan breathed more easily now his eyes were dark, and Elrohir had his arms hugged loosely around himself, at a loss with this temporary break from Alatariel.
Elladan was unable to contain himself any longer and did not allow either lady to speak. "I will not allow you to leave me behind!"
Cel turned around to look at Alatariel, knowing all too well she did not take kindly to being treated like a child.
"Excuse me?!" Her hands were on her hips and she looked defiantly into Elladan’s eyes. "What do you mean you will not allow it?"
‘Uh-oh,’ Elrohir thought, 'How can I calm things down?' He quickly said, "What he means is we want to come with you. We cannot bear to be apart from you." Relief flooded him as he saw her features soften, and he ventured further, boldly saying, “Grandmother has spoken to us, and we know she has spoken to you, though we do not know what words she has said. However, I am fairly certain that you feel as we do.”
As Alatariel began to speak, Cel felt a tug on her elbow. She noted Legolas, tilting his head toward the porch, and she followed him across the beach and up the stairs, looking back over her shoulder. She smiled as Alatariel hugged first one, and then the other of the twins, and she gave a soft sigh as she climbed the steps to the porch.
“Cel,” began Legolas, and then he smiled a bit shyly and said, “Celebrian, if I may be so bold? Celebrian, I said today that I followed you because I was worried, but I was worried because I have felt you since the moment I saw you. In here,” he said, touching two fingers to the side of his head, “and in here,” he continued, placing his hand over his heart. That same hand took up hers and he swallowed hard before saying, “I have never felt this way about anyone ever before, and I doubt there is anyone else who would ever make me feel this way. Celebrian, I would like your permission to court you. You need not answer now, but--”
“Yes!” Cel would have flung her arms around the elf before her, but he still had hold of her hand. Legolas smiled bright as the sun and lifted Cel’s hand to his lips.
“Hannon lle,” he said as the twins approached the porch with Alatariel between them. The front door opened, and Erestor and Galadriel stepped out onto the porch.
“It is late,” proclaimed Galadriel, looking to the sky. “A nap at the least, though it may be bed for you both, perhaps,” she added, holding a hand out to each of the ladies. Neither complained nor frowned as they followed the Lady into the house, and left Erestor on the porch with their suitors.
“The three of you should rest as well. There will be a ship in the harbor come morning to bear us to the other side of the sea,” explained the old elf.
“I am not letting the two of them row across on their own. No offense, Erestor,” Elladan said apologetically, “but I am not about to part from Alatariel.”
“Nor I,” added Elrohir.
"We will just have to convince them we must go together," Legolas responded. "For I will not be left behind either."
Erestor closed his eyes and shook his head. “What makes the three of you think you would be left here?” he asked. He walked toward the water calling back over his shoulder, “Go. Rest. There are not many hours before dawn.”
*~*~*~*~*~*
Interlude 2
"What are you, a fish?" he laughed, reaching down to pull her up. In response, she puffed out her cheeks and loosed a stream of water from between her lips that she must have taken in when she’d been tripped back into the pond by Rumil. The young elf was now scampering away, lest the favor be returned. Orophin was yards off, the only one of them who was dry – and the one who had pushed the other three in as they stood at the edge, looking into the cool water.
Now, it was Haldir who was left, along with the elleth they had long ago inducted into their little brotherhood of troublemaking. Though Haldir had not the time his brothers did, training now as an Initiate with the Wardens of the March, he had every twelfth day off, and spent them with his brothers, and more and more, with the silly elleth as well.
None of them could recall when it was that she first was on their heels, following them through the forest. She was only slightly older than Rumil, and with Orophin and Haldir so close in age, she seemed a perfect playmate for the youngest. When the entirety of the quartet had reached past their majority and Orophin and Rumil married, the games still continued. Their playfulness was not lost with age, though Haldir’s mind began to come up with other games that he would rather be playing without his brothers.
Laughter in the distance still carried down the hill, but it was fading quickly. Dripping wet, and now with even more water having been spit in his face, Haldir closed his eyes. "You did not just do that," he said in a low voice. In answer, he felt a splash of cold water spill over his head, and opened his eyes to see the elleth withdrawing her wet hand, giggling uncontrollably now.
Shaking his head, Haldir stood up, hands on his hips. "You should not have done that," he drawled, and his eyes shifted downwards. Haphazardly, the elleth tried to splash him again, but most of the water ended up on her instead of him. Raising a brow, he nodded and said, "So, this is how it’s going to be?" and began to crouch down again.
Shrieking merrily, she tried to back up in the water, feeling her way over the rocks and sand, and going slow due to her laughter. It took no more than a few seconds for Haldir to pin her feet in the shallow water with his knees and reach out for her hands. In her panic to get away from him, her hand hit a rather sharp rock and she yelped, all joy drained from her face.
"Galade!" Haldir scooted forward in the water, still reaching for her hands, but he was away from her feet now. Frowning as he removed her hand from the water, he hissed as he saw the gash on her palm. "The water is clean here, it is best you keep your hand submerged while it clots." He held her hand beneath the clear water, talking to her, reassuring her that it would not likely be infected.
When he finally lifted her hand gingerly from the water, a bright pink line marked the wound, but it no longer bled. "It will still be tender to the touch," he explained, as if this might have been the first injury to ever mar her skin. "I would advise having it checked at the healing tree when we return to the city," he said as he inspected it. Then without thinking, he kissed her palm where the gash had been widest, as he would have done with his brothers. "Feel better?" he asked with a smile.
She nodded. "Much better," she said, her eyes meeting his.
Haldir continued to smile, but said, "We should head back to the city." He did not drop his gaze.
"We should," she agreed, but she did not move to stand. Instead, she moved forward instead of upward, and met Haldir in an awkwardly miscalculated kiss that left one of them choking for air and the other blushing. "Oh, that was dreadful, I’m sorry. I’m so stupid, I don’t know why I did that," she babbled.
Swallowing after he had cleared his throat and regained his breathing, Haldir chuckled and said, "Try it again."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I wasn’t ready for it, go ahead, now I’m prepared," Haldir said reassuringly. His hand still held her injured one, though he was now stroking her fingers with his.
"I can’t now," she said, cowering back and hiding her face from him, but he still had hold of her hand, and he held fast to it. "That was the point, that you weren’t prepared. Now you know what is to come, and I’ve lost my courage to try again."
"Then allow me," he said boldly. She turned her reddened face to protest, but he claimed her lips before she could, but it was once again muddled. "Let’s... try that again," he suggested, and the third time neither hesitated.
Their eyes closed, and all shyness either might have had was washed downstream as they began to explore, and not just with kisses. Touches grew less timid, and what skin was exposed was caressed by gentle hands.
Numerous times Haldir had wondered why in all of Arda elleths, or any females for that matter, should want to wear dresses when pants were so much more practical. He was now thankful for that little bit of impracticality. Though the fabric was waterlogged, he was able to snake his hand from ankle to knee and sinfully higher still in mere seconds while his other hand worked on keeping the material from drifting back down her thighs.
"Wait."
Haldir paused immediately. He took hold of the hem of the dress and pulled it back down so that it nearly covered her toes, and then looked at her expectantly.
Regretfully, she said, "We should really tell our parents first. Especially yours. I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble."
"Get me in trouble?" he laughed. "I’d be worse off, getting you in trouble, I should think."
"My father’s a sailor, your parents are... well, if you don’t know," she said with a smirk and shook her head. "Let’s tell them first, though. Let’s not just spring it on them like your brothers and sister did."
Haldir nodded, and stood up, helping the elleth to stand as well. "What about a kiss for the road home, hmm?" he asked, pushing back his wet hair and then smoothing hers back as well.
She quickly obliged, and did so happily. More than once.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Why do you keep haunting me with these dreams, Irmo?" she called out, sobbing softly into her pillow. No matter how good the dream seemed, she woke to grief and despair each and every time. "I don’t want the memories, I want him. I want him, damn you! I want him with me," she cried.
Sensing her sadness, Harley pounced the foot of the bed and crawled up next to her, stretching his long legs and cuddling against her neck. Sniffling, she sat up and pulled Harley into her lap as he snuggled against her. "You and me, we just have each other, don’t we?" she asked, not expecting a reply. Kicking the light blanket down to the end of the bed, she lifted up Harley and held him close. "Let’s get a snack," she suggested as her mind began to wander once again to days long ago.
*~*~*~*~*~*
When they returned to the Great Mallorn, they were sopping wet and smirking, but most noticeably, the fingers of Haldir’s right hand were twined with the fingers of her left. Rumil and Orophin were sitting at the base of the tree, the latter carving a small wooden toy for one of the elflings playing in the nearby field. Without looking up he said, "Nana wants to see you." Haldir gave the elleth’s hand a squeeze and began to walk in the direction of the garden, but he was stopped by Orophin’s voice. "No, she wants to see l’il sister."
Haldir’s smile diminished and was replaced with a look of slight worry. The elleth shrugged and turned to the garden as the very wet elf sat down between his brothers to wait.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"He was always cute when he was wet," she recalled, setting the bowl of milk on the table. Harley leapt up and began to lap at the treat he was being given as she stroked the cat behind the ears. "He tended to look more innocent that way. I don’t honestly know why."
Harley answered with a bit of a purr before licking the inside of the bowl.
"Everytime I think I’ve buried these thoughts, they come back. They come flooding back. All of them, good and bad. I hate the bad ones," she admitted to the cat. "I hate them with a fierce passion. But I don’t fight them off when they come," she said. "I don’t fight them if he’s part of them. I relive the sadness just to see him again." Folding her arms on the table, she rested her head on them and sighed, closing her eyes as she remembered.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Head held high, the elleth approached the three brothers swiftly from the gardens. Her jaw was stiffly set, but her eyes blinked furiously as she stopped before Haldir. He was standing now, with great concern showing on his face, and his brothers began to stand up on either side of him.
The elleth wrapped her arms around Haldir tightly, placing her cheek against his chest as she let out a sigh. He barely had a chance to place his hands around her shoulders before she pulled away, unable to look at him as she fled. Confused, Haldir looked beyond to see his mother gliding forward.
"Nana, what’s wrong?"
Galadriel smiled sadly and placed a hand upon Haldir’s shoulder. "’Tis better this way," she said to him.
"What? What way?" Looking off in the direction the elleth had run and not seeing her, Haldir’s mood darkened. "What did you say to her? Where is she going?"
"I think it best she go to Mithlond for a time, she will learn a great deal about her father’s work there," said Galadriel.
"You’re sending her away?!" Haldir shrugged the hand from his shoulder. "I won’t let you!"
"You cannot make such decisions," Galadriel simply said, but Haldir was shaking his head before she finished.
"You’re wrong. You’ll--I’ll--" Haldir’s finger was practically at his mother’s nose, and his mouth was drawn down into a deep frown. Having no real power to speak of and being very near to crossing a line he’d never before dared come close to, he dropped his hand. He stomped his foot once as he clenched his hand into a fist and stalked off in the direction the elleth had gone.
He ended up walking right past her, but the elleth was glad as she watched him continue on. She was hidden in some tall grass and was crouched against a large mallorn, crying softly and pitifully to herself. In no uncertain terms, she was told that she was not to pursue him, and that she would not remain in Lothlorien much longer either. The mirror showed images of darkness and loneliness, of great despair, and Lady Galadriel would not have this come to pass.
Bowing her head and continuing to weep, she suddenly felt the presence of another kneeling behind her. Strong arms embraced her and pulled her close when she struggled to move away. "If you go, I go with you."
"I don’t want to hurt you."
"You won’t. You can’t." The words brushed against her ear, his face nuzzling the soft dark brown waves that cascaded down her back, still damp from their time in the water.
"You’ve not seen what I have."
"Her mirror is not always true," he said quickly, drawing back her hair and pressing kisses against her neck. "It sometimes shows that which will never happen."
"I cannot be with you."
Haldir stopped his small movements and gathered her to him, holding her tight. "Then just stay with me."