Haunted

Disclaimer: I wrote this strictly for my own enjoyment and will receive no monetary compensation. All elves and Middle Earth belong to Tolkien. However, the OFC in this story belongs to me
Cast: Thandronen/OFC, Haldir, Ferevellon, Fereveldir
Timeline: Sometime in the midpart of the Third Age
Summary: Thandronen is delayed during a solitary mission and stumbles upon someone unusual with an unexpected history


Chapter 2 - Bartering

So she took her love for to gaze awhile
Upon the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold

----Fields of Gold - Sting

Still gripping his sword firmly, Thandronen kept his face expressionless while he studied his uninvited visitor. Fire glow painted the skin more golden than pale and the petite creature was dressed simply in a dark green, short sleeved garment made of elaborate petaled layers, rather like fish scales. It appeared to end just below the knee, showing bare calves and feet. Noting the toes curled against the cold, he could not help but think it an inadequate costume for the brisk night air. The thick, silvery white hair fell in waves past the shoulders and he was somewhat reassured to see a small pointed tip peeking between the strands where the ears should be. *Elfkind then, but not like any I have ever seen.*

He chose his words carefully. "I am Thandronen O'Lorien, a captain of the Galadhrim. I was not aware of a people that claimed these lands. Unless it is a recent occupation, they have remained well hidden." He glanced past the fire, his eyes searching. "I sought shelter for the night and did not mean to intrude. I ask pardon if I have. Are there others with you?"

A laugh, brittle around the edges, mocked him. "There are no people, Captain, no - others. There is only me. Surely I do not frighten you?" Dark lashes swept down to conceal the glittering eyes. "And I do not claim these lands; they claim me."

"I do not understand." Thandronen eased himself cautiously to sit cross legged on his blanket and deliberately laid his sword across his lap in warning. Leaning forward with neck outstretched his visitor looked at it with eager interest. The captain saw none of the unease he would've expected from someone unfriendly. Or perhaps it was just well hidden. Then he reminded himself that his visitor had watched him for some time while he slept. Surely this one meant him no mischief?

Softened by distraction, the voice was almost absent minded, “I am bound to this place. I can go so far and no further.”

Thandronen frowned. What manner of nonsense was this? Or maybe it wasn't foolishness. The elf had seen many, many strange things - both wondrous and horrifying - during his long life. Before he could ask he had to draw back to keep a questing hand from cutting itself on the tip of his sword. “Do not touch the blade if you wish to keep your fingers intact," he warned. "It is very sharp.”

Disappointed, they curled into themselves and pulled back. Keen curiosity sharpened the tone, “What mean the markings on this thing you hold? Others used to stop here and they had such but I’ve never seen one quite like this.”

More words that made no sense to him only served to confuse him further and to deepen the mystery. A stone dug into Thandronen’s backside and he wriggled to become more comfortable. In doing so his toe kicked and dislodged the second bird he'd bundled up and set aside for his morning meal. Rolling between them it came unwrapped. He glanced at it briefly, unwilling to take his eyes off his guest for long, but then had to look again. It was missing a leg.

"I am confident that bird had two legs when I cooked it." His gaze shifted back to find his visitor's cheeks reddening in a way he was sure had nothing to do with the warmth of the fire. The pointed chin lifted defiantly and the dark eyes met his unflinchingly for the space of a breath or two. He could not stop an eyebrow from creeping upward.

Even white teeth caught a lower lip and the captain was shocked to see the beginnings of a grin quickly covered. "Did it?" came out in a soft query from between slender fingers. Both sets of eyes returned to the bird in question. "Are you quite certain?"

"I am."

"Positive? Mayhap it had an accident when it was young?"

"It was healthy enough when I caught it," was his dry response.

It was a ridiculous conversation and Thandronen found himself stifling a laugh. This was so unlike him. His cautious self clamored a warning but he was not listening to it. He could see no visible weapons and in the meager garment there was no possible place to conceal any. The oddly accented, softly lilting voice beguiled him as did the amiable attitude of this creature. Try as he might, he could discern no peril or malice in the elf before him and was sorely tempted to relax.

A soft sigh and a subtle rearrangement of limbs to mimic his further disarmed him. Thandronen's eyes dropped briefly to chest level and noted the two small mounds before returning to her face. *Elleth then* his suspicions confirmed.

"Very well, I confess. It was I who took it. Since you had two whole birds, I did not think you would begrudge the one leg and I was so very hungry.” She picked it up and carefully rewrapped it, holding it out to him. With a wistful note she continued, “The aroma while it roasted nigh drove me mad." When he failed to take it after a few moments, she laid it down close to him as though she did not trust herself to hold it any longer. Smoothing the skirt of her garment she hastened to add, "But I did not steal it. I took it in payment for services rendered."

"Services rendered? What service have you performed for me?" Again Thandronen surprised himself by letting a teasing note enter his voice, "Ahhh. You tended the fire. Yes, I suppose that would be worth the leg of my partridge."

She shot him a look through narrowed eyes that clearly indicated how thick she thought he was being. Thandronen was uncannily reminded of his youngest sons and their reaction to some of his comments on their antics. "Of course not. I am enjoying the warmth and light of the fire as much as you so that would not be fair. And you *are* using my wood but I give that to you freely." The same hand in such dire danger before waved in a regally dismissive gesture. "No, I rewarded myself for tending to your horse."

Gone was Thandronen’s ease and he was pushing himself to his feet trying to ignore the pain that stung his side. He pursed his lips in a soft whistle as he made his way around the tapering end of the rock wall while still trying to keep her in his sight. While he'd slept the still overcast sky had darkened into full night and he scanned the horizon. "What have you done to my horse?" She rose gracefully to her feet and sauntered after him hands clasped behind her back. They stood together as the stallion cantered up and greeted Thandronen with a shake of his head.

At first, Thandronen was relieved to see the horse looked unhurt. Or rather, he amended to himself; it had sustained no additional harm. In fact, the animal’s buoyant movement looked better than unharmed. The horse trotted up and planting his nose in the elf's chest gave him a shove. Steadying himself Thandronen reached up to scratch its ears while his eyes inspected the stallion. He immediately noticed the moss and wrappings were missing and Thandronen bent to examine the leg. The flesh was whole and smooth, and when he ran his hand down the entire length he could detect no swelling. The only lasting reminder was a very thin scar that still parted the hair.

He straightened and asked her, "How did this come about? Did you do this?"

Slender shoulders rose and fell and amusement was light in her voice. "Did I not say I did? I did not think you would mind." She reached out a to cup the velvetly nose before smoothing her hand down its cheek. The stallion's great head stretched out and gently lipped her fingers. "He was being quite testy about the pain and the cut was already starting to fester." Her voice lowered with concern. "You are also injured. You are very irritable so I can tell you mind the hurt as well.” She hesitated briefly before offering, “Would you like me to mend you?”

Thandronen ran his hand down the horse’s withers and across its back, his mind focused momentarily on the morrow. All of the scratches and bumps the animal had acquired in the fall that morning were gone. The horse seemed sound and as fresh as if he'd been languishing for a week in the stables. Thandronen was more than pleased that he would ride instead of walk out of here the next day. “I am not irritable,” he snorted in response. In his relief he could not resist joking, “I suppose it will cost me the other leg of that partridge if you do?”

The night was abruptly still.

The little hairs on the nape of his neck rose at the sudden absence of sound. He could no longer hear the buzzing and chirping of insects or the rustling of small night creatures. Even the air had stopped stirring. Thandronen jerked around to find himself alone with his horse.