A Rose By Any Other Name

~~~A Rose By Any Other Name~~~
Chapter Twenty-One

Finally Galadriel lead her into a beautiful, deceptively small dinning room.

Celeborn waited there, standing by one of the balconies, looking out, his hands clasped behind his back, his hair laying gracefully over his shoulders and down his back. He turned when he heard them and smiled. “Welcome again, Princess Ascadholiel. You look lovely.” He said as he walked over to them. He took Ascadholiel’s hand and pressed a light kiss to it, then leaned over and kissed his wife’s smooth cheek.

The Lord of Lorien then escorted both of them over to the table, where they sat. At once, elves baring plates and trays of food entered though a side door and set their burdens down on the table before exiting again. As before, the nobles ate in silence, then as the food was cleared away, only the light juices being left as they began talking.

Celeborn spoke first. “As delightful as this meal was in your company, Ascadholiel, it is not the only reason you have been requested here this night.”

Galadriel spoke next. “Your bonded had asked us before he left to arrange a few activities that will fill your time in his absence, as well as teach you the things he felt would be a benefit for you to have knowledge of.”

Celeborn continued again, Ascadholiel’s eyes switching back and forth between them. “First, he expressed a wish for your language skills to be continued and refined, and for you to learn the history of the elves, of his people in particular. My lady and I agree with this. It would be vital for you to have this knowledge in your role as a princess.”

Ascadholiel frowned a little. “Why didn’t he approach me with said topics himself?”

Celeborn steepled his fingers in front of his lips. “For whatever reason, he thought it better that my Lady and I bring these issues before you. I will be instructing you in lessons of our tongue as well as a rudimentary of Quenyan, the grey speech and language most used in Imladris besides common. I will also be your instructor on our histories.”

Galadriel spoke next, “While I will be instructing you on courtly etiquette and the basics of what will be expected of you as Princess of the elves of Mirkwood, and wife ts fts future king.”

Celeborn then looked away, almost childishly, and spoke as innocently as he could, as he dropped the proverbial bombshell. “As for minimal weapons training and self defense, Haldir will be instructing you.”

At this, Ascadholiel blinked at him blankly for a moment before asking flatly, “You’re TRYING to kill me?”

Celeborn looked back at her now. “I know you and Haldir do not get along, but he is an excellent warrior as well as an excellent instructor. He is the one who has trained many of our best Galadhrim.”

Ascadholiel shook her head, a disbelieving look still in her eyes before it melted away into a slight glare. “Of this I’ve no doubt, but you are aware that this give him license to sufficiently kick my ass without fault, yes?”

Galadriel smiled, her deep blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “Worry not. You will not be sparring with the March Warden. He will simply be teaching you the finer points of self defense with daggers and sword.”

Ascadholiel perked up just slightly, “And the bow?”

Galadriel smirked and turned her head slightly, that damnable twinkle in her eyes again. “No. Not right now. Perhaps in a few months. Do not ask why. I have my reasons for not wishing you to strain so hard. Haldir will teach you what he thinks best.”

Ascadholiel couldn’t help but grumble a little. “As long as he doesn’t pull that whole, ‘offense is the best defense’ shit.”


Celeborn smiled and Galadriel chuckled a little bit. “He will not. My Lord and I have already given him express orders that he is not to lay a hand on you or harm you in any way.”

Ascadholiel sighed. “Well, seeing as you have already deemed fit to inform him before myself, it would seem rather cowardly of me to object and decline, thus giving him freedom and reason to tease me about it were I to do so. Further more, since you stated that this, or an approximation of it, was my husband’s wish that I learn to defend myself, as well as it is my own wish, I will defer to my judgment. After all you should know what’s best, as you are much, much, much, much… many times much, older than I am.”

Celeborn and Galadriel chuckled with stifled laughter at her antics, thinking that things would most certainly not be dull around here if she kept such things up. After all, it had been quite a few millennia since anyone had the nerve to tease the two, especially about their age. They continued to smile and bowed their heads slightly, plainly showing their pleasure at this over-all reasonable response from the young human.

Galadriel spoke softly. “Very good. You already show great promise where your reasoning is concerned. We will start lessons tomorrow after you have had a full nights rest. Rumil and Orophin will escort you back to your talan, or wherever else you wish to go.”
e twe two elves stepped into the room and waited patiently by the door while the three sitting at the table rose. Celeborn once again kissed Ascadholiel’s hand.

Ascadholiel nodded her head to the Lord and Lady, speaking in Sindarin so as not to be rude to the brothers waiting for her, since they didn’t know common. “*Thank you my Lord, my Lady, for the pleasant meal. I will see you tomorrow for my lessons. I look forward to them… well, most of them.*” She said smirking.

Galadriel said, “*Good night Princess Ascadholiel.*”

And Celeborn added, “*Sleep well tonight, and may your dreams be peaceful.*”

Ascadholiel nodded to them again and then walked out with Orophin and Rumil.

As soon as they were on the walkways, Rumil elbowed Ascadholiel gently and playfully. He an Orophin worried for her moral now that the one she so obviously loved with her whole heart was not there by her side. “*So, we heard that our brother was to be instructing you in weapons. You must be looking so forward to that.*” He teased her with a grin on his handsome face.

Ascadholiel snorted quite un-princess like. She felt quite at home with these two, having formed a fast and true friendship with the two when Legolas was still here. “*Oh absolutely… like a hole in the head.*”

Rumil chuckled as his brother placed a gentle hand on her bare shoulder, Orophin saying, “*Worry not about it. We overheard a little of the talk Lord Celeborn gave Haldir the last time he decided to wag his sharp tongue at you and provoked you to action. After that, I don’t think he’ll be too eager to do such again.*”

Ascadholiel nodded. “*So long as he remains civil to me, I will return the courtesy, likewise to him.*” And so they walked on towards Ascadholiel’s talan.

**********

Ascadholiel woke slowly and tried to figure out what was wrong and why she had awakened. She reached over for the comforting warmth as she usually did, only to realize that that was what had felt so wrong. She opened her eyes and tears instantly filled them as they spied the un-slept in half of the bed. She struggled against the tears as she reached over and pulled the pillow that Legolas’ head usually rested on, into her arms. She buried her face into the fabric that still smelled of him, wandering how far away from her he was now, what he was doing, what he was thinking and feeling, knowing that he was missing her as much as she was missing him. But he was so much stronger than she was.

She almost fell back to sleep like that, l a l a gentle knock came to her door. She called that she would be there in a moment and pulled herself up, pulling Legolas’ robe from the end of the bed again and donning it once again instead of her own. When she finally answered the door, she was able to pull up a smile that wasn’t too forced, for the handmaiden, Naurwen. “*Good morning Naurwen.*”

Naurwen smiled, pleased to see that the small smiled on Ascadholiel wasn’t quite forced. “*Good morning Princess. I trust you slept well?*”

Ascadholiel nodded and stepped back to let Naurwen in. “*Well enough, but please, could you just call me Ascadholiel, or Asca?*”

Naurwen nodded, setting the towels she carried in her arms down on the end of the bed, before moving to tidy up said bed. “*As you wish it Lady Ascadholiel. Would you like to bathe this morn?*”

Ascadholiel nodded.

Naurwen smiled again and heading into the bathroom to prepare the bath for her temporary mistress.

Ascadholiel walked over to the wardrobe and opened it and chose a gown of a deep rose color with crimson lining. She was about to close the wardrobe again when the sleeve of a cream-colored robe caught her eye. Never turning her eyes she slowly set the rose gown onto a chair set by the wardrobe. She opened the other door to the wardrobe and looked at the clothing that Legolas had worn while he was there, hanging beside her own clothing as fitting a bonded couple.

Before she realized it she had dug her way into the clothing, tears pouring thickly down her face as she imagined and remembered each of them on that lean, beloved body. She muffled her sobs behind her hand and simply cried, not knowing why she was so emotional right now, but knowing full well the hurt of loneliness that was so close to breaking her heart.

This is how Naurwen found her when she came back into the room. She walked over and gently guided Ascadholiel away from the wardrobe and into the bathroom, giving her much needed support. “*There now Lady Ascadholiel. All is well. Try to calm yourself. You have a busy day ahead of you, and you do not wish Haldir to see you in such a disheveled state do you?*”

Ascadholiel laughed a little and wiped her eyes with the palms of her hands, smiling gratefully at the elleth. “*You are more than correct in that assumption. I don’t with to give Haldir anything to nit-pick about. Thank you Naurwen.*”

Naurwen smiled and helped Ascadholiel out of Legolas’ robe, hanging it on a hook in the corner while Ascadholiel slipped into the hot water with a sigh.

Ascadholiel washed swiftly then soaked for a few minuets, contemplating her schedule for the day and what she knew she could expect, mentally preparing herself. After a few more minuets, she climbed back out of the water and walked back into the bedroom, drying off as she went. She dressed in the rose-colored gown she had laid out and then sat in the chair in front of the mirror while Naurwen brushed her hair dry and braided it in a simple style to hold it out of her face, leaving off the crown of flowers this time.

Ascadholiel smiled in approval. “*Thank you.*”

Naurwen bowed her head, a smile on her own face as she stood behind the human, her hands resting lightly on her shoulders, knowing the human liked simple, gentle touch.

A knock came to the door then. Ascadholiel stood and turned to face the door as Naurwen opened it.

Rumil walked in and Ascadholiel walked the few short steps to him, smiling and coloring nicely as he kissed her hand yet again. “*Good morning Rumil. Is Orophin not with you?*”

Rumil smiled. “*Good morning Lady Ascadholiel. My brother Orophin left this morning for the border. It is our shift to patrol and we shall be away for a fortnight or so. I go to catch him up later this day, but for now, it is my pleasure to escort such a lovely lady like yourself to breakfast.*”

Ascadholiel playfully elbowed him in the side. “*Alright, enough flattery you sweet-talker. I’m red enough as it is and the gown doesn’t help much.*”

Rumil laughed as he escorted her out of the room, her arm tucked around his. “*Ah, but at least now you match!*” He teased her.

Ascadholiel playfully scowled at him, digging a knuckle into his arm with her free hand. “*You might want to be careful, or I shall make it a point to intentionally miss my target if I practice archery. Then it is no fault of mine if my arrow should hit you in the ass. Accidentally of course, since we all know I would never do anything like that.*”

Rumil laughed, the musical sound ringing out. He and Orophin had spent enough time around Ascadholiel and Legolas to know how playful they were around each other and some others, and how feisty she could be. He was also glad to see that she was coping well with Legolas’ absence, though there was of course still a sadness about her, but that was to be expected. “*Ah, then it is a good thing for me that I already know the Lady has forbidden you to practice archery for right now.*”

Ascadholiel turned a little serious for a moment. “*Yes, though I still can’t figure out why? Do you have any idea why she would forbid it, and only for ‘right now’?*”

Rumil looked thoughtful for a moment. “*No reason I can think of Lady Ascadholiel. Then again My Lady knows things that others do not and ever her mind has worked in odd ways. I do not even think my Lord Celeborn knows all the ways she works.*”

Ascadholiel nodded, it was as good an answer as any.

Rumil escorted her into the small dinning room she had been in the night before, and pulled her chair out for her, then kissed her hand again as she sat down. He bowed a little and she laid a hand lightly on his arm.

“*If you have a chance before you leave today, come and see me one more time so I can wish you well my friend. If I do not see you before then, then stay well, and tell Orophin my thoughts go with him for his safety as well.*”

Rumil smiled and nodded. “*Ai, that I shall my friend.*” Then he turned and walked out of the room.

Galadriel and Celeborn entered only a moment later and Ascadholiel stood to greet them. Once they all sat down, they ate, talking of light things, the whole conversation in Sindarin to give Ascadholiel more practice in it.

After the table had been cleared, Celeborn steepled his fingers against his lips again. “*Lady Ascadholiel, we’ve decided on your schedule now, to be followed each day. You will have breakfast with us, or wherever you like, followed by language and history studies with myself. Afterwards you will have weapons training with Haldir.*”

Ascadholiel bit off a groan at that, but kept listening as Celeborn continued.

“*Then you will have lunch and a chance to clean up and relax followed by lessons with my Lady on what will be expected of you as Princess of and elven realm, until evening meal. After that, the rest of day day will be yours to do with what you’d like. Is this acceptable Lady?*”

Ascadholiel smiled. “*You already know I don’t much like the idea of seeing Haldir every day if he’s going to persist in behaving the way he has thus far. I’m willing to give him another chance though and be civil to him if he reciprocates likewise. So yes, it is quite acceptable.*”

They all nodded and rose, Celeborn holding out his arm to Ascadholiel. “*Very well. Shall we begin then? I believe my study will do adequately. However, if there is a time that you wish to study outside, we may try that as well if the nature of the lesson and the weather permits it.*”

Ascadholiel smiled and nodded, taking Celeborn’s arm. “*I’d like that very much.*”

And so the routine went for a few months, variating every once in a while. Ascadholiel spent much of her time with Naurwen, Celeborn, and Galadriel, and also Rumil and Orophin when they returned. Haldir, she found, though a good teacher, was still a pain in the ass. Surprisingly though, she had learned a certain amount of patients from him. After all, it took quite a lot to put up with his comments and not let her anger get the better of her.

All in all, her classes were going well, and her days were kept too busy to think of the loneliness she felt without Legolas, though she never stopped thinking of he himself.

**********

A.N.: All right! And this chapter out not long after the other one! I’m proud of myself. Not much of an author’s note to this one really, just wanted to thank you all for reading and reviewing again and tell you to keep it up! Diola lle! Namaarie!

~Celesta Hellewise Harman