Killing Beauty

Author's note: Ada was no one special to anyone but Mara, but doesn't he remind you of someone?
And thanks for the lovely in put.
Oh, and yeah, I seem to have a little trouble remembering how to spell Elladan...sheesh..will edit.
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His kiss was strong and sweet, and she could not help but desire him. She reached for him with tears in her eyes...........Mara awoke suddenly. How could she possibly be dreaming of her ada that way? How dare she! But she must be missed him so terribly that her mind conjured up this dream to torment her for not going to his aide, for not leaving the fire and standing by him. If she had been there...maybe.

"Mara!" one of the twins barked loudly. It was Elladan. Elrohir was trying too hard to get on her good side to yell that coarsely.

"Coming," she said and climbed out of the hay. She knew she looked disheveled, but this was her bed. What did he expect?

"My grandmother wishes to meet you. She heard about your ada and wants to pay her respects." He paused and looked her over. "Perhaps a moment to put yourself together."

"Yes, thank-you," she replied and pulled a strand of hay out of her hair. "I will only need a few minutes."

Elladan waited while she changed into some fresh clothes in one of the empty stalls and did something with her hair. When she reappeared, she actually looked like a respectable young ellyth. He didn't know that it was her only dress.

Following him up the steps into the great tree, she found herself staring out over the woodland city in awe. It truely was a beautiful dream. A gentle stream flowed through the heart of it, and she could see swans gliding gracefully across the water. Lady Galadriel's swans. She could almost see them taking flight, their enormous wings beating the water with each downward stroke. She stopped. The image was too clear in her head. Had she been here as a small child and was only now remembering it?

"What's wrong?" Elladan asked.

"Nothing, my lord. My apologies," she said and resumed the climb behind him. For some reason an odd thought came to mind, one that was most silly. The fair folk hunted wolves, and although she had never seen one except in drawings, there being a lack of wolf activity about Rivendell, she suddenly imagined wolves in the trees. What would wolves being doing in the trees? She couldn't help but laugh, and kept the smile even when Elladan gave her his patented ' I see nothing funny here' look.

Lady Arwen was the first to greet her at Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel's great meeting chamber in the trees. "Did you sleep well?" she asked and led her off to the side where a small table with food and drink was set up. "I insisted," she explained and bid her sit. "When we found you missing last night, Elrohir told us that you had stayed in the stable."

"It seemed easier than trying to find you," Mara explained, aware of her hunger but not wanting to take anything until Lady Arwen started. It was not polite.

Arwen saw this and poured them some tea from a tall crystal kafter. It was still hot. And the food, once Mara started eating, wa delicious.

Lady Arwen's kindness was most appreciated. It was good to know that the nobles rcognized that her ada's sacrifice had made it possible for them to get here safely. Humbled by the great lady's kindness, Mara said, "I will do everything in my power to honor my ada's memory in your service."

Arwen smiled and then looked up; Lady Galadriel was arriving. Mara started to go down on one knee as she had seen her ada do on occassion, but she was in a dress and Lady Arwen was taking her hand and making her stand beside her. Mara now dared to look at the great elven queen and was taken back by her beauty and grace. None were as powerful as she, not even her consort Lord Celeborn.

Lady Galadriel smiled kindly and bid that she and Arwen sit again. That she would be joining them for some tea anyway. Allowing Arwen to pour her a cup, Galadriel kept her eyes on Mara and then said, "There were once wolves in my trees, and they hunted in my garden." Mara would have been surprised by the comment, but she had learned a long time ago that some elves were capable of reading minds. Lady Galadriel probably had to work hard at not reading minds.

"You never told me that," Arwen laughed. "How did you get wolves in the trees?"

"Remember when Valiel was abducted by the Os?"

"Oh, yes. It was horrible. Haldir got her back."

"Yes, but his companion on that adventure had a wolves that stayed here while she was gone. Friendly creatures, but I much prefer conies in my garden."

Mara, listening intently to the story, sipped at her tea and asked, "How did you get them out of the trees?"

"Ashva went away one fall and never returned," Galadriel replied quietly and sipped at her tea. "It took our Haldir a year to get over it. It is too quiet when Haldir is away or unhappy."

"Which reminds me," Arwen spoke up. "He's away?"

"I sent him to Minas Tirith. He should be back soon if nothing has delayed him."

Minas Tirith. Mara knew about that place because she had seen some of the Dunedin rangers that sometimes traveled with Elladan and Elrohir. Hard faced men with great bows and long lives. Lord Elrond allowed them into Rivendell because they were distant kin, although she did not know the entire story. Supposedly one from their group would one day reclaim the throne of Gondor and Arnor. Lord Elrond dismissed them as legends. He didn't believe men would ever rise to the greatness that they had once known in the second age.

"Is there danger to the wood from Minas Tirith?" Mara asked curiously.

Galadriel smiled again. "The steward is having a meeting of men. I thought it would not hurt to know what this meeting is about," she explained. "Our Haldir can blend in with men when he chooses."

Mara considered that a moment. Being able to blend in among men would be a good thing to know. But the rest of their converstation was over family matters that she had no business listening in on. It was not her place as Horse Master to be privy to family gossip. That was Erestor's job, and he did it better than anyone.

"I think we bore Mara now," Arwen observed.

"Oh, no, my lady, I was just thinking of Master Erestor," Mara replied truthfully. "And I was thinking I needed to see to my charges. It is a beautiful morning, perhaps you would enjoy a ride."

"Maybe later," Arwen replied, "but you are right. Do you need me to show you the way back?"

"I think I have it, my lady," Mara said and stood. Inclining her head at Lady Galadriel, her hand over her heart, she said, "My lady, I have enjoyed our meeting." Galadriel inclinded her head. Arwen waved her fingers.

Mara hurried back to the stable when the Galadhrim stable master was tending to his own wards. "I've already fed your animals," he called to her as she sprinted past him.

"Thank-you," she replied and slipped into the empty stall to put her riding clothes back on. "What is your name by the way?"

"Tallinin," he answered.

Emerging from the stall as he started bridling one of the gray horses, she asked, "Are you sadding him for someone or are you taking him out yourself?"

"I'm exercising him for Lord Celeborn. He gets sour if I don't let him stretch his legs."

"May I ride with you?" she asked.

"I'd love it," he said.

"Do you think the owner of the black would mind if I took him out again?" Mara asked.

"Again? You've already ridden that devil?" Tallinin asked in disbelief.

"He's not a devil. He was frightened. I think I've convinced him that all is well."

"You spoke to him?" Then remembering who her ada was, he smiled gently and said, "You must have inherited the gift from Lanir. He was a good friend. I will miss him."

Mara didn't want to be saddened again and repeated, "Do you think I could ride him again?"

"MIght as well. Orophin hasn't tried to ride him in ages."

Mara frowned. Who was this Orophin that he didn't take time to understand his horse. Retrieving his tack from Tallinin, she brought the stallion out of his stall and saddled him. Shortening the stirrups, she was ready to go when Tallinin was. This time they left the stable without the melodramatics of the previous night. And they rode past the twins who were talking to some of Galadhrim bowmen. Elrohir's eyes burned in her back as they passed.

Once on the trail in the forest, Tallinin let Lord Celeborn's mighty grey pick up his pace. The black stallion met him stride for stride. Mara, her reddish brown hair whipping out behind her, felt a great sense of joy as she and the auburn haired elf let the stallions have a little more of their heads. The black could not stand the grey getting in front of him, and the grey could not bear seeing the black beside him.

"Shall we let them warm their heels?" Tallinin yelled at her.

Mara answered by urging the black forward. The grey responded in kind and the two stallions soon had their long necks extended as they raced along the woodland trail. Coming to a stream, both stallions splashed through it sending the water flying. Confronted suddenly by a log, the grey sailed over it and never missed stride as he caught up with the black. Mara gazed back as Tallinin slapped his reins over the grey's whithers and pushed him forward. Suddenly the grey was in front of the black. Mara dropped low on his neck and urged him forward with brave words of encouragement. Finding another ounce of courage, the black surged forward. Side by side the two stallions pounded through the woods, and any elven eyes watching the wild race would not have been able to tell which stallion was the fastest.

Rounding the path they were suddenly confronted by three elves on the trail. Tallinin went left, up the bank and through the trees around them. Mara tried to do the same on the right, but a branch suddenly caught her across the middle and the next thing she knew the stallion was running out from under her. She remembered cursing herself just before she hit the ground.
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"Orophin, isn't that your horse?" Rumil asked in disbelief as the two riders came charging towards them. Tallinin cut up the bank and was able to slow the stallion without endangering himself, but the rider on Promise was suddenly caught by a branch and knocked off.

"That's him," Orophin said and rushed to the rider's aid. He wasn't moving. His younger brother joined him, but Haldir was tired of his travels and decided to just wait and see if he was needed.

Tallinin waved at the elf as he crossed the road and rode into the trees to see about the ellyth. "Is she all right?" he asked as he jumped out of the saddle.

"She?" Rumil asked as Orophin lifted her head and shoulders off the ground. "You let an ellyth ride that horse?"

"Breathe," Orophin told her as she tried to suck in air. "Breathe."

She was trying. She was trying! "Where's the black?" she finally gasped. "Is he all right?"

"He's fine," Tallinin said as they helped her to her feet. "I should have said watch out for branches."

Mara had to agree with him there. Unsteady on her feet after having the beath knocked out of her, she looked around for the stallion and saw him standing aways down the road. Seeing her outstretched hand, he started towards her. It was now she noticed the elf standing in the road. She fainted.