Celeborn's Nine - Riders of the Night

Author's note: yeah, I think its time to share the wealth with another character, but Haldir and Tiger will still be very much a part of the story.
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Longma knew it was time for her to go home. Haldir was healing well, and except for a strong fear of being alone in small dark spaces, he seemed fine. Tiger pouted and showed Longma her tigerhand, as if a threat would make the dragonwitch stay an extra day, but it was time to go. She and Glorfindel were starting to snarl at each other, and since he was already home, she decided she ought to be the one to leave. He gave her a good-bye kiss that for a moment brought the dragons out, but even they couldn't keep her from walking up Celestial's tail, taking her seat and sending him skywards. Tiger and Dog waved good-bye until they couldn't see them anymore. Then Tiger and Dog went for a walk, Tiger explaining to a very dejected Dog the need for Longma to go back and check on her keep, but that Master promised they would see Celestial and Longma again.

Orophin, sitting on the river's bank, watched Tiger and Dog wander off and smiled. Longma and the Chine dragon were easy to get used to, and not seeing the great torquoise and blue beast in the river seemed somewhat sad. No, too strong a word, but he did miss them already. Rising to his feet, he went looking for Haldir, who had made his good-byes without following everyone to the river.

This was understandable. Haldir's skin was still wearing the marks of Armanea's quirt, and he really didn't want to wander too far from his abode. When the pain surfaced or his skin felt 'too tight', he or Tiger filled a deep tub with warm water and herbs and he soaked. That was the only way life was bearable right now.

And that was how Orophin found him, soaking in warm water staring out an open window at the beauty of Rivendell. "You all right?" Orophin asked curiously.

"I was just thinking," Haldir replied and set his elbows on the edge of the tub, drawing himself up higher.

"Something you can share?"

"It was nothing really specific, just pieces of thought. I would like to see Lothlorien again, visit the Hobbits since we have an open invitation.......and other things."

Orophin pulled up a chair, and they talked about things brothers talk about. And if anyone knew how to make Haldir laugh, it was Orophin who was almost as bad a gossip as Tiger and Celestial. He apparently knew where everyone's dirty laundry was kept and had been peeping in key holes, figuratively speaking of course.

Tiger, carrying Dog who was still in need of reassurance that they were going to see Longma and Celestial again, entered the room, set Dog down, and then threw herself on the floor beside the tub and stared up at Master, who cupped her face in his hand and smiled. "Dog still thinks he will not see Longma anymore?" he asked her gently.

"Dog wants to know when," she said and looked at her despondent pet. "I told Dog we don't know when."

Orophin creased his brows and caught Haldir's attention. He mouthed the words 'is she really talking to Dog?' Haldir smiled broadly and shook his head no. Tiger didn't want to admit she was suffering so she made Dog suffer. And Dog was very good at suffering. He was so overcome with grief that he had passed out under the table and only twitched when a fly settled on the end of his nose.

Tiger sighed heavily and gazed back up at her beautiful Master. His mouth was still sore, but he was getting better and Tiger would soon be able to kiss him again. Oh, she kissed him on the chin, the forehead, the cheek, his neck.....Master always made her stop. She sighed again. Then she looked up and out the window. She could hear voices that had been missing for weeks.

"Elrohir and Elladan are back," she announced and stood up.

Seeing that she was going to go and investigate, Haldir stood up and said, "Wait, and I'll go with you."

Tiger loved the sight of the water streaming off him. She just didn't like ugly red welts that still criss crossed his body.
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Celeborn was always glad to see his grandsons, and they seemed quite excited about the things they had seen on their ride and in all the confusion of welcome back, you won't believe what happened, and you should have seen what we saw, the word 'balrog' came out of Elladan's mouth.

"A balrog?" Glorfindel asked with a shiver as they ate an early supper together, all nine of the Celeborn's riders.

"Yes, but it was only whispered, as in fear," Elladan explained. "We did not actually see it."

"Good thing," Glorfindel said uncomfortably. "They do not go lightly."

"True, we should let it go," Elrohir said. "It's in a far off land anyway."

Celeborn raised his hand and stopped the conversation. "Where?"

"We are not certain," Elrohir said. "There is a place called th navel of the arda where a snake priestess tell the future."

"An oracle," Elladan further explained. "That is where we first heard of the balrog. Some people were there to ask the priestess if there was anyway to destroy it."

"And?" Celeborn urged them on.

"We didn't stay long enough to get the answer. I was hoping we would all go back and find out for ourselves."

Celeborn looked at Glorfindel, who looked uncomfortable. But the golden elf lord sighed deeply and said, "I suppose it has been quiet but for our Haldir's mishap."

"Then we ride?" Celeborn asked all at the table. All nodded, even Haldir.
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Aragorn looked at Tiger holding her little dog and then back at Celeborn with the question in his eyes. "You want Tiger to stay with us while you are away?" he asked hesitantly.

Tiger looked back with fear in her eyes. "Master?"

"No," Haldir said and stepped forward. "We were hoping the queen or one of her ladies would look after Dog for us while we are away."

He smiled as a dozen faces breathed a sigh of relief, most notably the king himself.

"And where are you going this time?" Gimli asked curiously as Tiger passed her little dog to the queen.

"To Hellenes first and then who knows where," Elrohir answered enthusiastically. "We are looking for a balrog."

Arwen saw the light in Aragorn's eyes and spoke up so there would be no mistaking her meaning. "Not this time." Aragorn looked surprised, but the expression on Arwen's face told him not to push it.

"Are you sure?" he asked hoping she would change her mind.

"Positive."