Celeborn's Nine - Riders of the Night

Author's note: Haldir wouldn't be Haldir if he was always nice. And Tiger really wasn't hurt or allowed to suffer.
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Although the mountains lessened, they never really went away and the oracle the twins spoke of was in a small mountain range that ran north and south in Helles. Originally belonged to Mother Arda, an upstart god had killed her python and taken it for himself. The priestess was still called a pythoness, but her prophecies came from the god now.

Arriving at the holy complex, Celeborn stopped and looked around before deciding on their next plan of action. Humans were everywhere waiting for a chance to speak with the pythoness. Most of them were scraggly looking, unkempt and self absorbed. But there was one group of tents that showed their owners were wealthy. A young man, completely nude, with a warrior's long hair and body, stood watching them. His hair was the color of an autumn forest, red and brown with streaks of yellow. His beard was only starting to grow and framed a handsome mouth. When Celeborn looked at him, the young man refused to look away.

"That one is somebody," Glorfindel observed and let his eyes run in another direction least the young man proved dangerous. He had many at disposal, and they didn't want any trouble.

"He's coming this way," Elladan stated and turned his horse to face the oncoming man.

All the elves turned their horses towards him, but he offered a smile that showed how truely handsome he was. He spoke to them warmly, but the words were foreign to them.

Glorfindel smiled back at him and said, "I wish I understood him."

Tiger, shying from the man, acting as if she were afraid to look at him, whispered in Haldir's ear, "He said welcome."

Haldir looked around in amazement and said, "You understand him?"

"Yes."

"Tell him welcome back," Celeborn told her, actually seeing this as a blessing. The priestess of the oracle probably didn't speak any language that they knew. Now Tiger could speak for them.

Tiger, pressing herself close to Haldir's back, told the young man what Celeborn had told her. Delighted, the young man indicated they were welcome at his camp. Tiger translated.

Orophin, intrigued by this turn of events, leaned towards Tiger and asked, "How do you know this language?"

"First master spoke it," she answered distantly, her eyes following the young man back to his camp. "Will Hal-dear have to take his clothes off now?" she curiously asked him.

"No," Haldir answered as they rode slowly behind the young man. "Although, I am sure Glorfindel will probably find a way to get everything off." Tiger suddenly laughed. "What?" Haldir asked her.

"Glorfindel is too white to be naked," she answered.

The young man's name turned out to be Menelaus, younger brother of Prince Agememnon, heir to the great city of Mycanae. Menelaus, as the younger son, didn't have much to look forward to except earning a name for himself as a great warrior. His brother was trying to work out a deal with Tyndareus, the king of Sparta, to get one of his daughters as a wife. He was here at Delphi to find out if that was a good idea.

Tiger did the translating with her body safely hidden behind Master's. Every so often she would peek over his shoulder and stared at the young prince but would duck her head when he looked at her. Finally the prince spoke to her directly, and she answered him. He looked very impressed.

"What did he ask you?" Haldir asked curiously, puzzled by just how disturbed she was being in Menelaus's presence.

"Why did I fear him?"

"Why do you fear him?" Haldir asked.

"I do not fear him," she answered and looked up at Haldir's face, her eyes showing that she spoke the truth. Tiger simply did not care for the memories being around Menelaus aroused in her. Haldir did not know how to ask that question or he would have learned a lot about Tiger that he did not know. Like the name of her first master.

Menelaus offered them the shelter of his tents for their stay. It seems he had met elves once as a boy and they had saved him from a wild boar. He was forever in their debt and saw this as a way to repay elfkind for saving his life.

Elrohir and Elladan looked at each other and then at the young prince. "That was us," Elrohir said as Elladan nodded. "Should we tell him?"

"I think not," Elladan said. "Better he not recognize us."
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During the night after all had gone to sleep, Tiger rose from Haldir's side and went outside. Menelaus was there, the light of his divine ancestor shining in his eyes. The greatgrandson of the king of the gods, Tiger had recognized that in him. To see a mortal man with his beauty and the divine spark in his breast had disturbed her. She had seen it once before, so long ago the memory was little more than a nagging ache in her mind.

"Are your companions asleep?" Menelaus asked her kindly.

"Yes," Tiger said, careful to keep her distance.

Standing there, his arms folded across his breast, his body as lithe and graceful as a cat's, he cocked his head and asked, "Why do I disturb you?"

"You remind Tiger of first master," she answered softly.

"Who was your first master?" Menelaus asked.

"Prometheus."