Underneath it all

CHAPTER 5 - THE ARTIST OF LORIEN

Finally I was at the bo of of Lothlorien. I felt like this journey had taken weeks, when in fact it had only taken one day and two nights. I took a deep breath and braced myself before entering the little path leading into the golden woods.

What was I to say? I came unannounced and alone. Surely Galadriel would be suspicious if not directly hostile. I paled; an angry lady of light was something I was not eager to see. I would just have to pray that she would be understanding and not shun me from her kingdom.

I must have been in deep thought, for I had not even noticed someone sneaking in on me. Suddenly felt the point of an arrow in my temple and it froze me on the spot

"Friend or foe?" the voice came from behind.

"Has anyone ever answered foe?" I answered irritated.

Then I heard giggles, and the little sharp point was removed from my skin. I spun around to look into the two innocent faces of Haldir's younger brothers. "Orophin, Rumil," I said, and a carefree giggle escaped my lips. "I should have known it to be you."

"Oh relax Legolas, nothing fun ever happens on these borders," Orophin chuckled. Rumil nodded in agreement. "At least we can jest with old friends and princelings from far away"

I rolled my eyes and laughed, "You have surely been bored."

The brothers nodded. "Aye indeed," Rumil said, "but that is not important now, let us take you to our brother, for I am sure he has missed you gre." ."

I nodded back, "Please do, for I have missed your brother much, and I desire to speak with him."

The brothers smiled and began to walk in front of the horse, showing me the secret way into the inner circle of the golden wood, the path to Caras Galadon.

Once in front of the large gates I dismounted the horse. Rumil turned to me and said, "Let me take your horse, you should go find Haldir." Orophin nodded in agreement. "Yes, and I will let the lord and lady know of your arrival."

"Is he to be found in his talan?" I asked with a stupid facial expression

Orophin rolled his eyes as Rumil giggled, "It seems he has taken up his old passion for painting."

"You will find him at his talan, throwing the canvas at your head," Orophin said and shrugged before he left towards the royal talan. Rumil then left for the stables with the poor exhausted pony

I turned in the direction of Haldir's talan. I smiled at the elves I passed on my way, and for the first time in many moons I felt like I had something to look forward to, something to believe inreacreached the talan, and climbed the rope ladder. Sure enough, as his brothers had said, Haldir stood with his back to me, painting what looked to be sunflowers.

"Haldir," I spoke softly while knocking on the wooden doorframe.

The Galadrim spun around to faced me. "Legolas! When did you arrive? Why was I not told you were coming?"

I laughed softly. "I did not know I was coming, and I have only just arrived a moment ago."

Haldir's face split in a large grin as he opened his arms, inviting me to hug him. "Come here."

I smiled brightly and welcomed his warm embrace. "I missed you more than you can imagine," I spoke into his shoulder.

The silver haired elf let go of me and looked me up and down. "Have you put on weight?"

"Haldir!" I chided as though I were an offended maiden, "What kind of a welcome is that?"

"But you have," Haldir stated childish, "I am sure of it."

I sighed. "Let us sit down and eaten Ien I will tell you why I am here," I offered, and the loud growl from my stomach helped me to get my will across.

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It was heaven to sit there on Haldir's talan, looking out over the golden wood, and finally having a full stomach. While we ate I told him everything that had happened the last three moons. And now he just sat there looking confused with his face furrowed in deep thought. Finally I said to him, "You have not spoken a word my friend, please say something."

The marchwarden just blinked and whispered, "Can I see?"

I stood up and lifted my tunic. The little swelling had gotten bigger, and it had begun to look like I had a tiny ball in my stomach, right under my navel. Haldir reached out a trembling hand and touched my belly. I had never seen Haldir tremble before, and it scared me. Haldir was a fortress, a place of recovery. Haldir was never afraid, never in doubt, yet his hands trembled when they laid flat on my skin. He slowly lifted his gaze to mine, "Who is the father?"

I let out a pained moan. "Honestly Haldir, I do not know…yet."

"Surely you must have some idea," Haldir mumbled and reluctantly removed his hand from my belly.

I sat down once more. "I do, but I am keeping that to myself," I said with a sad smile

Haldir paled. "What about that night at the lake?" he whispered.

I nodded in understanding. I had wanted to lie to Haldir, but how do you lie to a friend? "Yes my friend, it could be you."

"Galadriel's mirror," he stated and looked at me once more. "There you could see it, if the lady wills it."

I thought about it for some time, sipping at my hot tea and looking out over the golden woods. "Perhaps," I finally said, "but for now I just wish for peace."

Haldir took my hand in his and forced me to return his gaze again. "Will you stay here in my talan with me? I will take care of you until you decide on something," he said, smiling sincerely.

I smiled back and nodded. "I would love that Haldir."

And just as the situation was becoming awkward, the door slammed open and Rumil entered, followed closely by Orophin. "Ehm 'ello you two," Orophin said, sending Rumil into a fit of giggles.

Haldir removed his hands from mine. "What are you two dimwits doing here?" he chided, but couldn't help but smile.

"Being your chaperone," Rumil chuckled and Orophin smiled at me. "Seriously, we just wanted to come and spend some time with you two."

I shook my head in amusement. I had forgotten just how absolutely annoying Haldir's brothers could be. Having no brothers of my own, it seemed to me that these two had just adopted me. Haldir sighed and got up after two more cups for his brothers, while they sat down on the talan floor looking at me "So is it true?" Rumil finally said, which earned him an elbow in the side from Orophin. "What?! - I just asked a question," Rumil whined, and slapped Orophin's shoulder lightly.

I chuckled and turned my head to watch Haldir come back with the cups, sitting down on his chair. "Pretty cowbell you painted," Rumil said and reached for the cup.

"Cowbell?!" Haldir asked in shock.

"It is a sunflower. Can't you see that Rumil?" I said.

"Nay, it is two orange cats," Orophin stated matter-of-factly.

Haldir on the other hand blushed, "It is non of these." He turned his cup nervously, "It was supposed to be the two trees in Valinor."

"Then where is the silver tree?" I asked and raised a brow.

"Ehm, I thought it looked nicer with them both orange," Haldir said and took a sip of his tea.

Rumil suddenly spurted tea out of his nose as he had been trying to suppress a laugh for too long, "By the Valar Haldir, you cannot just paint both tree's orange, then it is not the trees of Valinor anymore, then its just two orange trees."

"Hush Rumil," Orophin said and laid his hand comfortingly on Haldir's knee, "If you paint several more, it will look like the golden wood in a sunset."

"Good idea," Rumil and I said in unison and looked at Haldir.

"Alright," Haldir said and smiled, slightly embarrassed

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Rumil and Orophin stayed for some time, chatting and laughing and generally making me feel at home. Once they left Haldir yawned and took the cups from the little table, I got up to help but he made a gesture to decline. I sat there looking at the sunset over the treetops. I felt home, however strange it might sound, I felt like I was welcome. I still missed Mirkwood; I felt I would miss it for the rest of my eternity.

I was shaken from my musings when Haldir gently shook my shoulder. "I have made the bed for you," he said softly handing me a nightshirt.

"You are too kind Haldir," I said accepting it and following the marchwarden inside.

I sat down on Haldir's soft bed. I could smell the fresh linen inviting me to lay in them. Haldir sat down in a chair next to the bed, and lit a candle before opening a book. "Are you not coming to bed Haldir?" I said and padded the mattress.

"I thought I would read a bit first," he said and smiled as he turned the pages, finding the passage where he had last left off.

I took off my boots and my tunic, sliding into the nightshirt before removing my leggings. "Please, would you stand up?" Haldir asked looking up from the book. I complied and stood up. "Turn around," he said, so I did. I stopped and looked at the silver haired elf "You will look amazingly beautiful once heavy with child," he mused and smiled before turning his gaze to the book once more. I just stood there completely baffled. I let my hands slide down and cup the little ball that was my belly. I smiled to myself. Perhaps this was not as disastrous as I had thought at first. Perhaps it would all work out. I shook my head at my own strange line of thoughts, before finally laying down in Haldir's bed.

I stretched lazily and yawned, "Will you read to me?"

"Of course" Haldir said and began to read out loud. I had never imagined this absolutely regal and ancient being to have this pleasant a voice for reading. Silly of me, he must have read thousands of stories to his brothers over the millennia. I felt myself drift off, listening to Haldir's voice.

Perhaps everything would be fine. Perhaps I would figure out a solution that even my father would be proud of.

-TBC-

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- This is beated by Steph. hugs to you my internet saviour :)
I want feedback - as always *smiles*


Az.