Lady of Battle

A Message


They walked at a quickened pace behind him. He was moving at a speed just shy of running and they were struggling to catch up to him. He had stridden past the archery students and had left the dismissal up to his brothers. They had hurriedly completed the task and had barely been able to catch up to Haldir.


"Brother!" Rumil called to him.

He continued as if he had heard nothing and quickened his pace. They stopped and looked at each other with confusion showing on their brows. They let him go and Rumil let out a small chuckle; for he was the one, with the folly nature. It would seem that he had gotten all the emotion and Haldir had gotten all the control. It had been on more than one occasion that Rumil had gotten himself in a tight situation and Orophin had went to great pains to keep their straight and conservative brother from learning of it. But, nonetheless, Haldir always found out and regarded his youngest brother as a slightly annoying presence.

Orophin having been born in between the others seemed to be well balance and had taken the role as mediator between the other two.

"Most unusual." Spoke Orophin.

They stood in the path trying to discern the events that had just taken place. Orophin was dumbfounded. Never had he seen his brother act so. He was very concerned and was unsure how to approach Haldir on this.

"He has always had an odd way." Rumil made this statement with a touch of sarcasm in his voice. He calmly turned and motioned for his brother to follow.
"Let us go back and see that the weapons are properly stowed away."

Orophin stood rooted. He was unsure whether he should confront his brother or ignore this new behavior. He had heard his brother these last nights and knew that he hadn't been sleeping well. He had already been considering bringing up that topic but was hesitant due to his brother's private ways. He knew his brother would not take kindly to Orophin's intrusion.

"Come brother. He has probably forgotten some trivial task. You know how obsessive he gets." Rumil started walking away speaking through more chuckles.

This was true. He had always taken even the slightest duties serious and found others who didn't, to be lazy; of course, this put Rumil at the top of his list. Rumil had always been more playful and when it came to motivation, Haldir had gotten it all.

"You are right, Rumil." Orophin decided to go and leave Haldir to his privacy. They headed toward the fields and Rumil reached over and smacked the back of Orophin's head, then quickly jetted ahead to avoid his older brother's retaliation. They ran ahead and disappeared into the trees.

Haldir stumbled into his quarters and began to remove his weapons and cloak. He walked to the mantel and knelt down on his knees. He rambled through his thoughts and he strained to regain himself in order to put there feelings back into order.

There were feelings he had never dealt with before. Of course, in the past, there had been a fondness toward elleths and there had been affection with a few, but never had there been this overwhelming need for any elf maiden. It was overpowering and he struggled to put it into perspective. He simply couldn't get her out of his mind.

Still on his knees, he leaned back, putting his weight on his feet and placed his hands on his hips. He let his head fall back and let out a large sigh. With his eyes closed he remembered the sight he had seen today; her hair flowing freely, her smooth motions, her strength and power, her grace and beauty - Her cries in the night. He opened his eyes and turned his head to look out his patio door. He leaned forward, up onto his hands and knees, so he could look higher up to her quarters.

Her quarters were quite far and much higher, than his own. He had wondered how her cries had escaped the ears of others who lived closer to her than he. It had been several times this moon cycle that he had heard her cries at night. He had not been able to sleep well at night because of it. He had walked out one night and upon discovery of who it was, had become infatuated with her. What had started out as a simple concern for whoever it was crying out, had turned into such curiosity for the lady seneschal that he had allowed himself to share in her troubled nights.

Up till now he had not realized he held these feelings for her. It was when he saw her wield a sword this day that he had felt his lungs whither. Maybe it was the fact that, she too, exhibited immense control of herself and this was obvious to him now that he knew she had troubled sleep.

It was the last night that he had heard her cry out that he had gained even more respect for her. When she had walked out onto her patio to enjoy the breezes and opened her gown. It was then that he had seen the scar. It ran from her left shoulder blade down her back, reaching farther than he had been able to see for she had not dropped her gown far enough. It had startled him so that he had lost control of his thoughts and allowed her to feel his presence.

He had wondered later that night, in his own quarters, how any elf could have survived such an injury. He had decided that she truly was a warrior to have lived through something so traumatic. And judging by her recent nights, it was evident that the scar was not the only thing she had suffered.

He slowly stood and walked to the bed. He had mentally exhausted himself and would recover quickly so he could return to his duties this day. This was not constructive and he felt anger at himself for allowing these silly notions to distract him. What had prompted such foolish inclinations from such an obedient and reliable servant of Lothlorien?

Suddenly, he remembered that he had heard the other elves whispering about and he knew the answer to the question.

‘She is being sought for courtship’

He had heard this and it had prompted his heart to race. It was not unusual for a lady to be offered courtship and it was not the usual practice of the elves of this realm to gossip so openly. But what probably had all the elves curious was who would consider themselves the equal of the Lady Brenauth. Who would be of the caliber to believe himself capable of besting her and becoming her master and husband? For, it had not been he.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


She was returning to her quarters. After she had completed her duties she had decided to walk in the forest for a while and consider the answer she would give this unexpected offer. A messenger had brought a letter to her from the Lady Galadriel.

It was a brief note from the lady telling Brenauth that a letter from the proposed suitor had arrived. It was a rolled parchment and on it was the seal of Rivendell. It was obviously from someone who resided in the Last Homely House and this alone quirked her interests. For whom does she know there? She had only ventured there twice in all her time and had only been witness to a scarce few of these elves when they visited.

She carefully unrolled the parchment. As she did she walked to the balcony and nervously began to read:


Melisalda,

I have waited an eternity for this time. And although it has been millennia, I request counsel with you upon my arrival in Caras Galadhon. Please consider this meeting; as I have much to discuss with you. I am convinced this will be a most memorable reunion as we once knew each other in what was once your true home, Gondolin.


Rivendell


She was numb. She stood at the railing and began to try and sort this out. She knew she was not the only one that still remained in middle earth; all the others having fled to the havens centuries ago. But the letter was addressed with her true name and only two in all of middle earth, her Lord and Lady, knew it.

Yet, she remained calm; her troubled expression being caused more by curiosity then distress. She did not dread this meeting. In fact, she welcomed it. She hadn't seen any of her fellow Gondolians since the turn of the first age and this was an unexpected pleasure....TBC