Celeborn's Nine - Riders of the Night

Author's note: And Haldir can't afford to get too mad at her with all the other males just looking for an opening. What's an elf to do when his jinn tiger is off looking for a balrog with a pack of wolves?
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Haldir was furious at Tiger and at himself for not waking up when she did. And now she was headed for who knows where with a pack of wolves that were being led by a pet. Putting as much emotion and energy into the summons, he called Tiger back. And just to be certain she responded to his summons, he grabbed his bow and brothers and took off on foot to find her. He was soon joined by Glorfindel and the other elves, just in case Tiger did find the balrog, which Glorfindel was praying she did not.

Because the going was treacherous, Melanippus and the Sakas stayed behind. Elves could move quickly on top of snow, and following Tiger's trail was pretty easy. Concentrating on calling Tiger to him, Haldir did not hear Glorfindel's remark the first time he said it.

"What?" he asked.

"This is not like her," Glorfindel repeated.

"She's fascinated with that wolf of Korolevacher's," Haldir growled. "All through dinner I could tell she wanted to 'play' with him."

"Play as in play, or play as in PLAY?" Glorfindel asked curiously.

Haldir growled something under his breath, his imagination way too active right now for any of Glorfindel's over active suggestions. Fortunately the Galadhrim were keeping their opinions to themselves. Staying on the trail for most of the day, he began to get really irritated with Tiger, convinced that she was ignoring him. Where was she?
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Tiger pressed herself as flat as she could against the barren ground. Most of the wolves were behind her, their eyes fixed on the two trolls that lumbered around the mouth of the cave, and they weren't even out of the forest. She could feel Master's summons, but she feared what would happen to the wolves if she left them with those cave trolls so close at hand.

"I think we made a mistake leaving mistress" Atawulfe said from his cover.

"I think so, too." Tiger agreed. "Maybe I can draw their attention away, and you can lead the others home."

"You know they will be mad at us," Atawulfe ruefully reminded her.

"It was a good idea," Tiger said. "If only they hadn't appeared."

"It was a bad idea," Atawulfe countered, wishing he were home.

Tiger cut her eyes towards him and decided he was right. Volk would have been a better companion on this adventure, but he was dead. Too bad. "You still need to grow up," she said wearily. "When I jump out, you lead them home."

"What about you?"

"If you see Master, lead him this way."

"I can do that," Atawulfe said.

Tiger was certain he could do that. She still liked him but could now see the error of her ways. Maybe in a few more months. Jumping from her cover, she roared and dashed forward, hoping she was far enough away from them to avoid......one of them picked up a sizable boulder and tossed it at her. She skidded and twisted as the second one threw an even larger rock. This was not good. Before she could get away, one of the trolls threw a rock so hard at her that when it made contact, she passed out. Not good, Tiger.
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Glorfindel was the first to see the wolves returning at breakneck speed. He also noted right away that Tiger was not with them. He at first they were going to run right past them, but Lorolevacher's pet slowed, circled them and acted as if he would go back the way he had just come.

"What choice do we have. He's the only one who knows where she is," he told the others, although Haldir looked as if he would as soon shoot the wolf as follow him. Which was probably why Atawulfe wasn't coming any closer.
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Tiger awoke to the sound of awful voices chattering and hissing while she hung by her legs from a pole. With her legs bound she had to stay in her tiger skin, but this was actually better as her tiger body was a lot tougher than any of her other forms. Looking around, she cringed at the sight of goblins preparing a fire while the trolls added fuel to it. This did not look good to Tiger.

Biding her time because she didn't know anything else to do, she took note of what was around her. Two trolls, big mean and ugly, and a dozen or so goblins, small mean and ugly. If they were going to kill and eat her, which she suspected was on their minds, she needed to find a way out. Then it was every tiger for herself.

Craning her neck up when no one was paying attention to her, she bit into the ropes that held her. She had to be quick, but then jinn tigers were very quick. But it wasn't quite good enough. Just as she freed her front paws, the goblins noticed her attempts at escape. They lunged at her as she swiped at the ropes that held her hind feet.

She did get free but not before a goblin sword pierced her skin. Screaming in rage she struck back at the creature, but this was one time Tiger needed to run, and the only trail she saw open was deeper into the cave.
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"I know you heard that," Orophin said as they approached the cave.

Picking up their speed, weapons at ready, Rumil said, "I hate caves. And the wolf is abnadoning us."

Haldir didn't care if the wolf left and never came back; he had heard Tiger's scream, the one she always made when she was mad and in trouble.

Glorfindel, moved more by caution than passion, heistated a moment at the mouth of the cave to see wht was there and then sprinted inside. He didn't see Tiger, but he did see a pair of cave trolls that were very much aware of him and the others. And goblins! He hated goblins! And it showed the way he waded into them, his blade biting into foul flesh as the Galadhrim took on the trolls. Haldir, hacking through the goblins, yelled for Tiger. As angry as he was over her escapade, he was equally afraid, and the goblins were the victims of his rage. He cut through them, impervious to their attempts to counter attack, his blade cutting a wide path through them as he made for the other tunnel. In the shifting light of the fire, he could see her paw prints. Leaving the fight behind, he took off after her.

A red light up ahead told him he was reaching the end of the tunnel, and at the end of it he found Tiger staring at a cavern so enormous it was lit by ancient fires that continuously boiled in the bowels of the earth. She looked up at him, fear and awe on her face, and not a little pain.

He pulled her to her feet, closed his mouth over hers and kissed her, kissed her until she melted against him, kissed her until she wanted to make love. And then he pushed her away. "I ought to give you to the Saka boy," he said angrily. She didn't say anything as he turned away and started back down the tunnel. "You better be behind me," he called over his shoulder.

Tiger, holding her side, followed a few steps and then looked back at the cavern. Had Master not seen the sleeping monster? Had he not seen it? He called again and she hurried after him.

Glorfindel met Haldir and Tiger in the tunnel and noticed that she was favoring her side. Ignorind Haldir's persistant scowl, he stopped her and asked, " ARe you all right?" Now Haldir stopped to see about her.
Tiger raised up her tunic to show Glorfindel where the goblin had stabbed her with the short sword. "It didn't go in deep," he said reassuringly with a smile for her, "but I have something that will make it feel better." Tiger watched Master as Glorfindel applied the salve to her wound. Master was not happy with her.

"You want to finish?" he snapped at Glorfindel.

"And leave this poor creature to your wrath?" the elf lord replied with a mocking smile. "If you have grown tired of her, I think I can persuaded to take her off your hands."

"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Haldir growled back at him.

"Of course I would," Glorfindel admitted without apology. "You know I think I liked you better when those demons were fighting over you. I felt pity for you....now I pity her." Glorfindel didn't duck quick enough this time. He suddenly found himself on the floor of the cave looking up at Haldir, who was clenching and unclenching his fist. Although it hurt his jaw considerably, Glorfindel was certain the other elf had heard him clearly.

"Come on Tiger."
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It was very late when they arrived back at the keep. Korolevacher immediately turned her pet into a man and started berading him for sneaking off in the middle of the night. Of course her scolding was nothing compared to Haldir's cold treatment of Tiger. He refused to say anything to her except to order her inside their tent, where, if she got out without his permission, he would carry out his threat. "And I don't want you talking to Glorfindel," he added harshly, his words also falling on the elf lord's ears. Glorfindel was prepared to teach the younger elf another lesson in manners when the twins stopped him with hands on his shoulders.

"Let him calm down," Elladan said thoughtfully. "I see fear in his eyes, also. A fight will only reinforce what he fears."
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Haldir did not enter his tent until it was almost morning, but when he did, he found Tiger asleep, her face stained with the tears she had silently cried. He felt remorse at having hurt her feelings, but........what was he to do?
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Himeros smiled.