The Lesson of Dangle and Dance

Haldir picked his way down the path that led back to the banquet courtyard. After assuring Celeborn that he was indeed unharmed he had begrudgingly returned to Galadriel's talan to change his gown. A wine splattered gown did not add much to his queenly charade and despite his intention at making this a quick event he had spent a good forty minutes arranging and fluffing. He was beginning to scare himself.

Sweeping into the glade Haldir was more than a bit shocked to find it quite abandoned, only a few serving Elf's tidying the vacant tables. Hitching up his skirting Haldir managed to catch up with one of the servants before she too disappeared.


"You there,,,,,girl......" Haldir practically ran into the wide-eyed elf in his haste.

"Yes Milady....." replied the maid, quite shocked at seeing the Lady of Light hurdling across the clearing.

"Where have they gone?" Haldir lifted the nearby table cover and peeked underneath.

"My lady?" questioned the maid, eyeing Galadriel with more than a bit of trepidation.

"The guests!!!!!!! You know big blond Kingly fellow,,,,,,, about forty or fifty other assorted
Elves!!!" Haldir had quite lost his patience.

" Ohhhh, "replied the maid with a quivering smile. " King Thranduil and his son and......."

" Yesss yes.............that would be them....." muttered Haldir trying to hurry the girl along.

"They have all gone to the practice field for the evenings entertainment," offered the girl.

"Practice field?" questioned Haldir, parroting the elleths remark.

"Yes Milady....it is right down that pathway to the left" the nervous girl indicated in the direction of the archery clearing.

"By Elbereth's entrails I know where the bloody field is " shouted Haldir, now at quite a loss.

The young serving Elf gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

"I am sorry Lady Galadriel..." apologized the maid nodding her head in an attempt to dismiss herself.

Haldir had not been able to catch himself and now he had even managed to scare off the servants. This queening business was harder than it looked. He had to pull himself together.

"No, it is I who should apologize..." he demurred, laying a hand on the girls shoulder.

"I simply meant....What would take them to the practice area for entertainment?"

The girl smiled and breathed deeply, soothed by Haldir's attentions.

"King Thranduil has challenged Haldir to a contest of archery skill milady..."

Haldir stopped breathing, all the color draining from his already pale face.

" Orc balls!!!!" he shrieked picking up his dress and bolting towards the tourney field, leaving the gawking Elf in his wake. Galadriel was a fine Queen, could do wonders with water and a well, but the poor Elf could not hit the broad side of a barn door.

Galadriel was numb. Orophin and Rumil had been more than happy to go and fetch Haldir's bow and quiver and continued to dote upon her like a prize fighter before the match.

"Here ," offered Rumil shoving the four foot bow into Galadriel's hand. " I even restrung it for you brother, " Rumil waited for Haldir to acknowledge his gift.


Galadriel couldn't take her eyes of Prince Legolas as he readied himself for the contest. Every movement the Mirkwood Elf made was fluid and graceful. Every shot he took hit the center of the target without wavering. She was definitely in over her head.

"Haldir!" prodded Rumil, shoving his brother hard.

"Are you ready?"

Galadriel smiled weakly and turned towards the target and squinted. It seemed so very far away and so tiny. If only some other contest had been offered, perhaps weaving or or..... dancing or or...

A commotion form the crowd rescued Galadriel form her internal turmoil.

"But I must see to my champion..." Haldir's voice was heard above the laughter and wagering.

In a flurry of blue shining fabric, Haldir swished over towards where Orophin and Rumil wrier tending their brother.

"March Warden, " he purred, waving off the hovering Galadrhim with a flutter of his hand. " A word?"

Galadriel waited until they were just out of earshot before she grabbed Haldir by the arms.

"By the Valar, what am I going to do?" she whined, trying to keep her voice low.

Haldir quickly looked over his shoulder and ducked them both behind a tree.

"Now as I see it, " he began grabbing the bow from Galadriel and testing its tensure.

" There is no way you are going to be able to out shoot that Elf "

Galadriel grabbed the bow back and glared at Haldir as the crowd cheered yet another bulls-eye for Legolas.

"Brilliant deduction" she growled.

"But that doesn't mean we cant win" retorted Haldir with a smirk.

"I don't understand" whispered Galadriel licking her finger and rubbing a smudge off Haldir's' cheek.

"The March Warden smacked down her hand and took her by the wrists, " Do you trust me?"

" Haldir!!!" Rumils voice sounded in their direction.

"Galadriel do you trust me?" Haldir looked her straight in the eye.

"Yes" she breathed as Rumil turned the corner.

"They are ready Haldir, let us get this folly over with and get on to the celebration" Rumil bowed to Galadriel and grabbed Haldir by the forearm.

"Aim true, my champion." Haldir kissed Galadriel's hand as she was led away.

Celeborn stood at the center of the field, just ahead of the targets. Thranduil and a few of his attendants joined him as the tournament was called to star
Ha
Haldir wove his way through the assembled crowd until he took his place beside Thranduil once again. Though instead of avoiding the Kings lavscivious grin as he squeezed through to the front of the crowd, he returned the lustful stare and licked his lips provoacatively.
As expected the Mirkwood royal moved closer towards him taking the dangled bait without
hesitation.

" As Haldir represents the home realm of Lorien, he will have the first shot." Celeborn saluted his March Warden and then stepped back into the crowd to await the first arrow.


Galadriel stepped forward, her knees like jelly her hands shaking from the close scrutiny.. Rumil handed her an arrow and squeezed her forearm.

"Shoot well brother, " he offered, before leaning in to whisper. " You could out shoot that Mirkwood tart with your eyes closed, " With a final squeeze and slap on the shoulder, Rumil returned to his position.

Galadriel eyed the target and raised her bow. She had practiced with this weapon before so the weight was familiar, but she did not have much accuracy and that was what this contest was all about. Knocking the arrow, she anchored the string by her jaw, lining up her sight along the shaft. In the distance she could see Haldir watching her every move.

Trust him..... Really she didn't have much choice. He also had to trust her and he did, even with his reputation. Perhaps she should trust herself. Taking Rumil's advise she closed her eyes and steadied her hand. Not a sound except the whir of the arrow slicing the air was heard as Galadriel released her fingers.

Haldir held his breath as he saw Galadriel's fingers slip form the bowstring. In the blink of an eye the familar sound of an arrow hitting a target resounded in the glade. The crowd gave a collective gasp and he whirled around to see averivering arrow just to left of center. Though not a direct hit, it was certainly an admirable score.

Cheers erupted from the crowd a squealing giggle followed by the wrapping of many hands around her waist drew Galadriel to open her eyes. Many of the March Warden's harem pawed at her arms, offering up everything from kisses to disrobed undergarments and if it hadn't been for Rumil shooing off the groupies no doubt Galadriel would have drowned in their attentions.


Celeborn raised his arms in celebration and leaned over to give a somewhat shocked Galadriel a congratulatory kiss.

"Do not be so sure of your victory Lord Celeborn," purred Thranduil as too gave Galadriel a squeeze "My son has yet to shoot, and though your archer's skill is apparent, the winner has yet to be declared."

Celeborn sighed and signaled for Legolas to make his attempt.

Haldir watched the Mirkwood Prince as he stepped up to his mark. The youngster carried with him an air of confidence that would not be easily swayed, but what the March Warden was aiming to sway was something far less virtuous.

Thranduil leaned forward and whispered in Haldir's ear. " Now you will skill with a large weapon my dear Lady." Haldir froze and swallowed hard. It was now or never and he was determined top follow through with his plan no matter what.

"Impressive indeed Thranduil," he murmured backing slightly until his rear met with the swell of the royal robe serpent . " 'Tis not though, in my expert opinion, the size of the weapon that determines the victor, Meleth." Haldir moved his arse again, dangling the bait further. " But more the skill in wielding it." With a definite grimace Haldir reached behind him and to fondle the Mirkwood family treasure.

Legolas drew back his bowstring with ease, siting the target quickly. The crowd's murmuring silenced as all eyes trained upon the Mirkwood Prince. The sound of the tightening bow as he concentrated on the target was the only sound within the clearing.


" Ooohhhhhhhh yes.................." The tension was broken by Haldir's falsetto moans.

" Ohhhhhhhhhhh Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yes!!!!!!!!!!! " Haldir ran his hands over his chest accentuating every curve.

" Ohhhhhhhhhhhh Ohhhhhhh....... Ohh..................YES!!!!!!!"

Legolas' attention was momentarily drawn to his father's reddened face as Galadriel writhed in front of him. Without warning, his arrow loosed from the bow, sailing directly towards its goal and the undulating Queen.

With a hiss and a definite thud, the Mirkwood arrow hit the wooden target just shy of Galadriel's feathered shaft, eliciting a collective gasp from the gathered crowd.

Lorien was victorious.


Haldir immediately ceased his overacted throes of passion, much to Thanduil's dismay, and flashing the Mirkwood King a wicked smile, straightened his dress and gave a slack-jawwed Celeborn his arm.

"I believe, Meleth, that a celebration is in order," he announced as the March warden was hoisted upon Orophin's shoulders and carried out of the glade amid the cheers and congratulations of his fellow Galadrhim.


Much reveling took place that evening, and even Thranduil and Legolas managed to soon forget their disappointment. Food and drink was in abundance and many danced and sang into the night. So lost in their good cheer were Galadriel and Haldir that neither took the small cordial offered by a dark gypsy girl as any import. With a smile and a salute, each sampled the sweet and strangely familiar, nectar amid the laughter and swirling skirts of the party.


Silently Haldir crept down the corridor, the gift pinched tightly between his fingertips. Parting the curtains, he tiptoed into the room and placed the offering next to the sleeping figure.

The early morning sun was just beginning to paint the treetops when a scream shattered the dawn, sending birds and animals to skitter and fly.

Galadriel rolled over with a satisfied yawn and pulled the covers close to her chest as Celeborn raised up on an elbow awakened by the screech.

" By the Valar," he exclaimed looking about the room. "What was that?"

Galadriel grinned slyly and snuggled close to her husband.

"Just a spider Meleth, .........a BIG one!"


Outside the Lorien city borders a troupe of gypsy travelers made their way towards their next destination and amidst their numbers, an old woman winked and blew colored smoke into the morning mist.


FIN