Troubled Love

1) A "Royal" Welcome

The trip to Lothlórien was uneventful. Elladan and Elrohir had, against the distinct and troubled advice of their father, travelled alone. They had enjoyed the trip immensely, often singing loudly in the golden light of Anor and relishing each other’s company under the silver light of Ithil. They had keen senses; nothing would surprise them... they thought.

Two minutes after entering the Golden Wood of their grandparents, they were however rather surprised. The light of Anor was creeping into twilight, the glow of Ithil just a hint on the feathery clouds. They had been singing in low voices, but the silent reverie of the Lothlórien always stilled them, as it did now. But more abruptly than the twin brothers were used to.

Wearing hooded cloaks against the slight chill of the evening, they were not recognisable as elves. They looked merely as tall men, and with no one knowing them due to arrive, that was just what the Marchwarden of Lórien assumed them to be - spying mortals. Hearing their horses from far off, he had positioned himself and 3 other guards in the low-hanging branches crossing the narrow path. Before either twin could react to the low whistle, both were tackled from above. Landing heavily on the ground, the air was knocked out of their lungs and they were therefore, at first, unable to answer the Marchwarden’s low and menacing demand for identification, after being dragged up from the ground and held at arrowpoint.

The Marchwarden repeated his demand "Who are you that you so boldly enter the Golden Wood without first seeking permission?"

Panting for air, Elladan tried to respond, but his voice faltered. Elrohir, having regained his breath in the meantime, in return demanded, "Who are you that so brutishly attacks and threatens visitors in your forest without first asking for their identities?" His voice sounding equally menacing.

"I am the Guardian of this realm, marchwarden of Lórien, Haldir is my name" His arrogant voice found a likeness in his stance in front of the twins, his head held high. The light of Ithil was in his eyes and in his long carefully braided flaxen hair. He was a breathtaking sight to behold. Elrohir looked at his twin and smiled; Elladan's eyes were still entangled in the sight before him, but feeling the gaze of his brother he looked at him and smiled also.

"Haldir... Marchwarden of Lórien..." Elrohir mocked Haldir with his tone. Tilting his head, he continued,

"Then if you would be so kind, as to send word to our grandfather and grandmother that we have arrived safely at the borders of this realm."

Haldir smirked; he had seen the exchanged smiles and that tone of voice clearly indicated a higher standing, although the absence of an escort pointed towards a lower class. The voice itself with its rolling dialect was clearly elven, not human after all. "And who might those grandparents be, that they are not aware of company arriving at this late hour?" he asked.
They both removed their hoods.

"Well they are the *Lord* Celeborn and the *Lady* Galadriel, for we are Elladan and Elrohir, travelling from Rivendell, bringing tidings from our father, *Lord* Elrond." Elrohir was careful to stress the titles, the mockery not lost on Haldir.

Haldir lost his arrogant stance for only a second - the twins... and he had not recognised them. But he had also not seen them for almost fifty years, so it was no wonder that he had not been familiar with their voices. He had thought them to be only minor courtiers arriving for the upcoming Mereth Lasbelin, but this... this had been unforgivable.

With a hand over his heart, bowing low to the twins, he tilted his other hand slightly and the arrows were pulled back

"Greetings. I deeply apologise for the harsh welcome, Lord Elrohir and Lord Elladan, but our borders have of late been greatly troubled by both Man and Orc. We have been ordered to extra vigilance and care," As Haldir came elegantly out of the bow, he resumed his former stance. "We shall inform the Lady and the Lord of your arrival." He nodded slightly at the guard behind him and the guard disappeared silently into the forest. The other two guards retrieved the horses, standing patiently nearby, albeit slightly annoyed, to have been jumped on and scared like that. The guards handed the reigns to their commander.

"Your horses, My lords" Haldir held out the reigns to the twins. Accepting them, Elladan said
"Your apology is accepted, we shall not dwell on it any longer." As a mirror of each other, the twins mounted their horses. "Guardian, come, we shall ride back together. It is only befitting that you should protect us the rest of the way."

Haldir protested, "My Lord, my duty lies here with my men, our shift is not over as yet and the Forest is quite safe from here on"

Elladan insisted. "It shall be your only punishment for our harsh treatment" He looked sternly down at Haldir. "And no is not an acceptable response!".

Haldir protested again "My Lord, I..."

"No, Marchwarden of Lórien, you shall sit behind me." Offering his arm to the arrogant guardian, Elladan would not be rejected.

Haldir whistled and four more elves came onto the path. He turned to his brother. "Rúmil, you command this shift from now. I will be accompanying the Lords Elladan and Elrohir to Caras Galadhon. I will see you tomorrow." He took Elladan’s arm and mounted the horse behind him.

Riding at a light trot down the path, Elladan relished the feeling of the strong elf behind him. He could feel the muscles in the taut firm chest resting slightly against his back. Both arms Haldir held lightly on his own thighs, nonchalantly showing off his abilities in riding bareback. Elladan turned his head to Haldir.

"The guard has much improved since our last visit. I think you were not the Guardian then, were you?"

"No, Lord Elladan, I have only commanded the guard for seventeen years, since the last Marchwarden fell to the orcs."

"You have done well, Guardian; you can be proud of the skills of your men. We did not hear nor see you before you ehh... welcomed us."

"Lord Elladan, I can only repeat my sincere apology."

Elladan could almost feel the mental bow behind him. Looking forward, Elladan laughed out loud. Elrohir fell back next to them. "What is the jest you have told my brother to amuse him so much? Pray tell, for I wish to join the fun."

"Ah, Elrohir, it is but a jest on our fair and proud Guardian. He is mortally embarrassed at the way he tackled us."

Elrohir looked at Haldir "But brother, he did well. He should be as proud as he is fair. We were caught quite unaware, and that is not healthy for an Elf in these troubled times. You have opened our eyes, Haldir of Lórien. You must teach us your techniques, so we would be prepared, should we ever again enter this well guarded realm without notice" Elladan’s laugh had subsided but flared again at Elrohir’s words and was presently joined by Elrohir’s similar laugh. Haldir looked forward, keeping his head held high. They were mocking him. Surely they would tell the Lord and the Lady, and the punishment would be great.

"Ahh, Marchwarden, we are not mocking you, we are always making fun of people around us" Elrohir patted Haldir’s shoulder jovially as he saw his expression and rode ahead. Elladan’s laugh had again calmed to a mere chuckle, but it stopped when he sensed the tense body behind him. Cold emanated from the fair elf. He looked around again and caught the gaze of Haldir; a gaze almost too beautiful to behold but withdrawn and cold. Elladan quickly looked forward again in embarrassment. They had hurt him wrongly. Haldir should be proud of this feat. He had merely done his work, and very well indeed.

"I seem to recall that the youngest prince of Mirkwood, Legolas, is residing in the Wood presently, is that so?" Elladan asked in a polite tone to ease the tension.

"Yes he is, My Lord, but he is hunting tonight, so I do not think he will be able to greet you at your arrival." Haldir answered, equally politely.

"Hunting you say, hmm… what might he be hunting? Is it fowl, beast or elf, I wonder? Any is a possibility, though I think you would be right if it was the latter." Elladan chuckled to himself.
Haldir wondered

"Do you know Legolas of Mirkwood well, My Lord?"

Elladan turned again and looked at the fascinating creature behind him. "Oh yes, I know the Prince of Mirkwood very well," he said with a glint in his eyes, having been a hunted elf himself on occasion.

As they rode up to Caras Galadhon, they saw the rulers of the Golden Wood slowly descending the stairs around it. As Elladan halted, he felt Haldir pushing off the horse and dropping to the ground behind it. He himself dismounted, mourning the loss of his proximity and faced Haldir. The guardian had taken that arrogant stance again, facing the stairs, looking straight through Elladan. He looked as though cut from shining marble with ithildin as hair. A truly magnificent sight!

He stepped near Haldir "Guardian, we meant no offence by laughing hence; it was but a small jest. You did well. There shall be no further mention of this."

Elladan bowed his head slightly to the guardian and turned, not seeing the raised eyebrow and the flicker in Haldir’s ice-blue eyes.

Hand in hand, the twins ran up the stairs to greet their grandparents. The stern frowns on the faces of Galadriel and Celeborn were soon replaced by the small wrinkles of happiness and joy. Engulfed in embraces, the twins told what had taken place at the border.

Celeborn nodded and asked, "Do you wish for punishment, although I do not see a reason, you being so ... distracted as you often are?"

"No, Grandfather!" Elladan laughed,

"We have punished him already... severely".

"I see no sign of..." Celeborn looked quizzically at Haldir, standing as tall and proud as a statue of Gil-galad at the foot of the stairs.

"Aha... you mocked and teased him." He laughed out loud and looked at the twins. "A severe punishment indeed, since our Guardian is a very proud elf."

Motioning at Haldir he called, "Marchwarden, come!" Trying to put on a frown, but failing miserably, Celeborn smiled at Haldir as he stood before him. "You have done well Guardian. You are to be commended for your feat, for it is great indeed."

He took Elladan’s arm and held out his other arm to Haldir. "Come, I pray, and join our reunion. You must be hungry, having missed the evening meal with your fellow guards."

Haldir hesitantly took Celeborn's arm and walked up the stairs with them. Holding Elrohirs arm tightly Galadriel looked over her shoulder at the tall elf.

"Thank you, Haldir, for teaching our grandsons a much needed lesson in vigilance." She smiled warmly at Haldir.

Haldir relaxed, there would be no other punishment than the one already inflicted on his pride.