Title & Chapter Number: March Warden's Mouse 7/18
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings and all its characters are owned by Tolkien's estate. The story itself is owned by the author. No copyright infringement intended.
Warnings: Violence, Sex (!)
Betas: None
Cast: Haldir/ OC Het Romance
Timeline: Pre-LotR
Spoilers: None
Summary: Haldir has to protect the daughter of the Green-Elves, how far will he decide to take his interest in the maiden.
Notes: none
Chapter Seven: Departure
Tári reached her room, sliding inside with a sigh of relief. She had met no one on her way back. She closed her eyes, leaning on the door. What was she to do? Her face flushed red, remembering the feel of Haldir's body over hers. She was shoved abruptly out from the door when it was pushed open.
Aranel looked around the door in confusion. She sighed when she saw Tári standing in the middle of the room. "Well, there you are."
Tári frowned. "Where have you been? I have not seen hardly anything of you for two days!"
Aranel slid inside the room with a grumpy frown. "I've been around, you've been so busy with Haldir and Keliar." She sat down in a chair with a moan. "Tári! What am I to do! Orophin is leaving on watch. I don't want him to go."
Tári stared at her sister in annoyance. "He has his duties, Aranel. He can't stay here just because you want him to."
Aranel sniffed, "But Haldir likes you, maybe you can ask him to change his mind."
"I think not!" Tári shivered, he would probably laugh. She sat next to Aranel when she realized Aranel had not spoken again, but sat staring out the window sadly.
"Aranel, he will be back. What is wrong."
Aranel turned to Tári. "I don't know." She sighed, "I have always had lots of elves to choose from, Tári. But suddenly I find one that doesn't hover over me. He laughs at me Tári! I should be angry at him, and find someone else. But I can't!" she hid her face in her hands.
Tári hugged her. "Don't be sad. If the Valar will it, it will be." She flinched when a knock sounded at the door. She rose, hurrying to open it. "It looks like I am much in demand tonight."
Rúmil stood outside. He grinned sheepishly when Tári folded her arms over her chest.
"I thought perhaps Aranel was here?"
Tári began to deny it, but Aranel pushed her aside. She smiled softly at Rúmil. "Yes I am here."
Rúmil grinned offering his arm. "Since my brother has left I thoughy I might have a moment of your time."
Aranel grinned. She slid her arm through his, and winking at Tári, walked with him away from the talan.
Tári shut the door, shaking her head. Aranel would never learn. To play the two brothers against each other. She only hoped that they dealt with her fairly. She suspected Aranel might be the loser in that game.
~*~*~*~
Keliar reached Tathar's talan, and knocked lightly. He went in, shutting the door softly behind him. Tathar turned around from the small desk where he sat, and waved Keliar to the chair beside it.
"We leave tomorrow night, Keliar."
Keliar frowned. "I shall tell the maidens. They will need time to pack."
Tathar pushed away from the desk to stand, his hands folded behind his back. "They are not going, Keliar. They must stay here."
Keliar folded his arms over his chest, fingering his chin. "You have seen something my lord?" he frowned at Tathar's nod. "They will not want to stay."
Tathar scowled. "I know, but I must tell them, to say good-bye."
~*~*~*~
Haldir paused, his arm lifting from the parchment before him, setting the quill on the stand on his desk. He rose, and moved to the door, opening it before his guest had time to knock. He stepped back in surprise.
"My lord." He bowed, waving the Laiquendi lord inside.
Tathar entered, noting the neatness, and turned to face Haldir. They stood at almost the same height, and were similar in build. Grey eyes met brown ones frankly. Tathar smiled. "I have a favor to ask."
"Of course, my lord."Haldir motioned for him to sit, pouring the lord a goblet of wine. He picked up his own and sat once again at his desk. Tathar sipped the wine slowly.
"I am leaving tomorrow. And I am not taking my daughters, Haldir."
Haldir set down his goblet, leaning forward in surprise. "You have seen something of the future? Galadriel knows of this?"
Tathar rubbed his eyes. "Aye, she knows. I will not return, Haldir. How long we will survive the demons that plague our land I cannot say. Keliar will go with me, and may return here. I know I will not." The lord rose to pace again. "I tire of all this. I know what will be, Haldir. And I accept it, but my heart breaks because of what I must do now to my daughters." He turned back to Haldir, who stood up.
"I must leave them behind, and they will not want to stay. Aranel will be angry. I can handle that. It is Tári I am afraid for, Haldir." The Laiquendi frowned, his eyes distant with some memory. "She is a lot like her mother. She is loyal to the detriment of her own safety." He looked at Haldir, his eyes heavy with despair.
"She will try to follow. You must not let her leave Lothlórien. Whatever it takes, Haldir. She must remain here."
Haldir nodded, reaching out to shake the lord's hand. "She will not leave. You have my word."
~*~*~*~
Aranel ran to the door, shoving it open, and rushed inside. Shutting it quickly she leaned against it, breathing heavily. Tári sat up in the bed with a sigh.
"Aranel, for the love of the Valar, what is it now?" she had just lain down, hoping to contemplate her feelings for Haldir.
"I couldn't do it, Tári. I told Rúmil I was sorry, but I couldn't."
"Couldn't what?" Tári asked suspiciously.
Aranel sat on the bed with a sniff. "Kiss him. I couldn't stop comparing him to Orophin." She sighed heavily.
Tári groaned softly. "Aranel. What are you trying to say?" She slid up to lean against the headboard. Aranel glanced over to her, and rose off the bed.
"I am sorry. The last few days I have spent time with both Rúmil and Orophin. Both are so delightful. Rúmil makes me laugh every time. But it's Orophin who haunts my dreams, Tári." She laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She rolled over to stare at Tári. "Do you know what that's like? I can't rest at all, all I can think about is him!"
Tári shook her head laughing. Oh how familiar it all sounded. "Aranel, you never are like this!"
Aranel giggled, crawling to slide next to Tári on the bed, sitting with her against the headboard. "Do you feel that way too? I know you think of him a lot."
Tári sighed. Aranel could read her too easily sometimes. "Yes Aranel, my mind whirls as well." She giggled too, and they leaned close together, laughing.
~*~*~*~
Tathar stepped past the last stair, pausing for a moment in front of his daughter's room. The day had gone slowly, and soon they must leave. Keliar had already said his good-byes. Now he faced his own. He reached out to knock, but the door opened quickly.
Tári smiled. "Father, what are you doing here?"
Tathar smiled fondly. "How did you know it was me, or that I was even here? I stepped as quietly as I could."
Tári shrugged. "I sensed your presence. I think I am finally beginning to pick up on these Lórien elves too, except maybe Haldir!" She frowned at his name, but pushed it aside quickly.
Tathar hid his grin. His conversation last night with Haldir had eased his concerns about Tári and the Lórien elf. He stepped inside the talan. Aranel sat combing her hair. She turned when he entered.
Tathar smiled when Aranel rose, hugging him tightly. "Father, we have not seen much of you these past week. I miss you."
Tári sat down in Aranel's chair, watching them curiously. Tathar sighed, pushing Aranel away from him. Tári frowned.
Tathar knew she was becoming suspicious. I am sorry, I have been in meetings with Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. We have had much to discuss."
Tári curled her feet under her. "You have told her of your concerns? What did she say?"
"All Arda fights the same shadow, Tári. We, unfortunately, are a small nation, and a prime target. She did not know much more than what I had already assumed." He walked to the window, staring out.
Tári looked at Aranel with a worried frown, but Aranel was not paying attention. Aranel slid under her father's arm.
"We have had a nice time here. Do we go home?" Aranel asked reluctantly.
Tathar frowned. So soon? To be brought up so soon. He turned to Aranel, holding her shoulders. "I leave today."
Aranel frowned, but Tári sprang to her feet. "Today!"
"But we aren't even packed yet! Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Aranel whirled to the bed then froze. She turned slowly back to her father. "Only you?" Her face had grown white.
"You are both staying here." Tathar's gaze moved to Tári, the pain and despair darkening the brown depths.
"You are not coming back." Tári whispered in fear. She stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. Aranel stepped in front of her. Tári could see Aranel's reluctance to leave had vanished as her fears for their father's safety rushed forward.
"You can't go back without us! I will not stay here alone!" her voice began to rise alarmingly.
"Aranel, you won't be alone, you will have Tári." He groaned when Aranel scowled, her lips tightening in anger. He glanced over to his youngest, but her expression had become impassive. Not good.
He gripped Aranel's shoulders again. "I cannot allow you to come back, not with this war. I will not worry about you."
Aranel stepped back. "Worry? We belong with you, in our own home! How can you think to leave us here!" Her voice had risen to a shriek. The door opened and Orophin peeked inside.
"I am here. Ah! I see that I arrived just in time." The Lórien elf grinned, seeing Aranel's glare. He turned to look back at Tathar who nodded imperceptibly.
Orophin stepped inside and Aranel turned to him. "I thought you were on watch!" she frowned when Orophin grinned.
"It seems my orders were delayed. I've received new ones." He reached out to grip Aranel's arm. "Come, why don't we talk a walk? I have some questions I need answered."
Aranel pulled away, but could not remove her arm from Orophin's powerful grip. "No, I care not! I want to speak to my father!"
Orophin sighed, glancing at the Lord in apology. "You will excuse us." He grinned at Tári and Tathar, and grabbed Aranel, tossing her over his shoulder. The Laiquendi maiden shrieked in anger. Orophin bowed slightly, still gripping his burden and turned to the door. They could hear him speaking to her softly, but her shrieks of fury drowned out most of what he said.
Tári had grown quiet, but her eyes searched Tathar's when he turned to her. "You mean not to return for us."
Tathar stepped close to his daughter, gripping her shoulders. "I am sorry."
Tári pulled away from him, her face pale. "You cannot leave without me. I will follow you." Her chin rose when he smiled. He reached out to grip the defiant lift of her chin.
"You are so fierce in your loyalty. I needed to speak with you alone, Tári. I had asked Haldir to come for Aranel, but he suggested Orophin. He has gone to the border in his stead." Tathar grinned. "I have been impressed by the March Warden." He turned back to Tári, his face becoming drawn.
"I am leaving, Tári. When I have passed into the Halls of Mandos, I will need you to lead our people!"
Tári gasped. "Me!" She stared at her father. "I am not worthy of that position!"
Tathar laughed quietly. "Not worthy? Tári! You sit back quietly. You see what is around you. You are loyal to those you love. You are strong, aggressive when you need to be. You are everything your mother and I hoped you would become when we named you."
Tári's mouth opened, but no sound came out. She choked. "You had a vision of this day."
Tathar sighed. "Aye." He gripped her arms. "You will be their leader, they will need you. Find them, bring them back together."
Tári shrugged off his hands. "No! I can't. You're our leader. I will not let you go alone. Your vision is wrong! We can change the course of the future!"
Tathar hugged her fiercely. "Nay, nay Tári. You must face this, you must be strong. I cannot risk it. Aranel will not stay without you. You must stay behind. Keliar will return for you when he can."
Tári gripped her father's waist, but no tears would fall. She would not let them. He pushed her away, staring into her eyes.
"Haldir will not let you out of Lothlorien, I have given him that order. Do not test him, Tári. Do not follow me." He hugged her again, and spun on his heel, leaving her shaking and horrified.
Tári stared after her father, her chin rising in defiance. Determined, yes she was determined, and Haldir would not stop her.
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