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The Snow of Caras Galadhon	By : kathmco Category: -Multi-Age > Het - Male/Female Views: 1850 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Title: The Snow of Caras Galadhon

Author: Emmess

Rating: R (NC17 in later chapters)

Summary: Haldir must confront the return of someone from his

past.

Genre: Romance, Haldir/OFC

Chapter One

Anor had not yet risen high enough in the sky to pierce the twilight of the forest floor, as the Galadhel threaded his way wearily through the mellyrn. Not in the best of moods, his replacement had been late - although said replacement had received an extra week of patrol for his tardiness. Finally finished with a month's turn at the fences, his thoughts were so centered on a warm hearth and a hot meal that he nearly missed the soft sound coming from the branches above his head - nearly, but not quite. Instantly alert to the possibility of danger, he froze in place. Each muscle tense, his ears strained listening for the sound again…his eyes darting among the leaves seeking any movement…even his skin alert to the slightest change in temperature…his hand silently sliding an arrow from his quiver.
The sound came again, and the Galadhel recognized it for what it was - an elfling's whimper of pain. Without hesitation, replacing the arrow in his quiver, he scaled the mallorn under which he had stood, as quickly and silently as smoke rising from a fire. Hidden among the thick golden leaves, imperceptible unless one already knew he was there, he gazed at the small form huddled on the wide branch before him.
A young elfling, knees bent and hugged by thin arms, sat trembling on the branch, her thick hair hanging free, although tangled and sprinkled with leaves and small twigs, covering her features. From the shudders that ran through her shoulders, as well as the soft sounds she made, the Galadhel knew she was weeping.
Purposely shifting his weight, rustling the leaves, the Galadhel gave away his position to the elfling. Huge pale blue eyes glistening with tears turned to stare at him, widening at the sight of the warrior perched on her limb. Just as quickly, her head returned to its original position, nestled on her knees, her trembling increasing with the knowledge of his presence.
" Lle anta amin tu?" he whispered, as his eyes scanned her for any visible injuries. "Pen neth…are you hurt?"
The elfling shook her head, but did not raise it again to look at him. Slowly, so as not to frighten her into a potential fall from the limb, the Galadhel inched his way out onto the branch, setting himself down close by, allowing his legs to hang free over the edge of the limb.
"I will not harm you, Pen neth. Tell me…why do you weep?" he asked gently.
A small voice came from within the tangled nest of hair that sheltered her face from him. "Are you going to push me?"
"Push you? Why would I wish to do something like that? This limb is very high off the ground, Pen neth…you would be injured!" he replied, raising his eyebrows at the question. Suddenly he paused, as understanding entered his mind. "Did someone push you, Pen neth? Is that why you weep?"
"Not today. Yesterday they pushed me into the bathing pond. It was very cold. I didn't like it."
"I would not like being pushed into a cold pond, either, Pen neth. Why did someone push you at all? Were you playing a game?"
"They always push me…or throw things at me. Or laugh at me…" she answered, the pain in her voice evident. "This morning they called me pen fern, and ran away from me."
"You seem very much alive to me."
"I am," she agreed in a most serious tone, wiping her nose with her sleeve, "but they screamed and ran away anyway."
The Galadhel was very careful not to allow a smile to turn his lips. "Why do they do such things?"
"They do not like me because I do not look like them. I want to be their friend, but they will not allow it. They say I am not of the Tree People, but my Adar says that I am…"

In the growing light of the morning, the Galadhel took in the paleness of her skin, so light it was nearly translucent. Her hair was most striking…not the silvery blonde of most of the Elves of Lorien, nor the golden blonde of the Wood Elves, nor the black of the Noldor…hers was the color of new fallen snow. So white that he could see the bluish shadows within it, like shelves of ice within the snow on the mountains, it fairly glowed in the new morning light.
"Of course you are, Pen neth…the Lord and Lady would not allow you to live here if you were not. You don't look any different than any other elfling to me…do these that tease you have two heads?"
A small smile lifted the corners of her mouth, as she shook her head at him. "No…that's silly! No one has two heads."
"Oh…they have three then?" he asked seriously, wishing to make the young one laugh.
She giggled, looking up at him, covering her mouth with both hands. "You are silly," she replied.
"Then I do not understand…they have one head…you have one head. And yet they tease you?"
Mutely she nodded. After a moment she whispered, "I wish someone would like me, but no one does."
"That is not true, Pen neth…I like you," he replied, not quite sure why the plight of this young one touched him, but suddenly feeling quite protective of her.
Shyly, she peeked up at him through the white strands of her hair, her eyes still glistening from her tears, "Will you be my friend?"
Smiling, he nodded. "I am called Haldir," he said, touching his broad chest with the palm of his hand. "What shall I call you, mellon min?"
"I am called Nefredil…but my Ada and Nana call me 'Nee."
"I am most pleased to meet you, Nee. Shall I escort you home now, mellon? Your Adar and Naneth may worry for you."
She nodded, reaching to wrap her thin arms around his neck, laying her small head on his broad shoulder. He smirked, realizing that she intended that he carry her down from their high perch. With the grace only one who had spent many centuries in the trees of the Golden Wood could possess, he descended quickly, alighting on the forest floor without making a sound. Following her whispered directions, he carried her home, setting her down outside the door to her parents' dwelling.
A silver haired Elleth flew out of the door, scooping the young one up into her arms, crushing her to her chest. "Nee! Where have you been? Your Ada is out scouring the Wood for you…" she admonished after assuring herself that the elfling was well. Turning to Haldir, she made a gesture of respect. "March Warden…thank you for seeing her home. I am sorry if she has caused you undo trouble…"
"No trouble," he replied, his gray eyes meeting hers as an understanding passed between them.
"Nee…go inside and fetch the March Warden a cup of water…he must be thirsty after carrying you all the way home," her mother instructed the young one, understanding that the Captain of the Guard wished to speak to her privately.
As soon as Nee had entered the dwelling, Haldir, in hushed tones said, "She was crying. She said something about the other young ones teasing her."
"Aye…she tries so hard to make friends with the others, but they refuse, choosing instead to tease and bully her…elflings can be so cruel at this age. My heart breaks for her each time she is rebuffed."
Haldir nodded, saying, "Try to keep a closer eye on her…I found her high in one of the mellyrn - had she fallen, she may very well have met with serious injury."
"Aye, Captain…and thank you again for seeing her home," the mother replied, as Nee walked out of the talan, carefully cradling a cup filled to the brim with sparkling water. As careful as the wee one was, water sloshed over the sides, leaving a trail all the way from inside of the dwelling.
A small smile tickled at the corners of Haldir's mouth as he accepted the offering from the young Elfling.
"This is Haldir, Nana. He's my friend, and he climbs trees, and he thinks some elflings have three heads," Nee chattered happily.
"I will take my leave now," Haldir interrupted, patting the Elfling on the head and returning the cup. "Mellon min…promise me you will stay out of the high branches…I would not like to see my new friend hurt."
"Aye, Haldir…I promise."
Nodding a farewell to both her and her mother, Haldir strode away, finally free to seek the warm hearth and hot meal that had been his original objective that morning. Oddly enough, he felt himself in a much better mood.
TBC…

Translations:

Lle anta amin tu?…do you need help?

Pen neth…young one

Pen firn…dead one

Mellon min…my friend
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The Snow of Caras Galadhon