He was having the most wonderful dream...
Soft hands were stroking him and soft lips were kissing him, as a gentle fall of curling auburn hair deliciously tickled his skin.
Auburn hair?!
No, wait...That was all wrong.
Haldir abruptly resurfaced from reverie and started to bring his hand over to his aching brow.
Only to find that he could not.
He came fully awake then, his body tensing with alarm as he found himself tied, spread-eagled, to the four posters of his bed. Drawing on his considerable strengh, he pulled against his bindings in an attempt to break them. But it was to no avail. The elven ropes had been tied with expert efficiency.
" Lesson One:"
A voice sounded off to his left and Haldir turned a furious gaze upon that auburn-haired, Mordor-spawn who was walking towards the bed, while doing a perfect immitation of his own tone during one of his lectures.
" Identify the source of the problem."
The wretched female climbed onto the bed, throwing one leg over his rigid form as she came to straddle him. Haldir's eyes widened impossibly and he opened his mouth to speak.
" If you do not get off this bed and untie me THIS INSTANT, I will see to it that... Mmmphhh... Mmmphhh!."
Annaien calmly finished adjusting the gag so it wedged securely in the irate Marchwarden's mouth, before continuing to speak.
" As I was saying... The source of my problem is that, even though I am fully qualified to become a member of the Galadrim Guard, I have maliciously been denied entrance because the Marchwarden..that being you..is an arrogant, intractable, thickheaded, stubborn, prejudiced, hardhearted, vengeful... Did I mention arrogant?..."
Annaien paused, tapping her finger on her chin as she pondered for a moment. Then, with a shrug, she continued.
" Well, just in case... Arrogant elf, who refuses to acknowledge that I would be a valuable addition to the defensive forces protecting the Golden Wood."
Haldir, incensed, began to struggle anew, causing her to settle more firmly upon his lap, which in turn caused him to suddently become perfectly still.
" Lesson Two:" She proceeded.
" Be ready to devise a creative solution once the source of the problem has been identified."
Annaien leaned back and folded her arms across her chest.
" So, knowing of your weakness for sweets, I had a batch of your favorites made and then added my own finishing touch in order to ensure that I would have your full attention during this little meeting."
Haldir shot her a look that could have felled a Troll.
" I would venture to say that, apart from my well-known skills with weapons and my equally well-known skills in the art of stealth, I have now also demostrated my ability in the two lessons just mentioned. So, for the last time, will you allow me to join the guard?."
She leaned down and removed the gag. Haldir looked at her for a long moment..
" No!!." He roared.
Her eyes darkened omminously. She climbed off his lap -none too gently- and began to walk out of the bedroom.
" Get back here and untie me, you little..."
" Tsk, tsk, such temper. One might almost mistake you for a human. Do not fret so, Marchwarden, I am sure someone will be along to free you... Eventually." She gave him a nasty smile, before dissapearing from sight.
Moments later, an unbelieving Haldir heard her exit the talan.
She had gone but a short way, when she met with Rumil and Orophin, who were walking up one of the many treetop paths.
" Annaien!." Rumil said, a pleased smile crossing his features. " What brings you to this part of the trees?. Have you, penchance, been to see Haldir, like I adviced?. If so, that would explain his being late for our meeting." He looked over at Orophin, then winked.
She graced them both with a look of deweyed innocence.
" I am afraid his lateness is, indeed, my fault. As you adviced, I thought to try and convince him, one last time, to allow me entrance to the guard."
" Did he again deny your request?." Orophin asked, sympathetically.
" Aye, but that was only as expected." She sighed. " Please convey to him my sincerest apologies for..tying up.. so much of his...time."
She gave the two elves a brilliant smile.
" I believe he might still be in his talan. And now, I really must be running off."
And then she did just that..
TBC...
" She is a rather peculiar female." Orophin remarked, as he watched her go down the path at a full run.
" Aye, she can be so at times. But it rather adds to her charm, do you not think?." Rumil said, smiling.
The two brothers resumed walking until they reached the door to Haldir's talan. With the kind of familiarity that only the Marchwarden's siblings could dare, they just let themselves in without knocking. Noticing the empty living area, the brothers walked over to the bedroom.
" Haldir!" Rumil called out. " We just ran into Annaien on the way here and she wanted to convey her sincerest apologies for having tied up so much of your..."
The two elves came to the open doorway and froze, as looks of absolute shock came over their faces.
"...time."
they looked at one another, blinked, then looked towards the bed, blinked again, then looked back at one another...
" WaaaaaaHahahahahahahahaha!!!."
The brothers threw their arms around each other's shoulders, while their other hands clamped tightly across their own stomachs as they doubled over, completely overcome.
" Apologize for..." Orophin snorted.
" Tying up so much of his..." Rumil choked.
" Time!." They gasped in unison.
" WAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!."
A voice that could have sent a Nazgul running for cover, spoke from the bed.
" If you two do not get over here and untie me RIGHT NOW, I will see to it that you both spend the next century standing guard over the barrack's outhouse!."
That seemed to sober the two siblings in a hurry and they rushed to undo their older brother's bonds. Haldir bounded off the bed and immediately began to put his boots back on, before stomping to the living area where he proceeded to strap on his knives and buckle up his sword. Rumil looked at him, worriedly.
" You are not going to punish her too severely, are you?." He asked in concern.
" I am not going to punish that half-human hellion at all." Haldir answered, the fires of Mordor burning in his eyes.
" I am going to kill her."
And with those words, he went out of the talan, slamming the door behind him.
" I think she might have pushed him too far this time." Rumil observed.
" Aye." Orophin agreed, solemmly. " I would say that Haldir has finally reached the end of his rope."
The two brothers whipped their heads to look at each other...
" WAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!."
" Where are you off to in such a hurry, pen-neth?."
Annaien came to an abrupt halt and executed what was arguably the most ungraceful bow ever given to the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood.
" My Lady, my Lord. I was..er..that is..I... I thought to perhaps find a place where I could enjoy some... solitude." She finished, lamely.
Her eyes involuntarily looked up into the Lady's, before she quickly dropped them, realizing her mistake.
But it was too late.
The Lady of Light had seen in that glance an image that would forever stay with her. She casually touched her fingers to her Lord's hand and Celeborn, who had been looking at Annaien with an indulgent smile, suddently went rigid as his eyes widened in shock at the mental picture his Lady had just sent him.
" The seeking of solitude can be a great way to ensure one's continued well-being." Galadriel said enigmatically, her sky-blue eyes twinkling mischievously.
" Indeed." Celeborn agreed, as he struggled to contain his twitching lips.
Annaien did not notice their reactions, as she had just spied Haldir making his way down one of the massive Mallorn trees and so had now become desperate to escape. Noticing where her glance was directed, Galadriel spoke again.
" There is a place, quite secret and most certaintly private, where my Lord Celeborn and I sometimes go when we are in need of solitude. I am sure it will serve your...needs."
Annaien struggled to look nonchalant, yet could not hide her pleading expression. So Galadriel, taking some measure of pity at the young female's distress, quickly told her the way to this secret place. The Lord and Lady watched, as the half-elven maiden they had raised since she had first come to them as a runaway urchin, sped off into the forest. Galadriel then sent a mental request to the thorn bushes that grew along the hidden path Annaien was following. It was a request the mischievous plants were all too happy to comply with, for the snagging of clothing was one of their favorite pastimes.
That done, the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood moved to intercept their Marchwarden..
TBC...