FIFTY By mid-afternoon a week later, Galdor and Cineas returned to Lorien. Elviondel, on watch with Fereveldir, stood on a limb looking out over the divide. He smiled and turned to his companion, who sat casually, eating a small piece of Lembas. “Galdor returns.” “Has Siddhir’s mother returned with him?” Fereveldir inquired. “Yes,” Elviondel replied. Fereveldir stood, and subsequently they both descended the Mallorn, bowing as the two regal elves approached. They bowed in return “I trust your visit to Rivendell was pleasant, my Lady?” Fereveldir inquired. Cineas smiled at him with sparkling azure eyes. “Quite, thank you. It was good to see Elrond again. It had been far too long.” Fereveldir nodded. “Very good, my Lady.” “You need not be so formal, Fereveldir. My name is Cineas. You may address me as such.” “Um, very well, my- Cineas.” Cineas chuckled. “My Siddhir gave me quite an accurate description of most everyone he was close to. He said you were by far the most formal one, and the peace keeper as well.” Fereveldir smiled. “He did?” Cineas winked. “He cared very much for you. Tell me, might you know where I can find Haldir? I would like to see him before going on to Caras Galadon.” “I believe he would be in his talan by now. We relieved him several hours ago,” Fereveldir answered. *“Hannon lle,”* [thank you] Cineas replied, nodding to the two sentinels along with Galdor. Then they strolled past the checkpoint deeper into the forest. Elviondel watched as they departed. “If it were not for Captain Tinion, I would certainly like to see more of *him.”* Fereveldir turned to him with a raised brow. “You are spending far too much time with Tinion. His voraciousness is rubbing off on you.” Elvinodel grinned. “What’s wrong with that?” Fereveldir laughed. “Forget it. You will never understand. I used to think Haldir had the most insatiable libido, but you and Tinion have long surpassed him.” Elviondel chuckled and scaled the Mallorn again. Shaking his head, Fereveldir followed. ******************************** They walked most of the way in silence, with Cineas taking particular delight in the luminescent glow of the towering Mallorns above and around them. Just before they would take the path that led to Caras Galadon and Haldir’s talan, Cineas stopped. “What is it, Cineas?” Galdor asked. “Haldir is… there,” she pointed to another path on the right. Galdor frowned. “But he resides straight ahead- and very close to Caras Galadon.” “Perhaps, but he is not there. I can feel his presence,” Cineas replied. “Very well then, but I think now it’s best if you lead.” Galdor replied with a grin. Cineas nodded. “We will go this way.” They took the path leading away from Caras Galadon and eventually came upon a row of talans located sparsely along one side of the road. After passing three of them, Cineas stopped again. “He is in there,” she whispered. Galdor stepped aside to let her climb first, and then he followed. When they were both on the landing, she knocked softly on the door. ********************************* “Where might you be off to in such a hurry, *pen-neth?”* [young one] Rumil looked up to see Tinion regarding him curiously from his talan above and smiled. “I am going to the practice fields to meet Oro and Legandir. Would you like to join us?” “I think not,” Tinion chuckled. “I have more than enough practice on a daily basis.” “How so?” Rumil asked, standing at the ladder’s edge. “Nevermind. I was jesting,” Tinion replied. Rumil grinned. “I see. Well, there is something I wish to speak with you about, but I will not be joking.” Concerned, Tinion descended swiftly to the ground. “What is it?” “I have decided that although we have agreed that it is best I not become seriously involved with you, it has not affected my desire to be with you regardless- even if it is only once,” Rumil answered, looking deep into Tinion’s large sapphire blue eyes. Tinion’s mouth dropped open, but he stayed silent. Rumil smiled. “Shall I say it again?” “No, I heard you quite well the first time. Rumil, I thought-” “No one need know, and I shall not tell anyone,” Rumil interjected. “I must go, so you need not answer now- but I *will* see you again. Ponder it.” Rumil turned and dashed away, leaving a stunned Tinion staring after him. The silver haired Elf exhaled sharply, wondering what he was going to do about the situation. He could not deny his attraction to the young sentinel- that was certain, but Rumil was Haldir’s brother. That made things quite precarious in his mind’s eye. Haldir was not somebody to be crossed, and he was not certain he even wanted to vaguely consider it. “Elbereth!” he whispered under his breath. “What taxes that delightful mind of yours, *nin bain?* [my beauty] Galdor asked with a bright smile from behind him. Tinion turned around. *“Mae Govannen.* [well met] I knew not that you had returned.” “As you can clearly see- I have. Only very recently in fact,” Galdor replied, gazing at him curiously. *“Lle maa quell,”* [you look good] Tinion said with an uneasy grin. “You look better,” Galdor answered, taking in Tinion’s entire body with a quick sweep of the eyes. *“Oio naa elealla alasse.”* [Ever thy sight is a joy] Tinion laughed. “You fool with me.” “I speak naught but the truth,” Galdor replied quickly. “But my time is short, *lirimaer.* [lovely one] Cineas is visiting with Haldir, and I left her with him so they might enjoy some privacy. I could have come to see you after I had escorted her back to Caras Galadon, but I could not wait to lay eyes upon you again- so I took this opportunity. There is much to do before I depart on the morrow, and I could not leave Lorien without seeing you.” “Good fortune such as this should not be wasted then,” Tinion answered with a seductive smile. He turned quickly and climbed the ladder back up to his talan. Galdor eagerly followed. ************************************* “This is not the talan you shared with Siddhir,” Cineas commented, looking around. Haldir looked at her. “No, it is not. This is the original talan that I shared with my brothers. Lady Galadriel presented the other talan to me after my promotion to Marchwarden. I met Siddhir shortly before. He was the only one that ever shared that talan with me, and I just could not - ” “Understood,” Cineas interjected, looking around again. “It is not very strong, but I feel his presence here too.” Haldir smiled, rose and retrieved Siddhir’s pillow from a drawer and then went to his desk and removed the letter from the book. He brought them back with him to the table. “I could not leave him entirely. He is still with me in a way.” Cineas grasped the pillow and placed it against her cheek. Haldir handed her the letter and took his seat again. He watched while Cineas carefully placed the pillow on the table in front of her and read it. When she was done, she smiled, handed Haldir back the letter and gazed into his eyes. “Have you ever doubted his love for you?” she asked. “Truly? Never,” Haldir returned. “I am quite certain he made it hard for you at times. He was wilful that way.” Haldir smiled. “Truth be told, it was that part of him that captured me so.” Cineas winked. “And that is why he adored challenging you at every possible turn.” Haldir chuckled. “I am certain.” They reminisced for quite some time before a knock fell on the door. “Enter,” Haldir called out. Cineas rose as Galdor stepped inside. “You are quite prompt, Galdor. I have always admired that about you.” Galdor smiled. “Far be it from me to do anything else, my Lady.” Cineas’ cerulean eyes sparkled. “I trust fair Tinion happy to see you?” Haldir chuckled when Galdor’s cheeks flushed pink. “Forgive me, *mellon.* [friend] I simply could not resist,” Cineas remarked with a twinkle in her eyes. “It is obvious where Siddhir obtained his playful side,” Haldir commented. Galdor smiled. “Never has a truer word been spoken.” “We will leave you now,” Cineas said, as she embraced Haldir. “I wanted to see you before I left tomorrow. I would like it very much if you would perhaps come for a visit one day soon?” “I will,” Haldir answered. Cineas released him, and looked deep into Haldir’s grey eyes. “Do as he says. He is right, you know.” “I will try,” Haldir replied softly. “Safe journey.” Cineas nodded and left with Galdor. Haldir placed the pillow back in the drawer, and the note back in the book. Smiling thoughtfully, he entered the bedroom, stretched himself across the bed, and closed his eyes. Siddhir’s smiling face flashed through his mind, and with a contented sigh, he drifted fast to sleep. ********************************** “Should we stop by and check on Hal?” Rumil asked as he, Orophin and Legandir left the practice fields. “Nay,” Orophin answered. “We should give him some time alone. He is most likely sleeping now anyway. He hasn’t slept much as of late and he definitely needs the rest.” “You’re probably right,” Rumil agreed hesitantly. Orophin smiled and placed an arm across Rumil’s shoulders. “Worry not. I am certain he is fine. If I thought otherwise, you wouldn’t have to ask me anything. I would just drag you right along.” Rumil nodded. “All right then, I will take your word- but I want to see him tomorrow. Now, last one to the talan is a musty old Orc.” Rumil took off running with Orophin and Legandir fast on his heels. *********************************** Later that evening, long after Orophin and Legandir had gone to sleep, Rumil slipped carefully and quietly out of bed. He froze in step when Orophin suddenly shifted to his side and mumbled something incomprehensible. Satisfied that his brother had settled in and was sleeping soundly again, he darted out of the talan. Rumil crept quietly along the dimly lit path; ready to slip quickly into the brush should anyone suddenly appear. To his good fortune, he saw no one and made it all the way to Tinion’s talan without being seen. He could feel his heart thumping in his chest as he climbed the ladder to the landing above. He stood at the door and listened for a moment, and then looked around; making certain there was no one else there before he knocked. Rumil smiled when he heard a loud thump immediately followed by a string of Elvish curses from the other side of the door and waited. Tinion pulled the door open with a look of pure annoyance on his face which suddenly transformed into pure surprise when he laid eyes on him. “Rumil?” Rumil grinned. “Yes, it is me. Are you alone? I have heard Galdor is about.” Blinking, Tinion’s brow furrowed. “Um, yes. I was sleeping. Is something wrong?” “Not at all. I have come for my answer,” Rumil responded matter of factly. “Answer? To what? I know not what you mean,” Tinion replied, standing back to rub the sleep from his eyes. Rumil stepped inside and closed the door. “No matter, I have decided for you.”