Author's Notes: Now this is weird. If you've ever known me in real life, you know that two of my favorite characters of all time are Haldir and Faramir from Lord of The Rings. Seeing at how they butchered poor Haldir and Faramir's characters, and because I always wanted to write my poor silver-haired elf, I've decided to actually place this on my webpage ^_^. So I hope you enjoy this as much as I'm enjoying writing it. ^_^

~ The Authoress ~

Aryun Pendragon AKA Cat Marie

Quel esta, A'maelamin Mela en' coiamin

Scroll 1

“Open your eyes, a’mael.” My trembling fingers brushed across his pallid brow to move aside sweat-damped hair.

His silvery-blonde hair was matted with his red blood and the black of the Uruk-hai. The stubborn strands refused to be gently put behind his delicate tipped ear. The beautiful ivory skin was cold and clammy to my touch, and his eyelashes trembled lightly as they lay against his cheek.

Just the mere fact that his eyes were closed made me realize how badly off he was.

Estel stated that he must lie upon his right side so that he could breathe easier and not place any stress upon his back.

He was right, I suppose. After all, he was raised by Elrond and should know and understand that which he does.

I had not left his side since I found his chest still rising and falling weakly upon the ramparts. I had called Estel over, and between the two of us, managed to carry him into one of the secluded rooms away from all the noise.

Mithrandir helped us try to heal him as well.

I kept watch at his bedside from that moment on, gently stroking his cheek, whispering soft endearments, waiting for him to just open his beautiful eyes to gaze at me. I wanted him to know that I was here, waiting for him.

We met many, many years ago when he was but a child and I was of my majority.

My father was the March warden of Lórien, and I had inherited some of his duties when he was away on patrol. My mother I never saw much of, but was raised with the help of the Lady Galadriel.

The Lady dearly loved her Galadhrim, and the children of the Galadhrim were no exception. We received the Lady’s tutelage, as well as the Lord’s.

We never wanted for anything, and I enjoyed my learning.

Some of my favorite memories in my long years have been sitting at Lord Celeborn’s feet as he brushed my hair telling me tales of Dorath and what befell it.

The Lady requested me and so I came into her hands.

I am not sure which shocked me most, the fact that she had her hair down and was dressed less formal, or that she had three elflings within her grasp. The youngest was still small, barely able to walk. The oldest was just learning to walk, and his midnight blue eyes captivated me from the start.

Lady Galadriel held one child in one of her arms, while the one, the one who watched me, clung to her hand. Lord Celeborn held the middle child gently in his arms.

“My Lady?” I was confused.

“Vendea, I wish to introduce you to our new sons. The little one here is Rúmil. The one who my husband holds is called Orophin. This little one who clings to my hand is named Haldir.”

The eldest watched me intently, his long silvery hair hung in his face.

“What… what happened to their parents?"

“Their father had an unfortunate encounter with orcs, while their mother was ill and could not care of them properly, they being so young. She asked us to take them under our hand.”

I watched as Haldir let go of the Lady’s hand and toddled forward, holding his hand out to me.

While I dashed forward to stop a fall, I failed to notice the Lord and Lady’s soft, knowing smiles. I held out my arms and swept the little elfling up.

He watched me with those midnight eyes, his little right hand reaching up to touch my face. Haldir’s eyes closed as he placed his head on my shoulder, gently nodding off into sleep.

My hand gently cradled the back of his neck, holding him to me close.

I looked at the small thing within my arms, and I was afraid to speak for fear of waking him.

“He will sleep soundly,” the Lady… giggled? “He’s been waiting for you since he arrived.” She cradled the youngest, Rúmil, closer to her breast, gently stroking the soft golden hair.

I blinked. “I… waiting… for me?” I was thoroughly perplexed.

“Yes,” she smiled softly. “He’s been waiting for you. Quite patiently I might add.”

“But… why?”

She smiled and walked closer to me, her hand gently smoothing back Haldir’s hair. “Only he knows. He did not tell me.”

My hands pulled the little elf closer to me, finally resting upon his thin back. I turned my face to the Lady, my jade eyes still lit in confusion. “Lady… I… still do not understand. I mean… why did you send for me?”

“I am not as young as I used to be, nor is my husband.” She looked at me over Haldir’s head. “I want you to help us with them.”

“But why me, My Lady? My Lord?”

“Because he waited for you… and I would like to see the elflings happy… even if that means I take you off guard duty.” She smiled gently. “You have a way with little elflings. They seem to like you.”

“I… I do not know what to say, Lady.”

“Then say yes. You are not needed to guard Lórien’s borders at the moment.” She smiled again, and I knew I could never refuse the Lady anything.

My left hand gently brushed the elfling’s hair back, and I realized that I could grow to like them. I let my hand tangle in some of the soft silver locks, and I nodded. “I’ll help you out, Lady, although I believe it is just something to put these elflings and me together.” I smiled at her, my hands still holding the eldest close. “Of course, I do not mind that.”

She laughed, her voice like silvery water, and shook her head, smiling at her husband. She looked back towards me, and beckoned with a free finger. “Come, we shall take them to their room.”

I followed after them and I thought about the small elf I held. “My Lord?” I caught Lord Celeborn’s sleeve and he turned his head, silvery gold hair spilling over his shoulder.

“Hmn?”

“What about Celebrain?”

He paused for a second, and then continued walking. “She does not approve.”

I looked at the little elf in my arms. “But how could she not? They are so… innocent.” My fingertip traced the edge of Haldir’s ear, and he gave a little sigh, pushing his head closer to my neck while his little hand wrapped around one of my braids. “They seem so… sweet as well.”

Lord Celeborn sighed. “She does not realize that our hearts are large. She is still our daughter and will always be thus.” He shifted the middle elfling, Orophin, in his arms for a better grasp. “She can be… selfish.”

I nodded as well as I could, and the remainder of the trip was finished in silence.

We reached the Lord and Lady’s talan, and we slipped off into an adjacent room that was to be the younglings.

I watched the Lady lower little Rúmil to his new cradle, while the Lord lowered Orophin into the larger bed, gently tucking him in and covering him.

I felt loathe to let go of the little one within my arms, but finally after brushing a kiss along the crown of his head, I lowered him beside his brother. We watched as they both instantly curled around each other, seeking comfort with each other.

The Lady placed her hand upon my shoulder, squeezing it lightly as she took my arm and led me from the room.

“They are gentle and hurt little ones. I believe they expect us to pass them off to someone else. They seemed… jaded.”

Sighing, I turned to look at the Lady. “But we won’t, will we?”

Lord Celeborn looked at me with a sad smile. “No we will not. They deserve much more than what they have had.”

My foot steps led me back to the small room, and watched as the three slumbered peacefully. Haldir had curled his brother closer to him as if he were protecting Orophin.

I watched Haldir wake, rubbing one eye with his hand as he pulled out of his brother’s arms to take little Rúmil from his little bed.

Haldir smiled gently at his little brother before he walked back to the bed where Orophin held out his arms, and without delay, the three of them were snuggled up like a heap of puppies.

The Lady gently wrapped her arm around my shoulders, watching the three boys sleep far sounder than before.

“Come,” she whispered. “Do you wish to stay in your own talan or would you prefer to be closer to them? We can easily set up another room with no bother.”

I shook my head, my eyes still riveted to the young ones. “I’ll… head back to my talan and await adar. When… do you wish me back?”

I felt more than saw the Lady look to Lord Celeborn.

“At daybreak, if that will suit you,” Celeborn said softly.

Nodding, I turned around with a soft smile. “I am normally up before daybreak taking care of my weapons… so I will be here as requested.”

Lady Galadriel smiled, and gently turned me away from the little elflings sound asleep. Celeborn put his arms around my shoulder to give me a gentle hug as he always did.

“It will be nice to see you around daily instead of once every few days. I’ve missed your eager mind, Vendea.”

I smiled as I pulled back. “And I have missed your stories.”

He smiled gently and swatted at my back. “You had best go before Galadriel decides to keep you here.”

Nodding, I made my way down from their talan, and walked through Caras Galadhon to my much smaller talan that adjoined my father’s.

I sat down on the floor and closed my eyes. It seemed I had much to think about...