Alexa sat in a chair and smiled. She was actually excited about the festival. True, the festival itself did not excite her, but attending it with Haldir did. She smiled as she remembered the kiss. She did not know what made her kiss him, but she was glad that she did. She sighed. Sometimes it disturbed her how much she felt for him. Being vulnerable frightened her, and Haldir made her feel terribly vulnerable. What was it about him that affected her so? A simple smile from him made her heart pound. A kiss made her knees go weak. She sighed. Was love always so confusing? A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She rose and opened the door. She smiled slightly as she saw Lalaith standing outside.
“Hello, Lalaith,” Alexa greeted. “What brings you by?”
“Good day, Alexa. I have come to visit,” Lalaith replied.
“Oh,” Alexa said, mildly surprised. She did not have many female friends. In fact, Lalaith and Arwen were the only females she really even spoke to, and it was not very often that she did. Therefore, Lalaith coming by merely to visit was somewhat odd. “Come in, Lalaith,” she said and motioned Lalaith inside.
Lalaith entered the talan and turned as Alexa shut the door. “Please sit, Lalaith,” Alexa said and motioned to a chair near the door. Lalaith sat in the proffered chair, and Alexa took the chair opposite her.
Alexa studied Lalaith as she sat. Lalaith was a very lovely Elven maiden, with long blonde hair and gentle green eyes. She was one of the most gifted seamstresses in all of Lothlòrien, and she had always been very kind to Alexa.
“How are you, Alexa?” Lalaith asked.
“I am well. And you?” Alexa asked in return.
“I am well also.”
Alexa shifted uncomfortably. Could this be any more awkward? She did not know the first thing about female talk.
“I was passing by early this morning, and I saw Lord Haldir leaving,” Lalaith said casually.
~Ah,~ Alexa thought, as realization dawned upon her. ~She is curious about my relationship with Haldir.~ She frowned slightly. She was somewhat wary of discussing her relationship with Haldir with others, but she did wish to become friends with Lalaith. ~I cannot become her friend if I refuse to share with her.~ She sighed. “Yes. He asked me to accompany him to the festival.”
Lalaith smiled brightly. “That is wonderful! It will be good for the two of you to attend a common affair together.”
“I suppose so. However, I have never attended an event like this before. What exactly does it entail?”
Lalaith smiled warmly. “Well, there is feasting, singing, and dancing. It is a very enjoyable time.” She looked at Alexa. “Also, it is customary for the Elven women to wear gowns.” Lalaith was forced to suppress a smile at the look of pure horror that crossed Alexa’s face.
“A gown?” Alexa asked weakly. She hated gowns. For one, they were horribly uncomfortable, but more importantly, most were so revealing that they would fail to conceal her scars. She cringed inwardly as she remembered Haldir seeing the scars on her back this morning. She had never wanted him to see them, for they were horrid in appearance, and were a terrible reminder of her past. She stared at Lalaith. “Is it required?” she asked bleakly.
“It will be expected,” Lalaith answered gently.
Alexa sighed gloomily. ~I will do it for Haldir.~ “Very well, Lalaith. I will wear a gown,” Alexa ground out.
Lalaith smiled. “I will return in a few moments with several gowns for you to choose from.”
Alexa nodded weakly and Lalaith departed. She stood and nervously paced around the room. It seemed like only seconds passed before Lalaith returned with those accursed gowns. She followed Lalaith into the bedchamber and watched as Lalaith neatly laid several gowns on the bed.
“I am certain that one of these gowns will suit your tastes, Alexa.”
Alexa stared at the gowns as if they possessed some sort of disease. She slowly began examining them, and chose the third one that she picked up. It was fire-blue with a high back, and a neckline that would end just before her collarbone.
“This one will do,” Alexa said.
Lalaith stared at her in surprise. “Do you not wish to try it on?”
“No,” Alexa answered simply. ~It will conceal my scars, and that is all that I care about.~
“All right,” Lalaith said, smiling brightly. “I am sure it will look absolutely lovely on you.”
“Thank you,” Alexa mumbled softly.
Lalaith smiled. “I must be going.” She smiled gently. “Would you like me to come over and help you prepare the morning of the festival?”
Alexa stared at her. She really could use the help, especially with her hair. She had no idea how to arrange her hair into one of those immaculate styles that the other Elven maidens always wore. “Yes, I would appreciate your help,” she said as she fingered her hair.
Lalaith smiled. “I will be here early that morning. Namarie.”
Alexa nodded and Lalaith gave a slight wave and left.
Alexa sighed and stared at the gown on her bed. She shook her head in disgust. A gown. Of all things, a gown. She nervously ran her fingers through her hair. She must really love Haldir if she was going to wear a dress for him. She sighed heavily and fingered the gown. Blasted Elven customs!
* * *
Many bands of orcs had been passing dangerously near the Lothlòrien borders. Haldir sighed in dismay. A horrible sense of foreboding had been weighing heavily on his soul of late. He could sense darkness creeping into the world. A powerful darkness that could destroy the whole of Middle Earth. He glanced over at his two brothers, and could see that they felt the same as he.
As his eyes scanned the horizon, his mind began to wander to thoughts of Alexa. He sighed. He knew he should be focusing on the task at hand, but he could not seem to stop himself from thinking of her. He could not wait for the day of the festival, when he would see her again. He imagined how beautiful she would look wearing a gown. A gown! She would not know that she would be expected to wear one! He sighed and smiled slightly. ~It matters not. She will be beautiful in her normal clothing. I care not what she wears; only that she is there with me. That is all that is important.~ He would just have to glare menacingly at anyone who stared at her oddly, and he would have a few things to say to anyone who mentioned the fact that she was not wearing a gown. He smiled. The festival could not come soon enough.
