Haldir sighed in the fresh water of a natural tank.
He watched the leaves of the trees above him, and that green reminded him of the undulating branches of the willow tree under which he had spent a night with Roswehn; huddled together like cats on Gandalf's cart, who had slept unaware beside them.
He kept reliving in his mind the moment when he laid down next to her. The sweetness of that memory could not abandon him.
"Once you used to sigh for me only, " Liriel said: she was a female Elf who, like Haldir, was enjoying a few hours of refreshment among the rocky springs. Although their skin was insensitive to cold and heat, the air had become heavy because of the summer heat, and even the creatures of Lórien were suffering.
Liriel and Haldir had just made love, but that time the blonde She-Elf had not been completely satisfied as usually happened.
"Did you hear me, Captain? I'm afraid I have not been at the forefront of your mind for quite a while, your heart is far from here." she continued, caressing his chest. "... you're very far from me."
"You mean I was not here a few moments ago?" Haldir smiled.
Liriel put her head on his shoulder. "You're always the best of lovers, but ... lately it's not with me that you're doing it, you think of someone else while you're in my arms, do not think I didn't notice."
Haldir did not answer. It was true.
Liriel was his friend and occasional lover for decades, but in the last month he had not been able to enjoy her company as he did before. There was always the face of the mortal girl in his mind.
"It's her, right?" the elf woman asked. "It's the human that Estel and I took care of the first day, when you brought her here."
"Liriel, stop it, do not talk about her." Haldir answered. "It's a favor that I ask you."
The girl looked in his eyes.
"No. I want to know what she did to steal your heart like this." She looked annoyed. "That thing bothered me.The mortal spent three days in your house, she kept you for herself.
I could never spend more than three hours in your bed."
"It was an order from Celeborn and Galadriel, you know, I had to watch over her. They thought she was dangerous, it was not my decision." Haldir explained tiredly. He could not stand Liriel's jealousy, they were not united in a relationship. She had no right to feel betrayed and to accuse him.
"Dangerous, yes ... dangerous for me, and she has succeeded in her purpose, I see." the elf woman retorted. "I can not figure out what you saw in her. She really did not look beautiful to me ... with those mud-colored hair and glassy eyes ..."
Haldir put his head on the edge of the tank and laughed. "Her hair was a wonderful brown color and her eyes were green like two river gems, please, Liriel." he caressed her waist. "Do not lose yourself in stupid competitions, you're different from her."
"Is she more beautiful than me?" the woman insisted. "Do you believe this?"
Females. Haldir thought. I wonder what Eru had in mind when he put them in this world.
"You're boring Liriel, that's enough." he said. But she was overwhelmed by jealousy, her blue eyes were sparkling with rage.
"That mortal..." she went on. "... had a skin as delicate and white as mine, or was it rough and scorched by the rays of the sun, like that of the human peasants in the fields?" She asked, showing her body so that he could admire the perfection of her shape. Liriel was as thin as a poppy stem compared to Roswehn.
"... her hair, smelled of wood and moss ... or did it have the fragrance of myrrh, like mine?" She asked again, waving the golden curls.
"... her lips, were soft like mine? And her voice, was melodious like mine? And from her mouth .... came out words as sweet as those I tell you ... or just impudence and criticism ? " she provoked him. "... I remember when she opened her eyes, as she was lying on the marble table of our healer...she immediately asked to have meat for food ... meat ... do you hear what I'm saying?"
Haldir laughed again. "Yes, typical of Roswehn, she was always hungry."
"And do you think it's funny?" Liriel asked him.
"I think you are funny. You are so ferociously jealous that you have forgotten the principle that regulates the life of us Elves." he answered, looking at her.
"What would it be, that a mortal woman is better than a hundred elven women?" She asked him ironically.
"No. That there is a beauty that goes beyond what the senses can perceive: the beauty of the soul." Haldir answered, taking her face in his hands. "Roswehn would never say such things about another woman, just to mortify her."
Liriel turned away from him, offended. "Certainly not, just because she would not have arguments."
"... and do you know what makes me angry? Roswehn believes that there is no malice, wickedness, nor stupid rivalries among us, and, with your behaviour, you are proving that she is wrong to consider Elves better than humans. That's why I can not love you. " He told her.
Liriel looked at him in silence for a moment. The Elves could not blush, otherwise her face would be purple with rage. She turned and slowly emerged from the water, letting Haldir contemplate every side of her naked, perfect body.
Then she turned to him. "Look at me, Captain, enjoy the view: because it's the last time you can do it." then she put on her clothes and began to climb the crystal steps that led to her house at the top of the trees.
Excellent. Now you are left without Love and without lover. Congratulations, Captain. A real triumph! Haldir thought, and then did not hold back a smile.
And I hope you're behaving properly, son of Oropher. Or this time I won't be afraid to go against a king.
🌹🌹🌹
"Haldir has been thoughtful for a while now, have you noticed?" Celeborn asked his wife. He looked at their Guardian from the terrace of their residence, he followed him with his eyes as he was heading towards the edge of the woods. "And he forgets his tasks."
"He is in love." Galadriel answered.
"Yes, he's suffering, why did you want him to take care of the human? You knew what could have happened to him...that girl will never leave his heart. " Celeborn said.
"If I had not decided so, the spirit of Regan and Morgoth would have completed their plan. His love and devotion to the girl pushed him to look for her, when they kidnapped her. " his wife retorted. "Someone's sacrifice was needed."
"Why are the Elves always those who have to sacrifice for the mistakes made by mortals?" asked Celeborn, annoyed.
"Because that's our duty." Galadriel answered. "To protect this Earth is our responsibility."
"They say the woman is in Eryn Galen, with Thranduil, I can hardly believe it." her husband commented.
"The mortal must be careful, she is now overwhelmed by doubts." the White Lady murmured. "She will become his son's mother."
Celeborn was stunned. "A half-elf at the court of Greenwood, the most conservative realm of Arda, I can not believe that Thranduil ..."
"... he does not know ... He did not expect it ... He did not think it was possible, normally the unions between Elves and Humans are sterile." Galadriel answered.
"He could abandon the woman, he could reject her and her half-blood son...she could return here." Celeborn reflected.
"Haldir would be very sorry, I guess." Galadriel said, with an imperceptible smile. "It's a special human, no doubt, even in Rivendell she has planted a seed."
"What does it mean?" asked Celeborn, who sometimes did not understand his wife's cryptic sentences.
"That she is attracted to Lindir. Elrond told me his concerns about it, and his advisor fears Thranduil's wrath." Galadriel looked at her husband. "The woman does not understand that we Elves can catch every single emotion, even the most hidden, that to the eyes of mortals would be imperceptible."
"These humans ... and if Thranduil found out? Haldir already told me that he seemed annoyed by the friendship between him and that Roswehn. " he asked.
"He will not show any mercy, if he feels betrayed. Thranduil has made an unimaginable effort to try to love again ... he will not forgive an offense to his pride." Galadriel answered. "His bloodline is certainly not the wisest and most moderate of Arda."
Celeborn preferred to ignore this last comment. Thranduil's blood was also his: they were distant cousins.
"You say that the mortal could bring war here, this time among elven realms?" Celeborn asked.
"No. Wars are not possible among us, but yes, she risks a lot if she does not put her human insincts aside ... She wanted to enter our world, now she has to accept our rules." Galadriel said.
And quickly.
Because he is on his way to Imladris now.