Live Journal FeedThe night was calm as usual in the Hidden Kingdom. The moon shone brightly as did the stars. The night found King Thingol sat on the edge of his bed. His shoulders tense with worry. Suddenly, he felt the soft hands of his wife knead into the taut muscles and he began to relax.
“Meleth nín, whatever is the matter?” asked Melian.
“Darkness is ever on the increase . . . sometimes I worry if our kingdom will survive it.”
“Dear, you have the protection of a Maia . . . by Girdle will always be able to protect this land.”
Thingol only sighed. “I know, meleth, I know . . .” But, still something in his heart unsettled him. “But it is not Morgoth I have a nagging feeling about, not this time . . .”
“I have sensed it, too, Elwë. I believe it has something to do with Lord Finrod and Lady Artanis. I have sensed something ominous since they directed their sights to Doriath. That is why I had Celeborn try and get the information out of her. I know something dreadful has happened in Valinor, I just wish I knew exactly what.”
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What had just happened in the practice room? The question would not leave Celeborn’s mind. He walked down the halls of Doriath without a thought of where he was going. Suddenly, he found himself about to walk into Queen Melian who had been coming down the same hall, toward her husband’s chambers.
“Celeborn, where is your head this evening?” she asked with an amused smile.
“I beg your pardon, my lady. Right now, I do not know where it is.”
Melian sighed, “Celeborn, you should know by now that it is futile to lie to a Maia.”
Celeborn’s face reddened. “I-I . . . was thinking about Artanis.”
Melian raised an interested eyebrow. “Really? Have you found out what she is hiding?”
“No, my lady.”
“Then I suggest you find her right now and have a nice long talk,” she gave his elbow a reassuring pat. Celeborn winced. Melian frowned and looked him over.
“You’ve had a sparring match recently with Lady Artanis.”
“How—?”
Melian deftly plucked a golden strand off his shoulder, then handed it to him with a smile.
“Good luck.” And with that, she continued down the hall.
Celeborn stood there for a moment, his eyes transfixed on the radiant strand that he held between his fingertips. He found himself wondering what it would be like to comb his fingers through the entire thing. A gentle grin tugged at his lips.
“Galad . . .” he whispered to himself then tucked the strand in the folds of his robe. (Radiance)
Fire was all about her, an elf with light hair and glowing eyes stood poised over another elf, a helmsman. The light haired elf’s sword was raised and then brought down.
Artanis started awake, he eyes refocusing on her surroundings. She had fallen asleep in the garden over her book and had a dream. Artanis shook her head and angrily wiped away the tears that threatened to fall.
“Artanis?”
The lady whipped around, startled. It was Lord Celeborn. Something in her stomach dropped.
“Good evening,” she managed to say coolly.
“Good evening,” he replied back, with a respectful nod of his head. Celeborn hesitated for a moment at the idea of approaching her. Even after their sparring match, she looked to him as one remarkably beautiful and untouchable, even for an elf.
“Are you just going to stand there and stare at me all evening, or did you have something you wished to say?” Artanis said irritably. What was wrong with this elf? A stray tear suddenly slipped down her cheek. Artanis gasped. The last thing she wanted Celeborn to see her as was vulnerable. The only man who had ever seen her thus was her brother, and seldom had he seen her thus.
“Lady Artanis!” Celeborn cried, with concern as he quickly moved to sit by her side on the stone bench. She immediately turned her face away from him. Celeborn swallowed nervously then reached out and gently placed a finger on the other side of her face, turning her gaze to him.
“Artanis,” he asked softly, “what is the matter?”
The lady opened her mouth and her gaze softened for a moment then, just as quickly, it hardened. Artanis sprang to her feet.
“It is none of your concern,” she said firmly. Celeborn stood up before Artanis and quite near her, too.
“I want to make it my concern.” The words had tumbled out of his mouth before he could have stopped them.
Artanis’ eyes widened for a moment, thorough surprise evident in them.
“I-I mean, I wish to make it my concern because I-I know that when something is troubling me, it relieves the burden by telling my trouble to someone.”
Artanis visibly relaxed, but her eyes held something . . . what was it? Disappointment, perhaps?
“Thank-you, my lord. But, no thank-you, I am fine. I do not need to ‘relieve the burden’ because there is no burden to be relieved.”
But, Celeborn would not be shaken off so easily. “Ah, but there is, my lady. Why will you not tell me? I only wish to help.”
“Because I am not willing to share personal stories with a man I hardly know! And who I know I do not hold any fondness for!” And with that she stormed out of the garden and back into the palace.
Celeborn was left standing alone and staring after her. He slowly reached into his robes and pulled out the glinting strand of Artanis’ hair.
“ . . . Riel . . .” (garlanded maiden)
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