Furthering Plans

Lawn
Here the stairway through the mellyrn meets the top of a mighty hill, opening out into the middle of a great lawn filled with blue and yellow flowers. At the center of the lawn stands a great shimmering fountain which falls into a basin of silver. From the basin flows a white stream of water out into a small brook, which then trickles away down the hill.

Further north there stands a mallorn tree of such magnificent height that it seems to reach even to the clouds. A path paved with white pebbles curves around the hilltop, leading west and east from the stairs.
Contents:
Haldir
Galadriel
Obvious exits:
 West leads to Royal Court Mallorn.
 East leads to Training Field.
 North leads to Near the Great Tree.
 Down the Stairs leads to Mallorn Stairway.

---------------------------------------------------------------- +ELF TIME ----
================== Eldarin Calendar ===================
IC time is:    Mid Afternoon < About  4:00 PM >
IC day is:     Orgaladhad
IC date is:    50 Iavas
Moon phase:    Full 
Earendil:      Gil-Estel is not visible.
IC year is:    Loa 25 o Yen 22, Nelandran o Endor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RL time:        Fri Apr 23 13:40:14 2010
=====================================================================
Calendar help: +ELF TIME HELP    Quenya version: +ELF TIME QUENYA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Haldir(#25231)] 
This is the very top of Lorien, all golden trees and green grass and delicate arrays of flowers. Thin rope bridges connect one tree to another, and in the tallest of them all, the grandest of telain might be found....

It is still warm in Lorien, although the mallorn leaves have turned to gold, and beyond Lothlorien, the land begins its annual withering. It is with similarly withering gaze that Haldir surveys the lower lands, wrapped in his cloak. He is waiting. Strangely, one hand is tucked protectively under the arm of the other.

[Galadriel(#19278)]
At the northern end of the lawn where the mammoth trunk of the Great Tree begins its ascension, a lingering guard brings himself to quick to attention. The Lady Galadriel has alighted upon the grass and she puts the warden to ease with a smile before continuing. Though at first her destination seems to be the stairs, she quickly notices the presence of Haldir and turns instead towards where he stands.

[Veredhiel(#22564)]
Standing nigh the marchwarden, is a second Elf. Shrouded in the uniform of shadow-grey, Veredhiel waits in silence, though from time to time she glances sidelong at the other. The arm that hides one of Haldir's hands from view is given a particular look. Concern perhaps?

Whatever the emotion is, it is turned brighter as the Lady approaches, and the sentinel bows lightly.

[Haldir(#25231)] 
"Lady Galadriel," says Haldir briefly in greeting, bending in a short bow. The hand -- from which a bandage might be unwinding -- stays securely hidden. "You will have heard that we returned. I have sent word to Lord Celeborn that the enemies that attempted to cross the river were ambushed successfully, and their rafts and supplies destroyed. However ..." the marchwarden takes a short breath, looking up at the Lady before he continues.

Galadriel nods only in response to Haldir's greeting. There is gladness in her to see both returned wardens, but she senses this is not the time for a joyous reunion. She may glance once at the Marchwarden's arm, but her attention remains conspicuously on his words. "However?" she replies quietly.

[Veredhiel(#22564)]
"...the yrch," Veredhiel speaks after the ellon pauses, "have been stranded upon our northern borders after their crafts burned and were ruined. It seems they are moving slowly westward, and," here she glances to Haldir again, "I have heard that they plan to head southward for the horse-lands." The sentinel comments naught on Haldir's efforts to conceal the bandaged hand.

[Haldir(#25231)] 
"That is so," agrees Haldir with the sentinel. His eyes flicker to the western horizon, where the sun hangs low. "Most disturbing was their meeting with a company of the mountain orcs. They seem to be traveling together, one as a guide for the other. I have posted a watch, but we wait to assail them a second time."

Galadriel does not answer immediately, but follows Haldir's gaze to the horizon for a moment. "Have they sought entry to the Wood? Do they suspect we are here?"

[Veredhiel(#22564)]
At the question, Veredhiel looks up. "I have not been near the fences recently, my Lady, so I do not know but I do not think they have attempted entry, as foolish as their ilk may be. They have sharp noses however, and may very well guess that we dwell here."

[Haldir(#25231)] 
To this Haldir adds, "They appear to be the ilk of Dol Guldur likely they have sensed a presence here, a danger. But Rohan, not Lorien seems to be the target of their travels. And if Moria should aid them, the trouble of the horse-lords will be great."

[Galadriel(#19278)]
At the mention of the tower to the East, Galadriel's eyes darken and, for a moment, she looks rather imposing. "Rohan is a long march for any sizeable force. There is time enough before I shall begin to worry for the safety of the horselords so let us not make premature attacks out of...haste..." Her voice trails off and she turns her head to look thoughtfully to the South. "If we cannot safely stop them without revealing our true nature, then we may be able to enlist some aid, and trap them between here and the Limlight."

[Veredhiel(#22564)]
"Trap them before they pass behond our reach," the second elleth gives a raven-haired nod. "But with the aid of whom?"

There is a quick look that is yielded to the marchwarden after she has asked this. "And, there is something more, my Lady..." The sentinel gives that hidden hand a stern expression.

[Haldir(#25231)] 
"There is help to be found in the deeps of Fangorn forest." Haldir looks to Veredhiel, then coughs hastily. "There is indeed one more matter. Although we shot at them, they retaliated with venomed arrows. Most of our archers seem to have escaped wounding, but it was a peculiar poison that was not seen before ..."

Galadriel simply extends her hand, palm up, towards Haldir, expectantly. "Poison?"

[Veredhiel(#22564)]
"The Marchwarden, I am afraid," explains the sentinel, "was not one of the lucky archers who returned unharmed from the poisoned orc-darts. I have made him promise that he will see a healer, but I think he has yet to do so." Haldir is given another lightly scolding glance.

[Haldir(#25231)] 
"Well..." Haldir sighs, stiffly unwinding the bandage and placing the affected hand upon that of the Noldo's. "Poison. It seems to have come from some monstrous creature." There is a cut over the back of his hand, open and oozing, and the surrounding flesh is cold and grey-tinged. "I ... cannot move the fingers. Other matters forbade me to seek attention, till now."

[Galadriel(#19278)]
Letting the wounded hand rest in her outstretched palm, Galadriel places her other hand on top of it, feeling the coolness and knitting her brow. She then traces the outline of the wound with one finger and shakes her head slightly. She looks up through her lashes at the Marchwarden, with a gentle reproach and says, "The field hospital is not just for looks, brother." She then lowers her eyes again and holds his hand wholly within both of hers. There is a warmth that emanates from her grasp and maybe a little tingling. When she releases it, the wound is not healed, but a little color has returned.

"Do not put that dirty bandage back on. I bid you go to the healing talan they will clean it and wrap it with a poultice. I don't suppose that any of the evil darts remain, so that we might investigate the poison?"

[Haldir(#25231)] 
Haldir looks away, and his shoulders fall from a tensed brace. "Thank you, my lady," he says, smiling gently (a smile?!). "I had not preserved any, but shall send to the northern border to see if any where left behind. Then I will send word -- may you be well."

Quietly, lowering his hand so that it is covered by his cloak, the marchwarden steps south.

[Galadriel(#19278)]
The Lady, forgetting her original purpose, seats herself on the edge of the fountain and turns a pensive gaze to the North.