Chapter 18
Legolas sighed heavily after his talk with Celeborn, which apparently took precedence. Now. now he understood why. He had only two choices. Which would he choose? Everything was so complicated. He knew what he would do, has known it the moment Celeborn had informed him, but still, he did not relish it. A part of him was glad, another felt...guilty. He would not do it alone though. Certainly not. He would take Draco with him. He deserved that at least. Besides, with the boy's recent admittance to his authority he could not simply leave him here. Nor would he ever allow such things.
He was just worried about how Draco would react. He did not know much of the boy, though from what little he did know the child had been through a literal hell. He hoped the youth would not put up much a fight. Oh, how he desperately hoped this.
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Draco allowed his hands to trace the edges of the leaves, his blue eyes alight with wonder, watching as the golden edges shimmer. The forest was beautiful, Draco had seen nothing like it. Though, he supposed that was part of the wonder. He heard someone approaching behind him and he closed his eyes, allowing the forest senses to calm him. He smiled as he felt the forest about him. He knew that the person was not a threat, not at the moment, though that could easily change without reason, and in next to no time with little warning.
His father had never allowed him to be in the woods for very long, and when he was allowed it was not unaccompanied. Still, the few moments of uplifting freedom which he was rarely granted were not to be taken lightly, even if it was only for the cause of his father's benefit. He had always wondered why his father even allowed him in the wood behind their house of he disliked the idea of Draco going on it anyways. He was only allowed once a month, though at Hogwarts, he could do very little about him sneaking off into the Forbidden Forest. Not to mention, as long as he was careful, he would not be punished for it, and even if he had been caught and punished, Draco felt that the feeling of total relief and overwhelming serenity was worth the risk. Not that it mattered much, he was never caught.
Draco noted when the footfalls stopped, and he paused. He turned, leaning against the tree's trunk and drinking in the sight of the person before him. It was that person who had made the comment of him traumatizing the dwarf, not that he didn't deserve it, but still. Even Legolas said he deserved it. Besides, Draco was getting tired of that Dwarf saying insults all of the time. It was disrespectful, especially since Legolas is no mere elf, but a Prince.
"Hello, my name is Haldir, I am the Marchwarden of Lothlorien." Draco gazed at him, and Haldir felt the assessing eyes look into him, and seemingly through him, as though he were gathering some sort information he had no knowledge of.
"What is a Marchwarden?" ( pronounced MarchVæden-authornim) Draco asked, allowing his voice a slight lilt to show his curiosity. Haldir smiled, barely. The corner of his lips twitching upwards.
"I am the one who protects the forest, puts guard groups together to make their rounds in the forest. I am also the messenger for lady Galadreal and Lord Celeborn." Draco hummed, watching Haldir.
"You also seem to be friends with Prince Legolas," Draco said gently. Haldir's eyes widened imperceptibly.
"How did you figure that out," Draco sighed softly, allowing the tree to take all of his weight .
"Your tone when addressing him. It suggested stronger familiarity than that of a Prince to a Marchwarden. Logical conclusion, friend." Haldir would admit, the boy was observant.
"Ah, yes," Haldir paused a moment, before continuing. "I wished to speak with you, privately." Draco hesitated, thinking it over. Haldir did not press further, he knew to do so would not endear him to the other, but rather push him further away. Something which Haldir most certainly did not wish to do. To do so would cause...problems, lasted on. Problems which Haldir would much prefer to avoid.
"I do not trust you," Draco said simply. Haldir knew that, he expected it as well. Legolas had mentioned the boy found trust difficult, and it was a trust which would be hard won. He did hold some hope that the boy would allow him to speak privately despite that. It would seem this was not the case. Then again, if it were not the case, Draco would not allow them to be alone now. "But," Draco continued. "It is clear that you have the Prince's trust. Therefore, I shall abide by his judgement, deeming you worth of trust through his belief that you are trustworthy, until you give me reason to believe otherwise." Haldir hummed. The wording suggested Draco thought he would give him reason to not trust him, or perhaps otherwise. That he may at some point find himself worth of Draco's trust. "So, please, lead the way." Haldir smiled lightly, eyes bright.
"Thank you," Haldir said softly, slowly leading Draco further into the wood, and away from the communal area. Draco felt his body spike with the ever present anxiety, but he calmed himself. Legolas had reason to trust him, which meant he must have proved himself somehow to the Prince.
Haldir stopped before a tree, and Draco looked up. There was a platform above, he just needed a way to get up there. He glanced at Haldir barely a moment before simply jumping up into the branches, easily swinging his body from one tier to the other with no aids on. Haldir stood out he ground in shock. Definitely not what he was expecting the boy to do but he supposed that worked as well. He was so, at home among the trees it reminded him so sharply of the woodelves. It was though someone was trying to tell him something, and he was remaining ignorant and so they decided to stab him with the blade of reality to open his eyes.
Draco easily fit to the platform above, and waited for Haldir. He glanced about him, the place was pretty. Elegantly made as well. He had to admit, it was stunning.
When Haldir did finally make his way up, Draco say back down. He looked up at Haldir. "What should I call you by?" Draco asked softly. He was anxious, the elder had not given him a title to call him by. Haldir laughed lightly.
"You may call me whatever you see fit." Draco stared, not at all happy with that answer. "Legolas will be herw soon, though, and I wish to ask you a few questions before then." Draco bowed his head, showing his adherence to Haldir's wishes.
"Ask away, though I cannot say that I will answer them all." Haldir nodded understanding.
"I noticed you called Legolas 'my prince's earlier." Draco sighed.
"Yes, I did. I know Legolas had wished for me to call him such for weeks, but I refused. I rarely refuse the wishes of a superior, but I simply was unable to abide by his wishes at this time. He had not shown me he was worthy of it, not until Moria, but even then it was not intended."
"What happened in Moria?" Haldir asked gently. Draco laughed, as though he were mocking himself.
"I had told Gandalf that to go over the mountain was useless, he refused to believe me, and when I was proven right he decided upon going under instead. Contrary to my warnings, he went along that route anyways, heedless and refusing to listen to reason. We were stuck in Moria for a time before he managed to figure the correct path. I felt danger lurking, and coming ever nearer, so I spoke and told Legolas of my...misgivings. I knew it was unlikely that Gandalf would need my warnings, as he had refused to do so twice before, and therefore it was unlikely he would do so again. Legolas spoke to Gandalf, in lue of me. It was a risk which he took for my sake, had he and I been wrong, it would have been disastrous. Though we both felt the danger, it could not be denied, though I do not know if he felt the danger enough to call for Gandalf to leave, though when I said something of it, suggesting we do exactly that he wasted no time in doing so for my behalf.
"Upon the escape from the Mines, the goblins broke the barrier of the room where we were in previously. I called for Legolas to inform him, in my panicked state I addressed him as he had previously wished. I cannot explain why exactly it was I decided to do so in such a state of uncertainty, without thinking over it. However, after much contemplation over the matter, it became obvious to me that Legolas has long been deserving the address and it was my own fear which held back. The second time was more deliberate." Haldir nodded, understanding.
"Has Legolas explained to you what calling him the title means?" Draco laughed, His laugh echoing among the forest.
"No, he has not, however I am not ignorant. I know what addressing one with such titles mean." Haldir found it difficult to believe, after all, such a practice was kept by only the Elves, and long, long ago, the sibling Kin of the elves. For this boy to know of it without it being spoken, suggests he is an Elf, of a sort at least.
"Enlighten me," Haldir ordered. Draco smiled mysteriously , as though he knew Haldir's misgivings and delighted in them.
"By addressing one as such it gives them authority over you directly. Calling Prince Legolas exactly that, or your highness, has next to no affect. He cannot order me to do anything, cannot make demands of me, nothing, he can only ask. Yet by calling him my Prince or 'my' lord or even sire, would give him a pathway to do so. It means I recognize him as my own Prince or lord, or royalty, whichever you wish to think. It gives him the acceptance of such which he needs. After that, he is capable of giving me orders or commands which I shall have to follow, he is allowed to give any discipline or punishments for disobedience which he finds desirable or necessary. In essence I become subservient, to him. Those born within his territory have no such option, but those who are not a part of his lands do, I have made that choice Haldir there is no need to worry. I have no previous Lord to betray." Draco added a bit softer. "Not a willing Lord at least," he closed his eyes as he said it, refusing to let the tears fall. He opened them and looked to Haldir once more.
"Anything else you wish to know?" He asked softly.
"You have magic?" Draco was not surprised Haldir had noticed. He had...lost himself earlier after all.
"Yes,"
" May I see?" Draco looked at Haldir surprised. Yet still, he nodded once more. The elder had given him no reason to do anything but trust him, even worrying over him.
Draco closed his eyes, a small smile carving itself upon his face, as his fingers glowed once more with the smoky emerald colour, and when he opened his eyes the tale-tale green had made itself home over the typical soft crystalline, icy blue. Draco opened his palm, him and Haldir both watching as two smoky emerald sheaves began to weave between each other, in intricate patterns. With a blow of his breath, the smoke flew through the platform, in its place an elegantly created pine circlet. He smiled at the creation. Haldir stared in awe. This magic, this is magic which had not been felt in centuries upon centuries. Draco raised his eyes to Haldir.
"I believe," he said softly, catching Haldir's attention away from the woven beauty in his hand and back to himself. "That Prince Legolas has good reason to put his faith in you. Despite not knowing much of me, other than what His Highness spoke, you still worried over me." Draco lifted himself onto his knees now eye to eye with Haldir, who was sitting similarly. Draco looked deep into Haldir's eyes, His own like pools of sky, unable to draw himself from the swirling depth, Haldir allowed himself to be drawn in."I can see why he has placed his faith in you," Draco looked down to the intricate creation within his hands, and causing Haldir's eyes to be drawn helplessly to it as well. Draco leaned close to it, before whispering one word, accompanied once more with emerald smoke. "Draconis," the smoke entwined itself around Draco's wrist and extended to wrap itself around Haldir's own, before fading away, leaving naught but the circlet still within Draco's hand. Yet now, a set of golden state lay in the center. Little known to Haldir it was the constellation, the Dragon constellation of Draco's previous land. He moved forwards, and placed it upon Haldir's head. Kneeling down, he whispered to him in his ear. "You so have gained mine as well," before moving backwards.
Legolas came moments later, not even questioning what had happened. Haldir knew that the other had been there for a while, and had probably allowed Draco to do what he had wanted.