Part Thirty-Three
Haldir of Lórien was in a supremely benevolent mood this morning. He was like to
attribute it entirely to his interactions with Legolas the previous night, but some part of his
mind whispered that his sense of peace had also to do with being in this place of healing.
He and Legolas had both fallen asleep in the early hours of the morning and had both
awakened fresh and rested despite the discomfort of sleeping on the ground in a
compromising position. Topping that off with a good breakfast made him more than eager
to perform any sort of task that Elrond wished, including hunting for a ghost.
He and the others of their split party were following Elrond deep into the wood. The Lord
of Imladris had a look of concentration on his face that no one dared disturb as he led
them, so they all spoke in hushed voices. Arwen and Erestor were arguing in whispers
over Haldir knew and cared not what. He watched Arwen from behind, noting that her
clothing appeared to have some grass stains.
Legolas was walking beside Haldir, smiling in a slightly idiotic (yet endearing) way that
reminded Haldir, for some reason, of Rúmil. He was humming the Ballad of Nimrodel
under his breath and Haldir wondered if he was even aware of doing so. Occasionally he
would bump into Haldir's side, and Haldir was convinced that he did it on purpose. He did
not mind. Had they not been on such a serious mission, he might have been more playful
himself.
Haldir thought about Lord Thranduil, who clearly knew what had passed between Haldir
and Legolas last night. The Elvenking of Mirkwood really was an odd fellow, he thought,
but Haldir was glad enough to have him approve the union between him and Legolas than
to disapprove it. Haldir would never have wanted to face Thranduil in battle. He
wondered if there was love between Celeborn and Thranduil the way that there was
between himself and Legolas.
Yes, he thought, he was in love with Legolas. He had never loved anyone else, from the
first moment he had laid eyes on the prince back in Mirkwood so long ago. When they
were separated again, he would love Legolas still. Haldir lifted his chin slightly. They were
immortal. They had all of eternity. If they had to spend hundreds of years apart, it would
make the reunions all the sweeter, would it not?
The thought was depressing, but Haldir could not bring himself to feel saddened just now.
He was far too exhilarated, almost to the point of restlessness. He wanted to run, but
Elrond was walking at a careful pace. He wanted to throw Legolas up against a tree and
love him until he could not walk. He wanted to sing.
Haldir knew he ought to be scouting the wood for signs of danger, or signs of Nimrodel,
but he could not bring himself to concentrate. There was such a feeling of safety here,
despite what had happened yesterday. He was far too distracted. Soon he found himself
humming the same tune which Legolas was carrying as well. Had he not thought that Lord
Elrond would have been egregiously offended, he would have sung it in full voice.
Legolas heard Haldir humming and hummed louder, looking at Haldir with twinkling blue
eyes. Haldir hummed back louder still, and Legolas began whispering the words to the
ballad. Haldir could not resist doing the same. Legolas drew in a deep breath and Haldir
knew he was about to burst forth with song as loud as crowing cock but before he could
loose a note, Erestor interrupted.
"Legolas," the advisor said sharply. "Do you come up here and walk with me a for a few
moments. I desire to hear news of Mirkwood."
"My father would be better prepared to give you news," Legolas said politely.
"Your father is not here, so I will make do with whatever you can tell me."
Legolas looked longingly at Haldir, and Haldir nodded that Legolas should join Erestor. It
was for the best, he thought, before they made fools of themselves and irritated Lord
Elrond besides. Arwen stopped for a moment and switched places with Legolas. She
smiled winningly at Haldir and it became clear instantly that Erestor's sudden desire to
hear news of Mirkwood came from her.
"What are you up to, Lady Minx?" Haldir asked teasingly.
Arwen laughed. "Me?"
"I have known you far too long that you should not be as a pane of glass to me, Arwen."
"I should say the same to you. What will Thranduil say about your scandalous behavior?"
"For some reason, he seems not to mind, perhaps even to approve," Haldir mused. "But
my behavior is not your concern, nor a suitable topic for us to discuss."
"Haldir--" Arwen said abruptly, "I am engaged to Rúmil."
"What?" Haldir stopped walking, causing Arwen to stop as well. The other three
continued ahead of them, unaware that they had fallen behind.
"It happened last night."
"What exactly happened last night? Can I not turn my back on Rúmil for one moment?"
Haldir said. He still could not believe what she had told him.
"The engagement. What did you think I meant?"
"Did he touch you?" Haldir growled.
Arwen put her hands on her lips and glared at him. "That is certainly none of your
business, Haldir. I thought you would support me in this, as a friend and as a loving
brother to Rúmil. Now I see that you are going to be just as bad as Erestor."
"Do you really think Rúmil is responsible enough to be a husband? He is barely two
thousand years old!"
"And many elves marry much, much younger. I am tired of being alone, Haldir."
"So you will take any male you can lay your hands on?"
"Perhaps I grew tired of waiting for you!"
"I never promised you anything, nor led you to believe anything, Arwen. Whatever you
may have seen in me you created for yourself. I have ever been your friend and ever told
you that I would be no more than that," Haldir said coldly.
"Do you not think I am good enough for Rúmil?"
"I think that the pair of you are exceedingly well matched," Haldir ground out. "Too well
matched. However, you must think of your station."
"So you do not think Rúmil is good enough for me, then?"
"Do not put words in my mouth."
"I can have my grandmother elevate him to a higher position," Arwen said. "How about
Marchwarden?"
Haldir stood there and stared at her for a moment. He was not the least bit threatened by
Arwen's claim, because he knew Galadriel better than the girl did herself, despite their
shared blood. She did all things in fairness and would not be swayed even by a family
member. However, it occurred to him that if Rúmil were the Marchwarden, he himself
would be freed from duty and be able to pursue other adventures. He would be free to go
back to Mirkwood with Legolas. Thranduil might assign him a position in the household,
did he ask for it. Rúmil would have to put aside his youthful foolishness in order to
perform the duties of Marchwarden, a challenge to which Haldir had no doubts that his
youngest brother could rise.
Haldir squashed down the foolish longing, the fantasy he was spinning in his own mind.
"Ask her to do so, then," he said simply.
The wind left Arwen's sails. Tears sprang into her blue-grey eyes. "Why, Haldir?" she
whispered. "Why can I not have this?"
"Do you truly love one another, I will not stand in your way," Haldir said.
Arwen threw herself into Haldir's arms and buried her face against his shoulder, sobbing
into his tunic. "I thought I loved him. Yet, I also thought I loved you, and that maybe I
still do. And then when I kissed Amroth--"
"You kissed Amroth?"
"Yes, when Rúmil and I were supposed to be on watch, but he fell asleep. Amroth came to
speak with me and it just happened." Arwen lifted her, head, her pale cheeks wet, but she
still clung to Haldir. He put his arms around her and stroked her hair soothingly.
"I thought Amroth had his eye on Orophin," Haldir said with a hint of irony in his tone.
"Having been king he may suit you far better than Rúmil, however."
"I knew when I kissed him that there was no passion…but when I kiss Rúmil, there is
nothing but passion."
"Then you should not wed him."
"I wish you would not be so logical," Arwen said irritably, but then she smiled.
Haldir lifted his thumb to gently rub away one of her tears. "It is a fault," he said.
"Erestor told me that Amroth lay with Orophin last night," Arwen whispered. "My father
saw them together."
Haldir froze. He looked at Arwen intently, but he knew she was not lying, and that if
Elrond had mentioned this to Erestor, then it would be true. A great sadness settled over
his heart, for he fully expected Amroth to leave Middle-earth once this adventure had
ended and they found the answers which they were seeking.
"I fear this can only end badly," Haldir said. "Would you consider, perhaps, marrying
Orophin instead? He would make a much better Marchwarden than Rúmil, I believe."
Arwen laughed. "You are brave, to make such a jest when I can see that this news stings
you."
"I do not wish to see either of my brothers in pain."
Arwen nodded as if she were considering what he said. "I will tell Rúmil--"
"Haldir!" The voice of Legolas cut through the wood, ringing off of the trees. The urgency
of his tone made Haldir reach for his sword.
"Come," he said letting go of Arwen. He hurried down the path in the direction that the
cry had come from.
"Legolas?" he called out as they reached a fork.
"This way!"
Haldir and Arwen ran to the left and reached a clearing seconds later. Arwen cried out as
she saw her father lying on the ground with Erestor kneeling beside him and Legolas
standing over him.
"What did you do to my father?" she shouted at Legolas.
"Nothing!" Legolas cried, sounding just as upset as Arwen. "We stepped into the clearing,
and all life left him."
"Do not exaggerate, Legolas," Erestor hissed. "He is only unconscious. It is as the prince
says. Elrond stepped into the clearing and fell. I cannot wake him."
"Yet it had no affect on either of you?" Haldir said, lifting as eyebrow and Arwen knelt
down beside Elrond. "This is odd indeed. Have you seen any sign of the cause? A
puncture from a serpent or an insect? An odd plant? A poisoned arrow?"
Erestor shook his head. "There is nothing, but I am examining him still."
"Legolas, help me look through the area. Search for anything suspicious or dangerous,"
Haldir commanded.
The two of them began to scan the surrounding area, but there was no sign of anything
that could have made Elrond fall to the ground unconscious, nor did Erestor see any
wound or injury on Elrond. Arwen tried in vain to wake him and was sobbing over him
now.
"What should we do, Haldir?" Legolas asked.
It came to him, then. "We should carry Lord Elrond out of that clearing!"
Together the four of them gently lifted Elrond up and carried him out of the small clearing
in the wood. They set him down on the forest floor, kneeling around him as Arwen
resumed trying to rouse him. A few moments later the Lord of Imladris came to, his
grey-green eyes opening and a frown immediately settling on his features. He sat up
slowly.
"Give him some water from your flagon, Legolas," said Haldir.
"It is filled with wine," Legolas said.
"You do take after your father, after all," Erestor said dryly.
"Who do you think filled this for me?"
"I will take the wine," Elrond said, his voice a thin whisper.
Arwen snatched Legolas' flagon and lifted it to her father's lips. Elrond took it from her
hand and drank deeply. After a moment, he handed it back to Legolas.
"My thanks, Legolas," he said, his voice regaining its normal timbre.
"What happened, my lord?" Erestor asked urgently. "What caused you to faint?"
"I believe I was struck unconscious by the force of a poor decision I made in the past,"
Elrond said slowly.
"What do you mean, Father?" Arwen asked.
"I had a vision."
"Of Nimrodel?" asked Legolas.
"Of course of Nimrodel," Arwen snapped at him. "What else?"
"Tell us what you saw, Lord Elrond," Erestor urged.
"I would speak of it in Amroth's presence," Elrond said. "We must fetch the others."
"I will go," said Legolas, standing up.
"Thank you," Elrond said.
Legolas looked at Haldir as if he needed permission from his lover to depart, so Haldir
nodded slightly. He watched Legolas dash off through the trees and wondered if their
quest was going to be resolved by the second day.
