"Boe Bedich Len, Haldir?" From Fangorn Forest to Helm's Deep – Canto VI
by Chathol-linn © January 2003. As always, I am borrowing the world of JRR Tolkien whose work I love and respect, and I promise to return it unharmed.
- Tell us a story you never have told.
A story of Mortals and Elves of old!
Haldir was his name. His king, Celeborn.
His joy, the woodland of gold mallorn.
As a lad he hunted with his wolfhound.
As a man his true love he had just found.
His father was Silvan, his mother, Sindar.
His two-sided nature was oft at war.
He was a great warrior with arrow and blade.
Celeborn sent him to Théoden's aid:
"Thy Teleri heart longs hard for the Sea,
My kinsman. And so I shall release thee.
Once back from this battle you have my leave
To sail to the West, though sore we will grieve."
Now ten thousand soldiers of Saruman's horde
March toward Haldir and he draws his bright sword.
The wave of the battle sweeps in like a flood.
The stones of Helm's Deep are thirsty for blood.
The Elves slaughter hundreds as if they were one.
Then crash! goes the wall, and inward they come!
The bloodsong of battle sings loud to Haldir.
His heart knows no pity; his feä, no fear.
O Haldir! Thou heardst the call to the Keep.
O Haldir! What thought thee, that night in Helm's Deep?
When first thou didst realize an Elf can feel pain?
When next thou didst realize an Elf can be slain?
- So fought Haldir of the forest mallorn.
He died in the arms of Lord Aragorn.
Aragorn threw back his head and he howled.
The ghost of good Huan awakened and growled.
Galadriel Queen shed a silver tear,
Pleading, "Boe bedich len? O Haldir!"
NOTES –
1. "Boe bedich len?" "Must go thou?" (Sindarin). See http://www.elvish.org/gwaith/movie.htm, paragraph 21, Dreaming about Arwen AND http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/sindarin.htm#Heading19, 2nd person sg.
2. Huan was the wolfhound of the Valar that come to the aid of the Elves. JRR Tolkien, The Silmarillion, Of Beren and Luthien.
3. Thanks are due to D. at henneth-annun.net. She knows why! - Chathol-linn
by Chathol-linn © January 2003. As always, I am borrowing the world of JRR Tolkien whose work I love and respect, and I promise to return it unharmed.
- Tell us a story you never have told.
A story of Mortals and Elves of old!
Haldir was his name. His king, Celeborn.
His joy, the woodland of gold mallorn.
As a lad he hunted with his wolfhound.
As a man his true love he had just found.
His father was Silvan, his mother, Sindar.
His two-sided nature was oft at war.
He was a great warrior with arrow and blade.
Celeborn sent him to Théoden's aid:
"Thy Teleri heart longs hard for the Sea,
My kinsman. And so I shall release thee.
Once back from this battle you have my leave
To sail to the West, though sore we will grieve."
Now ten thousand soldiers of Saruman's horde
March toward Haldir and he draws his bright sword.
The wave of the battle sweeps in like a flood.
The stones of Helm's Deep are thirsty for blood.
The Elves slaughter hundreds as if they were one.
Then crash! goes the wall, and inward they come!
The bloodsong of battle sings loud to Haldir.
His heart knows no pity; his feä, no fear.
O Haldir! Thou heardst the call to the Keep.
O Haldir! What thought thee, that night in Helm's Deep?
When first thou didst realize an Elf can feel pain?
When next thou didst realize an Elf can be slain?
- So fought Haldir of the forest mallorn.
He died in the arms of Lord Aragorn.
Aragorn threw back his head and he howled.
The ghost of good Huan awakened and growled.
Galadriel Queen shed a silver tear,
Pleading, "Boe bedich len? O Haldir!"
NOTES –
1. "Boe bedich len?" "Must go thou?" (Sindarin). See http://www.elvish.org/gwaith/movie.htm, paragraph 21, Dreaming about Arwen AND http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/sindarin.htm#Heading19, 2nd person sg.
2. Huan was the wolfhound of the Valar that come to the aid of the Elves. JRR Tolkien, The Silmarillion, Of Beren and Luthien.
3. Thanks are due to D. at henneth-annun.net. She knows why! - Chathol-linn