The stars were bright and pulsating with an otherworldly glow as Haldir gazed upon them as he lay upon the flet. He had just returned from his last patrol to check on his wardens as they watched the northern borders of the golden wood.
The early hours of the morning was his favorite time where he could watch the stars and slowly relax and let his mind rest from the stresses of the day.
Being March Warden to the Galadhrim came with heavy responsibilities. But one that he did not regret having for he loved protecting the Golden Wood that he called home and protecting his Lord Celeborn and his Lady Galadriel, the Lady of light.
He would lay his life down for both his home and the lord and lady along with his brothers Orophin and Rumil. As he lay there looking at the stars he could feel the tension in his body starting to slide away and as peace settled in his mind he began to dream.
Haldir awakened and bolted upright at the sound of a scream. He looked around in confusion for his bow which was nowhere in sight, he was lying underneath a tall tree that looked to be ancient. Haldir looked up an across the clearing he noticed a man nervously pacing nearby in front of a cottage.
The man stopped and looked at the stars in the sky he notice that the man looked to be praying. Haldir looked around and noticed that the trees had an otherworldy glow to them.
Am I dreaming he thought. Another scream tore through the night air bringing his attention back to the man nearby.
The man cringed and tears slowly slid down his pale cheek. Suddenly the cry of a babe came. The man turned towards the cottage. He took a few steps towards the cottage and then stopped as tho waiting for something.
A short time later a beautiful dark haired elleth came out the door of the cottage carrying a small bundle. The man walked over and stopped next to her. He slowly put his arms around the elleth's shoulders.
The man lifted his hand and gently stroked the elleths cheek. The elleth leaned into his touch and raised her face to the blond haired man standing next to her "you have another granddaughter Earendil." She pulled the blanket aside so he could see the babe.
He looked down at the babe and smiled. "She looks exactly like her, El" he exclaimed. He then took the babe from the elleth and gazed down adoringly. Haldir watched as tears fell down the ellons face.
He looked back to the elleth at his side as she watched the interaction between the ellon and the babe. She reached up and softly wiped the tears from the ellons cheek. It has to be a dream Haldir thought since neither one of the elves close to him had taken notice of him.
The elf bent down and kissed the forehead of the swaddled babe. He then handed the babe back to the elleth. He then reached in and took a packet of letters from under his cloak. "Here are the letters she wrote for her mother and the one she wrote for her beloved, along with the other letters from us and the others" as he handed them to the elleth. The elleth took the packet from the ellon's hand, "I'm happy the valar agreed to allow these letters to leave the undying lands and go to our loved ones back home." She looked down upon the babe "Her light has already begun to spread even here."
"Now go and see to her needs Earendil while I take care of the babe. It is almost time" The elleth said. The man turned and started walking towards the cottage then stopped and turned back to the elleth. "Is what we are about to do the right thing El?"
The elleth looked back to the man and then up at the sky as the stars winked out one by one as the morning sky began to take over. "This is not about what we want mellamin. This is the will of Eru Illuvatar and the Valar and it is what she wants for her daughter," she said as she turned back towards the man.
"She has already said her goodbyes. Please go to her while I take care of the babe." The man sighed and whispered softly "I know." The man walked over once more and took the babe from the elleth and looked at the babe one last time and bent and placed a kiss softly on the babes forehead.
He smiled and softly whispered "May the Valar keep you safe little one. Until we meet again." Then he placed the babe back into the elleths arms. He turned and strode to the cottage and dissappeared inside. The elleth turned and looked up as the last star still clung to the morning sky she then swept back the blanket from the small bundle and she held the babe up in her hands "Behold Eru Illuvatar, May you bless Arinalce, the Morning Ray of Light".
Haldir looked up into the night sky and seen eagles. He recognized Gwaihir the Lord of the eagles and two smaller eagles on each side. The smaller ones hovered as the Lord of the eagles landed before the elleth and the babe. The elleth stepped forward and came to a stop before the Lord and bowed before him.
The elleth and the Lord of the eagles stared at one another for a short period of time as if they were having a silent conversation. The elleth then bowed before the Lord of eagles once more. Haldir looked up as a glow from overhead caught his attention.
The stars that still clung to the predawn hours shone so bright that Haldir had to shade his eyes from the light with his hand. Haldir watched as the silver rays reached out an surrounded the babe that lay in the elleth's arms. The glow surrounded the babe until the light faded as the last of the stars winked out with the coming of the dawn. Haldir watched with awe as the babe turned its head and opened it's eyes. Haldir's breath caught in his throat, the babe had glowing silver hair and the babes eyes were glowing silver and they were looking straight at him.
Then the babe smiled at him at that moment in time. Haldir had a feeling of peace settle around him and in his soul. He had never felt so at peace with himself. He also felt like the babe had actually see him. Haldir gazed upon the babe in wonder.
Haldir's gaze and thoughts were was once more brought back to Gwaihir the lord of the eagles. Gwaihir dropped what looked like a bundle of dark cloth and what looked to be a glowing starburst pendant from his beak onto the babe.
The elleth bowed her head once more and picked up the bundle and the pendant and sat upon the ground. She placed the pendant over the babes head and tucked the pendant and the parchments that was given to her underneath the cloth the babe was swaddled in.
Then she unwrapped the bundle and placed it around the babe pulling up what looked to be long handles. The cloth conformed and wrapped around the babe like a cradle. Holding the babe secure in its depths.
The elleth walked up and placed the handles of the cradle into the beak of the great eagle. The elleth and the Lord of the eagles once again stared at each others eyes for a moment and then the elleth turned and walked back to the cottage leaving the babe with Gwaihur the Lord of the Eagles.
Then Gwaihur turned his head until he was looking straight at Haldir. His breath caught in his throat once more as the Lord of the eagles bowed his head to Haldir. He then noticed that one of the smaller eagles had glided over to where he stood and settled on the ground before him. Haldir looked up at the eagle and noticed a sword being held firmly between it's beak.
The eagle moved over until he stood right before him and he bent his head towards Haldir and opened his beak. Haldir reached forward and gently took the sword. The eagle bowed its head to Haldir once and Haldir returned the gesture.
Then the eagle turned and took a few steps and took off with flaps of his mighty wings and returned to his previous position next to the Lord. Haldir turned back to Gwaihir and bowed to the Lord of eagles once more who was still looking at him. The Lord of the Eagles returned Haldir's gesture.
Haldir watched as the great eagle turned and ran a few steps and with a mighty burst of its huge wings soared into the sky with the handles of the cradle that carried the babe hanging securely from it's beak. Haldir watched as the trio of eagles flew out of sight.
He then glanced down at the sword he now held in his hands. The elvish blade was about 40 inches of gleaming silver with ancient elvish runes that glowed with a bluish tinge on each side of the blade.
The pommel was a black ebony which was inlaid with star shaped gems and the pommel was also crowned with glowing crystal star burst, each of the crystals glowed with an inner radiance.
Haldir had never seen such a magnificent blade before. As he gazed at the sword in his hands the crystals started glowing until it filled Haldir's vision and once again peace surrounded him. Feeling sleep come upon him again he laid himself back down under the ancient tree. The feeling of peace stayed with him as fell back into slumber.