Starfire
An AU HoV/LotR crossover
By Shadow Flare
*Neither the LotR trilogy nor the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy belong to me. This is AU for both-Arrow's Flight and anything afterwards didn't happen, and this is a crossover. The Elves have sailed West to the Undying Lands and Men now dominate ME, or Velgarth, as the world is now called. (go figure…I said it was a long time.) The pairings for this story: Dirk/Talia, Haldir/Kris, (Yes, you heard me. *sticks her tongue out* Never saw that before…and since I love Kris so much, I decided to complicate his life a whole lot (and give him a last name, too. His last name is one I made up.) By the way-yes, I know Kris isn't shay'a'chern, but there probably are such things as bisexuals in the Valdemar world, though no fancy name for them.), Glorfindel/Elrond, Celeborn/Galadriel, Aragorn/Arwen (flashbacks only), Haldir/Legolas (flashbacks only). And there is a secret character/Kris pairing as well: you'll find out in the coming chapters. Warnings: OOC, slash, het, AU, eventual non-con, angst, major reincarnation, lime, spoilers, character death. Now I'll stop ranting…*
***-change of scene/time
'___'-Elven speech
"___"-Common speech
Night has brought to those who sleep
Only dreams they cannot keep
I have legends in the deep
Paint the sky with stars
Who has paced the midnight sky?
So a spirit has to fly
As the heavens seem so far
Now who will paint the midnight star?
~Enya, "Paint the Sky with Stars"
Prologue: Liberi Fatali
***
The darkness lay around Legolas Greenleaf, enclosing and suffocating, as without thinking, he drew an arrow from his quiver, fitted it to his bow, drew, aimed, and fired. This would be the end…everything was out of their hands now. All that was left was to fight this battle…there was no use thinking of tomorrow, for there might not even be a tomorrow.
The black hordes of Mordor swept down upon them, and there was no time left. None at all. If Sauron's evil won the day, then this was truly the end. He pulled one of his twin blades free from the dying body of an Orc, and turned in time to see the single Orc perched on a hill, hidden from his target-a tall Man with gray eyes, who wielded an ancient sword-with its bow raised and ready to fire.
No! the thought ripped through him, colder then ice, and his instinct took over. His only thought was to protect his friend, his companion…in this time and in this place, nothing else mattered. For if Aragorn fell now, then there would be no one left to bring together the scattered tribes of Men…and if so, then who would there be left to look to? What would the future be like?
He brought his bow up and fired, his aim true. But even dying, the Orc brought its own bow to bear and got one last shot off before the life left its foul body. It missed in that the arrow didn't hit its intended target.
Legolas crumpled slowly to the blood-covered ground, already slipping into darkness, dying, as the light in his green eyes slowly dimmed. An ordinary arrow wouldn't have injured him so badly…or even an Orc-arrow tipped with the usual poison. This particular arrow had been tipped with poison tainted by the Darkness. While darkness-tainted poison was as deadly to any but the dark foes who served Sauron and the Darkness as it was rare, it was deadliest of all to an Elf, born of starlight and fundamentally opposed to the evil of the Dark. One touch could end even an Eldar's immortal life.
The blond Elf's eyes fluttered closed as he passed away into Shadow-realms, slipping away into the Halls of Mandos, beyond all hearing and pain, gone. His last thought was of the lover who he had left behind in Lothlorien.
I'm sorry…I didn't want to die…I didn't want to leave you…my love…
Another immortal light had gone out.
***
With a gasp, Kris Valerian sat bolt upright in bed, blue eyes wide.
: Soul-brother, it was only a dream!: Tantris's soothing mental voice said into his head. :I hope.:
The slender Herald managed to recover enough to send a sarcastic reply back to his Companion. :You hope? Lady Bright, is that all you can come up with? If that wasn't a dream, then what was it?:
Tantris didn't reply, which wasn't a good sign. Kris took a deep breath and breathed out as he swung his long legs over the side of his bed and stood up, the pain of the dream-or whatever it was-still lingering in his mind. It had been all too real…and the feeling of the darkness, the final darkness before death, still hung over him, suffocating him. And what kind of nightmare was this? Once was a nightmare, twice was a coincidence, three times was suspicious…but this had been a recurring dream for the past…who knew how long?
Admit it, Kris. You've been having this dream since you were a child. Kris sighed and brushed a stray lock of long black hair back, away from his face. Used to wake up screaming and crying and your father used to always yell about an overactive imagination and that was why you couldn't read tales and that you were being too weak, that a dream was nothing to cry about. What did he know?
Kris dressed quickly-from personal experience, he knew that there was no way he could get back to sleep after this dream, no matter how tired he was-and braided his long hair back with practiced ease. Silently, he opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. He couldn't hear anyone coming, which was a good thing, and closed his door behind him.
Even more silently, he walked down the hallway, towards one of the exits from the Collegium. There was no way he could go to the Library at this hour: someone would catch him, and he was in no mood to get caught. Besides, it always helped, even a little, to be outside: there and in the Library were the only places, really, that he could find peace and solitude, especially now: he was jumpy and nervous, and the recurring dreams didn't help either.
Though, to be perfectly honest, not all of the dreams were bad, though most were. As Kris remembered the set of dreams about a tall, blond man named Haldir, he could feel his face heat furiously, and he had a nasty feeling that he was blushing like a schoolgirl-and he was almost twenty-three! Lady, where the hell did those dreams come from? What kind of imagination did he have, anyway?!
:An overactive one.: Tantris said dryly.
:Thanks.: Kris responded sarcastically, as he pushed open the door and stepped out into the night. :So what do you have, then?:
:Just the right amount.: his Companion said with a touch of superiority.
Just what do these dreams mean? Kris thought. They can't be ForeSight…I don't have that Gift. I know I don't have that Gift.
His eyes narrowed as he sensed someone's eyes on his back, but Kris ignored the feeling and walked on.
***
The shadowy figure smirked as his eyes roamed over the curves of the black-haired young man's slight body. Truly lovely…just as he had been all those years ago, a different person in a different lifetime, with a new past and entirely new future. Still as beautiful as ever.
And this time, the guardian of 'Lorien was not here to interfere. Haldir had sailed West as soon as he could, unwilling to live in Middle-Earth any longer where so many memories of his loved lingered, and was no longer on these shores. In fact, all the Eldar had gone away and left…and there was no one left who could understand what was happening. Or work to stop it. The Heralds of Valdemar were the closest thing to an obstacle, and not even they had the power to get in his way. If they tried, being the altruistic idiots that they were, then they would be destroyed. No great loss, there.
He smirked again. There would be a new Dark Lord, who would rule all life on this pitiful planet. When the One Ring was reforged…then he would have ultimate power, greater then even Sauron…for he would not make the same mistake. No…not at all.
A lustful smile curved the man's face, as he pictured the lovely dark-haired Herald in his mind, pictured that willowy, pale body beneath his, waist-length raven hair falling loose in a river of silk. What he wanted most of all to be his. His…his possession. Kris Valerian was the ultimate prize…as he had been all those years ago. Always just out of his grasp, and Haldir of Lothlorien had been the cause. But not this time.
"You will be mine, little leaf. No one else's." He whispered menacingly, as the wind blew. "Or you will die again."
***
'Something strange is going on.' A familiar, clear voice said, and Haldir knew that Glorfindel had come up beside him.
'That's obvious.' The ex-guardian of Lothlorien said sarcastically. 'Do you, oh wise one, know what it could be?'
Glorfindel raised an eyebrow. 'No.' the Elf-lord admitted, irritated by Haldir's sarcasm and arrogance, which, if anything, had gotten worse in the years since Legolas's death. It was obvious that the warden had reverted to his old characteristics in an effort to keep anyone else from getting close, as Legolas's death had plunged him into a grief so deep, that Haldir had almost followed his younger lover into the Halls of Mandos…and he'd never wanted anyone else that intertwined with his heart. Glorfindel felt sorry for him…but still, at times, he just wanted to punch the younger Elf.
Haldir stopped walking and looked at the reincarnated Elf beside him. Glorfindel was accounted one of the wisest of the Elves, but for him not to have any idea at all…
'You have no idea?' he grated out at Glorfindel, and began walking again.
'I said something of the sort.' The Elf-lord said dryly back, as Haldir opened the door of the Council room. The two Elves stepped inside.
'Lady Galadriel.' Haldir addressed his Lady respectfully. Her husband, Lord Celeborn, stood beside her, as always, and also in the room were Círdan the Shipwright, Lord Elrond, and Mithrandir.
'Haldir and Glorfindel.' Galadriel addressed the two Elves collectively: obviously, she was the spokeswoman for the group of Wise that were with her. 'It is good that you have come. This concerns you both…and us all.'
The two waited.
'A shadow rises in the East, back in the lands that were once Middle-Earth.' Galadriel said softly. 'A new Dark Lord, to threaten us all.'
Haldir swallowed. This was not good.
'He seeks to remake the One Ring.' Galadriel continued. 'I have seen it.'
In her Mirror, or in one of her visions. That made no difference…it was still true. Haldir noted that Galadriel, Elrond, and Mithrandir were not wearing their Rings: obviously, they had chosen to hide Vilya, Nenya, and Narya once more…if this new Shadow's reach was strong enough to even touch here, outside the circles of the world, without the One…this was most definitely not good.
The Lady looked at both of them. 'We must return to Middle-Earth. There is not power enough with those that now live there to stand against all the might of this Dark Lord.'
Somehow, hearing her speak these words was not a shock. Haldir had somehow always known that he would return…but going back, even with all the years that had passed and the changes wrought upon the lands, to the world where Legolas had lived and loved and died…what would happen? How would he react? He didn't know…and didn't really want to find out.
'Haldir, you and Glorfindel must return first, though.' She continued. 'There is a…familiar presence awakening in one of the lands there…a binding spell was placed upon him before birth, to disguise his true nature…but now, the spell is wearing thin.'
The two blond Elves exchanged looks. What was going on?
'He is one of our people…an Elf.' Galadriel said bluntly. 'Bound in a human body, but with the all the beauty of our kindred. And his awakening presence…may awaken others that he knows.'
'Lady, we are confused.' Haldir said, very frankly. From the look on Glorfindel's face, he was totally confused, and Haldir didn't blame him at all. Galadriel had a tendency to be very opaque in her explanations at times, and unfortunately, now was one of those times.
'With an explanation like that, who wouldn't be?' Elrond muttered darkly from behind his hand. His next remark was obviously meant to be heard, however. 'I suspect even you have no idea what you're talking about, Galadriel.'
Glorfindel's mouth twitched, and it was fairly obvious he was trying hard not to laugh: the dignified former Lord of Imladris possessed a very dry, sarcastic sense of humor, as his long-time lover knew very well. Galadriel glared daggers at her son-in-law-the half-Elf had a purposely blank expression on his face-but turned back to the two she was speaking to.
'A little clarity might help.' Elrond suggested matter-of-factly.
'Do you have any idea what she is trying to speak of, my lord?' Glorfindel asked desperately, hoping that the half-Elf wouldn't say no.
'Yes.' Elrond said. 'What Lady Galadriel is trying to say is that, in this case only, the rest of the Fellowship of the Ring has been reincarnated. However, only the person she speaks of, who in this lifetime is a Herald of Valdemar, can awaken his companions.'
Haldir made a mental note that whenever he wanted to know something, he would talk to Elrond Peredhel, rather then to Lady Galadriel: the half-Elf was much more direct and understandable then his mother-in-law.
'How do you know these things?' Glorfindel asked curiously, and added a belated 'my lord.'
Elrond sighed, hating the fact that his loved had to be so formal with him in public. While everyone knew of their relationship, some of the people now sitting in the room didn't like to be reminded of it. Such as my dear mother-in-law…who doesn't like Glorfindel…or me, for that matter. 'Try sitting through Lady Galadriel's explanations.'
Haldir winced sympathetically. Galadriel made a motion to the younger half-Elf to get on with it or she'd explain again. Everyone else in the room winced, especially Celeborn. It was a common question of every Elf just how Celeborn had managed to stay married to his formidable wife for so long. It was also common for every Elf to pray for his continued health and well-being every night, because it was certain that no one else had the temperament to endure married life with the Lady Galadriel, if something happened to him. Another common question was how Elrond had managed to put up with Celebrían for so long, as she was just like her mother.
'So we have to sail back to the Lands of the East?' Glorfindel asked.
'Yes.' Elrond confirmed. 'You will have to go to Valdemar and find the Herald.'
'Who?' Glorfindel asked. Elrond beckoned him and Haldir closer and whispered a name to them.
'Anything else?' Haldir asked, and Glorfindel kicked him.
It was Mithrandir who answered. 'Legolas Greenleaf has returned from the Halls of Mandos.'
~End Prologue~
Author's Notes: Yes, I love Galadriel and all, but there has to be some humor in here somewhere, considering how dark this story is going to be. And you should be able to draw some conclusions from this chapter, not the least being that Kris is not in a good position to be in right now. His life is about to get more complicated by the second, and he's already in over his head in trouble. Oh, and I should have mentioned-this is some strange mix of movie and bookverse, so don't yell at me. Next chapter takes place a few months later.
