CHAPTER TEN
Haldir walked through the many talans and walkways of Caras Galadhon as he waited for Anor to rise. His left shoulder hurt enough that it made it hard to fall asleep, and once he did, he slept fitfully. He sighed tiredly. At least I'll have it out of this confounded sling before Winter Solstice, even though I still won't be able to use the arm properly.
Haldir wasn't really paying attention to where he was going, for he had walked these ways many times before. What am I getting myself into? What are my feelings for Lothrin? Just a simple camaraderie? Or is it something more? If it is more, than how much more is it? Lost in his thoughts, Haldir never noticed the fully armed and armored Royal Guard walking down the same flight of stairs as he.
However, he did notice the elf once he roughly jostled Haldir in the left shoulder. Haldir cried out in shocked pain as he was pushed towards the edge of the stairs. He just barely caught himself from falling over the edge to the forest floor hundreds of feet below. Once his balance was recaptured he turned towards the elf who was still walking away. "You could at least apologize, you stupid human!" he snapped angrily, hand held to his shoulder. Judging by the warm stickiness that was felt by his palm, the wound had reopened.
The Royal Guard spun on his heel, and Haldir recognized him. It was Belegorn, Lothrin's second in command. What is he doing? He would never do something like this without Lothrin's leave, for fear of angering Lady Galadriel or Lord Celeborn. Unless…Lothrin put him up to it.
"Do you seriously believe that you were so smart, Haldir? Do you honestly think that your inane tactics could work in this city?" Belegorn snapped, with each sentence taking another step towards Haldir, his hand tightly gripping the sword over his shoulder.
"And why wouldn't they?" Haldir asked as he backed up slowly.
Belegorn paused as though dumfounded. "Are you seriously going to suggest letting the orcs roam free on the ground, to kill the elflings and elleths there?"
It was Haldir's turn to grow angry. He drew up to his full height. "And how can you be so idiotic?" Before he could continue, Belegorn started up again.
"And you! You cheated on your little 'surprise assault'."
Haldir froze, his anger growing to the point where he was not loud, but quiet and dangerous. "How so?" he asked in a tone that would have made a Balrog think twice about coming forth.
"Your elves came upon this city unawares. Our people at the gate were caught thinking that you were allies!"
"ARE YOU SO FOOLISH TO BELIEVE THAT?" Haldir roared. "Galadriel is the most powerful elf on Arda; she knows all that goes on within her borders! She even told me that she alerted her guard of my intention that night! It was your guards' incompetence that had this city fall! I had one hundred men, ONE HUNDRED! They should have been easily defeated by those within this city, yet I lost none except during the capture of the lord and lady!" He took a deep breath, his voice dropping to a silky hiss that was more dangerous than his previous shouting. "And how are my tactics inane? Tell me, master Belegorn, what is the only time the orcs would dare assault this city? At night, when their chance of discovery is the least. How many of our civilian forces are out at night?"
"None," Belegorn answered stiffly.
"And how many live on the ground floor?"
"None," was the sharp answer.
"Your arrows would be unhindered, and the orcs would have to come farther into the city to even reach a ground floor stairwell, and not many would survive the arrows of Lothrin's men."
Belegorn snapped and strode straight up to Haldir and grabbed the edges of his tunic. "But my plan was better!"
"Oh so you're the idiot who thought that up. I didn't believe that Lothrin was that much of an imbecile. I must ask why you so believe in fighting on a two dimensional realm. There aren't any enemy lines, there are enemy levels. You fire to kill, not to disrupt. And why is securing the Royal Talan so late in your list? Now I would strongly suggest that you release me before you do something that you might regret."
Belegorn glared at him with a deep set hatred shining in his eyes. But he released the March Warden and turned around. Before Haldir had the chance to move an inch Belegorn whipped back around and slammed his fist directly into Haldir's wound.
Haldir could only give a surprised gasp of pain before he was punched again in the stomach, and again in the face. "This is for tormenting Lothrin! This is for making her cry! Damn you Haldir! I damn you to Mordor!"
And as blow after blow rained upon Haldir, he made sure to twist himself so that each blow did the least damage, and he didn't hit Belegorn back. All he had to do was wait until-
"What in the name of Eru are you doing, Belegorn? Stop this at once!" an angered voice shouted out, and Haldir slumped back against the stairs, bleeding from his nose and mouth. "You are my most loyal officer, and yet I find you fighting the March Warden? No, not fighting. Fighting would be if he struck you back. You attacked him, and beat him like he was a disobedient dog owned by cruel humans! And he is HIGHER RANKED THEN YOU!" Lothrin took in a deep breath to try and calm down. "Do you realize the penalties for what you have done?
"It's bad enough that you strike another elf, but it just has to get better, doesn't it? Not only is he an elf, but an injured elf! And he is not only part of the military, but he is the HEAD OF AN ENTIRE GUARD! IF HE WANTED YOU DEAD, I WOULD HAVE TO KILL YOU AS YOUR COMMANDING OFFICER! YOU FOOL!"
Things could not have gotten worse for Belegorn no matter what. "Lothrin, might I ask why you are shouting so loudly this early in the morning?" Galadriel walked down the stairs, her hand held by her husband. Elrond and his family walked down the stairs behind the two. Actually, things could get worse. And they did.