To those reading: Heather and I would like to say we appreciate all who find this tale interesting. Written as a backdrop to a previous story called The Wild Ride, the events here were an intricate part of the plot in the other. That story was written as a self-insert drama/ action adventure. Too many thought, however, the relationship between Arad and Haldir was too interesting not to put into words. Thanks again for keeping up with us; we endeavor to continue as quickly as we can.
Title: CAPTURED
Authors: Fianna and Heather the Mage
Rating: R for violence
Note and Warning: The story continues, with some minor violence. Haldir has accepted his role as protector, and once decided, focuses on that mission as keenly as any he might have taken from his Lady. Danger is paramount in many ways. But Haldir and the girls are not alone in their plight, as friends rush to aid them. But will they arrive in time, will they meet before the three fugitives escape the harrowing region of Harad? Time will only tell.
Disclaimer: Lórien and the world of Arda belong to JRR Tolkien and are written here only for personal pleasure and respect to the one who created them.
Chapter 10: On the Move
They had traveled some distance from the Haradrim camp, the moon now hidden behind a thick bank of clouds, leaving the night dark and sinister. Haldir rode carefully, able to see well enough, but knowing the horses could easily break a leg should they step wrong. They needed to find a place to rest. In front of them, a high rise blocked his view of the land ahead, but he could smell water and prayed that it would be accessible. He itched terribly, and tried not to imagine what might be crawling on his skin.
The horses seemed to agree with him, moving faster up the hill, snorting softly as they also smelled the water. They reached the crest of the hill and found a small stream on the other side. It was not deep, but gurgled over a wide area of rocks, tucked into the hillside. A perfect place to rest, he knew he could find them a small area out of sight, even large enough for the horses.
He slid off his horse, gathering the stallion's reins and whispered into the animal's ear. The horse nodded with a soft clink of teeth. Haldir turned to find Selena sitting up, her eyes heavy with sleep. It was a good thing they were stopping, much longer the two of them probably would have fallen off their mounts. He reached up, dragging the slim girl down to set her on her feet.
"There is water to clean up in, take your sister there and wash."
Selena yawned, rubbing her head, staring around her nervously. "I can hear it, but can't see a thing. How do you expect me…?"
He sighed, having forgotten they could see little in the darkness, and grasped her hand, leading her carefully to a spot where she could get into the water. He pulled her down so she could feel the slope of the bank. "There is an area here that is free from the rocks. Do not go too far into the water, but stay near the bank. I will bring your sister. But wash your clothes and your hair."
"We have no soap," she retorted, scratching her arm.
"Water is better than nothing," he replied irritably, turning around to get Sanaa.
The younger girl sniffed, shivering, but did not complain as he lifted her from the horse. He carried her to Selena and lowered her to the ground. "I will find wood for a small fire. We cannot do much, but since we are not where they will expect us to be, I feel it will be safe enough. It will give you a chance to warm up."
He left them alone, making his way into the brush to gather wood, allowing them time to wash.
The fire he built was not large, banked deep into the earth to hide the light, hidden behind a large boulder that formed an area almost like a room. The heat would warm the stones around them, and would make the area comfortable.
They would stay the rest of the night and day, leaving again at dusk.
A few moments later, he heard Selena call out, and made his way back to the two girls. Selena stood holding her robe as well as Sanaa's, gripping the young girl's hand. "We can't see very well."
He grasped Selena's hand, and pulled her up the bank, leading her toward the fire. She sank down near the flames with a welcome sigh, drawing her sister down beside her. Haldir crouched down beside them, near the fire, and held out a small handful of berries. "It is not much, but all I can find close by." He rose to his feet, touching his hair with a grimace. "I must wash as well. Try to rest, I will not be far."
Selena gathered the berries in her hand, and nodded, her eyes wide as he left them to disappear into the darkness.
xxx
Selena hadn't thought about his injuries, had almost forgotten that he was wounded so easily did he lead them, carrying them, arguing… She felt guilty, aware he had put their comfort and safety before his own. Sanaa yawned, curling as close to the fire as she could and was almost instantly asleep.
Selena finished the last of the berries, head down, watching the flames, but listening intently for Haldir.
She wondered what he would look like as he bathed and then blushed deeply. It was not for her to know, the Elf would leave them as soon as he was free of Harad. She did not know what she would do then, and refused to worry over it.
She heard a soft splash and imagined the Elf in the water. Before she could think twice, she rose to her feet, moving around the boulders toward the stream.
It was dark, but the clouds had thinned slightly, giving her some vision in the darkness, or perhaps her eyes had adjusted to the light, for she could see him, a shadowy form in the water.
Selena blinked, sliding down behind a rock. He had removed all of his clothes and stood in the water to his thighs, his back to her with his hair streaming down his back. He was lean, his waist and hips narrow. A man, or Elf, she corrected, that many of the Haradrim women would have coveted highly. She could not deny he was beautiful; his skin gleamed in the faint light, his hair nearly white under the moonlight.
She was very lucky, she thought, to have convinced him to take them. Would he always think of her as a child, she wondered despairingly. She wasn't really, she could appreciate the view before her. It was a man like that that she wanted, someone who would treat her with respect, with love, with…
"Are you finished watching me?" Haldir drawled softly, glancing over his shoulder as Selena squealed in alarm.
She hid her face, blushing hotly. "I didn't mean to watch."
She heard him laugh softly. "Indeed."
She heard him splash quietly out of the stream, not daring to look up. In a moment, she felt his hand on her arm, surprised she did not hear him walk toward her. "Get up, you need to stay near the fire."
She allowed him to lead her back to her sister, peeking at him from lowered lashes, still feeling extremely embarrassed to be caught spying. He sat down across from her, wearing only his leggings, but clean, his hair clinging to his arms as he ran his fingers over his ribs.
A long angry gash crossed over two of his ribs on his left side, a deep puncture wound just below it. He grimaced as he touched it, lifting his fingers to find them damp with blood. She swallowed uneasily; worried that he would eventually bleed to death before they could be free of Harad.
As if he sensed her thoughts, he looked up, his eyes glowing silver. "Don't worry, I'll make it."
"You can heal yourself," she said, watching him touch the back of his head gingerly.
"Aye," he replied absently, checking his fingers again for blood. They remained clean and he sighed in relief. "But I am still dizzy from the wound on my head. That will not go away soon." He ran a hand into his hair, lifting the wet strands from his forehead with a sigh. "It takes time and energy to heal, Selena. We have little of either. I cannot heal and watch over you at the same time. So do not tax me further and lie down so I need not worry over you too."
She met his gaze, and then with a faint nod, curled up next to Sanaa, wrapping her arm around her sister. Haldir shifted, stretching out his legs, leaning back against the rock behind him. He stared up into the sky for a long while until finally Selena fell asleep, her eyes too heavy to watch him any further.
xxx
Rumil watched the falcon fly toward him, having sent the bird off earlier with a report on where they were. Harad was just a few hours away, an irresistible pull that promised both revenge and reward. Haldir was there; Rumil knew it, and knew he just had to find him. He waited patiently for the small bird to land on his arm, peeling the tiny missive from the strings around the bird's leg. He unfurled the parchment, reading the reply with a lift of his brow.
Ferodir had convinced Lady Galadriel that Haldir had chosen to travel further into Harad. Celeborn had sent Orophin, and Lurien of all elves, to intercept them, braving the dangerous path through Mordor's northern reaches to arrive on the Harad border near where the empath sensed Haldir would arrive. Rumil smiled, not surprised by his brother's choice of path. He should have expected it. It also meant that he had to increase his pace, avoiding any delays, in order to reach both Haldir and Orophin at the same time.
He had an uncanny feeling it was important to reach them at the same time.
He slid the missive into the bracer on his arm, petting the falcon for a few moments as he studied the terrain. "We go east," he announced to the elves with him. "Valar save us, but we are short of time."
The elves nodded, quickly gathering supplies to mount their horses. His revenge would have to wait it seemed.
xxx
Orophin stared at the tall mountain just south of them with a great deal of unease. The land around them was nothing more than rock, a wasteland of dirt and grime and blackness that made the elves stand out like beacons on an empty beach. He did not like the idea of traveling through Mordor, not even along the borders. Sauron watched what was his intently, and it seemed the fires on the horizon grew even brighter as Orophin watched.
The Dark Lord would be most pleased to capture a group of elvish rangers, just as he would have enjoyed taking Haldir, had the Haradrim managed to sell him off. It was no secret what the men of Harad did, nor to whom they often sold their slaves.
To capture an Elf of Haldir's distinction would be a prize Sauron would have paid highly for.
Orophin had no doubt that had been the Haradrim's intention all along.
He shuddered slightly, sending his thanks to the Valar that Haldir had escaped that fate. He hoped his journey through the black lands of the Dark Lord would escape notice as well. He glanced behind him at the two elves following closely. Ferodir watched the ground at his feet, his eyes lifting occasionally to scan the landscape around them, but Orophin knew the Elf relied on his empathic senses more than his visual ones. Lurien, although unused to the rigors of such travel, rode easily on the nervous stallion beneath him, hand gripping the sword at his hip, the other hand tight on the long bow, which he could wield as well as any warden off the fences. Orophin smiled faintly; he was quite glad the sentinel had volunteered to join them. The fourth Elf was another ranger, a tracker well used to the trail. He walked, rather than rode, striding carefully among the rocks in front of Orophin, his eyes searching for the easiest path to take amid the boulders.
"The trail grows easier another league from here," Nithendial said quietly from in front, pausing to look back at Orophin. "We can make up time there if we do not rest for too long. The Eye sees much, but our cover there will far better. We have only to reach it."
Orophin drew the long bow from his back, aware of what Nithendial did not say. There were Orcs ahead. He smiled grimly, with a flick of his fingers to the two Elves behind him.
"Looks like we've a bit of fun ahead."
Nithendial grinned, sliding up over the back of his mount. "Indeed, a respite from a boring journey so far."
xxx
Haldir stared at the dry landscape around him with a sense of despair. Their journey had been slow, riding at night dangerous, riding during the day just as bad. Which was worse, braving the rigors of night travel with Orc bands roving the lands before them or riding during the day, taking a chance that they would meet a group of Haradrim, knowing they would recognize the two children with him? He had yet to decide and choose the one that would be the safest for all of them.
He had only his dagger, they had nothing and could hardly be expected to fight.
The Orcs would enjoy such a tender meal as they, a fact that made Haldir wince slightly at the thought. He watched the sun rise in the east, the pink rays of light arching over the horizon, dulling the sparkling stars that had been his guide.
They were too close to Mordor to brave the night anymore.
The Haradrim were less likely to be traveling this close to the Dark Lord's lands.
Or so he could only hope.
He stood up slowly, stretching muscles far too tight, wincing as a sharp pain flashed through his head. He had no energy to heal himself, nor the time to fall into reverie to do so. The wound at his side burned, still oozing blood, a bad sign. He was growing weaker as the hours passed, the dizziness more rampant. He had one vial yet from Selena, but held back from taking it, knowing it might be important later.
He had only to reach the borders of Harad, slip past the shadows of Mordor, and he would be free. The journey from there, although still dangerous, would be far more comfortable for all of them.
The girls had held up well enough so far, although he could see they were stiff from riding, and in some pain. He could not help them in that regard either. Sanaa was curled up against Selena, her tiny hand held protectively inside her sister's larger one, both heads close together as they slept.
He hated to wake them but knew he had little choice.
He walked up to them and crouched down, laying a hand on Selena's arm only to frown. She was hot, the heat apparent even with the rough woolen robe she wore. He placed a hand on her brow with a faint oath.
Sanaa opened her eyes, staring up at him calmly. "She is sick."
He slid his hand down Selena's cheek, not liking the fact she did not wake at his touch. "How long have you known?"
The younger girl sat up, laying her hand over his. "She has been feeling ill since yesterday."
He swore again, rolling Selena onto her back. "Why did she not tell me?"
Sanaa shrugged. "She did not want to slow us down. She'll be fine, it's not serious."
He glanced at her with a lift of his brow. "Are you a wizard in disguise that you would know this?"
Sanaa giggled, her dark eyes twinkling as she rubbed her chin. "I did hate to shave off my beard."
He smiled and shook his head, lifting Selena into his arms. "I will trust that you know this somehow. But it does not matter, we must continue on."
Selena groaned softly, lifting a hand to her head as Haldir carried her toward the horses. "I can ride; I am all right."
He doubted that, but had little choice. Putting her with him hampered his movements should any danger arise suddenly, not to mention if needed, they would be able to flee, while he remained behind. Yet he did not like putting her alone on the horse if she were too ill to ride. "Are you sure?" She pressed her hands against his chest; small and delicate, reminding him that she was far too young for such dangers.
"Yes, please, just put me on the horse."
He lifted her onto Tinion's mount, making sure she was balanced before letting go. "You will tell me if you become dizzy."
She nodded, shivering. "I will."
He went back for Sanaa, lifting her up to her horse, and waiting until she was settled. "You will keep a close eye on her."
Sanaa smiled, bending down to touch his cheek. "Two eyes, as often as I can spare them."
He blinked, and then nodded, pulling the two horses with him, and then mounted his stallion. He ignored the wave of lightheadedness that swept over him, gripping the reins tightly in one hand, leading the other horses with his left.
He could only hope things would not get worse.
xxx
Rumil slid from his horse, whirling the moment his feet touched the ground, drawing the bow from his shoulder and an arrow from the quiver on his back at the same time, nocking the shaft a moment later as he completed the turn. The string sang as he released it with a soft snap, sending the arrow hurtling over the low rise toward the Orc just rising to his feet.
The creature gasped, clutching his chest, impaled so quickly he flew back off his feet. The three other Orcs leaped up from around their fire, drawing blades, but each of them dropped moments after the first, too slow to evade the elvish missiles that took them down.
Indir ran lightly down the hill, his dark hair entangled in his quiver, hand gripping his bow. He reached the first Orc and bent down, checking for life. A swift shake of his head and he moved on, while Rumil followed close behind, another arrow ready, his blue eyes searching the area intently.
It was only a small party of Orcs, unaware of their danger and sloppy in their defensive measures. Rumil thought grimly that the Elves were lucky to have caught their scent first. He only had to make sure there were none others to escape to send word that the Elves were passing through Harad so close to Mordor.
xxx
Orophin knelt next to the stream, sniffing the dark water cautiously, aware they needed the water, yet uneasy about drinking it. It smelled clean, and he had to trust the Valar that it was fine.
Ferodir was standing next to the water, his eyes closed, hands clenched at his sides.
Lurien bent down to fill the small skin at his side, his gaze lifting to watch the empath closely. "He feels something."
Orophin nodded, waiting for Ferodir to speak.
It took several moments, but then the dark-haired Elf sighed, and opened his eyes. "They are coming. I can feel Haldir's determination, but they move slowly."
Orophin lifted a brow, pausing in filling his water skin to stare at the Imladris Elf. "They?"
Ferodir turned toward him, his eyes dark with concern. "They - and they are not well."