Heya, my friends! Here's the next chapter for you. Personally, I can't say I'm greatly satisfied with it, but still, maybe, just maybe, it would not sound much worse than the previous ones xD
And yes, as in "We Were Told…" – those who have read it might have noticed – yet again I dub Haldir's father Mithaelin, which is my second name, but I swear this is the only thing related in any way to self-insert that I make here and anywhere else xD Haldir Mithaelinion sounds pretty much alright, mm? :)
Warning: OOCness attacks! Run for your lives!
As always, reviews make me happy.
-:- -:- -:-
My star has fallen from the skies
And floats with cold waters to its doom
-:- -:- -:-
Days were passing by as we were getting closer and closer to Lothlorien. The way was much easier now, and still we could not go on full speed, despite the fact all of us wished to get to our destination the sooner the better. During our journey I was watching Legolas closely, for I was worried greatly about his state. Legolas often became anxious, haunted eyes darting from tree to tree, from face to face – as if expecting some danger to appear every moment - or indifferent, staring out in nowhere with unblinking eyes. Of course, I understood his troubles, his fears. One day he confessed that he was terrified by the fact his life would soon change – to good or bad. I tried to comfort him the best I could, and he seemed to relax a bit, but in little time he would turn into a bundle of nerves again. He often had nightmares, and after he had nearly fallen off the branch he was resting on, I convinced him to sleep on the ground, and not once was I guarding the elf in his sleep, to prevent him from getting bad dreams. I noticed my presence often calmed the sleeping Sinda down, and was grateful I could provide at least some help.
Some time after we had passed the fords, we were met by the patrol led by my brothers. We have already met one when we entered the Golden Woods, and were not surprised by the uneasiness, which we were regarded with by members of the border patrol. They were constantly throwing suspicious, heavy looks at Legolas, and I was feeling helpless, unable to protect him from their unfriendliness, because they could not be blamed for reacting negatively at evil that was contained inside of his body.
Now the situation would be different, surely my brothers would understand. Surely they would, right?
- Stop! – a clear voice rang from above and I smiled, from the corner of my eye noticing how shadows clad in dark silver encircled us. Right in front of me, two almost identical elves jumped down from the trees and gasped amazedly, unable to hold back their surprise.
- Haldir! – they exclaimed in unison and rushed towards me as I dismounted swiftly, opened my arms and embraced my brothers. A few moments later we broke apart and Rumil waved at their charges.
- Haldir's patrol has finally returned! Sheath your weapons and stop hiding.
Immediately, we were surrounded by a group of border guards. They no longer held their weapons aimed at us and greeted their friends joyously.
- I am truly sorry for thinking you enemies, - Orophin spoke up a while later. – We were misguided, but now I clearly see I was mistaken.
- Haldir, I believe you had twenty charges when leaving Lothlorien, do I recall correctly? – Rumil inquired.
- Aye, you do, - I said, already knowing what his next question would be, and turned around to spot Legolas, standing withdrawn among happy elves.
As if hearing my thoughts, he gazed at me, snapping out of his trance, and walked up to us, inclining his head politely in greeting.
- My friend, here are my brothers, Rumil and Orophin, - the two elves bowed slightly, their gazes not leaving Legolas' face, and once again I sensed their feeling of suspicion.
- My pleasure, - he said emotionlessly.
- And this is Legolas. Legolas son of Thranduil.
Orophin mirrored the expression of shock his brother wore.
- Legolas? – he cried out. – The one and only Prince of Eryn Lasgalen, who disappeared ages ago? – Legolas gave a hint of a nod, watching him with guarded eyes.
- But that… how is that possible! – Rumil exclaimed, gaining several other elves' attention.
- Shhh, brother, - I told him. – Neither time nor place to explain. All will be revealed later.
-:- -:- -:-
- May I talk to you, Haldir? – Orophin called out to me. We have walked a bit further into the Forest and stopped for a dinner, for that was the place where our patrols should depart again.
- Sure? – I answered. – What is wrong?
- Legolas, - he said and glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention. He narrowed his eyes. – I sense evil. It is kept well inside, but it is still there. Why is he here? Where has he been? You know he was searched for, don't you, - Orophin raised his eyebrow. – Evil. Why did you bring it here?
- Exactly to help him get rid of it.
- You expect Galadriel to help him, do you not?
- Do we have any other choices? – I exclaimed a bit too loud and looked around, but nobody noticed, luckily.
Orophin gave me a long uncertain gaze.
- Just be careful, - he finally said. – This is very wrong. What you are doing, that is.
- I believe we will make it turn for good. We don't have much time.
- Take care, - he warned me again. I clasped his forearm in a brotherly gesture, and he returned it.
-:- -:- -:-
We have passed the fords several days ago and now entered Caras Galadhon in early evening.
The inhabitants of the settlement greeted us joyously, happy to meet their friends again after one-year-long absence. I officially freed my charges from under my command and called Lord's messenger, who happened to be passing by.
- Lindon! – said elf stopped in his tracks and turned his head to meet my gaze.
- Haldir! Well met, my friend, - he walked up to me.
- Well met indeed, - I answered. – May I ask you to announce our return to Lord and Lady, so that I could report on our results?
- Of course, - Lindon said and headed to the main mellorn, but halted and turned to me again. – Though I am not sure if you will be invited right now. Lord Elrond is here.
- Elrond? – I repeated.
- Aye, he arrived two weeks ago and is staying here for another month or so, I believe. They are currently talking, that is why I don't think you'll have the audience.
- Anyway, please inform them.
- Sure, - with those words, Lindon departed.
After he left, I neared Legolas, who was standing alone near the edge of our group, and touched his shoulder to get his attention.
- Look. The custom is that now I must go up there, - I nodded towards the mellorn, - and report to Celeborn and Galadriel about our journey. According to the same custom, I must do that alone as the leader of the group, but under present circumstances I ask you to come up with me.
- If you say so, - he said and we headed to the giant mellorn after I had passed my horse to one of stablemen.
-:- -:- -:-
- My Lord, Haldir Mithaelinion asks for audience. He brought report on their expedition.
- Good. Invite him in.
- Yes, my Lord.
After that we heard footsteps nearing the door of the hall and Lindon opened it.
- Come in, Ha- is he with you? – he asked, eyeing Legolas suspiciously.
- Umm… Yes. Yes, Lindon, I know the rules, - I lifted up a hand to stop him as he opened his mouth to protest, - but that is important, so I dare make an exception. He will wait here until I call for him.
- On your own responsibility, - he said after a pause and stepped aside to let me in. I shot Legolas an encouraging look and walked inside. Galadriel and Celeborn were sitting on their thrones, and near them there was Elrond. It looked like I had interrupted their conversation, but they turned their heads eagerly towards me.
- Day, my Lord, my Lady, - I bowed, placing a hand over my heart and sweeping outwards. – Day, Lord Elrond.
- Day, Haldir, - Celeborn said. – So tell us, how was your expedition?
- Aye, my Lord, - I answered. – As the order was, we have been patrolling the area encircled exactly by Onodlo, Limlaith and Anduin. On our way we met ninety-seven orc groups, each consisting of from five to fifty members, with several exceptions…
The story went on as I described their armour, poisons, methods of fighting, their estimated routes, our own route, villages we passed and many other observations, cutting out the part about the gaur for now. I felt their fixed gazes, I knew they suspected me in not telling them everything – as for Galadriel, I was sure she knew what the matter was – but luckily, they seemed to decide to let me first report on the official part.
- …That is all I have to say, - I bowed slightly, indicating I had finished my speech.
The three elves stayed silent for several minutes, seemingly deep in thought, and I felt nervous, unsure of how to interpret their silence. Finally, Galadriel spoke up, her eyes narrowed.
- Haldir, - she started slowly with a low voice. – Great evil has entered the Golden Woods with you. Has it not?
Celeborn and Elrond furrowed their eyebrows slightly, not saying anything.
- Aye, my Lady, - I lowered my head.
- But at the same time, - she continued, - a long-lost friend has returned. Has he not?
I nodded hesitantly, waiting for what was yet to come.
- Whom are you talking about, love? – Celeborn inquired, a hint of confusion in his voice.
Galadriel gazed at her husband, then back at me.
- Haldir?
- Aye, my Lady, - I knew, I knew she knew!
- Then invite him in. I believe he is nervous enough, waiting out there, - she let a barely noticeable smile touch her lips.
- Aye, - I turned around and hurried over to the door, pushing it open. Legolas was standing leant against a wall and lifted eyes at me expectantly.
- Let's go, - he hesitated. – Fear not. I'll be there, - I squeezed his shoulder reassuringly and we entered the hall.
Celeborn's eyes widened as I announced the elf's name.
- That was… quite unexpected, - he said.
- Well met, young Prince, - Galadriel gave him a small smile. Elrond said nothing, staring at Legolas with unreadable expression.
- My Lady, my Lord, my Lord, - he stuttered out, I could feel uneasiness and anxiety he was filled with.
- So much has changed since you had been here, - the she-elf mused with sorrow. – You were pure. You had everything. Now… - she paused. – Now all – almost all – you have is the evil you are carrying inside, - Galadriel gazed at him, and he met her gaze. – The month is ending in five days. Is that what you fear?
Legolas flinched but did not lower his eyes.
- Yes. A-and… - he threw a quick glance at me, - I ask you for help.
Galadriel closed her eyes for a minute, and we stood there anxiously, waiting for her to come to some decision. Finally, she lifted her eyelids and looked at Legolas again.
- First, you should tell us everything.
-:- -:- -:-
Later that evening, I was walking down the corridors of the Palace. Celeborn and Galadriel, due to their high status, lived not on a talan, but in their own quarters in the Palace, and Elrond's room, as guest's, was not far from theirs. I happened to be soundlessly passing by Celeborn's cabinet when a part of a sentence caught my attention.
- …no chance at all.
Was that Celeborn's voice?
I stopped in my tracks and inched closer to the door, leaning against a wall. No, no, I didn't mean – or want – to eavesdrop, but if they happened to be talking about Legolas, I would have the right to know… wouldn't I?
- You know not, love, - a softer voice, obviously Galadriel's, sounded. – I feel he is strong, otherwise he would have succumbed long ago. Am I right, Elrond?
- I daresay so, - I heard Imladris' Lord speaking. – He has been fighting it for almost fifteen ages, and that is quite a lot for someone who is possessed with evil and engulfed by grief, even for a Firstborn.
- Poor Thranduil, - Galadriel mused sadly as her thoughts obviously wandered to the elf's father.
- Indeed, - Celeborn agreed. – Have you heard much from him, Elrond?
- No more than from our usual trade operations. He's been really withdrawn since Nimwen died. Even more, if possible, since Legolas ran away, though we knew not of that.
- Yet he is a powerful Eldar, if he was able to hide his son's condition and what had happened for so long.
- I believe Legolas does have someone to inherit strength from, - I heard a smile in Lady's voice.
- Let's just hope his strength will help him, - concern sounded in Celeborn's voice.
- The day after tomorrow will possibly become the last time he will be himself, - Galadriel said.
I winced. Somewhere deep inside I knew that myself, but hearing it spoken by Lady confirmed my fears.
- And what shall we do?
- If he doesn't turn back into himself at the first day's light – or if he doesn't wake up as himself, - Galadriel paused, - there will be only one thing left for us to do.
- You do not mean… - Celeborn dropped with disbelief.
I felt cold creeping up my spine.
- Unfortunately, I do, - the she-elf sighed heavily. – We will have to… to kill him.
My eyes widened as I fought hard to suppress a gasp. What!
A heavy silence descended upon the group of elves behind the closed doors.
- I believe you understand we will have no other choice, - Galadriel continued. – One of those two situations will mean he had succumbed. He would be beyond our help then. Only his body – the real or transformed one – will stay here, while his fёa will depart to the Halls. Hard it might be, but we will have to destroy his body in order to get rid of the gaur's spirit.
- You are right, as always, - Elrond said slowly.
- But what can we do for him? – Celeborn asked.
- We will lend him strength. That is what he came here for. We will help him fight – but he will have to defeat the beast by himself alone.
- But will that be enough? – Lorien's Lord inquired.
- I know not, - Galadriel mused. – But I know he will have someone else's support to get through the hardest time.
- Whom do you mean, - Celeborn dropped, not really questioning.
Lady paused.
- Our proud Marchwarden, of course, - she finally said, amusement in her voice.
I held my breath, an unwanted smile appearing on my lips.
- That was what you meant by 'almost all' he has now, right?
- Aye, - Galadriel answered.
- That is true. Did you not feel the connection between them, my friend? – Elrond spoke up. – Their spirits seem to have been bound up long before they even met each other. These two have already gone a long way from friendship and still will go further together, - he paused. – If it works out well in next several days.
- But aye, Haldir will be of great help, too, - Galadriel agreed. – Now, how about we leave to our rooms for tonight? The hour is late, and something tells me we will not have much time to rest soon.
I didn't hear the last of their conversation as I hurried away from the doors soundlessly, not wanting to be discovered.
-:- -:- -:-
I told you eavesdropping was no good thing, didn't I :U Whatever, you are a lost case, Haldir.
:)