Title: The Golden Mask
Author:
Kwannom
Rating: M
Genre:
Action/Adventure/Romance
Betas: Winsome Elf (chapters 1 -
6), Rainien (7 - 15 - ?) and Wenont (16 - ?)
WARNING:
Violence, sex
Disclaimer: I own no one from The Lord Of The
Rings. All the characters and place names displayed belong to JRR
Tolkien. I do not intend to, nor am I making any financial gain from
the writing of this story. However, the original characters - Haleth,
Siward, Wilrog, Seyton and others - are mine, and don't you dare put
your claws into them:D
Timeline: Second Age, one year
before the Last Alliance. A.U. Following book-verse mostly.
Summary:
Sauron has the One Ring and Middle Earth is suffering in the hands of
the Orcs' armies. Elves and Men decide to make an alliance against
the Dark Lord, and they are searching for great warriors from both
races to lead their armies. These warriors are the Chosen Ones and
one of them is Haldir, the Captain of the Golden Wood. Haldir is then
sent to watch a human warrior called Golden Mask and prove that the
Man can be one of them. In the meanwhile, Haldir has to prepare for
the battle of his life and deal with the discovery of something that
is going to change the future.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Hello guys! You may have been wondering why I said that I loved Wilrog if he was so mean. Well, I always have fallen for the villains. I like Wilrog as a character, because he is not perfect, because he is a very good exercise for my creativity and because he is the character that seems to be the most realistic among the others that I created. Yes, lots of becauses lol. He is trying to make things right, but he only goes the wrong way and now he is lost. He and Siward show the most genuine human emotions in my opinion. Haleth is full of doubts also, but she is much stronger than them both. Anyway, after so much darkness in the last chapter, I'll give you a little dose of respite in this one. I hope you enjoy it!
Back to the story…
CHOICES
Haldir and Haleth urged their mounts to greater speed, sensing that their enemies had been unleashed upon them, but Dernhelm and Arthung weren't at full speed yet. Haldir let go of Arthung's reigns and notched an arrow on his bow, his deadly blue eyes flashing with hate. We lingered too long, he admonished himself.
It was dark among the trees and once in a while he could catch a glimpse of movement. It was difficult for even his Elven eyes to see, probably the results of dark magic at work, but his keen ears caught the sound of heavy hooves. Haldir's jaw was set and his muscles were tense, mirroring the tenseness of his bowstring and waiting for the imminent attack.
For a quick moment his eyes locked with those of the woman riding a few paces behind his left side. Before Haleth had time to ready her bow, the ground shook and horrible screams cut the air when the monstrous animals emerged from within the trees. She felt her blood go cold when two Orcs mounted on Wargs surrounded her sides and three more advanced towards Haldir.
The Elf released his arrows with deadly accuracy; three of the monsters were dead and now only one remained, shielding himself among the tree trunks. The bastard is evading my arrows! Haldir thought amused, urging Arthung forward. He wouldn't let his prey escape, the thrill of the hunt washing through him. However, unlike other times, his mind was partially elsewhere, impeding him from running after his target without a second thought. Haldir halted Arthung and looked back, a worried look on his perfect face. Darkness and trees were what his blue eyes saw and Haldir's stomach turned into a knot. There was no sign of her. Haleth!
Haleth had been slowed down by the animals running by her side. Her heart pumped hard on her chest when she saw the three creatures chase after Haldir, but she knew they would find certain death at the hands of the Elven warrior. He will smash them as if they were annoying flees. Despite her confidence in him, her mouth went dry when the thought of his death hit her. If he died, it would have been her fault, because she had been the one who had led him there.
A roar from one of the Wargs brought her back to the real world. Haleth looked at them with disgust. The creatures were horrid. A putrid stench exuded from them, their heavy hooves destroyed everything that was in their way and from the mandibles dripped a viscous liquid that burned like acid.
Haleth hated Wargs more than any other foul monsters that Sauron had in his army, for it had been one of those beasts that had taken her father's life. The memory of his proud body being slashed, the look of terror on his face, made her heart hurt. The Orcs sensed her distress and laughed, their whips dancing and cracking in the air.
The beasts' laughs made hate flare in Haleth's nostrils and she unsheathed her beloved weapons. Tuo and Maranwë shone under the moonlight in all their powerful glory. Let's see who is going to laugh now! The laughs died in the air and were exchanged by screams of hate that broke into the silence of the night. Haleth halted Dernhelm with a commanding word and watched the Orcs run past her and halt their mounts a few steps away.
The breaths of the monsters made a loathsome haze form in the cold air and the hateful creatures gazed at Haleth with a menacing look upon their distorted faces. Every sound seemed to have ceased in the woods. Haleth could hear only the pounding of her own heart in her ears, the beasts' respiration and an occasional feral snarl. A smirk grew on Haleth's covered face while she swirled the Twins in her hands, the metallic sound vibrating in the air, mingling to the silent cacophony.
Calm yourself… Breathe… And they will be dead sooner than you think. With grace and precision, she dismounted, letting Dernhelm go, and positioned her body in a battle stance, ready for the fight. Haleth bent her knees a little, her legs slightly apart. She held Tuo parallel to the ground above her head; her arm lightly flexed made the end of the blade point directly at the foul creatures. Maranwë was held almost at her shoulder's height, its sharp blade blocking her chest from any kind of attack. The weapons seemed to be an extension of her body. Haleth and her Twins made a perfect union. Just breathe…
Haleth chuckled when she noticed the lack of fighting skills of her opponents. "Are you going to keep growling at me all day? I could die of boredom."
The beasts snarled at her mocking words and the deceptive calmness that had rained in the woods until then was shattered into pieces. Haleth gripped her swords tighter, never losing her stance. She felt every tightly-coiled muscle ready for the coming fight. Her concentration was so powerful that there was no other thought in her mind but the fight ahead of her. When the Orcs charged upon Haleth, her eyes sparkled with warm brown danger. Just breathe…
The first whip hissed dangerously near Haleth's body, but she made it wrap around her sword blade and with a fierce pull, the Orc was thrown to the ground with a painful scream and a broken leg. Without its rider, the Warg advanced toward Haleth. It is not you who attack, but your enemy who attacks himself Haleth thought, remembering one of Lord Glorfindel's teachings.
The enormous Warg growled and opened his huge mouth to slash the woman in front of him. Without hesitation, Haleth buried Tuo to the hilt inside the monster's foul mandible while Maranwë slashed his guts. The beast went down dead. She then turned her face to the other Orc, her brown eyes blazing. She stalked toward him, her Twins drenched in blood, the black liquid leaving a deadly trail on the ground.
The Orc looked at the dead corpse of the Warg and his body shivered in fear when he heard the painful scream of his comrade who contorted on the ground. His distorted face returned to the human warrior who approached him and sensing the promise of painful death written on Haleth's brown eyes, the Orc spurred his mount and ran away in fear.
Haleth's smirk grew. She cleaned the Twins with her tunic and then sheathed them slowly while she watched the Orc run. With a calculated movement she took her mask off, drew her bow and notched an arrow. Only when she felt the soft contact of its feathers against her cheek did Haleth release it. The arrow hit its target and the Orc fell off his mount, dead. The Warg ran toward Haleth. She notched another arrow patiently and loosened it.
The arrow buried itself into the Warg's heart and the beast went down with an agonizing growl under Haleth's scrutiny. Despite knowing that her enemies were dead or seriously wounded, Haleth knew that there was something amiss. Her body became tense and she lowered her bow. With a deep sigh Haleth closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the forest intensely. The pumping of her heart increased in pace when the time passed and her anxiety grew.
Then a warm and foul breath tickled her ear and Haleth's eyes shot open.
Damn!
As fast as her human abilities let her, she notched another arrow and aimed to the Orc who stood in front of her. Haleth almost froze when the realization hit her. Oh Valar, if he is alive, it means that Haldir is... Dead! Haleth felt a lump rise in her throat while her heart pumped painfully inside her chest. Oh No! No! This can't be! Her brown eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She couldn't believe that the Elf was no more.
The proud and immortal being had been slaughtered. She would never hear his musical voice anymore, nor spar with him, nor sit in comfortable silence at his side by the fire and feel like she had no worries at all; she would not be able to show him her world nor she would know more about that intriguing creature that had appeared in her life by the will of the Valar and had swept her off her feet. She swallowed hard and her beautiful face contorted in anger.
You will pay with your life for this, Orc! she thought when her bowstring cracked with tension and she let the deadly arrow fly. However, before the dart could hit its destination, a golden blur hissed past her face and impaled itself into the evil flesh, making the Orc fall dead at her feet. A second golden arrow was soon released towards the Warg who lay in the shadows and the monster joined his rider in death a few moments later.
Haldir! Haleth couldn't believe in her own eyes. Her smile grew on her face while she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. He was still very distant from her, but the glow of his skin was unmistakable in the dark of the forest. Haldir rode toward her like an infuriated God. And furious he was, because she could feel the raw emotion emanating from him despite his emotionless face even at such distance.
Haldir was furious indeed. He tried to keep his emotions in check while he made his way back to Haleth, as quickly as he could. The wave of fear for her life that had washed over him had caught him by surprise. He knew that she was a capable warrior, but he couldn't bare the thought of her being harmed, or even killed. Why? Damn you, woman, and what you do to me.
He took in the view in front of him while he approached, the guts of the Wargs exposed giving off a terrible stench, the Orcs killed, one left alive howling in pain. Even if he hadn't returned in time to shoot the remaining unharmed Orc, Haldir was sure she would have killed the beast herself. Haleth was lethal, he could see that. What he didn't understand was why she had hesitated, even for a second, in killing the last Orc. Fool… he thought dryly. When he finally got to the woman, Haldir dismounted gracefully, bow still firmly held in his left hand.
He stalked toward Haleth, his blue eyes blazing in a mix of fury and concern. 'What got into your head to make you distracted like that, you fool?' He said between clenched teeth 'This behavior cannot be tolerated in a seasoned warrior like yourself!'
Haldir's eyes were intensely focused on her and they held such power of intimidation that they would have cowered any creature on Arda. However, Haleth was no mere creature. She stood there, tall, proud and noble, holding his gaze with an equal intensity.
'You'll have to forgive me, Haldir, if I thought for a moment that you were dead!' She yelled back at him, her eyes sparkling with brown fury.
Of course he is alive, he is an Elf, for Valar's sake... Haleth thought, angry at herself for ever thinking that Haldir couldn't handle himself with a few Orcs and Wargs... Of course he could handle himself...probably far better than she could...
The pain she had sensed when she thought that he was dead, however, was unmistakable. She had felt it before, when Wilrog had been missing for one year and was considered lost. The Valar help me, she prayed while she locked eyes with the magnificent being in front of her. That immortal creature had entered her life so drastically and so quickly and now she cared about him so much that it scared her. He was eying her curiously, clearly not understanding her silent behavior.
Haldir watched her closely. The anger in her words made him realize that she was upset by the thought of him being killed. He had never noticed how much the young woman cared about him. It made his chest swell with pride and an unknown kind of happiness warmed his heart. Haldir swung his bow over his shoulder and after a moment of hesitation, covered the distance between them and hugged the woman tenderly.
'Shh, Belegaer. It is over now. We are both unharmed.'
With one arm around her small waist and the other around her neck, he held her close while he felt the tension of her body at his unexpected gesture go away and her arms encircle his strong figure closer to her tall form.
Haleth inhaled his unique scent of woods and reveled at the surprising beating of his strong heart against her body. 'When I saw the Orc,' She began, whispering into his ear 'I thought you have been killed… I am sorry, Haldir. I couldn't bare the thought of your death and I lost my focus.'
'I can see that' Haldir teased, drowning in the sense of her warm form in his arms. 'Do you find me such an unskilled warrior, Belegaer? I could have killed all five of them with my eyes closed.'
She chuckled. 'I know you are. I was just… worried.' Haleth closed her eyes when she felt him bring her even closer to his body. Several strands of his golden hair were picked up by the wind, caressing her face. 'I'm glad you are alive, Spy. I'm truly glad.'
How strange mortals were to Haldir. It seemed that because they had a very short life that they enjoyed every moment of it passionately. And sometimes they did very improper things because of this passion. How many ellith would fear for him like this? Crazy young woman. I like this very much.
Haldir kissed the top of her head, carefully smelling the familiar scent of flowers, before letting her go almost reluctantly. His lips curved in a faint smile when the thought that she was the only human he knew who bathed daily - the reason for the delicious smell that came from her – crossed his mind. He then stepped away, already notching an arrow to kill the only Orc that had been left alive. However, Haleth's gloved hands fell on his shoulder, stopping him.
'Don't kill the Orc yet. I still didn't interrogate the beast.'
Haldir nodded and watched the woman put on her mask again and crouch down beside the fallen Orc. The beast writhed in pain and shot her the most terrible insults when she grabbed his injured leg painfully. Haleth hated to have to torture anyone, even the Orcs. Thus, she hid herself behind her mask while she did it.
"What are your orders?" Haleth asked with no trace of emotion in her voice.
The beast snarled. "I'm not going to tell you anything, whore."
Haleth squeezed the Orc's broken leg and the beast howled in pain.
"Again. What are your orders?"
The beast made a motion to grab Haleth's neck, but before he could do it, he found an Elven knife stab through the palm of his hand and imbed itself in the ground, trapping him. He howled in pain, his harsh cries cutting through the silent woods.
"She asked you a question." Haldir's voice was dry and cold and the creature shivered in fear.
After chocking on his evil black blood, the Orc started to talk. "We were… sent to capture… Haleth alive and kill the Elf."
Haleth looked at Haldir with a worried look in her eyes, before turning again to the creature.
"Who leads you?"
The Orc grunted, in an evil smile. "Sauron's captain… The Man called Wilrog."
Captain! Haldir and Haleth exchanged surprised looks. Haleth's grip on the Orc's wounded leg tightened unconsciously at the revelation. The creature shot her a furious look. She didn't even flinch, and continued her interrogation.
"Where is your army?"
"Moving toward the Field of Celebrant as we speak." The creature laughed, making a terrible sound. "My Master is going to kill all your beloved soldiers. It's eight hundred of us against sixty of you."
Haleth released the Orc and stood up. 'I've heard enough.' she said, and in a quick movement Haldir cut the beast's head off with his Elven sword.
The Elf had noticed Haleth's unease with the torture and he had learned along the days he had spent by her side that she wasn't the kind of person who would kill a defenseless enemy. She is too young to know that no mercy must be showed toward an Orc, for they show none. Young indeed. Sometimes Haldir forgot that she was still a child. He respected her action nonetheless, for only the greatest warriors could be able to show mercy upon their worst enemies. Haldir arose with grace and walked to Haleth.
'Come on, Belegaer. It is time for you to return to your men and tell them what you know.'
Haleth nodded and Dernhelm approached her. Wilrog will wish for his death when I find him. She and Haldir mounted and spurred their horses back toward the camp.
H&H&H&H
In the dark Orcish camp that had been set in the Field of Celebrant, Gorbag walked to find his Commander. After a moment, he met Wilrog inspecting the new gifts Sauron had asked them to give to the boy when he had made his choice and had become his General. The Dark Lord has always known that Wilrog would give in for power. He had known it since the first day he had decided to send the young Man with his Orcs after Haleth.
Gorbag looked at the boy; he did not resemble the scared child of nine days ago in any aspect. Wilrog looked regal and terrifying in his knew black wardrobe. A dark horse had been sent to him along with his new weaponry – a magnificent pair of bow and quiver filled with poisoned arrows; a heavy sword. The handle was encrusted with black pearls and the evil seal of Sauron. That was how Gorbag found Wilrog, looking in amazement at his weapons.
The huge Orc grunted to get his Master's attention. "They were unsuccessful as you predicted."
Wilrog looked at Gorbag, with a smile on his face. His plan was working. He knew that Haleth always left an Orc alive for interrogation. He couldn't take any risks of her being killed - something hard to do – so he sent his weakest soldiers. Then the woman would win, would ask and would move straight toward him, seeking revenge after the little note he had left carved on the girl's body. Wilrog licked his lips at the memory. The girl was delicious, but my body craves for Haleth's. And with only sixty Men against eight hundred Orcs, she would be his again, for certain. Unless she used it. No, she wouldn't dare… She knows how much she suffers and Siward, the fucking arrogant bastard, wouldn't allow it. Wilrog smiled. Everything was really going extremely well.
"Good. Now we only must wait." He chuckled at Gorbag's snort. "Patience is a virtue, Gorbag."
If only Hamá could see that I have finally learned how to be patient, Wilrog thought while he turned his attention back to a black helmet in the shape of a crown with a renewed sarcastic smile playing on his lips.
H&H&H&H
"There is no fucking way in Arda that I will let you do it!"
"Watch your tongue, Siward, you're talking to your Commander!"
"Why do you have to be so fucking noble? Let him be, let's choose another plan. Do not confront him!"
"It is my fault that he is alive and killing at will. It has become my duty to end his life before he kills again."
"And you must do it at the cost of your life?"
Mortals… Haldir shook his head in disapproval. It had been like that for over half an hour. Haleth and Siward had strayed a bit from the group and were having a private conversation based in eloquent whispers. Despite their attempt to be discrete, Haldir's Elven ears were listening to every word said with deep concentration.
Haleth had told her soldiers that Wilrog was waiting for them and that she was going to go meet him. Who is coming with me? She had asked, and it was no surprise when all the Men offered to follow their Commander. Haleth told them they were outnumbered, but that she had a plan. A dangerous plan, but it might work. It had been then that Siward's face had grown dark and they have initiated their private discussion.
Haldir couldn't stay sitting there only listening any longer. He walked through the camp toward the enraged pair and made his powerful figure known.
'May I know what in Mordor is happening here?' Haleth and Siward stopped their exalted conversation and turned to face the tall Elf. 'I cannot stand one more second of this childish arguing.'
Fuck! Elves and their superior hearing! Siward cursed between his teeth.
'I heard that, Siward.' Haldir spoke firmly and scolded the two mortals in front of him, watching Siward snort at his remark and Haleth fold her arms over her chest in a sign of defiance. Her face was flushed with fury and her eyes were blazing. 'Well, I am waiting for an explanation.'
How does he dare to talk to me like this? Arrogant Elf! Haleth thought, but didn't say anything. She swallowed her anger and walked past him, stopping a few feet away with her back to the males. Haleth was fuming. She couldn't let Wilrog escape this time and kill again, because he was her responsibility. And if she had to risk her life in order to finish with his, she would do it.
However, there were no words that could describe how scared she was of her decision. She would have to face her husband. She would have to use her powers. She would probably die. This had been a very difficult decision to make and Siward, instead of supporting her choice, started acting with his heart, not with his head. Stupid man … Haleth sighed deeply. There was no way to do that without the use of her power. They were outnumbered and if she didn't go after Wilrog, he would track them down and kill all of her men. She could not let him do that. No way. Siward had thought about getting reinforcements, but there were no Men in that region, only in the plains of Calernadhon.
Yet the use of her power was a risk. Elrond had warned her that if she unleashed it one more time, it could be the last moment that she would draw breath. She would die and maybe kill all who stood near her, for she could not make a distinction from friend to foe in that state. In the better of the hypotheses, Elrond had said that she would lose her sanity. Dad, I wish you were here with me now. You always knew what to do. Haleth felt the fear growing inside her stomach and she felt painfully alone.
Adding to that, Haleth wasn't sure yet if she should tell all of this to Haldir, her private Spy. However, when she heard Siward sharp voice cut through the air, she knew that she wouldn't have to worry about that anymore.
Siward looked over his shoulder to the enraged woman and scratched the back of his head with his hand. When he sensed that she wasn't going to interrupt him, he began to talk.
'Haleth came up with a plan, as you already know.'
Haldir nodded his fair head in agreement.
'But you don't know what sort of plan.' Siward paused, gathering the courage to go on. He wasn't sure if he was telling too much, he couldn't tell how the Elf would react when he knew everything. But he trusted Haldir and his trust made him continue. 'Well, she is going to meet Wilrog alone, in the Field of Celebrant, while we are going to be hiding within the woods that surround the place by its Southern border. Then she will kill most of his army and force the remaining Orcs toward our direction. We would be waiting with a volley of arrows; you and I in command of the archers. It would be their death for certain.'
Siward watched Haldir's reaction to the beginning of his revelations. The Elf's eyes narrowed. At least he was showing some emotion for a change.
'How could a person alone be able to do such thing?' Haldir asked quietly. 'She doesn't even know their correct position to design such plan with no probability of flaws.'
Siward took sometime to go on, trying to find the best way to tell Haldir all he knew. Not all, only half of it. It is enough for now.
'Haleth doesn't need to know their position, she can drive them to whatever direction that she wants. Toward us, for example.' Siward faced Haldir's impassive look. 'There is something you don't know about Haleth, Haldir,' he finally spoke, accessing the Elf's reaction with his eyes.
Haldir looked at him with a slight frown on his handsome face. 'Is that so?'
The aloof behavior of Haldir, the way he coldly spoke words, had the effect of pulling the cord of anger inside Siward. This is so damn annoying! he thought, but kept his opinion to himself and continued talking, the words coming out of his mouth in a quick succession before he lost the nerve to do it.
'Haleth was born with a strange force inside of her, something stronger beyond anything the wisest minds could ever imagine, something that could kill an entire army and that could kill her also if she used it.'
Haldir listened to Siward's words with great attention. His blue eyes sparkled when he remembered the conversation between Haleth and Varin that he had overheard. So this is what they have talked about. 'What kind of power?'
Siward swallowed hard, his face becoming dangerously pale when the images of the blood and destruction that he had witnessed returned to his mind. He could almost feel the bitter taste of fear in his tongue.
'I can't tell you, Haldir. The simple memory of it makes my blood go cold. I do not wish to speak of this.'
Haldir's gaze fell on the immobile female figure that stood silently with her back to him. How can this be? Such destruction hidden inside a simple woman? He had to know.
'Then could you explain to me, Siward,' he began, his voice sharp and direct, 'how a mortal woman can have this power you have told me about within her? You said to me once that her father had sent her to live in Imladris. Lord Elrond does not accept a human guest without a purpose, all Elves know this. Did he know about her power?'
Siward didn't speak. In his place Haleth's soft voice arose. Her anger had risen to a point that made her eyes shine brown. She hated having her secret revealed and Haldir's disbelief filled her with a sudden fury. As if the fact that she was mortal and female made this scenario impossible to him.
'Yes, Lord Elrond knew. That is why he talked my father into letting me live there, under the always-watchful Elven eyes.' She walked slowly toward Haldir and Siward, her now brown eyes dueling with the Elf's blue gaze. 'However, the extent of what Lord Elrond knew about my condition, is not known to me. He told me that I was human, but that my powers came from a time when the Gods walked among your race and mine. How this happened, I don't know either. Maybe I would have if you, Elves, stopped talking in riddles. Is it enough information for you, Haldir?'
Haldir nodded, his brow softly furrowed at Haleth's suddenly harsh words. 'It is enough… For now.' He then fell silent, trying to understand what just happened. Why is she so angered at me? he asked himself. He could sense the sarcasm in her voice, the hate in her eyes and the fury surrounding her body like a mantle. However, he still did not comprehend her behavior. Without a thought, merely by habit, Haldir shot her a glance full of his arrogance and aloofness, further deepening her fury.
How dare he? Haleth asked herself. She stood tall and almost as arrogant as Haldir, trying to match his infuriating demeanor. 'Good. Then you can leave Siward and me alone. Next time you walk into our conversation and treat me as if I were one of your wardens, I'm going to have you arrested for the rest of the journey. You can be the March Warden in the Golden Woods, but here you are a soldier under my orders and I demand your respect.'
Siward's eyes widened in amazement. He didn't expect that unexplained outburst coming from her, almost always so calm. The Man looked at the receptor of her scolding with concern in his eyes. The Elf was irradiating an inner glow that seemed to escalate within his anger.
Haldir stepped closer to Haleth and Siward watched him carefully, fearing for his commander's well being. 'I understand the reason for such temperamental outburst. It is common among you Men, who can not control your anger.'
Haleth clenched her fist in fury, feeling completely offended. 'So is it a mortal behavior?' she asked, her eyes blazing with fury. 'If I can remember well, Haldir, Fëanor was the one who drove his people away from Valinor, killed his own race, brought the Valars' wrath upon them and cursed the Elves only because Morgoth had stolen his stupid silmarils. Who is temperamental now?'
How dare she? Haldir's lips parted slightly, as if he were going to say something, and closed again. The flash of hatred that illuminated his eyes made Siward flinch. The Man decided to interfere, before the Elven warrior killed his beloved commander.
'The point still remains the same: she will die if she uses it.'
Siward looked from the Elf to the woman, filled with worry. Their anger was almost palpable in their locked eyes and seemed to heat the freezing nocturnal air. Haleth then tore her gaze from Haldir and turned her attention to Siward.
'There is no point, Siward. Elves were meant to live forever. Are they afraid of life? No. Men were meant to die. Am I afraid of death? I shouldn't be, but I am. I have seen the White Shores more times than I can count, I am a warrior! Yet I am terrified! Of course I don't want to die, but if I have to, as it is the case now, let me do it and stop trying to convince me otherwise. This is already too hard for me without you pointing out that I should not fucking die! As if I was some kind of lunatic! I don't want to hear anything about this anymore. We leave tomorrow at first light. For now, I'll be at the pond if you need me.'
With these words she walked past the two males without a second glance at their shocked faces.
Siward looked worriedly at her retreating back. 'But the water is freezing cold!' He shouted at her.
Without turning back, she shouted back. 'I don't give a damn about it right now, Siward!' And disappeared among the trees.
H&H&H&H
Haleth walked through the trees, her body trembling with cold and anger. When she finally reached the pond, she sat on its bank, drawing her knees closer to herself. She admired the beautiful view in front of her. The calm water reflected the stars and the moon in the sky, forming a celestial mirror. It was a sight so different from the turmoil inside of her… Haleth rested her chin on her knees, her chest aching painfully. There was a knot in her throat and the back of her eyes burnt, wanting to release their tears, but she would not allow them to fall. It had been humiliating enough to tell them about her fears and Haleth did not want to cry.
She missed her father so much now. She felt confused and alone. He was not with her anymore, to support and encourage her decisions. To show her the right paths she should take and those that she should not. And now, when she had to decide to sacrifice her own life, she couldn't call for his council. Siward was a good friend, but he often used his heart instead of his head when the subject matter was her own safety. She couldn't count on his opinion on this, for it was not a reliable source.
Was her decision right? She didn't know. And Haldir, whom she thought that she could trust to use his superior rationale, was more worried about her divine power than with the fact that she was going to die. Maybe this is the reason why he is here; to keep an eye on the monster and report everything I do to his superiors.
A cold breeze made Haleth shiver. How long she had been seating there, she didn't know. Maybe hours. Haleth took her gloves off and touched the water of the dark pond. Her touch made its surface ripple, blurring the reflection of the sky. It is freezing or not? she thought sarcastically. Despite her dislike in not cleaning herself, she wouldn't risk a bath, or she would die before planned. When the surface became undisturbed once more, Haldir's reflection surged behind her on the natural mirror and startled her. What the… She hadn't felt him approach, so lost she was in thought. Haleth jumped to her feet and turned around to face him.
'What are you doing here?'
She is still furious, this stubborn woman! Haldir thought when he sensed the waves of anger that came from Haleth's female form. He had spent most of the night wondering if he should talk to her. When his ire subsided and he judged her reactions using his logical mind, he learnt that she had attacked him because she felt trapped and frightened. He admonished himself the whole night for his lack of consideration toward her, and he needed to do something about it.
That is why he came after the female warrior. A woman that had shown to care for him so deeply at the point of losing her focus in battle and that was brave enough to face her fears and do what she had to, deserved his apologies. And he would apologize. If his arrogant self let him, though.
'You should not test my patience, human. After what you told me, I would love to throw you on my knees and beat you until you could not sit for a week.' Haldir's eyes sparkled with a cold light in the night at that thought, his body glowing in the darkness. His gaze was piercing and he was amazed that Haleth was able to stand it without turning away.
'Only this?' She replied while she mimicked him and lifted her eyebrow. 'I thought you were going to kill me. I am disappointed.'
'I think that is Wilrog's duty.'
They both fell silent at his harsh words. Haldir cursed himself for speaking without thinking. He looked at her offended face and for the first time realized by the color of her lips that she was cold. Completely forgetting about his dry remark, Haldir pulled off his Elven cloak and put it around her, fastening it. His care for the mortal woman was like a warm hand caressing his hard heart and making his arrogance disappear as quickly as it had come.
'I do not want you to die of cold, nor in that brat's hands. There must be another way.'
Haleth narrowed her eyes at him, shocked by his actions. They did not make sense after his previous display of aloofness toward her.
'Did you not listen to Siward's words?' she asked harshly. 'There is no other way. And what do you care anyway? Spies do not befriend their subjects. Especially when the subject is a monster.' Haleth stressed the word monster sarcastically much to Haldir's chagrin.
Haldir looked at her, surprised by her choice of words. So that is what she thought his opinion was of her? That she was a monster?
Haldir sighed. 'An enigma, yes. A monster… No, Belegaer.' He told her softly, his musical voice trailing through the air.
'Then why are you here if not to watch the monster and prevent it from doing something foolish?'
Haldir stepped closer to the woman in front of him, placing his hands on her shoulders. She was still trembling with cold and he caressed her arms in an attempt to warm her tall figure.
'I had not known you were… different, until today. This is not my reason for being here, Belegaer.'
Haleth shook her head in denial, and then faced those piercing blue eyes that were so close to her. The movement of his hands was sending shrills of a kind of sensual warmth and Haleth felt slightly dizzy. She looked down, trying to keep her mind focused. When she thought that she had enough control of herself, she gazed at Haldir's handsome face once more. How does he affect me so? She wondered.
'If you did not know about my condition, then why are you here?' Haleth asked again quietly.
'Spies cannot tell their secrets, Belegaer, but I swear to you that my staying here in your army is for a good and not a bad reason.' Haldir looked at her straight in the eye, taking in the sight of that magnificent woman. 'However, I am afraid that if you still decide to fight Wilrog, in a few days I will have no reason left to be here. And I would have to return to Lothlórien with a heavier heart.'
Haldir noticed how close he was from this woman, but he didn't withdraw. While he caressed Haleth's face with his hand, tracing her beautiful features, he took in the imperfections that made her so exquisite. Once more he noticed the faint scar on her cheek, probably made by a sword blade, and he wished that he had been there to stop the attacker who dared to harm her skin.
Yes, stop, I need to stop, he admonished himself, but he couldn't. Nor did he want to. This woman exerted a pull over him so strong that he couldn't understand. Haleth's intelligence, courage and willful mind enchanted Haldir more than he could believe. His fingers traced her brow, her cheeks and fell on her full lips. Stop! Haleth smiled softly at the touch of his hand and that was his undoing.
'Belegaer…' He whispered before his lips descended on hers in a demanding kiss.
When Haleth realized his mouth was covering hers, she completely forgot who she was, her duties, her worries… She could only feel his tongue parting her lips and seeking her own. Oh Gods… Haleth couldn't think. Her slender but lightly muscled arms twined around Haldir's neck reflexively, returning his kiss with passion. His strong heartbeat was pounding wildly against her chest and she let herself mold against his arms.
A soft moan escaped her lips and she felt Haldir smirk against her, still the haughty Elf. So powerful, so strong, so real... she thought. The fact that he was an Eldar, however, didn't even cross her mind; she was too intoxicated in his inebriating scent to consider his race or anything. So, she just got lost. In his strength, in the soft touch of his lips, in the feel of his body moving against hers.
Valar, Haleth, you taste so good… Haldir was there to offer comfort, not to touch; to offer counsel, not to desire; to offer friendly support, and not a lover's kiss. However, he couldn't stop himself. There she was, Commander Haleth, the Golden Mask, the leader of Men, melting in his arms, and if it were not for the hold he had on her, Haldir was sure she would collapse on the ground. His kiss was deep, exploring and breathtaking, but his mind still tried to rein him... For only a while.
Whatever rationality he still had inside of him, and that begged for him to stop, was entirely forgotten when Haleth's fingers grazed the back of his neck. A shiver ran down his spine and Haldir almost gasped into her mouth. You will be my undoing, woman… He tightened the powerful hold he had on her waist and drew her even closer to him. His hands were wrapped around her savage curls, giving her no chance for escaping.
As if she wanted to.
Lost in the overload of sensations, Haldir stopped thinking completely. He only felt, something he had never done before. His mind's pleas for him to stop died when other parts of his body were taken over by his aroused state and he gasped, like one who drowns and finally finds air to breathe. Haldir and Haleth's breaths, warm in the cold air, mingled in a shallow smoke when the Elf rested his forehead on hers.
Haldir opened his eyes slowly, darkened with lust, and met two black pools gazing at him. He didn't want to let that moment go. The blue orbs were completely focused on the woman who was panting in his arms and he knew, while he held her, that he wouldn't let her die. Never, If I had the power to do it.
The sun began to rise in the horizon, and Haldir realized that their morning spar in the pre dawn had been entirely forgotten. That day it had been replaced by a different kind of duel. I cannot decide which one I like the most, he mused. After a moment of silence, Haldir kissed Haleth one last time, a soft graze of their lips, and then stepped away from her. He got his cloak back and fastened it around his neck. Now it smells like you, my dear mortal. Haldir took her hand in his and kissed it.
'I wanted you to know, Belegaer, that you are not alone in this.' Haldir grinned at her when he listened to the heavy sound of footsteps closing in. 'And I am not speaking only for myself.'
With those words he left, leaving Haleth standing alone at the pond, still breathless and flushed, with the first rays of the sun illuminating her tall figure. Haleth couldn't put her thoughts in order, nor did she want to. She only knew that somehow she felt stronger and more confident.
"Hal, are you still there?"
Siward's shout startled Haleth. When she turned her face toward his voice, she already found her friend a few paces from her, holding a steaming pan of water.
Haleth smiled. "What is this?"
"A warm bath!" Seyton said while he surged among the trees carrying two other pots of hot water.
Siward put his burden on the ground and took Haleth's hands in this.
"I owe you an apology for last night and this was the best thing I could come up with," the Man informed her with a shy smile on his face. "Do you accept it?"
You are so loyal, my friend, that it hurts. Haleth touched Siward's face tenderly, hoping that he would not notice the flush that she still crept on her cheeks. "Of course I accept your apologies, Siward."
Siward smiled broadly. "Then sit down, so I can wash your hair. I'll leave you to clean the rest of yourself when I'm finished."
Haleth did as told and sighed contentedly at Siward's careful massage on her scalp. Once in a while she stole a quick glance toward the woods, searching for the Elf. His kisses were still fresh in her mind because of the suddenness of how it had happened. The strength of his desire for her had frightened Haleth, but now she was worried about a more trivial thing: would he have done this out of pity for her? She hoped not, because Haleth had felt like the most powerful and cherished woman on Arda in that brief moment of passion, something that had nothing to do with pity.
H&H&H&H
After having her bath, Haleth ate some dry meat with cold water and went back to the camp, her eyes looking for Haldir instantly. The tents had already been dismantled, the Men were going about their chores, but the Elf was nowhere to be seen. Haleth looked at the faces of the soldiers in front of her.
Some were almost as young as she, while others had already seen many winters, but no matter their age they respected and honored her despite her gender. They trust me, and I cannot fail them, Haleth thought. She climbed on Dernhelm's back, Tuo and Maranwë firmly held on her belt. Her powerful gaze was still focused on their expectant faces when she spoke.
"Soldiers of Gondor, today we ride to battle!" her voice was clear and filled with raw determination. "We go to the Field of Celebrant, and our target is Wilrog's army! It is time for us to put an end to the horrors they have unleashed upon our people!" All of the men shouted in agreement at her words. Haleth's face darkened. "Once I called him husband, but today I call him traitor and slave of Sauron's will! Now, my fierce warriors, we ride until we reach his army and we won't stop until we have made our swords feast in all their dark blood! To the Field and to his doom!" Haleth raised Tuo over her head and all her soldiers did the same, shouting in excitement. Their thrill was overwhelming and Haleth felt her chest swell with this emotion. She put on her mask that shone golden in the morning sun.
When she gave the sign for all the soldiers to mount, Haleth felt Haldir's strong presence beside Siward, his blue eyes fiercely focused on her. So here you are, Spy… She smiled softly at him, a gesture that was rewarded with his expressionless face, but the Elf's gleaming eye.
Flanked by her dearest friends, Haleth, heart wildly pumping in her chest, left toward the only thing she didn't want to meet: her death in the hands of Wilrog.
H&H&H&H
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