Halbarad

And Aragorn said to Halbarad: "What is that you bear, kinsmen?"... "It is a gift that I bring you from the Lady of Rivendell," answered Halbarad.

(Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)

When he came to bid the lady farewell, he found her waiting for him in a pavilion. She had a staff in her hand, the standard at the top wounded tightly around the post. He could not see what the standard was, for a black cloth as dark as night bound it, with silver thongs holding the cloth in place.

"This I gift to my betrothed," Arwen said as she held out the standard for Halbarad to take. "I entrust it in your keeping, so that you may give it to him when your company joins his."

He took the post from her and looked at the lady. Arwen wore a dress made of rich green fabric, dyed in a colour so deep that Halbarad knew only Elves were capable of such mastery. Her hair was braided across her back, enmeshed in ribbons and white and golden gems that glittered in the light.

"I will protect with my life if I must," he vowed. "But it will go into the king's hand before the quest is done."

"I will hold you to your promise, Halbarad," Arwen said. She raised a hand and touched the wrapped standard, her long and pale fingers hovering lightly over the cloth. "I wove the standard myself, in hopes that it is carried to his battles. I cannot accompany you with a horse and a sword. But I can take part in another way. So let the enemy flee before it!"

"We will make sure the enemy fears this standard, my lady." Halbarad said. A call rose behind him. The men were ready and Halbarad bowed his head low before the lady in farewell. Then he gripped the post tightly and he turned away.

The next words Arwen spoke halted him briefly.

"Farewell, son of Man," Arwen called behind him. "I doubt we will meet again. But do not fear death! A man like you will be welcomed like a hero, or a good friend, to the halls of the departed."


Author's Note:

-Many thanks to my dear, dear readers who enjoy reading these scribblings as much as I enjoy writing them.

-Here, I wanted to play with the idea of how Halbarad and Arwen spoke to one another as she passed the standard to him.

-As an additional note, this story may have the complete status, but it is not complete. I have many, many and still many characters to explore. The complete sign is there, because a time may come when the updates are somewhat sporadic, depending upon how many 'scribblings' I have in store. ;)

-Many thanks to anons Lord Illyren and guest, as every piece of encouragement matters so much to a writer!