Disclaimer:
All recognizable characters and places belong to Tolkien, the rest are my creation. No copyright infringements are intended; this story was written purely for entertainment and no money is being made off it.
Feedback: LadyoftheRings35@hotmail.com
Rating: PG-13 for some violence and apprehensive situations.
Summary:
When a young Ranger comes to stay with the Elves of Lothlórien and is accused of taking an irreplaceable crystal, Haldir must decide if she is working for the Enemy—or for some deeper purpose.
Series:
None
Spoilers:
None
A/N: Wow, you guys have been such great reviewers! I really appreciate all of your comments!
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Daughter of the Dúnedain
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Chapter Five
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Haldir woke up slowly, willing his body to heal as he tried to open his eyes. He felt a protest all the way down to his toes as pain shot through his head. Even his ear tips ached. Slowly he raised a hand to his temple and felt across his forehead until his fingers touched the crusted blood on the back of his head. Rolling over he tried to sit up, and it was then he realized he was bound hand and foot, and there was a gag in his mouth. Blinking away the dizziness that remained, he sat up, trying to understand where he had been taken and why he did not realize it.
Of course, he thought a second later. We're near to the southern border. I have rarely been to the southern border except a few times…and oh how I now regret that I did not come more often. I am unfamiliar with this area, and it gives my enemy an advantage over me.
"So, you're finally awake," said an amused voice.
Haldir blinked in shock as Hithlim bent over him, smiling gently. "Hithlim, untie me, quickly! Mîdhlim is hurt, we need…" the words died on his lips as Hithlim neither moved nor spoke, that strange little smile still playing across the Ranger's face.
Haldir's face darkened with anger, but his voice was perfectly calm. "What was to be your prize, Hithlim?"
Hithlim laughed. "You catch on quick, elf. Actually, my prize was you. I wanted you. At first I just wanted to kill you—I was hoping those fires would spread and destroy most of the city, and no one would notice if one more elf disappeared…and those hit men? Hired by me of course. Using these wonderful crystals of yours, I managed to sneak them past the borders of Lórien. It was only later I realized that capturing a live elf for my employer might prove more…interesting; especially if that elf was one of the Wardens of Lothlórien. Using—persuasive methods, we could obtain some very interesting information from you." He motioned to the very still form of Mîdhlim lying face down on the ground. "My stupid cousin has always been a problem. She realized several years ago that I turned her little sister over to the Enemy because of her ties to the descendants of Isildur, and that the girl hadn't just died in that ambush. I threatened to kill the girl if she wasn't silent. She begged me to let her go, but of course that just made me realize how much of a hold her sister Menel had over her. So I attacked Laegheneb while she stole the crystals, under the impression that I would let her sister go after I got them."
Haldir remembered something Rúmil had mentioned to him about Mîdhlim's strange actions, of motion towards the sky when she had been captured. And Menel, of course, means sky. She must have known that the elves of Lórien and the Rangers keep close contact with each other, Haldir realized. She was trying to tell us her sister was in danger.
"And Rúmil?" Haldir was trying to sound casual but his anger was beginning to break through his calm exterior.
"Rúmil? That idiot?" Haldir struggled to stay calm. "I tried to kill him, but you elves don't die as easily as I would like…such a shame."
"So what happens now?"
"I take you back with me to Mordor."
"And the girl?" Haldir motioned to Mîdhlim.
Hithlim shrugged. "I'll kill her."
Mîdhlim dragged herself upright then. She was pale and bloody, but her wound appeared to have been bound and she was no longer bleeding. "Please, Hithlim," she said, her voice weak. "Please let her go…she's just a child…"
"Oh, did I forget to mention?" Hithlim's looked down at Mîdhlim and grinned cruelly. "Did I forget to mention she's dead?"
Mîdhlim stared at him in horror. "NO!" she shouted, surging to her feet in a last desperate struggle. Hithlim punched her solidly in her wounded side. She bit her lip and suppressed a scream, falling back to her knees. Slowly, tantalizingly, Hithlim drew a long, slender dagger from his belt and grabbed Mîdhlim, dragging her upright by her hair and exposing her throat. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I hurt your feelings? Your pretty sister squealed so much when she saw my coming for her…pretty little thing, you know. So pretty." He ran the flat of the cold knife across Mîdhlim's throat several times, bending until his lips brushed against her ears, watching with pleasure as she squirmed in agitation. "Just as pretty as you are ugly. So say bye-bye to Haldir. It's time you get to see your sister."
Mîdhlim looked up at Hithlim, unshed tears sparkling in her eyes. "You won't get away with this," she said with conviction.
"Maybe," he laughed, and motioned to Haldir. "But I got what I came for. And you got what you had coming. So we're all happy, right?" Without warning, he plunged the knife deep into her chest.
Mîdhlim would have screamed from the pain exploding and radiating from the wound. Her head spun wildly and she felt herself dying as her body hit the grass. Warm blood trickled down her chest.
Hithlim was many things. He was a murderer, a liar, a thief, a sick man, and above all else he was human. He had no idea what the Elven race was capable when their patience broke.
And Haldir's had just broken.
Silent as a hunter and twice as dangerous he burst his bounds, grabbed Hithlim from behind and threw him to the ground. Hithlim's eyes widened and he struck Haldir across the face. Haldir's foot connected with his chin and Hithlim sank to the ground, dazed. He felt deceptively slender fingers tighten about his throat, and air was suddenly cut off. Frantically he clawed at the elf's face without reaction. Slowly he sank into unconsciousness.
Haldir stood once the man was unconscious, and then bound him quickly before turning to Mîdhlim. Her eyes were closed and she hardly breathed.
Kneeling he gathered the dying girl into his arms and wretched the knife free. Blood stained his pale hands as he tried to bind the wound; but she had lost so much blood already. He knew there was no hope for her.
Gently he held her in his lap, and rocked her. She deserves a better death than this, Haldir thought as he cradled her, trying to make her last moments as painless as possible. "Just a child," he said aloud sadly.
Mîdhlim's eyes fluttered open. "Haldir?" she whispered.
"I'm here, do not worry, I am here."
"I'm going to die."
Haldir stroked her cheek with willowy fingers. "You're very weak, Mîdhlim," he said gently.
"I am going to die." Tears filled her eyes. "I wouldn't mind so much…dying. But Menel is dead…my sister, I couldn't save her." She was too weak to sob but Haldir saw the anguish in her face.
"You did what you had to do," Haldir said, trying to keep his voice steady for her sake. "You didn't have a choice; I hold you in no blame."
"But I hurt Laegheneb," she whispered, her voice growing faint, beginning to pant for breath.
"No, your cousin did that, little one. You can't take blame for something like that—it wasn't your fault. Never believe it was."
"I'm scared, Haldir. I don't want to die."
Haldir had to brush a tear from her cheek. "You don't have to be afraid, Mîdhlim. I'm right here."
"But we all die alone. You can't come with me."
Haldir smiled through his tears at her wisdom. "No, little one, I can't."
"Do…do you know that song 'Hallelujah'?"
"Yes," Haldir answered gently, calming her by running his hand lightly over her hair. "Yes, I know that song."
"Would…would you sing it to me?"
Haldir swallowed his pain and nodded. "Of course, little one. Shh, don't be afraid, it's all right. No one can hurt you where you're going…you will see your sister again, you will be safe, and have peace." Tears slid down his cheeks freely, but he didn't care as he lifted his sweet, piecing voice through the trees.
I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this; the forth, the fifth!
The minor fault, the major lift
The baffled king composed in, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah…
He felt her being to relax in his arms and he continued, stroking her lightly with one hand as darkness fell on the woods and the birds hushed themselves to listen to the sweet words.
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty in the moonlight over threw you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, halleluiah, hallelujah…
Mîdhlim's breathing became ragged, and her eyes opened wide in fear. He bent over her, singing soothing to her, calming her with a gentle hand on her head and face, assuring her that he was still there, that he wouldn't leave her.
Child I've been here before
I know this room I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble lodge
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, halleluiah, hallelujah…
She caught his hand and held it tightly, fear burning in her eyes. His eyes were full of sorrow as he sang, and mortality was a bitter taste in his mouth.
There was a time you let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dark was moving too
And every breath we drew was hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, halleluiah, hallelujah…
Maybe there's a god above
And all I've ever learned from love
Is how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
It's not a cry you can hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, halleluiah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah…
*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*
It's not the end, not quite anyway. The song "Hallelujah" was taken from the Shrek soundtrack, and is sung by Rufus Wainwright; I do not own it and I do not pretend to. It is copyright its respected owners.
argh, forgot to mention this:
Hithlim=misty light
Menel=sky