I do not own The Lord of the Rings or its characters.
Page 13
Kalin awoke to the sounds of a light breeze rustling through the trees, and birds singing. Fallen leaves and golden mallorn flowers in autumn's early morning sunlight made a moving pattern of light and dark on the tented ceiling of her talan. Kalin blinked.
"Kalin, wake up!" called Serwen excitedly from the talan's entrance. It is finished!"
"Serwen!" Kalin screamed, and Serwen rushed inside.
"What is wrong, my friend?" she asked fearfully as Kalin sprang out of bed and, gasping for breath over and over, turned in circles in the middle of the floor and then stared toward Serwen with a look of wide-eyed panic on her face.
Kalin, talk to me! What is the matter?"
"Serwen! I can see you!!!!!"
Serwen grabbed Kalin by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. Kalin stared back. "Serwen, you're beautiful!" Tears running down Serwen's face, she shoved Kalin out of her talan in her nightgown and herded her toward the healer's as fast as she could go.
Once outside, Kalin's mind could not at first take in all of the sights bombarding her from every direction. Serwen dragged her along at first with her eyes peeking out from behind her hands. By the time they reached the healer's, Kalin had dropped her hands and was drinking in the sight of all around her like a parched traveler desperate for water, afraid it would all be taken away again if she closed her eyes. Although her vision was still slightly dim, how beautiful, how wondrous beyond her mind's imaginings was Lothlorien! As vivid as Tirendils' descriptions had been, nothing could have prepared her for this. It took her breath away: The land, the elves themselves, luminous as though lit from within, the mallorn trees majestic and ancient. She could see now, just as she had felt when she first laid her hand on the bark of the tree so long ago with Aranel; the ageless wisdom permeating the very air as though it was itself a living, conscious thing.
The healer welcomed Kalin and Serwen inside. The familiar herbs were steeped, and Kalin once again felt the warm glow of the healer's touch entering her mind. "Either all of our efforts are being rewarded, Kalin, or your body is repairing most of the damage on its own," she said. "I believe your vision will continue to improve. Whether it will return completely to normal, only more time will tell. I want you here every day from now on, and we shall see."
"Won't Haldir have a surprise to greet him when he returns," said Serwen as they left the healer's talan. "And, you will be able to see him at last. He is rather handsome."
"Serwen, I don't need to see Haldir with my eyes to know he is beautiful. But I admit I will be overjoyed to see him at last. Now, will you come with me? I want to see everything and everyone!"
* * * * *
The council meeting in the pavilion of the Rohirrim had just concluded. Weary but of good cheer, the group was just taking their leave when Eomer asked Haldir to step aside with him for a moment. "There is a matter of no importance to the council that I wish to discuss with you," Eomer said, waiting for the others to depart. "There is a man here with our party that is not of Rohan. A group of our horsemen came upon him unconscious in the wilderness and brought him back to Edoras for care. For weeks he dwelt in a place somewhere between life and death. He has only recently awoken and been able to speak to us and to recover some of his strength. We brought him here with us, for when he learned the purpose of our journey he urgently asked to speak to the elves. He has given no explanation for this request, but he does not seem evil to us. He is waiting outside. Will you see him?"
"Where did your people find him?"
"To the south and west of here, just over the River Limlight."
"Yes, I will speak to this man," Haldir acquiesced.
Eomer motioned to his attendants. A moment later, a tall man, dark of hair and eyes and proud of bearing entered the tent, looking Haldir up and down as if evaluating an opponent. Haldir noted that the man would have appeared quite strong of build had he not been weakened from injury and inactivity. Haldir took an immediate dislike to him.
"I am Haldir of Lorien. What is your name, and what business do you seek with the elves?" Haldir asked, though he believed that he knew the answer to both questions.
"Lorien! So you are one of Tirendil's kin, and his tall tales are true after all?" Haldir recognized Kalin's slight accent at once.
Eomer stepped forward. "It would be courteous to answer the questions put to you before you ask your own."
"I meant no disrespect. I am Malach of Enedwaith. I was traveling in search of Lorien with a companion, when we were attacked not many days' journey from here. I was left for dead, it seems, but was rescued by these good people of Rohan. My companion's fate I know not. I only hope that by some turn of fortune she escaped unharmed. She is tall, with hair and eyes brown like my own. Her name is Kalin. Do you know of her?"
"We know of her," Haldir said reluctantly. "It appears her fate was not far different from your own. We found her some time ago, wandering near to our southern fences."
"Kalin is alive! But.she left me, to continue on?"
"She did not leave you," Haldir came quickly to Kalin's defense, "as one who is a true friend would know. She returned to search for you, then came to us for assistance when she could not find you. We returned to find the place of your attack, but searched for you in vain. Little did we know that Eomer's people had apparently discovered you first."
"Kalin led you back to find me?"
"No, she could not. She remained in Lorien, in our care. She dwells with us now."
Malach looked at Haldir in confusion. "She was harmed?"
"She is blind."
Malach sank to a chair and wiped his face with his hands. "You must take me to her immediately."
"You have no need to fear for her; she is well. When the council is concluded, you may accompany us back to Lothlorien to see her."
"It will be days before the council ends!" Malach exclaimed, standing. "I will go to her at once, with or without your aid."
"You would find it impossible to enter Lothlorien alive without an escort," said Haldir forcefully. How could this rude man be Kalin's best friend, Haldir wondered? Perhaps his misfortune had taken a toll on him. Haldir had seen hard times change people before. But would he be right in delaying Kalin the news that her friend was alive after all, when he could save her days of further sadness if he so chose?
"For Kalin's sake, you may leave today with my brother Rumil and another guard, who will lead you to our borders. There you shall await the judgement of the Lord of the Wood whether you may enter or nay, for rarely do we allow strangers to pass into our land, even in times of peace."
"You have my gratitude, Haldir, and Kalin's as well." Bowing, Malach left the pavilion.
Haldir took leave of Eomer and arranged the escort for Malach. Motioning his brother aside with a small signal, Haldir warned Rumil, "Watch this one, I do not entirely trust him."
"Understood."
With a strange sense of foreboding, Haldir watched them depart.
Page 13
Kalin awoke to the sounds of a light breeze rustling through the trees, and birds singing. Fallen leaves and golden mallorn flowers in autumn's early morning sunlight made a moving pattern of light and dark on the tented ceiling of her talan. Kalin blinked.
"Kalin, wake up!" called Serwen excitedly from the talan's entrance. It is finished!"
"Serwen!" Kalin screamed, and Serwen rushed inside.
"What is wrong, my friend?" she asked fearfully as Kalin sprang out of bed and, gasping for breath over and over, turned in circles in the middle of the floor and then stared toward Serwen with a look of wide-eyed panic on her face.
Kalin, talk to me! What is the matter?"
"Serwen! I can see you!!!!!"
Serwen grabbed Kalin by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. Kalin stared back. "Serwen, you're beautiful!" Tears running down Serwen's face, she shoved Kalin out of her talan in her nightgown and herded her toward the healer's as fast as she could go.
Once outside, Kalin's mind could not at first take in all of the sights bombarding her from every direction. Serwen dragged her along at first with her eyes peeking out from behind her hands. By the time they reached the healer's, Kalin had dropped her hands and was drinking in the sight of all around her like a parched traveler desperate for water, afraid it would all be taken away again if she closed her eyes. Although her vision was still slightly dim, how beautiful, how wondrous beyond her mind's imaginings was Lothlorien! As vivid as Tirendils' descriptions had been, nothing could have prepared her for this. It took her breath away: The land, the elves themselves, luminous as though lit from within, the mallorn trees majestic and ancient. She could see now, just as she had felt when she first laid her hand on the bark of the tree so long ago with Aranel; the ageless wisdom permeating the very air as though it was itself a living, conscious thing.
The healer welcomed Kalin and Serwen inside. The familiar herbs were steeped, and Kalin once again felt the warm glow of the healer's touch entering her mind. "Either all of our efforts are being rewarded, Kalin, or your body is repairing most of the damage on its own," she said. "I believe your vision will continue to improve. Whether it will return completely to normal, only more time will tell. I want you here every day from now on, and we shall see."
"Won't Haldir have a surprise to greet him when he returns," said Serwen as they left the healer's talan. "And, you will be able to see him at last. He is rather handsome."
"Serwen, I don't need to see Haldir with my eyes to know he is beautiful. But I admit I will be overjoyed to see him at last. Now, will you come with me? I want to see everything and everyone!"
* * * * *
The council meeting in the pavilion of the Rohirrim had just concluded. Weary but of good cheer, the group was just taking their leave when Eomer asked Haldir to step aside with him for a moment. "There is a matter of no importance to the council that I wish to discuss with you," Eomer said, waiting for the others to depart. "There is a man here with our party that is not of Rohan. A group of our horsemen came upon him unconscious in the wilderness and brought him back to Edoras for care. For weeks he dwelt in a place somewhere between life and death. He has only recently awoken and been able to speak to us and to recover some of his strength. We brought him here with us, for when he learned the purpose of our journey he urgently asked to speak to the elves. He has given no explanation for this request, but he does not seem evil to us. He is waiting outside. Will you see him?"
"Where did your people find him?"
"To the south and west of here, just over the River Limlight."
"Yes, I will speak to this man," Haldir acquiesced.
Eomer motioned to his attendants. A moment later, a tall man, dark of hair and eyes and proud of bearing entered the tent, looking Haldir up and down as if evaluating an opponent. Haldir noted that the man would have appeared quite strong of build had he not been weakened from injury and inactivity. Haldir took an immediate dislike to him.
"I am Haldir of Lorien. What is your name, and what business do you seek with the elves?" Haldir asked, though he believed that he knew the answer to both questions.
"Lorien! So you are one of Tirendil's kin, and his tall tales are true after all?" Haldir recognized Kalin's slight accent at once.
Eomer stepped forward. "It would be courteous to answer the questions put to you before you ask your own."
"I meant no disrespect. I am Malach of Enedwaith. I was traveling in search of Lorien with a companion, when we were attacked not many days' journey from here. I was left for dead, it seems, but was rescued by these good people of Rohan. My companion's fate I know not. I only hope that by some turn of fortune she escaped unharmed. She is tall, with hair and eyes brown like my own. Her name is Kalin. Do you know of her?"
"We know of her," Haldir said reluctantly. "It appears her fate was not far different from your own. We found her some time ago, wandering near to our southern fences."
"Kalin is alive! But.she left me, to continue on?"
"She did not leave you," Haldir came quickly to Kalin's defense, "as one who is a true friend would know. She returned to search for you, then came to us for assistance when she could not find you. We returned to find the place of your attack, but searched for you in vain. Little did we know that Eomer's people had apparently discovered you first."
"Kalin led you back to find me?"
"No, she could not. She remained in Lorien, in our care. She dwells with us now."
Malach looked at Haldir in confusion. "She was harmed?"
"She is blind."
Malach sank to a chair and wiped his face with his hands. "You must take me to her immediately."
"You have no need to fear for her; she is well. When the council is concluded, you may accompany us back to Lothlorien to see her."
"It will be days before the council ends!" Malach exclaimed, standing. "I will go to her at once, with or without your aid."
"You would find it impossible to enter Lothlorien alive without an escort," said Haldir forcefully. How could this rude man be Kalin's best friend, Haldir wondered? Perhaps his misfortune had taken a toll on him. Haldir had seen hard times change people before. But would he be right in delaying Kalin the news that her friend was alive after all, when he could save her days of further sadness if he so chose?
"For Kalin's sake, you may leave today with my brother Rumil and another guard, who will lead you to our borders. There you shall await the judgement of the Lord of the Wood whether you may enter or nay, for rarely do we allow strangers to pass into our land, even in times of peace."
"You have my gratitude, Haldir, and Kalin's as well." Bowing, Malach left the pavilion.
Haldir took leave of Eomer and arranged the escort for Malach. Motioning his brother aside with a small signal, Haldir warned Rumil, "Watch this one, I do not entirely trust him."
"Understood."
With a strange sense of foreboding, Haldir watched them depart.