I do not own The Lord of the Rings or its characters.
Page 16
The pace of Haldir's company quickened as the golden woods of Lothlorien came into view. How good it was to near home at last. After so may weeks on the open plains, the trees beckoned to them like the open arms of a mother to her child. Haldir's heart soared with joy as they crossed the Nimrodel and made for Caras Galadhon along the trail he knew as well as his own hand or heart. And he knew his heart now; he was coming home to claim his love as well.
A horn sounded as the gates of the city were opened to them; word had gone ahead of their coming, and Celeborn was at the gate to welcome them. Haldir bowed low before him, then presented to him gifts from the Lord of the Mark - great steeds of Rohan, and from Elessar - a fruit of the Eldest of Trees from the Court of the Fountain in Minas Tirith.
"Welcome home, good company of Lorien. I see that your fair undertaking has been well received, and I am greatly pleased. Repair with us now to the Hall, where you may tell us the full tale of your journey, and afterward put into song the stories of such fine days as these between elves and men." Yet as the others made way to follow their lord's words, Celeborn held Haldir aside. Remaining with him were Orophin, and Rumil, and Serwen.
"There is a matter of great importance to speak of before we hear your portion of the tale, my friend. I see from your eyes that your heart has found its home at last."
"Yes, my lord," Haldir said happily, "Kalin is my heart, come what will. I would bind myself to her." As he looked at each of them in turn, the foreboding he had felt at the departure of Malach returned to cloud his joy. "Yet, I see that she has not come with Serwen to greet us as I hoped, nor do I see her friend. Is she not well then?"
"She is well. In fact, to our great gladness, her vision returned to her not long after you left. But she has gone from us, Haldir, not yet two days past, with Malach. They make for Enedwaith."
"This cannot be!" Haldir cried out, looking in shock at Celeborn. Did she not love him, then, to leave Lorien at the first opportunity, with her sight returned and her friend to accompany her? "We were to speak upon my safe return; it was my promise to her. She would not leave without speaking to me, even if it were to say farewell!"
She has gone, Haldir," Celeborn repeated, reaching out to steady Haldir and behoding with sadness the light fade from his eyes. "Yet, do not grieve, for all is not yet lost. Serwen and your brothers have much to tell that you will need to hear. Listen to them. After," and here he caught and held Haldir's unfocused gaze with his own steady one, "you have my leave to do whatever you feel you must."
Haldir walked slowly away from them. Gone was his intense, piercing gaze, his proud bearing. Serwen turned worried eyes on Orophin. She had never seen this dear elf in such pain. Seldom even in her long years had she witnessed pure joy turn to such heartbreaking grief. As if in a trance, Haldir walked to Galadriel's glade and stopped by the bench to stare, motionless, into the sparkling stream. Autumn leaves blanketed the bench and the clearing, rustling in the cool breeze. Floating twigs caught in bunches on the edges of the stream bed, the water pushing them along. Serwen and the brothers had accompanied Haldir silently and unheeded, and now stood by his side.
"Haldir." Orophin began.
"Leave me," he whispered so low that they could barely make out his words.
"No, we will not leave you. You must hear us, dear brother."
Haldir closed his eyes as if to block out Orophin's voice, but he did not protest.
"I spoke to Kalin before she took her leave of Celeborn, as did Serwen. She came to me because the man Malach told her you would become mortal if you loved her. This she said she could not bear to have you do. Haldir, she left because of her love for you, though it broke her heart to go."
Dully, Haldir raised his gaze from the water, his eyes focusing finally on Orophin's.
"Haldir, you know in your heart that you mean the world to Kalin," Serwen said softly. "Will you come to her talan with us? There is something there that you need to see."
* * * * *
"Go on," coaxed Rumil at the base of the tree. "We will wait for you here."
Haldir reached out to touch the rope ladder to Kalin's talan. After a pause in which the three held their breath, silently willing him on, he grasped the ladder and climbed up. Emerging at the top, Haldir looked painfully around the talan, its bare furniture now empty of Kalin's few personal possessions, stray leaves wandering aimlessly across the floor in the breeze. Closing his eyes, he imagined the last time he had seen her there, from below, in her golden dress, throwing flowers from her hair onto the ground, radiant in the moonlight. Why was he torturing himself by coming here now, to this empty, chilly room? What did Serwen want of him? Opening his eyes once more, he saw that the room was not entirely empty. There on the bed lay a package, tied in golden-green cord, a lone gull feather in the knot shivering in the breeze.
Dropping his bow, Haldir went to the bed and drew out from beneath the knot a folded piece of parchment, which he opened carefully. There on the paper, in, flowing script, he read:
Dearest: I pray you, forgive me for leaving you like this. It is for the best. There can be no bridge between us - the price for you would be too great. Be well, my watchkeeper of trees. A glorious destiny awaits you among your people. You will find your soul mate, your elf, and be happy for lifetimes unnumbered. Know this, for me there will be no other. Though I will perish, my love for you cannot die. I will look up each night at the moon in the cradle of the stars, and remember. Namarie, Kalin
With shaking hands, Haldir opened the package. Inside was fabric of the most brilliant sky blue, the color of the standards of Lorien. Unfolding it and holding it up, he saw that it was a cloak, of finest weave and weight that flowed like silver, and silver were its edges. At the throat was a silver clasp, a leaf upon which was a single silver setting. Haldir ran his thumb over the stone set within, two hemispheres set as one, moonstone and lapis. As he looked closer at the fabric, turning it this way and that in the slanting afternoon sun, he could just make out a pattern that seemed to swirl over its surface. Spreading the cloak out on the bed, he closed his eyes and ran his hands tenderly over its surface. At first confused at the textures that played beneath his fingers, after a time he perceived a repeating, curving pattern that terminated each time in a complicated swirl of texture. Finally, realization dawning, he fell to his knees, an anguished cry escaping from deep within his soul. It was waterfalls, cascading down the folds of the cloak, over and over. The waterfall where he had held her when she had cried; the waterfall, he now knew, where Kalin had captured his heart.
Hearing Haldir cry out, Serwen and Orophin ran up the ladder in fear. Orophin looked helplessly at Haldir. His brother had always been the strong one, and he did not know what to do for him. But Serwen walked purposefully over to him, knelt beside him, and took him in her arms. "Listen to me, march warden," she said sternly, "and heed my words. Love is the greatest of all things. Over it, time holds no sway. You and Kalin are meant to be together, whether for a day or for an eternity. Now look in my hand and tell me what you see."
Haldir took Serwen's hand in his and gazed at its contents in wonder. "It is the Star of Galadriel, which she ofttimes wore on her brow. Did the Lady of Light give you such a gift, Serwen, when she departed for the West?"
"No, she gave it to me in safekeeping for you."
"I do not understand."
"Yes, Haldir, you do. The Lady saw many things in her Mirror that might come to pass. Of this thing she was given the Grace to be sure of. But only you can make it come to pass, that Kalin will wear this on her brow on your wedding day. But you must also know that Malach Galadriel also saw in her mirror, and feared for Kalin, though she would not tell me why."
Hope returning to Haldir, he stood and pulled Serwen up with him, closing her hand around the shining jewel. "Keep this in your care for me a while longer, Serwen." Sweeping the blue cloak from the bed and clasping it at his throat, he retrieved his bow swiftly from the floor. Turning with resolve to Orophin, Haldir's eyes now held a murderous flame that Orophin had never seen in his brother, even in battle.
"Where is Rumil?" he demanded in a hard voice.
"With Celeborn, saddling three horses of Rohan. Rumil and I are coming with you."
Page 16
The pace of Haldir's company quickened as the golden woods of Lothlorien came into view. How good it was to near home at last. After so may weeks on the open plains, the trees beckoned to them like the open arms of a mother to her child. Haldir's heart soared with joy as they crossed the Nimrodel and made for Caras Galadhon along the trail he knew as well as his own hand or heart. And he knew his heart now; he was coming home to claim his love as well.
A horn sounded as the gates of the city were opened to them; word had gone ahead of their coming, and Celeborn was at the gate to welcome them. Haldir bowed low before him, then presented to him gifts from the Lord of the Mark - great steeds of Rohan, and from Elessar - a fruit of the Eldest of Trees from the Court of the Fountain in Minas Tirith.
"Welcome home, good company of Lorien. I see that your fair undertaking has been well received, and I am greatly pleased. Repair with us now to the Hall, where you may tell us the full tale of your journey, and afterward put into song the stories of such fine days as these between elves and men." Yet as the others made way to follow their lord's words, Celeborn held Haldir aside. Remaining with him were Orophin, and Rumil, and Serwen.
"There is a matter of great importance to speak of before we hear your portion of the tale, my friend. I see from your eyes that your heart has found its home at last."
"Yes, my lord," Haldir said happily, "Kalin is my heart, come what will. I would bind myself to her." As he looked at each of them in turn, the foreboding he had felt at the departure of Malach returned to cloud his joy. "Yet, I see that she has not come with Serwen to greet us as I hoped, nor do I see her friend. Is she not well then?"
"She is well. In fact, to our great gladness, her vision returned to her not long after you left. But she has gone from us, Haldir, not yet two days past, with Malach. They make for Enedwaith."
"This cannot be!" Haldir cried out, looking in shock at Celeborn. Did she not love him, then, to leave Lorien at the first opportunity, with her sight returned and her friend to accompany her? "We were to speak upon my safe return; it was my promise to her. She would not leave without speaking to me, even if it were to say farewell!"
She has gone, Haldir," Celeborn repeated, reaching out to steady Haldir and behoding with sadness the light fade from his eyes. "Yet, do not grieve, for all is not yet lost. Serwen and your brothers have much to tell that you will need to hear. Listen to them. After," and here he caught and held Haldir's unfocused gaze with his own steady one, "you have my leave to do whatever you feel you must."
Haldir walked slowly away from them. Gone was his intense, piercing gaze, his proud bearing. Serwen turned worried eyes on Orophin. She had never seen this dear elf in such pain. Seldom even in her long years had she witnessed pure joy turn to such heartbreaking grief. As if in a trance, Haldir walked to Galadriel's glade and stopped by the bench to stare, motionless, into the sparkling stream. Autumn leaves blanketed the bench and the clearing, rustling in the cool breeze. Floating twigs caught in bunches on the edges of the stream bed, the water pushing them along. Serwen and the brothers had accompanied Haldir silently and unheeded, and now stood by his side.
"Haldir." Orophin began.
"Leave me," he whispered so low that they could barely make out his words.
"No, we will not leave you. You must hear us, dear brother."
Haldir closed his eyes as if to block out Orophin's voice, but he did not protest.
"I spoke to Kalin before she took her leave of Celeborn, as did Serwen. She came to me because the man Malach told her you would become mortal if you loved her. This she said she could not bear to have you do. Haldir, she left because of her love for you, though it broke her heart to go."
Dully, Haldir raised his gaze from the water, his eyes focusing finally on Orophin's.
"Haldir, you know in your heart that you mean the world to Kalin," Serwen said softly. "Will you come to her talan with us? There is something there that you need to see."
* * * * *
"Go on," coaxed Rumil at the base of the tree. "We will wait for you here."
Haldir reached out to touch the rope ladder to Kalin's talan. After a pause in which the three held their breath, silently willing him on, he grasped the ladder and climbed up. Emerging at the top, Haldir looked painfully around the talan, its bare furniture now empty of Kalin's few personal possessions, stray leaves wandering aimlessly across the floor in the breeze. Closing his eyes, he imagined the last time he had seen her there, from below, in her golden dress, throwing flowers from her hair onto the ground, radiant in the moonlight. Why was he torturing himself by coming here now, to this empty, chilly room? What did Serwen want of him? Opening his eyes once more, he saw that the room was not entirely empty. There on the bed lay a package, tied in golden-green cord, a lone gull feather in the knot shivering in the breeze.
Dropping his bow, Haldir went to the bed and drew out from beneath the knot a folded piece of parchment, which he opened carefully. There on the paper, in, flowing script, he read:
Dearest: I pray you, forgive me for leaving you like this. It is for the best. There can be no bridge between us - the price for you would be too great. Be well, my watchkeeper of trees. A glorious destiny awaits you among your people. You will find your soul mate, your elf, and be happy for lifetimes unnumbered. Know this, for me there will be no other. Though I will perish, my love for you cannot die. I will look up each night at the moon in the cradle of the stars, and remember. Namarie, Kalin
With shaking hands, Haldir opened the package. Inside was fabric of the most brilliant sky blue, the color of the standards of Lorien. Unfolding it and holding it up, he saw that it was a cloak, of finest weave and weight that flowed like silver, and silver were its edges. At the throat was a silver clasp, a leaf upon which was a single silver setting. Haldir ran his thumb over the stone set within, two hemispheres set as one, moonstone and lapis. As he looked closer at the fabric, turning it this way and that in the slanting afternoon sun, he could just make out a pattern that seemed to swirl over its surface. Spreading the cloak out on the bed, he closed his eyes and ran his hands tenderly over its surface. At first confused at the textures that played beneath his fingers, after a time he perceived a repeating, curving pattern that terminated each time in a complicated swirl of texture. Finally, realization dawning, he fell to his knees, an anguished cry escaping from deep within his soul. It was waterfalls, cascading down the folds of the cloak, over and over. The waterfall where he had held her when she had cried; the waterfall, he now knew, where Kalin had captured his heart.
Hearing Haldir cry out, Serwen and Orophin ran up the ladder in fear. Orophin looked helplessly at Haldir. His brother had always been the strong one, and he did not know what to do for him. But Serwen walked purposefully over to him, knelt beside him, and took him in her arms. "Listen to me, march warden," she said sternly, "and heed my words. Love is the greatest of all things. Over it, time holds no sway. You and Kalin are meant to be together, whether for a day or for an eternity. Now look in my hand and tell me what you see."
Haldir took Serwen's hand in his and gazed at its contents in wonder. "It is the Star of Galadriel, which she ofttimes wore on her brow. Did the Lady of Light give you such a gift, Serwen, when she departed for the West?"
"No, she gave it to me in safekeeping for you."
"I do not understand."
"Yes, Haldir, you do. The Lady saw many things in her Mirror that might come to pass. Of this thing she was given the Grace to be sure of. But only you can make it come to pass, that Kalin will wear this on her brow on your wedding day. But you must also know that Malach Galadriel also saw in her mirror, and feared for Kalin, though she would not tell me why."
Hope returning to Haldir, he stood and pulled Serwen up with him, closing her hand around the shining jewel. "Keep this in your care for me a while longer, Serwen." Sweeping the blue cloak from the bed and clasping it at his throat, he retrieved his bow swiftly from the floor. Turning with resolve to Orophin, Haldir's eyes now held a murderous flame that Orophin had never seen in his brother, even in battle.
"Where is Rumil?" he demanded in a hard voice.
"With Celeborn, saddling three horses of Rohan. Rumil and I are coming with you."