Title: Restless Souls
Author: Haldir of Lórien
Disclaimer: The world of Middle Earth and all it's characters (etc) do not belong to us and we claim no rights to, or make any money from them. The original characters -created for the purpose of role-play and other forms of amusement- are the property of the individual users (the character's creators) of our board.
Rating: R (due to possible language and violence)
Notes: Some characters may be a bit out of character. Also, there are original characters within this fic, made up by the RPG players. This is a fic written by more then one author at a Haldir RPG board. Please read and review. We are anxious to know what everyone thinks of the fic! The fic may be a little confusing for it jumps around a little between our characters, but we hope you enjoy it none the less.
Restless Souls
Chapter One: Restless Souls
"I believe there's a place where the restless souls wander. Burdened by the weight of their own sadness, they cannot enter the Havens. And so they wait, trapped between our world and the next, endlessly searching for a way to rid themselves of their pain -- in hopes that somehow, some day they will be reunited with the ones they love.
They say that time cancels pain. I don't know about that. Eight years ago I lost two of my best friends. Two thousand miles later in Lothlórien I find I'm still living in the past...Every night when I close my eyes the dreams come. That's how the dead talk to us, I guess. In the dark, when our souls are off wandering...
If people really love each other, nothing can keep them apart...Nothing."
Luhma sighed and sat back from her desk. She looked down at the pages in front of her for a moment, rereading what she had written. Her dreams were coming more frequently, and she did not know what to do with them. It had been days since she had last seen Haldir, for he was out guarding the borders. The only time she ever slept peacefully was when he was there to sleep beside her.
Hearing the soft sounds of footsteps outside of her room, she glanced toward the open door and saw one of her fellow handmaidens. The other Elf smiled at her softly, and she noticed for the very first time that she had met her how much she truly looked like Arwen. They had only met that day, but Luhma could tell that they would be great friends.
Luhma gestured for her to enter her room. "Please, come in," she said happily. "I have been in here too long by myself and would like some company."
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Falmarin was restless. Her recent days in Caras Galadhon had brought her no comfort. She longed to return to the border, to guard the woods and be among her friends. But word had come that Arwen was going to be returning to Lórien and her services would be needed. So she had returned to Caras Galadhon, and her own talan.
As she sat in her talan she wondered how long it would be before she could return to the border. Arwen was as close as a sister, but Falmarin was not particularly close to any other elf maids. Her years of service had made that necessary, but as Arwen returned less and less to Lórien she began to desire to make friends with more then the hanu she dwelt among on the border. It was time to find other females for companionship.
After a while of mulling the decision over in her mind, she got up and made her way through the trees. She wondered if anyone was about, it was unusually still this night. She found her way into the main chambers of Galadriel's handmaidens, hoping to find someone to talk to. She found herself drawn to one room in particular, and as soon as she looked inside she realized it was the handmaiden Luhma, who she had met briefly that day. Luhma must have heard her, for she turned around. Falmarin smiled.
"Please, come in. I have been in here too long by myself and would like some company."
Luhma's gentle and friendly manner caught Falmarin a bit off guard. She was unaccustomed to other females treating her with friendliness, she sometimes wondered if it had something to do with her being a favorite among the guardians.
Falmarin went into the room and took the chair that Luhma motioned her to. "Thank you for inviting me in, I was growing lonesome up above."
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Luhma smiled at the Elf as she sat down in the chair that she had gestured to. She looked at her a moment, almost unable to believe the resemblance to Arwen. Then she smiled again.
"I finally get to speak with you Falmarin," Luhma said softly. "I was beginning to wonder when I would have that honor. My dear Haldir has told me so much about you. I apologize for not getting the opportunity to meet you earlier for I was in Mirkwood, visiting with my father."
She noticed that the other handmaiden glanced down at her writing. Quickly Luhma covered it, trying not to be too obvious. This Elf knew her husband and she did not want anything getting back to him. Falmarin looked at her curiously for a moment, then smiled. Luhma smiled back, hoping that she had not gotten the opportunity to see some of what she had written.
*************
Falmarin had noticed the paper upon the desk, but wasn't nosy by nature. She caught a few of the words, but dismissed it as a letter for Haldir. Luhma seemed the perfect person to befriend, after all she was Haldir's wife.
"Ah, you are from Mirkwood. I was born there. You might know my parents- Talathiel and Voramar. I have not seen, nor heard from them since I left. Someone told me they had gone to Valinor shortly after my arrival in Lorien, though I do not know if that is their fate."
Falmarin smiled. "How are you fairing with Haldir on the border?" Falmarin didn't mean to pry, but wanted to start a polite conversation.
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"Indeed I have heard of your parents, but I do not know if they left for Valinor. They weren't in Mirkwood when I was there," Luhma said softly. "My own left without me for Valinor. I was supposed to go with them." She sighed. "So I came back here to be with Haldir. Though I'm not sure that he wants me here right now..."
She watched as Falmarin smiled. "How are you fairing with Haldir on the border?"
Luhma's ears actually twitched at her question. She sighed again. "Truthfully I do not sleep well," she admitted softly, glancing down at the floor. "I worry that he will be hurt, and I worry that he does not want me here." She looked back up at Falmarin. "Basically I'm just worried..."
*************
Falmarin tried not to look discouraging, but she did understand Luhma's concern. "I understand why you do not sleep well, I do not sleep here myself. The border is my home, and I will be glad to return when the time is right."
She looked at the floor. "Strange things have been happening along the border..." She looked Luhma in the eye. "Orcs have been attempting our borders more boldly. Haldir and Rúmil had the last watch at sunrise before my return, and they were sure that they saw Orcs moving in the light of day."
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Luhma's ears twitched again....she didn't like the sound of that. She gave a small sigh. "I never told Haldir, but on my way back from Mirkwood, I saw such Orcs!" Falmarin looked up at her with a start. "They moved fast. When they saw me I ran for my life." She glanced at the ground. "That's why I came running into the borders out of breath."
She leaned back in her chair. "I hope Haldir gets back soon..." she said. As Falmarin looked closer she noticed that Luhma looked like she was about to cry. Then abruptly Luhma swung around. "I think I should try and get some sleep," she said. "I hope you do not mind that I would like to cut this off early." She thought for a moment. "If you see Haldir before I could you tell him that I wish to see him?"
*************
Falmarin tried to hide her look of shock from Luhma, but it was in vain. She knew she had to speak with Lord Celeborn immediately, if Luhma had met danger in her journey, then Arwen was not safe to return.
"I hope Haldir gets back soon..." Luhma began to look upset. Falmarin opened her mouth to say something comforting, but Luhma abruptly cut her off."I think I should try and get some sleep. I hope you do not mind that I would like to cut this off early." Luhma paused. "If you see Haldir before I could you tell him that I wish to see him?"
Falmarin nodded and rose to leave. "Try to rest, if I hear anything about Haldir I will come and tell you immediately."
She left the room and hurried to find lord Celeborn. The river was one of the places Celeborn liked to go for solitude, and Falmarin hated to disturb him as he stood calmly watching the water.
"Excuse me my Lord..." She waited to be addressed.
"Ahh, Falmarin, you have something to report?"
She cringed inwardly knowing this news would not be taken well.
*************
As she had anticipated Celeborn did not take the news of the borderlands well. At first he became angry with her for not bringing the danger to his attention before.
"There is more my Lord. The wife of Haldir, Luhma, was chased by these Orcs. She said they were unusually fast, and this moving in broad daylight cannot be a good omen."
They had been so deep in conversation that they did not hear Haldir until he was right upon them. Falmarin gracefully took her place to on the right and behind Haldir as the males spoke of the matter. She waited until they were finished and after bowing to Lord Celeborn, she followed Haldir.
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A/N: Well, let us know what you think. We realize that it may be hard to follow, but the fic may be revised at some point in time. Let us know your opinions and thoughts! Chapter Two will be coming soon!!