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 Two: Worry
Haldir stood, guarding the borders as usual. It was almost time for him to go back to Lórien for some rest. He was worried about Luhma. He had seen her that morning, but she didn't look like herself. She seemed tired, almost sickly, if that was possible.
Falmarin had gone back to Lórien, ready to take care of her lady, Arwen. Perhaps Luhma had gotten the chance to speak with her, if so, he would have to ask her about Luhma when he had the chance. Something was wrong with his wife, and he knew it. He just couldn't figure out what.
He sighed and turned back to watch the border. He had but a few hours left. He might as well make them count. Then he would go and find Falmarin and ask her about Luhma.
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Haldir soon found himself on his way back to Lórien. He moved quickly, wanting to get back to Luhma as fast as he could. He wanted to know what was bothering her so.
He came to halt when he saw Falmarin talking with Lord Celeborn. They were talking about something. What it was he knew not. Quickly he made his way toward them, only to hear the name Luhma mentioned. He stopped when he approached them.
"Lord Celeborn, Falmarin," he said in greeting. "If you don't mind me asking, what about Luhma? Has something happened to her that I should know about?"
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"Guardian," Celeborn nodded slightly in acknowledgement. "The Lady Falmarin has made known to me that during her journey here she saw Orcs of unusual might. This was not news my Border Guards saw fit to relay to me? Did you think perhaps I might be uninterested in this new threat to my realm?"
"My Lord, I..." Haldir set down his personal worries a moment, remembering his duty. "They were driven away toward Mirkwood. It seemed too small a matter to concern you with."
"Indeed." Light turned Celeborn's silver hair into a sharp brilliance like the blade of a sword. "Yet in my grand-daughter's safety I have great concern. I would not have what happened to her mother happen to Arwen on our very borders."
"Lord, we stand ready for any threat," said Haldir proudly, understanding the Lord's greater-than-usual brusqueness. "She will be safe, I swear it."
"I will hold you to that, Guardian." At last, Celeborn smiled. "As for what ails your wife, in several thousand years of marriage I have found the best person to talk to in such matters is the lady herself. Go now and speak with her."
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Haldir nodded to his lord and started to make his way toward his wife's room. Falmarin soon fell in step with him and the two continued onward. Haldir glanced down at her.
"Did Luhma say anything to you, Falmarin?" he asked. "Anything at all. I'm deeply worried about her. She was not herself when she passed the borders of this land."
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Falmarin looked at Haldir measuring in his eyes the extent of his concern. She and Haldir had been friends for centuries, and though she did not wish to betray Luhma's trust, she told him what she knew.
"I cannot say what ails her, my friend. I do fear that there was peril in her journey from Mirkwood, she came across a band of the mysterious Orcs that test our borders. She seemed afraid for you, and she bid me to tell you she wished to see you as soon as you arrived."
Haldir's pace picked up and Falmarin wondered if she should let him go to his wife alone. Haldir did not look at her again until they were nearly to Luhma's room.
"Should I let you see her alone, Haldir?"
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Haldir looked at Falmarin for a moment, then he shook his head. "No, you might as well come with me. She may want to see me, but if something is truly wrong, she always has trouble telling me herself. She may feel more comfortable with you being there."
Falmarin nodded. "All right. I will come with you then."
The two moved on and entered Luhma's room. Only to find her gone. Haldir looked around. Then he spotted the paper Luhma had been writing on, sitting on her desk. Quickly he made his way over to the table and peered down at what she had been writing.
He looked up at Falmarin. "Did you see this?" he asked.
"I saw a few words, but I did not read it," she replied. "Why do you ask?"
Haldir picked up the paper and read it aloud:
"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." He put the paper down and looked up at Falmarin. "I wonder what happened. Did she mention anything of this two you?"
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Falmarin listened closely as Haldir read the writing aloud. There was something hollow about the words, yet she could not interpret their meaning as pertaining to Luhma. She had known Luhma for such a short time though, that any personal reasons would not have been brought to her attention anyway.
"I wonder what happened. Did she mention anything of this two you?"
Falmarin shook her head at Haldir. "No, she did not. She was just here before I met with Lord Celeborn. Luhma had asked that I allow her to be alone so she could sleep. It troubles me that she is no longer here. Perhaps we should go find her."
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"Yes, we should. With Luhma acting so strange, I want to find her as soon as we can," Haldir said. He placed the paper back down on the desk and the two made their way out of the room.
"I wonder where she could have gone," Falmarin said aloud.
"She usually likes to rest near the water," Haldir replied. "It calms her mind when she is bothered."
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A/N: Well, let us know what you think. Please review! We would like to know what everyone thinks about the fic so far. Chapter Three will be coming soon!!