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 Three: The River Bank

Luhma quietly made her way out of her room. She had left her writing on the table, not caring whether or not Haldir or Falmarin would return and read it. Right now she needed to be alone. As she moved quickly she noticed Haldir had indeed returned and was talking with Lord Celeborn. Then she watched as he and Falmarin began to walk toward her room.

Quickly she continued onward, toward the River Bank, not noticing that Lord Celeborn had seen her hasty exit. Without a moments hesitation he turned and followed the small Elf.

Moments later Luhma sat down on the river bank. She let out a sigh and looked around at the peaceful water. Quietly she looked down and began to push up her sleeve on her left arm. Underneath the cloth was a bandage. Blood had begun to seep through. On her journey, trying to get away from the horrible creatures that had chased her, she had been injured, but she would not tell Haldir, not yet.

She looked up in shock when Lord Celeborn deliberately made a noise, to announce his presence. She nearly paled as she scrambled to her feet, forgetting that her injury was still uncovered.

"My Lord," she stammered. "I did not hear you."

***************

Celeborn sat down in the grass, and motioned for her to do the same. Luhma was relieved he had not met her eyes. For a split second he said nothing, then he spoke. "I worry about you Luhma. You did not tell my wife or I about these new Orcs. Why would you keep such a thing from us."

"I was too frightened, my Lord," Luhma said softly. "And I did not want to worry anyone, especially Haldir."

"They hurt you?"

She shrugged up the sleeve again, watching the blood well. For some reason it would not heal. "Since you have seen it, my Lord, there is little point denying it."

"The hands of Orcs are unclean. You must have it treated." He looked at her now. "You need not hide anything from me nor my wife. You know that we look upon you with great respect. Tell me what troubles you, for maybe I can help in some way."

***************

Luhma gave a small sigh and turned her head away from Celeborn. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to regain control of the rampant thoughts that rushed through her head. She could feel his eyes watching her and she shifted, slightly uncomfortable. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"I mean no disrespect my lord," she said softly. "But I really wish to speak with no one of this." She stood up slowly, still not looking at Celeborn. "I'm sure the wound will heal in time." She turned and looked down at him. As tiny as she was, and as tall as he was, she didn't have far to look down. "I will tell this though, the very thing that I keep from Haldir: a dear friend of mine was killed eight years ago, yet I swear I saw her just yesterday! Only...only she was much different..." She glanced toward the water, and began to speak a little of what she had written earlier. "Like a restless soul, burdened by the weight of her own sadness." She sighed. "Every night when I close my eyes the dreams come. I just wish I understood what they were telling me."

Even as she stood there, facing away from Celeborn, she could feel his eyes watching her intensely. She feared to turn around for she did not know what to expect him to say or do.

***************

Celeborn looked at Luhma's back. He could sense her sadness and fear. As long as he had known the tiny Elf she had never shown such traits, yet here she was, afraid. She looked even smaller then usual. He sighed and glanced back toward the water. He had a strange feeling about the whole thing. After a moment's thought he began to speak again.

"I do not doubt you," he said. "But I wish I knew what this means. The unhoused fëa of an Elf to wander in this world is entirely unknown. Whatever you saw must have been an illusion conjured by the very evil that threatens Middle-earth. Your friend was an elf, was she not? Not a mortal?"

***************

Luhma sighed. "Yes, she was an Elf, though she had fallen in love with a mortal man. Both of them were slain eight years ago by Orcs." She winced for a moment, trying to remember something. "The odd thing was, she did appear to have a solid body. I must admit, at first I was frightened."

She let out another sigh and shook her head. "I have kept you too long my lord. I should go and find Haldir. I had asked Falmarin to tell him that I wanted to see him when he returned and I completely forgot."

She turned in his direction, adverting her eyes, and waited for him to dismiss her as she gave a small bow.

***************

Celeborn stood up slowly. He looked down at Luhma for a moment before placing a hand on her shoulder. "Promise me, Luhma, if you ever see this friend of yours. Run as fast and as far as you can. I assure you it is not your friend that you saw. We do not need you to get hurt any further then what you are. Run to the nearest Guardian and they will protect you. Do you understand?"

Luhma nodded up at him. Finally Celeborn gave a small smile and removed his hand from her shoulder. "Then be on your way. Go rest, you look tired."

***************

They soon found themselves at Luhma's "usual" spot, but she was not there. Instead, they found Lord Celeborn, who sat by himself, looking toward the water. Haldir approached him respectfully.

"My lord," he said. "Have you seen my wife?"

Before they had even reached the river, Celeborn had dismissed Luhma. And she had began to take the long way around to her room.

***************

Any other time she was with Haldir, reporting to Lord Celeborn, Falmarin would have stood beside him. But in the role of a handmaiden it was more appropriate for her to stand behind him and to his left. She waited patiently for Celeborn to address them, but her concern for Luhma began to grow stronger.

What exactly had happened to Luhma as she returned to Lorien, Falmarin did not know, but the more she thought of their discussion; the more she wondered if there was more to the tale then she had been told.

***************

Lord Celeborn stood up, drawing himself to his full height as he looked down upon his most loyal guardian. "It is not truly my place to say, but at this time I must. For you must protect your wife. She told me that just recently she saw a friend of hers who died eight years ago. And this friend looked to be in solid form.

"She was frightened at first. I told her that if she ever sees this creature again, to run. To run away as fast as she can." He paused for a moment. "Did you know that your wife was injured by these new Orcs." He watched Haldir shake his head no. "She was. And the wound will not heal! I just sent her on her way back to her room. I suggest that you go and find her. She needs the wound treated and I think that between you and Lady Falmarin, you can accomplish that task!"

He bowed his head slightly. "Now go after her. She went that way!"

***************

Haldir stood a respectful distance away from Lord Celeborn as he spoke. "Did you know that your wife was injured by these new Orcs?" his lord asked. Haldir shook his head in surprise. His wife was hurt? Why hadn't she told him? "She was. And the wound will not heal! I just sent her on her way back to her room. I suggest that you go and find her. She needs the wound treated and I think that between you and Lady Falmarin, you can accomplish that task!"

***************

"Yes my lord," Haldir said, bowing. "Thank you." As Celeborn dismissed them, Haldir turned to Falmarin and gestured for her to follow him. Knowing Luhma, they would have to hurry to check her. She was a tiny Elf, thus making her one of the fastest. If she did not want to be found and tended too, no one would find her.

He knew that it was going to be difficult to clean her wound. She always fought him off in the past when something happened to her. He could just imagine what she would be like now, especially since she was injured by Orcs! Haldir knew he was lucky that he had Falmarin with him. Perhaps between the two of them they could hold her down and clean the wound!

He was deeply worried though. He knew of the dead Elf that Lord Celeborn had spoken of. Her name had been Pirotess. She had dark skin and white hair and had been a traveling companion of Luhma's, a protector. He wondered if it were possible for her to return to life...

As he and Falmarin moved quickly through the trees, they suddenly heard the sound...of someone falling...hitting the ground with a thud! Haldir and Falmarin glanced at one another. "What was that?"

***************

As Lord Celeborn spoke Falmarin listened with concern. If Luhma saw her friend who had passed on in solid form...?

Falmarin had never known another Elf who had died, and none who had ever been reborn. Her mind turned to old tales of wraiths, the servants of Sauron the deceiver. But her attention was immediately drawn to Celeborn's words when he spoke of Luhma's injury.

She had known of Luhma's encounter, but she had not spoken of a wound. Hiding her surprise she listened in silence. His concern seemed more with the wound, then with the Elf who had appeared to Luhma. Falmarin decided to find out more about the Elf who had died when she had leave to do so.

Lord Celeborn gave them leave telling them that they should hurry to Luhma and clean her wound. Haldir turned to Falmarin motioning for her to follow. She felt concern for Haldir, his love for his wife was strong and at times blinded him to matters of duty.

They ran along the path searching for signs of Luhma, as they were drawing near to Luhma's room Falmarin heard a thud, as if someone had fallen to the ground.

"What was that?" Haldir said looking at Falmarin.

She opened her mouth to tell Haldir to run when the voice of Galadriel filled her head. ::Haldir, Falmarin, hurry!!!::

Falmarin raced ahead with Haldir right at her heels.

***************

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Chapter Four will be up soon! Please review. We would like to know your thoughts!!