Disclaimer: Legolas and Haldir aren't mine. "Here Today" belongs to Paul
McCartney
Author's Notes: Paul McCartney wrote this song after John Lennon died. I first heard it when he sang it on his "Back in the US" tour and I loved it. Such a simple song of friendship and I felt I could easily apply it to Legolas and Haldir without butchering the meaning and emotion behind it. I hope I don't anger anyone by taking such a personal song and applying it to fanfic. I am a *huge* Beatles fan and would *never* do anything that I thought was disrespectful to them.
This takes place after the War of the Ring when the Company, Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir, Galadriel and Celeborn (along with the Galadrim), Faramir, Arwen, Eomer (and the knights of Gondor), and Imrahil (*dreamy sigh*) journey together to Helm's Deep. This is a weird combo of book and movie-verse. Let's just say that the Galadrim did arrive in Helm's Deep, Aragorn and Arwen marry and the rest of them journey to Gondor to see the marriage. Obviously Haldir died at Helm's Deep in this (movie-verse) and the remaining Galadrim attended the wedding (book-verse). Anyone confused yet? Good!
****Here Today****
It is strange to be back here where so many beings died. Men, Uruk-hai, orcs and, tragically, Elves. Night is falling and I wander around the ruined fortress of Helm's Deep. Without realizing it I find myself in the spot where Aragorn held you through the last moments of your life. I sink to my knees and let my fingertips trail across the cold stone. Such a hard, cold place for you to die. You held such a bright light, it is obscene for you to have died here in the utter dark.
Tears spring to my eyes and I will them back. You would not want me to cry. You would say it is silly because although your physical body is dead, your spirit is not. You now roam the Halls of Mandos, and in time you may possibly enter Valinor.
**And if I say I really knew you well // What would your answer be? // If you were here today // Here today**
I suppose I knew you as well as anyone though we met so late in life. I wish that we had met long before the Company arrived in Lothlorien but apparently it wasn't meant to happen that way. If only I had known how short-lived our friendship would be... But then what would I have been able to do to prevent it?
**Well, knowing you // You'd probably laugh and say // That we were worlds apart // If you were here today // Here today**
We were so different, you and I. I am a young Prince, and when we met I was still innocent and inexperienced in life. I took joy in all things and had only recently been exposed to heart-ache and grief. You were older and jaded. You had seen many friends perish. You spent your life serving others. Yet somehow we understood each other so well.
**But as for me // I still remember how it was before // And I am holding back the tears no more // No no no // I love you**
You fought so bravely here, endangering yourself to protect a people and a land not your own. I was awed by your elegant grace even in the face of battle. But now I remember how you were when we were back in your home. You smiled and laughed, carefree, happy to show me around and delighted with my amazement of the Golden Wood. You loved spending time with me and I enjoyed being around you.
Tears leave wet streaks down my cheeks and I no longer fight them back. You took me under your wing and became the friend I desperately needed then and now. I love you but I never had the chance to tell you and even if I had, I don't know if I could have done it.
**What about the time we met? // Well I suppose that you could say // That we were playing hard to get // Didn't understand a thing // But we could always sing**
Our friendship solidified quickly, though it was forged slowly. There is no denying that you were arrogant and I was so used to distancing myself from the rest of the Fellowship that I tended to avoid everyone, including my cousins from Lorien. It was many, many days before we put aside our pride and allowed ourselves to become closer. When we first met we didn't understand each other. I thought you were cold and cruel and you probably thought much the same about me, but we were oddly intrigued by each other. Regardless, we still raised our voices in song together, for it was the one thing that we both obviously loved in common.
**What about the night we cried // Because there wasn't any reason left to keep it all inside? // Never understood a word // But you were always there with a smile**
You shared your talan with me while I stayed in Lorien for you knew I needed to be with my own kind. You graciously slept on the floor while allowing me to sleep in a soft bed for the first time since leaving Imladris. Twelve nights after my arrival in Lorien I finally broke down. The stress of being the eyes and ears of the Fellowship, the constant pull of the Ring, always being surrounded by beings that didn't understand me, and Mithrandir's death all overwhelmed me. You heard my muffled sobs and came to sit beside me on the bed. Without asking me a thing you held me and cried with me. You knew I needed the release and you needed it as well. The loss of Mithrandir affected all. When my tears finally dried up, you hugged me and gave me a rare genuine smile with no trace of your usual arrogance or condescension. You kissed my forehead and tucked me back into bed. Though you didn't wish me to know, you kept watch over me for the rest of the night.
**And if I say I really loved you // And was glad you came along // Then you were here today // For you were in my song // Here today**
It was painful saying goodbye to you when we departed Lorien for I didn't know if I would live to see you again. Ironic. You were the one who ended up dying on this mad quest. It would be easy to regret our friendship. I have felt so much pain because of it, but if I could do it all again I would chose the same path. Again I say that we only knew each other briefly but we were very close. I love you and am glad you were in my life, if only for such a short time.
My hair stirs against my neck and I close my eyes for it feels much like fingers brushing across the golden strands. In my mind's eye I see you standing behind me now, sliding your fingers through my hair and gazing down sadly upon me. I feel the fleetest of touches against my cheek and instinctively reach up to grasp your fingers which surely caressed my skin. I find only air and a soft sob wrenches from my throat as I realize what a fool I am. How could I have thought you were here, even momentarily? I know you're dead, that's why *I'm* here.
More salty tears splash onto the stone ground, consecrating the place where you died and I whisper Silvan* words of blessing before rising rather shakily to my feet and retreating back into the Deep, seeking the silent comfort of the twins. I will never forget you and I can only hope that we will meet again.
********
Erm, there was something that I was gonna say but I forgot what. Hopefully it wasn't too cheesy and PLEASE don't say it was slashy. I don't wanna open that particular can of worms again.
*Alright. We all know about Quenya and Sindarin. What not everyone knows is that there was at least one other form of Elvish. From FOTR, "Lothlorien": "There was a sound of soft laughter over their heads, and then another clear voice spoke in an elven-tongue. Frodo could understand little of what was said, for the speech that the Silvan folk east of the mountains used among themselves was unlike that of the West. Legolas looked up and answered in the same tongue."
Further explanation is found in ROTK appendix D: "The Elves far back in the Elder Days became divided into two main branches: the West-elves (the Eldar) and the East-elves. Of the latter kind were most of the elven-folk of Mirkwood and Lorien; but their languages do not appear in this history, in which all the Elvish names and words are of Eldarin form. Of the Eldarin tongues two are found in this book: the High-elven or Quenya, and the Grey-elven or Sindarin. The High-elven was an ancient tongue of Eldamar beyond the Sea, the first to be recorded in writing. It was no longer a birth-tongue, but had become, as it were, an 'Elven-latin', still used for ceremony, and for high matters of lore and song, by the High Elves, who had returned in exile to Middle-earth at the end of the First Age."
So it seems that the Elves of Mirkwood and Lothlorien spoke their own form(s) of Elvish as well as Sindarin. I know this is probably more explanation than is really necessary for a story this short, where such a small reference is made to what I've simply called "Silvan" Elvish, but for some reason this theory of a third (or maybe even fourth) form of Elvish really intrigues me.
Author's Notes: Paul McCartney wrote this song after John Lennon died. I first heard it when he sang it on his "Back in the US" tour and I loved it. Such a simple song of friendship and I felt I could easily apply it to Legolas and Haldir without butchering the meaning and emotion behind it. I hope I don't anger anyone by taking such a personal song and applying it to fanfic. I am a *huge* Beatles fan and would *never* do anything that I thought was disrespectful to them.
This takes place after the War of the Ring when the Company, Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir, Galadriel and Celeborn (along with the Galadrim), Faramir, Arwen, Eomer (and the knights of Gondor), and Imrahil (*dreamy sigh*) journey together to Helm's Deep. This is a weird combo of book and movie-verse. Let's just say that the Galadrim did arrive in Helm's Deep, Aragorn and Arwen marry and the rest of them journey to Gondor to see the marriage. Obviously Haldir died at Helm's Deep in this (movie-verse) and the remaining Galadrim attended the wedding (book-verse). Anyone confused yet? Good!
****Here Today****
It is strange to be back here where so many beings died. Men, Uruk-hai, orcs and, tragically, Elves. Night is falling and I wander around the ruined fortress of Helm's Deep. Without realizing it I find myself in the spot where Aragorn held you through the last moments of your life. I sink to my knees and let my fingertips trail across the cold stone. Such a hard, cold place for you to die. You held such a bright light, it is obscene for you to have died here in the utter dark.
Tears spring to my eyes and I will them back. You would not want me to cry. You would say it is silly because although your physical body is dead, your spirit is not. You now roam the Halls of Mandos, and in time you may possibly enter Valinor.
**And if I say I really knew you well // What would your answer be? // If you were here today // Here today**
I suppose I knew you as well as anyone though we met so late in life. I wish that we had met long before the Company arrived in Lothlorien but apparently it wasn't meant to happen that way. If only I had known how short-lived our friendship would be... But then what would I have been able to do to prevent it?
**Well, knowing you // You'd probably laugh and say // That we were worlds apart // If you were here today // Here today**
We were so different, you and I. I am a young Prince, and when we met I was still innocent and inexperienced in life. I took joy in all things and had only recently been exposed to heart-ache and grief. You were older and jaded. You had seen many friends perish. You spent your life serving others. Yet somehow we understood each other so well.
**But as for me // I still remember how it was before // And I am holding back the tears no more // No no no // I love you**
You fought so bravely here, endangering yourself to protect a people and a land not your own. I was awed by your elegant grace even in the face of battle. But now I remember how you were when we were back in your home. You smiled and laughed, carefree, happy to show me around and delighted with my amazement of the Golden Wood. You loved spending time with me and I enjoyed being around you.
Tears leave wet streaks down my cheeks and I no longer fight them back. You took me under your wing and became the friend I desperately needed then and now. I love you but I never had the chance to tell you and even if I had, I don't know if I could have done it.
**What about the time we met? // Well I suppose that you could say // That we were playing hard to get // Didn't understand a thing // But we could always sing**
Our friendship solidified quickly, though it was forged slowly. There is no denying that you were arrogant and I was so used to distancing myself from the rest of the Fellowship that I tended to avoid everyone, including my cousins from Lorien. It was many, many days before we put aside our pride and allowed ourselves to become closer. When we first met we didn't understand each other. I thought you were cold and cruel and you probably thought much the same about me, but we were oddly intrigued by each other. Regardless, we still raised our voices in song together, for it was the one thing that we both obviously loved in common.
**What about the night we cried // Because there wasn't any reason left to keep it all inside? // Never understood a word // But you were always there with a smile**
You shared your talan with me while I stayed in Lorien for you knew I needed to be with my own kind. You graciously slept on the floor while allowing me to sleep in a soft bed for the first time since leaving Imladris. Twelve nights after my arrival in Lorien I finally broke down. The stress of being the eyes and ears of the Fellowship, the constant pull of the Ring, always being surrounded by beings that didn't understand me, and Mithrandir's death all overwhelmed me. You heard my muffled sobs and came to sit beside me on the bed. Without asking me a thing you held me and cried with me. You knew I needed the release and you needed it as well. The loss of Mithrandir affected all. When my tears finally dried up, you hugged me and gave me a rare genuine smile with no trace of your usual arrogance or condescension. You kissed my forehead and tucked me back into bed. Though you didn't wish me to know, you kept watch over me for the rest of the night.
**And if I say I really loved you // And was glad you came along // Then you were here today // For you were in my song // Here today**
It was painful saying goodbye to you when we departed Lorien for I didn't know if I would live to see you again. Ironic. You were the one who ended up dying on this mad quest. It would be easy to regret our friendship. I have felt so much pain because of it, but if I could do it all again I would chose the same path. Again I say that we only knew each other briefly but we were very close. I love you and am glad you were in my life, if only for such a short time.
My hair stirs against my neck and I close my eyes for it feels much like fingers brushing across the golden strands. In my mind's eye I see you standing behind me now, sliding your fingers through my hair and gazing down sadly upon me. I feel the fleetest of touches against my cheek and instinctively reach up to grasp your fingers which surely caressed my skin. I find only air and a soft sob wrenches from my throat as I realize what a fool I am. How could I have thought you were here, even momentarily? I know you're dead, that's why *I'm* here.
More salty tears splash onto the stone ground, consecrating the place where you died and I whisper Silvan* words of blessing before rising rather shakily to my feet and retreating back into the Deep, seeking the silent comfort of the twins. I will never forget you and I can only hope that we will meet again.
********
Erm, there was something that I was gonna say but I forgot what. Hopefully it wasn't too cheesy and PLEASE don't say it was slashy. I don't wanna open that particular can of worms again.
*Alright. We all know about Quenya and Sindarin. What not everyone knows is that there was at least one other form of Elvish. From FOTR, "Lothlorien": "There was a sound of soft laughter over their heads, and then another clear voice spoke in an elven-tongue. Frodo could understand little of what was said, for the speech that the Silvan folk east of the mountains used among themselves was unlike that of the West. Legolas looked up and answered in the same tongue."
Further explanation is found in ROTK appendix D: "The Elves far back in the Elder Days became divided into two main branches: the West-elves (the Eldar) and the East-elves. Of the latter kind were most of the elven-folk of Mirkwood and Lorien; but their languages do not appear in this history, in which all the Elvish names and words are of Eldarin form. Of the Eldarin tongues two are found in this book: the High-elven or Quenya, and the Grey-elven or Sindarin. The High-elven was an ancient tongue of Eldamar beyond the Sea, the first to be recorded in writing. It was no longer a birth-tongue, but had become, as it were, an 'Elven-latin', still used for ceremony, and for high matters of lore and song, by the High Elves, who had returned in exile to Middle-earth at the end of the First Age."
So it seems that the Elves of Mirkwood and Lothlorien spoke their own form(s) of Elvish as well as Sindarin. I know this is probably more explanation than is really necessary for a story this short, where such a small reference is made to what I've simply called "Silvan" Elvish, but for some reason this theory of a third (or maybe even fourth) form of Elvish really intrigues me.