Author's Note: Thanks again to everyone who took the time to review. Your
encouraging words were very motivating! It's good to know that some people
are enjoying reading my little story as much as I'm enjoying writing it.
Chapter 4 - HEALING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Galadriel could sense the Elves on horseback approaching before she was actually told of their arrival. Strange her dreams had been of late. She'd had visions of a strange Elvish people, green of eyes and auburn- haired. They wore dark crimson clothing and coppery armour that reflected their bold but brave natures.
They were numerous and she had the vague feeling they approached from the unknown lands of the East. She suspected they were descendants of the Teleri, the Sea-Elves of old, who crossed the sea to live in Tol Eressëa long ages ago. Most thought that this race of Elf had passed into myth. In these dark days though, many creatures and peoples were rising from the mists of myth and proving to indeed be real. Nothing surprised her anymore and she had come to expect the unexpected in these strange days.
The key element she felt was that strength and goodness surrounded these Elves and that they were crossing Middle Earth, not just to leave its shores by the Grey Ships but to help their Elven brethren along the way.
Galadriel felt a great gift was about to be bestowed upon her but even her Mirror could not tell her what exactly the gift would be.
Haldir's great stallion, Nénharma, halted before her and Haldir stepped from him clutching a soaking wet Elf maid in his arms. She was bleeding from a wound in her side and a brilliant sword of the highest Elf-craft was thrust in Haldir's saddle holster.
Galadriel looked upon the female Elf, she was pale and had lost much blood but the inner strength and courage of her people shimmered within her still.
Strange, Haldir in all his adult stature - he was at the peak of his physical form, had a look in his eyes similar to the one he'd had standing before her long ago as a recently-orphaned child. He looked to her desperately seeking her solace and healing. She loved him so, equal to one of her own by birth.
She gently gestured towards the stairs leading to a nearby talan. Haldir took the steps two at a time and laid Taelyra gently on the bed within.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They had been up there a long time, Haldir thought impatiently. He paced restlessly beneath the enormous mallorn tree that held the talan platform above. In that room, Galadriel and her best healers were trying to save Taelyra's life.
He paused as he considered her passing and leaned his head forward pressed to the trunk of the great tree. He could feel the energies working above him and just as he could feel the pulsating life within this tree he could feel the young Elf's life force fading. His heart sank.
Gradually he became aware of the tree's bark gleaming, reflecting a soft but bright light from behind him. He was in the presence of Galadriel. He turned to face her and prepare for the sad news he expected.
Galadriel looked upon him as she always had, with much compassion and wisdom. He kept his emotions as closely guarded as the Realm he swore to serve. It had been an instinctive defense mechanism that had served him well and perhaps even provided his survival. It was not uncommon for young orphaned elves to die of heartbreak but Haldir had withstood the death of his parents and had not only endured but grew into a strong and remarkable Elf.
But sometimes, she felt he closed himself off too much from the world around him and perhaps didn't experience all life had to offer. She hoped he would continue to grow emotionally and someday open up to an Elf who could be his life's partner. Galadriel had not seen the future clearly but she had some inkling of this female Elf's connection to Haldir. Should she involve herself in the matters? Well, perhaps just a bit.
"Haldir," she began, "the healers are having difficulty reaching Taelyra and providing the guidance she needs now. I wondered if you would perhaps help them."
Haldir looked stunned. He? One of Galadriel's top soldiers, step in where her healers faltered? The idea seemed preposterous.
"You were able to help her make the journey here," Galadriel continued, "you've made some sort of connection with her. She needs your support now."
What could he say? The thought of Taelyra passing caused him more grief than he was able to admit. He would do whatever Galadriel thought would help.
He followed her up the steps and into the healing room. It was lit by candlelight and smelled of the strong herbs burning and boiling. The room felt close but comforting. Taelyra looked small and fragile in the large, white bed. Her armour had been removed and she was clothed now only in the fine, white linen of Lorien. She was deathly pale; even her lips had drained of their rose colour.
As he approached the bed, he saw small bruises on her arm and felt deep pangs of regret knowing that he had been the cause of them. He came to sit on the bed next to her and instinctively reached for her cool hand, enclosing it in both his warm ones.
How was it possible he'd perceived her as an enemy? Her elvish features were even more prominent now as she faded. Her high forehead and prominent cheek bones. Her eyelids now shuttered the bright eyes and her beautiful shining hair fell loose about her shoulders in waves of chestnut and gold. She was truly stunning but somehow he had only seen an adversary out there in the misty grove and perceived her as a danger.
His thumb absently stroked her hand; her skin was silken to the touch. He wanted to pass his warmth and energy into her to somehow revitalize her. He did not know how to do so and he realized that he was alone with her in the room now.
He sighed at the realization that the healers and Galadriel had all left. What was he to do? He remembered Taelyra's heavy-lidded gaze as she lay in his arms on Nénharma's back as they entered Caras Galadhon. Even in her injury and exhaustion she had looked upwards to the great trees of the city in wonder and amazement. He barely remembered his own first entry to this place, his utter devastation in knowing his family was gone but his awe at the golden beauty of the great wood that surrounded him.
So, he began to tell the unconscious Taelyra his story. He told her of his parents - what little he could remember - but mainly what he'd been told of his father's bravery and his mother's kindness. He told her of his love for the Lorien realm and its Lord and Lady. Long into the night he described its beauty and wonder to her, hoping she would be enticed back from the brink of endless sleep to stay awhile with them here and see it for herself.
Silently, he prayed for her recovery so that he might make amends for their faulty introduction and make up for his poor treatment of her.
Chapter 4 - HEALING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Galadriel could sense the Elves on horseback approaching before she was actually told of their arrival. Strange her dreams had been of late. She'd had visions of a strange Elvish people, green of eyes and auburn- haired. They wore dark crimson clothing and coppery armour that reflected their bold but brave natures.
They were numerous and she had the vague feeling they approached from the unknown lands of the East. She suspected they were descendants of the Teleri, the Sea-Elves of old, who crossed the sea to live in Tol Eressëa long ages ago. Most thought that this race of Elf had passed into myth. In these dark days though, many creatures and peoples were rising from the mists of myth and proving to indeed be real. Nothing surprised her anymore and she had come to expect the unexpected in these strange days.
The key element she felt was that strength and goodness surrounded these Elves and that they were crossing Middle Earth, not just to leave its shores by the Grey Ships but to help their Elven brethren along the way.
Galadriel felt a great gift was about to be bestowed upon her but even her Mirror could not tell her what exactly the gift would be.
Haldir's great stallion, Nénharma, halted before her and Haldir stepped from him clutching a soaking wet Elf maid in his arms. She was bleeding from a wound in her side and a brilliant sword of the highest Elf-craft was thrust in Haldir's saddle holster.
Galadriel looked upon the female Elf, she was pale and had lost much blood but the inner strength and courage of her people shimmered within her still.
Strange, Haldir in all his adult stature - he was at the peak of his physical form, had a look in his eyes similar to the one he'd had standing before her long ago as a recently-orphaned child. He looked to her desperately seeking her solace and healing. She loved him so, equal to one of her own by birth.
She gently gestured towards the stairs leading to a nearby talan. Haldir took the steps two at a time and laid Taelyra gently on the bed within.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They had been up there a long time, Haldir thought impatiently. He paced restlessly beneath the enormous mallorn tree that held the talan platform above. In that room, Galadriel and her best healers were trying to save Taelyra's life.
He paused as he considered her passing and leaned his head forward pressed to the trunk of the great tree. He could feel the energies working above him and just as he could feel the pulsating life within this tree he could feel the young Elf's life force fading. His heart sank.
Gradually he became aware of the tree's bark gleaming, reflecting a soft but bright light from behind him. He was in the presence of Galadriel. He turned to face her and prepare for the sad news he expected.
Galadriel looked upon him as she always had, with much compassion and wisdom. He kept his emotions as closely guarded as the Realm he swore to serve. It had been an instinctive defense mechanism that had served him well and perhaps even provided his survival. It was not uncommon for young orphaned elves to die of heartbreak but Haldir had withstood the death of his parents and had not only endured but grew into a strong and remarkable Elf.
But sometimes, she felt he closed himself off too much from the world around him and perhaps didn't experience all life had to offer. She hoped he would continue to grow emotionally and someday open up to an Elf who could be his life's partner. Galadriel had not seen the future clearly but she had some inkling of this female Elf's connection to Haldir. Should she involve herself in the matters? Well, perhaps just a bit.
"Haldir," she began, "the healers are having difficulty reaching Taelyra and providing the guidance she needs now. I wondered if you would perhaps help them."
Haldir looked stunned. He? One of Galadriel's top soldiers, step in where her healers faltered? The idea seemed preposterous.
"You were able to help her make the journey here," Galadriel continued, "you've made some sort of connection with her. She needs your support now."
What could he say? The thought of Taelyra passing caused him more grief than he was able to admit. He would do whatever Galadriel thought would help.
He followed her up the steps and into the healing room. It was lit by candlelight and smelled of the strong herbs burning and boiling. The room felt close but comforting. Taelyra looked small and fragile in the large, white bed. Her armour had been removed and she was clothed now only in the fine, white linen of Lorien. She was deathly pale; even her lips had drained of their rose colour.
As he approached the bed, he saw small bruises on her arm and felt deep pangs of regret knowing that he had been the cause of them. He came to sit on the bed next to her and instinctively reached for her cool hand, enclosing it in both his warm ones.
How was it possible he'd perceived her as an enemy? Her elvish features were even more prominent now as she faded. Her high forehead and prominent cheek bones. Her eyelids now shuttered the bright eyes and her beautiful shining hair fell loose about her shoulders in waves of chestnut and gold. She was truly stunning but somehow he had only seen an adversary out there in the misty grove and perceived her as a danger.
His thumb absently stroked her hand; her skin was silken to the touch. He wanted to pass his warmth and energy into her to somehow revitalize her. He did not know how to do so and he realized that he was alone with her in the room now.
He sighed at the realization that the healers and Galadriel had all left. What was he to do? He remembered Taelyra's heavy-lidded gaze as she lay in his arms on Nénharma's back as they entered Caras Galadhon. Even in her injury and exhaustion she had looked upwards to the great trees of the city in wonder and amazement. He barely remembered his own first entry to this place, his utter devastation in knowing his family was gone but his awe at the golden beauty of the great wood that surrounded him.
So, he began to tell the unconscious Taelyra his story. He told her of his parents - what little he could remember - but mainly what he'd been told of his father's bravery and his mother's kindness. He told her of his love for the Lorien realm and its Lord and Lady. Long into the night he described its beauty and wonder to her, hoping she would be enticed back from the brink of endless sleep to stay awhile with them here and see it for herself.
Silently, he prayed for her recovery so that he might make amends for their faulty introduction and make up for his poor treatment of her.