Chapter 22 – THROWING DOWN THE WALLS
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Haldir sank to his knees, laying the unconscious Taelyra on the grass before Galadriel's feet. He had carried her all the way back to Caras Galadhon from the battlefields, stopping to rest his injured shoulder only once, under the eaves of Lorien as they'd re-entered the Wood.
There he had knelt beneath a great tree, holding Taelyra in his arms and trying to gently shake her awake. He had spoken to her lengthily, attempting to lure her back from the depths of her slumber, but to no avail.
Now he knelt on the ground before the Lady, without the energy to even raise his eyes to her. His head was cast down, tears threatening to fall. He felt utterly alone and devastated.
Galadriel could feel the sorrow rolling off him in waves. She wished to ease his pain but knew not how. The girl was not dead but she lay in a profound sleep. A sort of stasis, hovering just outside of this life but not quite leaving it entirely.
"Please take her to a room." Galadriel bade her ladies-in-waiting nearby. "Remove her armour and make her as comfortable as possible."
After the ladies had taken Taelyra away, Haldir still knelt despondent on the ground before Galadriel. She glided to his side, gently placing her hand upon his golden head. There was blood spattered in his fair hair and across his armour. She drew him towards her and he leaned against her long skirts, crying silently. The Lady stood over him, caressing his head and sending thoughts of hope and kindness to his mind.
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Daintáro, Kieran and Rumil strode across the walkway and up the stairs into the healing room. They had come straight from battle and had not yet removed their armour or weapons.
They halted just inside the doorway of the room. The smell of herbs was overpowering and the sight of Taelyra in deep slumber upon the great, white bed brought back sad memories.
Rumil had felt Taelyra's departure most acutely. He had just slashed the throat of an Orc and was preparing to chase down another when he'd felt a curious sensation in his heart. A sort of tugging and then a feeling of emptiness within him that made him sorrowful without knowing why.
At first he'd thought something terrible had happened to his father. Taelyra had looked so strong going into the battle, leading the vast regiment behind her. With Artanis in hand, she had seemed invincible to him. He feared his father may have fallen and he had run across the fields calling for him.
When father and sons had finally been reunited at the end of the battle, he realized the source of the feeling was Taelyra. Something terrible had befallen her. As they made their way back to Lothlorien they were relieved to hear in passing that she'd been last seen with Haldir.
Daintáro knelt at the bedside and bowed his head, praying that the price of their freedom and victory not be the life of his beloved daughter.
Rumil and Kieran stood silently behind him, heads lowered in grief, their thoughts echoing their father's words.
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Haldir slammed the lid of the small chest shut in anger. How could he have lost something so precious? He admonished himself silently.
He had come back to his room and lain for a while on his bed. He could not sleep but he was exhausted. Lying there, his mind reeling from the events of the day, his heart grew heavier with each passing moment. Then an idea had struck him. He had risen, changed from his bloodied garments into clean ones and washed his face and hair. Then he'd pulled the small chest from beneath his bed and searched for the heirloom that he'd long forgotten.
Where could he have put it? His mind raced. He felt desperate. He couldn't just languish here, weakening in mind and spirit, while his beloved faded from him. He had to do something to help bring her back.
It was in the bottom drawer of his cabinet he suddenly remembered. Next to his father's knife.
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Haldir entered Taelyra's room silently. It was quiet and no one else was around. The Healers had left the herbs steaming in their small pots and opened the window so that some light and the songs of the birds might filter in.
Taelyra lay peacefully, her head resting on a down-filled pillow. Haldir quietly sat on the edge of the bed and took her long, delicate hand in his. He drew the ring from his pocket. It was exquisite. Several bands of gold intertwining, they rose into a setting that held a large emerald. The emerald was bright green with a light emanating from deep within its heart, displaying the stone's fine quality.
"It was my mother's," he told the sleeping Taelyra as he slipped it on her finger.
When he'd first seen Taelyra's eyes, he'd been struck by the strangeness of their colour. But also they had reminded him of something precious. The memory was vague but fond. He couldn't bring it to mind at the time but now he remembered. His mother's wedding ring. The green sparkling gem he recalled upon her hand when he was young.
"My edar." Haldir told her. "My beloved. Take this ring as my promise. I will wait for you no matter how long you linger in sleep. And, in return, I will hold you to your promise to me. When I departed for the Deep you told me that if I returned you would be mine for all the Ages."
He leaned forward and kissed her gently on her brow. "Come back to me Taelyra," he whispered softly, "and let us be bound for all eternity."
Outside Taelyra's window, Rumil sat upon a fallen tree trunk. He'd come out for a breath of fresh air and he'd barely heard Haldir's footsteps as he'd entered her room. But his sharp elven ears heard Haldir's quiet promises now and it made his heart cleave further. He lowered his head into his hands and wept silently.
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Daintáro sat in the heavy wooden chair at his daughter's bedside. It had been a full day now and still she slept soundly. In a few hours he was going to ride out with Celeborn, Galadriel and the Lorien Guard across the Anduin. It was the Lord Celeborn's wish that the forests of Dol Guldur be cleansed. Galadriel intended to throw down its walls and lay bare its pits.
It promised to be a momentous occasion. Normally he would have been honoured to witness such an event. But, he also would have included his daughter in the expedition. He was loath to leave her side now.
Often during her initial long sleep he had wondered what went through her mind whilst she lay in this state. He'd asked her after she had awoken but she'd had no clear memories of dreams or visions. Nor of her family's words to her while she'd slept. She had said it was as though she'd been asleep just one night and awoken suddenly with purpose, knowing without doubt what she must do.
He liked to believe that she could hear him now even if she didn't recall it later. At least now she would know that she was not alone and that her family surrounded her and missed her dearly.
Sighing sadly he looked upon her fair face, peaceful in its slumber. He wished more than anything that he could just call to her and she would sleepily open her eyes and awaken to start the day with him. He took up her small hand in his and felt the ring. What was this gem upon her finger?
"What is that?" Kieran asked, echoing his father's thought, as he and Rumil entered the room.
"It would appear to be a ring of great Elf-craft," replied Daintáro, admiring the sparkle in the stone.
"Who put it on her hand?" asked Kieran.
"Who do you think?" replied Rumil quietly.
Both Kieran and Daintáro looked at Rumil.
"Haldir put this ring upon our sister's hand?" Kieran asked him.
Rumil's face fell in sadness; he closed his eyes, nodding slowly.
"Does this have the same significance here amongst the Wood Elves, as it does in our culture?" Kieran asked his father.
"I would guess so." Daintáro replied sadly. "I was afraid of something like this."
"Why?" asked Rumil. He could not control the emotion in his voice; it trembled as he continued, "Would you rather that Haldir turn from her now, in her time of need? Ignore her, as though she'd fallen from existence?"
"Of course not Rumil," replied Daintáro. "But you know we cannot leave these shores without Taelyra."
"Their parting would have been inevitable." Kieran added, "Taelyra must come with us; her family, her people, to the Undying Lands. Whether she is awake or not."
"She and Haldir can be reunited there," confirmed Daintáro. "They will have all the Ages together then."
"Have you not seen what's been happening around you?" exclaimed Rumil.
"Rumil, please try to calm down," said Daintáro rising from his chair and extending his arms out to his son.
"No!" shouted Rumil refusing his father's embrace. "I will not calm down. I was not raised to suppress my feelings nor ignore what is evident around me."
"Have neither of you seen the intermingling of our peoples?" he continued, "We've been surrounded by it since we arrived here! Our kinsmen meeting, talking, sharing their stories, their lives over campfires and meals. Lorien and Telerin soldiers fighting together, dying together on the battlefields. Our bloods combined in the mud while we fought for our freedom."
"Please Rumil," entreated Daintáro. "Not here, in front of Taelyra. We don't know what she can hear. This may upset her."
"Taelyra!" cried Rumil. "Has been nothing short of a shining example to her people. Both in her actions on the battlefield and in the endeavours of her heart!
"She came here on her own. Alone. And not only ingratiated herself amongst the Lorien High Elves, but also won the heart of their Captain. An Elf I was proud to fight alongside and call friend. He is equal to us in loyalty and valour and he holds his love for our sister above all else. Who are we to say our love is superior? And takes precedent over his?"
"We are her family, Rumil," interjected Kieran. "We have been her support all her life and we will not leave Middle Earth without her."
"Enough!" shouted Daintáro. It was the first time he'd raised his voice and he disliked the air of conflict they had created in Taelyra's room.
"We have been requested to join the excursion to Dol Guldur. We will ride out with our Lorien brethren," he paused to look at Rumil, acknowledging his point. "And we will think long and hard upon this matter during the trip. You will speak no further of it now."
With that he ushered his sons out of the room, leaving his daughter behind in silence.