Chapter 9
Dictionary:
COURBETTE: The horse balances on the hind legs and then jumps, keeping the hind legs together and the forelegs off the ground
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Haldir jogged easily through the fields, searching methodically for the heard of horses. He had determined, with the none-to-gentle proddings of Rhúmil and Orophin, to ride to rivendell to reveal his love to Élharma. Finally, after some time hunting, Haldir heard the shrill welcome of Calmacil's call.
He approached the magnificent stallion, caressing the rippling shoulder, "I need your assistance, old friend. I need one of your kindred to take me to Élharma."
The stallion nuzzled Haldir's shirt with his soft muzzle. He softly lipped the rough material. 'compliance;acceptance/accompany/me;self;I/go;take' the horse gently keethed into Haldir's mind.
Shocked, Haldir asked, "You would take me?" The stallion had never allowed anyone but Élharma upon his back, not even Lord Celeborn!
The splendid stallion squealed and tossed his head impatiently. 'acceptance/assurance/urgency' Haldir sensed.
He deftly boarded the immense horse, taking care to remember all that Élharma had taught him. The eager steed bounded at a brisk gallop through the fields into the trees, his great stride carrying them quickly towards the borders of lorien. Over the fields and through the woods the two trekked, always traveling as quickly as possible; galloping where the footing was sure and breaking into a trot when the path was unsteady or uncertain.
They traveled until well into the night until Haldir and Calmacil stopped, exhausted, to rest.
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The gray mist of pre-dawn lay lightly upon rivendell. There was a crisp, refreshing breeze in the air, carrying upon its wings the suggestion of becoming a wonderfully splendid summer day. As the last of the stars were fading in the heavens and the first of the flowers were opening their dew covered petals, Élharma and Arwen walked quietly down the path to the stables.
Today, Élharma was to ride back to lothlorien. The two maidens walked the path slowly, reluctantly, they were not ready for another farewell.
As Élharma gave Daaio a gentle rubdown, Arwen sat anxiously on a stump.
"I am worried for you Élharma," The princess said softly, "We both know that the orc rabble have been unusually agitated as of late."
Élharma raised an eyebrow and replied confidently, "Don't worry, my friend, nothing is going to happen." It was unusual for Arwen to be so anxious about such a straightforward journey.
Arwen looked at the ground and frowned, unable to quiet the unrest that she felt in her heart. Anxiousness drew fine lines upon her noble features, they bespoke of her deep apprehension.
Élharma had finished and was ready to leave. She gathered the concerned elf in her arms and the two friends exchanged a warm embrace. They parted and Élharma leapt lightly upon the glistening back of her steed, an assuring smile upon her fair features.
Arwen stood in awe as Daaio galloped to the top of the hill. Against the backdrop of a colorfully magnificent sunrise, the horse jumped into a splendid courbette, and Arwen saw both horse and rider as the wild, fiercely passionate creatures they are.
Arwen stood alone in the field for a moment, absorbing the first warm rays of the morning sun before going silently back to her home.
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Later that day, just as Arwen was preparing for the evening meal, there was a commotion outside. Curious, she investigated. In the front courtyard there was a male elf riding upon a sweat soaked stallion, both appeared tired and exhausted.
When he saw her, he cried, "Could you please tell me where the one who is called Élharma might be found?"
The horse pranced nervously, his flanks heaving from a recent journey. The elf caressed the beasts quivering crest in a calming manner.
Arwen's brow rose at Élharma's name. "You must be Haldir." She asked.
The elf nodded, "Where is she?" he asked breathlessly.
Arwen pointed to the westerly borders, "You just missed her, she left early this morning for lorien."
The elf swore beneath his breath and murmured something to his steed.
Without another word, they whirled and galloped out of sight.
Arwen turned back into the courts, muttering aloud, "Odd, they should have passed each other on the path."
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Élharma stopped at sundown on the edge of an open field to rest, they were both tired and she did not want to exhaust Daaio. They still had a whole day's journey ahead of them. She sat wrapped in her gray cloak, silently watching the sunset as Daaio peacefully munched on grass a few yards away. The night was warm, so Élharma did not build a fire.
"What am I doing, Daaio?" She murmured to the mare.
Daaio did not respond, she just continued lazily chomping the grass, her tail swishing gently through the air.
"Have I deceived myself into thinking that Haldir could actually love me? I mean who could love me?" She whispered, drawing her knees up under her chin.
The mare snorted noisily, the sound echoing hollowly over the grassy plane.
"What if Arwen is wrong? What if he really and truly meant what he said?" She asked.
The horse moved to a fresh patch of grass, relaxed and happy, not paying the elf any mind.
"What if he did?" Came a deep voice from the wood behind her.
Startled, Élharma jumped to her feet and spun. Inwardly, she berated herself for letting someone sneak up on her like that.
Out of the shadows stepped Elrohir, one of Elrond's sons.
The rugged elf moved alongside her, gently asking, "And what if he did? What if he did mean what he said? What if he really does not love you?"
She looked questioningly into his eyes.
He laughed, a deep rumble beginning in his belly and growing to fill the air with merriment. The sound calmed her, its resonating intonations washing over her like a wave of the sea.
"I am sorry, Élharma. The real reason I followed you this whole way is because you forgot your necklace and I came to give it to you." He said.
With disbelief, she asked, "You came all this way to give me a necklace?"
"I know how much it means to you." He murmured softly, "Remember, I was there when your mother gave it to you."
It was her turn to smile. Of course. He had always been a very sensitive elf, and if something was special to her, he had always treated it with reverence.
"Thank you." She said.
"May I put it on you?" He asked, holding out the silvery chain. The pendant swung lazily in the air, its red shape sparkling in the moonlight.
Élharma nodded and pulled her hair away from her neck, gathering the heavy waves into a bundle, which fell over one shoulder. He leaned over, the light caress of his fingers against her skin sent shivers down her back. Elrohir gently fastened the miniature clasp, careful not to tangle it in the stray locks that had evaded her grasp.
He straightened, and she let her hair fall back again. She absentmindedly fingered the delicate pendant, thankful to have the comforting weight once again in her hand. She looked at her male companion, suddenly noticing that he was watching her with interest.
"You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen." He murmured, reaching out to caress her arm.
She moved out of his reach, wary of the uncertainness growing in her mind; also painfully aware of how the moon cast an alluring glow upon his strong features.
He continued, his voice soft, "You don't have to go to Lorien to find love, especially if it is an uncertain love." He paused, letting the effects of his words sink into her mind, "As I told you the first day that you came to live with Arwen, I love you. I always will love you with my whole and complete heart. I will wait for you to learn to love me until all time is past and we leave middle earth. Even in the undying lands of the west will I wait for you."
She did remember, as if that day so many years ago were yesterday. She had just arrived at Rivendell, she was angry, confused, frustrated. She had sat for many days curled into a little ball. Back then, she could not even meet another's gaze, she just sat on the floor and rocked, reacting violently if anyone dared touch her. He had been there, always talking to her, even though she did not ever respond. He had never tried to touch her, he just sat by her, constantly talking and singing. He had told her that he loved her that day. Words she had not heard since the death of her mother.
"Please go, I cannot think right now." she whispered, not looking into the piercing gaze of his amber eyes.
He was silent for a few moments before he turned, without a word and vanished into the trees in the direction of rivendell.
Élharma lay back, stretched upon the ground, and gazed searchingly into the sky, her eyes brimming with tears of confused frustration. She felt torn in two directions. A war waged in her mind. She had always dismissed Elrohir as just having a juvenile crush, something that he would eventually grow out of. But to hear his profession of love once again sent her mind into a whirlwind.
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Having slept fitfully that night, Haldir was more than ready to begin the final stage of their journey when sunrise finally came. Calmacil was recovered from the previous day's efforts, prancing about excitedly, ready to be off.
They went along at an easy, relaxed pace, covering ground quickly without causing to much strain on either horse or rider.
It was around midday when a familiar stench reached their nostrils, its rancid foulness meaning only one thing.
Haldir ground his teeth together in frustration, "Orcs!"
This was not a good sign. He knew that they were tracking Élharma and it brought a sick feeling to his stomach.
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Élharma now rode hard, pushing the exhausted mare to her uttermost limits; they could hear a group of orcs not far behind. The orcs had been following her at a distance ever since sunrise; now they were closing in on her swiftly. Daaio, in her frenzied panic, stumbled over an upturned root and nearly unseated her rider. Élharma clung to her steed, knowing full well that if she were to fall now it would be her last.
Suddenly, Élharma felt an impact in her back so strong that it sent her reeling. All at once, time seemed to slow down. In slow motion, she looked down and saw the tip of a blackened arrow protruding from her chest. The world swirled around her, and she felt the shock of the ground slamming into her. The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her mind was Daaio turning and grabbing Élharma's lorien cloak in her teeth and tossing it over the fallen elf.
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Haldir heard the sounds of approaching footsteps. Whatever it was, was traveling at an incredibly fast pace. Suddenly Daaio appeared, nearly running into Calmacil. White flecks of foam covered her chest, the whites of her eyes told of the panic, which ripped through her quivering body.
"Show us where she is!!" Haldir shouted.
The mare turned on her heels, a scream of panic shattering the air about them.
After a few minutes they came upon a clearing that had been trampled heavily by orcs. Calmacil stopped in the center of the clearing, refusing to move further. Haldir could not see any sign of the elf maiden.
He dismounted, landing heavily upon his feet. Daaio moved quickly to a tree stump that stood near them, grabbing what appeared to be a protrusion of bark and giving it a yank. The stump moved, shifting textures, to become the gray of a lorien cloak!!
He rushed to the form and uncovered it completely. It was, in fact, Élharma. Her eyes were open, staring unconsciously into the sky. The sharp end of an orc arrow protruded harshly from her chest, it was covered in a blackish green slime.
'Poison' He thought angrily.
There was little time to waste, she needed a healer, and soon. Careful not to touch the tar-like compound, he wrapped her light form in both his and her cloaks so that the foul stuff would not burn the sensitive skin of the horses. Then, he draped her over the back of Calmacil, noticing with dread the blood that flowed freely to drip upon the ground. It stained Calmacil's coat a bright red, pooling about the stallion's feet.
Haldir mounted Daaio, and shouted urgently, "If there were ever a need for haste, it is now. Fly, I tell you, fly with all of your might to the halls of lothlorien"
It was many grueling hours until the four of them arrived at Lorien. Élharma's limp form became paler and paler, the hope of her life diminishing with every passing moment.
"My Lord! My Lady! Someone! Healers!" Haldir screamed as they arrived at the house of healing, terror laced in his voice.
There was a flurry of excitement and Galadriel emerged form the hall with the healers.
"Help us get her inside." The lady commanded.
He unceremoniously yanked her off of the horse's back, running headlong through the halls into the house of healing. After he had deposited her on one of the beds, he was ushered out of the room by Galadriel; the last thing that he saw of Élharma was the healers rushing about her with alarming urgency.
Galadriel took Haldir's arm and led the stunned elf to a soft couch, where he sat in a daze.
"Is she going to live?" he asked.
"The healers are doing their best efforts to save her life." Galadriel gently answered. She could see that Élharma's life hung on a thread, and did not want to give him a false sense of hope.
He put his head in his hands and his shoulders shook with silent sobs.
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Okay, I know this is a short chapter, sorry. well, let me know what you think!!!
Will love truly conquer all? And whose love will be the conquerer? Please R/R!!!