Attack and Escape
Haldir awoke, knowing that something was wrong. With the preternatural senses that only Elves were gifted with, he knew that something or someone was approaching from the west. He leaped up into the branches of a nearby oak and concealed himself, looking towards the west and hoping that it wasn't an enemy approaching. Looking into the distance he spied a company of Orcs heading towards the clearing where he was concealed.
Haldir readied himself for the inevitable battle for he knew that escape was not possible. He had ridden his horse hard to get as far as he had. He was only three days from Imladris, but his horse was in no condition to be ridden. He knew that he had no time to spare for a battle, as he had been delayed at the river Isen. Since the Ents had broken the dam during the storming of Isengard, the river had been prone to flooding. As a consequence he had ridden his horse into the condition that it was now in.
Dragging his mind back to the battle before him, Haldir moved to where his horse was tethered and unslung his quiver and bow and then set the horse loose, hoping that it would find its way to safety. Haldir leaped up into the nearest tree, concealing himself among its boughs. He quickly scanned the area, looking to see how many Orcs there were and whether he could conceivably fight them all. Seeing only a small party of orcs approaching the clearing Haldir took a chance, he pulled an arrow from his quiver and shot at what seemed to be the leader of the party. As the orc leader toppled over, the rest of the party seemed to fall apart. They ran into the clearing, screaming with hatred and then halted in surprise when they saw that their quarry had disappeared. As the milled around in confusion Haldir shot more arrows into the party, killing most of them in a few shots. The rest of the orcs, seeing their companions killed by some unseen enemy ran from the clearing shrieking with fear. Haldir glanced quickly around the clearing, and seeing no more enemies jumped out of the tree, untethered his horse and led it out of the clearing.
Four days later, an exhausted Haldir arrived in Rivendell. As always the sight of the elves haven left him breathless. For a brief moment Haldir regretted that he had never given up the opportunity to live in Rivendell. As he led his horse into the courtyard of the home of Elrond, now occupied by his twin sons Elladan and Elrohir, he was as always amazed at the speed that news travelled here, Elladan was waiting on the front steps to greet him. "You're late" accused Elladan, a smile upon his face. "I was delayed at the River Isen, and then I ran into a company of orcs as well" replied Haldir, with a wry smile. "Orcs?" questioned Elladan, "were you near their lair in the misty mountains then". "No" replied Hladir, "I came by way of the plains of Rohan, and I stayed away from the mountains". "Then the rumours may indeed be true" murmured Elladan. "Rumours?" asked haldir "I have not heard any rumours of this nature". "Then we have much to talk about" replied Elladan.
Haldir awoke, knowing that something was wrong. With the preternatural senses that only Elves were gifted with, he knew that something or someone was approaching from the west. He leaped up into the branches of a nearby oak and concealed himself, looking towards the west and hoping that it wasn't an enemy approaching. Looking into the distance he spied a company of Orcs heading towards the clearing where he was concealed.
Haldir readied himself for the inevitable battle for he knew that escape was not possible. He had ridden his horse hard to get as far as he had. He was only three days from Imladris, but his horse was in no condition to be ridden. He knew that he had no time to spare for a battle, as he had been delayed at the river Isen. Since the Ents had broken the dam during the storming of Isengard, the river had been prone to flooding. As a consequence he had ridden his horse into the condition that it was now in.
Dragging his mind back to the battle before him, Haldir moved to where his horse was tethered and unslung his quiver and bow and then set the horse loose, hoping that it would find its way to safety. Haldir leaped up into the nearest tree, concealing himself among its boughs. He quickly scanned the area, looking to see how many Orcs there were and whether he could conceivably fight them all. Seeing only a small party of orcs approaching the clearing Haldir took a chance, he pulled an arrow from his quiver and shot at what seemed to be the leader of the party. As the orc leader toppled over, the rest of the party seemed to fall apart. They ran into the clearing, screaming with hatred and then halted in surprise when they saw that their quarry had disappeared. As the milled around in confusion Haldir shot more arrows into the party, killing most of them in a few shots. The rest of the orcs, seeing their companions killed by some unseen enemy ran from the clearing shrieking with fear. Haldir glanced quickly around the clearing, and seeing no more enemies jumped out of the tree, untethered his horse and led it out of the clearing.
Four days later, an exhausted Haldir arrived in Rivendell. As always the sight of the elves haven left him breathless. For a brief moment Haldir regretted that he had never given up the opportunity to live in Rivendell. As he led his horse into the courtyard of the home of Elrond, now occupied by his twin sons Elladan and Elrohir, he was as always amazed at the speed that news travelled here, Elladan was waiting on the front steps to greet him. "You're late" accused Elladan, a smile upon his face. "I was delayed at the River Isen, and then I ran into a company of orcs as well" replied Haldir, with a wry smile. "Orcs?" questioned Elladan, "were you near their lair in the misty mountains then". "No" replied Hladir, "I came by way of the plains of Rohan, and I stayed away from the mountains". "Then the rumours may indeed be true" murmured Elladan. "Rumours?" asked haldir "I have not heard any rumours of this nature". "Then we have much to talk about" replied Elladan.