Omens
"These are dark times" said Elladan, the first to break the silence that had lain heavily upon them since Haldir's arrival. "What do you mean?" asked Haldir, clearly puzzled by Elladan's ominous words. "Sauron was defeated nearly a century ago, so what could there possibly be to trouble us?" "You who have been secluded amongst the trees of Lothlorien have not seen the darkness that has crept back into the hearts of men" Elrohir told him, "They no longer accept our council and they have cast many of our people out of their cities. Those of our people who refused to leave have been persecuted and some have even been killed." "What! But we have done nothing to provoke this" said Haldir, shocked to his very core. He had heard no news of this, and could not believe what he was hearing. "That does not seem to matter to them", Elrohir said bitterly. "It is our belief that someone close to the young king of Gondor is influencing this prejudice against us." "But why?" "This isn't confined to our race alone; we have heard that the Dwarves are suffering similar problems. Any who aren't completely human appear to be a target." Ellandan replied, frowning at the implications of this. "Why are you telling me this? I am leaving these shores so this will no longer be of concern to me once I depart." Haldir replied, feeling a little disturbed, but not overly concerned. It wasn't his problem to deal with. "Because of your connections in the court of Gondor and we would ask that you see who is behind this, and if possible remedy the situation." "We know it will be dangerous for you, but our race will be in danger if you cannot succeed." Said Elrohir gravely, knowing that he was asking a great deal from Haldir and that Haldir's life was at stake. "I will need time to think on this" replied Haldir, "You are asking a great deal of me" "Take as long as you need, we have a guest room prepared for you."
Haldir tossed and turned, trying to sleep but Elladan's words kept echoing in his head. After a while he left the guesthouse and wandered down to the waterfall. He walked softly, his bare feet making no sound on the soft ground. He stared at the waterfall, thinking through all that he had been told earlier that afternoon. Did he continue with his journey to Valinor and forget all the troubles of his people in this land, or did he go to Gondor knowing that his life may very well be at stake? He sat staring at the waterfall until the pink rays of dawn reflected on the water throwing rainbows over the waters surface. Even the beauty of this sight could not grant him the solace he sought. 'What am I to do?" Haldir despaired.
It was many hours later when Haldir finally returned to the twins house. "Have you decided?" asked Elrohir gravely. "Yes, I will go to Gondor" replied Haldir, "Though it may cost me much." "We will have supplies prepared for you." Said Elladan, "We wish you luck on your journey". "I'll leave immediately". Haldir went to gather his belongings. "He will be in much danger", said Elladan. "Yes" replied his brother gravely, "we can only hope that the Valar will watch over him and keep him safe". It was with a heavy heart that Haldir left Imladris, knowing that he may never see it again.
"These are dark times" said Elladan, the first to break the silence that had lain heavily upon them since Haldir's arrival. "What do you mean?" asked Haldir, clearly puzzled by Elladan's ominous words. "Sauron was defeated nearly a century ago, so what could there possibly be to trouble us?" "You who have been secluded amongst the trees of Lothlorien have not seen the darkness that has crept back into the hearts of men" Elrohir told him, "They no longer accept our council and they have cast many of our people out of their cities. Those of our people who refused to leave have been persecuted and some have even been killed." "What! But we have done nothing to provoke this" said Haldir, shocked to his very core. He had heard no news of this, and could not believe what he was hearing. "That does not seem to matter to them", Elrohir said bitterly. "It is our belief that someone close to the young king of Gondor is influencing this prejudice against us." "But why?" "This isn't confined to our race alone; we have heard that the Dwarves are suffering similar problems. Any who aren't completely human appear to be a target." Ellandan replied, frowning at the implications of this. "Why are you telling me this? I am leaving these shores so this will no longer be of concern to me once I depart." Haldir replied, feeling a little disturbed, but not overly concerned. It wasn't his problem to deal with. "Because of your connections in the court of Gondor and we would ask that you see who is behind this, and if possible remedy the situation." "We know it will be dangerous for you, but our race will be in danger if you cannot succeed." Said Elrohir gravely, knowing that he was asking a great deal from Haldir and that Haldir's life was at stake. "I will need time to think on this" replied Haldir, "You are asking a great deal of me" "Take as long as you need, we have a guest room prepared for you."
Haldir tossed and turned, trying to sleep but Elladan's words kept echoing in his head. After a while he left the guesthouse and wandered down to the waterfall. He walked softly, his bare feet making no sound on the soft ground. He stared at the waterfall, thinking through all that he had been told earlier that afternoon. Did he continue with his journey to Valinor and forget all the troubles of his people in this land, or did he go to Gondor knowing that his life may very well be at stake? He sat staring at the waterfall until the pink rays of dawn reflected on the water throwing rainbows over the waters surface. Even the beauty of this sight could not grant him the solace he sought. 'What am I to do?" Haldir despaired.
It was many hours later when Haldir finally returned to the twins house. "Have you decided?" asked Elrohir gravely. "Yes, I will go to Gondor" replied Haldir, "Though it may cost me much." "We will have supplies prepared for you." Said Elladan, "We wish you luck on your journey". "I'll leave immediately". Haldir went to gather his belongings. "He will be in much danger", said Elladan. "Yes" replied his brother gravely, "we can only hope that the Valar will watch over him and keep him safe". It was with a heavy heart that Haldir left Imladris, knowing that he may never see it again.