Chapter 2: In the Beginning

A/N: Thank you guys for reviewing! I always enjoy hearing your feedback. I'm sorry if that first chapter was a little rushed but I wanted to actually get to the story part.

Disclaimer: I own Lirael but the name is courtesy of Garth Nix.

It was a bright, sunny day in the woods of Lothlόrien. Haldir, the march warden, smiled (something he rarely does) as the sunlight caressed his face and warmth swept through his body. As he trekked through the woods he thought about all the times he had done the same thing with Wincessa, his ex, and wondered if ever again he would walk with another. (A/N: Ugh! That sounds so cheesy but I had a little trouble with this part)

But that would never be. For long ago he had given up on ever finding his other half. After a nasty break up with Wincessa, he vowed never to go through the same heartache again. Love was not worth the pain in his eyes. It was simpler this way; he could go into any battle and not leave a distressed woman at home to worry about. Yes, it was much simpler.

"Rúmil!" he called up to one of the talans. When there was no reply, he ascended up the ladder to the post. There, he found his blond-haired brother fast asleep against the tree. Haldir kicked him slightly. "Rúmil! Awaken now before I report you to the Lord and Lady!" he hollered.

This got a rise out of the elf. He jumped up and began surveying the area at once. "Good eve, brother. Fancy meeting you here. I believed this to be your day off, was it not?"

"It was," Haldir replied slowly. "But I found I had nothing better to do with my time. Why don't you take the remainder of the day off and return to your wife? I can take over the rest of your shift tonight."

Rúmil's face brightened at the thought for a moment but darkened soon after. "I could not ask that of you, brother. It is your day off, and you, not I, need it. You work relentlessly, without a moments rest. Why, you still have not even found yourself a suitable woman."

Haldir glared at his younger brother. Who was he to bring up the subject? "I take my job as march warden seriously," he answered. "And you know quite well that I have no need for a maiden right now."

"Brother? What do you have against love? It is a magnificent thing. It is not because you cannot find a woman; there are many who have a high regard for you."

"They throw themselves at me!" he snapped. "They are not in it for love; it is for money," he said slowly, regaining his composer (I'm guessing march wardens make good money). "Are you going home or not?"

Rúmil cast one last disapproving glare at his brother before turning towards the ladder. "It is not healthy to push yourself like this."

"I shall be the judge of the\at. Good day," Haldir remarked and turned towards the sea of emerald green treetops.

Everything seemed to be in order. But a movement a few leagues away, caught his eye. He whistled to the nearest talan and another elf made his way over.

"Yes?"

"There," he said, and pointed to the spot where he had seen the movement. "Stand guard here. I will round up a search party and investigate it."

Haldir assembled a scouting party and they soon headed out. Thinking it to be orcs, they each packed as much weaponry as they could hold. There had been reports of many wild orcs attacking nearby villages.

It was an estimated two-day walk to the area where the beasts had been spotted. And each night they rested, with two guards on watch at all times.

On the second night the first sounds of approaching footsteps had been heard: one elf and a horse. Haldir was quickly informed and his plans were put to action. The march warden headed out followed by at least 10 Galadhrim (did I spell that right?)/

And they waited.

_~~*~~_

Lirael's POV

"I've got… to keep…moving…" I thought. My horse would tire easily from continuously running so I was forced to dismount and walk half the time. It was hard, walking, since I was cut, bruised, and aching all over.

Memories consumed me. Only four days ago I had been innocent, safe, naive…but that was before the attack. Hadralia, Laríen, Alphonsus, Eliparwen…all had been slain.

It all happened so suddenly; none could have expected it. It was a simple trail through the woods with my friends, nothing more. But the attack occurred. One wild orc leapt from the bushes, killing Laríen and his mount. Defenseless and without weapons, we, the women, were useless.

Soon, three more jumped from the trees. I managed to escape with only a few injuries but my friends…they were not so lucky. I made the mistake of looking back once I was safe, and saw my last remaining companion, Hadralia, have her throat slit open.

But I was here now, running, running away, running for help, running from everything…

It was dark, and I could push Halie no further; she was exhausted. I did my best to set up a camp and make a small fire, but my hands were shaking too much. I gave up and crawled beneath a mallorn tree for shelter and let sleep overcome my weary body.

When I awoke, 13 arrows pointed at my head greeted me. There was nothing I could really do but raise my hands in surrender to these elves. I had no energy to even think otherwise.

A blond-haired man, the leader, stepped forth and put away his bow. "You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Light," he said to me. "What business brings you here?"

"Please," I begged. "Let me talk to Lady Galadriel. I only seek shelter and healing, for 5 days ago my party and I were attacked. All I ask id for one meeting with her."

He pondered this for a moment and called one of the other elves over. He pointed at my mount and me and soon the elf had bound my hands behind my back and was leading me towards Halie.

"Where am I being taken?" I inquired, my voice quivering slightly.

"To the Lord and Lady."

_~~*~~_

Haldir's POV

We arrived back at the city in record time. The girl, Lirael she said her name was, was in need of healing as well as her mount.

I was assigned the task of escorting her to the healer in Lothlόrien. It was most unpleasant since she could hardly walk and had to be carried most of the way.

Once inside, I explained to the healer where I had found her and in what conditions. For some reason I felt responsible for Lirael; maybe because I had been the one who had found her. "Would you send for me once she is feeling better? I need to question her on a few things."

I spent the remainder of my day in my talan, resting from the long journey and then went to bathe in the springs. It felt good to wash away all of the sweat, dirt, and grime that I had acquired over the last few days. After bathing, I reported to the Lord and Lady what had happened.

A few hours later, the healer's assistant came to fetch me with news that Lirael had awoken.

He led me to her room and there she lay, wrapped in numerous bandages. I asked about her condition but all he would tell me was that she had a small number of broken ribs and bruises. I looked at her frail body laying there on the bed, and felt sympathy for her.

"Is she well enough to meet with the Lord and Lady yet?" I asked, remembering that was one of her requests.

The healer looked at me as if I were crazy. "Try again tomorrow. I have given her a concoction to dull the pain and it has the tendency to make them drowsy. But she did say she needed to warn the 'blond-haired man' about something."

"I believe she meant me," I stated and he nodded. "I will be back for her tomorrow around 3. Will she be awoken by then?"

I took my leave and headed home. Tomorrow would be an interesting day indeed.

A/N: I'm sorry if those two chapters seemed rushed, but it was so boring to me. The next few will be more interesting; I promise. Please review if you haven't already done so; I enjoying hearing from you guys. But don't flame though; it's so boring and time-consuming to delete them.