Dream Warrior
Author: Heather Lynn
Email: ring_of_adament@yahoo.com
HET/ NC-17
Haldir/Lirimaer
Disclaimer: The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of J R R Tolkien, the Tolkien Estate and Tolkien Enterprises. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended
Summary: This story begins in the year 3018 (S.R. 1418), the same time that Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin have begun their journey. They are now with Aragorn, having left Amon Sûl (Weathertop) after battling the ringwraiths. Arwen Evenstar has Frodo and is taking him to Rivendell. Lirimaer is an elf from Rivendell who journeys to Lothlórien to speak to Galadriel about the haunting nightmare she repeatedly has. Haldir comes across her along the way and he leads her to Lórien.
Notes: While writing this, I followed the Tolkien's books and the two movies and made up a few things as well. My timeline does not coincide with the books, only to try to keep things short! The numbers after a sentence means there is a definition at the end of the chapter. I hope the translations are correct, if not please email me so I can make any necessary repairs. I hope to add drawings soon, having just moved I will need some time. I hope you enjoy my first fan fic I've ever written, please let me know what you think! This fan fic was also part of the www.haldir-lives.org Fan Fic Challenge.
Chapter 4 – First Impressions
Lirimaer heard what appeared to be moaning. She awoke on her belly and tried to get up on her hands and knees. Her head pounded fiercely. "Lodo!" She looked about her franticly for the voice when a hand came down on her shoulder from behind. "Did you hear what I said? Lie still! I have not finished tending your wound." Her shirt was pulled down over her shoulder, exposing the wound. She tried to turn to look at the one with the firm grip on her shoulder. "Sedho!" he said, squeezing her shoulder with bruising fingers. She wriggled under his grasp. "Be still! You are a stubborn elf! What is your name, boy?"
Boy? Then she remembered how she was dressed. She thought it wise to keep up the charade. She didn't know who the voice was and how they would react to a she-elf. "My name is Astalder, son of Megilindir."
The voice snickered. "Valiant One; a mighty name for a stubborn boy. I knew your father. I was unaware that he had a son."
"And what may your name be; Thaurer?" Lirimaer retorted. 1
She heard him suck in his breath. "You should have a little more respect for the one who saved your hide from the freezing waters, BOY!" With a swift move, he grabbed her arm and rolled her over. He was elf kind!
She stared into the face before her. He had blue eyes with dark arching brows, a long straight nose, and lightly bronzed skin. His jaw was set firm with annoyance at her remark. His long flowing golden blonde hair was shining in the early morning sun. He was well built, more than most male elves she'd seen. She could see the fullness of his muscles beneath his tunic. He was beautiful!
"What is the son of Megilindir doing floating down the Gladden? And why is it a boy is traveling alone?" he asked.
"First, I would like to know who it is that I am speaking to," said Lirimaer with a hint of disdain. "I've told you who I am, it is only courteous for you to do the same."
"My name is Haldir, Captain of the Guard of Lórien."
So this is Haldir, the one she was warned about. Elrohir was right; he is arrogant! Then she thought about Elladan and Elrohir. Great sadness passed over her. "My companions… I was traveling with the sons of Elrond: Elladan and Elrohir. We were on our way to Lórien to deliver a message to the Lady Galadriel from Lord Elrond. We were attacked by orcs and warg-riders while following the Gladden."
"Elladan and Elrohir! You need not fret about them. I'm sure they are fine. I know them well."
"So I have heard!" remarked Lirimaer.
"And let me guess? Elrohir I'm sure had much to say about me! Probably whining about the scratch I gave him several years ago. He'll never let that go!" Then, turning back to Astalder, he said, "Speaking of scratches, remove your tunic so I can properly take care of yours, Astalder."
"No!" gasped Lirimaer, forgetting about the pitch of her voice.
Haldir gave her a sharp look. "How old are you? I can't imagine that you are very old from the sounds of you. Or by the way you are acting!"
"I do not need you to play nursemaid to me," she said as she jumped to her feet, not realizing the mistake she made by moving so quickly. The orc poison was still strong in her veins. Her vision blurred and everything started to go gray. Haldir quickly caught her about the waist before she fell to the ground.
"Foolish boy! Do you want to start bleeding again! I can't believe that you are the son of Megilindir!"
"What do you know of my father!" she cried.
"Your father was a great warrior. I fought beside him at Dol Guldur with King Thranduil's troops in 2885. I was with him when he departed from this world. But that was over 130 years ago. How could he have been your father? You are no more than a boy! Why do you lie to me? Who are you?"
"I did not lie to you! I was three when my father died. I knew him little, but he WAS my father!"
"How can you be over 130 years old? I mean, look at you! You are… scrawny! No more than a boy. I will listen to no more of this!" With that Haldir walked away before Lirimaer could come back at him. But what could she say? She was scrawny for a male-elf of 130 years of age.
Haldir walked over to his pack and withdrew a small hatchet. "Since you are injured and we have no horses, the best way for us to travel will be to raft down the Anduin." With that he turned and went over to a stand of young birch trees. He cut down several of them; he then removed their branches and dragged them back to the riverbank. Haldir went back and cut down several more. It was late morning and was proving to be a warm day. He came back to the riverbank and removed his tunic. Lirimaer sucked her breath in. He was very well formed. Haldir turned and looked at her. "Is something wrong?"
She had to cover for herself and quick! "No. I just moved my shoulder the wrong way is all." Whew!
He proceeded to tie the trees together with reeds from the bank. His hands moved quickly and with great skill. She watched as the muscles moved beneath his skin and wondered what they felt like, what his warm skin felt like. What was she thinking! She didn't even like him! Time to think of something else. "So what are you doing so far away from Lórien?"
"I had a message to convey to King Thranduil from Lord Celeborn. And what about yourself? What is a boy doing delivering messages?"
Lirimaer chose to ignore the mockery in his voice. "I came to seek counsel with the Lady Galadriel."
"And what is of great importance that a boy needs to seek counsel with the Lady?" he smirked.
Lirimaer was growing tired of the sarcasm. "My name is not BOY, it is Astalder, as amusing as it might be to you. And my business is my own! I do not have to tell you anything!" With that she tried to stand up but this time Haldir was not close to catch her. She fell to the ground and landed right on her shoulder. The pain was excruciating. Everything in her vision started turning gray and soft around the edges. Her stomach started to roil with waves of nausea.
"Ascarer! 2 You have opened your wound!" Haldir yelled at her. It sounded very distant. She could hear the thump-thump of her blood pumping in her ears. She felt a liquid being poured into her mouth. She tried to spit it out. "Do not spit. This will take the pain away." She felt a great warmth radiate from her stomach out to all her limbs, the pain easing. "It will also make you sleep for a short while so I don't have to deal with your nonsense!" Everything went dark.
1. Thaurer = Abominable one
2. Ascarer! = Impetuous one