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 18 – The Arrival of a Friend
She quickly pulled on her gown and ran down the path, her wet hair saturating her gown. The tears poured from her eyes. What have I done? she asked herself. I have ruined everything. Now I will have him in my life no more! She felt like her heart was being ripped from her chest. She made her way back to her room, busting the door open and throwing it closed, leaning on it, siding to the floor. She put her hands over her face, crying hysterically.
"Lirimaer! What is wrong?" came a voice from the balcony. A voice she knew.
She looked up. "Vuranor!" She stood up and ran to him, arms outstretched. He took her in his arms, squeezing her tight. "What are you doing here?" she asked between sobs.
"I had to see you. I had to make sure you made it here all right. I see that things are not going very well here for you," he said. He took her hand. "Come sit with me. Tell me what is troubling you." He led her out onto the balcony and sat her down in a chair. He pulled another one over in front of her and sat down. He took both of her hands in his. It pained him to see her cry.
Lirimaer took a few deep breaths, and began her tale from when she first met Haldir till what had happened at the pool. She told him how he was the warrior in her dreams. When she had finished the tears had started again. Vuranor had an astonished look on his face. She is in love with someone else! Someone who has hurt her. Someone who will pay dearly for what he has done to her! He took her into his arms and held her until she cried no more, silently vowing to deal with the one that hurt her.
Haldir had headed back to his room when he left Lirimaer at the pool. He needed to change his wet clothes before going to see Galadriel. He felt terrible. It broke his heart when he shouted at Lirimaer. The look on her face showed that his words had hit their mark. He was right about one thing; he needed to go to the borders. They needed time apart. Their emotions ran too deep.
He was getting dressed when he heard Lirimaer's door slam shut. Then he heard muffled sobbing. What have I done! He felt so guilty. How could I have hurt her like that? I love her yet I treated her horribly. The sounds of her crying moved out to the balcony. He heard the sound of a male voice. Someone was with her. He walked over to the doorway and looked out.
Sitting in front of her holding her hands was a young male elf. He never saw him before. He was handsome, with black hair and blue eyes. His eyes would not leave Lirimaer's face. They were full of concern and love. Haldir felt envy building in him. He saw the elf reach out and brush the tears from her face. Tears that were surely caused by the way he treated her at the pool. He saw the anger building in the young elf. He couldn't watch them anymore. Watching her cry was too painful for him. He turned and left to go see Galadriel.
Galadriel was waiting for him by the bridge that tied the two trees together. He forced a smile to his face. "It's no good, Haldir. I can feel your pain." She walked over to a bench and sat down, motioning for him to sit with her. He sat down and she took his hand. "Why do you push her away from you?" she asked.
"We can never have anything between us," he said. "I am a guardian. We don't wed. We are away at the borders for long periods of time. What kind of life would that be for her?"
"What kind of life will you have without her?"
Haldir sat and thought about it. Could he ever get over her? He loved her deeply.
"But what am I to do? I can't expect her to wait months for me to show up for a few days and leave again. It would not be fair to her. She deserves better."
"And what do you deserve? Misery? Loneliness? To suffer for the rest of your days in Arda wondering what you could have had with her? Haldir, do not loose her. You will need her by your side one day. Allow yourself to love her without worry. She loves you. Have faith in your love." She smiled at him, patting his hand. "You will have to go to the border in three days. Go to her." She touched him on the cheek, looking into his eyes. "Be happy. You have great things coming in your future. Your future with Lirimaer."
Haldir stood and bowed, turned quickly and ran across the bridge, wanting his future with her to begin now. He ran up the steps and burst through Lirimaer's door. He saw her lying on the bed and quickly crossed the room to her. She was sleeping.
"Who are you?" said the male elf, coming into the room from the balcony.
"I am Haldir," he said, eying the younger elf.
"You are Haldir? So you are the one I've been waiting to meet!" Vuranor quickly drew his sword.
Haldir was not armed. "And who may you be and why have you been waiting to meet me?" he asked.
" I am Vuranor. You hurt Lirimaer whom I love. Now you will pay!" he yelled, lunging at Haldir.
Haldir quickly jumped aside. He was right. This elf was young and inexperienced. Vuranor quickly turned and came at Haldir again. Haldir moved out of his reach once more.
"Stop it!" yelled Lirimaer, swiftly moving to her feet. "What do you think you are doing, Vuranor!"
"I am defending you. He hurt you. I will make him pay!" he yelled, going after Haldir once more, making Lirimaer cry out.
Haldir moved out of the way, but not quick enough this time, distracted by Lirimaer's cry. The sword made contact with his upper arm, making a small gash. Haldir's eyes blazed with anger. He marched up to Vuranor and grabbed the sword away from him in a blink of an eye. He held the point to Vuranor's throat. "You are lucky I won't run you though. I came here to ask for forgiveness from Lirimaer, not to have dealings with you." He took the sword and threw it on the table near him. "Lirimaer, can I please talk to you in private? I have some things I must to say to you."
Lirimaer's heart was still raw. "Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of my friend."
Haldir gave Vuranor an annoyed look. Then he turned his gaze upon Lirimaer. His face softened. He took her hands in his and got down on his knees. "I love you. I have been a fool. Please forgive me."
Lirimaer's heart jumped into her throat. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She could feel hot tears coming to her eyes again, but this time they were tears of joy. She fell to her knees and into his arms.
Vuranor was ready to explode. Who did Haldir think he was, playing with her emotions like this? He reached for his sword and swiftly had it against Haldir's throat.
"Vuranor, what are you doing?" Lirimaer cried in dismay. She saw the point being pressed into Haldir's flesh, drawing blood. All of a sudden the door opened. It was Alfirin.
Vuranor turned to look; it was the opportunity Haldir needed. He quickly knocked the sword from his hand, knocking Vuranor to the floor and was on him as quick as a cat. He held Vuranor down by the throat. "Why do you do this?" demanded Haldir.
"Because I love Lirimaer!"
Lirimaer stood there, taken aback. Then she placed a hand on Haldir's shoulder. She reached down and released his grip from Vuranor's throat. Haldir pulled Vuranor to his feet. Lirimaer reached out and caressed Vuranor's cheek. "I love you, too," she said. "But only as a dear friend. I am sorry. You are like a brother to me. I'm sorry if I ever made it seem another way. I am in love with Haldir," she said, turning to him and taking his hand in hers. She looked at Vuranor and saw great sorrow in his eyes.
"I see I never should have come here. I just want you to be happy. I will leave for Rivendell," Vuranor said, turning towards the door.
"Wait! Please don't go away like this. You must stay for a while," Lirimaer pleaded.
"Alfirin, can you please set our friend up in my quarters. He will be staying for a while," said Haldir, bowing slightly to Vuranor. "Please join us for dinner tonight. Tomorrow I will be continuing Lirimaer's tour of Lórien. We would like it if you would join us."
Vuranor looked at Haldir with suspicion. "I will join you," he said. He bowed and followed Alfirin out of the room.
Lirimaer looked at the blood coming from the wound on Haldir's neck. Then she remembered his arm as well. "Come, sit down and let me take care of your wounds." She filled a bowl with water and dipped a cloth in it and began to wash the blood his neck.
Haldir looked into her eyes. They were bright green and a little bloodshot, but beautiful. He felt guilty for making her cry. Lirimaer ripped open his shirtsleeve to expose the wound on his arm. She started to wash the wound. She could feel Haldir's eyes upon her. She ripped up a piece of cloth and bound his wound. Lirimaer looked into Haldir's eyes, smiling.
He couldn't take it another second. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, his tongue seeking out hers. Their tongues met and entwined in the warm recesses of her mouth. A moan of pleasure escaped his throat. He reached out and lifted her onto his lap.
Lirimaer ran her hands up his back and sank her fingers into his golden locks. She found an ear, running her finger up its edge to the tip. She felt him shudder. They broke from the kiss and she sought out his neck, placing kisses and nibbles under his ear. She traced her tongue up the edge of his ear to its point, bringing another shudder from Haldir. "I love you, Haldir," she whispered in his ear. "More than anything in Arda and Valinor. I love you."
"I love you, too," Haldir said. "But we must stop this before we go too far. There is so much we need to learn about each other. I want you to be sure you want me. There is no going back once we have joined." He picked her up and placed her on her feet. "How about we finish our walk that I spoiled today? Get our minds on other things."
Lirimaer gave him a teasing smile. "Alright, but I do have a question. Now that you gave Vuranor your quarters to stay in, where will you be sleeping?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and nibbled on his earlobe.
"I will stay with you, melamin, if you can behave!" he said, amused. "Perhaps your friend would like to join us today for a tour? I need to get something from my room, we can ask him."