Chapter Four : Findings
Haldir began to trudge through the anctient forest. He was so tired, but he knew that the Great Tree was nearby. As a boy he had gone to this most ancient of trees to think. It had been a place of great solace and comfort when he was troubled. Now, as he turned onto the familiar path that would lead him to his destination, he felt confusion instead of relief.
With every step he took it seemed as if his heart grew heavier. " Why is this happening?!" he wondered. His frustration was mounting. He could not understand why he was feeling this way. Haldir had never before in his life experienced such heart wrenching need. He knew he would have to satisfy it, and soon, if he planned on living to see the near future. The only problem was that he had no idea where to start. " This is it," he thought weqarily as he rounded the last bend in the well trodden path. " Soon I can get this over with and- " Haldir froze in mid stride as the area around the base of the Great Tree was visible. What he saw made his heart skip a beat and caused a deep ache in his chest. His soul began to cry out in anguish as he ran to the figure lying motionless on the ground.
As he aproached it, the smell of blood and death filled his nostrils. His senses strained to see if there was any danger left here, but there was none. He continued his approach catiously, the familiar feeling of danger had returned. Warily he knelt by the body, still surveying his surroundings with a piercing gaze. When he was sre nothing was near him, he began a quick inspection of the victim.
It was a female of the race of Man. She looked to have barely seen seventeen or eighteen summers. Her full hair was a light, luxurious brown with subtle splashes of gold; a result of much time spent in the out of doors. Her complexion was clear, and though she was pale with death he could see that her once sun kissed skin had a light honey tone. She wore torn, blood soaked robes of red and green. Her small feet were cut and bruised from having run over a rather disagreeable surface.
"She's breath -takingly beautiful, but she's also dead,"he thought. Deep in his heart he knew that she was what he was looking for. He was certain that she was both the object of his mission and his strange desire.He was even more puzzled as he layed his hands on her to retrieve the unfamiliar arrow from its place in her side. He had felt a srtange surge of enegy flow between them . This caused him to jerk his hands away and stare at her in onderment. " How did that happen?" he wondered aloud. "she should be dead,but her soul seems to still reside within her. Indeed I know it does because it calls to my own. There may still be time to save her."
Haldir collected her limp and lifeless body in his arms. He forgot all of his weakness as he sprinted along the path back to te city of Caras Galadhon. The sun had just begun to rise as they drew near to the city gates. He ran to the palace and once there he trned into the receiving hall. Galadriel was waiting quietly there for him. It seemed as if she had not moved since his audience with her hours before.
"She... she's dead, my lady," said Haldir in defeat and shame; he had failed the lord and lady, he had failed her. He had triedso hard to will her to live as he carried her back through the golden forest. All along the way he could feel her soul leaving her body and there was nothing he could do. his soul begged hers to hold on to any thread of hope that it could find. But now, as he stood in front of Galadriel, he could barely feel her soul and so assumed it was just its remaining essence. His own spirit screamed in agony as the feeling of need was replaced by utter emptiness. His heart was broken as a single tear fell down his sorrow stricken face.
Galadriel silently walked to face Hadir , and she reached up and wiped away his tear. She stared knowingly into his eyes trying to give him some of her peace. She could see into his soul. She saw that he was begining to fade."They are truly meant for each other,"she thought to herself,"the only question is whether or not he will be strong enough to wait for fate to take its course." She spoke to his mind,"Be strong Haldir, for no one can tell what fate has for each of us."
Haldir began to trudge through the anctient forest. He was so tired, but he knew that the Great Tree was nearby. As a boy he had gone to this most ancient of trees to think. It had been a place of great solace and comfort when he was troubled. Now, as he turned onto the familiar path that would lead him to his destination, he felt confusion instead of relief.
With every step he took it seemed as if his heart grew heavier. " Why is this happening?!" he wondered. His frustration was mounting. He could not understand why he was feeling this way. Haldir had never before in his life experienced such heart wrenching need. He knew he would have to satisfy it, and soon, if he planned on living to see the near future. The only problem was that he had no idea where to start. " This is it," he thought weqarily as he rounded the last bend in the well trodden path. " Soon I can get this over with and- " Haldir froze in mid stride as the area around the base of the Great Tree was visible. What he saw made his heart skip a beat and caused a deep ache in his chest. His soul began to cry out in anguish as he ran to the figure lying motionless on the ground.
As he aproached it, the smell of blood and death filled his nostrils. His senses strained to see if there was any danger left here, but there was none. He continued his approach catiously, the familiar feeling of danger had returned. Warily he knelt by the body, still surveying his surroundings with a piercing gaze. When he was sre nothing was near him, he began a quick inspection of the victim.
It was a female of the race of Man. She looked to have barely seen seventeen or eighteen summers. Her full hair was a light, luxurious brown with subtle splashes of gold; a result of much time spent in the out of doors. Her complexion was clear, and though she was pale with death he could see that her once sun kissed skin had a light honey tone. She wore torn, blood soaked robes of red and green. Her small feet were cut and bruised from having run over a rather disagreeable surface.
"She's breath -takingly beautiful, but she's also dead,"he thought. Deep in his heart he knew that she was what he was looking for. He was certain that she was both the object of his mission and his strange desire.He was even more puzzled as he layed his hands on her to retrieve the unfamiliar arrow from its place in her side. He had felt a srtange surge of enegy flow between them . This caused him to jerk his hands away and stare at her in onderment. " How did that happen?" he wondered aloud. "she should be dead,but her soul seems to still reside within her. Indeed I know it does because it calls to my own. There may still be time to save her."
Haldir collected her limp and lifeless body in his arms. He forgot all of his weakness as he sprinted along the path back to te city of Caras Galadhon. The sun had just begun to rise as they drew near to the city gates. He ran to the palace and once there he trned into the receiving hall. Galadriel was waiting quietly there for him. It seemed as if she had not moved since his audience with her hours before.
"She... she's dead, my lady," said Haldir in defeat and shame; he had failed the lord and lady, he had failed her. He had triedso hard to will her to live as he carried her back through the golden forest. All along the way he could feel her soul leaving her body and there was nothing he could do. his soul begged hers to hold on to any thread of hope that it could find. But now, as he stood in front of Galadriel, he could barely feel her soul and so assumed it was just its remaining essence. His own spirit screamed in agony as the feeling of need was replaced by utter emptiness. His heart was broken as a single tear fell down his sorrow stricken face.
Galadriel silently walked to face Hadir , and she reached up and wiped away his tear. She stared knowingly into his eyes trying to give him some of her peace. She could see into his soul. She saw that he was begining to fade."They are truly meant for each other,"she thought to herself,"the only question is whether or not he will be strong enough to wait for fate to take its course." She spoke to his mind,"Be strong Haldir, for no one can tell what fate has for each of us."