Chapter 5
Time passes with no word of the battle at Helm's Deep. Within Lothlorien Ithil waits for news of the battle with mounting anxiety, until finally she came to a decision, she will go herself and get word. She bursts into the chamber of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galaderiel.
"I can not take the waiting any longer My Lady. I must ride out to Helm's Deep myself and get word of the battle."
"Ithil, I do not think that is very wise, I fear your leaving here will be more heartbreaking then if you stay and wait." Says Lady Galadriel.
"I can not stay here not knowing what is happening. I will travel quickly under the cover of the woods as long as I can. I know the way, for I have read many of Haldir's maps. I am not afraid of the enemy."
Ithil turns to leave. Looking back over her shoulder she says to Lady Galadriel, "I bid you peace My Lady, I doubt I shall ever see you again."
"Goodbye Ithil, may you find peace in your heart." Galadriel watches Ithil leave. Turning to Celeborn, Galadriel says, "The path she has chosen will only bring her the pain of death I fear."
Quickly Ithil gathers provisions for the journey. Mounting her horse she takes off with the speed of lightening. Her heart is light and heavy at the same time. What will she find? Will she see the love that drives her out into the dangers of war or will she find the heartbreak that war can bring? Swiftly the land flies by; Ithil barely looks either left or right all her thought is on finding Haldir. She rides unchallenged all the way to Helm's Deep. What she sees when she gets to the top of the rise, makes her blood run cold.
Bodies. bodies everywhere, orcs, men and elves lay one upon the other. Never has she seen anything like it. Steeling herself she rides down to the keep. Destruction and carnage assault her eyes as the stench of death assaults her nose.
'He is a great warrior, he survived this I know he did.' She tells herself. Riding past the gaping hole in what was once the impenetrable stone wall of Helm's Deep she sees only more death.
Hope rises in her when a door opens and out into the sun steps Aragorn son of Arathorn and Legolas Greenleaf. A smile as bright as the sun spreads across her face, Ithil leaps from her horse and runs to them.
"Aragorn, Legolas! My friends!" Leaping into their arms she almost knocks them over.
"You are alive! There had been no word. I came to see." Her voice trails off. Aragorn and Legolas exchange a sad dark look then turn their eyes back to Ithil.
"What." Ithil steps back. "Where, where is Haldir? Surely he is inside making a song of victory, and reliving tales of valor and courage" Her smile fades. "Where is he?"
"Ithil." Legolas starts but can not bring himself to tell her.
Aragorn places his hands gently on Ithil's shoulders. "I am sorry Ithil. The enemy struck down Haldir. He died in my arms." Aragorn says as his voice breaks with heavy sorrow.
"No, no it can not be." She looks desperately at them, "Please tell me it is not so." Ithil falls to the ground as though an arrow pierced her heart. Gathering what little strength she has left she looks at them and says. "Take me to his body. For I wish to look upon it one last time."
"No Ithil, do not torture yourself so." Aragorn began.
"I will take you." Legolas intervenes. Making their way through the smell of death that is so strong it is palatable, he leads her to the embattlement. There amid several orc bodies Haldir lay.
His eyes are still open as if they are looking to the sun above. Ithil makes her way over to him. Looking down upon his body with disbelief, she feels despair over take her. Gently sitting down beside him, she takes his head and places it in her lap. She starts to stroke his hair, just as she had done so may times before as they would lie on the talans watching the moon and stars chase each other in the night sky.
"I cannot face the sunset Haldir of Lothlorien.
I cannot look upon the moon and stars without you.
Manadh nîn an manadh lîn raen an uir." Ithil whispers softly. With that Ithil lays her head upon his chest. She can feel the darkness and emptiness of despair and loneliness overtake her. All around her grows dimmer and dimmer. She grows numb to the carnage around her. 'So this is what it feels like to die, to die of a broken heart. Haldir my love I am coming to the golden place where you are.'
"Ithil, no! Ú-car anno vi am ir dúath!" Legolas shouts in vain.
But darkness almost completely consumes her when something brings her back, a sound that is as soft as a whisper. Her eyes blinking in the sunlight that slowly came back into focus, she realizes she is no longer over Haldir's body but now she lay facing the sky with Legolas and Aragorn looking down upon her. Their eyes are full of grief, for they can take no more death this day. At the same time they both notice that her eyes are open.
"Ithil." Legolas starts to say, but she leaps to her feet and flies past them. Legolas and Aragorn look at each other, jumping to their feet they follow after her. She runs to her horse, grabs her satchel and starts to rummage through it. Catching up to her, Legolas looks at her he says, "What is it Lady? What is it that brings you back from the blackness of death?"
Smiling she looks into Legolas' eyes, breathlessly she answers, "He lives, he lives Legolas!" Finding her pouch of herbs and remedies she runs back to Haldir. Legolas and Aragorn exchange a sad look, she must be mad from grief they both think. Walking back to where Haldir lay they see Ithil bending over his lifeless looking body whispering healing words and mixing herbs in a golden bowl.
"You labor is in vain dear lady." Says Aragorn trying to lead her away.
"No! No, you do not understand. Legolas, listen, listen with your ears. His heart it beats, barely but yet it beats. Help me!" Ithil pleads. Legolas shakes his head, but places his ear to Haldir chest and listens. Hearing nothing he starts to rise, but then, very faintly, he hears it. However faint he unmistakably heard it, Haldir's heart is beating!
"Tis true Aragorn! He lives!" Legolas shouts.
"What?" Aragorn leans over and places his hand on Haldir's chest. A slow smile spreads over his face. It is true. "If you have need Lady, there are more herbs and remedies inside."
"Help me turn him over." Ithil says, trying hard to turn his body over so she can apply the mixture of herbs on to his wounds. They help her turn him over.
"Dear Lady, there is more that we need to attend to. Send a message if you have need of anything. I am sorry I doubted you." Says Aragorn. They leave her to work on Haldir.
After awhile they return to find Haldir sitting up and Ithil giving him liquid from a flask.
"It is good to see you brother." Aragorn says, trying to hide the tears of relief that are welling up in his eyes.
"I am ready to return to the battle." Haldir says, struggling to his feet. Legolas helps him to his feet.
Ithil gives Haldir a nasty look, "You will do no such thing. I have sent for a cart with horses and a driver. It will take you and the other wounded to Lothlorien. As I can see your strength is returning, there are other wounded I can attend to." Haldir nods as Ithil turns and leaves the three of them.
"Gandalf and King Theoden have decided to ride to Isengard to meet the enemy." Aragorn tells Haldir. "There is much to prepare." Aragorn turns and leaves.
"Oh that I was to ride into battle again." Haldir looks to the horizon. To Legolas he says. "I fear Ithil will ask to go with you. She has always longed to see much of the world and I cannot ask her not to go. For she asked me not to leave her and yet I did, to do my duty. Because of that she left the safety of Lothlorien and put herself in the hand of danger." He pauses, "However I can ask of you to look after her and keep her safe."
"You have my word that I will do all that is within my power Haldir." Legolas says looking to where Ithil is tending to a human. "Come, I will take you to the cart."
Haldir nods, also looking at Ithil; she is smiling and laughing at something the man said. Sadly Haldir continues, "She can find sunshine on the darkest of days. She will not come back to me the same as she was before I left the Lorien. She will change and though we promised our bond one to the other we are not yet married. I can not hold that promise to her if it is no longer what she wishes when she returns to me." He looks to the ring on his finger. "I hope that I am still her heart's desire when that day comes."
Just then the cart pulls into view ahead of them.
"Farwell Legolas Greenleaf, I entrust to you my greatest treasure." Haldir says as he steps into the cart
"I will guard it with my life Haldir of the Galadrium." Legolas places his fist over his heart and bows to Haldir. Just then Ithil appears seemingly out of nowhere next to the cart.
"Haldir, I have offered my services as a healer to the King; he accepted and I am getting ready to travel with them to Isengard." Ithil says quickly.
"I have expected such Ithil, come here and tell me good-bye" says Haldir trying to smile. Ithil climbs into the cart and Haldir puts his arms around her.
"My time is short and I have much I want to say to you." Ithil begins.
"Tell me when I see you in Lothlorien." He gives her a quick kiss and releases her from his arms. Ithil looks confused for a moment, but she has no time to ponder Haldir's behavior. She gives him another quick kiss and jumps down from the cart.
"Are we ready to leave?" Asks the cart driver.
"Yes everyone who is going to Lothlorien is already waiting for you by the gate." Ithil replies. "Take care good sir, for you carry a precious cargo."
"That I will My Lady." The cart driver calls back over his shoulder as he urges the horses forward. Ithil watches the cart pull away. When the cart is out of sight she turns to Legolas saying, "I must pack my horse and refill my herbs from the keep."
"Very well I must go to Aragorn and see if there is anywhere I am needed." Legolas replies.
They start to walk back to the keep and as they pass a mound of seemingly dead orc bodies, one of them screams aloud and grabs Ithil by the ankle. Quicker then even Legolas' eyes could see, Ithil withdraws a dagger from the belt at her waist and drives it into the orc's chest killing it. As she stands there staring at the orc, its blood dripping from her dagger, Legolas sees a darkness and an anger in her eyes that he has never seen there before. The words of Haldir came back to his mind.
'She can find sunlight on the darkest of days.' 'She will not return to me the same.'
Legolas hopes he did not just witness the end of her light
Time passes with no word of the battle at Helm's Deep. Within Lothlorien Ithil waits for news of the battle with mounting anxiety, until finally she came to a decision, she will go herself and get word. She bursts into the chamber of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galaderiel.
"I can not take the waiting any longer My Lady. I must ride out to Helm's Deep myself and get word of the battle."
"Ithil, I do not think that is very wise, I fear your leaving here will be more heartbreaking then if you stay and wait." Says Lady Galadriel.
"I can not stay here not knowing what is happening. I will travel quickly under the cover of the woods as long as I can. I know the way, for I have read many of Haldir's maps. I am not afraid of the enemy."
Ithil turns to leave. Looking back over her shoulder she says to Lady Galadriel, "I bid you peace My Lady, I doubt I shall ever see you again."
"Goodbye Ithil, may you find peace in your heart." Galadriel watches Ithil leave. Turning to Celeborn, Galadriel says, "The path she has chosen will only bring her the pain of death I fear."
Quickly Ithil gathers provisions for the journey. Mounting her horse she takes off with the speed of lightening. Her heart is light and heavy at the same time. What will she find? Will she see the love that drives her out into the dangers of war or will she find the heartbreak that war can bring? Swiftly the land flies by; Ithil barely looks either left or right all her thought is on finding Haldir. She rides unchallenged all the way to Helm's Deep. What she sees when she gets to the top of the rise, makes her blood run cold.
Bodies. bodies everywhere, orcs, men and elves lay one upon the other. Never has she seen anything like it. Steeling herself she rides down to the keep. Destruction and carnage assault her eyes as the stench of death assaults her nose.
'He is a great warrior, he survived this I know he did.' She tells herself. Riding past the gaping hole in what was once the impenetrable stone wall of Helm's Deep she sees only more death.
Hope rises in her when a door opens and out into the sun steps Aragorn son of Arathorn and Legolas Greenleaf. A smile as bright as the sun spreads across her face, Ithil leaps from her horse and runs to them.
"Aragorn, Legolas! My friends!" Leaping into their arms she almost knocks them over.
"You are alive! There had been no word. I came to see." Her voice trails off. Aragorn and Legolas exchange a sad dark look then turn their eyes back to Ithil.
"What." Ithil steps back. "Where, where is Haldir? Surely he is inside making a song of victory, and reliving tales of valor and courage" Her smile fades. "Where is he?"
"Ithil." Legolas starts but can not bring himself to tell her.
Aragorn places his hands gently on Ithil's shoulders. "I am sorry Ithil. The enemy struck down Haldir. He died in my arms." Aragorn says as his voice breaks with heavy sorrow.
"No, no it can not be." She looks desperately at them, "Please tell me it is not so." Ithil falls to the ground as though an arrow pierced her heart. Gathering what little strength she has left she looks at them and says. "Take me to his body. For I wish to look upon it one last time."
"No Ithil, do not torture yourself so." Aragorn began.
"I will take you." Legolas intervenes. Making their way through the smell of death that is so strong it is palatable, he leads her to the embattlement. There amid several orc bodies Haldir lay.
His eyes are still open as if they are looking to the sun above. Ithil makes her way over to him. Looking down upon his body with disbelief, she feels despair over take her. Gently sitting down beside him, she takes his head and places it in her lap. She starts to stroke his hair, just as she had done so may times before as they would lie on the talans watching the moon and stars chase each other in the night sky.
"I cannot face the sunset Haldir of Lothlorien.
I cannot look upon the moon and stars without you.
Manadh nîn an manadh lîn raen an uir." Ithil whispers softly. With that Ithil lays her head upon his chest. She can feel the darkness and emptiness of despair and loneliness overtake her. All around her grows dimmer and dimmer. She grows numb to the carnage around her. 'So this is what it feels like to die, to die of a broken heart. Haldir my love I am coming to the golden place where you are.'
"Ithil, no! Ú-car anno vi am ir dúath!" Legolas shouts in vain.
But darkness almost completely consumes her when something brings her back, a sound that is as soft as a whisper. Her eyes blinking in the sunlight that slowly came back into focus, she realizes she is no longer over Haldir's body but now she lay facing the sky with Legolas and Aragorn looking down upon her. Their eyes are full of grief, for they can take no more death this day. At the same time they both notice that her eyes are open.
"Ithil." Legolas starts to say, but she leaps to her feet and flies past them. Legolas and Aragorn look at each other, jumping to their feet they follow after her. She runs to her horse, grabs her satchel and starts to rummage through it. Catching up to her, Legolas looks at her he says, "What is it Lady? What is it that brings you back from the blackness of death?"
Smiling she looks into Legolas' eyes, breathlessly she answers, "He lives, he lives Legolas!" Finding her pouch of herbs and remedies she runs back to Haldir. Legolas and Aragorn exchange a sad look, she must be mad from grief they both think. Walking back to where Haldir lay they see Ithil bending over his lifeless looking body whispering healing words and mixing herbs in a golden bowl.
"You labor is in vain dear lady." Says Aragorn trying to lead her away.
"No! No, you do not understand. Legolas, listen, listen with your ears. His heart it beats, barely but yet it beats. Help me!" Ithil pleads. Legolas shakes his head, but places his ear to Haldir chest and listens. Hearing nothing he starts to rise, but then, very faintly, he hears it. However faint he unmistakably heard it, Haldir's heart is beating!
"Tis true Aragorn! He lives!" Legolas shouts.
"What?" Aragorn leans over and places his hand on Haldir's chest. A slow smile spreads over his face. It is true. "If you have need Lady, there are more herbs and remedies inside."
"Help me turn him over." Ithil says, trying hard to turn his body over so she can apply the mixture of herbs on to his wounds. They help her turn him over.
"Dear Lady, there is more that we need to attend to. Send a message if you have need of anything. I am sorry I doubted you." Says Aragorn. They leave her to work on Haldir.
After awhile they return to find Haldir sitting up and Ithil giving him liquid from a flask.
"It is good to see you brother." Aragorn says, trying to hide the tears of relief that are welling up in his eyes.
"I am ready to return to the battle." Haldir says, struggling to his feet. Legolas helps him to his feet.
Ithil gives Haldir a nasty look, "You will do no such thing. I have sent for a cart with horses and a driver. It will take you and the other wounded to Lothlorien. As I can see your strength is returning, there are other wounded I can attend to." Haldir nods as Ithil turns and leaves the three of them.
"Gandalf and King Theoden have decided to ride to Isengard to meet the enemy." Aragorn tells Haldir. "There is much to prepare." Aragorn turns and leaves.
"Oh that I was to ride into battle again." Haldir looks to the horizon. To Legolas he says. "I fear Ithil will ask to go with you. She has always longed to see much of the world and I cannot ask her not to go. For she asked me not to leave her and yet I did, to do my duty. Because of that she left the safety of Lothlorien and put herself in the hand of danger." He pauses, "However I can ask of you to look after her and keep her safe."
"You have my word that I will do all that is within my power Haldir." Legolas says looking to where Ithil is tending to a human. "Come, I will take you to the cart."
Haldir nods, also looking at Ithil; she is smiling and laughing at something the man said. Sadly Haldir continues, "She can find sunshine on the darkest of days. She will not come back to me the same as she was before I left the Lorien. She will change and though we promised our bond one to the other we are not yet married. I can not hold that promise to her if it is no longer what she wishes when she returns to me." He looks to the ring on his finger. "I hope that I am still her heart's desire when that day comes."
Just then the cart pulls into view ahead of them.
"Farwell Legolas Greenleaf, I entrust to you my greatest treasure." Haldir says as he steps into the cart
"I will guard it with my life Haldir of the Galadrium." Legolas places his fist over his heart and bows to Haldir. Just then Ithil appears seemingly out of nowhere next to the cart.
"Haldir, I have offered my services as a healer to the King; he accepted and I am getting ready to travel with them to Isengard." Ithil says quickly.
"I have expected such Ithil, come here and tell me good-bye" says Haldir trying to smile. Ithil climbs into the cart and Haldir puts his arms around her.
"My time is short and I have much I want to say to you." Ithil begins.
"Tell me when I see you in Lothlorien." He gives her a quick kiss and releases her from his arms. Ithil looks confused for a moment, but she has no time to ponder Haldir's behavior. She gives him another quick kiss and jumps down from the cart.
"Are we ready to leave?" Asks the cart driver.
"Yes everyone who is going to Lothlorien is already waiting for you by the gate." Ithil replies. "Take care good sir, for you carry a precious cargo."
"That I will My Lady." The cart driver calls back over his shoulder as he urges the horses forward. Ithil watches the cart pull away. When the cart is out of sight she turns to Legolas saying, "I must pack my horse and refill my herbs from the keep."
"Very well I must go to Aragorn and see if there is anywhere I am needed." Legolas replies.
They start to walk back to the keep and as they pass a mound of seemingly dead orc bodies, one of them screams aloud and grabs Ithil by the ankle. Quicker then even Legolas' eyes could see, Ithil withdraws a dagger from the belt at her waist and drives it into the orc's chest killing it. As she stands there staring at the orc, its blood dripping from her dagger, Legolas sees a darkness and an anger in her eyes that he has never seen there before. The words of Haldir came back to his mind.
'She can find sunlight on the darkest of days.' 'She will not return to me the same.'
Legolas hopes he did not just witness the end of her light