Chapter 13
In the morning all of Lothlorien is awake very early, even for elves and the air is filled with tension. On the air is the voice of Haldir shouting orders.
"Lord Celeborn and myself have been up all night to try to come up with how to eliminate this threat." Says Lord Elrond. "We cannot just leave Middle Earth and take the rings to the havens for that would leave the threat of this dark elf to those that are left behind. We will fight!" The gathered elves cheer.
Haldir hurries here and there organizing the morning patrol. Legolas runs up to him, pulls him aside and says, "I know there is much anger in your heart directed at me; but you need every eye that can be spared."
Haldir did not look directly at Legolas but gives him a brief nod and says, "Yes we do need everyone, you may join the morning patrol." Finally Haldir turns and looks him in the eye; he extends his hand to Legolas. Legolas looks at the hand and with a nod and quick smile he shakes Haldir's hand. The group of elves enters the forest and they search all morning. By late afternoon they did not find anything. So Haldir decides to split the patrol to cover more ground, so all the elves all go in different directions.
Haldir keeps all his senses sharp for the slightest sound or movement. All of a sudden he hears a soft noise behind him. Drawing his sword he turns to the sound. From under a bush a small face appears, it belongs to Lalaith.
"Lalaith?" Haldir sheaths his sword and picks the child up.
"Ada." Lalaith says as she buries her face in his neck.
"I have to get you home." Haldir starts to carry her back to Caras Galadhon. Still keeping a sharp lookout he makes his way through the forest. "You are so much like your mother Lalaith." He says to the child, it reminds him of the time Ithil followed him into the forest. His heart quickens when he remembers what also happened that day. He must hurry.
Without warning an elf drops out of the tree in front of them. His skin is an ashy gray color and he is tall and very thin; his hair is jet black and his eyes are small and black and do not reflect light, it is as if he has no life, no soul.
"Well well well, looks like the great warden of the forest is only a elf- bitch after all." Smirks the strange elf.
Haldir puts Lalaith down and slowly draws his sword. "You must be Coruon."
"That I am and make no mistake about it for it is the name of the destruction of the elves of Middle Earth." Coruon says. "Such a pretty little thing you have there, is she yours?" Looking at Lalaith, "She will make a pretty little slave for me."
"My child shall be no slave of yours!" Haldir's eyes burn with rage. "Lalaith get in that tree." He says as he pushes her towards a tree behind him. Obediently she goes to the tree, never taking her eyes off Haldir.
"She may be out of reach for now, but you are not." Coruon says as he draws a sword from his side. Its blood red blade gleams with an evil radiance.
Haldir raises his sword in answer. Coruon approaches him and with the clang of swords the battle commences. Sword strokes sing in the air, blades ring as the two match stroke for stroke. Haldir takes a quick look at Lalaith and Coruon's wicked blade slices into his arm. Grabbing his arm and stepping back Haldir looks at his wound.
"Ada!" Lalaith screams and runs from the tree getting in-between the two combatants.
"Lalaith no!" Haldir shouts as an evil look crosses over Coruon's face and he passes his sword though the child's middle. Light fades from her face and she falls to the ground. "No!" Haldir shouts as rage takes over him and he blindly rushes at Coruon. With one stroke Coruon's sword separates Haldir's head from the rest of his body and the Great Warden of the Forests of Lothlorien falls.
Coruon looks down at the fallen elves with contempt. "Well I guess you were right, she will never be my slave." He leaves them and heads toward Caras Galadhon.
Legolas hears the sounds of battle and he runs as fast as he can towards it. Pain pierces Legolas' heart, he knows something horrible has happened. Dashing between the trees he bursts onto the gruesome scene.
The first thing he sees is the head of Haldir, its matted blond hair caked with blood; then he sees the headless body. Turning his head away he utters a small elvish prayer. Then his eyes fall on Lalaith; at first he thinks she is just lying there on the ground by Haldir's body.
He goes over to her and gently turns her over. "Lalaith?" He says. His gaze falls on the horrible wound; his hands are wet with her blood. "No, no, no." He whispers. 'She's dead, my child is dead.' Gently he picks her up and cradles the lifeless body in his arms. 'Someone will pay!' he vows to himself and holds Lalaith tightly to him. Tears run down his face, the cold bitter tears of sorrow and the hot biting tears of anger mingle on his cheeks.
"Legolas?" Turning around Legolas sees Orophin looking at him.
"I was too late." Is all Legolas can say as his voice breaks. Orophin looks from Haldir's body to Lalaith's and then to Legolas. Several other elves appear from the trees. Legolas rises to his feet still bearing Lalaith in his arms. "Some of you take his body and let's get them back."
Orophin and the others tie their cloaks together and place Haldir's remains on them. Legolas carries Lalaith. Somber the elves make their way back.
As they enter Caras Galadhon wailing rises up, echoing through to the tops of the trees.
Woe to Lothlorien her valiant protector has fallen. Mourn trees, rocks and sun high above.
For evil has entered here
Let there be not one eye unfilled with tears.
Let not one heart be unbroken.
For evil has entered here.
Evil has entered The Golden Wood.
Legolas and the others stop before the tree of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Speechlessly all look upon the dead bodies. After a long while Galadriel finally speaks.
"The grace of Lothlorien has been spent, for now none are safe within these borders. Evil has entered here." She says echoing the lament for Haldir.
"Let all be armed and prepared, this evil must be destroyed!" Lord Celeborn exclaims.
Ithil appears from behind Galadriel, all color is drained from her face. Her eyes pass from Haldir to Lalaith. Going to Legolas she looks at Lalaith in his arms. Looking into his tear streaked face she seeks his face as if looking for some sign that this isn't real. Darkness takes Ithil's mind.
The next thing she sees is Lady Galadriel sitting on the bed beside her. Looking at Galadriel, Ithil says with a weak voice, "Tell me it's a dream. Please I employ you, please tell me that it is a horrible nightmare that I have just awoken from. Please My Lady."
"Would that I could, Ithil for it is true." Galadriel says flatly.
Getting up from the bed Galadriel leaves. Closing her eyes, darkness takes Ithil again.
Upon opening her eyes again she sees a new face, Legolas is sitting on the bed next to her. Tears spill from her eyes, sitting up she throws herself upon him. Her body shakes with uncontrollable sobs.
"My husband, my child, they're gone Legolas. They're gone." She sobs. "I am alone."
"No, you are not alone Ithil; I am here and I will not leave your side." Legolas promises her.
"Legolas, I am sorry, so sorry. I should have told you about Lalaith. She was your daughter Legolas; our daughter." She bursts out.
"I know Ithil, I know. There is nothing to forgive." He says as he holds her close.
In the doorway King Elessar appears saying, "Come Legolas we hunt a murder."
"It is good to fight together again." A gruff voice says, from behind King Elessar Gimli steps into view. Legolas is glad to see him again but now is not the time for reminiscing.
"I shall return, I will not leave you." Legolas says as he rises from the bed. He turns and leaves with them.
On the ground there is assembled a vast host of elven warriors, armed to the hilt. Taking the lead is King Elessar, Gimli and Legolas.
In the morning all of Lothlorien is awake very early, even for elves and the air is filled with tension. On the air is the voice of Haldir shouting orders.
"Lord Celeborn and myself have been up all night to try to come up with how to eliminate this threat." Says Lord Elrond. "We cannot just leave Middle Earth and take the rings to the havens for that would leave the threat of this dark elf to those that are left behind. We will fight!" The gathered elves cheer.
Haldir hurries here and there organizing the morning patrol. Legolas runs up to him, pulls him aside and says, "I know there is much anger in your heart directed at me; but you need every eye that can be spared."
Haldir did not look directly at Legolas but gives him a brief nod and says, "Yes we do need everyone, you may join the morning patrol." Finally Haldir turns and looks him in the eye; he extends his hand to Legolas. Legolas looks at the hand and with a nod and quick smile he shakes Haldir's hand. The group of elves enters the forest and they search all morning. By late afternoon they did not find anything. So Haldir decides to split the patrol to cover more ground, so all the elves all go in different directions.
Haldir keeps all his senses sharp for the slightest sound or movement. All of a sudden he hears a soft noise behind him. Drawing his sword he turns to the sound. From under a bush a small face appears, it belongs to Lalaith.
"Lalaith?" Haldir sheaths his sword and picks the child up.
"Ada." Lalaith says as she buries her face in his neck.
"I have to get you home." Haldir starts to carry her back to Caras Galadhon. Still keeping a sharp lookout he makes his way through the forest. "You are so much like your mother Lalaith." He says to the child, it reminds him of the time Ithil followed him into the forest. His heart quickens when he remembers what also happened that day. He must hurry.
Without warning an elf drops out of the tree in front of them. His skin is an ashy gray color and he is tall and very thin; his hair is jet black and his eyes are small and black and do not reflect light, it is as if he has no life, no soul.
"Well well well, looks like the great warden of the forest is only a elf- bitch after all." Smirks the strange elf.
Haldir puts Lalaith down and slowly draws his sword. "You must be Coruon."
"That I am and make no mistake about it for it is the name of the destruction of the elves of Middle Earth." Coruon says. "Such a pretty little thing you have there, is she yours?" Looking at Lalaith, "She will make a pretty little slave for me."
"My child shall be no slave of yours!" Haldir's eyes burn with rage. "Lalaith get in that tree." He says as he pushes her towards a tree behind him. Obediently she goes to the tree, never taking her eyes off Haldir.
"She may be out of reach for now, but you are not." Coruon says as he draws a sword from his side. Its blood red blade gleams with an evil radiance.
Haldir raises his sword in answer. Coruon approaches him and with the clang of swords the battle commences. Sword strokes sing in the air, blades ring as the two match stroke for stroke. Haldir takes a quick look at Lalaith and Coruon's wicked blade slices into his arm. Grabbing his arm and stepping back Haldir looks at his wound.
"Ada!" Lalaith screams and runs from the tree getting in-between the two combatants.
"Lalaith no!" Haldir shouts as an evil look crosses over Coruon's face and he passes his sword though the child's middle. Light fades from her face and she falls to the ground. "No!" Haldir shouts as rage takes over him and he blindly rushes at Coruon. With one stroke Coruon's sword separates Haldir's head from the rest of his body and the Great Warden of the Forests of Lothlorien falls.
Coruon looks down at the fallen elves with contempt. "Well I guess you were right, she will never be my slave." He leaves them and heads toward Caras Galadhon.
Legolas hears the sounds of battle and he runs as fast as he can towards it. Pain pierces Legolas' heart, he knows something horrible has happened. Dashing between the trees he bursts onto the gruesome scene.
The first thing he sees is the head of Haldir, its matted blond hair caked with blood; then he sees the headless body. Turning his head away he utters a small elvish prayer. Then his eyes fall on Lalaith; at first he thinks she is just lying there on the ground by Haldir's body.
He goes over to her and gently turns her over. "Lalaith?" He says. His gaze falls on the horrible wound; his hands are wet with her blood. "No, no, no." He whispers. 'She's dead, my child is dead.' Gently he picks her up and cradles the lifeless body in his arms. 'Someone will pay!' he vows to himself and holds Lalaith tightly to him. Tears run down his face, the cold bitter tears of sorrow and the hot biting tears of anger mingle on his cheeks.
"Legolas?" Turning around Legolas sees Orophin looking at him.
"I was too late." Is all Legolas can say as his voice breaks. Orophin looks from Haldir's body to Lalaith's and then to Legolas. Several other elves appear from the trees. Legolas rises to his feet still bearing Lalaith in his arms. "Some of you take his body and let's get them back."
Orophin and the others tie their cloaks together and place Haldir's remains on them. Legolas carries Lalaith. Somber the elves make their way back.
As they enter Caras Galadhon wailing rises up, echoing through to the tops of the trees.
Woe to Lothlorien her valiant protector has fallen. Mourn trees, rocks and sun high above.
For evil has entered here
Let there be not one eye unfilled with tears.
Let not one heart be unbroken.
For evil has entered here.
Evil has entered The Golden Wood.
Legolas and the others stop before the tree of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Speechlessly all look upon the dead bodies. After a long while Galadriel finally speaks.
"The grace of Lothlorien has been spent, for now none are safe within these borders. Evil has entered here." She says echoing the lament for Haldir.
"Let all be armed and prepared, this evil must be destroyed!" Lord Celeborn exclaims.
Ithil appears from behind Galadriel, all color is drained from her face. Her eyes pass from Haldir to Lalaith. Going to Legolas she looks at Lalaith in his arms. Looking into his tear streaked face she seeks his face as if looking for some sign that this isn't real. Darkness takes Ithil's mind.
The next thing she sees is Lady Galadriel sitting on the bed beside her. Looking at Galadriel, Ithil says with a weak voice, "Tell me it's a dream. Please I employ you, please tell me that it is a horrible nightmare that I have just awoken from. Please My Lady."
"Would that I could, Ithil for it is true." Galadriel says flatly.
Getting up from the bed Galadriel leaves. Closing her eyes, darkness takes Ithil again.
Upon opening her eyes again she sees a new face, Legolas is sitting on the bed next to her. Tears spill from her eyes, sitting up she throws herself upon him. Her body shakes with uncontrollable sobs.
"My husband, my child, they're gone Legolas. They're gone." She sobs. "I am alone."
"No, you are not alone Ithil; I am here and I will not leave your side." Legolas promises her.
"Legolas, I am sorry, so sorry. I should have told you about Lalaith. She was your daughter Legolas; our daughter." She bursts out.
"I know Ithil, I know. There is nothing to forgive." He says as he holds her close.
In the doorway King Elessar appears saying, "Come Legolas we hunt a murder."
"It is good to fight together again." A gruff voice says, from behind King Elessar Gimli steps into view. Legolas is glad to see him again but now is not the time for reminiscing.
"I shall return, I will not leave you." Legolas says as he rises from the bed. He turns and leaves with them.
On the ground there is assembled a vast host of elven warriors, armed to the hilt. Taking the lead is King Elessar, Gimli and Legolas.