Wow!! Thank you sooooo much for all the reviews! I didn't think I'd get so many on the first chapter. The compliments, and the constructive criticism were wonderful!! Now, unfortunately, I have some bad news. Hours after I posted the first chapter I got on a plane and flew to Arizona where I had a lot of fun, but no access to computers L. Early tomorrow morning, I'm off again to music school for a week, and I'm in a dorm so I don't know if I'll be able to write there either. Over the summer, my updates are usually weekly or more often, but I'm going to be a bad author and not update for longer then that because of my trip. SORRY!!! And now, I can only put up a rather short chapter because I need to obsessively practice my musical pieces that I'm using as auditions at camp. So, here's a little tid-bit to keep you away from my throats.
Something else: Halo Of Tears is dedicated to my best friend in the whole world Courtney (a.k.a. Alex Goldenleaf) who is moving away from me: hysterical tears: Love ya Alex, and we'll keep in touch: lots of hugs:
Disclaimer: I still don't own anything at all that has to do with Lord Of the Rings, and am using it strictly for recreational purposes. Please don't sue me! I do sort of own Lűïnelothiel, but I don't like her very much, so if you want to take her…
I'm going to do a little bit of Legolas POV and memories in this chapter. Hope no one minds that.
Also, I was thinking that I might do a few memories later on that had a bit of romance in them. Nothing-graphic mind, but I was wondering if anyone had strong feelings against it?
Now, to the wonderful people who reviewed:
Lady Of Legolas: Yes, startling is what I wanted it to be. And I think it will get even worse with time ::evil laugh:: Thanks a lot for reviewing and I'm glad you find it interesting!!
Liquid Dream: Oops!! You caught me on that… ::looks sheepish:: I figured that if Legolas was Haldir's friend he might have told him of Gandalf, but then again, I was a bad LOTR fan and forgot to check in the books to make sure. Ah well, this is AU so I get a little license for change. Thanks for finding that! I'm glad you like it though, and I hope it doesn't disappoint you.
Mirkwoodmaiden: I agree, some of the sentences were a bit messed up. I was hurrying to get it up before I left for Arizona so I didn't edit it as much as I should have. I'm really glad you liked it though, and the way that I try to put angst across is by getting the very core feelings down on paper. I read quite a bit of material where the emotions are so drawn out that I get bored, so my own style is a little more concise. Thanks a lot for your feedback!
Lady Tremere- :: grimace:: Yes, I know that Luinelothiel is a mouthful, but it's English translation has a great significance later in the story, and it had to be that. Also, it's my elvish name, and I use it as a penname every once in awhile, so I remember it with ease. Sorry to the readers, but I'll shorten it down a to a nickname that will be easier to remember. Thanks for the pointer on the name, because come to think of it, 6 syllables is rather hard. I'll keep things a bit shorter in the future. Thanks for the good luck, I'll need it!
The Lady Of Imladris- Well, yes, it's an affair, but it has much deeper roots then that. You'll see. Thanks for the review and I'll try to update ASAP.
Angelbelle- I'm glad you like it. I tend to be rather good at twisting things, sometimes for the worst and sometimes for the better (more for the worse). I'll update as soon as I can figure out a way to twist it even more.
Collie Girl- Glad you liked it, and yes, I'll try to explain everything in due time. Thanks for the review!
Lirenel- Yes, affairs tend to be wrong. Don't worry, it isn't purely malicious, and everything will be explained. When I starting writing this, I expected it to be rather….strange. Thanks for the review, and I hope to startle you even more!! ::Evil grin::
~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~
Halo of TearsChapter 2
Haldir started abruptly and turned around to face the eyes that might have come right out of his nightmares. For once, his normally eloquent speech left him and he stuttered.
"I…. well…uh,"
At that very moment Gimli gave a very loud snore from behind both of them, temporarily distracting both of them. Ironically, Haldir was thankful to the dwarf, for the moment that they both took to look at him gave him an excuse.
"Lűïnelothiel means Forest Song, doesn't it?" he said rather impatiently, trying to hide any other feelings that were swirling around him.
"Yes..." Legolas said suspiciously "That is my mother's name."
"There are many who have that name." Haldir continued, hoping his excuse would work.
"Are there?" Legolas asked, still unsure.
"Indeed" Haldir continued, his insides squirming uncomfortably. He hated lying, and lying to his friend was even worse. However, there was no way that Legolas could know the truth.
"I hardly knew your mother, but I know another named Forestsong. She is the one from my dreams." Haldir said quietly, unable to meet Legolas's eyes for more then one reason.
"Oh." Legolas answered simply. Haldir knew that the younger elf didn't believe him, but he could no long reasonably ask questions. This left the elder feeling even worse. The nightmare left the feeling of horror throughout his body, and now he was even more tainted by his lies.
Haldir lay back down, but the ground below him was uncomfortable and cold. Legolas continued to sit, but was no longer looking at Haldir. The older elf could only guess what he was thinking. Whatever it was, Haldir thought, it could be no worse a burdening thought then what he himself had to shoulder. He also had doubts that either of them would sleep anymore that night. He sighed and took the place of a sentry so that one without troubled thoughts might sleep. It had worked in the past, and should continue to work now. Throwing himself into duties left little room for anything else.
So, with a sickly feeling trailing him, the elf pushed everything to the back of his mind and sat awake, alert as he could, watching the trail for anything that might signify danger. However, in the dark silence of night, echoes of screams and an occasional glimpse of accusing blue eyes were easily seen or heard.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Morning dawned all too early as the group set off once again, hoping to reach their destination before nightfall. Several hobbits and the dwarf grumbled at the fast pace that the elves set, but aside that there were no other incidents. Legolas, who had previously headed the group with his fellow elves, hung back with Aragorn and said very little.
He was greatly confused by Haldir's actions the night before, and knew that his friend was hiding something. Very few knew something of his past, and his mother, and all of them were elves. Haldir was not one of them. The childhood memories were harsh and painful, and he had never told anyone anything of them, especially Haldir who had always been so emotionally withdrawn. How had the Lorien elf known of his mother? For he was sure that the Lűïnelothiel being cried out was his mother.
The young elf put his hands over his ears to try and drown out the weeping, but it was a fruitless effort. Harsh voices rang through the castle, all with the undertone of someone weeping tears of such bitterness and sorrow that anyone who heard them was engulfed and drawn into the pain that was being suffered. It was the saddest of songs, if it could even be called that. It fits, the young Legolas thought bitterly. For his mother was named forest song, and upon hearing her tears, the forest must also be weeping with her. Legolas looked outside to see rain pouring down outside, all the trees drooping over with the weight of the water on them. It was raining inside too. His face was covered with tears also, tears of the misery that he had to live in, tears that he shed so often. Why had everything ended up the way it did? He didn't live in a cruel house. His father was stern, but not mean, nor were his siblings. So why was his mother always so sad? Why was everything always so?
The weeping she-elf began to murmur through here tears. She was calling him to her, her only condolence.
"Legolas, please come to me." He didn't want to come, didn't want to go through her petting him and holding him like a doll until she could get her tears under control. Why was he the only thing that made her happy? Why not his father? He was her husband. Why did Thranduil just get inpatient with her when she began her bitter weeping that was getting more and more constant?
"Legolas"
"Legolas"
"Legolas!" Legolas looked up to see Aragorn attempting look at him through his blindfold with worry.
"It something wrong, mellon-nin?" the man asked, concerned.
"No," Legolas replied tonelessly. "I am fine."
"What haunts you?" Aragorn pressed, obviously shaken by his friend's behavior, for Legolas had been stumbling around since they had set out, and the elf was always the most surefooted of any of them.
"I just morn the loss of Mithrandir." Legolas said hastily, for this was also true, just not on his immediate thoughts. Aragorn nodded, as this was a satisfactory response. He knew of Legolas's friendship with Gandalf. Legolas looked away and fought off another onslaught of memories that threatened him. Now Haldir was not the only one keeping secrets from his friends, but he had a shrewd feeling that all of these bitter secrets were connected, and he was going to find out how.
~*~*~*~*~*
Haldir trudged through the forest, dejected. The memories, and the emotions that had come with them were too strong to overpower and ignore. Why had this happened? He had ignored them for over 1000 years. Why now? And now he must lie to his friend and keep them well hidden, because Legolas must never know the truth. No one must. He hadn't even told his mistress and Celeborn what had gone on, hoping that they never found out. If they had, they had said nothing to him about it. Not that they necessarily would if they knew. Bitterness, cold, and anger sliced around him, and his heart that he had patched up with ice so many years ago began to bleed again.
I am not fit for any company; I am tainted with the heart blood of my forbidden love. Such secrets that I carry cannot get out. Haldir's thoughts started out with a mad sense of logic, but soon became incoherent and filled with guilt, sorrow, hate, love, and others that he couldn't identify. It quickly became too much. He signaled to another elf in his party, the sentry he had relieved the previous night. "Lead them down the path," he said curtly. "I shall scout ahead." And not waiting for the startled elf to reply, he jumped into the branches of the nearest tree, a giant oak, and began leaping across the trees, as though he might flee what hindered him and leave it behind. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Alrighty, that's all for now, I need to go pack and practice… AHHHHHHHHHH Once again, thanks for the reviews…. This isn't the best of chapters, but I wanted to get something up, and this needed to be written. Hope it wasn't too much of an anti-climax I'll update as soon as I get home!! Lady-Daine