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.

Notes: *SPOILERS* - Do NOT read if you don't want to know what happens at the end of the Return of the King.

Based on canon (i.e. book-verse, not movie-verse. The Elves were not at Helm's Deep in the book – this is why.)

Originally written for the www.haldir-lives.org Fan Fic Challenge. Huge thanks to Kissaki and everyone else at www.haldir-lives.org.

Chapter III

"Captain?" "Captain Haldir!"

Haldir's head swam. He tried opening his eyes, but a blinding light forced him to close them again. He moaned, trying to recall what had happened. Then he remembered –

"Rhimdir!"
Haldir opened his eyes and sat up, shocking the Elves crouched over him. They rushed to support him as Haldir as he cried out in pain and slumped back.

"Do not move Captain! You have taken serious hurt. Please stay still."

Haldir was in no condition to argue, as he fought to stay conscious. His shoulder ached, his ribs hurt him when he moved, but it was his head that was by far the worst: it was throbbing terribly, and he knew that he certainly had a concussion. Blinking hard, he managed to fight off the worst of the pain, and stay conscious, but he was not looking forward to the long walk home. Looking at his companions, he saw what he had feared: Rhimdir was not with them.

"Rhimdir, where is he?" Haldir gasped. "Is he hurt?"

The Elves looked at their captain sadly, silently confirming what Haldir had dreaded. Looking to his right, Haldir saw poor Rhimdir's motionless body, his clothes dusty and bloody. Haldir shut his eyes, not wanting to acknowledge that the Elf who had bravely followed him into the dark was dead. But Rhimdir had indeed paid a great price for his yell in the chamber.

Slowly Haldir got to his feet, supported to some extent by one of his companions. His head exploded with fresh pain, and he almost collapsed, but the Elf held him upright, and the pain in his head subsided until it was bearable. Looking at the crevice, he saw where the Elves had dug Rhimdir and himself out, and that the tunnel was completely blocked.

At least the orcs won't be getting out of Moria again in a hurry, Haldir thought grimly to himself. But such thoughts hardly comforted him for the loss of one of the party.

Haldir signalled that he could walk by himself, and ordered two of the Elves to carry Rhimdir's body. They travelled much slower now: it was well past nightfall when they reached the northern borders of Lothlórien. A call like that of a bird came from the trees, and Haldir smiled in recognition: it was his brother, Rúmil, who he had left in charge of the watch there. He whistled softly in reply.

Rúmil leapt from the tree he had been waiting in and quickly walked to greet his brother.

"We expected you back hours ago Haldir," said Rúmil. "What happened?"

"We found the tunnel the orcs were using to get out of Moria." Haldir replied. "Rhimdir and I were coming out of it when an earth tremor caused the roof to collapse. We were both caught in the cave-in. Rhimdir… didn't survive."

Rúmil bowed his head in sorrow, but for the moment he was more concerned for his older brother.

"And you? You look terrible."

Haldir swallowed his retort, and instead shook his head.

"I'm fine. I must get to Caras Galadhon quickly to give my account."

"Haldir, why do you not rest for a while?" Rúmil pleaded. "One of the others can report your findings to the Lady. You can continue in the morning when you are stronger."

Haldir could not bear the thought of another reporting back instead of him. He had been proud to lead the task, and was determined to report the news, both good and bad, to Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn himself. Giving Rúmil a stern look that warned him to drop the subject, he motioned the others to follow him, bringing Rhimdir's body with them. Rúmil watched them go, shaking his head at his brother's stubbornness.

*                 *                 *

Haldir sighed as he sat down heavily on his bed. Lady Galadriel had insisted that he see a healer, and so his ribs were tightly bound, his shoulder had been set, and a healing salve placed on his head where a rock had struck him. Rhimdir had been buried near Cerin Amroth, where the elanor and niphredil flowers could cover his grave.

As the entrance to Moria had been blocked, Lord Celeborn had recalled most of the Elves from the northern borders and set them to watch the eastern edge of the forest. Rúmil had gone with them. Lord Celeborn had told Haldir to take command of the eastern watch when he was sufficiently recovered, but Haldir was plagued by more than his injuries. During his command, Lórien had been invaded and the northern border burned, Orophin had been injured, and three Elves, including Rhimdir, had lost their lives. He had begun to doubt his abilities as a warrior and a Captain of the Galadhrim.

"Still brooding?"

Haldir jumped as Orophin entered his room. Haldir shared a talan with his two younger brothers, in a tall mallorn-tree in Caras Galadhon. Though he prized moments of solitude, and would never admit to feeling lonely, Haldir hated the idea of living alone. In these dark times he found the close presence of his family both a comfort and a welcome distraction. Usually, anyway.

"I wasn't 'brooding', Orophin. Merely thinking." Haldir said patiently.

"Looked like brooding to me." Orophin replied.

Orophin sat next to his brother, trying not to let his concern show on his face. He knew Haldir hated the thought of being worried over by his younger brothers.

"They're waiting for you on the eastern border, Haldir. I was just about to leave for there myself. Care to join me?"

Haldir did not answer, nor would he meet Orophin's eyes.

"Haldir? Brother, please tell me what the matter is?"

Haldir leapt up and tried to leave, but Orophin grabbed his arm and pushed him back so that he landed on his bed. Haldir's icy glare would have frozen a Balrog, but for once Orophin was not to be intimidated.

"What is the matter with you? If your injuries are still so painful that you cannot fight, then why don't you see that healer again?"

"That's not the problem," said Haldir stiffly.

"Then what?!"

"Me."

Haldir had spoken so abruptly and so softly that, even with his sharp elven hearing, Orophin had barely heard him. The young Elf sat down next to Haldir, and laid a hand on his brother's arm.

"I don't understand Haldir. What's the problem?"

"The problem is me." Haldir bowed his head, and closed his eyes to stop the tears. "It was my fault that Lórien was harmed. I'm responsible for the deaths of the march wardens. It was my fault Rhimdir got caught in that cave-in. And it was my fault you got hurt!"

Orophin was speechless; he'd had no idea his brother had counted himself to blame for all these things. Momentarily lost for words, he put his arm around Haldir's shoulder, and when his brother didn't shrug it off, he pulled Haldir into a strong embrace. After a moment, Orophin sat back and looked his brother in the eye.

"You may be a Captain of the Galadhrim, Haldir, but you were not responsible for any of those things. You did all you could to prevent those orcs getting into Lórien. The wood will heal: the Lady will take care of that. Those march wardens died in battle, with great honour to their names, but it could just have easily been us. You could not possibly have prevented my wound, and your quick actions saved my life. As for Rhimdir, he volunteered to go with you into the caves, and you could not have foreseen the consequences. Was that everything?!"

Orophin intended this last exclamation to cheer Haldir up, and was rewarded with a slight grin. Orophin smiled, hoping that his brother's spirits would lift.

"It's bad enough that the Shadow outside grows, Haldir. Don't darken your soul with false guilt."

Haldir smiled properly at that, and clapped his brother on the shoulder.

"You didn't tell me it was so late, Orophin. Rúmil will be thinking that we have gotten lost, or gone to the northern border by mistake! Shall we go? But I'm afraid you may regret your words, which have done much for my confidence, for now you shall have to put up with me as your captain once more."

Orophin made a face, and Haldir burst out laughing. They walked out of the talan together, side by side.

Author's note: Please remember to Read & Review, and I'll remember to update it!!