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 (now www.galadhrim.net).

Chapter VI

Haldir shifted uncomfortably, his red cloak blowing a little in the breeze. Though no one had spoken, every Elf on the eastern borders, and likely in the whole of Lórien, knew something was dreadfully wrong. Haldir let his gaze fall upon the next tree, where Orophin had concealed himself. His youngest brother was staring into the dark, trying to spot any sign of movement. All along the border, march wardens of the Galadhrim were attempting to spot any sign of an impending attack. The fact that they could see little was only a part of what was worrying them.

Dawn had not come. The Shadow had taken shape.

In the last hours of the night, the Elves had begun to feel relieved, certain that the orcs of Dol Guldur would not attack in daylight. But the Enemy had outsmarted them by contriving for its forces a starless night. The orcs would assuredly assail Lórien now, while it lasted.

A low black cloud had enveloped the land, hiding the Sun. It had come from Mordor, and the Elves did not doubt that it heralded the unleashing of Sauron's might. All across the land, in scores of cities and realms, the Free Peoples of Middle-earth prepared to do battle against the Darkness. Lord Celeborn, fearing this time the attack would bring the full strength of Dol Guldur down upon Lórien, had ordered all of the Galadhrim to wear Elven-armour. Haldir proudly wore the armour that Galadriel had given him.

Haldir's thoughts were interrupted by the sight of three Elves running towards the forest as fast as they were able. They were three of the five scouts Haldir had sent to the near bank of the Anduin almost an hour ago. They swiftly climbed into the trees where the march wardens were situated. One of them clambered onto the limb next to Haldir's and in a near panic told him the news.

"Captain, a massive column of orcs is crossing the Anduin! And worse – they bring wargs and trolls bearing siege weapons! Doubtless they mean to assail Caras Galadhon itself!"

Just then a messenger from Caras Galadhon climbed up next to Haldir and announced himself.

"Captain Haldir, Lord Celeborn wishes you to withdraw all your forces into the city. He says we cannot hope that this force will be held at the border."

Haldir did not ask how Celeborn knew of the size of the army about to attack Lórien: he knew that Galadriel had her own ways of finding such things out. But he ignored the messenger for now, and instead turned to the scout.

"How many orcs, wargs and trolls?" Haldir asked.

"Many thousands of orcs, Captain, at least thirty wargs, and I saw around ten large mountain trolls."

"Captain, you must withdraw now!" Celeborn's messenger could hardly believe Haldir's hesitation to follow orders and withdraw.

Haldir turned to the messenger as they were joined by Rúmil and Orophin. Rúmil looked at his brother, confused.

"What are our orders, Haldir?" Rúmil asked. "The army will be upon us at any moment. If Lord Celeborn wishes us to retreat and reinforce Caras Galadhon, we should leave before they arrive."

Haldir shook his head. "No, Rúmil. I would be a poor Captain indeed if I let a force in possession of siege weapons within sight of Caras Galadhon. We may not be able to stop all of the orcs. But we must try to eliminate the wargs and trolls. Without siege weapons they will not be able to penetrate Caras Galadhon."

I hope, he added silently to himself. But even as his brothers, and Celeborn's messenger, argued against his reasoning, the lookouts cried out in warning. The enemy was in sight!

Immediately Haldir made up his mind. In a clear voice he sent his order ringing through the forest.

"Hear me Galadhrim! The main part of our defence is to withdraw to Caras Galadhon, under the leadership of Rúmil and Orophin. But I want fifty volunteers to make a stand with me here on the border, and see if we can't lessen their numbers! Who will fight alongside me!"

Immediately a number of Elves rushed to the branches near Haldir. The first fifty to arrive were permitted to stay, those who came after were sent to Caras Galadhon with the others. Rúmil and Orophin did their best to persuade Haldir to draw back with them, but he was immovable, and with swift farewells they parted.

As the enemy drew closer, the fifty who had remained with Haldir readied their bows. When the wargs came bounding up to the edge of the forest, they notched their arrows; and once the great, snarling beasts had come close enough for the Elves to see the whites of their eyes they fired. Long darts with white feathers fletched upon them poured down from the trees of Lórien, but this time instead of orcs, thirty wargs of Rhovanion fell to the ground, pierced through the head or heart. Several of them twitched or howled: not dead, they were no longer a threat, and the Elves had plenty of other enemies to deal with before worrying about finishing them off.

Haldir involuntarily gasped as the army of orcs came into sight. Never had he expected to see such a number of them. Some of the orcs rushed into the forest, and were swiftly cut down by the sharp Elven-arrows, but unexpectedly Haldir ordered the Elves to stop firing at the orcs entering the forest. He was more concerned about the trolls, now slowly coming into view, carrying long ladders and strong rams. These could do great damage to Caras Galadhon if they were allowed near that fortress, and were Haldir's main target.

"There! The trolls! Bring them down! Kill them!" Haldir shouted.

The Elves fired again and again at the trolls. The scout had reported their numbers accurately: there were ten of the massive creatures. Slow-moving, dumb, and larger than cave-trolls, they possessed thick hides, and were almost impossible to kill with arrows, except with a lucky hit in the mouth or eye. Many shafts stuck in them, and some even bounced off their thick skins, yet they kept advancing. But Haldir did not give up. He shouted encouragement to his comrades; though it was difficult to see well in the dark, he was confident that their sharp Elven-eyes and experienced aim would be able to fell the trolls. As they came within ten paces of the trees, first one, and then another troll stumbled. Another was shot through the eye and brought down, and Haldir's heart leapt with hope. One by one the trolls fell, brought down by skilful, or lucky shots, or by the sheer persistence of the fifty Elven archers.

But their success had been hard-won. All fifty now had quivers that were nearly spent; they had perhaps a hundred arrows between them. And with these they faced an army of thousands of orcs! They had their Elven swords, but they would have to leave the safety of the trees to use them, and descending into that swarming mass would have been suicide. They had focused on killing the trolls, but this had enabled most of the orcs to bypass them and carry on into the Wood, towards Caras Galadhon. Others encircled the Elves' position on the border, hacking away at the trees with axes and scimitars. Some orcs lit fires, trying to burn the trees around the Elves and force them down. Firing their last arrows at the orcs below, Haldir knew that it was only a matter of time before his small contingent was overwhelmed, and that their only chance lay in escaping to one of a dozen stores of weapons hidden deeper in the forest, but escaping anywhere seemed impossible. The other Elves closed in around Haldir, the fires cornering them. As Haldir drew his blade, ready for a last stand against the orcs on the eastern border of Lothlórien, his thoughts were drawn to Rúmil and Orophin.

I only hope they are faring better in Caras Galadhon. Elbereth protect my brothers!

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