Disclaimer: This story is based on the work of Tolkien. The setting and most of the characters are his. Valarie, Maranwe, and Runevalas are my own creations. The Elvish language here is from the Tel'Mithrim and is used with permission. The word "feahoon" is used PENDING approval from the Grey Company. For more information please see their web site: www.grey-company .org
Rating: PG
Outside, Valariel went to the wall and looked down with her father's words swimming through her mind. She stopped suddenly and leaned against the wall, and odd feeling washing over her. For a moment she felt cold, and her hands became sweaty.
"Are you well?" asked Legolas from behind her.
Valariel shut her eyes. "I am," she answered, "but I am still spent from the battle."
"You are Haldir's daughter, Valariel? I saw you once, many years ago; I don't know if you remember me…"
"I do remember you, Legolas Greenleaf," she said, her eyes still on the horizon.
"You stared at me so boldly when you were young, yet you will not face me now?" There was curiosity in the question.
Because I am afraid, thought Valariel, finally naming the coldness that had frozen her at the wall. Because I have desired this meeting so greatly. What will I do if I'm wrong? "I fear I embarrassed you all those years ago with my impertinence," she answered. "And I spoke boldly – perhaps rashly – to my father when he took me home. I am… afraid." The word was hard for her to say.
"Afraid? Of me?"
"Afraid of being too proud. Afraid of being wrong. Afraid of what you will think of me if I am."
Legolas was completely confounded. "Valariel, I don't understand…"
She turned from the wall and met his gaze, and the Prince of Mirkwood stopped speaking. Never had he been so captured by a pair of eyes. Never had he seen so much of himself reflected within them. And Valariel felt it too, much the way her father described. While he didn't know the details, the specific facts, Legolas understood her. Understood all she had gone through, all of her successes and all of her fears.
Without speaking, Legolas reached out and put his arms around Valariel, pulling her close to him. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady drum-beat of his heart. For his part, Legolas still marveled at how such a gaping hole in his heart could have existed without him knowing it for so long, a hole that Valariel now utterly and completely filled.
:Fea…:
:...hoon.: She finished the thought he began.
Up in the Keep proper, Eowyn looked down at them. "Yes, Marchwarden, I can see your daughter…"
"Tell me," Haldir said, fighting the lassitude of sleep. "Tell me, is she alone?"
"No," said Eowyn slowly. "The Elf who traveled with Lord Aragorn is with her. He holds your daughter in his arms."
"Good." Haldir's voice was firm and final, and Eowyn smiled. She hadn't been sure how Haldir would react when she revealed what she saw. But the Marchwarden appeared pleased and she was glad of that.
"I have one other request, Lady Eowyn," said Haldir.
"But my Lord, you must rest and regain your strength."
"I will have plenty of time to rest later." Haldir's voice bordered on gruff. "I must speak with Aragorn before this medicine sets me to sleep. Please, Lady, it is very important."
An hour later, as day was rapidly coming to dusk, Aragorn found Legolas and Valariel still walking the field, looking for the wounded.
"Come, mellon friend," said Aragorn to Legolas, "you must rest. Both of you. We will leave Helm's Deep within two days." He ducked his head respectfully to Valariel. "It is an honor to meet you, Valariel of 'Lorien. Cormlle naa tanya tel'raa your heart is that of the lion."
She smiled at the complement, wondering if Aragorn knew that one of Haldir's nicknames for her when she was growing up was ravenne, or lioness in the tongues of Man. As they came back to the Keep, Aragorn led them down a side hall and up some stairs to a circular room with a window that faced the west.
It was well appointed considering the haste with which Theoden's people had left Edoras. There were furs on the floor to keep the cold at bay. A large bed was between the window and a large fireplace that graced the opposite wall. There was a small basket of fruit and a pitcher with cold water.
Both Valariel and Legolas were startled; they had expected to be brought to a chamber that would fit many, with nothing more than simple reed mats to sleep upon.
"Aragorn?" Puzzlement filled Legolas' voice.
"It was made up for you at Haldir's request. He did not give specific reasons, but I learned much while I dwelled in Rivendell." He gestured at the bundles of branches and leaves that adorned the wall above the bed. "I know you would both probably prefer the deep golds of the woods of 'Lorien or the green heart of Mirkwood to complete your bond…" He let the rest remain unspoken and Legolas gripped his shoulder in a gesture of friendship.
Aragorn, as he turned to close the door behind him, smiled at them and said, "I'll see to it that you are not disturbed. Quel kaima sleep well." The door made a dull thud as he shut it, and, in the silence of the room, the two Elves stared at each other for a moment.
"Lle naa vanima, You are beautiful." said Legolas, reaching out to touch Valariel's cheek.
"Lle naa i'mela en' coiamin, You are the love of my life." replied Valariel. "I named you feahoon as a child, before I understood what it meant. I just knew in the deepest reaches of my heart…"
Together, they went to the bed and lay back while Legolas wrapped Valariel in his arms again. "For now, sleep," he said for they were both exhausted from the battle. "I will hold you while you sleep and be here when you wake. There will be time then to confirm our bond."
"Quel kaima," she said, drifting to sleep even as she spoke.
:Quel kaima, lirimaen,: Sleep well, lovely one. answered Legolas.
Far into the night, Valariel stirred and found herself looking into Legolas' eyes. She smiled and touched his lips with her fingers.
"I thought I'd dreamed everything…"
"Then we are both in the most wonderful dream."
She leaned up on an elbow and looked down at Legolas as he lay on the bed. A bright beam of moonlight poured through the window, bathing the room in a silver glow. He marveled at how silver her hair looked in this light; it was nearly as silver as fine polished mithril. He reached up and gently pulled her head down to his, kissing her softly on the lips. He would waste no more of the cool moonlight.
The early hours of the morning found Valariel and Legolas both attending council with Gandalf, Aragorn, and Theoden-King when a disruption at the door distracted them all.
"My Lord! My Lord, please! You mustn't be walking around. You're still very ill…" Every eye in the room turned to the door as Haldir slowly, painfully crossed the floor to the table where the maps were laid out. The healer woman hovered and fretted around him looking like a sparrow whose chick had fallen from the nest. Theoden glanced at Valariel's frown and caught her eye. With a silent nod, he gave her leave to handle her father.
"Your concern is noted, healer," she said. "Rest assured, I myself, will see that my father returns to his bed in short order." Valariel knew better than to try and remove him from the counsel immediately, but did not hid her displeasure towards her father in her voice. The healer retreated quickly from the room, intimidated by the Kings and Lords all assembled in the hall.
"Never again tax me on my obstinacy when it is so apparent from which parent I inherited that trait." Her voice was pointed. Haldir met her stare and raised his chin. To the amusement of the rest of the room, the glares that Haldir and Valariel leveled at each other were identical, but no one chose to comment on the observation.
"In any event," said Gandalf, breaking the stalemate, "we will move out tomorrow. Sauron will be stung by this loss and I fear his wrath will be directed at Gondor. Without that land, we are sorely weakened."
Discussion continued for the better part of an hour as plans were discussed, discarded, and reinvented. As the conversation diminished, Haldir finally spoke.
"Those Archers who are left will travel with you," he said, "as will I."
"You will not."
"Valariel…"
"You will not."
"Long has it been known that Elves heal more quickly than Men," said Gandalf thoughtfully, "but your wounds are so great Haldir, I do not think it wise that you travel such a hard road so soon."
"I pledged myself to a duty," growled Haldir. "I will see it done!"
"And so you shall," said Valariel, "through me. I will go with the Archers to whatever end we find in Gondor. I will be the sword of 'Lorien on the field. You must return to 'Lorien and grow strong. You are the Lady Galadriel's shield, Marchwarden, and I would not leave her undefended as she leaves these shores for Valinor… would you?" She understood his pride and his honor and gave him a way to keep both without recklessly jeopardizing himself in the coming battle.
Haldir was silent. He had made a pledge to Elrond when he volunteered to lead the Archers to Helm's Deep. But he'd sworn a deeper oath to Galadriel and Celeborn many, many years ago when he became Marchwarden of Lothlorien. His first duty was to 'Lorien and to them.
"If that will satisfy Theoden-King, then I will abide by that," answered Haldir slowly, not entirely happy with his choices.
"I would be most satisfied, Marchwarden," said the King. "And there are a number of your people who are too injured to fight but well enough to return home. They will need you on their journey."
"Very well," said Haldir. Then he looked at Legolas who had been standing, silent, near Valariel for the entire conversation. "You would do well to learn now that there is no use arguing with your feahoon. You will find she can be most unreasonable at times… unlike her father." A slight smile crossed Legolas' face, but he said nothing.
Valariel folded her arms across her chest. "Now will you return to your rest or must I carry you?"
Well, that's all at least for now. Hope you enjoyed the tale of Haldir's daughter. I had quite a bit of fun writing it. Thank you very much to all my reviewers, especially Mercury Gray, Evenstar Elanor, Haldir's Heart & Soul, and Anolinde. At some point in the future (sooner rather than later) I hope to update some of these chapters based on your feedback. Ciao, bellas!
Rating: PG
Outside, Valariel went to the wall and looked down with her father's words swimming through her mind. She stopped suddenly and leaned against the wall, and odd feeling washing over her. For a moment she felt cold, and her hands became sweaty.
"Are you well?" asked Legolas from behind her.
Valariel shut her eyes. "I am," she answered, "but I am still spent from the battle."
"You are Haldir's daughter, Valariel? I saw you once, many years ago; I don't know if you remember me…"
"I do remember you, Legolas Greenleaf," she said, her eyes still on the horizon.
"You stared at me so boldly when you were young, yet you will not face me now?" There was curiosity in the question.
Because I am afraid, thought Valariel, finally naming the coldness that had frozen her at the wall. Because I have desired this meeting so greatly. What will I do if I'm wrong? "I fear I embarrassed you all those years ago with my impertinence," she answered. "And I spoke boldly – perhaps rashly – to my father when he took me home. I am… afraid." The word was hard for her to say.
"Afraid? Of me?"
"Afraid of being too proud. Afraid of being wrong. Afraid of what you will think of me if I am."
Legolas was completely confounded. "Valariel, I don't understand…"
She turned from the wall and met his gaze, and the Prince of Mirkwood stopped speaking. Never had he been so captured by a pair of eyes. Never had he seen so much of himself reflected within them. And Valariel felt it too, much the way her father described. While he didn't know the details, the specific facts, Legolas understood her. Understood all she had gone through, all of her successes and all of her fears.
Without speaking, Legolas reached out and put his arms around Valariel, pulling her close to him. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady drum-beat of his heart. For his part, Legolas still marveled at how such a gaping hole in his heart could have existed without him knowing it for so long, a hole that Valariel now utterly and completely filled.
:Fea…:
:...hoon.: She finished the thought he began.
Up in the Keep proper, Eowyn looked down at them. "Yes, Marchwarden, I can see your daughter…"
"Tell me," Haldir said, fighting the lassitude of sleep. "Tell me, is she alone?"
"No," said Eowyn slowly. "The Elf who traveled with Lord Aragorn is with her. He holds your daughter in his arms."
"Good." Haldir's voice was firm and final, and Eowyn smiled. She hadn't been sure how Haldir would react when she revealed what she saw. But the Marchwarden appeared pleased and she was glad of that.
"I have one other request, Lady Eowyn," said Haldir.
"But my Lord, you must rest and regain your strength."
"I will have plenty of time to rest later." Haldir's voice bordered on gruff. "I must speak with Aragorn before this medicine sets me to sleep. Please, Lady, it is very important."
An hour later, as day was rapidly coming to dusk, Aragorn found Legolas and Valariel still walking the field, looking for the wounded.
"Come, mellon friend," said Aragorn to Legolas, "you must rest. Both of you. We will leave Helm's Deep within two days." He ducked his head respectfully to Valariel. "It is an honor to meet you, Valariel of 'Lorien. Cormlle naa tanya tel'raa your heart is that of the lion."
She smiled at the complement, wondering if Aragorn knew that one of Haldir's nicknames for her when she was growing up was ravenne, or lioness in the tongues of Man. As they came back to the Keep, Aragorn led them down a side hall and up some stairs to a circular room with a window that faced the west.
It was well appointed considering the haste with which Theoden's people had left Edoras. There were furs on the floor to keep the cold at bay. A large bed was between the window and a large fireplace that graced the opposite wall. There was a small basket of fruit and a pitcher with cold water.
Both Valariel and Legolas were startled; they had expected to be brought to a chamber that would fit many, with nothing more than simple reed mats to sleep upon.
"Aragorn?" Puzzlement filled Legolas' voice.
"It was made up for you at Haldir's request. He did not give specific reasons, but I learned much while I dwelled in Rivendell." He gestured at the bundles of branches and leaves that adorned the wall above the bed. "I know you would both probably prefer the deep golds of the woods of 'Lorien or the green heart of Mirkwood to complete your bond…" He let the rest remain unspoken and Legolas gripped his shoulder in a gesture of friendship.
Aragorn, as he turned to close the door behind him, smiled at them and said, "I'll see to it that you are not disturbed. Quel kaima sleep well." The door made a dull thud as he shut it, and, in the silence of the room, the two Elves stared at each other for a moment.
"Lle naa vanima, You are beautiful." said Legolas, reaching out to touch Valariel's cheek.
"Lle naa i'mela en' coiamin, You are the love of my life." replied Valariel. "I named you feahoon as a child, before I understood what it meant. I just knew in the deepest reaches of my heart…"
Together, they went to the bed and lay back while Legolas wrapped Valariel in his arms again. "For now, sleep," he said for they were both exhausted from the battle. "I will hold you while you sleep and be here when you wake. There will be time then to confirm our bond."
"Quel kaima," she said, drifting to sleep even as she spoke.
:Quel kaima, lirimaen,: Sleep well, lovely one. answered Legolas.
Far into the night, Valariel stirred and found herself looking into Legolas' eyes. She smiled and touched his lips with her fingers.
"I thought I'd dreamed everything…"
"Then we are both in the most wonderful dream."
She leaned up on an elbow and looked down at Legolas as he lay on the bed. A bright beam of moonlight poured through the window, bathing the room in a silver glow. He marveled at how silver her hair looked in this light; it was nearly as silver as fine polished mithril. He reached up and gently pulled her head down to his, kissing her softly on the lips. He would waste no more of the cool moonlight.
The early hours of the morning found Valariel and Legolas both attending council with Gandalf, Aragorn, and Theoden-King when a disruption at the door distracted them all.
"My Lord! My Lord, please! You mustn't be walking around. You're still very ill…" Every eye in the room turned to the door as Haldir slowly, painfully crossed the floor to the table where the maps were laid out. The healer woman hovered and fretted around him looking like a sparrow whose chick had fallen from the nest. Theoden glanced at Valariel's frown and caught her eye. With a silent nod, he gave her leave to handle her father.
"Your concern is noted, healer," she said. "Rest assured, I myself, will see that my father returns to his bed in short order." Valariel knew better than to try and remove him from the counsel immediately, but did not hid her displeasure towards her father in her voice. The healer retreated quickly from the room, intimidated by the Kings and Lords all assembled in the hall.
"Never again tax me on my obstinacy when it is so apparent from which parent I inherited that trait." Her voice was pointed. Haldir met her stare and raised his chin. To the amusement of the rest of the room, the glares that Haldir and Valariel leveled at each other were identical, but no one chose to comment on the observation.
"In any event," said Gandalf, breaking the stalemate, "we will move out tomorrow. Sauron will be stung by this loss and I fear his wrath will be directed at Gondor. Without that land, we are sorely weakened."
Discussion continued for the better part of an hour as plans were discussed, discarded, and reinvented. As the conversation diminished, Haldir finally spoke.
"Those Archers who are left will travel with you," he said, "as will I."
"You will not."
"Valariel…"
"You will not."
"Long has it been known that Elves heal more quickly than Men," said Gandalf thoughtfully, "but your wounds are so great Haldir, I do not think it wise that you travel such a hard road so soon."
"I pledged myself to a duty," growled Haldir. "I will see it done!"
"And so you shall," said Valariel, "through me. I will go with the Archers to whatever end we find in Gondor. I will be the sword of 'Lorien on the field. You must return to 'Lorien and grow strong. You are the Lady Galadriel's shield, Marchwarden, and I would not leave her undefended as she leaves these shores for Valinor… would you?" She understood his pride and his honor and gave him a way to keep both without recklessly jeopardizing himself in the coming battle.
Haldir was silent. He had made a pledge to Elrond when he volunteered to lead the Archers to Helm's Deep. But he'd sworn a deeper oath to Galadriel and Celeborn many, many years ago when he became Marchwarden of Lothlorien. His first duty was to 'Lorien and to them.
"If that will satisfy Theoden-King, then I will abide by that," answered Haldir slowly, not entirely happy with his choices.
"I would be most satisfied, Marchwarden," said the King. "And there are a number of your people who are too injured to fight but well enough to return home. They will need you on their journey."
"Very well," said Haldir. Then he looked at Legolas who had been standing, silent, near Valariel for the entire conversation. "You would do well to learn now that there is no use arguing with your feahoon. You will find she can be most unreasonable at times… unlike her father." A slight smile crossed Legolas' face, but he said nothing.
Valariel folded her arms across her chest. "Now will you return to your rest or must I carry you?"
Well, that's all at least for now. Hope you enjoyed the tale of Haldir's daughter. I had quite a bit of fun writing it. Thank you very much to all my reviewers, especially Mercury Gray, Evenstar Elanor, Haldir's Heart & Soul, and Anolinde. At some point in the future (sooner rather than later) I hope to update some of these chapters based on your feedback. Ciao, bellas!