Title: Childish Things
Series: The Elf Children
Author: Mayetra
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All things Tolkien belong to his estate; I only borrow them on occasion and always return them in good working order. I write fan fiction solely for my own enjoyment and do not claim any copyright or ownership of his works nor do I have intent to make financial gain. All original concepts and characters are from my own twisted plot bunnies and remain my property. Hwest is all mine!
Special Warnings: Mention of Character Death
Timeline: Early Third Age - AU after Where Do We Find Babies?
Author's Note: Since there is no date of birth for Haldir, I am taking poetic license with his age. Elves reach adulthood between 50 and 100 years. For purposes of this story, I have decided to make 100 the age of adulthood. Haldir is 62 and essentially a pre-teen. This is in response to a challenge from Haldir Lives.
Summary: Haldir struggles with impeding adulthood.
*~*
47 Tuilë* 170 T.A. - Caras Galadon, Lórien
Haldir sat in the large bedroom currently occupied by him and his brothers. A small box sat in front of him filled with old toys. His hand idly stroking the soft stuffed squirrel nestled in his lap. His mind was consumed with thoughts of the past. Weeks had passed since Orcs had killed his father on the border and his mother had faded from grief, but the pain and deep emptiness of their passing had yet to leave his heart. He had decided that he would become a Marchwarden like his father. It was the one thing he could do to protect his brothers, Rúmil and Orophin.
With that decision made, he had also decided that it was time to put away childish things and had gotten a box from Lady Galadriel to pack away all of his toys. It had proven an easy thing to do until he picked up Rustui*, his stuffed squirrel. He knew that as an adult he had no need for a silly stuffed toy, but he couldn't quite bring himself to deposit the squirrel into the box.
The brown creature was battered and worn. There were signs of obvious repairs to seams and patches where the fur was missing completely, all signs of a toy well loved by its owner. Haldir allowed a faint smile to cross his face as he thought of all the adventures he and Rustui had over the years. They had battled Orcs and Dragons, climbed trees and scampered through Loríen's gardens, and led the charge against Mordor.
Haldir began to list all the reasons in his mind why he didn't need Rustui anymore, the most important being that no self-respecting Marchwarden would be seen dragging around a stuffed toy. He was almost grown and sleeping with the favorite toy made him weak. None of these reasons could override the deep love he had for Rustui. He couldn't explain why he loved something that wasn't alive, but he did. He looked down at the shiny black button eyes and could almost see the look of hurt in them, the accusation that he was abandoning his oldest friend to banishment.
He was shaken from his mental anguish by a light tapping at the door. He looked up as Celeborn entered. Rising quickly, he placed his hand over his heart and said, "Greetings, my lord. How may I serve you?"
Celeborn smiled at the formal words from his young ward. He and Galadriel had tried to make the three orphans feel at home, but Haldir had clung to formality. He returned the gesture and said, "Greeting, Haldir. Please call me Celeborn, you are family now."
The young Elf nodded but he seemed uncomfortable with the prospect. "Is there something I can do for you, my l- Celeborn?"
"Galadriel told me of your project and I came to see how you fared."
Haldir realized that he was clutching Rustui. After a moment of hesitation, he tossed it nonchalantly into the box, trying but not quite succeeding in hiding his look of guilt. "I just finished."
"Very well," Celeborn replied as he leaned down and picked up the box. "Walk with me, Haldir. I have something I wish to discuss with you."
"Yes, my- Celeborn," Haldir replied, following behind the tall Elf with heavy steps.
They entered the hallway and started toward Celeborn's private study. Celeborn said nothing as he opened the door and ushered the young Elfling inside. "Take a seat, Haldir."
Haldir took one of the empty chairs near Celeborn's desk, which was piled with missives, parchments, and a large closed book. He looked longingly over at the box of toys that Celeborn had placed on the empty chair next to his. The young Elf could just see Rustui's black button eyes staring woefully at him and he felt sick to his stomach.
"You know, Haldir, I am quite proud of you." Celeborn said as he settled into his seat behind the desk. He regarded the young Elf for a moment.
"Thank you," Haldir replied quietly, trying to ignore the squirrel in the box.
"You have handled recent events well, better than I expected. And I find your decision to become a Marchwarden and follow in the footsteps of your father admirable."
Haldir nodded.
"He would be very proud of you, but I must ask if becoming a warden was always your intent. Your father would not want you to give up your hopes and dreams just to seek vengeance on his behalf."
Haldir pondered Celeborn's words, seeing the wisdom in them. The truth was he had always wanted to be a warden and his father's death had made it that much more important to him. He said as much to his lord.
Celeborn smiled and nodded, reading the truth in Haldir's words. "I must compliment you. You are a far braver Elf than I."
"Nay, my lord," Haldir protested. "You have fought in many great battles, and ruled many kingdoms. You are a prince. You are married to Lady Galadriel." Haldir personally thought that the last bit was the bravest thing Celeborn had ever done.
"True," Celeborn thought being married to Galadriel was a particularly brave thing as well. "But," he opened a drawer in his desk, "I could not give up one of my own childhood toys."
"My lord?" Haldir thought that his lord was surely jesting. His eyes bugged out as Celeborn loving retrieved a very old stuffed butterfly from his desk drawer. It was a blue and green with bright blue button eyes and golden trim.
"This is Míriel*. My great-aunt Melian made him for me when I was born, and I have never been able to part with him. He has been my friend and confidant since I was old enough to tell him my secrets." Celeborn carefully returned the butterfly to his drawer and closed it. He stood and walked around the desk, pausing to place a gentle hand on Haldir's shoulder. "There is no shame in keeping childhood friends, but that is your decision."
Haldir sat for a long moment after Celeborn left the room. Finally, he reached over and picked up Rustui. "I am sorry, my friend," he whispered to the stuffed squirrel. "Forgive me for ever seeking to part from you." With that, he shoved the squirrel under his tunic and left the room. He may be keeping his stuffy, but he wasn't about to be seen traipsing through the Royal Talan with him clutched under his arm. He knew that Rustui understood he always did.
The End
47 Tuilë - May 14th Míriel - Sindarin 'sparkling'
Rustui - Sindarin 'copper'
Series: The Elf Children
Author: Mayetra
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All things Tolkien belong to his estate; I only borrow them on occasion and always return them in good working order. I write fan fiction solely for my own enjoyment and do not claim any copyright or ownership of his works nor do I have intent to make financial gain. All original concepts and characters are from my own twisted plot bunnies and remain my property. Hwest is all mine!
Special Warnings: Mention of Character Death
Timeline: Early Third Age - AU after Where Do We Find Babies?
Author's Note: Since there is no date of birth for Haldir, I am taking poetic license with his age. Elves reach adulthood between 50 and 100 years. For purposes of this story, I have decided to make 100 the age of adulthood. Haldir is 62 and essentially a pre-teen. This is in response to a challenge from Haldir Lives.
Summary: Haldir struggles with impeding adulthood.
*~*
47 Tuilë* 170 T.A. - Caras Galadon, Lórien
Haldir sat in the large bedroom currently occupied by him and his brothers. A small box sat in front of him filled with old toys. His hand idly stroking the soft stuffed squirrel nestled in his lap. His mind was consumed with thoughts of the past. Weeks had passed since Orcs had killed his father on the border and his mother had faded from grief, but the pain and deep emptiness of their passing had yet to leave his heart. He had decided that he would become a Marchwarden like his father. It was the one thing he could do to protect his brothers, Rúmil and Orophin.
With that decision made, he had also decided that it was time to put away childish things and had gotten a box from Lady Galadriel to pack away all of his toys. It had proven an easy thing to do until he picked up Rustui*, his stuffed squirrel. He knew that as an adult he had no need for a silly stuffed toy, but he couldn't quite bring himself to deposit the squirrel into the box.
The brown creature was battered and worn. There were signs of obvious repairs to seams and patches where the fur was missing completely, all signs of a toy well loved by its owner. Haldir allowed a faint smile to cross his face as he thought of all the adventures he and Rustui had over the years. They had battled Orcs and Dragons, climbed trees and scampered through Loríen's gardens, and led the charge against Mordor.
Haldir began to list all the reasons in his mind why he didn't need Rustui anymore, the most important being that no self-respecting Marchwarden would be seen dragging around a stuffed toy. He was almost grown and sleeping with the favorite toy made him weak. None of these reasons could override the deep love he had for Rustui. He couldn't explain why he loved something that wasn't alive, but he did. He looked down at the shiny black button eyes and could almost see the look of hurt in them, the accusation that he was abandoning his oldest friend to banishment.
He was shaken from his mental anguish by a light tapping at the door. He looked up as Celeborn entered. Rising quickly, he placed his hand over his heart and said, "Greetings, my lord. How may I serve you?"
Celeborn smiled at the formal words from his young ward. He and Galadriel had tried to make the three orphans feel at home, but Haldir had clung to formality. He returned the gesture and said, "Greeting, Haldir. Please call me Celeborn, you are family now."
The young Elf nodded but he seemed uncomfortable with the prospect. "Is there something I can do for you, my l- Celeborn?"
"Galadriel told me of your project and I came to see how you fared."
Haldir realized that he was clutching Rustui. After a moment of hesitation, he tossed it nonchalantly into the box, trying but not quite succeeding in hiding his look of guilt. "I just finished."
"Very well," Celeborn replied as he leaned down and picked up the box. "Walk with me, Haldir. I have something I wish to discuss with you."
"Yes, my- Celeborn," Haldir replied, following behind the tall Elf with heavy steps.
They entered the hallway and started toward Celeborn's private study. Celeborn said nothing as he opened the door and ushered the young Elfling inside. "Take a seat, Haldir."
Haldir took one of the empty chairs near Celeborn's desk, which was piled with missives, parchments, and a large closed book. He looked longingly over at the box of toys that Celeborn had placed on the empty chair next to his. The young Elf could just see Rustui's black button eyes staring woefully at him and he felt sick to his stomach.
"You know, Haldir, I am quite proud of you." Celeborn said as he settled into his seat behind the desk. He regarded the young Elf for a moment.
"Thank you," Haldir replied quietly, trying to ignore the squirrel in the box.
"You have handled recent events well, better than I expected. And I find your decision to become a Marchwarden and follow in the footsteps of your father admirable."
Haldir nodded.
"He would be very proud of you, but I must ask if becoming a warden was always your intent. Your father would not want you to give up your hopes and dreams just to seek vengeance on his behalf."
Haldir pondered Celeborn's words, seeing the wisdom in them. The truth was he had always wanted to be a warden and his father's death had made it that much more important to him. He said as much to his lord.
Celeborn smiled and nodded, reading the truth in Haldir's words. "I must compliment you. You are a far braver Elf than I."
"Nay, my lord," Haldir protested. "You have fought in many great battles, and ruled many kingdoms. You are a prince. You are married to Lady Galadriel." Haldir personally thought that the last bit was the bravest thing Celeborn had ever done.
"True," Celeborn thought being married to Galadriel was a particularly brave thing as well. "But," he opened a drawer in his desk, "I could not give up one of my own childhood toys."
"My lord?" Haldir thought that his lord was surely jesting. His eyes bugged out as Celeborn loving retrieved a very old stuffed butterfly from his desk drawer. It was a blue and green with bright blue button eyes and golden trim.
"This is Míriel*. My great-aunt Melian made him for me when I was born, and I have never been able to part with him. He has been my friend and confidant since I was old enough to tell him my secrets." Celeborn carefully returned the butterfly to his drawer and closed it. He stood and walked around the desk, pausing to place a gentle hand on Haldir's shoulder. "There is no shame in keeping childhood friends, but that is your decision."
Haldir sat for a long moment after Celeborn left the room. Finally, he reached over and picked up Rustui. "I am sorry, my friend," he whispered to the stuffed squirrel. "Forgive me for ever seeking to part from you." With that, he shoved the squirrel under his tunic and left the room. He may be keeping his stuffy, but he wasn't about to be seen traipsing through the Royal Talan with him clutched under his arm. He knew that Rustui understood he always did.
The End
47 Tuilë - May 14th Míriel - Sindarin 'sparkling'
Rustui - Sindarin 'copper'