Moria's Revenge: Chapter 30: Redeemed
Author: Llinos Beta and additional material MarigoldG
A/N: I know I (Kookaburra) keep promising that it won't be so long until the next chapter, but circumstances keep Llinos and I from being near computers on alteranting weeks.Also- announcements:
For those of you that don't already know, (and there are very few) Llinos is continuing "Recaptured!" with a separately posted story. Just do a search for her author page, and you will find it. She has also been revising the original "Recaptured!" and if you want to read the very original one, go to starseekers site, the link is in my author page.
Also: On Nindaiwe.com, Rufferto has been converting a roleplay into a fanfic, and a very wonderful one at that. Llinos and I have joined the roleplay, so you might see some of our stuff on there.
Here is the link to the board: http://pub82.ezboard.com/flordsoftheslashedfrm38
read in this order: Shadows and Flame, Tomatoes and Nice Crispy Bacon, Two of a Kind, Three's Company.
I'm Sam and Llinos is Captain Nagash!
***
Sam had remained on the bed after Merry and Pippin had left and wondered if he should move back to the chair now that he was alone with Mr Frodo once more, after all it didn't seem fitting for a servant to sit on his master's bed. He looked over the side of the tall bed, all the elven beds in this place were so high, it seemed a long way down. Then he looked back at his Master. Frodo was still breathing raggedly, each intake of air seeming to need a huge effort, and then the breathing pattern was interrupted as he whimpered a little.
Sam was next to him in a second, soothing his hair from his face and whispering gently into his master's pointed ear. It would obviously be foolish for him to climb down from the bed Sam decided. What if Frodo should wake and he could not see him or if he thought no one was in the room because Sam was not tall enough to be seen from Frodo's elevated position.
For the next several hours, as periodically Deilen or one of the other healers looked in, the little gardener sat by Frodo's head on the big bed, stroking his hair and holding his hand. His mind drifted off to the events of the past day. He was glad to see young Pippin looking a bit better and Merry happier because of it. Now this had happened he hope it wouldn't set them all back again, and he found himself wondering how poor Mr Haldir must be feeling. The unfortunate elf had rushed in to try and protect his Master and thought he had discovered his attacker, and. and made a terrible mistake.
Well Sam had never really cared much for the stuck up elf, even though he shouldn't really go passing judgement on his betters like that, especially him being an elf and all. But then again his Gaffer always said "them's as think they're betterer than others, oftimes baint got nuthin' to be proud o' at all." Sam reckoned this was right enough, but all the same, he was thinking now how could it be that dear Icicle, who had saved Mr Frodo's life and cared for Mr Pippin when he was so badly off, how come she had to die just to give Mr Haldir his comeuppance, especially as how the elf thought he was doing the right thing - a sad business all round. It made no sense to Sam and Samwise Gamgee did not like things that made no sense.
He looked at his sickly Master and thought if he were awake he would no doubt be able to make sense of it all. Eventually, getting used to being on the bed then growing bolder and indeed sleepier, he snuggled down beside Frodo and closed his eyes, knowing that if Frodo wanted him he would be awake in a second.
-0****0-
Merry had finally coaxed Pippin back to the bed after they had kissed Icicle goodbye and covered her over again.
Pippin had cried long and hard, even though it did not seem possible that he had any more tears left in his little body. It frightened his older cousin that Pippin sobbed so much as it was physically exhausting him as well as draining him still further emotionally, but Merry had no real words of comfort, nothing could make this latest tragedy better or bring Umumum back to life, so he just rocked Pippin to and fro and cried with him.
Merry's tears were as heartfelt as Pippin's, he too had grown to love the warg. It was she that had nurtured and been the only solace for his precious Pip in his torment and agony. She had been there when Merry could not be. He had felt so guilty at that and felt a great debt to the gentle beast. Not only had she loved Pip and given him her warm body for comfort, she had kept him alive with her mother's milk and made him hang on until they found him. Pippin would most certainly not have survived without Umumum.
Probably Frodo too would now be dead and perhaps even the Ring gone with the creature Gollum! The enormity of the warg's deed began to strike Merry for the first time in its full implications. How could she be dead? How could she have met such an unjust end. Poor Haldir, he must be feeling totally devastated to have caused her destruction. It is a good thing that elves have long lives, Merry thought, he will need a long time to get over his terrible mistake.
-0****0-
Pippin clung tightly to Merry, his thoughts incoherent and muddled. He could not really grasp what had happened. One moment he had been happily playing with Frodo, past miseries beginning to fade, the pain in his little body diminishing, the fear in his heart gradually easing and the horror and guilt of what had happened, growing less with each tentative step he took and every kind word from his friends, every moment he spent with Merry, or just knowing Merry was nearby.
Then, like some hideous nightmare it had all fallen about his ears. Everything had come crashing down and now Frodo might die and precious Umumum was dead! And even Merry couldn't explain why! How could that be? If Merry couldn't understand it how could he, Pippin, begin to know why it had happened?
Poor Umumum, poor elf! He hadn't meant to kill her, that much Merry had told him. It was a terrible mistake. But it seemed too cruel. Too cruel for Umumum and for Haldir; even he had wept, Pippin saw that. He was so sad that he had killed her. Maybe it was something sent by the Valar to punish him, Pippin.
He had been right in the first place, he was a bad hobbit and did not deserve Umumum and so now she had to die, but it was so unfair, Umumum had done nothing wrong and Haldir had done nothing wrong. It must be him, Pippin that had done wrong and he didn't know how to make it better.
-0****0-
Frodo's mind swum round and round in a dark and dreadful pool. He was being drawn into the centre and then he realised it was a deadly whirlpool and he could not swim strongly enough to escape its pull. Soon he would be dragged down into the airless depths. At least he would no longer need to try and breathe under the mirky water for there would be no air to be had there.
With a sudden start as if he were falling, Frodo caught himself and his consciousness climbed painfully up from the water and he gasped a precious mouthful of air. His eyelids pulled apart and he saw poor, dear Sam hovering over him, fear and worry creasing his young features.
"Sam!" he mouthed, unable to make any actual noise. Frodo could hear various voices around him but none of them made any sense. He tried tiredly to remember why he felt so ill and why was it so hard to breathe? He vaguely remembered playing with Pippin and then something had happened, but he could not quite recall what it was.
He could see Merry, Sam was holding his hand - but what had happened to Pippin? Merry would know. Frodo attempted to speak again, but no sound emerged. All he could do was to mouth the name, "Pip?"
Merry obviously understood and when Frodo flickered his eyes open again, he could see his little cousin and knew that he was safe. Frodo relaxed and fell back into the pool once more. But it was still an unpleasant place. He concentrated on floating on the surface, trying not to drown in the swirling, forbidding depths. As his mind was spun round on the choppy waters he began to see flashes of what had happened.
Gollum was tearing at his throat! Frodo tried to lift his arms up to protect his vulnerable neck, to keep hold of The Ring! But then a whirl of white had blurred across his vision, growling and snarling at the assailant.
Frodo's dream faded from reality and he could not focus on the rest of the assault or what had happened, but then two apparently disconnected images floated across the pool and into his view. Icicle the white warg, Pippin's nestraden naneth, was running across a grassy plain, her ears alert and her fleecy tail streaming behind her. Frodo knew somehow this was no longer a memory, but somehow a vision, something that might be.
Then he saw the elf, Haldir kneeling with his head held in his hands, weeping bitterly as if all the woes of Middle Earth lay upon his shoulders. Frodo felt his hand try to reach out, to calm the distraught figure. But he could not reach him and when he opened his mouth to speak no words came. Frodo writhed in his sleep, making Sam lean over him anxiously. But his master did not wake this time.
The image of Haldir made no sense to Frodo, but it greatly distressed him. Then the two visions blended in the disturbing way that dreams will and he saw Haldir, still sobbing but now standing, the tears coursing wet tracks down his pale cheeks, an arrow nocked in his bow. Frodo's view followed the aim he took and his eyes shot after the speeding arrow as it plunged into the side of the running warg. Icicle screamed a death cry and fell to her side, a plume of red spurting from her white throat. Frodo's eyes fled back to Haldir and once more the elf was kneeling and weeping. The hobbit's heart went out to the elf, his sorrow was palpable and Frodo knew that he had committed a grave error for which he was now truly sorry.
-0****0-
In her mirror Galadriel had been watching the thoughts of the halflings and was gladdened that, not only had they not blamed Haldir, but one by one, in their own way they had forgiven the elf for what had happened. The Elven Queen looked up from the carved stone basin and smiled at Haldir. Although she did not speak, she moved to stand in front of the elf, waiting patiently to hear what she knew he would say.
"Milady, I come to seek a boon." He bowed his head as he spoke and touched his chest with his right hand. "I have been guilty of a terrible misjudgement and wish to make recompense."
"Explain what your misjudgement was." Galadriel's voice was even and unemotional. "And what recompense do you believe you can make, Haldir?"
"I have misjudged the little perian, most grievously." Haldir could not meet the Lady's gaze but kept his eyes firmly on the ground. "I tarnished him with the blame of what had happened to him, which could not have been his fault. I saw the taint of orc and did not consider why he was so used. I know now there was no fault in him. And I misjudged the nestraden naneth also for her species and origin, that she belonged to orcs."
"The nestraden naneth belonged to orcs?" Galadriel surprisingly interrupted, making Haldir meet her eyes for the first time.
"I beg your pardon, Milady." Haldir shook his head in bewilderment, "I do not understand."
"Why do you think I named her so?" Galadriel asked gently. "How many wargs have you encountered that have been given elven names?"
"I - I thought it was because of her - her care of." Haldir screwed his brow in confusion and fell silent.
"It is a rare thing to see one such as you, Haldir, confused and lost for words." The White Lady knew what was in his heart but he still did not understand completely. "The nestraden naneth, she did not happen by chance. Do you not see?"
"See what Milady?" Haldir was still confused, but Galadriel was not going to give him any further clues. He fell silent, thinking through what he had been told. "Then she was sent? By. by. The." Haldir fell silent again as the full realisation of exactly what he had destroyed started to sink in.
"There is much evil in this Age, Haldir," Galadriel saw that the elf now fully understood what had happened. "But you did not think that The Valar in Their wisdom would stand by and watch the precious perian suffer without any let? What they were able to do was little enough, but it served."
"And I killed her." Haldir sank to his knees before the Elven Queen. "Now I know, doubly so, that the boon I beg is right and just, Milady. I ask, in all penitence if you will intervene with The Ilúvatar on my behalf and offer my grace, that which gives me immortality, in exchange for the life of the nestraden naneth."
Galadriel stepped forward and laid her ivory hand upon the penitent elf's bowed head. "They know already of your desire, Haldir and they will grant it, but understand this. To give of your Grace will not only prevent you from departing over the sea but it will rob you of your life essence."
"Milady, I understand," Haldir looked up at Galadriel now, his eyes were filled with remorse, but not for himself, he truly regretted the death he had caused. "I know that it will dull the existence I have left and that I will only be able to dwell in the world of mortals, but if anything that I can offer will ease the pain of the innocent perian, then I gladly give it."
-0****0-
Aragorn and Boromir had waited until Merry and Pippin had finally fallen asleep before carrying the lifeless body of Icicle down to a sheltered spot in a leafy glade. There Gimli and Legolas had already dug a grave and as the two men approached, carrying the limp form wrapped in a white sheet, they stood reverently to either side.
Carefully, the two Gondorians lowered the warg to her final resting place, one snowy paw slipping out from the sheet as they laid her down in the grave.
Legolas had gathered flowers and he laid these beside the marker, which Gimli had carved from a white rock. The words on it read, "Icicle, nestraden naneth, kind mother, true friend and loyal defender."
Then, as the others bowed their heads, Legolas sang a sweet farewell, it was an adaptation of the lullaby he had sung to Pippin:-
A lasta quettanya (Hear my words)
nestraden naneth muin (dear healing mother)
losto nûr (sleep deep)
îdh tûr (you won rest)
losto hodo nuin. (sleep still under the stars)
As his voice, filled with sorrowful lament, carried through the still woodland, Galadriel and Haldir hurried towards the spot. As they entered the leafy glade, Gimli was about to tip the first spade full of the rich brown earth onto the lifeless body.
"Hold!" Haldir cried to the dwarf, "Stay your hand Master Gimli, please."
"What nonsense is this?" the dwarf harrumphed in indignation. "Why are you here? It is a little late for contrition."
"Peace, Gimli my friend." Legolas could see the concerned look on the Lady Galadriel's face and knew this was an important mission. "Let us hear Master Haldir."
"I beg pardon, Milady," Aragorn bowed to Galadriel, "Have we disturbed the wrong ground? Silael thought this would be a suitable place."
"No the place is fitting, Estel." Galadriel turned slightly to indicate the elf at her side, and spoke in a quiet tone. "Haldir wishes to offer a healing of his own."
"What healing is there to be offered that will help the warg?" Gimli growled at the elf.
"It would seem very little." Haldir agreed, "but I am truly sorry for what happened and I believe that my speed of hand was prompted by more than a wish to defend the Ringbearer and should have been tempered by more caution."
"Haldir, we do understand that," Aragorn spoke gently, he could see the true regret in the elf's face now, "it was an accident."
"But it should not have happened, and it was my blame and mine alone." Haldir knelt by Icicle's cold body. "Please Legolas, Master Gimli, help me to lift the nestraden naneth from her grave - it is too soon for her to sleep. All is not yet lost."
Legolas and Gimli exchanged mystified glances but nevertheless lifted Icicle from the depths of the cold earth and laid her on the warm grass. Galadriel came and knelt on the other side of the white body and laid her hands upon Icicle's white coat, the ivory fingers almost invisible against the pure fur. She looked at Haldir, her eyes boring into his and spoke into his mind.
'Haldir? Do you understand what it is that you are offering?'
'I understand Milady and I give freely of it without hope of redemption, without hope of reward.'
'Then so be it!'
The four fellowship members stood open-mouthed as the trees above them seemed to part and a great white light shone down upon Icicle's cold body. The glow was intense and engulfed Haldir and Galadriel in its brilliance. A voice, more sweet than the piping of nightingales, more entrancing than a silver waterfall spilling over shimmering stones, more lovely than a breeze on a summer's day trickled over their consciousnesses. Each of them heard the sound, although nothing filled the air but the blessed light.
'Haldir, you have offered the greatest gift an elf can give. You offer your life, your essence, your immortality in exchange for the continued existence of this simple warg.'
'I do.' Haldir's voice sounded in all their minds in response. Each of the fellowship gasped in amazement. Was this truly the voice of Elbereth? Also they wondered in amazement at the sacrifice the elf was making.
'Why have you chosen this course?'
'I was guilty of pride. I did not understand the purity of the tiny perian, nor the Valar's purpose in sending the nestraden naneth to succour him. It is solely my fault that she lies dead. I was wrong and wish to make recompense.'
'Haldir, it is a noble act that you offer. We would accept it, but you have omitted one thing. The periain did not blame you and have forgiven you. Do you realise how saddened they will be to have the nestraden naneth returned to them at the cost of your existence?'
'I would still wish it. Why would they prefer my continued life when the healing warg can be saved with what I offer? But I would not want to distress them further, may they not remain in ignorance of what I give?'
'We see their minds, they are pure and innocent, but they will know and your sacrifice will hurt them, especially the perian tithen muin - his pain has been too great already. Your willing offer is enough. It was given in grace and we accept the spirit of it but will not take the essence of you, Haldir. Go in peace until we meet on the undying shores.'
Haldir gave a small quiver and his hands fell forward to rest against Galadriel's fingers still lying on Icicle's white coat. The light grew in brilliance and the elf caught his breath as he felt a slight quickening beneath his hands. He was filled with wonder that he had been spoken to by one of the Valar, indeed he was sure it was Elbereth herself and that his boon would be granted and because of the periain's purity and goodness They had given back his Grace and essence. Truly he had misjudged the halflings, if the Valar gave them so much esteem and care, who was he to have criticized them?
The quickening grew as the white glow intensified still further, until the whole glade was bathed in its wonder. Legolas fell to his knees, Aragorn placed his right hand upon his breast and Gimli crossed his hands over his heart, while Boromir gazed in amazement and awe upon the scene. They all knew they were about to witness a miracle.
Suddenly there was a low whine and Icicle raised her head.
0-****-0
TBC
Review notes:
shirebound: Thankyou, thankyou THANKYOU for staying on, oh, and congradualte Llinos on those lines- they're hers! ;-)
Coriandra: Ohhh...Pip is *far* from healed...*cackles*heeheehee...
Pipster: I think this chapter answered your question- and I am a Miss. :-)
august wynd: we can't find it because people are stupid. That's pretty much the reason for everything that's wrong on earth.
ChiChambo: Using the chamber pot means that his kidneys are untying and he is recovering from dehydration.
Hel: Such a long review! I love it! and what is your native language?
-Congradulate Llinos on the lullabies. She is something, no?
-Gollum got away from Legolas' people in Mirkwood and they were guarding him. The elves in Lorien did not even know he was nearby.
-Pippin is still rather confused, I think. And...all I can say is read and see!
-YAY! Another dwarf fancier. I am something of a closet one, but Gimli is pretty cool! If you like dwarves, I am actually thinking about writing a dwarf fic. In the verrry far off future!
-thank you for correcting me on my timeline, I am far from perfect, and, admittedly, when I first read FotR, Lorien was where I got lost.
Blue Jedi Hobbit: "Hi, My name is Kookaburra"
Crowd: "Hi, Kookaburra! Welcome!"
"I- I have a problem with reviews. I will do anything for them. It was little things at first, it just started with one chapter of another author's story! But then it-it grew! Before I knew it, I was making outlines and uploading a chapter- more reviews came, and I COULDN'T STOP! I NEED A FIX! NOOOOWWWWW!!!! *is hauled off struggling and cursing by nice people in white coats*
Author: Llinos Beta and additional material MarigoldG
A/N: I know I (Kookaburra) keep promising that it won't be so long until the next chapter, but circumstances keep Llinos and I from being near computers on alteranting weeks.Also- announcements:
For those of you that don't already know, (and there are very few) Llinos is continuing "Recaptured!" with a separately posted story. Just do a search for her author page, and you will find it. She has also been revising the original "Recaptured!" and if you want to read the very original one, go to starseekers site, the link is in my author page.
Also: On Nindaiwe.com, Rufferto has been converting a roleplay into a fanfic, and a very wonderful one at that. Llinos and I have joined the roleplay, so you might see some of our stuff on there.
Here is the link to the board: http://pub82.ezboard.com/flordsoftheslashedfrm38
read in this order: Shadows and Flame, Tomatoes and Nice Crispy Bacon, Two of a Kind, Three's Company.
I'm Sam and Llinos is Captain Nagash!
***
Sam had remained on the bed after Merry and Pippin had left and wondered if he should move back to the chair now that he was alone with Mr Frodo once more, after all it didn't seem fitting for a servant to sit on his master's bed. He looked over the side of the tall bed, all the elven beds in this place were so high, it seemed a long way down. Then he looked back at his Master. Frodo was still breathing raggedly, each intake of air seeming to need a huge effort, and then the breathing pattern was interrupted as he whimpered a little.
Sam was next to him in a second, soothing his hair from his face and whispering gently into his master's pointed ear. It would obviously be foolish for him to climb down from the bed Sam decided. What if Frodo should wake and he could not see him or if he thought no one was in the room because Sam was not tall enough to be seen from Frodo's elevated position.
For the next several hours, as periodically Deilen or one of the other healers looked in, the little gardener sat by Frodo's head on the big bed, stroking his hair and holding his hand. His mind drifted off to the events of the past day. He was glad to see young Pippin looking a bit better and Merry happier because of it. Now this had happened he hope it wouldn't set them all back again, and he found himself wondering how poor Mr Haldir must be feeling. The unfortunate elf had rushed in to try and protect his Master and thought he had discovered his attacker, and. and made a terrible mistake.
Well Sam had never really cared much for the stuck up elf, even though he shouldn't really go passing judgement on his betters like that, especially him being an elf and all. But then again his Gaffer always said "them's as think they're betterer than others, oftimes baint got nuthin' to be proud o' at all." Sam reckoned this was right enough, but all the same, he was thinking now how could it be that dear Icicle, who had saved Mr Frodo's life and cared for Mr Pippin when he was so badly off, how come she had to die just to give Mr Haldir his comeuppance, especially as how the elf thought he was doing the right thing - a sad business all round. It made no sense to Sam and Samwise Gamgee did not like things that made no sense.
He looked at his sickly Master and thought if he were awake he would no doubt be able to make sense of it all. Eventually, getting used to being on the bed then growing bolder and indeed sleepier, he snuggled down beside Frodo and closed his eyes, knowing that if Frodo wanted him he would be awake in a second.
-0****0-
Merry had finally coaxed Pippin back to the bed after they had kissed Icicle goodbye and covered her over again.
Pippin had cried long and hard, even though it did not seem possible that he had any more tears left in his little body. It frightened his older cousin that Pippin sobbed so much as it was physically exhausting him as well as draining him still further emotionally, but Merry had no real words of comfort, nothing could make this latest tragedy better or bring Umumum back to life, so he just rocked Pippin to and fro and cried with him.
Merry's tears were as heartfelt as Pippin's, he too had grown to love the warg. It was she that had nurtured and been the only solace for his precious Pip in his torment and agony. She had been there when Merry could not be. He had felt so guilty at that and felt a great debt to the gentle beast. Not only had she loved Pip and given him her warm body for comfort, she had kept him alive with her mother's milk and made him hang on until they found him. Pippin would most certainly not have survived without Umumum.
Probably Frodo too would now be dead and perhaps even the Ring gone with the creature Gollum! The enormity of the warg's deed began to strike Merry for the first time in its full implications. How could she be dead? How could she have met such an unjust end. Poor Haldir, he must be feeling totally devastated to have caused her destruction. It is a good thing that elves have long lives, Merry thought, he will need a long time to get over his terrible mistake.
-0****0-
Pippin clung tightly to Merry, his thoughts incoherent and muddled. He could not really grasp what had happened. One moment he had been happily playing with Frodo, past miseries beginning to fade, the pain in his little body diminishing, the fear in his heart gradually easing and the horror and guilt of what had happened, growing less with each tentative step he took and every kind word from his friends, every moment he spent with Merry, or just knowing Merry was nearby.
Then, like some hideous nightmare it had all fallen about his ears. Everything had come crashing down and now Frodo might die and precious Umumum was dead! And even Merry couldn't explain why! How could that be? If Merry couldn't understand it how could he, Pippin, begin to know why it had happened?
Poor Umumum, poor elf! He hadn't meant to kill her, that much Merry had told him. It was a terrible mistake. But it seemed too cruel. Too cruel for Umumum and for Haldir; even he had wept, Pippin saw that. He was so sad that he had killed her. Maybe it was something sent by the Valar to punish him, Pippin.
He had been right in the first place, he was a bad hobbit and did not deserve Umumum and so now she had to die, but it was so unfair, Umumum had done nothing wrong and Haldir had done nothing wrong. It must be him, Pippin that had done wrong and he didn't know how to make it better.
-0****0-
Frodo's mind swum round and round in a dark and dreadful pool. He was being drawn into the centre and then he realised it was a deadly whirlpool and he could not swim strongly enough to escape its pull. Soon he would be dragged down into the airless depths. At least he would no longer need to try and breathe under the mirky water for there would be no air to be had there.
With a sudden start as if he were falling, Frodo caught himself and his consciousness climbed painfully up from the water and he gasped a precious mouthful of air. His eyelids pulled apart and he saw poor, dear Sam hovering over him, fear and worry creasing his young features.
"Sam!" he mouthed, unable to make any actual noise. Frodo could hear various voices around him but none of them made any sense. He tried tiredly to remember why he felt so ill and why was it so hard to breathe? He vaguely remembered playing with Pippin and then something had happened, but he could not quite recall what it was.
He could see Merry, Sam was holding his hand - but what had happened to Pippin? Merry would know. Frodo attempted to speak again, but no sound emerged. All he could do was to mouth the name, "Pip?"
Merry obviously understood and when Frodo flickered his eyes open again, he could see his little cousin and knew that he was safe. Frodo relaxed and fell back into the pool once more. But it was still an unpleasant place. He concentrated on floating on the surface, trying not to drown in the swirling, forbidding depths. As his mind was spun round on the choppy waters he began to see flashes of what had happened.
Gollum was tearing at his throat! Frodo tried to lift his arms up to protect his vulnerable neck, to keep hold of The Ring! But then a whirl of white had blurred across his vision, growling and snarling at the assailant.
Frodo's dream faded from reality and he could not focus on the rest of the assault or what had happened, but then two apparently disconnected images floated across the pool and into his view. Icicle the white warg, Pippin's nestraden naneth, was running across a grassy plain, her ears alert and her fleecy tail streaming behind her. Frodo knew somehow this was no longer a memory, but somehow a vision, something that might be.
Then he saw the elf, Haldir kneeling with his head held in his hands, weeping bitterly as if all the woes of Middle Earth lay upon his shoulders. Frodo felt his hand try to reach out, to calm the distraught figure. But he could not reach him and when he opened his mouth to speak no words came. Frodo writhed in his sleep, making Sam lean over him anxiously. But his master did not wake this time.
The image of Haldir made no sense to Frodo, but it greatly distressed him. Then the two visions blended in the disturbing way that dreams will and he saw Haldir, still sobbing but now standing, the tears coursing wet tracks down his pale cheeks, an arrow nocked in his bow. Frodo's view followed the aim he took and his eyes shot after the speeding arrow as it plunged into the side of the running warg. Icicle screamed a death cry and fell to her side, a plume of red spurting from her white throat. Frodo's eyes fled back to Haldir and once more the elf was kneeling and weeping. The hobbit's heart went out to the elf, his sorrow was palpable and Frodo knew that he had committed a grave error for which he was now truly sorry.
-0****0-
In her mirror Galadriel had been watching the thoughts of the halflings and was gladdened that, not only had they not blamed Haldir, but one by one, in their own way they had forgiven the elf for what had happened. The Elven Queen looked up from the carved stone basin and smiled at Haldir. Although she did not speak, she moved to stand in front of the elf, waiting patiently to hear what she knew he would say.
"Milady, I come to seek a boon." He bowed his head as he spoke and touched his chest with his right hand. "I have been guilty of a terrible misjudgement and wish to make recompense."
"Explain what your misjudgement was." Galadriel's voice was even and unemotional. "And what recompense do you believe you can make, Haldir?"
"I have misjudged the little perian, most grievously." Haldir could not meet the Lady's gaze but kept his eyes firmly on the ground. "I tarnished him with the blame of what had happened to him, which could not have been his fault. I saw the taint of orc and did not consider why he was so used. I know now there was no fault in him. And I misjudged the nestraden naneth also for her species and origin, that she belonged to orcs."
"The nestraden naneth belonged to orcs?" Galadriel surprisingly interrupted, making Haldir meet her eyes for the first time.
"I beg your pardon, Milady." Haldir shook his head in bewilderment, "I do not understand."
"Why do you think I named her so?" Galadriel asked gently. "How many wargs have you encountered that have been given elven names?"
"I - I thought it was because of her - her care of." Haldir screwed his brow in confusion and fell silent.
"It is a rare thing to see one such as you, Haldir, confused and lost for words." The White Lady knew what was in his heart but he still did not understand completely. "The nestraden naneth, she did not happen by chance. Do you not see?"
"See what Milady?" Haldir was still confused, but Galadriel was not going to give him any further clues. He fell silent, thinking through what he had been told. "Then she was sent? By. by. The." Haldir fell silent again as the full realisation of exactly what he had destroyed started to sink in.
"There is much evil in this Age, Haldir," Galadriel saw that the elf now fully understood what had happened. "But you did not think that The Valar in Their wisdom would stand by and watch the precious perian suffer without any let? What they were able to do was little enough, but it served."
"And I killed her." Haldir sank to his knees before the Elven Queen. "Now I know, doubly so, that the boon I beg is right and just, Milady. I ask, in all penitence if you will intervene with The Ilúvatar on my behalf and offer my grace, that which gives me immortality, in exchange for the life of the nestraden naneth."
Galadriel stepped forward and laid her ivory hand upon the penitent elf's bowed head. "They know already of your desire, Haldir and they will grant it, but understand this. To give of your Grace will not only prevent you from departing over the sea but it will rob you of your life essence."
"Milady, I understand," Haldir looked up at Galadriel now, his eyes were filled with remorse, but not for himself, he truly regretted the death he had caused. "I know that it will dull the existence I have left and that I will only be able to dwell in the world of mortals, but if anything that I can offer will ease the pain of the innocent perian, then I gladly give it."
-0****0-
Aragorn and Boromir had waited until Merry and Pippin had finally fallen asleep before carrying the lifeless body of Icicle down to a sheltered spot in a leafy glade. There Gimli and Legolas had already dug a grave and as the two men approached, carrying the limp form wrapped in a white sheet, they stood reverently to either side.
Carefully, the two Gondorians lowered the warg to her final resting place, one snowy paw slipping out from the sheet as they laid her down in the grave.
Legolas had gathered flowers and he laid these beside the marker, which Gimli had carved from a white rock. The words on it read, "Icicle, nestraden naneth, kind mother, true friend and loyal defender."
Then, as the others bowed their heads, Legolas sang a sweet farewell, it was an adaptation of the lullaby he had sung to Pippin:-
A lasta quettanya (Hear my words)
nestraden naneth muin (dear healing mother)
losto nûr (sleep deep)
îdh tûr (you won rest)
losto hodo nuin. (sleep still under the stars)
As his voice, filled with sorrowful lament, carried through the still woodland, Galadriel and Haldir hurried towards the spot. As they entered the leafy glade, Gimli was about to tip the first spade full of the rich brown earth onto the lifeless body.
"Hold!" Haldir cried to the dwarf, "Stay your hand Master Gimli, please."
"What nonsense is this?" the dwarf harrumphed in indignation. "Why are you here? It is a little late for contrition."
"Peace, Gimli my friend." Legolas could see the concerned look on the Lady Galadriel's face and knew this was an important mission. "Let us hear Master Haldir."
"I beg pardon, Milady," Aragorn bowed to Galadriel, "Have we disturbed the wrong ground? Silael thought this would be a suitable place."
"No the place is fitting, Estel." Galadriel turned slightly to indicate the elf at her side, and spoke in a quiet tone. "Haldir wishes to offer a healing of his own."
"What healing is there to be offered that will help the warg?" Gimli growled at the elf.
"It would seem very little." Haldir agreed, "but I am truly sorry for what happened and I believe that my speed of hand was prompted by more than a wish to defend the Ringbearer and should have been tempered by more caution."
"Haldir, we do understand that," Aragorn spoke gently, he could see the true regret in the elf's face now, "it was an accident."
"But it should not have happened, and it was my blame and mine alone." Haldir knelt by Icicle's cold body. "Please Legolas, Master Gimli, help me to lift the nestraden naneth from her grave - it is too soon for her to sleep. All is not yet lost."
Legolas and Gimli exchanged mystified glances but nevertheless lifted Icicle from the depths of the cold earth and laid her on the warm grass. Galadriel came and knelt on the other side of the white body and laid her hands upon Icicle's white coat, the ivory fingers almost invisible against the pure fur. She looked at Haldir, her eyes boring into his and spoke into his mind.
'Haldir? Do you understand what it is that you are offering?'
'I understand Milady and I give freely of it without hope of redemption, without hope of reward.'
'Then so be it!'
The four fellowship members stood open-mouthed as the trees above them seemed to part and a great white light shone down upon Icicle's cold body. The glow was intense and engulfed Haldir and Galadriel in its brilliance. A voice, more sweet than the piping of nightingales, more entrancing than a silver waterfall spilling over shimmering stones, more lovely than a breeze on a summer's day trickled over their consciousnesses. Each of them heard the sound, although nothing filled the air but the blessed light.
'Haldir, you have offered the greatest gift an elf can give. You offer your life, your essence, your immortality in exchange for the continued existence of this simple warg.'
'I do.' Haldir's voice sounded in all their minds in response. Each of the fellowship gasped in amazement. Was this truly the voice of Elbereth? Also they wondered in amazement at the sacrifice the elf was making.
'Why have you chosen this course?'
'I was guilty of pride. I did not understand the purity of the tiny perian, nor the Valar's purpose in sending the nestraden naneth to succour him. It is solely my fault that she lies dead. I was wrong and wish to make recompense.'
'Haldir, it is a noble act that you offer. We would accept it, but you have omitted one thing. The periain did not blame you and have forgiven you. Do you realise how saddened they will be to have the nestraden naneth returned to them at the cost of your existence?'
'I would still wish it. Why would they prefer my continued life when the healing warg can be saved with what I offer? But I would not want to distress them further, may they not remain in ignorance of what I give?'
'We see their minds, they are pure and innocent, but they will know and your sacrifice will hurt them, especially the perian tithen muin - his pain has been too great already. Your willing offer is enough. It was given in grace and we accept the spirit of it but will not take the essence of you, Haldir. Go in peace until we meet on the undying shores.'
Haldir gave a small quiver and his hands fell forward to rest against Galadriel's fingers still lying on Icicle's white coat. The light grew in brilliance and the elf caught his breath as he felt a slight quickening beneath his hands. He was filled with wonder that he had been spoken to by one of the Valar, indeed he was sure it was Elbereth herself and that his boon would be granted and because of the periain's purity and goodness They had given back his Grace and essence. Truly he had misjudged the halflings, if the Valar gave them so much esteem and care, who was he to have criticized them?
The quickening grew as the white glow intensified still further, until the whole glade was bathed in its wonder. Legolas fell to his knees, Aragorn placed his right hand upon his breast and Gimli crossed his hands over his heart, while Boromir gazed in amazement and awe upon the scene. They all knew they were about to witness a miracle.
Suddenly there was a low whine and Icicle raised her head.
0-****-0
TBC
Review notes:
shirebound: Thankyou, thankyou THANKYOU for staying on, oh, and congradualte Llinos on those lines- they're hers! ;-)
Coriandra: Ohhh...Pip is *far* from healed...*cackles*heeheehee...
Pipster: I think this chapter answered your question- and I am a Miss. :-)
august wynd: we can't find it because people are stupid. That's pretty much the reason for everything that's wrong on earth.
ChiChambo: Using the chamber pot means that his kidneys are untying and he is recovering from dehydration.
Hel: Such a long review! I love it! and what is your native language?
-Congradulate Llinos on the lullabies. She is something, no?
-Gollum got away from Legolas' people in Mirkwood and they were guarding him. The elves in Lorien did not even know he was nearby.
-Pippin is still rather confused, I think. And...all I can say is read and see!
-YAY! Another dwarf fancier. I am something of a closet one, but Gimli is pretty cool! If you like dwarves, I am actually thinking about writing a dwarf fic. In the verrry far off future!
-thank you for correcting me on my timeline, I am far from perfect, and, admittedly, when I first read FotR, Lorien was where I got lost.
Blue Jedi Hobbit: "Hi, My name is Kookaburra"
Crowd: "Hi, Kookaburra! Welcome!"
"I- I have a problem with reviews. I will do anything for them. It was little things at first, it just started with one chapter of another author's story! But then it-it grew! Before I knew it, I was making outlines and uploading a chapter- more reviews came, and I COULDN'T STOP! I NEED A FIX! NOOOOWWWWW!!!! *is hauled off struggling and cursing by nice people in white coats*