Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR, or any of its characters. Haldir: Sam? Of all the characters in the books, why did you pick Sam? Me: Why? What's wrong with Sam? Haldir: Well, for one thing, he's short. Sam: I prefer "vertically challenged." And you're a fine one to talk, Haldir...you died in the movie! I really am not excited about going on a quest with a corpse. Haldir: I am not dead! I did not die in the books, and they're what counts! Sam: Sure...sure...whatever you say, Wormfood. Haldir: Midget! Sam: Cadaver! Haldir: Runt! Me: Enough! You two sound like kindergartners! Boy, I sure can pick 'em, can't I?
Chapter 5Two More For the Road
Haldir and Sam set out from Rivendell before the sun had barely peeked up from the horizon. Haldir still carried the whatzit securely tied to his traveling belt. He also carried his quiver full of arrows, a throwing knife, and his bow.
Sam, however, had planned for every conceivable emergency - having learned his lesson well and hard on the last Fellowship Quest he had been on - and was weighted down by so many bags, boxes, and bundles that he could barely be seen underneath it all.
Needless to say, the weight of all the supplies he had insisted on taking was weighing him down, and he remained huffing and puffing some fifty paces behind Haldir - much to the Elf's annoyance.
"Gamgee! I told you not to take so much with you! We could not possibly eat all the food you brought even if we were to stay on this quest for a century! We only needed enough to make it to Rohan!" Haldir called back to Sam for the thirtieth time that morning.
"Mister Haldir...haven't I told you at least a gajillion times about my having to give Frodo the last piece of lembas in Mordor and staring starvation in the face?"
"Yes, it was a gajillion times...I counted. And if you tell me that story one more time, I am going to stuff lembas down your throat until you explode!"
"Elves!" Sam muttered under his breath. "They think know it all! He'll be singing a different tune when we're stranded in some Eru-forsaken place with no chance of escaping, and I still have enough food to keep us alive! And will I share it with him? Of course I will. And will I get any thanks? Of course I won't. And will he be the big hero in the end? Of course he will. And will I get to sail to Aman? Of course I won't...freaking Elves."
"Did you say something back there, Sam?" called Haldir, now sixty or more paces ahead.
"No, Mister Haldir...nothing at all," Sam called, sticking his tongue out at Haldir's back.
Because of Sam, it took longer than Haldir expected to cross over the Misty Mountains and descend into the valley that bordered the Mirkwood Forest. He planned on turning south, and passing through Fangorn Forest, past Isengard into Rohan. He decided that they should make camp in the valley, and continue on to Fangorn in the morning.
As they walked along a small river, looking for a promising campsite, Haldir noticed smoke rising from within a small thicket of trees.
"Sam..." He whispered, ever the March Warden and mindful of danger, "quiet now...make no sound. I will scout ahead to see if the smoke rises from the camp of friend or foe." Haldir stealthily moved into the copse, making nary a sound.
He tried peering through the trees to see if he could spot the campers, when a tiny sound caused him to draw and notch his bow at lightning speed. Spinning around, he found himself gazing at the business end of an arrow.
"Haldir?"
"Legolas?"
Haldir lowered his bow, a half smile on his face. "What are you doing here?"
"I was going to ask you the same question! Gimli and I were going to take a trip to see Galadrial - you know how he feels about her! It was getting late so we stopped for the night. What brings you here? Is all well in Lorien?"
"The Dwarf is here? I have Sam the Hobbit with me...we'll come to your camp and talk," Haldir said, clapping Legolas on the shoulder.
A short while later, Sam was cooking sausage over the small campfire, much to Gimli's delight, while Haldir filled Legolas in on his adventures thus far with the whatzit.
"The Great Ring Ceeunsae...it sounds like a most excellent adventure, Haldir!" Legolas exclaimed after Haldir had let him hear the whatzit speak. "You have my bow."
"I greatly appreciate your offer to join with me, Legolas...I was hoping to have another Elf alo..."
"No, Haldir. You misunderstand," Legolas interrupted. "You literally have my bow. This one is yours," he explained, holding out Haldir's bow.
Haldir sheepishly exchanged bows with Legolas.
'But," Legolas whispered, unwilling to let Gimli overhear, "I really don't want to go to Lorien and watch the Dwarf make a fool of himself again. You'd think it would finally sink into that thick head of his that Galadrial is married..."
"Then you will join our Fellowship?" Haldir asked, smiling.
"Aye...providing we can get Gimli to agree," Legolas replied.
"Leave it to me," Haldir said, rubbing his hands together. There was little else he enjoyed more than pulling the wool over the Dwarf's eyes.
Haldir and Legolas joined Sam and Gimli around the campfire. Waiting until the sausage was done, and Sam and Gimli were munching out happily, Haldir said to Legolas, "So, GALADRIAL asked me to engage in this QUEST, which, as I explained before, is of the UTMOST IMPORTANCE, and will surely make WHOEVER joins its purpose a HERO in HER EYES."
Gimli's ears had perked up at the sound of Galadrial's name.
"Galadrial? Quest? Hero? What manner of quest be it that the Lady needs done?" He asked Haldir, leaning forward anxiously.
"I am to bear the Great Ring Ceeunsae across Arda until I find the ONE who can translate the message from animal tongue."
"I shall join yer quest, Laddie! Fer certain, I shall see its purpose served, and that of the Lady!" Gimli shouted, jumping to his feet and lifting his axe.
Haldir turned toward Legolas, rolling his eyes, and asked, "What of you, Legolas? Will you join us?"
"I don't know, Haldir...I was supposed to go to Lorien with Gimli...this may mean quite a postponement of our plans..."
"BAH! This quest is important to the Lady Galadrial...we go!" Gimli said decisively, leaving no room for argument from Legolas.
"Good! Galadrial predicted that I would be joined by three companions! We are the Fellowship of the Ceeunsae Ring. We leave for Fangorn in the morning!" Haldir exclaimed. He turned to Legolas and whispered, "told you I'd take care of it!"
Dousing the campfire, the four New Walkers rolled themselves in their blankets and bedded down for the night.
