Warnings - AU and Slash
A/N So there is no misunderstanding, this story is about Glorfindel (the elf) and The Man, Haldir of Brethil, Not the elf, Haldir of Lorien, or is it?
A/N You might notice that I have changed the timing of Haldir's death, I do know he died before the elves from Gondolin arrived, call it poetic license, I do think he had reason to be there at the end.
The slim figure seated in a regal manner on a raised dais sighed dramatically. He was tall and slender and clothed in dark blue velvet robes with a gold trim, simple yet elegant the man thought. His dark hair was tied back to reveal elegant elven ears and his fine face was flushed in anger.
'This behaviour is not acceptable' The elf was saying, The man attempted a look of remorse, though this was not an expression that a warrior and leader of men was used to wearing and may have come out more like a look of defiance if the Elf Lord's reaction was anything to go by.
'That you would have your men fashion weapons of war in my halls is more than I can accept, I am not entirely pleased with these new tapestries either' The elf motioned towards a particularly gaudy tapestry depicting The Nirnaeth in the Wars of Beleriand.
'The men and woman are bored, My Lord, they find what labour as they are suited to' the man replied in an even tone, not wanting to anger the Elf Lord further.
'BORED?!' The elf sighed and rose from his seat 'Haldir of Brethil, you are dead! As are the men and woman of whom you speak. The Elves call these halls, The Halls of Waiting, your time here should be spent in quiet reflection, not in the fashioning of weapons that could cause a second death!'
'And for what do we wait? Lord' Haldir replied petulantly, quiet reflection didn't sound very productive to him!
'You wait for your souls to be reborn into the world'
'I do not see that a little needlepoint and woodcraft is a barrier to quiet reflection, My Lord, Indeed, it has been said that monotonous tasks can be seen to aid the thought process'
The elf shook his head and sighed, 'It seems, Haldir of Brethil that you remain unrepentant and give me no choice but to separate you from the men you would lead, certainly though displeased as I am, your leadership skills are to be commended, that you were able to bring these disparate men to a common cause'
The man smiled until the meaning in the elf's words had sunk in, 'but My Lord, surely you would not separate me from my wife, my son, my grandson?' No, This couldn't be happening!
'As I have already stated, you have left me no choice, you may go now' and with his dismissing words and a wave of his hand the elf turned away
'My Lord, please...' he pleaded, though by the time the third word had passed his lips the man noted that he was no longer in the audience hall. Haldir felt a wave of pain, of sorrow pass through him as he looked about his new surroundings. The hall where he found himself was darker than the main hall, where he had been with his family and friends, there was no sound of idle chatter, no children running about, this hall was empty, well almost empty, he noted, as leant against one of the pillars that ran down the length of the hall was a lone figure.
Haldir took a few steps towards the solitary figure. It was an elf and he would guess a warrior by his build, tall, lean as all elves are but well toned, a swordsman? Perhaps they would have something in common.
Haldir greeted the elf in the language used by the elves of Gondolin, Turgon of Gondolin had prior to the Battle of Unnumbered Tears had an advisor in his father's court who had befriended him and taught him much of the ways of Gondolin, including the language spoken there.
The elf raised an eyebrow at him, grunted in a very unbecoming way and moved out of the man's sight the other side of the pillar.
Mandos stood with his eyes fixed upon the pool that allowed him to see what was occurring in the rooms of his realm. He watched an elf and a man sit in uncomfortable silence. The man fidgeted restlessly, and the elf seemed to stare into the middle distance, unmoving and unmoved by the presence of company.
The Elf Lord felt familiar arms come about his waist and glanced up at the beautiful she-elf that had appeared at his side.
'You worry about him still, husband?' she asked softly also gazing at the pool.
'That I do, for though I granted him solitude for reflection, upon his own request, his heart does not heal' Mandos replied, threading his fingers through his wife's and answering the reassuring squeeze that she gave him.
'You think he will open up to this man, husband?' Vairë said 'perhaps an elf of similar stature would be the wiser choice for company'
Mandos smiled, not certain his wife would understand his reasoning 'I have chosen this company for him with good reason, the man is pure of heart, though he has seen the dangers and the wars of darkness, he has the spirit of an elf' he let a small smile grace his lips and continued 'the man will get a reaction, he has a gift, an ability to unite and I hope he will use this gift to heal our brave Captain of Gondolin.
Vairë reached out with a single thread, such as she used to weave the fabric of all the stories of time and touched the heart of the elf and then the heart of the man.
'You have chosen well, my husband, for they are bound in time, a time that is yet to pass' she paused, 'Manwë should be consulted husband lest our actions cause further heartbreak'
'You offer sage advice, my wife, though I have already consulted Manwë on this matter, the man will be well rewarded if he is able to heal this elven heart'