One of a Kind with No Kind
"Haldir, I am not what I would appear to be. Long ago, my mother blessed me with a
most beautiful name. Not this modified Rohiric name of Fayne, but a much more
beautiful one. She named me Inwe." Haldir immediately recognized the name as the
elvish word for fairy. He took this to mean that the girl's mother had some knowledge of
the language. "What does your elvish name have to do with any of this?" Haldir asked
rather annoyed. Fayne smiled and said, "I figured an elf of your rank would understand
by now. I was left with these people here in Rohan as a small child. Mother tried her
hardest to keep me but the both of us were considered outcasts. I mean, what self-
respecting elf would go off to be with a filthy human? My mother was in love with a
human man and therefore outcast among her fellow elves. She could not keep me so she
left me here. I was too young to understand why I had to stay with these people but she
told me she would return. She never came back, so I have grown up with these people
here in Rohan and I call them my family and this my home. I was taught to use a sword
and how to properly defend myself. Up until now I had never even seen another elf."
Haldir looked at her in shock. Now that he thought about it, she had all the beauty of an
elf yet many foolish qualities of a typical human girl. "If you will excuse me, I must be
going. I am needed back in Lothlorien. Lady Galadriel needs me." As Haldir turned to
leave, Fayne grasped his arm.
"Haldir wait. Let me return with you. I have long waited to see my people. Perhaps you
could teach me more elven ways."
As if under some spell, Haldir leaned forward as he brushed a stray strand of hair from
her face. Their lips touched for but a moment but to him, it felt like an eternity. Pulling
away he said, "My lady, I really must be going," and walked away into the crowd of
people and out of Helm's Deep.