THE HALADIN
by Archaic Scribe
Chapter II
FRIEND OR FOE
The rhythmic sound of hooves walking upon the firm dirt path nearly lulled Haldad into a well-earned slumber as he began to sway slightly sideways on the back of his horse when twilight began that day. With a quick shake of his head he straightened his back and surveyed the encompassing trees carefully, even though the twittering song of nearby birds continued to float to his ears upon a soft, comforting breeze.
Haldad smiled and indulged his memory of romantic interludes stolen in a woodland much like this in the days of his youth, when there was naught to bother with except for the heady lust and passions of flesh. Even as time progressed and their kin began to follow different practices, the people who were the ancient tribe of Haldad created ceremonies of reverence to the god and goddess of fertility to bless the earth upon which their survival depended. It was only when Haldad grew older, did he fully understand such tribute to higher powers.
Many of their kin departed, becoming more conservative and indulging less pleasurable practices than their own. Though different, they remained kin and that meant that in times of crisis, the differences would fade into a petty irritation in comparison against a common enemy, who was even now, bearing down on them with great speed.
The wind grew stronger as Haldad ran his hand tenderly down his horse's neck, stroking her with a loving palm before his fingers entwined themselves in her mane. He urged her forward as he applied the pressure of his legs to her belly, bringing them swiftly along the trail. In this old ritual between man and beast, Haldad moved his upper body forward to match his mare as he wrapped his arms closely around her long neck and simultaneously gave her a small kick on either side of her stomach.
His eyes began to water as the wind forced itself against him and they raced through the dense forest gathered at either side of the trail, dodging branches that stretched themselves into the pathway.
A rough and weary looking Haldad emerged with a mighty burst from the shadow of the forest into the quiet calm energy emitted from the meadow. He sighed with relief and then grabbed his flask of water, rewarding a parched and dry mouth with what seemed the elixir of life and gave a shrill whistle, waiting for a response as he mentally inhaled the serene feeling of the early evening.
After a few moments, two whistles answered his call and he proceeded across the open clearing, which shown lengthy dark shadows from surrounding trees set against a pale moon, lighting the way to the encampment of his kin. It was not long after Haldad arrived and made his request known before messengers were sent to rally the rest of the clans who would stand with them to fight the Orcs.
Meanwhile, the twins rode hard and fast, sending the same greeting and receiving the same permission to enter the grounds of the camp they were about to penetrate through a tangle of twisted limbs. Amongst these limbs, was a tangled nest of bracken set around the perimeter to protect a sizable number of people who were also their kin.
While Haldad received the welcome befitting one of his longevity and rank, the twins were received with much less warmth and respect, lending a new level of meaning to cordial acts between guest and host.
After a long and rigorous journey made in silence, the twins dismounted their horses and were lead into the Household of Tunni. Tunni was the chieftain of the clan who dwelled in the deeps of the forest and whom they needed to win the support of for this cause for defense in union against a common enemy.
Haldar grimaced as he turned from Tunni and looked at Haleth, whose sharp gaze could have frozen water at the height of summer's heat. There stiff welcome was enough to contend with, Haldar reckoned, as he willed his twin to meet his gaze.
With Haleth returning Tunni's open regard of hostility, things would not go any the easier when it came time for them to plead their case of unity against the bloodthirsty Orcs that marched speedily upon their lands.
Haldar could wait no longer as he made an unhesitant attempt to gain attention and work the focus away from the tense, unsettling feeling radiating through the air.
"We bring grevious news, my lord, Tunni," Haldar said with a firm, clear voice that showed little hint of the acute pain and the piercing sadness he felt in his heart, as he stepped forward obstructing Tunni from Haleth's unwavering and penetrating stare. "A band of orcs has killed all those who dwell in Bryeth and march west along the Dwarf-road."
At the mention of Bryeth, Haleth felt herself flinch as she broke eye contact with Tunni and closed her eyes for a quick moment against the reality of the statement. As she fought back the fresh surge of pain that had begun to make a deep void in her being, she thought of Bryeth, considered young by some of the people to be the head of his clan, forever lost in bodily form. In an instant faster than the flash of lightening against a black sky, the concept passed and was replaced by something empty, numb and foreign.
Tunni nodded solemnly as an unnoticeable twinkle of savage mirth began lighting his eyes.
"That is grevious indeed," he said with a deep, rich voice that was meant to caress the listeners senses, and make the pit of their stomach restless and their skin savor the touch of smooth, cool silk.
Haleth felt herself smirk at Tunni's forced attempt at heartfelt sympathy as her brother continued his dialogue with the lord of the lands they entered.
"Come, now, my dear cousin. You are weary from travel and my home is open to you," he spoke smoothly with false hospitality as he stood straighter, pulling himself to his full, towering height as he addressed Haldar with an ugly grin, "Unless you would rather stay in the stables with the wild things," he added, moving his head to peer directly at Haleth.
Haldar let loose an uncomfortable, strained laugh as Tunni's great, outstretched arm motioned him forward behind a disgruntled guard who lead them with long strides towards his chambers.
"You would bewitch those who know you less, Tunni," Haleth murmured distinctly, the tone of her voice taking on a sharp edge as she listened to the footsteps of her brother fade into silence down a long hallway.
"And I feared you would never bestow any such as even one compliment upon me for the rest of my time on Middle-earth," Tunni replied quickly as he turned and fixed her with a severe, leering stare.
"Have you no respect for a daughter of Haldad!" Haleth whispered vehemently as her pale eyes narrowed and then darted around the vast, open expanse of room, assessing the exact position of Tunni's wardens who stood nearby, lending a menacing presence to their lord's undertone of intimidating words.
"You have naught to fear while your brother resides in my keep, my dear lady Haleth," he sneered. "I know well his strength and ability in battle, when we have the honor of participating in such, but you have not his abilities, do you? Being women, you must practice the rites that are supposed and expected of you, do not not?'" he stated as all shroud of manners withdrew from his mask of being a courtly host. "Let this be blazed permanent upon your idle thought, my darling cousin, if left alone with you for much longer," he replied harshly, letting the threat ominously trail off, leaving Haleth's imagination to suffer free reign in thought.
"Do you forget what happened the last time we were together before the untimely interruption from that simpleton of a man from Bryeth," Tunni said with a broad smile.
"We can most assuredly speak more of this when we sup later, if you wish," he added as Haleth stood, fuming under her skin in anger and fear, making futile attempts to calm.
"You dare!" Haleth finally spat in anger as her body began to shake and her mind swirled in a red cloud of restrained tumult.
After a lengthy time, her temper sizzled, near exploding, as her voice became deadly calm. "Do you not recall, then, Lord Tunni, that the women of my tribe have the capability to curse you, and that manhood you find so utterly important, when attempting to conquer those unwilling to submit to your foolish whim."
"Whim?" Tunni replied, suddenly exploding with near unbridled rage, as he raised his large hand to clutch her arm before he hesitated a mere inch above her elbow. "You were never merely a whim, Haleth."
Haleth gasped quietly and looked down at his trembling fist, knowing that he could break any bone in her body in an instant, if he wished. Even with such a confession, she sensed a foreboding danger as the hairs on her body stood at attention and a feeling of uneasiness took root in her mind.
Knowing the powerful threat he presented to her and the uncomfortable feeling and inward anger he now felt for confessing a thought so intimate, Tunni ended the conversation and beckoned his guard.
"Show the Lady Haleth to her bedchamber," Tunni ordered roughly.
Haleth took a few resounding steps away from him as she followed the guard before turning to glare into Tunni's eyes. Then, retracing her steps so that she could lean forward, she brushed her lips against his ear, disregarding the clear picture of the dangerous game she was about to begin, "You know nothing of my wrath."
Tunni shivered where he stood, following her with menacing dark blue eyes, as he fruitlessly cursed Haleth under his breath, listening to the sounds of her traveling cloak swish against the stone floor. Soon, her footsteps faded as she continued along into the dim corridor where torchlight cast errie shadows on the walls leading away from his Great Hall.
After Haleth reached the room she resolutely slammed the heavy doors to the best of her ability and looked for a way to bolt it, but there was no rod to be found. She cringed at the unfathomable prospect of an unbarred door in this home and stood leaning against the worn wood, her palm against the splinters that jutted out from it's faded grooves.
She felt naked, vulnerable, and was loosing control of her better judgement in the wake of news that destroyed her whole life and she had just started a lethal game with a deadly foe. But was that any reason to make the task of convincing their most fickle ally to join their ranks and fight the Orcs more challenging than it already was, given their history? Haleth realized she was being selfish in her vendetta against Tunni and regretted their power play moments ago, but there was little hope for what she had just done when nettling him into a volatile confrontation.
If she allowed her emotion to rule her, there would be little hope of attaining the goal of the mission they intended to successfully complete, she thought, as she made her way over to the wash basin on a nearby table.
About an hour later after Haldar and Haleth had refreshed themselves, they were received in Tunni's Great Hall were flames leapt high from a roaring fire nestled in a stone hearth. The warm, welcoming feel of the fire was ironic compared to the aloof sentiment that emitted from Tunni himself when his guests of honor were seated by his side as a small feast was served on grimy plates.
Tunni tore into his meat with savage pleasure, juices flowing and dribbling onto his fine garments, but he paid it no heed and spared no one a glance as he continued to eat, the master of his own hall.
Haleth hid her disapproving look of disgust at his gorging and shot a smoldering look of disdain at her brother, Haldar, who sat and ignored it all together.
"Keep your tongue, my sister," Haldar warned under his breath as he looked at her pleadingly, "We desperately need his arms, and quickly, for the times ahead."
Haleth pursed her lips firmly together, primly folded her hands before her, and laid them to rest upon the long oak table and said, "I deserved that. Let it be as you wish."
In all truth she was thankful for the reminder because it reinforced the harsh lecture she had given to herself on the way to the feast hall.
Haldar sat feigning complacency as he caught the look of reprove his sister attempted to hide beneath lowered eyelashes and began to dig into his food with gusto. He knew well, there was no love lost between his sister and Tunni, but by the gods, she must hold her temper in check or they would stand no chance. They had but few warriors amongst their ranks and it was a widely known fact that Tunni's men, though vicious and crude like their master, were breed specifically for battle.
What would their ancient practices of veneration in honor to Freya mean if there were no crops left to plant and harvest because they had all needlessly perished? No, Haldar thought, he knew Haleth as he knew himself through the bond of a twin. She would loathe to let a personal matter be the downfall of the greater good of all their people, whether her feelings of vengeance were just or not and she would put it aside, as he would, in order to bring the clans together.
Haldar watched with pale grey eyes as Haleth finished the food on her plate, pushed it away from her on the table, and then raised her tankard of mead. Haldar grinned to himself, knowing well that she would rather be damned to life with giants then let a good decanter of drink go to waste, especially after such a rough journey and chilly reception.
Haldar raised his glass low and nodded to his sister as brown hair fell back, leaving his pale face exposed. After he finished his meal, he looked towards Tunni, who was beckoning the serving maids for more food.
Haldar reluctantly turned from him, and though anxious to get the night's discussion over, he gazed longingly into the fire set near them, letting his thoughts drift to the sincere warmth that would surely be filling the room of his own home.
Haldar pictured his petite wife, a broad smile upon her face and a seductive twinkle in her eyes alluding to a promise to be fulfilled in the ardent hours of night as she glanced up to wink at him. He could see her as she bustled around their kitchen, serving a meal of whatever the crops had provided that season and whatever meat could be attained to their adolescent son, who was growing fast. Soon, young Haldan would be nearing an age where Haldar could begin taking him on errands such as this.
With a regretful groan, inaudible to anyone but himself, Haldar pulled his thoughts away from his own pleasant memories and turned back to see if Tunni was done eating yet.
Tunni had just turned to address Haldar with his piercing, dark cobalt eyes, throwing a linen cloth down which he had just used to wipe the remaining mess from his face.
When clean, Lord Tunni presented a classic picture of refined features with the exception of a scar that ran from the side of his forehead to his chin. This white, curved line was the result of a wound given to him when he had been caught unawares, for the first and last time, during an especially heated clash with the Dark Lord's forces. Tall and broad, Tunni looked down his nose at most of those surrounding him and used his lofty height to his full advantage whenever the opportunity presented itself.
He was a representation of handsome manliness, with power and vigor that seemed to flow from his very pores by some invisible and bewitching spell. Lord Tunni was desirable to many an inexperienced maiden, but when they grew too close, it was too late for his outward beauty was completely different from the blackness of his mismatched soul.
"What have you to trade for my aid?" Tunni said, raising his voice for Haleth to hear.
"Trade?" Haldar said with astonishment, reminding himself to keep his own composure, as he looked incredulously from Haleth back to Tunni with an explosive bark. "We are kin, Lord Tunni, and standing together against the enemy who would ruin the lot of us should be enough."
"Should it?" Tunni replied, calculating his next words and looking directly into Haldar's eyes. "You certainly must agree, we are long estranged, your kin and mine," Tunni added thoughtfully.
"What say you if I proposed a union to join our two houses and repair the sundering of our families?" Tunni said with a smile, as one eyebrow arched upward in question.
Haldar sensed Haleth moving uncomfortably on his other side, but was stunned to silence and let a few prolonged moments lapse before responding.
"My sister is not for trade and even if she was, dear cousin, it is not for me to say," Haldar declared, sarcasm entering uninvited into his tone.
"Well then, it seems we have," Tunni paused dramatically and smiled from ear to ear, "No agreement," he finished as he motioned for the table to be cleared before them.
Author's Note:
I should add, when referencing the ages of the characters of Haldad, Haldar, Haleth and Haldan, that I am simply guessing since I have not come across any clear facts to reference regarding this information in The Silmarillion. If it is in there, I have not read between the lines enough to unravel the mystery, perhaps. As it goes, I am staying with this slight alteration, even if it does, by chance, deviate from canon.
Disclaimer:
Characters and situations of The Silmarillion (Second Edition) by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien are the property of The J.R.R. Tolkien Copyright Trust and Christopher Reuel Tolkien.
Produced solely for the enjoyment of other fans and not for any monetary profit. Please do not sue me, as I have little money.
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