THE HALADIN
by Archaic Scribe
Chapter III
TRAINING GROUND OF THE PREISTESS
"It is not my permission you must gain, Lord Tunni," Haldar said more calmly, regaining his negotiation skills.
"We ride early on the marrow for Mulco, where Haldad gathers allies," Haleth added in a clear, strong voice brimming with surpressed anger.
Tunni turned to Haleth, looking past Haldar, an unwavering fire ignited and blasted from the blue-hot color of his eyes, which seemed to make a scorching line directly to her through the still air. He mistakenly gave her his attention and then thoroughly berated himself because he had not intended to acknowledge her directly in any manner.
Lord Tunni meant to break her of the very thing that attracted him most to her and it was her concept of her own self-importance and her willful nature that must cease to exist. It was his own opinion, that no matter what women were allowed to speak or do in other clans, they were not designed to speak without restraint in the presence of noblemen.
A man of vast physical magnitude and trivial heart, he was certainly not one given to the temptations of tender reflection of any kind, and so Tunni determined not to press his petition.
As servants finished clearing the littered table, Tunni turned back to Haldar, with a mended gaze that did not match his next words.
"We will prepare to ride with you, then," he growled as he called for more wine.
Haldar nodded reluctantly to Lord Tunni, fearing such close proximity on the road tomorrow with their new traveling companions, as Haleth continued to seethe nearby on his other side.
Soon, the pipes were taken up by a court musician and a spirited tune vibrated throughout the hall. In spite of the situation, the ancient music entertained the Lord's guests and created a mood of genuine enjoyment as the important talks ended and gave way to those of a less substantial nature.
Haleth leaned forward with a fluid and slight movement towards Haldar and whispered above a song that had turned to a slow, haunting melody, "I will ride with you, and this hoodlum party, until the highway to Canute's Homestead and send messengers to the outlying lands. I trust not any message that should be sent from this folk."
Haldar considered, and then nodded his ascent because in theory, it should be heeded in the foremost interest for Haleth not to be too near to Lord Tunni at this time. Neither twin had any interest in such a personal agenda as that which was to defend their lands against the invading Orcs.
It is fortunate, Haldar thought with renewed calmness as a grin crossed his face, that Lord Tunni's desire for combat should make him so narrowly predictable.
The fire began to wane as the once red embers were just beginning to turn to gray when Haldar made their bids of a good night to the inhospitable lord of the household.
A bright, cool morning dawned upon a faded horizon as the sun rose with a mystical glow over the distant Ered Luin and the party mounted their horses after breaking their fast, only moments ago. Dew began to drip slowly from the tips of leaves and sparkled in the pastures as they rode at a fast, continuous pace on the road to Mulco.
After an exhausting day's journey with little reprieve, they finally reached the Canute Highway near nightfall, where they set up a temporary camp.
Haleth had been deliberately tactful in avoiding Tunni, who had set a permanent scowl upon his flawed appearance. At every infrequent opportunity, he took advantage of glowering at Haleth to show her his displeasure and the hint of malice beneath the surface of forced diplomacy.
Resolving to ignore his bait, Haleth continued to avoid his gaze and any proximity near him, as an uncomfortable fear began to creep into her forethought.
Without the need to prepare any extravagant meals, the party devoured the bread, cheese and smoked jerky they had brought and wet their palates with a common wine made in the lands of Tunni.
A treat of imported wine from their homeland of Haldad was sorely longed for by the twins, who were accustomed to such a sacred offering on a daily basis. The renowned wine from the Land of Haldad was special to any other than those who dwelled there, where partaking in the revered beverage was customary.
The malt beverage of Tunni was as longed for by the twins, who secretly wished that their host had chosen that beverage, as it was uncustomary for them to drink much of it in their own land.
Haleth's plan was to retire for sleep and rise early, bidding farewell to her brother, and continuing on alone to Canute. A grand scheme, to be sure, which was almost completed flawlessly to her satisfaction until Tunni's guard had alerted him to her departure early the following morning.
Just as Haleth began to walk towards Haldar with the intention of bidding him a warm farewell, Tunni strode towards her and catching her eye, she froze where she stood so as not to look as if she feared an altercation with him.
"Your mount is saddled and you prepare to leave so early," Tunni drawled casually, moving his eyes towards her horse. "You do not plan to continue with our party to Mulco."
"You miss little," she replied with sarcastic irritation, making a powerful mental effort to prevent her rising anger.
"You go without an escort, my lady?" Lord Tunni questioned with skillful finesse as his eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.
Haleth's gray eyes seemed to light up and she could do little to halt the sneer that spread across her face as she let a guttural laugh, sadistically amused at his effort to remain polite, however superficial it remainedÂ.
"My ways are not your ways," she said giving him a contemptuous and exaggerated bow as she made to step around him.
Before she could place the next foot on the ground, he firmly grabbed her by the arm, with deftness only years of training could provide for anticipating an opponent's forthcoming movement.
"You may be priestess-born and a daughter of Godi Haldad, but you are no warrior worth contention in my sight, fair lady." Lord Tunni hissed through clenched teeth.
"You will unhand me," Haleth said, controlling the sudden spasm of fear that coiled in her belly. "Now," she said vehemently.
"Do not presume that you may trifle with me, my lady, Haleth," Tunni warned, leering at her as he dramatically let loose her arm and walked away.
Haleth continued onward, resisting an urge to taunt him that she was, indeed, not his lady in any way. Instead, she focused all her hope into presenting an erect back and purposeful stride to give the appearance of calm, as she raised her chin and deeply inhaled a desperate breath of fresh pine-scented air.
It had been relatively easy to embrace the anger that had imitated from the memories that originated from the past when she first saw Tunni again, but with his touch brought a painful remembrance that could not so quickly be dismissed by her conscience thought.
Haleth stood over the body of her brother and gave his ribs a soft kick, which she immediately regretted as his arm instantly flew up, sword in hand by a quick movement her eyes barely had time to register.
Haldar smiled at his sister with relief, but his smile quickly faded to a look of anxiety when he stood and faced her as their two lean figures stood nose-to-nose. Spoken words proved needless between the twins as Haleth responded with a shrug of her shoulders to his silent query indicated by raised eyebrows.
"I bid you farewell, my brother," Haleth said, attempting a smile, which turned out to have the appearance of melancholy.
"I can ride with you, if you wish," Haldar said with concern.
"No. I would not have you waste one moment of time on my account. Go, please, with my blessing," she said as she raised her hands as their father, Haldad, had done when they departed before his race to catch-up with Haleth after the news of the Orc-raid first came to them at their homestead.
Haldar bowed his head, accepted her blessing, and held both of her upperarms and they leaned their foreheads against each other in a farewell salute, which was customary in their family.
"You know well how many left Tunni's stronghold, Haldar. Be sure there is the same number who continue onward, for there is one among them that knows the hidden ways," she whispered softly, for his ears alone.
Haldar gave her a quizzical look, brown eyebrows meeting in the center of his forehead and surveyed the area as she moved quickly to get up on her horse and leave.
The road to Canute was established and swift, if one knew the way, as Haleth did due to many previous years of travel to the groves of the novice priestesses. The hidden ways to those unknowing souls who sought it would always be in vain because of the veiled and age-old teachings passed down orally, from the royal line of seers and prophets.
The azure color of the Ered Luin mountain range grew closer as it cast a dynamic shadow on the fertile and lush green land that ebbed contently below it. Haleth drove her mare at breakneck speed, anxiously closing the distance in half a day's travel in a tangle of windswept hair and dry eyes which thirsted for moisture.
She brought her horse to a trot upon entering the village, seeing the familiar group of thatched roofs atop stone huts where the People of Canute dwelled. Haleth smiled affably, clearing all thought of apprehension and evil from reason as her spirit rejoiced in the confines of her physical being. Even in the face of such happiness, the message of her mission impressed upon her the importance of business and she did not allow her soul to soar freely into the safe spaces of the familiar air of her training grounds.
It was with a mixture of regret and exhilaration that she greeted Canute, whom she had so often honored in long ago days of veneration and esteem. Canute's familiar, aged hands were held out to her in blessing as she bowed her head, his mere presence giving her the feel of being truly refreshed. This place, under the protection of Canute and the ancient rites of her practice, would allow her the reprieve to heal what was left of a wound that had been branded upon her soul. Her open mind and heart could soar with strength and guidance once again, rather than the weakness it would surely be outside this enchanted realm.
She pushed her own private thoughts away and looked closely at Canute, her ashen eyes beginning to mist as she willed herself to speak.
"I request messengers to be sent in all haste, my Lord Canute, to gather what leaders you may for urgent council."
Canute nodded agreement without any question and spoke quietly, a kind smile upon his features, "Before we speak anymore of your intent, you must bath and replenish your body with sustenance."
Haleth could not help the wild, forced-sounding laugh that exploded from her, relief overtaking her senses, as she let the tears of confusion, anger and sadness flow down her pale cheeks.
"Come," Canute said mildly, pulling her to rest against his broad chest, "My daughter."
With that, all pretenses of mentor and apprentice disappeared, showing the genuine relationship of foster-father and child as Canute broke the embrace, a protective arm remaining around her shoulder, as he lead her to his expansive wooden home.
"Be at peace," he said, applying light pressure to her head with his finger and tracing an ancient symbol upon her brow, his eyes penetrating into her soul and mind as she bowed her head.
Soon, servants were scrambling to attend her and show her to the quarters where they would assist her in bathing and dressing afterwards.
The smooth, warm flow of water upon her face cleansed her thoughts, if only for the short time she remained in Canute's land.
Soon, a meal of cheese, roasted meats and wine was served to her and Canute outdoors near his home, where it was customary to receive honored family and friends of the People of Canute.
They sat on the earth, under a brilliant indigo sky where the mountains of the Ered Luin seemed less oppressive to Haleth than when she first viewed them upon her arrival. Amiable rays of sunshine warmed any skin left exposed, managing her previous confuddled thoughts into an aura of benevolent humor. The two sat peacefully in congenial serenity upon a soft, grass floor, tasting the delightful and filling food of Lord Canute's kitchens.
After both had their fill of food and the remaining leftovers cleared by his novices, Canute spoke, "Now, what is your purpose in coming, child?"
Haleth breathed evenly, a quick smile crossing her face before she composed her thoughts as she wondered when she might ever shake the feeling of being a student priestess every time she was in his presence.
"I would have you and whatsoever of your people you can spare as representatives to ride with me to Mulco for a meeting of great importance," she said, managing a calm tone, starting her request by reiterating what she had sputtered when she first arrived.
Canute was silent for a few long moments, considering her request as he rested his hands upon his legs, the stillness of a wilderness animal issuing from his being.
Haleth continued, "It is regarding an Orc-raid that has ravished the House of Bryeth and continues onward to bring ruin to all our people."
With this comment said, Haleth bowed respectfully to Canute and awaited his response with nervous anticipation.
"You of all must know what you ask," Canute acknowledged briskly. "What does Godi Haldad intend by this?"
Haleth raised her eyes to meet his, "I do not know what my father fully intends, but I suspect it is to rally our people into a capable defense."
Canute nodded reluctantly, his face impassive of all emotion, his eyes clouded from revealing any thought that might be stirring behind his eyes, "I will send my entourage."
"Will you not come then?" Haleth burst eagerly with unshielded concern. "Lord Tunni rides now with Haldar for Mulco."
Canute considered this with much care, his eyebrows moving slightly in a line, sensing more than was known to Haleth, or anyone's consideration.
"I will come," he said soberly, "but I do not command the nomadic tribes that your message has been sent to this day, nor would I force them to attend, even out of respect for me."
Haleth nodded in understanding and sighed with relief as Canute's eyes narrowed into the horizon as he turned into the direction where miles off, the leaguer of the north was held under the command of the Eldar.
Haleth's regret at having to ask the gentle spirits of Canute's clan to even issue forth from the safety of their peaceful kingdom was apparent in her expression.
"Do not over-worry yourself at this time, my dear," Canute said, turning to her, his face suddenly transformed into a manner of heartfelt compassion.
Haleth attempted a reassuring smile to her mentor of long ago before taking her leave of him, walking briskly across the fertile field and through a small woods.
The branches stood high above with smooth green leaves on the downward slide of their peak of the summer season, stretching out like lanky arms over her head as she made her way along a well-beaten path to a field of ritual and reflection.
Soon, autumn would be upon them and after the People of Canute gathered the full yield, the harvest ritual would be repeated, as it had for many years, to the great powers that safeguarded the fertility of man and beast.
Haleth stood under a canopy of entangled grapevines that was the entrance to the pasture, her dark hair unbraided and flowing with luxury down her back. In the field before her, the stone pillar of a well stood tall, surpassing her six-foot frame as she observed it with meditative wonder, the tassels of its rope fondled by a gentle breeze.
There was little help for her feelings of peace as she thought back to a time when she was younger with a more carefree heart, shielded from the happenings of the outside world beyond Canute and it was time to offer the gifts of the harvest in ceremony to Frey.
It was long past time, Haleth knew, for her to heed her inner voice, and accept her first desperate longing of pain she felt for Bryeth after the recent news of his brutal death. To share the ancient rituals with Bryeth for the rest of her living days would have been her own idea of perfection on Middle-earth.
It was not often that an intended marriage could be attained for the sake of love and honor, and though an allegiance with the House of Bryeth pleased her father, Haldad, it was not intended for that purpose. A union between Haleth and Bryeth was rather an added bonus to the happiness he saw in his daughter's eyes at the mention of Bryeth or his brave deeds.
It was a comforting sympathy to know he was in Valhalla and had died with noteworthy glory in the fray of Orcs, defending his tribe to their death. In the ways of the Old Faith, Haleth knew she could count on her father's respect of the passage of a warrior's life to the halls of his kin. Haldad would have built the pyre high, its fingers of flame touching the heavens.
"It is time," she breathlessly whispered aloud.
At a leisurely pace, Haleth removed her garments, folding them neatly and placing them on the edge of the pasture as she turned and walked upon the soft dirt, welcoming the invasion of dry, upturned earth between her freshly cleaned toes. After bypassing any fully naked washing when she arrived in Tunni's realm, she was glad to have the opportunity to journey to Canute.
Haleth was completely open to the spirit of nature as the wind hit her skin, giving her a slight chill even with the full onslaught of the sun's heat. She stopped near the center of the field where a circular form of rock stood and filled a wooden bowl with water from the well before resting her arms at her sides after tracing the symbol of reflection near the bridge of her nose.
The pool of water in the saucer was still against the movement of air that upswept her hair in a wild, unscripted dance as she eyed the sage that was resting on the brim of the stones. Breathing deeply, Haleth cleared her mental palate as she freed her mind to roam into the past, seeking a memory that was not her own.
The sage would remain untouched and the ritual chant unspoken, until she could call with faithful pureness upon the grace of Urth and the Sight to view the death of her lover at the hands of the Orcs. Before Haleth could perform such an entreaty, she must purge herself of a memory, tainted by Lord Tunni, of when she first discovered her primitive bond to Bryeth.
Author's Note:
Urth is one of the three Norns, or Fates, in Norse mythology, who represents the past. The other two are Verthandi (present) and Skuld (future). The Norns are thought to weave the cloth of fate beneath the Yggdrasil, which is a great Ash tree associated with the creation of the Norse world.
In direct relation to this story, namesakes such as Mulco and Canute, as used in this chapter, are considered by the Haladin in this story as the name of the village for the head of the respected clan who resides there. It may be used in the future for places such as Haldad or Tunni, which will match the village name to the namesake to their leader.
A little background on Frey and Freya, if you are interested, or in the case that you are completely unfamiliar with Norse mythology.
Frey and Freya were brother and sister, sometimes referred to as twins and thought of as the god and goddess of fertility, and Freya as most beautiful, etc.
In this tale, the god Frey is to be specifically honored at times of harvest whereas Freya will be more actively venerated during the spring time when it seems most natural, and there is a strong desire for primal mating experienced by both man and beast, separately and with their own species, of course. More plainly said, for the seeds of the earth, and procreation as a whole, to be planted in fertile ground which is springtime.
The representations of Frey and Freya as priest and priestess is directly from the Heimskringla, by Snorre Sturlason. Freya is referenced in rank as a god. In addition, a woman of nobility or who ruled or owned their own property or household was given the title of "Freya." For the sake of Haleth's story, I have designed to focus my efforts on Freya's representation in Norse mythology as told in the Heimskringla.
The colorful character Freya becomes commonly depicted as is the Norse goddess of love, the goddess who chooses the slain from the battlefield to go to Valhalla, and as the goddess who rides a boar, etc. All of these are represented and provided as the basis of development for a more exaggerated myth of Freya, shown in the Poetic Edda, translated by Lee M. Hollander. I only use the term "exaggerated" as the stories of Freya in the Poetic Edda are more colorful than in the Heimskringla. It is in no way meant to imply anything other than that.
Although the information in the Heimskringla about good seasons and peace is strongly implied to be a direct result of Frey's goodwill, I have transferred, or rather chosen to apply this reference to Freya as well, for the purpose of this story centering on Haleth as she emerges as a leader after the death of her father and brother during this tale. If you are familiar with the Heimskringla story of the Ynglinga Saga, you will surely see the similarities between Haldad, Haldar and Haleth to the Norse counterparts of Niord, Frey and Freya, which was a strong source of reference and inspiration for telling this fictional story of "The Haladin."
If you would like to chat more about Norse mythology and the Haladin, I would be glad to hear from you and encourage you to e-mail me directly. I am always interested to hear another person's perspective and interpretation of information and enjoy such discussions.
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.