Very little was spoken between Haldir and Erin for the next few days. In
fact, they had little opportunity considering word was received that
Aragorn called for her aid. She packed her belongings quickly and readied
her horse before dawn approached. It was quiet throughout the woods and
Erin hoped to make a swift leave without disturbing anyone.
"Now, what have I forgotten?" Erin said quietly, "I always forget something important."
"Perhaps, you've forgotten to tell your friends you are leaving," a voice, said behind her. Erin didn't need to turn to see who it was. She knew it was Haldir.
"I have to leave now," Erin said with a dull tone, "Aragorn needs my help." She continued to pack her items going over what she needed in her head and trying to ignore Haldir beside her.
"I'm sorry if I offended you," Haldir said plainly, "I simply had to speak my mind despite the concern it is not a tradition for me to do so. Is that what is bothering you?"
Erin stopped and closed her eyes. Haldir truly cared for her but she was unsure how to respond to him. She only had the appearance of a seventeen year old although she was two hundred and ninety two in reality but she was no more mature than her appearance took. What was she to say to Haldir? She did care for him too, but did she love him? He seemed far too old for her. He looked as if he was in his mid-twenties but that was still too old.
"Yes, I am troubled by what you said," Erin said quickly, "I don't know how I feel but I do know I'm not comfortable with this circumstances."
"Erin," Haldir said.
"I have to go," Erin said as she mounted her horse ready to leave.
"No," Haldir said as he grabbed the reins of her horse, "I'm not letting you leave thinking of me like this. I do love you and I can't change that. I don't know what else I can say to you."
Erin turned to him not knowing what to say as well. Obviously she knew exactly how she felt because in an instant she was in his arms.
"I love you," she told him.
Erin left later than she planned but Haldir had his wish. She did not think of Haldir the way she had earlier that morning. (No, they hadn't done anything nasty if that's what you're thinking but she left Haldir satisfied.) She did love him despite the questions she had asked herself. She loved him and that's all that mattered to her.
Erin was again on her journey. This time she was heading towards Mordor, which had become more and more dangerous over the years. Again, she would be heading towards Minas Tirith.
"Damn men might as well die," Erin mumbled to herself as the memories of Boromir floated back, "For all I care they can all go screw themselves."
Passing through Rohan and Fangorn, Erin made many friends along the way. Among them included an encounter with Éomer, one of the few men she would ever come to trust. The meeting was as "glorious" as her arrival in Minas Tirith. Members of the Rohirrim, riders of Rohan, surrounded her and once again, answers were demanded from her.
"What does a young girl have business in the depths of Rohan," demanded a rider, "Are you a citizen of Edoras?"
"I am not a citizen," she spoke candidly, "And I would rather die than be one."
"Then who are you," the rider spat back, "Are you a member of dark forces?"
"If I was a member of the dark forces, I would have killed you by now," Erin responded. Seeing the confusion on the faces of the Rohirrim, she continued, "That means no."
"You have the foolishness to address Éomer in such a manner," another rider shouted out.
"Éomer?" Erin said in shock, "I've heard of you. Éomer, great rider of Rohan, protector of Edoras, hero to the king. Am I mistaken?"
"No," Éomer responded back.
"Ha, you humans pride yourself in whatever you do," Erin laughed, "While you don't understand what little affect you have in this world."
"My duty is to protect my people," Éomer almost shouted back, "What makes you so mighty that you belittle the name of your ancestors?"
"Ancestors? Oh no, I don't even know who I am and where I come from. I haven't known who I am for over 150 years." Seeing the confusion on their faces again, Erin continued, "No, I am not an elf. Rather, I have been blessed with long life. With this long life, I do what you deem of value: protecting this world. Presently, I am to meet with a friend near the Dead Marches in hopes to defend my people, your people, and yourself. If you don't let me through, you are destroying what lives could have been saved."
"Éomer," a rider spoke to him, "You're not going to let her speak to you that."
"Let her pass," Éomer responded instead.
"But my Lord..." the rider continued.
"Let her pass!" he repeated again. The riders obeyed and gave her no further trouble. Looking back at Éomer, Erin realized that he did have some honor in his heart and was not foolish. This was the first man she had ever met with these qualities and gained a respect for him.
"You are an honorable Lord, Éomer," Erin told him. "Perhaps one of the few I have ever met."
That was the last time she had any trouble with men on her road to the Dead Marshes. Although she did not tell Éomer her name, she knew that they would meet on a later date. The Dead Marshes were not the most exciting place or the best smelling either. They smelled terrible. It was where the last battle during the war of the ring had been fought and those who had fallen were still sunken into the grounds. Knowing not to look into the eyes of them, Erin attempted to keep her eyes forward and to never look down. Now, when Aragorn told her to meet him in the Dead Marshes, he never specified. Erin found this extremely inconvenient considering the Marshes went on for miles. Eventually they met up.
"Ha De funnet ham?" (Have you found him?) Aragorn inquired.
"Hvem? Gollum?" (Who? Gollum?) Erin asked, "Jeg sett ham ikke." (I have not seen him.) "Er dette hva vi er her for?" (Is this what we are here for?)
"Han er her," (He is here.) Aragorn said softly.
"Gjør han vet at vi leter etter ham?" (Does he know we are looking for him?).
"Nr." (No.)
Before Aragorn or Erin said anything more, Gollum pounced on Erin, pushing her to the ground.
"Jeg funnet ham," (I found him) Erin yelled while attempting to get Gollum off her. It wasn't a prolonged struggle because before long, Aragorn hit him over the head with the pommel of his sword.
"Jeg gjort det," (I could have done that) Erin complained to Aragorn.
With the unconscious Gollum, Erin and Aragorn traveled to Mirkwood. Excited to finally be with elves once again, Erin was impatient throughout the journey much to the annoyance of Aragorn.
"Going to see the elves, going to see the elves!" Erin sang.
"Have you lost your mind?" Aragorn asked after enduring this for several weeks.
"You never know with me," Erin piped up, "I could simply be crazy. Crazy, crazy, crazy!" Calming down, Erin finally asked the question that had been haunting her for several weeks. "Aragorn," she inquired, "How do you discern whether you feel affection for someone or not?"
Aragorn stopped and kept his look forward, deep in thought. Her question was sudden and he had not been expecting it. Erin was asking how Aragorn knew he loved Arwen Evenstar. She was the only person he ever loved and would never stop loving. How did he know he loved her? It had not been a decision he had made on his own. No, his heart chose his path for him long before he was born. Turning to Erin, he saw her eyes desperate for an answer.
"She loves someone," he thought as Erin stared back at him. How was he to give her an answer that wouldn't destroy the hopes and dreams she carried? Her question had a simple answer but the answer wasn't as easy to understand
"You don't know," Aragorn responded back as he continued walking, breaking the gaze between them, "Your mind doesn't realize whom you love. Your soul only can answer it for you. Your soul knows what love is."
"I don't understand," Erin said frustrated.
"Think of your soul as a treasure chest," Aragorn attempted to explain, " This chest is filled with all the riches and answers you will ever need. The only trouble is that you were never given the keys to unlock the chest when you were born. The keys were hidden somewhere in this world and you must spend what little time you have to find them. Fortunately for some of us, we are given more time than others."
"Keys?" Erin asked, "What are these keys that I need to find?" "The keys are the person you are destined to be with. Once you find them, then you will learn you love that person."
"But what if you believe you have found that person but are unsure if they are the one?"
"Your heart will tell you."
Aragorn wasn't making any sense to Erin. Just like Gandalf, he spoke in riddles that Erin didn't understand. She wouldn't know if she loved Haldir unless her heart told her. Well, her heart wasn't doing any talking if that was the case!
"You may want to learn if you truly love him before its too late," Aragorn said suddenly, "Dangerous times are afoot and there is no promise this world can give to protect what you love."
Erin was shocked that Aragorn knew she loved someone. She was about to ask him but stopped when she realized it was a stupid question. It must have been obvious she loved someone but the words of Aragorn echoed in her head. Before it is too late? Was he predicting an event that was to come? Erin wished it wasn't true. The thought of loosing Haldir was too much for her to bear. She had never confronted death and had never seen it. But Haldir was immortal. Age and disease could not kill him but injury and pain could. Could some force separate the two of them? Yes, death could. What would she do if she lost him? Erin couldn't answer that.
"Now, what have I forgotten?" Erin said quietly, "I always forget something important."
"Perhaps, you've forgotten to tell your friends you are leaving," a voice, said behind her. Erin didn't need to turn to see who it was. She knew it was Haldir.
"I have to leave now," Erin said with a dull tone, "Aragorn needs my help." She continued to pack her items going over what she needed in her head and trying to ignore Haldir beside her.
"I'm sorry if I offended you," Haldir said plainly, "I simply had to speak my mind despite the concern it is not a tradition for me to do so. Is that what is bothering you?"
Erin stopped and closed her eyes. Haldir truly cared for her but she was unsure how to respond to him. She only had the appearance of a seventeen year old although she was two hundred and ninety two in reality but she was no more mature than her appearance took. What was she to say to Haldir? She did care for him too, but did she love him? He seemed far too old for her. He looked as if he was in his mid-twenties but that was still too old.
"Yes, I am troubled by what you said," Erin said quickly, "I don't know how I feel but I do know I'm not comfortable with this circumstances."
"Erin," Haldir said.
"I have to go," Erin said as she mounted her horse ready to leave.
"No," Haldir said as he grabbed the reins of her horse, "I'm not letting you leave thinking of me like this. I do love you and I can't change that. I don't know what else I can say to you."
Erin turned to him not knowing what to say as well. Obviously she knew exactly how she felt because in an instant she was in his arms.
"I love you," she told him.
Erin left later than she planned but Haldir had his wish. She did not think of Haldir the way she had earlier that morning. (No, they hadn't done anything nasty if that's what you're thinking but she left Haldir satisfied.) She did love him despite the questions she had asked herself. She loved him and that's all that mattered to her.
Erin was again on her journey. This time she was heading towards Mordor, which had become more and more dangerous over the years. Again, she would be heading towards Minas Tirith.
"Damn men might as well die," Erin mumbled to herself as the memories of Boromir floated back, "For all I care they can all go screw themselves."
Passing through Rohan and Fangorn, Erin made many friends along the way. Among them included an encounter with Éomer, one of the few men she would ever come to trust. The meeting was as "glorious" as her arrival in Minas Tirith. Members of the Rohirrim, riders of Rohan, surrounded her and once again, answers were demanded from her.
"What does a young girl have business in the depths of Rohan," demanded a rider, "Are you a citizen of Edoras?"
"I am not a citizen," she spoke candidly, "And I would rather die than be one."
"Then who are you," the rider spat back, "Are you a member of dark forces?"
"If I was a member of the dark forces, I would have killed you by now," Erin responded. Seeing the confusion on the faces of the Rohirrim, she continued, "That means no."
"You have the foolishness to address Éomer in such a manner," another rider shouted out.
"Éomer?" Erin said in shock, "I've heard of you. Éomer, great rider of Rohan, protector of Edoras, hero to the king. Am I mistaken?"
"No," Éomer responded back.
"Ha, you humans pride yourself in whatever you do," Erin laughed, "While you don't understand what little affect you have in this world."
"My duty is to protect my people," Éomer almost shouted back, "What makes you so mighty that you belittle the name of your ancestors?"
"Ancestors? Oh no, I don't even know who I am and where I come from. I haven't known who I am for over 150 years." Seeing the confusion on their faces again, Erin continued, "No, I am not an elf. Rather, I have been blessed with long life. With this long life, I do what you deem of value: protecting this world. Presently, I am to meet with a friend near the Dead Marches in hopes to defend my people, your people, and yourself. If you don't let me through, you are destroying what lives could have been saved."
"Éomer," a rider spoke to him, "You're not going to let her speak to you that."
"Let her pass," Éomer responded instead.
"But my Lord..." the rider continued.
"Let her pass!" he repeated again. The riders obeyed and gave her no further trouble. Looking back at Éomer, Erin realized that he did have some honor in his heart and was not foolish. This was the first man she had ever met with these qualities and gained a respect for him.
"You are an honorable Lord, Éomer," Erin told him. "Perhaps one of the few I have ever met."
That was the last time she had any trouble with men on her road to the Dead Marshes. Although she did not tell Éomer her name, she knew that they would meet on a later date. The Dead Marshes were not the most exciting place or the best smelling either. They smelled terrible. It was where the last battle during the war of the ring had been fought and those who had fallen were still sunken into the grounds. Knowing not to look into the eyes of them, Erin attempted to keep her eyes forward and to never look down. Now, when Aragorn told her to meet him in the Dead Marshes, he never specified. Erin found this extremely inconvenient considering the Marshes went on for miles. Eventually they met up.
"Ha De funnet ham?" (Have you found him?) Aragorn inquired.
"Hvem? Gollum?" (Who? Gollum?) Erin asked, "Jeg sett ham ikke." (I have not seen him.) "Er dette hva vi er her for?" (Is this what we are here for?)
"Han er her," (He is here.) Aragorn said softly.
"Gjør han vet at vi leter etter ham?" (Does he know we are looking for him?).
"Nr." (No.)
Before Aragorn or Erin said anything more, Gollum pounced on Erin, pushing her to the ground.
"Jeg funnet ham," (I found him) Erin yelled while attempting to get Gollum off her. It wasn't a prolonged struggle because before long, Aragorn hit him over the head with the pommel of his sword.
"Jeg gjort det," (I could have done that) Erin complained to Aragorn.
With the unconscious Gollum, Erin and Aragorn traveled to Mirkwood. Excited to finally be with elves once again, Erin was impatient throughout the journey much to the annoyance of Aragorn.
"Going to see the elves, going to see the elves!" Erin sang.
"Have you lost your mind?" Aragorn asked after enduring this for several weeks.
"You never know with me," Erin piped up, "I could simply be crazy. Crazy, crazy, crazy!" Calming down, Erin finally asked the question that had been haunting her for several weeks. "Aragorn," she inquired, "How do you discern whether you feel affection for someone or not?"
Aragorn stopped and kept his look forward, deep in thought. Her question was sudden and he had not been expecting it. Erin was asking how Aragorn knew he loved Arwen Evenstar. She was the only person he ever loved and would never stop loving. How did he know he loved her? It had not been a decision he had made on his own. No, his heart chose his path for him long before he was born. Turning to Erin, he saw her eyes desperate for an answer.
"She loves someone," he thought as Erin stared back at him. How was he to give her an answer that wouldn't destroy the hopes and dreams she carried? Her question had a simple answer but the answer wasn't as easy to understand
"You don't know," Aragorn responded back as he continued walking, breaking the gaze between them, "Your mind doesn't realize whom you love. Your soul only can answer it for you. Your soul knows what love is."
"I don't understand," Erin said frustrated.
"Think of your soul as a treasure chest," Aragorn attempted to explain, " This chest is filled with all the riches and answers you will ever need. The only trouble is that you were never given the keys to unlock the chest when you were born. The keys were hidden somewhere in this world and you must spend what little time you have to find them. Fortunately for some of us, we are given more time than others."
"Keys?" Erin asked, "What are these keys that I need to find?" "The keys are the person you are destined to be with. Once you find them, then you will learn you love that person."
"But what if you believe you have found that person but are unsure if they are the one?"
"Your heart will tell you."
Aragorn wasn't making any sense to Erin. Just like Gandalf, he spoke in riddles that Erin didn't understand. She wouldn't know if she loved Haldir unless her heart told her. Well, her heart wasn't doing any talking if that was the case!
"You may want to learn if you truly love him before its too late," Aragorn said suddenly, "Dangerous times are afoot and there is no promise this world can give to protect what you love."
Erin was shocked that Aragorn knew she loved someone. She was about to ask him but stopped when she realized it was a stupid question. It must have been obvious she loved someone but the words of Aragorn echoed in her head. Before it is too late? Was he predicting an event that was to come? Erin wished it wasn't true. The thought of loosing Haldir was too much for her to bear. She had never confronted death and had never seen it. But Haldir was immortal. Age and disease could not kill him but injury and pain could. Could some force separate the two of them? Yes, death could. What would she do if she lost him? Erin couldn't answer that.