Junya: So you thought I would miss an opportunity for angst, eh? Writer ominously breathes through the shiny black helmet that totally covers her face: "I find your lack of faith disturbing." Junya gasps for breath, her eyes starting from their sockets. He he he! Angsty enough for you? Anyway, read on. I think you will appreciate the latest turn the story takes. Yes, you are right about the chronology in my profile. It is hopelessly outdated, and I have been meaning to do something about it. Maybe as soon as the semester is over….
Zeus: Thank you for your kind words. I'm really glad that you like my version of Glorfindel.
Emma: Oh, you liked the story about the evolving relationship between Aragorn and Legolas? I am glad! If you liked the last twist in "Things Fall Apart," wait until you see what happens in this chapter! Yes, things were "coming back together a bit too nicely." Can't have that now, can we?
Dragonfly: Hmm, the verdict is in. Caranlass has been acquitted of the crime of being a Mary Sue. About Haldir: you can consider "The Return of the Elf" to be my final verdict as to whether or not Haldir lives or dies.
The essence of popsicles: As I told Dragonfly, "The Return of the Elf" is my version of what happens to Haldir, and I won't write anything inconsistent with that story. Ah, so you would convict Caranlass of a misdemeanor rather than a felony charge of being a Mary Sue. You don't like the movie Legolas? You don't like the movie Legolas! OK, I admit that it was obsession with the movie version that got me started writing fanfiction. But everyone is entitled to a vision based upon the words of the book. That's the nice thing about books: they allow the reader an unfettered opportunity to exercise his or her own imagination.
MusicalCharlatan: Get ready to veer toward madness again. I'm ending this chapter with another cliffie, and, since this is the final week of the semester, I'm not making any promises as to when I'll be able to post the next chapter. Mwah hah hah.
Deana: Yes, this story has practically turned into a book. Anyone who is just now stumbling across it really has to plow through a lot of chapters!
Legosgurl: Legolas won't be preoccupied with getting away, but not for the reason you think. Look out for the cliff!
Zergy: Ah, another vote to acquit Caranlass of the
charge of being a Mary Sue. About the
little family that is about to come into being: that could provide an additional
series! Ai! Writer runs screaming from the room.
Beta Reader: Dragonfly
Chapter 72: An Arm and a Leg
Gilglîr and his company of Mirkwood warriors had departed. Elrond had gone so far as to allow Legolas to arise and go outside to farewell his good friend, although he ordered that afterward the young Prince return straightaway to the House of Healing.
"You must be ruled by Elrond in this matter," Gilglîr warned Legolas as the Seneschal mounted his horse.
"I will," Legolas assured him. "Besides," he added with a grimace, "I really don't have any choice. Elrond has placed guards not only at the door to my chamber but outside my window as well!"
"Elrond is wise," laughed Gilglîr as he urged his horse into motion.
"Farewell," called Legolas.
"Stay well," replied Gilglír.
As Legolas walked back to the House of Healing by the side of Edwen Nana, it seemed to the nursemaid that he was in very low spirits.
'But of course he would be sad', she said to herself. 'Gilglîr and the other warriors have ridden off without him, and he will not be allowed to venture forth with Haldir or the twins. Tathar is still here, it is true, but he hovers anxiously over Caranlass. Poor boy! It will be hard on him to lie patiently whilst all his friends are otherwise occupied. It is a mercy that he likes to read. I shall ask Elrond to pick out several of his favorite books to help him while away the time'.
But when Edwen Nana brought Legolas the books, he scarcely looked at them. The nursemaid went anxiously to Elrond.
"Do you suppose Laiqua could be permitted to lie outside in the garden?" she asked the elf-lord. "The sun would do him good, I think."
"Of course," said Elrond. "It is only necessary that he rest, and he may do that as well in the garden as in any other place. Only have a care that he does not use this as an opportunity to escape!"
Edwen Nana assured Elrond that she would be vigilant. But when she hurried back to Legolas to tell him that he might go into the garden, he said he didn't wish to and turned his back upon her. Alarmed, Edwen Nana hastened back to Elrond. She found him deep in conversation with Galadriel over the prospects for strengthening relations with Thranduil's folk.
"Your pardon, Lord Elrond, Lady Galadriel, but Laiqua does not wish to go into the garden. Something's amiss, I am sure, and I beg that the two of you come and examine him."
"He doesn't want to go into the garden? You're right, Nana. That doesn't sound like Legolas at all."
Elrond and Galadriel arose and accompanied Edwen Nana to the House of Healing. When they entered Legolas' chamber, they found that he still lay with his face to the wall, and when they called to him, he did not answer. Elrond gently laid a hand upon his shoulder to turn him upon his back. The young Elf was quite limp and did not resist, for he was in fact unconscious, his face pale, his breathing shallow, his skin hot to the touch.
"I made quite sure that the wound was not infected!" Edwen Nana cried in dismay.
"As I did as well," Elrond reassured her. "You have done everything properly, Edwen Nana. I suspect that what ails him is Orc poison. For see, the site of the injury itself is not inflamed. No, like as not it is a poison that has spread throughout his body and so begun to work upon him."
"But you can cure him, can you not?" said Edwen Nana hopefully.
"I shall try, Nana. In this house, we keep a great stock of antidotes to various poisons, and we have books that describe the ingredients for compounding additional ones. Galadriel," he said, turning to that Lady, "will you take charge here, administering one by one the antidotes we have on hand? For myself, I will search our medicinal volumes and assemble such herbs and simples as may be necessary if our present ones fail to counteract the poison."
For the next several days, Galadriel and Elrond rarely slept, the one administering potions, the other compounding new ones. As for Edwen Nana, she did not sleep at all, until at last Elrond had a sleeping power baked into the biscuits that she nibbled from time to time to keep up her strength. Ai! as for Legolas, he never woke but seemed to slip deeper and deeper into unconsciousness, never moving, making no sound, not responding to noise or to pins pressed against his skin.
Galadriel turned her thoughts to Gandalf, her mind roving throughout Middle-earth in search of him. She went to Haldir, who, with the twins, had been keeping vigil, desperately wishing that they could be of some help.
"Haldir, I believe that Mithrandir may be found in the land of the Periannath. I have summoned him with my thoughts, but I wish to hasten him on his way. He is afoot. Journey toward him leading a spare horse so that he may arrive here the sooner."
"I will, Lady," Haldir promised fervently.
"Elladan and I will go as well," Elrohir offered.
"Nay, you must husband your energy," replied Galadriel. "You may be needed for another errand."
Haldir went at once to the stable to choose a fast horse for Gandalf to ride on their return. Glorfindel offered him his.
"He does not usually abide any rider other than myself," the balrog-slayer explained, "but he is well acquainted with Mithrandir, and, knowing the errand, he will carry Mithrandir willingly and at speed. But you should take not only this horse and your own, but a third so that you can switch between your mount and the third one. Then you will have less need to pause to rest the horses. Do not ride my horse, however, but leave him for the wizard. Once Mithrandir is astride him, he will bear him to Imladris without let. Some of the blood of the Mearas runs through his veins, I am sure!"
Haldir thanked him quickly but sincerely. Just then, the twins hastened into the stable. They had packed Haldir's saddlebags for him. He was to carry little beyond food and water, however, for he wished to travel light. He grudged any extra burden that might weigh him down and so slow him. Slinging the saddlebags over his mount, he leapt up upon him, briefly nodded to his friends, and thundered from the stable yard, the two spare horses in his wake. He rounded the corner of the building and was lost to sight, the sound of hoof beats yet remaining only a little while until horses and rider had galloped across the bridge and vanished into the woods surrounding Rivendell.
Haldir had never been as good a horseman as Legolas—the Lórien Elves had little occasion to ride—but on this journey his Mirkwood friend would have been in awe of his sudden equestrian expertise. Whenever the Lórien Elf felt his mount begin to tire, he would call up his other mount alongside and leap from one horse to the other, his feet never touching the ground. When darkness fell, they continued on their way, even though the moon was obscured by clouds and gave little light. Since they were traveling on the Great East Road, Haldir had no fear that they would go astray.
Haldir had never been to the Shire, but he had heard both Legolas and Gandalf speak of it and describe the landmarks along the path that led to it. He expected to encounter no obstacles and to be able to find Gandalf with only a little assistance from Men or Halflings.
'I must be nearing the region that Mithrandir calls Bree-land', he said to himself at last, after riding for he did not know how long. 'I must keep an eye out for inhabitants who will provide me the particulars of how I am to cross into the Shire'.
As it happened, some of the inhabitants were keeping an eye on him—but they were not any of the more reputable citizens. Times had been growing harder and more perilous, and vagrants had begun to gather in and around Bree-land. Some of these vagrants, moved both by desperation and wickedness, had crossed the boundary into robbery and theft. Vagrants no longer, they could most properly be called brigands, and they preyed in particular upon lone travelers. Now they saw a particularly tempting target, a lone rider with two spare horses—one of the horses a particularly fine specimen, too.
Haldir was cantering now, for the horses could not but be tired, and as he reached the woody spot where the brigands were hidden to either side of the road, the Men swarmed out, blocking him on all sides. They saw he was armed, and, cowards that they were, they had no wish to risk themselves in battle, but they were sure that they had numbers enough to intimidate him into at least yielding the spare horses. One ruffian seized hold of the headstall of the third horse. No one could lay hands on Glorfindel's horse, however, and he snorted and reared, causing the Men to give him a respectful berth.
"Nice horses ye have there," said the chief of the brigands.
"Thank you," said Haldir warily. "And now, as I have an errand requires speed, I must ride on."
"One rider, three horses," continued the leader. "Ye can only ride one at a time, ye know."
"I have need of all three," replied Haldir, his voice and face stony.
"That horse, there," said the leader, pointing at Glorfindel's horse, "has enough spirit for three. You take 'im. We'll take these two what are more manageable, like."
"No," Haldir said simply.
"But I like your horse," sneered the Man. "It and that other one. I believe they would suit me. Yes, I believe they would suit me very well indeed. Come now: let's not fight. What will you take for these two horses?"
"More than you would be willing to pay," retorted Haldir.
"Oh, I am sure I can afford it," the Man replied coolly, "as long as you do not make the mistake of being too greedy in the face of our generosity. Name your price, and be sure it is a reasonable one."
"They will cost you an arm and a leg," said Haldir grimly, a hand loosening his sword in its sheath.
The Man began to laugh, but he checked his laughter when he saw the fierce expression on Haldir's face. He quailed and recoiled a step. But he had his Men at his back, and he soon recovered his arrogance. He drew his sword.
"So much for being generous," the Man snarled. "Now ye'll get nothing but blows in exchange for those worthless horses."
Haldir leaped from his horse. He did not want to be surrounded and pulled down. Instead, he would rely upon his steed to guard his back. Next, to the surprise of the Man, he advanced on the ruffian. Both confused and furious at being resisted, the Man lunged forward and aimed a wild blow at the Elf. With one well-controlled sweep of his sword, Haldir requited him by slicing off his sword arm.
The Man stood gaping as his limb thudded upon the ground.
"An arm and a leg," Haldir repeated. "Do you wish to complete the transaction?"
Behind the Man's back, all his allies had fled. Clutching the stump of his arm, the brigand chief turned and stumbled after them.