ATTENTION: My sincerest apologies to everybody for the condition of this chapter as it appeared. I was having problems with posting early this morning. I got the chapter uploaded aft an hour then spent another hour trying to get to the preview page. I finally gave up and posted the chapter without looking at it. It printed my HTML code. It anything like that ever happens again, please email and I will take care of it quickly. Thank you.

A/N: Thoughts and emphasized words in the body of the chapter will be in italics.

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my cousin Brenda's father who went to be with the ancestors night before last after suffering for the past few years of his life from Parkinson's Disease as well as Alzheimer's. His passing was peaceful, and at least we can be grateful for that.

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"Hold on to what is good even if it is a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe even if it is a tree which stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do even if it is a long way from here. Hold on to life even when it is easier letting go. Hold on to my hand even when I have gone away from you."
Pueblo Blessing

Chapter 7

Honoring the Dead

The two exhausted travelers felt a great sense of relief as they walked down the path leading to the cluster of quaint cottages that made up the village of Hope. Halgar was glad to be home and Legolas was happy at the prospect of having a place to lay his aching body other than the ground. Their journey had been a long one, even for an elf, and especially for a wounded elf, and it was nice to finally know that their feet had no more obligations to attend to - for at least a little while.

Halgar knew he had a grim responsibility to attend to now that he was home but as he looked at Legolas, he realized that for the moment, the needs of the living outweighed the needs of the dead. His friends wouldn't mind waiting for just a little while longer.

With Legolas leaning ever more heavily on his shoulder, Halgar took the elf down one well-manicured path that led directly to the doorstep of his cottage. By the time the two had reached the quaint little house, and he had pushed open the door, his friend was on the verge of collapsing and neither the elf's legs nor the rest of his body seemed at all eager to comply with his demand that they keep moving in the direction of the bed.

Once there, however, Legolas sighed, and with the human's help managed to lower himself in a somewhat dignified manner onto the soft mattress. He didn't fuss when Halgar removed his weapons, boots and tunic and was actually grateful that he didn't have to do it himself. He dozed fitfully as his friend bustled around the one-room cottage, lighting a fire to heat water for medicine and to clean the wound with, and assembling the herbs, bandages and other medical supplies he would need after the cleaning was done.

When all was finally ready, and trying to disturb the wounded elf as little as possible, Halgar took his boot knife and carefully cut the bandages. The wound was an angry red, and hot to the touch, and the man knew that the long miles that both of them had traveled had irritated it and had hampered the healing process.

Taking a bowl of warm water, Halgar put a generous amount of his special herb into it then gently cleaned the wound and after making sure that none of the stitches had been torn, he gently applied a numbing and disinfecting salve to it. The only thing he had left to do was to again bandage the wound and after helping Legolas into a sitting position, he first gathered up the old bandages and set them aside then wrapped a fresh linen strip around the elf's side. Afterwards, he laid him back down and covered him to the shoulders with the sheet and soft blanket.

Seeing that his eyes were closed, a certain health indicator, as Legolas had once told him, Halgar felt his forehead with the inside of his wrist then frowned when he felt the heat of fever. Legolas opened his eyes and tried his best to smile encouragingly at his friend even though, Halgar was quick to note, the smile did not quite reach his eyes. After preparing a pain relieving tea that the wounded elf drank without complaint, Halgar helped him lay back down on the bed, then sat and waited for the medicine to take effect.

"I will be fine, mellon-nín. All I need is rest." Legolas's voice faded to silence as he finally gave in to his need to sleep.

After making sure his friend was asleep, Halgar banked the fire then left his cottage to attend to what would be one of the saddest and hardest responsibilities of his whole life that he would ever have to perform.

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Walking to a utility shed that stood at one end of his house, Halgar rummaged around until he found a shovel. When he looked at the tool and acknowledged what it was going to be used for, he suddenly found himself almost overcome by his emotions and had to fight hard to keep from just giving in to his grief and giving up. As he leaned his forehead against the cool walls of the utility building, and for a moment closing his eyes, he took some deep breaths, trying to get his emotions under his own control.

I am so afraid. I don't know if I can do this! Oh, sweet Ilúvatar, I don't know if I can face them again - not so soon!

Pacing up and down inside the shed, Halgar fought hard for control and finally won his personal battle with his negative thinking when he decided that he was not going to let his own fears keep him from honoring those who had given their lives to keep him safe.

It gave him a small measure of comfort to know that he was probably not the first Legend Keeper that had felt this same kind of fear, being sure that over the span of the last 3,000 years, someone had to have felt the same knot in their stomach that he was feeling now, the same lump in their throat, the same unshed tears in their eyes and the same aversion to seeing their friends and family in the condition they were probably now in. He just wanted to run away from the whole thing and find a place where he could forget about what had happened and live out the rest of his life in peace.

But, he reminded himself, those ten people, my friends and my family, did not take time to think of such things before they stepped in front of those slavers just to save me.

It was at that moment that Halgar knew that he would fulfill his oath for it had been he and no other who had been entrusted with this task and he would not fail in his duties or dishonor those who gave their lives, by running away from his destiny and not toward it. Picking up the shovel, and holding it tightly to his chest, he left the utility shed with new determination and went to face his friends one last time.

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Legolas groaned and flung one arm over his eyes in a futile attempt to shield them from the small amount of light that was coming in the window, the same window that might someday frame Halgar's backside. His thought brought him abruptly back to the present and he sat straight up in bed - and wished desperately, with all of his heart that he had not attempted such a really stupid thing. His body felt like it had just fought a cave troll, and had lost - badly - and hurt in places he did not know even existed.

Turning his head back toward the window and his last thought regarding it, he chuckled, remembering how he and the human had laughed at the thought of him getting stuck halfway through it then having someone witness his undignified position. Legolas then frowned, for thinking of the human then brought up the next logical question, which was, where was he now? He sighed, for he thought he knew and was positive at the same time, that the man would more than likely welcome the comforting presence of a friend.

Moving carefully and as quickly as his body would let him, Legolas put on his tunic and boots then rose from the bed, and after the room had quit dipping and spinning, he walked to the door and went in search of his friend.

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When he finally found him, Halgar was just putting away the shovel. He could tell that the man had been crying, but considering what he had just had to do, that was to be expected.

"Halgar!"

"Legolas, what are you doing out of bed?"

Halgar smiled at the elf and felt his forehead, an action that was promptly followed by Legolas trying to bat the human's hands away from him which only made Halgar more determined to see if the elf was running a fever.

"Will you please stand still you silly elf? I only wish to see if you are still running a fever, which you are, by-the-way. Are you hungry?"

"No, Halgar, I am not hungry."

"Are you thirsty?"

"No Halgar, I am not thirsty."

Halgar reached to the water flask hanging on his belt and after taking a drink to prove to the glowering elf that it was, in fact, only water, he handed the flask to him.

"I said I was not thirsty."

"I heard you, my friend. Now drink it please."

Mumbling something about stubborn humans, the elf took the flask and drank deeply as he finally got to slake the thirst he had that he would have died before admitting being in possession of. After drinking his fill, Legolas handed the flask back to his friend with a small thank you added while fully understanding that neither he nor the human would mention the small incident - ever again.

Legolas finally got a chance to look around and he noticed that Halgar had finished what he had previously mentioned to him was the first task he wanted to accomplish once he had reached his home.

"You are well?" Legolas asked as he laid his hand on the man's shoulder.

He had not failed to notice the paleness of the man's face nor had he missed the haunted look in his eyes. When Halgar looked at him, puzzled, Legolas explained.

"You have just laid ten friends to rest." He then waited patiently for Halgar to answer the question he had asked.

"No, Prince Legolas, I am not well and will probably never be well again for I have not just laid ten friends to rest, but have buried ten pieces of my heart with them as well. On the day that I ran, the day the slavers invaded Hope, I wanted so much to come back and help them fight off the slavers even though I knew I was supposed to run - that it was my duty to run. I just could not tear myself away from what was happening and that fact makes me feel as if I dishonored their sacrifice. The slavers chased me because they saw me watching them from behind a tree."

He paused for a moment and took a deep breath before he continued.

"Come, my friend, I will introduce you to them."

If graves could ever be called beautiful then the ten mounds before him were certainly that. Each resting place was ringed by uniformly sized stones and the dirt mound within each ring was the same height as was that of its neighbor and which consisted of dark-brown, loamy soil that promised that when the next spring arrived, there would be a carpet of green in its place. There was no doubt in Legolas's mind that each grave had been lovingly and painstakingly constructed.

Halgar knelt beside the first mound and kissed his fingers before laying them loving on top of the newly turned soil. Legolas could sense the man's turmoil as well as his sadness and placed his hand comfortingly on his shoulder.

"This is Cwén..."

His voice broke and he paused then cleared his throat before continuing.

"Cwén was my mother."

The man's words were almost a whisper, uttered in the tender voice only a loving son would use. He raised his eyes and looked at Legolas as if begging him to understand.

"She may not have birthed me but after my parents died, she was always there for me - guiding me and teaching me. She loved life, Legolas."

He rubbed his hand lightly over the mound of dirt, smoothing it ever so slightly.

"Oh how she loved life - always laughing and singing. Momma Cwén lived each day the best way she knew how. She was always there for me, and this time was no different ... she was the first one to step in front of the slavers so her baby boy could have a chance to run away."

He stayed motionless for a few more moments before he rose to his feet and moved on to the next mound.

"This one..."

He again kissed his fingers then briefly laid them on the mound before he smoothed away the small imperfections.

"... was Díriel - the brother of my heart - he was my Estel. Díriel was Momma Cwén's only son from her husband, the last Legend Keeper, until the wasting disease sent his spirit on to his ancestors. Díriel and I knew each other's secrets and knew each other's minds and hearts. My heart-brother was never jealous of my being chosen to become the next Legend Keeper instead of him, for his path and mine traveled different directions - we both always knew that. Where my path led towards duty and commitment, his path led towards laughing maidens, spring planting and fall harvests."

Halgar gestured with his hand towards the next three graves.

"Ilfiniol, Ilinsor and Ifan were brothers - and although some years separated their births, they may as well have been born on the same day. These three laughed hard together, fought hard together and worked hard together. They were the last ones to fall in my defense - they fought well."

He placed his hand on the first of the three mounds and bowed his head for a moment, remembering his three friends one last time.

Kneeling before the sixth mound, he kissed it with his fingers as well.

"Little Ivárë - such a proud young man. We had all just celebrated his 'coming of age' the week before..."

He paused and covered his mouth and looked away as he once more tried to bite back a sob, as his grief threatened to break free.

"...the week before all this happened."

His hand gestured towards all the graves.

"He was so proud to be called upon to do his duty, to fulfill his oath - he was much too young to die, Legolas."

Legolas noticed that the next two graves were not spaced evenly apart as the last graves were, but touched borders that same way that one's hand might touch the hand of another. When Halgar knelt beside them, the Prince saw a solitary tear run down the man's cheek.

"Aírin, wife of Brodda - neither of them were warriors - just gentle souls. They held hands in front of the path I was running on and the slavers cut them down without mercy. There are actually three graves here, my friend, for though they had only been married a month, Aírin was carrying their first child."

Halgar smiled affectionately as he kissed the next grave with his fingers then laid the palm of his hand where the heart of the grave's occupant would have been.

"Old Sirius - the oldest of everyone who lived in Hope. He could barely walk because of his stiff joints and used a cane to get around."

He smiled in remembrance.

"Sirius always had a kind word for everyone - or a sarcastic comment. He wasn't afraid to use that cane of his if he saw a young one misbehaving or someone shirking a duty. He would sometimes sneak up on a group of children who were outside playing, and he would poke one of them in the leg with his cane and the young ones would giggle and run off. We all loved him dearly and put up with his little quirks. When it came down to it though, to the oath he had taken to protect the Legend Keeper ... He laid in to those slavers with his cane like he was a young lad again. He may have been old, but he was not without heart and certainly not without valor."

After a moment he moved on to the final grave.

"Ialassë - my only sister and my heart."

He touched his heart before he touched her grave.

"She loved Momma Cwén as Momma loved her, and the two were rarely apart. Ialassë loved me, her only little brother, and was always my champion. More than once, this little warrioress defended my honor where, by tradition, I was not allowed. She managed to take down two of the slavers with a wood ax before she fell."

Touched by the evidence of the ten, selfless sacrifices that lay before him, Legolas bowed his head and touched his heart.

"May Ilúvatar honor you and grant you safe passage beyond the circles of the world."

Halgar remained motionless as Legolas honored the dead but after the elf had finished his prayer to Ilúvatar, he began to rock back and forth. Then his grief and sense of loss came crashing down on him and he began to cry with such heart-rending sobs that they echoed off the surrounding walls of the valley, bouncing back and forth until there seemed to be a chorus of voices crying for the dead. Legolas knelt beside the man, and putting his arms around him, held him and tried to comfort him as he finally gave voice to the grief he felt for those he had lost.

"This," Legolas indicated the ten mounds, "is not the end, mellon-nín. You will see them again. Hold on to that knowledge and get what comfort from it that you may."

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With his burial task finally completed and darkness upon them, Halgar took Legolas back to his house and cooked dinner for him. At first he refused to eat, not being that hungry but after having been given the look, Legolas picked at the vegetables just to satisfy the human while again making a mental note to himself to ask Halgar, at a more appropriate time, about the Númenorean blood. The raised eyebrow had looked so much like Aragorn's that Legolas knew that the two just had to be related somehow.

TBC

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Finnarwen( ): Thank you very much for the review. I like the way you think as well! It is a personal pet peeve of mine when I read something where the author has spent an entire paragraph talking about the colors of a leaf. Although I don't consider myself expert at the technique, I believe that even in the most simplest of words lies everything we need to paint a verbal portrait of what we are trying to describe. I'm having fun with this story and I will be breaking some new ground as the story progresses. It is my sincere hope that you continue to enjoy the story.

Deana: I am happy to know that you are enjoying the story so much. I kind of got to like Halgar a bit myself. There is a lot to the man - many layers - and as the story progresses, we will get to see some of them. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Elven Script: Thanks for the review on the story Possession. It was a pretty complex story that dealt with the very simple theme of total good versus total evil. I am glad that you enjoyed it.