Chapter 11
Haldir looked after her for some time. Waiting, wondering, what had she meant? How could he comply with her requests? Did she know what he felt? Was it possible that Galadriel could see the conflicts in his heart? These questions and countless others swarmed madly in his head like hornets, making what little sleep he captured fleeting and disturbed. This would be harder than he thought. He could not defy his Lady, Haldir decided. He was simply not capable of betraying her confidence in him. Loyalty was one of Haldir's most valued qualities. Above all else, it had been loyalty which had made his path so clear, so unmovable. 'But, the world now is not the world then,' he mused somewhere between his blessed sleep and hated consciousness, fighting the end of the night. The delicate pinks and purples of dawn began to unfurl slowly, like an opening flower, seeping through his thoughts.
'The healer should be arriving soon,' Haldir thought, forcing his eyes to stay propped open, 'her name.Nienna, wasn't that what Nolo had said? Yes, that was it, Nienna.'
Idly he wondered just what type of therapy she was planning.and shivered with dread. He had never liked dealing with the healers, they were his complete counterparts. While they saved lives, he slew them down, while they endeavored to heal all that came to them, he strived to find better ways to end lives. Haldir could not fathom anything that they might have in common other than elven blood. 'Perhaps she won't come after all,' he thought hopefully, watching the doorway carefully.
Nienna was standing outside the doorway, hesitant. Part of her mind still lingered in doubt. 'It's alright Nienna, just breathe,' she thought, smoothing the pleats in her gown. After a few seconds (almost an eternity in Nienna's mind), she entered the room, watching Haldir's reaction carefully. "'Quel amrun." Good morning She spoke softly, but cheerfully, noting his startled reaction as his eyes locked onto the device she had with her; it was a chair by basic standards, but the legs did not simply end. Instead, the base of each leg had a small, wooden wheel attached to it.a wheelchair. Haldir suppressed a mixure of horror and disgust as he looked at it, guessing her plan.
"You don't really think I'm going to sit in that, do you?" He pointed to the chair, eyeing it with an odd form of contempt. He hated it already. Nienna was not surprised by his reaction, the elves in the wood- shop had raised their eyebrows more than once when she had requested its construction. She rolled it forward lightly, it's wheels made a clickidy- click sound as they maneuvered over the floor.
"Oh, I don't think you will.I know it."
Haldir scoffed loudly. "And how do you plan to make me sit in that.contraption?" He crossed his arms stubbornly. He would not be subjected to anymore humiliation if he could help it. Nienna grinned, she would not be put off this time.
"If you don't," She spoke slowly and purposefully, "I'm going to make it very uncomfortable for you to stay in that bed, Haldir." He eyed her curiously, calling her bluff.
"No."
Nienna shrugged, and walked out of the room. 'That was too easy,' Haldir thought, keeping a close watch on the door, 'far too easy.' Finally, Nienna reemerged into the room holding suspiciously heavy-looking bucket. "Last chance, Haldir." She took a step closer. Haldir's eyes narrowed, 'what is she playing at?' He made no movement toward the chair.
The water (for that was exactly what it was) hit him squarely on the head, ice cold, fresh from the fountain. His back stiffened with shock, and his fists clutched the edge of the sheets. There was water all around him; it soaked the covers, seeping into the soft, now soggy mattress. Nienna shrugged her shoulders helplessly. Haldir turned toward her, glaring at her from behind several strands of wet hair, which had plastered themselves to his face. Cold water dripped down his neck and down his back slowly, forming tiny little streams and rivers before being absorbed into his shirt. "I warned you, didn't I?" He looked at Nienna, his mouth clamped shut as he observed her restrained grin. She was enjoying this! Haldir didn't care to imagine what he looked like, but judging by Nienna's expression he must have looked ridiculous.
Nienna smiled warmly. Haldir wasn't nearly as intimidating when he was sopping wet. She gestured to the chair softly, watching with satisfaction as Haldir begrudgingly sat in it. She tossed him a blanket, chuckling. "I'd imagine it's about time you've had a bath." Haldir scowled silently.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Yes, I know it's short. This whole month was just one thing after another. But, I figure something's better than nothing, right? I promise I'll be adding more in the near future. Just hang in there!
Haldir looked after her for some time. Waiting, wondering, what had she meant? How could he comply with her requests? Did she know what he felt? Was it possible that Galadriel could see the conflicts in his heart? These questions and countless others swarmed madly in his head like hornets, making what little sleep he captured fleeting and disturbed. This would be harder than he thought. He could not defy his Lady, Haldir decided. He was simply not capable of betraying her confidence in him. Loyalty was one of Haldir's most valued qualities. Above all else, it had been loyalty which had made his path so clear, so unmovable. 'But, the world now is not the world then,' he mused somewhere between his blessed sleep and hated consciousness, fighting the end of the night. The delicate pinks and purples of dawn began to unfurl slowly, like an opening flower, seeping through his thoughts.
'The healer should be arriving soon,' Haldir thought, forcing his eyes to stay propped open, 'her name.Nienna, wasn't that what Nolo had said? Yes, that was it, Nienna.'
Idly he wondered just what type of therapy she was planning.and shivered with dread. He had never liked dealing with the healers, they were his complete counterparts. While they saved lives, he slew them down, while they endeavored to heal all that came to them, he strived to find better ways to end lives. Haldir could not fathom anything that they might have in common other than elven blood. 'Perhaps she won't come after all,' he thought hopefully, watching the doorway carefully.
Nienna was standing outside the doorway, hesitant. Part of her mind still lingered in doubt. 'It's alright Nienna, just breathe,' she thought, smoothing the pleats in her gown. After a few seconds (almost an eternity in Nienna's mind), she entered the room, watching Haldir's reaction carefully. "'Quel amrun." Good morning She spoke softly, but cheerfully, noting his startled reaction as his eyes locked onto the device she had with her; it was a chair by basic standards, but the legs did not simply end. Instead, the base of each leg had a small, wooden wheel attached to it.a wheelchair. Haldir suppressed a mixure of horror and disgust as he looked at it, guessing her plan.
"You don't really think I'm going to sit in that, do you?" He pointed to the chair, eyeing it with an odd form of contempt. He hated it already. Nienna was not surprised by his reaction, the elves in the wood- shop had raised their eyebrows more than once when she had requested its construction. She rolled it forward lightly, it's wheels made a clickidy- click sound as they maneuvered over the floor.
"Oh, I don't think you will.I know it."
Haldir scoffed loudly. "And how do you plan to make me sit in that.contraption?" He crossed his arms stubbornly. He would not be subjected to anymore humiliation if he could help it. Nienna grinned, she would not be put off this time.
"If you don't," She spoke slowly and purposefully, "I'm going to make it very uncomfortable for you to stay in that bed, Haldir." He eyed her curiously, calling her bluff.
"No."
Nienna shrugged, and walked out of the room. 'That was too easy,' Haldir thought, keeping a close watch on the door, 'far too easy.' Finally, Nienna reemerged into the room holding suspiciously heavy-looking bucket. "Last chance, Haldir." She took a step closer. Haldir's eyes narrowed, 'what is she playing at?' He made no movement toward the chair.
The water (for that was exactly what it was) hit him squarely on the head, ice cold, fresh from the fountain. His back stiffened with shock, and his fists clutched the edge of the sheets. There was water all around him; it soaked the covers, seeping into the soft, now soggy mattress. Nienna shrugged her shoulders helplessly. Haldir turned toward her, glaring at her from behind several strands of wet hair, which had plastered themselves to his face. Cold water dripped down his neck and down his back slowly, forming tiny little streams and rivers before being absorbed into his shirt. "I warned you, didn't I?" He looked at Nienna, his mouth clamped shut as he observed her restrained grin. She was enjoying this! Haldir didn't care to imagine what he looked like, but judging by Nienna's expression he must have looked ridiculous.
Nienna smiled warmly. Haldir wasn't nearly as intimidating when he was sopping wet. She gestured to the chair softly, watching with satisfaction as Haldir begrudgingly sat in it. She tossed him a blanket, chuckling. "I'd imagine it's about time you've had a bath." Haldir scowled silently.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Yes, I know it's short. This whole month was just one thing after another. But, I figure something's better than nothing, right? I promise I'll be adding more in the near future. Just hang in there!