CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
True to his word Eldarion returned to the city at nightfall. As he stabled Suldal, Haldir appeared beside him and before Eldarion knew what was happening, he had been pulled into a tight embrace.
'Haldir, what….' he began.
'I want to apologise for this morning. I did not mean to snap at you,' said Haldir, still holding Eldarion.
'You still meant what you said. I am the reason you remain in Arda,' replied Eldarion, resting his head on Haldir's chest. Despite the growth spurts he had experienced over the past year, Eldarion wasn't quite tall enough to settle his head on Haldir's shoulder.
'You already knew that Eldarion,' whispered Haldir. Eldarion pulled out of the embrace and backed away towards the door to Suldal's box.
'Go,' he said softly. 'I know of the promise you made to Kalya and I release you from the bond. Sail and be happy once again.'
With that Eldarion left the stable. Breaking into a run, he headed for the Oak. Haldir watched him go an indiscernible feeling in his heart.
Eldarion sat in the highest fork of the tree, his back resting against the trunk. His eyes were closed and he let the wind rustle his hair as it blew through the reddening leaves. The occasional acorn fell, whether loosed and prompted dropped by the tree or nibbled off by the squirrels, Eldarion did not bother checking. Somewhere above his head an owl landed briefly and hooted, to be answered by a distance hoot. A slight sway in branch sounded, along with the rustle of wings, signalling that the owl had taken flight again.
The branch Eldarion was sitting on dipped slightly and Eldarion cracked open an eye. In front of him sat Túnír and Pippin.
"What are you doing?" asked Eldarion in surprise. Neither Túnír nor Pippin was not overly fond of heights, only going on to the ramparts because there was a two foot wall surrounding him on either side and the walkway was wide enough for three men to walk abreast. Seeing them in a tree, at least twelve feet from the ground, and out with easy reaching distance of the trunk was something Eldarion was not expecting.
"You have had the entire court asking for you again," stated Túnír. Eldarion cocked his head.
"Why? I told Rúmil where I was going this morning."
"Yes, but a majority of the people have just arrived from an attacked village. The idea that their Crown Prince was wandering around unarmed for most of the day did not settle well with a few of them. Alam was most distressed when you failed to appear at dinner," replied Túnír. "What did Haldir say to you?"
"I don't want to discuss it," replied Eldarion hunching himself up. Pippin yelped in protest as Eldarion moved into what he felt was a precarious position.
"You do not have a choice, my friend," said Túnír. "We did not come up here to be simply sent away again. You are going to tell us what is going on."
"You will believe me stupid. The more I think about it, the more foolish I feel myself," replied Eldarion.
"Hindsight is a blessing and a curse," said Pippin. "Now hurry up and tell us so that we can get down from here!"
Eldarion did not laugh. He knew what a show of bravery both Adan and Hobbit were putting on being this high from the ground without a suitable support. As such, he began to explain what had occurred that morning and minutes before in the stables.
When he had finished the pair were staring at him, his mouth hanging open. "You are letting him go?" asked Túnír.
"I only want him to be happy. There is only his brother left in this world and I do not see Rúmil protesting over the decision," replied Eldarion with a sigh.
"But…."
"What would you have me do, Túnír? For the past nine and a half years, Haldir has been fighting to survive from one day to the next. He has earned his rest yet he refuses to take it because he feels honour bound to protect me. I cannot ask that of him."
"As far as he is concerned it is not up to debate," said Pippin. "Can we please get down on the ground? I really do not like the way this branch in moving."
"Then you best go first," said Eldarion. His companions reacted immediately and scrambled as fast as they could down the tree. Eldarion descended at a slightly slower pace. Once on the ground, Eldarion sat by the base of the trunk and Túnír settled beside him while Pippin sat crossed-legged in front him.
"You are a lot happier than you have been these past few days," commented Eldarion. Túnír smiled.
"Uncle is on the mend and our people are out of danger for the moment," he said. "And I owe you thanks. If it hadn't been for you, I think I might have cracked the day after Uncle arrived in the city."
"We are friends Túnír. I would not have done anything else, especially considering all the support you have given me these last two years," replied Eldarion.
"Accept a compliment when one is given would you?" Túnír muttered.
Eldarion laughed. "Only if you do the same. I mean it Túnír, you have been the bright light at the end of a long and dark tunnel. I very much doubt I would be here still if you had not welcomed me with open arms." Túnír flushed slightly.
"You deliberately changed the subject!" he exclaimed.
"What did Haldir say that is leading you to the decision that it is best to let him go?" asked Pippin.
"That his dream of a peaceful world after Sauron is being shattered by the greed of man. Across the Sea he can find his perfect world and live out the rest of his days in peace," replied Eldarion.
"He means so little to you?"
"No! It is because I love him that much that I have to let him go," said Eldarion, tucking himself into a ball and resting his head on his knees. "I will miss him."
Eldarion buried his head in his arms, hiding his eyes from the pair. Túnír inched closer and wrapped his arms around Eldarion while Pippin held out a hand and placed it upon Eldarion's, both offering silent comfort to Eldarion as the youth fought to control his emotions.
Haldir was in a state of complete confusion. He had stood in Suldal's box for a few minutes after Eldarion had left. The stallion had wandered over to him, sensing the distress coming from the Elf, and nudged his shoulder. Haldir absently stroked Suldal's neck has he tried to determine what his next course of action.
'What am I to do, Suldal?' Haldir asked the animal. Suldal would have raised an eyebrow if his face muscles allowed him that capability. An Elf was asking him what he was to do? Wonders would never cease. In answer, Suldal settled for snorting, his breathe causing Haldir's hair to unsettle slightly. When it didn't appear to have the desired effect, he chomped at the end of Haldir's braid.
'Suldal!' chastised Haldir, removing the now slavered braid from the horse's mouth. He wiped the worst of the saliva from the hair using his tunic and was about to swing it out of Suldal's reach when he stopped.
'Celeborn,' he whispered in realisation, staring at the silver strands in his hand. Suldal tossed his head in agreement. He wasn't of Elven stock for nothing you know!
The Elf-Lord of Lothlórien had always treated the three brothers as though they were his sons and the three fatherless boys had returned the affection. While Haldir had tried his best to raise Rúmil and Orophin after their mother had sailed, there were times when he was simply unable to cope. During those times, Celeborn would offer him an ear to listen or shoulder to cry on, whichever was required. Hopefully, even though Haldir was well past his majority, and no longer bore the burden of being a surrogate parent, Celeborn's support was still on offer. Wrapping an arm around a startled Suldal's neck briefly, Haldir kissed the horse between the eyes.
'Thank you, mellon nîn,' he whispered before moving out of the stable in search of Celeborn. Suldal snorted before beginning on his oats. Elves, he decided, were definitely the strangest creatures to wander the Earth. my friend
Celeborn was sitting in the sitting room area of his quarters holding a conversation with Rúmil when Haldir practically came crashing through the door.
'Haldir, whatever is the matter?' asked Rúmil, immediately on alert, having caught sight of the slightly haunted look in his brother's eyes. 'Have you spoken to Eldarion?'
Haldir nodded his head but the haunted look didn't disappear from his eyes.
'I need to speak to Celeborn,' he said. 'Alone,' he added when Rúmil showed no inclination of moving.
Rúmil finishing his wine before standing. 'I will bid you good evening then. My Lord, brother.' With a nod to each of them, Rúmil wandered out of the room, not entirely sure of where he was headed and allowed his feet to lead him where they pleased.
'What can I do for you?' asked Celeborn, offering Haldir a glass of wine, which was refused.
'I need your help,' said Haldir sitting cross-legged on the floor and gazing up at Celeborn.
'What with?' asked Celeborn, as he refilled his own glass.
'Eldarion has released me from my promise,' said Haldir.
'I was under the impression he did not know of it,' replied Celeborn.
'Do you remember when I went to Gondor for Estel's hundredth Birthing Day celebrations?' asked Haldir. Slowly Celeborn nodded.
'I nearly died,' stated the younger Elf rather bluntly for such a delicate subject. Celeborn choked on his wine and stared wide-eyed at Haldir. 'The young Halfling, Pippin, told Eldarion of the promise I had made Kalya. When I woke I reiterated it.'
'Does Rúmil know you were 'taken ill'?' he asked.
'Celeborn, how could I tell Rúmil how close he came to loosing a second brother?' asked Haldir. 'He is still not fully healed from Orophin's murder!'
'How does the Halfling know of your promise?' asked Celeborn, deciding to change the conversational direction back to the original reason Haldir had sought him out.
'He was there,' replied Haldir, not going into too many details. 'Celeborn, Eldarion told me to sail.'
'What prompted him to do that?' asked Celeborn is surprise.
'I….I told him that….' Here Haldir cleared his throat and ready himself for a lecture. 'I told him that he was the reason I remain in this world.'
'You did what? Oh Haldir of all the things you could have said! You know how much he hates to see those he cares for suffer!' said Celeborn setting down his wine glass and rubbing a hand over his eyes.
'But it is true,' replied Haldir. 'I am still alive because of him. He is the reason I fight to see the next sunrise.'
'You never got that far in the conversation did you?' Haldir shook his head.
'He left before I had the chance to explain.'
'Unless you explain things to him quickly, he will begin to shut you out so that he can prepare himself for life without you,' said Celeborn.
'He is separated from Elboron yet he did not shut him out,' replied Haldir, sounding like a sulking child.
'Elboron is still within his reach. If you sail to Aman, you will walk out of his life forever. Just like Elrond did,' replied Celeborn, standing and pulling Haldir to his feet. 'Do you have any idea where he went after he left you?'
'He headed to the trees. It is too dark for him to leave the City boundaries,' replied Haldir.
'Go and speak to him. Now,' said Celeborn and all but dragged his March-Warden to the door.