Okay, so as you've all noticed from chapter 8, I've recovered the rest of this story. Unfortunately it wasn't completed, so the last two or three chapters wont be as good as the rest because I had to write them over Christmas break, but you guys shouldn't have to worry about that for a while because there's still another 60 pages or so before we get to that. But in the meanwhile, enjoy this chapter and the chapters yet to come.
Naltariel sat sadly in the dark caves next to Eowyn. She could hear the whispers of the mountain around her, but it did not bring her comfort. Her keen Elven ears had already picked up the sounds of marching feet. It would not be much longer until the humans could hear it too.
"You love that Elf, don't you?" Eowyn said quietly at her side. It was then that she noticed the woman had been watching her intently for some moments.
Naltariel slowly looked to her friend. "He is Haldir." She said simply, speaking nothing of the feeling of foreboding writhing in her heart. She felt nearly sick with fear but she did not think it was because of the Orcs marching near. It was something else, far deeper, more spiritual.
Suddenly one of the women cried out. "They're coming! I can hear their feet!" She cried. Naltariel quickly rose and went to the woman, comforting her as best she could. Many others began to weep and panic as the dark army marched above their heads. The walls of the cave shook and dirt fell from the roof onto their heads and shoulders.
Naltariel didn't know what to do. She needed comfort herself, yet she had to help soothe all these women. It was too wearisome a job for just Eowyn. The women held their children, which had been spared from battle, close to them as though they could be snatched away at any moment like their older sons had.
"Ai! laurie lantar lassi surinen,
yeni unotime ve ramar aldaron!
Yeni ve linte yuldar avanier
mi oromardi lisse-miruvoreva
Andune pella, Vardo tellumar
nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
omaryo airetari-lirinen.
Si man i yulma nin enquantuva?
An si Tintalle Varda Oiolosseo
ve fanyar maryat Elentari ortane,
ar ilye tier undulave lumbule;
ar sindanoriello caita mornie
i falmalinnar imbe met, ar hisie
untupa Calaciryo miri oiale.
Si vanwa na, Romello vanwa, Valimar!
Namarie! Nai hiruvalye Valimar.
Nai elye hiruva. Namarie."
She sang softly into the darkness, the cries and weeping came near to a stop almost at once and her voice rang clear through the caves. The women around her knew it was a sad song, yet somehow it brought ease to their troubled hearts. Many of the children crowded around her while their mothers watched from a distance. One little grubby child crawled up into her lap. Perhaps this would not be too bad.
"To the Keep! To the Keep!" Haldir heard Aragorn yelling from behind him. "Haldir! To the Keep!"
Haldir viscously slashed the nearest Orc to him, taking it's head off. He was on the outer wall and had been one of the closest to the piece that had been destroyed with the devilry of Saruman. He jabbed his blade into the throat of another Orc just climbing over the wall and turned to flee.
A large Uruk was suddenly standing before him without fear. It raised it's crooked scrimtar threateningly and stepped forward. Haldir stepped back gracefully, no fear upon his face as he confronted the Uruk.
"To the Keep, Haldir!" He heard Aragorn yell from somewhere nearer by. Haldir nodded and swiftly jumped out of the beasts first swing then turned and ran towards the Keep, relying too much on the Orcs clumsiness.
He cried out as he felt the Orcs scrimtar come down on his shoulder, he fell to his knee's. He turned and tried to lift his sword to defend himself but the Uruk was in the state of war adrenaline and the scrimtar came swiftly down on him again.
The world seemed to slow to barely a crawl as he felt his immortality slipping away from him. He saw Aragorn come running to his side, driving his sword into the Uruk. Then his head was being cradled in Aragorn's arms.
"Haldir!" He cried in anguish.
"Naltariel . . ." Was all he could get through his lips, his hand going slowly to the Estelara.
"She is safe, Haldir. I will keep her safe. No harm will come to her. I promise." Aragorn said determinedly. Haldir nodded slowly then closed his eyes, letting darkness claim him.
Eomer and his Men rode up over the hill behind Gandalf on the fifth morn. He looked in horror upon the destruction before him. At least two thousand Orcs were still battling outside the fortress. A huge gaping hole was in the wall of the fortress of which Orcs constantly streamed into. They had breached the unbreakable fortress and were now winning the battle.
"Forth Eorlingas!" He cried, raising his sword, Guthwine.
"Helm! Helm!" The riders behind him shouted. "Helm is arisen and comes back to war! Helm for Theoden King!" The Riders of Rohan and the White Rider charged down the steep hill into the fray. Slashing and hacking at every Orc they could reach.
Naltariel paused in her song and looked up to the roof of the cave. She could hear the hooves of horses upon the ground above her. "Eomer has come! Eomer and his Riders have come!" She cried happily.
The women in the cave were suddenly relieved and there was rejoicing, for tales of Eomer's exploits were well known to them. The Riders of Rohan, they knew, were responsible for keeping them so safe for all the years previous. They galloped through Rohan far and wide searching for Orcs and slaying them.
"How do you know this, My Lady?" One of the older children asked. She was slender and had long blonde hair, she reminded her of Eowyn. Naltariel smiled and pulled her hair away from her ears. The child's face instantly turned into an expression of shock. "Your an Elf!" She cried in surprise.
"Yes, did not you know that?" Naltariel asked cautiously. If all in the cave had thought her a human, what would they do when they realized she was an Elf?
"One of the ladies over there," The girl pointed to a small group of woman talking softly. "Said something about Elves, but I've never seen one before. Is it true that you are so light that you can walk on top of water?" She asked in awe.
Naltariel laughed, where had that come from? "No, I sink in water just like you do."
"Oh. But you can talk to trees, right?" The girl asked somewhat disappointed.
"I can talk to all living things." Naltariel said softly.
"Can you teach me?" The girl asked hopefully. "They said I have Elf blood in my veins somewhere."
Naltariel looked at the girl thoughtfully for a moment then picked up a stone from the ground. She placed the rock in the girls hand and held it close to the girl's chest. "We do not listen with our ears, but with our hearts. If you have Elvish blood within you, you may be able to hear this stones tale. They are much quieter than trees or water, but stone too has a voice." She said softly. "You must reach out to it with understanding and care in your heart. If you wish to learn the ways of the Elves, you too must respect all nature as we do."
The girl nodded and closed her eyes, holding the stone to her chest but after a few moments she opened her eyes again with a frown. "I can't hear anything." She said in disappointment.
"Have patience, little one. I have been listening to the voices of the world for a very long time now, yet only recently did I discover the voice of stone." Naltariel said soothingly and placed a hand on the girls shoulder. The girl nodded and walked off to a solitary corner with the stone in her hand, she would keep trying.
Eomer stood silently atop the battlements of the wall looking at the destruction before him. So much death, he thought to himself. He had watched as both Hattim and Lorund had been felled in battle, only Marik remained of his closest friends, but beyond them he had lost many more. Now he wondered why he had been given the chance to live while their lives had been snuffed out like a candle with too little air.
He looked down in sorrow, but his eye caught the glimmer of something in the setting sun as he did. He slowly started towards it before his mind even registered what he was doing. He looked down upon the glimmering object; he recognized it as the Estelara around the lifeless throat of the Elf, Haldir. He shook his head in regret and lightly plucked the chain from the corpse's throat.
It was light within his hand and glittered as though a sun of its own was trapped within the jeweled pendant. He sighed and left the battlements, slipping silently into the keep. He looked across at the women coming out of the caves and took in a steadying breath. He knew what he must do.
His breath caught in his throat as he saw the brilliant blonde hair of the elf-maid come out of the darkness, she smiled happily to be free of the stone. He started towards her, sorrow taking its grip on him more with each step. How did one disclose the news that their lover was dead?
"My Lady." He said slowly, bowing his head slightly as he came before her.
"Lord Eomer!" She said in happiness.
He took a deep breath, trying to find the words to say what must be said, but he could not. He took her hand and placed the Estelara within it. "I'm sorry."
Naltariel looked to him puzzled for a moment before looking down into her hand. Her heart stopped, this had to be a mistake. She shook her head in disbelief, Haldir must have dropped it, she thought to herself, trying desperately to deny the truth.
"Where did you find this?" She demanded venomously. "On the ground. He dropped it! You would have me believe--" She stopped short in her ranting at the look on his face; the look of pity she saw in his eyes.
"I am sorry, Naltariel. I found him upon the battlements." He said softly.
She could feel tears welling up in her eyes but she fought them back. She turned from Eomer for the door. She would find him, and she would prove Eomer wrong. He wasn't gone, he couldn't be gone. Not now.
She felt Eomer's restraining hand suddenly clamp upon her arm, refusing to let go. Blinded by her tears she struggled against the grip, she had to go to Haldir! She had to help him! The grip tightened the more she struggled against it and soon she found herself with two strong arms around her.
She felt hope leaving her, she knew as well as he did that she had lost her lover. Still, she wished she did not have to admit it. She had known Haldir for so long, she remembered. . .
"I bet you'd be so scared of an Orc you'd run away crying." Orophin said tauntingly.
"Yeah, you'd run away and cry!" Rumil said in agreement.
"I would not!" She cried indignantly, staring haughtily at the two older boys before her. "And how would you know? You've never seen one!"
"I have too!" Orophin and Rumil both cried in unison, trying to sound strong in front of the girl.
"I bet you there's one in those woods right there, just waiting until your alone. It's scared because me and Rumil are here!" Orophin said proudly.
She looked to the wood nervously, the shadows laying eerily across the ground in the fading sunlight. "There is not, Oro! Stop trying to scare me!" She said apprehensively.
Suddenly there was a movement in the bush and she was flung to the ground, the Orc from the wood on top of her holding her down. She screamed bloody murder and blindly swatted and slapped against the body above her. Her nails dug into flesh and she ripped angrily across the beast face.
"Ow!" cried a familiar voice. She heard the laughing of Orophin and Rumil not too far away. She opened her eyes slowly, blinking away her tears and stared up into familiar blue-grey eyes.
"Haldir?" She asked in surprise. She had slashed her nails across his left cheek, leaving four long gashes. She sat up hurriedly, Haldir falling to the ground on his behind. His hand went to his cheek and he saw the look of shock as it came away with blood.
"Look what you did!" He exclaimed.
"You shouldn't have jumped on me, Haldir!" She cried in protest, shaking the leaves from her hair.
"I didn't make you bleed!" He complained.
All the while Rumil and Orophin were laughing a few feet away. "Go away Oro and Rumi, this is all your fault. Go away before I claw your faces up too!" She cried, glaring at the two. Their laughter died and they ran away into the shadows of the wood around them, no doubt heading for home as it was getting late. "I'm sorry Haldir." She said helplessly.
He smiled slightly at her and quickly got to his feet. "It's okay, Naltari. It didn't really hurt." He lied, trying to wipe the blood away from his wounds.
"Sit back down, Haldir! Mother's taught me a little bit of healing. Maybe I can make it better so we won't get in trouble." She said in distress, getting up onto her knees. Haldir sighed and sat back down on the ground.
She looked at the wounds she had caused him and gently touched them with her fingers, he winced. "You lied! It does too hurt." She cried in surprise.
"Only a little bit." He conceded as he watched her with interest. He placed the palm of her hand on his cheek and whispered some things in Old Elvish, the language he wasn't allowed to learn. He already knew Sindarin, Quenya, and a little bit of Westron, but the old language was for magic alone.
Immediately the pain began to lessen and he could feel some sort of magic fixing the wound, closing the skin back over where it had been torn. A few minutes later she opened her eyes and removed her hand to look at his cheek, it was better.
"I'm sooooo sorry, Haldir." She said childishly, her cheeks flaming red.
"You owe me." Was all he said, fascinated by the flush of her cheeks.
"What?" She asked in surprise, staring at him in disbelief. "You jumped on me!"
"I want a kiss. If you don't I'll tell your Father that you clawed up my face and you'll get in trouble." He said mischievously.
She gaped at him in shock, her mouth hanging open and her eyes bugged out. "Haldir!" She cried. "Why I ought to claw out your eyes!" She lunged towards him, but he was too fast for her. He had been training to be a warrior and rolled out of the way, his hand clasped her hip and she rolled with him.
He landed on top of her and smirked, victory glittering in his eyes. She glared at him and struggled against his grip, but then he took both her arms and held them over her head so she couldn't hurt him. He quickly lowered his mouth to hers, giving her a soft kiss, her first kiss.
"Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" He asked cockily.
She glared at him and pushed him off her. "I'd rather kiss a Dwarve, than you, Haldir." She said haughtily as she scrambled to her feet. She could see the hurt in his eyes but she didn't care, she was angry and he'd have the rest of time to regret what he'd done.
She collapsed into Eomer's arms, weeping bitterly, shaking her head as she tried to rid herself of her grief. Why did Iluvatar have to be so cruel, she thought, her tears falling unchecked from her eyes.
"Naltari?" She heard Legolas ask in concern behind her. She turned her head slightly; the blurred vision of both Legolas and Aragorn greeted her eyes. They both looked tired, exhausted, but she could do nothing to help them. Not when her grief was so strong.
Legolas stepped forward and lifted her into his arms. "You need rest, Naltari." He murmured, carrying her away to her chambers for her to get some sleep. The Estelara was still clutched tightly in her hand, the jewels biting into her skin but she wouldn't loosen her grip, it was all she had left of Haldir.
Eomer watched as the Elf, Legolas, casually took her from his arms, a blur of different emotions surfacing only to be replaced with a speed faster than the current of the Anduin. At first he felt jealousy as he watched the elf-maid collapse so willingly into the other Elf's arms, then he felt anger. Why should the Elf be the one to carry and hold her? This feeling was soon replaced with sorrow and understanding. Only an Elf would be able to understand what she was going through.
Legolas carried Naltariel silently down the hall and soon they turned a corner and were gone from his view. Only then did he realize that Aragorn was watching him intently, he turned questioningly to Isildur's heir.
"Eomer. . ." He said slowly, cautiously choosing his words before he said them. "She gave both her heart and body to Haldir for her love of him. I can see the emotions running through your mind; I . . . do not think she will accept the love of another, at least not during your lifetime."
Eomer's eyes narrowed in anger that his thoughts could be read so easily by this man. "It was but worry for her that you saw upon my face, no more." He said sharply. Aragorn nodded slowly, his grey eyes watched him in a gaze that seemed to see through his flesh right into the depths of his soul.
"So be it, but remember my words, dear friend." Aragorn said and gave him a pat upon the shoulder. "You should get some rest, My Lord, you too are struggling with grief."
Eomer watched in contempt as the heir of Gondor walked silently away from him down the hall, he sighed and thought briefly of sleep but then shook his head. He would find no rest in this place, not after losing so many. He slowly made his way to the small library of the fortress, where he found his uncle sitting forlornly with Gandalf.
"Eomer!" cried the king. "The troubles of my heart are lifted with your arrival."
"My Lord, it does me well to see you healthy again." He replied stiffly, he was not in the mood for the uncomfortable apology and such that would follow. He could feel Gandalf's eyes upon him and, as he had thought Aragorn's gaze was unsteadying, the old wizard's was far worse.
"Yes, I suppose you have not seen me since my recovery." Theoden said sadly. "I'm sorry, my boy, you are welcome anywhere within Rohan. It was not I that spoke your exile but that serpent Wormtongue."
Eomer bowed slightly and accepted his uncle's apology. He longed to leave the kings company now and perhaps take a ride to sort out his thoughts, but that would not be possible at the moment. Theoden was now asking how bad the Orc infiltration was, he wanted to know everything that had happened since his exile.
Many hours later he was finally able to leave the king and wizards company. He hurried down the halls quickly, seeking his chambers, for now he was utterly exhausted. He suddenly paused.
"Damn you, Naltariel! Don't do this!" It was the voice of Aragorn behind the door to his left. He silently crept forward and could hear the bitter weeping of the elf-maid. Whatever the future king of Gondor was doing, the maiden did not appreciate it.
He slammed open the door, prepared to give Aragorn a large piece of his mind. He froze at the site before him. Naltariel lay upon the bed, the face even paler than it had been when he had first seen her, her eyes and cheeks streaked red with tears. Around the bed stood Legolas, both of Haldir's brothers and Aragorn, all with looks of grief upon their faces.
He saw Naltariel shift her eyes over to him, a weak smile coming to her face "Valanya." (My Vala) She whispered softly. Aragorn gave a slight nod of his head and the three Elves stood shoulder to shoulder before her, blocking her view of him.
Aragorn stalked over to him, pushing the heir of Rohan against the wall and holding him there with his forearm pressed firmly against his chest. Anger and frustration was clearly etched across his face. He had made a promise to a dying friend to keep Naltariel safe, and now she was dying. He had not remembered that Elves could perish of a broken heart at the time of the promise, and now he was left fighting to keep her alive.
"If you can save her, do it." He said quietly. "If not, leave. She needs no more grief to hurry her on her fatal path. She will die if she cannot mend her grief."
Eomer stared at the other Man for a moment and nodded curtly. Aragorn sighed and released his grip on him, stepping away a few paces.
Eomer cautiously walked towards the elf-maid, he could see a shadow of a smile return when she caught sight of him in her glazed over eyes. He knelt softly beside the bed, her hand reached dazedly towards him. He took it and squeezed it reassuringly.
"Naltariel?" He asked softly, he watched with some hope as her eyes focused again.
"He's really gone?" She asked sadly, her eyes looking pleadingly to him for some hope.
Eomer took a deep breath, looking up to the Elves standing above him for some sort of encouragement. Orophin nodded slowly, his own eyes shadowed with the grief of losing his brother. "Yes, he's gone." He said slowly. New tears began to form in her eyes, pushing the old ones out and down her cheeks.
"It's all my fault!" She moaned between sobs. "If I hadn't run away he wouldn't have some here looking for me!" Her eyes unfocussed again and her wails of grief could clearly be heard down the corridor.
"It's not your fault! How could he have known this was to be his fate?" Eomer demanded. "What would he think of this? What would he think of you forsaking your own life and happiness because of his passing?"
She stopped and the room fell utterly silent. She looked at him through tear-brimmed eyes and ran a trembling hand across his cheek as though to assure herself that he was real. "You're right, Eomer. You have a Vala's wisdom within you." She said softly.
His hand went to hers and he held her hand in place for a moment before letting it fall limply back onto the bed. She struggled to sit upright, looking apologetically to the three Elves and the heir of Gondor.
She pulled both Orophin and Rumil into a tight embrace. "Inye nyere" (I'm sorry) She whispered to them. They hugged her back, soon followed by Aragorn and Legolas joining her embrace.
"You need to rest, Naltari." Aragorn said softly, releasing her from his embrace. The others nodded in agreement and slowly filed out of the room, Eomer leaving last.
"Eomer." She called softly. Eomer turned, looking at her in question. She gestured for him to sit in the chair beside the bed. He did as was asked and waited for her to talk. "Thank you." She whispered.
He smiled slightly, his fingers gently caressing her cheek. "You need not thank me." He murmured.
She took his hand and kissed his it lightly in a misguided gesture of thankfulness. "I owe you my life, more than once." She asked softly.
"It's alright." He whispered. "It would have been dishonorable to leave you to perish."
She nodded slightly her eyes closing sadly. "I will see you again when I awake." She said softly.
He nodded and pressed a kiss to her forehead then quickly left the room, leaving her to her rest. He closed the door softly and made his way to his room to finally get some rest.
The light of the Estelara shone brightly through the gloomy darkness, shrouding it's bearer in mystery. Behind the jewel all that could be seen were mounted cavalry men, their helms and the tips of their spears reflecting the Elvish light. They all stood silent as they looked down at the scene before them.
A large field writhed with masses of Orcs and war towers and siege engines, in front of the Orcs stood a city of white stone, its beauty marred by the destruction caused by the vile invasion. Few Men were left to protect the walls, the hope of the city's defenders all but gone.
Then light overcame darkness and the cavalry charged down onto the field, destroying the foe in a short time, the Estelara sending hope back into the hearts of the city as they praised the gloomy dawn.