Disclaimer: Lord of the rings and all related concepts are owned by Tolkien and Newline cinema. We intend to make no money from this writing venture and intend no plagiarism towards the author.
See the end of the chapter for any elvish translations.
A Work in Progress
Chapter two
Home to me is here, the stables holding the horses of the North Western Galadhrim army sixty odd horses each majestic, proud and handsome.
Andorian, my horse, held all of these qualities in abundance, his chestnut coat shining as a leaf does after rain. His head is always held up as if he is a Lord, which he is indeed, a lord among the horses.
As I brushed down his coat Andorian being as good as gold, though in my somewhat biased opinion he is better then gold, mithril in fact, a beryl among stones.
"Haldir?" Ah Rumil my beloved brother, though only half the time, otherwise he can be a pain let me tell you.
"Yes?" My silent time was gone, the excitement and general tone in Rumil's voice just gave it away, he wanted to tell me something and it would not wait.
"I have come to tell you that-"
"Yes?"
"To tell you that Lord Celeborn has requested your presence."
"And is that all?" In hindsight I shouldn't have asked him such a question, once he starts talking he squawks on for hours, elf or not his incessant chatter cannot be tolerated by the most patient elf like myself.
"Actually no, I have not had a decent conversation with you in quite some time."
"I really do not think that it would be wise to keep Lord Celeborn waiting," I interjected and I did not. I am not one to lie, I have nothing to lie about; Lord Celeborn is my superior as well as my Lord..
"Oh yes, yes," Rumil replied, distractedly patting Andorian's flank.
I left and strode towards the royal talans, elf and elleth alike bowing, and rightfully too, I had just kept orcs at bay again. My new tactic working perfectly, and the risk truly justified. I had had full confidence in the tactic, even if my fellow captains and undeniably my March Warden did not.
They do not like new things and previous events warrant such thoughts. We the Galadhrim, the tree people had survived without such risky tactics and if perchance another captain had dared bring up such an idea I would have immediately put it down as completely incomprehensible. But, luckily I had enough jurisdiction to allow such a feat.
I arrived in good time, nodding somewhat sourly at the Sentinels; the Lord's and Lady's 'Body guards' as it were, a force separate from the army, who believed there were separate from the rules as well.
They nodded back, through their grip on the hilts of their swords tightened, as if I would attack them! Though, if I did, I would surely win.
Entering the main talans I noticed that the general murmur was louder then usual, not that I was in a position to judge. I enter the royal talans once a year, for a meeting among the Captains, March Wardens, and the Commander in Chief himself.
I walked past Galdarion another captain, of the North West like myself, he smiled at me stiffly, though he kept his eyes averted; this did not bode well.
I did, however, stride resolutely forward. I was a captain, fearless in the face of danger. Whatever Lord Celeborn would say I would take it on the chin, I have a rather nice chin, angular and manly, ellith were quite taken with it and, well, me in general. I had suitors following me. I could see one there, a servant of Galadriel; a handmaiden, an elleth in one of the highest positions in Lothlorien.
I ignored her, better to keep her waiting, and Lord Celeborn was waiting, I unconsciously speed up.
The royal talans are beautiful, the leafy gold of the Mellyrn reflecting in pools of water dispersed among the fleets so that the sunlight and the gold of the leaves danced merrily across them.
As I ascended the stairs a pool of dread decided to drown me from the stomach up, but I continued, the mantra of "I am a general" passing across my thoughts, though the dread was not quenched.
I knocked on the door hesitantly, "Come in." Lord Celeborn's office was covered in weapons and maps tacked to the wall.
"My lord?" I bowed while inwardly wincing; I had let the question running through my head get the best of me. When I looked up I noticed that the Lady was here, Galadriel, Altariel, the beloved of every elf in this wood.
She was sitting on a large oak chair, dark brown from varnish. It was upholstered to the highest standard, in a dark red silk that looked to be freshly made.
Why the Lady was there I did not know, mayhap she had been passing by, though such a thought is a jest. The Lady goes where she will purposely. The two of them calling me together was not a good turn of events.
"As you well know elves have been departing to Valinor for quite some time."
I nodded. Were they planning on leaving? Or were they forcing me to leave? Though I could not think of a reason why. Mayhap my new tactic was distasteful too them, though I had been given full jurisdiction to do the move.
"The March Warden of the North west, Randor has decided that it is his time to leave, he has grown weary of this world."
Why is he telling me this?
"And we have decided that you will replace him."
My heart was beating so fast, me? As a March Warden? Well...I suppose I was the best elf for the job when you think about it.
"Your new tactic was genius, and that is what we need, new, fresh, ideas," Celeborn gestured at the map covered in arrows and pins which held my tactic.
"There are however, some conditions. When you became captain you were meant to marry. We exempt you from this rule as you were a young elf, you had risen through the ranks rather quickly, and it was decided that you could have more time. It has now been over five hundred years and you are still not married or even betrothed," Galadriel paused to let her words sink in, Married? The rule had always been at the back of my mind but I thought I could ignore it; suddenly that handmaiden wasn't such a bad idea.
It was an odd rule, very out dated. No such rule existed in Imladris or Mirkwood but then every realm had its oddities and foibles.
"I understand that; you have dome much for me and I will search-"
"No. You don't understand. To become a March Warden you must marry immediately."
"We have found a suitable match for you, her name is Aglarebwen. She is the daughter of one of Elrond's advisors."
One of Elrond's advisers? At least she will be well brought up, well read, and will listen to me unquestionably with at least some brain.
"So be it," I replied.
Galadriel smiled brightly, "You will be leaving tomorrow, I have told Lord Elrond to expect you in six days from now."
"How do you know that she has accepted?"
"She has."
"Then how do you know that I would have accepted?"
"You would have accepted." She replied with a glint in her eyes that I really didn't appreciate.
Oooo0oooO
Married? To be married? To an elleth I have never met or even heard of, what was this folly? Why did I accept? For the good of Lorien I suppose, but oh! To be a March Warden, the thought of 'what if she didn't like me' never once crossed my thoughts.
"Haldir! I see that Lord Celeborn did not tar you within an inch of you life! What did he want?" Rumil swaggered over to me; his eyes alight with mischief and general life.
"Nay, he would not do such a thing," I replied, my thoughts were clouded, my gaze faraway.
"What is wrong my beloved brother?" Rumil's tone had changed to being concerned.
"To be wed..." I sighed repositioning myself on a tree branch.
"I do not follow," a silence reigned.
"I have been given the position of March Warden."
"That is brilliant news!" He burst a smile spreading across his face, "Yet you do not seem to be taking it very well."
"Aye" I replied despondently.
"But you have been working towards a March Warden status for quite some years."
"So I have." I replied idly plucking a nearby leaf from its stem and twisting it thoughtfully.
"Then why are you acting so?"
"There is a rule." I sighed heavily, crushing the leaf into my palm.
"And you always follow them," I suppose he was telling the truth.
"That is precisely the point. To become a March Warden, I must marry." I uncurled my fist and stared at the strange green pulp that remained.
"Surely they would waver such a rule? It is old and has never been enforced."
"That is because every March Warden has always been wed."
"Then decline?" Rumil frowned heavily, standing up straight, taking his weight off a nearby tree that he had been leaning against.
"I cannot." I replied firmly, not quite looking him in the eye. I found the smooth bark behind and slightly to the right of him far more interesting.
"Why ever not?" A good question, I must say. And I have been asking myself the same question.
"Duty."
Rumil's face did not show understanding.
"I have a duty to the wood, I am the perfect elf for the position."
"Yes I understand that, you have always had that sense of duty even if it is somewhat warped. But why does one need to be married?"
"A March Warden carries a large burden. A wife helps him with it, she cooks, clean, and sews, whilst also doing the things I can not." I recited from memory, remembering a conversation I had had with Lord Celeborn many centuries ago.
"You are an elf of high rank, surely one of Lady Galadriel's Maidens would be loaned to you!"
"You know we do not have servants!" I snapped, I should have known better then to tell him of Mortal Kings, with servants that work their whole lives, "Elves would not and will not spend their eternal lives in servitude. Galadriel's handmaidens are honoured friends of the Lord and Lady, and will not be treated as such. They will not be handed around like wine to whom the Lord and Lady wish, they are beings with feelings."
"Are you not a being?" He asked quietly, staring at me solemnly.
"It was my choice. I am to marry Aglarebwen, the daughter of Golwen a councillor of Elrond."
"Is that what you wish?"
"It is." And this time it was true, I had manipulated myself into agreeing. It was for the good of Lothlorien was it not?
Galadhrim: Elves of Lothlorien
Mithril: True silver- a valuable metal
Beryl: A valuable green stone found by Aragorn by the bridge: left by Glorfindel
Ellith: Female elves (plural)
Elleth: Female elf (singular)
Mellyrn: Plural of Mallorn a tree indigenous to Lothlorien.
The way we see the ranking in the Galadhrim army (which may turn out to be completely backwards but our knowledge of the military is minimal).
Commander-in-chief: Lord Celeborn
March wardens: There are four, one for each region. North East, South East, North West and South West.
Captains: Each region has four different troops containing up to fifteen elves. There is a captain in charge of each troop. There are always three troops in each region at any one time allowing for one troop to have a break.
Edited: 1st August 2006