A work in progress
Chapter sixteen
POV: Haldir
By: PiXiE
Today was the day; we were leaving to Lothlorien, just Aglarebwen and myself on our own for a week without anyone else. Oh how I was looking forward to it.
I had not seen her since that day at the archery field and I had studiously avoided Lord Glorfindel as well as the twins who had taken to making over dramatised enactments of the event, involving Glorfindel having his ear sliced off last time I saw it.
Aglarebwen had not made conversation with me. While this was good, it meant we didn't have to force conversation it also had a negative impact for we were likely to have long awkward pauses during out six-day travel.
I was up just before dawn making sure that all supplies had been packed and that the horses had been readied. Usually such a journey would take five days but I had taken into account Aglarebwen's lack of experience in the wilderness.
"Haldir?" I looked up in surprise to see Aglarebwen's father in front of me looking bemused.
"Golwen, may I help you?"
"Look after her" He pleaded earnestly much to my surprise "She is very fragile" really "This is a very important stage in her life and she is emotionally delicate. She feels we are abandoning her, which is of course ridiculous, she needs to move on, she is no longer a child. This marriage is the best thing that has happened to her, I know that but prove it to her"
I nodded "I will look after her as I would my soldiers"
Golwen shook his head "Remember her whole life is in your hands, both her mental and physical well being are in your hands, her very happiness"
Yet again I nodded. Did everyone think I was incapable of looking after someone on an emotional level? Had I not raised my brothers practically single handily? Yes, there were Ellyn but surely an elleth is not so different? "Yes I realise that and I promise to look after Aglarebwen"
He looked at me, boring into my brain as if searching for something "She will be difficult, of that I can assure you, perhaps her naneth and I gave her to much of a free reign" He mused "But you could perhaps make it easier,"
I paused waiting for him to continue when he did not I gave him a 'Go on' to which he frowned "my daughter, Aglarebwen" He said the name as if it was foreign to his mouth. "She...while she was named Aglarebwen at birth, it is not her name. She has never been called Aglarebwen, I nicknamed her Laingalad a week after her birth and she has been called that since, it would be easier for both of you to call her this"
I sighed, "I am not purposely being difficult. I know you all call her Laingalad but, quite simply, she has not asked me to do so, and until she does I will continue to call her Aglarebwen"
Dolwen nodded "You will be leaving soon, navaer" goodbye
"navear" I replied distractedly, I could see the horses being brought to me.
Looking to Anar I could see that it was dawn and Aglarebwen had yet to arrive even though I had distinctly told her mother that we were to leave at this time.
"Well mellon nin, I believe this is the last time I shall see you as a single elf" I smiled softly at Arwen before pulling her into a hug.
"You will not come for the wedding?" I questioned slightly sad, Arwen was a good friend, and it would make the experience at least enjoyable.
She chewed her lip slightly "Ada says that if El and El are prepared to travel with me I may go. I think they will if they can bear the loss of loosing their childhood friend, it means they have to grow up as well"
I nodded "It is odd to think that Aglarebwen is older then you" I mused aloud "She is more carefree"
"She is an only child, her father is always busy so she rarely sees him and her mother...well you have seen what she is like, always shirking responsibility. She really is a free spirit. I, meanwhile, have responsibilities to Imladris, Ada and nana raised me well" She smiled a bittersweet smile looking slightly over my shoulder "They have arrived."
I turned to see Aglarebwen, her nana, Elrond and his sons walking towards us.
"Not propositioning our dear March-warden are you?" One of the twins questioned.
Arwen rolled her eyes "Elladan I really think you need a wife" She replied grinning wickedly at his chagrined expression.
"Now, now, cease your bickering" Elrond smiled. I smiled at him, gave Arwen an extra squeeze before mounting my horse and waiting for Aglarebwen to say her goodbyes.
Leaving Imladris was then a slow progress, riding very slowly as Aglarebwen stared at everything hard, tears starting to well up in her eyes. I looked away and left her to her grief riding steadily.
Countryside rolled by through the day both of us not exchanging words. We stopped two hours past sunset and started to set up camp, well at least I did
"What are you doing?" I asked, as she sat on the ground staring despondently ahead.
She raised a brow in question "Sitting" She replied. The cheek, honestly, why did I think this journey would not be easy?
"The horses need to be untacked could you do that please?" I asked civilly.
"Ok...and what do I do with the reins?" She asked, one does wonder what her parents taught her; surely she had travelled between elven realms and even if she hadn't common sense told her that there were no pegs in the middle of nowhere.
"Put them where I put all the saddle bags, and water skins" Surprisingly she complied
"What are you doing?" She questioned after finishing the task
"Making a fire" was my succinct reply, what else could I be doing with a tinderbox?
"Oh.... ok then..."
There was a pregnant pause while I continued to build the fire not really up to make strained conversation.
"Where are the horses going?" She asked urgently
I looked up to see the horses trotting off somewhere, most likely to graze; I repressed the urge to laugh at her innocence "Don't worry. They will be back in the morning" I consoled going back to my fire
"Are you sure? I am not prepared to walk all the way to Lorien"
I couldn't help but laugh this time. Walking all the way to Lorien? More as likely we turn around and walk back to Imladris. Her general inexperience when it came to things such as this surprised me, but then it shouldn't, she was an elleth, most don't venture out of their realms unless they were marrying, which she was. "Perfectly sure, Anarion will not stray too far, he is only grazing and I'm sure Celairclaur will stay with him."
"I'll take your word for it, seeing as you have been through these procedures most likely a million times before"
"I wouldn't quite say a million times, but could you pass me that pan? And the water skins?" I had now finished the fire and needed to boil some water to make dinner.
"Well, more times then me anyway," She answered giving me the pan and water skin before sitting by the fire.
I meanwhile stood up shouldering my bow and quiver, leaving my knives at a safe distance away from her.
"Where are you going?" She asked
"To hunt" I replied "We shall be eating rabbit for dinner. We are in a safe area but I will leave my knives here just in case. Do not touch them unless you have to, they are very sharp and dangerous"
She gave me a funny look and I suppose it was justified, I was treating her like an elfling rather then the 2540-year-old elf she was.
"I'm over two thousand years old. I do know what knives are"
I laughed, that was an answer I would have expected "I would hope so, I should be back within the hour.
The rest of the evening was conducted without conversation, other the cursory saes please and Hannon lle thank you
She unrolled her bedroll an hour before midnight, though she didn't fall asleep for another hour, instead she rolled around on the ground trying to get comfortable.
I didn't sleep, not because the ground was too hard, I was used to sleeping on hard ground, but because I had to keep watch.
The sun rose and she showed no inclination of waking, so I prepared the horses, which had been sleeping nearby and ate my breakfast which was a piece of lembas.
As the sun started to rise, I decided to wake Aglarebwen, I called her name a few times, but this didn't seem to do anything.
"Aglarebwen, wake up. I know you need your beauty sleep, but we must be leaving"
She stirred before replying shakily "First of all that is not my name, second you didn't tell me we were leaving at the crack of dawn"
"The sun rose an hour ago, now get up, have a quick breakfast, and then we ride"
Her expression said it all, she was not happy to be up, particularly by me. Growling she threw back her blanket before grumbling, "I've only just managed to catch some sleep, and you want me to get up, and ride? Very funny"
I pulled her blanket out of her hand "am I laughing? To make the best time we must leave early. As for not sleeping you have been doing so for the last four hours, more than enough"
"Four hours may be enough for you, what do you want me to do? Fall off my horse or something?"
Why am I so sure that she has had two or three days without sleep before this, and as for sleep...."I have not slept Hiril nin. I have seen Ithil rise and fall, and Anar has crested over the Misty Mountains. You will not fall off the horse, you can hardly be weary, only riding for 16 hours yesterday, it is hardly of any note"
I heard her mutter something along the lines of "Stupid elf" But I may have misheard her. She then said aloud "Fine!" She walked over to a bag and pulled out a piece of Lembas "At this rate I'll look worse then an orc on our arrival"
"When did you last see an orc?" I asked eyebrow quirked in question "For I can truly say you look nothing like them" My hand as if working on its own reached out and stroked her cheek. I pulled back abruptly, my mind trying to ignore how soft her skin was. Getting up and walking away hurriedly I started to bury the remains of the fire.
"How many more days until we arrive?" She asked I could hear her take a bite out of the lembas.
"Already tiring of me?" Why did I think her answer would be yes? "We have five until we arrive in Lorien, and then an extra day until we arrive in Caras Galadhon" We had already started climbing up Hithaeglir misty Mountains and the high peaks of the mountains were not yet capped with snow so it should be relatively easy to cross them, arriving at the other side of the mountain this evening.
"What is it like there? For I have heard that it is a sight to behold"
I smiled, I loved to talk to Lothlorien, my home, the most beautiful place in Middle Earth as far as I am concerned "It is indeed full of gold and silver like our Lord and Lady. The trees are magnificent and reach quite a spectacular height, but you will see this when you arrive. The people there are all friendly and welcoming, not everyone is a scholar as you are lead to believe. Some of them are quite the mischief makers, including my brother Orophin," I added sourly.
Sorting out the mischief my brother had sometimes cause problems, though he had become better at shielding them from me, Aglarebwen would probably get on quite well with him as long as he didn't flirt with her too much, though I would hope that he would respect the fact that she is my betrothed.
"I see, and are your brother's anything like you?" I frowned in thought, it was a good question
"It depends on who you ask, I suppose we all share certain aspects of each other, I raised them so in many ways they're my children rather then siblings, but they can be irritating and I suppose they feel the same way about me. I suppose I can be slightly overbearing sometimes."
"I can hardly judge as I hardly know you" Though she has an eternity to do so, and I her "Shall we leave? Have you eaten?"
I nodded "I ate before I woke you, and the horses have already been bridled and are ready to ride, we are just waiting for her ladyship" I easily mounted my horse and waited for her to attach her bedroll to the horse before mounting.
* * *
Our next conversation, or argument as it turned into occurred as we set camp that day, just over the peak of the mountain, still on the high pass.
I had just caught yet another rabbit and spent over an hour doing this, as rabbits at this altitude were rare. "Could you prepare this rabbit, saes? please" It was a completely polite and acceptable question
"Can't you do it?" She asked
"I just spent an hour trying to find the rabbit, and I made the dinner yesterday" It was only fair for her to make the dinner today.
"I'm not touching that" She said her voice full of distaste
"You were quite happy to eat it yesterday" I pointed out logically.
"That doesn't meant I want to take it's guts out" She replied
"Surely you have been taught how to de-gut an animal, as well as skin it?" I asked incredulously
"No, that was left to the cooks" She replied as if my idea was ridiculous
"Well then...I shall show you how" This seemed fair, she didn't know how, I did, I could teach her this.
"No, I'm not touching live flesh, the poor thing was alive"
"You are jesting!" I said disbelievingly
"You ate that rabbit yesterday and it had been alive less then an hour before"
"But it didn't look like a living animal then" She continued persistently "It didn't resemble the creature you have in your hands"
I was getting slightly angry now "Well you are going to have to learn to deal with it. In Caras Galadhon you cook your own meals for most of the week, we only eat as a community one a week. You will have to cook for us the rest of the week" Surely she already knew this?
"Cook? If you want me to cook, then don't expect meat on the table, you can have anything else, so long as it's not meat"
"Well then, I suppose you won't be touching a cooked meal then" I snapped, my usually cool temper rising.
Aglarebwen stood up, "expect me back in a few hours then" She said before walking off. I spent the time she was away cooking the rabbit, and then eating on my own. After this I worried. Surely she should have been back after an hour. And she hadn't taken any form of weapon to defend herself with.
Just as I was about to get up and go in search of her, she arrived. Well at least her footsteps did, she was obviously still angry stomping around like that. Attracting Eru knows what.
When I did see her, she was holding some berries, at least she could tell what wasn't poisonous, while I could heal wounds to an extent, herbal remedies to counter poison was never my strong point.
"You know in the time it has taken you to get those berries you could have prepared, cooked and eaten that rabbit?" I commented by way of greeting.
"Yes, well seeing that I'm unwilling to prepare it, berries will suit me fine"
I couldn't help but ask "And do you plan on living off of berries in Lorien?" it was a valid question for she had all but said she could not cook, and I am not going to add to my already increasing workload the task of cooking for an ill fated elleth.
"I'll find something to suit my needs, if not I shall write to Ada for advice"
"And you know he will tell you precisely what I am telling you. A March warden's wife cooks and cleans while he is away"
She narrowed her eyes, I had clearly touched a nerve "yes, well, I am not your wife quite yet. I have to do nothing for you"
"You might as well get into practice now, for we are to be wed in two months" Upon her face came a look of shock, perhaps she didn't quite no this yet...."then I propose you practice a bit less chauvinism, and a lot more compassion towards an elleths first journey through the wilderness. If I had not know better I would of though you had a bitter relic of an ellon then the favoured march warden you claim to be"
She was definitely getting into it now, it seemed her tirade would never stop.
"Even in my soldiers first outing they will pull their weight"
"I am not one of your soldiers!!!! I am in individual!"
So she keeps on saying, the difference between the two as far as I could see was very small.
I glowered and yet again I lost my temper "Yes you are, an impudent, impertinent and incompetent individual. Who does not know a good thing when she comes to it." It was a good idea we were in the middle of nowhere.
"Good things come to those who wait. If I wait long enough maybe you will abandon this obvious mismatch, like I hope." How did an argument about a rabbit go back to the never-ending question of just why we were betrothed?
"And disappoint both your parents, Elrond and my realm? They want a March warden and I will give them one," I declared somewhat pompously.
"If I cannot stomach the trial and tribulations of a week journey with the proud soon to be March warden Haldir, an eternity shall prove to me my insanity"
She was basically saying that our marriage would be her undoing, and somehow I agreed. The urge to break this so called sham of a marriage was strong "And yet here I am, stuck with a non-forthcoming elleth who seems to know nothing about marriage, not how it works"
"A marriage based upon pride, peer pressure and rebuke is no marriage at all. A soldier you may be but an intellectual you are not, warden of trees"
The urge to climb up a tree and stay there for all eternity was strong but I restrained myself, I would win this argument.
"You are claiming that I am proud yet I am not the one that refused to cook because the though of blood was much to unappealing for them"
"You Ellyn are all the same! Do I not know my place Haldir? I do apologise. I should be the complacent, bright eyed door mat males dream of their wives being" The sarcasm in her voice was virulent and I couldn't help but reply scathingly my voice like ice.
"Like your mother for example?" I walked away from her fists clenched, jaw set. This.... this.... Elleth brought out the worst in me. So excruciatingly infuriating the urge to wring her neck was high.
I sat at the base of a tree, body tensed and listened as Aglarebwen got into her bedroll, Violently pulling her sheet around her. I couldn't help but feel remorseful though, it had been wrong of me to condemn her mother in such a way, and if someone had said such a thing about my own, well I don't think I could take responsibility for my actions.
* * *
She woke herself up the next morning, which I was thankful for, I spent the rest of the day studiously avoiding contact of any sort with her, it was not until late evening that I ventured to speak with her. She was sitting at the base of a tree, her neck arched looking at the stars starting to appear in the dark sky, still touched with hazy oranges and dusk hues as the sun made its last farewell to arda for the day.
I cautiously sat next to her and waited a moment before I spoke "I apologise for what I said about your mother yesterday. I was inconsiderate and ill-mannered."
"But you were telling the truth" She replied her voice but a whisper catching ever so slightly on the wind.
"That still doesn't give me the right to say what I said, she is your mother, I had no right, I barely know her"
"Well it does not take long for opinions to form, and I didn't have the most perfect manners"
"But if you had said that about my mother" I shook me head as if to rid such a thought "I don't know what I would have done" My Naneth was the closest thing to my heart although I have not seen her in nearly 3000 years. I still had a very close bond with her.
"You said you raised your brothers yourself. What became of your parents?"
I sighed heavily before replying, "My Ada died in the year 3441 of the second age, the year Sauron was vanquished. In 3440 my mother conceived and ada went to battle never knowing of her pregnancy. Orophin was born and in a way I have been his father. When I was 500 in the year 253 my Naneth left for Valinor. My ada and her had been so close it was heart wrenching for her. So when I was old enough to look after my brothers she left. Rumil, I don't think he has ever forgiven her for it, he was 375 and I don't think he remembered my parent's relationship very well. Orophin meanwhile had never seen my mother truly happy, and he was so young...I was his mother, father and brother"
"That is a lot of responsibilities, is a March Warden another burden to carry?" That was odd indeed. When most elleths heard of my 'miserable' history they insisted on making cooing noises, and other abrading noises, and theories in hope of comforting me. My respect for her increased.
"I have carried burdens and responsibilities all my life, extra work will not be a problem, in fact I quite welcome it. Through all the years I have aimed to become a March Warden, and now my goal has been fulfilled" I suppose I will have to find something new to aim for, it was odd in a way I had finally achieved a goal I had spent so long pursuing.
"You should lighten your load, enjoy your life. Do you plan on spending an eternity with these burdens and responsibilities? Do you have a dream Haldir? Something you really want more then anything in the world"
I laughed at her tone; she did not quite believe me
"I see you do not think I actually want to be March Warden. As hard as it is to believe I will enjoy the task. The friendships that are formed and developed are valuable and special. Eventually I will leave for Valinor just as my predecessor has done, but I do not think this will happen for quite some time" Definitely not until the Lord and Lady leave Lorien and as Galadriel is not permitted to enter Valinor so that will not be for quite some time.
She smiled in response "I see this means a lot to you. I guess it is better to have responsibilities you enjoy doing than having none and not being of use to the world."
I nodded in agreement "Aye. What would you like to do with your life?"
"I have not found my calling. Well not yet. In going to Lorien maybe I shall suit an occupation there. Instead" she said all this haltingly a frown marring her face.
"You do not have any interests?" I questioned, though unfortunately she had no chance to reply. A well-aimed arrow landed inches to my inside leg. The long-range bow that had fired it had not the propulsion to hit its target, which, would seem to have been my groin. An understandable gasp erupted from Aglarebwen. For now her safety would have to be my main priority, although my better judgement demanded the grown elleth to find her own camouflage while I went to seek out our unwelcome visitors.
"Is it possible for you to find a safer position, without my help?"
"It is," She answered with her eyes darting to points on the horizon. Under different circumstances I would have smiled at Aglarebwen's attempt to search out the bowman herself.
"Go then to safety. I will not be long, as these arrows are orc kind. They will be of no threat to us pretty soon" She gave a not too convinced look at my ability to protect her. Although if it hadn't of been for our intimate baiter I would have sensed the air disturbance the arrow had caused. With a nod Aglarebwen left the camp swiftly, and submerged herself in the thick forest close by.
Without anything to divert me attention I eagerly focused on out intruders. Rolling my self onto my stomach so my ear could rest on the ground. I heard a disturbance of the Earth to the North East. Many clumsy and heavy disturbances. There were four possibly five orcs, charging towards me and I would be ready for them all. Snatching my bow from the ground, slinging my blade belt around my wrist and hoisting my quiver onto my back, I hid in the forest's foliage, just on the surface so as to gain an advantage from not being exposed in the open like they were going to be.
The first orc came into view, sniffling for my scent loud and crude. I acted with speed and precision as to keep my position hidden for a while longer, I wanted to avoid a five orc strong charge on myself alone. This was not a time to act the hero. My first arrow pierced the orcs stumpy neck and my second arrow quickly followed embedding itself into the orcs chest the orcs attempt to cry for his allies failed, his throat drowned as blood choked the orcs lungs. Swaying from one side to the next the orc surrendered to death sounding a thud as he fell to the ground.
Two others arrived, one of which held a primitive bow, attracted by the scent of orc blood. But instead of fleeing the scene in fear of their own lives they began sniffing for my scent as loud and as crude as the fallen comraid had done. Holding my long range Lothlorien bow taut, and armed with a three feather arrow, I then released it aiming for the orc bow man to my surprise the bowman dodged the shot, leaving it to hit his partner in the back of his head. This bowman was not as primitive as I had anticipated. Nevertheless, I would not underestimate him again, and so fired three arrows in the same shot, how many could he dodge this time? None missed this time, but a thundering cry at his death meant that bowman alerted the remaining two intruders of my whereabouts. Stepping from the forest's shade I intercepted one of the orcs in mid-stride with the stroke of my blade. His putrid head collapsed from his torso and bounced along the floor behind me. As I turned in time to deflect the second orcs scimitar. They had charged from two directions at the same time. Very effective if they had the speed to perform it, with three clashes I had the advantage when the orc broke his lower defence stance. Slicing his meaty stomach had the foul creature howling in pain. While he held in his spilling guts I spun to his side and stuck my blade towards his head.
Adrenaline still pumping I looked around to make sure they were all dead. I went to each in turn and stabbed each one between the shoulder blades to make sure that they were truly dead. Just then I heard a scream, and a rather loud thud and I whirled around to see Aglarebwen sprawled on the ground.
A/n Well there you go, sorry that it's a day late but Mo lost the chapter (don't even get me started on my visions of having to re-write the first 10 pages) But to reviews which will be very quick as I have an update I want to read (I really have my priorities in order)
littlesaiyangirl: Yes, any normal person would have spent the whole time evading various well wishers/ advisors, it appear Laingalad just wanted to say goodbye to Imladris though.
Haldir's heart and soul: Really I would never have guessed! It's all in the name!
chibi: Sorry about the his/he's typos. Blame Mo once I'd seen and corrected it 20 times I just sort of forgot they were there…And yes she does dislike Arwen, we didn't mention it at the engagement ball as she was bust concentrating on other things, but there's over 2000 years of history and relationships that we could not quite cram into 15 chapters.
Tigger-180: I think that's the general consensus
Whitney: Why thank you very much
Dakota: Can I pretend to be peeved with you for saying that? :P But as you managed to post stalking for us being the wonderful person that you are I'll forgive you!
elvin scarf: Thankies
Lothelena: We've posted! Don't worry! We update every Sunday GMT so don't worry! It will be completed etc.
Gamma balls: G'day Zoe! Glad to see you finally caught up and stopped reading it in school. I'm hoping for another 'oh my god' soon
Well that would be all
PiXiE