HALDIR'S TALAN
Morning came too quickly for the two elves. Haldir sat up and looked at his side at the sleeping elleth. He kissed her head as her eyes snapped open.
"Its morning?" she cried. She received a grunt from her partner who settled against the pillows again and pulled her next to him. They sat in silence together, listening to each other's heartbeat.
Suddenly Haldir stiffened and Earlinde looked up into his eyes. They were distant, so she sat up and held his hand, patiently waiting for him to return. He finally relaxed and looked at her.
"The Lady calls for us. It is time we journey to Eryn Lasgalen." He stated as he ran his hand through her hair. She nodded as they walked to his bath.
CENTRAL TALAN
Earlinde stood beside Haldir, her hand on her sword hilt. She had enough of Findar's snide looks, and had to severely restrain herself from cutting his nose off his face. She stood tall, the March Warden of Imladris, and watched as Lord Celeborn and Elrond spoke to Galadriel. Finally the King and Prince of Mirkwood arrived and the company, including Orophin and Rumil made there way to the horses at the edge of the city.
HOUR LATER
Earlinde rode proud in front of the party, flanked by Rumil and Orophin. Following them was the Great Lady with Haldir then the Prince, King and two Lords. At the end rode an irate Findar.
After a few hours of riding the Lady showed signs of tiring and Haldir called for a stop. Camp was set for those of high status, and the guardians remained alert. Earlinde kept darting through trees waiting for something to attack them. Her eyes never failed her as she patrolled the camp and kept her sword ready.
Findar sat at the fire eating the rest of the rabbit he had caught earlier eyeing the female Warden. His eyes kept flicking back to Haldir who would occasionally stop what he was doing and watch Findar.
-Dog- Findar's mind called.
Soon the Lords and Lad had fallen asleep and Findar's snide comments took rise. He grunted loudly as the elleth scaled the trees and laughed when someone dropped something.
"A she elf as a March Warden, ha, it is said she is the best of all commanders. I think someone who cannot hold her arrow would…ghh."
He was instantly cut off as the tip of Nimrondel pressed against his throat. He slowly rose as the blade rose, and eventually was standing in the middle of the clearing facing the tip of the sword and the elleth who was turned to her side in a warrior stance. She had a very irate look on her face, and Haldir stepped up to her with a look of warning. Rumil and Orophin put down their chores and turned to watch the scuffle.
"Earlinde, DARO!!" (Stop) Haldir ordered placing a hand on her outstretched shoulder. This made her push the sword forward in defiance and nick Findar in the throat. Findar gasped as his hand went to his throat. Earlinde turned her attention from Haldir to Findar.
"Tell me, do you wish to die?" She said affixing him with her arch brow glare.
Findar stuttered horribly but got no words out. Finally he swallowed and defiantly answered her.
"You could never kill your first lover." Earlinde seemingly considered this at Haldir's sword flew out in rage. The tip landed beside Earlinde's tip/
"You lie son of Mordor!" he shouted. Earlinde slide the sharp end of her sword against Haldir's sharp end, and pushed his sword away giving him a sidelong glance. Then turning to Findar she smiled.
"You think you know me well enough, Findar?" a defiant nod was her reply.
"I made you." he seethed. A smiled crossed her face, and Rumil grabbed Orophin.
"Brother she looks as though she'll really kill him!!"
Earlinde quick shoved Haldir out of the way and spun around the tip of her sword lost in the whirling fabric of her March Warden cloak. When she stopped, and Haldir regained his balance his anger quickly faded as blood was splattered over his chest and her face. He frantically searched his tunic for a gash and watched as Earlinde wiped the blood off her sword on Findar's tunic. Before them stood a naked Findar from the waist down, with a long gash from the inside of his left thigh to the right of his pelvis. A shocked and trembling Findar tried desperately to close the gash as Earlinde smiled and sheathed her sword.
"Nay, death is not for you 'first lover'. It's taking away your power. Stealing from you your pleasures, so women will scream at you hideous figure. It's striping you of dignity and pride. It's killing you while you live, that is what a male weakness is." She turned to face Haldir whose mouth was hanging again. She closed Haldir's mouth winked at him and scaled a tree.
Findar, desperately trying to help himself stood looking at Haldir.
"Is it that fell beast that you love?" he spat, "She will hurt you and leave you to fade into nothing. Stay away from her."
Findar sat on the ground tending to himself, since no one would aid him. Pain blurred his eyes.
Haldir waited for Earlinde to return for hours but she did not. He resigned to go searching for her. He found her on a high branch watching the forest.
He seated himself on a lower branch and placed his hand on her thigh.
"You never told me…" he whispered
"It didn't matter. It was heart ache I did not wish to relive."
"Why did he attack you? What happened?"
"He left me, when I decided to join the Imladris guard. Long did I struggle with the snide remarks of the guard, but he left… left my bed, and my heart." Haldir looked up at her and was surprised to see she was not crying.
"Then, as the years progressed, he realized he had made a mistake. He tried to make amends in Lorien, but when I denied him he decided to force me." She sighed as her eyes continued to watch the stars.
Haldir nodded, and pulled himself up to her branch and kissed her. She returned the kiss and turned away with a troubled look and nodded.
He lithely dropped to the ground and started to pack his things.
TWO DAYS LATER
Earlinde rode in the sunshine with a smile on her face. Her hair was blowing in the wind as she thought about Findar's horrible limp. He has explained that he was attacked by an orc, while Rumil and Orophin sniggered in the background.
It was a hard not to burst into tears that day, but all was well. She smiled as she watched Findar struggle with his horse's bouncing. She rode with a sway in her shoulders and hummed a song her father used to sing her when she was younger.
Haldir was also in happy thought. His mind raced as he wondered if Earlinde would ever settle to be a mother. Rumil and Orophin enjoyed jokes on Findar's expense.
The company was in high spirits, except for Findar of course. He sat fuming on his steed. He wasn't happy with his position and wasn't going to be for a while.
MIRKWOOD
Earlinde bowed again. She was irate. So many damn nobles all over the place and she had to bow to everyone of them. Haldir and Earlinde stood at the door of the ceremony hall in the Mirkwood Palace and bowed to all the entering nobles. King Thranduil had thrown a party for the Lord and Lady of Lorien and it inconvenienced the company greatly.
Not to mention Mirkwood being under siege by black spiders and goblins from the mountains of Mirkwood. The beauty of Mirkwood was being destroyed while the Lords of the Land partied. Prince Legolas on the other hand, took command of his army and charged head first into battle the night after their arrival.
Earlinde stood irate, as a statue by the door. Twice furs were piled into her arms to be taken to the coat room and twice was she asked to serve drinks with the kitchen hand. Haldir looked upset too, being ushered around by bubbly pre teen elleths who daddy had led to Haldir to placate.
Galadriel watched the frustrated wardens with a bemused smile.
"Why do you look so bemused, love?" Celeborn whispered.
"The March Wardens so alike, yet so different. They could never be a homely couple to settle. They would be in constant competition." She replied.
Celeborn smiled as he cut his food and noted, "It would suit Haldir well to be whipped every now and again."
Galadriel smiled and nodded.
Finally Earlinde was able to get everyone seated, and Haldir had walked the last of the clingy elleths to her seat and they walked to their seats at the foot of the table of the lords and Lady when Prince Legolas burst through the door and looked around frantic before he wavered.
Earlinde lost sight of her surroundings and rushed towards the young prince. She had jumped over a table and two toddlers crawling around the floor and reached the Prince just before he hit the ground. Haldir was instantly on the other side of the Prince and Earlinde kicked the ceremony hall doors closed. She returned her arm under the Prince's waist and slowly she and Haldir carried him to a room. Earlinde locked the door and looked the prince over. He was conscious, she could tell, and she finally what was ailing the young prince. Haldir looked at Earlinde as she laid the prince on the floor.
"Haldir, support his head, like this." She showed him as he quickly sat down and pulled the Prince to him with his head resting on Haldir's shoulder. Haldir placed his hands at Legolas's ears, supporting his head.
Earlinde pushed back Legolas's cloak and a stinger of a spider showed to be piercing his side. Earlinde pulled a dagger out of her belt and looked at the young prince. He was pale and sweating. His hands were clammy. The door banged outside and shouts were ushered down the hall.
"Legolas, you have beautiful eyes." Earlinde smiled as she cut open his tunic. He gasped as the blade touched his skin.
"Do you have an elleth waiting for you here?" she asked with a warm smile on her face.
"N-nay..." he gasped as she fingered the wound.
"Does your heart not have a fancy my Prince?" She asked at she put her clean hand to his face and smiled again.
Haldir watched her intently as she tried to distract the prince of his pain, which would only get worst when she pulled out the stinger.
"She is the…princess…of… Imladris." He gasped.
"Really now?" Haldir asked as a smiled graced his lips.
"Tell us about her Legolas, for I have never seen her, but here she is beautiful." Haldir asked.
-Liar- Earlinde's mind chimed as she turned her attention to the wound.
Shouting was getting worst outside as Legolas began talking. Earlinde focused on his breathing as Haldir and the prince mused about beauty.
Earlinde slid her dagger into the wound and Legolas hissed and convulsed. Haldir wrapped his legs around the prince's waist and held him tightly to his chest.
"Tell me more about this, Undomiel, prince." Haldir whispered as Legolas cried out in pain.
Banging on the door began again as the shouts got loud still. Earlinde heard a key slide into the lock and shook her head. They were rushing her to do this, and it wouldn't make her happy. She sighed and wrapped her hands around the stinger and looked at Haldir who nodded.
The door flew open and Thranduil, Elrond, Galadriel, Celeborn and the King's advisors rushed in and piled into the room. Just then, Earlinde pulled hard and Haldir held the Prince tightly before he let out an ear piercing scream. Earlinde gasped as stumbled backwards as she dropped the long stinger. Haldir yelped and shut his eyes tightly as his head spun and blood trickled from his ears. Quickly he slapped a hand over the prince to stifle his screams and gasped.
Legolas struggled for a while before he fell limp in Haldir's arms. Thranduil stalked over to Earlinde and lifted her to her feet then continued to raise her up in the air by her throat. Powerless to harm the lord she placed her hands on his wrist and locked her legs together to stop from kicking him. Tears came down her eyes as she gasped for breath, Haldir placed the prince's head on the ground and rushed to Earlinde and supported her legs so she could breathe. Celeborn was the first to reach Thranduil and hit him squarely in the chin. He dropped Earlinde who lay on the floor gasping. Haldir rocked her to his chest and glared at Thranduil.
"Celeborn!" Thranduil shouted
"Don't you Celeborn me, Thranduil!!!" Celeborn bellowed. This was the first time Earlinde had seen a fuming Celeborn. Elrond and Galadriel rushed to Earlinde's side and checked on her.
"You are in my home!!!" Thranduil shouted.
"And she saved your son!!! You reward her with this??" Celeborn bellowed again.
Earlinde shakily stood on her feet and walked with Galadriel out of the room. Haldir picked up the Prince and followed suit. Elrond picked up the stinger and threw it at Thranduil.
"Poisoned," He gritted.
"Not only is your son poisoned, but so is my March Warden, for handling this." He composed himself and walked out.
Celeborn gave Thranduil a disgusted look and left him in the room.
HEALERS WING
Haldir kept a firm hand on Earlinde's chest until she stopped protesting and lay on the bed.
"You will rest." He ordered.
"I am fine, Haldir, thank you very much." She stated as she pulled the pillow closer and lay on her side.
"The poison will wear off in an hour my lady." She growled at the title and looked at Haldir who thanked the healer and sat on her bed.
He ran his hands through her hair as she put her head on his knee and slept. He watched the sleeping prince and Galadriel standing over him. Thranduil had been into check on his son but said nothing to anyone else.
THREE DAYS LATER
More and more guards were sent to the healer's wing as the spiders continued their onslaught. Earlinde stood in her room watching the war; she sighed as Haldir walked out and wrapped his arms around her.
"You look like a queen in that robe, my love." She turned and leaned against the rail and looked at him.
"You look regal in that white bath robe as well my love." She smiled
"It's what's under the robe that counts." He breathed into her ear.
She smiled and pulled the top of the robe open and kissed his bare chest. He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. Under the balcony the lady could hear Earlinde giggle and say, "My love, you've the energy of all the guard, you tire me so…"
Galadriel smiled as she walked slowly away and looked painfully back at the borders.
NEXT MORNING
Earlinde finished placing on her Warden Uniform and adjusting her weapons. Haldir lay asleep on the bed as she walked around the room. She was exhausted, but found no release from her mind in sleep. After she finished dressing she whipped herself over the balcony and raced into battle.
She ran in with a war cry of "Imladris, HAIL!!" on her lips as a spider struck out its stinger and took down three elves. She slid on her knee and slammed her sword high into its chest and twisted it. The spider fell idle and she got up and slashed an orc in the face, making it stagger backwards and fall dead.
The Mirkwood Company around her saw as she cut through orc and goblin and slew spiders. Their efforts were renewed as the great female March Warden who saved a Lorien high elf, fought with them. Findar watched as his men crowded into battle again with the entrance of the she elf, and he spat.
-What do they see in her? - He questioned angrily.
Earlinde took down another spider just as Findar charged again. He was lifted into the air by a spider and his men watched, horrified as the spider ripped his arm off and ate it. Elves gathered and watched as cries of woe fell from their lips.
Earlinde grabbed her bow and arrow and fired at the creature as his continued to pull the elf apart. She shot again as he watched both of Findar's legs disappear.
His screams were painful and her mid told her she should let him die but her morals told her to save his life.
Another two arrows saved his life as he plummeted down from the spider's dead limbs. She fought through the crowded elves and picked up the deathly elf and barked orders to hold the line. She rushed into the palace, blood spurting like heavy rain from the deathly elf.
She ran hard to the healer's wing and slipped on the blood and crashed into a wall. She pulled the elf into her arms again, and stood up fell backwards onto the ground, slipping again. She heard a loud crunch but got up with pain searing through her back. She walked slowly out of the puddle of blood and then continued a limpy run towards the healer's wing.
The dying elf looked up into the determined she-elf's eyes, which were fixed on the corridor in front of her. It was then that his hatred for her faded. It was then, while he took his last breathes did he watch as her bloody face was affixed with a determined glare and her chin was squared tightly as her body quickly limped toward her destination.
He came in and out of black out as he watched her. Her face would be etched forever in his heart; the one elleth he had refused so long ago that had fought for him even in his death. Finally Findar's eyes slid shut for their final time and his body went limp.
Earlinde feeling the elf in her arms weakening quicken her pace back to a run. Blood trailed the corridors as guards chased after her. Finally the King stepped into the corridor and looked at her. He sank to his knees in grief, just as the Lady and the Lord of Lorien stepped into the hall to see what was going on. The lady's scream pierced the air as Earlinde whirred around and faced her. She slipped on the blood and fell to the ground and stood up. She was covered in it as a crazed look came over her face. She suddenly realized that she was surrounded by elves, staring at her; she held the dead elf as she turned about herself and looked at everyone.
Haldir ran to her and held her arm. She screamed as he spun her to him. Her crazed eyes met his sorrowful ones and she snapped.
"Dead…Dead… He's dead... Dead," Haldir pried the dead elf from her fingers and passed him to someone behind him. He grabbed Earlinde and pulled her to him. She had fallen silent and turned pale. She mumbled occasionally but she became limp and pale. Haldir carried her to the healer's wing, followed closely by the Lord and Lady of Lorien, Prince Legolas and Lord Elrond.
FEW HOURS LATER
Earlinde sat, clean, in the bed staring in front of her silently. Haldir sat next to her caressing her hand and watching her.
The day passed in a flurry of people coming in and out checking on her. She remained silent and stone like to them, but inside a war raged.
-You failed!!!! You have let all those who have relied on you down!! You are surrounded by death and all because you want to be happy!! Have you found happiness at the expense of others Earlinde??? What have you found??? You are a failure! A disgrace to the line of Imladris March Wardens! Pity…- her mind bashed her all night until it finally ceased. By the end of the night she sat in her bed, a broken shell of war and hate.
-I have too much blood on my hands. In my millennia of guarding Imladris I have never been able to wash away this blood. It will never be washed away, for it will always be there, always staining my soul.-
Finally in the dawn of the next day, she cracked and looked over at Haldir, who instantly became alert and looked into her eyes. They had lost their gleam and vigor, but he watched as they welled up in tears and pulled her to him. He sat on the bed and rocked her as she wept her soul onto his tunic.
"I have failed, failed them all…" She murmured as he shushed her and rocked her frail form.
THREE DAYS LATER
The haughty Wardeness walked around the palace with her March Warden strut, but inside was torn, she had indeed lost apart of herself. She had too many of her subordinates die and it was too much for her to bear. Her heart and mind turned to the West, the Grey Havens.
She turned down the long corridor her walking in and walked up to two regal doors, placing her hands on the intricate wood carving she pushed the heavy doors open and walked in. She bowed to the great Lord Celeborn and Elrond and the King, Prince and her lovely Lady. She nodded at Haldir, Rumil and Orophin, and forced a smile to the new captain of the Mirkwood Company. Findar's younger brother, Oroes.
She seated herself just as Mithrandir walked in followed by Estel, and then the council began.
A/N: Bah, this was a hard chapter to write... But its getting better I promise. The next update will be Sunday. Sorry for weekly updates, but I have classes to worry about! You know how college kids are!