Haldir's Heart and Soul: I know. But when you have an idea, it just has to come out doesn't it? LOL! Anyways…here is the next chapter.
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Thoughts or dreams are in Italics
- Anarya of Lorien
CRYSTAL DREAMSChapter – 7 (Anger and Answers)
Haldir's Point of view:
I walked slowly towards my post amidst the mallorn. My mind contemplating my feelings at the moment. What were they towards Laurelin? Was I pining? Would I fade away? I looked at my hands as though expecting to see the forest floor through them. I sighed a bit relieved when I saw that my hands at the least were solid.
"Ai Elbereth! Haldir, what brings you here?" I heard a voice speak to me through the dense foliage of the mallorn trees.
"Orophin." I acknowledged the presence of my brothers. "I come to attend my border duty. Why else would I be here?" I was about to readjust my bow, which was slung across my shoulder and climb the said mallorn, when Rumil and Orophin jumped to the ground.
"Haldir? Are you bereft of your senses? You have no guard duty for the next one-week! It is one thing to have a week off but to come and mock at us when we are suffering like this is quite another thing."
It was then that realization hit me. I was off duty. I turned to smile apologetically at my brothers when they shot me a funny look. My smile died in my lips as I raised an eyebrow in question.
"What is it brothers in arms?" I asked. They simply shook their heads. "You are hopeless."
I glared at them as I shifted my bow again. "Fine. I shall take up your place. Does that make me more hopeful to you?"
Rumil shook his head again. "You don't get it do you?" if glares could kill he would be dead a thousand times over.
But he merely smiled at me and said,
"You have a guest at home. You must entertain her. Had you offered yourself for border duty a week ago, before she came, we would give it to you. And moreover, both of our duties shall be over this evening. Celebren and his men will be taking over. And even though he is under you, he shall not like it if you offer to take his post."
Orophin nodded at this juncture. "Yes. He would consider it an insult to his caliber. So, darling brother of ours, you'd better head back home. And who knows? She is a danger to herself now." Both of them nodded their heads.
That left me with only one alternative. To head back home or to head back to the city. But then again, there was her resting place. It had been only three days since I had last seen her and so much had happened. I turned around and headed to the glade where she lay buried.
Ithilwen's Point of view:
"Lady Ithilwen, you seem lost in thought." Her voice brought me out of my reverie. I smiled at the mortal before me. Her hair and eye might tell a tale different from the one I read from her soul. Laurelin still dwelt in her – deep inside her. I could almost feel her presence when I was near her. She walked closer to me. I moved a little so that she could sit beside me. She sat down and tucked some hair behind her ears. Those were definitely different. Their roundness - beautiful yet disappointing. It reminded me that the girl before me was not Laurelin, my sister but a mortal sent here for Eru knows what purpose.
"Do you know the name of the place where we sit?" I asked her. She looked around. Her eyes taking in the beauty of the place. We were actually seated beside the stream Nimrodel.
"Hmm… I know only this. I sit with a maiden of heavenly grace amidst trees that seem to be from the Garden of Eden." I laughed at her description.
"You flatter me too much, Anya. But what is this Garden of Eden that you speak of?"
She turned to face me, her face smiling. "It is a place where Man once dwelt before he disobeyed God. A place of everlasting beauty."
"Aman." I heard myself whisper. "Excuse me?" I turned to see her look at me with a puzzled expression.
"Our garden of Eden…you could say that." Her face dawned with understanding. "I see. I wish I could see that place."
I sighed as I twisted a blade of grass between my fingers as I turned to face the sparkling stream.
"Mortal men cannot go there. Only the elder children of Iluvatar who have been granted the gift of immortality can travel to the Undying Shores." Her eyes widened with astonishment.
"And who are these people you speak of?" I smiled as I threw the blade of grass down.
"Elves." I heard a sharp intake of breath from her. To see her sit there, staring at me as though I was a creature from alien worlds was amusing when it was indeed the exact opposite here.
"You're immortal?" she breathed as though it was unbelievable. I merely nodded. I had to teach her a little about our world if she was to live here. But before I could open my mouth, pat came her next question.
"How old are you?" I looked at her. Her brown eyes staring deep into my blue depths.
"Only five thousand years old."
"Holy Merlin's beard! And Haldir?" but she stopped her question abruptly. I raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry. I shouldn't discuss another person when they're not here." I laughed again. This girl was unbelievable.
"Of course you can. He shall not mind and further more. What Haldir doesn't know cannot kill him, you know!" she looked up and smiled a little, her embarrassment clear for me to see.
"He is seven thousand years old. A bit older than me." She nodded. She slowly got up from her place and walked towards the stream.
"You were telling me about this stream; weren't you?" I nodded. She turned to look at the sparkling water reflecting her image.
"I don't know how to say this, but I feel as though I have been to these places before. Seen these sights though I don't know how."
It was now my turn to stay amazed. But she did not turn back and went on.
"It is as though everything in this wood is not new only forgotten. But on my word, I haven't been here before. Something deep…you know…" she trailed off as though unable to finish her sentence.
She sighed and turned back. I sat there looking at Laurelin stand before me, but with deliberate mistakes. Her golden hair darkened to blackened bronze and her azure blue orbs deepened to beech brown. Her face lessened in external grace but the same spirit. It was a good thing she turned back to gaze at the pond, for tears escaped my eyes as I saw her there. I wiped them away hastily as I shook my head to relieve myself from such thoughts. Laurelin was dead and Haldir and I were both pining on her death. We had to move on.
Haldir's Point of view:
The stars were slowly becoming visible as the sun set into the western skies. She would be alone. I sighed as I turned back one last time to catch a glimpse of the stone before the night engulfed it all into darkness. She slept there, peaceful and unmindful of any of the turmoil that I was going through. My flet slowly grew larger as I walked in large strides.
She was seated by the window, gazing out at the night sky when I walked in. The door made not a creak as I slowly pushed it open. My footfalls were silent as though I tread on enemy territory. She was sitting motionless as though in a trance. I gently placed my hands on her slender shoulders when she turned with a start. I had prepared myself to greet her with a smile. But they died in my lips as I saw her eyes swimming in tears.
"Laurelin?" I asked, concern edging into my voice. I seated myself beside her as she turned away and wiped her tears in hurried motions. I caught her face gently and turned her around so that she was facing me.
"What is the matter?" I asked her gazing into her eyes those eyes, which now seemed too troubled.
"It is nothing, Haldir. I was being stupid." I shook my head as I turned her face around again and gazed at her steadily. Her eyes darted forth towards mine and her lips trembling opened,
"I was worried about you, meleth nin. I dreamt there was an orc attack and you were there, by the borders and there was no warning. I was so worried!" she broke down on my shoulder. I sighed as gently hugged her to me and caressed the golden hair that lay askew over my chest.
"Hush. It is all right, Laurelin. I am neither hurt nor in pain. I am fine. Don't you see? And I shall remain with you for the entire week to come. Are you happy?" I asked as I lifted her face to see her smile at me. I laughed as she buried her head once more into my tunic as though blushing. I placed my hands into my cloak and drew out the present I had brought for her. As she saw the gleaming mirror in my hand, she smiled at me and hugged me closer if possible. I was happy seeing my wife clasp the hand mirror by its delicate handle. I had ordered it personally and it had two runes around the glass. One to the left and the other to the right. The left one read Haldir while the one to the right read a name I treasured more than my life. Laurelin.
"Hannon lle, Haldir." She whispered as she placed a chaste kiss on my brow. I smiled as I kissed her back.
"I shall always protect you with my life, my Laurelin." I sighed as I held her in a tight embrace. "I shall always protect you."
I closed my eyes as tears overwhelmed me. I leaned against the trunk of the mallorn in whose boughs my house lay nestled. My body trembled a little as tears threatened to erupt again. I had never felt so lonely, so sad, and so heartbroken. I sighed as tears fell down my face. I had broken my promise. And that too to my own wife. I sighed as my emotions calmed and I could see the forest around blurred though my shed tears.
I slowly climbed the steps to find the door closed. I slowly pushed the door opened to find the room in semi darkness. I lighted the lanterns and the room flared in the sudden brightness. I turned to find the room empty. Where was she? I quickly ran into the different rooms only to come back to the main hall more distraught. I finally walked into the bedroom, expecting to see her sleeping. But the bed was empty and there was no trace of her in any of the rooms. I ran a hand through my locks as I scanned the room in panic. My eyes fell on the mirror cabinet and widened with shock and astonishment beyond my imagination. There it lay – her mirror. The one that vanished mysteriously after she died. The one I had been seeking for the past twenty-eight years… The mirror of my dear Laurelin. My wedding gift.
Anya's Point of view:
I walked behind this enigma who was leading the way for me. Ithilwen she had called herself. She had said it meant maiden of the moon. And she was like the object she had been named after. I knew only half of her and maybe the other half I would never know! Haldir's talan loomed in view. Now there was an idiot who I would never sorely miss. But there was something about him that made me empathize for him. I sighed as Ithilwen stopped before the ladder that led to the talan.
"Aren't you going to come in?" I asked her half expecting her to come in and stay with me forever. But she merely smiled and shook her head.
"I am sorry Anya. But I have my own talan to attend to and though I shall not attend border duty for the next week, it does not exempt me from training or from practice. So, Garo arad vaer." (So, have a good day.)
She bowed slightly and turned around. I might have blinked but the next moment, she was gone. I turned my attention to the ladder before me and I slowly gripped the rails for support and ascended the steps. Soon, I was beside the door of the talan. It was open. Strange! I thought. I had closed it when I went with Ithilwen! Maybe Haldir was back. Then I was in for it! I slowly stepped inside the room to find Haldir seated at the couch, his elbows resting on his thighs as I gazed at an object at the table before him. Benedik's mirror. He turned to look at me as I approached him.
"Who are you?" I started as he spoke in a low tone. His steady gaze stopped me dead on my tracks.
"What do you mean?" I asked, well aware that my voice shook. He took the mirror and asked me the same question but this time conjugated with another query.
"Who are you? How did you get this?" he almost thrust the mirror into my face. I backed away a step as I saw his trembling hands drop to his sides.
"What do you mean 'who am I'?" I asked my voice gaining more strength as I formed each syllable in my mouth.
"Do you know whose mirror this is?" he asked me. The mirror was once more thrust close to my face. I pushed it away.
"It was given to me by my friend-" he cut me. "You lie." He turned away as though protecting the mirror from some force.
"I see no necessity to lie to you lord Haldir." I said curtly. He turned back once more and gazed at me.
"This belonged to Laurelin." The world went dark for one moment as he said that name. Julius called me by that very name and…
"I know." I said before I even knew I had opened my mouth. He walked closer and caught my shoulder.
"Then why did you take it away from me? Who are you?" he asked me as his hold on me tightened unconsciously.
"Haldir?" I looked into his eyes, except there were clashes of emotions in his steely gray eyes. Pain and sadness mingled with fear of loneliness clouded his eyes as he looked at me.
"How do you know Laurelin?" he asked me in a low voice. I shook my head as tears formed in my eyes. Tears whose purpose I knew not.
"I don't know who you are talking about. I have no understanding in this. I don't know." The panic and the stress of the past few days caught up with me as I shook my head, denying everything. Why were they calling me by a name I never recollected? His hold loosened as I pushed his hand away and staggered backwards.
"Lady Anya," I kept walking backwards. Now his eyes held only one emotion, concern. Concern perhaps over my sanity. But I was too much in confusion and fear to see that.
"Lady Anya, you must forgive me. I don't know what came over. I am sorry." But I kept shaking my head backing away from him, away from the world around me. My back hit solid wall and I slid down to the ground. Tears slid down my cheeks even faster.
"I don't know!" I kept whispering, hoping the pain would stop. The pain I felt when I saw him in sadness and gloom. The pain when I saw his face in anguish. The pain, which I could not explain myself. And then everything passed into blissful darkness.
Haldir's Point of view:
I saw her fall to the ground as though her senses had failed. I knelt beside her and gathered her lithe form into my arms. She felt hot as though she was burning with fever. My fears increased. Oh Eru what had I done? She must have seen the mirror in my room and I couldn't deny it was not pretty. She might have taken it out to examine it. I had been a fool to exert so much pressure over her mind. I cursed myself aloud as I lay her softly on the bed, waiting for something to happen - only to hear a tap at my door.
I slowly got up from the chair beside my bed and towards the door. I opened it with a yank to find the Lady of the Woods standing there, patiently waiting for the door to open. She smiled at me serenely and stepped in. I bowed down before her remembering my manners even though my mind buzzed with confusions and questions.
She placed a hand on my shoulder as she bade me stand.
"Arise my March Warden. You need my help." She then slowly kissed my brow and I felt my mind calm despite itself. She then walked towards the room where Anya lay in a feverish stupor and seated herself in the chair where I was sitting but a moment ago.
"She is coming back." She said in a slow whisper as though to herself. I stood beside the Lady. She turned to look up at me and clasped my hand in hers, while in the other hand; she held Anya's hand.
"She is coming back to us, Haldir." I nodded in ascent though I knew not what she spoke of. But somewhere deep in my heart, I felt relief like I had never felt before – ever since Laurelin had left me. I turned to look at the mortal who lay there in a flush of fever, unconscious to the fact that the Lady of the Woods was seated beside her, her eyes closed to everything in the conscious world.
So, how was it? I was a bit busy and so I couldn't update. But here it is at last! You know what to do! Read and push the 'GO' button and review! Thanks a bunch.
- Anarya of Lorien.
