Welcome back to TBFF! Thanks for taking the time to read the next installment! A big thank you goes out to MoonlightArrow, mystarlight, Addy White, Gandalf007, earthdragon, LetThereBreLight, and Guest for reviewing the last chapter! I think the reviews I received for chapter 50 were some of the nicest ones I have ever received. Thank you friends for saying such kind words! It brightened my week! Another thank you goes out to all of my silent readers for staying to finish the story. I'm grateful for each and every one of you.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything associated with Lord of the Rings or Tolkien Enterprises.

ooOoo

To Be Forever Faithful

By: Ponytail Goddess

Chapter 51: Orophin

The first thing Haldir noticed when he awoke was that his fingers were wet. The water was warm and would have been pleasant to the touch if it had not been unexpected. He tried to flick it off his fingers, but found there was more liquid than he initially anticipated. Moreover, moving his fingers in the water just made him feel tired.

Very, very tired.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Haldir grimaced as he realized his body felt as if it was oddly contorted over some sort of wooden plank. The wood was smooth beneath his face, which seemed to be elevated, as well as underneath his hips and legs, which felt as if they were lower than the rest of him for some reason.

The wood was moving up and down lightly in a pattern, making him feel slightly uneasy as he tried to go back to sleep. The air smelled fresh and salty, almost as if he was at the sea.

Wait. The sea?

Haldir's eyes opened abruptly at the thought. He noticed his face was resting on top of a wooden seat in what appeared to be a small rowboat. His hips and legs were in the bottom of the boat, sprawled on their sides as if he had fallen into the boat somehow. One of his elbows was bent over the edge of the boat and his fingertips were dragging over water's warm outer membrane as he floated over gentle waves.

However, this was all of little concern to Haldir. What mattered most was the peace he felt in his heart as he inhaled breath after breath of salty, fresh air. It refreshed him in a way he had never felt before. A calm washed over his body as he closed his eyes once more.

Haldir was at peace here. Perhaps he would go back to sleep…

He would have too, had someone not started tapping his calf.

Haldir groaned, squeezing his eyes closed once more before forcing them open. It felt as though he could barely stay awake. This time, he slowly pulled his arm out of the water and into the boat, letting his hand rest on the seat next to his face. He stared at the clear water droplets as they ran down his fingers and into the sleeve of his tunic with fascination.

In the distance, he noticed the sky was a mix of navy blue and the darkest of purples. Though the sky was filled with light grey clouds, it did not look like it would rain since it was quite bright outside. In fact, Haldir could see the white light of the sun far away in the horizon, though it was not overly bright to his eyes.

Again, someone patted his leg. Growing annoyed with the patting, Haldir used his damp hand to grip the wooden seat of the boat and slowly pushed himself into a sitting position. He blinked his dazed eyes a few times and then turned towards his legs to find out who was touching him.

Immediately, he was wide-awake. A scream escaped from his lips before he could control it. Suddenly feeling much more energetic, he scrambled to his feet, causing the boat to rock dangerously back and forth in the deep, bluish-purple waters. Haldir held his arms out on both sides to try and maintain his balance. Regardless, he fell backwards, his bottom crashing roughly onto the seat that had previously been his pillow. His heart was ready to race out of his chest as he stared at the elf sitting on the other wooden seat in the boat.

"Gwador," Orophin said, welcoming Haldir with a calm voice.

"Stay away from me!" Haldir shouted, pulling his feet up onto the seat he was perched on and pushing his hips to the stern of the boat, causing it to rock hazardously again as he got as far away from his brother as he possibly could.

Unlike his previous dreams, Orophin did not look particularly menacing at the moment. In fact, he looked much like he always did in life. His blue eyes were the same as Haldir's, which they had both gotten from their adar. Orophin's face was also very similar to his own, but with a smattering of nearly invisible, skin-colored freckles that were scattered across the top of his nose and prominent cheekbones. He alone had acquired both of those features from their naneth. They both shared the same shiny golden hair, although Orophin had chosen to grow his hair out much longer than him. The middle brother was dressed, as usual, in his warden's uniform and looked just as Haldir remembered him.

The face Orophin currently presented him with was one of annoyance as he leaned over with his elbows planted on his knees. One of his hands was lazily holding up his chin as he stared at him. Haldir would have thought his brother looked bored, had he not rolled his eyes at him in an expression of utter exasperation. The look was very familiar, one he had become accustomed to over the years. Orophin had looked at him in that manner many, many times during his life.

"Can you hear how ridiculous you sound Haldir? How little you must think of me to have crafted the idea in your mind that I am some sort of enemy of yours." He began to say, then lifted his head up and folded his hands together before allowing them to hang between his relaxed legs. His face looked accusatory as he asked, "Do all of the good memories you have of me mean nothing to you anymore?"

Haldir could only stare at him though, too afraid to say anything in return. Orophin appeared to be hurt and glared at him for a moment, then seemed to put his temper back into check and spoke to him as calmly as he could manage in his current state. "Your dreams were merely dreams Haldir. You have been under a lot of stress recently and it has been presenting itself in a variety of ways, including these so called 'dreams' you have of me."

"Why are you here then?" Haldir demanded, still feeling very anxious about Orophin's presence, though he did not seem to be in danger as he was during his repetitive dreams.

Orophin snorted softly and rolled his eyes again. "I am obviously here to help you, you foolish elf! Do you know where you are right now?"

Haldir gazed out at the bluish-purple water; it went as far as the eye could see in every direction. Now that he was looking around, he noticed the other boats. There were several other boats that were just like his, floating on the water and headed in the same direction. Each boat appeared to have a sleeping elf inside of it. Haldir did not see any other boats where the elf riding inside was awake; he was the only one who seemed to be aware of what was happening.

He also noticed an odd, red cord linked to a few of the elves and briefly wondered what the cords were for. The cords were different thicknesses and some of the elves did not seem to have them at all.

How very strange indeed.

"I have not the slightest idea of where I am Orophin." He finally answered in a hushed voice, still trying to come to terms with his brother's presence in the boat that he was mysteriously riding.

"You are headed to Mandos' Halls Haldir. Do you not remember dying?" Orophin asked, opening his palms up towards the sky as he inquired.

Haldir closed his eyes and thought as hard as he could in his tired state. At once, he remembered the injuries he had sustained in battle, first to his arm and then to his back. He remembered falling down in the rain and then retreating into his mind, where he had spent his last moments showing Belegwen his memories from the past, hoping to convey to her somehow that he had loved her so much longer than she knew. Belegwen had cried too, right there in front of him as he had hoped she eventually would.

Never had he imagined it would happen on his deathbed though.

"I remember," he said softly as he recalled the look of the pain that was etched upon her face during his last moments. Haldir had died and left her there, alone and pregnant. What would happen to her now that he was gone?

Worry set into Haldir's mind as he wondered about Belegwen and his son. Would they be cared for in his absence? Would Rumil help them as he had promised? Would Belegwen be able to move on without him, now that they had formed such a strong bond between themselves?

He shook his head with frustration, upset by the possible scenarios that were running through his mind. It was too painful to dwell on, so Haldir chose to bring the conversation back to the original topic he had broached. "That does not explain why you are here with me though. You died months ago—why are you not in the halls?" Haldir asked his brother, his vocal tone giving away subtle hints of the turmoil he was dealing with inside.

Orophin smiled at him, which made Haldir feel rather uncomfortable. He still was uncertain of what to expect from his brother's appearance. "Mandos has sent me on a mission to help you Haldir." He replied.

Haldir cocked his eyebrow up in curiosity. "Mandos? The Mandos?" He questioned, although he supposed it should not have been as astonishing as it sounded. Mandos was the Vala who lived in the ever-growing halls of the dead, where all elves who died unnaturally went.

"No, another Mandos… Of course it is the Mandos! Good grief Haldir, pull yourself together!" Orophin exclaimed, starting to take an attitude with him.

Haldir glared at his brother. Had they not been in a wobbly boat, he would have wrestled him to the ground right about now to set him straight. Orophin had a habit of becoming too big for his britches at times and Haldir did not have any qualms with taking him down a few pegs whenever it happened.

As Haldir thought about how good it would feel to put Orophin into a headlock once again, his brother seemed to pull himself out of his attitude and became serious. Seeing the change in his brother's demeanor, Haldir decided to continue with his inquiry. "What are you here to help me with Orophin?"

"I am to bestow a gift upon you gwador; one that comes from the Valier Vaire herself." Orophin said, his eyes glistening with some emotion Haldir could not place. "You see, Vaire was weaving the end of your story into her tapestry and your fate upset her greatly. It bothered her that you had waited thousands of years for Belegwen to love you, only to die once you had received her love in full. She appealed to her husband Mandos and, as it turns out, he is not nearly as stern and heartless as all the tales say. At least, he seems to have a soft spot in his heart for his wife, as he has done this to please her." Orophin said with a knowing smile.

"Mandos makes few exceptions when it comes to the fate of each elf, but when Vaire begged him to pity you and send you back to Arda, he agreed to make an exception under one condition. You must be willing to go back and mend the relationship between yourself and Belegwen." Orophin stated.

Haldir's eyes widened at the news. Had he ever had such luck before in all his long years?

"What must I do?" Haldir immediately asked. Already, he felt desperate to be granted the mercy of going back. He would do anything, anything at all, if it meant getting to go back to Belegwen and his little ellon.

"That is indeed the question of the hour, though it has a relatively simple answer." Orophin explained calmly. "I have been watching the two of you together for months now and you have both made mistakes repeatedly with one another. For two people who are incredibly intelligent and gifted in the knowledge of warfare, you have both proven over and over again that you are failures when it comes to love."

Now it was Haldir's turn to roll his eyes. "As if you could do any better," he replied hotly, before guiding the interrogation back towards his brother. "And what is this about you watching us? How is that even possible?"

"I am certain you are more than familiar with the Lady Galadriel's mirror, are you not? It has a twin, which resides with Mandos in the halls. Through it, I was able to watch what was happening between you and Belegwen. I had Mandos' permission, of course." He added with a nod.

Haldir mulled over the new information his brother had given him before coming to a new realization. "Is that why I saw you in the lady's mirror a few months ago?"

"Yes," Orophin answered as he shook his head, his eyes holding a look of disbelief. "It was an unexpected accident which surprised even Mandos. I went to watch your life in the mirror at the exact same time that you went to peer into Lady Galadriel's mirror and, for a brief moment, the two mirrors connected. It was an odd coincidence; one that Mandos said had never occured before. I suppose it was because I was trying to watch you; I ended up seeing exactly who I was looking for."

"It was odd indeed. It did not look like it was fully you, but a ghost of you shadowing my motions." Haldir recalled, remembering how frightened he felt when it happened.

"That is how you looked on my side as well." Orophin recollected softly. "I can see why it would be upsetting to you and the lady though, as it was not her intended use of the mirror."

In a way, hearing this explanation put Haldir at ease. He had not seen an omen of death in the lady's mirror after all. It turned out to just be Orophin trying to spy on him from the halls.

"So, let me get this straight… You have been watching Belegwen and I in Mandos' mirror for months? Help me understand gwador, why did Mandos allow you to do this?" Haldir asked, still very confused about what was going on. He also felt a bit of unease awaken within him as he remembered all of the private moments he had shared with Belegwen. Had Orophin seen those in the mirror too?

An embarrassed look briefly passed over Orophin's face before he replied. "I was required to study Belegwen, as I wronged her quite badly during my life. It is one of many ways Mandos is choosing to heal my spirit."

Orophin spoke more quietly now, as he previously had in life when he confessed difficult truths to his brother. "You surely remember my faults Haldir. In life, I often gave a lot of merit to gossip I heard around the city. This error has resulted in me drawing inappropriate conclusions about many elves I knew, as I judged them by the misleading things I heard about them. Perhaps the most unfairly judged of these was Belegwen. I trusted the things several misguided elves were saying about her simply because she was a female warden. Thus, I completely misjudged her character and I treated her horribly because of it."

"To make up for my terrible gaffe, Mandos wanted to help me understand Belegwen's true personality. Therefore, I have been allowed to view several parts of her past and present to acquire a better understanding of her." Orophin confessed, flushing a bit as he studied the bottom of the boat, his unbraided hair falling over his shoulders and blocking his face from Haldir's view.

Haldir's eyebrows rose up in question of his brother's statement. "And? Have you indeed acquired a better understanding of her?" Haldir asked, pushing for an answer. He tried to read his brother's expression through the golden hair that was cascading down in front of his face, but could not seem to get a good view of his expression.

"Yes," Orophin said, tilting his head up to meet Haldir's eyes through the waterfall of golden hair before brushing it tidily behind his ears. He looked ashamed as his blue eyes bore into Haldir's once more. "Belegwen is probably the bravest elleth I have ever seen. She does not back down from challenges, but faces them head on with an uncommon amount of determination. She frequently shows kindness to others who are not always kind in return and turns a blind eye to all those who mock her for being a warden. She has worked harder than most to acquire and maintain her position as a warden and is fully deserving of her position as marchwarden."

Haldir blinked at Orophin, shocked to find his brother had changed his mind about Belegwen after all this time. He waited silently as Orophin studied the purple-tinted clouds in the distance, then finished by saying, "She seems well-suited for you Haldir. You have chosen well."

Upon hearing those words, Haldir bowed his head and smiled. He had always hoped his brothers would approve of Belegwen. It had been obvious from the start that Rumil did, but he and Belegwen were friends for a little while before he found out Haldir was in love with her. Haldir had known that Orophin would be a much harder sell though. After all, Orophin had previously believed that Belegwen had wronged him by joining the wardens, therefore making it impossible for him to even attempt to pursue a relationship with her.

However, Orophin seemed to approve of her now, which was a step in the right direction. It gladdened Haldir's heart to find out that it was so. He had hoped his family would embrace Belegwen as one of their own and it now seemed they had. Still, one question lingered in his mind and he wasted no time voicing it out loud.

"Yet… you say we have both made mistakes. Where do you think we went wrong?" He asked, already knowing Orophin had a blatantly strong opinion on the matter. He always did when it came to important things and he was never afraid to voice his thoughts.

Haldir watched as Orophin closed his eyes and shook his head, which in turn made the boat sway awkwardly against the patterned motion of the waves. "Haldir, neither of you talked about getting married before you bonded with one another. Did either of you even realize what you were doing when you came together for the first time?" Orophin asked awkwardly as his hands landed outward in an exasperated shrugging position.

He closed his eyes after hearing Orophin's question and felt his face start to blush with embarrassment. Orophin was definitely right on that account. He and Belegwen had been very careless in their relationship and had never taken the time to discuss the implications of their actions. Instead, they had chosen to hide their love, keeping it a secret from all, which had in turn caused a much larger problem when they were caught kissing in the forest.

Had they been thinking when they did those things? No, they had not. Haldir knew that he, in particular, had thought of little else other than his desire to make Belegwen his own after waiting all those long and lonely years. Then, once they had finished, he had stared up at the stars while trying to figure out what had transpired between them.

Haldir had been shocked when he discovered that their lovemaking had renewed all of his prior emotions for her. They had returned in the blink of an eye and with an overwhelming strength that had shaken him to the core.

"Gwador, did you hear my question?" Orophin asked again, looking very concerned with his current state of reflection. "Did you and Belegwen realize you were marrying one another when you made love for the first time?"

"No," he whispered, feeling a bit ashamed with himself. This was not how two elves were supposed to marry, but he loved Belegwen and he knew she desired him too when they bonded with one another. Even if she had not fully loved him then, he knew she did now. "It all happened so quickly… We both became lost in the moment. It was what we both wanted at the time, though we did conduct ourselves rather irresponsibly, acting with haste as we did."

"This is one of the things you must fix Haldir. How will you right this wrong?" Orophin asked calmly, focusing solely on him as he waited for a response.

"I do not think it can be fixed, so to speak," Haldir started to say, starting to grow upset by the direction the conversation was heading. "Because of the bond we share, we are already married in every sense of the word. I cannot undo that, nor would I want to."

"But do you even know what kind of life Belegwen wishes to lead with you? Do you know what she expects of you? Do you have expectations of her?" Orophin asked, questioning him thoroughly. "Surely you must plan a life together if you return. What if you do not want the same things?"

Haldir frowned at this. He had been so busy as of late that he had not thought about any of this. Though he was not fully certain, Haldir imagined he had at least a vague idea of what Belegwen would want from him in their marriage. Surely they could work the rest out between themselves, right?

"I will have to speak with her about it when I return. I am certain we can come to an agreement we can both live with—nay, enjoy." He argued calmly. "I am not opposed to some level of compromise and I daresay she will feel the same way."

"You are willing to open up to her then?" Orophin shot back with a hopeful look on his face. "You have also been struggling with that for a long time now. Belegwen will need for you to be open and honest with her concerning your needs and emotions if this is ever going to working out. Are you capable of doing this?"

That was fair. Haldir knew he had been a complete failure in this area as well, at least until their last few hours together. He had tried to tell Belegwen how he felt repeatedly, but had failed under the pressure of his own hurt feelings. To have her reject him again would have been unbearable! He had been too afraid to risk opening up to her over the past year. Could he bring himself to speak with her openly and honestly upon his return?

Upon seeing his hesitation, Orophin crouched down low and carefully moved towards him, sitting next to Haldir on the seat he was on and then patted his leg in a lame attempt to comfort him. "You need not worry about fading again gwador. She is returning your feelings now; it is quite obvious, even to me." Orophin said, consoling him gently. Haldir met Orophin's blue eyes after a few moments and saw concern for him lingering within their depths.

Haldir shivered internally at the memory of his pain. Had he not been able to rid himself of his hurt feelings in some way, Haldir knew he would have completely faded. The whole thing started a couple of weeks after Belegwen had rejected him. He had started to feel exhausted and out of shape, even though he was working out more than ever, trying to do anything to distract his mind from the hurt she had caused him.

He had stopped sleeping regularly too. When he did sleep, his dreams had been haunted with images of him and her together, though it was unobtainable. Haldir would then wake up from those dreams alone, feeling an unexplainable tightness in his chest that was uncomfortable and prevented him from going back to sleep. He'd often pace his balcony for the remainder of the night, trying to rid himself of the images he pictured wistfully in his dreams.

It had hurt so badly at the time. Even now, when he had clearly secured her affections, it still burned him to think about those days. Most of the time, he chose to bury them deep within himself as a measure of self-preservation because he was not strong enough to deal with it on his own.

Would he ever be able to fully let it go?

"I know Belegwen loves me… It is still hard to open up to her though after all that has transpired." He admitted softly. "I will find a way to accomplish it though. I know it is necessary."

The two sat in silence for a few moments before Haldir continued speaking. "I have spent the last few months convinced I was going to die Orophin. I did not give a lot of thought to what would happen if I did not."

"You will work it out though, will you not?" Orophin asked, clearly needing confirmation on the matter. "Will you marry her properly when you get back?"

"Yes, I will see it done. She and the elfling are very important to me. I will not allow her to fall into shame or force the little one to be without his adar. That is unimaginable to me." Haldir replied sharply. And it was—he loved Belegwen too much to do anything other than act honorably towards her at this point. They had made their mistakes, but if Haldir was given a second chance, he would do all he could to heal the brokenness between them.

"I suppose we ought to get you back then so you can figure everything out." Orophin said with a smile, then reached behind Haldir's back and pulled out a large, red cord. "Do you know what this is gwador?"

Haldir shook his head, perplexed by what he was looking at. Orophin appeared to be holding some sort of conduit made out of deep crimson flesh. It looked thicker than any rope he had ever seen and it appeared to be made of two different parts, which were tightly entwined with one another. It seemed to throb in his brother's hands, as if it were some sort of living entity with a beating heart.

"It is your bond with Belegwen; the other side is tied to her." Orophin said as he looked at it almost enviously. "I have never seen one so thick before. Your bond with her must be very strong."

"It is more than I ever hoped for," Haldir replied, gently touching the woven strands of the bond for the first time. He ran his hand across it and felt pleased when he noticed the tingling power that often passed between them. Haldir's hand followed the length of the bond and felt how it coiled behind him, ending on his back behind the spot where his heart was beating. "I am uncertain of why we have been blessed with such a strong bond, but I enjoy it."

"I think you made the bond this way gwador," Orophin muttered, then looked up at him and started to explain his theory. "I think that when she finally allowed you to take a hold of her, you latched onto her as tightly as possible to ensure you would never part with her again." He said slowly.

It was all speculation of course. No one but the Valar and Eru Iluvatar knew about the bonds that formed between elves when they were in love. Perhaps there was some truth to Orophin's theory though, as Haldir was certain he would never let Belegwen go again.

"Belegwen's side of the bond ties you to her and, if you are careful, you can use it as a rope to pull yourself back to her." Orophin said, then promptly stilled Haldir's hand as he haphazardly grabbed at the bond that tethered him to his wife.

"Remember, you must be careful! If you pull too hard, you will pull Belegwen here instead of pulling yourself home. That is the fate of many elves who try this endeavor; do not let it be yours." He cautioned before letting go of Haldir's hand.

Haldir paused for a moment as Orophin's warning sunk in. Perhaps such an action was too risky. After all, if he ended up pulling Belegwen to the sea, he would not only be taking her life, but the life of their unborn son as well.

"No," he finally said, letting go of the rope-like bond. "It is not worth the gamble. I will not put Belegwen and the elfling in danger for my own sake. It is not fair to them if I should fail."

"Is it not also unfair to make them go about their lives without your presence when you have been granted this opportunity to return?" Orophin asked immediately, meeting Haldir's eyes once again. Haldir could tell his brother disagreed with his decision, as Orophin appeared desperate to change his mind. "Gwador, they both need you! Find your courage and go to them now! We are still floating towards the halls even now, so the longer you wait, the harder it will be to return!"

Haldir sighed. He desperately wanted to go back, but was not sure whether or not it was appropriate to put his loved ones at risk just to do so. Could he live with himself if he failed and pulled them both into the halls?

"Haldir, look at me and listen." Orophin suddenly demanded with a commanding voice that left no room for indecision. Haldir saw a new look grace Orophin's face—determination. "The best days of your life are still ahead of you! You are about to get everything you had ever dreamed of having in your life! All you have to do is go back!" He pleaded.

When Haldir did not move right away, he continued to urge him. "Go now! Marry Belegwen and enjoy your sweet son! This opportunity is a blessing and you would be a fool not to take it." Orophin insisted, his hands moving in emphasis of his point.

He finished his tangent with the cold, hard truth of the matter. "You will regret it forever if you do not go."

Orophin was right; Haldir would regret it if he did not try. Suddenly regaining the courage he had lost, Haldir grabbed the pulsating red conduit and held it in his hands gently, but firmly. He put one hand in front of the other slowly and started to use the fleshy rope to pull himself back. He could not see the shore in the distance, but he knew it would come into view sooner or later if he kept pulling.

"Yes! Yes gwador!" Orophin exclaimed, becoming louder as he grew more excited. "Just like that! Keep going!"

Haldir pulled and pulled, using the iron control he was known for to ensure he did not speed up. He refused to drag Belegwen and the little ellon into death's clutches. All the while, Orophin sat by his side, cheering him on, just like the olden days when they were wardens together. Haldir even broke a sweat because he was working so hard; his hands felt tender from his firm grip on the rope. However, he pushed ever on, trying to focus on Orophin's encouraging voice and the tingling power he felt from the bond, which reminded him of Belegwen every time he placed his hand on it.

After what seemed like hours, he finally caught sight of the shore in the distance. While his body felt like giving up, his mind grew clearer as he caught sight of his goal. Haldir worked faster now that he was able to see where his journey would end, determined to make it onto the sandy beach ahead of him.

"When we get closer to the shore, the boat will disappear and you will have to swim. Be prepared." Orophin warned.

Even with the warning, Haldir was still shocked when it happened and shouted as he dropped into the dark waters. His tired body kicked and flailed until his head popped out of the water with a loud gasp. He swam for the shore as swiftly as his fatigued body would allow. Upon reaching it, he started to slowly walk out of the water until he was fully on the shore. There, he promptly collapsed to his hands and knees, grasping handfuls of sand to try and somehow steady his body, which was shaking with exhaustion.

Haldir rolled over and stared at the purplish-blue sky. A flash of lightning lit up the beach around him for a moment and he caught sight of his brother once again. Orophin was sitting patiently beside him and somehow looked as if he had managed to stay dry through the whole ordeal. Haldir cursed his luck when he saw this, though Orophin just smiled and muttered something about the benefits of already being dead.

When Haldir had finally caught his breath, he looked over at Orophin once more and asked, "Do you have any other advice for me gwador?"

"Tell Belegwen you love her often; she needs to hear it. Oh, and tell her to stop lying all the time." He said quickly. "She always has good intentions for her lies, but they almost always come back to haunt her in unfortunate ways. She would be better off being more truthful and forthcoming—you both would." He advised, correcting himself to include Haldir in the blanket statement.

For his part, Haldir simply nodded. He appreciated that Orophin was still able to be so open with him. He missed having that with him.

Knowing this might be the last time he saw Orophin for a very long time, Haldir decided to make sure Orophin knew he cared before they parted ways again. Not wanting to have any more regrets in his life, Haldir forced himself to say, "I love you gwador. Thank you for helping me."

Orophin smiled at him, secretly knowing how hard the admission had been for him. "I love you too gwador. Please pass along the same sentiment to Rumil for me. I know he has been struggling with my absence." He said quietly.

"I will," Haldir replied, stifling a yawn. He was starting to feel very tired again, just as he had on the boat. A memory passing through his mind was what finally jarred him back into full cognition.

"Orophin, am I going to be in pain when I wake up?" He asked slowly, only halfway there mentally at this point in time.

"Unfortunately yes." Orophin replied, his voice sounding pained at the thought. "I am afraid there is no avoiding that. You were injured terribly in the battle. It is going to take you a long time to recover from this one."

Haldir suddenly worried for Belegwen, who had felt the injuries through their bond right before he died. He did not want her to suffer on his account. Bothered by the thought of it, Haldir searched his mind for an idea to help and quickly came to a conclusion that might, in fact, do the trick.

Anything was worth a try, especially if it prevented Belegwen from feeling the pain of his injuries. Haldir did not want to be the source of Belegwen's pain ever again. He closed his eyes as he thought about what he would do and waited to be swept back into his body.

He did not have to wait very long.

ooOoo

Belegwen's breathing was noticeably uneven as she stared into Linedhel's hopeful eyes in the dim caves. Was he somehow right? Could she really bring Haldir back from the dead with their bond?

"How is this possible?" She asked in an almost incoherent voice. Belegwen had not wanted to cling to any false hopes, but now she knew she was. She was certain it had to do with the way her heart was beating alarmingly fast at the very thought of seeing Haldir gazing into her eyes once more.

"Bonds between elves link them very closely with one another in many mysterious ways. It is possible that you are the reason he lingers here. You might be holding him fast to this world with your bond." Linedhel answered. "We cannot know how long he will stay in his current state though. You must hurry and try to bring him back while there is still a chance of his return."

Belegwen stared at Linedhel for a few more moments before nodding her head in shocked understanding. "Yes… Yes, I will try." She breathed as she stood up unsteadily with the help of Linedhel's hands. Her legs barely felt as if they would support her weight as the healer led her behind the white sheet that separated them from her husband's body.

She stopped breathing momentarily when she saw him. Haldir was terribly pallid in the low light and stared at the ceiling with a face permanently paralyzed in pain. His eyes were glassy and unmoving, an unnatural look for the elf who did not even look like that when he was asleep. His hair was a mess, having been soaked in the rain and later dried in clumps that were caked with hardened blood. Someone had removed his armor, leaving him dressed in the same black breeches and undershirt she currently wore. The deep cut in his arm was exposed and appeared to be covered in his own blood, mixed with the blood of orcs.

"Sit down," Linedhel urged her softly. Belegwen realized that she had not been breathing and focused so she could once again, easing herself onto the floor next to Haldir with Linedhel's help. "Touch him. Try to feel if the bond is still active." He advised her as he held her shoulder in his hand, trying to comfort her during this difficult moment.

Tentatively, Belegwen extended her hand to Haldir's exposed upper arm. She gasped when she touched him. Though Linedhel had told her about his current state of warmth, it was still a shock to experience it because Haldir looked like he was dead. She grasped his arm tightly and closed her eyes, trying to feel for the familiar thrumming power that normally pulsated through them both when they touched.

She waited and waited, but it was not there.

After a few moments, Belegwen grimaced in pain as she looked up at Linedhel. "It is not there. I cannot feel the bond." She said in an unnaturally high voice.

"Perhaps if you try to use spirit healing on him…" Linedhel suggested quietly, still looking hopeful. Belegwen's heart was already sinking into despair though. If this did not work, she was going to be worse off than she was previously.

Gently, she slid her hand down from Haldir's upper arm until it rested on the deep gash on the underside of his forearm. Belegwen clutched Haldir's wound gently and closed her eyes to concentrate as Linedhel had taught her. She was drawing energy from her own spirit into her hand, causing a powerful warmth to build up within it. When she was ready, Belegwen pushed her power into the wound beneath it, gritting her teeth with effort as she focused on healing Haldir's wound, as well as his entire body.

When she finally could no longer bear the power emitting from her hand, she released his arm with a gasp and then reached out and caught herself before she fell over. Belegwen was exhausted and struggled to hold herself up as she stared expectantly at Haldir's face while trying to catch her breath.

There was not so much as a twitch or a blink though. Belegwen stared at his chest, hoping to see it rise and fall once more in succession, but there was no movement. There was nothing. Not ready to give up yet, Belegwen squeezed Haldir's forearm even tighter and tried again. The heat built up correctly inside her palm, but did not seem to do anything to his still figure.

He was no longer there. Belegwen felt silent tears stain her face as she looked at what was left of her husband. He was not coming back. It was over now.

"Wait." She heard Linedhel saying distantly, "I think we have been going about this the wrong way."

Belegwen could not bring herself to look at Linedhel in her current state, but slowly asked in a whispered tone, "Are you sure this is not hopeless Linedhel? What more can I do?"

She felt Linedhel squeeze her shoulder firmly and she swallowed her pride and tried to focus on his voice, even though all she wanted to do now was fade away into nothingness. "Do you remember what happened after the warg fight?" Linedhel asked her intensely, his eyes never once leaving her face. "Do you remember what happened when you attempted to heal Haldir's cheek?"

Belegwen thought about it for a moment, then gave a small nod as she remembered that day. Haldir had sustained a cut that went all the way through his cheek and Belegwen had used spirit healing on him for the very first time. However, the power she pushed into his body had circled back into her own, healing her own leg injury in addition to Haldir's wound. Linedhel had told her in the evening that Haldir's body had considered her another part of itself, therefore when she had healed him, he had healed her in turn.

"Try to heal yourself Belegwen," Linedhel urged her desperately, "Perhaps you can create the arc of power between yourselves once again."

"Can I actually heal myself?" Belegwen questioned, finally meeting his eyes once again. She had never seen an elf try to heal himself before and was not certain it was possible.

"Yes, you can. Gifts such as healing are intended to be shared with others, but using them on oneself is also possible. Healing oneself is not often done, as it is harder than healing another, but it is a viable option. All you must do is gather your power within yourself and then let it out as one large burst that will pass through your body. Hold onto Haldir and try it—perhaps it will pass through his body too." Linedhel suggested, his eyes looking at her with desperation.

Apparently Linedhel needed this to work too.

Belegwen took a few breaths to try and calm down, then grabbed Haldir's hand tightly and tried to draw energy up within herself. It no longer mattered how tired she was or how discouraged. All that mattered was getting Haldir back.

It took Belegwen several tries to get enough spirit energy built up to create a surge of power throughout her body. She felt the unnatural heat pooling within her chest, causing her heart to beat rapidly. Power radiated from her body as a glow that was visible to all. In complete abandon, she then pushed all the energy she had left throughout her body. A flash of light illuminated the darkened wall of the cave as she felt her own power ooze through every crevice of her body, including her hand that was holding onto Haldir.

Haldir's body jerked and his hand suddenly latched tightly onto hers. Belegwen's eyes shot open as she heard his voice scream out into the cave. The power was looping through them both once more, its strength nearly overwhelming as it passed through their bodies over and over again with haste. Suddenly, the pain of his wounds weighed heavily upon her, causing Belegwen to shiver and shriek in pain. Immediately, she let go of his hand and everything faded into black…

Belegwen woke up to find that she was back on the beach. The sun was beaming heavily down upon her, brightly shining as it lingered overhead. The blue tone of the sky was filled with light, which was reflected down into the unending body of water. Gulls flew overhead silently, going about their days as they always did. The tide was lapping at Belegwen's feet, which she saw were bare and immersed by golden granules of sand.

Unlike the last two times Belegwen had seen the sea, this time was much more controlled. She did not feel like laying down in the water or floating away, but simply stared into the distance, wondering how far one would have to sail to reach Mandos' Halls.

Was Haldir on the other side of the sea? Did he miss her now that he was gone?

Belegwen gasped when an unexpected hand rested itself upon her shoulder. She had not heard anyone approaching from behind and quickly turned around to see who it was, only to take a couple of steps backward in fear.

It was Haldir's brother Orophin, the one who had been haunting all of his dreams for weeks before he died. Belegwen had witnessed the dreams a few times and they had been terrible.

However, Orophin did not look the same as he had in Haldir's dreams. Gone was the evil look Belegwen had become familiar accustomed to over the past few weeks.

Belegwen watched as he slowly lowered the hand that had touched her shoulder back down to his side and then stared at her with very calculating eyes for a few moments. Suddenly, he let out an inaudible sigh and looked at the ground. Belegwen had only caught a glimpse of the look upon his face before he lowered his head, but she was familiar with that look…

It was shame.

While shame was an emotion that Belegwen was all too familiar with, it did not seem very natural on Orophin's face. Belegwen had known Orophin for most of her time as a warden and this was the first time she had ever seen him look ashamed over something. If anything, Orophin had always struck her as someone who was overly confident and cocky at times.

Indeed, Orophin had not bothered to mince words when it came to voicing his opinions about Belegwen as a warden; she had endured many insults from him over the years. As was Belegwen's way, she had nonchalantly let the unkind words roll off her in public, but they had still hurt at times. Often she would find herself dwelling on them while she was alone, mostly when she went to the training grounds during the night for extra practice. In those moments, she tried her best to make the onslaught of unkind words spur her to greater heights, seeking to prove each and every warden wrong who thought poorly of her for no good reason.

In some ways, their words had shaped her and made her into the leader she was today.

Orophin was still not an elf that Belegwen trusted though. Therefore, when he held out his hand for her to take, she did not accept it. Instead, she shook her head and stared at him, waiting for him to strike up a conversation with her.

When Orophin started to speak, Belegwen could hear no sound coming from his lips. Part of her training as a warden had been to read lips though; thus, she watched him closely to try and interpret the words he was mouthing to her.

"I was wrong to act as I did towards you during my life. I misjudged your character completely and treated you horribly because of it. Truly, I am sorry for my actions. If you will allow me, I would like to accept you fully as my gwathel." Belegwen's eyes went wide when she comprehended his words, astonished to find he was trying to make amends with her. "Will you forgive me Belegwen?"

Belegwen just stared at him for a moment, shocked that he would attempt this after thousands of years. Now that she was married to Haldir though, Orophin was her brother too. It made sense for him to try and smooth this over and Belegwen was willing to let it go, seeing as his apology was sincere.

Belegwen decided to reach her hand out to him and he immediately grasped her hand in his own, looking at her with surprised eyes. She gave him a weak smile and nodded while mouthing, "I will forgive you Orophin. Thank you for apologizing gwador."

Orophin smiled at her acceptance, looking much like Haldir when he was joyous. His smile lit up his whole face. At once, he gripped her hand tightly and started to lead her towards the forest that was behind the beach. He mouthed one more word to her before turning around to lead her down an unmarked trail.

"Come."

Belegwen followed Orophin closely as they ducked underneath low-hanging branches and swerved around large pieces of brush. The forest was dark and full, much harder to pass through than the golden wood. Belegwen struggled in particular, still barefoot from being on the beach. Orophin traveled fast, but Belegwen kept up well enough. She watched his strong figure as he led her deep into the darkness of the forest.

Finally, he stopped and smiled back at her as she caught up to him. His hand motioned for her to go ahead of him as he pulled back a thick branch of leaves to reveal a small clearing in the woods. Belegwen stepped into the clearing with Orophin following behind her.

It was beautiful. The forest floor was littered with small ferns and a sprinkling of yellow and white flowers. Sunrays were visibly streaming through the break in the trees and lit up the forest floor with bright, creamy light. Birds chirped and a soft wind blew around them, making the leaves on the trees behind them rustle. Belegwen watched as a couple of squirrels scampered over a moss-covered log in front of her and then scurried into the safety of the trees.

While Belegwen was entranced with the splendor of the area, her eyes eventually made their way back to Orophin, who had walked up to where the bright sunlight was spilling into the clearing. She noticed his smile was even larger now as he hurriedly motioned for her to come over to him with his hand.

Belegwen slowly walked through the ferns and flowers, taking care not to step on them as she drifted towards Orophin. When she was still a few paces away from him, she stopped abruptly. Amid the blinding white glow of the sunshine, she could just barely see the outline of another elf.

Someone else was in the clearing, just a few paces away from Orophin.

Suddenly feeling tentative, Belegwen stopped and stared, hoping to catch a glimpse of who she was looking at. The figure did not move though. She looked at Orophin for guidance, only to find him looking very pleased with himself. His expression reassured her. Belegwen took a couple more steps forward until she was fairly close to the stranger who was immersed in light.

Belegwen watched as Orophin reached out towards the light and took the stranger's hand, holding it palm up in his own hand. Belegwen stared at the upturned hand with curiosity, noting that the stranger seemed to be clothed in a white tunic. Orophin next turned to her and reached out for her hand. Belegwen slowly extended it to him, watching his eyes light up as he took it into his own, then placed it gently on top of the stranger's hand.

It was no stranger though. As soon as Belegwen touched him, she knew precisely who it was. The tingling of their bond gave it away. Belegwen's eyes widened and her jaw dropped as she glanced from Orophin, back to the figure in front of her.

When he finally took a step forward so that she could see him, Belegwen was so stunned that she stopped breathing. She trembled as her eyes met with his once more.

It was Haldir.

Haldir!

He was standing with her there, amid the flowers and ferns. His warm hand was in hers once more, squeezing her own to reassure her of his realness. Though she could scarcely take her eyes off her husband, she felt Orophin pat the hands he had connected, holding them firmly together. Haldir then broke his gaze with her to look at his brother. She watched as he mouthed the words she felt in her heart.

"Thank you."

Orophin simply nodded, looking from Haldir back to her with a huge smile on his face. He patted their hands once again, then squeezed them together to show his support of them. Belegwen finally managed to gasp for air as his eyes met hers once again.

Haldir was back. He had come back for her.

His eyes sparkled as they studied her once again and his face was filled with joy at their surprise reunion. His loving stare conveyed everything she needed to know about his feelings for her. She could revel in that stare for hours…

Belegwen woke up with a gasp on the cold hard floor of the cave. Linedhel was shouting something that she could not make out in her weakened state. It had taken everything she had to try and heal herself and now she felt as if she could barely move. She had no energy left to speak of.

She closed her eyes for a moment while she tried to gather her bearings. The sound of Linedhel's scurrying feet finally caused her to open her eyes once more. She was staring at the ceiling of the dark cavern. She felt a drop of water land first on her neck and then on her cheek as she stared at a cluster of stalactites above her head.

There was something in her hand, something warm. Belegwen slowly turned her head and gazed down at her hand, only to find Haldir's hand was once again resting in her own. He was still warm, much to her relief. As she looked back up his body, a movement caught her eye.

It was his chest. He was breathing.

Belegwen's eyes widened as she watched in amazement as her husband breathed once more. She observed the rise and fall of his chest as she laid beside him, shocked with this new development.

A pat on her shoulder roused her from her trance and she found herself looking into Linedhel's amazed face when she looked upward. "You have done it Belegwen!" He exclaimed, confirming the very miracle she beheld with her very own eyes. "Haldir lives!" He proclaimed, nearly shouting with excitement.

"Haldir lives!"

ooOoo

Thanks again for reading my newest chapter! Please leave a comment and let me know what you think of it. I'd love to hear from you! I'll do my best to update soon!

-P.G.