Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OC's and the plot, everything else belongs to Tolkien and those who currently own the rights to his work.
Chapter 18 – Suspicions
Third Age 2700
Haldir kept watch. It was his nature. After all, it was not mere chance that he was the Marchwarden of the Golden Wood. He'd earned the title through millennia of faithful service defending the realm. Haldir's effectiveness was due in large part to his distrusting nature. It would not be too far from the truth to say Haldir trusted no one within Lothlórien or without aside from his brothers, the Lady Galadriel and her Lord. The Marchwarden's trust was not easily earned nor willingly given to any be they man or ellon or Istar alike. His caution was not completely unjustified. Haldir had seen much in his travels beyond the Wood, perhaps too much, and it made him distrustful of all creatures great and small that might, by there very existence, threaten his dear Lothlórien. It was his duty, his calling, to stamp out trouble before it entered the borders of the land. Whether by bow or sword or dagger Haldir of Lórien would not permit evil to intrude upon the Golden Wood.
Haldir was normally quite anxious to return to the borders after escorting guests to Caras Galadhon, as that was where he was most useful and where his purpose in life was most readily fulfilled. Protecting Lórien normally required him to patrol the borders… but not this time. A threat had been invited into the very heart of his homeland and Haldir could not raise a hand in her defense. All he could do was watch and watch he did…
Haldir followed the pair as they made their way about the city. It was several days ago that Marilla had seen fit to take her on a tour of the city and they had not stayed put ever since. It appeared the Lady had assigned someone to keep an eye on her after all, but that fact did little to dissuade Haldir from carrying out his own surveillance. He was rather displeased that Marilla had taken to dragging her around the countryside. It had been easier to keep an eye on her prior to Marilla's interference. Haldir had a perfect view of the talan she shared with Elrond's counselor from his very own balcony, and had been able to keep a furtive eye on her from there.
On this particular day he followed them to the market where elves gathered to trade foodstuffs and other goods. It was difficult, keeping the pair in his sights what with ellyn and ellith constantly stopping to question him or involve him in one conversation or another. When they had collected what appeared to be food for a midday meal they headed off on one of the northern paths. Haldir excused himself from a conversation he was only half-heartedly participating in and followed swiftly behind. He traveled along the tree paths watching them as they made their way along the forest floor below. They stopped aside a small stream and rested their feet in its cool water. Haldir wished they would return to her talan as it would make his task far easier. He waited for them to move on, occupying his mind by drawing up the next border rotation schedule in his head, never once taking his eyes off the pair.
"Haldir?" A deep female voice drew his attention from the stream below.
Haldir spun around in a flash. "My Lady?" Surprise mixed with a nervous sense of foreboding found their way into those words. Haldir bowed respectfully to Galadriel, worried about what it was that brought her so far from the heart of the city. He found it doubtful that they met here by chance.
Galadriel smiled warmly at her most loyal subject, "What is it that has my Marchwarden so entranced that I am able to come upon him unnoticed?" Galadriel placed a delicate hand on the rail overlooking the small stream. Marilla and Eruanna sat laughing merrily together.
"Eruanna?" The Lady's eyes darkened momentarily, all of the age and wisdom she possessed evident in their depths. "Is she the reason you have not returned to the borders?"
Haldir was taken aback by his Lady's words and the implication that he was shirking his duty to her and the realm. He was quick to defend himself. "My duty is to protect you, my Lady, and Lothlórien."
Galadriel knew Haldir's loyalty was unquestionable and she had not meant to imply he'd been negligent. She merely wished to discuss the unexpected change in his schedule. Haldir was an ellon who loved routine and cared little for change. Galadriel knew only something of great importance would keep the Marchwarden away from the borders and she'd had some suspicion Eruanna was that something. She responded at last to the meaning behind Haldir's last statement. "And you think we need protection from this elleth?" Galadriel held him with her fathomless eyes.
"She is not an elleth." It was the first and only response that came to Haldir's mind at his Lady's question.
"No?" Galadriel looked down at Eruanna and her companion. It was not difficult to see the difference between them. There was something about Eruanna, something indefinable but yet clear to every elf that looked upon her. No, she is not an elf, but she is not the only one.
Galadriel fixed Haldir with a serious look, admonishing him with her words. "Do you watch Arwen with such suspicion?"
Haldir's jaw nearly fell open at his Lady's query. "No, of course not…," Haldir was horrified by the implication that he might spy on Lady Arwen as she went about her day.
A wave of confusion flooded the Marchwarden's mind and he could not set himself aright. He knew precisely what the Lady was getting at. Logic had little to do with his contradictory feelings for Arwen and this peredhel. There was no reason why he should trust one and not the other. It was only that perhaps Haldir had never seen Lady Arwen as anything other than the daughter of Celebrían, granddaughter of his Lord and Lady, to whom he'd sworn an oath of allegiance more than an age past.
Haldir tried to give speech to the myriad of thoughts that clouded his mind but they sounded weak and feeble to his ears. "I have traveled beyond these borders many times. I have seen much evil in the race of men."
Galadriel shook her head, disappointed to hear these words. "She might not be an elf, Haldir, but nor is she a man." Galadriel studied the ellon before her carefully, wondering if he would heed her words. "You cannot blame her for crimes committed by her mortal kin."
The look in the Marchwarden's eyes told her he was more than comfortable laying such blame on Eruanna. "You do not agree?" She stared coolly at him, awaiting an answer.
Haldir thought long before responding. He could not lie to the Lady for she had a power to see through such deception. "I find it difficult to separate my feelings for her from those of the men I've met in my travels," Haldir admitted, no longer able to meet those ancient penetrating eyes.
"I see." Galadriel was finding her patience sorely tested by this stubborn ellon. She turned narrow eyes upon Haldir in one last attempt to shock him to his senses. "Do you blame me then, for the evils committed by my house? Do you lay my uncles' deeds at my feet, or those of my cousins?"
"Of course not!" Haldir cried, aghast. There was no one in Arda Haldir respected more than Lady Galadriel. She was the light in the Wood, the power that kept the darkness at bay. That she might believe he thought ill of her filled Haldir once more with horror.
"And yet you hold Eruanna responsible for all the evil deeds of men?"
Haldir had nothing to say in his defense. Reason called upon him to listen to his Lady. Haldir knew in his mind that she was not to blame for the horrors he'd seen committed in mortal lands. Yet he could not silence that voice that warned him to keep her in his sights.
Galadriel let out a tired sigh. She had done as much as she could to open the warden's eyes. Haldir had chosen his path and after so many ages, Galadriel knew when to simply step aside and allow the future to unfold. She did this with only the slightest bit of hesitation. It was not for Haldir's sake that Galadriel had attempted to alter the paths of fate. It was Eruanna the Lady wished to protect. Galadriel knew the child was strong, but she did not wish any ill to befall her while she dwelled in Lothlórien, not after the tale her granddaughter shared with her.
"She is not much more than a child, Haldir. Remember that."
Haldir bowed his head, unable to continue staring into those ancient eyes, eyes that could see into the depths of his very soul. "Yes, my Lady."
The Lady of the Golden Wood retreated back down the path toward the center of the city. When she disappeared from his sight Haldir turned his attention back to the stream below. They were gone. Haldir had not marked their departure as he'd been distracted by his conversation with the Lady. He stared down at the spot where she had been and tried to take his Lady's words to heart. Lady Galadriel was one of the most ancient and venerable beings in all of Middle Earth. Who was he to challenge her wisdom? He wondered briefly if she had consulted her mirror before speaking with him. Then again, he recalled the numerous occasions she warned him about the Mirror. She told him it showed only shadows of things that might be, that the future was ever changing. If that was so then even Galadriel, with all her wisdom and foresight, could not know for certain if she was a threat.
He thought about their first encounter, only a few short weeks ago. There was something about her that disturbed him that very first day. It was the way she would not meet his eyes; only the guilty look down.
His decision made, Haldir descended the stair and made his way to the edge of the stream. It took him a few minutes to pick up her trail. It was not as easy as Haldir would have thought. Someone, most likely Glorfindel, had taught her the art of stealth but she was young and inexperienced and Haldir had many thousands of years experience as a tracker. He followed the broken twigs and light prints she left behind. The tracks led further north in the direction of one of the less frequented lakes near the border.
Haldir took his time, not wanting them to catch sight of him. Half an hour later he reached the edge of the lake. Haldir stayed behind the treeline, unable to spot either of them on the sandy shore. He moved further north toward the waterfalls on the far side of the lake.
As he approached the falls Haldir thought he heard two voices coming from ahead of him. He recognized the one voice as belonging to her. The second sounded familiar but he did not place it until he reached the clearing in the wood and peered out from behind a small mallorn. All he saw was blood…blood on her hands. A cold fury rose from the depths of Haldir's soul at the sight and every one of Galadriel's words vanished from his memory. Haldir emerged from the trees. Instinct overwhelmed reason and he rushed toward her in a blind rage.