Part: 3
Rating: Strong R
Pairing: Haldir/OFC
Characters: Just about every other elf that Tolkien created that's in the LoTR books and movies. Warning: descriptions of wounds
Disclaimer: All known characters are owned by the great Tolkien, all others are of my own creation.
Beta(s): Marta, Kazzy, and Vi
Timeline: 80 years before LoTR and extends to post RoTK events
Notes: I want to thank Marta, Zee, Mal, Kay, Suse, Phyllis, Vi, Novedhelion, and Dorothy for their expertise. Without their input this story would not be what it is today.
This story follows the movieverse.
Summary: With no memory of a possible alliance with Mirkwood, an elleth, lone survivor of a devastating attack, is brought to Rivendell. This is her story.
The elleth had not left her room since her arrival at the Last Homely House. As expected, the splint came off when her arm was healed. Elrond checked on her regularly, but there seemed to be no improvement in her memories or emotional state.
One day, two weeks later, Elrond discussed the recovery process with Tiniwen, and how they were going to get it started again. "It has been two weeks. I believe it is time she start going outside and into the gardens," Elrond told Tiniwen out in the hall. The sound of laughter interrupted the conversation.
Tiniwen craned her neck to see who was outside, "Lords Elladan and Elrohir are in the courtyard with Estel, my Lord."
"We are not taking her to the courtyard, but to the gardens." Elrond gave a hint of his amusement in his voice.
Tiniwen hid her blundering smile with a quick turn. "Yes, my Lord," she finally answered.
"Come," Elrond spoke as he moved past his young apprentice. When they entered the room they found Haldir dozing in a corner chair and the elleth facing the balcony. The warden woke quickly to the movements and let the side of his mouth tug upwards slightly.
Acknowledging the greeting with a slight nod, Elrond moved towards the bed. The elleth's head whipped around at the sound of his approach, and all her muscles tensed. When she finally recognized who it was she slowly relaxed.
"It is time," he spoke softly.
"For what?" Her answer was no louder than a whisper.
"To expand your world. I want you to go into the gardens."
She shook her head and curled up in response.
"You cannot always hide here, little one," Elrond spoke gently as he leaned over. "And you will not be alone."
"But. . .it will h-happen again. . ." she whispered with a sob.
"Nothing can enter Imladris without my knowing of it. You do not have to worry; we will be there to protect you."
The elleth finally answered by relaxing her muscles and slowly sat up. Standing was something different. She had not used those muscles in two weeks and they gave out almost immediately.
"Master Elrond, let me. It will not seem right for you," Haldir commented.
Elrond turned to look at Haldir for a moment. The elf was standing a few paces behind him. He knew the warden was right. Turning back, he found her shivering again. Placing a hand on her shoulder he tried to give her the reassurances she needed, "Little one, as long as you are here you are under my protection. I will not let anything happen to you."
When she finally stopped shivering Elrond stood aside and let Haldir take his place. The warden spoke softly as he picked her up, "Do not worry; Elrond won't let me do anything uncouth. I am a guest in his house, just as you are." And I wouldn't want to either.
She looked into his gray eyes and found amusement, but complete seriousness, etched in them. Accepting it, she relaxed slightly in his arms while slipping her arms around his neck.
When they were ready Haldir followed the two healers out of the room and into the hallway. Tiniwen left the three elves with a quick curtsey.
"Come, Haldir." Elrond favored him with a ghost of a smile and turned on his heels to head in another direction.
Haldir nodded and followed, the elleth's weight feather-light in his arms. It was something he definitely wanted to repeat in the near future.
The journey to the gardens was quick, too quick for Haldir's estimation.
The day was clear and bright, but she did not see any of it. She was far away in her own mind, reliving something that had not happened in a very long time.
In the background the lulling, constant sound of the waves could be heard crashing against the shore along with crying seagulls. That particular day, the sky was a brilliant blue.
"There you are, my child," the woman spoke with amusement.
"I wanted to see the gardens, Nana," she pouted while crossing her arms.
"That you have, little one. Come, it is time for your nap."
"My lady?" a voice broke through to her.
She jumped slightly when she found Haldir sitting beside her on a stone bench. Concern laced his features.
"Are you well?"
"I-I don't know," she whispered while turning fearful eyes towards Elrond.
"What did you see, little one?" Elrond asked.
The elleth looked up with fearful eyes to Elrond, who was standing before her. "I-I don't know," she whispered. "A garden, the sound of water. . ."
"Like the river?" Elrond indicated the river flowing through the valley.
She shook her head. "Different."
"Adar! Help!"
She went completely white and started shaking, not realized that she had cried out.
"Elrond?" Haldir asked, not knowing what was happening.
"She needs to be inside," the elf-lord spoke quickly.
"Aye," Haldir answered and scooped her up. Subconsciously, she felt the arms around her and burrowed into the embrace while shivering.
Once back inside, Haldir placed her on her bed then backed up to the door. With a detached eye he watched as Elrond worked over the elleth.
Hearing footsteps, Haldir turned around to see who was coming. Rúmil was moving quickly down the hall in his direction.
"Brother?" the younger elf asked slightly out of breath. "I heard something. . ."
Haldir nodded and turned back to the bed, "I know, Rúmil."
Rúmil looked into the room, the elleth was on the bed and quaking in apparent terror. "What happened?" he fished for answers.
Haldir closed his eyes, "I think she remembered something of what happened to her. Elrond wanted her to start going out to the gardens, but she didn't want to. She was afraid that it would happen again."
Rúmil furrowed his brow. "Does she remember?"
"I don't think so, but she knows something bad happened," Haldir shook his head.
Rúmil gazed thoughtfully at the elleth. "Do you think she will ever be ready to journey to Lothlórien?"
"You don't have to worry about that," Haldir answered while watching the scene in the room before him. "I will bring her back when she's ready."
"You cannot do that alone, brother," Orophin's voice came from the end of the hall. Both Haldir and Rúmil turned, not knowing how long the elf had been there listening. He was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed.
"How long have you been there?" Haldir asked a bit gruffly.
"Long enough to know I won't let you do this by yourself," Orophin answered while pushing himself off the door frame. He joined his brothers to watch Elrond work on getting the elleth out of her shock. "Think of it, brother. It would be much safer if there were more than one of us there to protect her."
"That still might not be enough if we're caught by any substantial pack of orcs."
"We took that chance coming here," Orophin shook his head. "And we take that chance every time we're out on the Fences."
Haldir opened his mouth to counter Orophin's comment, but was stopped when Elrond emerged from the room.
"She is sleeping, and I do not want her disturbed," the elf-lord ordered them. "She had a bad shock while in the gardens," he explained to the two youngest elves.
"Will she go out again?" Haldir asked Elrond as the elf-lord turned to leave the halls.
"I do not know yet." Elrond shook his head while now moving down to the end of the hall.
Haldir caught up quickly and matched the older elf's pace leaving his brothers behind to their own devices. "It was a memory, wasn't it?"
Elrond nodded while turning towards his study. Haldir watched him until the elf-lord stumbled to a stop just inside the large room.
"Elrond?" he asked, swiftly coming to the elf-lord's side. Coming around the front he could see Elrond's gray eyes glazed over, while the older elf's breathing slowly dramatically. Haldir knew the elf-lord was having a vision, he had seen Galadriel like this more times than he could remember.
Elrond was lost to the world he knew. Before him he could see the elleth glowing with love and joy while holding a small squirming bundle. Another elf that wore the colors and symbols of Lothlórien stood with his back before him. The elleth handed him the bundle, "Your daughter, herven."
Elrond came back from the vision with a start, then raised a slightly unsteady hand to his forehead.
"Elrond?" Haldir asked with concern, trying to get his attention.
"I am sorry. I had. . ."
"A vision. I know. I've seen the signs more times than I can remember with Nanneth."
Elrond looked the warden over again.
Haldir shook his head, "Nanneth never told me what she would see. She would have me make my own way without knowing what was to come if the vision was about me."
"She is wise," Elrond said absently as he moved over to the couch. "What would you do if you knew what was going to happen?"
"I don't think I would want to know," Haldir stood at the balcony gazing out into the gardens. "Not even who I will bind with. If I did know, then it would take the excitement and newness out of everything."
Then I will not tell him of what I saw, though it might not be him, Elrond thought to himself.
TBC............