Wow. The explanation for the fast updates is due to the fact that I just got over a huge writer's block and ideas are just throwing themselves at me. Plot bunnies won't even leave me alone when I sleep. Thank you to everyone who reviewed the twelfth chapter! You are amazing! Enjoy the thirteenth chapter.


Disclaimer: I own nothing of LOTR, or Haldir, or Lothlorien, or anything that you may recognize. I do however own the plot, and any original characters.
------Chapter Thirteen------
Anira shakily walked back over to a chair and sat down. She worried for Haldir, and for the elves who would die as a result of the orc uprising. The silence in the house was almost unbearable. She almost left to go spend the time waiting with Minaethiel, but remembered her promise to Haldir. Hesitantly, she staggered over to the window and looked out over Lothlorien. It looked abandoned. She saw two elves hurrying into the city, seeking shelter in safer places because they lived farther out than most.
"Orophin! What's the count?" Haldir shouted.

"Three hundred are looming closer, they detoured around Fangorn so we have some time to spare!" He answered, trying to organize the elves around him. "Archers to the trees! Set up in attack formation! We will station the main defense closer to the city!"

Haldir nodded, satisfied with his brother's handling of the situation, and moved over to where Feredir was arranging the main combat soldiers.

"Do you think they will attack only from the east? They are not completely senseless. They know enough to surround us and catch us off guard," Haldir questioned Feredir.

"We could send Beleg's unit to the west borders. Thrael's can help farther north. Are the sentinels at the gates ready for an attempted invasion?" Feredir answered.

Suddenly, warning calls sounded from another guard flet. Every elf stood stock still.

"They've entered the forest," Haldir stated.

"Gondien! Set up the unit! Attack at first sight!" Feredir rushed around trying to ready for the assault.

"Saeldur! Send a few more scouts closer to the enemy," Haldir said, just as the first orc came into sight howling like a demon.

And was shot seconds later by an archer.

"Never mind. Just send a unit back towards the city more, not too close or they will lure them in."

Haldir moved to the head of his unit to attack straight on for when they would begin to pour into the clearing. Feredir did the same next to him. The tension in the soldiers was noticeable, some were shaking slightly because of the adrenaline rush. Any second they would flood like water and attack with full force.

"My Lord! My Lord! March warden!"

Haldir turned at the panicked voice. A young soldier burst into the clearing breathless, behind him stood Rumil with blood streaming out of an arm wound. He was also covered in the inky black of orc blood.

"What is it? Rumil! Are you injured?" He strode over to them quickly.

"Haldir...the west borders...they attacked too soon. We fear a group of orcs are heading to the city this very moment. They are running out of room in the flets for injured troops. You have a backup reinforcement farther back, right?" Rumil said.

"Yes! But not close enough! If they entered through the west fences, our elves would not be able to catch them in time. Thalion! Send more elves to the west borders and try to send a preliminary warning before the creatures reach the city!" Haldir shouted.

He prayed to the Valar that Anira would heed his words, and stay safe for his return.


The sentinels at the gates stood alert and anxious. They surveyed the wood before them constantly and shot nervous glances back at the high seated talans in the city. Many had young families and loved ones.

A gasping scout came into sight.

"West borders invaded...twenty orcs approaching..." he collapsed on the ground in front of them and was carried away.

The bell rang out its clear sounding admonition. Somewhere in the distance a scream was heard.


Anira sat deep in thought. On the borderline of drifting into reverie, she heard a faint sound. It almost sounded like a...bell?

She sat up and listened harder. It was. She bolted to the door and locked it. She grabbed a dagger from the wall and rushed to Haldir's room. Slamming it behind her and double fastening it as well, she sat on his bed with fear and dread coursing through her. Her chest heaved from the quick movements. She was sure even Haldir could hear her heart pounding its loudest.

Clutching the dagger closer, she huddled against the soft pillows.


At the sound of the bell, Minaethiel broke down into terrified sobs. She stumbled around locking everything up and finally managed to make it into a secure room. She spread out on the bed, tears soaking the thick comforter.

She put her hope in the Valar to let Feredir come back to her safely.


Haldir pushed them harder against the orcs. They had been fighting for hours and the orcs were relentless. It seemed as if they would never end. He saw his own unit falling and some of Feredir's, who was still going strong up at the front.

When Haldir wasn't fighting, he looked to see who was still alive. Orophin had returned from forcing a very reluctant Rumil up into a flet to get healed. Saeldur, however, was no where in sight. He craned his neck trying to find him, but was distracted by a large orc bringing his sword down upon him. Haldir blocked him and killed the creature moments later.

There was blood everywhere. All around him, on him, on the ground. His own blood started to seep out of a minor cut to his cheek and was dripping down to mingle with the horrid orc blood.

He turned sharply to avoid an arrow and caught sight of Saeldur lying unconscious next to another elf. Haldir reached them to find that the other elf was beyond hope, his eyes held a disturbing emptiness and had turned to a dull, lifeless color. Saeldur breathed faintly and weakly next to him. Haldir called to an archer, who dropped from the tree above and carried the comatose elf back up into the flets.

Noticing something different, Haldir looked up to see darkness. Night had fallen.


Feredir jumped to the left, narrowly missing a broad sword that was swung at him. He quickly killed the attacker and moved to the next one. His strength was leaving him. He had taken a a slash at his ribs and it was beggining to take its toll on him. Haldir looked okay, but he had recieved a wound to his shoulder, which was now bleeding profusely. Feredir knew he would refuse to be taken up into the healing flets.

A victorious cry sounded from up ahead. It came from an elf of the Galadhrim. The orcs were fleeing. Their numbers were suddenly diminished and Feredir looked around at the surprisingly high count of orc bodies. He ran over to Haldir to see how he was doing.

"We did it! Do you see? They're leaving," Feredir said happily to Haldir.

"What about the city?" Feredir's face fell at Haldir's revelation.

"We've not heard word of any emergencies. Our best guess is that they made it through safely."

"One can only hope."


The sound of metal on metal reached the ears of the inhabitants of Caras Galadhon. The reinforcements had come and were eagerly helping the sentinels eradicate the remaining orcs. Anira cringed at the primal and screeching cries of the dying orcs. That would be over soon and she would only have to worry about Haldir, wherever he was.

Even if the battle had just ended, they would not likely be back in the city until early the next morning. They had to dispose of the bodies and get the injured back into the city. The dead elves would be honored in a mourning ceremony shortly after. She snuggled closer into the pillows and drifted off for a short rest.


Haldir stood surveying the aftermaths of the battle. Blood streaked the ground and covered the thick silver trunks of the trees. Orcs lay piled everywhere, the stench was unbearable. Among them, regrettably, lay also dead elves. All of Lorien would mourn the loss of the fine ellyn.

Feredir approached, looking just as bloody and haggard as Haldir did, and stood silently next to his friend.

"They say Saeldur will not last through the night," said Feredir.

"How many others have fallen?" Haldir replied.

"Many, Thalion and Beleg among them."

"They were excellent wardens. Death does not spare even the wisest of warriors."

"So it seems. But many have made it through, and some continue with minor injuries."

"But how many will surive them? How many more will we lose because of the inflicted harm?"

Feredir looked down and did not answer.

"Our ellith will lament the loss of their males. This is one of the worst slayings seen in Lorien," Haldir said.

"But it could not have been forseen," the silver haired Lord of the Galadhrim said as he entered the clearing.

Both turned and bowed in respect. Feredir moved away to help transport a severely wounded ellon into the flets.

"Your quick thinking and highly skilled soldiers arrived in time to stop most of the orcs that entered the city. Those that managed to breach the gates and sentinels guarding it were killed not long after, and no one was harmed," Celeborn said.

"I wish the same could be said for the battle that was fought here, my Lord," Haldir said. Celeborn nodded in agreement.

"The ceremonies for the departed will be a poignant and gloomy reminder of the fatal tendency of immortality. Mandos' Hall will welome the weary and defeated elves," Celeborn said. "I have matters to attend to back at the city. You can either finish your duties or return to Caras Galadhon," he added.

"I wish to oversee the pyres and assist with the injured for now, my Lord. Perhaps when the sun rises again I will return," Haldir answered.


The night soon passed, and Haldir found that despite his efforts, thoughts of Anira flew through his mind constantly. He remembered her soft hair and pleasing smile. It was odd now to even think of life before she lived in his talan. Awkward though it may have been at first, her calming and somewhat peaceful presence had changed him, in a good way.

He found his horse, still saddled and quietly dozing, and headed to the city. Orophin joined him as he passed his flet.

"Haldir, are you going to get that wound looked at? Or are you going to pull your usual 'I am fine others need it more than me' trick?" Orophin said. Haldir shot him an annoyed sideways glance.

"It is a shallow cut, nothing more," Haldir replied.

"That shallow cut still happens to be bleeding, and if it is not cleaned out soon it will become infected," Orophin countered. Haldir looked down at the injury across his left shoulder.

"Looks fine to me Orophin, I assure you Mandos is not in my near future."

"That's becuase he's not ready for you," Orophin retaliated, though it was muttered cowardly under his breath. Haldir heard it anyways and could not supress a light smile at the thought. They continued riding and passed other guard flets until finally reaching the city.

"Ah, home. Rumil is already here. He decided to actually listen to me, and is currently in the healing talan," Orophin said.

"That, my dear Orophin, is because Rumil nearly had his arm hacked off. As you can see, mine is still in its proper place," Haldir retorted. Orophin gave him a disapproving glance, even though he was younger than Haldir.

"How did Feredir do?" Orophin asked.

"He is fine, a slight slash to the ribs, nothing more," Haldir stopped, and hesistantly went on, "you aren't going to bug him about his wound are you?"

"No. Not unless I have to."

"Good, I don't think he'll be back in the city for another hour or two anyways."

"Lord Celeborn will be anticipating the casualty figures," Orophin reminded him.

"Yes, will you go to Anira and tell her I am fine? I don't her to worry more than she has to," Haldir asked.

"Sure, as long as you can promise me you'll get that looked at as soon as you finish."

"Perhaps Anira can just assist me with it, the healers are working over time..."

"...and others are worse off than me. Yes. I know. I accept, but under these terms only." They parted ways and Orophin went off in the direction of Haldir's talan.


Anira heard steps ascending the talan. She warily exited the confines of the secure room and walked towards the door. Despite the time of day, which was early afternoon, it was fairly dark because of the overhanging ominous clouds. She heard the knock, and moved forward to unlatch the door. She opened it quickly to find the silhouette of a tall, muscular elf, but certainly not Haldir.

Instinctively moving backwards and away from the stranger, she glanced towards the weapons on the walls.

"Are you going to let me in or just stand there frightened to Mandos of me?" She let out a sigh of relief at Orophin's voice and opened the door wider to accept him.

"I am sorry, my guard has been up through this whole ordeal. Would you like something to drink?" He nodded and she sat down with him in the main room.

"Haldir wanted me to tell you that he will return, for the most part unharmed, after he reports to the Lord and Lady."

"So he is alright?"

"Fine. However, his stubborn nature prevents him from seeking treatment for a shoulder wound. He told me you would be assisting him with it."

"That can be managed," she replied. "How is Rumil doing?" He went on to explain how most of the Galadhrim fared and left a little while after.


"Total losses equal roughly twenty five elves. Three were wardens," Haldir stated in front of Lord Celeborn. Lady Galadriel sat staring into the distance by one of the large windows decorating the talan.

"How many lay injured?" Celeborn asked.

"We're guessing close to fifty. The orcs hit at an unexpected time for us all. Most of us were in the city," Haldir said.

"None of it is anyone's fault. No one should take all the blame. The Valar work in mysterious ways, March warden," Lady Galadriel said, standing from her postition by elegant windows. Haldir nodded.

"Go, Haldir. Rest your weary mind. Prepare for the days ahead when grief and sorrow overshadow us all," Celeborn said, dismissing him.

Haldir walked hurriedly back to his talan, pondering the Leaders' words.


Once again, steps were heard rapidly on the talan stairs. Anira expectantly rushed to the door, opening it in time to be pulled into Haldir's strong arms once again. She leaned her head on his uninjured shoulder.

"I didn't know if you'd come back to me," she whispered. "Is it true that you lost three wardens?"

"They died for their people, and will not be forgotten," he answered, also speaking softly.

"You are bleeding, Haldir."

"What is it with you and Orophin? It's not a fatal wound, nor one that merits great expert attention." She smiled in response. He leaned down and kissed her, taking her lips softly. She kissed him back, enjoying the moment.


Feedback! REVIEWS! I have beenextremelydelightedso far with the reviewers! You all make my day! Opinions, thoughts, or just plain old shout outs on the chapter are welcomed and appreciated. Thank you!

Feredir/Minaethiel in the next chapter. Just in case you are wondering.

-ElfLuver13