Chapter 3

Haldir paced restlessly. He stood his post on the border and looked through the trees. Normally he wouldn't worry, but there was something that put him on edge tonight. All of the guards along the border seemed on edge as of late; the forest itself seemed waiting for something.

His neck prickled as he felt the Lady's voice in the back of his head, whispering to him.

"You seem too distracted to guard my borders tonight, Haldir. What is it that troubles you so?" Galadriel's voice was light, but demanded an answer. As he thought of the proper way to respond, it seemed she skimmed lightly the surface of his thoughts.

"It is not a large concern. I keep fair watch." Haldir replied. It seemed that Galadriel had been tense lately, and Celeborn had barely said a word over the past few days. Haldir did not want them to have the added burden of worrying about his troubled life.

"Do not coddle me with disarming words, Haldir. Rumiel is on his way to your post. Come to my garden and unburden your shoulders." She whispered.

Before Haldir could answer, Galadriel pulled away, and there was no excuse for him not to listen to her. His ears picked up the sound of his brother making his way to the border. Haldir sighed and waited until his brother was in view before putting his weapons away. Rumiel looked at him with concern written on his face.

Galadriel never pulled anyone away from their post unless she was very concerned for their well-being. All of the Galadhrim served her without question, their loyalty was so deep that they would have worked the most menial tasks if she saw fit.

Haldir said nothing to his brother as he started to the garden. He quickened his steady pace until he reached the garden. His heart hammered in his chest as he sat down and waited for the Lady to greet him. He couldn't understand what it was the put him on such edge tonight, although he admitted to himself that it wasn't only tonight he had felt so disconcerted. This had been gradually building. This tension, rising to the surface of all of their minds.

She walked slowly through the gate on feet so light it looked as though she floated. Haldir watched her with the same sense of loyalty and pride he felt every time he gazed at her. Haldir felt that she was the most understanding and straightforward being he had ever met.

Galadriel's face remained the same as it had as she spied Haldir watching her approach. Of all her warriors, Galadriel knew that Haldir was one of her most loyal, he had shown this since he was an elfling and taken into her care. She was like a mother to him, and his disturbance within him aroused her suspicions greatly.

"What is it that burdens you so?" Galadriel asked.

Haldir remained silent, not wanting Galadriel to know that it was these suspicions that pulled his thoughts away from his guard. He had promised himself that his fears would never compromise his position with the Lord and Lady ever. And he intended to keep his word to himself. He would not appear weak in the eyes of his people, ever.

But what can stop thoughts from happening? What could possibly stop these creeping thoughts from winding their way into his head? Not Haldir, he was helpless to the whirlwind of thoughts that blew through his mind.

Haldir was considered by some to be arrogant, rude even, but he wasn't. He was fair, just, and simply cautious. There was a time when the Elves did not have to be so cautious, but with the rising of Men, beasts and other creatures, there was reason to keep a healthy sense of wariness about oneself. Haldir thought of the attacks that had sprung up around the borders and he knew that times were going to become far more difficult. Something was stirring, and there was no way for any of the Elves not to sense it. It was always there now, this sense of movement. Always at their heels, the shadow of a lurking threat. Sometimes, even the Golden Wood seemed to be surrounded by it, and he wondered what force was so great as to make him feel so claustrophobic in his own land.

Surely Galadriel had felt it too. He and his brothers did not speak of it. Haldir kept to himself a lot of the time, guarding his section alone, knowing that the rest of his guard would hear him if the need arose. Something was in the air, and his heart kicked a little faster in his chest. Eyes seemed to watch him from the darkness, even in when he was laying awake at night, guarded and safe. There was no explaination for it, but the eyes of his fellow Elves told him that they had sensed this presence as well.

"I am not burdened so much as troubled." Haldir calculated his words, knowing that she already knew what was on his mind without a doubt. How could he tell her of the fears he had without seeming as though he were loosing his nerve? There was no proper way to explain these thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him at times.

"Haldir, I know you feel what all of us do, and I know that there is a fear in you. It is not petty, for I can feel it in me as well. It makes itself known, even here." She looked to the trees that towered over them. "It whispers plainly to me, and begs of an answer." A slight breeze stirred the air and wafted through the branches above.

Haldir remained silent. Never before had Galadriel sounded so uncertain. This was a side of her that he was sure few had ever witnessed, he wondered why he was there for it. His eyes stated his question and as she met them, she replied.

"I cannot reveal what it is I know of this malice, but I know that it is grave. I await council as to what even I should do. You are not mistaken, there is something amiss. Large things that will change the course of all our futures." Galadriel said no more, but as Haldir looked at her, he saw the scope of what they were facing. It had to be enormous to make even her pristine face seem so forlorn. He sighed to himself thinking that there were greater things to worry himself about, his own feelings were but a drop in the river.