Disclaimer: Still not mine, but I would really like to own Haldir.

Thanks to those who have been reading and reviewing thus far. I'm sorry about the wait for the new chapter. Any comments would be appreciated so don't forget to review and tell me what you think.

James8 is still beta-ing for me.

Speaking in "quotes".

Thinking in italics.

Chapter 5

The days were moving much too quickly for Elle. The Lorien elves had decided to head home in a week. That had been six days ago. Elle hated to think about the idea that would take Haldir away. She was grooming her horse, Eclipsian, in his stall and thinking when she heard the barn door open.

Lord Gaealis looked around the barn, "Elegain?" There was a pause, followed by the fall of footsteps, "Elegain." He looked into his daughter's horse's stall and gave an exasperated sigh, "Why did you not answer?"

"Sorry Daddy, I was lost in thought."

"I don't know exactly what it is you are moping about, but come into the manor. Haldir and I are going to discuss that colt…,"

"Pharaohirrim." Elle interrupted and perked up at Haldir's name.

"Yes, Pharaohirrim, and we thought you might be interested in hearing the conversation." He finished and gave his daughter an odd look, "Just what is the matter?"

"I need to put away my things and will be right up. Do you think I have a few minutes to wash up and get changed?" Elle ignored his inquiry and practically ran to put away her grooming supplies.

"Just wash up, there is no need to change." Lord Gaealis turned and walked out the front doors shaking his head.

You may not think so, great. I bet I smell lovely to. Elle ran to the well and splashed some cold water on her face. She cleaned up as much as she could as quickly as she could before grabbing the towel next to the well to dry off. She raced up the stairs taking two at a time. At her father's study door she composed herself, ran her fingers through her long hair, and knocked softly before letting herself in.

Haldir stood up as she entered causing her to blush slightly. She noticed the parchment in his hands. He took his seat after she sat down in the chair opposite her father's desk. I'm kind of close to him. I hope it isn't obvious.

"Your father has just given me Nagia's records. She seems to have a very interesting history." Haldir was reading over the parchment again. Elle knew Nagia was Pharaohirrim's mother, but Elle had never really worked with her. Lord Gaealis cared for Nagia and she was obviously his horse.

"You came in at a good time Elle. Haldir was just going to tell me what he has concluded about my Nagia." Lord Gaealis was very particular about the mare and news of her he did not know disturbed him.

"I will have questions as we go. I already have my beliefs of the mare." Haldir looked up from the parchment. "Where did you buy the mare?"

"I didn't. She was born from the herd nine years ago."

Haldir nodded, "Who were the mother and the stallion?"

"The mother was from the herd. The stallion was the leader of the herd she was with."

"Are you sure of that?" Haldir looked back down at the parchment and then back up.

"Not absolutely certain, but you know horses probably better than I. What are the chances that another stallion could have gotten close to her?" Lord Gaealis was surprised at the question. "You know stallions may kill each other if one feels his herd is threatened or being stolen."

"That is not completely true. Elven horses will not fight each other. Lord Gaealis, I am certain Nagia's mother was from one of your herd. The father, though, I feel he may have been elven bred."

"Nagia has no characteristics of being elven." Lord Gaealis thought about his favorite mare trying to think of every detail.

"Are you so certain?" Haldir held out the parchment, "Nagia has never been sick that is written here. You have told me many times that she is incredibly fast even for a horse of Rohan. Here," Haldir pointed to the parchment, "when she sliced her shoulder while out with the herd. She came back for help, without the guidance of anyone. Also, her wound healed in only a few weeks. Any other horse would have been lame for two or three months."

"She does not look elven bred." Elle interrupted for the first time. "She looks nothing like your Nimrohspell. He seems to glow. I have seen him in the evening, especially after dark."

Haldir nodded at Elle's observation, "Yes, but it is possible the look of an elven horse skipped a generation. Your colt, Pharaohirrim," Haldir corrected himself before Elle could and smiled, "may have gotten a bit of the trait his mother did not. As you've noticed, he does have unusual coloring and does 'glow' as you humans like to say." Haldir grinned at his remark, but continued, "I'll bet he has the other characteristics as well. Eventually the characteristics he possesses will become less obvious in his children and grandchildren. His foals, however, will have differences, that of a closer relationship to elven horses." Haldir stopped to let his conclusion settle in.

Lord Gaealis considered the possibility of owning an actual descendant of an elven bred horse. "What about other foals born?"

"Presumably they would be part elven horses to."

Elle could feel her excitement building, "So we could actually begin a new herd of horses with closer elven ties?"

Haldir sat back in his chair, "Yes, and at the same time, no. Elle, do you remember when we talked while riding back to the manor a few days ago?"

"Of course I do." Elle nodded; Does he really think I would forget a moment spent with him?

"I told you then something about elven horses that applied to Nagia and will apply to Pharaohirrim. It may affect some of his children, possibly even some of his grandchildren."

Elle thought back to their return ride to the manor concentrating on the conversation that had taken place. Her eyes suddenly grew wide, "Elven horses do not always accept a rider."

Lord Gaealis looked shocked, "But Nagia was trained exceptionally fast. She was very willing…, but she would not accept a bit…" He trailed off thinking about what he just said.

Haldir nodded again to Lord Gaealis, "Another elven horse trait. She accepted the saddle for you, but not the metal bit."

Elle had stopped listening after she had remembered what Haldir had told her. Pharaohirrim might not accept a rider. He might have too much elven blood running through his veins to allow a human. From what Haldir had told her, he might not even accept an elf as a rider.

"He might accept. Nagia accepted Daddy, Pharaohirrim might accept me. Nagia is half elven blood. Pharaohirrim is even less." Elle had whispered and only Haldir had heard her.

"Lady Elegain, there is always the possibility. You must keep hope, but I want you prepared. Any of Nagia's foals might not accept a rider, but they will still be part of your herd. The foals of Nagia's foals, Pharaohirrim's foals, will almost certainly accept riders, probably ninety-nine percent of them." Haldir was trying to comfort her.

She suddenly felt a strong urge to be alone with her thoughts. She excused herself from the study, "I think I am going for a ride. I promised Eclipsian."

Lord Gaealis and Haldir nodded as she left. Both knew of her desire to train the colt.

XxXxX

Elle walked into the barn, grabbing Eclipsian's bridle from its hook on the wall. She walked back to his stall and opened the door wide. Eclipsian, realizing they were going out, walked over to where Elle stood. She bridled him quickly and led him to the front of the barn. She leaped onto his back and turned Eclipsian to canter off towards the open fields. It's not possible.

XxXxX

Elle's eyes open the next morning later than normal. She was upset about the news she received yesterday, but after thinking it over she knew there was nothing she could do about the situation. Another thought surfaced, Haldir is leaving today. That got her moving and out of bed quick. She stepped out onto her bedroom balcony and looked towards the barn. The elven horses stood around while the elves loaded supplies onto their backs. Elle raced into her room to get dressed. She wanted to find Haldir before he left and not in front of her parents.

She walked into the hallway and closed her door. As she descended the steps she saw Haldir come out of his room on the ground floor.

"Lord Haldir."

He turned to look at her a thoughtful expression on his face. "Would you care to walk with me out to the barn Lady?"

"I want to speak with you a moment." Elle bit her lip gathering her courage. "I know Pharaohirrim might not accept me as a rider, but if not… he might accept an elf, right?"

"Yes." Haldir was watching her. I feel like he is trying to figure me out when he looks at me like that.

"Would you accept him?"

Haldir looked at her surprised. "Lady, you could have him as a stallion. His foals will be excellent horses."

"I know that. We could work something out if it came to that. Would you try?"

"If that is what you want. What does your father think of this?" Haldir was surprised Elle would give up the horse she had come to care for so much.

"I think he would agree." Elle was resolute about her decision. "I think he might be happier being an elven horse if he will not accept humans. I want him to be happy."

Haldir was stunned by the girl's maturity, "Very well, if that is what you want. I will be returning to Limduin in a year. By then you will know."

Haldir and Elle had reached the barn. The elves had finished with their loading and were saying their goodbyes to Lord and Lady Gaealis.

"Ride careful." Lord Gaealis and Haldir bowed to each other.

"Thank you my lord." Haldir turned to Lady Gaealis, "Thank you for the pleasure of staying in your home."

"Come see us again soon Haldir." Lady Gaealis gave him a respectful hug.

"Lady Elegain, do not worry. Spend as much time as you can with Pharaohirrim. If you have questions or concerns you want answered, write me and send it with the elves that come to do the trading." Haldir offered his hand.

Elle barely hesitated before copying her mother's goodbye. She held him slightly longer than she meant to, but Haldir did not appear to mind. "Thank you. I promise to spend time with him everyday."

Haldir leaped onto Nimrohspell's back and turned in the direction of Loth Lorien. They picked up a steady canter after reaching the field. Lord and Lady Gaealis walked back to the manor discussing matters of importance. Elle watched the elven group until they disappeared from her view. She turned towards Nagia and Pharaohirrim's paddock, Goodbye Haldir.

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