Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1
Chapter 2: Intrusion
The first clean rays of the dawn broke into the room and across Haldir's face, diffused by the gauzy curtains. He looked down and saw his daughter, Halnorel, was beginning to wake. The fear he had felt at her episode a few hours earlier dissipated a little in the gleam of the sunlight. Maybe she had just had a bad dream.
Haldir rose and lifted Halnorel. She wrapped her fragile arms around his neck and dropped her head to his shoulder. Rubbing her back, he walked to the window, where he leaned on the sill.
Halnorel's tiny voice broke into his musing.
"Daddy?"
"Hmm?"
"Will you leave again soon?"
Haldir cast his eyes out the window, pain lancing through his chest. "Yes. I'm sorry, little one." He looked down at the floor, but felt her hand on his cheek. He met her dark blue eyes, a mirror image of his own.
"It's all right, Daddy. As long as you come home."
Haldir smiled sadly at the girl, kissing her forehead.
Silraen had watched the exchange from the bed and bit her lip, feeling her chest tighten. She loved Haldir so much. And, since they had first had children, Silraen had discovered a new level of feelings for Haldir. Watching the gentle devotion of Haldir the father, as opposed to the stoic control of Haldir the soldier, left Silraen thanking the Valar he was hers.
But, the baby soon began wailing and a crash that was surely Taurnan's doing erupted from the other room. The moment was shattered, the golden light dropping away from Haldir and Halnorel as reality intruded. Silraen bolted from her bed and rushed into the other room. Taurnan's nose was bleeding, his lip quivering with unshed tears. She didn't even bother to ask how it had happened. Surely he had been swinging in the rafters, which he had taken to of late, or jumping from his bed to his sister's. She had never known an elfling who got into half the mischief her son did. Danuriel's cries rose in pitch, the keening shredding into Silraen's ears.
"Haldir," she yelled, all trace of her earlier sentimentality gone. Where were his paternal talents when she really needed them?
Silraen pressed a handkerchief to Taurnan's nose and lifted him on one hip. As Danuriel paused for a breath, Silraen heard an unfamiliar voice followed by the faint sound of Haldir's deeper voice. To Silraen's amazement, Lord Celeborn appeared in the doorway. Celeborn looked both strong and wise, a combination Silraen had always thought only Celeborn could balance so perfectly. He wore dark blue robes embroidered with stars, his gleaming silver hair cast across broad shoulders.
Silraen dropped quickly to one knee, an awkward motion with an elfling clutched to her side. She bowed her head, her blond hair brushing the wooden floor. She frowned, waiting for someone to say something, but then she noticed it. . .silence. Slowly lifting her eyes, Silraen saw that Celeborn had lifted Danuriel from her crib and was making faces at her, gently rocking the child held safe in his large, graceful hands.
With care bordering on reverence, Celeborn set the baby back in her crib. A contented giggle and she drifted back to sleep. Celeborn turned now to Silraen and Taurnan.
"Silraen, how long have you lived in this realm? How long have you been in the employ of my wife and I? But, still you act like a guest in our lands. You need not bow before me. Greet me as a friend and neighbor, not as a ruler."
Silraen rose and Taurnan wriggled from her embrace and scurried away, his injury already forgotten. Celeborn watched as the child brushed past him, the elf lord's eyes twinkling with amusement.
Haldir joined them, shaking his head. He stood just behind Silraen. "It's his Mirkwood blood that makes him so wild, you know that don't you?"
Silraen drove an elbow back at her husband's stomach, but he easily dodged the blow. He had learned a thing or two over six decades with Silraen.
A grin twitched at the corners of Celeborn's proud mouth. "Shall I summon your brothers?" Celeborn addressed his captain.
"No, my lord, I will fetch them."
Celeborn's sharp gaze was drawn down. He watched as Halnorel shuffled over to them, reaching up to slip her hand into her father's rough palm. A flash of sadness filled Celeborn's gaze. He looked back up, nodding farewell to them both before he turned from them with a swishing of fine robes.
It was then that Silraen knew. This had not been a social call. Celeborn was summoning Haldir away again. *That didn't take long.* Silraen thought, the venom in those words surprising even her. With a soft sigh, Silraen took Halnorel's thin shoulders in her hands and steered the child away.
"Taurnan!" she bellowed, "Get in here so we can get you ready to go to grandmother's."
A blur of golden hair and green tunic crossed the room and Taurnan launched himself at Silraen. He wrapped his arms around her neck, dangling from her back. Silraen laughed, shaking the boy off and catching him around the waist. She tickled his stomach and he squealed with laughter. Even Halnorel joined the fray and they were soon a giggling pile of flailing limbs.
"Mirkwood blood," Haldir mumbled, shaking his head and leaving them to their play. He entered his own room and stared down at his armor with a cold frown. Never had he been so reluctant to don it. Celeborn had borne a message from Galadriel that he was to go to the border to escort a party of travelers. It was beginning. Haldir was unsure how he knew, but this cryptic mission was special somehow. . . and dark.
He was nearly dressed when Silraen joined him. She plucked his quiver from its place in the corner and went to him. As she strapped it across his chest, he refused to meet her eyes, his mouth drawn tight.
"Haldir," she whispered. When his gaze finally rested on her, the apprehension and pain in his eyes stole her breath.
"Haldir," she said on a soft exhalation, "What is it?"
"Have you been shooting lately?" he asked.
The question surprised Silraen and a look of confusion twisted her face. "Yes, just yesterday. But, why—"
"Good," Haldir said shortly.
Silraen drew away from him, wrapping her arms around herself, the morning suddenly seeming cold. "Is it really that dire?"
Haldir regretted his curtness, realizing he had frightened Silraen. He stepped to Silraen and pulled her back to his chest, clutching her hands in his. His armor came between them, an unyielding barrier to the contact they both needed. "I'm sorry. Do not be afraid. I just-I just want to know that you are prepared, should-should something go wrong."
"I have seen dark lands and dark times," Silraen said quietly, "I have traveled these lands from one horizon to the other. But never has it been like this. The waiting. . .the helpless waiting. We all know something comes for us, but we know not what. It sucks the joy from this place, whisks it away on the wind—"
Haldir turned her in his embrace, more roughly than he intended so that she fell back against his arm.
"No, Silraen," he choked out, "Do not let these things take your happiness from you. Tend your crops and care for our babies and live your life. I will do all that is in my power to see that this evil does not touch you. I will die before I let that happen."
Silraen shook her head, wincing, "Don't say that."
"I would," he said with solid sincerity, "If only to save you and the children from a moment of pain."
"Well, I would prefer if you didn't."
Haldir smiled, a whisper of an expression, tired and sad. He kissed her then, his mouth desperate, demanding as it moved over hers. Silraen's arms looped over his neck, pulling him close.
When Haldir finally pulled away, breathless, he pressed Silraen's head to his chest. He kissed her hair and silently raged against the fates. Just as he had found true joy in Silraen and their children, the darkness threatened to take it all away. But, they gave him something to fight for. And he would fight.
* * *
As Haldir and Silraen crossed the carved walkway between two trees, she glanced around at the tree city, seeing it stir to life in the early morning light. Silraen was leading Halnorel by the hand as Haldir carried the baby. Taurnan scampered ahead, energetic as always. Silraen looked down, about to comment to Halnorel about a bright red bird singing in the branches. But, Silraen frowned, finding her child frozen in place, her large blue eyes transfixed on something in the distance. Silraen's heart twisted in fear that Halnorel was having another vision, such as her terrifying one from the night before. But, following the path of her child's gaze, she saw on another talan Lady Galadriel. The Lady looked hauntingly beautiful in a shimmering white gown, her hair cast down her back, the same rich gold as mallorn leaves in fall. To Silraen's shock, the Lady was staring right back up at them. . .no, not them, just Halnorel. Galadriel's eyes were troubled, amazed. Time ground to a stop as they stared at one another, silent energy crackling through the air between that which was ancient and that which was young. Shaking off her astonishment, Silraen swung the child up in her arms and hurried away, discomfort at the eerie exchange turning her stomach. But, even as they continued toward Haldir's mother's home, she could feel Halnorel shift around in her embrace to stare over her shoulder at Galadriel, her tiny lips parted in awe.
Silraen could feel Galadriel's piercing blue gaze on the back of her own head now, boring into her. She tried to keep the Lady out of her thoughts, walling off her mind by sheer will. But, the whisper of Galadriel's melodious voice intruded, "The girl has a gift."
Frustration and confusion at all that was happening around her flared in Silraen's mind. With irrational protectiveness, Silraen focused her thoughts, shooting back into Galadriel's mind a simple command. "Stay away from my daughter."
Silraen had finally disappeared into her mother-in-law's house and did not witness Galadriel stagger backwards, as if reeling from a physical blow.
"Hmm. . ." Galadriel murmured, "That's not usually a two-way connection."
Galadriel rubbed her throbbing temples and gazed out over the forest with narrowed eyes. It would seem she had underestimated her gardener.
* * * *
Thank you so much to my wonderful reviewers, Tigerlily and Puxinette!!
Chapter 2: Intrusion
The first clean rays of the dawn broke into the room and across Haldir's face, diffused by the gauzy curtains. He looked down and saw his daughter, Halnorel, was beginning to wake. The fear he had felt at her episode a few hours earlier dissipated a little in the gleam of the sunlight. Maybe she had just had a bad dream.
Haldir rose and lifted Halnorel. She wrapped her fragile arms around his neck and dropped her head to his shoulder. Rubbing her back, he walked to the window, where he leaned on the sill.
Halnorel's tiny voice broke into his musing.
"Daddy?"
"Hmm?"
"Will you leave again soon?"
Haldir cast his eyes out the window, pain lancing through his chest. "Yes. I'm sorry, little one." He looked down at the floor, but felt her hand on his cheek. He met her dark blue eyes, a mirror image of his own.
"It's all right, Daddy. As long as you come home."
Haldir smiled sadly at the girl, kissing her forehead.
Silraen had watched the exchange from the bed and bit her lip, feeling her chest tighten. She loved Haldir so much. And, since they had first had children, Silraen had discovered a new level of feelings for Haldir. Watching the gentle devotion of Haldir the father, as opposed to the stoic control of Haldir the soldier, left Silraen thanking the Valar he was hers.
But, the baby soon began wailing and a crash that was surely Taurnan's doing erupted from the other room. The moment was shattered, the golden light dropping away from Haldir and Halnorel as reality intruded. Silraen bolted from her bed and rushed into the other room. Taurnan's nose was bleeding, his lip quivering with unshed tears. She didn't even bother to ask how it had happened. Surely he had been swinging in the rafters, which he had taken to of late, or jumping from his bed to his sister's. She had never known an elfling who got into half the mischief her son did. Danuriel's cries rose in pitch, the keening shredding into Silraen's ears.
"Haldir," she yelled, all trace of her earlier sentimentality gone. Where were his paternal talents when she really needed them?
Silraen pressed a handkerchief to Taurnan's nose and lifted him on one hip. As Danuriel paused for a breath, Silraen heard an unfamiliar voice followed by the faint sound of Haldir's deeper voice. To Silraen's amazement, Lord Celeborn appeared in the doorway. Celeborn looked both strong and wise, a combination Silraen had always thought only Celeborn could balance so perfectly. He wore dark blue robes embroidered with stars, his gleaming silver hair cast across broad shoulders.
Silraen dropped quickly to one knee, an awkward motion with an elfling clutched to her side. She bowed her head, her blond hair brushing the wooden floor. She frowned, waiting for someone to say something, but then she noticed it. . .silence. Slowly lifting her eyes, Silraen saw that Celeborn had lifted Danuriel from her crib and was making faces at her, gently rocking the child held safe in his large, graceful hands.
With care bordering on reverence, Celeborn set the baby back in her crib. A contented giggle and she drifted back to sleep. Celeborn turned now to Silraen and Taurnan.
"Silraen, how long have you lived in this realm? How long have you been in the employ of my wife and I? But, still you act like a guest in our lands. You need not bow before me. Greet me as a friend and neighbor, not as a ruler."
Silraen rose and Taurnan wriggled from her embrace and scurried away, his injury already forgotten. Celeborn watched as the child brushed past him, the elf lord's eyes twinkling with amusement.
Haldir joined them, shaking his head. He stood just behind Silraen. "It's his Mirkwood blood that makes him so wild, you know that don't you?"
Silraen drove an elbow back at her husband's stomach, but he easily dodged the blow. He had learned a thing or two over six decades with Silraen.
A grin twitched at the corners of Celeborn's proud mouth. "Shall I summon your brothers?" Celeborn addressed his captain.
"No, my lord, I will fetch them."
Celeborn's sharp gaze was drawn down. He watched as Halnorel shuffled over to them, reaching up to slip her hand into her father's rough palm. A flash of sadness filled Celeborn's gaze. He looked back up, nodding farewell to them both before he turned from them with a swishing of fine robes.
It was then that Silraen knew. This had not been a social call. Celeborn was summoning Haldir away again. *That didn't take long.* Silraen thought, the venom in those words surprising even her. With a soft sigh, Silraen took Halnorel's thin shoulders in her hands and steered the child away.
"Taurnan!" she bellowed, "Get in here so we can get you ready to go to grandmother's."
A blur of golden hair and green tunic crossed the room and Taurnan launched himself at Silraen. He wrapped his arms around her neck, dangling from her back. Silraen laughed, shaking the boy off and catching him around the waist. She tickled his stomach and he squealed with laughter. Even Halnorel joined the fray and they were soon a giggling pile of flailing limbs.
"Mirkwood blood," Haldir mumbled, shaking his head and leaving them to their play. He entered his own room and stared down at his armor with a cold frown. Never had he been so reluctant to don it. Celeborn had borne a message from Galadriel that he was to go to the border to escort a party of travelers. It was beginning. Haldir was unsure how he knew, but this cryptic mission was special somehow. . . and dark.
He was nearly dressed when Silraen joined him. She plucked his quiver from its place in the corner and went to him. As she strapped it across his chest, he refused to meet her eyes, his mouth drawn tight.
"Haldir," she whispered. When his gaze finally rested on her, the apprehension and pain in his eyes stole her breath.
"Haldir," she said on a soft exhalation, "What is it?"
"Have you been shooting lately?" he asked.
The question surprised Silraen and a look of confusion twisted her face. "Yes, just yesterday. But, why—"
"Good," Haldir said shortly.
Silraen drew away from him, wrapping her arms around herself, the morning suddenly seeming cold. "Is it really that dire?"
Haldir regretted his curtness, realizing he had frightened Silraen. He stepped to Silraen and pulled her back to his chest, clutching her hands in his. His armor came between them, an unyielding barrier to the contact they both needed. "I'm sorry. Do not be afraid. I just-I just want to know that you are prepared, should-should something go wrong."
"I have seen dark lands and dark times," Silraen said quietly, "I have traveled these lands from one horizon to the other. But never has it been like this. The waiting. . .the helpless waiting. We all know something comes for us, but we know not what. It sucks the joy from this place, whisks it away on the wind—"
Haldir turned her in his embrace, more roughly than he intended so that she fell back against his arm.
"No, Silraen," he choked out, "Do not let these things take your happiness from you. Tend your crops and care for our babies and live your life. I will do all that is in my power to see that this evil does not touch you. I will die before I let that happen."
Silraen shook her head, wincing, "Don't say that."
"I would," he said with solid sincerity, "If only to save you and the children from a moment of pain."
"Well, I would prefer if you didn't."
Haldir smiled, a whisper of an expression, tired and sad. He kissed her then, his mouth desperate, demanding as it moved over hers. Silraen's arms looped over his neck, pulling him close.
When Haldir finally pulled away, breathless, he pressed Silraen's head to his chest. He kissed her hair and silently raged against the fates. Just as he had found true joy in Silraen and their children, the darkness threatened to take it all away. But, they gave him something to fight for. And he would fight.
* * *
As Haldir and Silraen crossed the carved walkway between two trees, she glanced around at the tree city, seeing it stir to life in the early morning light. Silraen was leading Halnorel by the hand as Haldir carried the baby. Taurnan scampered ahead, energetic as always. Silraen looked down, about to comment to Halnorel about a bright red bird singing in the branches. But, Silraen frowned, finding her child frozen in place, her large blue eyes transfixed on something in the distance. Silraen's heart twisted in fear that Halnorel was having another vision, such as her terrifying one from the night before. But, following the path of her child's gaze, she saw on another talan Lady Galadriel. The Lady looked hauntingly beautiful in a shimmering white gown, her hair cast down her back, the same rich gold as mallorn leaves in fall. To Silraen's shock, the Lady was staring right back up at them. . .no, not them, just Halnorel. Galadriel's eyes were troubled, amazed. Time ground to a stop as they stared at one another, silent energy crackling through the air between that which was ancient and that which was young. Shaking off her astonishment, Silraen swung the child up in her arms and hurried away, discomfort at the eerie exchange turning her stomach. But, even as they continued toward Haldir's mother's home, she could feel Halnorel shift around in her embrace to stare over her shoulder at Galadriel, her tiny lips parted in awe.
Silraen could feel Galadriel's piercing blue gaze on the back of her own head now, boring into her. She tried to keep the Lady out of her thoughts, walling off her mind by sheer will. But, the whisper of Galadriel's melodious voice intruded, "The girl has a gift."
Frustration and confusion at all that was happening around her flared in Silraen's mind. With irrational protectiveness, Silraen focused her thoughts, shooting back into Galadriel's mind a simple command. "Stay away from my daughter."
Silraen had finally disappeared into her mother-in-law's house and did not witness Galadriel stagger backwards, as if reeling from a physical blow.
"Hmm. . ." Galadriel murmured, "That's not usually a two-way connection."
Galadriel rubbed her throbbing temples and gazed out over the forest with narrowed eyes. It would seem she had underestimated her gardener.
* * * *
Thank you so much to my wonderful reviewers, Tigerlily and Puxinette!!