First things first, I want to give a shoutout to leelee202, durinsdaughter2469btw, Blue1258, Raider-K, leeward1992, HaldirLove, and glitterballx for your reviews on the latest chapter. You guys are awesome! Thank you!
Now without any further ado…
CHAPTER XII
REQUIEM
The hill-side clearing was shrouded in silence, the mood as heavy and sombre as the rain-thick clouds far away in the south.
His bow hanging at his side, Haldir watched the slow-moving storm in the distance, saw a jagged bolt of lightning split the sky. As the ensuing rumble reached his ears, he drew a long sigh, and looked sidelong at the setting sun. The fiery orb had reached the western horizon, ushering the end of a sad and tragic day.
Feran's death had been a grave disappointment, bearing witness to Annalyn's grief the worst part of all.
A significant part of her world had shattered today. Haldir had seen it in her face, in the way she had fallen to her knees in anguish and disbelief.
With one last sweep of the horizon, Haldir reluctantly spun on his heel and made for the very center of the clearing, where Annalyn was kneeling—still and silent—by the modest cairn they had built earlier that afternoon.
It had been a solemn affair, with very few words spoken in between. While Haldir had gone about gathering suitable stones, Annalyn had arranged her uncle's body as per the traditions of her people. Gently, and with infinite care, she had placed Feran's sword upon his chest, then crossed his hands over the hilt. Soon thereafter, when Haldir had been searching the countryside, her voice had carried on the breeze, reaching his ears as he had bent to retrieve yet another stone. It was a Rohirric song. A lament for fallen kin. Pausing mid-task, Haldir had glanced up—his features bearing a look of commiseration—and simply listened for a moment. His heart had gone out to her then. As it did now.
A lone figure limned with the orange glow of the setting sun, Annalyn maintained her vigil with hunched shoulders and downcast features. A strand of her hair had fallen loose from her disheveled braid and was now feathering against her cheek.
"And?" She asked, sensing his approach. Her voice was flat, hollow.
Haldir made his way to her side. "Nothing," he replied at last. Indeed, there had been no trace of Aldin. No visible tracks. No clues. Only questions. Is he even alive? For Annalyn's sake, Haldir hoped that he was, but experience told him otherwise. Let us hope I am wrong in this.
Annalyn nodded but did not turn to meet his eyes. As the sun sank further down, she angled her head to the side, and laid her palm on the cairn. "May you find peace, uncle." With these murmured words, she closed her eyes as if to gather herself. When she finally rose, Haldir noted that her hand was resting protectively on the leather satchel that now hung from her shoulder.
It had belonged to Feran, and though most of its contents had been looted by Orcs, it contained a small tinderbox and a hand-carved smoking pipe. The latter obviously meant a great deal to Annalyn. When she had first seen it, tears had welled in her eyes. "He made this, you know," she had said, a fleeting smile piercing through her grief. "Strange thing is, he never smoked."
Haldir had watched her for a long moment, inventorying the emotions in her faraway gaze. Pain had been at the fore, clearly too vast to contain, but there had been fondness also, a warmth that most likely stemmed from a cherished memory.
The sight had struck a chord in him, and he had found himself wondering about her life, about what she had lived through during her short time in this world. Though he had no answer to that, and would not pry, something told him that Annalyn had endured much in her life. And not merely on this day.
Presently, Annalyn turned away from her uncle's grave, and went to stand a short distance away, with her back to Haldir.
Giving her the space he felt she needed, Haldir bent his gaze on her uncle's cairn, and quietly bid him to find peace in death. "Hiro hîdh nen gurth Feran…"
Long moments passed. Having paid his respects, he made his way to Annalyn's side, and together they watched a raucous murder of crows in the treetops to the west. The black birds had been there for quite a while, cawing and squabbling as they dove beneath the darkened canopy to feast on the Orcs that were now rotting on the forest floor.
"Aldin is alive," Annalyn declared after a heavy silence.
Uncertain of how to respond, or whether he even should, Haldir waited for her to say more. She did.
"I have to believe that he is. To do otherwise… I cannot." She looked to him then, her eyes starved for his understanding. "Not yet."
Haldir had always been something of a realist; he knew the odds were not in their favour. If Aldin had escaped unscathed, he would have undoubtedly scoured the area in search of Annalyn—such was the bond of kinship between them. But Haldir had looked, had bent eyes and ears all throughout the day. For naught.
The situation being what it was, Haldir reckoned there were two possibilities: either Aldin had fallen, or else he had been taken somewhere.
At any rate, it did not bode well.
His eyes still rooted to Annalyn's, he considered her before looking away. Despite his reservations, he could not fault her for feeling as she did. For hope, even at its dimmest, was a very powerful thing. If Annalyn needed to hang on to it, he would not extinguish that hope. Not now. Not when there was still a chance, albeit a very slim one. He nodded.
His thoughts eventually shifting to what lay ahead, Haldir voiced what was on his mind. "Night is nearly upon us," he stated, then added regretfully. "We cannot linger here overlong."
"I know." With that, Annalyn turned and walked past Haldir. As her shoulder brushed against his, he caught her gaze ever so briefly. To his knowledge she had not wept, yet her eyes were red-rimmed and dull. It pained him to see her so.
Making for a grassy area by the cairn, Annalyn bent to retrieve her cloak. When she straightened, Haldir felt compelled to say something. "For what it is worth, I am truly sorry for what has befallen your uncle. I wish…" He paused, searching for the right words. None seemed adequate. "I wish things would have unfolded differently."
For her part, Annalyn seemed to appreciate the sentiment. As they stood there, with the wind stirring the grass between them, she inclined her head in thanks, then her gaze fell away, and she donned her cloak. As she worked to secure the stays at her throat, Haldir watched her for a moment. From the slight crease in her brows, it was clear that her thoughts were in motion.
"Before all of this happened, before you found me," Annalyn started as she made her way over. "You had been sent for a specific task. Tracking these hordes."
Haldir inclined his head in answer.
For several heartbeats, it seemed as though she was debating something within herself. At last, Annalyn swallowed hard and leveled her gaze at him. "I am going," she said then explained. "It is my best chance to find Aldin."
Before he could speak, Annalyn averted her eyes, and spoke once more. "If you'd rather we part ways, I will not hold it against you." She was busying herself by adjusting her sword-belt. "I might slow you down, and… well…" This time, she did look to him, her voice low when she said, "You have done enough for me."
"Do you truly believe this?" Haldir was taken aback by her words. "That I would leave you behind?"
Annalyn seemed genuinely unsure. "No. Well. I could not be certain… did not want to presume."
"It is not in my nature to leave a friend behind." His own words struck him as they left his mouth. Before now, Haldir had only thought of her as a traveller who had crossed his path, someone he hardly knew, but liked well enough. Is she a friend? He considered this, and the list that was now forming in his mind. Annalyn was strong-willed, proud, albeit impulsive at times. But she was kind, and brave also, with a sense of curiosity and wonder that he liked.
Friend. Haldir considered her. I suppose I can call her such. He already had.
For her part, Annalyn blushed a little at what he had said. Despite her grief, he saw the corner of her mouth curve in the tiniest smile. "Well, then... What now? Friend."
He gave it some thought. "We have a common enemy, and we are both seeking answers. How about we see this through to the end?" Haldir asked, then added, "Together."
Sorry this was a short chapter. The next ones should be longer. Once again, I would like to thank all my readers and reviewers, as well as those who have favorited or are following the story. Seriously, you guys have made my fanfic sharing experience a really pleasant one. You've made me want to write even more! For those who are interested in continuing the journey, feel free to check back in or follow. I suppose I should get back to writing now. Thanks again!
Kindest regards,
CygnusRift
