Title & Chapter Number: An Unexpected Love 19-20/26
Author(s): - Author's Index
Website: Éowyn's Musings
Fandom: Middle Earth
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: All characters are J.R.R. Tolkien's, well; I'm playing with their feelings a bit :) I'm not writing to make any profit but for writing's sake, and because I love the world of Middle-Earth.
Warnings: Angst (I guess).
Betas: Undomiel ... you're a gem :)
Cast: Haldir/Éowyn
Timeline: TTT Movieverse AU
Spoilers: Some for Books & Movies
Summary: After loosing Aragorn to Legolas a broken and angry Éowyn finds love where she least expected it...
Notes: Haldir did not die at Helm's Deep, or did you see a grave? Basically I'm following the books and the movies. However I made some "slight" alterations :) Aragorn isn't in love with Arwen but with Legolas and they are already bound. Also, Éomer wasn't exiled but went to Helm's Deep with the rest of Théoden's army.
Chapter 19 - Many Meetings
Haldir woke when the first rays of the sun entered the room. Feeling the warmth of his love's body next to him filled his heart with joy. He leaned down to her head, which was resting on his chest, softly kissing her golden hair. He could feel her stir in his arms. Slowly she opened her eyes, looking up at him. "Did you sleep well?" he inquired with a smile. "I can't remember sleeping at all," Éowyn replied teasingly. "You wouldn't let me..."
A soft chuckle escaped the elf's throat, "Is that so? Well, I have to say that I slept save and sound. Did anything happen last night worth remembering?" Éowyn raised herself and hit her lover's ribcage with her small fist. "Oh, really?" she demanded to know. Before she could launch another attack, he caught her wrist and brushed his lips over the soft skin of her hand. "I think my brother's might not be too happy to see how you treat me, nín anoriel..." The sparkle in his eyes was almost unbearable for Éowyn.
Her face was suddenly a mask of fear, "What if they hate me? What if they think I bewitched you? I can't even bear to think of living without you..." His free hand was now stroking her cheek. "That is not going to happen, meleth nín. Nothing they could ever say would turn me against you. You are my destiny, cuiamin. Amin mela le."
~*~*~*~
After a long, but infinitely sweet struggle, Haldir had finally managed to leave Éowyn alone for a short time. He longed to see his friends again, maybe for the last time ever. But apparently at least Legolas had thought along the same lines, because both elves almost collided at the entrance of the Houses of Healing. "Meldiramin," the Elven Prince exclaimed. "My friend," Haldir said before he embraced a very surprised Legolas. "She surely has changed you; for the better," the Prince stated with a grin.
When Haldir broke the embrace he stared at his friend, recalling something Éowyn had told him the night before. "So you call me `haughty Haldir', is that so meldiramin?" He chuckled softly as he saw the surprise upon Legolas' fair face. "Have I really been this unbearable?" he added more seriously. At last the Prince understood; this was not an accusation, but an apology. "Haldir, this arrogance of yours. It is part of your soul. But at last you found the most important part of it; love. Haughty Haldir is still there, but he had found a brother, one that is nothing but loving."
"I cannot be without her," he said sincerely. "If you know any way..." Legolas stopped him by shaking his head. "It is not in my power to answer your question. All I am allowed to say is: do not despair, do not loose hope." Haldir stared at him, almost pleading. But he could see that it was useless to pursue the question. The Prince would not tell him. He had to wait until he was back in Lórien, with Éowyn.
"Now, may I see her? Or is she too weak after last night?" A sparkle was in Legolas' eyes. "I know what happened between you an Éomer. And I can also guess how you consoled Éowyn afterwards..." - "Legolas!" Haldir was stunned. What wickedness lay behind the fair elvish features of the Prince of Mirkwood? "I know the way humans love. Their passions ... and Éowyn is very passionate indeed. Like you my friend." A warm smile appeared on Haldir's face. He could still see the desire in his beloved's eyes, matched by his own.
Legolas' words woke him from his reverie, "So may I see her?" Haldir nodded, "I was just about to get her something to eat. She must be, well, close to being famished." Now Legolas chuckled, "You should be ashamed of yourself Haldir, she is still hurt..."
~*~*~*~
The day passed away. One happy meeting after another. It was the day before the Captains of the West would set out again. Set out to face the terrible strength of the Lord of Mordor. But no one mentioned this. There would be enough time to think of the terror that might come to each of them later.
The two hobbits, Meriadoc and Peregrin had joined them around mid-day. Meriadoc had tears in his eyes as he saw the Lady of the Riddermark again. He had believed her to be dead, had thought he had failed her. Her smile made him cry with joy. "What is this now, Master Halfling? This is not befitting a soldier of Rohan," she teased him. But she, too, felt tears welling from her eyes. Peregrin was almost speechless. He stood by Legolas' side in awe.
He had met Haldir in Lórien when the fellowship came to the Golden Wood. But the Chief Guardian of those days had nothing in common with the elf who held the Lady of Rohan in his arms. His eyes were full of warmth were previously only cold had been. There was love were the hobbit had only seen contempt. The young hobbit had believed that Legolas was the only elf filled with this much feeling, but now he saw how mistaken he had been. And Éowyn ... he was struck by the thought that this beautiful woman should have killed the Lord of the Nazgûl.
Éomer also appeared. No longer trying to convince his sister of the wrongness of her feelings he forced himself to be civil towards Haldir. Éowyn could see the struggle and sent a silent prayer to her ancestors. `Give him strength, let him come back to me ... and let him accept my decision.'
Gandalf came in the evening. Everyone except for Legolas had left, and Éowyn had fallen asleep in her lover's arms. "How come you took this long, Haldir?" he asked as the door closed behind him. Both elves stared at the wizard in disbelief. The sound of soft laughter broke the silence, Éowyn had awoken and smiled at the old man. "Who else knew about it? I'm getting the impression that the only once who didn't were Haldir and me." The eyes of the wizard gleamed happily and he closed the space between him and the bed with four steps.
Slowly he reached out to touch the woman's forehead. "Aragorn is a true healer. You owe your life to him." She nodded, smiling inwardly at the feeling of Haldir's arms closing around her. "I only wish I could thank him for it. Won't he come?" The wizard shook his head. "He will only enter the city again once he's made King. After the final battle..." Éowyn's hand closed around the wizard's. "Mithrandir, would you promise me something?"
Gandalf smiled and for a moment looked at Haldir, nodding to the elf. "Anything, if it's within my power." Éowyn's face was contorted in pain as she spoke. "Look after Éomer, I could not bear to loose him as well..." - "I will do what I can, my Lady," the wizard replied softly. The he raised himself and looked from one elf to the other. "It might interest you to hear that the archers of Lórien are approaching. We hadn't expected them before tomorrow but it seems that some of their numbers were just eager to arrive here." Gandalf finished with a grin.
~*~*~*~
Legolas and Haldir were standing on the city wall, looking over the Pelennor. Slowly riders, a great host of riders, approached the city gate. The two figures at the head of them were already clearly visible. Proud elvish faces, long flowing silvery hair ... Haldir's brothers. Legolas felt the tension of his friend and said with a sparkle in his eyes, "Well, I for one would not want to change places with you just now..."
Within five minutes they were by the city gates, just in time to meet the arriving elves. Legolas bowed to the two brothers as they dismounted. "Rúmil, Orophin ... mae govannen." One of the two turned to the Prince, while the other had his eyes fixed on Haldir, "Legolas, meldiramin." With that Rúmil threw his arms around the Elven-Prince. Haldir raised his gaze to meet that of his brother who spat, "Why, Haldir, why did you not come back?" His eyes where flaring, a fire ablaze within him. "The Lady told us that you had a good reason for it ... now I wonder what that might be!"
Rúmil had finally let go of Legolas and was now as well staring at his eldest brother. "I would also like to hear it, Haldir. Did you wish to be killed?" Haldir looked from one angry face to the other. "I had a reason," he whispered, "nín anoriel, cuiamin ... Éowyn, Lady of Rohan..."
~*~*~*~
Chapter 20 - Reunion
Orophin's hand shot forward, closing about Haldir's neck. "Your what? Do you seriously want to tell us that you finally found love? In a mortal?" His eyes were sparkling dangerously. Legolas slowly moved in and drew Orophin's hand away from his brother's throat. "Do you prefer to let him answer or will you just kill him right away?" Rúmil turned towards the Prince, "What is it to you, or did you know?"
Legolas just nodded. Haldir had finally regained is composure and eyed his brothers, now equally angered. "Yes, Orophin. She is a mortal, and it fills me with terror to think of that. I fought my own feelings, for far too long. I am tired of fighting, please, do not force me to fight you." He raised his hands in a defensive gesture, "I do not wish to stand against you, but by the Valar, I will if I have to. She has seen enough grief already, I will not allow anyone to hurt her again, least of all you."
Rúmil had started to grin and was now laughing aloud. "You, in love? What kind of joke is this? Haldir, you are not capable of this kind of feelings. I do not know anyone who is colder than you are when it comes to the matters of the heart. The only ones you have ever shown honest affection for, are the members of your family. Everyone else was graced by your arrogance," he added with a frown. "Orophin is the one who cares about others, not you." Legolas now stood next to Haldir, facing the two other elves. "Rúmil, do not be mistaken in your brother's capabilities to feel. Éowyn has changed him. He is no more the haughty and arrogant elf he was. I have seen him loose his self-control, because of her."
Haldir looked at the Prince thankfully, but still shook his head. "You are wrong in that, meldiramin. Without my arrogance Éowyn and I would still be apart now." Then he returned his gaze to his brothers. "I know I claimed that I would never be so foolish to fall for anyone and follow the example of Orophin. I cannot even tell how often I said such things. But I was wrong; yes, I admit it. There was something missing in my life. And only now do I know what that was ... her."
His brothers stood as if they had just been struck by lightning. At last Orophin spoke, "But she will, she will not be able to share your life with you. Haldir, she is mortal." Never before had he seen Haldir like this. Slowly the news started to sink into him, and he saw that his brother was indeed sincere about his feelings for this human woman. "I know that, you need not repeat it over and over again. But then, the Lady and Legolas both speak of a way, a way for us to be together forever."
Now Rúmil had found words again and uttered them, "Our Lady? Galadriel knows? Why did she not tell us?" - "I believe she wanted to let Haldir inform us of this," Orophin interrupted his youngest brother. "I do not say that I am happy with all of this, but if the Lady approves of it..." Haldir stared at Orophin in disbelief. "Brother, I know what it means to love ... I will not tell you to stop loving this Éowyn. I know you could not do it anyway. But be careful."
Finally the two embraced. To Haldir it felt as if a huge stone was taken off his chest. He was reunited with his brothers, and their rage seemed to have ebbed away. But Rúmil was still lost in thought. "What I do not understand is why you came here. Why did you not stay with her, at Rohan?" Legolas, who was still standing by Haldir's side, chuckled lowly. "Well, that might have been difficult as the Lady of the Riddermark is in fact here, at the Houses of Healing."
Orophin broke the embrace and looked at the Prince in puzzlement. "She is here? So do men now even send their women into battle?" Haldir smiled as the memory of Dernhelm flushed back into his mind. "No, but then, Éowyn is not what you would call a normal woman. I owe my life to her. If it had not been for her, I would probably be dead right now." He continued as he saw interest creep into his brother's eyes.
"She found me on the battlements of Helm's Deep, closer to death than to life. She healed me, and I treated her with utmost contempt. A mortal! I thought she was not even worthy of being in the same room with me. But then, she showed me the warmth of her soul, behind the icy outward appearance. I longed for her, thought I could fight my desires. But my heart was stronger than my will." His voice was heavy, the love for Éowyn filling his eyes.
"Her people, the late King Théoden and her brother wanted her to stay behind. But she refused to be ordered around. I could not be parted with her, and so I rode with her. I almost lost her on the battlefield. Did the Lady tell you, the Witch-King has been slain. Slain by none other than one of the halflings, Meriadoc, and Éowyn. I found them; she was almost gone. In that moment I realized that she indeed was all I needed, my only true love. And I will fight anyone who tries to tear us apart." The last he added with a menacing expression on his fair elven face.
Orophin nodded silently and Rúmil stated, "Just as headstrong as you are, is she not? Well, if you really think that she is your destiny ... it is not like you ever listen to what we said anyway," he finished with a shrug. Then he drew his brother into an embrace, whispering into his ear, "I shall be happy for you, you deserve it more than any other I know. Well, apart from me of course," he added with a grin.
Legolas now bowed to the three siblings and bid them farewell, "As you are not going to kill each other, I think it is safe if I now leave you alone. I believe you two have no intentions following us into battle," he added with a raised eyebrow. Both Orophin and Rúmil shook their heads violently. "We came only to see if Haldir had lost the rest of his mind, obviously he has," the youngest smirked. The Prince sighed, "As you wish. I will return to the Captains now. I do not believe I shall see you tomorrow. Namarie." But before he was out of hearing range he turned again, "Haldir. Please bid your lady farewell for me." With that he left them.
Orophin was the first to speak again, "Well, I should like to meet the woman who has conquered your heart. Would you lead the way?" Haldir looked from one to the other and then nodded. "Follow me."
Slowly they ascended on the main city road. Everywhere people pointed at them and whispered amongst themselves. Seeing the elves filled their hearts with joy. Their arrival had brought new hope to them. Maybe they weren't lost after all. And a rumour was running through the city. The King had returned to them, had healed their Steward. Haldir smiled to himself, 'Not only your Steward...'
At last they reached the sixth circle of the city and arrived at the Houses of Healing. Haldir was greeted by one of the healers and soon they stood before the door to Éowyn's chambers. Before the Guardian could reach for the handle, the door flew open and they faced Gandalf. "You have taken quite some time. Éowyn has just fallen asleep again." And quietly he added to Haldir, "She is worried, afraid of your brother's reaction. I will leave you now, but I warn you ... don't hurt her." The eyes of the wizard gleamed dangerously.
Without glancing at his brothers, Haldir passed the wizard and approached the bed of his beloved. The bed he had shared just last night. Warmth filled him as he recalled her sweet body in his arms. But not now. He kneeled by her side, taking her hand in his. "Éowyn, meleth nín. Awake, there are some that wish to meet you, nín anoriel."
Orophin and Rúmil slowly moved towards their brother. As they heard Haldir's voice whispering to Éowyn, as they saw the both of them together and beheld the gentle touch of their hands, all doubt faded from them. Here were two hearts that were bound by destiny. They were intended to be together. But why did she have to be of the Lesser Children?
Éowyn sighed softly as she opened her eyes, gaze locking with that of her lover. "Haldir, meleth nín." Haldir turned towards his brothers, followed by Éowyn's eyes. "Cuiamin, these are my siblings. Orophin," the elf bowed slightly, not taking his eyes off the woman before him. "And Rúmil, my youngest brother." Rúmil did not even try to withhold his surprise and stared openly at the Lady of the Riddermark. Once again it was Orophin who broke the silence, "Our brother has told us much of your courage, my Lady. But he forgot to mention your beauty. I am happy for him, though I think I should warn you. Haldir is not the most amicable elf under the sun."
A smile appeared on Éowyn's face, making her gleam from within. "Thank you, but it's too late for that warning already, I'm afraid." Softly she withdrew her hand from Haldir's and reached for Orophin's. The tall elf bowed down to take it. "My Lady, you shall always be welcome in our family. Even though my younger brother might not be able to confirm this right now, I am sure he feels so as well." Gratitude made Éowyn's eyes shine, and tears of joy welled from her eyes.
Slowly Orophin let go of her hand, placing it into Haldir's. "You should treasure her, brother. For love is not found easy, and true love only once in a lifetime..."
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