Title & Chapter Number: Clash of Wills 3/3
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth
Rating: PG13 +
Disclaimer: LOTR characters are not mine and I write only for non-monetary reasons
Warnings: Some violence
Betas: Julie
Cast: Haldir, Orophin, Rumil, other character's I have created…
Timeline: Sometime before Helms Deep
Spoilers: None
Summary: Haldir meets feisty half elf - lots of Haldir interaction!
Notes: Haldir lives/ alternate ending to Helm's Deep
Galadriel stepped up to the flet, listening for any indication of someone inside, but she heard nothing. Stepping into the darkness of the Talan, she looked around, finally seeing Ananynse asleep on the bed, curled around a volume of elvish poetry she had been trying to decipher. It had been four days since the elves had left for Helm’s Deep and no word had yet come. Galadriel sat on the edge of the bed, and stroked the hair that lay on the coverlet. Ananynse had not bound it at all since Haldir had left, and had taken to wearing an elvish gown, simple in design, that suited her slimness. Her men had left to give aide to Gondor, as Ananynse had felt they would be needed there, and she had stayed at Lothlorien, and had spent most of her time closeted in Haldir’s Talan.
“Ananynse, you must wake.” Galadriel spoke softly, touching her brow, which was furrowed now in sadness as she woke, raising a pale face to Galadriel as she sat up. “You cannot hide here forever, you must face life once again.”
“I cannot bear it, Galadriel.” She said as she hung her head, her hair falling to shield her face.
“You hide, but yet I think you do not look at your vision as close as you might think.” Galadriel said softly as Ananynse looked up sharply.
“What do you mean, Galadriel? I saw him fall, I saw the sword that cut thru him, I saw him fall,” she wept as Galadriel wrapped her arms around her.
“You saw him fall, perhaps deathly injured, but you did not see him buried? Did they cut off his head? Nay, you but saw his reaction, in great pain, but we do not know that he is dead.” She said as Ananynse sat back.
“I know what I saw and felt, I have never been wrong before.” She whispered, not bearing to find even a small amount of hope if there was none to be had.
Galadriel smiled. “Come with me, and we shall see what the magic of Galadriel has to say.” She pulled Ananynse to her feet and together they went through Caras Galadron, Ananynse of the copper hair, and Galadriel, beautiful in her silvery golden hair. The elves as they passed through murmured of their likeness, yet their differences were just as striking.
They reached Galadriel’s small bower at the base of a large Mallyrn tree, and Ananynse hesitated as she stepped upon the grass before Galadriel’s mirror. A large urn Galadriel grasped and filled from the small stream that flowed into the pool beside the mirror’s bowl, and she poured the water into the bowl, carefully, as she spoke in elvish. She turned to Ananynse.
“Shall you look into my mirror, or shall we look together, for what you see, I will see as well, and we can bear the thought together.”
Ananynse grasped her hand and they turned together and as one looked into the bowl. For a moment all Ananynse could see was their reflection in the water, and as she met Galadriel’s eyes in the reflection it slowly began to change.
Instantly they were transported into the noise and smoky mistiness of Helm’s Deep. Loud the shouts and clangs of weapons and men, screams of anguish and terror bombarded Ananynse as she grasped the edge of the bowl. Their vision swirled and they were swept into the heat of the battle, the towering walls of the Deep gray in the rain as it poured down over masses of Orcs and men as they fought. The sounds of arrows as they were launched and the clash of steel upon steel echoed in the night as their vision circled the fighting, racing over the ramparts to suddenly stop, as Haldir filled their vision. The rain had plastered his hair back away from his face, and he fought, his sword cleaving many an enemy who feel shrieking to their deaths below.
The vision swirled, changing direction to follow the line of the rampart where suddenly it was hurled into many pieces, a great breech blown into the wall. Galadriel and Ananynse both gasped as the vision raced along the breech , watching as the Orcs swarmed through the wall. Then they were hurled among the racing lines of elves as the archers ran to block the incoming force of the enemy and then they were back, as Haldir staggered up from the wall, dazed from the blast.
He turned and blocked the blow of an Orc, shoving him back over the rampart wall when he stopped and turned listening as Aragorn shouted from below. Calling his men to retreat, Haldir turned as another Orc swept toward him, spinning as he blocked the thrust again, but turned only to find another behind him, and Ananynse cried out as the Orc thrust his blade into Haldir’s side.
“I cannot watch anymore, it is as I saw.” She cried as Galadriel gripped her arm, forcing her to stay near the bowl. She shook her head as Galadriel pulled her back to the bowl.
“No you must watch,” she cried as they looked back into the bowl.
Ananynse shook as she looked again and they saw Haldir stagger back, only to see an Orc behind him, and the blow as he was stricken from behind. They watched him fall slowly, the light fading from his eyes and cried out as Aragorn struggled to reach him, then laying him gently on the rampart as Aragorn whirled back into battle, his voice crying out for vengeance.
Ananynse legs trembled as she closed her eyes but Galadriel’s insistent voice forced her to continue to look. The vision swirled once more and now as they looked, daylight broke through the bleakness of the night and shouts of wonder and joy carried through the air as they saw that Gandalf had arrived with the Rohirron and the day was won.
Then the air blurred and once again they were on the ramparts, steps away from where Haldir lay, his velvet cloak soaked with blood, his face pale against the grey of the stone fortress wall. The men of Helms deep were seen as they worked their way down the rampart, throwing the Orc bodies over the wall, carrying the dead to be buried. Among them several elves also went, their bodies filthy in the morning light, their faces haggard. And there they saw Rumil as he slowly lowered his brother Orophin against the wall, Orophin wounded but alive, their faces grey with sorrow.
Rumil stood and slowly made his way along the rampart and as they watched stopped suddenly as he spied Haldir and with a cry, flew to his side. Gently lifting him, Rumil pushed back the sodden hair, red with blood and listened to his chest for signs of life. Ananynse gripped the bowl as Rumil lay with his head on Haldir’s chest, his shoulders shaking. Then he lifted his head and they saw that he was laughing. And with a shout, called over men to help him lift Haldir gently and they bore him away.
Ananynse and Galadriel both let go of the bowl, and sank to the ground. Ananynse weeping with overwhelming emotion.
~*~*~*~
Aragorn strode quickly into the cavern where they had placed the wounded, searching for the wounded elves, Legolas only a step behind, and a muttering Gimli another step back. Reaching the area where the wounded lay, he stopped, turning around in frustration as he searched and finally sighed as Legolas bounded from behind him toward the far corner of the cavern. He sank with a thankful sigh beside Rumil as they sat beside the still unconscious Haldir. His wound was bandaged and his face was grey as he hovered near death.
“I have done what I can, Aragorn.” Rumil whispered as he stroked the blond hair from Haldir’s forehead. “But my healing skills are not enough I think to free him from the shadow’s grip. You are of Elrond’s people, perhaps you are able to help him where I cannot.” Rumil bowed his head in defeat, but Aragorn grasped his shoulder.
“Nay, my good friend, your skills have kept him on this side of the living, I will do what I can, but we will need to get him back to Lothlorien, for it will be his love for the Golden Wood that may heal him the best.”
Rumil looked up as Orophin, who was lying beside Haldir on his side spoke, and Aragorn looked at them in surprise.
“Nay, it will not be the Golden Wood that will pull Haldir back, but a copper haired half elf that holds his heart.”/p>
Legolas touched Haldir’s skin as he leaned over him. “He is cool, so no fever burns his brow. Lucky that the stroke of the ax that tried to slay him was not dipped in poison, as is their wont.”
Aragorn reached out, and laid his hand gently on Haldir’s brow as well, and spoke slowly as Gimli sat nearby on a rock.
“That elf’s got enough backbone to withstand a dwarven ax, no Orc weapon going to lay that one low for long.” He fingered his beard as the others looked toward him, and harrumphed under his breath.
Aragorn and Legolas grinned as Aragorn turned back, whispering to Haldir, calling his name softly. For a few moments it seemed as if there was no effect, then Haldir took a deep breath and opened his eyes narrowly, pain hazing them slightly as they watched anxiously. Lifting a trembling hand, Rumil caught is as it dropped back to his side wearily.
“Brother, it gladdens my eyes to see yours, though full of pain, but open and on the living side of the world.”
Haldir stared around him in confusion for a moment. “The battle is won,” he rasped as he raised a hand to his head.
“We have won this day, my friend,” Aragorn said as he gripped the hand “but alas tis only the first battle of many more. But your chance for battle’s glory is done this day.”
“So you would cheat me of my chance at future glory and all the allotted injuries that may go with it, friend Aragorn?” Haldir laughed weakly as he groaned.
Aragorn grinned, but Legolas spoke first, “Nay, your glory this day dawns bright and clear, with your sweeping procession of Elves, we won the day. Only because of you, have the men of Rohan outlasted the night, until with the aide of Gandalf, and the courage of Aragorn and King Theoden, have we curried our victory.”
“So be it, that I should be able to again see the light of day, although on whose feet I shall walk yet I do not know, for I cannot at the moment feel my own.”
Aragorn frowned, as he laid Haldir’s hand on his chest. “Your injury was severe, Haldir. It will take long to heal fully, but the feeling to your legs should return soon. The muscles are swollen and torn, and will take time to renew themselves. It is best to get you to Lothlorien as soon as we can. Only there, with Galadriel to heal you, and the powers of the Golden Wood shall you recover.”
Haldir sighed as his eyes closed in weariness. Aragorn stood as Orophin stretched out beside Haldir, watching over him, his own injuries keeping him still.
Rumil rose and walked with Legolas and Gimli as they followed Aragorn to the entrance to the cave.
“I would take him to Lothlorien myself,” Aragorn said as he turned, “but I fear our path is set to the road ahead. You must take him back, Rumil, with Orophin and the remaining elves. We will continue on as we are set, Legolas, Gimli and I, but our thoughts and hearts will travel with you to the Golden Wood.”
Rumil nodded, clasping Legolas with his arms, then Aragorn. Turning toward Gimli he grinned as the dwarf stepped back. ‘I fear my brother’s words may have hardened your heart toward him and us, but we have come to respect the fair words of Gimli, son of Gloin. Farewell, master dwarf, may you cleave as many Orc skulls as you did this night, and the world should surely be safe for elves to walk once more.” Rumil stepped back, glancing back to where Haldir lay. “Our flight to the Golden Wood will be slow and yet we must race against time if we are to get Haldir to safety. If we find a way, we will send word of our travels, and the welfare of my brother Haldir.”
Aragorn gripped Rumil’s hand, “it is all you can do, Rumil. I pray to the Valar that you have a safe journey.”
~*~*~*~
Rumil stopped, staring at the line of trees that hovered in the distance, breathing a sigh of relief and joy at the sight. Turning he ran lightly down the rocky hill, to where the elves had stopped to rest. Haldir lay on a litter, his face grey as Rumil knelt near him.
“Haldir, soon you will feel the coolness of the Golden Wood, it is only steps away.” Standing quickly, they lifted the litter and hurried toward the forest. Reaching the coolness within, the elves seemed to revive somewhat and they pressed on through their exhaustion, coming finally to the stream Nimrodel, where they stopped to rest once again. Orophin lowered himself to sit next to Haldir, as he stirred.
“Haldir, my brother, the call of the Nimrodel wakes you.”
Haldir stirred groggily, pain flashing across his face as he looked up at the canopy of trees above him. The tinkling of the stream beside him made him smile painfully as he turned his head. “The fair Nimrodel,” he sighed, “place me in her waters, so that I might be refreshed, and cleansed of the filth of the battle.” They lifted him gently from the litter, and laid him in the shallow waters as they formed a small pool, and he sighed again, as the water seeped thru his clothes. For a moment it seemed he was renewed as his eyes opened, but then they closed once more, and the grayness of illness filled his face once more. They pulled him from the waters, covering him with his cloak, and bore him once again toward Caras Galadron.
Galadriel stood at the gates of the city, news of Haldir’s coming borne to her as soon as they had stepped into the wood. Night was falling and the lights of the city twinkled in welcome as the elves bore him to the gate. She touched his brow with love, and turned to follow them into the city. Ananynse stood rooted behind her, pale in her fear as she looked upon Haldir’s still form.
“All is not lost yet, come, as he helped you in your time of need, so should you help him.” They hurried after the litter as it was taken into the city.
They took him to his Talan and laid him gently on the bed, on his chest so that Galadriel could look on his wounds. Rumil and Orophin helped her remove his clothes as Ananynse stood back, not sure of what to do. They covered him to his hips, and Galadriel turned as Rumil and Orophin looked toward her.
“Come, you must speak to him. Call his name, call him back from the world of the dead.” Ananynse’s eyes widened as their eyes met, and she heard Galadriel speak in her mind. “You must leave him in the dark no longer, you know of what I speak.”
Ananynse knelt next to Haldir, touching lightly the sides of his face as it was turned toward her, his arm hanging over the edge of the bed. Grasping his hand tightly she began to call his name softly as Galadriel and his brothers spoke rapidly together in elvish, their words fading into the background as Ananynse focused on Haldir.
“Haldir,” she whispered, “ Come back, you must come back. Haldir, please.” She rested her forehead against his arm, feeling it cool and lifeless. Sighing she stroked her fingers along his cheek. “Haldir,” she whispered again. “I must tell you what I could not before.” She looked up at him, his eyelids closed and grey, and she kissed them.
“Haldir, I saw two things in my vision before you made me forget them. Two things I saw.” She whispered, clenching his fingers tightly. “I spoke truly when I saw you fall, but first I saw something else. But I was afraid, I could not tell you, even later. I did not believe in my own vision, though I should have. Haldir,” she whispered more urgently as the elves hovered around him, Haldir, you must come back to me, for I saw a child,” she whispered as Rumil and Orophin both turned to her startled, “I saw a child, in human years of nine or ten, but he was tall, so tall, and he looked so much like you I was frightened.”
She leaned her forehead against his arm again, “But his eyes were brown, like mine, and there I stood behind him, and I knew” she paused looking up at his brothers as they paused, “ I knew that I was his mother. Haldir,” she cried softly, “You must come back, only you can teach him the way of the elves, for I cannot.” She lowered her head as she wept, and curled up next to the bed, as they covered him. She pulled his arm around her, and sat there next to the bed, as Rumil and Orophin sat nearby. Galadriel left them and slowly the night passed.
Ananynse had fallen asleep, her head leaning on Haldir’s arm as she hugged it to her, she woke as the muscles flexed as he tightened it around her. She turned to look into his face to find him awake, pale, but awake, and his eyes glinting as he looked at her. He raised his eyes to look toward his brothers who sat grinning in relief, and smiled rolling over with a groan, pulling Ananynse with him. She sprawled across his chest, her hair sliding over her shoulder to pool on his shoulder and he turned his face into it for a moment. “It is a good way to wake with the smell of Lothlorien in your hair, but I fear I do not know this woman who lays across my chest, for the only copper haired half elf I know is a warrior of strong will and this one is weeping foolish tears all over me.”
Ananynse looked up through her tears with a frown, and then hit him squarely in his shoulder as he groaned, wincing. His brothers laughed and he reached out to them as they pulled him up to sit against the bed pillows. Ananynse curled up against his shoulder as his arm wrapped around her, and hid her face into his chest, trying to control her tears. She felt him caress her hair as his brothers spoke to him in elvish. He sighed, and they gripped his hand for a moment before they left the Talan. Curling a strand of her hair around his fingers, he gently forced her to look up at him.
“I was so very tired, that even the healing waters of the Nimrodel could not bring me out of my darkest dreams. I hovered there, not able to choose what path I must take when I heard your voice, calling to me. I knew not then if I could come, for still the weight of the darkness held me tightly. But then I heard you speak again, and your voice carried into my mind, and in my heart.”
He reached out a trembling hand to run his fingers over her cheek as she had done to him. “I felt your touch and then heard you say that which I never thought to hear. It has been many years since there was any children borne to elves in this world. How is so that you could bear mine?” he whispered as if he was afraid to speak of it.
Ananynse sat back as the blood rushed to her face, “I didn’t think I had to explain how that works, Haldir,” she said as he grinned. She smiled at him as Galadriel swept through the door with Celeborn behind her.
“Haldir,” Galadriel murmured in joy as she sat on the bed, as Ananynse stepped back. “You have come back from the brink of death, and it gladdens our hearts to see you awake.” Haldir smiled as she hugged him, and gripped Celeborn’s hand as he leaned over him.
“It was the smell of Lothlorien that woke me, but I fear that a stranger sat next to my bed for I recognized her not.” He grinned as Ananynse rolled her eyes, and Galadriel turned to smile at her.
“I am still the person I was, but I will choose which side that I will show.” Ananynse said as she sat on the end of the bed, adjusting the folds of her dress. “Perhaps you prefer me the way I was?” she asked as Haldir groaned.
Galadriel laughed, the sound tinkling in the morning brightness as she smiled, “I think the warrior still lives Haldir, best you be wary for you’ll never know when she shall come forth.” She turned to Celeborn. “The day has dawned in hope from the depths of despair, a flicker of light in the oncoming darkness. Would that the world may be saved, as yet ours will become as mist. But a new light has blossomed and we may yet have time to breathe life into it, that it may become a beacon to others in this world, a breath of hope renewed. Though the will of the Valar, a new child comes to the elven world, and he may yet lead those of us who cannot leave this world, to a new beginning.”
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