Title & Chapter Number: The Sundering 23/25
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: LOTR characters are not mine and I write only for non-monetary reasons.
Warnings: None
Betas: Julie
Cast: Haldir, Orophin, Rumil, other character's I have created
Timeline: Future AU
Spoilers: None
Summary: The world is reborn and Haldir returns to Middle Earth from Valinor.
Notes: none
~ 23 ~
Haldir waited while Raven gathered her things from her tent. The sense of confusion was strong in his mind and he turned to see her stride out from her tent. She had not spoken much to him since they had left Caras Galadhon. She threw her cloak around her shoulders and sighed when Haldir took the brooch from her to pin it onto her cloak.
"You cannot brood on this much longer, Raven. You will have to speak to me of your thoughts." He said softly, smiling when she scowled.
Raven stepped back staring at him. `Perhaps I do not want to speak of it." She turned to leave but Haldir reached out to draw her to him. "We will not leave until I know what it is that has you brooding so. It is something I have done?" Raven twisted her arm free, rubbing it unconsciously. "Perhaps I am concerned that you bound yourself to me for reasons other than what I assumed." Haldir stepped back in surprise. "What do you mean by that." She folded her arms over her chest.
"Only that I may have misunderstood your intent." "Raven, you speak in riddles. Tell me what you fear I have done." He said, gripping her shoulders.
"Only that you have bound yourself to me only to protect me from Morgoth. You would tie yourself to me for that reason only." She rested her head on his chest when he laughed drawing her against him.
"Raven, I am not so honorable that I would tie myself to an extremely emotional mortal as you if I did not have much more desire to have you part of me." He leaned down wrapping his arms around her, oblivious to the amused stares of the villagers. "I do not think last night was just a token of affection or worse yet a sense of duty. But perhaps I did not tell you what my heart was singing?" He brushed his lips over her ear feeling her quiver. "I fear if we stay this close much longer I will have to carry you into your tent delaying us further. I don't think the villagers would mind such a scene." He grinned when Raven stiffened, pushing away from him and brushing her cloak. He caught her wrist when she turned to leave.
"You do not answer?" Raven smiled, gazing playfully at the cool grey eyes that hid the fires that lay smoldering behind them. "Perhaps I will give you your answer tonight." She whispered and his eyes lit up in desire.
Haldir squinted against the bright sunlight, the heat bands veiling the distant horizon blurring the line of sand and sky. Both shimmered in the glancing rays of the sun and he watched Raven calculate the direction with her compass. They had traveled for a week in the sun once more and he looked back to the elves where they rested behind him.
His concern for Celeborn had proven unjust.The Elven Lord had remained steadfast in his decision to accompany them and had proven invaluable in the one clash they had encountered so far. The Orcs had not met the fury of Celeborn's sword in many an age and the light that grew in the elf's eyes as they overcame their enemy was one Haldir knew well.
Raven's sense of surprise at their encounter amused him. Although she had seen him fight, knew not the sense of purpose that overtook them at the sight of such creatures. He knelt down pulling his water bag from his belt.
Celeborn pushed back the covering over his head, sighing when the sun rays immediately sank into his skull and bright pinpoints of light flickered in his sight. He pulled the choufa back over his hair frowning. "How can such a simple covering do so much, I must wonder. How long it must have taken them to realize such a thing." He mused watching Raven pocketed her compass and strode toward them.
"Indeed." Haldir agreed. "But they have had many ages to become accustomed to such. Were we to brave the sands we may have done so as well."
"We've been lucky this is not the season of the sandstorms, although one is possible at any time" Raven smiled when they stood. "We can change to head south east and angle across the desert toward the lands you seek." She frowned glancing at Haldir. "This path seems well traveled, I see the signs. Do you dare take such a path?" she asked.
Celeborn shook his head. "Our best chance lies on the speed we must maintain, and our surprise. If we can defeat any who travel this path less will be known of our nearness." He looked at Haldir, who nodded agreement.
Raven sighed, staring at both elves who stared back at her calmly. She shook her head while they gathered their weapons. She'd been amazed at their last skirmish at the coldness she had felt in her head from Haldir. How could one go from the fiery heat of his feelings for her to the icy detachment she had felt when they had attacked the Orcs. She knew of his dislike of the creatures but the coldness was something frightening in its intensity. She thought how horrible it might have been had that icy wrath been directed at her when she first had approached them. Perhaps it had been as she remembered her fear as they had approached.
The sands grew chill in the night air and Raven huddled beneath her cloak, thankful for Haldir's nearness and warmth as he sat with his arms wrapped around her. He and Celeborn were speaking softly in elvish, the other elves spreading out around them, disappearing into the brush where they kept watch. The sands once again had given away to more rocky soil and scrub brush. They had not encountered any opposition since she had changed direction and she grew uneasy over the lack.
More than once she desired to know what the two elves spoke. Their glances toward her and their continued use of their language told her they did not want her to understand. It irritated her to know they did not trust her and she frowned remembering Haldir's grin when he had told her she could not have her bow. She clenched her teeth, and Haldir's arms tightened around her. She looked up to see him staring at her in amusement. "What is it that has you frowning and so irritable?" He asked, his eyes gleaming with his suppressed amusement. Haldir's presence in the back of her mind offered no clue to his feelings as he was well in control of his thoughts, and she knew she would have to learn to hide hers.
She rubbed her arms, the elven cloak keeping her warm, but chills still raced along her spine as she gathered the material around her. A flash of concern in her head from Haldir brought her to her feet. Haldir and Celeborn had suddenly leaped up and already were scrambling up the rise of the hill near them, crawling on their stomachs to reach the crest. She knelt near the base of a large bush feeling the coldness settle over Haldir's emotions.
The elves waited patiently, watching the Orc patrol draw near, and drew their bows silently, nocking the long arrows that they drew from their backs. They peered over the hill and Haldir rose to one knee, pulling back his bow, the string of his bow strumming loudly in the suddenly still air. The shrill scream of pain echoed quickly after and the air grew thick with the shouts of anger and surprise from the Orc patrol just over the ridge.
Raven grimaced sliding down the gravelly hill while the elves swept over the ridge, their bows singing their death song, closing slowly around the patrol. A flash of surprise from Haldir was her only warning when several of the Orcs broke from the confines of the elves' circle. More Orcs were flowing suddenly from over the next rise, the Orcs second patrol had caught up with the first. Raven scrambled back away from the crest of the hill when two Orcs stood for a moment on the rise, sniffing the air as they turned about.
"I smell man flesh." One growled distinctly to the other. They released the arrows they had aimed at the elves and turned back toward her. Their eyes gleaming in the darkness.
Raven curled against the hill, not daring to move to cover herself with the cloak. Already it was too late if they had caught her scent. She closed her eyes, furiously trying to control her fear, feeling Haldir's concern for her blossom strongly in her head. She shook the feeling away, rolling over when the Orc's head turned toward her sharply.
The Orc's laughter brayed loudly and they stormed down the hill toward her. Raven leaped to her feet their arrows glancing beside her. She slid around a large boulder coming to an abrupt halt when one Orc leaped in front of her. She twisted around and he roared in laughter only to find the other behind her.
Raven pulled her knife from her belt when they closed in on her, forcing her back against the boulder.
"It's a woman." One snarled. He poked at her with his sword. Raven scowled at him when he laughed. The other Orc sniffed her curiously inching closer, warily watching the knife she held in front of her.
"She thinks that toothpick gonna do me some harm." He growled reaching out to touch her.
Raven slashed at his arm drawing a thin line of blood over his wrist and the Orc squealed shrilly in anger. He pulled a long dagger from his belt brandishing it at her and laughed again.
"Let's see what my little knife will do to you, tiny morsel." The Orc growled but gasped in fear when a movement caught his attention above him.
"I think not." Celeborn growled from where he stood on the boulder above them and pulled back his bow, releasing the arrow he'd nocked into the surprised Orc. He reached down quickly pulling Raven beside him on the boulder and nocked another arrow so quickly Raven could not keep track of his movements. The Orcs screamed in pain and Celeborn leaped off the boulder pulling her back up the hill
Raven could feel Haldir's frustration, Celeborn pushing her down onto the ground when another Orc crested the hill. Celeborn pulled his sword free of it's sheath and the Orc's scimitar slashed harmlessly over his head. He gripped his sword loosely, swinging the curved blade with an effortless grace across the Orcs body making the creature roar in pain and anger. Raven shuddered their blades smash into each other and the elven lord twisted under the weight of the Orc. The Orc snarled when Celeborn grinned, twirling his blade suddenly and stabbing it into the Orcs side. It gasped in outrage, swatting with a massive fist at the elf. Celeborn leaned back to avoid the swing, pulling his sword free from the Orc while it choked on the blood that dripped from its mouth. It staggered for a moment then shuddered in anger, swinging its sword in a backhand swing again toward Celeborn. The elf lord leaped over the blade as Raven pressed herself against the ground.
The swords clashing echoed as they fought and Raven stared with fear , the two struggling in front of her. Celeborn's blond hair glittered in the starlight, silhouetted on the rise of the hill, his body outlined against the darker shape of the Orc. He ducked beneath an ungainly swing once more and Raven shuddered hearing the Orc roar in pain. It staggering against the elven blade that was impaled in his chest and dropped heavily to the earth. Raven sat up suddenly, crying out in horror as a flash of horrible pain swept through her mind and she leaped to her feet. Celeborn turned to her quickly, seeing the horror on her face as she scrambled up the rocky hill toward him, reaching the crest with his help.
"Haldir is wounded" she cried leaping back down the hill, heedless of the arrows that still bounced around her. Haldir was struggling to his feet at the base of the hill, clutching his side. Behind him a smaller Orc brandished its sword and Raven hurled herself at the Orc, reaching the creature just as the arrow Celeborn loosed hit. The Orc went down with a cry of surprise and its eyes stared in shock, Raven's small knife protruded from his throat and Celeborn's arrow from his chest.
Raven rolled off the Orc, sliding under Haldir's arm where he struggled up the hill. The arrows of the Orcs grew silent and he staggered, his face white. He swore something at her under his breath and she felt it was probably a curse given the furious look he wore and the fury she felt in her mind.
Celeborn laughed softly dragging Haldir to the leeside of the hill and pushing him down against the rocky soil. Haldir struggled to sit up gripping Raven's arm tightly when she tried to pull away.
"You will not do that again." He hissed, gasping in pain while he clutched his side.
"Be silent, Haldir she may have saved your life." Celeborn chided. He bent over Haldir, watching over the crest of the hill warily. A loud piercing whistle relaxed him and he turned to Raven. "I think perhaps you should check on the others." He insisted when she looked up at him to argue. "I think perhaps at this moment Haldir would not appreciate your tender ministrations." He laughed pushing her to her feet. Raven backed over the hill watching Celeborn bend over Haldir, hearing them argue quietly in elvish. She turned away with frustration, feeling the strength of Haldir's anger in her head, and leaped down the hill to check on the other elves.
The elves piled the bodies of the Orcs, muttering among themselves and Raven climbed the hill once more. Her previous attempt to come near was denied by Celeborn's strong shake of his head when she had approached. She still felt Haldir's anger but it was weaker now, Celeborn's healing overwhelming his thoughts. She bent down just below the rise, sitting back on her heels, waiting for Celeborn to glance over the hill at her. He looked up at her smiling , the dust of the skirmish on his brow as he pressed his hand against Haldir's side, taking in the grimace that crossed Haldir's face.
"Try as you will to hide it, Haldir she will see your pain, and certainly feels it." Celeborn murmured. Haldir scowled furiously and Celeborn looked over the top of the hill, meeting her gaze while she chewed on a finger nervously.
"You cannot stop her from trying to protect you if you are hurt, just as she cannot stop herself." Celeborn probed the ribs that would remain bruised after Haldir's healing. Haldir closed his eyes leaning his head back, the morning rays of the sun were just beginning to lighten the sky.
"She would have been dead or taken if not for you." Haldir gasped. Celeborn had smiled, prodding Haldir's side harder.
"Which is why I had to come, Haldir. I saw it in the mirror." Celeborn said softly, knowing Raven could hear. Haldir struggled to sit up, shaking off the light headedness healing always brought on.
"So the mirror showed. But it does not always show what will be." Haldir said, pushing away Celeborn's hand.
"No that is true. But what you need to do is relax for the moment so my efforts at healing your stubborn soul will work." Celeborn grinned, pushing Haldir back against the hill. "What more shall we encounter? More so, you will need to adjust to the distraction of your wife in your head.' Celeborn grinned. "Although that is sometimes unavoidable." He laughed shaking his head, thinking of his own trials of ignoring Galadriel's distractions over the past millennia.
Raven scowled, turning to stalk down the hill in frustration. Haldir's senses reeled, rolling over to stare at her as she slid down the hill, running an exasperated hand thru her hair. Her emotions rolled around in his head, her worry and fear crashing together and he leaned back against the hill with a groan.
Raven sat at the base of the hill, warily watching Haldir lay in the sleep induced by Celeborn at his refusal to lay quietly. Celeborn sat across from her.
"We cannot stay much longer, We have been here too long as it is. The carrion birds have begun to hover and will alert others." Raven said glancing at Celeborn.
"Yes, but the longer he sleeps the stronger he will be. His ability it ignore his pain has always been one of his most stubborn traits, but still he will do better to gain as much as he can." Celeborn reached out to touch her shoulder.
"He will be well, Raven." He said when she sighed.
"I know, I can feel him already, but it does not allay my fear. He is not indestructible, and I fear that it will be true that I shall die if he is lost to me." Raven closed her eyes. Celeborn squeezed her shoulder in support.
"You must remain steadfast in your faith of him, Raven. No better champion could I have named for Ulmo than the one he chose himself. You will prevail. Do not fear. This is only a test of your faith." H
Haldir sighed. Raven crawled over to him as he opened his eyes. They glittered when they met her gaze and Raven shuddered at the intensity she felt. He rolled over, grunting quietly while he stood.
"We have wasted too much time here" he growled. Raven slid under his arm ignoring his scowl, gathering their weapons to push further along the path.
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