Title & Chapter Number: Legends 14/16
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: NC17
Disclaimer: This world and its creatures belong to J.R.R Tolkien, New Line Cinema and Peter Jackson. I've just bullied my way in long enough to right a wrong. You know the one I mean. (Haldir deserves better…) I receive no financial compensation for the following tale. I "do this for love."
Warnings: Explicit het sex; a few slashy references
Betas: Telbeth the Indefatigable
Cast: Haldir/OCF (a Maia, no less!); Rumil, Orophin, Galadriel, Celeborn, Aragorn, and a few original critter characterizations
Timeline: 3rd Age of Middle Earth during the War of the Rings -After the visit of the Fellowship to Lothlorien through the Battle at Helm's Deep
Spoilers: None
Summary: During a border patrol, Haldir discovers a lone Nazgul horse and a strange visitor with an annoying attitude and some very spooky skills. Things unfold deliciously until a deception and a surfeit of pride cause them to separate. They are re-united at Helm's Deep with an entirely different outcome, of course. Horses and dragons and crows…oh, my!
Notes: Dedication - Hennaid to my friend Sulien for nagging me into this romp and forcing me to learn Sindarin (well, pidgin Sindarin); to Craig Parker for gifting us with his interpretation of Haldir, and to my amazing husband for being…well…amazing!
It proved to be a simple thing - tracing his little nogotheg. She had taken no particular care to hide her path, perhaps because she felt safe in this realm of the tree shepherds. Haldir also felt safe, as he tracked Illume farther into the creaking, whispering wood.
After an hour or two of walking with the occasional pause to rest his tender back, he came upon a small clearing ringed in slender alders and a single shaggy willow. At the center of the glade, a small spring gurgled to the surface. Haldir knelt beside the spring and scooped up a handful of its clear waters.
"Haaarrrooom, hmm, aaarrrguff..." The voice was rough but light in tone and oddly pleasing. Haldir turned toward the source and looked up into a pair of slanting, spring green eyes. The eyes stared back at him from the bark-covered face of the willow tree. It had trod a pace toward the center of the glade, with just the faint rustle of its trailing branches to mark its movement.
Haldir rose and inclined his head in a respectful bow. "Good friend, I am come to seek someone I believe is in your forest. She is dear to me and needs my help."
"Hummm, haargh..." The Ent gazed at the Guardian, measuring, pondering, assessing… "You are an Elf." He pronounced. "You are welcome here. Unless you bring axe or fire," he added solemnly. "No fire in the forest."
"Have you seen…?"
"How are you called, master Elf?" the Ent interrupted.
Hand to chest, Haldir inclined his head again. "Forgive my abruptness, friend. I am Haldir, Guardian of Lothlorien, Realm of Lord Celeborn and Galadriel, Lady of Light."
"Guardian of Lothlorien," the Ent repeated with satisfaction, moving another pace forward. "You have nothing to forgive, Haldir of Lothlorien…Haaargh. We are aware of the brisk ways of other-than-Ent. "
As the tree shepherd drew closer, Haldir caught a familiar scent in the still air about him. Illume! Illume was near!
"I am Tatharnen, `Water Willow' in common tongue," the Ent was saying. "An answer for you I may have…Haldir of Lothlorien. Many a strange thing have I seen of late. Dwarves and Elves and men walking together have passed through our wood. The White Wizard, have I seen...And small-persons-not-Orcs…Many a strange thing, hmmmmm…haaar."
The Ent seemed lost in thought for a moment, then began anew. "My lord Treebeard has taken most of our number to battle Saruman. Saruman-once-friend, Saruman the pretender, Saruman tree killer. Some stay behind to see to the forest. I stay behind …"
Haldir suspected that, uninterrupted, Tatharnen would speak for hours. He decided to risk another question.
"Of these strange things you have seen, has one been The Hand Healer? She is about so high," he held his palm to shoulder height, "and wears a leather thong wrapped about her left wrist…" Haldir paused when he realized the Ent had backed away a pace and was regarding him warily.
"Tatharnen, have I said aught to offend?"he inquired carefully.
Still the Ent stared down at him. "Haarrrrr, hmmm... Dear to you? Needs your help?" He shifted his sinuous crown and Haldir noticed an odd nest-like tangle high in the silver-green mass.
"Yes," he answered, a little surprised the Ent had recalled his initial questioning.
"The Healer, the Hand Healer. Haruuummm. Gift of the Lady Este, favored of our Lord Orome, imp of Orome," Tatharnen leaned toward the Guardian. "She is sister to us in all but skin. What is she to you, Elf?"
Haldir answered with the point of his chin and the sanded edge of his voice.
"She is mate to me in all but name. She is Illume…Favored of my Lord and Lady, enemy of Sauron, defender of the defenseless." His eyes did not waver from the looming Ent's. "She holds my heart. I claim the care of her. None shall keep her from me!"
Tatharnen straightened and hmmmmmed, swayed from side to side, and then lowered his tangled crown to Haldir.
"Well said, Guardian."
Illume lay curled in a deep sleep, nested in Tatharnen's limber branches. She was naked but for the strip of leather encircling her left wrist.
Haldir battled the impulse to snatch her from the Ent's grasp. Instead, he tested her skin with the backs of his fingers. She was too cool to the touch, as it ever seemed after a healing.
"You must give her to me, Tatharnen. I must warm her to speed her recovery."
"Yes," the Ent agreed. "Climb aboard and I will give you haven… Protect your rest."
Haldir touched his forehead in thanks then crawled up into the Ent's boughs.
"Yet another shirt you have from me, nogotheg" he half-smiled to himself as he slipped his tunic off and fitted it gently over Illume's inert form. He gathered her to him and wrapped his limbs about her within their leafy cocoon.
"Hannon le, Tatharnen," he whispered. And as he drowsed, he promised himself he would never again let Illume out of his keeping. He would care for her. Memories of her skill with sling and knife, hand combat and sword played in his mind's eye. His smile widened. And she would care for him. A tiny frown formed. And he would scold her severely for putting herself in danger to save him. Then he would tell her he loved her. Sweet, healing sleep stole the rest of his thoughts from him.
~*~*~*~
He awoke still harbored in the dozing Ent's tangled embrace, alone. Once more she was gone from him.
"Damn and damn!" Haldir snarled, fighting his way out of his bower and vaulting to the ground. "Confound her! When I catch her…"
Illume had been splashing her face with water from the spring when she heard Haldir curse. As he arced to the ground she retreated to the dappled shade beneath one of the alders. And there he spotted her, as still and alert as a doe…watching him with wide eyes.
He strode forward, advancing without pause. She backed one step then held her ground.
"You are still angry, hir nin."
"I am angry AGAIN, "he corrected, and then he was upon her, trapping her in his arms, assaulting her with his frustration and his relief, kissing her with consuming, full-bodied intensity. He devoured her, punished her, and savored her.
"By the Valar, mistress, if you EVER run from me again…" he growled, "I swear I will…" Appropriately dire threats ricocheted around in his mind. "I will…" He stared into the pale amber depths of her eyes, and then finally dropped his forehead to her shoulder. "I will die."
"No, hir nin. That you shall not do," Illume said softly. She sifted her fingers through the corn-silk mass of the Elf's hair and stroked his back. Apparently the storm was over.
"How fare you? Do your wounds still trouble you?"
Haldir pulled away but grasped her arms firmly. He would not risk another flight. "I thank you for the healing," he began formally, watchful lest his temper scorch her skin again," but we will speak of other things first. "
Illume attempted to tug free. "You need more rest…"
Haldir gave her a gentle shake. "No. This time you will listen." He paused, forming his words with great care.
"I am sorry."
Illume stared at him. …An apology, from her flawless, supremely confident elf?
"For the way I spoke to you in Lothlorien," he continued, "and for the hurt I did to you." He stroked her arms gently. "I was…over proud and suspicious that you might be just amusing yourself with me. "
Illume tried to interrupt this obviously painful admission, but received another little shake for her efforts. "And I did not want to believe you are what you are. I thought I would lose you. And, in my pride and fear, I did just that."
"No…" Illume began.
"Hear me, hiril nin. My pride spoke for me instead of my heart. And now you will listen to my heart. "Haldir framed Illume's face with his hands. "I love thee," he hissed fiercely. "We are mated and so it is meant to be. We will be together for…"
Tears laid the glow of Elendil in the Healer's eyes. Haldir faltered and stared at them aghast. "No. No, meleth... "He hastened to soothe her. "This was to make you happy…to keep you safe…to have you by my side…"
Illume smiled through her tears, exposing those needle sharp incisors he found so appealing. "Sweet words with which you seek to control me, hir nin," she challenged. "What could you bring to me as mate?"
He answering smile illuminated the grove. "Many things, nogotheg, many things," he purred. "This, for instance…" and he pulled her to the ground beneath him.
~*~*~*~
Dialog translation from Sindarin:
Nogotheg – Dwarflet
Hannon le, Tatharnen – I thank thee, Water Willow
Hir nin – My lord
Hiril nin – My lady
Meleth - Love~*~*~*~
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