Title & Chapter Number: Nestadren Faer 1/?
Author(s): - Author's Index
Website: Heather Lynn's Page
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of J R R Tolkien, the Tolkien Estate and Tolkien Enterprises. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warnings: sex, warlike violence
Betas: Marta
Cast: Haldir/OFC
Timeline: It begins at the Battle of Helm's Deep
Spoilers: There will be RotK spoilers for those that have not read the book!!!
Summary: The elves are at Helm's Deep. Mereniel, a Rivendell elf warrior, is also a healer. Will she be able to heal Haldir and herself physically as well as spiritually?
Notes:
Prologue
Mereniel gasped as the Uruk blade slid between her armor plates and punctured her back. She looked down and saw the blade emerge from her lower left side. Her helmet was knocked roughly from her head and the Uruk-hai grabbed her hair, pulling her back into the blade. “Die, Elf!” it hissed into her ear. It twisted her head to face her. “A female! Hmmm… Your beautiful elven hair will make a fine trophy!” Mereniel spit at the foul creature, it laughed and smashed her in the face; tiny white sparks flew before her blue eyes. The Uruk pulled the knife from Mereniel’s back and she hit the hard rock of the wall, her head spinning. When she left Rivendell three weeks prior, she had no idea that this was how she was going to meet her end.
She had volunteered to go to Helm’s Deep and fight for the Free People’s of Arda. She was a healer, taught by Elrond himself, and would be of great use. She had incredible healing ability, so strong that Elrond was amazed at how quickly she could be taught. Her healing ability came with its consequences, though.
She was a great warrior as well. She trained with the best of Rivendell’s troops, picking up the bow and the sword when she was still a child. She did her part to protect Imladris from unwelcome visitors. But now she lay on the cold, wet rock with an Uruk-hai standing over her, ready to take her life in a blink of an eye.
The Uruk bent over her with a foot pressing down on her chest and grasped her long dark hair with its dirty hands, stroking it. “A fine trophy,” he growled, clutching his knife. The Uruk slipped it under her head, the razor sharp blade slicing through her long, dark hair like a hot knife through butter. Mereniel grabbed at his hands while she felt the blood oozing from her body, mingling with the blood of those dead and dying around her. Her head slammed down on the hard stone as he cut the remainder of her hair free.
The Uruk tucked her locks into his belt. “And now to finish you off, she-elf!” It raised its scimitar into the air over her chest. Suddenly, she saw a flash of red and gold, and the Uruk’s head cut from its shoulders and landed next to hers. It was the Captain from Lórien.
He looked down at her with sadness in his eyes and knelt beside her. He saw the blood pouring from her wound and covered it with his hand. He slipped his other hand under her and pressed to stop the bleeding. She felt heat and a tingling sensation at the wound site. She looked into his face, his eyes concentrating on everything going on around them. He is a healer too, she thought. Her vision began to fade as her life force drained from her body. “Tolo nad dan ngalad!” he whispered in her ear. He looked back at her wound and bent over her, closing his eyes, mumbling something else she couldn’t hear over the noise of the battle around them.
“Haldir!”
She turned her head and saw one of his fellow Lórien warriors calling him. Haldir leaned down again and looked into her eyes. His eyes were the color of a cerulean sky. “Sedho, hodo, brêg maethor,” he said, brushing his bloodied fingers across her cheek. She watched him leap to his feet and take out an Uruk-hai that was coming at them. He quickly disemboweled the beast and brought up his sword again.
Mereniel felt like everything was moving in slow motion. She lay on the cold rock, trying to stay conscience, while watching the Captain of the Elves battle the Uruk-hai in what seemed to be a loosing battle. The elf that was fighting with him fell and Haldir ran to his side. She heard him say, “Rúmil, nin muindor!” Haldir stabbed the Uruk that attacked Rúmil and hacked him again and again after it was down. He had a wild fury in his eyes.
Mereniel knew that it was someone of great importance to Haldir. She used all her strength to crawl to Rúmil’s side. Her wound had stopped bleeding and knew that the Captain had saved her life. She would have to try and return the favor.
She finally reached Rúmil after what seemed like an eternity. She saw the twisted armor of his chest plate and gasped. She was so weak, she did not know if she would have the strength to heal him. Rúmil’s eyes stared blankly to the sky, a stream of blood bubbled out of his mouth and he was making gurgling sounds. She unbuckled the chest plate and ripped open his tunic, exposing the grizzly wound. She winced and closed her eyes tightly. She leaned over him and placed her hands over the wound, clearing her mind of everything going on around them.
She could feel how weak Rúmil was; his life force was fading quickly. She began her healing chants, gently touching her hands to the wound, her lips moving with the ancient words. Anyone nearby would have seen her hands slightly glowing, and the flesh beneath mending. The glow seemed to move up her arms and over her body. She cried out and collapsed across Rúmil’s chest. The wound had stopped bleeding and looked like it was several days old, instead of minutes. Rúmil’s breathing had returned to normal.
Mereniel was unable to move, her body drained of energy. She lay across the elf with her eyes closed, gasping for breath. Shouts could be heard above the noise. Mereniel recognized Aragorn’s voice. “Na barad! Na barad!” She opened her eyes to see Haldir a few feet away, waving on his warriors to the keep. He hacked at an Uruk, slashing its neck when another came from his side, stabbing him in the arm. Mereniel’s eyes opened wide, staring at the Captain. He quickly slayed the one that stabbed him. Haldir spun around, looking down at Rúmil, seeing the she-elf sprawled across his bare chest. His healed bare chest. Mereniel tried to warn Haldir but it was too late. The Uruk axe came down on Haldir’s back, bringing him to his knees. Haldir looked into Mereniel’s eyes, a look of disbelief on his face.
Tears came to Mereniel’s eyes as she looked upon the brave Captain, the one she stuck close to since the day she had arrived at Lórien. She was taken by the tall, handsome elf at first sight. He stood outside the woods of Lórien, watching their arrival, standing tall and proud, and his golden hair shining in the afternoon sun. He held a look of authority, strength and pride for his realm. Something about him made her heart stir and she wanted to learn more about him. He kept to himself, making her more curious, wanting to know more about him. She had heard of him briefly from Elrond. All he said was that Haldir was a loyal March Warden of Lórien and would fight to the death to protect the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood.
Now the March Warden of Lórien was on his knees, looking over the dead and the dying with a fatal wound to his back. He blinked and looked at her and his brother one more time, just as Aragorn caught him in his arms and Haldir saw no more. Aragorn put his hand on the Galadhrim’s chest and closed his eyes. He let the warrior fall and went back to the battle. Haldir went down next to Mereniel, looking at her with unseeing eyes.
Mereniel dragged herself off Rúmil and over to Haldir. She threw herself over the warrior, tears flowing from her eyes. She began to murmur the ancient words of healing, hoping there was still some life left in the beautiful elf, and enough strength in her to help him.
After the battle, Orophin, Legolas and Gimli searched the wall for signs of life and to recover Haldir’s body. Orophin hadn’t seen any signs of his younger brother, Rúmil, and was worried he had fallen to the same fate as Haldir. He still found Aragorn’s words hard to believe that Haldir was dead. The three picked their way through the bodies on the wall, blood and gore everywhere making their steps treacherous.
“There!” Legolas shouted. Orophin’s heart sank. He could see Haldir’s red cape. Rúmil was lying a few feet away. Orophin went to Rúmil first. He could not believe what he saw. His armor had been removed and his tunic ripped open. He was covered in dried blood, but the wound on his chest was closed and healing nicely. Rúmil was breathing slow and steady. He was in a healing sleep. He touched his hand to his brother’s cheek.
Rúmil opened his eyes. “Orophin,” he said, trying to sit up.
“Rúmil, do not move. You have been wounded.”
“I… I feel… all right,” he said, sounding surprised. “I don’t understand! That Uruk’s blade went into my chest! I remember the pain and tasting blood in my mouth. I remember collapsing…” He looked up at Orophin, rubbing his hands over the healing wound. He looked down at his chest and from the corner of his eye he saw Haldir’s cloak. “Oh no! Haldir!” he cried, pulling another fallen elf off of him. Haldir’s eyes were partially closed. Rúmil saw his chest barely rising and falling. “He lives!”
Legolas yelled for two stretchers to be brought. He looked at the bodies that were around them, rolling them over. He checked the elf that had been lying across Haldir. Most of the elf’s hair had been cut off short. The elf moaned as Legolas rolled the elf over. “Another one alive! A she-elf! Orophin, do you recognize her?”
Orophin looked down at Mereniel. “She is one of the elves from Rivendell. I don’t know her name but I remember seeing her around. She was quiet, not much to say. Rúmil? Do you know who she is?”
“I know her!” he exclaimed. “It was she! Now I remember her from last night. She was leaning over me, speaking in some old form of Elvish. I remember feeling intense energy flowing into me through the wound before I blacked out. She must be a healer!”
“With extraordinary power to heal a wound like that!” Legolas unbuckled her chest plate and examined her wound. It looked bad but it was not bleeding. “If she is a healer, she didn’t take care of herself very well.” The stretchers came and they carefully lifted Haldir and placed him on his stomach. His armor had been split wide open down his back. The wound was closed and no longer bleeding and showing signs of healing. Legolas looked down at the elleth and smiled. He picked her up and carried her towards the stairs and the caves.
“I don’t need to be carried,” Rúmil said, trying to get to his feet.
“Get on the stretcher!” Orophin demanded. The men carried the two elves to the caves. Gimli and Orophin continued to search. Orophin came across a beheaded Uruk-hai with long dark brown hair tucked into his belt. He pulled out the hair, taking a couple of the strands to tie it together. He caressed the soft locks between his bloodstained fingers and put it in a pocket in his cloak, before continuing his search for survivors.
Haldir awoke several hours later to the sounds of people scurrying around him. He tried to move but the pain in his back was blinding. “Lie still, Haldir,” Orophin said. “You are hurt badly. Try to rest.”
“What happened?” Haldir croaked out. His mouth and throat were dry and could hardly speak. “Where’s Rúmil?”
“Rúmil is doing fine. He is resting. Seems like you met up with the wrong end of an Uruk-hai axe. Thank the Valar that a healer was nearby. Without her, you would surely be dead.”
“Where is she?” Haldir asked. “I wish to thank her.”
“You are in no condition to do anything, my brother,” Orophin said, smiling at him. “But when you are able, find the owner of this and you will find your healer.” Orophin placed the locks of hair into Haldir’s hand and closed it.
Haldir looked at his hand and rubbed the silky strands between his fingers. He pulled his hand closer to examine the color. “An elf?” he asked.
Orophin nodded. “From Rivendell.”
“At least tell me her name?” Haldir asked, the pain and the need for sleep overtaking him.
“You will have to wait, Haldir. She too was injured and is resting. When she wakes, I will find out. I, too, want to thank her for saving my brothers’ hides. Now rest.” Haldir was already asleep, clutching the hair in his fist.
~*~*~*~
Nestadren Faer = Healing Spirit
Tolo nad dan ngalad = come back to the light
Sedho, hodo, brêg maethor = be still, lie still, fierce warrior
Rúmil, nin muindor = Rúmil, my brother~*~*~*~
Chapter 1
Mereniel awoke from fitful dreams to dull light in what looked to be a cavern. There were men and elves lying on the ground all around her and two blonde-haired elves standing by her. One she recognized as he turned and caught her eye. “Orophin, she’s awake!” Rúmil said. “Maer aur, elleth.” The brothers touched their chests and bowed slightly to her.
“Morning? How long have I been asleep?” she asked.
“A day,” Orophin said. “My name is Orophin, and this is my brother, Rúmil. What is your name so I can thank you properly for saving the lives of my brothers?”
“Mereniel.”
“Your name suits you well, joyous maid. For you have brought much joy to me at finding both of my brothers alive after the battle,” Orophin said, smiling down at her.
“Both brothers?” she asked.
“Yes, Haldir!” Orophin said. “If it wasn’t for you, Lórien would have lost their finest March Warden. He has been asking about you. He, too, wants to know your name.”
Mereniel looked around her. “Where is he?”
Orophin pointed to Haldir’s still form lying on his stomach several feet away. Mereniel rolled over on her side to follow where Orophin was pointing. She tried to prop herself up to get a better look but winced in pain. “How is he faring?” She could tell by what she could see that he was not in good shape. He was very pale from loss of blood and could see the horrific wound on his back. He was in need of more healing power to help him through.
“He is sleeping now. I think with time he will be fine.” Orophin saw Mereniel yawn. “I think that you need to rest as well.” He handed her a water skin, which she took and drank from. “We will come to check on you later. Rest now.”
Mereniel lay back down and closed her eyes. The brothers left to check on their older sibling once more. She watched them from the corner of her eye as they covered Haldir with a blanket and picked their way carefully through the injured lying on makeshift pallets. When she felt like no one was watching, she slowly got to her feet. She clenched her teeth against the pain in her side. She would take care of her own needs later.
She slowly made her way over to the March Warden. She could sense the pain of those around her that she passed and it made her dizzy. The man to her left had lost an arm, the elf to the right had taken an arrow in the shoulder, and the boy next to Haldir had a broken leg. Haldir’s pain was agonizing, making her flinch. He is truly strong to tolerate so much pain, she thought
Mereniel sat on the ground beside him and looked into his sleeping face. She reached up and tucked a stray piece of hair behind his ear. She figured his brothers must have washed all the blood and dirt off of him, for his hair was clean and re-braided. She let her finger trace the edge of his jawbone, admiring his chiseled features. She swiftly pulled her hand back when Haldir stirred in his sleep and moaned.
It was then that she noticed his hand. Long flowing dark hair was gripped tight in his fingers. Her hands flew to her head and she almost cried out. She had forgotten what the Uruk-hai had done to her. Most of her hair was cut short. There were some long strands but for the most part her beautiful hair was gone. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the tresses in the Captain’s hand. She gently tried to open his hand but his fingers gripped it tight. Why does he have my hair? she thought. She did not remember him having the opportunity to get it from the Uruk-hai before he fell.
Haldir moaned again in his sleep bringing her out of her thoughts. I am being selfish, she thought to herself. Crying over my hair while he lies here suffering. She carefully pulled back the blanket. She held her hands over the wound. “Beleg Valar, anna enni bellas an nesta sen beren maethor!” She concentrated, feeling the heat build in her hands. She placed them gently on Haldir’s wound, making him writhe under her hands. She murmured the ancient healing words and she felt the pain and sickness leaving Haldir’s body. Her hands began to blaze as his pain transferred into her body, radiating up her arms. Her hands began to shake and she moaned as the hurting increased. Her body began to convulse and she screamed, collapsing to the floor.
Legolas found Orophin and Rúmil out on the wall taking in a bit of the morning sunshine. “Orophin, Rúmil! You must come quickly! It’s Haldir!” The two brothers looked at each other and tensed. They looked back at their Mirkwood kinsman with concern. Legolas smiled at the two and they relaxed. “Haldir is all right. Hurry!”
They ran after Legolas to the caverns. They saw a small group huddled around where their brother had been lying on his pallet. They pushed their way through the group and found Haldir sitting up with his back to them. All that was left of his wound was a dark red scar running from his shoulder to the middle of his back. He was leaning forward and someone was on the floor in front of him. “Be careful with her!” he demanded of the healers.
“Haldir!” Rúmil cried out. He dropped to his knees on the makeshift bed next to his brother. Rúmil traced the line that ran down Haldir’s back with his hand. He looked at Haldir with questioning eyes.
Haldir nodded to the elleth the healers were placing on a stretcher. He held up the lock of hair to Orophin. “My healer?” he said, gesturing to Mereniel. Orophin nodded. “I still do not know her name.”
“Mereniel,” Orophin replied. “Is she all right?”
“I do not know,” Haldir said. “I awoke to her screaming and found her crumpled and convulsing on the floor. When I touched her she was burning hot. That’s when I noticed she had healed me. You! Where do you think you are taking her?” Haldir growled at the healers.
“Back to her cot,” a scared healing woman answered.
Orophin placed a hand on Haldir’s shoulder. “Easy, my brother! These people have been caring for you and everyone else here. They are tired. Please try to be polite to them.”
“Could you please set her cot next to mine so I may keep an eye on her?” The woman nodded to Haldir with a timid smile. “Thank you,” he said and tried to smile at the woman, which seemed to terrify her more.
“I see that you are feeling yourself again!” Rúmil laughed. “Although you still are very pale. We will find you something to eat. Try to get some rest until we return. And try not to scare the healers anymore!”
Haldir squinted his eyes at Rúmil and scowled at him. Orophin, Rúmil and Legolas all tried to contain their laughter until they were out of earshot. Haldir sat cross-legged on his bed and looked down at Mereniel. She was unconscious and flinched now and then. All the color had drained from her face. Haldir reached out for her hand and found that it was cold. He rubbed it in his large hands to try and warm it.
She was still wearing the bloody tunic and had not been cleaned very well. Filthy humans! Haldir thought to himself. They should have taken better care of her! He looked around and saw a blonde-haired woman tiptoeing through the wounded. “You!” Haldir called to her. “Come here… please.”
The woman held her head high and made her way to the elf. “What can I do for you, Captain Haldir?”
“You know my name?” he asked.
“You are the Captain of the Elves. You are also the one who has managed to frighten the few healers that we have here in the short time that you have been awake!” the young woman said, glaring at the elf with her chin held high.
Haldir’s mouth twitched and he smiled. He liked the brave woman who stood proudly before him. She was not afraid of him. “Please forgive me for my harshness, my Lady,” he said, bowing slightly. “Since you know my name, perhaps you will share yours?”
“I am Éowyn, sister-daughter of King Théoden.” She continued to glare at the elf and refused to back down.
Haldir smiled again at Éowyn and humbly bowed once more. “Please forgive my arrogance, Lady Eowyn.” He looked back at the king’s niece, who seemed to relax from his words. “”Would it be possible to get some clean water so I may wash the blood and filth from one of my fellow elves? Perhaps clean garments as well if I am not asking for too much?”
Eowyn stepped forward and looked down at the elf next to Haldir. “A female!” Eowyn looked Haldir directly in the eyes. “I will be back shortly with some hot water and some clothes. I will bathe her! That is not a job for a male… elf.”
Haldir grinned as he watched her leave. He returned his gaze to Mereniel. He saw the rip in her tunic where the knife had pierced her side. He lifted it to look at the wound and frowned. It was healing very slowly, much too slow for an elf. What have you done? Why didn’t you heal yourself? Haldir thought, brushing at the few long pieces of hair remaining from her face. He reached back and gave his back a scratch. The new skin tingled and itched intensely. His healing abilities were nothing compared to the power the elleth lying in front of him had.
Eowyn returned a short time later with the King himself and a handful of men in tow. Haldir wrapped the blanket around his bare shoulders and tried to stand. The king waved his hand at him. “No need for formalities, Haldir, please stay down.” Haldir nodded and bowed to Théoden. “I am sorry I haven’t been down here sooner to see how were fairing. We make for Isengard in the morning. I am glad to see that you are doing so well! The last I had heard was that you were on your deathbed.”
“I would be dead if it wasn’t for one of my warriors saving my life,” he said, looking down at Mereniel with a smile.
“I wish to offer you my personal rooms to stay in until you are well enough to return to Lothlórien.”
“You are much too kind, King Théoden.”
“Nonsense! We would have been lost if you did not show up with your troops. It is the least I can do.” Théoden waved the men to come forward. “Bring some stretchers and take Haldir and…”
“Her name is Mereniel.”
“And Lady Mereniel to my rooms.” The men quickly dispersed. “Anything you need will be brought to you.”
“Thank you again for your hospitality,” Haldir said, bowing to the King once more.
The men returned with two stretchers. They placed one down next to Mereniel and gently lifted her onto it. Haldir was about to say something to them when he noticed Eowyn watching him with her jaw clenched. Haldir quickly closed his mouth and raised an eyebrow at her. A stretcher was placed next to Haldir and the men looked at him wearily. Haldir slowly stood up and waved a hand at the men and smiled. “I will walk,” he said and followed the stretcher carrying Mereniel.
Eowyn fell in step next to Haldir. “I have something for her to wear, though I think it might be a bit small on her. I will have her clothing washed and mended in the meantime.”
“Thank you, my Lady,” Haldir said. “Perhaps you can help me with her hair. Elves take great pride in their hair. Together maybe we can figure out what to do.”
“She had beautiful hair,” she said, pointing to the locks in his hand. He didn’t realize that he was still holding it and rubbing it between his fingers. Eowyn smiled up at the handsome elf. “Is she someone special to you?”
“I do not know her but she has saved my life and risked hers in doing so. I guess that would make her someone special to me.” Haldir stroked the hair between his fingers and smiled, tucking it into the waistband of his leggings.
After Eowyn bathed Mereniel, she put one of her nightgowns on the she-elf. As she had thought, it was small on her, but it would have to make do. Haldir came in with some bandages and healing herbs. He pulled up the nightgown to get to the wound. Eowyn stopped Haldir from going any further. “What do you think you are doing?” she asked.
“She needs healing herbs and to be bandaged.”
“I am capable of doing that!” Eowyn retorted. “I had a bath filled for you. Why don’t you go and make use of it!” She pointed through the doorway with a stubborn finger. Haldir put down the herbs and bandages, smiled, bowed and left the room.
Haldir sank himself deep into the tub, enjoying the feel of the warm water on his skin. He washed his hair and hung it over the side of the tub to let it dry. He closed his eyes and tried to relax his sore muscles. “I was told I would find you here,” Aragorn said from behind him.
Haldir smiled. He opened his eyes and looked up at the man. “Aragorn, how are you?”
“I am well.” He had a troubled look on his face. Aragorn knelt down beside the tub and looked into the elf’s eyes. “I thought you were dead! I caught you as you fell. I saw no life in your eyes. I am sorry…”
“There is no need for apologies, nín meldir. You did not know. What could you have done anyway?” Haldir put his hand on Aragorn’s shoulder. “There is nothing to forgive.”
Aragorn smiled at Haldir. “I leave in the morning with Théoden and his men to Isengard. I wish you safe journey back to Lórien for I do not know when I may see you again.”
Haldir looked into Aragorn’s eyes. “You are not telling me something. I can see you have great concern over your travels.”
“I feel I must go to the Paths of the Dead,” Aragorn said, holding his head high. “I must do this for the fate of Men depends upon it.”
“Show no fear, my friend. You will be a great king one day.” Haldir smiled and clapped Aragorn on the shoulder. “Namárië.”
“Until we meet again,” Aragorn said and left the elf to finish his bath.
Haldir sank into the tub again. His thoughts turned to Mereniel, and the first time he saw her. She was one of only a few female elves that came from Rivendell. He had seen the troops coming from the direction of the Redhorn Gate. As they neared, his brothers and he stood outside the tree line to greet the Imladris warriors. His brothers led the way for the troops while he waited for the last to pass.
That was when he first saw her deep blue eyes studying him. His eyes had held hers for an instant before she turned her attention to the elf’s back marching in front of her. His eyes followed her into the safety of the woods. He caught glimpses of her from time to time but always seemed too busy to find out her name. Besides, they were marching off to war. It was not the time to be inquiring about an elleth.
Then there was the shock of finding her bleeding to death on the wall. He had seen the Uruk-hai about to slaughter an elf and sprang forward, cutting off its head. He looked down and saw the blood pouring from the elf’s side and saw the familiar eyes looking up at him. He had to help her…
“Haldir?” Haldir sat up quickly in the tub. He turned towards the doorway where Eowyn stood with her back to him. He had dozed off and the water was cold. “I am sorry to bother you but you have been in there for a long time. Mereniel has been put to bed. Your brothers were here and brought you some food. They said they would be back later.”
“Thank you for all you have done,” Haldir said. He had gotten out of the tub and had wrapped a towel around himself and stood behind her. She never heard him move.
Eowyn turned toward Haldir and her cheeks flushed looking at the half naked elf. “You are welcome. I will be leaving in the morning to go back to Edoras. There will be healers here to assist you if needed. Please try to be patient and kind to them!” she said, giving him a smile.
“I will try not to terrify them,” he said with a smile and bowed to Eowyn. “Safe journey to you, Lady Eowyn,” he said, grasping her hand and bowing over it. Eowyn nodded and walked towards to door. She turned and gave him a grin before leaving. Haldir went into the bedroom and found Mereniel tucked into the large bed. He looked down at her and saw that she was sleeping peacefully. Then he saw on the pillow next to her the lock of hair all clean and tied with a red silk ribbon. He picked it up and touched the ribbon and looked back at the closed door and smiled.
He saw on a table in the corner of the room that food had been left for him. There was bread and cheese, roast mutton, wine, fruit and a bowl of broth. He put on a clean robe and picked up the broth and brought it over to the bed. He propped up the pillows under Mereniel’s head and sat on the bed next to her. Haldir put a towel on her chest and opened her mouth, spooning in some of the broth. He closed her mouth and rubbed her throat. “Soga,” he whispered into her ear. He watched and waited for a sign. “Soga!” he demanded this time. He saw her throat move as the liquid went down. He continued to spoon the broth in until the bowl was empty, then he went and ate his meal.
Haldir’s brothers returned when he was just about finished with his meal with Legolas and Gimli. He frowned at the sight of the dwarf. “We did not want to bother you during your bath,” said Rúmil. “You looked like you were enjoying it immensely!”
“I appreciate that,” Haldir smiled. “I suppose you are off in the morning as well, Legolas?” Haldir looked down at Gimli and held his chin high. Gimli returned the gesture.
“Yes. We ride with the king and Aragorn to Isengard. Gandalf will confront Saruman.”
Haldir’s gaze returned to the dwarf. “Do you have something to say, dwarf?”
Gimli squinted his eyes at the elf. Legolas elbowed him and Gimli cleared his throat. “I wanted… to…apologize for what I had said at our last encounter.”
“And what was that?” Haldir glared at him with fire in his eyes.
“The ‘ishkhaqwi ai durugnul’ thing. I am…sorry for saying that.” Gimli’s chin went up once more and he held the elf’s stare.
“Apology excepted.” Haldir held out his hand and Gimli grasped it, giving it a quick, firm shake. Legolas and Haldir’s brothers watched with astonished looks on their faces and then smiled.
“We will let you get some rest, brother. You are looking rather tired,” Orophin said. “We will visit with you and the elleth in the morning.”
After they said their goodbyes, Haldir went to the bed and lay Mereniel down and pulled up the blanket. He took off his robe and climbed under the covers beside her. The sheets were cool against his skin, making him shiver. He moved closer to Mereniel and her warmth and fell asleep listening to the sounds of her breathing.
~*~*~*~
Maer aur = good morning (also day, sunlight)
Beleg belain, anna enni bellas an nesta sen beren maethor = Mighty Valar, give to me strength to heal this bold warrior
nín meldir = my friend (m)
soga = drink
Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul = I spit on your grave~ Next Chapter ~
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