Title & Chapter Number: Nestadren Faer 3/?
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: Thank you to Maria at the http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ELVES_R_US/ group for the Rohirrim name suggestions!
The great forest of Huorns still stood upon the Deeping-coomb. A few of the inhabitants remaining in Helm’s Deep stood on the wall looking out over the gray, twisted wood. Many were afraid of the trees and the shadows that stood where once was only a grassy plain. Haldir scanned over the trees and could see large glowing eyes looking back. There are Ents amongst the trees, he thought, the shepherds of the forest. He saw two burial mounds built over the Riders of the Mark who had perished. A single grave was below the Hornburg for Háma, Théoden’s Captain of the Guard. Not finding his brothers on the wall, Haldir went to look for them in the caverns.
Haldir cringed as the smell of dirty bodies, urine and sickness assailed his nostrils upon entering the Glittering Caves. Most of the humans had left with Éowyn to return to Edoras; only the wounded, their loved ones and the healers remained to take care of them. Haldir spotted Orophin, Rúmil and a group of elves with the healers. He was heading towards them when he saw movement from the corner of his eye. A small child ran and hid behind a stalagmite. The boy peeked from behind the rock form to stare at the tall, imposing elf, with fear-filled eyes. Haldir’s eyebrows went up and he smiled at the boy. A small smile spread across the boy’s dirty face but when Haldir took a step towards him, he ran off like a frightened rabbit.
“Haldir!” Orophin called. Haldir continued on through the maze of wounded and reached his brother’s side. “Did you sleep well, my brother?” Haldir nodded with a grin, thinking about Mereniel inspecting him when she thought that he was sleeping. “I am sorry that we did not meet with you earlier this morning. Rúmil and I have been busy helping with the wounded,” Orophin said, speaking in their own tongue. “There are not many of us with healing knowledge but we are trying to help. Everything is disorganized and the smell in here is going to make me retch! Don’t these people ever bathe?”
Haldir looked about the cavern. A lake stood in the center and fissures in the ceiling cast beams of light that reflected off the water’s surface. The light reflected off the faceted crystals and gemstones embedded in the walls and ceiling, illuminating the cave with a million pinpoints of light. AT any other time the scene would have been breathtaking. Haldir turned his attention back to the group. “Who is in charge here?”
All eyes turned to a short, middle-aged man with a potbelly and balding head. “That would be me. I am called Éorelm.” His eyes showed that he had been up for days without rest.
Haldir touched his hand to his chest and bowed to the man. “I am Haldir. You look as though you could use some help. Not many of the elves speak the common tongue. I offer my services to you.” Haldir pointed out to several areas around the cave. “You lack organization. Keep the wounded with serious injuries together on this side and the one’s that will recover soon over there. You tire yourselves by running here and there to take care of them all. The elves will help once given directions. Some of them are healers, such as my brothers and I.”
Éorelm looked at Haldir and sighed. Taking care of the wounded had been nonstop work since the battle began two nights ago. He had heard of Haldir from other healers and he knew they were frightened of Haldir. The elf standing in front of him was not frightening; he was authoritative and showed knowledge of situations like this. “I would appreciate any help you could give,” Éorelm said with a tired smile.
“Then it is decided,” Haldir said. “My brothers and I will do what we can while you and the others rest.” Éorelm nodded to Haldir and called away the healers for much needed rest time. Immediately Haldir took charge of the situation. The elves began to organize the wounded by the severity of their injuries. They took care of the severely injured first, washing them and making them comfortable and applied needed medicines. They were moved to a part of the cavern where it would be easiest to take care of them.
Fresh water was brought by the elves to the ones that were able to take care of themselves, with orders to clean themselves. This didn’t go over well with many of the men, being told what to do by the elves. Several resisted until a few of the elves helped them to bathe. Seeing this, many of the men did as they were told.
It was early evening when Éorelm returned to the cavern. He smiled upon entering; the foul smells were all but a memory. He looked about at the organization of the wounded and was pleased with the work the elves had done. “Haldir, you have done wonders in here,” he said, shaking the Elf Captain’s hand.
“There is still much to be done. Bandages need to be changed and they will need to be fed. I am afraid some of the men have taken offense from being told what to do by elves. Many had never seen an elf before and I do not think they trust us,” Haldir smirked. He didn’t care much for the race of men. Men were ignorant, dirty creatures, but he also knew that the time for the elves in Arda was growing short; men would remain here if they survived the war. Haldir was unsure of their fate but felt compelled to help them.
“Many of them are farmers, carpenters and smiths. They are simple folk. I want to thank you on behalf of them for all that you have done,” Éorelm said.
Mereniel woke that evening to find fresh food and her clothing clean and folded on the table. She got up and stretched, feeling much better after resting. She picked up her clothing and examined it. The holes where the blade had entered and come out had been neatly sewn and only a faint bloodstain remained on the dark blue fabric. She took the clothes into the washroom and stripped off the tight nightgown. After she washed, she put back on her own cloths and looked in the mirror. Her face wasn’t as pale but her hair… She wet her hair down and toweled it dry. Running her fingers through it, she smoothed down the sides and brushed back the top. It stood up on end from her bangs over the top of her head. Two longish strands still hung in front of her ears, ears that seemed to stick out far from her head. There were a few wisps of long hair in the back over her neck. Hearing her stomach growling, she gave up on her hair and sat down to eat. When she had finished, she went to the window to look out over Helm’s Deep, or what remained of it.
She gasped at the change in scenery. In the battlefield before the Deeping Wall now stood a forest of gnarled trees. They were bare and gray with dark shadow below them. She found a cloak hanging on the back of a chair and threw it over her shoulders. She made her way slowly down to what was left of the great wall. She felt much better than she did that morning but was still weak. She looked out over the trees for a while and then turned her attention towards the caverns. She could feel the pain and suffering coming from those inside.
Mereniel kept the hood of the cloak over her head as she entered the caverns. Immediately she saw Haldir with his brothers. The sight of him almost took her breath away. Control yourself, she thought and she stepped into the shadows. Before her was a large group of men lying on pallets. She tiptoed through them, her eyes growing wide from all the pain she felt coming from them. She wanted to help them, all of them, but knew she could not. These were men, not elves; her healing techniques would not work the same way on them.
A hand reached out and grabbed the hem of her cloak. She looked down at a man with fever burning in his eyes. She knelt down beside him, placed a hand on his forehead and smiled. He had lost the lower part of his left leg. She could smell on his breath that he did not have long to live. Gangrene had set in and had spread all over his body. She knew she did not have the skill to heal him.
“Please,” he murmured.
“What is your name?” Mereniel asked him. She placed her hand on his chest and spoke a spell to help ease his pain.
The man breathed a sigh of relief. “Brégomer. My son. Where is my son?”
Mereniel looked around them. She spotted a small child watching her from the shadows. She pulled the hood away from her face and smiled at the boy. She held her hand out to him and the boy slowly ambled over to them. He warily took her hand and knelt beside his father. “Brégomer, your son is here.”
Brégomer smiled at his son. “Déodred.” He took hold of the child’s hand with shaky fingers and pulled him closer. “I – I am dying son. I’m going to Mama.” Mereniel looked at Déodred. He couldn’t be more than three or four in human years. Her heart was breaking for the soon-to-be orphaned child. “I love you, don’t be sad.” Unable to continue, Brégomer smiled and kissed his son’s hand. “Now go play.”
“I love you, Daddy.” He smiled at his father and kissed him on the cheek before running off to some nearby children.
Tears rolled down Mereniel’s cheeks as she watched the boy scamper off with the children. He was too young to understand the loss. She turned her attention back to Brégomer. “You have a beautiful son, Brégomer.”
Brégomer smiled. “What is your name?”
“My name is Mereniel.”
“He-has no family. Please - find someone - to - care for him.” Brégomer pleaded.
Mereniel was at a loss. Who would take care of him? She was an elf. She did not know any of the humans here. Brégomer began to cough uncontrollably and Mereniel grabbed hold of his hand. She looked back at the boy with tears running down her cheeks. “I will see to his welfare, Brégomer.” She held his hand until he passed. “Be at peace, Brégomer.”
She let go of his hand and tried to stand up. She felt weak from losing the bit of her strength she had given to Brégomer to help ease the man’s discomfort. Her legs gave way from under her but strong arms caught her before she fell. She looked up into Haldir’s blue eyes and caught her breath. Her heart pounded in her chest, ready for him to shout at her for being in the caverns.
“You promised a dying man a lot,” Haldir said. Mereniel looked at him in surprise. He had been listening to them talk. There was no anger in his face, only sadness. “You had best call the boy. I am taking you back to your chamber.”
“Déodred,” Mereniel called. She smiled and held her hand out to him again.
“Is Daddy sleeping?” he asked.
“Yes, child. He wants you to come with me.” Mereniel took his small hand and Haldir led them from the cavern. Haldir wrapped his arm around Mereniel and helped her up the stairs. “Déodred, this is Haldir.”
“Hello Déodred,” Haldir said smiling down at the boy. “We have met before.”
Déodred nodded his head and tried to hide in the folds of Mereniel’s cloak. He peeked out and smiled at Haldir. “Hello.”
They stopped at the King’s kitchens along the way. “Wait here,” Haldir said and went inside. He came back a short time later with some bread, dried meat and fruit. He handed an apple to Déodred who quickly snatched it from his hand and munched happily on it. “Just as I thought,” Haldir said, smiling at him. “The child is starving. I do not think anyone has taken care of him since his father fell.” He looked at Mereniel and noted she was pale and tired. He put his arm around her and led her the rest of the way to their room.
Déodred entered to room and began to run about, examining everything. Haldir took off Mereniel’s cloak and helped her to the bed. “The servants are preparing a bath for the boy. I want you to rest. I will take care of him before I go back to the caverns. There is still much to do.” He pulled back the blankets and tucked her in. “I do not want to find you down there again.” The look in his eyes told her she had better follow his advice. Even though he remained calm, his eyes burned with anger.
Servants began bringing in the buckets of steaming water. Another brought in a small feather bed for the boy to sleep on. After the tub was filled, Haldir undressed Déodred and tried to scrub the squirming child. He puttered and splashed about, soaking the elf to the skin. Mereniel could hear their laughter coming from the washroom and smiled as she fell asleep.
Haldir washed the boy’s clothes as he played in the water. When the bath was finished Haldir dried the boy and put one of his tunics on him. It hung to the floor and he rolled up the sleeves. Now that the boy was clean, Haldir could see he had dark blonde hair. Déodred had large blue eyes that showed how tired he was. He made sure Déodred had some more to eat before putting him to bed.
Haldir checked on Mereniel before he left. He looked down into her sleeping face and caressed her cheek with his fingers. He was furious with her for going down to the caverns. What was she thinking? Her heart thinks only of others and not her own welfare, he thought. His face softened as he ran his fingers down along her cheek, along her jaw. His thumb lightly touched her bottom lip. He felt the overwhelming desire to take her mouth with his. He pulled his hand away as she moved and made a whimpering noise in her sleep. He smiled to himself as he turned and headed out the door.
As soon as Haldir had left, Déodred hopped from his bed and climbed into the large bed where Mereniel slept. He wiggled under the covers and snuggled against her. Mereniel wrapped her arm around the boy and pulled him close. This time her dreams were pleasant. She dreamed of the woods, large trees with silver bark and golden leaves, and of a guardian of the wood with blonde hair and clear blue eyes.
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