Haldir's Heart

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the people that u recognise etc etc. I do however own the characters Golrain and G’lia, if you want to borrow them email me and ask at which stage I will delete your email without answering it. The Poem is called ‘The Way’ by Scarlet Faery.

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The way the storms brawl,

The way the damned crawl,

There's nothing left for me to give

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The elves moved silently through the trees, they had been tracking the orcs for more than half a day. They were so close no that they could almost smell the stench of the orcs. Thunder crashed helping to mask the sound of any footsteps that might have been audible to the orcs.

The orcs however wee totally oblivious to the nearness of the elves. It had been over a week since they had been a week since their arrival at the outer borders and had grown complacent, thinking that they would never be caugTheyThey had waylaid an elf family who had been on their way to the elven city, now each of these elves hung naked from tree branches, their bodies beaten and bloodied. The orcs were torturing one of them when arrows flew from the surrounding trees hitting their targets with the deadly precision that only elves could achieve. Before most of the arrows even hit elves burst from the trees to fall upon their sworn enemy with swords and long knifes. Within minutes the orcs lay dead and dying. The leader of the elves resheathed his knives and was in the process of ordering some of the other elves to ensure that all the orcs were dead and ordering yet other back to others to return to their posts along the border, when another of the elves called for his attention. He strode toward Golrain and the elves that hung from the trees. Golrain moved closer to his captain.

“What should we do with them?” He asked quietly.

“Cut them down, we will return their bodies to Lorien.” He responded. Golrain looked away, his jaw tightening and his nostrils flared in anger.

“They have been nailed to the trees.” He said. They were interrupted by a cry of surprise, both turned sharply. Not far away another elf was stumbling away from one of the bodies that hung from a tree, the captain hurried over to his brother, he put a gentle hand on the other elves shoulder.

“Go and help the others with the orcs, .” He said compassionately. Orophin nodded his thanks and left. He turned to look at Golrain.

“Tell Rumil that he is needed here.” Haldir ordered crisply. His brother used his spare time making furniture and his skill at hammering or removing a nail without much damage was renowned. He then turned his attention to the small figure that hung before him. She was staring down at him, fear and trepidation clear in her eyes, she did not know that he would not do the same things to her that the orcs had done. To Haldirs eyes, she looked no more than six years of age, the fact that she was still a child obviously made no difference to the orcs.

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The way my soul calls,

The way my tear falls,

This is no way for me to live

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“It is aright, child. The orcs are dead, they can hurt you no more.” He said in a reassuring tone. Rumil came up behind him and the girls eyes flicked to him. Haldir quickly told his brother what to do and rumil climbed the tree. He looked over her bloodied hands.

“We wille yoe you down in a few moments, lendelem.” He said gently.

“I am Haldir and that is my brother Rumil. What is your name, dilthen min?” Haldir asked. She opened her mouth to answer him and coughed, spraying him with blood. Haldir looked away for a moment, how could anyone even orcs do this to a child? He wondered. Up on the branch Rumil had the tools he needed to remove the nail, it was going to be hard to take the nail out without causing pain, obviously they had not been put in with any thought given to their removal. He nodded to Haldir, indicating that he was ready to start. He clamped the tool onto the head of the nail and wriggled it back and forth to loosen it. When she screamed in agony it was a wet gurgling sound, Rumil tried to ignore her. Haldir on the other hand could do nothing but listen to her screams of agony, what could he say that would lessen the torture? He was relieved when she passed out from the pain. A moment later she dropped as Rumil finally pulled the nail free. Haldir caught her as she fell and laid her gently on the fround, he was soon joined by Rumil and therther the tow elves cleaned her up and bandaged her wounds as best they could. Then Haldir wrapped her in his own cloak and picked her up and carried her back to where Orophin stood waiting for them.

“We’re returning to Lorien.” Haldir stated. Looking down at the sleeping face of the child in his arms, he knew that unless he got her to a healer in time they she would die. The balsam used on her wounds would dull her pain and give her time, but that was all. They moved out at a fast ace. They arrived in Lorien, Haldir had refused to give up his burden to either of his brothers, for along the way she had occasionally woken, thrashing and moaning, but upon seeing his face had fallen back into a fevered sleep. Haldir had sent Orophin on ahead to have a healer waiting when they arrived, nevertheless Haldir was surprised that Celeborn himself came out to meet them. The lord was the best healer that the Lorien elves had to offer and upon hearing what Orophin had to say had decided to take care of the child himself.

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The way this dream makes,

The way my love wakes,

There's nothing left for me to grieve

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Lendelem – sweetheart Dilthen min – little one