Through the Window

Chapter Ten

Niamh staggered to the edge of the flet and went onto the balcony that was built there. She sat down upon the floor and cradled her knees in her arms as she lay her head down and wept for the lost life of her lover true.

There was no one. Orophin she could no find, Haldir had perished and Rumil lay broken in his healing bed. Niamh sobbed all the greater when this thought came to her, and she moaned in agony as she remembered the feel of Haldir’s strong arms about her.... she thought that never again would he hold her so very tightly to him.

“Haldir...” She sobbed as she rose to her knees and wiped the tears from her face. “Come to me once more and tell me that you are not dead.” But how could he do such a thing when he lie upon her floor, broken and lifeless? Nimah sighed and went to her door, closing her eyes against the sight she thought that she would see there.

She stepped gingerly into her chamber and walked upon her toes in slow, quiet steps, so that she could avoid the feel of blood upon her feet as she made her way to her window, feeling the walls of her chamber for support.

But then there came a sudden gust of wind through the Mallorn’s branches and Niamh lost her footing as a well sized branch fell near to her, frightening her. She fell upon her face in what she thought was supposed to be blood, but as she lay there for a moment of two, she realized that she felt nothing upon her face but the feel of the elven carved wood of her flet’s floor.

Thinking this strange, she opened her eyes and looked about her. To her surprise, she saw there no blood and no head. There was no fallen body, only the sheets of her bed laying upon the floor.

With a gasp in shock, Niamh rose to her knees. She looked behind her and all over her chamber, but there was nothing, nothing, nothing! In disbelife, she raised her hand to her brow and closed her eyes. This could not be! Haldir had lain dead upon her chamber floor and now there was nothing that was not supposed to be there! Niamh shook her head in glorious disbelife, but soon she began to laugh, all in releif and joy that her lover lived yet.

All in an insant, her fear then left her and she was left with pure determination. It was a determination to never lose her lover, to be at his side until the end of her days, to love him until the rocks melt with the sun.

She rose to her feet and turned, going to the edge of her flet and climbing down the silver ladder of twine. The grass was wet with dew beneath her feet, and it felt most wonderfull as she quickly made her way through the thickly growing Mallorn of Caras Galadhon.

The shining elven flets high above in the trees shone with a silver and blue light that lit Niamh’s way as she ran toward the gates of the city. The elves who wandered about so very late in the night looked to the young mortal girl running so very swiftly and with such vigor when she should be asleep. A smile broad was upon her face and her white gown blew in the rushing wind of her running, her white gown that Haldir had given her in the stead of the evil faerie gown. It had been washed and it sparkled as nothing could ever in such a fair light as that cast by the elven flets. The elves watched her runand those who slept awoke and smiled for the joy that shone upon her face. They could read for what she ran, for it was within her eyes that she went to a lover fine, thought they could not guess who the lover could be.

The elves followed her softly in the boughs of the trees, the maidens laughing and dropping flowers in her steps as she went. The elf men ran before her and to the great white gate of Caras Galadhon and they opened it swiftly as she came to it and she passed through with ease, the elf maidens laughing as she went along.

“Go!” They cried in the elvish tongue, “Run to your lover for he awaits you as the moon rises fair!” and she turned to them quickly, waving a hand in thanks.
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Haldir sat alone before his door, it was open and the night air fell upon him as he thought about what had happened earlier in the day. He sat, his elbows resting upon his knees and his silver cloak of Lorien wrapped about him for the night had grown rather chill.

He was saddened like he had not known was able for an elf to be, and he would speak to no one.... those who passed him now were only Orophin, who had taken the gaurd for the time-being while Haldir was in so sorry a state.

Lord Celeborn had been aright, for as Haldir thought of what Niamh had said to him Celeborn had told her, he thought that indeed she had oft distracted him from his duties. The lord and the lady of the Goldne Wood were losing their most precious soldier.... and to whom? A mortal girl no older than sixteen.

But It was not her fault that Haldir was distracted and baffeled so. She did not wish him to be. She wished for his love, but not for his entire being... especially when they were not wed. Perhaps when they were wed then she would ask for him and no less than all of him.

Haldir sighed. Oh, a fickle thing love was, he thought, that it should not come easily nor smoothly. It was toilsome and bothersome. But, it was lovely, as well and wonderfull, and it lightened Haldir’s heavy heart when the young girl spoke to him and carressed him. He smiled suddenly.

She did not seem to be pleased with the answer she had given him in reply to his proposal of marriage and so perhaps she would decide otherwise if he only gave to her time. He thought that perhaps this could be. But he did not wish to wait. Allready, as he onl thoght of her, he could feel his desire rising. He longed for her as he had longed for her many, many times.


Haldir sighed, coming to a conclusion. He would go to Niamh once more and speak with her. Nithing more, only go to hear her voice and to see her fair face. He would sit with her and speak with her and perhaos if her showed to her that he was not angry nor sad, then she would change her answer for the better. She could not deny her love for him, he knew this, and she was only frightened of his question. He would comfort her. He would give to her courage and they would live forever in bliss and happiness.

Haldir laughed, walking through the thickly growing Mallorn trees of the outer woods of Lothlorien, and he danced in his mond, delighted that he would see her yet again.
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The voices of the elf amidens and elf men faded in the distance as Niamh made her way over the hills of Caras Galadhon, the white ealanor brushing o’er her feet as she went along. She knelt and plucked one from the ground, and another and another until she had nigh a bushell of white ealanor in her palm. As she walked, she weaved the little blossoms about and about each other, weaving them to and fro untilthey were a halo or a crown fit for a fairie queen.

Niamh smiled. She walked long over the hills of Caaras Galadhon, the flowers in her hair blowing in the wind that blew so very faintly around her.

The trees of Lorien grew nearer. Her heart throbbed in her chest as she came to their dark deapths. She grew frightened and stopped where she stood, writhing her hands before her chest as she stood, so nervous was she. She breathed deep and sighed long, releiving her of the penetrating fear that pervaded her.

“Na laetha geal moige
Bhi siad lan de dhochas
An bealach mor a bhi romham anonn
Bhi se I ndan domh gombeinn, slan slan.
Anois, taim bnartha,
s tad ar shuil an la.
Ochon s ochon o.”

Niamh’s voice rose in a happy song as she attempted to quench her fear as she stepped into the trees.

“H-Haldir?” She called softly. She knew that he would hear her long before any mortal man would for his elven hearing was keen and sharp. But, then, so too was the hearing of any other elf.

“Haldir?” She called again, looking about her through the trees. She did not know which way was aright, for she had been blindfolded until she had come to his flet, and then when he had taken her to Caras Galadhon, she had payed little mind as to the direction she had been taken.

She looked about her. The leaves above her firey head shuddered and quivered, for the elves of Lorien followed her, silently, watching her. For not all there bore the knowledge of her pressence in the wood; most, but not all knew of her coming to the Golden Wood.

Elves who gaurded the southern and the western borders of Lothlorien had come to the east and to the north of the forest to attend council with the noble Marchwardens. Every elf within the wood knew of the evil the faerie lord Donnaghue had brought with him into Lorien, for it was a great and powerful evil and it was easily sensed among the good that normally resided amongst the golden Mallorn. They all of them sought council with Haldir and with Orophin and Rumil, for they sought a way, all of them, to rid themselves of the evil faerie and to clean their forest of the evil stain he had left for them.

Now, these elves saw Niamh running through their wood and they did not know her to be a guest to them, thus they followed her. She ran with such happy vigor as left them baffeled at the cause of it all. They followed soundlessly above her, and, when she had enterd as deep as they thought dire, they leapt down before her.

“Daro!” One commanded as Niamh fell back in surprise. With a loud, statrled shriek, she fell to her face in the dewy grass and rose to her elbows to look upon the elves.

“Pray you,” She said, “Let me pass, sirs, for I have come to see your Marchwarden, Haldir.” and the elves’ brows raised as one together. One among them stepped forward. He spoke little of the Irish tongue, less than Haldir could speak, but he understood the girl clearly. He bent upon one knee and looked to her with grave eyes.

“You... are from the lands beond?” He asked, and Niamh nodded her head, wondering why Haldir, Orophin, and Rumil had not been so shocked at this.

“I am from Eire (AY-ruh ).” Niamh said shortly after, “But please, sirs, I must pass before my courage fails me, as it seems so very apt to do.” but the elves would not sway.

“What calls for such courage?” The one elf on bent knee asked, “Why are so quick unto our captain?”

Niamh rose to her feet and stumbled into steadiness, shaking her hair free of fallen leaves and shaking her dress free of dirt. She looked to the elf and smiled broadly, with a mescheivious light in her eye that was quite unlike her. “I am to be his wife.” She said and the elves, gasped and murmered to one another, dumbfounded. But the elf who had hailed the young girl was not so easily convinced.

“You shall not.” He said with a wry smile. Niamh’s jaw dropped as if she were taken agast by his wrds and she covered her mouth politely.

“Say you now that I am a liar?” She asked. She motioned toward her white elven gown and said: “He gave this to me upon my arrival and i am on my merry way to see him now, sirs, so I pray that you let me pass.”

“I cannot--”
“Oi! Lads!” There came a clear call from the underbrush far in the distance and as Niamh quickly looked, she saw there Haldir. He stood silently by and held his ehad high and his shoulders broad as he approached the elves and the lady. His chin was raised high in an arrogant manner, and he looked down upon those who stood before him. His golden locks were braided behind his pointed ears and pulled away from his brow.

Niamh looked to him with admiration as he came nearer, though he paid her no mind and passed her by, taking aside the other elves to speak quietly with them where the girl could not hear their words.
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“Captain,” The first elf who had hailed Niamh said with a slight bow. “Forgive us, but we have come upon a strange lass walking through our trees. What will you have us do, captain?”

Haldir looked over his shoulder at Niamh who had not turned but stood where she was, not moving even a bit as the elves watched her. Haldir sighed and shook his head. “She is not strange to me. Leave her be.” He said and dismissed the elves, who then turned and leapt high into the trees; far from Haldir and Niamh.
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Niamh stood still as she awaited Haldir to approach her. She felt his footsteps upon the ground and turned quickly to see that he was far nearer than she had thought. As she turned, she met with his broad chest and she stumbled backward in shock.

Haldir laughed slightly and went to her, bowing low and taking her hand in his own.

“Come.” He commanded and Niamh followed like an obediant child, her head bent low as she thought of what she would say to him.

“Haldir,” She began, and he pulled her nearer to him, brought her to his side and wrapped his arms about her. “I plead that you be not angry with me--”

“I am an elf.” He said shortly, but with a grin as he looked to his beloved and flicked his thumb over her chin. “I cannot be angry.... and especially with so sweet a lass as you, Niamh, my love.”

Niamh’s heart leapt to her throat in the joy she felt that he called her his love and that he did not begrudge her earlier decision against him. He did not know that now she would change it.

Haldir tightened his hold on the girl for a moment, but then he released her, placing his hands on her shoulders, his brow was lifted in a regal arc as he looked upon her with question.

“Why have you left your chamber?” He asked, and Niamh, uneasy by his peircing gaze, replied slowly:

“I have left safety to find you, my soul.”

Haldir lowered his brow and though he did not smile nor laugh, Niamh knew that he was happy, she could see within his eyes that he was so.

“Is that right, love?” Haldir asked, removing his hands from her shoulders, “Did I hear your words correctly, lady, that you have called me your soul and that you have come to find... me?” and he chuckled lightly at his own words, taking Niamh’s hand in his own to kiss it there upon her upturned palm.

Niamh blushed and nodded her head quickly, she was silent as her courage began to fail her. Her heart throbbed in her chest and her eyes grew wide. She fumbled her only hand that was not taken by the elf’s fair lips in her gown, her only releif from the fear she bore within her.

“H-Hal-Haldir?” She stuttered, lowering her eyes to the ground, biting her lip in search for words, “Will... you have me... still?” and she sighed heavily when this question was asked, for it had weighed on her heavily and her sigh was one of release.

Haldir raised his brow and stood away from the girl, looking upon her with a gaze that she could not help but avoid because it was one that searched her very soul for an answer to what question in his mind she could never know. Haldir was tall and he was arrogant in nature, though not so in the pressence of his lady, for he wished to be wonderfull to her, though he did not know that allready he was wonderfull... nay, he nearly allways left her in awe when he left her alone.

He stepped once to the side and then a seccond time and then a third. He walked slowly around her, never moving his gaze from her form. He laughed in his mind, for of course he would have her still! She was silly to ask such a thing. She loved him and he loved her with his very soul and he would never forsake her....this he had told her.

“Niamh...” He sighed, “Niamh, lady, I am yours.” and though his words were short and barely could she even hear them, Niamh felt lighter now than ever she had before; A hundred year’s worth of worry and fear was gone from her and now she was left in pure happiness.

He stood behind her, his arms slowly wrapped about her, and she turned in his arms until she faced him fully. His eyes shone like jewels in the night, and his smile so fair was entrancing as she gazed upon it. But he did not take her lips in his own at that moment. Instead, he took her hand and led through the trees until the leaves above them were silent and he could no moe hear the light voices of other elves in the trees.

“Marry me, Niamh, I ask this of you once more.” Haldir said, “I will forever be your own.” and Niamh smiled. She had not smiled when first he had asked her such a qestion as what he had, in fact, she had frowned and had been engulfed in fear. Now, she had no fear for him and would do as he asked, if only to please him.

“I will.” Niamh replied, and with no hestitance nor doubt. “I will, Haldir, be your wife.”

Haldir’s eyes grew wide, and such a look was then upon his face as Niamh had never seen upon him, for he shined and his cheeks glowed a merry red. He leapt in the air as he held Niamh in his arms and so great was his joy that he spun her about and about until she pleaded him to stop.

“Oh, Haldir!” She laughed, “So merry a maiden I shall never be! Where shall we wed? Where, Haldir, tell me this and I will go and I will make a gown for me to wear when I walk to you and our vows are said! And I shall make for you a tunic, and--”

“Love! Quiet now,” Haldir said, laughing, “for I have a tunic ready made.” He laughed and sat down upon the ground, pulling Niamh to his lap.

“Let us marry soon.” Niamh said as he cradled her in his arms, “Do not long make me wait, Haldir.” and she lay her head upon his shoulder.

“What say you to a fortnight?” Haldir asked after a moment of thought. He would to wed sooner, but he did not wish for the girl to be hurried and this would surely do so. But then he wanted her... he wanted her at that very moment as he held her in his arms, as she sat upon his lap.

His breathing hitched as he said quietly: “Or we could wed upon the morrow.” But this was only his desire speaking and not his love for her, fo if they were to wed sooner, then sooner he could have her and, well, i think that you ALL know what would come of that!

Niamh’s eyes widened and she shok her head violently, laughing at this outrageous suggestion. “It is to soon, love, to soon.” She said as she held her finger to his lips. He kissed it softly as she continued with large eyes. “And I must prepare for much.”

Haldir’s eart fell for a moment, but then it rose a bit as a moment passed and then he smiled faintly and nodded his head. “It is well,” He said faintly, “for I was simply being foolish.”

“A fortnight would do.” Niamh said as he bent his gaze to the ground. She lifted his chin and drew his gaze to her own. “No longer will I wait.”
And Haldir smiled at this, tightening his hold about the girl’s waist.
“Nor will I.” He said, his voice low and husky, then he lay his chin upon Niamh’s shoulder and she giggled lightly at the feel of his breath o’er her neck.
“Good sir,” She began with a laugh, “I pray that you take me to bed so that I may rest! I have much to do, for a fortnight is but a short while.”
And she rose to her feet, though Haldir’s firm hold remained upon her waist. She sighed and placed her hands upon his own where they lay, turning to him. His eyes were large and his mouth grinned a boyish little grin as the mescheif in his eyes played over his face. “I do not wish for you to leave me, Niamh.” He whispered as he slowly began to lower her to him once more, bringing her down slowly to sit in his lap again. But she would not have it and pulled away from him, shaking her head, a faint blush upon her cheeks.

“I would that you would return me from whence I came, good sir.” She said with a giggle. She held forth her hand to him and when it was that he took it, she pulled him to her side and would nay to release his hand, for she held it tightly in her palm. He looked down to her and smiled.
So fair a maid would soon be his... so sweet a lady and so kind was she that she casued his heart a flutter when he thought of her sweetness.

He sighed and looked away from her , opening his mouth slightly to speak: “Niamh, love, why did you come for me? What has swayed you decision to me?”

Niamh shuddered at the thought of the horrible vision, and shook her head slightly, though she told Haldir what she had dreamed.
“I dreamedthat you slew yourself before my eyes.” She said quietly. She wiped her eyes free of tears that had conjured, and she looked away so that Haldir would not see she was frightened for him.

“The same had I dreamed for Rumil, your brother dear, and his life could be forfiet. I fear the same for you.” She sighed and looked to him, her eyes red and wet with tears. “Do not go to where there is danger, love. Do not go or you will be slain.”

Haldir stopped and pulled Niamh to him, kissing her firey head to comfort her, though it did little good. He stroked her sides and trailed his kisses over her brow to her nose, where there he stopped and pulled away slightly to look within her eyes. His face was soft and sweet and it lightened her heavy heart as she looked upon him.
“I will NEVER leave you alone in this world.” He said softly, kissing her lips lightly, carressing her mouth with his own, as if to silence any doubts or fears that she would speak through it.

Niamh sighed as he broke the kiss, and thoughher face was turned downward, her eyes lifted to him, and she smiled, flushing greatly. Haldir laughed and kissed her brow as he led her onward once more. She would sleep and be fully rested for the night and upon the morrow she would go to the hand-maidens for to craft her wedding gown. She smiled in exitement, the fear of her dream gone from her momentarily as she thought rather of the joys of marriage. Suddenly, an embarassing thought struck her and she flushed as she bent her gaze to Haldir’s waist belt.... thinking of what would come the night of their union. She giggled, and though Haldir did not what it was she laughed for, he chuckled and clutched her hand tighter in his own. She was a rather silly girl.