Through the Window

Chapter Sixteen

Haldir and Orophin stood side by side, speaking in low tones of the oncoming battle in Rohan. Haldir held in his hands a slender elven horn that he lifted to his lips and blew of when he and his brother were finished speaking. The song of the horn was clear and ringing through the quiet night air, breaking through the thick mist that hung in the early morning. The mist greyed the silver Mallorn trees, though their golden leaves shone bright still.

Haldir breathed deep of the morning air, for it was sweet and fresh as it smells when winter is coming on. And winter was coming on, or at least its chilled winds already were making their ways over the Rhovanion, sweeping in from the East. As Haldir blew from the elven horn a second time, another horn answered the call of his own, and it was near.

“They come,” Orophin said as he leapt into the trees, and as Haldir followed him, they were met with the sight of many elves sitting scattered among the boughs of the trees. Their feet were quiet and swift and so with no warning had they come, other than the calling of their horn.

There was nigh three hundred elven soldiers sitting before Orophin and Haldir, and they bowed their heads as one before their marchwarden and captain. Then one stood and came before the two brothers.

“Captain,” He said with a low bow before Haldir. “We heard the call of your horn and swiftly did we come to its answer.” He motioned to the soldiers, alert and listening.

“That is well,” Haldir replied, “for dire is the task set before us all, before the elves of Lothlorien. For we have been called to war, to battle alongside the men of Rohan.” and he paused for a moment as a quiet murmur spread through the gathering of elves. He continued thus: “Sauron has grown in power, and well do we all know this, for has not his blackened shadow of evil spread its foreboding hand over the Rhovanion?

Soon, it will not only threaten the Rhovanion but, too, the lands to the west, beyond the Misty Mountains and to the Grey Havens. This cannot be, for then our land will fall to evil and what little good remains in this world will be gone.

And so I bring to the remembrance of all the alliance that once stood between Men and Elves, long, long ago when the world was purer than ever it has been. Then, we fought alongside men and came to their aid when their need was dire, and so we must do upon the evening of the morrow.”

“So short a time, captain?” The one elf asked with disbelief, “Can we prepare with so little time to spare?”

“Little time?” Haldir said, “We have no time! Upon he evening time of the morrow will we march to Rohan. But it is for a noble and just cause! We will defeat the evil of Mordor and our lands and the lands of men will be safer and we may rest in peace, if only for a short time.”

“And if we our not victorious?”

“Then our attempts will be remembered and though they may be fruitless, we will not be defeated with no defiance! We may fall, aye, we may, but then we may be victorious.... say you that you are cowards?” But there rose a great cry from the soldiers as they said that they were not. “Then fight!” Haldir cried, “Fight and we will win! Fight and we will lose, who is to say? But we must not sit here and await peacefully our end! We will fight!”

And the soldiers cried out in an eagerness that was befitting the valiant fighters and protectors of the Golden Wood. Their long bows they raised in the air over their heads and the hands were upon the hilts of their swords, strung at their sides. Haldir looked to Orophin and a proud smile was upon his lips at the sight of his fine army.
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Long hours were spent soon after in the trees, wherein Haldir and Orophin and four others from Hladir’s elven army discussed the strategy for their attack upon the armies of evil. It was a tiring task and nothing was decided for long ages, or so it seemed.

Haldir swept his golden hair from his face as he bent over the aged map that scaled the whole of the Rhovanion and told of its many passageways to Gondor and to Rohan and to the lands besides. Finally, after his golden locks had given him trouble enough, he swept them behind his head and braided them there into a long plait of finest gold and silver. Then, he held his fist to his chin in thought.

All was silent as the six elves contemplated their traveling route and their attack. Then Orophin raised his head as he offered: “Perhaps we should arrive at the gates of Edoras all in a welcomed surprise to the soldiers there. Then we could fight alongside them and be as one with them.”

Haldir and the others nodded their heads slowly that this was a wise plan, and simple. “But what road would be the safest to the city?” One of the other elves inquired, “There are only nigh on three hundreds of us to fight with the soldiers of Rohan, and that will be of only some good. What route may we take that we need not fret upon being attacked as we march hence?”

“There are wargs wandering the hills and cliffs of this land and rouge orcs and goblins.... ma of them and they do not travel alone, but together in troops. If we are attacked, we may lose a great amount of soldiers and that would not be well if we wish to win this fight with Evil.”

Orophin nodded. Haldir pointed to a small trail that was painted upon the map, and it lead through the forest of Fangorn. “Here,” He said, though Orophin and the others furrowed their brows, “is a route we may take. Fangorn is home of the Ents, and they are not friends with the orcs... they cannot be, for the orcs and Saruman have slain their kin to build fires in the walls of Isengaurd. If we travel through this wood, then we will be protected from wandering orcs and wargs... goblins, even. The ents would surely slay any being who so threatens their folk as the orcs of Isengaurd.”

But Orophin and the other elves shook their heads, “For,” Orophin said, “though we may be safe as we walk through Fangorn, this forest is so very near to Isengaurd that it is after we are once more upon the plains that we should fear attack. Troops of trained orc fighters and goblins upon wargs walk the plains in greater and greater numbers the closer one travels toward Isengaurd.”

Haldir pointed to the south-eastern corner of the forest and held his finger up in protest. “But we need not fear them if we exit the wood here.” He said, “And, also, this path would lead us directly to Edoras. Do you see? We would be safe traveling this route. And we are in the plains where there are no hills nor mountains to hide pursuing attackers. They would not dare attack us if not by surprise, for they are cowardly and by far smaller in numbers than our own warriors.”

The other elves nodded their heads as they slowly began to realize the brilliance of the plan. “And we would see any attacker and we could prepare.” One elf said, and Haldir nodded. “We would be prepared for any attack and then we would need not worry for our safety, for elves are swifter than orcs in battle.” He said. Orophin furrowed his brow in though and all was silent for a moment. But then the elf shrugged his shoulders and said that he could think of no better way, and so they agreed all of them that to travel through Fangorn and then South-East to Edoras directly through the plains was the wisest, and safest route of all to take.

“Happy will the fighters of Rohan be when they see upon the horizon an army of swift elven soldiers come to their aid.” Haldir said, as he rose to his feet, rolling the aged map gingerly into a small tube to be carried at his side. Orophin sighed heavily and fingered the hilt of his blade that rested within his belt. “They will be happy enough to see us.” He said, “But I fear that even with the aid of our elven army, we will not be great enough in numbers to hinder the Orcs nor make them falter. Let us pray that we are not all slain.”

“Oh, we shall be!” Said another elf, one of Haldir’s warriors, “We will surely be if our hearts are down! Lift your spirits high and all will be well. That is how I see it.” and then with a short bow, he turned away and swiftly left the others.

Orophin sighed once more and looked to Haldir with a look of utter weariness and wear. His eyes were haggard for the eyes of elves and they bore no smile nor laugh within them. “We cannot win this war.” He said, but Haldir shook his head slightly.

“Listen to the soldier, brother,” He said, “for he is aright in every manner. To let our hearts and spirits fall is to lose the war already.” then he turned to the three other soldiers who stood yet before him and when he had confirmed with them that they knew of the plans they had all made, he dismissed them. But first he told them to go to the army and tell them to prepare, to rest and sleep this night so that in the morning time they might be stronger.

“We will speak to all of the plans we have made in the morning time,” Haldir said, “and perhaps then we will train as well, though I hardly think that it is needed, for are not our troops finest of all the elves?” And the three soldiers smiled and chuckled. “Now go, sleep, rest, do as you may but return here in the morning time. Send this message to all of the warriors.”

Then with a final bow the three soldiers turned and left, as swiftly and suddenly as they had come. Haldir turned to Orophin and smiled proudly. “I think that we will win this war.” He said with his head held high. Orophin shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head slowly, thinking that his little brother may be right, but he did not wish to fully trust his words and hopes. For did not they all hope and wish to win the battle of good and evil? The predictions of two elves who could not possibly see the outcome of the war could not see for sure weather or not the battle would be theirs... and so he did not raise his hopes to high as he laid his hand on Haldir’s shoulder in farewell, but as he made to leave Hadlir caught him by his shoulder.

“Do you recall the plan we made to rid the world of the faerie?” He asked lowly, and Orophin nodded. “Yes,” He said, “for I would never forget such a thing. Do you recall that I despise the faerie as greatly as you?” and Haldir nodded.

“We must build a cage to carry him in so that he cannot break free.” Haldir continued, “And the blacksmiths who have wrought our fine, strong swords have said that they would
“But will it be done when the morning time arrives?” Orophin asked and Hadlir nodded, “For,” He said, “are not elven blacksmiths the finest of all?” and he suffered a small smile.

Orophin chuckled and followed his younger brother as he leapt to the ground and walked slowly through the trees. It was dark and Orophin could not see well, but what he saw of Haldir as the younger elf walked before him he was not happy to see. He saw Hadlir’s eyes were heavy as his own, when they had before been light and merry as the eyes of the elves are apt to be. But now they were sad and strained.

His shoulders were not so straight and his walk not so arrogantly placed as he made his way through the golden leaves of the low branches of the Mallorn. Orophin came up beside him. When he looked to his face, he saw within it a look of utter worry and distress as he had never seen.

Haldir saw that Orophin watched him with great intent and when he looked to him with question, he saw that his elder brother looked as if he worried or fretted over something. “Why do you look at me so?” Haldir asked, but Orophin shrugged his shoulders. “I see a great sadness in our eyes brother.” Orophin replied, “And I rue that you must leave Niamh behind you, but--”

“I wish to go to battle.” Haldir broke in, “I wish it, brother, and for that I do not fear. You know that I would not fear battle, and I am not sad to go to war...” but here his words trailed away into nothing and he soon continued with a lower, more grievous tone. “... but I also grieve that I must leave this wood.... and my lady behind me.”

“It is only for a short time.” Orophin said, “For as you told to me, we must keep a happy and lifted heart!” but Haldir did not seem cheered. “You cannot visit her this night?” Orophin hinted, eyeing his brother with a mischievous grin, but Haldir shook his head.

“No,” He said, “for she is sleeping now and will not wake until the morning time. I knew that she would weep if I left her alone while she was wake, and so I put her into a deep sleep so that perhaps she will not be so very saddened by my leaving.”

“Do you not think that she grieve all the more if you leave her when she does not know that you have done so?” Orophin asked. Haldir looked away.

“I have thought of this, Orophin,” He said, “but I think that if I was to leave her while she was awake, then I would not have the power within me to leave her.” and Orophin nodded in agreement.

“But you will see her again.” The elder elf said brightly, desperately wishing to cheer his brother, but it was to no avail. Haldir only sighed and quickened his pace. Orophin, sensing that his brother wished to be alone, halted and said nothing more as Haldir walked slowly into the darkness before him.
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Haldir sat quietly against a silver mallorn tree as he fingered a thin, green ribbon still entwined in his golden locks. He smiled as he remembered the night Niamh had so innocently given him her token of love, and how he relished its simplicity and yet utter extravagance. Images of her kneeling beside him, the shadows of the leaves playing over her as the wind softly blew them about over her head. Haldir smiled.

But he let the ribbon be and his hand fell idle at his side. He leaned his head back until it rested upon the silver shining bark of the Mallorn, and he watched with delight the stars dancing through the golden leaves. “A! Tel’Domeduathea.” He sighed. He longed to see his lady, to visit her but one last time before her left to fight, to fight as a captain ina war of good and evil, in which there would only be one victor. He who was not victorious would surely die.

But what he had told his brother Orohpin when he had said that he should say a final farewell to Niamh, was true, for he knew that if he went to her this night, then he would never leave her. Lothlorien called for him and the elves of the Galadhrim called for his aid. He hung his head and held his face in his hands. He brooded upon every thought of her, for she pervaded his mind like lightning when thunder strikes. He smiled at the thought of her, and nearly wept to think that he would not see her until long, long, days had passed, and he returned to her weary and tired from war... if at all to her he would return... if war would not take his life from her.

He looked through the trees and with his keen elven sight he thought that he saw her asleep in her bed, but he did not know, and he quickly removed his gaze from there. He laid his head upon the bark of the Mallorn once more and closed his eyes. He was weary, so very weary. He wished to rest his mind.... but he could not sleep. His mind was racing with thoughts of the war and of Niamh and they seemed to fight a battle within his mind. But neither could win.

He moaned quietly in agony and tightened his closed eyes. Then, even as the battle in his mind was fought, the weariness that stood aside it suddenly grew stronger and with mighty arms enveloped him so that he did fall to sleep. His head drifted to his breast and his breathing came soft and quiet as his mind finally quieted.
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“I see him.” Rumil peered through the trees, Orophin at his side looking as well. “He is lying asleep against a Mallorn.... he said nothing of being weary.” Orophin shook his head and quickly strode before Rumil, going to wake his younger brother.

ORophin went to Haldir and knelt beside him. Lightly, he shook him and Haldir awoke with a start, his eyes heavy and tired still of wretched wakefulness. “Haldir.” Orophin said and Haldir heard him, turning to him uniformly as he rose to his feet quickly. “If you had been so weary before, little brother, then you should have gone to your bed--”

“Niamh sleeps there.” Haldir interrupted. Orophin sighed and aided his brother as he stumbled against the tree. Haldir lay his face in his hands and brushed what little weariness from his face as he was able before straightening his shoulders and his step. “Forgive me,” He said, “for I should not have slept. But never before have I felt such tiredness take hold of me.... Are the soldiers nearly prepared?”

Orophin nodded quickly. “Aye, brother,” He replied, “for they are swift and I think that once we have told them of the plans to win this war, we will be ready to leave this wood... to fight for a noble cause.” and Haldir held his head high in pride for te soldiers that he had trained and gathered.

“Perhaps, then,” He said, “we may leave this place before the night of the morrow... perhaps in the morning time?” Orophin nodded slowly. “Perhaps.” He replied, “For I there is a soldier that I have instructed to tell us when the soldiers are fully prepared to leave... when they have said farewell to their families and to their loved ones. He will send for us when it is time to tell to them the plans of this war we march to.”

“That is well.” Haldir said shortly, “That is well indeed.” and he turned away, taking leave of his elder brother. He called over his shoulder: “I must ready myself. Then, I will rest and perhaps sleep if my mind allows it. I think that we all should sleep, for we will be marching long and hard very soon now. Send for me when I am needed.”

Orophin sighed heavily as he watched his brother leave, for he was so very young and yet he loved! Love can cause a heart to fail, or, if nothing else, it can cause one’s mind hours of torment. Orophin turned and went to take his younger brother’s advice, which had been to rest and sleep. Rumil came form the bushes, from where he had been watching, and went beside his brother.

“Has Haldir gone mad?” The youngest of the elven brothers asked, and Orophin nodded. “Yes,” He replied, “He is. But it is with love for the little mortal woman.” and he would say nothing more, because he knew nothing more of his brother’s state.
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Haldir had gone to the mezzanine beneath the ground, hidden from peering eyes. There in the musty chamber of stone and earth were an assortment of weapons great enough for an army. Some of the swords had been taken by the soldiers already, but the others had yet to be removed. Various suits of armour lay wrapped in elven silk, to protect them from the creeping wetness of the mezzanine and to cover them from little creatures that might find them and grow curious as to their taste.

Haldir walked to where one suit of armour stood upon a tall chest, and the suit was covered with a draping length of silk that was as red as blood. The elf pulled the cloth away and with a warmth in-his cheeks and a sudden excitement he viewed his golden armour, elegant and finely crafted, covered with sweeping patterns and symbols of the elvenkind.

Over the shoulders of the suit of armour there was hung a blood red cloak, the color significant to the station of Captain over the Galadhrim army. A sword was sheathed elegantly within a belt of soft, sturdy leather, inlayed with gold and silver. haldir lay his hand upon the hilt of the sword and gently and slowly he pulled it from-its sheath, viewing it with pride that it was his own.

It was long, and thin, but far more sturdy and deadly than any sword crafted by the Galadhrim smiths. Its blade curved upward slightly to form rather a scimitar in shape and its point was keen and sharp still, though for long it had been sheathed in its leather prison. Its hilt was long and wooden, woven with gold and silver. Birds and the traces of the wind flew over its polished surface and at the bottom was Halidr’s name and station.

The elf raised the brilliant sword over his golden head and waved it about and about in circles and weaving patterns until his arm moved so quickly there was a faint breeze created by it. His cheeks glowed with wonder and excitement at the shinning steel and he nearly forgot his worries of war as he lowered the blade into its sheath once more.

He stepped away for a moment and looked upon the splendid armour that was his own before he raised his hand to remove his grey cloak from his shoulders. It fell to the ground with a slight noise and cascaded about his feet. The he removed his belt and tunic to follow it and they, too, fell to his feet. He walked to the suit of armour and lifted it away from the chest upon which it had been settled and he leaned it against the wall as he donned the thin, red under-tunic. Then, he clasped his golden, mithril cover-boots and leg-armour ( what is that called? ) and his skirt of golden mithril and a red sash about his waist he bound. His breast plate and aught else that was to followed came afterward, along with all of the draperies and ornaments a captain was to wear until at long last he was fully donned in his gear. His sword hung at his side and his blood-red cloak about his shoulders.

HIs hair still hung loose about his face and shoulders, though he did not bother to prepare it, for he wished to sleep. With a sigh, he climbed out of the mezzanine, greeted by several of his soldiers as they made their way to don their own armour. They all bowed low as he made his own way past them and the nodded his head to each of them in turn as he passed.

When he had fled from their sight, he showed his great weariness in his eyes at long last and shrugged the pervading sleep from is mind. He walked to where he had last seen his brothers, for he thought that perhaps he might sit with them until the soldiers had readied themselves for battle... ah but then he remembered that he had told them he would sleep and that they should do so as well. At last he gave way to the weariness that he felt and longed to relieve and found a quiet patch of trees to lie within.

He lay himself down and thought of his lady love as he closed his eyes. He lay asleep, his golden hair silver in the moonlight, falling over his shoulders donned in gold as he lay. He could not go to his own bed to sleep when within it Niamh lay in a sleep of magical deepness. He had set such a spell upon her when he had told her that he must ride to war, and he had done it for he had thought that perhaps then she would not be so very sad.

Now, the beautiful young elf lay in a secluded patch of trees that were not of Mallorn kind, where there bark was a warm brown and upon it grew thick, heavy moss. He drifted into sleep. His mind quieted and he could hear as his dreams pervaded his mind. But the dreams that came to him were not ones that he could easily see. They played through his mind at such a speed as made them a mere blur in his mind, and he could hear their voices, screaming and laughing, weeping and singing.

Then, they all stopped and it was black. But then out of the blackness came a white figure, ghostly in appearance to the elf, and in its hand was a long, silver shining sword. And when Haldir looked, he saw that the ghostly figure was himself, and he wore elven armour, and his cloak over his shoulders was soiled and black with blood.

Haldir watched as the figure drew nearer him, its sword dripped with orcish blood as it fell to the ground. Haldir watched the sword fall, and then drew his gaze up to the figure’s face that he saw was terror stricken. Its eyes were wide and its jaw dropped. Then, it fell to the ground and was still, blood spurting from an axe wound within its back.

Haldir started at this horrific vision and struggled to wake, but he could not as the figure rose once more and played through the vision once more. As it continued to rise and to fall, to rise and to fall, Haldir realised that he saw his death before him and this frightened him. He looked away and shielded his eyes form the gruesome scene, but found that even as he closed his eyes, in his dream still he could see himself falling to foe.

“Leave me...!” He hissed, “Leave me be!” He cried out, and at that moment the image left him, faded away into nothing. Then, he felt a pull at his sleeve and a light shove upon his shoulder and he awoke, but as he started awake, he saw the ghostly figure of his dream standing in the trees before him, its head nodding to and fro as if to say ‘yes’. But it faded away soon after he caught its eye.

“Captain!” Haldir heard one voice beckon him fully awake, and it was that of a young elf, his helm upon his head. “Captain, forgive me for waking you from sleep, but you are needed.”

Haldir slowly rose to his feet and shook sleep from his head as he thanked the young elf. the elf bowed low and said that every one of his soldiers awaited his council at the Lone Flet. Halidr asked as to why they were all of them at the Lone Flet, of all places, but the young elf said that he did not know, he was merely sent with a message.

And with a final bow he bounded into the trees and faded away like a shadow. Haldir straightened his shoulders and brushed his golden hair from his face as he went slowly through the trees, making his way to the Lone Flet, which was not far from where he had slept, he found, for he came upon it in but a moment or two of swift walking.

When he arrived there, he saw that indeed every one of his soldiers sat or stood either upon the ground or scattered amid the boughs of the trees. They were either fully armoured or they were nearly so, and they all of them watched in silence as Halidr came into sight.

“What happens here?” Haldir called out to them, but he saw Orophin standing and went to him. Orophin motioned toward a steely cage that rested near to them, partially covered with a grey cloak. Haldir went to it and pulled away the cloak, and within the cage he saw the faerie sitting, gagged and bound. But he did not struggle, he gracefully turned his head to look upon Haldir and regally bowed his head.

Haldir bent low and knelt before the cage, resting his chin in his hand. “Many times have I made aqaintance with trustful good folk, faeries, all of them.” He said cooly, “And only few times have I met with evil such as yourself. I do honor the race of Faerie, but I would gladly know an end to your house.” Whereupon he spat crudely upon the faerie’s face and the evil creature winced in disgust.

Haldir rose to his feet and turned to the elven soldiers who all looked upon him with question. “What shall be done about the faerie lord?” One soldier asked. Orophin held his hand up to silence the murmur that afterward began to spread among the soldiers and Haldir raised his voice over theirs.

“We will carry this vermin at the side of our army.” He said, but this caused an even greater and louder murmur to spread, “Bound will he remain. Gagged will he remain... and the need is far more dire than either to keep him gagged, for if his lips are free to speak, then we will all know some sort of spell put upon us.

When we come to Edoras, then a dozen or more of you shall I send to carry him to the river Snowbourn...” Here he turned and with a narrow gaze he said to the faerie. “... And into its depths he will be cast, carried away to the sea where the gulls will be the only ones to pick the lock of his freedom... if even they would suffer to be in his presence.”

And with a turn upon his heel, he faced Rumil and Orophin, Rumil having only just arrived. “Have you heard all of my words?” He asked Rumil and the youngest of the three brothers nodded his head quickly. Haldir bowed shortly to each of them and then deeply to his soldiers as they sat amid the trees and their boughs.

“Get you ready all right quick and soon,” He continued to say to the soldiers. “For the quicker it is that we leave here, the quicker it is that we reach Edoras. Be you all ready to leave when the first rays of sunlight cast themselves over this wood.” And the soldiers obeyed, those that were not completely garbed for war leaving all in a hurry to do so. And those that were already dressed in their golden elven armour left right swiftly to say a final farewell to their families.

Haldir turned his gaze to the faerie, though he did not turn his head, and the creature narrowed his gaze. The elf grimaced and walked away, and he told Rumil to remain with the faerie. But Rumil obeyed, though in his heart he was not willing to stay beside the cage of the horrible monster that had once possessed him and had strove to force the young elf to slay his kin. Rumil sighed and sat down at the base of the great Mallorn that held the Lone Flet and the elf lay his chin in the palm of his hand.

He glanced over to the faerie, though looked quickly away as he saw the evil thing watching him through narrow eyes. The faerie said nothing but he did not look away from the elf, either. Rumil turned his head away and looked through the trees, but the faerie knew that the young elf did not wish to meet his gaze.

Rumil’s keen ears twitched as he heard the faerie mumble beneath his breath, though his words were faint and muffled by the gag in his mouth. Rumil quickly turned and looked to the faerie but as he did so the mumbling ceased. “Silence now for good.” Rumil said through his teeth as he spat in the direction of the creature. “For I wish to hear none of your senseless murmuring and mumblings. It is folly to try and speak, for you are gagged and seeing as you are such, then you cannot cast any spell not writhe your way into freedom.”
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Orophin had followed after Haldir, for he only wished to be at his little brother’s side. And so he walked beside the young captain, listening intently as Haldir hummed deeply in his throat a song that Orophin could not recall.

“What is that song you sing?” Orophin asked and Haldir replied with a faint smile thus ( though mind you that he was not so keen on this foreign tongue and so stumbled oft ):

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

And as he finished, Orophin nodded his head, for only one could have sung such a song in such a tongue. Niamh. The elder elf sighed and lay his hand upon his brother’s shoulder as if to comfort him. Haldir sighed as well. “I had wished for her to follow after me, Orophin.” He said. “And I think that she will, for she is timid and weak, but she is my lady. She will find me and we will be together at last.” But Orophin shook his head.

“I do not think that she will have the means, young brother.” He said. “For will she not have a host of elves to escort her to Imladris? And why do you send her to that place when the faerie is to remain with us, leaving her far, far behind him?”

“I send her to Imladris for we are so near to Isengaurd and to Mordor.” Haldir replied, “And if it is that we should fail and the forces of Mordor and Isengaurd spread, then she will be farther from that evil. Thus, she will be safe there... for a time. When the evil spreads so far as Imladris then the elves there will flee to the sea, to The Grey Havens and even they would sail o’er te sea to the Undying Lands. She would be forever safe in the Grey Havens... and perhaps the Valar would have mercy upon her soul and they might keep her in the Undying Lands, despite the fact that she is not of this world.

And I do not doubt her. She will find me if I cannot remain to guard her from evils here.” And he laughed faintly, “I had grown accustomed to holding her as she fled to me in fear of the faerie.” but he fell silent then.
“She will find me.” He whispered, and ran his fingers through-his hair, straightening its mess and braiding his thin warrior braids. He felt the chill of the night fading and the sighing wind sang of the coming morning.

“Look there.” Orophin said and pointed toward the sky. “I see the rays of the sun beginning to spread over our heads. They bless the golden leaves of this wood with their golden light and warmth.” But even as he finished Haldir had pulled from his side the silver elven horn and lifted it to his lips. He blew upon it as he done earlier in the night and just as it had then, its song rang clear through the trees and far, far into the distance it was heard... like the call of an eagle.

Haldir’s ears pricked and he said: “They come now.” As the branches above them began to creak and groan. Slowly, soldiers that were nearest began to appear. Then, only moments afterward, came they who were farther until all of the elven army was gathered before and above Haldir and Orophin, including Rumil, who arrived with four others, carrying the cage that held within it the faerie.

The elves were all of them garbed and their swords upon their backs and their bows and quivers of white arrows upon their backs. They carried large packs in their arms or over their shoulders and their eyes were eager and ready.

Haldir once more lifted his chin in pride to see his fine army ready and willing before him, their eyes shinning already with excitement and a strong fury of oncoming war. He raised his arm over his head and strictly waved it to the south. “Let us go to our steeds!” He cried, “And then we will ride south to Fangorn. When we come to Fangorn, the ents will prove as a guard from the watching eyes of Isengaurd and Mordor as we travel, for orcs would not dare to cross paths with a watching ent. Then we will go south and east straight way through the plains.”

But one soldier spoke loudly: “If we travel openly through the plains then will not orcs and watchers of ill will see us and stalk us?”

“Are our eyes not far keener than theirs?”Haldir replied quickly, “And would there not be a far greater number of elves than of watchers of ill will? I think that there would, soldier. The path that I have chosen is safe, do not fear for that. I would risk the well being of my army to no foe.”

“Forgive me, captain.” The soldier said hurriedly at Haldir’s seemingly irked voice, and the soldier faded away into the trees, amid the other soldiers.

Haldir raised his gaze to the army that stood before him. “Is there aught else that need be asked?” He inquired, and when there was no show of hands nor nodding of heads, he was satisfied. “That is well.” He said, “Now, when we come to Edoras, sound the horns and all shall know that we have come. No man is to hear word of our coming, for I wish it to be a surprise to them... rather a miracle in their minds. They would think that we cared little for the race of Men, they would think that we would stand by and watch them suffer as our race fled over the seas. But we shall not do so.” He paused and sighed.

“We will ride to their aid. Rohan lies near to Mordor, and the Mountains of Shadow have grown fiercely dark in recent days. Mordor has grown in strength, we all know this, and the lord Elrond of Imladris has begun to fear for Rohan... for if the race of men falls, then there are only the elves to stand against Mordor and Isengaurd both. Let us strike up once more the allegiance between elves and men so that we may aid each other and protect all that is good.

The lords Elrond and Celeborn are wise and far-seeing, and they have seen a great evil marching towards Rohan; nay, for it has not begun its march as of yet, but it will be soon that the armies of Mordor depart from the Mountains of Shadow... very soon.”

“And that is why we ride to war, for I know that some of you have wondered as to this sudden call.” Orophin added. “Is it noble enough a call?” The elves nodded their heads and-all was silent. There was no murmur among them, though the fire of battle burned ever brighter in their eyes.

“Then let us ride now!” Haldir said valiantly, his fair voice echoing among the trees and signaling the elf maidens that their lovers and fathers and brothers were leaving them, “Let us ride to war and to victory!” and then there arose a great cry among the elves that it made the valleys about Lorien the Golden Wood ring and the birds within them cry.

And the elves lifted to their lips horns and they blew upon them, and the cries of the horns shook the leaves of the tall Mallorn, and made the earth quiver, the boughs of the trees groan. Then, soon afterward, there came a great rumbling in the earth as if it shook from its very roots. A faint, glowing light grew ever brighter in the distance through the trees. Baying came the sounds of steeds through the mist that hung low and thin over the green grass.

And there came into view a cascade of white steeds, their heads tossing in the breeze, and their coats shinning white in the faint morning light, the light of the twilight. Each elf leapt onto his steed, their golden armour mingling wonderfully with the white of the steeds’ coats. Their golden hair flew behind them as the flaming eyes of the horses gazed ahead into the morning sun, their eyes undaunted by its brightness.

The elves rode swiftly to the edge of the forest, leaning low to catch the wind as it rushed by them. And they were met by elf maidens and young elflings who threw flowers and ribbons in their path. They sang and cheered in joy for their brave soldiers and not a tear was shed by them when the soldiers had gone... for they left Lorien in a noble parade, their heads held high for they knew that they rode to a noble cause.

And so the elf maidens sang as their husbands or lovers or brothers rode to war:

“Yallume, yallume ron
nuquernuva sen e dagor!
Yallume, yallume ron
nuquernuva sen e dagor!”