Through the Window

Chapter Seventeen


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(Hello, just a quick word with you all, and it will take but a brief moment to say it. Well now, I have been told that my characters are.... out of character. That’s fine, is this not a public story site where all comments and criticism are allowed?? Yes, it is! I just wanted some of you to know that it was my intention to make the characters go out of character..... if that makes any sense at all. And the only reason they would do so, is because the evil magic of the faerie is upon them. Celeborn is still somewhat under-spell by the faerie, at least his thoughts and the way he thinks them are. And Galadriel, she wasn’t really in it enough for me to really take her character to heart. I couldn’t see how detailed I could go into her personality when she wasn’t even it for even a full chapter. I will try and hopefully do better next time, though!!! I will try to explain Celeborn’s problem throughout the last part of the story. I will also try to explain what kind of spells the faerie puts on the characters a little bit better, as it appears I have not done so well of a job in that! SORRY! ^ ^* : )
But yes, I wanted to make the characters go a little out of character to show that the faerie had such power as to make them do this! Okay, that’s all!^ ^* Thanks for listening and keep both comments and criticism coming! I appreciate all of it! ( is that spelled right? App--- ) After all, how can you ever learn from your mistakes if you neer see that you have made them?? Anyhoo, bye!)
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The morning sun rose high and warm, dancing over the valleys and fields, showing with pride its splendorous beauty. Deep, deep within Lothlorien the Golden Wood Niamh awoke, slowly, from her spell. She did not, at first, remember what had happened when Haldir had cast his spell upon her, but as she rose to her knees and felt that her face was covered in dried tears, she remembered and she was sorrowful for it. She remembered that her lover would not be with her. She remembered that they were to marry this day, but that they could not, for he had ridden to war under command of his lord.

She looked about her and as her weariness began to fade, her sorrow grew deeper and deeper. She said nothing, nor did she cry out. She rose to her feet and quickly went to the edge of the flet. Kneeling there, she looked to the ground, her eyes wide with greif as she realized her love was no where to be found.He had left her already.

She went to the center of her floor and fell to her knees, holding her face in her hands as she wept heavily, her sobs reaching the ears of many elves as she cried out Haldir’s name in her moans and sobs. He had left her to fight in battle and she knew that she would not see him again, for surely he would be slain.

“Haldir!” She wept, “Haldir!” and crumbled into a heap, pounding upon the wood of it in anger and sorrow. But as soon as she had begun to weep, she heard footsteps near to her. She fell silent, somewhat, in hopes that she would turn to see Haldir standing before her, but when she did look, she saw that it was not.

Before her stood two elves whom she did not know and they bowed low before her, their hands over their hearts. She lifted her hand to wipe her tears from her face, but the elves quickly advanced and pulled her gently to her feet, and when she was steady they bade her dress and follow them.

But their words in elvish and only few did she understand, for then they had gestured with their faces and hands what she was to do. She stared blankly upon them as they ushered her to quickly dress, but she shook her head slowly and waved her hand to make them leave her be. She motioned that she could not dress if they stood before her.

The two elves smiled and bowed once more and left her alone in her chamber flet to dress for what she did not know. She had no clothes other than any Haldir had ever given her, and even that gown she had found was covered in gashes and stains. She lifted it before her with a look of distaste, for even such elven silk could be marred and disfigured so it could not be easy to look upon.

Just then, however, a quick rap upon her door and a quiet whisper sent her whirling about, covering her self as her door opened slightly. One of the elves, his head turned away out of respect, entered briefly and lay at her feet a small bundle wrapped in cloth. Then he left quickly and with an apologetic bow at her door.

Niamh bent down and opened the bundle with quick fingers and to her relief she found within it many things of good use. By the looks of it, she supposed that she was being taken away from Lothlorien, and taken a long distance, for there were many large Mallorn leaves bearing within them small, angular biscuit seeming foods. Also, there were two grey dresses made of thin, flowing cloth that was not silk but wore a sheen and a gloss that might have said it was so.

They were simple and straight and bore no embellishment nor motif. Niamh lifted them away from their cloth casement and donned the first quickly. The other, however, she found under closer inspection was not a dress but a over garment that was hooded and tied about her neck. She saw that it was some form of long, thick cloak that covered her body entirely, thus preventing wind and rain to penetrate it.

She lay it over her bed and searched deeper within the cloth bundle, finding odd little things that proved no use save for pleasure upon the eye. There was, too, a folded parchment lain among these pretty little things, and Niamh took it, unfolded it and read it intently. She had rather wondered as to whom had sent her the package, but with a smile as she read the letter she found that it had, in fact, been Haldir. She laughed slightly and kissed the letter as she continued to read it thus:

“Melamin, arwenamin...

Forgive me that I have left you. It was not my desire to leave you sleeping beneath such a spell as I go now to Helm’s Deep, but I feared that it was dire if you were to remain behind after me. I cannot speak many words, Niamh, for the horns are calling for me and war is ahead. I have left you traveling clothes and Lembas for you to eat on your journey. Also, you will find that there are within the bundle some small things for means of protection, but I do not doubt that you will be greatly protected by the elven gaurds that I have sent along with you to remain at your side at all times. Do not leave them, woman, or ill fate will befall you!
You are being sent to Rivendell, that is Imladris, where you will be beneath the watch of the elves there. They are farther from the evil that is spreading in the south and you will be safer there by far then in Lorien. I pray you, be safe in your journey and keep close to the guards, keep in the center of them all and you will be protected.

I must leave you now, love, but I keep you within my heart and so you are not gone from me. Remain safe and if all comes to worst, then know that I love you and that even if I leave this world I will carry you with me.

Aa' menle nauva calen ar' ta hwesta e' ale'quenle...
Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au', melamin.”


Niamh sighed heavily, wiping freshly fallen tears from her face as she folded the letter and tucked it tightly away within her bodice, pressed to her heart. She fell against the wall of her flet, holding her face within the palms of her small white hands as she sobbed for her love gone from her. Was she never to know true happiness now? She had been happy once before, when she had been held by the arms of her father and mother. But she knew she would never see them again and this saddened her even greater.

She desperately hoped for true happiness once more, that the faerie’s curse would be lifted. She had hoped that she would love Haldir in peace, that the faerie would leave them be! Was it such a crime to see a faerie dance? She though that it must beor she never would have come to Arda. But, then, she would never have fallen in love with her elf, her Haldir, and she would soon be married to the young fisherman from Ireland. At least then she would have lived in peace.

But how could she say such things? She loved Haldir with all of her heart and she would gladly, gladly lay down her life for his own to be saved. But she only wished that he could come to her with no interference... with no faerie to ward them from each-other, and no foul battles to be fought in distant lands. He had come to her before, often, but never could he remain with her save for one night when he had held her in his arms all the night long, whispering sweet words within her ear.

She sighed and wiped her face free of tears. She quickly dismissed the bitter thoughts of sadness that creeped within her and rose to her feet, wrapping the cloth bundle about the items that Haldir had left for her. But as she wrapped them together again, out fell two daggers, one larger than the other.

With some intrest she lifted them into her hands and the largest she unsheathed and viewed with awe the craftsmanship and thinness of the blade. It was sharp and white as snow, pretty but lethal. With a flutter of fear, she sheathed it once more and tied it about her waist. The second dagger was very small, only about as large as her small hands, and she tied it at her ankle, wrapping it securely there.

She held the bundle tightly in her arms and left her chamber, meeting outside the two elves. They were irked, she could see, that she she had taken so very long and they were urgent in their movements, saying that they must all be going.

Niamh obediently followed them, her head held low as the soft morning breezes blew past her. The elves were quick and they did not slow their pace when Niamh began to lag behind. Only they looked over their shoulders, saw her lagging footsteps and stopped, grabbing hold of her arms when she reached them and pulling her along rather roughly behind them.

Niamh followed, but looked over her shoulder many times, taking in the view of the beautiful elven wood, the silver bark of the golden Mallorn trees, the elegant, flowing boughs of the trees and the perches within them wherein elves slept soundly. There was magic in the air, magic that she had grown accustomed to and had come to love. Stifling tears, she turned her head away from the sight of the Golden Wood about her.

But then the elves stopped once more and turned to her, releasing her from their grip. One reached into his belt and pulled forth from it a long, grey cloth that he held up to Niamh’s eyes, and he tied it about her to shield her eyes. She supposed that they did not wish her to see anything more... perhaps the way to their city of Caras Galadhon.

The elves led her onward once more, their tight grasp once more upon her arms, and soon she heard many more voices about her and along with them came the creaking of a great gate being open. And then, a few steps afterward, the voices were silent and there was only the sound of the leaves blowing over her head. She could not even hear the sounds of the Elves’feet as they led her on, for they were so light-footed no other ear besides their own could hear them.

And so they walked, no one spoke more word, and after a long, tiresome walk over roots and rocks and other such things, Niamh could hear sounds other than the leaves above. She could hear-the sound of running water.
“Nimrodel.” Then said one elf, and they removed the cloth from her eyes. She had not seen the path to Caras Galadhon and now they had nothing to fear. Instead, she saw before her a flowing stream that bubbled and sang as if it bore the voice of a young woman singing. Its waters were clearer than any she had ever seen and it sparkled as the sunlight through the trees played upon its waters.

Then she saw another elf standing at the far bank, and he held in his hands a length of the silver elven rope or twine, and he cast it over the stream to the two elves beside Niamh. One elf lifted it and secured it to a tree that stood near to him while the other drew from his side a second length of twine and did as the first had done. He tied it securely about the tree the first rope was entwined about and cast the twine over the stream to the elf there who secured its other end. One rope rose only just over the waters of the stream Nimrodel while the other rose a bit higher, as if to a grown man’s waist length.

The elves motioned for Niamh to follow them, and she did so until she reached the river bank and saw what it was that she should do. The two elves who led her through the Golden Wood lightly stepped onto the rope and ran briskly and gracefully across it, without so mush as grasping the second rope for balance.

Niamh’s jaw dropped and she violently shook her head as they gestured from far across the stream for her to do the same as they had done. With a sigh, she clasped her cloth bundle to her breast and lay one bare foot upon the lowest rope. She saw with irritation the elves at the far bank telling her to hurry. She held up a finger as she told them to wait a moment and that she would be across shortly, but she doubted it would be so easy. She stood with her full weight upon the rope and grasped the second rope tightly with her free hand.

The rope beneath her feet trembled and quivered threateningly as she walked slowly upon it. Her bare feet gripped it as tightly as her hand gripped the other rope for support and balance. She kept her eyes ahead of her and did not meet the sight of the chilled waters of the stream beneath her. As she moved forward, she glanced downward and noticed the waters had grown deeper by far. She quickly looked ahead and tried to quicken her pace, but that just could not be.

Finally, she made it over the stream and rubbed the soreness from her feet where they had so tightly gripped the rope. But she had not a moment to spare before the elves once more took her into their grasp and led her onward. The third elf walked before them all, as if he were leading them as they led her. They walked for a few moments more, the trees about them growing thinner and thinner until she could at last see the sweeping valleys that surrounded Lothlorien.

One last time she looked over her shoulder and viewed what bit of Lorien she could, and she thought that she saw hidden elves among the boughs of the trees, watching her with great intent, their eyes silver and piercing. But then they disappeared as if they had never been.

The elves that led her stopped for a moment and the elf that had led them for such a short distance stopped as well, looking about him. He whistled loudly and clearly, and then he listened, they all listened. The sound of light hooves upon the earth came to their ears and the third elf smiled proudly. He spoke in low tones to the other two elves as into sight there came three white steeds, followed by a troop of elves mounted already. They were garbed in armour and bore drawn swords in their hands.

As the three steeds galloped up to Niamh and the three elves, the troop of soldiers behind them halted and bowed their heads slightly to the young girl. She nodded her head and smiled graciously upon them. Then, with no word, the two elves drew Niamh to the smallest of the three white steeds and lifted her quickly upon its back. It seemed as if they could lose no time as they, too, leapt onto the backs of the other horses, leaving the third elf behind them. He waved farewell and, as he had only been a guide to their mounts, he went solemnly back into the trees.

The two elves patted the rear of Niamh’s little horse and ushered it before them and to the troop of soldiers until it had broken through their line and trotted in the center of them all.

Niamh viewed the elves one by one as they rode around her, their hair was golden or silver, all of it, and their faces long and fine, but none so fine as her lover Haldir. She looked over her shoulder again, but could no more see Lothlorien as it slowly, very slowly, faded into the distance. Her view was hindered by the bodies of the elves that rode at her rear. She peered behind them and beside them, but still she could see nothing.

She turned to the front once more and hung her head as she silently bid farewell to Lothlorien and to the elves there, to the Lady of Light, whom she had seen only few times for what reasons she did not know or else could not remember, and to Rumil and Orophin, whom she was sure had ridden to war with their brother... and she saw Haldir’s face fly through her mind in a whirlwind. She shuddered and sighed. She dearly hoped that he would return to her safely and without great harm, for she wished to hold him once more, to feel his strong arms about her... .

She clutched the cloth bundle to her breast before she lay it upon her lap and unwrapped it slowly, retrieving from it her cloak that she cast over her shoulders, and one of the large leaves wrapped about the strange little biscuit.

She recalled what Haldir had written, that the biscuit was called ‘lembas’ and was food for her to eat. She slowly lifted it to her lips and bit of it, wrapping the rest in the leaf once more. She enjoyed the taste of the ‘lembas’ and swallowed it eagerly, for she had been rather hungry. However, she found that the small bit of hunger that had crept upon her fled her when she swallowed the bit of lembas, and this shocked her, for she had doubted that what few biscuits- or lembas -Haldir had provided her with would not last her long.

She sighed contentedly and settled back into her saddle. She noticed as her eyes wandered about her that none of the elves rode upon saddles and she thought this rather strange. She wondered if it was painful for them in certain areas to ride bare-backed, or if they rode undaunted by any such thing as that. She shifted in her saddle and clenched her reigns tightly. Curious, she looked to see if the elves also rode with no reigns nor bit. And lo! For they did not! Such grace and balance they held within them that many of them simply sat still and straight and held to nothing as they rode, their arms hanging free at their sides.

Niamh was shocked by this, but fascinated more-so than anything, and so she attempted at such grace as they. Unfortunately, she lacked much of it, for as she released her reigns and rose off of her saddle, her little horse charged ahead as if to spite her for some odd reason and she fell to the ground. The elves all stopped and though many of them showed no emotion, nor did they even turn their heads to her, some smiled at her curiosity. One elf dismounted and lifted her to her feet, smiling as he sat her in her saddle once more. He pushed her firmly into it as if to tell her to remain seated and he turned away, mounting his steed again. She thanked the elf, though he could not understand her, and steadied her feisty little horse.
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The morning passed on, and as it went, Niamh sang little songs to pass her time and to rid her thoughts of worry for her love. She sang silly little diddles in gaeligh and in latin and even some in dutch, a foreign language she had come to like in her younger years and had acquired a taste for. Many times she saw Haldir’s face when she closed her eyes during her song, and so to rid her mind of him, she would raise her voice. The elves would then glance her way in mirth, some even chuckling slightly.

But Niamh did not laugh. In her mind she was tormented that she should be so far from Haldir... and she thought it a silly thing to worry for him, seeing as he was so very skilled a warrior and so lithe and agile. Surely, she hoped, not ill fate would befall him. But, still, she worried and no matter of reassurances could cure her of it.

What if she were to await him in... Rivendell... and he were never to come for her? What if she would await him there and he would be brought to there upon a blood red blanket, carried in to her while she sat beside her window, and he would lay on a barrow sort of thing and he would be lying dead and..... oh..... she could not think of it or she would weep! She hung her head and wiped away what tears had come to her eyes while she had been so deep in thought.

The sun had risen to its peak and was now falling to the west. The morning had come and gone and not once had the elven troop rested nor watered their horses. They had eaten lembas bread while they rode and so were fed for the day, and their horses, it seemed, were not the same as the druggy things mortals ride, for not only did they seem to glow, they needed no water nor food to eat. They trotted along with a look of utter contentment in their eyes as their riders softly stroked their manes and now and again whispered soothing words in their ears.

Niamh, however, thirsted greatly and began to look about her occasionally for some elf who wore a water satchel and drank of it. But she saw none. She slowed her little horse and the riders who were behind her trotted on her heels so slow did she soon begin to lag. One of the elves who had guided her out of Lorien came up beside her with question in her eyes, and when he muttered in Elvish a question, she gestured to her mouth. He saw how dry her lips were and quickly offered her some water that he had worn at his side beneath his grey cloak.

Eagerly, Niamh took the water and lifted the satchel to her lips, and as she did so, a cascade of cool, clear water pervaded her mouth and she sighed in relief. She drank long of it, but hen remembered that the precious water was not her own and quickly gave it to its owner once more. He smiled and tied the satchel back at his waist.

Niamh quickened her horse’s pace and was once more in the center of the elves that guarded and protected her, their swords readied in their hands. She was silent and did not look about her, but only straight ahead, and as there was naught else to think of, her mind drifted to things she did not wish to think of. Human minds are so treacherous sometimes. She tried desperately to be rid of the thoughts of bloody knives and such, but even as she tried to be rid of them, they came ever stronger to her.

She did not know why her mind brought to her such thoughts, for she had done nothing to bring them upon her. She began to worry even greater than she had before and it all came upon her in a swift moving torrent. Her eyes grew wide as she saw an image play before her. Her mind went black and she saw only a stone wall and many horrendous creatures running about all in a muck, snarling and crying out. And then, in the center of them all, she saw a beautiful young elf fighting in their midst, hie eyes alight with what she saw to be excitement and a fire that she did not wish to see, for it seemed to be nearly mad.

The elf’s golden hair flew wildly about him as he slew creature and creature, one upon the other. Then there came a man beside him, fighting the creatures as well, and they fought side by side as if one. But then, one creature came stealthily behind the fair elf and raised high into the air a great, heavy battle axe that was drenched with blood. And the axe fell and the elf was slain and lay in the man’s arms, dead. Haldir. Niamh saw his eyes close and his mouth fall ajar.

With a shudder of terror, Niamh woke from her vision, her face white as snow and her eyes wide so that they seemed they could open no more. She remembered the vision of Haldir standing before her and his head rolling to the ground beside her and she cried out in terror as that vision replayed before her.

The elves all stopped and with shock, watched Niamh fall from her little horse and crawl away from it, shielding her eyes, crying out as if she saw what was not truly there before her. She wept wildly, and screamed so that all of the land could hear her cries. One elf leapt swiftly from his steed and went to her side, prying her hands from her face and lifting her into his arms. She flailed about and about until at last he dropped her to her feet. She fell quiet. They all watched with intent her actions as she swayed to and fro where she stood. The elf who had brought her from the back of her horse, her eyes rollin about in her head, and they thought that the woman, whom they protected until Imladris, was surely mad.

Niamh felt as if her heart would burst with grief having such a horrific scene just played through her mind.

“Why would he leave me here?” She mumbled, looking to the elf who had helped her to her feet. “Why would he leave me behind?” and she fell to her knees, holding her face in her hands. She had not had time enough for the greif of her lover’s leaving to fully impact her. Now, after the vision she had seen play before her eyes, her greif became far to great for her and she could no longer stand.

The elves looked to one another with worry and confusion as they watched the little woman sob and wail in a tongue they did not know. The one elf who had brought her from her steed so once more she would not fall from it, slowly went to her side and sat patiently beside her, holding his finger to his lips as if to tell the others to be silent.

He lay a hand upon her shoulder and waited silently as her sobbing quieted a bit, but she was only curious as to whom it was that dared to touch her in such a moment of sadness. When she raised her eyes to meet those of the elf’s, he smiled softly and wiped her tears away for her.

His eyes were like those of any elf, cold in color, but warm and gentle when she looked within them. They laughed and smiled, and though there was no starlight in the skies to be reflected from them, they still shone and danced with some starry light. She suffered a small smile to pass through her lips and the elf sighed in relief. He held out his hand and she took it as he aided her to her feet.

The other elves raised their brows in question when the kind elf mounted his steed once more, having set Niamh back into her saddle and the company at a quickened pace. The elf only smiled and shook his head to any questions asked.


Niamh clutched her cloth-wrapped parcel to her breast as she wiped her eyes free of tears upon her grey elven cloak. She smiled, for it smelled of an earthy, yet perfumed scent. Haldir had smelled like that.

But her quiet solitude was broken as the kind elf rode up beside her, and he looked to her out of the corner of his eye. Niamh blushed and looked away.

“I thank you.”She said softly, but, to her dismay, she found that he did not understand her. He only briskly turned his head away. So, Niamh bowed her head and with a graceful glance, the elf knew that she was thanking him. He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders to say that it was no trifle for him, and he smiled, chuckling a bit.

Niamh smiled. The elf reached over to her and touched her cheek softly. When she turned her head, he gestured toward himself and said: “Hafelas.”

Niamh took it that ‘Hafelas’ was his name and she nodded her head slowly, gesturing toward herself. “Niamh.” She said, and the elf chuckled.

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Haldir and the soldiers of the Galadhrim marched tirelessly onward through the mist laden hills of the Rhovanion as the dew began to rise from the grasses. Their shadowy forms through the mist looked ghostly, for there had arisen a great wind that blew their silver flaxen hair through it.

Haldir slowed his pace and rode at the back of the soldiers, where they pulled the cage of the evil faerie on a platform behind two horses with blinds upon the sides of their eyes and bandages tied about their ears so that they could neither hear the venomous tongue of the faerie.

“How goes he?” Haldir asked the two elves that led those two horses. They bowed their heads and said that all was well with him and that, as of yet, he had made for to cause little trouble.

“Captain...” One soldier asked warily, and Haldir nodded in response. “you are certain that to carry the faerie with us is wise?”

“I am.” Haldir said, “For if we cannot kill him, then we must find some way to do away with him forever. If he is locked within a cage-- and a cage of elven make, mind you --and his hands and feet are tightly bound, his mouth gagged to silence, and his lock with no key to be found, then I think that he would not be able to escape nor cast ANY spell upon us. Rest assured, for I have pondered this thought many times in my head when I should have slept... when I should have done many other things... it is a wise thing to do.”

“Forgive me, captain.” The elf said and fell quiet. Haldir turned his head to the faerie lord sitting quietly within his cage.

Haldir chuckled grimly as he took the reigns from the elves and moved them forward. “My soldiers and, no doubt, my brothers think that I have gone mad.” He said quietly to the faerie after the two other elves had gone ahead. A dry, grim smirk was upon his lips as he continued. “But I am not confiding in you, evil one, mind you, I am not. My soldiers believe that it is madness that has driven me to do away with you so very late in time.... and perhaps it is. I cannot say aught but that you have caused myself and the ones dear to me much sorrow and pain... so much that it would drive any elf to madness.

I am sure that there were other ways to slay you, or do away with you, but I was blinded by something to great to see through. I shall not tell you what it is, but I was blinded by it and I was changed so that I have become unwise by it. No doubt that my soldiers think I have gone mad.”

And when the solemn elf finished, he did not return the reigns to the other two elves who had had them before, but he still held them and led the two horses on, humming lightly to himself a song the faerie wished to be rid of, for its merriness irked him and aggravated him to no end.
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“Y-you are... young, yes?” Hafelas spoke slowly in the tongue that Niamh spoke fluently, but he was not so fluent in it. Haldir had learned much of her language when he had been with her in Lorien, and so, though he spoke it rather badly when first they met, he had grown better at speaking it. This elf, however, seemed to have rarely been subject to speaking it. His words stumbled to the point that they were nearly beyond understanding.

Niamh nodded her head, though, and smiled. “I am, Hafelas... and you?”

Hafelas shrugged his shoulders and furrowed his brow in thought. “I know not.... of my age.”

“Then you are really quite...old.” Niamh chuckled, but Hafelas shook his head. “I am auld in the years o’ martles--”

“Mortals.”Niamh corrected quickly, eager to teach him proper speech.

“Er... aye... m-mortals. I am young in the years o’ elfs.... arwenenamin.... er... ( forgive me ) my laddie.”

“Lady!”Niamh burst out laughing, “I am no laddie, sir elf, but a lady I, a sure as anything, be!” and Hafelas flushed red in the cheeks and smiled broadly. “Ah, but take no mind to it, Hafelas. I shall take no mind to it if you do not.”

Hafelas was silent a moment as if he struggled to sift through her swiftly-spoken words, but then, soon enough, he smiled broadly as if in realization and nodded his head slowly. “Then I take no.... mind to it, yes?” Niamh chuckled and nodded her head quickly.


Niamh fell silent, as did the young elf, and she sighed heavily. Soon, she had forgotten that he rode by her side and her thoughts began to drift toward her elf... her Haldir, and the thought of battle and the remembrance of her grim, dark vision saddened her greatly. She had forgotten Hafelas was beside her, watching her eyes grow slowly more and more dim. He could read her thoughts as she plundered her mind for a way to reach her lover once more.... this was something that she wished dearly would come to some sort of resolve.... but it did not, and she sighed once more, brushing away tears that rose in her eyes. She did this for she saw from the corner of her eye Hafelas’s face watching her. Blushing, she giggled and turned her face away.

“Forgive me.” She said gently, her voice stifled by tears. “I had forgotten that you rode at my side.” Hafelas smiled softly and reached forth his hand to her cheek, touching it lightly.... his fingers were soft like those of Haldir.
“Be not sad, arwe-- my lady.” Hafelas said as Niamh quickly drew her face away from the elf’s hand. “I do not know what it is that grieves you.... but I do not wish to see so.... f-fair a elle-- maiden so very sad....”

“That is very sweet,” Niamh sighed, with a quick smile and a glance to Hafelas, “but I fear that I will be sad.... and there is nothing anyone can do to aid me.” and she sighed. “For, you see, I have dreamed horrible dreams, I have had awfully frightening visions as I have walked or awakened from sleep. You have seen.” She laughed slightly and brushed her fiery hair from her face.

With a cunning smile, she looked to young Hafelas and said: “Where, elf, did you learn to speak my tongue so very well?”

Hafelas chuckled and turned his head away slowly. “I learned from my captain.”
“Orophin or Rumil, or--”
“Haldir o’ Lorien... er.... s-sir Haldir.”
“Ah.” Niamh nodded her head slowly. “And why would he teach to you such a foreign tongue?”

“It was upon my own request. And I think that I have better at it.” Hafelas was rather like a young child in speech, and Niamh giggled upon his errors.

“Aye now, for you have!” She laughed, and Hafelas lifted his shoulders proudly. He seemed much younger than Haldir, perhaps, if elves aged the ways that men do, he was not hardly grown to his full stance. Perhaps he was little older than she herself, that is, if elves aged the ways that men do.
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“You have changed, elder brother.” Rumil’s voice was urgent and firm as if the thoughts he now expressed to his brother troubled him greatly and had done so for long. Haldir’s ears pricked at his Rumil’s words, but he said nothing. “It is difficult for me to say as to weather or no your change has been for good or ill.”

“Have I changed, then?” Haldir mumbled, his clear voice hindered by scarcely parted lips. He turned to his little brother with an irked glance, and an old spark within his eyes was rekindled. Once, in a time that now seemed long ago to Rumil, Haldir had been arrogant and the proudest of all the elves of the Galadhrim, save for the lord Celeborn.

Haldir had aslo been very wise and cautious, but now that seemed to be no more. He was cautious still, but his wisdom seemed to have dwindled and his mind slowed.... it was as if he was dogged by something that trudged on his mind like nothing had ever done.

“You behave rather.... human.” Rumil finished quietly, he knew that his brother would be fierce with him at these words, and he had thought correct. Before the youngest of the elven brothers turned his head away, he was caught with a ferocious, penetrating stare from Haldir, and Rumil saw the proud elf once more that was his brother. Haldir’s eyes were once again the way they had been, proud and without humility. He did not wish to be told that he acted as a human would act, that he was like a mortal man, and Rumil saw this and it made him chuckle.

“Now I see my brother once more!” The young elf laughed, and as soon as his clear laughter echoed out, Haldir’s eyes softened, for he saw the mirth in his brother’s eyes.

“Has it been seen by others... my supposed change?” Haldir asked, and Rumil, much to his brother’s dismay, nodded his head violently.

“Nigh on every soldier beneath your command has seen that you are.... not elven in actions. Elven that your feet are swift and quiet, and your aim precise and accurate and your vision far-seeing, but your mind has slowed. Your thoughts and decisions are not so swiftly come to you, nor your plans so quickly taken to heart. Your wisdom has dwindled thusly.”

“I am as wise as ever I was.” Haldir argued, but Rumil shook his head.

“If you truly are so wise as then,” The young elf returned cunningly, “then you would not say such a thing. You would see your errors.” but he would not meet his elder brother’s gaze.

Haldir thought a moment, not trying to think of anything in-particular, but simply thinking. His thoughts displayed before him the decisions he had made since the faerie and so his lady love had entered the Golden Wood. he laughed slightly as he recalled what thoughts he had thought. “Indeed I have been foolish, have I not?” He mumbled quietly, stroking his chin, and Rumil nodded his head quickly. “Forgive me.... for I did not see.... what a fool I have become. But know hat I have done none of it intentionally! I was blinded by fury and by love and the desire to protect Niamh in all that I could do.... I suppose.”

Rumil was silent, and this was so for he had not known that to convince his brother of his wrong doing and of his mistakes would be so relatively easy. The young elf was shocked to see that his brother was neither angry nor irked with him and he rejoiced within, for now a great load had been lifted form his shoulders. It was a load that had weighed upon his brother ever since the first battle with the faerie, for it was even then that he could see a change in the future, though he could not see to whom it would occur.

“I a happy to see that you are not angry, brother.” Rumil said with a smile. Haldir laughed and patted his brother on the shoulder.

“Indeed for I thank you little brother, for telling me of my wrongdoings and of what has come over me without my even knowing. I would have come to have known no easier way.” Haldir said. “I will try, brother, to mend what I have done. I will gain the respect of my soldiers that has been lost.... but I must also take into deeper thought what it was that I had told Niamh as she slept....”

“You asked for her to follow you.”

Haldir started, shocked that his brother would know, but he nodded his head in reply. “Aye,” He said, “You are aright. I was foolish... once more. I did not wish to leave her and I had thought that perhaps she could follow after me and be with me at my side.”

“In battle?!”

“NO! Not in battle, brother, but in our march and when the battle is done.”

“That is folly, Haldir, folly!” Rumil scolded, shocked that even Haldir, in his rendered state, should think to send a woman out to follow him to battle!

“She could be harmed, Haldir!” Rumil continued to scold Haldir, saying various things, his brow furrowed in anger, and Haldir bent his head.

“Forgive me my ignorance, for I was not myself! Had I owned more of my mind then, I would have used what I owned, but it did not belong to me then!” He sighed heavily. “She was sleeping.” He said quickly. “She could not have heard my plea.”

“Aye, for she could have!” Rumil sighed, “She could have, fool!” and he rubbed his brow as if to rid it of the lines of worry that formed there for the helpless young girl. “Elves cast spells over mortals, Haldir, and our voices, though I do not boast, are fair and clear! Our voices have the power to pierce into the dreams of the weak minds of mortal women, you know this! Even I, --your youngest brother-- know this!”

“I pray you silence now!” Haldir shouted, and a number of the soldiers before them, though a ways ahead tilted their heads to see what was happening. The faerie chuckled deep in his throat and grimaced beneath the gag that hindered his voice most cruelly. “I admitted to my great, great foolishness, and so this forgive me! You have yet to know love to blind you and fog your mind.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The company finally halted after a long and tiresome day of journey, and Niamh was glad of it, for her bones ached her like nothing she had felt before. Slowly, she dismounted form her little steed and clutched her cloak about her as it was blown from her form by the harshness of a very sudden wind that rose up from the north. Hafelas, who still rode at her side did the same as she and leapt to the ground from the back of his greater steed. With a smile and a nod, he passed Niamh and went to another soldier who was standing nearby.

The company all, very slowly and surely, stretched their limbs and found ground once more as they removed their boots to feel the grass upon their feet. Many of the elves removed their cloaks and lay them upon the ground, for they were thick and long and they lay down upon them, humming lightly to themselves as they rested their weary bones. But many others drew their weapons, and, forming a cluster of their own, they went into the thicker grasses that arose as they drew nearer to the Misty Mountains. They would hunt there and scout the land for watchers of evil eye or ill will, or goblins upon the backs of their Wargs.

Niamh removed the hood from her cloak and felt the wind blow through her fiery locks as she closed her eyes and sighed deeply, as one who had taken a drink after a long draught. Opening her emerald eyes she turned her vision to the Southward, gazing as far as her weak mortal eyes could strain.... but she could see nothing save for rolling plains of thick, golden grasses. No banners nor shinning golden armour could she see.

And why would she? Sighing, she collapsed to her knees, her hands folded in her lap as she bowed her head in prayer to the Lord for her lover’s safety.

“Oh, Haldir....” She sighed, raising her head, “Be safe, love, and your army.... return to me.... or I will surely follow after you.” and with that, she slowly rose to her feet, clutching her cloak about her shoulders as a second strong gust of wind blew past her.

Hafelas stood near to her, watching her as she knelt down, looking to the Southward and speaking softly to her self. The young elf sighed and titled his head upon his shoulder as he saw the girl rise to her feet, wiping a tear from her cheek. He pitied her greatly. He had known Haldir and had once been a dear friend, for Haldir had taught him to speak languages and fight. They had known each other for many centuries, and now, Hafelas laughed at the irony of having to guard and protect the young lover of his dear friend.

He started as Niamh turned her head and her vision caught his. Quickly, he turned his head away as if he had not seen her, but she would not remove her gaze from him. His eyes finally wandered out of curiosity and met her own.

She was sad, immensely sad, but not only was she sad, she was despondent. So bleak was the greenness of her eyes that it shattered Hafelas’s heart to a thousand pieces and left him gasping for breath. Then, slowly, she closed her eyes and passed him by, not looking over her shoulder once as she gathered her locks over her shoulder and passed him by.

Hafelas gasped, finding breath once more as he watched Niamh finally leave him. There was a standing stone near to where he stood, so he leaned upon it. He could not remove the vision of that sweet girl’s eyes from his mind, for they pierced through him and stabbed is heart as if they were the sharpest of knives.

“Oh, fair thing....” He mumbled, collapsing to the ground. “I pity thee.”