Love and Hate - Alliances Made

Title: Love and Hate, Alliances Made, Chapter 2
Author: Sim
Pairings: Glorfindel / Herugil (OMC), Thranduil / Haldir, Rúmil / Lindir

Summary: Elves are lost, Elves are found and Alliances are made
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me, nor do I make any money from my writings, it’s just a daydream, honestly, I’ll return them to canon as soon as I’m done.
Beta: Jilly – All remaining mistakes are mine
Feedback: Yes Please :o)
Warnings: AU, Slash

The Lórien elf cursed under his breath as the canopy of leaves above his head dropped yet another load of cold water onto his already soaked form and his steed stumbled slightly at the impact.

“Easy pen dithen (little one),” the elf said reassuringly to his young equine companion. “I fear this storm will become worse before it abates, hold fast to the path.”

Continuing on, Haldir of Lórien mused on this accursed journey and imagined how his brothers, his ‘travelling companions’ were faring in the comfort of Imladris. He also considered the argument with Rúmil that had caused him to be travelling alone through the forest of Greenwood.

“Just one week Haldir” he had said, “our errand is not urgent and the Dale will still be there a week hence.” The warden growled in his saddle as he recalled his brother’s pleading when he had told him that if they were not ready to depart at dawn, he would leave without them, and so he had. So it was that he came to be riding one week in front of his disobedient kin, alone and very wet.

This was Haldir’s first journey into the forest realm of Greenwood and he had already decided that it was not at all to his liking. He was certain that he had not seen even the smallest patch of sky for two days and the darkness weighed heavily on his heart. The accursed rain did nothing to improve his outlook and he wondered how it was that the rain fell so heavily despite the protection of the trees.

He looked at the trees, his gaze travelling into the darkness of the forest, Aye these trees were dark, unfriendly, they muttered dark thoughts and only occasionally did he catch a friendly greeting. The beech trees in particular had leaves unnaturally dark in colour and their voices where twisted and spoke of darkness and death. The oak trees alone stood green in this part of the forest, their voices proud but welcoming and reassuring also.

Again his horse faltered and feeling the change in his companion’s gait, he brought her to a halt and dismounted. He sighed heavily as he ran his hand down the horse’s foreleg, feeling the slight knot there. Releasing the horse’s leg he moved to stroke her nose, the water gathered there falling away with each caress.

“Do not look at me like that my friend;” he said lightly, “we both have Rúmil to blame for our predicament.”

The horse looked unconvinced.

“What am I to do with you?” The horse snorted and Haldir smiled, “you can bear me no longer that is clear. I shall unburden you and then we will walk together until we come upon a place to rest.” He looked up at the canopy before adding, “And we should hope this rain abates as quickly as it started or we shall become mushy like wet lembas.” The horse snorted at the elf’s silly words and stood still as Haldir removed her saddle and saddle bags.

Walking along together Haldir began to hum a song he had learnt from his nurse as an elfling and the merry tune seemed to lighten his mood, even the trees seemed to be murmuring in time and the rain, though still insistent, ceased to bother him unduly. He hoped that they would soon come across a break in the path and as if his wish had been answered looking beyond the next bend he saw a clearing off to one side and breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that his tune had ended both horse and elf noticed the increased tension in the air, even the trees stood silent now, dark and foreboding.

Haldir released his horse’s bridle as they entered the clearing and paced the circle in the hopes that this rest point included some type of shelter. Finding none he turned back to his steed, who still stood uneasily on the path.

Without warning lightning flashed through the clearing, followed scarcely a moment later by a clap of thunder that caused the elf to shield his ears, and the horse to rear.

The last straw for a frightened and wet young horse, who bolted down the path, heedless of her injury and Haldir’s call. Haldir could do little but stare after her fleeing form until she disappeared completely from his sight.

“Curse this Valar forsaken land!” He yelled to the forest, the oak to one side of the clearing rustled it’s branches in displeasure as the elf slumped down to sit upon his saddle that now lay discarded in the mud.

After a time watching the water drip from the ends of his wet hair onto the muddied ground he became aware of the tree’s complaint and lifted his head. “I apologise noble one, my day has gone ill and this rain wearies me, I meant no offence.” The oak seemed to consider Haldir’s apology and after a time beckoned him to take shelter beneath its boughs. Another flash of lightening lit the clearing eerily as Haldir pushed back the hood of his cloak and attempted to wring the water out of his damp locks.

A further flash was followed by a cacophony of murmuring from the trees and Haldir glanced about him nervously, wishing he was anywhere but in this dark, damp, foreign land. The noise continued but soon began to drop away until only the forest oaks could be heard. It was a chant, little more than a low rumbling.

The forest child is fallen,

The forest child is fallen,

The forest child is fallen,

The chant continued but soon he could hear the voice of the oak under whose branches he sheltered add to the song.

Will you aid him stranger?

Will you aid him stranger?

Will you aid him stranger?

The voices, coupled with the sound of the rain reverberated around his head, hypnotic in its tone. “Who would you have me aid?” he asked aloud.

The forest child, came the low rumbled answer, but you must hurry, for the elfling has fallen near the darkness

“Elfling?” Haldir’s brows furrowed.

Hurry Stranger,

Hurry Stranger,

Hurry Stranger,

Haldir shook his head to try to cast off the sudden feeling of bewitchment. “I cannot leave the forest path.”

You must,

You must,

You must,

In the years to come, Haldir would look back upon this moment and shake his head in bemusement as he remembered how moments later he was following the urgent call of the ancient oaks through the forest and away from the path.