Killing Beauty

Author's note: Kalan has hunted elves. It's possible because he is also part one that he knows how to hide himself....also there are animals around the campers. Haldir, as I saw it in my mind, was dozing, and which ever brother was poking at the fire may have still had the scent of cooked meat about him. This was not a pristeen setting. Too many scents and sounds that were alien to Haldir and his brothers. Had it been a perfect setting, Kalan might have been detected. Also I never saw Kalan as being that close. When the wolf raised its head, it might have been looking at something else. And Kalan, once he realized that there were elves about, would have made sure he didn't disturb them.

Caution: character death......
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They were coming; Haldir could feel it in his bones when he awoke early that morning. It was as if the very air was charged with their energy. Rumil, Atluf and Etta took extra arrows with them and raced down the slope, across the gap and then disappeared into the trees. They would eventually come out on the ridge opposite Ashva. The surviving cousins packed their things and left.

When Rumil and the hunters appeared on the opposite ridge, Ashva called back to Orophin who yelled down at Haldir. Leaving his position, Haldir climbed back up the slope, gave his brother a slap on the arm and continued up to Ashva.

"You get any horsemen who break out of the trap," he told her and then waved at Rumil, who returned it.

"Haldir?" she spoke up.

"What?"

"Look that way," she said and pointed back south.

Haldir looked and couldn't see anything. "What is it?" he finally asked her.

"If you look real hard, you can your home," she explained and then smiled.

He smiled, shook his head, planted a kiss on her lips and then returned to his position.
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Kalan reasoned it this way. The elf would attack them from two sides, which meant there would one elf by himself or with humans, which was basically by himself. Haldir would be closest to the fighting and impossible to catch, but the solitary elf, now he would be a different story......and Kalan was certain he knew where Haldir would place him.
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The horsemen arrived just as Haldir had predicted, and the fighting turned savage once they realized they were the ones under fire. Ashva was amazed at how leathal Haldir and Orophin were, and how they seemed to just know what the other was thinking. Rumil, who was probably chafing at being on the ridge, made sure every arrow he fired counted.

Ashva turned to watch Rumil when Kalan, his sword drawn, stepped out of the woods behind him. Horrified, she yelled but no one heard her over the noise. Etta saw her waving frantically and looked around as the dark rider attacked Rumil. Blocking the assault with his bow, Rumil rolled away. Atluf tried to help, but Kalan cut him down with a scything stroke that chopped through flesh and bone. Rumil pulled his own sword but Kalan attacked him with such a cold blooded fury that it stunned the elf. Daring to get inside Rumil's defenses, Kalan slammed the butt of the elven sword into Rumil's face.

Ashva tried to get off a shot, but her hands were shaking so bad, the arrow landed nowhere near the Osrider. He gave her a look that chilled her to the bone and then he finished bringing the sword butt across Rumil's face. Etta, too terrified to move, watched the dark rider draw a silver rope out of his cloak and bind Rumil's hands. He then picked the elf up, threw him over his shoulder and disappeared into the forest where he had two horses waiting.

Ashva, her heart beating so fast she thought it would burst from fear, hurried to Orophin's side. "You shouldn't be here," he told her as he released another arrow.

"Kalan has Rumil," she gasped anxiously. "Kalan has Rumil."

Orophin stopped and stared at her and then up at the ridge where his brother was supposed to be. All he could see was Etta. "Stay here!" he shouted at her.
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Kalan left the ridge on the far side away from the pass where his men were delaying the elves. Once he realized what Haldir and Ashva had been up to, he had decided to use his men as a decoy. In a little while, they'd let Haldir have the fight and leave, if there were any left to leave. But this delay gave Kalan plenty of time to prepare his trap. Looking back at the elf who was tied belly down on the pack horse, he couldn't help but smile.
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Haldir dropped back as Orophin hurried towards him. "What's wrong?" he yelled at his brother.

"Kalan has Rumil!" Orophin answered. "They are delaying us from going after him."

"Did you see this?" Haldir shot back, a cold terror squeezing his gut.

"Ashva did! I think he killed the hunter because I did not see him!"

Haldir looked past his brother at Ashva who was hurrying to join them. She knew he would be going after his brother and would not be left behind. A horseman, emboldened by their hesitation, spurred his animal up the ridge. Orophin reacted quicker and killed the man but spared the horse. They were going to need it.
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Kalan arrived alone at the Keep with his prize and immediately carried him into the dark garden where Haldir had been kept by Lady Melann. Only Kalan had no intention of prolonging the elf's life. He had placed a heavy pole in the middle of the garden with a heavy O-ring at the top. The elf was trying to wake up, but Kalan didn't care. He slipped te rope through the O-ring and pulled Rumil's hands up over his head and secured him there.

Lady Melann, surprised to see that Kalan had some other elf and not the one she wanted, stopped and asked, "What are you going to do with him?"

"Burn him," Kalan answered and paused to see if the elf was concious enough to understand him. He saw now a similarity in his and Haldir's face and concluded with pleasure that he had Haldir's brother. Even better. Cutting the tunic away, he exposed bare skin. There was a bottle on Melann's ornate bench; this he retrieved and handed to her. "Rub it on him," he told her.

"What is it?"

"Oil. He'll burn faster," Kalan explained as the elf opened his eyes.

"Haldir will kill you," Rumil gasped through the pain in his head, the look in Kalan's eyes terrifying him.

"Not if he's trying to save you," Kalan mused and stuffed a rag into Rumil's mouth. Seeing that Melann was taking too long, he took the bottle from her and poured the golden liquid on his hand. It gave him great satisfaction to coat the elf's flawless skin with the warm oil. He then sprinkled what was left on his leggings.
"A little kindling and you're ready to go."

Rumil shuddered in fear. Kalan meant every word he was saying.

"My lady," Kalan said, "perhaps you need to find some other place to stay. I do not want you endangered." Truthfully he didn't want her trying to keep him from killing Haldir. She inclined her head and left. Kalan took a deep breath, held it a moment and then found a seat in the shadows to wait with his sword across his lap.
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Haldir, furious with himself, didn't spare the horses as they raced through the dark streets of Lascana towards the Keep. If Rumil were hurt or dead, he would not stop until he had leveled the Keep and destroyed everyone inside. Clattering through the open gate and finding the place empty of defenders, Haldir yanked his horse to a stop and dismounted. Ashva and Orophin followed, but it was clear that his thoughts were not on them. He was looking for Kalan and Rumil.

"I'm going to check the dark garden where they had me," he growled angrily. "You two go on the other side. If you find them, Ashva, you come get me. Orophin do not risk your life."

Orophin nodded quickly and then ran after Ashva. Haldir wasn't concerned about them finding Kalan. He knew where the Os horseman was. As he approached the dark garden, he could see Rumil hanging from a post. A light suddenly flashed and a fire sparked at Rumil's feet. Kalan, sword at ready, stepped out of the shadows. "Nice to see you again," he hissed dangerously as the small spark caught the kindling on fire.

Haldir stared in horror at Rumil. He moved towards him and was cut off by Kalan. Haldir attacked.
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Ashva and Orophin ran back towards another garden that Ashva knew of, but she was starting to think that Haldir was just keeping them out of harm's way. That was until her mother appeared. Ashva stopped so suddenly that Orophin ran into her.

"Hello, Ashva," Melann coldly greeted her daughter and then looked past her at Orophin, who had his sword up and ready. "Someone new?" she asked.

"Mother, please tell us where Rumil is," Ashva pleaded.

"You passed him," Melann mused and slowly approached them.

Orophin raised his sword to strike, but Ashva stopped him. "If you touch her, it will kill you." she warned him.
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Haldir was becoming desperate. As hard as he tried, he could not get the upper hand on Kalan. The dark warrior was his equal, and if Kalan did eventually tire, it would be too late for Rumil. Suddenly the flame licked Rumil's body. A strangled terrified sound rattled in Rumil's throat. Haldir broke off and ran to his brother. Kalan grinned. This was what he wanted. He lunged at Haldir, as the elf sliced through the silver rope and grabbed his collapsing brother. Kalan's blade sliced downwards towards Haldir's unprotected back. Haldir knew it was coming and with superhuman effort he twisted and thrust upwards, slicing into Kalan's arm. This drove the Osman back long enough for Haldir to get Rumil away from the fire. Kalan struck again, and this time his blade bit into elven flesh. Haldir grabbed his side, but the wound was not a fatal one. Facing Kalan again, he attacked again. This time he would drive the Osman into the ground, wear him out and kill him.
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Melann studied Orophin a moment and then said, "This one will work."

Finding her courage, Ashva said, " No, mother."

Melann looked at her daughter in amazed disbelief and said, "You have no say in the matter. Kalan is killing your lover right now. And I will take this one in his place."

Ashva slowly shook her head. This had to stop. She looked at Orophin and smiled. He frowned and started to shake his head. She couldn't be thinking that! "No, Ashva! he snapped, but she wasn't listening.

Her little dagger was nothing to speak of, but when she lunged at her mother, she buried it to the hilt.

Orophin shielded his eyes as a massive flash of blue light exploded in front of him.
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Haldir's blood was hot, his mind focused only on killing this half breed monster. He could see doubt creeping into the Osman's eyes. Doubt meant the end was coming. One more attack and his blade sliced through bone. Kalan didn't live much longer after Haldir withdrew his blade. Turning his back on the Osman, Haldir returned to his brother and as gentle as he had been fierce he cut the bonds around Rumil's hands and removed the gag. Rumil wrapped his arms around Haldir's neck and held him for a moment.

Haldir smoothed his brother's hair back and then helped him to his feet. He was about to say something when a horrible sensation came over him. Ashva was in trouble!

" I need to go find Orophin and Ashva," he told Rumil who nodded his head and ran after him.

He didn't know what was leading him, but he found his brother sitting on the floor holding Ashva in his arms. There were tears in Orophin's eyes when he looked up at his brother.

Haldir didn't ask what was wrong, he could see it clearly for himself. Ashva was as pale as a ghost and there was no breath in her body. Taking her from Orophin, he caressed her face. She looked asleep. Running his fingers over her lips and down her chin and throat, he discovered he was having a hard time grasping what this meant. His heart was refusing to accept that she was dead. He looked around but he did not know what he was looking for. Rumil, who was silently weeping, and Orophin were staring at him.

"What happened?" he finally asked.

"She stabbed her mother, that is all I know," Orophin answered guiltily. "I am sorry I did not stop her."

Haldir inclined his head. Ashva had killed her mother but in doing so had killed herself. Removing his cloak, Haldir wrapped her in it and then picked her up. With his brothers following, he returned to the horses. Orophin gave Rumil his cloak, and then they followed Haldir out of Lascana.

Haldir could not think. When it was light, he was carrying Ashva, still wrapped in his cloak, up the mountain to a point where he had last kissed her. With Rumil and Orophin's help, he dug a grave facing south and laid her in it. He then covered her with dirt and rocks. He did all of this without thinking, without feeling. He then sat down and stared south. He would not cry. Rumil, overwhelmed by all that had happened, wept tears for him as well. Orophin, wondering if he could have stopped her, held Rumil and sat with his head lowered.

Haldir could not think, but his heart was beginning to feel. He was beginning to ache with an aweful loneliness. He didn't even look around when Etta showed up with the black stallion and the wolves. The wolves, distressed by Rumil's tears, licked his face, but Rumil pushed them away. "You can't go with me," he wept. "Etta, make them go away. Tell them to go away." Etta didn't say anything. Max and Mani dropped their noses to the grave, and something sparked in their canine brains. They knew Ashva was gone. Haldir looked at them and felt sorry for them. He felt sorry for Rumil and Orophin.

"Haldir, do you want Glider?" Etta asked, her own eyes spilling over. She had buried Atluf by herslf.

"I'll take him," Haldir said listlessly and took the reins from her. Standing up, he looked down at his brothers and said, "Let's go home."
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Somewhere just north of Lothlorien Haldir turned the black stallion with the white face loose.
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Conclusion:

Lady Galadriel was pleased that the Os horsemen were no more, but the spirit in Haldir was gone. He still preformed his duties and was as able as ever, but there was no light in his eyes. Orophin believed himself at fault although Haldir never accused him of not helping her.

Haldir never dreamed about her, although he would have given anything to do so. And he never cried, because had he started he would not have stopped, and he could not do that. He just wanted the hurt to go away.

Maybe it was because he so desperately wanted to see her that a dream was finally permitted. She came to him with a smile on her face and a kiss for his lips.

"Time to move on," she said playfully and shared his bed with him.

"I wish that I could," he confessed and smoothed her hair back.

"Then you will," she said and raised herself on her elbows to study his beautiful face. "We will meet again. I know, and we will recognize each other, and then...." she shrugged her shoulders. "I love you," she whispered and claimed his mouth. Haldir wanted to scream that he loved her too, but she would not let him speak. She was his for one night, and she didn't want to waste it talking.

She wanted to devour his mouth, to taste his skin where the pulse was the strongest, to reclaim his beautiful body. She wanted to feast on him to take all of him into her mouth and down her throat. But he would not ride the lightning bolt alone. He held her so he could tease the pearl one last time. She melted on the tip of his tongue even as he had the fire pulled from his body. But this time she turned to face him, to plant her lips on his, and he tasted himself. Then she licked his chin dry. Haldir went to sleep with her beside him.

When he awoke at first light, he felt like his old self. The pain was gone. Dressing, he went to look for his brothers. Orophin swore it was the first time in a year that he had seen him smile, a real smile, and then it was because he and Rumil were leading a pair of mares towards him. And behind the mares were colts, black with white faces.

And that night at a festival which included guests Thranduil of Mirkwood, his son Legolas and daughter Kylie, Mirkwood's master harper and his wife, Lady Galadriel discovered that her Marchwarden was his back. She was still unclear as to how Haldir wound up with both women fighting over him, and one of them barely clothed, but Thranduil and the master harper both demanded satisfaction. Galadriel assured them that Haldir would be dealt with severely as soon as the princess and wife explained to her how they came to be fighting over Haldir, and how the wife ended up with no clothes on.

Needless to say Galadriel was relieved to have her Marchwarden back. Lothlorien was too quiet when Haldir was away or behaving himself.