The Forgotten Ring

Disclaimer: All familiar characters of this story belong to the awesome world and works of JRR Tolkien, who is an unparalleled genius of this genre. All unfamiliar and original characters, animals and places are of my own invention. I do not derive any monies from this work and created this story solely out of the love and respect that I hold for all of the works related to this canon.

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The Forgotten Ring
by Sienna Dawn


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Chapter 39 - What Was Made Once

Instincts took over, for Haldir's mind and heart were numb. He walked without knowing where he was headed and blinded by the tears, stumbled many times. Once, his strength left him, and he crumbled against a wall, staring at the gloom, his mind repeating Eridani's last words to him. Tears coursing down his cheeks, the pain in his spirit so raw he thought held fld fade from grief. How long he stayed thus he knew not. Then a warmth came to him, with a scent of Spring flowers in its wake. What it was he knew not, but its energy coursed through him, healing his physical wounds and touching his spirit. He felt stronger, and although the pain had receeded, he knew he would never fully heal from his heart's loss.

So lost was Haldir in his own misery, so resolutely did he refuse the healing touch that saved him, that he did not fully comprehend the magnitude of the situation at hand, nor what was enfolding about him.

Haldir slowly made his way back out of Saruman's pit. His pace was heavy. His mind repeating endlessly what his heart already knew. He could not live without Eridani. He cared not what became of him, save to live long enough to pass his duty to another.

Returning to the Palace using the same doorway he and Eridani had discovered in Ronihim's room, Haldir noticed that daylight had already come to Avonea. His mind acknowledged it but his heart did not care. He knew he had many responsibilities and he intended to carry them out, but the loss of Eridani had devastated him. He would do his duty and then fade somewhere to his beloved woods. He would pass from the World as he was once meant to. Alone.

Entering the Palace Gardens to circumvent the Yrch that may be nearby, he was suddenly stopped by a realization. His wounds...the cuts and abrasions, the gash on his head. Healed. He felt no pain, no weariness. He stretched out his arm, his hand still holding his sword, stained with black Orch blood. It was then he noticed the soft, suffused light. He frowned, what was this?

The light.....what was it about the light? It was different.

Raising eyeseyes toward the heavens, he beheld a sight he did not understand.

Around the sky was there a deep fog, like a misty veil, thrown about the heavens. Frowning at this incredible event, he picked up his speed and headed toward the open grounds. Once outside the Palace he was taken aback.

All of the skies above Avonea were shrouded in a mist, although the light of the sun still shone with its usual brilliance. He realized this had to be the hand of the Valar.

As he gazed heavenward, his heart still too stunned by his personal loss to fully register the event unfolding before him, he heard his name called. Lowering his gaze to the direction of the voice, he saw Tamarcil swiftly running toward him.

"Haldir! Haldir!" His friend stopped and grasped Haldir's shoulder.

"We thought you dead!" Came Tamarcil's excited shout, "By the Valar, do you see what is happening?" His eyes, registering shock and awe, raised heavenward.

Haldir remained silent, still. He let Tamarcil continue. "By dawn we heard no more explosions and the drums stopped."

Tamarcil stared at Haldir, "There are no Yrch left in Avonea, Haldir! They have all faded." He looked above him again.

"It began with the mist. As soon as it spread, the Yrch simply vanished." Bright and anxious eyes turned to Haldir. "Do you know what this means? And what of the Lady Eridani? Were you able to find her?" Tamarcil's questioning gazed studied Haldir's face.

But Haldir, without responding, slowly walked away from Tamarcil, unware his friend's troubled gaze followed his retreating form.

Within days it became obvious that the pits of Moria, which the Yrch had called Durzad'dum, were empty, for it seemed all the Yrch of Middle Earth had at once vanished. The elves of Avonea had explored much of the underground caverns, which extended for leagues under almost all of Thalion Tirion.

Below, in the pits, had Haldir come to find the decomposing body of Oomberfoot, for he was able to identify the creature as one leg was shorter than the other. Grotesquely had the remains been hoisted over a wide fosse, and it seemed that he had been flayed slowly. Whether when alive or dead, and for what foul craft, no one could say for certain.

Soon after the discovery of Oomberfoot, the elves found King Eadril. His body intact, he appeared as if to lay in a deep slumber, and the Healers suspected he had been given a strong poison. His body was carried above ground and a stately funeral ceremony followed.

Deep in the pits the elves had also found strange devices and instruments which they knew were the foul craft that Saruman had passed to the Yrch. Much of this was destroyed carefully for they recalled Haldir's warning that the objects were explosive in nature and design.

Reports from Elrond were encouraging. No Yrch there. Further to the North, from the snow cities, had come good news as well. Slowly, the elves began to march back to their homes.

On the high crags of the Ered Hallas, the Eagles' eyries had disappeared from view. Those still left in Avonea had been allowed to abide there, but no other Eagles had left their high mountain homes after the arrival of the Eagles from Valinor on the night Avonea was sacked. Since then no one had been able to detect movement from their halls. All that was visible were the thick cloud covers that surrounded their roosts and eyries.

During this time, Haldir had maintained an icy composure, shielding his pain well. For although he showed to the world the proper degree of concern over the disappearance of the Lady Eridani, only his true friends knew the depth of his despair. Some worried his lifeforce would begin to fade soon unless something was done. But what? No trace of Eridani had been thus discovered. And indeed no one knew where to search. All bw knw knew of her battle with Saruman, and the use of the Ring of Earth, and her fading from the World. But since then not a word or a sighting of the Lady had been reported.

Now the elves faced the restoration of Avonea and the work progressed slowly. And yet, there were times when the elves noticed the land was being healed faster than was natural. What this magic was they knew not, but they were grateful. Most suspected this was the work of the Valar, but none were entirely certain.

Yet by this magic were the burned woods returned to life over the course of one night, and the sacred Aina Eska cleansed, the scorged land healed.

Wounds suffered during battles were cured without need of potions and remedies.

The air became sweet and clear, as first ever was in Arda, after its reforming.

Summer endured past its usual boundaries and no frost or snow came to Middle Earth in that first year of healing.

Yet still, the veil that first covered the skies of Middle Earth remained, and high atop the Ered Hallas, the eyries of the Eagles were still hidden.

In all this time no trace of Eridani had been found. Haldir conducted the affairs of the realm competently, every so often asking to be released from his bound oath as Steward of Thalion Tirion. The Ruling Council always rejected his request for they knew no other could be their true Lord.

Worried for the state of his mind, Tamarcil had sent word to Lord Elrond, hoping here might be a cure for the despair and sadness that threatened Haldir.

Wishing to help his old friend, Lord Elrond had travelled to Avonea and met with Haldir. There, Elrond had used all his knowledge to bring the younger elf back to the light. He succeeded partially, knowing that a full recovery was now in the hands of the Valar. He had tried to reason with Haldir then.

"She knew the price was high, my friend. Honor her sacrifice with hope and not despair." Elrond had counseled Haldir.

"We still know not what is afoot, Haldir." Elrond had pressed. "Do not give up hope."

But Haldir felt he was beyond hope, beyond feeling, beyond life. His heart had been torn from him in the space of a moment. He knew there would be no healing for him.


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{To be continued...}