The old ways

Eowyn wore a genuine smile upon her face when she came to Haldir in the early morning of the next day. The sun was shining already and at last for the first time in long weeks birdsong was heard around the Hornburg.

"A good morning to you, my Lord Haldir." She greeted him cheerfully. "Let me see how your wounds are doing."

Eowyn placed a bowl of warm water, some healing herbs, bandages and a washcloth on the chair she usually sat on.

Humming a happy melody she started to work. Haldir was amazed because of the enchanting influence this woman had on him. As soon as she was near him, he worried less, relaxed more and his spirits lifted.

He felt her taking bandages off his back and hoped to hear anything about his condition soon. He wanted nothing more than to get better soon and follow the paths his love had taken to be reunited with him as soon as possible.

It reassured him to know that the messenger had left the day before and Legolas would hopefully receive his letter today.

After Eowyn had taken off the layers of linen that covered Haldir back, she carefully washed off the remaining healing herbs and salve that still covered the swollen and red patches of the healing skin. With gently fingers she probed the forming scar and tried to feel whether the ribs were mending and growing new connections to the spine. Haldir grunted quietly in pain but apart from that, he said nothing. All seemed to heal very nicely.

"It is amazing, my dear elf how quickly you heal. I will bandage you somewhat more tightly today, for I hope we can have you laying on your back. If that was indeed possible we could take you on the next group of injured we are bringing back to Edoras."

"If that was truly possible, dear Eowyn. "He repeated" I will manage to lie on my back, no matter how painful it might be."

Then lets see if you can sit up then." Eowyn went to work on putting tight fitting strips of linen around Haldir’s body suspending the healing bones and flesh. She could see the pain clearly visible in Haldir’s eyes but not a sound left his lips.

After she had finished, she moved to Haldir’s shoulders and gently rolled him over ohis his back. He closed his eyes in pain and hissed. Eowyn put a soothing hand on his brow and waited a moment to give Haldir some time to recover from the searing pain that shot through his body.

His face had paled and his eyes were wide open glistening in a pale blue of the morning light. Haldir took a few steadying breaths and motioned her to continue. Eowyn moved to the head of the bed Haldir was lying on and pushed her flat hands, palms up, underneath the well muscled shoulders of the elf. With the utmost care she slowly lifted Haldir’s shoulders off the bed and helped him into a sitting position.

When he was up she circled around to stand at the side of the bed and held him up, gently moving his legs toward her so that he could let them dangle over the side.

Only then did Eowyn notice the tears running freely down the beautiful face mirroring the pain that he must be in. He leaned forward a little so his head rested against her shoulder and tried to calm his trembling limbs. He had felt so much better this morning, but it had been an illusion. His body was weak and fragile, the severe wounds on his back would take weeks to heal and there was no way that he would be able to follow his beloved, to be by his side and to protect him from any harm. Were the tears ones of pain before, now they had turned in tears of frustration and sadness.

Eowyn comforted him as best as she could and after a while helped him to lie down onto his back. He turned his head away from her and she knew he needed some time alone. She placed a gentle kiss on his brow and left to help organise the next troop that would leave for Edoras.

Litters had to be build and wounded prepared for the trip. It was already late afternoon when she returned to Haldir’s side. He greeted her with a shy smile and before she could say anything he spoke. "My Lady, I must apologise for my earlier behaviour. I had no right to ignore you after you were such a help for me and have done so much for me and my husband. Please, take my sincere regret."

"Oh Haldir, you don’t have to apologise for anything. I understand you perfectly well. It is discomforting to know that the body does not work as we hope it would do. I believe you felt so much better and were thrown back by your weakweakness. I often did encounter similar situations and even though I am not wounded at this point, I hate it if my body sets the limits. But now you will have to endure the pain one more time, for it is time to leave for Edoras and I don’t believe you would want to stay here."

She motioned over to the door and two men carrying a litter came in moving to the side of Haldir’s bed.

Eowyn helped Haldir up and onto the litter hoping not to cause him too much pain in the process. When he was rested comfortably, two men carried the litter outside where it was hung between two horses.

The sun spread its last warm rays over the group of people and horses moving out of the plains that surrounded the entrance of the Hornburg.