Disrupting Haldir's World

Title & Chapter Number: Disrupting Haldir’s World; Chapter One
Author(s): Sinda
Type: Het
Pairing: Haldir/Elisabeth (OFC)
Rating: NC17
Disclaimer: This fan fiction was not written with the intent of financial gain, but solely for my own enjoyment and hopefully to entertain others. I have no claim on Tolkien’s work or characters but am merely borrowing them. All original concepts and characters are my property and may not be used without my permission.
Warnings: Sex and violence, AU Non-canon
Betas:
Timeline: AU
Author's Note: Though the Haldir I envision is from the movie, I am choosing to stick with fact that Tolkien did not have the elves march to Helm’s Deep and therefore, Haldir Lives! I have used some poetic license with this story. I would really appreciate any feedback I can get.
Spoilers: None
Summary: Haldir meets a human woman who threatens to change his whole world, if he’ll let her.
Feedback: sinda_lorien@iwon.com I would appreciate any feedback I can get. Thanks.


Chapter One – Encounter in the Forest

Elisabeth looked anxiously behind her. The band of Uruk-hai was not far behind now and was gaining on them all the time. The concern in Rowland’s face was apparent as he urged the already exhausted horses to press on, hoping to delay the inevitable. Glancing at the animals, Elisabeth felt pity for them as they struggled to do their master’s bidding. They would not last much longer, she thought. The bay gelding on the right stumbled and Elisabeth prayed silently that the animal would be given the strength to continue.

Easing up on the horses momentarily, Rowland fell back to where he was now even with the second horse cart. He called over to the other driver, “Edgar, we may find sanctuary in this forest.”

Edgar looked skeptical. “We may also find death here. One doesn’t venture lightly into the Golden Wood.”

Rowland glanced back at the dust being kicked up only a league or so behind them. The Uruk-hai ran on, relentlessly. “We will meet certain death otherwise. Unlike our horses, the Uruk-hai seem not to tire. We cannot keep up this pace and when our horses fall, it will be the end of us.”

Edgar looked into the deep woods with trepidation and swallowed. “We are running out of options. I suppose a quick death from an elven arrow would be preferable to any fate the Uruk-hai would deal us.”

Rowland nodded and urged the horses off the road towards the Lothlórien woods, Edgar and his cart close behind.

Elisabeth looked into the back of the horse cart where two of the other women sat huddled together. The fear was plain on their faces and Elisabeth felt sorry for them though they had been less than friendly to her on this journey. Looking over at the other cart, she saw that Kate, the girl who sat on the seat with Edgar, was crying now. If they were caught, it would be bad for the men, but much worse for the women as they would most likely be used by the Uruk-hai before finally being granted the gift of death. Elisabeth reached down to reassure herself that her knife still rested in the sheath against her calf. Her first sexual experience would not be with an Uruk-hai, or if it were, she would not be alive to participate in the event.

The woods grew ever nearer, but so did the Uruk-hai and when Elisabeth looked back now, she could make them out much more clearly. One of the women in the other cart screamed as a horse stumbled and went to its knees. Snorting and rolling its eyes, the animal finally lurched back onto its feet and Elisabeth expelled the breath she had been holding. Edgar and Rowland exchanged glances and there was hopelessness in their eyes; this chance for sanctuary was a long shot. Glancing back, Elisabeth knew that it wouldn’t be long until they were within shooting range of an arrow and the Uruk-hai had powerful crossbows. Unfortunately, it was not the travelers they would shoot, but the horses. They would want their human prey alive for a while.

A shadow fell over the horse cart as it slowed slightly and Elisabeth quickly looked around to see what had caused the change. They had entered the forest and the trees with the golden leaves now cast a cool shade over the travelers. Their progress was slowed as they maneuvered the carts around the large silver trunks without the benefit of a trail to follow. She glanced back again at the Uruk-hai, who would not have such a problem as they traveled on foot.

The carts lurched to a sudden stop and Elisabeth again spun back around to see what the problem was. Shocked, she realized that they were now completely surrounded by archers, elven archers by the looks of them, though she had never seen an elf in the flesh before.

Silence hung in the air as one of the elves stepped forward indifferently and raised an eyebrow.

“It seems that you may be in need of assistance,” he said.

Rowland looked back as the Uruk-hai drew nearer. “Yes, will you help us?”

“You wish us to risk our lives to save yours?” The elf asked, seemingly unconcerned about the impending danger.

“We will pay you…” Rowland said quickly, running through their meager inventory of goods in his mind.

After a moment, the elf nodded, “I will name the price later. Will you promise on your lives to pay this price though I have not yet decided what it shall be?”

Looking back again, close to panic, Rowland nodded his head almost violently, “Yes, yes, anything.”

The elf glanced at Edgar who also nodded, as did each of the women. Anything had to be better than the certain death and torture they now faced.

“Agreed,” the elf said, stepping away, “I will hold you to your word or your lives will be forfeit. Tell your women to follow the sentry. The men must stay and fight.”

The six women quickly exited the two horse carts to follow the elf that beckoned them forward.

Elisabeth hesitated, “I can fight, also. You are greatly outnumbered.”

The elf once again raised an eyebrow, looking down on her, “Can you shoot a bow?”

“Yes,” she replied. “My brothers taught me.”

Rowland looked angry. “Elisabeth, this is no place for a woman. Go with the others now, before it is too late!”

Frowning, she shook her head and collected her bow from the horse cart. The other women disappeared into the trees after glancing once to see if she was following. Strapping her quiver on, she followed the two men and handful of elves back towards the Uruk-hai, who were just now entering the forest. Terrified, Elisabeth breathed deeply to steady herself for the impending battle, praying that she had not been foolish to offer her help this way. She once again felt for her knife and noticed the handsome elf watching her as she uncovered the sheath and felt the handle. He raised an eyebrow as he regarded the small knife she now once again covered with her dress.

“I am Haldir,” he told her in his velvety voice. “By what name are you called, human?”

“My name is Elisabeth,” she replied, trying to remain calm.

“Stay close to me, Elisabeth,” he ordered.

“She shall stay by me,” Rowland said, quickly stepping between them.

Haldir noticed a look of irritation pass over Elisabeth’s face before it quickly disappeared.

“I can keep her alive,” Haldir told Rowland. “You worry about yourself.”

Rowland briefly met Haldir’s icy gaze before looking towards the Uruk-hai that were now only yards away. There was no more time for discussion. Elisabeth stepped closer to Haldir and readied her bow.

~~~~~~~~~

The women had to run to keep up with the elf that they now followed and it was no easy task in the dresses and shoes that they wore.

“Why did she stay back?” Cecilia asked Judith. “Is she insane?”

“She said she wanted to fight, of all things,” Judith said with a sneer. “As though she could make a difference against all those Uruk-hai.”

“Maybe she will keep them busy while we get away,” Aggie snickered. “There must be at least fifty of them. It should take her a while.”

The others laughed at her cruel comment.

The elf had not yet said a word and the women assumed that he did not speak the common tongue. Growing more vocal in their opinions of the woman who had chosen to stay and fight, what they had to say was not at all kind. Rúmil listened as they gossiped about the woman who was not like the rest of them, who thought herself above them and he wondered why they disliked her so.

Soon they came to a tree larger than the others and the elf motioned for them to stop. Only using his hands and feet, he climbed up the trunk and disappeared into the thick golden leaves.

“I certainly hope he doesn’t expect us to follow,” Aggie said, hands on her hips.

A moment later, a rope ladder was unrolled down the trunk and Rúmil lithely made his way back down before assisting the women up the tree. It was quite a job and the elf began to grow agitated, wanting to stash them safely away so that he could return to the battle where he was needed. When the last of the women were on the flet, he motioned for them to pull up the rope, which they did before watching him disappear into the forest again.

Faye walked around on the wooden platform at the top, careful not to step too close to the edges that dropped straight down to the ground. While Aggie plopped herself down onto a chair, Judith walked up some stairs that led to another room. This room had a bed in the center of it.

“Oooh, girls,” she called down. “A real bed. Maybe I can get that handsome, arrogant elf into it.”

They all laughed, though each one of them had had similar thoughts.

“Not if I beat you to it,” Aggie called up.

~~~~~~~~~

Elisabeth held her breath as she pulled her string taut and let the arrow fly. Her aim was true and the Uruk-hai warrior fell instantly, his body hitting the ground even as she readied her second arrow. Suddenly Haldir turned towards her and she ducked a little to allow him room to take aim. He fired off three arrows over her head, each one hitting its mark and avoiding the heavy armor. Bending down onto one knee, Elisabeth took aim and felled another warrior who had been aiming a crossbow at Haldir. She saw the corner of the elf’s mouth curl up in a smile as he glanced down at her before turning and firing off more arrows to his right. Almost in a blur, he spun back in her direction, his long blonde hair whipping around behind him as Elisabeth aimed and caught an Uruk-hai in the arm. Haldir’s arrow hit him a second later, easily finishing him off.

The clanking of swords rang out through the trees and Elisabeth was horrified to see Rowland trying to fight off two of the Uruk-hai by himself. She dared not fire an arrow with the man in the way and could only watch helplessly as he began to lose ground. Haldir, on the other hand, had no such concerns about the accuracy of his own shot. He calmly fired an arrow over Rowland’s shoulder, dispatching the Uruk-hai who was preparing to swing his sword. Rowland seemed somewhat unsettled by his close call, but quickly recovered and ran his sword through the second of the two warriors. It seemed to Elisabeth that there were not many Uruk-hai left, though she knew that this band was just part of a larger group that had been following them. The others could not be far behind.

Haldir yelled out an order now and Elisabeth saw the elves on the ground switch from bows to swords, though arrows continued to rain down from the branches of the thick trees. Putting his own bow away, Haldir pulled out a sword before turning and swinging it fiercely, his lip raised in a snarl. The headless body dropped to the ground in front of him. Swiftly shifting his feet, Haldir quickly dispatched two more of the enemy before charging a third, dodging an arrow at the same time. At some point during the battle, the elf sentry had returned and joined in the fighting, Elisabeth noticed, hoping that it meant the other women were safe. A cry rang out and Edgar grabbed his arm at the same time his attacker fell dead, an arrow through his neck. Elisabeth fired once more at a charging figure and again her shot was true. She glanced down to reload but was pulled roughly aside as a crossbow bolt zipped past her ear. She looked at Haldir gratefully and within a few more minutes the fighting was over. Dropping her bow, Elisabeth ran to Edgar and looked at his arm, which needed to be bandaged but was not too serious. Having nothing else handy, she tore off the bottom of her dress and tied the cloth around the still bleeding wound. It would do for now.

“Thank you,” he said, picking his sword back up.

Several elves now dropped silently to the ground from the trees. Apparently, they had not been outnumbered quite as badly as Elisabeth had originally thought. She would not have known that the elves were in the trees had she not noticed the angle at which some of the arrows had hit. They had been almost invisible.

The Uruk-hai corpses were dragged outside the forest where they were dumped unceremoniously into piles to be burned. The stench was terrible and Elisabeth almost gagged as the smell of burning flesh assailed her nostrils, but still she helped pull the heavy bodies to the piles. When the job was done, Haldir and his two brothers accompanied the three humans to the tree where the other women still hid, leaving the remaining elves to watch the border for the second part of the Uruk-hai band. They would be along eventually and there would be more fighting.

The women had been watching from the safety of the flet and as soon as the others approached, the rope ladder was let down so that the women could return to the solid ground. Again, Rúmil helped them, wondering why climbing a ladder was such an awkward act for them. He and his brothers passed a few amused looks amongst themselves.

When the last of the women finally reached the bottom, Haldir had a short conversation with his brothers before turning back towards the humans.

“You said that there are more Uruk-hai?” Haldir asked.

“Yes,” Rowland replied. “This was about half of the band, maybe less. I do not know what has happened to the others.”

“They will wait and attack later,” Haldir replied, thinking. “Maybe tonight, maybe in a matter of days. You will stay with us until that time.”

Rowland nodded. He had no desire to risk another attack. It would give their horses a chance to rest up, too.

“Now,” Haldir said, regarding the humans with observant eyes, “there is the matter of payment.”

“I am afraid that we do not have much to offer you,” Rowland began, motioning towards the horse carts.

“I shall be the judge of that,” Haldir informed him. “First, I wish to learn more about each of you.”

He told them his name and introduced his brothers before placing his palm on Rowland’s forehead. He watched the man intently for a few moments. “You have been paid to bring this group across the land. If you are traveling from Gondor to Rohan, you are quite a distance out of your way.” Rowland nodded, unnerved at the idea that the elf could read his thoughts. He explained that the Uruk-hai had chased them many leagues in the wrong direction.

Haldir moved on to Elisabeth and placed his palm on her forehead. She gasped at the feeling that rushed through her head, picturing a small bolt of lightning. Quickly, she tried to make her mind blank, shielding her thoughts. It would not do for the others to know what her situation was. Haldir stood for some time, looking down curiously at her, before moving on to Edgar without saying anything.

“You…employ these women,” Haldir said, frowning. “You take money from men who…use their bodies?”

He glanced at Elisabeth, who took an involuntary step backwards. She wanted to deny it but could not do so without giving away too much. Instead, she remained silent, holding his gaze.

He moved on to Aggie and after only a moment, pulled his hand away. He repeated these actions with each woman before once again returning to Elisabeth and touching her head again. As before, she felt the jolt and noticed that he also seemed to react differently than he had with the others. He looked at her intently and she felt her resolve fading as she tried again to shield her thoughts but instead began to lose herself in his blue eyes. A strange feeling began to come over her, almost of…familiarity, as though she had known this elf her entire life.

“You are…different from the others,” he finally stated in his soothing voice.

“No, I am not really,” she said, silently wishing him to say no more.

His eyes held hers for a long moment before he stepped back, no expression showing on his face.

“Since your women are accustomed to selling favors, I desire the company of one of them while you are here,” the elf stated. “That seems to be a price you can afford.”

Rowland glanced at the group of women that were gathered near Edgar and saw the smiles as they giggled amongst themselves. Obviously they were not reluctant to pay the price that was being requested. Elisabeth only stood silently as she regarded the aloof elf.

“I am sure that you will have several volunteers,” Rowland said, once again noticing the smiles and giggles.

“I do not want a volunteer. I will make my own decision,” Haldir informed the man.

This time he worked his way backwards, starting with Kate and again touching her on the head. Again, he quickly pulled his hand back each time as he looked over the women until he reached Elisabeth. As she looked once again into his intense blue eyes, she found herself wondering about him, how he lived and what it would be like to feel his lips on her. She quickly shook her head as though she could shake off the thoughts as easily. This was better left to more experienced hands, though she was a little disappointed to know that he would be bedding one of these women. She watched with mixed feelings as he walked away from her to again look over the other women before finally turning to Rowland.

“I have made my decision,” he said, leaving no room for negotiation. “I will have this one.”

Elisabeth gasped as she saw his finger pointed at her. He must think she was a prostitute like the others. This would not do, but she did not know how to change the situation without giving away too much information. Rowland stepped in immediately, “Choose another. I would have this one for myself.”

Startled, Elisabeth at first thought that the man was simply being a gentleman and trying to protect her, until she saw the determined look on his face and knew that he had meant what he had said. She had no desire to be with Rowland but if by stepping in he solved her problem, she would not argue.

“I said that I would name the price or your lives would be forfeit and you agreed,” Haldir said, dangerously, taking a step towards Rowland. “This is the one I wish to have and my decision is final.”

Elisabeth’s heart sank. The elf was very handsome and quite intriguing, but she had planned on saving herself for marriage. Not only that, but if this elf thought he was getting a woman who was experienced, he would be in for a terrible disappointment. She decided that she would explain her situation to him when they were alone and out of hearing distance of the others. He could then choose another and hopefully her secret would remain safe since he would surely have no reason to discuss it with anybody else.

“My brothers will show you to talans that you may use while you are here,” he told the others. “They will know where to find me if it becomes necessary.”

He reached his hand out to Elisabeth who took it nervously. “Come with me, Elisabeth,” he told her, his eyes never leaving hers.

His hand was large and warm and it felt good, but again she pushed away those thoughts. This misunderstanding would soon be straightened out and one of the other women would be spending time with the handsome elf, though that idea bothered her for some reason. She had to walk fast to keep up with his quick pace but as soon as she thought they were out of hearing distance of the others, she spoke up.

“Haldir, there is something I need to speak with you about,” she began anxiously.

He glanced down at her and kept walking, “Yes?”

“Can we stop?” she asked, having enough trouble keeping up with him without having to try to add a somewhat delicate conversation to the mix.

“I would rather not,” he said, glancing at her. “I am anxious to have you in my bed.”

“About that,” she started, clearing her throat. “I believe that you will rethink your decision after we speak, so stopping now might save you time when you go back to choose another.”

Curious, he looked down at her as he slowed his steps, “And what would possibly make me want to choose another?”

“Lack of experience?” she said, blushing.

“I would think in your…profession…that you would have gained quite a bit of experience,” he replied sardonically. “An elf is not all that different from a man, if that is your concern.”

“I am not actually in that…profession,” she confessed, “though the others do not know this.”

He stopped now and raised his eyebrows, inviting her to continue.

“I needed to leave Gondor and I contacted Rowland, knowing that he often did this sort of thing. He told me that he was taking Edgar and his…girls…to Rohan for a festival and since he was going anyway, the price would be less for me if I wanted to go along. So…” she shrugged, “that is my story. I am sorry I wasted your time, but the others do not know my situation and I wish to keep it that way.”

“Why was it necessary for you to leave Gondor?” he asked.

She sighed. “Will you keep this part a secret?”

“Yes, you have my word,” he promised.

“I insulted Lord Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, and had to flee the city. It was that or face the dungeon.”

“Why did you insult him?”

“He was beating a child who had stolen some food. The child was seven years old and there were two other younger children at home with a mother that was too sick to care for them at the time. Lord Denethor wouldn’t listen to reason and was well on his way to beating the child to death when I stepped in. I got his attention long enough to allow the child to slip away, but I suppose I said some things I should not have, while I was trying to distract him.”

“Such as?”

“I called him a pompous, overbearing poor excuse for a man. There was more, but I would be embarrassed to repeat the rest. It was most unladylike. I was lucky to slip out of town before his men found me.”

Haldir appeared to be amused. “And why do you not want the others to know this?”

“Because they would turn me in for the reward,” she explained.

“But Rowland knows…”

“No he does not. He suspects that I am not a prostitute because I have been fighting off his advances since we left, but he does not know the truth. There is more. The women already think that I feel myself superior to them, which I do not. I was not sure how to bring up the fact that I am not a prostitute without insulting them and making my situation worse, so I thought it would be best if I told you in private.”

He nodded, his eyes not leaving hers, “I understand, though I do not know that you should concern yourself over what those wenches think of you. I somehow doubt that they would have the same concern for you.”

She started to say something in their defense, but stopped. It was true. They had been nothing but unkind to her since the trip had started, no matter how nice she had been to them.

“As I said, I am sorry that I wasted your time…” she repeated before turning to walk back in the direction from which they had come, planning on slipping her hand free. He did not release her hand and did not move, causing her to finally looked up at him, questioning.

“I did not choose you because I thought you had the most experience,” his eyes captured hers. “I chose you because of what I saw inside you.”

“But, I…” her heart sped up.

“We made a deal and I remember very vividly that you nodded in agreement,” he reminded her.

“Well, yes but…”

“But you wish to back out now?” he asked, looking sternly at her.

She did not know what to say. She had agreed to his terms, though she may not have done so if he had told her the price up front. She sighed. “No, you speak the truth. I agreed to your terms.”

“Good, because I desire you,” he told her, once again moving her towards his talan.

~~~~~~~~~

Kate sat on a chair in the talan and pouted. She was the youngest and the prettiest of the women and was highly insulted that Haldir had chosen Elisabeth over her. While she had to admit that Elisabeth was also beautiful, Kate thought that the woman seemed rather bland, wearing plain brown dresses and ugly shoes. Her waist length, shiny black hair was no lovelier than Kate’s golden tresses. She couldn’t imagine why the elf had chosen Elisabeth. Of course, Haldir’s brothers might be fun, too, she thought, glancing at them.

“Too bad they do not speak our tongue,” Kate said, looking the elves over.

“Yes,” Aggie agreed. “I might have to resort to body language.”

Afraid that the other woman would beat her to it, Kate approached Rúmil and smiled at him as she placed her palm against his cheek. He smiled back. She took his hand and led him up the stairs to the higher talan, the one that held the bed. Seeing how willingly he followed, Aggie moved towards Orophin, but was headed off by Judith who grabbed the elf’s arm first. Orophin smiled as the two women began to argue over who would get him and when they finally decided to share, he turned and led them across a bridge to another tree where a second talan waited.

“I’ve heard that elves are very large, if you know what I mean,” Aggie told Judith, glad that the elf did not understand their language.

“I’ve heard the same thing,” Judith replied giggling. “I guess we shall soon find out.”

~~tbc~~