A/N:  Well I said I’d write a Haldir fic and here it is.  To those who read my last story, thank you so much!  Hope you like this one too.  I guess it’s a Mary-Sue (ducks knives that are being thrown) so if you don’t like them I understand if you don’t want to read this.  This time I’ll be using italics instead of apostrophes to indicate a thought.

Okay, that’s enough chit-chat and yakkity-schmackity.  Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien created

Chapter 1: A New Home

She ran as fast as her legs could carry her.  She could hear the orc getting closer with every step.  She slipped on the grass that was wet from the downpour the day before but kept her balance and kept going.  Lothlórien was getting closer.  All she had to do was make it inside the eaves of the trees and she was sure the Lórien guards would save her. 

She slipped again and this time fell to the ground on her stomach.  She tried pushing herself back up, but the grass was so slippery she couldn’t.  She heard the orc get closer and she flipped onto her back thinking she could push herself up that way.  But she still couldn’t and was now kicking up mud trying to get away.  The orc stopped in front of her and gave an evil laugh while raising his sword.  She screamed and wriggled back in the wet grass, trying to find a way to escape.  The orc was about to strike when an arrow whizzed past her and hit the orc in the neck.  It immediately fell down dead and she struggled to stand.  Once she did, she headed for the safety of the trees where the arrow had been fired from. 

The woods were completely silent as she entered.  She knew the Lórien guards were near, but couldn’t see anything but leaves when she looked up.  “Stop!” a voice commanded and she froze in her tracks.  Eight elves hidden in the trees jumped down and surrounded her with their arrows pointed at her face.  She swallowed hard and hoped that one wouldn’t slip.  The elf directly in front of her said in a cold manner, “Who are you and why do you enter our woods?”  She managed to look away from his arrow point and up at him.  He had silver-blond hair and was wearing a silver and white uniform with a gray cloak around his shoulders, as all the others had on too.

“I am Lindelea Elensil from Rivendell.  I came here to live in my mother’s homeland.  But my guards and I were attacked by orcs from the mountains near that group of rocks back there.”  She pointed out of the wood.  “Please, will you go and help them?  They are outnumbered a dozen or so to two.”

The leader lowered his bow and the others followed.  He looked out to where she had pointed and said, “How long ago did you leave them?”

“About half an hour ago.  I ran the whole way.”

He shook his head.  “It’s too dangerous.  If your guards haven’t followed you yet then it is too late.”

“But… but they are not just my guards, one is my cousin and the other is a dear friend.  Can you not at least go look?” she said desperately. 

He remained silent but another guard stepped forward.  “Perhaps they have killed all the orcs but are wounded and cannot travel here without help.  Can’t we go and see, Haldir?”

The one named Haldir let out an exasperated sigh.  “Fine, Rúmil.  Let’s go.  Orophin, you take care of… what was your name again?”

“Lindelea.”

“Of Lindelea until we come back.  Take her up to the talan where it is safer, just in case.”  Then he and the others ran out of the wood towards the rocks she had pointed to near the mountainside.

Orophin turned to Lindelea and motioned to a nearby tree.  “After you, Lady Lindelea.”

“It’s just Lindelea.  I am not someone of nobility.” she answered looking up the tree.  “Um, where is the ladder?”

Orophin smiled.  “Oh that’s right; we jumped down.”  He stepped up next to the tree and knocked several times in a special sequence and a ladder dropped down.

“Is someone up there?” she asked as she stepped onto the ladder.

“No, the ladder drops by itself when someone gives the secret knock.” he said.  She nodded and climbed up the tree to the talan with Orophin following.  When she reached the top he said, “You may sit if you wish.  You must be tired.  Are you hungry?” he asked holding out a piece of lembas.

“Starving.” she admitted taking it.  “Thank you.”  Orophin nodded and sat down across from her.  He watched her eat for a moment then asked, “Might I ask why you were moving the Lothlórien?”

“Well my parents had departed to the Undying Lands but I did not wish to go yet.  They allowed me to stay because my cousin was staying as well.  Our mothers are sisters and they grew up here in Lothlórien so we decided to move to our mothers’ homeland.”

“I see, and what is your cousin’s name?” Orophin asked.

“His name is Turnen.  He was a guard in Rivendell and hoped he could become one here as well.”

“And your other guard, what is his name?”

“His name is Gildur, but he’s not just a guard, he’s one of my friends.  He and Turnen are best friends.” she said.

Orophin nodded.  “Is that why he was coming with you?  Because you and your cousin are his friends?”

“Well, not just that.  He said he wanted to see the beauty of the Lady of the Golden Wood.  Plus he wanted to be a guard of the Galadhrim too.”

“Ah, now I understand.  But I have not properly introduced myself!  I am Orophin, Marchwarden of Lórien.”

She smiled.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you Orophin.  I am Lindelea Elensil of Rivendell.”

“And it’s a pleasure meeting you as well.  I will have to introduce you to my brothers, though you have already seen them.  They are Marchwardens as well.  I believe you heard them called by name.  One is Rúmil.” he said and she nodded remembering he was the one that had convinced their indifferent leader to search for Turnen and Gildur.  “And the other is Haldir.  He is the Captain of the Guard.”

Lindelea resisted raising her eyebrows in surprise.  How can guards who have been so kind to her be related to that cold, unsympathetic elf?  “Oh really?” she said quietly.

“Yes, he takes a little getting used to.  I can tell he made a bad first impression on you.”

“Well he didn’t want to look for them.  He said it was too late and that upset me.” Lindelea said.

Orophin shrugged.  “I know that it sounded bad, but Haldir is just a very practical person.  He always thinks with his head instead of his heart, but I guess that’s why he was made Captain.”

“I suppose so.” she said and then looked out over the grass she had just run across to the large rocks that the guards had run behind several minutes earlier.  “Do you think your brother is right?  Could they be injured?”

Orophin’s face fell into a frown as he pondered her question. “My honest answer is ‘I don’t know’ because they didn’t follow you here, and an orc came after you.  Usually orcs don’t go after unarmed maidens until the armed elves are taken care of.  But that doesn’t mean I’m right either.”

Lindelea sighed at looked down at her hands. “Turnen told me to run and not to look back.  He said I shouldn’t worry about them or getting them help, I just had to save myself.  But I couldn’t just leave them there and not send help!  And I would have made it here faster if the horses hadn’t scattered.  I hope our beloved horses are alright as well.”

“I’m sure they made it to safety.  They may end up here.”  Orophin said looking out at the rocks.  He suddenly saw his brothers and the others coming back, slower than they had left.  He strained his eyes and saw his brothers each carrying a lifeless elf in their arms.  Orophin swallowed hard.  What is she going to do when she sees them?

He asked her more questions and tried to keep eye contact so she wouldn’t see them just yet.  He wanted to delay her reaction as long as possible.

After some time, the guards were about to enter the woods. Their footsteps were silent but they were speaking in hushed voices about how they thought all the orcs had been killed.  Lindelea heard them, looked down through the branches and saw them enter the woods.  She also saw her guards.  She let out a cry and hurried down the ladder, jumping down the last few feet and running over to them.

Haldir and Rúmil set their bodies on the ground and stepped back.  Orophin jumped down from the tree and walked over to his brothers.  Lindelea fell to her knees in between their bodies and wept.

“Were either alive when you reached them?” Orophin whispered to Haldir, but Lindelea heard him and lifted her head up to look at Haldir.

“This one was.” Haldir said pointing to Turnen.  Orophin thought he looked more like her brother than her cousin.  They both had dark brown hair, almost black, and fair skin.  Turnen’s eyes were closed but Orophin imagined he had the same dark blue eyes as Lindelea.

“Did he say anything?” she asked quietly.

Haldir nodded.  “He asked me if you were safe and I said you were.  Then he asked if you sent us to help them and I said ‘yes’.  He smiled and said, ‘That’s just like her, she never listened to me.  Tell her I love her and I’ll miss her.’  That was all.”

Lindelea lowered her eyes to Turnen’s body and saw the ghastly wounds he had received.  “Oh my wonderful cousin!  I love you and I’ll miss you too.”  She then turned to Gildur, who had golden blond hair, and brushed a strand away from his face.  “You wanted to see the Lady of the Galadhrim and now you won’t get the chance.  I’m so sorry.  But at least you made it.  You are in the Golden Wood now.”  She began crying bitterly and lowered her head into her hands.

Haldir felt uncomfortable just standing there watching her cry, but he didn’t know what to say to make her feel better, if there even was anything.  He turned to the other Marchwardens.  “Back to your posts.  Rúmil and Orophin stay here.” he said quietly.  He knelt down in front of her wondering how he was going to tell her that they had to be buried soon, so they could all return to their posts.  She felt him kneeling in front of her and slowly lifted her head.  Her reddened tear stained eyes met his blank stare.  Does he not possess any emotions? Is he only capable of glaring at me blankly?  Before he could speak a guard yelled, “Sir!  There is a white horse approaching carrying baggage.”

Lindelea jumped up.  “Nimril!” she cried out and ranout of the woods.  “Wait!” Haldir called and ran after her.  He caught up to her and grabbed her arm.  “There could still be orcs out there!” he said, obviously irritated.

“Well none of your Marchwardens have said they saw any, Captain.” she said and pulled her arm out of his grasp when she said ‘Captain.’ 

“Yes, well that’s true, but uh, just be careful.” he said.  She seemed to ignore him and looked for her horse.  She spotted him and breathed a sigh of relief.

“He’s alright!  Here boy!  Nimril, come!” she called out.  The horse lifted its head and trotted over to her.  When he reached her, he nuzzled his nose against her shoulder and Lindelea laughed lightly while sniffing back her tears.  “Thank the Valar you’re alright, my sweet.  But where are the other horses?  Are they still hiding?”

“They’ll turn up, sooner or later.  But we can’t wait for them or go out looking for them.  It was foolish enough to leave our posts once.” Haldir said.

Lindelea pretended to ignore him again.  He’s in a constant bad mood.  She led Nimril back into the wood and knelt beside Turnen and Gildur again.  She sighed and, lifting the hand of each in turn, gave them a kiss on the top of the hand.

Haldir stooped down in front on her again.  “I’m afraid we’ll have to bury them soon.  We have to return to our posts.”

Lindelea nodded and stood up.  Haldir and Rúmil picked up their bodies again and she followed as they walked off of the path and around several trees until they came to a clearing with many stones lying in a row.  “This is the Marchwardens’ burial ground.” Orophin said to Lindelea.  He had gotten a shovel from his talan and now joined them.

She nodded and attempted a smile.  “They wanted to be guards here.  It is fitting that they be buried here.”

After they were buried and Lindelea had said her final goodbyes to Turnen and Gildur she turned to the others.  “I am assuming I will be allowed to stay in Lothlórien then?”

“Of course!  You are most welcome here.” Rúmil said.

“Thank you, for everything.  Could you tell me how to get to the city?”

The brothers glanced at each other before Orophin said, “The city is very hard for outsiders to find.  And you must cross the Celebrant first, and there is no bridge.  Your horse will have to jump.  Then the only way to enter the city is by the southern gate, and you must know the password and secret knock.  Therefore I think I should go with you.”

Lindelea nodded and Orophin took a step forward but Haldir stopped him by holding his arm out in front of Orophin’s chest.  “Just a moment, Orophin.  How long have you been on duty?”

Orophin frowned. “A little over 48 hours.”

“So you were in Caras Galadhon several days ago, were you not?” Haldir asked.

“Yes.”

“Rúmil, how long have you been on duty?” Haldir asked turning to his other brother.

“The same as Orophin.  I came back with him.  But you know you’ve been here the longest, brother.  You never go home, so you should escort her.”

Haldir sighed aloud as if Lindelea had just ruined his life.  “Very well.”  He looked at her and added, “If you’ll allow me to ride your horse with you, we can get there much faster and I can make it back here by tomorrow evening.”

Lindelea nodded again and Orophin laughed.  “Haldir, you never take any time off.  Why don’t you stay home for a few days?”

Haldir stared blankly at him for a moment before saying, “Because I feel more at home here than in the city.”  He turned back to Lindelea.  “Shall we go?”

“I guess so.  I’m very tired and a need a place to sleep tonight.”

They said their goodbyes and Haldir put Rúmil in charge while he was gone.  Lindelea thanked Orophin and Rúmil again for all their help and then turned to get on Nimril.  She saw Haldir had already pulled himself up.  So much for helping a maiden onto her horse.  She saw he was sitting closer to the front and she put her hands on her hips.  “My horse, I steer.” she said.

Orophin and Rúmil laughed and Haldir shot them a look.  He scooted back and offered his hand to her.  She ignored him and said, “Nimril, down.”  The horse immediately got down on its front knees and she climbed on.  “Nimril, up.” she said and the horse got back up.  Haldir’s brothers laughed again and Orophin said, “Lindelea, take special care of Haldir.  He’s only ridden a horse a few times.  Make sure he doesn’t fall off!”  He and Rúmil then burst out laughing until Haldir murmured, “I suppose when I give my report to Lord Celeborn, I can request the dismissal of both of you from the Lórien guard.”  They both stopped laughing and muttered their apologies.

“Farewell.  I hope to see you both in the city again.” Lindelea said then gently pressed her knees into Nimril saying, “Let’s go boy.”

A/N:  Wow, that was a loooooong first chapter!  But hey, as long as you like it, that’s all that matters.  By the way, one of my favorite authors puts a key after each chapter to explain what her characters’ names and Elvish words mean and I think that’s really cool so I’m going to do that too (sorry for stealing).

Elvish Names:

Haldir: ‘hidden hero’, hence the name of the story.

Lindelea Elensil: ‘melodious’  ‘shining star’ (literally: star shine)

Nimril:  ‘white brilliance’

Turnen: ‘power (or mastery) of water’

Gildur:  ‘devotion to the stars’ (literally: star devotion)

And don’t forget to review!  What do you think of my first chapter?  I had half of it written when I accidentally deleted it!  So I had to start all over and I was really ticked off, so I hope I get good reviews or I may burst into tears!

Legolas: Yeah, she was so upset she almost threw her laptop out the window!

Haldir: Good thing I stopped her.  I’m not letting her do that until this story is finished!

Me: drooling Your rippling muscles convinced me to spare my computer’s life. 

Haldir: flexing muscles Hey, whatever it takes.

Legolas averting eyes Oh, by the Valar, stop!  You’re making me sick!