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The Pentanath: Adventures in the Avathar	By : Sienna Category: -Multi-Age > Het - Male/Female Views: 3294 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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The Pentanath: Adventures in the Avathar
A Posthumous Writing of The Watcher of Tol Eressea
Book 2: Broniennin Guren
Chapter 2 - Vardo Tercano Menel!

Lisse came to the sea many times after Eadendir's visit to Haldir's grove. Not once did she meet Haldir, and by the fourth month, she began to suspect an interfering hand was at work.

Tensions in the House of the Elms finally reached a fevered pitch when Lisse abruptly asked her grandfather what husinusiness had been one long ago autumn day. She knew he rarely ventured beyond the elms and there was no need to. All supplies were brought to them from Kortirion or Alqualonde in an ancient arrangement between her kin and the Guilds. She knew the old elf did not ride, hunt or fish, preferring to pass his days before the bright hearth with a good book, a bottle ofe ore or some company from the fisher folk that journeyed through their lands.

Eadendir had at first avoided all questions pertinent to Haldir until a heated argument broke out between him and Lisse. The old elf admitted his visit to Haldir's grove although he omitted much of their conversation and his own request to the younger elf. But Lisse, knowing from Niel's stories, how Eadendir felt about Haldir and the Middle Earth exiles, distrusted her Grandfather's version of events. Many arguments took place that winter in the House of the Elms and the once open and sunny relationship Lisse enjoyed with Eadendir soured into a sullen and contempt-laden silence.

Slowly, Lisse came to resent the condescending manner in which Eadendir spoke of Haldir. Once too often the old elf would reduce Lisse's affection for Haldir as nothing more than a passing fancy.

"He is nothing more than an obsession, child. All maidens suffer from them. I woulds't know of this. I have raised two daughters, have I not?" His green eyes patiently smiled upon Lisse's still countenance. "This, like all things, shall pass."

But it did not pass, not for Lisse. She was both sad and angry at the two males she held dearest in her life. Both, she felt, had acted without honor, and this realization, that neither had thought enough of her to consult her in whatever had taken place, served only to further fuel her anger.

Yet, she remained loyal to Haldir's memory, often rising to his defense against Eadendir's taunts. Eventually, she ceased explaining to Eadendir the depth of her feelings for Haldir, and the continued criticism and sardonic jabs merely ed ted to distance her from the old elf.

Finally, Lisse began keeping to herself and avoided the subject, not trusting herself to remain calm.

Venturing to the sea many times, but not finding Haldir, Lisse cursed herself for not ever asking him where he dwelled. She wanted to ask her Grandfather, but knew he would not tell her where, within the forests, Haldir's flet lay.

One day, out of frustration and longing, Lisse confronted Eadendir, and asked him if he had had a hand in Haldir's disappearance. The old elf sighed and put his book down. His green eyes calmly studied Lisse's anxious face.

"Child, my concern is for your happiness and well-being." Eadendir's voice was deliberately neutral. "Haldir can only bring you pain."

Seeing the objection in Lisse's eyes, he raised a silencing hand, "I bade him leave the area. He agreed. There was nothing more than that." His eyes rested on Lisse's face, seeing the shocked reaction of her eyes darken into a storm of anger.

Lisse's eyes widened in fury, "You did what?" Her voice rang loudly in the large hall. Several lodgers looked up but returned to their private business.

Eadendir frowned at Lisse, "I did what was best for you." He sat up and closed the book.

Lisse pulled the apron from around her waist and threw it onto the wide rectangular table. The small kitchen staff, which consisted of Cook and Briniel, his wife, went quietly about their duties, while the storm raged in the sunny dinning hall of the House of the Elms.

"Dear Varda! What have you done?" Lisse exclaimed, walking rapidly out of the hall and bounding the back stairway two steps at a time.

Niel, hearing the commotion below her, stepped out of the bedroom she had been cleaning and pushed a long tendril of hair back from her forehead.

"What is it, Lisse?" She asked in a anxious voice. She had heard the loud voices below her.

Lisse looked back down toward the stairs. "Grandfather...." Then she turned suspicious eyes toward her aunt, "Did you know that Grandfather had bidden Haldir to leave?"

Niel's eyes widened and she shook her head, "No. I knew not." Inwardly, she cringed. Surely Eadendir would not go that far! But then she recalled he had gone to Manwe himself and had Min's relationship with Haldir cut short. Her eyes fixed on Lisse's face and she saw the fury barely contained.

"I swear it, I knew naught of it."

Lisse looked at her aunt and then walked away, heading for her room.

Niel did not like what she had seen in the depths of her niece's blue eyes and she followed behind.

Upon reaching Lisse's chamber, she saw the young maid was standing before her window, contemplating the sea.

"He is gone, Aunt." Lisse's voice was sad. "He has left. That is why I cannot feel him." Slowly, Lisse closed the window shutters and leaned her head against it.

Niel was struck speechless. Min had never reacted like this. Yes, she had been sad that she and Haldir had been kept apart, but Min had never been able to sense him. With a worried eye, Niel reached her hand out to her niece. "Come, sit with me."

Lisse crossed to the bed and sat next to Niel. The older elf began to stroke Lisse's hair.

"I would sit by the window, each evening," Lisse said, her voice was small and soft. "and I could hear his voice calling my name." Sad eyes lifted to the closed shutters. "Sometimes I would call his name and I knew he heard."

Niel's heart was touched by the sadness she heard in Lisse's voice. "Do you care for him that much?" Niel whispered.

Lisse nodded. "I did not know it until the day he nearly drowned." She turned and searched Niel's face. "Should I have told him?"

Niel pondered for a moment. "Has he ever kissed you or told you how he feels for you?"LissLisse smiled gently. "I kissed his mouth once."

Niel's eyebrows arched, "You kissed him?"

Lisse nodded her head, " "Twas only a kiss to thank him. Chaste, no more than a kiss of thanks. I did not feel this...." Lisse rubbed her chest, "this pain. I did not know to love is to ache."

Niel gave Lisse a worried look.

Lisse turned to her aunt with a small, sad smile, "I know what you are thinking. Nay, he has never told me of his feelings for me. He has always made certain I know what a meddlesome brat he thinks I am." Lisse missed Niel's knowing grin. Then her blue eyes became pensive. "Perhaps it is as Grandfather says." Lisse added.

"And what did he say, Lisse?" Niel asked, curious.

Lisse smiled bitterly, "That he would only grow tired of me and leave."

Niel raised her eyes to the door of the chamber and said nothing.

~*~*~*~*~

By the shores of the Shadowy Sea, hundreds of leagues away from The House of the Elms.....

Haldir was making his way toward the remote beach, walking the perimeter, measuring with a practiced eye where he would begin setting the trap poles and how he would anchor these to the sea floor. The area he had selected was south of the Shadowy Sea where the kelp and seaweed grew thickest. He had learned from the old fisher folk that the tentacled sea-creatures avoided these waters. He thought he could make a good living here.

Haldir held no pretenses for himself. He was wise enough to know that one's troubles followed wherever wentwent, and so he knew he still had the issue of his feelings for Lisse to resolve.

That he had never acted upon these feelings he was grateful for, as it spared Lisse much pain.

But in his inner heart he knew his pain was barely contained. He was deeply attracted to Lisse and knew his heart and spirit were beginning to feel bound to her. But his guilt over Min only grew as his feelings for Lisse deepened. In his mind he was confused, his heart wanting one thing while his mind argued against it. Haldir realized that only work and exhaustion kept him from remembering too much, desiring too much.

Within days, Haldir had made much progress and he took down the temporary shelter he had built on the beach. The traps were now set and he could scout the land, looking for suitable quarters to live.

~*~*~*~*~

Things at the House of the Elms went from bad to worse.

One month after Lisse's confrontation with Eadendir, she announced she was moving back to her father's towered hall. Eadendir had opposed the move bitterly, arguing that the lands were wild from lack of care and that few would wish to work in that household.

But Lisse had stood her ground, declaring that she needed no staff and that she would welcome the hard work. Yet, she made it clear to Eadendir that nothing he said, no argument he brought, would or could, change her mind.

Eventually, it had come to Eadendir that he had made a fatal mistake and approached Lisse with a desire to mend their broken relationship. But she had rebuffed him and redoubled her efforts to leave as soon as feasible.

Curiously, Lisse found an ally in Niel who had never before defied her father. Together, they began to sort through linen and furniture, as well as sending for supplies to the Guildhalls and by the end of winter, Guve Hall was ready, clean and well-stocked.

~*~*~*~*~

Back in Alqualonde, where Guild reports flowed ceaselessly, intelligence was being gathered by the Guild Captains who now paled led the Northern shores of Eressea. Partly due to Haldir's report of months before, they now had an idea of what they were looking for and what was spoiling the silma traps. But a recent report had made its way to Korthin's desk and it foreboded something he did not like. Something he felt was somehow connected to Haldir, although he had no logical reason for feeling this way.

Aside from all of the information gathered on Tol Eressea, Korthin had made it a personal duty to keep tabs on Haldir's whereabouts, most especially since his brothers usually asked for news of him when they returned to the city. Because of this practice, Korthin had learned that Haldir had moved his traps south and left the grove where he had long resided. Why, he was not too certain, and discreet inquiries had only returned vague rumors of yet another rift between the blonde elf and Eadendir. This worried Korthin, for Haldir had long been a friend of the Guild and his presence on the northern shores of the island had provided the Guild with accurate and timely reports. And now this was a resource they no longer had.

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts and he lifted his eyes to see that Nurvrim had entered the large room. "Here are reports of his last known whereabouts, Captain." The dark-haired elf handed a small hand drawn map to Korthin.

Taking and studying the map for a brief moment, Korthin spoke without looking up, "Have a courier prepared within the hour. I have need to reach this one."

Korthin quietly folded the map and looked up at the young Scout. Nurvrim nodded and turned to leave, intent on following his Captain's order to the letter.

In seconds, Korthin was once again alone with his thoughts. He glanced at another set of maps attached to a long missive and he let his eyes wandemlesmlessly over the manuscript, already knowing what it said. He wondered if Manwe's herald had any idea about what was taking place out in the remote seas of Tol Eressea. He wondered indeed.

Taking a deep sigh, he looked at the high frosted window and idly listened to the cries of the gulls.

~*~*~*~*~

Haldir looked over at the elf by his side and then turned his eyes back to the sea. " 'Tis tranquil, the sea." He commented, not really caring if the Scout had heard him or not. They had been perched high atop this hillock for several days without sight of anything save dolphins, gulls and the occassional swan.

Turning his back to the ocean, Haldir rested his back against the solid hill which gently rose behind him. "I have given you near a week of my time." He began grumpily, "What then is of such importance that we are perched high atop this atoll without so much as benefit of good wine?" His silver eyes scrutinized the younger elf.

The Scout, who was called Amrion, turned to look at Haldir. He was very well aware of the older elf's reputation, but also knew Haldir was no longer active in the Ranger Guild and so was so not as intimidated as he had once been before learning of Haldir's "official" status.

"There have been reports of unknown sea creatures." Amrion answered and then turned his gaze back to the bright ocean water.

Haldir's fine eyebrows arched in surprise and he pondered Amrion's words for a moment. Finally, he retorted, "Unknown sea creatures?", trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

But then he added in a kinder tone, "I have lived and trapped in this region for well over twenty years. There is no sea animal I would call unknown." He turned once to look back at the sea. "We are wasting the Guild's resources, my son." Haldir said quietly.

Amrion sighed, knowing Haldir was right, but not wishing to seem to be giving in too soon. After all, they had only been watching the water on this day for less than seven hours. In the past five days they had seen nothing but dolphins, gulls and swans. Not a single diver or trapper had passed. And this Amrion had thought strange until Haldir reminded him they were at the remotest portion of Tol Eressea, a place where little of the fisher folk came. A place still considered wild and unexplored.

"Mayhap, you are right, Commander Haldir." Amrion turned around and sat beside Haldir, "We have seen nothing out of the ordinary."

Haldir nodded slowly without looking at the younger elf. Standing, he dusted his leggings. "Of the sea creature which attacked me a great deal is now known." He turned to collect his travel bag.

But Amrion, who was still young enough to desire to impress his superiors, said, " 'Tis said by the fisher folk that some creature from the Avathar has escaped that dark land and now swims free in these oceans." His voice was quiet and he too set about gathering his gear.

At this, Haldir turned his silver eyes to the young elf, a look of amazement crossing his fair face. "Do not tell me that the Guild now gives importance to the superstitious nonsense told by inebriated trappers?!" Haldir laughed good-naturedly and waited for Amrion to fall in beside him. Together, they set off following a narrow path which wound down among the cliff and led to the salt flatlands.

"Son, when you return to Alqualonde, tell Captain Korthin that he must not listen to the wild tales of intoxicated trappers who have too much time on their hands for naught but mischief!" He smiled and shook his head.

"Oh," Haldir added, briefly stopping, looking Amrion straight in the eyes, "And do not call me Commander. I no longer hold that rank in the Guild." He arched his eyebrows and saw the younger elf nod in understanding. Silently, they set off toward Haldir'dge.dge.

Several weeks after Amrion returned to Alqualonde, Haldir made a disturbing find.

Following the bends and twists of the ancient Raica Falassë, he had spotted a large animal upon the shore. Closer inspection showed it was a Golden Whale, and a calf at that.

His eyes had covered the water, looking for the animal's mother, but had failed to see anything. Haldir inspected the animal and soon discovered its cause of death: nearly all of its belly had been topenopen. Blood covered the underside of the still animal, pooling beneath the sand and filtering back to the sea.

He knew that because of their sheer size Golden Whales had no enemies and this calf's mother would have defended its offspring to the death. His eyes wandered back to the still calf and a look of pity crossed his face. What could have done such damage to an animal as large as this?

He remembered Glinnel's story of an enormous sea creature driving the animals inland. But that had been over twenty years before! And what of Amrion's report, he suddenly thought.

Worried now, Haldir abruptly turned on his heels and made back to his lodge. He needed to get this information back to Korthin as soon as he could. Perhaps there was something in the waters off Tol Eressea! Swiftly he reached his lodge and there began to write out a long missive he would later entrust to the fisher folk that weekly traveled to Kortirion and Alqualonde.

But the arm of the Valar is long indeed and things were to turn quickly and unexpectedly.

It was on a warm summer night when Haldir's life took an unexpected twist.

He sat one night outside of his lodge, listening to the sounds of the sea not a quarter league away, depng tng the lack of forests and groves, for he still longed to climb a talan. He allowed his thoughts to turn to Lisse, as they often did these days, when a soft voice called his name.

He had been sitting on a favorite chair, stretching out his long legs, letting the cool breeze fan his face and play with his hair, when it had come, gentle but insistent.

At first, he resisted the voice, not really knowing who it was and what it wanted, although he had heard it call him and speak into his mind many times in the course of the years. Yet, abruptly, he found he could not resist it and stood slowly, leaving his lodge and coming to the edge of a cliff where below him crashed the waves upon the rocks.

Above him the sky was a velvet blue carpet littered with millions of stars. No moon shone on this night, but he could see as clearly as if it were day.

From below him came the voice, "Haldir."

Haldir frowned, "Who are you?" He asked it for the first time.

No response.

Haldir let his eyes wander about the ocean and the rocks, lifting them to the horizon, then further to the sky. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, yet, it came again, soft, soothing, whispering, "Haldir."

Haldir pursed his lips into a firm line of annoyance and made to turn around. A drunk trapper most likely.

Just then, he noticed a small glow in the distant horizon and he fixed his eyes upon it.

Gradually, the glow grew and became a ball of light. Haldir could easily watch it from where he stood and in his mind he could notce wce where he had ever seen anything like this. Not even the light of Galadriel matched this luminosity and he judged it was still a good fifty leagues out to sea.

He frowned.

"Haldir." It came again, this time louder.

"What do you want?" For some unknown reason he addressed the light.

And from the light came a response, "You!"

Haldir blinked a few times, not certain of the meaning of what he had heard. Yet, he stood his ground. "You cannot have me until I know who you are." His voice was sure and steady, and yet, his heart held a touch of fear.

Suddenly, the light expanded and in a great speed covered the space between itself and Haldir.

Uncertain now, Haldir took a step back and found that the light had grown in size, large enough to encompass and swallow him whole. Still, he held his ground as the light approached.

So great was the light that it turned the area into bright day, yet Haldir knew the sun had not yet risen.

Slowly, it covered him until he stood bathed inside a pool of iridescent blue-white light. Sparks of gold flew at certain points.

Strangely, Haldir was not blinded by the light's intensity and he was able to study it for a few moments until he became aware of a living presence inside the light.

His eyes searched for what he knew his senses told him was there and in seconds the vague silhouette of a figure began to take shape. In a moment, Haldir saw the shape take solid form and when he looked closely his breath caught in his throat.

She stood before him, a being bathed of pure living light. She was not tall nor short, and she had elven features. But aside from this, Haldir knew this was no Quendë. Her hair, flowing loose past her waist, was silver and gold, and the light of sta stars sparkled and dimmed upon it. Her raiment was made of living light, a rainbow of hues and shadows that covered her entire body, leaving only her arms, neck and face bare. She was bathed in swirls of blue and green, red and gold.

Haldir looked upon her face and saw she was smiling, and in her eyes were the stars and upon her head a circlet of gold.

He knew who this being was, how could he have not known? All of his life he had invoked her grace, and here now, she was come to him.

He was in the presence of a mighty Vala.

He was in the presence of Varda, Queen of the Stars!

Shivers covered him head to foot and unconsciously he dropped to one knee, the overwhelming emotion of the experience overpowering him with humility and love for this mighty being.

Touching his hand to his heart, he whispered, "Oh, I am yours to command, my Queen!"

Varda smiled. This she knew, that she had chosen wisely.

Moving closer to the elf she had so long watched, Varda placed her hand upon Haldir's bent head and softly murmured, "Si hirnë na, Vardo Tercano Menel!" And from her hand came a gentle mist of sparkling light, like the falling of diamond-dust, and just as gently it settled about Haldir.

~*~*~*~*~

Key:

Raica Falassë = Crooked Beach

Quendë = singular for Quendi, the race of elves.

Si hirnë na, Vardo Tercano Menel! = Now, found is, Varda's Sky Herald!

The Pentanath: Adventures in the Avathar
A Posthumous Writing of The Watcher of Tol Eressea
by Sienna Dawn

Book 2: Broniennin Guren
Chapter 2 - Vardo Tercano Menel!

NC17
Haldir/OFC

~*~*~*~*~

Author's Note:

Thank you for your reviews. Ihapphappy that you are enjoying this story. You may also enjoy the new story I will be publishing here called The Forgotten Ring. This is also another Haldir/OFC adventure/romance but varies slightly as it is set in the "reformed" Arda of the Second Song of Eru-Illuvatar and begins just as Haldir is slain at the Battle of the Hornburg at Helm's Deep. Book and movie verse and very AU this story deals with "what if....?" and the question of: if there were three rings, could there have been a fourth on
Su
Suilad!
Sienna
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The Pentanath: Adventures in the Avathar