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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 5 - Haldir

Haldir rested for several hours. Then he left the bedchamber and decided to explore Guve Hall, of which he had heard so much from his Guild contacts.

The house was solidly built, and he knew its history. He thought he would find Min's sad memory here, but instead was pleased to discover Lisse's signature everywhere. From the large and airy kitchens, to the well groomed stables and spacious, groved courtyards.

Haldir leisurely walked about the orchards and fields of vegetables, marvelling at the incredible transformation the House had undergone at Lisse's hands. He wandered back to the Hall itself, studying the irrigation conduits built alongside the furrowed fields. Lifting his eyes to the second floor of the Hall itself, he saw maids dusting rugs, sweeping balconies, washing window shutters. A profound respect and admiration for Lisse and her elves was beginning to dawn in Haldir's heart. To have accomplished all of this in such a short space of time meant everyone had toiled long and hard. It was a testament to their endurance that they had been able to wrest the Hall back from the creeping vines and thorny trees which had once entirely covered the building. Boulders and large rocks had also been cleared away, making it possible for the elves to plant and harvest several crops, some of which he could he see quite clearly from where he stood.

When he had last seen this place it had been dark, wild and sad. Now it was a bustling farm, complete with livestock,in fin fields, and a well trained staff.

Haldir was happy Lisse had done this for herself and happy she had not suffered too much because of him. As he neared the entrance to the Hall, he pondered at the zeal and energy Lisse had poured into Guve itself.

Just then Haldir enteree die dinning hall and walked toward a dark corner. He noticed he had caught the interest of a young maid. She approached and asked if he wished to eat or drink something. Thanking her in advance, Haldir asked for some meat and wine. He had decided that soon after his meal, he would depart Guve Hall. It did his heart and spirit no good to linger here.

'Twas during his repast, that Lisse walked into the Hall, wearing a different riding outfit. She seemed agitated. Her hair was bound behind her, but short golden tendrils escaped from the sides of her head, as if she had been riding hard. She was also breathing heavily, as if she had been running. Haldir ate and sank further back into the gloom of his lonely corner.

Too late, he thought. She had seen him.

With a determined frown and a quick stride, Lisse crossed the hall to Haldir, the clicks of her boot heels echoing in the empty hall.

Stopping before him, Lisse stared hard into Haldir's calm gaze.

"When were you going to tell me?"

Haldir raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

Lisse sighed impatiently andssedssed her arms, "Did you not think I would not know?"

Haldir put his wine goblet down and stood. Throwing his cape about his shoulders, he bowed once to Lisse, "I think, my Lady, I have overstayed my welcome." He kept his voice amiable, but impersonal.

Walking around her, Lisse did not see the flash of anger in Haldir's eyes, so she caught him by the arm.

Feeling her touch, Haldir stopped and slowly turned his face to hers. He could feel the heat of her touch singe his skin and he resisted the urge to pull away. Only back for a few hours and already his heart was feeling the weight of his long life. His own lifeforce paled in comparison to Lisse's youthful energy. Yet, because he was who he was, Haldir's stony glare locked onto Lisse's blue gaze.

Lisse pursed her lips. She felt her ears burn. She was not going to let him intimidate her!
"The fresh wells, did you not think to tell me, Haldir?"

The tone of her voice was harsh and accusatory and he frowned, "Unless you tell me what you think I am guilty of keeping from you, I shall not be able to make much useful comment." His voice was dry and impersonal . His eyes gazed down at her fingers, which still grasped him by the forearm, and then raised themselves to her eyes. Slowly, he arched one golden eyebrow in a silent question.

Seeing the cold expression within his silver eyes, Lisse suddenly released Haldir, "The fresh water wells. Do not tell me that you did not know they are contaminated!"

Haldir shook his head and shrugged, "Pardon, but what is that to me? Each trapper is bound to his or her own contract with the Guild. Violation of Guild terms is usually swiftly dealt with, and," here his eyes grew somewhat soft as he gazed at her fiery face, "I have no control over what other trappers may or may not do."

Lisse wanted to slap his insolent face. "Your traps, Haldir, are they not lined up on the northern rims?"

Haldir nodded, "Yes, as they have been for over twenty years." He frowned, "But I fail to see what my traps have to do with your fresh water wells."

Lisse snorted, "Your trapping is bringing sea cracks to the well walls."

Haldir shot Lisse a look of disbelief. "I trap naught but silma fish. I have nothing to do with your fresh wells." He watched her face while she studied his. "You know this, Lisse" he added softly.

But Lisse was not convinced, "The silma fish you traps draw also coral whigs, and they creep into the reef rims, pushing into the reefs and the cracks they find there. Eventually, the cracks surface into the island, beneath the soil to where the island's fresh water supply rests." Lisse put her hands on her hips. "Do not tell me you knew nothing of this!"

Haldir thought for a moment, then he said softly, "No, I did not. I've been away..." His voice suddenly drifted.

Lisse snorted derisively and crossed her arms, her blue eyes hard, "Whether you have been gone a day or a century, makes no difference. It is standard practice that all other trappers up and down the coast have switched to using traps that do not draw the coral whigs. Yours are the only ones that continue to draw this creature."

Haldir held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Believe me, Lisse, had I but known, I would have gladly done what I could. Now that I am aware of the situation, I will make the required changes."

Lisse turned her head away and then glared back at Haldir, leaning closer to him, she reached out and slapped him hard on the back, "See that you do, Haldir o Lorien and while you are at it, you might want to ask your Guild contact why that just happened to slip his mind." She arched an eyebrow in a fair imitation of his own quirk, glared at him briefly, turned and marched away.

Stunned at Lisse's remarkable behavior, Haldir watched her exit the hall.

~*~*~*~*~

Shaking his head briefly, Haldir strode out into the bright light of early afternoon. Several young elves loittered about the courtyard and Haldir recognized a few. Heading in their direction, he soon learned of the situation over the fresh water wells on Lisse's lands. He learned how the older traps he still used were believed to attract creatures that fastened themselves under the sea floors and reefs and from there ate away at the soil and rock. Eventually the creatures bored into fresh water wells. The crackft bft behind by the creatures leaked salt water into the wells used by the islanders for farming, drinking,hinghing and cooking.

Although he had been here for almost a thousand years, Haldir realized that he still had a great deal to learn about these lands.

Intrigued, Haldir asked many questions. Later that same day, he lent his considerable energy and strength to helping the elves clear out the irrigation tunnels and lay down new filtration units. Wishing to make amends, Haldir prolongued his stay in Guve Hall.

In this way, several days passed and days turned to weeks. Soon, the elves of Guve Hall realized that Haldir was no ordinary elf. Not only did he possess some knowledge of the ancient Quenya magick now lost to the Eressea Quendi, but his quick intelligence, dry wit, strength and stamina, as well as his sense of fair play, loyalty and determination to carry a project to completion, earned him fast friends in a short space of time. One of these was Gilnoril himself, who soon came to suspect that the ever-present sadness reflected in the tall blonde elf's eyes was indeed his only seeming weakness, and this weakness had a name: Lisse Nyere.

Often, Gilnoril sought Haldir's presence and they would converse as they worked. Together, they undertook whatever project offered the biggest challenge and obstacle. Gilnoril quickly learned that, like himself, Haldir did not fear hardship or rigorous work. Instead, he seemed to court it, often assisting other elves in the hardest of all jobs.

In this manner, Gilnorin came to know Haldir more intimately, discovering that the older elf had a deep-rooted sense of family, yet sadly lacked one himself, save for his brothers whom he rarely saw. Often, they would quietly speak of their expectations for life, Gilnorin confiding in Haldir many of his fears of becoming husband to Elenesse, and being able to offer her a comfortable life. As an only son, they both knew he would be expected to make his home away from Guve and Gilnorin was not so certain that Elenesse would welcome such a change.

One day, Haldir listened to Gilnorin voice one of his deepest rooted fears. Suddenly, Haldir's infectious laugh echoed in the small orchard where they had been working, "Do not tell me, my young friend, that 'tis the wedding night you fear most?" Haldir's silver eyes warmed in good humor.

Gilnorin pondered for a moment and then said honestly, "Nay, 'tis not so much that I fear it, Haldir. I fear my own passion will overwhelm Elenesse." Putting his mallet down, Gilnorin sat on the mossy earth.

Haldir stopped his work and sat down beside Gilnorin. His golden eyebrows furrowed in thought, "Then you must simply learn to control yourself, Gilnorin." Turning behind him, he reached for the silver flask of water and drank deeply.

"Beside," Haldir added, closing the flask, "I do not think Elenesse is as frail as you believe." He gave the younger elf a significant glare and put the flask away behind him.

Gilnorin's youthful face registered surprise and this made Haldir laugh, "Females are not as fragile as you are wont to believe here in Valinor."

Shooting Haldir a disbelieving look, Haldir continued, unaffected by the younger elf's dark countenance, "Indeed, they can wield sword and bow just as well as any maethor."

Gilnorin snorted at these words. " 'Tis not the way of the Quendi on Aman." Gilnorin countered.

Haldir smiled and contemplated the sky, "So I have been told. Many times." He lowered his intelligent silver eyes to Gilnorin's face and placed an arm around the younger elf's shoulder.

"Do not worry so," Haldir smiled fondly, recalling his own youthful forays into romance, "Elenesse shall show you what to do."

At this, Gilnorin's eyes widened, "Surely not!" He exclaimed, "We have not...well," he added uncomfortably, "we have not lain together."

Haldir nodded, at once understanding the true fear Gilnorin felt. "And what of it? Once the two of you find yourselves behind locked doors, nothing shall detour you from what is a natural course of events."

Gilnorin laughed, "You make it sound so dispassionate, Haldir."

Haldir's generous lips broke into a grin, "Do I?" He asked without guile, " 'Twas not my intent."

Both elves looked at one another and smiled, a deep camaraderie already formed between them. Just then, Gilnorin frowned and asked, "Haldir?" He saw the silver eyes turn to him.
"Why have you not married?"

Haldir knew the question was inevitable. It always was. And so he gave his very practiced response, "Because one, in good conscience, does not expect another to embrace a lifestyle that is neither simple, accomodating or steady. I am at the whim of the sea. I go hithe tra traps lead me. I cannot expect any female to follow me." He finished the last sentence almost ruefully and this was not lost on Gilnorin.

"And Lisse?" Gilnorin ventured.

Haldir gave Gilnorin a long and hard stare, and suddenly it seemed as if he had made up his mind on something, "You know of my relationship with her mother, do you not?" Haldir began and saw Gilnorin nod. "I see." He added.

"Lisse is a subject I do not often discuss, Gilnorin." Haldir did not often use the young elf's name and when he did, he pronounced it the way the Lorien elves would have, with a soft emphasis on the "r". Giin lin liked the way Haldir spoke.

"I am sorry, my friend," Gilnorin offered, standing, now that they had had a brief rest. "I mean no disrespect to your privacy."

Haldir also stood, "No offense is taken. I just meant to say that even I have not discovered what my own heart harbors toward that difficult chit." Turning, he reached for the mallet he had been using.

Although Haldir's words were meant to sound harsh, his voice had instead betrayed him and Gilnorin did not miss the hint of frustration in the older elf's words. Grinning silently, he thought, "Aye, 'tis going to be a most interesting Summer."

~*~*~*~*~

Soon, after a week's time, Haldir quietly told Gilnorin he had to depart. Gilnorin plied Haldir with questions and to all Haldir had responded with a non-committal "aye" or "nay".

After a couple of hours spent in jest and drinking, Gilnorin realized he still had no idea, aside from trapping silma, what it was Haldir found so pressing that he must end his visit to Guve Hall in the middle of the night.

Yet, he accompanied the blonde elf to the edge of the Hall's arched entrance, and there they had briefly spoken. Night was deep upon them, the sparkling stars their only light. A scented ocean breeze fanned their bodies, gently rustling the leaves of the trees. No sound echoed in the stillness of this night except the rushed whispers of two elves.

Gilnorin turned to Haldir, "Why did you not seek her out?" He knew Haldir would understand he spoke of Lisse.

Haldir's eyes flashed strangely. Gilnorin had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach then, almost as if Haldir's eyes had stars in them. Had he really seen that?

"I have attempted, but she heeds me not and hides from me." Haldir responded. Out of nowhere, Gilnorin saw the tall elf sling a great silver and wooden bow around his shoulders. Where had that come from? Suddenly, he looked at Haldir with new eyes but said nothing.
In a moment, a golden quiver chuck-full of silver arrows joined the bow. Gilnorin blinked. He was beginning to not like what was happening.

He watched Haldir for a few seconds more, his eyes growing large as a pair of magnificent Noldorin daggers suddenly came into view. "What are those?" He abruptly asked.

Without flinching, Haldir replied softly, "A gift from the Lady Galadriel. They are very ancient and saw battle in the Kinslaying." Quietly, Haldir gave each wrist an expert twist and in a moment the daggers were concealed.

Gilnorin let out the breath he had been holding, not sure of what to think.

"What shall I tell Lisse?" Gilnoril's eyes flashed in the dark, as he watched Haldir snap closed his grey cloak.

Haldir shrugged, "Nothing you say will she believe. Tell her whatever you wish." He raised his eyes to Gilnorin's face.

Gilnorin frowned, "What is of such importance that you must leave in the middle of the night?"

Haldir smiled and held out his forearm to the younger elf, "I have a mistress who calls, my friend. And to this call I must be true. If Lisse asks after my absence, tell her I shall be back before Summer is played out."

Gilnoril nodded and grasped his new-found friend's forearm, "Whatever this is all about, Haldir, may the Valar go with you."

Haldir smiled, "And may it be so."

Turning, his steps sure and steady, Haldir crossed under the elm and ivy-covered arch and walked steadily into the night. In a moment, Gilnorin, whose eyes were better than most, could no longer see the tall elf and he frowned.

"Ai, Manwë Sulimo! I feel mysteries are beginning to thread their tendrils about us! Save us, Varda of the Stars, from magicks and mysteries!"

Sighing, he thoughtfully walked back to the Hall.

~*~*~*~*~

Key:
Manwe Sulimo = Greatest of the Valar, spouse to Varda. Surnamed Súlimo, which means: "Lord of the Breath of Arda" (from the Valaquenta)

Quendi = The race of elves; what the elves call themselves.
Maethor = warrior

Kinslaying = The first slaying of an elf by another elf, when the followers of Feanor (the maker of the Silmarils) attacked the Teleri in Alqualonde, rebelled against the Valar and led a great portion of the elves into Middle Earth in pursuit of Melkor and the Silma.
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~*~*~*~*~

The Pentanath:
Adventures in the Avathar
by Sienna Dawn

Rating: NC17
Pairing: Haldir/OFC

Legal disclaimer:
Characters, places, events from JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Silmarillion used without permission, no attempt has been made, nor will be made, to copyright these characters and no profit is being made from this work. All other non-Tolkien characters are of my own inven.
n.

[To be continued...] Feeback appreciated! Thanks!

Author's Note:
Thank you for your feedback and well wishes on the new job. I've drawn graveyard shift..which is good for me since I'm a night owl. I am uploading several chapters since the end of Books ats at hand and things need to start heating up soon...thanks for sticking with the story.

Suilad,
Sienna
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The Pentanath: Adventures in the Avathar