The old ways

Scouts were riding up front, scanning for any foes that might stand in their way. It was already dark when they called for a short rest.

Water was given to the wounded and walking and after having consumed a small meal they sat out again.

Eowyn walked beside the horses that carried Haldir and talked to him from time to time. She was glad that he obviously had overcome his fears and doubts and was relaxing, staring up into the clear nights sky. When she looked again, his eyes had gone vacant and only the calm raise and fall of his chest told her that he was still with them.

Eowyn shivered slightly underneath the thin woollen cape that she wore during the long walk in the night. Early morning dampness lingered around them and seemed to creep underneath their clothes and into their bones. A look to the sky told her that the sun would come up soon and she looked forward to the warming rays that would dry the clothes and make all of them feel better. She hurried her step noticing that she had fallen behind and moved beside the horses carrying Haldir again, when she heard a cry from one of the scouts. The trek immediately stopped and everyone, even the horses stayed quiet afraid of being detected of whatever out out there that had caused the scout to cry out.

After a few minutes, that seemed to pass as slowly as hours came the answer whispered from front to back. When at last Eowyn heard the news as well, she gave a shocked cry and ran up to the front.

Henneth, the first scout, knelt some yards to the left in the high grass, head bowed and holding onto something.

Eowyn lifted her dress up and moved through the thick long grass over to where Henneth was kneeling.

What she saw made her heart miss a beat.

A body, no not quite since his head was missing, was laying on the ground his hand clutching tightly to the papers and in his other one a long but obviously unused knife. Even though the head was missing, it was clear who it had beIt wIt was Harlang, the messenger who had left two days ago in order to bring important papers to Edoras.

Eowyn knelt at the side of the corpse and pried his fingers open to retrieve the blood soaked paper.

There it was; the letter she had written in Haldir’s name to Legolas.

With weak knees she got up from the ground and without saying a single word to Henneth she turned to the waiting group of people and ordered them to move on.

While she let the group pass her by, until Haldir’s litter came into view she racked her mind on: if or how to tell Haldir the news, but when she saw his face she knew that he had already heard. His face looked pale and his breath was coming in short and painful gasps.

When she was by his side again he only looked at her, as if to ask for her confirmation. She nodded.


During their long way to Edoras Haldir never spoke another word. The lady of Rohan sensed his deep traumatic fear and anguish, but there was nothing she could do for him. Not here and not now.

His face was absent and he seemed not to be only lost in thought but also lost to this world. It was like he had given up. She shook her head and moved a little closer to him and reached for his hand. Eowyn nearly let go off his hand in shock. The hand felt cold and clammy, no strength was left in the callused fingers. She had to do something.

When they reached the city of Edoras late the next day, the wounded were immediately brought to separate rooms. Before Haldir was taken away, Eowyn bid her helpers to wait and went to speak to one of the servants. She returned giving the men, carrying Haldir’s litter, specific orders where to take him.

After Haldir was carefully transported onto the soft and downy bed, Eowyn sat at his bedside and took hold of his chin and moved his head in her direction, so that he had to look at her.

"Haldir! Look at me!" she ordered.

"Nay, my Lady. Let me be." Haldir’s voice was barely audible.

"Haldir I don’t know yet if he has been here or in what condition he was. But I will find out. Right now there is no chance for me to ask anyone. But I am sure that he is all right."

""You don’t understand. If he thinks I am dead..."

"I know, you told me. But Haldir listen! If your bond that you share is as strong as you told me, wouldn’t you know if he was dying or healthy? You said it yourself, that you always can feel him or rather his presence. Could you not try to focus on that? Maybe you will know. Meanwhile I will try to find out as much as I can." Eowyn got up from the bed and moved over to the door "Oh, Haldir. I forgot to tell you, this was his room, before he went to Helms deep. I thought it might comfort you a little bit."

Haldir drew a shuddering breath and tried to think clearly. Had Legolas been here after they had left the Hornburg? Wouldn’t anybody tell them what happened? Maybe Eowyn was right. He had always been able to feel his husband through the strong bond they shared. If he could just relax enough to focus on it.

So he let his mind wander to happier times, times when he had shared a loving time with Legolas, a time full of plans and ideas for their future, a time before it all went sour.

The moon had long risen when Haldir finally had found his peace and he decided to try and search for this one feeling of belonging inside of him. At first he was scared. Scared of the outcome. Scared that he might feel nothing. Scared that would feel a severed bond. But he had to know.

So he turned his thought to himself, to his body and mind. And there it was, the familiar soft humming of the bond, the reassuring feeling of togetherness, of love and devotion. A soft but joyful cry escaped his lips, only to be stopped by a frightened gasp. There was something else. Something mingling with the bond he shared with his husband. Another presence. What did it have to do with Legolas? Haldir’s chest burned with a sudden pain. Was Legolas with someone else? Had he already taken another to heal his pain? Tears were running freely down the pale cheeks of the Lorien warrior. He couldn't believe it. No, it mustn't be. If only the message would have reached Legolas. But it hadn’t.