Translation of Elvish: Nín anoriel - my sun-maiden. Melethen - my love. Cuilen - my life. Melin chen - I love you. Mellonen - my friend. Mae govannen - well met.

Chapter 19 - Many Meetings

Haldir woke when the first rays of the sun entered the room. Feeling the warmth of his love's body next to him filled his heart with joy. He leaned down to her head, which was resting on his chest, softly kissing her golden hair. He could feel her stir in his arms. Slowly she opened her eyes, looking up at him. "Did you sleep well?" he inquired with a smile. "I can't remember sleeping at all," Éowyn replied teasingly. "You wouldn't let me..."

A soft chuckle escaped the elf's throat, "Is that so? Well, I have to say that I slept safe and sound. Did anything happen last night worth remembering?" Éowyn raised herself and hit her lover's ribcage with her small fist. "Oh, really?" she demanded to know. Before she could launch another attack, he caught her wrist and brushed his lips over the soft skin of her hand. "I think my brothers might not be too happy to see how you treat me, nín anoriel..." The sparkle in his eyes was almost unbearable for Éowyn.

Her face was suddenly a mask of fear, "What if they hate me? What if they think I bewitched you? I can't even bear to think of living without you..." His free hand was now stroking her cheek. "That is not going to happen, melethen. Nothing they could ever say would turn me against you. You are my destiny, cuilen. Melin chen."

---

After a long, but infinitely sweet struggle, Haldir had finally managed to leave Éowyn alone for a short time. He longed to see his friends again, maybe for the last time ever. But apparently at least Legolas had thought along the same lines, because both elves almost collided at the entrance of the Houses of Healing. "Mellonen," the Elven Prince exclaimed. "My friend," Haldir said before he embraced a very surprised Legolas. "She surely has changed you; for the better," the Prince stated with a grin.

When Haldir broke the embrace he stared at his friend, recalling something Éowyn had told him the night before. "So you call me 'haughty Haldir', is that so mellonen?" He chuckled softly as he saw the surprise upon Legolas' fair face. "Have I really been this unbearable?" he added more seriously. At last the Prince understood; this was not an accusation, but an apology. "Haldir, this arrogance of yours. It is part of your soul. But at last you found the most important part of it; love. Haughty Haldir is still there, but he had found a brother, one that is nothing but loving."

"I cannot be without her," he said sincerely. "If you know any way..." Legolas stopped him by shaking his head. "It is not in my power to answer your question. All I am allowed to say is: do not despair, do not lose hope." Haldir stared at him, almost pleading. But he could see that it was useless to pursue the question. The Prince would not tell him. He had to wait until he was back in Lórien, with Éowyn.

"Now, may I see her? Or is she too weak after last night?" A sparkle was in Legolas' eyes. "I know what happened between you an Éomer. And I can also guess how you consoled Éowyn afterwards..." - "Legolas!" Haldir was stunned. What wickedness lay behind the fair elvish features of the Prince of Mirkwood? "I know the way humans love. Their passions ... and Éowyn is very passionate indeed. Like you my friend." A warm smile appeared on Haldir's face. He could still see the desire in his beloved's eyes, matched by his own.

Legolas' words woke him from his reverie, "So may I see her?" Haldir nodded, "I was just about to get her something to eat. She must be, well, close to being famished." Now Legolas chuckled, "You should be ashamed of yourself Haldir, she is still hurt..."

---

The day passed away. One happy meeting after another. It was the day before the Captains of the West would set out again. Set out to face the terrible strength of the Lord of Mordor. But no one mentioned this. There would be enough time to think of the terror that might come to each of them later.

The two hobbits, Meriadoc and Peregrin had joined them around mid-day. Meriadoc had tears in his eyes as he saw the Lady of the Riddermark again. He had believed her to be dead, had thought he had failed her. Her smile made him cry with joy. "What is this now, Master Halfling? This is not befitting a soldier of Rohan," she teased him. But she, too, felt tears welling from her eyes. Peregrin was almost speechless. He stood by Legolas' side in awe.

He had met Haldir in Lórien when the Fellowship came to the Golden Wood. But the Chief Guardian of those days had nothing in common with the elf who held the Lady of Rohan in his arms. His eyes were full of warmth where previously only cold had been. There was love where the hobbit had only seen contempt. The young hobbit had believed that Legolas was the only elf filled with this much feeling, but now he saw how mistaken he had been. And Éowyn ... he was struck by the thought that this beautiful woman should have killed the Lord of the Nazgûl.

Éomer also appeared. No longer trying to convince his sister of the wrongness of her feelings, he forced himself to be civil towards Haldir. Éowyn could see the struggle and sent a silent prayer to her ancestors. 'Give him strength, let him come back to me ... and let him accept my decision.'

Gandalf came in the evening. Everyone except for Legolas had left, and Éowyn had fallen asleep in her lover's arms. "How come you took this long, Haldir?" he asked as the door closed behind him. Both elves stared at the wizard in disbelief. The sound of soft laughter broke the silence. Éowyn had awoken and smiled at the old man. "Who else knew about it? I'm getting the impression that the only ones who didn't were Haldir and me." The eyes of the wizard gleamed happily and he closed the space between him and the bed with four steps.

Slowly he reached out to touch the woman's forehead. "Aragorn is a true healer. You owe your life to him." She nodded, smiling inwardly at the feeling of Haldir's arms closing around her. "I only wish I could thank him for it. Won't he come?" The wizard shook his head. "He will only enter the city again once he's made King. After the final battle..." Éowyn's hand closed around the wizard's. "Mithrandir, would you promise me something?"

Gandalf smiled and for a moment looked at Haldir, nodding to the elf. "Anything, if it's within my power." Éowyn's face was contorted in pain as she spoke. "Look after Éomer, I could not bear to lose him as well..." - "I will do what I can, my Lady," the wizard replied softly. The he raised himself and looked from one elf to the other. "It might interest you to hear that the archers of Lórien are approaching. We hadn't expected them before tomorrow but it seems that some of their numbers were just eager to arrive here." Gandalf finished with a grin.

---

Legolas and Haldir were standing on the city wall, looking over the Pelennor. Slowly riders, a great host of riders, approached the city gate. The two figures at the head of them were already clearly visible. Proud elvish faces, long flowing silvery hair ... Haldir's brothers. Legolas felt the tension of his friend and said with a sparkle in his eyes, "Well, I for one would not want to change places with you just now..."

Within five minutes they were by the city gates, just in time to meet the arriving elves. Legolas bowed to the two brothers as they dismounted. "Rúmil, Orophin ... mae govannen." One of the two turned to the Prince, while the other had his eyes fixed on Haldir, "Legolas, mellonen." With that Rúmil threw his arms around the Elven Prince. Haldir raised his gaze to meet that of his brother who spat, "Why, Haldir, why did you not come back?" His eyes where flaring, a fire ablaze within him. "The Lady told us that you had a good reason for it ... now I wonder what that might be!"

Rúmil had finally let go of Legolas and was now as well staring at his eldest brother. "I would also like to hear it, Haldir. Did you wish to be killed?" Haldir looked from one angry face to the other. "I had a reason," he whispered, "nín anoriel, cuilen ... Éowyn, Lady of Rohan..."