Translation of Elvish: Mellonen - my friend. Namárië - farewell. Melethen - my love. Nín anoriel - my sun-maiden. Cuilen - my life.

Chapter 20 - Reunion

Orophin's hand shot forward, closing about Haldir's neck. "Your what? Do you seriously want to tell us that you finally found love? In a mortal?" His eyes were sparkling dangerously. Legolas slowly moved in and drew Orophin's hand away from his brother's throat. "Do you prefer to let him answer or will you just kill him right away?" Rúmil turned towards the Prince, "What is it to you, or did you know?"

Legolas just nodded. Haldir had finally regained is composure and eyed his brothers, now equally angered. "Yes, Orophin. She is a mortal, and it fills me with terror to think of that. I fought my own feelings, for far too long. I am tired of fighting, please, do not force me to fight you." He raised his hands in a defensive gesture, "I do not wish to stand against you, but by the Valar, I will if I have to. She has seen enough grief already, I will not allow anyone to hurt her again, least of all you."

Rúmil had started to grin and was now laughing aloud. "You, in love? What kind of joke is this? Haldir, you are not capable of this kind of feelings. I do not know anyone who is colder than you are when it comes to the matters of the heart. The only ones you have ever shown honest affection for, are the members of your family. Everyone else was graced by your arrogance," he added with a frown. "Orophin is the one who cares about others, not you." Legolas now stood next to Haldir, facing the two other elves. "Rúmil, do not be mistaken in your brother's capabilities to feel. Éowyn has changed him. He is no more the haughty and arrogant elf he was. I have seen him loose his self-control, because of her."

Haldir looked at the Prince thankfully, but still shook his head. "You are wrong in that, mellonen. Without my arrogance Éowyn and I would still be apart now." Then he returned his gaze to his brothers. "I know I claimed that I would never be so foolish to fall for anyone and follow the example of Orophin. I cannot even tell how often I said such things. But I was wrong; yes, I admit it. There was something missing in my life. And only now do I know what that was ... her."

His brothers stood as if they had just been struck by lightning. At last Orophin spoke, "But she will, she will not be able to share your life with you. Haldir, she is mortal." Never before had he seen Haldir like this. Slowly the news started to sink into him, and he saw that his brother was indeed sincere about his feelings for this human woman. "I know that, you need not repeat it over and over again. But then, the Lady and Legolas both speak of a way, a way for us to be together forever."

Now Rúmil had found words again and uttered them, "Our Lady? Galadriel knows? Why did she not tell us?" - "I believe she wanted to let Haldir inform us of this," Orophin interrupted his youngest brother. "I do not say that I am happy with all of this, but if the Lady approves of it..." Haldir stared at Orophin in disbelief. "Brother, I know what it means to love ... I will not tell you to stop loving this Éowyn. I know you could not do it anyway. But be careful."

Finally the two embraced. To Haldir it felt as if a huge stone was taken off his chest. He was reunited with his brothers, and their rage seemed to have ebbed away. But Rúmil was still lost in thought. "What I do not understand is why you came here. Why did you not stay with her, at Rohan?" Legolas, who was still standing by Haldir's side, chuckled lowly. "Well, that might have been difficult as the Lady of the Riddermark is in fact here, at the Houses of Healing."

Orophin broke the embrace and looked at the Prince in puzzlement. "She is here? So do men now even send their women into battle?" Haldir smiled as the memory of Dernhelm flushed back into his mind. "No, but then, Éowyn is not what you would call a normal woman. I owe my life to her. If it had not been for her, I would probably be dead right now." He continued as he saw interest creep into his brother's eyes.

"She found me on the battlements of Helm's Deep, closer to death than to life. She healed me, and I treated her with utmost contempt. A mortal! I thought she was not even worthy of being in the same room with me. But then, she showed me the warmth of her soul, behind the icy outward appearance. I longed for her, thought I could fight my desires. But my heart was stronger than my will." His voice was heavy, the love for Éowyn filling his eyes.

"Her people, the late King Théoden and her brother wanted her to stay behind. But she refused to be ordered around. I could not be parted with her, and so I rode with her. I almost lost her on the battlefield. Did the Lady tell you, the Witch-King has been slain. Slain by none other than one of the halflings, Meriadoc, and Éowyn. I found them; she was almost gone. In that moment I realized that she indeed was all I needed, my only true love. And I will fight anyone who tries to tear us apart." The last he added with a menacing expression on his fair elven face.

Orophin nodded silently and Rúmil stated, "Just as headstrong as you are, is she not? Well, if you really think that she is your destiny ... it is not like you ever listen to what we said anyway," he finished with a shrug. Then he drew his brother into an embrace, whispering into his ear, "I shall be happy for you, you deserve it more than any other I know. Well, apart from me of course," he added with a grin.

Legolas now bowed to the three siblings and bid them farewell, "As you are not going to kill each other, I think it is safe if I now leave you alone. I believe you two have no intentions following us into battle," he added with a raised eyebrow. Both Orophin and Rúmil shook their heads violently. "We came only to see if Haldir had lost the rest of his mind, obviously he has," the youngest smirked. The Prince sighed, "As you wish. I will return to the Captains now. I do not believe I shall see you tomorrow. Namárië." But before he was out of hearing range he turned again, "Haldir. Please bid your lady farewell for me." With that he left them.

Orophin was the first to speak again, "Well, I should like to meet the woman who has conquered your heart. Would you lead the way?" Haldir looked from one to the other and then nodded. "Follow me."

Slowly they ascended on the main city road. Everywhere people pointed at them and whispered amongst themselves. Seeing the elves filled their hearts with joy. Their arrival had brought new hope to them. Maybe they weren't lost after all. And a rumour was running through the city. The King had returned to them, had healed their Steward. Haldir smiled to himself, 'Not only your Steward...'

At last they reached the sixth circle of the city and arrived at the Houses of Healing. Haldir was greeted by one of the healers and soon they stood before the door to Éowyn's chambers. Before the Guardian could reach for the handle, the door flew open and they faced Gandalf. "You have taken quite some time. Éowyn has just fallen asleep again." And quietly he added to Haldir, "She is worried, afraid of your brother's reaction. I will leave you now, but I warn you ... don't hurt her." The eyes of the wizard gleamed dangerously.

Without glancing at his brothers, Haldir passed the wizard and approached the bed of his beloved. The bed he had shared just last night. Warmth filled him as he recalled her sweet body in his arms. But not now. He kneeled by her side, taking her hand in his. "Éowyn, melethen. Awake, there are some that wish to meet you, nín anoriel."

Orophin and Rúmil slowly moved towards their brother. As they heard Haldir's voice whispering to Éowyn, as they saw the both of them together and beheld the gentle touch of their hands, all doubt faded from them. Here were two hearts that were bound by destiny. They were intended to be together. But why did she have to be of the Lesser Children?

Éowyn sighed softly as she opened her eyes, gaze locking with that of her lover. "Haldir, melethen." Haldir turned towards his brothers, followed by Éowyn's eyes. "Cuilen, these are my siblings. Orophin," the elf bowed slightly, not taking his eyes off the woman before him. "And Rúmil, my youngest brother." Rúmil did not even try to withhold his surprise and stared openly at the Lady of the Riddermark. Once again it was Orophin who broke the silence, "Our brother has told us much of your courage, my Lady. But he forgot to mention your beauty. I am happy for him, though I think I should warn you. Haldir is not the most amicable elf under the sun."

A smile appeared on Éowyn's face, making her gleam from within. "Thank you, but it's too late for that warning already, I'm afraid." Softly she withdrew her hand from Haldir's and reached for Orophin's. The tall elf bowed down to take it. "My Lady, you shall always be welcome in our family. Even though my younger brother might not be able to confirm this right now, I am sure he feels so as well." Gratitude made Éowyn's eyes shine, and tears of joy welled from her eyes.

Slowly Orophin let go of her hand, placing it into Haldir's. "You should treasure her, brother. For love is not found easy, and true love only once in a lifetime..."