Translation of Elvish: Melethen - my love.

Chapter 25 - Nightly Encounters

Haldir's anger had multiplied. How dare she treat him as if nothing had happened? As if his whole world had not broken down around him, burying him beneath the rubble. His life lay in shatters, his heart broken. And Éowyn had acted as if she had been the one who had been wronged.

The cold steel in his hands woke him from his reverie. Soon his twin knives would be stained with the blood of the King of Gondor. He would get his revenge before his hurt would consume him. Why? This one question shot up once and once again. Why had they betrayed him like that? Why had she betrayed him? Him, who loved her with all his heart and soul. Had everything been just a game for her? A small voice inside his head tried to make him reconsider, begged him to first speak with Éowyn. But he silenced it quickly.

He was about to leave the room, the very chambers he had shared with Éowyn. But as he opened the door he found his way blocked by both Legolas and Orophin. "Ah Haldir, at last..." Legolas' hands shot forward, pushing Haldir into the room, making him stumble and crash to the floor. Orophin glared at him and as he spoke his voice was low with anger. "What exactly do you think you are doing? Have you lost your mind to treat Éowyn like that?"

Haldir was stunned, not only by the fact that his own brother was lining against him but also by the anger he saw in Legolas' eyes. For the first time in his long life something had gotten him to lose his temper. Haldir laughed; a cold laugh, bare any emotions. "Has she sent you here? To find out why I wronged her? I will tell you why ... because this is just what she deserves." He struggled back to his feet and continued. "And this," he added raising the knives in his hands, "is just what Aragorn deserves..."

Legolas stared at the Guardian questioningly. "And what, prey tell, did they do? What did the man I bound my life to do to you?"

Slowly Haldir related the things he had seen from the battlements to the two elves before him. "You cannot be serious. You really believe that..." Legolas shook his head. "Éowyn told us during dinner that she had finally left her past behind her, by thanking Aragorn for healing her, for bringing her back to you. The only true love of her life." He gazed at the Lórien elf, suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of pity. "She would never do anything to hurt you knowingly. Haldir, whenever she speaks of you her eyes are lit from within. There is still time for you to set everything to rights again."

Orophin now stood beside his brother, his arm around his shoulder. "Legolas is right. Seek her out. Do not make her pay for your foolishness..."

He shook off Orophin's hand, "Have you been listening to me at all? They are together; they must have been ever since they first met... Legolas, you bound yourself to a man unworthy of you. And I was so close to making the same mistake..."

The Prince just stared at him. "You think I would have remained with him under such circumstances? No, Haldir. And deep down inside, you know it, too. Does your heart not scream out to you? Not in hurt but disbelief?" Legolas moved towards the March Warden and lay a hand upon his shoulder. "Is the love you feel for her not worth fighting for?" Slowly Haldir nodded. It had to be as Legolas said; his jealousy had made him see things that were nonexistent. He dropped the knives he was still holding and left the room, closely followed by his brother and the Elven Prince.

---

Aragorn had witnessed the scene between Haldir and Éowyn, and before Legolas and Orophin had followed Haldir, his Prince had whispered to him. "Find her, follow her, do not leave her alone." He didn't know what exactly had happened, but Legolas had sounded urgent. So he had excused himself from the remaining dinner guests and left the hall in search of Éowyn.

And he had found her. In the gardens, surrounded by darkness she sat under an old willow tree. She seemed to be so forsaken and alone that it almost broke his heart to look upon her. He had approached her, slowly lowering himself to the grass next to her. Taking her into his embrace, trying to comfort her, trying to take away the pain he could feel emitting from her.

---

Soon the three elves were out in the palace gardens. And they saw Éowyn, still curled up in her grief. But she was not alone. Seeing Aragorn holding her made something snap inside of Haldir. It was only due to the strong hands of his companions, that he did not strangle both humans on the spot. Hearing the struggling elves, Éowyn looked up and for a fleeting moment caught Haldir's eyes.

Then he finally freed himself from the grip of Legolas and Orophin and turned on his heels. Éowyn, still oblivious of what was going on, jumped to her feet and ran after him. As she finally caught up with him she called out for him. "Haldir, what is it that makes you shrink away from me? What have I done to you?"

He turned abruptly, gripping her wrists and pulling her closer to him. "Never ever speak to me again. I cannot stand your sweet face anymore. Did you enjoy it? I have to admit that you put up a very believable show indeed. But it was all a lie, was it not?" His eyes were flaring, never had she seen him like that. "Haldir, what has come over you?" she tried, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"I finally saw you for what you really are. A deceiver, a liar, in one word, you are human! Just like your beloved Aragorn. I hope you will be happy with him. You can be proud of yourself. You destroyed two first-borns on the way..."

He let go of her wrists and was about to turn his back to her again when she reached out to touch his face. "Haldir, melethen..."

He caught her hand, forcing it away from him. "Next time you try to touch me you will regret it. Leave me alone, never come under my eyes again!"

And with that he was gone into the night. Beyond reach. Éowyn sank to the ground. He had not hit her physically, but his eyes had been like thousands of daggers, all aimed at her heart. There had been no trace of his love for her in those cold eyes. And with his last comment he had ripped it out of her chest, leaving her to bleed, to die.

---

It was like this that Legolas, Orophin and Aragorn found her a few minutes later. She looked like a scared deer, cornered by its hunters. No, she was not frightened anymore; she was broken. Whatever had come to pass between the two, Haldir must have done his worst. Orophin rushed to her side, holding her in his arms, softly stroking her golden hair. Trying to soothe her with gentle words, but feeling that her pain was beyond healing.

Had she been hurting after finding out about Aragorn and Legolas, now she was in agony. She clung to Orophin, feeling him grieve for her. Legolas broke the silence finally as he muttered to Aragorn, "I should not have asked you to follow her. Seeing you together, it only confirmed his foolish ideas." He kneeled by Éowyn's side. "He saw you. Saw you with Aragorn this afternoon. And he believes..."

Her eyes locked with his, "He thinks that I have never been truthful towards him. It sickens him to see me because he believes that I never ever wanted to be around him in the first place, that he has given his love to someone unworthy of it." She gazed at the Elven Prince and managed a weak smile, "And I am. He is one of the First-Born; I would only bring misery over him. Maybe this is his only chance to leave me without suffering too greatly from it..."

Both elves and Aragorn stared at her in disbelief. "You cannot mean this. Éowyn, you are everything to him. His life, his soul. That is why he is so scared of losing you. And that is why he has probably managed to do so." Orophin looked at her intensely, trying to search her mind, "Has he? Has he lost the only thing he could ever be proud of? The only true love of his life?"

"He will always have my love. But if it is his wish to live without me in his life... I'm not going to force him to be with me, no matter what the cost might be."

Orophin kissed her forehead and muttered, "Well, we shall see about that." Slowly he stood and raised Éowyn. Her eyes were vacant, as if she had lost herself.

"You go after him. I'll look after her." Aragorn took Éowyn's hand and led her back to the palace.

Legolas and Orophin shared a glance and the Prince nodded. "I think we have not managed to make our point clearly just now. My dear brother needs stronger arguments to turn him around I think."

Legolas smirked, "Indeed. And it shall be my pleasure to wake him up." With that they set out to search for Haldir. Both had the feeling they knew where he was.

---

Haldir had run back to their chambers, no, there was no 'their' anymore. There never had been. He would make them pay. He would... 'Haldir,' a voice said inside his head. 'How could you? What do you think you were doing?' Galadriel's voice, filled with anger. Never had he heard the sweet voice of his Lady speak to him in such a manner. 'I thought you loved her, but your actions tell a different tale. How dare you? Did you set out today to destroy her life?' Rage, hardly held back.

'My Lady, she has betrayed...' Galadriel cut him short, 'It is you who betrays her. There is nothing between her and Elessar. She went to him only out of gratefulness. He healed her, brought her back to your arms. How blind can one be? The proud March Warden, haughty Haldir. Haughty indeed.' She almost spat. 'Your arrogance disables you to see things as they really are. You do not see what you just did to her. How dare you speak of treason and betrayal? You did not even grant her the chance to explain herself. You are unworthy of her love.'

Haldir sank down on the bed, staring at the pillow Éowyn's head had rested upon just a night ago. Once again he saw the images of the previous afternoon, but now he finally understood. 'What have I done?'

The tone of his Lady's voice changed. 'She might never forgive you, but you have to try. Try to mend the wounds you have inflicted upon her soul. There is no life for you without her. You know that. Find her; beg her to forgive you. Swallow your foolish pride and finally listen to what your heart tells you. I will not see you return to the Golden Wood without her...'

With that her voice was gone. Haldir was alone, alone to ponder on his Lady's words and on what he had done. He had seen the grief in her eyes. Why had he not paid attention to it? No matter what he had said, she had still been willing to forget it. The touch of her small hand, her voice speaking words of love. And he had thrown it back into her face. Would he ever be able to make her forget this? She had been right when calling him a vile creature, unworthy of being an elf.

Never before had he felt regret, but now his heart was cramping every time he thought of the words he had given her. Slowly he got up, moving through the room, opening the door. He would find her. Had to find her. With shaking legs he started his exploration of the palace only to be stopped after making just a few steps.

"Haldir," the voice of Legolas. He turned and barely saw the fist of the Prince before it hit his jawbone. He tumbled backwards against the wall. "If you intended to break her heart, well, congratulations."

Orophin's hand closed around his brother's throat. "You were always to be trusted with destroying everything true and good around you. I had hoped that you would have learned by now." Orophin's eyes shot sparks at him.

Haldir did not try to fight himself free. He deserved this, and much more. When Orophin's hand finally let go of him, he let himself slide down to the floor. "Legolas, Orophin. Please tell me that I am not beyond hope. That I have not damaged the bonds between our hearts beyond repair." He covered his face with his hands and for the first time in centuries he started to weep. 'Sweet Elbereth, what have I done?'