A Welcoming End to a New Beginning

[marchwarden]

Characters: Haldir of Lothlorien & Whomever else joins
Setting: Room 2-20, then the open halls of the Tower
Format: Action or Prose, whichever is fine. Starting with prose
Summary: Baffled and startled by his sudden presence here, a lone Elf decides to explore the Tower's Halls.
Warnings: N/A


A sense of dread washed over the proud Elf as his fingers curled around the cold steel pressed around his neck. Haldir didn't know what to expect when he first awoke. His dreary gaze was welcomed by a white ceiling that lingered above his paralyzed form. He could see nothing else at first but Haldir could tell he was resting on a bed of some kind. Remembering well that the last bed he slept in was in Lorien, the dread he first felt earlier threatened to consume him now. Was this Mandos' doing? Had he finally come to the end of his long life at last? If so, what sort of judgment will be had for him? The Elf had always prided himself in not fearing the unknown but now he finds the same fear he once scoffed to be his only comfort now.

Attempting to rise from the bed for a second time, Haldir breathed a sigh of relief once his limbs finally responded to his will. Long pale hair spilled over the Elf's shoulders, tousled and knotted with perspiration. A wave of brief nausea welcomed Haldir as he forced himself into a sitting position on the bed, but he didn't worry. Less concerned about whatever wounds he might still possess from that horrors that invaded Helm's Deep, Haldir found himself more curious than alarmed by his current surroundings. Of course, he was a tad baffled by the horrid white attire he was dressed within especially since the bodysuit clung to his form like second skin. Wondering as of how and when he was given such awkward clothing, his dark cobalt gaze spotted something worthy of his intrigue at the foot of the bed. It was a chest of some kind, a brown oak-wood chest that seemed to be tightly sealed. Eying it would much suspicion, Haldir turned his gaze away from the chest and looked up towards the ceiling again.

“...Where am I?” He questioned to no one as he carefully placed his feet down against the cold floor. Standing proved to be a tad difficult at first for Haldir but soon the muscles in his legs complied and he stood evenly off the bed. He gave the oak-wood chest a second glance as he approached it. Carefully touching and studying the chest with his nimble fingers, the Elf balked once he heard a distant click inside. “It's open?” Haldir muttered as he pushed the chest's lid up. “As old as the tales claim to be, never once have I heard of the Valar bestowing gifts upon the fallen.” Noticing that these said “gifts” were none other than an assortment of Elven armament and weaponry, Haldir closed the chest hastily after prying loose a long gray and silver robe out. This, like his other items, were also made by Elven hands, no undoubtedly tailored in his home of Lothlórien. Dressing hastily out of these offending white garbs, Haldir takes the conveniently placed blade out of the chest and makes his way towards the nearest door. However, before he could take his leave, a letter he didn't notice upon the bed beside him catch his notice. It's addressed to him and him only, but what's written there doesn't make a lick of sense to the marchwarden.

“Destroyed?” He questioned with an elegant arch of his brow. “Has Sauron and his minions won?” The silence in the room was nearly deafening at this point. “This cannot...be.” In need for answers and in need of them now, Haldir takes his leave from the room and marches into the halls with his blade ready to be drawn.

Comments

[alephbet]

When Haldir runs across Aleph, he's exploring the halls the same as him, although in much different gear and weaponry.

Aleph doesn't fail to notice Haldir's state of mind, and keeps himself ready to activate his Arm Terminal in case combat is necessary. He'd rather not fight any opponent by himself.

Still, he'd rather not fight at all. "Are you new today also?" he asks.

[marchwarden]

Hesitantly embarking down the corridors in a uneven pace, Haldir suddenly came to a halt when he heard the footsteps of another. They were faint but not quiet enough to escape his ears. With his right hand clutching the hilt of his blade tightly, the Elf arched his brow once a young man dressed in fanciful garbs appeared before him. "...What do you mean?" He narrows his eyes in suspicion, obviously uncertain as of what the youth meant by that. "Are you a prisoner here as well, child?" It certainly seemed that way but how can Haldir be so certain that this strange boy isn't a threat of some kind? He certainly looked odd enough to be a threat but Haldir didn't quite feel the need to unsheathe his blade just yet. Instead, he chose to watch the study youth with a skeptical gaze.

"State your business here."

[alephbet]

"Prisoner. I just woke up here this morning with a letter that said my world was gone, and now I'm exploring the place I'm stuck in," Aleph explained. He couldn't tell the man's age, but it was probably far greater than his own, so he didn't rankle at being called a child. "Apparently we're by far not the first to be brought here."

[marchwarden]

The elegant arch of his brow said volumes once the boy mentioned there being others trapped here. Now wondering just how many realms been destroyed as the letter stated, Haldir briefly finds himself at a loss for words. "Do you know how many of us have been imprisoned here?" While Aleph is probably not a child anymore in human terms, the Elf honestly has a few centuries over the young messiah. Haldir's true age has always been a bit of mystery to others but the marchwarden is actually over two thousand years old. He's been alive since the start of the Third Age and still he's considered to be somewhat "young" in his culture. The longevity of the Elves is quite humbling at times.

"Speak. How many have been imprisoned here?" Despite the commanding tone in his voice, Aleph should rest assure knowing that the warden won't strike him down any time soon. That blade of his is still firmly within its sheathe.

[alephbet]

"I have three roommates, so four in total in my room. There are four floors of twenty rooms each that, from those of them I've seen, are identical. So, that means that there are no more than-" Aleph did some quick math. "Three hundred and twenty people trapped here."

[keeps_count]

Legolas had not much hope for seeing others from home, since the disappearance of Faramin, Boromir and Aragorn. He was glad to have Gandalf and Gimli here with him, especially after last month when he hadn't seen anyone but his podmates. So when he had left his room today, armed with his bow and twin blades, he wasn't looking for familiar faces but for those he had met while here.

Were his eyes not so keen, he'd have missed the sight of the marchwarden. He did not miss the sight of him though and he grinned at the sight of he other elf, quickly closing the distance between them and laying a hand lightly on his shoulder.

"Haldir. Creoso, mellonamin."

[marchwarden]

More mentally prepared to fight his way out of Mandos' clutches than to see a familiar face, Haldir was stunned to silence once he spotted the Prince of Mirkwood here in this foul dungeon. Of course Legolas noticed Haldir far quicker than Haldir noticed him but once Legolas came near, a look of surprise welcomed him. "Legolas?" He blinked his eyes a few times in disbelief. "But how--?" The marchwarden assumed that from the letter that he was the only survivor hailing from Middle-earth but lo' and behold, it seems he was wrong and thankfully so.

Allowing a hint of joy to linger upon his lips, Haldir couldn't help but smile now. “Mae govannen, heruamin.” His smile only grows at this point. “Tell me, how many others survived the siege?”

[keeps_count]

Though more than a century had passed since Legolas had fought in Helm's Deep, he knows exactly what Haldir speaks of. The battles fought during the War of the Ring have never left the thoughts of the prince, each day giving a silent prayer in memory of the fallen.

"That battle has long since passed for me. I can tell you that there were many survivors and many dead. Too many friends were buried there." Half of him wants to embrace the other elf, assure himself that he really is there but he contains himself.

"Ah, but the war is over and Sauron dead. Middle Earth is free of his shadow."

[marchwarden]

The news he received was so unexpected that Haldir had to bite back the urge to laugh for joy. Finally the threat that had been Sauron the Dark Lord of Mordor, now ceases to be. Such a truth would've been perceived as a lie had it come from any one else other than a member of the Fellowship. A strange sense of calm washed over Haldir as he thought of the countless brave men he sacrificed for the sake of a greater good. His wardens fought bravely to the very end, including himself.

Struggling to keep a hold of his emotions now, Haldir's face returns to neutral and all traces of his smile fades suddenly. His blue gaze is still lit with cheer but he doesn't dare express this happiness outwardly. "It brings me much joy to know our efforts weren't in vain, milord." He replied with a hint of warmth in his tone. "However, it would seem we find ourselves in a new predicament outside of the misery caused by the One Ring." He glances away from Legolas as he drew his fingers up to caress the edges of his green collar.

"Whatever this is, I fear its purpose."

[keeps_count]

"It is not necessary to refer to me as a lord. Especially not here." It felt strange to be referred to as anything but Legolas in these times, especially in the tower. He preferred to be seen as simply an elf rather than anyone of importance here.

It saddened Legolas though, to know that Haldir had come from the midst of battle and to be told that Middle Earth was gone. He had mixed feelings regarding Middle-Earth's fate. Gandalf had shown him an apparent recording of the worlds death yet Aragorn had urged him to keep hope since Legolas had seen his crowning and beyond the events of anyone else that had come from their world.

As Haldir touched his fingers to his own collar, Legolas revealed his. Filled with the same color liquid as the others.

"Every couple weeks we are called to the infirmary for our collars to be checked. We don't have a choice in going, they will force us if necessary." Legolas didn't want to leave it on that note so he shifted to the lightest topic he could think of.

"Have you eaten? I was considering going for food before seeing you."

dorm 2-20

[drknss_bnd_lght]

"It's Animus. Either home or a prision. I'm not...sure. But it's home for me." Ventus himself had only been able to speak and move for less than a minute when he heard the voice. Already he knew he was back in the tower; he didn't mind. His own world - the one that he'd been returned to after dying (When, Ventus wouldn't have a clue, just that it was sometime ago) - held little to no sentimentality, but it had confirmed a few things for him. Even the twenty minutes of paralysis didn't seem that bad. Though, that was of course a matter of opinion and Ventus's view of what was good and bad was still extremely skewed.

Slowly, the young man pushed himself, then paused. A headtilt later and he was 'staring' at the direction of the voice. Though it was hard to tell due to the blindfold the blonde wore. "Uh..."

This was his room, right? But... Taiki. Eridan. Eraqus. There were four to a room. He knew that. One of them was missing... But who? A worried look passed his face before his left hand clenched reflexively before it relaxed. "You're not - W-...Y-you're new."

Another person, someone must have left. Who though? He'd have to find out later. Right now, he needed to figure out who this person was.

[marchwarden]

A startled gasp nearly escaped Haldir's lips once he heard the voice. Despite all his training and how keen his senses were, the Elf didn't notice anyone else was in the room until now. His eyes narrowed significantly when he caught a glimpse of the blindfolded youth. It's clear that the child must've been another refugee or rather prisoner from another realm. Haldir deducted that much considering the boy didn't possess the usual accent associated with those who inhabit the Lands of Arda. Eying him in silence for a moment or two, the Elf finally speaks. It seems that his presence here startled the youth greatly.

"That I am." He answered evenly without a hint of emotion in his tone. "I arrived in this realm today, child. I trust that I'm merely one of many who've escaped certain peril, am I correct?" Wondering if it would be better to sit or stand, Haldir decides to sit upon the bed rather than stand. Still somewhat dizzy from the whole ordeal, the Elf doubted he would have much to worry from a child.

[drknss_bnd_lght]

"I see." Ventus tilted his head to the other side now, a thoughtful hum escaping his lips for a second before he was silent; Listening to the other sounds in the dorm, even as he made his way to the edge of the bed. Without his sight, it fell to his hearing to gain an accurate 'read' of the newcomer, more so given that it appeared they were roommates. While being called a child did get a twitch, Ventus didn't say anything about it.

".. Yes and no." A pause then, more hesitantly and softly - "This place is dangerous too. But it's ok. I rather it here. Home's nothing but a distant nightmare."

His grin's fake enough, but there is a hint of truth there.

[marchwarden]

"Is that so?" Frowning faintly as the boy smiled at him, Haldir's gaze is instantly drawn back to the blindfold over the youth's eyes. "...Are you injured by any chance?" He asked a tad abruptly. The boy didn't seem like he was injured or anything, but Haldir was curious about the blindfold. He somewhat doubted that the youth would answer him honestly but his curiosity got the better of him.

[drknss_bnd_lght]

"No. It's better this way." Ventus shook his head at the question with a small shrug. In his mind, it was better, and given what he'd been though after the end of the labyrinth, he wasn't sure that he wanted the blindfold off, even if it could be removed. And he'd gotten so used to it in the ;ast ten years, that it was likely that should it come off, he'd get disorientated and fast.

"Yes. It's best to try and avoid the monsters if you can't fight or don't have a weapon."

[donttelltheelf]

It takes a moment to register. A long, long moment. And then Gimli grins.

"Marchwarden!" The booming voice has a twirl of joy in it, because Gimli has reached the point where any familiar face is welcome.

Haldir is not a friend of his, not the way Legolas or Gandalf or the rest of the fellowship are, but he's a familiar friendly face. One Gimli is all too glad to see. He welcomes friends, hopefully friends that will not die. He's so tired of death. It's so exhausting, here in the tower. So twisted. So personal.

[marchwarden]

As soon as Haldir's gaze laid eyes on the dwarf, the marchwarden was almost surprised he hadn't sensed the loud little father earlier. The dwarf looked up at him with such a jovial mirth in his gaze, something that Haldir isn't quite sure is reserved for him. Of course the Elf hadn't been very close with the Fellowship per say but Haldir views them as allies nonetheless. As valiantly those few chose to take up the quest laid before them, Haldir certainly wouldn't or rather couldn't view them as anything less than noble and brave.

Yet, when it comes to the dwarf; Haldir thinks of him as noble and obnoxiously loud.

"Must you be so boisterous, little one?" The Elf asked with a friendly smirk upon his pale lips.

[donttelltheelf]

And there it comes, right on cue, typical elf being... well, elf. Gimli rolls his eyes with flourish at the remark.

"I think I've earned the right to be, master elf," he says, not quite losing his mood at Haldir's reaction. "I think you will find few things here are worth being boisterous about, so says I, better enjoy them when they come."

...that might or might not have been a roundabout way of saying he's glad to see you. Maybe. His relationship to elves is complicated, alright?

[marchwarden]

Elves are such a fussy race of people, aren't they? Always so proper, so cool at temper and so haughty. While Haldir is viewed quite strangely amongst his kind for not being your typical Elf, that doesn't mean that the marchwarden doesn't suffer for his kind's usual shortcomings. "I see." He replied simply as the dwarf attempted to explain himself. From what he last heard about Gimli, was that the son of Glóin wasn't quite fond of Elves and for understandable reasons. At one time, Elves and Men once got along quite well but his kind never got along with the Dwarves.

Regarding the little one with an appraising gaze, Haldir almost allowed his smile to widen a tad more. If he had feared that his stay at the Tower would be a boring one, then he's glad to be mistaken. "If so, then we are well met, dwarf."

[donttelltheelf]

Gimli swung his axe so it rested on his shoulder, favoring the elf with a smirk. See, at least sometimes he bothers to explain himself, but you're not Legolas so that explanation is probably not gonna make a lick of sense. So why bother?

"We are, elf, this time we are," Gimli nods once, then arches both brows. "Have you been here long?"

[the_white_rider]

Much like Legolas and Gimli, Gandalf had not had much hope to see more people from his homeworld, from Middle-Earth. Not when three of them disappeared after only a short stay. He had his own theory as to why they had disappeared. After what the Princess and he did, their attempt to unite and indirectly stand against the administrators, they may have wanted... Ah well, it was no time for that, and they couldn't allow themselves to stop.

But it was without a doubt the White Wizard's path that Haldir was about to cross in the corridor- And probably not the White Wizard he remembered. Gandalf smiled lightly as he approached the marchwarden... For all intent and purpose he should have been dead, but after so long in the tower this was not of nature to surprise the wizard.

"Master Elf." he said slowly to Haldir with a nod "It is a delight to see you in this place."

... And a great tragedy if one was to consider what this tower did to its inhabitants, but mentioning it wouldn't make for a good welcome.

[marchwarden]

As soon as the mild-mannered greeting reached his pointy ears, Haldir came to an immediate halt. He stood there at the other end of the hall with a look of pure surprise upon his pale face. Blinking his eyes once then twice as the legendary wizard approached, Haldir couldn't help but feel almost humbled by the presence of Gandalf the White. "A delight that is greatly shared, hodoer." He replied with a curt bow in reverence to the Maia that stood before him. Uncertain what to say or what to even think, Haldir eyes widened briefly as he recalled what transpired prior to the Fellowship's arrival to Lothlorien.

"They claimed-" The warden finally spoke after a moment of thick silence. "They claimed that Gandalf the Grey had fallen by the hands of a Balrog. Yet, as I gaze upon you, I see that such rumors were true indeed." Indigo eyes stared at the Wizard in both shock and awe for it seemed that Gandalf the Grey has become something far greater than that.

"You were...born anew."

[the_white_rider]

The White Wizard let the Elf speak, probably wincing ever so slightly at the mention of the Balrog.

"Name him not." Gandalf said about the Balrog, it was obviously still a quite painful memory even though as all things part of the design of Eru Ilúvatar, this brought about something greater and more beautiful than any could have imagined. He nods at Haldir's conclusion before continuing.

"Long I fell, long he fell with me, long we fought far under the living earth and above the highest peak." he said slowly as he stared to walk to the stairs, waving at Haldir for he come with me "I was sent back to Middle-Earth at the tide of the turn, and as you may or not have been told, a positive outcome came out of all of this."

"Our missions accomplished, rest we would have deserved, but destiny has something else for us it appears."

[marchwarden]

Realizing all too late that he spoke too freely about the wizard's heroic ordeal, Haldir nods curtly in apology. He wishes not to bring forth anymore unsavory memories for Gandalf to face. No, he was merely stating his slight admiration for the wizard to return from Death without barely a scratch. Even though there might have been other Maiar who've overcame similar daunting trials in the past, there's no one would who would dare doubt Gandalf's greatness. Watching as the wizard made his way towards the stairs, the marchwarden gave follow once Gandalf waved towards him.

"Destiny is usually quite cruel, isn't it?" He replied with a half-smirk. "None of us could've possibly expected such an outcome, yet here we are." The Elf let out a slight sigh. "Yet here we are..."

[the_white_rider]

"And we all are here with a specific purpose. There are millions, sometimes billions of people on our homeworlds. It is a certainty to me that there is something we are all meant to accomplish here."

Gandalf goes down the stairs, it's a long way down where he takes him so that shall take a while, but that doesn't matter, at least it'll give him time to explain everything that has to be explained and answer whatever question Haldir may have.

"... Did the other tell you about Middle-Earth and this Tower?"