towerofanimus | A Welcoming End to a New Beginning

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A Welcoming End to a New Beginning

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.

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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."

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."

"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."

"Is it now?"

A hint of playfulness could be heard in Haldir's frigid tone. "Very well, Legolas. I shall refer to you however you wish." He inclines his head forward in a gracious manner not at all comfortable with the idea of being so informal to the Elven Prince. However, if Legolas wishes this then the marchwarden will try his best to keep the formalities at bay. With that subject now settled, Haldir's gaze settles firmly upon the awful collar clasped around Legolas' neck. A sense of dread washed over the ancient Elf once he realized the both of them wore these collars. It disgusted him to know that someone out there was brazen enough to mark the Prince of Mirkwood with such a disgusting trinket. If he could, he would snap the metal in half and rid themselves of these ridiculous collars but alas, he cannot. Much like the ill-fate of Middle-earth, there is nothing that Haldir can do.

The playfulness he once possessed vanishes as he thinks more about the letter. If Sauron was defeated, then why did all of Ennor succumb to such disaster? This entire topic pulls heavily at Haldir's heart. He doesn't know whether to believe the message or not. A part of him desperately wants that letter to be nothing more than a terrible lie but what if it isn't?

Then what? Haldir sighed deeply.

"I shan't be poked and prodded by anyone..." He muttered once Legolas spoke about the check ups. However, once the prince spoke about food, Haldir interests shift dramatically. "No, I have not and to be quite honest...I'm famished."

Edited 2012-07-11 02:59 (UTC)

Legolas grinned and nodded, glad that Haldir had taken so easily to calling him by name. He hadn't revealed his heritage to anyone here and to have someone treat him like the son of Thranduil would certainly cause a change in the behavior of others here. And he didn't want that at all.

In regards to the collar, Legolas almost didn't notice his by now except when he was called to the infirmary and when he chose clothes for each day. And he'd certainly made an attempt or two in removing it, without result.

"Come then, friend. I'll show you to the cafeteria. You've have to brave a bowl of oatmeal first but the food available this month is much better than it was previously. So you can wash it down with what you choose when you finish." The nutribars, while certainly filling, had not been a meal he'd want to partake in again.

Legolas' grin was infectious today for the warden almost found himself smiling again even after such displeasing thoughts. Just the thought of braving that hideous concoction nearly brought a frown to Haldir's lips. Like most Lothlorien Elves, they were more fond of fruits and meats than anything else. He's not very sure where such gruel would fit amongst these categories but he certainly bears no fondness for oatmeal.

"Very well. I certainly wouldn't mind the company." In truth he's quite grateful for it. Haldir had feared he would have to brave this Tower in his lonesome. Luckily no such cruel fate was bestowed upon him. Despite how individualistic he might be, Haldir found strength in numbers.

Edited 2012-07-11 11:57 (UTC)

His cheer was often infectious back home, and here he would behave no differently. The oatmeal was a necessary evil here, and Legolas would certainly never group it with the food Haldir preferred, but it was better than the alternative. And if they really wanted to, hunting was an option later on.

"I'll even join you in eating a bowl. Company makes it seem less terrible." Legolas grinned still and nodded before leading the way downstairs to the cafeteria. He gestured to one of the tables, encouraging the older elf to make himself comfortable while the prince grabbed two bowls of oatmeal. He carefully balanced them on one arm and then grabbed a bowl of fruit for them both before walking back to the table.

A soft chuckle escaped Haldir as he followed the bouncy prince down the stairs. Less eager than Legolas was about the food, the march warden had to start mentally convincing himself not to gag when Legolas fetched the bowls. Oatmeal is a dreaded and horrid concoction that only ill-mannered men would ever dare call food. In his not so humble opinion, oatmeal isn't even suitable enough to be used as gruel for horses or sheep. Taking a seat by the table now, Haldir smiled faintly once the younger elf returned with today's meal.

The warden leaned forward against the table and tucked his hand under his chin as he eyed the murky slop within the bowls with a look of disdain. However, once he laid eyes on the bowl of fruit, Haldir's frown turned upside down. "There seems to be some saving grace about this place." He joked lightly.

It barely qualified as food, really but it was necessary. Legolas didn't want to see the marchwarden throwing up anything he ate before the oatmeal. He did grin though at Haldir's joke, nodding to the older elf.

"There are quite a few things that make it bearable here. And a few things that aren't. When Gimli arrived, there were only nutritional bars available to eat, besides the oatmeal." Just barely a step above the oatmeal but at least it had been food so Legolas hadn't complained. When had he ever complained though?

"Ah, the dwarf is here?" Haldir's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "I'm surprised I haven't heard him yet. The dwarf breathes so loudly after all." He chuckled softly at his mean joke. If Gimli heard that, Haldir would surely have to avoid the fists of one angry little dwarf. While it seems as if the marchwarden takes some pleasure in teasing Gimli, Haldir was actually grateful that the dwarf escaped certain doom as well. It would be a crying shame if all of the Fellowship succumbed to death.

Letting his mind wander away from the grumpy dwarf, Haldir blinked his dark blue eyes in wonder. "...Nutritional bars?" The frown that appeared earlier reappeared now that Haldir was attempting to eat the gruel. He nearly shuddered in disgust once he had a spoonful of oatmeal. "Amin feuya ten' lle." He muttered to his bowl, almost hoping the oatmeal itself would apologize for being so unappetizing.

"As is Gandalf." Legolas chuckled softly, feelings a bit guilty for laughing at the jab at his Dwarven friend but it was all in good fun, after all. It was true that dwarves weren't the best at being quiet and stealthy though but there were only few people that Legolas would want at his side during a fight. And one of those people was Gimli.

"Small bars of food similar to Lembas but not nearly as satisfying." Oh dear, Legolas wouldn't help but laugh at Haldir's reaction to the food. Not that he blamed him.

"You only need eat it once." Legolas said encouragingly, putting on a brave face and eating his own bowl. It tasted... a lot worse than he had remembered. Maybe he had mentally suppressed just how bad it was.

Haldir frowned once the younger Elf mention the famous wizard. From what he last remembered regarding Gandalf, the Grey Wizard was yanked into the abyss of death by the Balrog that haunted the Mines of Moria. No one had heard from the wizard and by the time the Fellowship reached Lothlorien, many suspected that Gandalf had been killed. Yet knowing now that the wizard lives yet still, Haldir couldn't help but feel some sort of joy now as he ate this awful meal. "'Tis as if all of had been spared..." He murmured softly as he twirls his spoon within the pale gray goop.

A soft smile graced Haldir's soft lips as he thought about the others he had left behind. His brothers, did they also escape doom as well? What about Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn? Surely his lords also escaped Middle-earth's gruesome fate as well. As he continued to ponder quietly to himself, a wistful smile slowly replaces his jovial smirk.

"Surely others survived as well, Legolas."

"I believe the all Ennor may still exist. Gandalf showed me what appeared to be the death of the world, and I felt it, but it couldn't be real. I come from a time after the war has ended. You come from a time where it has not. Gandalf is from a century before myself. It makes no sense at all."

What could it possibly mean though? Were they kidnapped? All suffering some kind of mass hallucination? Magic of some kind? Or was Middle Earth really gone? So many questions.

"I'm certain others have. Aragorn, Boromir and Faramir were once here as well but have since disappeared."

Haldir's blue gaze flickers with rage and disbelief as he listened to what the Elven Prince said. If the wizard claimed to hail from a century ahead of the Elf, then how could the world they know possibly be destroyed? Gandalf has seen the future and knows it well. If the world was destroyed shortly after Haldir's valiant fight at Helm's Deep, then why would the wizard ever claim otherwise? None of this nonsense made any sense to Haldir, especially since Legolas also mentioned the appearance and disappearance of the other mortals from their Fellowship.

"They lied." Haldir explained smoothly with a hint of anger hidden in his calm tone. "They lied to us for the sake of submission and despair." Now bringing up his right hand to brush back an errant strand of pale blond hair out of his face, the marchwarden sits there looking quite livid despite his impassive expression.

"...They lied."

"I believe that they have lied, yes. There are many who do not believe what our keepers claim. And they are quite... cruel despite claiming to have saved us." Nine people he had watched die, last month. And seven of them had died in exceedingly cruel manners while one had died because of Legolas himself.

They didn't need to claim their worlds were gone to cause despair among those here. Legolas still tried to keep a cheerful demeanor though. And he'd recovered enough, mentally and emotionally, that he was healthy and he could be cheerful.

"I will recommend that you not attempt to make any moves against the people in charge of the tower. Not yet, in any case. I witnessed an attempted attack on Jason last month..." The prince trailed off, thinking back to how Ruana had stopped the two boys in their attempt. After a moment he shook his head.

"Gandalf has begun recruiting others in this tower to meet. A council of sorts with the Princess Zelda. I'm sure that it will be productive."

Unaware of the level of cruelty that their captors have bestowed upon Legolas and the others here, Haldir struggles to make sense of their bizarre fate. If Middle-earth hadn't been destroyed, then why would these people go out of their way to imprison them here? Wouldn't it be easier to turn a blind eye towards them rather than force all of them to live amongst such dangers? Haldir couldn't make heads or tails of this sordid mess and the Elf was becoming a tad antsy about it.

Offering Legolas a heated glare once the Prince warned him not to strike at their captors, Haldir's indigo gaze soon softened as he offered the younger a kind smile. "Shall try to abide your wishes, mellonamin." He said with a faint sigh. "However, do not forget that I'm a warrior at heart. 'Tis my duty to challenge those who would dare imprison me for false crimes. I shall do my best to keep my blade sheathed." With that oath said, Haldir focuses his attention on Gandalf's doing. It seems the wizard's been busy, a welcomed truth that Haldir couldn't help feel but somewhat relieved about. With Gandalf here, surely there must be someway they can escape from this Tower. Surely.

"Who is this 'princess' you speak of?" He arched his brow at Legolas.

Legolas definitely understood the meaning of the glare but he returned it evenly and calmly. Haldir didn't know what happened here but he would learn whether it was easily done or hard. The younger elf would prefer he not learn the ways that he had and that was okay, as long as he could help him do just that.

"I could never forget. But even warriors of your skill will find that the magic these people have at their disposal is far greater than any we have seen before. I watched a boy being stopped in midair last month for attempting to attack one of our keepers. And I saw them kill people for the sake of a contest among themselves." For a moment, sorrow flashes across his face but he's quickly serious once again. All of those people were alive again now and healthy, if not mentally wounded after that. And while he had managed to survive it, he wished he hadn't.

The question about Zelda did make Legolas smile again and this topic was one he could easily stand to think about.

"The Lady Zelda is the ruler of a kingdom called Hyrule. Her people appear similar to us but they lack the long lives of the Elves. She's incredibly intelligent for one so young. And she must be very capable if Gandalf chose her."

The more their conversation derived from the unpleasantness of Animus, the more Haldir found himself oddly fascinated with the idea of meeting others from various realms. "Are you truly certain they aren't truly Elves?" The marchwarden asked with a curious gleam within his gaze. While he never once heard of any kingdom named Hyrule, the Lorien Elf couldn't help but feel oddly interested in meeting these elfin-like people. Who would've guessed there would be a race of elves that were more human-like than elf-like? Haldir almost feels compelled to meet Zelda and her people.

"She certainly must be quite capable for the wizard to trust her so."

"Fairly certain. They call themselves 'Hylian' and mistook me for one of them. Our lands are completely unknown to them as well." It was more than likely he would meet them all soon, with how many Hylians there appeared to be in the tower. Although, Legolas had only met two of them thus far. He'd only been here a couple months though so he had more than enough time.

"I'm certain that she is. Or that she has the potential for it. Gandalf often sees much more than the rest of us do and before we can."

The wizard of course sees more than most do. This is why Gandalf is so revered amongst both Elves and Men. Even the Galadhrim couldn't deny Gandalf's influence over his Lady and Lord. The wizard is respected through his selfless creed to root out all evil that exists within their lands. Such a noble man and a noble creed could never go unnoticed by anyone and Haldir honestly respected the Grey Wizard more than most realized. However, his curiosity about these Hylian elflings certainly makes him quite anxious to meet them.

Just what makes the Hylians so different from their kind? Haldir couldn't help but wonder. "Aye, that he does." He replied with a faint smile. "The wizard is as wise as Lady Galadriel herself despite lacking the powers she possesses." He toyed with his food now, eying the oatmeal with great disdain. Instead of shoving another spoonful to his mouth, the Elf reached over for the fruit.

"Surely if Gandalf the Grey is amongst us, we can overcome the horrors we face."

Ah, that was right, Haldir hadn't learned about Gandalf's return and that he no longer went by 'the Grey' among the people of Middle Earth. Legolas didn't have a single doubt that the marchwarden would be pleased to hear that bit of news.

"Gandalf the Grey. It has been long since I heard him called that. By my time, he is Gandalf the White and he had returned after falling with the Balrog. That is, however, a story better told by Gandalf I think."

Oh yes, it would be much better told by Gandalf. At the sight of Haldir reaching for fruit, and seeing a bowl that wasn't quite empty, Legolas laid a hand lightly on Haldir's arm.

"As much as I dislike saying it, I recommend finishing the oatmeal. I've heard several tales of those who didn't and ended up being sick."

"Gandalf the White?" Haldir couldn't help but blink his indigo eyes in confusion. Has life on Ennor changed this drastically? It was almost as if everything the marchwarden remembered has changed drastically over the years. He had no idea that Gandalf survived his encounter with the Balrog until now. His long life was cut drastically short during that terrible battle at Helm's Deep, a truth that Haldir silently laments over.

Now looking a tad disturbed for that bit of a news, the Elf's eyes darted towards Legolas once the young Prince stopped his greedy hands. "Ah." He sighed as he moved away from the bowl of deliciously tempting fruits. "I wish not to become ill, therefore I suppose I can bear to finish this...meal." Determined but unwilling so, Haldir picks up his spoon again and eats.

"After we had left Lothlorien, we lost Boromir. Killed int he attempt to save Merry and Pippin, who were taken by Orcs and Uruk-Hai." Ah yes, he should probably warn the other that there were apparently Uruk-Hai here at night. A warning that can wait a few moments longer.

"We tracked them down, Riders of Rohan had slain the creatures and the Hobbits fled into Fangorn Forest. Inside we found no Hobbits, though they turned out to be safe, but we did encounter a white wizard. Gandalf was not as dead as we had thought."

Really, Haldir, it's all for your own good. Legolas knows how other Elves pride themselves on their dignity and since there were so few of them here, he felt sure dignity would be a high priority.

"At least you shall never be forced to eat it again. You'll be able to indulge in whatever catches your eye after this."

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A Welcoming End to a New Beginning

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