towerofanimus | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I don't think for a second that I could escape alone.". Aleph had done some amazing things in his time, but as far as he was concerned, always with help.

"My name is Aleph." He held out his hand for a shake.

Haldir was just about to introduce himself when the youth beaten him to it. Now staring down at the offered hand with a look of pure befuddlement, the Elf hesitantly leaned forward to shake Aleph's hand. If Haldir hadn't been well learned in human customs, he would've accidentally offended the young man by not honoring the handshake. The Elf will never understand why humans always felt the need for such intimate greetings but now isn't the time for him to worry about such customs.

"I am Haldir, Leader of the Lothlorien Wardens. Had I been foolish enough to believe I could escape this prison alone, I believe I would be dead by now."

"Glad to know you won't get yourself into that much trouble that soon."

Aleph shook Haldir's hand firmly before letting go. He wouldn't have been too offended had it been rejected - dealing with creatures that commonly didn't have hands made one open to the notion that other species might have different customs in this area - but he wasn't going to make the matter more awkward by discussing it.

"Don't count me out just yet, friend." He replied with a hint of arrogance in his tone. "I don't plan on staying here no longer than a week if Fate allows it. I refuse to be bound and imprisoned by anyone."

"You think we'll get out that quickly?" Aleph asked. "When you don't know how long this has been going on?"

He wasn't malicious, just realistic.

A stubborn part of him desired to say "Yes" to Aleph's inquiry but despite how prideful the marchwarden might be, Haldir stated otherwise. He wished it was possible for him to escape this dungeon in a mere day. However, he could sense that some strange magic as at work here and that his presence in this hell wouldn't go unnoticed for long.

Mentally shuddering at the thought of spending the rest of eternity within Animus, Haldir's tone changes somewhat drastically from icy arrogance to a quieter and remorseful tone. "...I do not know." He admitted in a whisper. "I'm quite certain I could manage to find a way but it shall take time." The Elf frowned in disgust.

"That's about what I thought."

Aleph sighed heavily. "I'm going to check the other levels again. If I'm caught by an enemy I don't want it to be near some of these horrors."

"An enemy?" Haldir arched his brow in mild curiosity. "Is there someone after you?" Of course he figured that this massive tower wasn't safe but who would be looking for the boy? Aleph seemed nice enough despite being a tad reserved. Haldir couldn't picture the youth having enemies of any kind.

"No, I haven't been here long enough to make enemies. There are monsters in this tower at night," Aleph explained. "Or so I've been told. It's not wise to step off the staircase then."

As Aleph explained about the fiends that supposedly lurked in these halls, Haldir's gaze grew wide. He had sensed that something was amidst about this realm but now that the boy spoke of it, the marchwarden finally realized why he felt so horribly at edge here. Something is prowling these halls, something potentially dangerous to them both. While he's more than certain he can handle a beast or two with his blade, Haldir wondered just how the youth planned to defend himself in this sordid realm.

Giving the youth another appraising look, Haldir decided to ask. "Are you armed?" He questioned with a hopeful gleam in his eyes. "I don't believe I have arms to spare but even a mere dagger would do you well."

Aleph figured that Haldir wouldn't recognize a holstered gun when he saw it, judging by his state of dress, so he removed it carefully and showed it to him. "This is my main weapon, although I have a sword when this doesn't work as well."

Cold indigo eyes watched with intrigue as the youth mentioned the odd weapon at his side. Haldir had never seen anything like it, thus he felt the need to be wary of it as Aleph brought it before him. It looked as if it was made out of tin and steel, an odd abomination that looked far too small to be useful armament.

Wondering how that gun of his was supposed to work, Haldir almost felt the inclination to touch it until he realized quickly the error of such judgment. "What is it?" He asked.

"It's a gun," Aleph explained. "It fires a heavy bullet at people at a high speed. It's a popular weapon where I'm from, and there are many kinds."

"Is it now?" Haldir asked with a hint of sarcasm in his tone. Unsure if he believes that such a small weapon could be useful, the Elf's blue gaze travels along the muzzle of the firearm. He idly stares at it's somewhat simplistic design with a gaze that could only be described as quizzical at best. The Elf honestly never seen anything like it in all of Middle-earth. It's minimalistic design made Haldir appreciate its bare simplicity but at the same time, he couldn't help but wonder if such a toy could measure up to that of a bow.

"Is the bullet it fires sharper than my arrows?" He asked. "Is it faster as well?"

"It's definitely faster," Aleph answered. "But it's blunt. For sharp I'd rather rely on my sword." A sword, he figured Haldir would recognize.

Haldir gave the gun a final glance before turning his gaze towards Aleph's sword. Now this is a weapon he's most familiar with since the Elf always carried a fondness for blades. Despite the Galadrim being renowned for their archery, Haldir was one of the few Elves who's just as deadly with a blade as he is with bows and arrows. Aleph wins slight smile of appreciation from the Elf, simply because the youth knows better than to rely solely on a long-ranged weapon.

"Such a fine blade." He comments with a small grin. "I'm certain that many fiends have fell to the might of your sword."

"They have," Aleph answers: he wasn't counting. "I expect more to fall while I'm here."

Haldir chuckled lightly at the youth's confident words. "Is that so? Then I eagerly await to hear of your victories, friend. Until then, may you go with peace." He figured that Aleph must be a decent warrior, but he doubted that the young man is as good as he claims to be. The Elf certainly hoped that Aleph would keep safe while roaming through the tower at least. It would be a shame if the lad became undone by the beasts that lurk in these murky halls.

He was certainly decent.

"Thank you. I wish you the same," Aleph answered. With a nod and a small smile, he continued down the stairway.

A Welcoming End to a New Beginning

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