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Heart of Ice
By Fuji the Hobbit
It was early morn as I was walking the familiar paths of Lothlòrien to join my fellow wardens when I heard weeping. It was too close to the city to be as closely monitored as the borders would be; threats were taken out at the borders. Intrigued I followed the soft, sad sounds to find a child curled up underneath the roots of a tree. It was a small girl, no more than a year or two old. She had soft blonde hair to her shoulders with curled bangs and she had her head in her arms upon raised knees. Her ears were not pointed so she was obviously an elf. The dress she wore was very shabby and dirty, and much greenery was sticking out of her hair.
“Little one?” I asked tentatively, in common tongue. The girl gasped and stopped sobbing but did not raise her head when I spoke.
“Mommy?” she asked, sounding ready to cry again.
“Your mother is not here little one, but if you come with me I can help you find her.” The little girl nodded and lifted up her head to reveal deep blue eyes with yellow around the pupil. I almost pulled away and drew my bow, but my instincts told me that she was innocent, so I reached out my hand.
“Come little one, we shall find your mother.” I bit my lip after I told her this for it was doubtful that her mother was alive.
“What is your name?”
“Jenea” she told me as she wiped her eyes and crawled out. I picked her up and began back to Lòrien. We walked in silence for a few minutes and I could feel her squirming.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” The girl looked sheepishly down and shook her head. “Well then what is wrong?” Still looking at the ground the girl answered hesitantly.
“What you name?”
“Haldir”
“How-deer.” She her face was screwed up in concentration and it looked like it took a great deal of effort to say my name.
“No, Haldir” I corrected.
“How-deer” she said, looking up with bright eyes believing she was right. I sighed.
“Alright you may call me ‘How-deer’.”
“Yay” she muttered sleepily as she curled up in my arms. She looked dead tired and very skinny. She must have been wandering the woods for some time. I began to sing a soft lullaby to ease her into sleep.
Little one rest you head,
done is the day and time for bed.
With all the others you play and run,
full of excitement you’ve had your fun.
You go to sleep to renew yourself,
to wake up a bright and happy elf
Looking back down at the child I realised she was sleeping. It was strange that humans slept with their eyes closed. Shrugging I quickened my pace to Lòrien.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^Outside the chambers of the White Lady
“Aerien take this child and wait until I call you” The elleth nodded and obediently took the child. Smoothing out my tunic I knocked on the doors.
‘Come in Haldir, you will find us in the garden’ a voice echoed through his mind.
‘Why does she have to do that?’ he asked himself. Haldir entered and proceeded to the gardens.
“My Lady and Lord” he said respectively bowing at the entrance to the gardens.
“Welcome Haldir, what news do you bring? Nothing ill I hope?”
“Nay my Lord. I have found a human child in the woods and came to you hoping you would be able to do something about the child. She is... different than others, by her eyes I mean” Galadriel looked at her husband and nodded.
“We will see to the child and we thank you for bringing her to us. Now you must proceed to the outskirts of our woods, the ring bearer and company will approach near nightfall. Please see then safely into Lòrien”
“Yes milady, and Aerien is waiting outside with the child; she fell asleep on the way here” Galadriel nodded and motioned for him to leave. Haldir made haste in his leave.
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Jenea opened her eyes, yawning and rubbing them to awaken herself. She was sitting in someone’s lap, and the someone was playing with her hair.
“How-deer?” she asked around another yawn.
“No child, he is not here.” Jenea struggled against the unfamiliar person.
“Where How-deer?” she screeched.
“Hush child, he is not here for he is busy.” Jenea did not listen for she began to screech hysterically and struggle frantically.
Where How-deer?” was all she repeated, screaming bloody murder. “Where How-deer? Where How-deer?” she crawled up into a corner and would bite anyone who attempted to touch her, continuously screaming for Haldir.
“Oh dear” Galadriel murmured.
“Aerien please go find Haldir, he should be in his talan or attending to the guests” Aerien nodded and took off, covering her ears.
‘All of Lothlòrien must be doing the same’ she thought.
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“Here is where you shall be sle...huh?”
“Haldir what can that be? A new born babe?” Legolas asked as he rubbed his ears.
“Nay no elleth is expecting at this time.”
“Well then what is it?” This time it was Aragorn’s turn to ask.
“I do not...” I groaned. It is that silly human child I found. What could be wrong with her? I left her in the Lady’s care. The next moment Aerien came gliding up swiftly.
“What is it Aerien, I am with guests of the Lady” Aerien paused, unsure of herself.
“The Lady requires you sir, the little one won’t stop screaming for you. She is in the inner garden” I sighed.
“Very well I shall come”
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When we entered the garden I could see Jenea huddled up in the corner in the position she was when I found her, although this time she was clean and had a proper dress on. I resisted every urge to cover up my ears for the sake of my hearing and approached the child. When I was but a few feet from her I tried to talk to her.
“Jenea” I said, but she appeared not to notice and continued screaming.
“Jenea” I said somewhat louder. No response.
“Jenea!” My voice echoed throughout the garden and silenced her instantly. She looked up at me with bleary eyes and I could see light fill them.
“How-deer!” she cried as she scrambled up and attached herself to my left leg.
“Jenea please let go” I asked her in a kind voice. She buried her head into my leg and shook it in a negative position. I was about to ask her again when the Lady interrupted me.
“Thank you Haldir, the crying was most upsetting for many elves.” She bent down to the child’s level.
“Little one come with me now for we shall take care of you.” Jenea’s eyes widened and she scooted behind my leg. The Lady looked thoughtful for a moment then a smile spread across her face.
“Would you like to stay with Haldir?” Jenea smiled and shook her head vigorously.
“But my Lady...” I began.
“Please Haldir, the child will be comforted by no one but you. You must consider what is best for the child and the rest of Lothlòrien. Think what she would act like if we were to take her away from the one she trusts in a new and strange land”
‘You know that many orcs roam the land these days in search of the One Ring. It is indeed surprising how she managed to sneak in without our guard noticing while the rest of the humans were slaughtered. Her family is dead Haldir.’
Galadriel continued again aloud, “If she cried like this all the time Lothlòrien would no longer be a peaceful haven” I bit my lip as I pondered this.
“What about my duties as March Warden?” I said, turning the conversation to common tongue.
“Those shall be looked after for a few years until the child has settled and is able to take care of herself.” I breathed deeply and looked to the young human girl attached to my leg, who was looking up at me with large hopeful eyes.
“I know naught how to raise a child.” The Lady just smiled.
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