Chapter 61
As they left the hospital a few minutes later, Haldir stood where he’d dismounted and lifted his face to the late afternoon sun.
“Feels good?” Rendarion asked.
“Feels grand.” Haldir sighed in pleasure. He opened his eyes, looking at the willow on its little island, as one of its finer branches reached out and stroked the arm of the dwarf that was puttering around its trunk. He blinked a few times, before gasping. “A, taran ni, sercë-rya Entling!”
~~~
December 6th 2925
“An Entling?!” Rendarion’s gasp echoed his husband’s. “Here? How?”
“I have no idea.” Haldir whispered, his eyes firmly fixed on the gently swaying branches. “Maybe if Legolas and Arathorn have had a chance to explain our quest, to the Mayor, they may have been told.”
“Here’s hoping.” Rendarion agreed and the pair headed back across the grass to the other blue-roofed building.
A pretty young dwarrowdam, with caramel-coloured skin, greeted them as they climbed the stairs and entered a room that was clearly a reception and waiting area.
“Hi, welcome to the Whomping Willow’s Pond,” she smiled at them, “I’m Alicia. Can I help you?”
“Greetings, Lady Alicia.” Haldir gave her a short bow. “I am Marchwarden Haldir of Lothlorien.” His voice was polite and courteous, having Healer Alice fix his headaches in bare seconds, had prompted him to suspend his usual dislike of dwarves, at least for the duration of their visit. But the sight of the entling had removed any distaste he felt. Ents were renowned for being extremely picky about their seedling-beds.
“And I am Master healer Rendarion.” The dark-haired elf added, without giving Haldir a chance to introduce his husband. Perhaps, he thought that Haldir wouldn’t consider the dwarrowdam worthy of that introduction?
“We were travelling with two Captains from Eryn Galen, Legolas and Tauriel, and a Northern Ranger, Arathorn.” Haldir continued.
“Oh, yes, they’re meeting with Mayor Isengar and a few others.” Alicia nodded. “One moment and I’ll inform them of your arrival.” And like the dwarrowdam at the hospital, she wrote on a sheet of parchment and then laid her quill aside. “Master Harry is sending Journeyman Lee to fetch you, he won’t be a moment.” She said, then her quill fluttered in the gentle gust of warm air, caused by a door opening.
“Marchwarden Haldir and Master Healer Rendarion?” The question caused both elves to turn from the young dwarrowdam. The dwarf that stood in the now-open door was tall by dwarven standards, with skin darker than the young dam’s.
“We are.” Haldir nodded.
“Excellent.” The dwarf’s grin was wide. “I’m Lee and if you’ll follow me, we’ll get you back to the rest of your party.” He held the door open and gestured for them to join him.
A few yards down the hall and Lee knocked on a door and opened it.
“Marchwarden Haldir and Master Healer Rendarion of Lothlorien.” He said as he ushered both elves into the room.
“Thank you, Lee.” The only hobbit in the room nodded to the young dwarf, who quickly gave the two elves a nod of his own and hurried around the room to take a seat near the hobbit’s right hand. “Welcome to the Whomping Willow’s Pond.” The hobbit said. “Please, take a seat. Ranger Arathorn and Captain Legolas have been attempting to explain the reason for your visit, but are having some difficulties providing details.” He gestured to the two empty seats near Legolas and Tauriel.
Legolas nodded. “King Thranduil gave me little information, he felt that it would be better for the Marchwarden to brief me. However, his condition and the weather have limited the time we had available for a briefing.”
“Yes, it’s been a difficult journey.” Haldir agreed, sitting down on one of the chairs between Tauriel and Arathorn. “We were caught by a severe storm, before we had even joined the Captains. And while the trip over the mountains was easier, once we descended, it got worse. Your Healer Alice stated that I had a subluxated C1 atlas, whatever that is, and due to that, other secondary issues. I’m sorry to say that the pain it caused, stopped me from actually taking in her explanation.” He sighed. “Perhaps when I return for the requested check-up, I can ask her to explain, again.”
“Alice is usually quite happy to explain conditions and their relevant treatments.” Isengar replied.
“That would be helpful.” Haldir nodded.
“Maybe some introductions?” A dwarf sitting to the left of Isengar spoke quietly.
“Oh, yes… Of course.” Isengar blinked. “My apologies. To my right is Lee, whom you’ve already met. To his right is Master Kingsley, our most senior dwarven administrator. To my left is Master Harry, our most senior dwarf, and his wife, Lady Hermione, our librarian-scholar. I called for them, after Captain Legolas provided what information he had.”
“Ah.” Haldir nodded slowly.
“Perhaps it would be best if you were to start from the beginning?” Legolas suggested. “I know that there’s much, that I’m unaware of.”
“Oh, certainly.” Haldir looked around the room. “If no-one objects?”
“It would mean no confusion.” Lady Hermione gave him a small smile and followed that with a smirk aimed at her husband.
“Yeah, yeah…” The dwarf grumbled, almost silently. “Not my fault, blame Tom.”
“Hush, Harry.” Lady Hermione chided and turned her attention to Haldir.
He spent a few minutes explaining what Celeborn and Galadriel had told him and then Legolas added Thranduil’s orders, followed by Arathorn detailing Elrond and Arador’s directions.
The subject of telling the elves about the magicals had been hotly debated at the first ‘magicals only’ town meeting, after the Incoming had arrived. Telling them wasn’t so much the issue, as them telling others. After all, Saruman was still the head of the Istari order and a member of the White Council. And sooner or later he was going to turn to Mordor. Hermione had explained that Saruman had already started his descent into evil, the taint from a Palantir already began to corrupt him. After consulting with Sirius, Alice and Severus, the newly formed Wizengamot had come to the conclusion that Saruman was beyond help, even after the destruction of the Ring and Mordor, his attempt at taking over and destroying the Shire showed that not even the removal of Mordor would return him to his former mind-set. He was already beyond redemption.
The decision reached, was that the elves would be told as little as possible and be allowed to form their own theories, until the Ring was dealt with and Mordor no longer a threat, at which time, Saruman would be exposed to the White Council, for the betrayer that he was and his future left in the Council’s hands.
“I believe the willow on the little island there, is the cause of the ‘ripples’ that Lady Galadriel Saw.” Haldir said. “I believe it is an Entling.” He ignored the gasps of surprise from the two Eryn Galen elves and the rangers.
“An Entling?” Lady Hermione asked.
“I believe so.” Haldir replied. “I know of no other tree capable of moving itself. And being a Valar-created being, it would hold enough of their power to cause the ‘ripples’. But I can’t be certain without touching it.”
“Yeah, that’s not a good idea.” Harry spoke up. “The Willow? It’s rather… particular… about who gets near it. Plus…?” He paused, this could be the piece of information that would be the deciding factor in the elves either backing off or wanting to investigate further. “There’s a bolder there, under its roots, it’s got a… cavity in it, with a pillar in the middle. On the pillar is a crystal, it’s fused to the pillar which is part of the boulder. The crystal… it… it’s filled with green fire. If you can get close enough, you can see the individual flames.”
“Oh…” Haldir exclaimed almost silently. “A wardstone of Nienna…”
“A wardstone?” Lady Hermione blinked.
“Nienna?” Isengar asked.
“Lady Nienna is the Valar of Mercy.” Haldir explained. “She Gifted wardstones to various different peoples to protect their younglings. The Great Eagles were given one for their Eyrie nest, the seafolk were given one for their hatchling pool, the faeries were given one for their creche, the skin-changers were given one for their nursery and the Ents were given one for their seedling-bed.” He shrugged. “All were believed lost millennia ago. But you have one here…”
Legolas blinked a few times. “No wonder Lady Galadriel Saw ‘ripples’ here. A Valar Gifted wardstone…”
“May I check its range?” Rendarion leant forward. “Knowing how large of an area it protects could benefit you.”
“We know that it’s boundaries are nearly five miles in any direction.” Lady Hermione said. “We have a dwarf who is… sensitive to its touch.”
“Oh, stars above…” Rendarion whispered. “Miles…”
“We saw a dwarf with the willow…?” Haldir phrased it as a question.
“That would have been Neville.” Harry nodded. “He’s our plant specialist. Someone checks the willow, every week. If not Neville, then myself or my mother. We’ve also a dwarfling, Allie, that the willow has taken a liking to, so Neville’s going to see about training her up, to see to its ongoing care. But she’s only young yet, still less than half way to her majority.”
“But she has a plant-touch?” Tauriel spoke for the first time.
“Oh, yes.” Hermione replied. “She’s taken an apprenticeship with Neville and while both she and he are still quite young and Neville has only just been granted his Mastery, he has an unprecedented affinity for plants. They just adore him.”
“Ah.” Tauriel nodded at the dwarrowdam.
“And what does the entling feel, in regard to the dwarfling?” Haldir asked.
“Well…” Harry grimaced. “It’s not as… affectionate with Allie as it is with Neville or I, but it still likes her more than mum or Hildifons, our hobbit herbologist.”
“But it accepts her?”
“Oh, yes. It’s just that if there’s someone with Allie, it will greet them first.” Harry nodded.
“It could just be a familiarity issue, too.” Hermione added. “Allie’s only been going over to the island for a few days, now.”
“Ah, yes, it could.” Haldir agreed. “Ents tend to take their time in making any decisions. A trait of any who live as long as they do.”
“Indeed.” Arathorn agreed.
“Yes, indeed.” Isengar took back control of the meeting. “Will you and your company be staying with us for long? We’ve four rooms set aside for the rangers, as well as some for our elven visitors.”
“Oh, I…” Haldir blinked. “We hadn't given it much thought. We were more focused on our assignment. But now that we know it is an Entling...? The storm over the mountains is not something I wish to ride into. Perhaps we might stay a few days, a week...? I'm uncertain...”
“The rooms are quite fine.” Arathorn said. “Perhaps, not enough greenery for a long stay, but still rather nice. Vandir spent last winter here and said that it was as pleasant as Imladris, but not as chilly. Less stone to hold the cold, I imagine.”
“Oh, yes.” Arameth nodded. “But the market days are…”
“Madness?” Harry laughed. “That they are.”
“Oh, I haven’t been to one of your markets, yet.” Arathorn hummed. “When’s the next one?”
“Third Hevensday…” seeing the blank expression on the elves face, Harry hurried to translate, “third Wednesday… of every month. We went for a mid-week market as Hobbiton has theirs on Saturday. Today’s the fifth, so… a week and a half?” He dropped his gaze to Isengar’s calendar. “Yep, market’s on the fifteenth.”
“We can send a few of the hardier indoor plants to your rooms, if you like?” Hermione offered. “Or you’re welcome to spend time in the greenhouses. Most of the visiting rangers and elves visit them, at some point or another.”
“They do.” Arameth nodded. “And with the winter storms coming this side of the mountains, I think you’ll find that we’ll still be here, come Yule and the new year.”
“I think so, too.” Haldir nodded. “Do you have rooms available? Three for us elves, if possible. I wouldn’t think that Legolas or Tauriel’s fathers would condone them sharing a room.”
“No, they wouldn’t.” Arameth agreed. “Arathorn can bunk with me. Cador and Joplin have booked a room for themselves, I think they prefer the winters here, more than they do at our little village on the edge of the Trollshaws.” The two rangers in question, looked up at the ceiling and out the window in a show of innocence. “Humf… You don’t really think you’re fooling anyone, do you?” He muttered at them, ignoring Arathorn’s snort of amusement.
“Well, there’s three options.” Lee said. “Individual rooms, a two-bedroom suite or a four-bedroom suite.”
Legolas and Haldir conferred quietly, before sitting back.
“I think the four-room suite might be better.” Haldir said. “That would provide a room each for Tauriel and Legolas, a room for Haldir and I, and we can use the fourth room to store any purchases in.”
“Excellent.” Harry grinned. “Let’s get you checked in and leave you to get settled. The Dining Room doesn’t open until five, but the Tea Room’s open ‘til four. The Leaky Tankard’s open from noon until midnight and meals can be ordered from the Dining Room. Although, if you prefer something a bit quieter, meals can be delivered to your rooms, too.” He stood up and walked to the door, opening it and waiting for the visitors to rise.
“Is there a bathhouse, available?” Tauriel was the first to reach Harry’s side.
“All bedrooms have their own bathrooms.” Harry assured the red-headed elf. “The Den also has a laundry service, just pop whatever you want washed, in the box outside the suite’s door, our staff will take it from there and deliver it back within two hours.”
“So quickly?”
“They’ve a special area for drying.” Harry replied. “It allows an excellent turn-around, time-wise.”
“We’ll definitely be taking advantage of that.” Haldir said as he joined them. “Rendarion and I have been on the road since the middle of last month. Not a long time, I know, but we only have a few changes of clothes each.”
~~~
December 7th 2925
Haldir sighed and shook his head at how eager Rendarion was to get to the village’s hospital, before he turned to Legolas and Tauriel.
“Shall we hunt up the greenhouses?”
“Please.” Legolas nodded. While their accommodation had a number of plants in the sitting room and bedrooms as well as at least one in each bathroom, he missed being surrounded by green living things.
“Well, then…” Haldir studied the piece of parchment in his hand. “According to Master Harry’s map, we follow this road and turn right, just before the bridge. Another right turn and up the hill. On the corner, at the top of the hill, there’s a gate with a sign for the greenhouses, and we simply follow the footpath.”
“Did you learn anything new, today?” Haldir his arm over his husband’s shoulder, as the pair sat on the bench on a small balcony of their suite, watching the sunset.
“A great deal.” Rendarion nodded. “Their treatments are mostly potion-related and work incredibly well. Apparently, they separate the making of potions from the healer’s work, more than we do. Apothecary and potions are treated very seriously, here, and the plants used for them have to be treated differently, depending on the potion, lotion, balm or ointment…”
Haldir listened to Rendarion prattle on about his day, pleased that his love had found something new to interest him.
~~~
December 8th 2925
Haldir leant on the side of a building and let his heartrate slow. He’d heard the sound of weapons clashing and taken off at a run, only to round the corner of the building and realise that what he’d heard was only a training session.
Then the types of weapons being used, caught his eye. He’d never seen blades shaped like that before and decided to approach the dwarves, perhaps he’d ask to view the blades, if Master Harry was amenable.
“Morning!” A young dwarf lad called, as he watched Harry and a blonde lad spar.
“Good morning.” Haldir sidled closer, but still stopped a few yards away.
“Pull up a seat, Harry and Colin will be a few minutes yet.” The lad grinned and patted the bench that he sat on. “I’m Dennis, by the way.”
“Haldir.” Haldir answered.
For the next few minutes, the pair watched as Colin and Harry sparred. Eventually, Harry drew a thin line of blood down Colin’s bare arm and the spar drew to an end.
“Well done, Colin.” Harry grinned, dropping an arm about the lad’s shoulders. “Dennis, you’re up, stretch and loosen up, please.” He looked from Dennis to Haldir. “Good morning, Marchwarden.” He nodded to the elf.
“Good morning, Master Harry.” Haldir nodded back. “Do you mind me watching?”
“Not at all.” Harry shook his head. “If we minded, we’d have used a more private space.”
“Ah.” Haldir nodded again and continued to watch as Harry turned his attention Dennis and began coaching him through a series of exercises with the unusual blades.
An hour later, saw Harry and Haldir deep in discussion about Harry’s odd shaped blades. It wasn’t until mid-morning and Rendarion hunting them down that either male realised how much time had passed. The trio had just settled into a more in-depth discussion when Teddy came sprinting down the lane.
“Unca Harry, Unca Harry!” The little boy yelled.
“Heya, Teddy.” Harry grinned as he swept the boy up into his arms and spun him around in the air. “What’s got you running?”
“Aunt Alice sent me, Mr Dwalin’s in the hospital. He’s got a broked-ed leg, she needs you to come hold him down, while she straightens it. Mr Thorin and Mr Gloín are too tired after having carried him from the point of the Barrow Downs.”
“Oh, hell…” Harry huffed and shook his head, before turning to Haldir and Rendarion. “Duty calls, gents. Please excuse me.” He turned to Teddy. “Can I trust you to pack up my blades and take them to your daddy?”
“Yes, Unca Harry.” Teddy nodded earnestly.
“Thank you, cub.” He ruffled Teddy’s hair and watched the boy’s eyes change to match his. It was all he did in front of outsiders, now.
“If you will allow, we would come with you?” Rendarion asked.
“Sure.” Harry grinned, as he headed for Little Pond Lane and the main section of the village. “Don’t know about Alice letting you in the treatment room, that’s up to her and Dwalin, not me.”
The three broke into a run and Haldir was surprised at how quickly the smaller male could move, but knew that discretion was the better part of valour and he kept his surprise to himself. In the hospital, they could see a pair of dwarves, clearly exhausted, battered and bruised, being treated by a pair of nurses.
“Room two, Harry.” One nurse called as they looked in the door.
“Thanks, mum.” Harry grinned and darted further down the hall, stopping at a door with a large number ‘2’ painted on it. “Alice?” He knocked on the door and waited for a response.
“Get in here, Harry!” Alice yelled and Harry opened the door and entered. “Not the elves.” The dwarrowdam looked over Harry’s shoulder. “Sorry, Master Healer, but Mr Dwalin's in no condition to consent to your presence, so you have to stay out.”
Harry quickly shut the door and turned to Alice. “What do you need me to do?”
“Hold him down. He’s delirious. I can’t hold him and straighten his leg at the same time.”
“Got it.” Harry threw himself at Dwalin and managed to catch the other dwarf by surprise, pinning him to the bed.
Alice grasped Dwalin's ankle and with a quick wave of her wand, straightened his leg, watching as it snapped into place and Dwalin screeched in shock. Then it was a series of diagnosis charms to ensure that no nerves were damaged, followed by a dose of Skele-gro to repair the leg and whatever other potions were necessary to heal the dwarf's other injuries.
“Excellent. Let him up, Harry.” Alice said and once Harry had stepped back from the bed, she studied Dwalin, making sure that she hadn’t missed anything. “Good. You back with us, Dwalin?”
“Aye…” The dwarf whispered.
“Well, you’re going to be here until morning.” Alice patted the dwarf’s shoulder and dragged Harry from the room. “Get some rest, I think you’ve earnt it.”
It was nearing dark when the four elves approached Harry’s shop.
“Good afternoon, Master Harry.” Haldir halted just outside the shop’s open door.
“Marchwarden.” Harry nodded to the elf and continued to file the key he was working on. “What can I do for you?”
“Master Harry, I told the Captains of what I saw this morning’s training session and all four of us would like to know if it is possible to receive some training with the Griffin blades?”
~~~
December 9th 2925
Harry chuckled as he watched the four elves try to use his blades. “I think the first thing we need to do it get blades that actually fit you.”
“I think you might be right.” Haldir sighed. “But I’ve no idea where to get them.”
“Let me have a chat with Thorin.” Harry replied. “He’s a Grand-Master Bladesmith, maybe he’ll make them for you.”
“Unlikely…” Legolas sighed. “He’s a Durin, they’re renowned for being anti anything elven.”
“Oh, that’s very true.” Harry grinned. “But we’ve just about knocked that type of prejudice out of him. Let me see what he says, before you go hunting for another bladesmith.”
“He’s the Durin that earned Master Bladesmith, just recently?” Haldir asked.
“It’s a couple of years ago…” Harry hummed in thought, when was that(?)… “Oh, hell… Summer of ’21.” Was it really four years ago?
“If he consents to take the commission, would you speak with him?” Haldir asked. “I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to commission him to make a pair of fighting daggers.”
“Let me see what he says about the Griffin blades, first.” Harry suggested.
~~~
December 10th 2925
“Master Bladesmith.” Haldir and Rendarion greeted Thorin formally.
“Marchwarden, Master Healer.” Thorin replied and nodded to each of them. “Harry has spoken to me of your desire to learn to use his fangs.”
“Fangs?” Haldir blinked.
“It is what his friends and family affectionately call his Griffin Blades.” Thorin glanced at Harry, his eye bright with amusement.
“Oh, hush…” Harry chided.
“Ah.” Haldir nodded. “That is correct. We have been permitted to join his morning training sessions for the past few mornings.”
Thorin snorted “You have my sympathies.”
“Be nice…” Harry warned the other dwarf.
“Humph.” Thorin snorted again before turning back to the elves. “So, you want griffin blades…” It was not a question, so much as an offer for them to explain further.
“We do, Master-smith.” Haldir nodded. “Training blades at this point. Until we have a better understanding, anything more would be wasted upon the four of us.”
“Four?” Thorin asked. “I see only two of you.”
“The Captains come from Eryn Galen and feared that their presence would instantly earn your dismissal.” Haldir answered.
“Eryn Galen…” Thorin muttered. “Mirkwood…” He sighed. “They’re probably right. Or would have been, just a few years ago. But Harry and his people have been… slowly… educating me on understanding that appearances can be deceptive, as well as accepting people for their own actions and to not attribute one person’s actions to an entire race.”
“It’s a work in progress.” Harry shrugged.
“That means that my rant about you being elves only lasted an hour, as opposed to many hours.” Thorin added. “Mostly, as Harry and Hermione kept countering every argument I put forward.” He shook his head. “Sad to say, it took a while for me to listen to them enough to actually hear those arguments… but once I did…?” He shook his head, again. “I will accept your commissions, Marchwarden. Griffin blades, first. Then... your fighting daggers. If you survive Harry’s training, I’ll even make the four of you, battle versions of Harry’s Griffin blades.” He paused and turned to Harry. “Which reminds me… I have yet to make you a set worthy of your Mastery.”
“Maybe you might want to rethink that.” Harry grimaced. “Harden is pushing for me to Trial for a Grand-Mastery with them.”
“Two sets of Grand-Master’s blades…” Thorin whispered, his eyes wide. “Oh, my cousin Dáin will be so jealous…”
~~~