Veiled Stars » LotR [1] ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Five: Reunited

Elle raced down the stairs, her shoes slapping on the stone.

She burst out of the hall, racing toward the gates. A line of guards had hurried up to see the commotion and many had drawn their blades at the army of elves. Their faces were white with shock.

But Elle raced past them, throwing herself at Aragorn as he dismounted.

"Ell--" He broke off as she practically bowled him over, throwing her arms around his shoulder in the tightest hug she could manage.

"Hells, you son of a dwarf, I thought you were dead!" She cursed, burying her head in his shoulder. "The orc... the wargs.... hells, Aragorn!"

She felt Aragorn relax in her embrace, his chest rumbling as he chuckled. His scruffy unshaven beard tickled her head as he hugged her back. "Well, I'm here now."

Elle drew back, staring at him. He had a bandage over his shoulder-- the same one that had been injured in their capture.

His face was heavier, although he had clearly recently cleaned up. He wore a grey cloak, clasped together with a shining green leaf. There was a long gash cut across his left cheek.

"What happened?" She whispered. "We searched... but you were gone."

Aragorn looked grim, lowering his head. "Let us speak when the others are here, if that's alright."

Elle furrowed her brow but nodded, and Aragorn forced a tight smile.

"Hannon le Elle, I'm glad you all arrived okay."

Elle opened her mouth but before she could say anything else, the elf who had ridden beside Aragorn rode up. The soldiers around them backed away, swords out, but the elf paid them no attention, dismounting.

He shed his hood and stepped beside Aragorn, lifting his chin. His piercing dark eyes locked on Elle, taking her in up and down.

Elle closed her mouth, staring right back. Who was this?

Then the elf stepped forward, placing a fist over his chest and inclining his head. His voice was soft, steady. "Lady Elle. Mae l'ovannen."

Elle tilted her head, taking in the elf. But feeling Aragorn watching her, she blinked out of her thoughts, placing a hand on her own chest and bowing back. "Mae l'ovannen..."

"Haldir," Aragorn inserted at her silent question. "This is Haldir, the Marchwarden of Lorien. He is the reason I stand here now."

Elle blinked, turning back and regarding the elf in a new light.

He was almost as tall as Aragorn, with light blonde hair and adorned in a gold armor, an elven sword sheathed by his side. His face was tight, his eyes serious.

"You're alive!"

The sound of feet slapping against the cobbled ground snapped Elle out of her thoughts and startled Haldir's eyes from her own.

Merry and Pippin burst around Elle's sides, crashing into Aragorn and almost taking him to the ground. Aragorn barked a laugh, struggling to regain his balance as the two grappled him in a hug.

Elle laughed, and the two slowly detached themselves, regarding him with wide eyes.

"How?" Pippin asked bluntly. "You died!"

Elle snorted loudly and attempted to cover it up with a cough, but Haldir looked at her sharply. Merry elbowed his friend sharply in the ribs, "Pip."

But before Aragorn could even open his mouth, another set of footsteps sounded at Elle's back.

Gimli stepped around her, looking up at Aragorn and then without a word, embraced the man.