Uninvited

Chapter One The Arrival and the Reunion

Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of Tolkien's work.

Chapter One The Arrival and the Reunion

Do you recall what was revealed the day the music died?--Don McLean "American Pie"

Lothlorien- Year 2240 of the Second Age

On the morning of Midsummer's Eve, King Gil-galad arrived in the Woodland Realm with his herald, Lord Elrond and a host of his Noldorin kin. The company gathered on the western banks of the Nimrodel where Haldir could see them from his talan perched in a towering mallorn.

He drummed his fingers against the polished length of his longbow, counting two dozen white palfreys carrying members of the court and soldiers as they approached the bridge. The King himself rode a gleaming black destrier. Lord Elrond, seated on horse to Gil-galad's right, carried a blue banner embroidered with twelve silver stars. From out of the forest, the Galadhrim guards took up the call and blew thrice on their horns.

A few feet away, Captain Amanthoniel gestured at Haldir, her usually sullen face alight with rare worry. "Come! Come now!" she ordered. He knew well enough to obey her when summoned.

"At once," he replied, curbing his own pride as he lifted his bow onto his back, hanging it next to his good leather quiver, the one his father had gifted him with the tooled vines and leaves of gold.

Together, they climbed down the ladder draped against the trunk of the tree. The woods were silent save for the swish of the hithlain rope as their booted feet brushed against every rung. All around them Silvan Elves were emerging from the mellyrn and making their way to the forest floor. Several yards from him, Haldir spotted his younger brother, Orophin, who had joined the guard six months ago. Even at a distance, Orophin's excitement was clear. Neither he nor Haldir had seen the High King of the Noldor before.

"Have they crossed the river yet?" Orophin whispered. The guards were arranging themselves into four neat rows. As second-in-command, Haldir knew he should stand near the front, but he tarried at his brother's side, attempting to avoid Captain Amanthoniel's strict gaze.

"Not yet," he mouthed.

A heavy mist had settled onto the mountains when the sun rose and now a lively breeze was bringing bits of it into the forest where it sat low to the ground. Through the haze and arcing branches overhead, Haldir could just make out the gentle blue sky, the sun benign and sleepy despite the flurry of activity among the Silvan Elves.

"Quickly now!" Captain Amanthoniel demanded, her gray eyes falling on Haldir and Orophin. "I said quickly!" She took a step forward, as if to separate them, but then thought better of it. Orophin jumped back into formation and Haldir joined his Captain, not eager to be by her side, but ever obedient and respectful of his duty.

"Should we have met them on the far shore?" Captain Amanthoniel asked. Haldir knew she was not seeking his opinion, but still, it was strange to see her questioning her own judgment, especially before her inferiors. It would be tactful, he decided, to pretend that he hadn't heard her at all.

Again, the Galadhrim's horns blew and their call was returned. King Gil-galad and his company were drawing closer.

"Do not speak unless spoken to," Captain Amanthoniel said to her guards. "Haldir, you will take the King's horse."

"Yes, Captain." An honor, Haldir thought. If he was being truthful with himself, he felt slightly nervous. Needing reassurance, he looked to his brother who stood near the very back of the formation. He almost envied Orophin who was but one of many. A nameless face in the common crowd. Unseen. Unnoticed. Safe, in his own, simple way.