b2mem | O-64 - Erulisse - The Chieftain and the Elven Lord

B2MeM Challenge: O-64 – Fëanátics – Goodness – Caranthir Helped Haleth
Format: Short Story
Genre: Drama
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Caranthir, Haleth
Pairings: None
Word Count: 1121

Summary: It is written that the forces of Caranthir came to the aid of Haleth on the fifth day of an attack by the forces of Melkor. A look at the events of that fateful occasion.

The Chieftain and the Elven Lord

Haleth screamed while raising the axe high in the air and brought its blade sharply down across the attacking orc’s neck. Although it didn’t completely sever the neck from its foul body, what was left wouldn’t threaten her or the remnants of her small band again.

It was now the fifth day since the brutish orcs had started their attack against them. The leader of her tribe, her father Haldad, had fallen under their savage blows on the first day, along with more than half of their able-bodied men. Her brother Haldar had been hit by a stray arrow on the third day and had died in agony from the arrowhead’s poison just a few hours before sunset.

“Has it really been so short a time since Haldar died?” she wondered to herself. It seemed as if her entire life had condensed into the actions of lifting her axe, chopping at an orc, and then moving to the next one. “Will the enemy slay us all, or will we finally be able to win out against them,” she wondered as she struck again.

Suddenly bright horns sounded above the cries of the wounded and grunts of the enemy. Not daring to stop, Haleth continued swinging her deadly axe although the effort to lift it was becoming harder with each blow she struck.

A horse moved past her and a shining blade cleaved the orc she had marked for her next kill. She looked up, across the field of battle, and saw that a new force had entered the battle. Elves, fell warriors, armed in fine shining armor with bright blades and a song on their lips such as she had never heard before. In short order the elves had routed the enemy and those orcs not lying dead on the ground were running away to fight another day.

Her people gathered around her. By this point there were few men who were still alive, those warriors who joined her defense on the field this day mainly consisted of those women who could wield any kind of weapon. The older women and those few who were too young to bear children were gathered together in the only building that was still standing.

Haleth lowered the head of her axe down to stand on the ground, and pulling her brother’s helm from her head, swiped her sleeve over her face to mop up the sweat and blood.

“Lady,” she heard a melodious voice say, and looking up she saw the leader of the elven forces offering her a water gourd and a dampened cloth with which to wipe her face.

Not trusting her voice yet, she nodded in thanks, and taking the finely-woven damp cloth into her hand, moved it over her face. The cool cloth felt good against her skin.

“Thank you, sir,” she said, returning the fabric to him. He nodded in acknowledgment.

“Who leads here?”

She looked over those left of her tribe and smiled grimly. “I do.”

The elf’s eyes widened slightly at her words, but he continued. “I am Caranthir and these are my lands in which you are living. I did not realize you had been beset by the forces of Morgoth or I would have come sooner to your aid.”

“I am grateful that you came when you did, Lord Caranthir. I am not sure if we would have been able to hold out much longer.”

“Come,” he said. “My men will look after the wounded and aid as they can. Sit with me and tell me of yourself and your people. I can see that they are valiant, but I would know more.”

So Haleth joined the elven Lord under the boughs of a nearby tree and they sat together and talked deeply for many hours. Late that night the survivors and the elves shared a meal and then they separated into smaller groups, telling tales, singing songs, and relaxing. Caranthir set guards around the camp and for the first time in five days, Haleth’s people greeted the night with joy instead of fear.

“You are welcome to stay in these lands,” he said to her. “Choose a place and I will send elves to help you build. Now that I know you are here, we will help with your defense.”

Haleth was tempted, she loved the deep forests of Thargelion. But, as she looked carefully over those who had survived the orc attacks, she knew that their numbers weren’t sufficient for safety, even with elven aid.

“You have my thanks for your offer, kind Caranthir. But I must decline. We are less than half of the numbers we were a mere five days ago, and have lost most of our men. I have relatives who live in a valley to the west. It will be a hard journey, but it is one that I feel we must make. If we can join with them it will give us numbers and strength against the enemy’s troops with a greater chance of survival.”

“Think about it while you care for your wounded and bury your dead, fair Haleth. We shall stay and help as we can during this time. But when the last grave has been filled and the wounded can be moved, we must remove to other places in these lands. You must decide by then.” He leaned over her in the low light cast by the campfire flames and his lips sought hers.

At first she welcomed his touch, but then she broke away, shaking her head. “No. It would not be fitting, so grand a Lord as you and me, just a Chieftain’s daughter. I thank you for the thought and I am highly flattered, but I must bid you a good night.” Pushing to her feet, she walked over and joined a group of other women and men at a distant campfire. As she sat down, she saw Caranthir looking at her, a bemused expression on his face.

Several days later, after the dead had been buried and the wounded treated, Haleth gathered her people and they began their journey towards the west. The elves, mounted on their spirited steeds, raised their arms in a warrior's salute as her people began their journey out of the lands of Caranthir.

After many years of wandering and dangers beyond description, she finally led her people into the woods of Talath Dirnen and in still later years, on into the forest of Brethil. Upon her death she was succeeded as Chieftain of her tribe by her nephew Haldan who was ancestor to both Húrin and Huor. In his turn, Caranthir never forgot the valiant woman and dealt more kindly with the second-born from that time.