Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings trilogy was written by
J R R Tolkien.
I make no
monetary profit from this story.
Summary: AU:
Saruman is planning something dastardly. Celeborn and the Lórien Elves send Haldir to Isengard to discover
what the evil wizard is planning and stop him.
Rating PG
~~~~~~~~
"Saruman is brewing evil," Celeborn said gravely. "I can sense it. I know not what he is planning, though we can be sure it will not do Middle Earth any good. My senses tell me he is creating a weapon of some sort."
"What would you have us do, My Lord?" Orophin asked.
"I have given it some
thought, though it will be very dangerous."
"We are brave, My
Lord," Rúmil said.
"Of that I have no
doubt," Celeborn said. "I
require one of you to travel to Isengard disguised as a Haradhrim, wearing the
attire of the Easterling we captured not a few days ago."
"I will go, My Lord,"
Haldir said. "Though I may not
return."
"Do not say such
things," Rúmil said, worried for his brother.
Celeborn regarded Rúmil. "We
all wish Haldir return from this dangerous mission."
"I apologise if I spoke out
of turn, My Lord."
Celeborn smiled warmly. "You
are worried for your brother, as are we all. Haldir, please know that this is a
voluntary mission."
"Then I volunteer."
Celeborn bowed slightly.
"Lórien thanks you for it is you who must stop Isengard."
Haldir was dismayed to have to dye his lovely hair black, though it was
an essential part of the mission. Rúmil
prepared the face make-up from natural Lórien Earth.
"I hope this will come
off," Haldir said, looking at his now brown face.
Rúmil smiled.
"You think this is funny do
you not," Haldir said.
The younger Elf chuckled. "You are brave, My Brother. Here is your headdress."
"I hope it will not mess up
my hair."
Rúmil smiled. "I appreciate
your attempts to lessen my worry, Brother, but they are not working."
"It was worth an
endeavour."
Rúmil placed the headdress upon Haldir's head. The disguised Elf stood.
"You will have safe passage
to Isengard through Fangorn Forest," Celeborn said. "The Ents will not harm you as they
know you are an Elf."
Haldir nodded. "Shall I
leave now?"
"Aye, and make haste."
Haldir arrived at Isengard unmolested.
He feared at first he might be mistaken for the enemy by friends of the
Elves, but no such event occurred.
The 'Haradhrim' entered Isengard and called for Saruman.
The White Wizard appeared seemingly from nowhere.
"To what do I owe this
pleasure, Haradhrim?"
"I am Dral. I have been sent by my superiors to check
your progress. Mordor grows
impatient."
Saruman bristled and his gaze darkened.
"A little forthcoming for a solider aren't we?"
"Forgive me, My Lord. I have been instructed to return with news,
or be it my death. My life is at your
command."
"Splendid. As a matter of fact there is something you
can tell your masters, if I choose to let you live long enough."
"I pray that you do."
Saruman led Haldir to a dark room in the tower. The Wizard illuminated it by opening a small window. Haldir saw a covered contraption in the
middle of the room.
"What is this pray
tell?"
"This as you call it is my
finest invention. It will usher in the
new world."
"That is all very well and
good, but what does it do?"
With a melodramatic flair the Istari uncovered it, revealing a sleek
looking machine. Haldir shivered. He
knew not what it was, but it looked horrid.
"It is powered by this
crystal," Saruman explained.
"A pretty thing,"
Haldir lied. "But you still have
not shown or told me what it does."
"Impatient aren't we?"
Saruman stood behind it and told the 'Haradhrim' to focus on the tree 500
meters away. Haldir did so as the Wizard activated the machine. Haldir was shocked to see a beam of light
shoot out of it and obliterate the tree.
It took all his strength to hide that shock from Saruman.
"There. That's what it does. Just a small taste."
"A small taste. It's wondrous." Haldir almost struggled to get the word out.
"On a large scale, this
will decimate an entire forest. Just
imagine when I turn it on Lothlórien.
Mirkwood."
Haldir's blood ran cold.
"Yes, rid yourself of the Elves."
"Yes," Saruman
growled. "They have foiled me in
the past, but no longer."
"Now remove your helmet and
have a try. Focus the lens on your
target, and pull the trigger."
Haldir almost swallowed as he removed his headdress. He looked into the lens of the cruel machine
and pulled the trigger, hitting some dirt.
"You're a lousy shot,"
Saruman scalded.
"Perhaps I need more
practice."
Haldir and Saruman were distracted by someone entering the room.
"Ahh Grima," Saruman
said. "Meet Dral, a Haradhrim
soldier."
Grima frowned as he scrutinised 'Dral.'
Haldir nodded to the other. Grima nodded back as he left.
"May I stay and take note
of this magnificent machine?" Haldir asked.
"Yes, but do not
touch."
The 'Haradhrim' nodded. 'Dral'
pretended to take in the machine.
Haldir was not so fortunate as to have telepathic powers, he wished he
did at this point. How was he to save
Lórien? Mirkwood? Fangorn?
Buckland and the other forests of the world? He studied the machine long and hard.
"My Lord, he is no
Haradhrim," Grima said. "It
has been niggling me for some time now.
He is an Elf called Haldir."
"Are you sure? I saw his
ears when he removed his headdress.
They were not pointed."
"I am sure, My Lord."
"I will test him."
Haldir stood back from the machine as he heard footfalls and prepared to
greet Saruman.
"Haldir of Lórien."
The Elf swallowed.
"Yes, I have heard of this
Elf," he said. "He is one of
the Galadhrim."
"Do not play the fool with
me. I know who you are."
"I told you, I am
Dral."
Saruman raised his staff. "Reveal yourself!"
Haldir's hair changed back to its golden colour, his attire to Elf attire
and his face back to its pale colour.
"So you *are* an Elf."
"Yes, it seems little use
to continue the charade now."
"Before you die there's
something I want you to see. The total destruction of Lothlórien."
Haldir swallowed. "Please
Saruman, you *cannot* destroy beautiful Lórien. What evil has possessed you?"
"I can and I will. Possessed?
I am not possessed, My Dear Elf.
I am the ultimate power now that Sauron has been defeated."
Haldir resisted the temptation to say 'you are a madman!' "Then why not use that power to created
instead of destroy?"
Saruman ignored him.
"If there is nothing I can
do to stop you, then I have one final request," Haldir said. "Send me back to die with my
people."
Saruman grunted. "Very
well." He raised his staff, and sent Haldir back.
"Catch it!" Orophin
exclaimed as the rabbit darted by.
Rúmil leapt after it and caught the nimble creature. "We cannot eat this rabbit," he
said suddenly.
"Why on Earth not?"
"I am sensing something
about it. We cannot eat it," Rúmil
repeated.
Orophin nodded. "If there is
one thing I've learned about you is to trust your intuition.
"Rúmil is right, there is more to this rabbit than meets the eye," Celeborn said.
The rabbit suddenly transformed into Haldir. Orophin gasped. "My brother… forgive me for not sensing you…"
"It is all right. Saruman's little joke."
"I am not laughing," Orophin said.
"Nor was I."
"Are you unharmed?" Celeborn asked.
"For the most part," Haldir said
"What is the wizard planning?"
Haldir swallowed as he told them.
"I am unsure is my and Lady Galadriel's magic can withhold such an attack," Celeborn said, worry furling his brow.
And then Haldir told them something else.
Saruman sat behind his dastardly contraption, failing to notice the crystal was placed back to front.
"Goodbye Elves… Goodbye Lothlórien …"
And he fired. And Isengard exploded.
The explosion of Isengard was heard as far away as the Shire and it was certainly heard in Lórien.
"Well this is the last of Saruman," Celeborn said. "Good work, Haldir."
"Thank you. I wish there had been a way to rescue him from his evil, but alas there was not."
And the Elves made their way to Caras Galadhon.
And smoke rose from Isengard for a long time to come.
*