Dash of Arrogance
Zhie
In answer to an Essay Challenge on the Haldir Lovers yahoo!group.
November 3, 2003
Message 21609
[A short essay regarding Haldir]
Haldir, Hallidear, or just plain Halli. The many facets of this elf attribute to his overall personality. At first glance, one might say he is strong, in body, mind, and soul. He boosts the confidence of his kin as well as others by his mere presence. One who knows him will find him to be gentle, with a never-ending love of nature. He openly converses with trees, and sometimes, just sits and listens to them. His love of the forest is less only than the love of his family, any member of which he would die for without hesitation.
He also sleeps with a stuffed purple rabbit.
Smirking and savvy, and quick with the wit. Yes, he has an ego, but one that is well justified. It isn't simply his skills in battle, but also his passion for knowledge, for which he is proud. He speaks Westron, travels away from Lothlorien, and is highly trusted by the Lord and Lady.
Truly, would you want your Captain to giggle, smile, and prance around when a mixed group of travelers decide to take a rest stop in your woods? Besides, the elleths like the raised brow.
He is calm in battle, and cool in a debate. Those under his command do not question his tactics or authority, nor do they worry about his decisions. He trained under the guidance of Celeborn, Galadriel, Erestor, Glorfindel, and Elrond, and each of them holds him in high regard.
However, one must wonder how it is that he just happens to have eight blindfolds on him at any given time.
On the other hand, there's something to be said for a well prepared Galadhrim…in uniform.
Whether sword or arrow, his weapons rarely miss their mark. He doesn't wield the sword; he moves with it and it with him. He does not command the arrow; he shoots it without effort as if it flies free from his fingertips. Never once has he attacked except in practice and to hunt, and never has he fought upon the side of evil.
You can bet this elf wouldn't have run away screaming, "Ai, ai! A balrog is come!"
Besides his linguistic talents with the Westron language, Haldir also writes poetry, using both Westron words and his native tongue. He loves to dance, though times were far between and few when he could show off this skill in Lothlorien. Far more portable was his flute, though he knows how to strum the harp and bow the fiddle as well. His talent for cooking is not often utilized, though he has obviously not suppressed his talent for eating.
This elf also likes long walks on the beach, candlelit dinners, piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain. You should hear how he raves about the dune by the cape.
For many years, Celeborn taught Haldir the importance of being able to shoot arrows, and with the aid of others, helped to train Haldir's eyes and hands not to miss the target. When Haldir was taken out on his first hunt with his father, early on a spring morning, the two sat silently in the low branches of a tree awaiting the approach of game. Haldir spied the movement first, and without pause, lifted his bow and fired his arrow true. The creature dropped to the ground as Celeborn and Haldir dropped from the tree. A pool of blood spilt upon the ground under the large mother rabbit, burdened by her unborn offspring. That night, after burying the rabbit at the foot of the Great Mallorn, Haldir cried to himself and begged forgiveness from the Valar as he placed his bow beneath his bed, refusing for the next thirty years to shoot another arrow. Even to this day, he will not think to shoot a rabbit, nor would he allow the hunting of them by the Galadhrim on his patrols.
Did I mention he sleeps with a stuffed purple rabbit?