Haldir, Marchwarden of Lorien

Character Name: Haldir

Name Meaning: Hidden hero.

Age: ~6790 years old.

Date of Birth: 11 of the First Age

Race: Elf.

Residence: Lothlorien.

Profession: Marchwarden of Lorien, servant of the Lady of Light, and keeper of the borders.

Appearance: Haldir is tall, broad shouldered for an elf, though not completely relinquished of his lean figure. He has long blonde hair, almost dusty in appearance, and cool, almost impassive blue eyes. He can hide a wealth of emotions behind a calm, collected mask, and it is for this reason many could think him callous.

He is always clad in grey, for it is the garb of his position. He is only seen if he wishes to be, and those who pass through his woods will fell the grey ghost’s eyes before they see him or his company.

Personality: Haldir is devoted to duty, though it is not just any duty he find as his center. Galadriel, Lady of Light, is the banner that Haldir will fight for, and should it come to it, die for. He is proud of the elven people, perhaps bordering on disdainful for all other races, though could still be considered one of the most convivial of the elves of Lothlorien, for he has learned and is fluent in Westron.

He is lawful, and will carry out his tasks to their fullest and best extent in service to Galadriel. He does not question orders if they come from the Lady herself, for he trusts her with his life and the lives of all of their people for her wisdom is infinite. Torture, assassinations, and other shady tasks are a disgrace in Haldir’s mind. He will work in the open, he will do things correctly and with honor. He is not easy to anger, though can sometimes err on easy to offend—particularly with dwarves.

He loves the mallorn trees, and thinks there is nowhere fairer than Caras Galadhon. And yet, sometimes he thinks of the sea. This makes Haldir sad, for it means that a time is nearing when the elves shall leave Middle-Earth and he shall see Caras Galadhon no more.



Parents: Arodir, father. Malenrien, mother.

Sibling(s): Orophin and Rumil.

Spouse: None.

Children: None.

History:

Haldir was born in the first age in Menegroth to a father who served as a guard to Thingol and a mother who was one of Melian's handmaids. As such, he was born into a world where he saw his parents serve and serve happily, devotion and lawfulness in every motion they made. It was a spirit that his parents prayed he would continue to carry, and their prudence and desires were rewarded, though it took some time for it to bloom in fullness.

Haldir was fond of the expanse of caves, for he had known little else. The craftsmanship of the halls was elegant and airy, giving a lightness to the heaviness of the stone mountain. He was always curious about what lied beyond the borders of Menegroth and his parents noted his curiosity. When he was old enough and trained enough to be of use, he was gifted in service to the Lady Galadriel, even before she made the acquaintance of the Lord Celeborn, and Haldir has been with her ever since.

Wherever the Lady went, he went as well. Skilled in archery as well as sword work, he made a formidable guard for her entourage. For his youth, he was sometimes rash and impulsive, carrying a pride for his position serving the House of Finarfin. He knew Galadriel before the lady knew Celeborn, though perhaps not much longer; nonetheless, because of this his fealty is to the Lady of Light foremost.

When the time of the Second Kinslaying came, Haldir and his brothers were able to escape Menegroth and the sacking of Doriath with Galadriel and Celeborn, finding themselves instead at the Havens of Sirion with the others of their kin who had managed to flee. This was the first time Haldir had left Menegroth without intent to return, and the elf, though he remained dutiful to Galadriel in all ways, felt lost and adrift. His home was gone, and he had no word on his parents' status. It was Galadriel and Celeborn's bearing that kept him trained and focused, and his intrinsic ability to lead began to bolster the spirits of the guard remaining. Orophin and Rumil both looked to him now as the head of the family, though they hoped their parents would yet appear at the Haven.

The Havens of Sirion became Haldir’s home for the rest of the first age. Haldir was given patrol work to help keep the refugees safe, watching for any assault from the house of Fëanor. For a time, the watching wore upon his nerves. Always he expected burnings, sackings—he expected agents of Morgoth to find them while they were weak and obliterate the Eldar from their corner of Beleriand. Haldir began to feel that watching and waiting was not the way they should be spending their time. Even when Haldir’s parents appeared amongst the refugees after years of no contact, he felt no joy. They brought news with them that was dire indeed: Gondolin, the great hidden city, had fallen, and the elves that were pouring into the Havens now were all that was left of those who were in the city when Morgoth’s forces attacked.

To Haldir, this was merely a sign that the end was upon them, and he wondered why Galadriel wished to remain hidden in the shadows to die like cowards. The Lady could see very well that he was displeased by her patient waiting, and though now Haldir looks back upon this time in shame, she never once offered reprimand to him for it.

That was when the war came—the one that would be known as the War of Wrath.

Haldir recalls the rumble of the earth as pieces of Beleriand sank below water, as entire stretches of land were obliterated by war. News came often to the Havens of the elves, men, and dwarves. Of the Valar who were waging battle while Haldir was tasked to stay still and vigilant. Often he pleaded with Galadriel to allow him leave to help stand against the darkness; he could not understand why Galadriel, a fair woman who had always appeared to have great wisdom in her words, declared that this was not their fight.

It was not until the War was over that Haldir looked around at the destruction wrought, and saw wisdom in the lady’s temperance. He no longer considered how the forty-year struggle had been the only reason Morgoth was defeated at all, and he looked to Galadriel with renewed devotion.

Never again would he disagree with her, he vowed to himself. Galadriel had proven wise beyond all others in his mind, for the world had been sundered, and there was no reparations that could be done to save the world he loved.

After the War of Wrath, Galadriel was offered a chance to go back to Valinor. Haldir wondered if he and his family would be called to go back to the undying lands. A part of him would have been willing, for he already knew he would serve and follow Galadriel until the time came he could no longer do so. She refused, and Haldir accepted such news at once, and it was long before he thought of Valinor again.

She and Celeborn went to Lindon with the other survivors of Beleriand, and Haldir and his family followed. He stood by his Lady as she ruled over the fiefdom of Harlindon, which was composed mostly of Sindar, under the High King Gil-galad. Through these years, Haldir’s devotion grew, as did his skill. Galadriel took note of the man’s increasing ability, and as time trekked ever onward, Haldir was given more and more trust and responsibility. This was a great honor to the elf, for he could think of no task greater than keeping the last remaining Eldar safe, and he did not trust any leader of Elvendom with such a task greater than Galadriel herself.

Eventually they were moved to a new land called Eregion, far eastwards of Lindon. It was ruled by Celebrimbor, a grandson of Fëanor and distant cousin of Galadriel. During this time, the elves had open trade with the dwarves of Khazad-Dûm. Haldir knew that at the root, dwarves and men were abominations--failed beings that were shy of perfection. This pride in his blood was tempered faintly by the War of Wrath; he had seen that elves could fall the same. He was more friendly to the dwarves than some, though such friendliness waned over time. He spoke old Khuzdul, for the frequency of the dealings with the dwarves. It is a language he yet knows, though never uses for it is no longer understood by the dwarves of Middle-Earth. Another sign in how they have fallen. 

That was when Annatar came.

While many of the elf-kind were fooled by his facade, Haldir trusted instead the instinct of his Lady. Galadriel took an immediate distrust to Annatar. As it turned, that mistrust was justified, as he was finally revealed to be Sauron. Haldir took this as further vindication that Galadriel was wise beyond all others. It was she who counseled Celebrimbor in the hiding of the rings, and when Eregion was attacked, Galadriel was entrusted with one of the Three Rings of the Elves. Her ring was Nenya, the Ring of Water. Haldir himself thinks there could be no other guardian for such a token of power, for Galadriel surpassed all others in her abilities. 

Eventually Galadriel and Celeborn made contact with the Nandor of Amdír, who dwelt in a forest realm called Lindórinand (Vale of the Land of Singers) across the Misty Mountains. They crossed the Hithaeglir through Khazad-dûm, Haldir acting as their guide for his proficiency in the old dwarf-tongue. The company relocated to there, and Haldir was able to each as his Lady and her husband became great among the Wood-elves.

Caras Galadhon became Haldir's second greatest love. The mallorn trees, the refuge that such a place has become for those of his blood--he has long loved sleeping in the flets of the boughs, relishing his duty as the Marchwarden. He serves Galadriel in whatever way she sees fit. Haldir is one of the few of the Eldar of Lothlorien to leave the sheltered, enchanted wood. As such, he is one of the few of his realm to speak Westron. 

Lately, though, he thinks of the sea. Of those Undying Lands he so long ago spurned alongside his lady. He knows that his duty is there, with Galadriel in the heart of Middle-Earth. He does not regret staying, per se, but wonders on Valinor. Still, he is resolved to linger as Galadriel's trusted eye and ear upon the world until she, too, wishes to return across the sea.

Perhaps such a time is coming soon, for dark are growing the days, and strong is the Shadow in the East.