"Stop that talk." Luna whispered, taking Marylyn's face in her hands. "Haldir gave his life to protect you and your son. You both will see him again. But he did what he had to do. And now, I am doing what I need to do. Which is helping you."

Markus smiled thoughtfully at Luna. "Luna, will teach your son to fight, exactly as Haldir would have done. I will teach him to play and all other...manly things Haldir would have taught him. Sirel will teach and guide him just as Haldir would have done too. You do not have to worry about your son. He will be loved and cared for. Not a day will go by where he does not learn of his father and know how much his father loved him. We will be here for you. Whatever you need...just ask."

Marylyn smiled broadly at the three of them. "Thank you...You have no idea what this all means to me."

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Luna nodded and stepped back, bowing her head. "I will do everything I can for you and your son." she whispered.

She still had no idea what to do, even though she had made that promise.

Marylyn again nodded. It was difficult for her to summon words to her. There was no words that could convey the gratitude she was feeling towards the three of them. They were going to be her saviors, despite not knowing two of them so well. There was no words to describe the pain that shot through her body. The pain of loss. The pain of longing. Longing to have her husband beside her. The three people that stood before her were incredible, but could not take the place that Haldir had possessed in her heart. She knew she would miss him until the end of time. The son that she carried will always be a reminder of him.

Markus ushered Marylyn into a nearby bed. "You should rest. You both should," he glanced at Luna. "It has been a long day, after all."

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Luna shook her head. There was too much to do for her to rest. "Please, Marylyn, you need the rest." she patted Marylyn on the shoulder then began walking to the battlefield to help clean up. She held her side as she walked, ignoring the pain and blood.

Sirel stood up, pulling herself out of her grief. Haldir had been like a brother to her. "Luna, you need to rest too. One doesn't recover from almost-life-threatening injuries within a few hours. Get some sleep, there's enough of us uninjured to take care of what needs be taken care of."

"I think everyone will be resting this night. The carnage of this day can be dealt with tomorrow." Markus sat beside his sister, cradling her gently. He rubbed her back just like his mother used to. Marylyn was asleep in minutes. Markus was surprised to find that trick still worked.

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Luna shook her head again and kept walking. Just laying there, idly, when she could be doing something? No. Instead, she went to the massive library. So her search began. She would get Haldir back for Marylyn, no matter what it may cost her. Wizards...witches...warlocks...whatever she could find.

Markus grimaced after Luna. "Her attempts are futile. Even if she were to bring him back...He would not be the same. He would be something dark, evil even. There is a reason that magic is not practiced. We shall need to help Luna understand that it wasn't her fault," he looked over at Sirel, frowning deeply.

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Sirel was torn. What if Luna was right? What if they could bring Haldie back? What-- no, there was a reason for this. She had to trust that Eru knew what he was doing. "You're right," she said after a moment. "The dead should remain as so until Mandos says otherwise. That's the way life has always worked, and that's for a reason. Haldir's death was neither in vain nor Luna's fault."

"She always seems to take these things personally. I cannot help but wonder what happened in her life to make her think it had so little value. You know what her idea is don't you? She plans to substitute her life for Haldir's." Markus' voice had grew beyond a whisper, desperate not to wake his broken sister. "Haldir is a great loss to us all. She would be too. I hope she sees sense soon."

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After searching the library for hours on end, Luna laid her head down on the small desk and closed her bloodshot eyes. She had been reading only by candlelight, and it was taking a toll. She rubbed her eyes and let out a tired, pained breath. "I'll just close my eyes...just for a moment..." she whispered to herself. After client her eyes, though, she fell right to sleep.

Morning seemed to rise quicker than was necessary. Markus gazed out across the land. There was no sign that a battle had occurred the previous night. It was probably best that way. No memorial was needed, that dreadful day would be imprinted on everyone's mind for centuries to come. Forever in many cases.

Marylyn rose silently. "It was not a dream," she sighed heavily, unable to bring herself to look into her brother's eyes and see the truth confirmed. She leaned back, stretching out her back. "We should all meet tonight, toast those who died, defending our freedom."

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Luna didn't stir from her deep slumber, her dreams troubled far beyond what they should have been. Flashes of death, sword, pain...her hands twitched in her sleep.

Sirel walked slowly to join Marylyn and Markus. She hadn't slept at all that night. "Luna is still asleep," she murmured. "But I can tell her dreams aren't pleasant."

"I should go and talk to her. I know her well enough now. She will be blaming herself for Haldir's death. She needs to know that it wasn't." Marylyn rose and walked to the door. "I assume she is in the library? Looking for some kind of spell that will bring him back?" She frowned deeply. She would give anything to have him back, but there was no spell out there that would bring the real Haldir back. She knew that. She had already checked.

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