By: Dana
Summary: Hally finally meets Elendir.
Characters: Hally Bolger, Talenard North-took, and Peridot Bolger North-took, as well as Elendir son of Elenbarad
Pairings: Hally/Talen/Peridot
Rating: G
Warnings: Gen with pile-elements
Author's Notes: Posted for my month long Birthdaypalooza, August 2007.
This? I wrote almost everything else I have, relating to these three characters (well, four, counting Elendir), just so I could write this scene, I think, with Hally having a chance to meet a different type of Man.
Series Index: In a Sunless Year.
Disclaimer: The author makes no claim to owning the rights of anything to do with J.R.R. Tolkien or New Line Cinema. Any and all characters and situations that have been borrowed are for the author's personal use only, and for the entertainment of others.

SR 1431

For all they meant it to happen sooner, Hally doesn't meet Elendir for some years yet. 'If I were a Bounder still,' Talen says, 'this might have been easier.' And he grins, and grips Hally's hand, and Hally hopes that this will all be for the best. 'Rangers are rather hard to find.'

He is frightened, half-frightened, and he does not know how Talen and Peridot both can speak so kindly of this Man, who is a Man. Hadn't they hurt and murdered ones they loved? Hally wants to, for their sake (and also, it might give him some peace) but finds himself unable to understand.

It's autumn, and the day is overcast, gloomy, chilly. Talen is holding Hally's hand, and Peridot is soothing the baby – oh, Pal, who isn't much of a baby anymore, having grown to two. A faunt, almost! It seems like he was born only yesterday, and not years before.

And the day is grey and chilly, but they are all bundled against it, even little Pal, who now fusses. Peridot bounces him, and she grins wryly. 'He wants his Uncle Hally,' she says, and Hally's mood can't help but lighten. He takes Pal (he's held a number of other children, but this one seems more dear), and he settles him on his lap, then kisses the crown of his dark curls. Pal quietens, immediately, and begins chewing on one of Hally's buttons – even though that button happens to be attached to Hally's shirt.

'Well, if he doesn't come,' Talen says, 'we have our luncheon, and we'll have a picnic of it.' There's that, and Hally hopes for it, for he doesn't think he can face this Man, not now, not even if his Talen and Peridot tell him he is kind. Men are not kind, after all, not the only Men that Hally can recall. They are cruel, and forceful, and...

A whistle, sharp like a bird, and Talen stands then whistles back. He's smiling bright as day, and sunlight peaks out from overhead. 'Ah, he's come!' he says, and Peridot stands as well, the both of them then helping Hally to his feet, Pal and all.

Talen goes forward, smiling. He holds his hands out, and the tall Man holds out his – and he goes down, kneeling, as he pulls Talen into his embrace. 'It has been too long, old friend,' he says, and smiles, and Hally's heart gives a funny little leap. He kisses Talen's cheek, as one might an old friend, and he greets Peridot the same. Then, his gaze settles on Hally – his gaze, dark and grey like old stone, though he himself seems rather young. Hally can't speak, and the baby pulls on his shirt and pops one of his buttons free.

It's taken from him, of course, and that's something for Hally to focus on, taking it away from him, before he can shove it into his mouth. They are all smiling at him, though, and he smiles back though he doesn't feel it. Talen stands at his one side, and Peridot his other, and Hally lifts his gaze once more to the Man's, and finds he does not think this one cruel, nor capable of such terrible force, and he smiles, despite himself. He is a friend, and capable of love and warmth, and no wonder Talen and Peridot both speak of him as he does.

Talen, overjoyed, says, 'Elendir, this is our good friend, and love, Haligar Bolger – do call him Hally, though,' and Talen kisses Hally's cheek, before reaching to take his son. Peridot is smiling, too, as she says. 'Hally, do meet Elendir, our Ranger – ah, Elendir, do introduce yourself, and proper.'

All grave solemnity, as if this were some great function, Elendir introduces himself formerly – still on his knees in the short grass, his great cloak billowing as the wind gusts, saying, 'Elendir son of Elenbarad' with such solemnity, he might have knelt before a king. 'Well met,' Hally says, when his tongue at last works, when his mouth works, too. He then reaches for Elendir's hand, clasps it with both his own. 'Oh, well met.'

'Well met, Hally Bolger,' he says, eyes old still, but his smile young. 'Now,' he says, and he's smiling still, as he looks from Hally to Talen and Peridot, with Pal in Talen's arms. 'You promised luncheon, I think. It is too long since I had a proper hobbit luncheon, I should say!'

There's that, and they introduce Palenard to him, as well, and Hally hasn't ever seen anything so wonderful, as he does in seeing a Ranger of the North – a Man! – dandling a small hobbit child, with the utmost of care. He leans back against Talen, sighs happily, and Talen's arms both fold about him, warm, secure. And Peridot is smiling, as brightly as the sun.

Death missed him, but life has taken him, it seems.