Beyond Canon
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"What's that?" asked Haldir as he crumbled up another sheet of paper.

"What's what? This?" Elrohir held up the scroll he had just rolled up. "This is the guest list."

Haldir held out a hand, and Elrohir, instead of giving it to him, unrolled it again and read in a rather impressive and regal sounding voice, "His Royal Highness, the former King of Mirkwood and present King of the Kastle Thranduil Oropherion. His most distinguished son, Prince Legolas. The Master of Bag End and Elf-friend, the noted adventurer Mister Bilbo Baggins. Ringbearer and honored Hobbit, Mister Frodo Baggins. The former Mayor of the Shire, the renowned Samwise Gamgee. The lovely and talented Glorcheniel of Western Valimar. Bard of the Court of Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrian, the Minstrel Lindir. Lord Gildor Inglorion, nephew to the Lady Galadriel. And then some old man who calls himself Gandalf, very strange sort of fellow, that one," winked Elrohir, rerolling his scroll.

Waiting patiently for a few moments, Haldir furrowed his brow. "That's it?"

"As far as I am aware. Is something wrong?" Elrohir asked as Haldir slumped over on the hallway desk with a sigh.

"No, nothing at all, I rather like to just sprawl across the top of desks, very comfortable, that," Haldir retorted. Elrohir hopped up on the edge of the desk and tapped gently on his uncle's head with one finger.

When Haldir looked up, Elrohir said, "From what I was told, they asked a lot of others to join us, but either they did not know Mr. Baggins, or they did not know what they would do at such a celebration. Some of them did not at all understand why we would want to celebrate a Hobbit holiday when we have perfectly good ones of our own."

"Easy for you to say," Haldir told his nephew. "You're not the one who has to sing. And in front of a minstrel." Haldir's head went back down to the desktop.

"What happened to Nana and Gran'nana?" questioned Elrohir.

Haldir shook his head. "It has been three days now of sleeping and resting and generally ignoring me. They do not plan to sing, but I know Bilbo will be disappointed not to hear any songs."

Pulling on Haldir's shoulder, Elrohir said, "I know of someone who will sing with you if you just go and ask him. He's really not having any fun with Celebdreth and I, not really." Haldir sat up and shrugged. "Fine, don't ask him, then. Here, as long as I have you here," he said, pulling a folded sheet out of his pocket, "pick a number from one to twenty-one."

"Thirteen."

"Mmm, that's already taken, pick again."

"Fourteen."

"Mmm, that's taken, too."

Haldir gave a little snort and said, "Well, just give me whichever one is closest."

"To what?" questioned Elrohir.

"To the ones I picked," Haldir said in an unamused voice.

"Yes, but that's either twelve or fifteen, so-"

"Twelve, I'll take twelve. Why am I taking twelve?" he asked.

"This is for the gift exchange," Elrohir explained, making a notation on the paper. "Congratulations. You picked my father."

"No..." Haldir once more was bowed over the desk. "What did I do to deserve this?"

Elrohir patted Haldir's head. "Sorry. I'm sure it won't be that bad," he offered before walking away in a most apologetic manner.

- - -

After about five minutes, Haldir decided that the desk was not the best place to fall asleep if he wanted to keep his neck from being as sore as his back. After another five minutes of attempting to rewrite the song, he growled in frustration and pounded his fist on the top of the desk before bowing his head to his hand. "This is impossible," he remarked as Orophin stepped into the hallway from the kitchen, carrying a plate of cookies.

"Are you still pondering over the song?" he asked.

"Why you would care-"

"Halli, look." Orophin put the plate down on the desk. "It was a lovely poem, but it doesn't fit. I would help if I could, but I couldn't write a song much less carry a decent tune. I thought I was trying to help, and it seemed like you were getting upset with me for it."

"I'm sorry," said Haldir. "I just see the rest of you having fun, and this has turned into such a chore for me."

Orophin crouched down and hugged Haldir. "I know. Here, have a cookie. We baked this batch for you." He pushed the plate closer to Haldir, who now took note of the bunny-shaped cookies with violet frosting and little candy eyes and noses smiling up at him with big pink frosting smiles.

He smiled back. "I can't eat these," he said, picking one up.

"They're strawberry flavored, and we can make more," assured Orophin.

"In that case-" Haldir bit off a cookie bunny ear as the large bell that hung at the door rang. "Who's that?" he asked as Orophin grinned widely.

"Just a friend or two," he said as he walked to the door. Opening it, he revealed that indeed there was a pair standing at the door, though Haldir had to look down a little bit to see that there were two standing there.

"How unexpected, I did not know anyone was going to arrive already," said Haldir as he stood up. Legolas brushed the snowflakes from his hair and smiled before stepping inside and embracing Haldir. "Pleasantly unexpected," he added.

"I promised to come as soon as I could to help with the baking," Legolas told Haldir. "And, to see you, of course," he added, hugging Haldir again.

"Legolas!" Rumil poked his head out of the kitchen doorway and motioned for Legolas to enter. "We're just getting to the chocolate cherry cordial cookies."

With a bright smile, Legolas gave a nod before turning his attention back to Haldir. "I hope you won't mind me assisting them. Someone has to be sure that all of the rum cake doesn't get eaten before the celebration."

"I look forward to spending time with you later," answered Haldir. Legolas was hastily whisked away to the kitchen after Orophin had closed the front door again, leaving Haldir with Gimli in the hallway.

"Ah don't suppose you've got ennathing at all for me to help with." It was more of a statement, but Haldir took it to be a question.

"I have to write a song. Some of us will be providing entertainment, singing songs, and we need at least one Yuletide carol. I'm not having much luck, though," Haldir admitted.

Gimli took a look around at the discarded papers that littered the floor and desk. "What sort of song are you trying to write, laddie?"

"A holiday song, I suppose."

"Fa-la-lally-la, and all of that nonsense?" asked Gimli. "Pah."

"A shared sentiment," Haldir assured his stout friend.

The Dwarf walked back to the door where Legolas had set a small pack of things and brought forth from it a wide bottle of spirits. "Thranduil sent a bottle of brandy along," he said very softly. "I think we should go to the porch and try it out."

"Getting drunk won't help me write the song," Haldir told him.

"No, but it'll help you forget that you have one to write."

Tempted as he was, Haldir declined. "But I may take you up on that later."

"Well, then." Gimli replaced the bottle and looked around. "It's no wonder yer havin' a hard time. This is the most dreary room in the entire house, if you can call it that. Come on, let's go to the parlor by the fire."

"No, I can't do that," Haldir said quickly. "The Decoration Committee does not want anyone in either of the sitting rooms until they day of the celebration. The kitchen is off limits for obvious reasons. I can't go to the third floor because that is where Celebrian is sleeping, nor the second, for Nana and the baby are there. So I am here." He spread out his hands toward the desk. "Unless you have a better idea."

Gimli looked around, puffing his cheeks as he thought. Finally, he said, "The stable."

"You think I should write songs in the barn? With the pigs and the goats?"

"Why not?" Gimli slid the bottle out of the sack again. "At least you'll be more comfortable. You'd be surprised at how cozy a barn can be."

- - -

"I'm just going to write about the goats," Haldir said lazily. He was on his belly, with his hands propping up his chin, on a stack of hay. "I'll name them all and sing songs about them. That one can be Prancer... and that one can be Bashful... I think I'll call her Winkie. Don't know why," he yawned.

Gimli took one good look at Haldir before removing the bottle from his grasp. "You know, master elf," he said, taking a swig from the bottle, "you have a very low tolerance."

Smiling, Haldir pulled a long shaft from a nearby bale and started to chew on the straw. "Thank you. I think I get that from my mother's side."

"I'm not sure about your goat idea, but what other animals are traditional for Yuletide?"

Haldir flipped over onto his back and stared up into the rafters, chewing on the hay. "Snowthings, Snow hobbits, snowmen, those are, and holly, and decorated trees." He titled his head to the side to see Gimli doubled over and almost laugh himself off of the bucket he was sitting on. "What's so funny?"

"Animals. What are the traditional animals?"

Staring blankly for a moment, Haldir scratched his head. "Animals. Right, animals." He went back to staring at the ceiling in silence. "I have to find a gift for Elrond," he finally said.

"Beg your pardon?"

"For Elrond. A gift. I pulled his name. There's always been tension between us, and I really, honestly, don't know him all that well."

"He's your brother-in-law, why not ask your sister for advice?" suggested Gimli.

This seemed to be a good idea, but Haldir shook his head sleepily. "No, I'm supposed to come up with something on my own. And I want to. I just wish sometimes that I knew him better," he said, closing his eyes and yawning again.

"I understand completely. I don't know the one whose name I picked very well, either." Gimli waited until he was sure that Haldir had fallen asleep before adding, "But, I think I'm getting to know you better than you know yourself."
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