Haldir of Lórien

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For the much earlier Man from The Silmarillion, see Haldir (First Age).

Character from Tolkien's Legendarium
Name	Haldir
Titles	Marchwarden (conjectural)
Race	Elf
Date of birth	unknown
Date of death	unknown
Book(s)	The Fellowship of the Ring

Haldir is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Literature

He was an Elf of Lothlórien, probably a Silvan Elf: a marchwarden who guarded the forest's northern borders. When the Fellowship of the Ring arrived in Lórien, he became their guide to Caras Galadhon. He and his companions are described as wearing grey hooded cloaks and live on platforms in the trees.

Haldir was accompanied by his brothers, Rúmil and Orophin, who interacted little with the Fellowship because they, unlike Haldir, spoke little of the Common Tongue. Little is known about them.

Orophin may have been named after the Sindarin Lord Oropher of Mirkwood.
Rúmil was probably named after the Elf of the same name who developed the first Elven writing system.

Haldir was one of the few Elves of Lórien who could speak Westron.

[edit] Adaptations

Haldir (Craig Parker)

In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy he was played by Craig Parker and his role was greatly expanded.

Although there is no indication that he and Aragorn had met previously in the book, it is clear in The Fellowship of the Ring that there is strong friendship between them.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to being the Fellowship's guide in Lothlórien, in the second movie he leads a regiment of Elven archers from Lórien to the Battle of Helm's Deep, where he is eventually cut down. First he receives a blow to the arm, and his struck on the head by an Uruk's sword, and he dies in Aragorn's arms.

In the books, there were no Elves at Helm's Deep (aside from Legolas), and the Elves of Lórien were occupied in battles against forces out of Moria and Dol Guldur which were only mentioned in passing. Although the Half-elven Elladan and Elrohir did turn up at Dunharrow, this was after the Battle of the Hornburg had ended. It is also doubtful that Haldir had the authority to command such a large group, since he leads only a small group of border guards.

There is also no mention of Haldir's death in any of the books. Haldir encountered the Fellowship between January 15 and February 16 3019 T.A. and it is generally believed that he lived long before and after this period.