The elven brothers in the book
Shadowy guides of Lórien. Haldir at least was shown as one of only a few Galadhrim interested in the outside world, knowledgeable and wise. Not much is known about Rúmil and Orophin.

The elven brothers in the film
Smug-looking elves of Lórien. Only Haldir is named, and none of them are on screen for long.

Comparison

The guards of Lórien
The elven brothers were first seen in both book and film when they intercepted the Fellowship outside Lothlórien.
In the book, the elves were hiding on a talanin a mallorn tree, and when Legolas sprang up from the ground to catch hold of one of the mallorn branches, Haldir made his presence known.
“”Daro!” it [Haldir’s voice] said in commanding tone, and Legolas dropped back to earth in surprise and fear. He shrank against the bole of the tree.” (FotR, Lothlórien)

However, after that inauspicious start, Legolas was soon conversing with the elves, and was invited to ascend the tree with Frodo, as the Galadhrim had had tidings both of the hobbit and of their journey.

In the film, on the other hand, the elves step out from the darkness of the forest floor, and Haldir talks first to Gimli:
“The dwarf breaths so loud, we could have shot him in the dark.” (Lothlórien, Encounter with Lórien Elves)

The elven brothers

In both the book and the film, the elves were dressed in shadowy-grey, and could not be seen among the tree-stems, unless they moved suddenly.
In the book, Haldir greeted Legolas and Frodo in the Galadhrim tongue, and then rephrased it in the Common Tongue. Haldir explained that he was one of only a few of the Galadhrim who went abroad to gather news and watch enemies, and so he could speak the Common Tongue. Rúmil and Orophin, on the other hand, could speak but little of that language.

Legolas is seen by the brothers as the person most worthy of their attention, but in the film Aragorn takes that role:
“Haldir o Lórien. Henion aníron, boe ammen i dulu lîn. Boe ammen veriad lîn.
(Haldir of Lórien. We desire your help. We need your protection)”
(Lothlórien, Encounter with Lórien Elves)
How Aragorn is meant to know Haldir is not explained.

In both book and film, Haldir is wary of Gimli, saying that he would not be allowed into the land. Eventually, however, when Legolas explained that Elrond chose him, and that he was true and faithful, Haldir accepted that he would be allowed in – though blindfold, and guarded by Aragorn and Legolas.
“You, Legolas, must answer to us for them. Call us, if anything is amiss! And have an eye on that dwarf!” (FotR, Lothlórien)

Gollum and Orcs
In the book, Haldir saw Gollum rustling through the trees near the hobbits’ flet during the night. Orophin also left his brothers that night to warn the Galadhrim that a company of Orcs were in Lórien.
Neither of those events happen in the film.

Travelling on to Caras Galadhon
In the book, Haldir and Rúmil became the Fellowship’s guides and guards on their journey further into Lothlórien. In the film, only Haldir is mentioned by name as a guide to Caras Galadhon – and that is the last mention of the brothers in the FotR film.

In the book Haldir showed the Company how to cross the Celebrant, and at the Naith of Lórien, he stopped to blindfold Gimli. He said that the others could walk free until they came nearer to the elves’ dwellings, down in Egladil. Eventually, however, he ended up blindfolding all the Company and leading them safely onwards.

His knowledge of the world of the elves and the outside world is shown much more clearly in the book than in the film – especially in a passage that also makes Lothlórien’s isolation very obvious.
“Indeed in nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him. Yet so little faith and trust do we find now in the world beyond Lothlórien, unless maybe in Rivendell, that we dare not by our own trust endanger our land. … The rivers long defended us, but they are a sure guard no more; for the Shadow has crept northward all about us. Some speak of departing, yet for that it already seems too late. The mountains to the west are growing evil; to the east the lands are waste, and full of Sauron’s creatures; and it is rumoured that we cannot now safely pass southward through Rohan, and the mouths of the Great River are watched by the Enemy.” (FotR, Lothlórien)

“Yet I do not believe that the world about us will ever again be as it was of old, or the light of the Sun as it was aforetime. For the Elves, I fear, it will prove at best a truce, in which they may pass to the Sea unhindered and leave the Middle-earth for ever. Alas for Lothlórien that I love!” (FotR, Lothlórien)

Haldir led the group in single file along the paths of Lothlórien, talking for a while with Merry about the ancient Elf-Havens and the beauty of Lórien. Rúmil walked at the rear of the group.

Cerin Amroth
At Cerin Amroth, an elf brought a message to Haldir from Galadriel and Celeborn. In response, he took the blindfolds away from the Company, starting with Gimli.
He also took Frodo and Sam up to the circle of white trees atop the mound, where he showed them Lórien, the Anduin, Southern Mirkwood and Dol Guldur.

Caras Galadhon
Haldir and Rúmil led the Fellowship into Caras Galadhon, and up to the talan of Galadriel and Celeborn. Haldir entered Galadriel’s chamber first, followed by Frodo.
Celeborn asked Haldir why he hadn’t been told about Gandalf falling into shadow. After the meeting, Haldir bade the Fellowship farewell and returned to the fences of the North. It is not mentioned when Rúmil left the gathering.

Leaving Lothlórien
Haldir encountered the Fellowship again when they were leaving Lothlórien. He had returned from the Northern Fences, and was again their guide to the Silverlode, where he put them in boats to carry on their journey.

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Related Information
Interesting Links:
Our Gallery has a separate section devoted to Haldir, but you can also find some pics of his brothers here. It also has the screencaps of Fellowship of the Ring and the Extended DVD.

A transcript of Lord Of the Rings: Fellowship Of the Ring can be found in our Film Fun & Facts section.

A summary of Lord Of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring can be found in Elrond's Library.

You can also check out some pictures of Craig Parker in our Gallery, or read a short biography of him in our Film, Fun & Facts section.

Some articles that are related to this character:


Forum threads related to this character / actor:
- For Craig Parker fans there's a wide variety of threads in the Casting Forum: Favorite Character/Actor - The Elves; Legolas, Haldir or Figwit and Haldir.

Take a look at how some artists saw this character:
- Haldir by aliang
- Atop Cerin Amroth by Eissman
- Orophin Ever Watching by FaithGreenleaf2205
- Haldir by Gregory
- Haldir, Rúmil and Orophin by Gwyllion
- Haldir and Haldir 2 by Ede Kastein
- Haldir by lady_lucrecia
- Haldir by Selphius
- The Lórien Brothers by Selphius
- Haldir by Soraco


Not pleased with the book or the movie, take a look here:
You can preview the Haldir Chat Skin.