Okay, so thanks to everyone here right now. Means a lot. :D

So this is a spinoff of my Lord of the Rings story "The Knowing, The Brave, and The Completely Clueless" but you DON'T have to read that to understand this. A friend of mine decided when she read my other story that I needed to write a spinoff, which is how this came about. It's full of humor, well not this chapter. This chapter is actually rather depressing. But the next chapter which will also be up tonight, is full of humor. My kind of humor anyway. Maybe I'm not as funny as I think I am. Dunno, never asked anybody. But anyway, if you make it past this chapter and don't hate me horrendously, read the next one and leave me a review :) I like reviews, they make life happy.

Anyway, here you go!

P.S. To anyone that wants to know, the cover photo contains all the main *human* characters for this story. You'll understand with chapter 1 :)

Prologue

This battle had lasted long, far longer than anyone had expected it too. Haldir glanced around at his companions. Many had been slaughtered already during the battle and there were less than half of the original number. Haldir quickly spotted his brother and the Mirkwood prince. With a determined gaze set on his face, Haldir sliced his way through the battalion of orcs to his brother and friend. Both looked up as he approached them.

"Brother." Rúmil greeted in elvish. Haldir nodded to him then to the prince.

"It is good to find you still among our ranks." Prince Legolas said as he sliced through another orc. "We have lost many good companions this day. I fear we will lose many more as well." Haldir scowled at the mere thought of losing anymore of his fellow elves. Hadn't they lost enough lives already?

Though the War of the Ring was over and Sauron and Mordor had been destroyed, that did not kill the orcs that had been bred and created for the sole purpose of winning the war. Instead of their death, they fled. Many found refuge with hill men that so despised Gondor, and many more found refuge within the woods of Mirkwood. They had made it their mission that if they were to die, they would die fighting a battle they had truly already lost. They had yet to realize it.

"I fear as well that many more will be lost before this day is won. I pray we are not among them." Haldir stated. No sooner had the words left his mouth than something went horribly wrong. No one had seen the orc perched high above them. No one had noticed as he had taken out an arrow, nocked it, and taken aim at one of the many blonde heads in the blood soaked clearing. No one could stop the inevitable.

Time seemed to slow for Haldir as the arrow pierced through his brother's armor, straight into his heart. Rúmil froze, one hand flying to his chest as he looked down to the arrow protruding from it. He looked back up, meeting Haldir's shocked gaze as he dropped to his knees, his sword falling from his hands. This brought Haldir back to reality. Screaming out his brother's name, Haldir rushed forward, faintly aware of the prince's elvish curses.

Haldir caught his brother just before he could plummet face first into the ground. He held him in his arms, tears forming in his eyes as he watched the life drain from his brother's eyes. He wanted to help, wanted to save him, but he knew there was nothing he could do. Despite his emergency medical training, Haldir was powerless to what was happening. As Rúmil took his last breath, his eyes fluttered close. Haldir let out a cry of despair as his brother was lost to the world, never again to open his eyes. Haldir's head bowed as he clutched his brother to him. Haldir didn't know how long he sat there until a firm but gentle hand rested on his shoulder.

"I am sorry, my friend." The sorrow was evident in the Mirkwood prince's voice, but it did nothing to quell the hollow feeling of despair in Haldir's chest. What would he tell Orophin? Rather, how would he tell Orophin? Explaining the loss of a loved one to the family was never easy, and it was even more difficult when it was your own family that had been lost. Anger welled in his chest along with the pain. Why did it have to be Rúmil? Why could he have not been spared?

Haldir gently set his brother's body on the ground, saying a quiet pray in elvish for him. Once he had gained what little peace he could, Haldir gathered up his sword, the anger in him swelling hotter. These damned orcs would pay for taking his brother from him. Haldir set out with a determination to slaughter every last orc he could see, no matter the consequences.

Haldir had always been taught that anger was recklessness. To get angry during a battle would be your death. Your heart would drive your actions, not your mind, and you would make stupid mistakes that otherwise you would have avoided. Haldir knew all this, yet he charged into battle as if he was still a young ellon unexperienced with battle. It was, as his mentor years upon years ago said, the death of all warriors.

So concerned was he with revenge and destroying every last orc he could find that he did not notice the orc come up behind him. The prince screamed his name and Haldir's gaze shot to him. Legolas tried to warn him, but by the time Haldir had realized what he meant it was too late. The orc had thrust his rusted blade through Haldir's middle. Haldir let out a gasp, immediately dropping to his knees, his blade falling from his fingers and his hands went to his middle to try to stop the bleeding. It was a worthless effort.

The orc that had stabbed him dropped dead the next instant from an arrow to the skull. The Mirkwood prince had slain the creature and was rushing towards him. It wouldn't matter what he did, he knew that the man would not be able to save him. Haldir was dead, his body just had yet to accept the fact.

Legolas dropped to his knees beside him, fretting over his condition. He went to reach for him but Haldir shook his head. "I am as good as dead, my friend. Nothing you can do will save me now. Let me go in peace." Haldir murmured. The prince looked like he was about to argue, but before he could he was sent sideways. Haldir watched in horror as the life drained from his friend's eyes, an arrow protruding from the side of his skull.

Haldir dropped the rest of the way to the ground, his body rolling so that he was resting on his back, staring up at the canopy of trees. What a way to die, having watched your friends and family die before you. Watching the life drain from their eyes, knowing that within the next few minutes the light will have left your own. Watching those you care about die before you, knowing that you couldn't save them, was a pain that was worse than the death itself.

Why did it have to end like this?

Haldir could feel himself begin to choke on the blood flowing into his lungs. He absently wondered if his death would be because of the loss of blood, or from drowning in it. It was a morbid thought, but when you were surrounded by blood and death already, dying slowly from a wound you had no hope of healing, what more thoughts were there to think? Haldir highly doubted that anyone's last thought were of anything happy. They were likely of the life they would leave behind, the people their death would crush. Many probably thought much like he had himself, of the death they were dying.

Haldir could all but feel his life force leaving him. He sent a silent, last prayer to the Valar, hoping that wherever he ended up, he would be with his brother and his friend. He also sent a prayer for Orophin, knowing that the deaths of both his brothers would possibly drive the elf mad. Haldir wished he had been able to say goodbye, to see his littlest brother one last time, and to apologize for all the things he done and to say all the things he'd never said. Haldir wished, but that was all he did.

A single tear slid down his cheek as he closed his eyes for what he believed to be his final time.