Even in Death
Chapter 1
It wasn't supposed to be this way! Nothing was right about what had happened. Both Rumil and Orophin looked on in horror as they found their brother Haldir buried beneath a pile of rotting corpses of slain Orcs.
Rumil gave a startled cry and both brothers began throwing off the dead bodies to get to their beloved brother. Tears were streaming down both their faces like a constant waterfall. How could this have happened?! They knew their brother to be the best fighter that the Galadhrim could ever hope for.
They couldn't recall how many hours had passed before they finally pulled themselves together enough to cover Haldir with his cloak and gently pick up his body, carrying him carefully to a wooden cart made for carrying supplies, but instead was being used to dispose of the many dead bodies.
Still devastated and weeping, they laid him in an empty cart and spoke with a few of the other Galadhrim warriors, deciding that returning to Lorien immediately was the best course of action. The Lord and Lady had to be made aware of what had happened and most of all…..Amarië.
What were they to tell her? That her true love and best friend had died for what he believed in? Somehow that seemed like little comfort.
Orophin sighed and ran a hand over his face, giving a sideways glance to Rumil who was trying to put on a brave face but he could tell at any given moment he could break down again. They slowly started making their way back to Lothlorien, some of the other elves going on ahead to inform their Lord and Lady of the recent tragedy.
As they traveled along, Orophin became lost deep in thought. How was he going to break the news to Amarië? His mind wandered back to the time when he and his brothers were all still elflings. Amarië had been the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. So graceful, but full of life at the same time. He had been infatuated and smitten with her since he first laid eyes on her, but she had only ever had eyes for Haldir and who could blame her?
Haldir had been brave, noble, strong and very much a gentleman. It was no wonder she had fallen for him so hard and fast. Of course it had hurt Orophin extensively when Haldir had announced that he intended to marry Amarië but he smiled and kept his mouth shut.
As Orophin saw the borders of Lothlorien approaching his anxiety and worry became greater. Hurrying to the talans as quickly as he could, he decided just telling her as quickly as possible was the best thing for it. Reaching her talan he knocked on the door with shaking hands.
Amarië opened the door and smiled brightly. "Oh Orophin!" "Greetings mellon-nin, where is Haldir?" Orophin stood their pale faced and shaking and that must have been enough for Amarië to realize there was something wrong. "Orophin?" she asked in a much more serious tone, "Where is Haldir?"
Orophin looked at her face and broke down, falling to his knees and weeping. Amarië fell to her knees as well and started crying. "NO!" "NO, Orophin please tell me it isn't true!" Crying, Amarië fled from the talan, running blindly down the steps and as far away into the woods of Lorien as she could get, falling onto the ground and weeping beyond comfort.