Title: A Rose Not Yet Withered

Pairing: None

Rating: PG13

Genre: Angst / Mystery

WARNING: Violence

Beta: None

Cast: Haldir, Orophin, Rúmil, Celeborn, Galadriel, OCs

Disclaimer: I own no-one from The Lord Of The Rings. All the characters and place names displayed belong to JRR Tolkien except Daealia and Glorendil who are from my own imagination and are the only ones I lay claim to. I do not intend to, nor am I making any financial gain from the writing of this story.

Feedback: Yes please! We "aspiring" authors thrive on the stuff.

Timeline: A.U. Not following movie-verse.

Summary: When news of a massacre reaches Lorien, time begins to run against the Galadhrim. Soon, even their trust for their own kin, is lost in a tangled web of lies, deceit and murder….

Author's Notes: Daealia is pronounced Day-a-lee-a

Spoilers: None


Chapter 1

The Letter

'My brother?' Rúmil called after Orophin as he all but ran down through the corridors near their rooms.

Orophin turned so he was facing his sibling and shook his head sadly. 'Nothing yet, Rúmil' he said 'Let him be. He has enough on his mind, that is obvious. Ever since he got that letter this morning, well, he just hasn't been the same.'

'Haven't you even spoke to him?' pressed Rúmil

'Nay, I have not. But I do not need to. From what I read of his expression this morning, I understand what has happened.'

'What has happened, Orophin' said Rúmil with a note of panic in his voice.

Orophin laid a hand gently on his brother's shoulder.

'You do know that in the past months, our brother has been often going into the forest at night and not returning till the early hours?'

'Yes, I do Orophin, but that's beside the point. What has Haldir going for a night-time stroll got to do with anything?'

'Everything.' replied Orophin, solemnly. 'You see, Rúmil-' he broke off suddenly, ears quivering as though trying to detect some far away sound.

'Get behind that pillar!' he hissed to his brother.

'Wh-'

'Just do it!' Orophin gave his brother a tough pull and yanked him behind the nearest wooden pillar where they stood, waiting and watching.

'What are you doing?' whispered Rúmil

Orophin shot Rúmil a warning look and put a finger to his lips signalling for him to be quiet. Rúmil looked up at his brother, puzzled. Suddenly he understood.

On the far side of the balcony, a dark figure emerged silently from one of the rooms. It looked around for a few seconds and then wandered off into the night until he was barely a pin-prick in the distance.

'Where's he going?' said Rúmil 'Orophin, tell me, please. I have a right to know. In case you have forgotten, he is my brother too.'

'Stop it!' snapped Orophin, his voice raised slightly.

'Stop what?'

'Losing your head like that. It's precisely the reason I haven't told you what's been going on because I knew this is how you'd react.'

'I'm pleading with you Orophin. Tell me. If you shall not enlighten me then I shall go and speak with Haldir about this.'

Orophin sighed. 'Alright. I'll tell you. But only because I do not want Haldir being more grieved than he already is.'

'Go on' encouraged Rúmil.

'You remember the young elleth that left Lorien a few days ago?'

'Daealia? Hand-maiden to Lady Galadriel no more than four months back?'

'Indeed. She and Haldir have been meeting secretly for the past months. He slips off at nightfall, only to return when day first breaks the next morning.'

'And?' Rúmil looked at his brother expectantly.

Orophin sighed heavily and looked up into his brother's darkened and concerned eyes.

'She's dead.'