A/N : Sequel to ,,Warrior´s Tryst in Lorien".
When he knows of Haldir´s and Legolas´s match, Rumil in turn goads Legolas into a fight.
Part II
Legolas knew that time was short, for mortals who lingered too long in Lorien's eternal current soon forgot that the world outside changed, even if Lorien did not, and that they themselves aged ceaselessly with it; moreover, to delay the Quest any longer was to foolishly advantage the Enemy. Aragorn, no stranger to Lorien's timelessness, would soon lead the Fellowship on. Legolas desired another meeting with Haldir, and was glad to hear that Haldir's current location was merely two days journey from Caras Galadhon.
The Northerner pushed himself hard, reveling in the exertion, for though he stayed with the Company with good grace, traveling with the mortals was slower than he liked. Further, the smooth, gracious splendor of the Golden Wood was so easily traversable compared to his own twisted realm, that Legolas tracked Haldir well before the first day was ended.
Now Haldir and his brother Rumil were keeping guard together and it was they who first spotted Legolas as the Northerner cast a bright eye for signs of an outpost.
"For such a skilled one to have turned as fey and as then as severe as you describe, brother, would have been more than just a passing challenge to even your prowess. I imagine your confrontation was very memorable," said Rumil, and there was approval in his dark eyes.
Haldir was about to cast Rumil a cool and dismissive glance when he saw a familiar elf in outlander's garb.
"Up here, Thranduil-ion," Haldir called down to Legolas, casting the cool and dismissive glance to his brother. Around his own kind was Rumil a bolder, brasher sort of scoundrel than either of his elder brothers, and to Haldir's sterner mind he treated too lightly issues which deserved greater import. He had none of Haldir's grave and easy courtesy, nor did he have Oropher's cautious reticence. Rumil did, however, make friends easily and readily, and he greeted Legolas first the Northerner reached them.
"Well met once more, honored traveler! And how has our abode and our folk spoiled you, Legolas of the North? Your name precedes your arrival, as is appropriate for your part in the Nine. Would that my brothers and I had understood the import of your quest when we first met. Now, however, such benefits that I would envy would you have received!"
"Indeed, Rumil. The majesty of Caras Galadhon will be a delightful memory in darker times," answered Legolas, "and the good cheer of your folk precious to remember. It is very different in life than as the tales tell, of course. Lothlorien is entirely different from the North, and different again from fair Rivendell."
"And have your companions rested well?"
"Yes, I think so, at least as well as rest can be had with the weight of our Quest on our minds. It is especially wearying for the men and the hobbits, whose bodies must rest, and whose spirits want to forget, but whose minds must remember and continue onwards. As for the hardy dwarf Gimli who is a good friend of mine, I gather he is well, and readier than the others to continue. "
"And what of new plans has your company made? How far more will you travel?"
"That is a difficult discussion, for we had not thought so far. The Gondorian will hither to his city Minas Tirith. The ranger and leader of our company has ranged far, but not so far to be sure of our path. As for I, I will go with Frodo the Hobbit, when I can, for that was always Mithrandir's way to decide. But then, the Lady and the Lord are wise. Aragorn seeks their wisdom even now."
In this way the conversation meandered, such that the history of the Rings was skirted, for Rumil and Haldir were not privy to information on the Rings of Power, and Legolas had no wish to burden the warriors of Lothlorien with this knowledge that the Wood's waning was unavoidable regardless of the Fellowship's success.
"Tell me more about the Northern Folk, Legolas. How do you warriors live, in practice and in spirit?" Rumil asked.
"I have heard from Elrond's folk that we of the North are a wilder and more unlearned people than those of the region of Old Eriador. Hence are our practices wont to differ. We know little of lore and craft, and many a times under the tutelage of Elrond's court did I feel like an unlearned elfling! But it is also said, and this I can attest to, that we of the North are unrivalled in horsemanship and combat. I would not contest Lords Elrond and Glorfindel of Gondolin on the battlefield. But against any other Elf in the West –
There was a razor edge of friendly competition in Legolas's brief smile before he continued,
"Our foes and dangers are our daily chores now, as they have been for far too many winters – our warriors face a different duty from yours! Much closer is the threat of the Shadow in what was once Greenwood the Great. When the hearts of the Firstborn are dire our words are short and our arms are fast."
The sun in Lorien had always a pale, wintry brilliance. But for the final moment of splendor before the moon rose, there was no warning before Lorien turned to nightfall. Haldir the captain, ever mindful of his responsibilities, left the pair, climbing into a different outpost some distance away, saying that two watchers were better spread out in the dark.
"My brother described but briefly a contentious encounter with you that had his wrists sore," said Rumil suddenly. A customary half-smirk flickered over his sharp features, but it vanished quickly, suggesting that roguishness was not near foremost on his mind. "He gave nothing else away, and it seems to me that he had reason to glance over that night. How would you add to that, Legolas?"
Legolas sat with his back to the trunk of the tree and tilted his head back, raising his brow.
"I will share no more than your brother. Is the practice not a secret to be kept amongst the participants, as it is in the North?"
"It is. But I did not ask to gossip or to pick a scandal. No, I ask because – because I –" Rumil stopped himself, frowned, and started again,
"just days past the Orcs fouled pure Nimrodel with their crossing and I, I had my first, slightest inkling of what battle would be like. We did not even come into contact – we were high in our trees and with much speed and deception we slew the creatures who knew not the methods of our warriors, and any tree they made to climb resisted with our Lady's magic. We suffered their crossing not, for none passed our barricade alive.
"I know that skirmish was nothing. To you, you who have made it over the mountain and through the Mines, it would not have been battle."
Rumil stopped here and waited for Legolas to respond. Legolas looked askance at Rumil, who was sharper of jaw and fiercer-eyed than Haldir, and who had paler hair and longer, more sinewy limbs than either Haldir or Orophin. Uncertain of Rumil's thoughts, Legolas replied with caution.
"No, Rumil. It was not battle, to be picking off your enemies run amok, albeit such a means is just as necessary."
"I know it was not battle. I know! I was frustrated exactly because there was no battle. It was just there merest blush of agitation. And – and it was – it was frustrating!"
And Legolas replied, not unsharply,
"A warrior would do well not to confuse the passion of battle with duty!"
"The duty was real, I know! I know my place and I know my duty, and I know, I know I love my brother and captain above all else – above even Laurelindoreanan. I will not disobey his command. But –"
Rumil swarmed to his feet in a mass of loose, gangly limbs.
"The orcs were weak. They were weak and frightened and undisciplined. They fled and broke at our first volley, because they knew they were in our land."
Rumil was a flurry of pale hair and light brown garb, intense, pacing, with a strange jutting fluidity visible in his knees and shoulders.
"Amongst – amongst our company, there are those like my brothers, who know how to lead their thoughts, and there are those like me who are new. I could not lead my thoughts although I knew I should – and I couldn't – I still can't – "
Legolas watched with asperity the hot blooded soldier, who, to judge from his fitful words and erratic gestures, had yet to attain the discipline of a warrior.
"It was not battle! It was not confrontation, and the anxiety that I had borne in my limbs for many a year was not fulfilled! I would not have disobeyed my orders, I would not have endangered any of my brothers in arms, but I was angry because the anxiety in my limbs had found sorry fulfillment!"
And so Rumil came at last to the most honest expression of his predicament, and Legolas made to calm him, but Rumil, caught up in his passionate exegesis, heeded the Northener not.
"And so I want for myself from you what you might have given Haldir that night. I wish for real battle! I want the threat of blood and death to be real! If only –"
"If only?" Legolas's shocked words cut across Rumil. "If only?"
Rumil turned with a retort about his lips, only to see Legolas on his feet, his eyes disbelieving and bright with anger.
"How dare you, Rumil brother of Haldir, fool of the guard of Lothlorien! If only blood and death had been real? For shame! Be silent, and renounce this folly temper!"
Legolas's words were tight and clear with outrage. But Rumil was not easily cowed.
"You should not be so angry with me! For you have found release in battle, have you not? You say death is in your Forest daily – not so here, where I have served decades of winters in the guard of Lorien, and have never loosed a shaft knowing it might be my last!"
"And how does a foolish child come by a warrior's due? Stand down!"
"I will not –"
"Silence! Silence, from you both, and I will ask pardon from neither!"
Roused and incensed by such disturbance, Haldir had reappeared between the two. His authority cut through the argument, but Legolas in his wrath would suffer no command.
"You would do well to take your soldier in hand, Haldir of Lorien, for he has shamed the death and sacrifice of Mithrandir before me, and that of my brothers-in-arms from decades before! No greater insult has been heard from the boughs of golden Lothlorien to the straits of Anduin to gates of the halls of my father-king! May your lord and lady never hear of his disgrace!"
So saying Legolas turned his back on the two and left, taking his bow with him.
In a while he heard the footsteps of pursuit, and he judged them to be Haldir's; sure enough the Marchwarden's voice called,
"Nay, Legolas, nay! Stop, I beg you!"
Simmering with cold anger, Legolas did not slow in his purposeful stride, and it was only when he heard Rumil's footsteps add to Haldir's that he slowed and turned.
"A thousand pardons, Legolas, for my soldier's impudence," was the first thing Haldir said when Legolas turned. "I am at fault for his lack of discipline and for the insult he has brought to Mithrandir –"
"No, brother! The fault is mine! Legolas, my brother has always taught me –"
"In the North where Greenwood the Great was once fair, a soldier does not speak over his captain. Is that not so with you?"
Rumil was taken aback, and Haldir was frustrated.
"Legolas!" cried Haldir. "I come to make amends, not discontent!"
Legolas looked at the Marchwarden to acknowledge him, but he spoke directly to Rumil,
"Return to your watch! Two pairs of eyes will not be taken from the border guard of Lorien for this. Begone! Your captain will speak for you!"
Rumil's obeyed, not without a look of tight recalcitrance. When he was out of ear shot Haldir said to Legolas, his voice low and tight,
"That you stepped over my authority as Captain, Legolas, was uncalled for, especially right on the heels of your previous rebuke. That order was to my soldier and it was mine to give."
Legolas replied,
"You are too soft with your brother, Haldir. Thrice this night has he stepped too far. The first, when he asked about our tryst I could understand. The second time was when he spoke callously of blood and death. That I can sympathize also with, I understand the unquenched fire in his limbs, for he is beside you a mere colt-ling! But even colts do not misspeak after they have been corrected! I did not take insult for myself, but for the burden of blood and death that has fallen so heavy upon my companions, and that your brother has so shamefully wished for! And to think, I came for the pleasure of your conversation!"
In the face of these accusations Haldir had to choose his words carefully.
"I apologize for Rumil, Legolas, and I will school him in his manners and speech. His words were insensitive and fell on fresh wounds. Rumil has the right of it – he has never left the Lorien and does not understand many things. he knows only that some dread will come to pass, and that dread he cannot stop, and for that, for that, Legolas, does he feel trapped, and always anxious. He does not understand the ache of things and the sacrifice of battle, but youth and inexperience should not be an offense. Truly, I am sorry for that!"
Hearing such earnestness Legolas turned away, unwilling to let his emotions come to the fore, but Haldir pressed his chance and continued,
"I am sorry not just for my brother's rudeness, but also for the burden you carry, honored Thranduil-ion, and for the friend you have lost, and for the friends you perhaps will come to lose. I am sorry that even while you walk beneath this shadow your heart dwells daily over the shadow in your own Forest, and that you must draw every arrow for strange companions knowing that your men, too, your own soldiers and brothers and your father king, have equal need of your skill at home!"
The silence which followed was weighted with a sorrow the Galadhrim only partly understood.
"Will you not make amends with my brother ere you depart, Legolas?"
Perhaps selfishly, Haldir now turned his thoughts to undoing the hurt between them, for it was unseemly that his brother's unthinking offenses should have soured so promising a friendship with so worthy a warrior-friend. And yet Haldir was that night the wiser to have tried to reconcile such a fierce quarrel, for amongst those whose lives were valued by blood and death, and even more so in times of darkness such as that, nothing was quite so mighty as the togetherness of brothers.
At length Legolas turned back to Haldir, and to the eyes of Haldir of Lorien, who was experienced in such things, the son of king Thranduil looked at once younger and older, and at once wilder and more gentle, and it was as though his eyes had taken on a timelessness that in the less learned wood elves was rare.
"Amends will be made! I did not come so far and arrive in the Forest of my kin to make enemies."
Haldir smiled, and he led Legolas under the trees to where his brother would be. As they walked Haldir suddenly asked,
"what about my brother's demands, Legolas? Will you agree to them at all?"
Legolas frowned.
"There is little I can do for him."
"My brother asked about our tryst because he thought we had a good contest. It is the closest thing he can get to proper battle at his rank. He was asking you for a match of skills, for a chance to ease his restlessness."
"Your brother wished for blood and death. I will not accede to that."
"He wants a test of his mettle, it is all," Haldir maintained.
"Then why does he not seek out those who know him better and know how to push his limits?"
"Because," Haldir answered, "he is young, and proud, and fierce, and you are a prince of the Great Forest in the North, and he would rather have you as a handsome, formidable and unfamiliar rival, than the warriors whom he is familiar with whom he can predict, and with whom he will feel safe."
Haldir emphasized his words with heartfelt praise and an insisting hand on Legolas's shoulder, neither of which the Northerner missed.
"O Haldir with a sweet and knowing tongue," Legolas murmured wryly. "Surely there is someone here whom Rumil looks up to. Someone besides you or Orophin, another commander who will be able to…" Legolas trailed off as they came to the tree of Rumil's choice.
"Master him," Haldir said, both concluding Legolas's sentence and commanding him.
Legolas frowned again at the Galadhrim, and as the Northerner's mind turned, they both swung up to the flet.
Rumil was standing stiffly, with both hands clasped behind his back and his chin sharp and high.
"Rumil of Lothlorien, brother of Haldir, I take back my anger and displeasure from before. I leave your Land in a few days and I would not leave with anger."
Rumil looked warily at Legolas, and seemed as though he did not know what the appropriate response was.
Legolas continued before Haldir could speak, subtly signaling for silence from the Marchwarden. "I sympathize with your impatience, and so I have decided that tomorrow I will go to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel and request that you, Rumil, accompany the Fellowship on our Quest as a second representative of the Elves, and one more to replace Mithrandir, and make again the Nine which ventured from Imladris."
Rumil stared in shock, and even Haldir looked dumbfounded and outraged, but Legolas cut across whatever the Marchwarden had to say.
"But there is one condition. We will not allow an unprepared warrior to burden us. And so I will be a judge of your suitability."
"You will match me in a fight," Legolas elaborated, to the dawning comprehension on the Galadhrims' faces. "Only your victory will convince me to request your presence from your Lord and Lady. If I best you, then you will not join us, and you will not contest this decision. Do you accept?"
Rumil's surprise was still transparent.
"And – and my captain has agreed to this?"
"I have," Haldir lied, marveling at this turn of events. It was a good way of making Rumil's battle a real one and not just a mock fight. Surely Legolas's challenge would both galvanize Rumil with an unprecedented opportunity, and perhaps still some of Rumil's fire.
Rumil scarcely believed his ears. To accompany the fellowship alongside strange people! It provoked Rumil and scared him. He did not know whether he wanted to win or lose, but he did know that he wanted to be able to choose.
"Then I – then I agree to this term," Rumil said.
"Good. Then, Haldir, you must excuse us for a period." To Rumil Legolas continued, "we will fight with our blades only. To win, you must disarm me. The fight ends when either of us no longer holds a blade."
With the brisk and unassuming formality of warriors Legolas and Rumil shed their bows and quivers and faced each other, a blade in each hand. Thus for the second time in the same moon cycle Galadhrim and Northerner faced each other, only this time passion was with the Galadhrim, and icy calm was with the Northerner. Dutiful Haldir excused himself to keep guard, although neither doubted that the captain had a watchful eye on them.
The fight began. Four blades flashed back and forth under the boughs, brilliant with the speed of their wielders. It is a pity that the Firstborn keep their matches infrequent and private, for a fight between Elves is marvelous to behold. The slenderer, Rumil, moved with a whipcord grace, leading with his elbows and knees like a fierce dangerous colt, pale haired, violently dark eyed. His kicks and slashes were wild and powerful. Legolas was a sure and supple fighter; it seemed that they were evenly matched, and it was a battle-dance of two warriors. Even now Haldir marveled at how young his brother looked.
Quite suddenly, Rumil was on his back and Legolas was leaning over him, their bodies close and lithe and forceful against each other. A split second of frozen surprise, and Rumil pressed his lips against Legolas's throat.
Legolas gasped and nearly released his weapons. A split second later he caught on to Rumil's intentions and brought his sharp elbows crashing against the Galadhrim's skull.
"Ai! Elbereth!" Rumil bucked and arched in surprise, his eyes watering, and then Legolas pinned his arms down.
"That is not to be done!" Legolas growled.
"You – did not – forbid – it!" Rumil gasped and thrashed as his wrists, slowly being crushed by Legolas's fingers, began to lose sensation. "I –!"
He leaned up and kissed Legolas fully on the lips. Legolas jerked away instantly, granting Rumil his freedom, who leapt up with impudent laughter in his eyes.
"The battlefield is full of dark and dangerous terrors!" Rumil said in jesting challenge.
For his audacity Legolas struck him a ringing blow to the side of his face with the hilt of his knife, and when Rumil's arms leapt up too late to parry, Legolas struck his left upper arm with the flat of his blade.
Immediately Rumil's left hand dropped his knife and became unarmed, and Legolas tossed his knife far into the bushes.
"Ai!" Rumil hissed, enraged both at himself and at Legolas.
Rumil's one remaining knife slashed dangerously at Legolas, forcing the Northerner to leap away, and with this time both Elves regained their footing and reset their stances.
Legolas planted his feet and rolled his shoulders, not eased by the fact that Rumil was half as armed as he – for Rumil was unruly and unpredictable, and driven by a long contained tension.
And Legolas was right to not be confident, for Rumil readily switched his knife from hand to hand behind his back so that a single blade slashed from unexpected angles at Legolas, who even with his skill could not discern the dance of Rumil's gangly limbs behind his back. When Legolas made the mistake of watching Rumil's shoulders too closely – the better to guess where the knife would next come from – Rumil seized his chance and drove Legolas to the ground with a powerful swinging kick. Legolas doubled over, rolled to his feet and staggered backward trying to regain his balance for a good few feet as Rumil came a full round on a pivot and renewed his attack with a taunting call.
"Have a care, prince!"
Legolas lost some more ground as Rumil advanced swiftly, and as Rumil's confidence grew so did his aggression. It was not just his long limbs that Legolas watched for but his long hair, now slick and heavy with sweat.
Their fight lasted long, partly by Legolas's conscious design, so that Rumil would be exceedingly challenged; and also because Rumil was not less able than Haldir. In leaped Legolas; away sprung Rumil, spinning with his one knife over his back; down ducked Legolas as Rumil's hair came whipping around; clang rang blades against each other; long after their superb bodies were wet and gleaming their fight continued still.
In such a manner Legolas took many harsh blows that night, for it was rare to encounter a warrior so exuberant as Rumil. But the difficulty with Rumil's rolling acrobatic style of combat was that he could hurt, but not easily disarm, Legolas.
A well-aimed kick caught Rumil in his belly and sent him to one knee, and the knife was flung spinning through the trees.
"Gah," said Rumil, looking blankly at Legolas. The knife thunked dully in the stunned silence that followed.
"The contest is done," said Legolas.
Dazed, the Galadhrim lurched to his feet and made to attack Legolas with his hands.
"The contest is done," Legolas repeated without passion. Legolas stood his ground; Rumil staggered, half-fell forward, grabbed Legolas squarely around the waist, as though to push him over; then Rumil sunk down, spent.
They rested; they were motionless beneath the boughs of Lothlorien. Presently Legolas sheathed his knives and extended an arm to Rumil. Rumil pulled himself to his feet, looking slightly less wild-eyed than before.
Their hands remained clasps for a few moments. Then Legolas said,
"Well fought, Rumil of Lothlorien."
And Rumil found it hard to speak, for he was still coming out of his battle-trance, and was only just beginning to perceive relief and despondence. At length he mustered some thought, and said with feeling,
"Well fought, Legolas of Greenwood."
Haldir listened to their heavy breathing from above, and did not commend their match, although he wanted to do so. There would be time enough to do that in person, he decided, and it was better that these two had some time to find themselves.
Later in the same night, when Rumil had been dispatched elsewhere, Haldir and Legolas laughed to themselves over a deed well done.
"Rumil needs a woman to go home to, that is all," Haldir said, only half in jest.
"Nay, that is making light of a difficult challenge," Legolas replied. "He is young enough to want intimacy, and not young enough to be happy merely with passion; he is old enough to feel captivity, but not old enough to let resentment go."
"Aye," Haldir agreed. "He was always doted upon by Orophin and me."
"Yet you lied with such confidence," Legolas observed. "You might have lost your brother to a dangerous and unpredictable fate."
"He could not have bested you," Haldir answered without uncertainty. "Rumil is stronger and more tenacious than I am, but he is much too careless. In time, Rumil would have lost the second knife. And besides, Rumil cannot speak the common tongue! Surely you did not forget that. He would not have been a suitable addition to your company, victory or not."
"I had not thought of that! But perhaps I should take you with me, Marchwarden. I am owed for that sore beating I took from your younger brother at your behest."
"A great warrior of Elves does not suddenly admit to being sore, Legolas, unless he has some plot up his sleeve," Haldir retorted.
Legolas smiled, almost secretively. Expecting a rejoinder and receiving notable silence, Haldir raised his brows and demanded,
"Well?"
To which Legolas merely shook his head and laughed a ringing, spirited laugh.
Since Rumil obviously was not characterized in LOTR, I would love to know what you guys think of my portrayal of him : and of course, any comments about Haldir and Legolas I too would love. I realize that this drifts far off from cannon, but I am more concerned about making my side-stories believable and feasible than with having them completely dependent on cannon. I love and desire all comments on language, characterization, content, etc etc, you name it, I want it!
Lots of Love, Cockerel.