Change of Heart

Part seven

A/N

Thanks for the reviews and help. I once more ask the readers to choose a brother to fall in love. You as the readers get to decide so talk it over and let me know.

...

Rumil yawned and sat down by the fire. He looked over at the sleeping woman and shook his head. The brothers had decided they would take their time in going to the city. They would leave in the morning and travel till she could not go any more and then camp for the night.

Haldir had sent word to the borders to keep watch on the orc's and he lifted the every six-hour report notice. He had filled Rumil on the woman's state and the way she cried herself to sleep.

He knew the elf's that had come to the camp and hoped they did not misunderstand what they saw if they saw anything. Not that it mattered; rumors had been going around about his brother for centuries.

He stood and walked over to the edge of the camp-sight and looked out into the woods. He leaned against the tree and started to hum to himself. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the winter wind as it passed by. He could smell snow in the air and though it would not get through the thickness of the tree he could feel it all around him. He turned around and paused, his eyes widened and he scanned the area franticly she was gone.

"Haldir, Orophin come quick." He yelled to his brothers, he went to where she had been sleeping and picked up the skin and looked around. He saw her tracks and took off not waiting for his brothers.

Orophin was the first to hit the ground and saw Rumil running into the woods. He looked down and did not see her anyplace. Haldir landed behind him looking rather displeased at the late night uprising. He looked around and his eyes widened.

"She wouldn't" He hissed

"Leave it to Rumil to turn his back on her and she take off in the middle of the night." Orophin said darting in the direction Rumil went.

Rumil looked around but he lost her trail. How was that even possible she was a human and in his forest. He knelt down and knew he would have to let Haldir take over. He scanned the area and could see nothing.

All she had wanted to do was relieve her self. She did not know how to ask the shy one so she decided to just go. As long as she did not wander far she could find her way back. The problem was she had wandered to far and now she had no clue as which way to go. She was a fool now they would think she was running away or she was here to cause harm to them. She looked around and felt sudden fear beyond belief. The forest was dark and she could not see very well.

She looked around and started to cry. She did not know if she should walk and try to find them, or stay here and hope they find her. She sank to the ground and rested her self on her side and pulled her self into a tight ball and hoped they would find her.

Haldir knelt down and ran his hand along the forest floor. He scoped up some dirt and sniffed it and stood. He knew why she had gone into the forest that he discovered while trying to find her trail. He had forgot she might need such breaks and had never thought about trying to relate it to her. So now she was someplace lost in the woods and he had to find her.

"Let us be thankful she is not a threat to these woods or any of those whom live here dear Rumil." Haldir said with a sigh

"I only turned my back for a moment, I did not think she would get up and walk off. Besides if she had been a threat she would not have been loose or unguarded."

"Rumil" Haldir said as he stood. "I realize this is not your fault, but you do realize how much danger she is in………………" His words were interrupted at a slight and odd screech ranging out in the forest. The brother's looked at each other and Haldir knew she had been found. He cursed himself for not thinking other wardens might find her.

He leaped up and like his brothers took off towards the screech.

"Speak human and tell me how you got this far into the forest." She looked up at the elf over her and cringed along the forest floor. All around her were elves and all of them had their bows drawn on her. She felt the sharp point of the elf's arrow and tried to turn away from it only to meet another.

The elves knew she would not answer them, the spoke little of her speech. They needed to find the March-Warden he would get it out of her.

"Wait." One of them said, "She is the one I saw the captain with earlier today. The one whom he was dressing." He said slyly and then laughed

"He would not look down at her as he did so, now that I can see her better I can see why. Look at her, dirty thing she reeks of filth. I wonder if we should take her and clean her before we return her to Haldir."

They all laughed and looked down at her. She did not want to look up she knew they were laughing at her. Everyone often did, her kind often throws things at her, food, dirt, rocks they did not understand her much less care. She had thought elves were different kinder more caring. She felt a sharp pain as she was pulled to her feet and the elf's arm went around her.

She tried to pull away but her would not let her do so.

"You're right she does stink like a pig." He let her go and she feel to the ground. She looked up at the elf and tossed a rock at him. He turned just as she did and he moved out of the way. He grabbed her up and raised his hand to strike her. She turned her head waiting for the blow that never came. She opened her eyes and saw the mean one standing there between her and the other elf.

"Care to explain yourself me." Haldir said his voice full of anger.

"She threw a rock at me captain she deserves none the less."

"I see." Haldir said giving his warden a slight shove backwards. The young elf lost his footing and stumbled back. The two glared at each other and one could see the tension in their faces.

"Do not take your anger out on me captain for it is you who lost you prisoner."

"I lost no prisoner she is to be escorted to the city to see the Lord and Lady she is a guest in these woods."

"She seamed lost to me captain with you no place to be found. Or were you lost in your thoughts after dressing her."

Haldir looked at his men and paused, he snorted and gave a half smile.

"What are you implicating me of"

"Nothing Haldir" The elf smiled.

"Good, then get back to your post and remain there till I see fit you return."

"Of course we would not want to detour you and her from any actions you might have planed."

"That is enough out of you, and do not think that taking this tone with me nor acting like this to me will go unpunished. Now be on your way"

The wardens all vanished into the night leaving Haldir and his brothers standing their alone and lost in thought.

She looked up at the three and lowered her head in shame. Orophin dropped to his knees and reached for her face.

She paused as he gently touched her and smiled at her. She threw her self into his arms and started crying. He held her there and looked at Haldir

"Helped her dress have I missed something."

"Nothing, her wounds on her back needed treating, I did so but she could not lift her arms to get the tunic on so I helped her do so."

Orophin sighed and stood pulling her with him. She suddenly pulled free and ran to Haldir. He paused and smiled at her not knowing what she wanted or needed from him. She looked at him and watched his eyes. He smiled and finally took her in his arms. He could feel her tears against his neck. He pushed her back a bit and looked at her and smiled. She looked over and walked over to Rumil and reached for him. He opened his arms and held her close to him.

"I believe she is trying to tell us she is sorry for running off." Rumil said gently giving her a small kiss on the top of her head.

"I think you're right." Orophin said walking over to her and placing a hand on her and giving her a huge smile. Hoping she could see they were not mad at her.

Haldir walked over and did the same thing. She looked up at him and stared into his eyes. She tilted her head and he refused to break eye contact with her. He reached up and cupped her face with his hands and smiled at her. He then turned her face towards Rumil and Orophin and then backs to his. He smiled and gave her a small wink then shrugged his shoulders at her.

She smiled and knew all was better she touched her stomach and made a face. He gave a nod and turned and started to walk back towards their camp. Rumil took her hand and walked away hand in hand with her.

She watched him walked and felt like he understood what it was to be different and so alone. Haldir could feel her staring at him and smiled at the thought. He paused and let them pass him by and decided to do the same thing to her. She looked at him as she walked by and he then fell behind her and Rumil with Orophin in the lead.

He watched her small frame walk and he studied her. She was very pretty and he now discovered she had a rather nice body as well. He smiled and gave her another wink as he walked by her and Rumil and took the lead. She stopped and watched him go had he been looking at her the way she had at him. She blushed slightly and smiled. Could someone as wonderful as an elf, so majestic and beautiful really notice a peasant like herself? Rumil paused and looked her over and smiled she really was pretty in her own way. He was going to like having her around and getting to know her. He got her moving once more and reached down and picked a flower for her. He gave it to her and watched the smile that crossed her face. He smiled back knowing he had just planted the seeds for something he hoped would blossom into something wonderful.