Title: Restoration

Number Author: Fianna

Rating: R

Disclaimer: Tolkien owns the elves of Lothlorien and I write only for the pleasure of their company.

Cast: Haldir, Orophin, Rumil and my own characters

Timeline: Several hundred years after the War of the Ring

Chapter 9

Their group gathered on the bank of the river, edging to the shore. Haldir and his elves seemed to take no notice of the current, or the darkness that hampered Rowen's vision. Her brother Sweeney had taken to her side, a comfort yet annoying at the same time, as if he did not trust the elves around them. Dorn and Gordie stared at the thin line with the same grimace of distaste.

"I say we stay here to stand guard," Gordie suggested, crouching at the river bank with a rock in his hand. "Might not be bad to keep things clear when you all decide to leave."

Rowen didn't want to leave anyone behind but Gordie and Dorn both knew the dangers. It was not a bad idea.

Thranduil nodded and waved his hand in a regal gesture toward the opposite bank. "The river goes underground here. There will be no way to contact you when we return. I would suggest moving onward past those hills. The rivers reappears in a channel of rocks. There is a gate there, you will find it and make sure that it remains open and unguarded."

Tauriel opened her mouth and then shut it without speaking.

Dorn looked at the King for a long moment and then glanced at Rowen. "All right. We will find the gate, elf king. Don't tarry too long in there."

Thranduil gave a faint sniff and turned toward Haldir. "Let us cross then, March Warden. The night fades quickly."

...oOo...

Rowen slid over the line upside down, inching her way across the river rushing beneath her with gritted teeth. She would be fine. This litany sang inside her head, yet she still did not like this crossing, did not like to think she would have to go under the water to reach the docking area where Tauriel meant to go.

She would be fine. Sure, easy for Haldir to say, to embed into her mind. However he had. She had waded into streams, bathed in streams, but rarely if ever went over her waist. The fear of losing her feet, of being out of control in a river such as this made swimming unthinkable. She did not want to remember her last experience in such a river. Haldir had saved her then. Would he have to do the same here? She tried not to think about it. Tried to remind herself this had been her idea.

So why was she crossing a rope so thin it was weightless, looking like nothing more than the webbing of one of the huge spiders once teeming the Mirkwood? Elven rope had many qualities and she had to believe it stronger than it looked.

She would be fine. Hands gripped her waist and she realized she was across. Feeling foolish, she let go of the line, finding her hands cramped from holding it so tightly. Haldir stood on what little area was out of the water, his arm still around her waist, the other braced over the rope. "See, you are fine."

She glowered at him. "We haven't got there yet."

He smiled and pushed her past him.

Rumil waited a few feet away, having crossed before Haldir could do so, sliding across the hithlain like a spider to drop on the other side to wait. Haldir had sighed, grumbled something under his breath and followed, just as easily. It seemed like hours had passed as the elves crossed unseen. Few would be outside this area, the hills steep and unforgiving, the water too fast to swim. The loading area was known to those who had taken the city, the men of Dale upriver, and not so long ago, a passel of dwarves taken hostage, and freed by a creature small of stature and the courage of a lion. Rowen knew the legends, had heard the stories. She shivered as she reached the elf, drawing on Haldir's strength, grateful for the arm that had wrapped her waist.

She was a ranger. She had faced many things, fought bravely. To be terrified by a simple thing as water seemed ludicrous but she could not ignore it. Having Haldir beside her made it manageable. He gripped Rumil's wrist when they met, drawing the elf forward.

"She cannot swim. You will go with her, guide her to the other side."

Rumil nodded and smiled at Rowen. "You will be fine."

Rowen rolled her eyes.

...oOO...

Following the river underground was relatively easy for the current swept them along. The danger came from not knowing how far and how treacherous the opening underneath was. They made it through quickly, popping up into a large cavern. Rumil caught hold of a rock and swung Rowen onto her knees, his strength startling, his amusement plain to see. Haldir climbed up beside her and then turned to grab Ren as he nearly floated past them. Sweeney appeared next, flung backwards by the current, but catching hold of Rumil's hand just before he was swept past them.

Thranduil caught Haldir's hand and was pulled free of the river. Tauriel and Legolas joined them a moment later. Tauriel squeezed water from her tunic, her gaze shifting over the shadowy cavern around them. "The loading dock is up there, above the falls. It shifts with weight. I do not know if it can be opened from underneath."

With the remaining elves free of the river, Legolas climbed up higher next to the waterfall. "There is always a way, for maintenance must always be done. The question is if anyone is inside."

Orophin studied the wooden beams and then pointed to a iron lever hidden in the shadows. "There, I think that may open it."

Thranduil waved at Legolas and the young elf leaped up over the rocks. He grasped the lever but Haldir held up a hand.

"We will not kill those inside."

Thanduil snorted rudely. "If they detain us we will do what we must."

Haldir turned his head, staring intently at the Mirkwood King. "We will not kill if we can avoid it. If there are dead, we will find our retreat that much more difficult, it we can at all."

Thranduil sighed, waving a hand at Haldir. "Fine, but I cannot guarantee for how long."

...oOo...

They had had to restrain two men guarding the loading dock. Sweeney and Rumil knocked the two men unconscious and dragged them behind some large wooden boxes. Thranduil climbed onto the dock. "We cannot linger here. Leave three to guard and the rest will come with us."

Haldir motioned for two elves to remain. Thranduil led them up a long line of stone steps. They could hear voices, yet none appeared close to them, the cavern a wide open area of pathways, stairs and smaller caves. Haldir did not like Thranduil leading, but the King knew where they had to go, possible the only one who knew. Should they be found, a fight would certainly ensue. How long would it take to find the trees, and just what else did Thranduil have in mind? He had no idea how to prepare. The uncertainty and unfamiliar terrain made him uneasy.

They wound around the outside wall of the cavern. Tauriel and Legolas had dropped back to the rear. Haldir left a Lorien elf at each change of direction, ensuing he would be able to retreat quickly. He knew he would remember, but was not certain of Rowen or her men. The elves would lead them back should something happen.

He hoped it was an unnecessary precaution.

They had traveled for some ways, down several long corridors, sliding deep into the shadows twice when two groups of men passed close by. Haldir held his breath, eyes on Thranduil but the King remained hidden.

Another set of steps were leading them down again when voices echoed up the wall. Thranduil's hand went to the dagger at his hip and he swept around the corner, disappearing so quickly Haldir stumbled on the steps. Rumil leaped after him, Orophin a step behind. Rowen was in his way, and he pushed her aside to rush down the steps.

A gurgling sound met him as he turned the corner. Thanduil glanced over his shoulder with a satisfied expression. "This is MY city."

Haldir knelt next to the dead men and closed the staring eyes. "It was your city, Thranduil. You gave it up."

A hand dragged him to his feet, Thranduil's gaze narrowed with fury. "It will always be my city, March Warden, and you a guest, at the moment."

Haldir shoved off Thranduil's hand. "You have put us all in great danger."

The Mirkwood King laughed. "Are you afraid?"

Haldir pushed past him to wait for Rowen , but she did not move. "Rowen, come."

She was staring, mouth open slightly. He caught her shoulder to shake her gently. "Rowen?"

Sweeney moved next to her. He grasped her arm, bending close. "Rowen, hey..."

She blinked. Rubbing her fingers against her brow, she looked at Haldir. "Can you hear them?"

He shook his head. "Hear what Rowen? More men?"

"Children, Haldir. I hear children! They are frightened!" She glanced around her in confusion. "Can't you hear them? They are crying..." She frowned, tilting her head and then her eyes widened. "I can understand them! They are lonely, no one has visited them in long time, they are …" Rowen gripped Haldir's tunic with one hand. "The trees, Haldir! I can hear the trees."

He gripped her arms gently. "I cannot, not here. Can you tell where they are?"

She shook her head, looking at Thranduil. "No, he must take us there."

Haldir scowled at Thranduil. "Then we must continue."

...o0o...

Thranduil smiled. They stood at a crossing of corridors. Two went left, two went right. Tauriel knew where he was leading them, as did Legolas, but neither one said anything, leaving Thranduil to lead the way. They were his elves, after all. Haldir stared at the passageways with a clear air of reservation, as well he should. The Ranger seemed distant, hearing the voices of the trees had become a distraction. Her men were uneasy about it, gathering close to her.

It was a turning point.

He turned to face Haldir. "Your prize is not far, March Warden."

Haldir stared hard, lips a thin line. "So it comes to this, then."

His elves drew close, only three left, two were Haldir's brothers. Thranduil found them predictable. "You can have your trees. Return with them to Lothlorien, I will even provide a boat to traverse quickly the Anduin."

"You have no boats," one of Haldir's brother complained in a low voice. He looked much like Haldir, silver-blond hair, a bit shorter, similar build, same expression of reservation.

Thranduil shrugged. "I do. Trust me."

"What do you want?" Haldir's voice held a dangerous tone. Thranduil was not impressed.

"I need you to retrieve something else for me. A box. It's quite important."

Haldir's chin rose a hair, his eyes narrowed. "What is in this box?"

Thranduil smiled and walked around the taller elf. "Does it matter. I need it. If you want your trees, then you must do this for me."

"Why don't you have Tauriel, or Legolas retrieve it?"

Thranduil shook a finger. "No, that would not do. I cannot possibly put my son in harm's way. Tauriel cannot do it alone. She can, however lead you to it."

Tauriel looked uncomfortable. Thranduil ignored her.

Haldir nodded stiffly, clearly annoyed. Thranduil pushed away the faint feeling of guilt. It must be this way, it was the only way. He drew Tauriel forward, a firm grip on her arm, felt her tension beneath his fingers. She was wavering between them, as always seeing both sides. He admired that in her, even if he never told her. "She will lead you to the main chamber. The box is hidden beneath what was once my throne."

"And you expect us to simply walk in and take it, while men sit and feast around us."

Thranduil pushed Tauriel toward Haldir. "I expect the renown March Warden of Lothlorien to find some way to get it, however it must be done, in exchange for your trees, if you want them bad enough."

Haldir moved forward a step, but both Tauriel and Legolas, who had stood silently behind him, held him back. His brothers shifted hands to bows, but did nothing further. "I do not think Galadriel intended for you to hold them hostage."

"Galadriel did not know how the future would change. Do this or leave them, it is your choice." Thranduil folded his arms over his chest.

Legolas sighed faintly. "Haldir, I will go with you. I can help..."

"No, I will need you with me. I am after all a King, you must be at my side to protect me."

.Legolas stared at Thranduil and then with a faint frown, nodded.

Haldir jerked free of the two elves. "I will do what I can." He turned on his heel and bounded past the ranger who seemed finally aware.

"But Haldir..." She reached out, catching hold of his arm.

"Find them, Rowen. Find my wardens, they will lead you free of this place." He glanced back at Thranduil and then hurried down the steps behind Tauriel.

...oOo...

Even though it was late, men sat in the main hall of Thranduil's royal chamber, eating and drinking. Too many, even for him to take on, even with Tauriel and his remaining three elves. Walking into the room as they were was not feasible, for men had lost contact with the elves, few had seen one in their lifetime, and men were predictably uneasy about things they did not know about.

One man sat on Thranduil's throne, unkempt, a thick beard he soaked with more ale as he drank, thicker than two elves standing back to back. Haldir wrinkled his nose, able to smell him even from where he stood near the door.

Orophin and Rumil stood behind him, hidden by their Lorien cloaks, blending in with the stone behind them so well even Haldir had to guess where they were.

Tauriel crouched near his feet, studying the room.

"We can get near, but how to reach the chair is questionable."

"Thranduil did not intend us to reach the chair."

Tauriel looked up at him, her brown eyes narrowed. "And you would know this how?"

"It is always like Thranduil to set the stage, Tauriel."

She rose to her feet. "So what will you do?"

"What is expected of me." Haldir turned to Orophin. "You will return to Rowen, guide her home."

His brother shook his head, lips set in a determined line. "No. I am not leaving you."

Rumil waved a hand before Haldir could speak. "Do not even start, brother."

The third elf, Deniel, only smiled and shrugged.

Haldir sighed. Voices echoed in the hall behind them, trapping them between the men in the chamber and the ones coming in. He pulled Tauriel close to him and made a small gesture that had the three others stepping back into the shadows. "We will not draw weapons, you understand this Tauriel?"

She stared at him for a long moment. "Even you cannot defeat them without weapons, Haldir of Lorien."

"I have no need to defeat them. We are simply a diversion. No weapons, Tauriel. I will give them no excuse to kill us."

She frowned, glancing over her shoulder as the voices came nearer. There were many, a large group. She gripped Haldir's tunic, pulling him even closer. "They will kill you with no reason at all, March Warden. Do not be a fool."

"I am not, mellon. But I will have my way in this. No matter what happens, do not draw."

She gritted her teeth and finally nodded. Haldir released her just as the men rounded the corner, stopping abruptly at seeing the elves.

"How did you get in here?" One man roared, drawing the sword attached to his hip. The others behind him did the same in a chilling sound that drew the attention of those in the royal chamber. Haldir moved away from Tauriel, shoving her behind him.

"We mean you no harm," Haldir began, but had no further chance to speak as several men rushed forward.

He ducked the wild swing from the one who'd shouted, an easy maneuver. Caught the second by the wrist to deflect another parry, and twisted him around to be flung against his companion. After that things began to blur as he fought more rushing into the fray from the throne room. Tauriel fought well, a whirling, leaping creature the men were hard pressed to capture. Orophin, Rumil and Deniel left more down than one could count, yet it was not enough.

Too many, too much distraction with worry about Tauriel, his attention drawn away just enough he didn't see the man come up from behind. The blow caught him in the side, the second landed him on his knees. The final blow he saw coming but could do nothing to stop it. He landed with a groan on his back.

...oOo...