Change of Heart
Part twelve
"No matter what this food tastes like you will eat it and make no faces."
"We are not like you brother. We will be kind in our actions and our manners." Rumil said as he walked around Haldir and in to the talan.
Haldir snorted and made a face as he stared at his brothers. He was not really like that was he, he thought as he walked in and sighed. Rumil was right he was like that and they were better at their actions than he was.
The three walked inside and smiled at Dinenwen and she smiled back. Haldir walked over and stared at the hearth and looked at the food she had prepared. He saw that she had made use of the elk. She gave him a shove and pointed to the table for him to sit down. She folded her arms across her chest and pointed at Rumil and Orophin and the two sat down.
She took plates and served them food and served her self some. She sat down and watch as they each took a bit of the dinner she so willing made for them. Haldir closed his eyes and smiled, she was a good cook. Orophin, and Rumil took bites and their eyes widened with delight. Dinenwen smiled as she watched their reactions. They liked the food and she knew she had done a good job. She had wanted to please them, and do something for them like they had done for her.
She ate her food slowly and thought about the day. She had cleaned and cooked for the three elves that took her in, and cared for her like she was part of their family. Haldir watch Dinenwen from the corner of his eye. She was eating slowly and he could tell she was enjoying her food. He knew she had cleaned for them and he could see many other things she had done.
She finished her food and stood and walked over to the washtub and placed her dish in it. She turned and went to get theirs and Haldir stopped her. She looked at him and cringed, had she done something wrong. He smiled trying to let her know nothing was wrong. She looked at him and he pointed to him self and his brothers. Then he pointed to the dishes and the mess. He took her hand and led her up the stairs. He walked in his room and paused, everything was neat and tidy. His clean clothing folded and placed on his bed. His bed linens changed and the dirty clothing placed neatly aside. He walked over to the bed and saw his cloak that he had torn a few weeks ago mended. He turned and smiled at her, he walked her out onto his balcony and sat her down. He held his hands out and hoping she would understand he wanted her to stay there. She smiled and gave a nod to him. He knelt down and took her hands in his and smiled at her. He wished her could let her know he was thankful for what she had done.
He walked into his room and grabbed a small blanket and walked back out and placed it around her. She smiled at him and he smiled in return. He turned and walked back in to help his brothers clean the dinner mess.
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"She can cook, can she not?" Rumil said to Orophin
"Yes she can, but she is not here for that."
"I know that, did you see she also cleaned the talan."
"Yes"
"She also folded the laundry mended our clothing and cleaned our rooms." Haldir said as he walked in the room
His brother turned and looked at him and had blank expressions on their faces.
"She did" Was all Orophin said
"She did, she is outside right now on my balcony resting. Perhaps we could make some tea and bring it to her."
"Good idea Haldir, I will start it while you and Rumil finish cleaning up." Orophin turned and took a kettle and started to fix the tea. Haldir and Rumil cleaned rather quickly and soon the three had the kitchen and dining area cleaned and the tea ready.
The three brought her the tea and she was sitting staring and the ground. She looked lost and alone. Haldir looked at her and then at his brothers. Something was wrong with her and he could feel it. He saw the way Rumil and Orophin looked and he knew the could feel it too.
He walked over to her and touched her on her shoulder. She looked up and smiled trying to hide her real feelings. He knelt down and looked into her eyes but she turned away from him. Orophin tilted his head and tried to figure out the emotion her saw etched across her face.
She stood and smiled at the three she looked at the tea and walked over and took a cup. She walked back over and sat down and started to drink it.
She sighed and would not look at the three. They knew she was not mad at them. But could see that something greatly was hurting her. Haldir walked to the edge of the balcony and stood. He thought about it and then turned back to face her and his brothers.
"She must have fallen asleep and had a dream of some kind." He said to them making it more of a fact than a statement.
The two looked at her and gave a nod each in his own way. She finished her tea smiled a smile of thanks and stood. She pointed to the bedroom and the bed and herself.
Haldir smiled and bowed his head and Rumil did the same. Orophin walked over to her and gave her a hug. She did not hug him back but he did not figure she would.
She walked away lost in her own thoughts and emotions. She walked in her room and quickly changed her clothing and dressed in her bed clothing. She washed her face and then got in bed and pulled the covers over her and closed her eyes.
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Haldir sat down in a chair on the balcony and took a deep breath of the night air. Orophin and Rumil had excused themselves and he knew they had gone to sleep. Haldir could not get Dinenwen off his mind. He also was trying to sort out these feeling he was having. He had never in all his days had feeling like this. He closed his eyes. Could he really be falling for her, no that was just foolishness. He was an Elf and she a human. She would die and he would linger on forever. He could not have her or her have him. It would never work and he knew it deep in his heart.
He shook his head and sighed, she was so much he knew others could not see. He would give anything for a forever with her. He turned his head and paused his thoughts. He stood quickly and moved with great speed. Something was wrong with Dinenwen. He moved out of his room and down the stairs. He nearly collided with her; she was in a great state of shock and fear. She was shaking and pointing towards both Rumil's room and Orophin's room. She was shaking and her breathing was way to fast. She took his hand and pulled him towards Rumil's room. He walked with her and she shoved him in and pointed to Rumil. Haldir paused and looked around the room. He saw nothing wrong and then his eyes fixed on his brother and he knew in a moment what was wrong.
"Rumil get up now." Haldir shouted
Haldir turned to Dinenwen and quickly took a hold of her. She shook her head and then pulled away from Haldir and took a step back from him. Her eyes widened and she backed into Orophin. She turned around and freaked out. She went into a hysterical fit gasping for breath. She turned and looked around her eyes falling on Rumil. Her gasping increased and she lost it. She took a step towards Haldir but barely made it. Her knees gave out and she started to fall to the floor. Haldir reached out for and took her into his arms. Her eyes rolled back, and she passed out.
"What happened?" Orophin hissed kneeling down next to Haldir and Dinenwen.
"She found the two of you sleeping." Haldir hissed back
"How do we explain this one to her?" Rumil asked
"Now is not the time for that, we need to wake her and calm her." Haldir said the worry etched in his voice.
He picked up Dinenwen and carried her to the bed and placed her in it. He turned and looked back and Rumil.
"Get me a leaf from the plant in the window in my room."
Rumil quickly hurried out of the room and up the stairs. Orophin knelt next to Haldir and sighed. He placed and hand On Dinenwen and could still feel her breathing hard. Her breathing was still way to fast and he could feel her heart beat increasing as well. She would need more than the leaf from the plant. She was going to need a healer if this kept up. He stood and turned moving for the door.
"I am going for a healer she needs one her heart and breathing are way too fast."
"Yes do so, and summon the Lord and Lady we may need the Ladies help."
"I will do so"
He hurried out of the room and with speed only an elf has made his way to the healers.
Rumil appeared and gave Haldir the leaf.
"Rumil wait out side the room, she does not need to see you right now. I will do all I can, I sent Orophin to get the healers and the Lady."
"Ok, Haldir will she be ok?"
"Yes, just go."
Rumil did as he was asked, and Haldir took the leaf. He crushed it in his fingers and them ran his fingers under her nose. The sent from the crushed leaf woke on her in an instant. She sat up and started to freak out on him once more.
She shook her head and looked around, she had tears in her eyes and the fear she had flowed from her soul. Haldir placed a firm hand on her and shook her a little. He pointed to him self and then he lay him self down on the floor and acted like he was sleeping. She made small sounds and stood giving a nod to him. He then pointed to her and lay him self-back down only this time he closed his eyes. She stared at him with disbelief and shook her head. She did not understand what was going on. She looked around and dropped to her knees placing her hands in her face.
Haldir knelt next to her and pulled her close to him. He held her close and gently as he could ran his hand up and down her back. He felt her body tense and then calmness flowed through her.
"She understands Haldir there is no need for a healer, all is well and taken care of."
The soft voice of the Lady flowed through him and he knew the Lady was talking to Dinenwen. Dinenwen relaxed but would not let go of him. She held on to him and took in all the warmth he had. She had so longed to be held in such a way. She thought about these last few days. And she realized she could fall very much in love with him.
Haldir closed his eyes and held his emotions deep in their place. He would not do this to her. No he would not fall for her or let her fall for him. He helped her up and sat her on the bed and quickly walked away. He came back in a moment with Rumil and a glass of water.
She took the water and smiled at Rumil and then stood and gave him a hug. Haldir took that moment and exited the room. He felt a great pain with in him. He was torn between what he had always dreamed of and what he could not have. He felt suddenly cold and cruel and decided to stay that way.
Better to hurt those who cared for him instead of himself getting hurt. He could feel Dinenwen behind him. She paused as he turned around and stared at her. She walked towards him and reached out to hug him. He did not want to hug her. But how could he not hug her back. She paused half way and just smiled at him. He gave a nod and she turned to leave. She walked for the door and was glad they were alone at the moment. For she did not want anyone to see her cry.
He sighed and closed his eyes and he let her turn and walk away, knowing he was hurting her and not himself, and for now things would have to be that way.
