Restoration II: The Story Continues ...

by Fianna

Hugs to all who follow me, thank you so much.

Fianna

Chapter Four

Orophin stared up into the tree, fingers braced on the bark as he leaned closer and then sighed. Something was not quite right but he could not place it in his mind. He had followed the tracks, perhaps not as well as Rumil might have, or Haldir, but he had been able to trace Tauriel's path, and yet had no sight of her.

He sat on the remains of a smaller tree lying on its side and plucked a flower growing beside it, staring at the fragile blossom in dismay. Had Haldir made the right choice? Did he, Orophin truly deserve the rank of March Warden, even with so few left?

He wondered, dropping the flower to his lap absently, gaze distant.

"Have you given up, March Warden? Is my test so quickly disgarded?"

Orophin smiled and then looked up to find Tauriel crouched on a branch just over his head. He stood and reached up, gathering her into his arms to help her down, knowing as well as she that his aid was not needed. "No, Warden, I merely take time to gather my thoughts."

Tauriel sniffed faintly and stepped closer to slide her fingers beneath the leather strap crossing his chest. She drew him forward, until they were close, her gaze amused. "Such heavy burdens you now carry on those broad shoulders, Ori-min. So much that you did not sense me or where I was."

"I was fully aware that that you were here."

"Of course, your keen eye and senses so attune you were clearly expecting some orcs or evil wizards to leap from the bushes in ambush and thought to protect me by seeming so absorbed."

Orophin grinned. "Hardly wizards, my love for they are generally quite elderly and most unable to leap over bushes. Orcs, perhaps but not likely in my wood."

"Ah, so then you do not regret Haldir's decision?"

"No, but perhaps there was another more deserving," he offered.

She gripped the strap of his quiver tighter, jerking him forward slightly. "Humble you might try to be, elf, but you were the logical choice, known by Haldir, Rumil and all others here."

"Rumil would not have been bad," he began but Tauriel interrupted.

"Rumil is too young, although Haldir said he did very well while we were gone, the elf would not have taken this role over you."

"He is my brother," Orophin began again.

"And as such, knows you far better than you like and knew you belong here as March Warden."

Orophin sighed and then smiled at Tauriel. "I cannot argue otherwise can I?"

"No, you cannot. So, March Warden, what more will we do here?"

He slid a hand behind her neck. "I believe more testing is required Warden, a ranger's duty must cover many things."

"Or perhaps the March Warden has need to cover something," Tauriel suggested, her gaze full of mischief.

"Already I am held in sway, all know you lead me about by the nose," Orophin complained with a smile.

"Well, maybe not by the nose," Tauriel corrected. "But they know you place duty above all, even me, just as Haldir has always done."

"I offered to come to Mirkwood."

"Indeed, but never truly meant it deep in your heart. I know this, so do not argue." Tauriel touched his lips gently, smiled at him and then kissed him briefly. "I knew where I had to go. My time in Mirkwood done, my path with you. I do not regret this, nor that Haldir has chosen you. I am honored to work beside you, my love."

Orophin rested his forehead against Tauriel's. "And I you, Tauriel." He drew her against him, his cheek to her hair. "I wish never to be apart."

OoO

"Belarian?"

The call took him by surprise, the voice still new in his mind, changed from the young sound he remembered to a woman's voice, a woman the one who hailed him. Belarian looked down from his perch on the peak of the newest home in the village, a guest house for any who would come to the Golden Wood.

"Rowen, good morning to you, lass."

"Aye a good morning it is, Father. Have you a moment?"

He nodded and tucked his hammer into his belt. He nodded at the two elves helping him and then climbed gingerly down the ladder to the ground. Rowen smiled and took his arm to walk with him toward pair of chairs nearby. "What is it, Rowen? Is there something wrong?"

"No, I just have a question that has been nagging at me, that's all."

He sat down beside her, stretching out his legs with a sigh. "I will answer as I can, my dear."

Rowen smiled and then suddenly looked away, fingers twisting into the hip length tunic she wore, a nod to Haldir's wardens and her choice to join them. Belarian might have wished her choice to be something else, and had applauded Haldir in choosing his daughter as his emissary. "What troubles you Rowen?" He leaned close and captured her hand to kiss it.

"Ah, I should not be nervous to ask you questions. You have given the answers freely, if with some grief. I hesitate to add more by asking."

Belarian tucked her hand within his. "Ask away. I can bear it, truly."

"My mother, she was human."

"Aye, she was." Belarian tried to keep the emotion from his answer, but knew Rowen felt it keenly.

"Were there any other children? Before Sweeney, before me?"

Belarian started, drawing back to look at Rowen intently. "Why do you ask such a thing?"

Rowen fidgeted, pleated her tunic into a long row. Finally she looked up, biting her lip. "I can't explain, Belarian, except that I have dreamed of a sibling, as if I had one at one time. Did we lose her?"

Belarian frowned. "There was another, with you."

"Twins?" Rowen leaned forward to peer at Belarian curiously. "She died?"

"Aye, a fever, you were both very small."

"But why would I dream of her now?"

"I do not know, Rowen. As I said you were both very young, even in human years, only four. You could not remember much of her."

Rowen touched his cheek and smiled. "No, probably not, Father. Thank you, I wished only to know it was true." She rose to her feet and then hurried away. Belarian frowned, watching her disappear between the houses. What had brought on such dreams? And why. He shrugged and stood up, eyeing the work yet to be completed.

They would know at some point.

OoO

Sweeney wiped the sheen of moisture from his cheek, looked at the damp coating his fingers and then crouched beside the churning river just below his feet. The water was nearly white from the force of it flowing through the narrow channel in the rocks, the roar muffling all sound. He settled an arm over his knee and stared at the water in an almost hypnotic way, thoughts cast aside, sensing only the river and its power. For a few moments, until the silent footfalls behind him brought up his gaze, fixed intently on the far bank while he waited for whoever it was to speak.

He assumed it was one of Thranduil's messengers, so when no one spoke he stiffened and turned his head, a chill prickling the back of his neck.

The elf standing behind him made him rise warily to his feet for she clearly had thought of pushing him in by her expression. She watched him, her lips thin as she followed his movement, fingers gripping the dagger at her hip.

"Why do you come here every day? Do you plan on jumping in?" Her eyes flashed with her question, dark and mysterious, her hair a long sheen of inky black down her back.

"I expect that would make you quite happy."

The elleth flinched and smoothed her expression, affecting a blandness that hid nothing from Sweeney. "Of course not, why should I care?"

"Indeed," Sweeney wondered.

She stepped backwards to a higher rock, as if having to look up at him annoyed her. "You do not belong here."

"Not yet, perhaps, but I am trying."

She sniffed, looking at him as if her were a bug she'd like to crush under her heel.

Sweeney smiled, amused by her dislike. "So someone has finally found the courage to complain. Does Thranduil know of your dislike, mellon?"

"Why should he, I do not concern him. I do not complain, I simply state a fact."

"I see," Sweeney moved a step and she retreated the same. "I am Sweeney by the way, as you seem to have a difficult time trying to call me something. Or..." he grinned at her snort. "Perhaps you have many things you call me."

"You think too much of yourself, I care not who or what you are."

"But yet you insist I do not belong."

"I was simply moving this way and note you do not belong. Your place is at Thranduil's side."

"A nice sidestep if untrue. I come here because it's pretty."

"Such things are overrated, Ranger."

"Ah, an elf with no passion for beauty, I thought that impossible."

"You should not think so hard." She turned away but Sweeney caught her wrist, making her gasp and jerk on the dagger, but he caught that hand as well, moving to stand beside her.

"A shame, when I think you are as pretty if not more than the river. You churn inside much like the water, feelings all a swirl."

She jerked free from his grasp, stepping back with her chin high. "You know nothing of me."

"I do know that you were thinking of pushing me in when you first appeared. I might not have my sister's ability to really know what you feel, but I could sense that. I am not so easy to dismiss, elleth. You are a forest guardian?"

She backed up, putting a larger space between them. "I am, and as such am no easy prey." She clamped her lips tight, as if annoyed by her words. "I must go. I am sure you have much to do."

He watched her flee, stiffly with her back straight, graceful as she leaped from rock to rock. Her hair swayed with each movement, hips narrow over long legs clad in forest grey leggings. Sweeney smile at the sight, admiring the view before she disappeared into the shadows of the hall.

OoO

Legolas closed the pack on his bed, strapping the leather closed and then glanced around at a room that held little proof that this had been his since childhood. He had collected a few things, but most had been packed away when he had left so long ago. He had little reason to return them, glad to have put them aside after the halls had been overtaken by the men from Dale.

Anything of value he carried with him, in his pack or on his back. He lifted the bow Galadriel had given him and hefted the long weapon in one hand, appreciating as he did each time he held it, the weight and balance of the bow. He strapped it on and then reached back to check the pair of long daggers he was known for and then reached for his cloak, aware suddenly he was not alone.

"So, you are leaving after all." Thranduil pushed the door open further, stepping into the room.

"I found out what I needed to know, so yes, I am leaving."

"You are easily appeased," Thranduil noted, lifting a brow. He moved around the room, touching this and that, one hand bent behind his back, long robes of silver and green trailing behind him. He looked regal, his hair to his waist, still youthful, still powerful and full of life.

Legolas smiled faintly and tossed his cloak over his arm. "Perhaps. Does it matter that I go? Do you want me to really stay?"

"Nay, you may go as you do. I have no need of you."

Legolas watched Thranduil, knowing the emotion behind those words did not match what had been said, and as such took no offense. It was always Thranduil's way to deny what he truly felt, never admitting a need for a son to be close.

Some day he would, Legolas was sure of it.

In the meantime, he would appease his father and leave. "Indeed, you have Sweeney now. What more could you need?" Legolas turned toward the door and then paused, looking back. "Unless you have plans for the ranger, Ada. You will not hurt him."

Thranduil turned from the fireplace. "Sweeney? I assure you he is well and fine, Legolas. Why would you think I might hurt him?"

"Not with your hand, but I doubt Sweeney is aware of how you can manipulate people, Ada. What do you plan to do with him?"

Thranduil smiled. "He is my captain, what do you think I will do?"

"You have chosen him for a reason."

"Of course, he is an excellent ranger."

"A half elf half human ranger," Legolas reminded him pointedly.

"Fine, I see you will not relent. I mean to send him to Lake Town if you must know. I sense ill-tidings there and need to know more. Sweeney would be an excellent spy,"

"Have you asked him?"

"He will do as I command," Thranduil replied dryly. "As you have gone where I sent you. How different would life be had you not gone to the council of Elrond's. Sweeney can handle what I intend just as I knew you would, Legolas."

Legolas nodded thoughtfully. "Just know as I do that any harm to Sweeney will involve Haldir. You do not want that."

"I can hd handle Haldir, and the sprite Rowen as well." Thranduil sniffed. He waved a hand toward Legolas. "Go then, I have answered all your questions."

Legolas touched his brow and then turned toward the door. He made it just outside when his father spoke once more.

"Tell Haldir I enjoyed our little venture when you see him."

Legolas smiled in amusement. "And the elleth?"

"Leave that to me."

OoO