Eledhwen sat once again in the bows of a mallorns tree keeping watch with the ohtar. Haldir crouched as usual beside her, looking very much like the cat who's ready to pounce. And for good reason. Tonight the ohtar would capture the pranksters that had set the people of Lothlorien on edge for so long. The score of ears strained, listening for sounds of approaching footsteps in the forest. Ellie's heart started to pound, and she wasn't sure why.
Ellie knew better than to speak to Haldir or to the others. To do so would be to announce their presence to whoever might pass underneath. But the silence pressed in on the elf's ears and she turned anyway to the marchwarden.
"What is your plan?"
Haldir turned and made a motion to silence her as Ellie knew he would and the latter fell sullenly silent. Haldir's strict, by-the-book discipline often became irritating, as he was quite the opposite in character. Friends knew him as slightly vain, very proud and extremely arrogant. Conversely, he was also strictly reverent to Lorien's laws and to the Galadhrim, and loyal to the death. Friends of Haldir's had a loyal and trustworthy ally. Sighing restlessly, Ellie bottled her boredom and restlessness and continued her watch.
Somewhere nearing three in the morning, the bright pink twilight came creeping in from the east and Ellie's eyes began to close against her will. Several years of training and discipline were of little use. No amount of willpower could keep her from falling asleep, and when Haldir's movements in the branch next to her broke the morning silence, Ellie awoke dazed and confused. Arrows began flying from all directions and the elf came to her senses, drawing her bow and following suit. The 'orcs' were again approaching them, crashing through the forest, some falling as they were hit by arrows, others dodging their way through. Two orcs managed to dodge through the barricade of arrows formed by the ohtar and escaped toward Lorien. Without warning, Haldir leapt down from his perch and pursued the pair. Ellie followed suit unthinkingly.
The two elves quickly caught up to the fleeing orcs, their movements being less clumsy and their steps quicker than the orcs'. Haldir's arrow struck the first one in the back between the shoulder and neck plates, Ellie's struck the second in its exposed back torso. Both orcs fell and did not get back up again. The two elves quickly caught up to them and paused, breathing hard. Ellie approached the orc she'd downed, circling around it and eyeing it strangely.
"How did they manage to acquire orkish armor?" she wondered aloud. A nudge of her foot and the orc's head fell aside to reveal its face. It was a true orc, not an elf in orc armor. Ellie gasped and her gaze flew to the marchwarden.
"These are true orcs..."
Haldir didn't answer, his face hardened. Two of the ohtar approached through the forest and stopped at Haldir's side.
"The youths have been apprehended..." the elf who had been speaking paused as he saw the dead orcs in front of Haldir. "Those are true orcs.."
Haldir nodded tersely. "Aye...bring the youths. We must notify Lord Celeborn."
*~*~*
Celeborn was not pleased, and the youths in front of him with their wrists bound looked fearful. The lord was pacing slowly in front of them and every so often, the youths would exchange a worried look. Ellie, Haldir and the ohtar stood in back of them, bows respectfully lowered and behind their backs in the customary fashion when in the presence of the lord and lady.
"Explain yourselves." Celeborn commanded calmly. Neither youth spoke. Celeborn turned and looked at them steadily, waiting. At length, Rashwe spoke up.
"Well...you see sir...Ellie was, well, she was telling us how there usually wasn't much to do up in the trees at night--"
Behind him, Ellie's eyes widened and she bowed her head, avoiding Celeborn's eyes as he glanced at her in acknowledgement. Rashwe continued.
"--So we thought we'd give them all something to do.....that's all."
Celeborn nodded, and after a long pause, "Why were you in the company of orcs?"
Adanadhel spoke up this time. "We were on our way toward the ohtar when we saw them following us. Well, we knew if we tried to turn back we'd be caught, so we could only continue following them. That's when we reached the ohtar and the fighting started."
There was another pregnant paused. Celeborn nodded again, further tensing the atmosphere.
"I see. You have both been caught up in something rather unfortunate. I am thankful neither of you were injured in the fighting. However, you are still accountable for Orophin's injury, and both of you will be punished. I hope you will both learn something from this."
Haldir glanced at Ellie, a strange smirk on his face. Celeborn turned his attention toward the elf and Eledhwen straightened respectfully, but her gaze wavered nervously. Celeborn eyed her evenly for a moment before his face too relaxed into a smirk that reminded the elf strongly of Haldir.
"Eledhwen Narmolanya. As you know, it is against protocol to complain of one's duties. However, since you are young, you will not be held accountable for the events here. You could not have known of the turn of events. However, I suggest that in the future you withhold your complaints. You have chosen to join the ohtar, and it is your duty to serve."
Celeborn finished and Ellie nodded and bowed respectfully.
"Diolla lle, Lord." she said quietly and Celeborn nodded with a smile. He turned and acknowledged the ohtar, bowed and excused them.
Outside in the hall, Ellie and Haldir walked silently. When they rounded the corner, Haldir turned.
"You should be grateful for Lord Celeborn's mercy. Complaints against one's duties are often punished in the elder elves."
Ellie couldn't surprise an embarrassed smile. "I assure you it was the last time." Haldir returned the sentiment.
"Come. The evening meal will be ready presently. Perhaps you'll sit with me tonight..."
Without a word, Haldir turned and made his way down the hall to his quarters, and Ellie smiled widely, turning her back and heading to hers. As soon as she rounded the corner and was out of sight, she broke into a light run, ignoring the odd looks from the servants.
La vita e buona.
The End
