Authors Note: Thank you for your great reviews! I did not expect to have
such reviews for my first attempt at writing. I am truly sorry for the
delay in updating and the brief chapter today but I have been very busy
lately so I thank you for you patients.
Golden leaves drifted to the ground from the canopy, settling on the floor of the forest. Haldir landed on the golden carpet making a small noise as he hit the frail leaves. Rumil snapped his head around and a smile spread across his face. "There you are! I've been looking for you!" Rumil walked over and put a hand on his brother's shoulder. The gentle touch was reassuring. Haldir tried to smile back but he could not get out more than a shaky grin that was clearly forced. Rumil frowned and looked at Haldir. His head hung low, his gaze fixed on the floor. He was a bright star that would not shine. "Let's go Haldir." He said comforting his brother. Haldir knew that Rumil was trying console him. He didn't like it yet he was thankful. He took a step and heard the sound that followed. It was awful! It sounded to him like someone was following him all the time. He knew that he made the sound but sometimes, he couldn't help looking back to be sure that nothing was there. Then he took another step and the sound was there again. Haldir shook his head fiercely in frustration. He looked up at Rumil and realized with surprise, as if for the first time, that he made no noise walking. He seemed to simply glide over the earth not disturbing even the most delicate objects. Rumil turned again to make sure that Haldir was following. "Hurry." He said kindly not urging him in anyway. He put out a hand as if to welcome Haldir in. Haldir scurried forward to catch up. "Mother would worry were we late for dinner." Haldir laughed inside. He and he brothers were late for almost everything except their meals. "Then we should hasten." Haldir said as he began to sprint. He ran quickly, weaving in and out between the trees. Then as if out of no where, Rumil jumped forward and took the lead. Amazed, he slowed down a bit as if to be cautious. A moment later, he began to run as fast as he could again. The two raced through the forest evading the things that crossed their path as if in a graceful dance. "Come on Rumil!" Haldir shouted behind him playfully. The wind wisped past them, stirring the leaves on the ground. The breeze rustled the fallen leaves and Haldir couldn't hear his steps anymore. Suddenly he felt like he belonged. He and his brother flew across the land with great ease. Just as soon as the feeling came, it receded like the ocean waves. He faltered in-between his stride and hit the ground. "Ai!" He cried as he fell. "Haldir!" Rumil turned and came to a compete stop. Haldir was too humiliated to get up. He lay on the ground hugging his knees. He did not belong, his senses were merely cheated. Rumil knelt by his side encouraging him to get up, but he simply couldn't. The sweet yet cold laughter of other elves filled his ears. They giggled at his awkward ways. He pulled his knees up to his face to cover his red cheeks. Rumil stared at the others in a way that made them stop. They did not dare to laugh any longer for his look made them freeze. Haldir hated thinking about the fact that his brother had to protect him. "Let's go." Rumil said. With that, Haldir got up and they walked into the wooded path towards home.
Golden leaves drifted to the ground from the canopy, settling on the floor of the forest. Haldir landed on the golden carpet making a small noise as he hit the frail leaves. Rumil snapped his head around and a smile spread across his face. "There you are! I've been looking for you!" Rumil walked over and put a hand on his brother's shoulder. The gentle touch was reassuring. Haldir tried to smile back but he could not get out more than a shaky grin that was clearly forced. Rumil frowned and looked at Haldir. His head hung low, his gaze fixed on the floor. He was a bright star that would not shine. "Let's go Haldir." He said comforting his brother. Haldir knew that Rumil was trying console him. He didn't like it yet he was thankful. He took a step and heard the sound that followed. It was awful! It sounded to him like someone was following him all the time. He knew that he made the sound but sometimes, he couldn't help looking back to be sure that nothing was there. Then he took another step and the sound was there again. Haldir shook his head fiercely in frustration. He looked up at Rumil and realized with surprise, as if for the first time, that he made no noise walking. He seemed to simply glide over the earth not disturbing even the most delicate objects. Rumil turned again to make sure that Haldir was following. "Hurry." He said kindly not urging him in anyway. He put out a hand as if to welcome Haldir in. Haldir scurried forward to catch up. "Mother would worry were we late for dinner." Haldir laughed inside. He and he brothers were late for almost everything except their meals. "Then we should hasten." Haldir said as he began to sprint. He ran quickly, weaving in and out between the trees. Then as if out of no where, Rumil jumped forward and took the lead. Amazed, he slowed down a bit as if to be cautious. A moment later, he began to run as fast as he could again. The two raced through the forest evading the things that crossed their path as if in a graceful dance. "Come on Rumil!" Haldir shouted behind him playfully. The wind wisped past them, stirring the leaves on the ground. The breeze rustled the fallen leaves and Haldir couldn't hear his steps anymore. Suddenly he felt like he belonged. He and his brother flew across the land with great ease. Just as soon as the feeling came, it receded like the ocean waves. He faltered in-between his stride and hit the ground. "Ai!" He cried as he fell. "Haldir!" Rumil turned and came to a compete stop. Haldir was too humiliated to get up. He lay on the ground hugging his knees. He did not belong, his senses were merely cheated. Rumil knelt by his side encouraging him to get up, but he simply couldn't. The sweet yet cold laughter of other elves filled his ears. They giggled at his awkward ways. He pulled his knees up to his face to cover his red cheeks. Rumil stared at the others in a way that made them stop. They did not dare to laugh any longer for his look made them freeze. Haldir hated thinking about the fact that his brother had to protect him. "Let's go." Rumil said. With that, Haldir got up and they walked into the wooded path towards home.