Disclaimer: I don't own LoTR and the places mentioned in the Lord of the
Rings world that I wrote about. I do not own Haldir. I own all of the
other characters that I wrote since I created them. ;) Read the author's
note ASAP when you finish this, please. It's important.
Chapter 3: "I Have Not Left You"
It had been three days since Moiré's last dream of Haldir. There had been no trace of him in her sleep since then, and it had bothered her greatly. Were they too late? Were they now traveling for nothing? Moiré asked herself these questions everyday, always holding onto a sliver of hope that she could save her beloved.
They were now outside of Mirkwood, in Dagorlad. They were near Emyn Muil, maybe a day's journey away.
"Daughter!" Toror called to Moiré, interrupting her thoughts. "Come to me, please, for I seek your company."
"Yes, Father, what is it you wish to speak of?" she asked gloomily as she reached him.
"Your mood, as of late, Moiré, has been rather lethargic. Will you tell me what it is that ails you?" he asked her, glancing over quickly.
"I am worried for Haldir, Father. I have not dreamt of him as of late, nor have I seen him. I fear the worst may have happened," she murmured, as a large mound of rocks became visible.
"We reach Emyn Muil to-day!" her father called suddenly, startling her. "Just because the Valar have not sent you word on the well-being of your loved one does not mean he has perished. I keep high hopes, daughter, whether you do or not." He tilted her chin up as they stopped at the accursed entrance of Emyn Muil. "Do not give up your faith, child, for I shan't give up mine."
Moiré smiled and was about to open her mouth to say something when her father cut her off.
"Dismount your rides and water them at the river Anduin!" he yelled. "We will walk near the banks on our horses until we reach the rapids of Sam Gebir! There we will walk near the edge of the river until we reach the Lake Nin Hithoel!" He lifted a cup of the river water high in the air. "To Moiré and her love, let them never perish," he shouted, drinking of his water.
"Father," Moiré growled, her face turning crimson.
"We will travel to the Falls of Rauros, then make our way until we reach East and West Emnet, then it is on to Helm's Deep!" he cried.
A loud, almost war-like cry was emitted from everyone at that, excluding Moiré. She had busied herself by exploring the paths up ahead to see if the area was fit for horses. She sighed as she journeyed farther and faster into Emyn Muil.
Suddenly, she stopped upon hearing an extra set of footsteps behind her. She turned slowly but stopped when a hand clamped down on her shoulder.
"You should not be wandering around, Lady Moiré," one of the Elves from the company told her.
"Nor should you, Oran," she answered, brushing his exploring fingers away from her face.
"What were you doing alone, Lady?" Oran asked slowly, his hands framing her face.
"I was checking the land for the horses to see if they would have problems through here on our journey," Moiré explained. "Oran, please." She backed away from him and yelped slightly when her booted feet reached the water.
"Please what?" he asked, stepping forward, closer to her.
"Oran, why are you doing this?" she asked, again stepping backwards.
"Doing what? This?" he asked, pulling her close against him and pressing his lips firmly over hers. Moiré quickly pushed him back as quickly as she could when she could react, but did not move very far away from him for he still held her tightly against him.
"Oran, you have no right to do that!" she spat, appalled.
Oran smirked at her, slipping his hands under the back of her tunic and caressing the soft skin there.
"Nay, Moiré, I have every right for it is long have I wanted you. I have watched you for as long as I have known you, dreaming of a moment together with you, just us two," he said, nearing her face.
He was definitely close for Moiré could feel his hot breath against her cheeks, increasing the searing heat there. She pressed her hands against his chest, trying to slip away from him. She could not think. Her mind clouded as she strained for a desperate attempt to free her from his grasp.
Before she knew what was happening, Oran had backed her against the rocky wall surrounding the river. He had her pulled tightly against him and was advancing near her face.
"Oran," she strained to say as his lips where a whispered again from hers. "Please, do not-"
"What goes on here?" The voice of Rowan boomed over the noise of the river and the pounding in Moiré's head.
"Rowan!" Moiré gasped, pushing hard against Oran's chest.
"Let her go, Oran. Now," Rowan said, unsheathing his blade and holding it over his head. Oran quickly let Moiré go, fearing the worst from Rowan.
Moiré quickly ran over to Rowan and grabbed his arm, halfway hiding behind him. She shuddered involuntarily from behind him, Oran's touch still on her back, face and lips.
"Now, Oran, you will leave Moiré alone and never touch her again unless given proper clearance, or to help her. You will not follow her, whether to keep her safe or not. She is old enough to take care of herself. She does not need a wistful dreamer following her around, for she loves Haldir ó Lorien," Rowan said, his voice low and deadly, his blade still drawn.
If you could call it fear on a mouse's face when he was cornered by a cat, then it was devastation and terror on Oran's face, if those were strong enough words.
"Apologize and swear on your life that it will never happen again, that this promise will be the bane of your existence, Oran," Rowan continued.
"I am sorry, Lady Moiré. I swear on my life it will never happen again. You have every right to end my life if it should. I am forever at-"
"You are much over doing your ability and privilege to apologize to Moiré, Oran. Just be gleeful that we are on a journey where every man and woman is needed."
Rowan glared at Oran, as he passed by like a puppy with its tail between its legs after a scolding.
"Are you all right, Moiré?" Rowan asked finally, turning and grasping her arms gently.
A tear rolled down Moiré's cheek as she said, "I think so," in a quiet voice. "Just a little..."
"Oh, dear sister," Rowan said at length and embraced her. He rubbed her back gently and held onto her tightly.
"I feel like everyone has left me, Rowan. I feel like I am all alone in this big world," she sobbed quietly. "First, Mother leaves us. Then, I must leave Haldir, which is much like him leaving me as well. Now I feel Estelwen is growing away from me, unable to understand why I am chasing after Haldir in what she deems as a futile mission that has no-"
"I have not left you, Moiré. I never will leave you," he murmured to her quietly.
* * * * *
"MANI? RE MANI?" (What? He did what?)
"Quiet, Estelwen!" Rowan placed his forefinger over her lips, but did not succeed much in quieting her.
"Oh, the things I would do to Oran if I could!" she yowled, echoing in through the rocky valley in Emyn Muil.
"Estelwen, please, do not yell," Rowan said, finally clamping a hand over her mouth.
They had escaped from camp as everyone else was sleeping. Something Moiré had said earlier caught the attention of Rowan. When she had mentioned Estelwen leaving her, Rowan had decided to tell Estelwen about Oran and Moiré from earlier. They now stood just feet away from the very spot of the incident.
After listening to Estelwen's muffled protests and threats towards Oran, Rowan finally said, "Estelwen, I have educated my father on this matter and he told me to alert you to be Moiré's keeper. You will watch her carefully but be unknown to her and everyone else around you, save my father and I."
"So you are saying to be secretive?" Estelwen asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I am," Rowan said quietly. "I know it is hard for you-"
"Hard? It is nearly impossible, Rowan, for me to be secretive, much less quiet! Even now, I have undoubtedly woken the entire camp from slumber despite the fact we are hundreds of yards away from-"
"Estelwen," Rowan whispered. "You must do this and try your best for Moiré. This is hard enough for her with Haldir. She doesn't need someone tampering with her virtue against her wishes as well."
Estelwen sighed loudly. "Alright, alright! I will do my best-for Moiré."
"Thank you, Estelwen."
"You know, you and Moiré look nothing alike," Estelwen blurted suddenly.
"Is that so, Estelwen?" Rowan asked, masking shock. "We must return to the camp and rest. It is late. We may ponder over our likeness and unlikeness on the trip through here."
"Alright, Rowan. Good night," Estelwen said they walked back to their camp and went to sleep.
Chapter 3: "I Have Not Left You"
It had been three days since Moiré's last dream of Haldir. There had been no trace of him in her sleep since then, and it had bothered her greatly. Were they too late? Were they now traveling for nothing? Moiré asked herself these questions everyday, always holding onto a sliver of hope that she could save her beloved.
They were now outside of Mirkwood, in Dagorlad. They were near Emyn Muil, maybe a day's journey away.
"Daughter!" Toror called to Moiré, interrupting her thoughts. "Come to me, please, for I seek your company."
"Yes, Father, what is it you wish to speak of?" she asked gloomily as she reached him.
"Your mood, as of late, Moiré, has been rather lethargic. Will you tell me what it is that ails you?" he asked her, glancing over quickly.
"I am worried for Haldir, Father. I have not dreamt of him as of late, nor have I seen him. I fear the worst may have happened," she murmured, as a large mound of rocks became visible.
"We reach Emyn Muil to-day!" her father called suddenly, startling her. "Just because the Valar have not sent you word on the well-being of your loved one does not mean he has perished. I keep high hopes, daughter, whether you do or not." He tilted her chin up as they stopped at the accursed entrance of Emyn Muil. "Do not give up your faith, child, for I shan't give up mine."
Moiré smiled and was about to open her mouth to say something when her father cut her off.
"Dismount your rides and water them at the river Anduin!" he yelled. "We will walk near the banks on our horses until we reach the rapids of Sam Gebir! There we will walk near the edge of the river until we reach the Lake Nin Hithoel!" He lifted a cup of the river water high in the air. "To Moiré and her love, let them never perish," he shouted, drinking of his water.
"Father," Moiré growled, her face turning crimson.
"We will travel to the Falls of Rauros, then make our way until we reach East and West Emnet, then it is on to Helm's Deep!" he cried.
A loud, almost war-like cry was emitted from everyone at that, excluding Moiré. She had busied herself by exploring the paths up ahead to see if the area was fit for horses. She sighed as she journeyed farther and faster into Emyn Muil.
Suddenly, she stopped upon hearing an extra set of footsteps behind her. She turned slowly but stopped when a hand clamped down on her shoulder.
"You should not be wandering around, Lady Moiré," one of the Elves from the company told her.
"Nor should you, Oran," she answered, brushing his exploring fingers away from her face.
"What were you doing alone, Lady?" Oran asked slowly, his hands framing her face.
"I was checking the land for the horses to see if they would have problems through here on our journey," Moiré explained. "Oran, please." She backed away from him and yelped slightly when her booted feet reached the water.
"Please what?" he asked, stepping forward, closer to her.
"Oran, why are you doing this?" she asked, again stepping backwards.
"Doing what? This?" he asked, pulling her close against him and pressing his lips firmly over hers. Moiré quickly pushed him back as quickly as she could when she could react, but did not move very far away from him for he still held her tightly against him.
"Oran, you have no right to do that!" she spat, appalled.
Oran smirked at her, slipping his hands under the back of her tunic and caressing the soft skin there.
"Nay, Moiré, I have every right for it is long have I wanted you. I have watched you for as long as I have known you, dreaming of a moment together with you, just us two," he said, nearing her face.
He was definitely close for Moiré could feel his hot breath against her cheeks, increasing the searing heat there. She pressed her hands against his chest, trying to slip away from him. She could not think. Her mind clouded as she strained for a desperate attempt to free her from his grasp.
Before she knew what was happening, Oran had backed her against the rocky wall surrounding the river. He had her pulled tightly against him and was advancing near her face.
"Oran," she strained to say as his lips where a whispered again from hers. "Please, do not-"
"What goes on here?" The voice of Rowan boomed over the noise of the river and the pounding in Moiré's head.
"Rowan!" Moiré gasped, pushing hard against Oran's chest.
"Let her go, Oran. Now," Rowan said, unsheathing his blade and holding it over his head. Oran quickly let Moiré go, fearing the worst from Rowan.
Moiré quickly ran over to Rowan and grabbed his arm, halfway hiding behind him. She shuddered involuntarily from behind him, Oran's touch still on her back, face and lips.
"Now, Oran, you will leave Moiré alone and never touch her again unless given proper clearance, or to help her. You will not follow her, whether to keep her safe or not. She is old enough to take care of herself. She does not need a wistful dreamer following her around, for she loves Haldir ó Lorien," Rowan said, his voice low and deadly, his blade still drawn.
If you could call it fear on a mouse's face when he was cornered by a cat, then it was devastation and terror on Oran's face, if those were strong enough words.
"Apologize and swear on your life that it will never happen again, that this promise will be the bane of your existence, Oran," Rowan continued.
"I am sorry, Lady Moiré. I swear on my life it will never happen again. You have every right to end my life if it should. I am forever at-"
"You are much over doing your ability and privilege to apologize to Moiré, Oran. Just be gleeful that we are on a journey where every man and woman is needed."
Rowan glared at Oran, as he passed by like a puppy with its tail between its legs after a scolding.
"Are you all right, Moiré?" Rowan asked finally, turning and grasping her arms gently.
A tear rolled down Moiré's cheek as she said, "I think so," in a quiet voice. "Just a little..."
"Oh, dear sister," Rowan said at length and embraced her. He rubbed her back gently and held onto her tightly.
"I feel like everyone has left me, Rowan. I feel like I am all alone in this big world," she sobbed quietly. "First, Mother leaves us. Then, I must leave Haldir, which is much like him leaving me as well. Now I feel Estelwen is growing away from me, unable to understand why I am chasing after Haldir in what she deems as a futile mission that has no-"
"I have not left you, Moiré. I never will leave you," he murmured to her quietly.
* * * * *
"MANI? RE MANI?" (What? He did what?)
"Quiet, Estelwen!" Rowan placed his forefinger over her lips, but did not succeed much in quieting her.
"Oh, the things I would do to Oran if I could!" she yowled, echoing in through the rocky valley in Emyn Muil.
"Estelwen, please, do not yell," Rowan said, finally clamping a hand over her mouth.
They had escaped from camp as everyone else was sleeping. Something Moiré had said earlier caught the attention of Rowan. When she had mentioned Estelwen leaving her, Rowan had decided to tell Estelwen about Oran and Moiré from earlier. They now stood just feet away from the very spot of the incident.
After listening to Estelwen's muffled protests and threats towards Oran, Rowan finally said, "Estelwen, I have educated my father on this matter and he told me to alert you to be Moiré's keeper. You will watch her carefully but be unknown to her and everyone else around you, save my father and I."
"So you are saying to be secretive?" Estelwen asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I am," Rowan said quietly. "I know it is hard for you-"
"Hard? It is nearly impossible, Rowan, for me to be secretive, much less quiet! Even now, I have undoubtedly woken the entire camp from slumber despite the fact we are hundreds of yards away from-"
"Estelwen," Rowan whispered. "You must do this and try your best for Moiré. This is hard enough for her with Haldir. She doesn't need someone tampering with her virtue against her wishes as well."
Estelwen sighed loudly. "Alright, alright! I will do my best-for Moiré."
"Thank you, Estelwen."
"You know, you and Moiré look nothing alike," Estelwen blurted suddenly.
"Is that so, Estelwen?" Rowan asked, masking shock. "We must return to the camp and rest. It is late. We may ponder over our likeness and unlikeness on the trip through here."
"Alright, Rowan. Good night," Estelwen said they walked back to their camp and went to sleep.