Disclaimer: Try as I might to re-kidnap those pesky elven brothers, they
elude me at every turn - hence they are not yet mine. Larien is though.
Chapter 4
The next morning, Larien was one of the few wardens who was eager and willing to attend her watch, for they were all weary after the nightlong Chorai. As she sat in her usual tree, she mused over the events of the prior evening. Soon after Orophin had escorted her back to the Chorai hall, she had excused herself, much to the brothers' chagrin. She had been in no mood to remain and enjoy the atmosphere, never mind dance or sing. Hence she had been one of the few elves who had not been dancing all night long.
She had removed the stunning dress and necklace sadly, and carefully wrapped them ready for their return to Inwë. A sense of pity enveloped her that her first Chorai could not have been a happier event. She had not yet seen Rúmil nor Orophin this morning, but the sound of an approaching Haldir, on his rounds to check with each warden, unsettled her. She jumped down from the tree, ready for the interrogation she was certain would be on its way. Haldir approached, his light footfall barely making a sound in the woods.
"I see you are more alert than most of the others this morning," Haldir commented. She continued staring ahead, not daring to answer in case she said something she would later regret. He stood beside her silently for a while, discomfort exuding from every pore. "I trust you enjoyed the Chorai?"
Larien merely nodded. "It went as well as could be expected," she replied curtly. He nodded in return, an uncomfortable silence reigning once again between them.
Finally, he nodded briskly, before adding, "Keep a close watch on the east. Foul creatures are awakening in Mordor," before striding lightly off towards the next watch point. Larien sighed deeply as she watched him disappear into the leaves, thanking the Valar that she had kept her dry comments to herself, and soon she was settled once again in the tree.
* * *
Haldir approached Rúmil as he stood atop a hillock, scanning the north borders.
"How goes it, Haldir?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the horizon.
"Well," he replied shortly. "I see you are not affected by last night's sleeplessness." At that, Rúmil turned to face Haldir.
"Brother, I am dead on my feet, but I would not risk your wrath by avoiding my watch," he said rubbing his eyes. "I dare not sit down, for fear of closing my eyes by accident." Haldir grinned humourlessly.
"A fate we all have to endure sooner or later," he replied.
"I see you do not seem to be suffering such a fate this year," the younger elf commented. "Does it get easier with practice?"
"I left early." Rúmil raised a slim eyebrow.
"You did not have a good time?" he asked nonchalantly. Haldir grunted quietly. "Oh, did you not have a conversation with the lady Larien?" he asked feigning forgetfulness. Haldir shot him a sidelong glance.
"What of it?"
"I just remember Orophin mentioning how he found you two," he replied, noticing that he had touched a nerve.
"What does she say about our . . . conversation," he asked his younger brother after a pause.
"Not a lot," he informed Haldir. "She seems to be keeping strangely silent about the whole affair."
"Well then, I shall guard the lady's privacy also," he replied, seemingly relieved.
"Brother," Rúmil said in a wheedling tone. "You may tell me what passed between you. After all, if you can not confide in your brother, whom can you confide in?" Haldir turned to Rúmil angrily.
"I would much prefer keeping my confidences to myself," he argued as he strode off into the woods.
* * *
After having to endure the length of the watch before speaking, the two brothers met up eagerly to discuss their findings.
"Haldir has remained irritatingly tight-lipped about last night's events," explained Rúmil. "What were you able to find out from Larien?"
"Not a lot," came the reply. "She refuses to discuss the evening at all. I wonder whether we did the right thing by convincing her to attend the Chorai."
"Surely she mentions something about the evening?"
"Nothing, brother. She thanked me once for our company, but since then, she has refused any conversation relating to the evening." Rúmil sat with his chin in his hands thoughtfully.
"Something tells me that there is more to this than meets the eye. Something has occurred between Haldir and Larien, and neither of them will divulge any details of their meeting." A series of screams peppered the air.
"I think we will have to leave our problem to one side for the moment, Rúmil, for there is a more pressing situation arising," stated Orophin as his hands reached for his bow.
* * *
Larien was on her way back to her telain after her watch, anticipating a quiet rest alone with her thoughts, when the commotion began. A series of distant screams filtered through the normally calm atmosphere in Caras Galadhon, alerting all its inhabitants. She reached for her bow and ran instinctively northwards, in the direction of the screams. Haldir had trained her well in the actions of a warden, she thought to herself with a wry smile.
She soon found herself running against the flow of maidens and children who rushed back to the security of the woodland city. She sprinted past them quickly, eager to get to the source of the disturbance, when suddenly a maiden grasped the sleeve of her tunic and pulled her back. Larien stared into the terrified eyes of the elf, trying to calm her, and continue towards her destination, but she refused to release the tunic sleeve.
"Orcs!" she whispered, terror in her voice. "Orcs have invaded Lothlórien."
"It will be all right," Larien replied, dread filling her heart, as she disengaged herself from the maiden's clutching fingers and spurred herself on faster through the trees. How had orcs invaded? The wardens of the Galadhrim were always on guard.
The sickening sounds of a battle in progress greeted her as she approached the northern borders. A wave of orcs was descending over the hills that guarded Lothlórien, and the wardens were slowly being pushed back into the woods. She could see the three brothers towards the front of the row of wardens shooting down orcs in quick succession. She notched an arrow to her bow and fired at the wall of orcs, her arrow flying straight to the orc's neck and felling hideous beast. Arrow after arrow flew from her bow, all hitting their targets, but there were far too many orcs for any of them to make any difference.
The wall of elves was slowly being depleted and stretched thin as it was pushed back by the attacking orcs, and soon, she was standing shoulder to shoulder with Haldir and Orophin. Haldir turned as he saw her standing next to him.
"Larien, you should not be here," he shouted over the noise.
"Everyone who is able to fight is needed here now," she retorted as she felled an orc who was coming too close. "Where is Rúmil?" Orophin, who had so far remained mute as he fired arrow after arrow, growled at the mention of his brother's name.
"He fell a while back and I have not seen him since." Larien's heart nearly stopped, the cold ice in her veins quickly replaced by a rage flowing through her that she was unable to contain. She raised her voice once again.
"Haldir, I see a weakness in the attacking forces. I am going round to try and break through from the rear," she told him as she backed away and crept towards the left.
"Larien, no!" she heard Haldir scream. She ignored him and continued on her path. He would have to learn that being marchwarden did not always make his decisions the correct ones.
She came out at the edge of the elven troops and crept along the side towards the outer edge of the orc wall. She was sure her plan would work. As long as she could distract their attention by attacking them from behind, they would be disorientated long enough for the wardens to scatter them. She didn't care what happened to her anymore. She only hoped that Rúmil was not dead, as she feared.
She made her way up into a tree positioned behind the attacking troops, notched an arrow slowly and deliberately onto her bow and took aim. Just as she was about to let it fly, a sound from below her made her whip out an elven knife and she thrust it out towards the intruder, aiming for his throat.
As her brain made sense of what she was staring at, she realised she was holding the knife's point at Haldir's throat. She sheathed her knife with an exasperated grunt, and returned to her bow and arrow.
"You are going to get yourself killed one day by creeping up on armed elves unawares," she told him as she let the arrow fly, hitting the orc she had aimed for.
"If you had waited and followed my orders when I issued them, I would not be in that danger," he retorted. She snorted impatiently.
"My plan is a good one. You were not coming up with any ideas to win this battle."
"You are too young to take battle plans upon yourself. Too young and too inexperienced." An angry cry issued from her lips, but Haldir silenced her as he continued. "There is a better way to attack from the rear. Follow me."
Haldir jumped down from the tree and ran lightly over the mossy ground. Larien paused before following him, but as the orcs had realised her attack on them, she supposed it was a good idea to get away from them.
"Where are we going?" she asked breathlessly as she ran alongside Haldir.
"Where I should have gone at the very beginning," he replied. "Outpost 8."
* * *
lausie - Glad you like it!
JadeGoddess - He is cruel cos he's a stubborn *&%#, that's all! He doesn't mean to be, but he's a bit slow when it comes to Larien's feelings for him, poor thing! I promise things will get better.
Lady of Legolas - Poor Rúmil and Orophin just can't win against two of the most stubborn elves in Lothlórien, I'm afraid. But their deeds have actually helped things along even though no one realises yet! Why do you think Haldir doesn't want her in the wardens?
Princess of Slytherin - Thanks!
superchick - I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that the Haldir-whomping will continue in the next chapter! ;o)
Jenny - I deliberately didn't explain how Larien came to realise how she felt about Haldir because I thought it would slow the flow down too much, and also that it would become obvious with time. Does it still make sense now that you re-read it? I'm so glad you liked the last chapter, but I didn't think I was being that smutty! Whoops! (The spelling for telain I got from the encyclopaedia of Arda - www.glyphweb.com/arda - currently my bible as I write ME fics!)
corrina - Haldir and Larien will get there in the end, I promise! Thanks for the compliments. :oD
olio - OK!
Morwen - I always thought Haldir was a calm, gentle kind of elf from what we read in the books, but then again, he was never faced with the dilemma that he has in this plot! Thanks for putting me on your faves list!
I can't thank you guys enough. I never thought I would get so many reviews, and I'm so pleased you all like it! It was never meant to be a very deep story though, unlike the fics written under my other pen name, and so the next chapter will probably be the last. I wouldn't rule out a sequel though, if the demand is out there. Thanks again for the great feedback, I'm speechless and very honoured! :oD
Chapter 4
The next morning, Larien was one of the few wardens who was eager and willing to attend her watch, for they were all weary after the nightlong Chorai. As she sat in her usual tree, she mused over the events of the prior evening. Soon after Orophin had escorted her back to the Chorai hall, she had excused herself, much to the brothers' chagrin. She had been in no mood to remain and enjoy the atmosphere, never mind dance or sing. Hence she had been one of the few elves who had not been dancing all night long.
She had removed the stunning dress and necklace sadly, and carefully wrapped them ready for their return to Inwë. A sense of pity enveloped her that her first Chorai could not have been a happier event. She had not yet seen Rúmil nor Orophin this morning, but the sound of an approaching Haldir, on his rounds to check with each warden, unsettled her. She jumped down from the tree, ready for the interrogation she was certain would be on its way. Haldir approached, his light footfall barely making a sound in the woods.
"I see you are more alert than most of the others this morning," Haldir commented. She continued staring ahead, not daring to answer in case she said something she would later regret. He stood beside her silently for a while, discomfort exuding from every pore. "I trust you enjoyed the Chorai?"
Larien merely nodded. "It went as well as could be expected," she replied curtly. He nodded in return, an uncomfortable silence reigning once again between them.
Finally, he nodded briskly, before adding, "Keep a close watch on the east. Foul creatures are awakening in Mordor," before striding lightly off towards the next watch point. Larien sighed deeply as she watched him disappear into the leaves, thanking the Valar that she had kept her dry comments to herself, and soon she was settled once again in the tree.
* * *
Haldir approached Rúmil as he stood atop a hillock, scanning the north borders.
"How goes it, Haldir?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the horizon.
"Well," he replied shortly. "I see you are not affected by last night's sleeplessness." At that, Rúmil turned to face Haldir.
"Brother, I am dead on my feet, but I would not risk your wrath by avoiding my watch," he said rubbing his eyes. "I dare not sit down, for fear of closing my eyes by accident." Haldir grinned humourlessly.
"A fate we all have to endure sooner or later," he replied.
"I see you do not seem to be suffering such a fate this year," the younger elf commented. "Does it get easier with practice?"
"I left early." Rúmil raised a slim eyebrow.
"You did not have a good time?" he asked nonchalantly. Haldir grunted quietly. "Oh, did you not have a conversation with the lady Larien?" he asked feigning forgetfulness. Haldir shot him a sidelong glance.
"What of it?"
"I just remember Orophin mentioning how he found you two," he replied, noticing that he had touched a nerve.
"What does she say about our . . . conversation," he asked his younger brother after a pause.
"Not a lot," he informed Haldir. "She seems to be keeping strangely silent about the whole affair."
"Well then, I shall guard the lady's privacy also," he replied, seemingly relieved.
"Brother," Rúmil said in a wheedling tone. "You may tell me what passed between you. After all, if you can not confide in your brother, whom can you confide in?" Haldir turned to Rúmil angrily.
"I would much prefer keeping my confidences to myself," he argued as he strode off into the woods.
* * *
After having to endure the length of the watch before speaking, the two brothers met up eagerly to discuss their findings.
"Haldir has remained irritatingly tight-lipped about last night's events," explained Rúmil. "What were you able to find out from Larien?"
"Not a lot," came the reply. "She refuses to discuss the evening at all. I wonder whether we did the right thing by convincing her to attend the Chorai."
"Surely she mentions something about the evening?"
"Nothing, brother. She thanked me once for our company, but since then, she has refused any conversation relating to the evening." Rúmil sat with his chin in his hands thoughtfully.
"Something tells me that there is more to this than meets the eye. Something has occurred between Haldir and Larien, and neither of them will divulge any details of their meeting." A series of screams peppered the air.
"I think we will have to leave our problem to one side for the moment, Rúmil, for there is a more pressing situation arising," stated Orophin as his hands reached for his bow.
* * *
Larien was on her way back to her telain after her watch, anticipating a quiet rest alone with her thoughts, when the commotion began. A series of distant screams filtered through the normally calm atmosphere in Caras Galadhon, alerting all its inhabitants. She reached for her bow and ran instinctively northwards, in the direction of the screams. Haldir had trained her well in the actions of a warden, she thought to herself with a wry smile.
She soon found herself running against the flow of maidens and children who rushed back to the security of the woodland city. She sprinted past them quickly, eager to get to the source of the disturbance, when suddenly a maiden grasped the sleeve of her tunic and pulled her back. Larien stared into the terrified eyes of the elf, trying to calm her, and continue towards her destination, but she refused to release the tunic sleeve.
"Orcs!" she whispered, terror in her voice. "Orcs have invaded Lothlórien."
"It will be all right," Larien replied, dread filling her heart, as she disengaged herself from the maiden's clutching fingers and spurred herself on faster through the trees. How had orcs invaded? The wardens of the Galadhrim were always on guard.
The sickening sounds of a battle in progress greeted her as she approached the northern borders. A wave of orcs was descending over the hills that guarded Lothlórien, and the wardens were slowly being pushed back into the woods. She could see the three brothers towards the front of the row of wardens shooting down orcs in quick succession. She notched an arrow to her bow and fired at the wall of orcs, her arrow flying straight to the orc's neck and felling hideous beast. Arrow after arrow flew from her bow, all hitting their targets, but there were far too many orcs for any of them to make any difference.
The wall of elves was slowly being depleted and stretched thin as it was pushed back by the attacking orcs, and soon, she was standing shoulder to shoulder with Haldir and Orophin. Haldir turned as he saw her standing next to him.
"Larien, you should not be here," he shouted over the noise.
"Everyone who is able to fight is needed here now," she retorted as she felled an orc who was coming too close. "Where is Rúmil?" Orophin, who had so far remained mute as he fired arrow after arrow, growled at the mention of his brother's name.
"He fell a while back and I have not seen him since." Larien's heart nearly stopped, the cold ice in her veins quickly replaced by a rage flowing through her that she was unable to contain. She raised her voice once again.
"Haldir, I see a weakness in the attacking forces. I am going round to try and break through from the rear," she told him as she backed away and crept towards the left.
"Larien, no!" she heard Haldir scream. She ignored him and continued on her path. He would have to learn that being marchwarden did not always make his decisions the correct ones.
She came out at the edge of the elven troops and crept along the side towards the outer edge of the orc wall. She was sure her plan would work. As long as she could distract their attention by attacking them from behind, they would be disorientated long enough for the wardens to scatter them. She didn't care what happened to her anymore. She only hoped that Rúmil was not dead, as she feared.
She made her way up into a tree positioned behind the attacking troops, notched an arrow slowly and deliberately onto her bow and took aim. Just as she was about to let it fly, a sound from below her made her whip out an elven knife and she thrust it out towards the intruder, aiming for his throat.
As her brain made sense of what she was staring at, she realised she was holding the knife's point at Haldir's throat. She sheathed her knife with an exasperated grunt, and returned to her bow and arrow.
"You are going to get yourself killed one day by creeping up on armed elves unawares," she told him as she let the arrow fly, hitting the orc she had aimed for.
"If you had waited and followed my orders when I issued them, I would not be in that danger," he retorted. She snorted impatiently.
"My plan is a good one. You were not coming up with any ideas to win this battle."
"You are too young to take battle plans upon yourself. Too young and too inexperienced." An angry cry issued from her lips, but Haldir silenced her as he continued. "There is a better way to attack from the rear. Follow me."
Haldir jumped down from the tree and ran lightly over the mossy ground. Larien paused before following him, but as the orcs had realised her attack on them, she supposed it was a good idea to get away from them.
"Where are we going?" she asked breathlessly as she ran alongside Haldir.
"Where I should have gone at the very beginning," he replied. "Outpost 8."
* * *
lausie - Glad you like it!
JadeGoddess - He is cruel cos he's a stubborn *&%#, that's all! He doesn't mean to be, but he's a bit slow when it comes to Larien's feelings for him, poor thing! I promise things will get better.
Lady of Legolas - Poor Rúmil and Orophin just can't win against two of the most stubborn elves in Lothlórien, I'm afraid. But their deeds have actually helped things along even though no one realises yet! Why do you think Haldir doesn't want her in the wardens?
Princess of Slytherin - Thanks!
superchick - I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that the Haldir-whomping will continue in the next chapter! ;o)
Jenny - I deliberately didn't explain how Larien came to realise how she felt about Haldir because I thought it would slow the flow down too much, and also that it would become obvious with time. Does it still make sense now that you re-read it? I'm so glad you liked the last chapter, but I didn't think I was being that smutty! Whoops! (The spelling for telain I got from the encyclopaedia of Arda - www.glyphweb.com/arda - currently my bible as I write ME fics!)
corrina - Haldir and Larien will get there in the end, I promise! Thanks for the compliments. :oD
olio - OK!
Morwen - I always thought Haldir was a calm, gentle kind of elf from what we read in the books, but then again, he was never faced with the dilemma that he has in this plot! Thanks for putting me on your faves list!
I can't thank you guys enough. I never thought I would get so many reviews, and I'm so pleased you all like it! It was never meant to be a very deep story though, unlike the fics written under my other pen name, and so the next chapter will probably be the last. I wouldn't rule out a sequel though, if the demand is out there. Thanks again for the great feedback, I'm speechless and very honoured! :oD