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Chapter 18 - Little Mysteries
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Haldir and Orophin circled the area around the pit in ever widening circles, looking for anything that would lead them to Rúmil.
It was close to sunset when they found their first sign, a few strands of Rúmil's hair caught up in the thin branches of a small tree north of the pit. They hung alone, the surrounding area undisturbed.
"I doubt that Rúmil could have journeyed this far unaided or without leaving some sign of his passing, especially if he is injured as badly as I think," Haldir said thoughtfully. He was growing more and more frustrated. The trail, while terrible at its supposed end, had been relatively easy to follow up until now. It was as if Rúmil had vanished.
"These strands could have been carried on the wind!"
Orophin climbed nimbly up into a tree, looking about for homesteads or signs of habitation. Descending back to the ground, he shook his head in answer to Haldir's silent question, and then said, "Even without injury, he could not have easily ascended out of that pit without aid. Someone helped him."
Haldir glanced upward at the darkening sky and growled loudly. "It grows too dark to search further. We will camp here for the night and begin anew in the morning. I do not want to risk missing anything."
They lay quietly, staring up at the stars, resting but unable and unwilling to give into reverie while Rúmil was still out there, somewhere.
"Haldir, the adan said that he…," Orophin choked slightly, his voice quavering, "…he took his pleasure of Rúmil. You know what becomes of our kind when abused thusly. He will either fade or need to travel West."
Orophin looked away from the stars to his brother. "I cannot be parted from him again."
Haldir closed his eyes against the tears threatening to fall. The thought of Rúmil being forced to do anything was as a knife thrust into his heart. He was the light of their small family, quick to laugh and to bring laughter, trusting but not naïve, gentle. To have that torn away without mercy or regard… he should not have been there! Now, because of him, there was a chance that he would lose both his brothers.
"I will not ask you stay," said Haldir, his voice hoarse with emotion. "If Rúmil must go, for I will not see him fade, I will travel with you."
Orophin grasped his brother's hand tightly, fully aware of the dark thoughts pulling him under.
"You are not to blame in this, Haldir. Rúmil loves that part of the Wood and would have harassed you until the end-of-days to send him there."
"I am his Captain, I should not let…"
"… him patrol one of the quieter borders?" Orophin finished for him. "You could not have known what would happen!" Orophin's face grew somber, and he looked back to the stars. "Nay, 'tis the doing of the beasts who took him," and his voice growing cold, he said, "Men are no better than orcs to my eyes."
Haldir felt Orophin's body shudder beside him and reached over and pulled him closer, wrapping him in a strong embrace. They stayed like that, each trapped within their own dark thoughts, before an apprehensive intake of breath from Orophin broke the silence.
"He asked me to go with him."
"What?"
"Rúmil, he asked me to go with him. I laughed…," Orophin said in a pained whisper. "I laughed, Haldir. I told him that I had better uses for my time then to spend it in some remote outpost with nothing to do but watch the leaves fall from the trees. If I had been with him, things might have gone differently."
"You are right, it could have gone differently. You could have been taken as well, and I would be out here looking for not one but both of you, so let us not do this. 'Tis done and we cannot change it."
Orophin nodded against his shoulder, releasing a tremulous sigh, comforted by his brother's warmth and closeness.
"He is still with us, Orophin, so let us not lose hope, and pray to the Valar that Rúmil's gift for getting out of trouble as easily as he gets into it does not fail him."
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He could not breathe, he could not see, he could not move. Rúmil fought desperately to pull himself out of the inky blackness that was suffocating him, but his arms and legs felt thick and heavy, stuck utterly in the mire. Unable to take in air, his lungs expanded hopelessly, and he thought they would burst as the darkness pressed down on him. There was no escape.
His terror grew at the feel of hands on his body; they were everywhere at once, grabbing him, stroking him, hurting him. He opened his mouth to scream but could make no sound and began to thrash frantically, trying to escape their harsh touch. There would be no rescue.
"Rúmil! Awake!"
He was fading. His heart thundered painfully in his chest and then constricted, as if it was in a vice-like grip. It would be over soon, but it was so painful. Why did it have to be so painful?
"Rúmil, you will cause yourself harm. Awake! 'Tis only a dream, you are safe now."
Slowly, the bruising touches became soft, brushing against his cheek and across his brow, and a gentle voice broke through his feverish nightmare and echoed in his mind.
"Breathe, Rúmil, breathe."
Waking suddenly, Rúmil took in a gulping lungful of air, wheezing in and out rapidly, still unable to catch his breath. His eyes darted about him wildly, looking for his unseen attacker, finally to settle on the form of Danelhir leaning over him with his hand resting against his rapidly beating heart.
"Rúmil, you must calm yourself; slow your breathing."
Rúmil concentrated on the sound of the elfling's voice and the feel of the warm hand moving in soothing circles over his chest. As the remnants of the dream faded, his breathing began to slow, his heart stilling to a more peaceful rhythm. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly and released a quiet sob.
"Eli became worried. He thought you had stopped breathing."
Rúmil felt the wetness of tears on his skin and inwardly cursed his weakness. Danelhir watched him carefully, sensing his self-reproach.
"The dreams you are having are natural, and the release your body seeks is not a weakness."
Rúmil shivered as a chill settled over him.
"I feel so very weary. I cannot move. I feel… cold."
"Your strength will return, meldir. Your spirit is suffering and that affects your body and its ability to heal."
Danelhir quickly checked Rúmil bandages, making sure that none had loosened or slipped during the warrior's unconscious struggles. He then adjusted the blankets covering the elf, pulling them up over his chest, and tucking them in tightly to shut out the cool, autumn air. Satisfied, he said, "'Twould help you to speak of your dreams, Rúmil. We wish to see you well."
Rúmil stared at the child as his dark eyes regarded him solemnly. How was it he possessed the knowledge that he did? How could he see what was hidden, hear what was unsaid?
"Rúmil?"
"How is it you know my name?"
Danelhir smiled widely at him, his eyes twinkling with mischief, and said, "I feel that you will heal much more quickly if your mind turns from its troubles to solve that particular mystery."
"But I…"
Danelhir raised his hand, effectively dismissing any more questions, and then picked up the tray lying beside him, tipping it slightly so Rúmil could see its contents.
"I have brought you something to eat. Mirrian made an herb and vegetable broth, and Loarel and Aerien have pressed a bit of fruit into a juice for you. Are you hungry?"
Rúmil shook his head and looked away; the thought of food was just too much to bear, causing his head to swim.
"The soup is warm; it will ease your chill, and the juice is sweet. Come, try just a little, and if you begin sicken, we will try again later."
Rúmil was about to refuse again when the smell of the soup wafted toward him, and a loud complaining rumble told him that his stomach thought otherwise. Rúmil looked back at Danelhir sheepishly, smiling faintly.
"I will try."
"Good. You have not eaten in some time, so we will start slowly." And then smiling back, Danelhir said, "'Tis good to see you smile."
Danelhir helped Rúmil to drink the broth and then followed it with the juice. Setting the empty tray aside, he again checked Rúmil's wounds, rubbing more salve onto the various bruises and cuts, and then replaced the poultice covering the wound on his shoulder.
"Now, I must go find Eli. He was quite upset earlier."
"Why does he… he seems frightened of me?"
Smiling down at Rúmil, he answered, "He is not frightened of you, mellon nín. He is worried that you are frightened of him."
Rúmil gave Danelhir a look of bewilderment.
"He fears that, because he and Loarel look like those who hurt you, his presence will cause you further harm."
"Nay, he could never…"
"I know and I have told him as much, but he doubts still. I suspect the reason he is not here, right now, is because of his belief that he has hurt you in some way, perhaps somehow brought about your dreams."
Danelhir stood, then said, "But worry not, I will find him. In the meantime, my muinthil will watch over you," and then with a sly grin, he added, "Or fuss over you, 'tis hard to tell with them."
The shuffle of feet on the creaking floor of the talan drew their attention. Danelhir turned and smiled, and with a grand bow, said, "My dear ones, he is all yours. I need to go find our missing warrior." With a final wink at Rúmil, Danelhir leapt from the edge of the talan in search of his brother.
Rúmil watched warily as the three maidens approached. They were carrying sloshing buckets of water, bundles of cloth, and a few brightly colored jars. Mirrian helped her sisters put down their loads and then looked hopefully at Rúmil.
"We would like to wash your hair for you. Danelhir thought that you would like that," and seeing Rúmil hesitate, she added, "'Tis quite tangled and dirty."
Looking into their eager faces, Rúmil could not help but nod and hope that this was not going to hurt as much as he thought it would. Another smile, unbidden, flashed briefly across his face at the sudden squeals of delight that issued from Loarel and Aerien, and Mirrian laughed as she moved up behind him.
"They were hoping that you would agree. I believe they are quite taken with you."
"Mirri!" Aerien's shocked reply was muffled, her face hidden in her hands, while Loarel blushed intensely, almost dropping the jars she held.
"We just think… we just think he is very pretty, that is all."
"Do not fuss so," Mirrian replied brightly, "I was just teasing," and then with surprising strength, she supported Rúmil's neck and shoulders carefully while the two smaller maidens began to wash his hair.
Rúmil had to admit he was uncertain at first, but the feel of the warm water caressing his skin and tiny fingers massaging his scalp and hair was very comforting, helping to ease the throbbing ache in his head. Feeling somewhat content, he closed his eyes and sighed.
Once they had finished, Mirrian laid him back onto the dry cloths, and they began the task of combing out the tangles in his damp hair.
Opening his eyes, Rúmil noticed that Eli had returned but was sitting slightly apart, his arms wrapped around his legs, and his chin resting on his knees. He was watching his sisters closely, flinching whenever they accidentally pulled at a tangle.
After what looked like a particularly nasty pull, he looked worriedly into the elf's face to see Rúmil watching him. Eli stiffened slightly and was about to rise and leave, when he thought he saw the injured elf make a move to reach out. Unsure, he scooted a little closer to Rúmil and slid his hand toward the other, stopping just short of touching. Rúmil reached out and closed the short distance between their fingers, covering the tiny hand with his. Lip trembling, Eli brought his gaze back to meet Rúmil's, smiling shyly.
Looking past Eli and into the corner, Rúmil's gaze met that of a smiling Danelhir, and young elf lifted his hand to his heart, giving a bow of thanks.
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"Dani and Mirri say that we should not stray too far. *I* think *they* think we are babies," said Loarel in a much put-upon tone of voice.
Danelhir and Mirrian had left the three youngest to watch over Rúmil while they removed the sodden cloths and buckets. Aerien and Loarel chattered on endlessly as they gently brushed his now dry hair, twirling it into braids of various designs.
"It can be dangerous to wander alone. Look what happened to me, and I am no longer an elfling, though, I do know what you mean. I have two brothers; they can be quite protective at times."
Rúmil pondered his next question carefully. Danelhir had given him a challenge, a mystery to solve, and he believed that the three little ones gathered around him were his best chance of succeeding. Deciding to start simply, he asked, "Tell me, how long has Danelhir been taking care of you?"
Shrugging, Loarel looked over at Eli, and said, "He has taken care of us for a very long time… for as long as I can remember."
"And you, Aerien?" Rúmil reached out a tugged gently the small braid that was nestled in the little elfling's soft, blonde hair.
"He and Mirri have always taken care of me… us. We have always been together."
Rúmil pursed his lips. All right, let us try another approach.
"What about your parents?"
"Parents?"
All three looked at him as if he had begun to sprout feathered wings.
"Aye, the ones who gave you life."
Finger tapping against his lips, Eli seemed to contemplate this question seriously, and then said, "Well, Ilúvatar gave us life. Did he not give you life?"
"In a way, I guess he did, but it was my Naneth and Adar who made it possible for me to be here."
Aerien's gaze turned from one of utter confusion to fierce curiosity and leaning low, she whispered, "How did they do that?"
Rúmil thought if he could squirm, he would, and it suddenly occurred to him why his Lady, usually the vision of serenity and calm, had looked so flustered when he had made a similar query so long ago.
Smiling sweetly, she had sent him, along with his question, to his Lord for answers. He had spent the rest of the day with Lord Celeborn, and now, thinking back, Rúmil realized had never really received the answer to his question.
"Well, they… umm…, that is something that you will have to ask Danelhir when you are older."
"Older?"
Rúmil was beginning to feel like he was having a conversation with the Lady right now.
"Aye, years from now, when you have grown."
"Where are your parents, Rúmil? Have they always taken care of you?"
Rúmil grew thoughtful.
"Nay, my brothers and the Lord and Lady…"
Eli brows came together, a concerned look flashing across his face, as Rúmil fell silent.
"Rúmil?"
Rúmil's voice faltered. He was not sure when it happened or even how it happened but, somehow, they had turned the tables on him. Now, he was the one answering all the questions. This was all getting very disconcerting. Eyes narrowing, he asked, "How is it you know my name?"
"I think Dani told us."
"Nay, it was Mirri."
Rúmil heaved a heavy sigh.
"May we please hear more about the Lady?"
"Oh, yes please, and your brothers too?"
"Rúmil?"
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~* To Be Continued *~
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Adar = Father
Muinthil = sisters
Naneth = Mother
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