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Title: Who Will Love Us Now?
Series: The Elf Children
Author: Mayetra
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All things Tolkien belong to his estate; I only borrow them on occasion and always return them in good working order. I write fan fiction solely for my own enjoyment and do not claim any copyright or ownership of his works nor do I have intent to make financial gain. All original concepts and characters are from my own twisted plot bunnies and remain my property. Hwest is all mine!
Special Warnings: Character Death If you are reading these stories to your children please note that this story may be inappropriate for younger children. It deals with death and parents should be prepared to answer some tough questions.
Timeline: Early Third Age - AU after Little Runaways
Summary: Orophin deals with a great loss.
*~*
47 Coirë* 170 T.A. - Caras Galadon, Lórien
Orophin sat in the garden next to his father's favorite flowerbed. The sun was shining warmly on his back, bees buzzed around flowers filling the air with a pleasant hum, and the flowers gave off a heady scent. The young Elfling was confused. He hugged Hwest to his chest and reflected on the events of the past three days.
Three nights ago, one of Lady Galadriel's handmaidens had come to tell his mama that the Lord and Lady wished to speak with her. The handmaiden had stayed to sit with them but refused to answer Haldir's question about what was amiss. They had gone to bed with no answers.
The next morning, Orophin woke and found his mama and his brothers talking softly in the main living room of the talan. They had stopped as soon as he entered the room. Orophin knew something was wrong because Mama and Rúmil had been crying. Haldir just looked really, really mad.
He tried to ask Rúmil and Haldir what was going on later in the day, but Rúmil had only started crying again and Haldir just stared blankly at him. Mama was so upset that he didn't try and ask her.
Then last night, things had gotten worse. He woke up to find the Lady carrying him into her great white talan, followed by Haldir and Rúmil. The only thing he was told was that he would be staying with the Lord and Lady for a while.
So this morning, he had gone in search of his Mama, to ask her what was going on. He looked everywhere but couldn't find her. The entire city seemed to be sad for some reason, the mournful notes of a sad song carried through the air. Next, he decided to try and find Lord Celeborn but he was told that Lord Celeborn was on an important errand. Then Orophin remembered that his papa was supposed to return home today. He had gone down to the great gates and sat down to wait. Soon, he noticed the guards glancing at him with sad looks, and he started to feel weird. He could see them whispering and then looking at him. After a bit, Orophin had fled to the gardens, unable to bear their scrutiny any longer. His papa always came here when he returned from the Fences. He said that it helped to forget the long nights away from the city. Orophin would wait here for him, surely his papa would tell him what was amiss.
Orophin sat for a long time in the garden. Finally, as the light dimmed heralding the approach of night, Lord Celeborn found him. He wasn't dressed in his normal shimmering robes of white and gray; instead he was dressed in the uniform of a Warden.
"Orophin, how long have you been here?" Celeborn asked the little Elfling gently as he stooped before him.
"Since this morning, my Lord. I am waiting for my papa. He is coming home today." Orophin glanced down the path towards the opening in the high hedge as if he expected his father to walk through it at any moment. He didn't see the look of grief that flash momentarily on Celeborn's face.
"Orophin. I. will you walk with me, little one?" Celeborn held out his hand.
Orophin looked undecided.
"I must speak with you, Orophin. Come with me." Celeborn stood, continuing to hold out his hand. His voice was gentle, but still held the firm command that could not be disobeyed.
Orophin slipped his tiny hand into Celeborn's large warm one and followed the Elf down the pathways toward a part of the garden that was normally reserved for the Lord and Lady. They passed through the manicured lawns and flowerbeds to the very center where a small gazebo stood. The lattice sides were covered in vines with both day and night blooming blossoms, and during this magical hour of dusk, both types were open and showing their delicate petals. Celeborn sat down on a bench within the gazebo and lifted Orophin up onto his lap. For a long time, they sat in silence. Orophin was wise enough to see that his Lord was struggling with a weighty problem; it only confirmed to him that something unusual had occurred.
Finally with a heavy sigh of resignation, Celeborn began, "There has been a terrible accident on the border, Orophin." He continued after a nod from Orophin. "Your father will not be returning from the Fences today."
"When will he be back, my Lord?" Orophin asked quietly. "Because something is wrong with Haldir, Rúmil and Mama. I am scared, my Lord. I do not know how to make them happy, and now, I cannot find Mama."
Celeborn pulled the little Elfling closer to him. "He will not be returning, my little one. He has gone to the Halls of Waiting. Do you understand?"
Orophin shook his head. "Why did he not bring us with him?"
Celeborn could see the confusion and hurt in the big blue eyes that were staring up at him. He hated himself in that moment because he knew that he would only cause more hurt to be reflected there. "He is dead, Orophin. Orcs attacked the border, and he was killed by one of their arrows. His fëa has gone to the Halls to be reborn. He could not take you with him, little one."
Tears stung Orophin's eyes as Celeborn's words sunk in. He pulled Hwest tightly to his chest. A new fear crept up his spine. "My Lord, where is my mama?"
"Your mother and father shared a very deep bond, little one. She could not bear to be separated from him. She." Celeborn steeled himself. "She has faded, Orophin. She is with your father now."
"Will Haldir, Rúmil and I fade now too?" The tears were flowing freely down Orophin's face.
Celeborn shook his head. "No, my sweet baby, you and your brothers will stay here."
"But, my Lord, who will love us now?" Orophin was sobbing now.
Celeborn hugged the little Elfling tightly to his chest, rubbing his cheek against the soft hair covering Orophin's head. "Galadriel and I will love you and your brothers. We shall care for you until you are grown. And you still have Haldir and Rúmil, little one. You still have your brothers."
For a long time, Orophin cried and Celeborn rocked him. Finally, the little Elfling fell into an exhausted reverie and Celeborn lifted him carefully into his arms. He carried him back to the great talan that was now Orophin's new home. He tucked him into bed and sat on the edge watching him for a long, long time. Finally, Galadriel came to him.
"He will be well, my love. All three of them will grow into strong, fine Elves." Galadriel said soothingly to her mate.
Celeborn replied in Quenya, the language being mostly unknown to their subjects. "I once wished that he were my son, Galadriel. I feel as if I have caused this misery to be visited upon them." He was crying openly now, torn apart with guilt.
Galadriel held him to her and stroked his soft silver hair. "Words did not cause this, Celeborn. You did not cause this. Sometimes bad things happen to good people and there is nothing you or anyone could do about it. It is not your fault."
Celeborn knew he was being foolish. "I know. I just wish there was some way I could ease their pain. Orophin is too young to have lost both his parents."
"We can only love them and care for them, Celeborn. In time, they will heal and one day, they will be with their parents again. That is our fate."
Celeborn stood, wiping his tears, and kissed his wife. "You should be the one they call Wise, my love."
Galadriel smiled. "Come now, Celeborn. You must eat, for I know you have eaten nothing all day."
Celeborn silently followed his wife from the room after planting a kiss on the forehead of each sleeping boy and tucking the covers in around them.
The End 47 Coirë - March 16th
If the site has exceeded its limit, try back, it's usually only down for an hour or so. Thanks May
Title: Who Will Love Us Now?
Series: The Elf Children
Author: Mayetra
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All things Tolkien belong to his estate; I only borrow them on occasion and always return them in good working order. I write fan fiction solely for my own enjoyment and do not claim any copyright or ownership of his works nor do I have intent to make financial gain. All original concepts and characters are from my own twisted plot bunnies and remain my property. Hwest is all mine!
Special Warnings: Character Death If you are reading these stories to your children please note that this story may be inappropriate for younger children. It deals with death and parents should be prepared to answer some tough questions.
Timeline: Early Third Age - AU after Little Runaways
Summary: Orophin deals with a great loss.
*~*
47 Coirë* 170 T.A. - Caras Galadon, Lórien
Orophin sat in the garden next to his father's favorite flowerbed. The sun was shining warmly on his back, bees buzzed around flowers filling the air with a pleasant hum, and the flowers gave off a heady scent. The young Elfling was confused. He hugged Hwest to his chest and reflected on the events of the past three days.
Three nights ago, one of Lady Galadriel's handmaidens had come to tell his mama that the Lord and Lady wished to speak with her. The handmaiden had stayed to sit with them but refused to answer Haldir's question about what was amiss. They had gone to bed with no answers.
The next morning, Orophin woke and found his mama and his brothers talking softly in the main living room of the talan. They had stopped as soon as he entered the room. Orophin knew something was wrong because Mama and Rúmil had been crying. Haldir just looked really, really mad.
He tried to ask Rúmil and Haldir what was going on later in the day, but Rúmil had only started crying again and Haldir just stared blankly at him. Mama was so upset that he didn't try and ask her.
Then last night, things had gotten worse. He woke up to find the Lady carrying him into her great white talan, followed by Haldir and Rúmil. The only thing he was told was that he would be staying with the Lord and Lady for a while.
So this morning, he had gone in search of his Mama, to ask her what was going on. He looked everywhere but couldn't find her. The entire city seemed to be sad for some reason, the mournful notes of a sad song carried through the air. Next, he decided to try and find Lord Celeborn but he was told that Lord Celeborn was on an important errand. Then Orophin remembered that his papa was supposed to return home today. He had gone down to the great gates and sat down to wait. Soon, he noticed the guards glancing at him with sad looks, and he started to feel weird. He could see them whispering and then looking at him. After a bit, Orophin had fled to the gardens, unable to bear their scrutiny any longer. His papa always came here when he returned from the Fences. He said that it helped to forget the long nights away from the city. Orophin would wait here for him, surely his papa would tell him what was amiss.
Orophin sat for a long time in the garden. Finally, as the light dimmed heralding the approach of night, Lord Celeborn found him. He wasn't dressed in his normal shimmering robes of white and gray; instead he was dressed in the uniform of a Warden.
"Orophin, how long have you been here?" Celeborn asked the little Elfling gently as he stooped before him.
"Since this morning, my Lord. I am waiting for my papa. He is coming home today." Orophin glanced down the path towards the opening in the high hedge as if he expected his father to walk through it at any moment. He didn't see the look of grief that flash momentarily on Celeborn's face.
"Orophin. I. will you walk with me, little one?" Celeborn held out his hand.
Orophin looked undecided.
"I must speak with you, Orophin. Come with me." Celeborn stood, continuing to hold out his hand. His voice was gentle, but still held the firm command that could not be disobeyed.
Orophin slipped his tiny hand into Celeborn's large warm one and followed the Elf down the pathways toward a part of the garden that was normally reserved for the Lord and Lady. They passed through the manicured lawns and flowerbeds to the very center where a small gazebo stood. The lattice sides were covered in vines with both day and night blooming blossoms, and during this magical hour of dusk, both types were open and showing their delicate petals. Celeborn sat down on a bench within the gazebo and lifted Orophin up onto his lap. For a long time, they sat in silence. Orophin was wise enough to see that his Lord was struggling with a weighty problem; it only confirmed to him that something unusual had occurred.
Finally with a heavy sigh of resignation, Celeborn began, "There has been a terrible accident on the border, Orophin." He continued after a nod from Orophin. "Your father will not be returning from the Fences today."
"When will he be back, my Lord?" Orophin asked quietly. "Because something is wrong with Haldir, Rúmil and Mama. I am scared, my Lord. I do not know how to make them happy, and now, I cannot find Mama."
Celeborn pulled the little Elfling closer to him. "He will not be returning, my little one. He has gone to the Halls of Waiting. Do you understand?"
Orophin shook his head. "Why did he not bring us with him?"
Celeborn could see the confusion and hurt in the big blue eyes that were staring up at him. He hated himself in that moment because he knew that he would only cause more hurt to be reflected there. "He is dead, Orophin. Orcs attacked the border, and he was killed by one of their arrows. His fëa has gone to the Halls to be reborn. He could not take you with him, little one."
Tears stung Orophin's eyes as Celeborn's words sunk in. He pulled Hwest tightly to his chest. A new fear crept up his spine. "My Lord, where is my mama?"
"Your mother and father shared a very deep bond, little one. She could not bear to be separated from him. She." Celeborn steeled himself. "She has faded, Orophin. She is with your father now."
"Will Haldir, Rúmil and I fade now too?" The tears were flowing freely down Orophin's face.
Celeborn shook his head. "No, my sweet baby, you and your brothers will stay here."
"But, my Lord, who will love us now?" Orophin was sobbing now.
Celeborn hugged the little Elfling tightly to his chest, rubbing his cheek against the soft hair covering Orophin's head. "Galadriel and I will love you and your brothers. We shall care for you until you are grown. And you still have Haldir and Rúmil, little one. You still have your brothers."
For a long time, Orophin cried and Celeborn rocked him. Finally, the little Elfling fell into an exhausted reverie and Celeborn lifted him carefully into his arms. He carried him back to the great talan that was now Orophin's new home. He tucked him into bed and sat on the edge watching him for a long, long time. Finally, Galadriel came to him.
"He will be well, my love. All three of them will grow into strong, fine Elves." Galadriel said soothingly to her mate.
Celeborn replied in Quenya, the language being mostly unknown to their subjects. "I once wished that he were my son, Galadriel. I feel as if I have caused this misery to be visited upon them." He was crying openly now, torn apart with guilt.
Galadriel held him to her and stroked his soft silver hair. "Words did not cause this, Celeborn. You did not cause this. Sometimes bad things happen to good people and there is nothing you or anyone could do about it. It is not your fault."
Celeborn knew he was being foolish. "I know. I just wish there was some way I could ease their pain. Orophin is too young to have lost both his parents."
"We can only love them and care for them, Celeborn. In time, they will heal and one day, they will be with their parents again. That is our fate."
Celeborn stood, wiping his tears, and kissed his wife. "You should be the one they call Wise, my love."
Galadriel smiled. "Come now, Celeborn. You must eat, for I know you have eaten nothing all day."
Celeborn silently followed his wife from the room after planting a kiss on the forehead of each sleeping boy and tucking the covers in around them.
The End 47 Coirë - March 16th