Chapter 5 - For every action there is a consequence :: June, 3018
Later in the night, we built a fire, and Uncle Rumil told me tales of old.
"You have learned of Bilbo Baggins. Have you not?" He asked me.
"Yes. Just recently." I replied.
"Well, I learned a song that was created on their journey." He smiled.
"Do you jest?" I asked suspiciously.
"No I do not. I honestly did, from Bilbo Baggins himself." My Uncle Rumil said. I continued to eye him, and he finally gave in. "Fine, maybe I did not learn it from Bilbo Baggins himself, but I did learn the song. It goes like this:
'Farewell we call to hearth from hall! Though wind may blow and rain may fall, We must away ere break of day Far over wood and mountain tall.
To Rivendell, where Elves yet dwell In glades beneath the misty fell, Through moor and waste we ride in haste, And whither then we cannot tell.
With foes ahead, behind us dread, Beneath the sky shall be our bed, Until at last our toil be passed, Our journey done, our errand sped.
We must away! We must away! We ride before the break of day!'
"Interesting." I said. "I did not know Dwarves and Hobbits could ride."
"Oh yes they can! Though they do require much aid to mount." Uncle Rumil laughed at the last comment, and I smiled and looked into the fire.
Uncle Rumil started talking about Dwarves and I just nodded every now and then, though I was not listening.
I watched the fire crackling, the flames dancing and occasional burning ashes spat out of the heart of the fire. For some reason, the rest of the world went mute, and I started to hear whispers in my head, I could not understand the language. I became entranced by the fire, the red flames' dancing seemed to hypnotize me, and the whispers became louder. I started to see something in the heart of the fire, and it finally jumped out at me, the whispers now becoming voices: The Eye of Sauron.
I screamed and fell off the log I was sitting on. The voices stopped and the world came back to normal. I lay there, breathing heavily, my heart beating faster than normal. My eyes were wide open, staring at the starlit sky.
Suddenly I felt a hand on my arm. I jumped, and scrambled to sit up again.
"Halkira, relax, it is only me." My Uncle Rumil said softly.
My breathing slowed down, but my breath was shaky when I breathed out. "I saw it in the fire again, but with voices in my head. The language, I did not understand it." I stuttered.
"What are you talking about? I think you are ill." My Uncle Rumil said, placing his hand on my forehead. "You are burning up. You may be coming down with a fever. Here have some water." He offered me a water bottle, but I shook my head. "You need it. Come now, do not make me give the water to you as though you were a baby."
I shook my head again, and Uncle Rumil moved closer. "Are you so sick that you may not use your common sense? You have not had water since this morning. You need it, even more so now because you have come down with a fever."
I shook my head yet again, and he grabbed me so I couldn't go anywhere, he put the water bottle up to my lips, but I kept them shut tight. "I am not trying to give you poison. Open up. Would you listen to me? I sound as though I'm trying to feed a baby. I will not tell you again: open up." My Uncle Rumil said.
Again I shook my head. "Fine. I was hoping it would not have to come to this but it is your own fault." He pinched my nose so the only alternative to get air would be to breathe through my mouth.
I held my breath for as long as I could, which was not very long. Within 40 seconds, I opened my mouth to draw breath.
Right after I had taken a breath, My Uncle Rumil put the spout of the water bottle between my teeth, and poured the water down my throat, releasing the pinch on my nose so I could breathe through that airway while I drank.
After I swallowed five gulps of water, Uncle Rumil seemed satisfied, and replaced the cap on the water bottle.
"You stay here, I am going to get a midnight snack for us. Maybe that will help you." I nodded, then, started to shiver though it was fairly warm.
My Uncle Rumil strained his eyes as though confused, trying to figure out what was wrong with me. "Another symptom of the fever. Here, you need to stay warm." He finally said, after apprehension dawned on him. Uncle Rumil got a travelling blanket from his bag, and put it around my shoulders. "If anything goes wrong, whistle. And stay close to the fire."
I shook my head violently.
"Oh, right. Well, close your eyes if you have to." My Uncle Rumil said.
"Alright." I replied, moving closer to the fire, shutting my eyes, as I settled myself.
"I will be back soon." I heard my Uncle Rumil take off into the trees.
It was quiet, almost eerie, when I was alone. And I opened my eyes to look around. When they fell on the fire I shut my eyes again.
After a while I felt sleep take over me, I tried to fight it, but I was too tired. Next thing I knew, I was being shaken awake by my Uncle Rumil.
"What are you doing? We are forbidden to rest." He said, forcing me to sit up.
"I was not sleeping. I was resting my eyes." I replied.
"No, you were sleeping I could tell." My Uncle Rumil said, throwing me a bundle of grapes.
I caught them and stared at him. "How did you get these?" I asked.
"Vines. Growing up the side of the walls around Caras Galadhon." He replied, popping one of the grapes in his mouth.
"I did not know grapes grew in our woods." I said, looking over the bundle of grapes in my hand.
"Lots of fruits grow in our woods. Try them, they are safe to eat." My Uncle Rumil said, sitting down beside me.
I plucked one of the red grapes from its stem and popped it in my mouth. It was sweet, and I realized I was actually quite hungry.
"See? I was right. Was I not? I am always right." Said Uncle Rumil.
I smiled, and ate another grape. "Do not speak too fully of yourself. Too much self-confidence is not good. You could turn into a snob, oh wait a second. I am too late, you already are a snob." Silence lasted about three seconds.
"Alright, that's it." Uncle Rumil said, jumping on top of me.
I screamed, then, started laughing while he tickled me. "I'm a snob, am I? You won't be getting any cousins by me will you?" Uncle Rumil shouted.
"Get off me. Or I'll tell your girlfriend you are cheating on her!" I answered.
"That is so not true. Take it back right now!"
"I know it is not true, but I will tell her that it is so."
"You little creature of Mordor! If you do tell her I am not remaining loyal to her you will never see the light of day again."
"You just admitted!" I shouted.
"I did not!"
"Yes you did. You said if I tell your girlfriend you are not remaining loyal to her, I shall never see the light of day again. You did not say that you were remaining loyal." I countered.
"You are confusing me." Uncle Rumil said, his face screwed up in confusion.
"Never mind. The point is, if you do not get off of me I will tell your girlfriend you are cheating."
"With who?"
I thought for a second, then, grinned widely. "With Lady Galadriel." I smiled.
Uncle Rumil gave small shriek, and jumped off immediately. "Oh please not her. You demon child!"
I grinned devilishly. "Just finish your grapes. And maybe later I'll make you have some more water." My Uncle Rumil said.
I glared at him, and picked my bundle of grapes up off the log I had left them: his turn to grin.
**
Later on, I started to feel more sick, I did not know why a vision could have such an effect on me, but Uncle Rumil was getting more and more worried by the hour.
"I am quite fine." I told him.
"No you're not." My Uncle Rumil would reply, tucking in loose corners of the three blankets he had piled on top of me. "You are shivering and your face is as pale as the white moon."
"I am not." I said.
Uncle Rumil gave me a stern look and I shrank back into the blankets. "Blankets, water and the warmth of the fire alone will not rid you of this fever. You need Willowstin." He said.
"What is Willowstin?" I asked.
"'Tis a plant that helps battle the fever. My mother gave it to me, your Uncle Orophin, and your father on many occasions. Now, same thing, stay near the fire, and whistle if anything happens." My Uncle Rumil said, wrapping yet another blanket around me.
"Yes, Uncle Rumil." I said dryly. He annoyed me very much when he was in his more adult mood.
"I should not be long, Willowstin grows very commonly in our woods." He took off into the woods again.
I sighed and fidgeted with a blanket corner, staring up at the bright stars in the sky, attempting to name them all. Obviously, Eärendil was the easy one, but the others took some thinking.
Indeed it did not take long for My Uncle Rumil to return with a bundle of what looked like the leaves from a Willow tree, but were the colour of red.
"You look, if possible even paler than before." He said, putting the leaves in a small pot of water that was boiling in the dancing flames of the fire.
"Could you tell me a tale?" I asked after he handed me a wooden cup full of the freshly brewed herb tea.
My Uncle Rumil smiled, sitting down on the log beside me. "How about the tale of Gil-galad?" He said.
I nodded enthusiastically, that was one of my favourite tales.
My Uncle Rumil smiled again, and began to chant:
Gil-galad was an Elven King. Of him the harpers sadly sing: The last whose realm was fair and free Between the Mountains and the Sea.
His sword was long, his lance was keen, His shining helm afar was seen; The countless stars of heaven's field Were mirrored in his silver shield.
But long ago he rode away, And where he dwelleth none can say; For into darkness fell his star In Mordor where the shadows are.
". Halkira?" My Uncle Rumil asked, shaking my shoulder. "You awake?"
I snapped back to the real world out of my light slumber.
"You need rest. Being ill and weary are not well mixed."
"No, I'm fine. Keep going." I replied.
My Uncle Rumil eyed me sceptically for a second, then, continued the tale.
**
At about 2 in the morning, I was very tired, and Uncle Rumil had to keep shaking me awake every dozen minutes.
"Halkira, you desperately need sleep. Your father will kill me if you get any sicker. I will keep watch for others in the woods while you sleep."
"Fine." I agreed, I was too weary to argue.
"Finally, some common-sense out of you." My Uncle Rumil said, throwing another piece of dry wood into the fire.
I sat up. "If I rest, you have to tell me tales until I fall asleep." I said.
"Which tale, my lady?" Uncle Rumil asked with a mock bow.
I laughed. "It matters not." I replied, lying down beside him, resting my head on his bent knee like a pillow.
My Uncle Rumil smiled. "We had camp outs like this when you were an Elfling." He said.
"Do not bore me with tales of my childhood. Get on with a more interesting tale." I said.
My Uncle Rumil shook his head. "Eärendil was a mariner that tarried in Arvernien; he built a boat of timber felled in Nimbrethil to journey in; her sails he wove of silver fair, of silver were her lanterns made, her prow was fashioned like a swan, and light upon her banners laid." He started the fairly long tale, stroking my hair, like he did when I was little.
Well before the tale was over, I had drifted into sleep at the sound of my Uncle Rumil's voice.
I don't know how long I was asleep before I started dreaming, but my dreams were filled with four hobbits running through a dark forest. Ringwraiths showed up, on those dark red-eyed horses. Chasing the hobbits, three have reached a ferry, one is still running. His name appears to be 'Frodo' for the three hobbits on the ferry are calling to him. A Ringwraith is on Frodo's tail, the hobbit runs as fast as he can, and jumps from the dock to the ferry. Then, I woke up.
"Sun is nearly risen." Said my Uncle Rumil softly.
I stirred to realize I was still lying down with my head resting on his knee. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, there was a red line on the horizon; the sun was rising.
"Your locks are in disorder. I will brush out the knots and weave your hair before we depart." My Uncle Rumil said, taking out a piece of wood will thistles that served well as a brush.
He sat on the log, and I sat at his feet, still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.
Uncle Rumil gently took out my braids, and combed through the knots, trying his best not to hurt me.
"Oww.. Owww.. Owwa." I whined.
"Be quiet, I am trying my best. And Stop complaining, it needs to be done sooner or later." He said, brushing the locks that hung in my face into a bundle, and leaving some hair to hang at the sides of my face. He brushed through the bundle, then braided it loosely, tying a string around the end to keep it in.
"That should do for now, at least your father won't be boasting about tradition."
I nodded in comprehension, and pushed some of my hair behind my pointed ears.
We gathered all our things, poured water on the fire and left.
"How is your fever?" My Uncle Rumil asked.
"I do not feel as ill as last night. I should be fine today."
When we reached Caras Galadhon, shouting could be heard from the heart of the city. We stopped dead in our tracks to listen.
"How could you leave her out there, Haldir! Anything could have happened! I am deeply disappointed in you! I thought you were more intelligent than that!" A She- Elf's voice sounded.
"Your mother." My Uncle Rumil whispered.
We bolted in through the gates, and ran up the trees.
"And Orophin, of all respected Elves! I would never have guessed! Your actions yesterday were very immature and not safe at all!" My mother's voice continued, I suppose my Uncle Orophin was there as well.
We reached the foot of the stairs, paused for a second, listening to Mirlocko scream at my father and Uncle Orophin.
Then, we walked up the stairs as casually as ever.
When my mother saw us she stopped right in mid sentence, and rushed over to me.
"Oh, Halkira thank god you are alright." She said, kissing my cheek, then turning back to my father. "I am going to kill you." Back to me. "I was so worried."
Mirlocko then went to my Uncle Rumil and hugged him. "I was so afraid something bad might have happened to you both."
"We are fine, Mirlocko. Thank you for your concerns." My Uncle Rumil said.
"Did you two get any sleep last night?" We were all silent.
"Well, did you?" My mother asked again.
I glanced at my father, who was looking at the ground, and Mirlocko saw this.
"Haldir?" She asked turning to him. "Is there something you have not told me?"
My father hesitantly shifted his gaze up to my mother, and opened his mouth, but no sound came out. "I-." He finally managed to croak, but then fell silent again.
"Haldir, speak." My mother said, putting her hands on her hips.
My father nudged my Uncle Orophin in the ribs. "You tell her." He mumbled.
"Why? It was your idea. You tell her" Uncle Orophin replied.
"No, it was your idea, you tell her."
"You."
"You."
"You."
"You."
"That is enough!" My mother yelled, shutting them both up. "Haldir, since Orophin seems to think this; whatever that might be, was your idea, I want you to tell me." Mirlocko said, her staring at my father with that 'I want an explanation' look.
"Alright, fine. We told them they could not sleep while they were out there as part of punishment for their actions." My father finally blurted out.
"Haldir!!" My mother shrieked. "Never, have I heard of such, such, careless behaviour. And towards your own daughter! And brother!"
"They deserved it." My Uncle Orophin chipped in.
Mirlocko gave him a look that could kill, and returned to me and Uncle Rumil. "Oh, you poor things. No duty for you this day. You will stay here and make up for the sleep you both lost. Anything you need, anything at all, I will be nearby, just call." My mother said, ushering us further into the comfort of my family's dwelling.
"But what do we tell the others?" Haldir asked.
"You tell them the truth, Haldir of Lórien." My mother replied, pointing a threatening finger at him. "You tell them that you made Rumil and Halkira stay up all night, and for that they will be resting here all day. They both shall return to duty tomorrow."
My father opened his mouth to argue, but my mother hushed him. "Do not try me! It is your own fault. Now go! Both of you, out!" My mother said, ushering them to the stairs.
I heard my father mutter to my Uncle Orophin: "They already know what happened last night anyways."
She again, turned to us. "First let's get you out of those filthy cloaks." Mirlocko stated, hurrying into the house, soon coming back out with clean pyjamas.
"Really, Mirlocko, you need not go to all this trouble." My Uncle Rumil said.
"None sense, you have been treated poorly, and need to relax as best as you can." My mother replied, tossing a pair of pyjamas at him.
Uncle Rumil caught them, and gave me a helpless glance.
"Now, both of you, in the house, get changed." Mirlocko said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
!!!!!!!!!!!PLZ READ!!!!!!!!!
sorry it took me so long 2 post this chapter!!! Jeez, u must hate me! Well, MERRY X-MAS anyways. Actually Christmas is what saved this story. my mom got me the extended version of TTT 4 x-mas, and in watching it got a great idea 4 this story! sadly, though, it won't turn up 4 quite a few chapters. I'll give u a clue though, I got an idea 4 Halkira falling in love with some1 ^^ it's a human, that's ur other clue cause I'm feelin generous right now. So, I opened the documents in which I kept the scattered parts of this story, (they've probably been collecting dust) and I decided to keep posting the chapters I wrote a while ago. I realized that this part with her uncles and such sort of drags on, but I'm too lazy 2 cut stuff out right now. But I promise after I'm done dragging (it might even be over after the next chapter) the story's plot is gonna get really good. I promise!! I've done loads of research on the timeline and stuff of the war of the ring and a lot of good stuff will be coming soon. I'm trying my best 2 make this intertwine with the actual story (and movie). So the little surprise I told u about won't come till somewhere around the time of ROTK, it's the only way Halkira and this certain human (no it's not Aragorn, he's Arwen's lolz ^^) can meet according 2 the original story ^_~ I don't wanna be 1 of those ppl who totally screws up tolkien's brilliant writing, so I promise I'll try my best to make this work out. ^^
don't 4 get 2 review, plz, it would be much appreciated and, hey, IT'S CHRISTMAS! Lol again, MERRY X-MAS 2 ALL!!!!!!!
Later in the night, we built a fire, and Uncle Rumil told me tales of old.
"You have learned of Bilbo Baggins. Have you not?" He asked me.
"Yes. Just recently." I replied.
"Well, I learned a song that was created on their journey." He smiled.
"Do you jest?" I asked suspiciously.
"No I do not. I honestly did, from Bilbo Baggins himself." My Uncle Rumil said. I continued to eye him, and he finally gave in. "Fine, maybe I did not learn it from Bilbo Baggins himself, but I did learn the song. It goes like this:
'Farewell we call to hearth from hall! Though wind may blow and rain may fall, We must away ere break of day Far over wood and mountain tall.
To Rivendell, where Elves yet dwell In glades beneath the misty fell, Through moor and waste we ride in haste, And whither then we cannot tell.
With foes ahead, behind us dread, Beneath the sky shall be our bed, Until at last our toil be passed, Our journey done, our errand sped.
We must away! We must away! We ride before the break of day!'
"Interesting." I said. "I did not know Dwarves and Hobbits could ride."
"Oh yes they can! Though they do require much aid to mount." Uncle Rumil laughed at the last comment, and I smiled and looked into the fire.
Uncle Rumil started talking about Dwarves and I just nodded every now and then, though I was not listening.
I watched the fire crackling, the flames dancing and occasional burning ashes spat out of the heart of the fire. For some reason, the rest of the world went mute, and I started to hear whispers in my head, I could not understand the language. I became entranced by the fire, the red flames' dancing seemed to hypnotize me, and the whispers became louder. I started to see something in the heart of the fire, and it finally jumped out at me, the whispers now becoming voices: The Eye of Sauron.
I screamed and fell off the log I was sitting on. The voices stopped and the world came back to normal. I lay there, breathing heavily, my heart beating faster than normal. My eyes were wide open, staring at the starlit sky.
Suddenly I felt a hand on my arm. I jumped, and scrambled to sit up again.
"Halkira, relax, it is only me." My Uncle Rumil said softly.
My breathing slowed down, but my breath was shaky when I breathed out. "I saw it in the fire again, but with voices in my head. The language, I did not understand it." I stuttered.
"What are you talking about? I think you are ill." My Uncle Rumil said, placing his hand on my forehead. "You are burning up. You may be coming down with a fever. Here have some water." He offered me a water bottle, but I shook my head. "You need it. Come now, do not make me give the water to you as though you were a baby."
I shook my head again, and Uncle Rumil moved closer. "Are you so sick that you may not use your common sense? You have not had water since this morning. You need it, even more so now because you have come down with a fever."
I shook my head yet again, and he grabbed me so I couldn't go anywhere, he put the water bottle up to my lips, but I kept them shut tight. "I am not trying to give you poison. Open up. Would you listen to me? I sound as though I'm trying to feed a baby. I will not tell you again: open up." My Uncle Rumil said.
Again I shook my head. "Fine. I was hoping it would not have to come to this but it is your own fault." He pinched my nose so the only alternative to get air would be to breathe through my mouth.
I held my breath for as long as I could, which was not very long. Within 40 seconds, I opened my mouth to draw breath.
Right after I had taken a breath, My Uncle Rumil put the spout of the water bottle between my teeth, and poured the water down my throat, releasing the pinch on my nose so I could breathe through that airway while I drank.
After I swallowed five gulps of water, Uncle Rumil seemed satisfied, and replaced the cap on the water bottle.
"You stay here, I am going to get a midnight snack for us. Maybe that will help you." I nodded, then, started to shiver though it was fairly warm.
My Uncle Rumil strained his eyes as though confused, trying to figure out what was wrong with me. "Another symptom of the fever. Here, you need to stay warm." He finally said, after apprehension dawned on him. Uncle Rumil got a travelling blanket from his bag, and put it around my shoulders. "If anything goes wrong, whistle. And stay close to the fire."
I shook my head violently.
"Oh, right. Well, close your eyes if you have to." My Uncle Rumil said.
"Alright." I replied, moving closer to the fire, shutting my eyes, as I settled myself.
"I will be back soon." I heard my Uncle Rumil take off into the trees.
It was quiet, almost eerie, when I was alone. And I opened my eyes to look around. When they fell on the fire I shut my eyes again.
After a while I felt sleep take over me, I tried to fight it, but I was too tired. Next thing I knew, I was being shaken awake by my Uncle Rumil.
"What are you doing? We are forbidden to rest." He said, forcing me to sit up.
"I was not sleeping. I was resting my eyes." I replied.
"No, you were sleeping I could tell." My Uncle Rumil said, throwing me a bundle of grapes.
I caught them and stared at him. "How did you get these?" I asked.
"Vines. Growing up the side of the walls around Caras Galadhon." He replied, popping one of the grapes in his mouth.
"I did not know grapes grew in our woods." I said, looking over the bundle of grapes in my hand.
"Lots of fruits grow in our woods. Try them, they are safe to eat." My Uncle Rumil said, sitting down beside me.
I plucked one of the red grapes from its stem and popped it in my mouth. It was sweet, and I realized I was actually quite hungry.
"See? I was right. Was I not? I am always right." Said Uncle Rumil.
I smiled, and ate another grape. "Do not speak too fully of yourself. Too much self-confidence is not good. You could turn into a snob, oh wait a second. I am too late, you already are a snob." Silence lasted about three seconds.
"Alright, that's it." Uncle Rumil said, jumping on top of me.
I screamed, then, started laughing while he tickled me. "I'm a snob, am I? You won't be getting any cousins by me will you?" Uncle Rumil shouted.
"Get off me. Or I'll tell your girlfriend you are cheating on her!" I answered.
"That is so not true. Take it back right now!"
"I know it is not true, but I will tell her that it is so."
"You little creature of Mordor! If you do tell her I am not remaining loyal to her you will never see the light of day again."
"You just admitted!" I shouted.
"I did not!"
"Yes you did. You said if I tell your girlfriend you are not remaining loyal to her, I shall never see the light of day again. You did not say that you were remaining loyal." I countered.
"You are confusing me." Uncle Rumil said, his face screwed up in confusion.
"Never mind. The point is, if you do not get off of me I will tell your girlfriend you are cheating."
"With who?"
I thought for a second, then, grinned widely. "With Lady Galadriel." I smiled.
Uncle Rumil gave small shriek, and jumped off immediately. "Oh please not her. You demon child!"
I grinned devilishly. "Just finish your grapes. And maybe later I'll make you have some more water." My Uncle Rumil said.
I glared at him, and picked my bundle of grapes up off the log I had left them: his turn to grin.
**
Later on, I started to feel more sick, I did not know why a vision could have such an effect on me, but Uncle Rumil was getting more and more worried by the hour.
"I am quite fine." I told him.
"No you're not." My Uncle Rumil would reply, tucking in loose corners of the three blankets he had piled on top of me. "You are shivering and your face is as pale as the white moon."
"I am not." I said.
Uncle Rumil gave me a stern look and I shrank back into the blankets. "Blankets, water and the warmth of the fire alone will not rid you of this fever. You need Willowstin." He said.
"What is Willowstin?" I asked.
"'Tis a plant that helps battle the fever. My mother gave it to me, your Uncle Orophin, and your father on many occasions. Now, same thing, stay near the fire, and whistle if anything happens." My Uncle Rumil said, wrapping yet another blanket around me.
"Yes, Uncle Rumil." I said dryly. He annoyed me very much when he was in his more adult mood.
"I should not be long, Willowstin grows very commonly in our woods." He took off into the woods again.
I sighed and fidgeted with a blanket corner, staring up at the bright stars in the sky, attempting to name them all. Obviously, Eärendil was the easy one, but the others took some thinking.
Indeed it did not take long for My Uncle Rumil to return with a bundle of what looked like the leaves from a Willow tree, but were the colour of red.
"You look, if possible even paler than before." He said, putting the leaves in a small pot of water that was boiling in the dancing flames of the fire.
"Could you tell me a tale?" I asked after he handed me a wooden cup full of the freshly brewed herb tea.
My Uncle Rumil smiled, sitting down on the log beside me. "How about the tale of Gil-galad?" He said.
I nodded enthusiastically, that was one of my favourite tales.
My Uncle Rumil smiled again, and began to chant:
Gil-galad was an Elven King. Of him the harpers sadly sing: The last whose realm was fair and free Between the Mountains and the Sea.
His sword was long, his lance was keen, His shining helm afar was seen; The countless stars of heaven's field Were mirrored in his silver shield.
But long ago he rode away, And where he dwelleth none can say; For into darkness fell his star In Mordor where the shadows are.
". Halkira?" My Uncle Rumil asked, shaking my shoulder. "You awake?"
I snapped back to the real world out of my light slumber.
"You need rest. Being ill and weary are not well mixed."
"No, I'm fine. Keep going." I replied.
My Uncle Rumil eyed me sceptically for a second, then, continued the tale.
**
At about 2 in the morning, I was very tired, and Uncle Rumil had to keep shaking me awake every dozen minutes.
"Halkira, you desperately need sleep. Your father will kill me if you get any sicker. I will keep watch for others in the woods while you sleep."
"Fine." I agreed, I was too weary to argue.
"Finally, some common-sense out of you." My Uncle Rumil said, throwing another piece of dry wood into the fire.
I sat up. "If I rest, you have to tell me tales until I fall asleep." I said.
"Which tale, my lady?" Uncle Rumil asked with a mock bow.
I laughed. "It matters not." I replied, lying down beside him, resting my head on his bent knee like a pillow.
My Uncle Rumil smiled. "We had camp outs like this when you were an Elfling." He said.
"Do not bore me with tales of my childhood. Get on with a more interesting tale." I said.
My Uncle Rumil shook his head. "Eärendil was a mariner that tarried in Arvernien; he built a boat of timber felled in Nimbrethil to journey in; her sails he wove of silver fair, of silver were her lanterns made, her prow was fashioned like a swan, and light upon her banners laid." He started the fairly long tale, stroking my hair, like he did when I was little.
Well before the tale was over, I had drifted into sleep at the sound of my Uncle Rumil's voice.
I don't know how long I was asleep before I started dreaming, but my dreams were filled with four hobbits running through a dark forest. Ringwraiths showed up, on those dark red-eyed horses. Chasing the hobbits, three have reached a ferry, one is still running. His name appears to be 'Frodo' for the three hobbits on the ferry are calling to him. A Ringwraith is on Frodo's tail, the hobbit runs as fast as he can, and jumps from the dock to the ferry. Then, I woke up.
"Sun is nearly risen." Said my Uncle Rumil softly.
I stirred to realize I was still lying down with my head resting on his knee. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, there was a red line on the horizon; the sun was rising.
"Your locks are in disorder. I will brush out the knots and weave your hair before we depart." My Uncle Rumil said, taking out a piece of wood will thistles that served well as a brush.
He sat on the log, and I sat at his feet, still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.
Uncle Rumil gently took out my braids, and combed through the knots, trying his best not to hurt me.
"Oww.. Owww.. Owwa." I whined.
"Be quiet, I am trying my best. And Stop complaining, it needs to be done sooner or later." He said, brushing the locks that hung in my face into a bundle, and leaving some hair to hang at the sides of my face. He brushed through the bundle, then braided it loosely, tying a string around the end to keep it in.
"That should do for now, at least your father won't be boasting about tradition."
I nodded in comprehension, and pushed some of my hair behind my pointed ears.
We gathered all our things, poured water on the fire and left.
"How is your fever?" My Uncle Rumil asked.
"I do not feel as ill as last night. I should be fine today."
When we reached Caras Galadhon, shouting could be heard from the heart of the city. We stopped dead in our tracks to listen.
"How could you leave her out there, Haldir! Anything could have happened! I am deeply disappointed in you! I thought you were more intelligent than that!" A She- Elf's voice sounded.
"Your mother." My Uncle Rumil whispered.
We bolted in through the gates, and ran up the trees.
"And Orophin, of all respected Elves! I would never have guessed! Your actions yesterday were very immature and not safe at all!" My mother's voice continued, I suppose my Uncle Orophin was there as well.
We reached the foot of the stairs, paused for a second, listening to Mirlocko scream at my father and Uncle Orophin.
Then, we walked up the stairs as casually as ever.
When my mother saw us she stopped right in mid sentence, and rushed over to me.
"Oh, Halkira thank god you are alright." She said, kissing my cheek, then turning back to my father. "I am going to kill you." Back to me. "I was so worried."
Mirlocko then went to my Uncle Rumil and hugged him. "I was so afraid something bad might have happened to you both."
"We are fine, Mirlocko. Thank you for your concerns." My Uncle Rumil said.
"Did you two get any sleep last night?" We were all silent.
"Well, did you?" My mother asked again.
I glanced at my father, who was looking at the ground, and Mirlocko saw this.
"Haldir?" She asked turning to him. "Is there something you have not told me?"
My father hesitantly shifted his gaze up to my mother, and opened his mouth, but no sound came out. "I-." He finally managed to croak, but then fell silent again.
"Haldir, speak." My mother said, putting her hands on her hips.
My father nudged my Uncle Orophin in the ribs. "You tell her." He mumbled.
"Why? It was your idea. You tell her" Uncle Orophin replied.
"No, it was your idea, you tell her."
"You."
"You."
"You."
"You."
"That is enough!" My mother yelled, shutting them both up. "Haldir, since Orophin seems to think this; whatever that might be, was your idea, I want you to tell me." Mirlocko said, her staring at my father with that 'I want an explanation' look.
"Alright, fine. We told them they could not sleep while they were out there as part of punishment for their actions." My father finally blurted out.
"Haldir!!" My mother shrieked. "Never, have I heard of such, such, careless behaviour. And towards your own daughter! And brother!"
"They deserved it." My Uncle Orophin chipped in.
Mirlocko gave him a look that could kill, and returned to me and Uncle Rumil. "Oh, you poor things. No duty for you this day. You will stay here and make up for the sleep you both lost. Anything you need, anything at all, I will be nearby, just call." My mother said, ushering us further into the comfort of my family's dwelling.
"But what do we tell the others?" Haldir asked.
"You tell them the truth, Haldir of Lórien." My mother replied, pointing a threatening finger at him. "You tell them that you made Rumil and Halkira stay up all night, and for that they will be resting here all day. They both shall return to duty tomorrow."
My father opened his mouth to argue, but my mother hushed him. "Do not try me! It is your own fault. Now go! Both of you, out!" My mother said, ushering them to the stairs.
I heard my father mutter to my Uncle Orophin: "They already know what happened last night anyways."
She again, turned to us. "First let's get you out of those filthy cloaks." Mirlocko stated, hurrying into the house, soon coming back out with clean pyjamas.
"Really, Mirlocko, you need not go to all this trouble." My Uncle Rumil said.
"None sense, you have been treated poorly, and need to relax as best as you can." My mother replied, tossing a pair of pyjamas at him.
Uncle Rumil caught them, and gave me a helpless glance.
"Now, both of you, in the house, get changed." Mirlocko said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
!!!!!!!!!!!PLZ READ!!!!!!!!!
sorry it took me so long 2 post this chapter!!! Jeez, u must hate me! Well, MERRY X-MAS anyways. Actually Christmas is what saved this story. my mom got me the extended version of TTT 4 x-mas, and in watching it got a great idea 4 this story! sadly, though, it won't turn up 4 quite a few chapters. I'll give u a clue though, I got an idea 4 Halkira falling in love with some1 ^^ it's a human, that's ur other clue cause I'm feelin generous right now. So, I opened the documents in which I kept the scattered parts of this story, (they've probably been collecting dust) and I decided to keep posting the chapters I wrote a while ago. I realized that this part with her uncles and such sort of drags on, but I'm too lazy 2 cut stuff out right now. But I promise after I'm done dragging (it might even be over after the next chapter) the story's plot is gonna get really good. I promise!! I've done loads of research on the timeline and stuff of the war of the ring and a lot of good stuff will be coming soon. I'm trying my best 2 make this intertwine with the actual story (and movie). So the little surprise I told u about won't come till somewhere around the time of ROTK, it's the only way Halkira and this certain human (no it's not Aragorn, he's Arwen's lolz ^^) can meet according 2 the original story ^_~ I don't wanna be 1 of those ppl who totally screws up tolkien's brilliant writing, so I promise I'll try my best to make this work out. ^^
don't 4 get 2 review, plz, it would be much appreciated and, hey, IT'S CHRISTMAS! Lol again, MERRY X-MAS 2 ALL!!!!!!!