Part IV: The nature of things

Lord Elrond's displeasure was clear, but he had to admit to himself that he was impressed with what Aragorn had accomplished. It was clear that he was frightened, but Bronwe remained at Aragorn's side without causing a fuss, ate at the table, albeit with his hands. He still preferred raw meat, but he suffered through meals with fewer complaints than Elrond was wont to hear from the twins when they were children. He could say only a few words in Elvish, but clearly understood what was said to him. He even demonstrated that he was capable of play and affection. Aragorn argued that he was ready to meet with Elflings of his own age. Indeed, that his progress would be much accelerated if he could observe their actions, but here Lord Elrond still put his foot down. Bronwe could stay in his house as long as he was no trouble, but he was not to go amongst the other Elves.

The arrangement was more than Aragorn had secretly hoped for and he accepted it gratefully. During the next few months Bronwe became part of the household. His temper-tantrums at times were offset by his affectionate nature at others, and even the twins began to see him more as a difficult child than an Orc. Celboril reluctantly admitted one day to Lord Elrond that Bronwe caused slightly less wreckage in the house than Elladan and Elrohir at the same age. This may have been somewhat exaggerated since that time lay many centuries in the past, and Bronwe was certainly no angle.

It was too much to hope for that all would proceed without incident. Bronwe did venture outside from time to time, despite Aragorn's strict prohibitions, and when he encountered Elflings he learned some hard lessons in bigotry. His surprise at their enmity soon turned to anger and his snarling at them did little to endear him with their parents. To alleviate his longing for companionship, Aragorn gave him a young squirrel that had fallen from its nest. He feared that Bronwe may view the animal as food, but the little Orc took to the furry creature almost immediately. The squirrel was initially frightened, but soon accepted Bronwe as his new parent. The two became inseparable.

It was a beautiful sunny morning following a week of rains when Aragorn went out to hunt with his brothers. He left Bronwe in Celboril's care, since Elrond had gone to Bree, but the little Orc soon slipped his leash and went to play under his favourite tree. He stayed there the whole day, amusing himself in the ways most children of that age would have, with the result that he was soon covered in mud, twigs and leaves. It was thus that the other children found him that afternoon.

They taunted him about his appearance, and he tried to ignore them as Aragorn had taught him. When they got no reaction from him, they started shoving him around. The little squirrel had fled up the tree as soon as the Elflings had appeared, and it now twittered and screeched at them from on high. A few of the older Elflings nimbly climbed the tree, and soon they had caught the squirrel. Bronwe had snarled at them went he was pushed around, but had made no other effort to protect himself. However, perceiving that his only playmate was in danger, he became enraged, and tried to take the animal from them. Cruelly they began throwing the little squirrel from one to the other, while the animal squealed in fright and pain. One such throw was off and he ended up smack against a tree trunk. The little body fell limply to the forest floor. Bronwe rushed over, but soon perceived that his friend was beyond help.

The anger and hatred of a thousand generations boiled up in him and when he turned around, the Elflings took a step back at the sight of the fury in his eyes. They fled when he rushed at them, but the youngest was not quick enough. The others did not bear witness as Bronwe tore him limb from limb and shredded his body into pieces, but they did hear the screams as they ran away.

Aragorn heard the angry voices and Bronwe's frightened squeals when he stepped from the forest. He dropped his gear and ran towards the sounds, closely followed by his brothers. When he was about fifty paces away he could see one of the Elves draw his sword and approach the little Orc where he was held, struggling and screaming, between two other Elves.

"No! Wait!" he cried out and ran even harder.

At the sound of his voice Bronwe started yelling for his help, but before he could reach them, the sword was trust through his chest. Blood gushed from the wound and from his mouth. Aragorn caught the little body as it fell from the other Elves' hands. The Orcling was struggling to say something as Aragorn bent his head over him. Elrohir grabbed hold of the one who had wielded the sword, and demanded an explanation.

"That savage killed Taurelion's son! Without any provocation! When a dog bites an Elf he is put down. That animal deserved no less."

Aragorn heard the words where he sat, holding the dying child, but he could not make sense of any of it. Bronwe's pleading eyes held his and Aragorn could barely make out the words he managed to say before he died: "Ada...sorry..."

He carried the body back to Imladris, without a word, without a tear. He cleansed it, wrapped it in a silk sheet, the feel of which Bronwe had always adored, and silently buried him some way into the forest. It was only when these rituals were done that he could give vent to his grief.

Elrond found him still next to the little grave much later that evening. Upon his return the twins had informed him of everything that happened. He had visited the grieving Elven family and his anger at Aragorn had burned fiercely in him when he returned. He had planned on waiting for his return to Imladris, but when Elrohir silently brought him the body of the little squirrel, he changed his mind.

"Aragorn?" he softly called to the ranger where he sat staring at the ground.

"Ada, I'm sorry." The eyes he lifted to his father's were filled with despair and remorse. "You warned me of the danger he could present to the other children. But I believed..." He shook his head and hung it once more.

"You believed right, my son. It was our own Elflings who were the monsters today," Elrond said softly.

Aragorn lifted his head again. "How do you mean?"

Elrond handed him the stiff remains of the squirrel. "Perhaps you should bury him with Bronwe." Aragorn took the little body but continued to look questioning at Lord Elrond. "Elrohir found him at the site where the other boy was killed. He suspected something and questioned a few of the children who were present. One of the girls admitted that they were tormenting Bronwe and that his pet was killed by accident in the process. Bronwe went berserk," he ended sadly.

"So the Orc in him won out in the end," Aragorn replied quietly.

"Yes." Elrond sighed. "But I think that there are as much of the Orc in every Elf as there are of the Elf in the Orc. All we can really hope for is that our children grow up to be the best there is in them."

They remained sitting at the grave for a long time, each contemplating the nature of the people they loved.

The End