32. Fuss and Fracas

Arwen clutched her bow in an angry fist as she stalked into the forest. The evil wretch had the cheek to act as if she had insulted him. She had seen it in his eyes the moment he had looked up from tending the horses.

Bitter tears coursed down her cheeks and she took a swipe at a bush as she passed. He had told her how beautiful she was, had spoken a hundred tender endearments and all the while he had been...

No, she would not think about that, it made her ill. She had always found Haldir to be ill tempered and had often wondered why he did not seem to pursue elleths with the same fervor as his younger brothers. Now she knew.

She gave a rather disgusted shudder. She had no idea as to where she would go, she only knew she could no longer bear to be in his presence. She had tried demeaning him but it had not served to make her any more at ease. She wanted to strike him, to burst into tears and tell him to his face what a vile betrayer he was.

Why? She asked herself. Why did she feel mislead? Why did she feel crushed and deceived? Why did her heart ache with the knowledge that he loved another? He had never declared his love, had never even begged a kiss, had held her hand like a brother. What had he done more than show her kindness?

She came to a halt beneath the trees at the edge of a glade and dropped to the ground, pulling her knees against her chest and sobbing as if her heart would break. In her heart she knew the answer, she had wanted to know someone cared for her.

She heard a rustling in the underbrush and she hastily clambered to her feet, drying her eyes as she hurried across the glade. It was too much noise to be Legolas and if she was going to be found she did not want it to be Estel who found her.

Estel. What hope was left? How could she ever utter the word again? Estel was the falling leaves, their bright forms cascading to the ground in a torrent of red and gold. Fading, lifeless, lost... Arestel.

She heard the noise of someone approaching again and she paused in the middle of the open glade, her eyes growing wide as she turned slowly in place, her breath quickening. No man, no ranger would make so much noise in his approach.

She heard the snorting chuckle first and her blood ran cold as she turned back to face the dozen or so orcs that appeared at the edge of the glade. Her bow was raised, the arrow fitted to the string in an instant but this only seemed to amuse them. They cackled with laughter and she trembled in terror.

"Pretty little one plans to put up a fight boys!" their leader said with a suggestive leer that made her stomach heave. Blood pounded in her ears and she bit back a whimper.

Nana.

They would do the same to her. Dear valar, they would do the same.

If they took her alive.

She swallowed, her eyes growing hard as steel and with untrembling hands she drew the bow back, a hateful sneer forming on her face. She would die before they would touch her.

"You can kill one or two pretty one... but not all of us." their leader mocked. His words did nothing to weaken her resolve and she watched as he raised his sword to signal the others forward.

The battle cry that tore through the glade frightened even her and she watched the orcs cower a moment as a blur of leather and steel charged into the glade from behind her, racing forward to shield her from them.

"Yield!" Aragorn shouted, his eyes alight with fury as he backed away from the orcs, pushing Arwen behind him. "Yield or I shall sheath my sword in every last one of you!" The orcs bellowed in rage and he used the distraction to reach behind him, wrapping his free arm around Arwen's waist and pulled her tight against his back.

"You are unharmed?" he whispered. Arwen laid her head between his shoulders, nodding in mute terror. "When I tell you, you will run, back the way you came. Do not look back Arwen. Do not stop until you reach Rivendell."

What of you?" she asked, her voice breaking as the orcs began to form a line, preparing to charge. "Estel, there are too many!"

"They can do nothing to me but kill me, Arwen." he said gently, her name falling from his lips like a caress "Arwen, what do you think they will do to you? I could not bear it." She let out a tiny sob, tears blinding her as she felt his muscles tense like a cat ready to strike.

"Make ready." he breathed, raising his sword. "Do not look back."

She saw it all as if in slow motion. The subtle flick of Aragorn's sword. The orc leader preparing to signal the charge, Aragorn's hand slowly slipping from her waist as if it were the last caress between lovers and then his voice crying out to run.

Her feet pelted the grass, every step an eternity, his charge to not look back pounding in her veins. Tears streamed down her face. She had left him to die. Alone, abandoned, never knowing... what? As she reached the trees she turned, raising her bow.

The arrow cut across her shoulder like a hot knife and she cried out, falling against a tree. She gritted her teeth against the pain, fitting her arrow to the string but before she could release it she watched as the orc she was sighting fell to the ground with a scream, a white arrow in his throat.

She stared in breathless fascination as she watched Aragorn carve through he orcs in a haze of battle lust. His body moving in an intricate dance of destruction. Arrows rained down on the orcs felling them with precision and in a moment Aragorn thrust his sword into the last one with an angry cry. He whirled to face her and she felt her knees go weak. She sagged to the ground, clutching her bow in trembling hands.

"Arwen!" he cried, fear plain in his voice as he raced to her, kneeling in the grass at her side.

"What happened?" Legolas asked as he appeared from the trees.

"She's been wounded." Aragorn replied, checking where the arrow had torn her shoulder. "It is not deep. I thought you were going for help." Legolas shrugged with a thin smile.

"You looked as if you needed assistance." he replied.


Indelin fidgeted nervously with the letter Orophin had given her. Truth be told, she was terrified. She had never had the attention's of an elf before and along with the elation of being noticed there was a great deal of trepidation as well.

She heard voices and peered around the column that shielded the bench she was sitting on. Orophin stood in the doorway with Rumil, laughing as his younger brother shook his head. She took a deep breath, steeling her nerves as she smoothed out her gown. She tried to think of what Elladan had said. Stay calm, reserved, aloof. She let out her breath slowly and slipped from behind the pillar, approaching them.

"Orophin." She acknowledged. Orophin rolled his eyes, why was this silly little child always following him around.

"Have you seen Meril?" he asked bluntly.

"You don't have to be rude." Rumil hissed, glaring at him. Indelin felt her jaw fall open and she looked down at the letter trembling in her hand. She didn't understand.

"Well?" Orophin prompted, annoyance showing in his voice.

"But..." Indelin whispered, her lip quivering as she looked up into his face. "I thought..."

"You thought what?" Orophin demanded in exasperation "You thought that if you pestered me long enough I might show some interest?"

"Orophin!" Rumil barked. The little elleth in front of them was trembling, tears visible in her eyes and he found it a bit alarming. Orophin, however, seemed not to notice.

"For the last time." he scowled "I am sure you are a very nice little elleth but you should find an elf your own age to play with."

"Orophin!" Rumil punched his brother in the arm with a vicious glare.

"What?" Orophin demanded, his frustration mounting.

"But your letter..." Indelin's head was swimming and she looked down at the envelope in her hand once more, blinking back tears.

"What letter?" Orophin snapped. "Why would I write a letter to you?"

"Orophin!" Rumil's voice rose. Indelin drew in a shaky breath as the letter tumbled from her trembling fingers. She turned to flee, to run, anywhere but here.

"Wait!" Rumil cried, he hadn't the faintest notion why the child was hurt but it was obviously a misunderstanding of some kind and he was too tender hearted to see anyone suffer. He reached out, grabbing hold of her arm to stop her. She shook him off with a sob and and his hand caught her sleeve, tearing it as she ran from the hall.

"What in Arda is the matter with you!" Rumil demanded, shoving his brother angrily and kneeling to retrieve her letter. "She is only a child! The least you cold have done was let her down easy!"

"She follows me everywhere!" Orophin defended his own temper flaring. "She will not go away!"

"Aye!" Rumil counter "Like you do with Meril!"

"Please!" Orophin snapped, rolling his eyes. "This is entirely different!"


Elrond looked up from his desk as the watch bell sounded. The clang was harsh, rapid, so different from it's normal rolling knell and it could only mean one thing.

One of their own had returned wounded.

He bolted from his desk, racing out the door and only barely noticing Erestor joining him. Every time he heard the bell ring out it's signal it reminded him of the night his son's had returned bearing their mother.

Valar, had he lost another he loved?

"Estel!" Glorfindel shouted, already at the gates and covered in dirt from training. Elrond felt a lurch in his chest. His son, dear Valar, not his son.

"Estel what happened?" Glorfindel shouted. The horse pounded into the courtyard. Elrond froze, feeling Erestor's hand digging into his arm.

"Undomiel!" The advisor shouted as the young human staggered from his horse, bearing Arwen in his arms as Legolas rode in behind them.

"Orcs!" the young human shouted as Elrond raced to them, "they got her shoulder, it does not look bad, Ada!"

Arwen was clinging to him, gasping and in shock as Elrond tried to take her in his arms. He looked at them a moment as she stared up into Estel's face, her eyes tear stained.

"You are safe now, Arwen." Aragorn whispered gently, his smile loving and warm. "You are safe."

Elrond felt his jaw clench and he gathered Arwen in his arms as Erestor used his own cloak to staunch the bleeding and Glorfindel raced ahead to warn the surgery. As he hurried up the steps he knew what he had seen.

He knew, and he did not like it.


Indelin ran as hard, as fast as she could. Tears blinding her as she raced through the courtyard, heedless of the noise and the crowd. Unseeing and unseen. Her feet pounded on the path, carrying her to the one place she knew she would find comfort.

"Elladan!" She called out as she saw him on the path ahead with his twin. She launched herself into his arms with a desperate sob, burying her face in his tunic.

"Indelin?" Elladan asked in bewilderment, drawing his arms around her protectively. His twin stared at them in mild amusement and Elladan looked away, turning his attention back to Indelin. His eyes grew wide as he noticed her gown was torn and there were marks on her arm that looked distinctly like fingers.

"Indelin," he said, pulling her away so that he could look into her eyes, panic constricting his chest. "Why are you crying... who did this?" She drew in a shaky breath, fighting back sobs.

"Orophin..." she began but he did not wait to hear another word.

"Stay with her." He snapped, pushing Indelin into his twin's arms.

"Brother?" Elrohir asked in confusion.

"Stay with her." he snarled, his eyes burning with a savage light. He took off at a run, never hearing Indelin call after him.


Haldir stood in the middle of the courtyard, his fists clenched. He had come running with the rest of the household and he had seen it. Valar, he had seen the way she looked at him. Even now, even when she thought...

He could not bear it, could not bear to think of it, not even a moment. The courtyard had cleared almost instantly. Elrond bearing his beloved daughter into the house in a panic. He knew from the look on the human's face that it was unfounded panic, though he could not blame the elf lord after all he had suffered. He watched in silence as Legolas argued forcefully with Aragorn, obviously insisting that the young human allow his own wounds to be tended as well. Aragorn seemed not to care and with a heavy sigh the March Warden turned, walking away.

"Haldir!" he turned back at the sound of his name to see Aragorn following him and a rather irate prince of Mirkwood storming into the house. "Haldir, wait!"

"What do you want?" the elf demanded gruffly, his patience hanging by a thread.

"I need your help." Aragorn said desperately, unmindful of the other's sharp tone.

"My help?" Haldir could feel his ire rising.

"Last night," Aragorn looked distinctly uncomfortable but was determined to not allow it to slow him down. "I need you to go with me and tell Arwen it was all a prank of my brother's."

"Your brothers?" Haldir's eyes narrowed.

"Yes!" Aragorn replied, "They drugged me and tied me up and Arwen thinks... well, it is not important what she thinks. The point is she believes I have been unfaithful to her and you must help me!"

Unfaithful?

The word rang in Haldir's ears like a taunt. Unfaithful. Had he bound himself to her or did he think he could bed one of the Eldar like a common serving wench? Anger, seething rage, boiled within him. How dare he, vulgar, weak, foundling of base blood mortals.

With the speed of a serpent he struck. His hand tightening around Aragorn's neck like a vice as he slammed the human into the wall surrounding the courtyard. Aragorn's eyes grew wide in fear and he let out a hiss as the force of the impact drove the air from his lungs. Haldir's grip tightened and the young human clawed at his hand desperately fighting for air.

Haldir gave a smug smile. He would squeeze the life from the frail human body the same way Aragorn had squeezed the hope from his soul. He felt a rush of satisfaction as he watched the human's lips turn blue and he almost chuckled.

Dear Valar, what was he doing?

Aragorn collapsed against the wall, gasping for air as Haldir released him, taking a startled step back. The elf's chest was heaving as if he were as frightened and confused by his actions as the human had been. They stared in silence at each other, both unsure what to say. Before they could find their voices the world seemed to explode once more in chaos.

Eirien and Meril came walking from the garden at the same moment Rumil and Orophin emerged from the house, bickering loudly. at the sight of Meril, Orophin brushed his brother off and strode across the courtyard, a besotted smile on his face. He had barely made it half way when a cry went out and he turned, only to be tackled to the ground.

"You urug ar'goll! I will kill you!" Elladan snarled, landing a punch to the Lorien elf's nose.

"Rhach!" Orophin snapped, taking a swing at Elladan's head. "What is wrong with you?"

"How dare you touch her!" Elladan's voice rose as he pounded Orophin mercilessly.

"Elladan stop!" Indelin cried as she appeared on the path from the stables with Elrohir. She made to rush forward but the younger twin held her back.

"Nar, I would not lay a hand on Meril!" Orophin replied angrily.

"I am not talking about Meril!" Elladan said with a growl "I am talking about Indelin!"

"Indelin who?"

This earned him a rather violent punch to the neck and Orophin let out a yelp of pain as Elladan straddled his chest, pummeling him.

"Balrogion! You would not sully your own love so you took your pleasures with another!"

"Warg tug! I love Meril!" Orophin replied rolling on top of him and punching him in the jaw. "I would not be unfaithful! And you will not speak of her like that!"

Meril stared at them wide eyed, clutching Eirien's hand as the fight grew dirty. He was confessing his love for her even though it meant a beating. For the first time she truly considered that he might be serious and the thought terrified her.

"Elladan please!" Indelin begged, tears streaming down her face as she clawed at Elrohir's hand. The younger twin seemed not to notice. His eyes were fixed on Eirien.

Her gaze drifted from Elrohir to his twin, rolling in the dirt, and then back again. She shook ever so slightly as she looked into his eyes and a single tear slipped down her cheek. To his horror, he realized she understood their deception.

"Amlug um!"

"Fern danna!"

Aragorn watched in confusion as Elladan brought his knee down on Orophin's chest, grabbing the younger elf by the hair and smashing his head against the stone pavers of the courtyard. He looked to the doors of the last homely house to see Legolas race out at the commotion and skid to a halt beside Rumil who was standing on the top step, staring in horror. He looked to Meril and Eirien, and finally on Indelin, still struggling against Elrohir's grasp. He began to understand that far more had been going on in Imladris than he had been aware of and he frowned.

He turned his attention to Haldir. The blond elf was already watching him and they nodded to each other in understanding.

"That's enough!" Aragorn shouted, striding into the middle of the courtyard, his cloak billowing out behind him as he walked. He grasped Elladan by the collar and yanked him off Orophin as Haldir grabbed his brother's arm, hauling him to his feet.

"Lhug naeth" Elladan spat, kicking out at Orophin, causing the younger elf to try and wrench free of his brothers grasp in retaliation.

"Pada na Mordor!"

"I said that's enough!" Aragorn roared, his voice echoing around the courtyard. He gave his brother a rough shake and Elladan stilled.

"I am appalled!" Aragorn's eyes blazed and Elladan cowered slightly under the wrath of his youngest brother. "Are you Eldar or orcs that you would brawl like drunkards? What wisdom have the first born to teach mortals if you would sooner beat each other bloody than speak in council? I had thought all elves were brothers... have you no compassion for your own kin?"

Elladan drew in a ragged breath, hanging his head. Aragorn turned to find Haldir glaring at his brother and Orophin staring at a pebble near his foot as he wiped the blood from his nose.

"Haldir, Orophin, it is a stain upon the honor of my fathers house that a guest should be treated in this manner." He said evenly, "Please accept my apologies." Haldir looked as if he were about to say something but at a slight shake from Aragorn's head he quickly stopped and gave a visible nod of thanks before dragging Orophin up the steps. He herded Rumil ahead of him and Legolas followed, looking incredibly confused.

Indelin let out a desperate sob and Elrohir released her in surprise. She bolted for the house, disappearing in a flood of tears. Aragorn looked down at his brother. Elladan watched her go, looking more miserable than the young human had ever seen him.

"Never before." Aragorn whispered, his voice tight with emotion "Have I been ashamed to call the sons of Elrond my brothers." Elladan laid his head on his knees, crushed by the force of the words and Aragorn turned, striding past Meril and Eirien toward the gardens.

"Come away, mell." Meril said soothingly, slipping an arm around Eirien's waist and steering her toward the house. Eirien was shaking from head to toe as she and Elrohir stared at each other.

"Eirien, please!" he begged "let me explain."

"Come away." Meril said again as if she could not hear him. Guiding her friend as Eirien's legs threatened to give way on her. Elrohir swallowed hard, fighting back tears as he watched his love turn her back on him. He stood stock still, breathing hard until the door closed behind her.

His gaze fell on his twin. Elladan was still hunched in the middle of the courtyard, covered in blood, most of it Orophin's. Elrohir closed the distance between them, kneeling beside him.

"Whatever were you thinking?" he asked, laying a comforting hand on Elladan's shoulder.

"I don't know!" The older twin groaned. He looked up as he felt Elrohir's hand fall away and there was hurt in the younger twins eyes.

"Elladan, you have never lied to me before." he said softly. Elladan's breath caught in his throat. In all the centuries of their lives they had only ever called each other 'brother'. It was their bond and to hear his name now from his twin's lips made him feel alone in a way he could not describe.

"Nana" he choked, resting his head against his knees with a strangled sob "I was thinking of Nana."


rhach - curses
balrogion - Son of a Balrog
urug ar'goll - stupid orc
lhug naeth - biting snake
amlug um -evil dragon
fern danna - drop dead
warg tug - fat warg
nar - rat
pada na Mordor - go to hell
mell - dear


Author's Note - [Insert dramatic music] And the whole world falls apart in 60 seconds... Seriously, right about now half of you are going 'Rhach! (or some other choice phrase) What about Haldir!?!?' It doesn't take a rocket sceintist to figure out that poor Hal isn't about to get lucky in the few remaining chapters. WAIT! Don't throw that! There's a very good reason for this! A Tangled Web actually sets up the events of my next story which takes place in Lothlorien and revolves around our poor heartbroken March Warden. The new story, which doesn't have a title yet, will, of course, include more Galadriel and Celeborn groping as well as certain other characters from A Tangled Web. It will have a slightly darker sense of humor and should come out about two weeks after the Epilogue for A Tangled Web.

Thanks for all the great reviews... you all have been super! And before you verbally mangle me for the way Orophin mouthed off to Indelin, Please, try to remember that even elves can do stupid things once in a while too.