Welcome back to complete insanity! MWHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! hiccup Whoa, way to much sugar, I think. Look! Pretty bluebells, flying! Woot! Narp. Okay… better get on with the story.
Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings and all other Middle-Earth goodness belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien. Though I have Orophin bribed, am still working on Haldir. Obviously he does not appreciate Tim-tams. Oh, and I am not either Grimm brother, so I do not own Jorinda and Joringel.
Chapter 4 – Jorinda and Joringel
"Look, there is absolutely no danger! I have done it a billion times at home! It will be fine, just give me the rope!' Ashlieth gritted her teeth in frustration as Rúmil still stood there, unmoving. "Look, all I want to do is make a rope-swing over the water. It is perfectly safe, I swear!"
"I'm not sure, My Lady. These things are not to be trifled with-"
"What 'things'? I am making a swing! That's it, just a plain, simple, yet exhilarating, swing. Rúmil, if you don't give me the rope I swear I will… I will…" Ashlieth faltered, wondering what in Middle-Earth she could threaten Rúmil with.
It was two days after her encounter with Naurcom, and Ashlieth had found the perfect tree limb to tie a rope onto, but Rúmil, having never heard of one before, was unsure.
"You will what?" Rúmil smirked.
Suddenly Ashlieth had an idea. She started to play with her hair, twirling it around her finger coyly. "I don't know." She whispered in a barely audible voice. "I suppose I'll just walk up to you," she said, walking up to Rúmil until their faces were almost touching, running her fingers down his chest.
Rúmil gulped and stood there, stock still as she leant closer. "And then I'll just…" she whispered, their faces almost touching, "Take it!" She yelled, wrenching the rope from his grasp and scurrying away, her laughter echoing around the valley.
She climbed nimbly up the tree and walked out on a branch that stretched over the water. Sitting down on it, she attached one end of the rope to the branch, and halfway down the rope she tied a loop, an easy to reach handhold. Dropping the rest of the rope down, Ashlieth shimmied down it and grinned at the still stunned Rúmil.
"What's wrong? Didn't get your kiss? Oh well, I've always been a sucker for cute Elves." She sighed, and walking up to Rúmil, she smacked a quick kiss on his mouth. Pulling back, she turned away, and swung out over the water on her rope swing, screaming in joy as she let go and hit the water.
Rúmil watched her walk off, unable to move, yet his mind was racing. Did she just…? No, Rúmil reasoned with himself. No, she can't have kissed him, it was him they were talking about. But… he reached up and touched where she had kissed him, and a goofy grin came over his face. She really had. Whooping with delight, Rúmil grabbed the rope swing and ran out over the water with it, letting go and landing with a big splash next to Ashlieth, coming back up and dunking her under with a laugh.
"Arg! You'll pay for that, Rúmil!" She spluttered, and he leapt out of the water and ran, laughing as a very enraged Ashlieth came running after him. He ran up the path towards the castle, running slower so Ashlieth was able to catch up. She swiped at him, but he dodged her easily, and not looking where he was going, Rúmil tripped over a sleeping figure, his eyes widening as Ashlieth ran into him, and they fell down onto the slumbering Gimli.
"Get off! Get off you fat lumps!" Gimli roared as he struggled beneath the two elves.
Ashlieth immediately leapt off, but Rúmil took his time, purposely squishing the Dwarf. "I'm sorry Ashlieth, did you hear something?" Rúmil teased. "I thought I heard a squeak, but the voice was so soft it must have been a mere mouse that I heard."
"Get off me, you great oaf!" Gimli bellowed. "I'll show you a mouse, take up your sword and fight me you blaggard!" He fumed, swinging his axe menacingly.
Rúmil laughed and nimbly dodged the weapon, teasing his friend as he did so. Ashlieth laughed at the enraged Dwarf, he reminded her of a bull somewhat. Soon, though, both herself and Rúmil could see that the teasing had gone to far, and backing away Rúmil held up his hands.
"Truce, friend Dwarf. Truce." He asked laughing, and Gimli lowered his axe, his face still incensed.
"You will pay for that yet, Elf. What a way to welcome a guest! If your ladyfriend were not here you would pay now, but instead I will allow you to live only if you introduce us." Gimli bargained.
Ashlieth raised her eyebrows in shock. "Do you not know me, Gimli son of Glóin?" She queried. Gimli frowned, peering at her face intently.
"Your face does seem familiar, Milady. Yet I know not of who it reminds me."
Rúmil burst out laughing. "Then let me introduce you, friend Dwarf. Allow me to present you Lady Ashlieth of Gondolin, daughter of Anárion and Niamh, and ex-fiancée of Naurcom." He added, chuckling.
Ashlieth smiled as she held out her hand. "Yet you may call me Ash." She added, her face animated.
Gimli's eyes widened and his homely face split into a grin. "Ash! Here I've been thinking you were killed, I haven't heard from you. So, you were present when the rascal gave his little speech. Ex-fiancée, you say. Well, that would account for you kissing our poor Rúmil back there then, doesn't it?" He added, roaring with laughter as Rúmil started to blush. "But don't worry, Friend Rúmil. All I saw was you standing stock still, and Ashlieth doing all the work. In my village, it is traditionally the men who kiss the women, not the other way round Rúmil. If you don't mind me saying so, Ash," He winked. "I think you may need to give him a bit more practice, he didn't seem to do much" He laughed.
Rúmil arched an eyebrow. "Oh, and what would Gimli know of such matters? I believe it is said that Dwarf-women run at the sound of your roar and the smell of your breath." He replied, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief.
Ashlieth burst out in a peel of laughter as Gimli started to blush. "Alright, truce." He muttered, then started to laugh along with the elves. "The sound of my roar, eh? I'll have you know, Elf, that it is the females who roar in my village, and the men who scatter when they do so!" He chortled.
Suddenly a loud bell chimed over the valley, signaling that the main meal was ready. Gimli's stomach growled, and he rubbed it, his face pained. "You two have keep me chattering long enough, let's go eat!" he declared.
Ashlieth smiled. "I agree, and I challenge you both to a race!" She dared.
Gimli shook his head. "No I think not, I am weak from hunger and bruised from were you two landed on me. Also, I do not wish to thrash you both and damage your egos." He declared.
"But I accept your challenge, Ashlieth." Rúmil said. They both placed themselves into running positions, poised to take flight. "Alright, the first one to the door wins, on the count of three." Rúmil set the terms.
Ashlieth nodded, and counted down. "One…two…" and with that she sprinted off, getting a good head start as Rúmil stood there, stunned.
Then he sprinted after her, roaring at her back. "No fair, you cheated! CHEATER!" Ashlieth and Rúmil both laughed as he ran after her, and they disappeared around the path.
"I have never seen Rúmil this joyful before, Gimli son of Glóin." Elrond walked out of the forest and stood beside Gimli.
"Neither have I, my lord." Gimli agreed.
Elrond smiled. "She has never been this happy before either. It is right for them to be together." He declared softly.
"They are meant to be together, are they not my lord?" Gimli asked. Elrond nodded.
"Yes Gimli, it is meant to be. Their fate is with each other, for it is written in the stars."
:::
"Subtle." Ashlieth muttered furiously as she left the dinner table and headed back to her room. "Really subtle. If he didn't suspect something then, he does now! Oh, I've got a good idea Ashlieth, why don't we flirt outrageously with Rumil and then kiss him. Just incase he was really stupid and didn't understand before. I mean, we wouldn't want him to be clueless here, oh no, that would be way too smart. Foolish, foolish girl!"
She continued to have this aggravated chatter all the way to her room after dinner, not noticing that she walked right past Elladan and Elrohir.
"What do you think that's all about?" Elladan asked, his eyes wide. Elrohir shrugged.
"She's lost it at last, poor soul. Had to happen eventually."
"True." Elladan nodded, and the twins walked away unconcerned.
:::
Rúmil watched Ashlieth as she danced with Pippin. She was shocked to find that the Hobbits had never danced the waltz, a traditional Gondorian dance, and immediately took it upon herself to teach them and Rúmil, who had also never waltzed.
It was strange, over the past few months, the friendship between Rúmil and had Ashlieth deepened, until Rúmil and Ashlieth were never seen without each other. He smiled in fondness at her, and watched her try to show Pippin how to turn correctly. It was autumn, and the leaves were falling all around them, the colours complimenting the scene.
"One two three, one two three, there you go, you have it Pippin! Wow, you are fantastic at this, you learn much quicker than myself."
"Well, we have a dance similar to it at home, Milady. And we Tooks are naturally skilled when it comes to footwork." Pippin declared proudly.
"So that why you are able to run away so fast, Pippin Took." Merry accused.
"Nay, not for that, but I am so used to running away from you, Merry, when you are trying to steal my food, that you get quite skilled at it!"
"Hey, I resent that Pippin! Frodo is the greedy one!" Merry declared.
"I am not!"
"Oh, then why was there no breakfast left when I came back from washing, Master Frodo?"
"Because you ate it before you left Sam, you great greedy guts!"
"Alright, alright!" Ashlieth laughed. "You are all greedy pigs, alright? I should know for I served you at dinner last night and all of you had four helping!"
"Oh, that's a bit rough, Milady. It is a known fact that Took's eat much more than any mere Brandybuck!"
Rúmil watched as Ashlieth burst out laughing. Her eyes were so beautiful, a deep green, gentle and kind, yet mischievous and dangerous when they wished to be. Her face was so soft, and her lips… Rúmil blinked in shock.
"Snap out of it!" He told himself. "She is much to charming for the likes of yourself, so don't even go there! Besides, friendship is good, isn't it? It's what you've wanted for so long, a good friend? Remember our motto, no children! I know Middle-Earth can't cope with more than one of us, so let's not even think about her in that way."
Still, he loved her hair, that deep auburn colour, which flew around her expressive face. She was lovely, almost perfect, in every detail, except perhaps her temper and impulsiveness, Rúmil thought wryly. He smiled as he remembered the many times she had been angry with him, sparks flying from her green eyes. He found her just as intriguing then, even more so as he had never meet an Elf who was riled so easily before. It must be her human side, he decided. He remembered when she kissed him…
"I give up! Honestly, I really do! Rúmil, please, save me from these pint-sized terrors!"
Rúmil started out of his thoughts sheepishly, as if she was able to read them. "Pardon?" He asked.
"Come dance with me!" Ashlieth offered, her hands held out invitingly, a wide grin on her face. Standing up, he slowly walked over and took them and pulled her close, the two of them swaying from side to side.
Ashlieth laid her head on Rúmil' chest, inwardly cursing herself for doing so.
'Ashlieth, just friends, remember!'
'But he's so comforting, so strong.'
'Odd that, him being a Marchwarden.'
'But…'
She had never felt so safe in her life as she did now, and she just wished she could stay there forever.
'Physically impossible.'
'Well, I can at least try…'
So she did.
Pippin and Merry nudged each other as they watched the Elves dance, both Elves holding each other close, Ashlieth's head on Rúmil' chest. Sam sniffed, thinking of his Rosie.
Frodo just watched, amazed at it all. He had never though Rúmil could fall in love, but here he was, dancing in the sunlight with Ash. Slowly he turned and beckoned the others away, and they left the couple silently.
Some time later Ashlieth felt Rúmil' hand let go of her and pull something out of her hair and she lifted her head curiously. "Leaf." He explained, holding the offending object in his hand. She smiled, and slowly pulled away from him, reluctantly.
Rúmil' whole body cried out as she pulled away. She had been so comfortable, fitting perfectly in with his body. Unwillingly he let her go, and they turned and walked back to the castle. As they reached the doors, Ashlieth gave Rúmil a hug. "Thank you, Rúmil."
"For what?" He asked her.
"For being my friend."
High above them, watching from his balcony, Lord Elrond smiled.
:::
Ashlieth flopped onto her bed and pulled her book out from her bedside table. It was an old, worn book of fairy tales, with beautiful illustrations to accompany each story. They were tales of handsome kings, evil queens, dashing Princes and beautiful maidens. Each story ended just as it should, with a 'happily ever after', the lovers together and the wicked dead. Ashlieth sighed, wishing her own story was a fairy tale. "For it is about time my Prince came dashing in, he is long overdue!" She declared, and straightaway a knock sounded on her door. "Nice timing." She mused, then called out. "Come in if you are a dashing Prince who has come to whisk me away… or if it is Rúmil!" She added on as an afterthought.
Rúmil opened the door and walked in, a pout on his face. "I though I was your dashing Prince!" he grumbled. "You kissed me and everything. I even learnt to dance for you."
Ashlieth laughed at her friend's antics. "You are better than that, you are my bestest friend in the whole of Middle-Earth! The one who is always there, even when the ugly Naurcom-monster rears its head!" She laughed, inviting Rúmil to sit on her bed.
He sat down next to her and picked up her book. "Grimm's Fairy Tales. What is this?" He asked her curiously. Ashlieth dropped her jaw.
"Rúmil, surely you have head of Grimm's Fairy Tales?" she asked him.
Rúmil shook his head. "Never heard of them. What is a Fairy Tale?" He asked.
Ashlieth grinned and pushed him back so he was lying onto the bed. Sitting up, she opened the book to her favorite story. "Listen." She commanded him, then read to him the tale of Jorinda and Joringel
"There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and dense forest, and in it an old woman who was a witch dwelt all alone. In the day-time she changed herself into a car or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being. She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, and then she killed and boiled and roasted them. If anyone came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free. But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, and shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle. She had about seven thousand cages of rare birds in the castle.
Now, there was once a maiden who was called Jorinda, who was fairer than all other girls. She and a handsome youth named Joringel had promised to marry each other. They were still in the days of betrothal, and their greatest happiness was being together. One day in order that they might be able to talk together in peace they went for a walk in the forest.
'Take care,' said Joringel, 'that you do not go too near the castle.' It was a beautiful evening. The sun shone brightly between the trunks of the trees into the dark green of the forest, and the turtle-doves sang mournfully upon the beech trees, yet Jorinda wept now and then. She sat down in the sunshine and was sorrowful. Joringel was sorrowful too. They were as sad as if they were about to die. Then they looked around them, and were quite at a loss, for they did not know by which way they should go home.
The sun was still half above the mountain and half under. Joringel looked through the bushes, and saw the old walls of the castle close at hand. He was horror-stricken and filled with deadly fear. Jorinda was singing;
My little bird, with the necklace red,
Sings sorrow, sorrow, sorrow,
He sings that the dove must soon be dead,
Sings sorrow, sor - jug, jug, jug.
Joringel looked for Jorinda. She was changed into a nightingale, and sang, 'jug, jug, jug'. A screech-owl with glowing eyes flew three times round about her, and three times cried, 'to-whoo, to-whoo, to-whoo'. Joringel could not move. He stood there like a stone, and could neither weep nor speak, nor move hand or foot.
The sun had now set. The owl flew into the thicket, and directly afterwards there came out of it a crooked old woman, yellow and lean, with large red eyes and a hooked nose, the point of which reached to her chin. She muttered to herself, caught the nightingale, and took it away in her hand. Joringel could neither speak nor move from the spot. The nightingale was gone.
At last the woman came back, and said in a hollow voice, 'greet you, Zachiel. If the moon shines on the cage, Zachiel, let him loose at once'. Then Joringel was freed. He fell on his knees before the woman and begged that she would give him back his Jorinda, but she said that he should never have her again, and went away. He called, he wept, he lamented, but all in vain, hooh, what is to become of me? Joringel went away, and at last came to a strange village, where he kept sheep for a long time. He often walked round and round the castle, but not too near to it.
At last he dreamt one night that he found a blood-red flower, in the middle of which was a beautiful large pearl. That he picked the flower and went with it to the castle, and that everything he touched with the flower was freed from enchantment. He also dreamt that by means of it he recovered his Jorinda.
In the morning, when he awoke, he began to seek over hill and dale for such a flower. He sought until the ninth day, and then, early in the morning, he found the blood-red flower. In the middle of it there was a large dew-drop, as big as the finest pearl. Day and night he journeyed with this flower to the castle. When he was within a hundred paces of it he was not held fast, but walked on to the door. Joringel was full of joy. He touched the door with the flower, and it sprang open. He walked in through the courtyard, and listened for the sound of the birds. At last he heard it. He went on and found the room from whence it came, and there the witch was feeding the birds in the seven thousand cages. When she saw Joringel she was angry, very angry, and scolded and spat poison and gall at him, but she could not come within two paces of him. He did not take any notice of her, but went and looked at the cages with the birds. But there were many hundred nightingales, how was he to find his Jorinda again?
Just then he saw the old woman quietly take away a cage with a bird in it, and go towards the door. Swiftly he sprang towards her, touched the cage with the flower, and also the old woman. She could now no longer bewitch anyone. And Jorinda was standing there, clasping him round the neck, and she was as beautiful as ever. Then all the other birds were turned into maidens again, and he went home with his Jorinda, and they lived happily ever after."
Ashlieth's voice trailed off as she finished reading the tale, and the room was filled with silence.
"That is a fairy story, is it?" Rúmil asked. Ashlieth nodded.
"Yes, it is. And they always end 'happily ever after'. Unlike real life." She added, her voice soft.
Rúmil remained thoughtful. "Why do you not believe it will end happily ever after? Have you no faith in life?" He asked her curiously.
Ashlieth snorted. "Yes, I have great faith in life, in something which kicks you whilst you are down and then laughs in your face. I have great faith in that." She broke off, and Rúmil stared at her, shocked at the bitterness in her voice.
"Why do you have such little faith?" Rúmil asked softly, taking one of her small hands in his large one. Ashlieth sniffed slightly, turning her head to look out the window.
"I have never met one person who has had a 'happily ever after'. My father… my father loves not my mother, though she is devoted to him. He forces her to do nothing but help him find immortality, her has taken her bright spirit and crushed it, slowly. My brother… oh Valar!"
Ashlieth bowed her head and covered her eyes with her one free hand, trying to stifle the tears that flowed between her fingers. Rúmil pulled her close to him, allowing her to bury her head in his chest, smoothing her hair and whispering to her.
After a time, Ashlieth calmed down, and pulled away slightly. "I am sorry, it seems I do nothing but cry these days." She said, giving Rúmil a wobbly grin.
"Is that such a terrible thing? You have lost much."
"Have I? I have lost Meneldil, it is true, but there are other's who have lost far more than I."
They sat there in silence, Rúmil silently encouraging Ashlieth to go on. After a time, she did.
Taking a deep breath, she continued her tale. "My brother, Meneldil, was an beautiful elf. He was taller than me, though not quite your height, and much broader with fiery red hair and a wide smile. He was so strong, yet gentle. He protected me from father on many occasions. My brother was the only one who could stand up to him, to not fear his wrath." Ashlieth chuckled slightly, sniffing.
"Meneldil could light up a room with his kind smile, his compassionate eyes. All who knew him respected him, he was a natural leader. And he died. My brother was killed. By Yrch. He did not deserve such a death Rúmil. He was not meant to die. He was an elf." She whispered, clutching Rúmil hand in hers. Then, in a voice barely picked up by Rúmil's sensitive ear, Ashlieth whispered, "He promised he would come home."
A long silence followed, Rúmil wondering just how best to reply. Finally he spoke. "I knew your brother, but for a short time. He joined our band of Elves as we traveled to Helm's Deep. I talked with him for a time, and he spoke of those he loved." Rúmil paused to gather his thoughts.
"He did not seem, Ashlieth, like the type of brother who would want you to give up, because he is dead. Ashlieth, your destiny is not determined by Meneldil's. It is a tragic tale, to be sure, and gladly would I give my life to see this pain taken from you, but your fate is not the same as his. Sometimes, Arwenamin, Valar gives us the chance to take our happy ending, if only we could see it. Who knows," Rúmil laughed, "your happy ending may be staring you in the face, and all we have to do is find it." His voiced dropped off to a whisper, sending shivers down Ashlieth spine.
Ashlieth closed her eyes briefly as she felt Rúmil's lips right near her ear, his breath on her cheek. She could feel his strong arms wrapped around her, and prayed that he could not feel the heat of a blush radiating from her ears. Her breath caught in her throat, and Ashlieth wished he would just lean in, just kiss her, and then, for the briefest moment, Ashlieth was sure that Rúmil leant in to do that, and she tilted her head fractionally. But then he placed his cheek on hers, and she leant her head on his.
Ashlieth smiled softly. "Maybe it's true." She whispered. "Maybe I can have my happily ever after."
"Of course you can!" Rúmil exclaimed leaping off the bed and grabbing her hand. Excited, he pulled her out of the room and loudly down the flight of stairs, heading towards the exit.
"Rúmil, where are we going?" She laughed, trying not to trip on her skirt.
"To find your happy ending!" He exclaimed, and pulled her even faster along. Ashlieth smiled in a bemused way, curious to find out where they were going. It was dark outside, and they slowed to a walk as Rúmil lead Ashlieth through the trees.
"Here we are." He whispered as they stopped beside a tree, which was growing at the bottom of a cliff.
"Why are we here?" Ashlieth whispered back, and Rúmil smiled at her.
"Watch." He commanded, and walking over to the tree, still holding her hand, he used his other hand to feel the rough bark. Finding what he wanted, he placed his long fingers into a gap in the bark and pulled it away, revealing a small spiral staircase.
"Here." He whispered, smiling at her, and he walked up the stairs with Ashlieth following behind him.
"How did you find this?" Ashlieth asked, her hand in his as he lead her up the stairs. Rúmil chuckled.
"It was Elrond's twins who showed me many years ago. We put the stairs in it, but until tonight I had forgotten all about it." He told her, his voice full of far-away memories.
It was pitch black inside, only Rúmil' keen eyes kept them safe from the missing stairs. Ashlieth shuddered as a cold shiver ran up her spine, listening to Rúmil' light footsteps and his commands to leap over a certain step where the board had rotted away. Suddenly they came to the top of the tree, and they followed a plank from a branch over to the cliff.
Ashlieth stood, amazed at the view she had. It was the world outside of Rivendell, she could see for many leagues. "It's magical." She whispered, her voice filled with emotion. The stars were like small magical lights, twinkling so close it seemed that all Ashlieth had to do was reach out and touch them. The moon cast a soft glimmer on the river and gleamed through the trees. All of Rivendell seemed to have a gentle radiance on this night, and the sight made Ashlieth fill with peace, comfort, a security she had not felt before.
"It's your happily ever after, just yours." He whispered back, standing close behind her.
Ashlieth smiled, and gazed at the tranquil night all around her. "Then I want to share it with you."
Rúmil laughed. "The view, or the happily ever after?" He asked cheekily.
Ashlieth turned and placed her arms around his neck. "Both." She whispered, then leant in and kissed him. Rúmil' eyes widened, this was unexpected! He pulled away and took a step back, shock written on his face. Ashlieth blinked, hurt in her eyes.
"That wasn't what I meant… I wasn't asking you or anything… honestly!" Rúmil stammered.
Ashlieth felt her heart plummet into her feet. "Oh." She whispered, then turned around, her eyes burning with tears. Had she read him wrong? Was he really only there to keep his promise to her mother? Angrily she wiped her face, now was not the time to be crying, idiot! She cursed herself, then hurried off to climb back down the tree.
Rúmil mentally slapped himself. Rúmil, he scolded himself, you have wanted to kiss her now for how long? Was that not the purpose of tonight, to charm her? And when she kisses you, you say 'thanks, but no thanks'. Brilliant move, Oh mighty Warden!!
His heart was heavy as she turned away, but then he frowned in determination. He was not going to let her get away, not now. Running after the hastily departing Ashlieth, he caught up to her and spun her around. Cupping her face in his hands he pulled her forward and kissed her soundly on the lips. He smiled as he felt Ashlieth's arms encircle his neck, and he continued to kiss her for a long time, his arms falling around her waist.
When they finally broke apart, Rúmil grinned. "Sorry, I just felt it was time to take Gimli's advice and deliver a kiss, rather than be on the receiving end!" he chuckled, and she joined in, their foreheads touching as they laughed. Rúmil moved his head back, smiling at Ashlieth.
"Guess what?" He asked her.
Ashlieth raised her eyebrows. "What?" She asked in return.
Rúmil grinned. "You love me!"
Ashlieth eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Rúmil laughed loudly and kissed her on the nose, and she arched an eyebrow.
Still laughing, Rúmil plopped himself onto the ground and patted the grass next to him. With a slight sniff Ashlieth went to turn her back on him, but suddenly yawned and gave in. Curling up on the grass next to him, she mumbled goodnight and went to sleep.
Rúmil glanced fondly down at her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then lay himself back and thanked Eru for his good fortune.
:::
"It is strange," Rúmil mused. "I have lived in Middle-Earth for years, too many to count, quite content with my life and one day a Peredhil walks into my life and I wonder how I ever lived without her." He glanced down at the sleeping girl in his arms, a picture he saw often but could never tire off.
"Only one thing could make this better." He murmured quietly. "If she were awake to talk to me." For that was when he enjoyed life the most. Every night, Ashlieth and Rúmil would come to the top of this cliff and talk for hours and hours, about everything and nothing. About their families, games, their individual lives. Rúmil had discovered that Ashlieth had a huge 'inner child' as she put it, and he spent long periods of time laughing at her antics.
And so the night would go on, until Ashlieth was too tired to keep awake any longer, at which point she would curl up into Rúmil and fall asleep. When dawn broke over the hill, he would pick her up and carry her home, placing her in her bed to get a few more hours sleep.
"You know, it's a good thing you have that Elvish grace about you!" Ashlieth had once remarked. "Had it been the other way around, I would have tripped over and dropped you down the stairs long ago!"
"Note to self: Never let Ashlieth carry the baby." He had mused in return, ducking her swat and grinning until he realised what he had said, Ashlieth's ears blushing bright red. He had coughed a few times, changed the subject and it had never been mentioned since.
"However," Rúmil grinned slightly. "I think I may need to change this." It had been many months since they had first come up here, and it was soon time for Rúmil to go back to Lothlórien. He had not told her yet, he was trying to keep her spirits as high as possible. "Tomorrow." He promised Ashlieth. "I will tell you tomorrow."
:::
"Ashlieth," Rúmil began. It was the following evening and true to his word, Rúmil was going to tell Ashlieth. "Ashlieth, I have to tell you something."
Ashlieth's eyes widened in panic. "You're married?"
Rúmil's looked at her, confused. "No-"
"Engaged?"
"No."
"A hobbit?"
"No!" He looked slightly shocked at that one.
"Going to die?"
"No." He told her firmly.
"Pregnant?"
"What?"
Ashlieth shrugged sheepishly. "Well, that would be pretty terrible, don't you think?" She grinned slightly and Rúmil rolled his eyes.
"Yes, it would be bad, but let me finish!" Rúmil sighed. "Ashlieth, I have to go back to Lothlórien soon." He said, watching Ashlieth's face drop.
"Oh." She said, her shoulders slumped.
Rúmil waited for something else. "Just 'oh'?" He asked. Ashlieth looked up at him and gave a half-hearted smile.
"At least your not pregnant." She said, and Rúmil laughed, his ears blushing.
"No, that would cause problems, wouldn't it?" He winked and she gave a tiny laugh, but then she looked away, her eyes welling.
Rúmil looked desperate. "Ashlieth, that's not all I have to tell you." He said, taking her hands. Ashlieth sniffed at bit.
"Do I want to know this?" She asked warily.
"That depends. Ashlieth, I love you." He said seriously.
Ashlieth's eyes widened, and she stared at him for a while. Then she threw her arms around him and kissed him soundly, unable to prevent a grin spreading across her face.
After a few moments of bliss she pulled away, blushing. "I love you so much!" She told him happily, kissing him again on her nose. Then she leapt up and spun around a bit doing an awkward dance and yelling, "He loves meeeeeeeeee!" to the world. Then she ran back and sat in front of him, her eyes sparkling.
"You know, I should tell you I love you more often." Rúmil remarked, a crazy smile on his face.
"Yes you should." Ashlieth grinned and Rúmil leant over and kissed her again, savouring her taste for a long time.
"And now, my love," Ashlieth blushed as she said this. "You may go back to Lothlórien with my blessing."
"Why do you let me leave?"
"Because now I know that you are not going to forget about me and run away and fall in love with a real elf."
"It's a good idea…" Rúmil mused, then frowned. "But it has one fatal flaw. I love you, half-elf or no."
"Thank you." Ashlieth whispered, resting her head on his chest. "Thank you."
:::
Footnotes:
Yrch = oh, please tell me you know what this means! (Orcs)
Arwenamin = My Lady , (familiar)
Reviewer Replies:
Android Jennifer: Glad you like it. Surprisingly enough, I am particularly fond of Naurcom, thought I have no idea why. Anyway, he gets splatted later.
Crecy: Your wish is my command… glad you like the story!Crimson7319: I'll let you in on a secret… I wrote a lot of this first before I put it online… Thanks you for reading, it really helps!
Nayana: I'm glad you like my footnotes, and you're wish is my command!
And Last, but very not least: MERRY LAD! I'm glad you are still here, thanks for sticking it through! Let me know how this chap is, I don't really like it. Too… Sue-like. Ah well.
Sooo, R&R and PLEASE tell me what is wrong with this! I need criticism! Honestly, I can't improve without knowing what's wrong, so please let me know!
Oh, and go and review my other story 'Fragile' please, because you love me! :D
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there! :D