The Undecided of Earendil

By- Larien

Chapter 12

Elvnchic9- Thank you for the review! In all honesty, I write this chapter for you. So I hope you enjoy it, and keep the reviews coming.

A/N- This will be the last chapter should the lack of reviews continue. I write for the readers. If none read, then there is no point in writing. So if you want it to continue, please review. I know that there is more than one person capable of reviewing, so if 70 people bother to read it, then 70 people can drop a quick line. So PLEASE review, or this is the last chapter.

The day was young, and though it was bright and new, time seemed to slow down. For some reason, being tired had become inevitable in the dwellings of Rivendell, and all that were not still resting in their beds, were wearily trudging through the trees, who, themselves, rested their branches, hanging them low in the faces of the cross eyed elves. One girl in particular, was more tired then the others, and with more reason as well. Caniel had spent the better part of the night with her fellow companions; Aragorn, Arwen, and Legolas. Never before had she laughed so much and felt so full from drinking a simple cocoa drink. But the night had lasted long and by the time the sun started to shine, they had only just finished their twenty-fifth round of drinks. Saying their farewells, they had each retired for the remaining portion of the night, but to Caniels utter disbelieve, her sleepiness had only settled for a few hours before she was awake and moving again.

Perhaps it was her younger nature that kept her awake, for many of the younger inhabitants of Rivendell were awake in full, running about playing in the fields. Apparently even the teachers had slept through their lessons. Caniel dodged a game of chase, heading in a direction only her feet cared to go. Her dress was of unusual nature, rather dull in color and simple in appearance. Indeed it rather reflected the shared atmosphere of the elves. The dress was dull silver, almost gray, that hung rather low in the front, exposing more of the girl then she normally would have allowed. But today she did not care. Around the waist was tied a simple black sash that matched the black ribbon tying her hair into a bun. And around her neck, a turquoise flower embedded in tarnished bronze leaves dangled lazily. Tucking a piece of loose hair behind her ears, she let her fingertips caress the round edges of her ears. Again the thought of being undecided and the decision lying ahead racked her brain. Not that it did any good, for Caniel's mind, instead of thinking anything through, decided to continue sleeping, allowing for little thoughts that remained incomplete and of no help. Ascending some steps, her feet weighing heavily with each step and her nostrils struggling to inhale the heavy air, she started along a narrow strip of older dwellings. It was a bit more alive here; the inhabitants were busy inside the open windows and more children were about. Rounding a corner, Caniel's stride was disturbed only a moment as she adjusted one of the straps of her dress, and then continued forward, in the direction of loud voices.

As she followed the sounds, which she could make out to be that of males, her step quickened, eager for anything alive and interesting. Soon, though, she found herself filled with disappointment as she approached a group of four elven men who appeared around her age, laughing in front of a weathered house. Still curious as to what they found amusing though, she continued towards them. At a closer glance, she noticed stones in their hands, and as if to confirm her suspicion, one of the elves, with a hearty laugh, tossed the stone at the door. It hit it with a dull thud and was followed by three other stones that ricocheted off windows and door panes.

"Man gen carel?" Caniel asked, snatching one of the stones from an unsuspecting elf in mid throw. (What are you doing?)

"Hain avo huilannam, i neithannen aran vîn, im taur vîn." One of them replied coolly, watching her. (We don't welcome those, who have wronged our king, into our forest.)

"Brannonn?" She asked, mildly confused. (King?)

"We heard what that human scum said in the face of Elrond." Agreed one of the other elves. "Why he is allowed to live, I will never understand."

Caniel looked to the house. "That man is residing here?"

"Indeed." The elf that had lost his stone to her picked up another. "Though he does not deserve to dwell in such a spiritual place as Rivendell."

"Especially as punishment." The others agreed.

"Gen fuion. Sûl tôl o nîf gîn." Caniel retorted, again snatching the stone away in mid-throw. (I am disgusted with you. Much wind pours from your mouth!)

"It is true and you are wrong to come and disturb us." The brunette of the group stepped forward to face her, but she stood her ground.

"And who are you to disturb this man?"

"He has brought evil upon us."

"You have no proof!"

"He is a wicked man who will not confess." The elf retorted.

"Either way, he has not been proven guilty of any crime. Therefore it is you who have been caught in the crime and are the only guilty ones here!" Caniel threw her hands in the air.

"And this man will escape like hundreds of others who cross our boarder because of naïve compassion shown by the likes of half bloods like you!"

Caniel felt the red rush to her cheeks with this last statement and her fists balled at her side. Knowing he had gone too far, the elf averted his gaze to the ground, while the others stood silently, unknowing what to do.

After a moment of awkward silence, Caniel spoke in a low voice. "Bado, echado veleth orch." Each word was spoken slowly and through gritted teeth. "A avo delo hí." (Go make love to an orc.) (And don't come back.)

When the elves remained silent, taken aback by her harsh words, she took a step away. "Ego o chened nîn!" (Be gone from my sight.)

Then she turned and started up towards the door of the man's house. As she started the few steps, the brunette elf spoke. "Nin goheno-" (Forgive me-)

"Avo bedo!" She cut him off with a quick glare. "Ae in noer o lam gîn nin maltha, gen annathon naeg dheleb." And with that, she knocked quietly on the door, before entering and leaving the shamed elven men in silence. (Do not speak!) (If the flames of your tongue touch me, I will give you horrible pain.)

Inside the house it was clean, untouched, with the same humid, dead air that consumed the outside. Everything seemed placed perfectly, as would any elven house, though the one difference that immediately came to attention was stilled air due to the closed windows. Not one window was open, and all the shades were pulled allowing for faded light to etch the rooms, which appeared quiet and alone. But Caniel could faintly hear the rough breathing of a man in a side room. He did not seem upset, only content to remain in the room even though there had just been a knock on his door. Caniel stopped for a moment, wondering what it was she was to say. Truly she had only entered the house to escape the pitying stares of the elves. And now, as she stood frozen in the entryway, she realized that her purposes had led her to disturb a man with whom she had no company for.

"If you're hear to deliver more rules, let's hear it and be done with it." The gruff voice echoed through the halls, causing Caniel to leap in her spot. She took few more steps forward in hopes of spotting where he might be residing, but saw nothing.

"Well? What have you got to say, elf? Are you just going to stand there and taunt me with your pathetic games? We may not hear as well as you, but we can still hear a knock." His rambling trailed into a series of grunts and harrumphs about the elves, and Caniel, taking a deep breath, started down the hallway to the open door where she assumed she would find the man.

With his back to her, he wore the same tattered clothes he had before and he was seated at a desk, his head propped up with one hand and he seemed to be starring at a piece of parchment in front of him. Caniel wondered what he might be reading, but couldn't find the courage to move her feet once she reached the doorframe. His hair hung in clumps around his shoulders and on the arm that supported his head, Caniel made out the scratch marks she had noticed earlier, thick and bleeding slightly, apparently infected from mistreatment.

The man suddenly turned his head to look at the girl in the door. Caniel sucked in a sharp breath as he studied her for a moment, his eyes dark and emotionless, then a small smiled twitched his lips and with a "Hump!" he returned to whatever it was he was reading.

"They sent a woman to do their dirty work this time? Bloody cowards." He mumbled.

"Excuse me?" Caniel asked feebly stepping into the room, but only slightly. "Who is 'they?'"

He turned to look at her again. "The other elves of course. The same ones that come every hour to make sure I'm not causing mass havoc amidst the city."

Caniel didn't know what to say, so she remained awkwardly quiet. The man looked her over again; she seemed petite in size, at least, she was smaller then the rounder women of his city. And her features appeared flawless, untouched, as most elves did. But he also saw some familiar features; chiseled hands that were clearly accustomed to handling swords and other handy works. Determined eyes and pursed lips, a look he often saw in the politicians of his country, or the wealthy and powerful. And then there were the ears. Rounded ears of this girl clearly stated that she was indeed human…at least it should mean that.

"You're not an elf?" He asked gruffly.

She looked to the floor, uncomfortable at the fact that he was starring at her ears. "No. Not really. I'm undecided."

"Huh?"

"I'm half elf, half human." She replied.

"Oh." He rubbed his head wearily, closing his eyes. "And what business does a half blood have in an elvish community? Or better, in the house of one of their hostages?"

"You're not a hostage." The words slipped before she could think them over.

"Am I?" He opened his eyes with a bemused smile. "And this is your lords palace I suppose?"

"You're just here until-"

"I know, I know." He sighed, rolling his eyes. "All you elf scum keep reminding me every time you come."

"But I'm not an elf."

He cocked an eyebrow at this defensive statement and then smiled, revealing a gold tooth. "What's your name?"

"Caniel." She said. And finishing her last thought she added, "The other elves only remind you of your sentence for they want to set you free."

The man let out a series of critical laughs and turned back to his paper, picking it up in his hands. "Is that so?"

Folding the paper, he placed it in his pocket and stood to face her, towering well above her height and stepping forward to shake her hand, his boots clumping loudly on the wooden floor. "I'm Balrant."

He shook her hand gruffly and she tried remembering back to her lessons, trying to place a meaning with the name. "If I'm not mistaken, it means-"

"Powerful course." He finished, stepping back. "It's not that great of a name, but I guess a name means little really."

Caniel smiled quietly to herself. "A name can do much actually. A simple name in history holds much nobility, even should the person be deceased."

"A name can also bring joy to a persons heart." Balrant added, stepping back with a thud.

"It can also rack fear in a heart." Caniel said quietly, looking at the desk.

"So it can." Balrant studied her face carefully, wondering to the meaning behind these words. But she said nothing more so he decided to further the conversation. "So, Caniel, what brings you here? What message did you bring me?"

"None actually." Caniel confessed, looking up to him. "I just happened to be strolling when…Just thought I'd visit I guess."

"You stopped those elves from throwing stones at my door. Why?" He asked, moving back to his chair.

"You saw?" She asked, stunned.

He nodded and indicated a different chair to which she sat. "I just didn't see any reason for it. Elves are supposed to be polite and show compassion. All of which they were not. It was out of line."

"And yet the half blood is the one to show compassion." He mused.

Caniel shrugged. "It's only decent. For anyone." The last words were said with a blatant edge to them.

Balrant leaned back in his chair. "If you're referring to the way I spoke in front of what's his name,"

"Elrond."

"Sure. Anyway, that is not how I normally am. It was just frustrating and I was angered by the rough and unfair treatment I was being dealt. I didn't do anything you know. I've committed no crime." He added, looking at her through stern eyes.

Caniel sensed the sternness behind his words, and she felt as though what he said was true. But how was she to trust a man she had only just met. "The events which took place, how you were found…it was all pretty suspicious." She said after a minute.

"Isn't it possible for a person to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?" He asked nonchalantly.

"I suppose."

"I tell you, Caniel. I was doing exactly as I said."

Caniel leaned forward and said quietly, "For my own curiosity, would you mind retelling what happened?"

He hung his head slightly. "I've retold this many times."

"Please?"

He sighed and looked to the ceiling, as if to recall a speech long since rehearsed. "I had started traveling from my home town in the north. I was to finish a trade deal with a man in Bree. I was to meet him at the Inn, the Prancing Pony, in Bree. But along my way, I was caught in bad weather, which frightened my horse. Bucking me off and running away, I was left to wander in the direction I could only hope was Bree. But having the map stowed on my horse along with my other belongings, I eventually got lost and wandered to these boarders. Of course I had not had food in a while so I simply went hunting and while I was doing so, I heard voices calling me to stop where I was."

"Not knowing where I was, I feared the worse and fled from the voices. Then the elves made themselves visible and told me to go with them, and they would not say where nor why. Fearing the sentence that lied ahead, I tried fleeing again."

"Sentence?" Caniel asked.

"I figured I had done something wrong to be picked up by these elves. Obviously I had trespassed on elvish land, but I wondered if hunting there was punishable as well. So, fearing the worse punishment and still needing to get to Bree and back to my family, I fled."

Caniel nodded. It seemed reasonable, though why one would fear the elves so much was stunning to say the least.

"Have you told this to the other elves?"

He nodded grimly. "And still it is not adequate. They don't understand why it was I fled the second time. They say they do not understand why I feared punishment by the elves." He harrumphed quietly. "As if elves are not feared. What rubbish."

"Actually that's what struck me as funny as well." Caniel smiled sheepishly. "Why do you fear the elves so much? Never before had it struck me that outsiders thought elves had such harsh punishments for stuff so feeble as trespassing!"

"You'd be surprised then." He straightened up a bit. "My people are most fearful of elves. Many times we have tried for alliances with the elves, but have been turned down for some reason or other. And stories from our elders have been passed down of the doings of the elves. I guess it's just a fact that elves are strict, feared creatures."

Caniel's eyes had widened upon hearing this and she leaned back in her chair. "This is most disturbing. So many others view the elves as noble and beautiful and fair. To hear of a race so misinformed about the elves is-"

"Misinformed?" Balrant asked. "We see what we see Caniel. Others see what they see. What may be fair in their eyes is not so fair in our eyes. What you view as guilty, we view as innocent. Everything has two sides. Everyone views things differently. I thought the elves would have figured that out by now."

Caniel nodded passively, chewing intently on her fingernail, thinking hard about it. Somewhere inside her, she figured she had known that all along. It had just never really clicked, not until she actually met the thought with living proof.

"Have they determined when you will be freed?" She asked eventually.

Balrant shook his head dismissively. "When they choose to believe the story I suppose."

Caniel stopped chewing her finger a moment and debated her next question. Deciding that it did no harm in asking, she said quietly, "What was that piece of parchment you were reading earlier?"

He smiled quietly, almost dreamily, as he looked at her. "It was a letter I wrote to my wife and children. I thought, should I ever get out of here, I would send it to her right away. Perhaps from Bree. In any case, it's just to let her know I'm alive and well."

"You could deliver it from here." Caniel offered.

"Nah." He waved his hand in the air. "Knowing these elves, they'd probably have to read through it to clarify my story. No, it will just have to wait."

He stroked his beard momentarily, before leaning forward looking intently at Caniel. "You don't happen to know about a sport called Orbelo, do you?"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I guess not." He leaned back disappointingly.

"Orbelo? What's that?"

"It's a sport from where I come from. The most famous sport really. Almost all the northern cities have a team for it. I played it when I was younger. But I've grown too old and slow for that kind of sporting. But I still like to keep up with the games. Fascinating game, Orbelo."

"Tell me." Caniel probed, thinking back to her vision of the fast game in the arena. Perhaps this would explain something. "I love to hear of new things."

"Really?" He asked somewhat surprised. "All right then. We have the time I suppose. Actually, I'm surprised you've never heard of it. I suppose the elves don't take much interest in it…Anyway, it's a very fast paced game played on and island. Actually there are a total of five islands. All together they're called the arena. The three in the middle, the middle of those three being the longest, are called the crux. The two slimmer islands on either side of the middle of the three are called the terra firma."

"So there are three crux, the middle being the largest."

"Right. And in that center crux, is a marked circle called the core."

"And on either side of the center crux is a slim terra firma."

He smiled. "You got it! Now there are a total of six players on each team. One man from each team goes to the right terra firma and another man from each team goes to the left terra firma. So you have one player from each team on each terra firma, and they're called the trackers. Now, on the terra firma are groups of trees grown only for this game. They're very large, very branchy trees and they're grown in groups of two. Each terra firma therefore has ten groups of trees, a total of twenty trees. And from each group of trees is hung a sort of turquoise ball. Or orb as we call it. Hence the name."

"Now the trackers are equipped with two daggers, and their objective is to get down the orbs from the trees and toss them into the main playing field, or the crux. The only way to get the orb down is to chop its vine, hence the daggers. But the two trackers must start with the first group of trees and move to each group in order. Once they've gotten an orb, they move it with their hands, feet, whatever. The opposing tracker can get it by means of stealing it with hands or daggers. Eventually though, their objective is to toss the orb to the master in the core of the crux. If the tracker can toss the orb to the master of their team successfully, that team is awarded one point."

"Now the master is one of three other players who are called centers. The two other centers that aren't the master are called raiders. The centers main domain is the three cruxes. The raiders are equipped with two rackets each, and they move the orb by means of hitting the orb back and forth to each other, it can't touch the ground, and eventually hitting it into the goal in the end crux. The guard who is equipped with a long staff, that at each end is a small net, guards the goal. Then there is the goal line and all the rules and whatnot. But that's complicated and we don't need to get into that."

"So what does the master do, if the raiders do the playing and scoring?" Caniel asked, remember back to the vision.

"Ah the master. The mast must stay within the core as the game is being played, and they're equipped with a staff; one end as a spear, one end as a small net. They're the only ones who can catch the orbs from the trackers. Once they catch the orb they toss it to the raiders on their team. The thing is, the raiders may play only one orb at a time, and the masters may only handle two. When I say handle, I mean the masters can only use their nets to control the orbs." He clarified for Caniel who looked confused. "Once the raiders score their orb, a new one may be tossed in. Meanwhile, the masters can fight each other with their staffs for the orbs, but staying within the core. Once all the twenty orbs have been scored, the masters have free range of the entire arena. Their new objective is to battle each other, forcing the other either into surrender or into the water. If one of the masters is killed first or severely injured beyond playing, the game is called and standing master earns another twenty points for the team."

Caniel cringed. "Sounds brutal."

Balrant shrugged. "That rarely happens. Normally one is forced into the water."

"It sounds fascinating though." Caniel mused. "I can see why one would be interested in it."

"Perhaps one day you'll be fortunate enough to see a game." He smiled.

Caniel thought if her vision was at all accurate, she would be seeing one, if not playing one. The thought made her shudder, as she could not picture herself in the position of such a game. Even though the thrill did peak her curiosity, the actual game itself seemed like a handful and only for the very skilled.

"Sounds like things are finally waking up out there." Balrant noticed, nodding towards the window, which curtains were parted slightly.

Caniel strained her ears and could faintly hear the sound of children laughing. And there was also different laughter intermingled with it. A familiar, older laughter.

"Do you mind?" She asked Balrant as she headed to the window.
"Go ahead." He shrugged.

Parting the curtains more, she gazed out into the street where a group of about ten elven children were running about, mostly in circles around a tree in the middle of the road, and over a bench. And on the bench sat an amused elf, wearing a dark green outfit and tunic with a long yellow robe draped around him. His hair was pulled back in the traditional braid and his smile widened as a child tagged his knee with a loud shriek. With a laugh, he jumped up, removing his robe, and ran after the child. The giggles and shrieks of the children filled the air as Legolas trod after them, pretending to tire after a few minutes of "running." He finally grabbed a small boy, picking him up with a laugh and swinging him around. The boy's smile stretched from one ear to another and when he was set down, he started after a young girl who was making faces from behind the bench.

Legolas watched the game with a quiet smile, occasionally cheering on a child. No sooner had he attempted to sit that another child, a red haired girl, started after him. Taking a deep breath, he moved swiftly around the bench, but two boys there jumped him, clinging to his back and dragging him to the ground without much of a fight. Caniel laughed quietly to herself as she watched the boys take him to the ground, and him eventually just standing, picking them up by the waist. They struggled hard, laughing and kicking, trying to get down from the elf's grasp. He only laughed harder as he brought them to the bench and set them down.

Still smiling to herself, thoroughly enjoying the scene, Caniel failed to notice the presence of Balrant who had moved beside her.

"Your husband?" He asked quietly, watching Legolas.

She looked to him startled. "I'm sorry, what?"

"That elf. Is he your husband?"

"Oh, no!" She laughed sheepishly. "Not at all! He's just a friend, that's all."

"I see. Are you sure?"

Caniel looked to the man who only smiled slyly.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I recognize that look. I've seen it before." He said, moving back to his chair and retrieving the letter from his pocket.

"What look?" Caniel looked back out the window, trying to hide her flushed cheeks from the man. It took her a moment to realize that Legolas had left and only a few children remained, sitting around.

"Oh never mind." Balrant sighed. "What's his name? This friend of yours?"

"Legolas."

"Hmmm. I've heard that name before, I think. Oh well, not important. Have you known him for a while?"

"Not really." Caniel turned back to him. He was again intently starring at his paper. Figuring this meant time for her departure, she walked back towards the door. He did not move. "Thank you for the visit."

Balrant looked back up to her with a genuine smile. "The pleasure was mine, Caniel."

With that, his attention was diverted again to the parchment. Caniel watched him a moment, again noticing the scratches on his arm. "What did you get those scratches from?"

"The fall off my horse was rather rough. Couldn't really do anything about it though, could I? Not with my supplies gone."

Caniel nodded to herself and took a few steps towards the door before turning around again. "I believe you, Balrant. I think you are just a lost traveler."

At this Balrant locked eyes with her, his being full of compassion and thankfulness. "You're not an elf." He mumbled quietly.

Caniel only smiled, unsure of how to receive this statement, then with a slight nod, she turned to leave. But his words stopped her in her tracks once again.

"Thank you Caniel. For stopping those elves earlier." She turned to face him, but he had already turned back to his paper. What he found so fascinating about it was beyond her, but he apparently found it soothing to stare at it. "They were giving me a headache." He concluded with another harrumph as Caniel smiled and made her way out of the man's dwelling.

If you're wondering more about the game, Orbelo, I will post more about it on my homepage. It's actually quiet interesting once you get into it. Also, those interested in either submitting a story or becoming a staff member of my new C2, visit my homepage. It's a C2 dedicated to elven stories that have good elvish (Called The Elvish Library). No slash. Mary-sues are fine. Just well written stories with preferably some well written elvish. So with no more gilding of the lily, please, PLEASE REVIEW, and visit my homepage for some interesting stuff and good information. Le hannon!