AN: The new and improved chapter five is here! Not much is different, but it's a bit revised. In any case, it's better than it used to be, so have fun!

Dearheart

Chapter Five: Love, Attacked

I was certainly not expecting she'd comply. Who exactly am I dealing with? Haldir was - to say the least - perplexed. He hadn't realized just how much resolve this young girl had. Then again, if he had known why she was doing this he wouldn't have had such a puzzled look on his face.

At the present moment Haldir was making his way back to the southern outpost. He still couldn't believe what had happened, but the only thing to be done about it was to clean up and move on. The Orc threat was still imminent. He needed to make sure his people were ready. He would reestablish sentries along the border. Have the Company on high alert. Yes, that was the new plan. No longer would the Orcs surprise them. Not while he was around.

What in the world was that look for? Ril was pondering what Haldir had said. She kept running it over and over through her mind, trying to find an explanation in his words for that unreadable expression. Was it sarcasm? Or had it been confusion? Maybe surprise?

Ril shook her head. "Maybe he was trying to prove a point," she muttered. "That's just like him too, that arrogant Marchwarden. Why else would he be talking to you?"

"Ril are you muttering to yourself again?"

"Go away Elandor, I'm not in the mood."

"I apologize."

"Good. Now leave."

"I was never here."

Ril sighed and looked up at the trees. "Why me?" she said. "Why do they always have to bother me? I don't bother them, do I? No! So why do they bother me? I should expect it from Elandor; he's been my friend for over a thousand years! It's that Rumil who bothers me. He's just a little too upbeat if you ask me. That's unnatural in an Elf. He should be more laid-back. Sometimes I even wonder if he and Haldir are related. I mean, on one end of the scale there's Haldir. Cool, quiet, and practically emotionless. Then on the other end there's Rumil, the exact opposite! Warm, friendly, talkative; I wonder if there's a good quality he doesn't have! But on the other hand again, Haldir is soooo much more attractive. Since when did I get so shallow? I never. . ." Ril was so wrapped up in her own little world, she failed to notice the Orc hiding in the brush behind her, waiting to ambush.

Haldir was giving instructions to a member of his Guard when he heard the scream. It had come from the area where he'd left Ril. Quickly he grabbed his bow and took off running. Now what has she done? he thought. I hope she is all right. For good measure he added:

The Orc advanced on Ril, waving its scimitar threateningly in the air. It brought the twisted piece of metal down where Ril had been standing only seconds before. She had seen it coming and jumped out of the way, but just barely. The Orc, now enraged that its quarry had gotten away, pulled out its bow. Before Ril could react, it had fitted an arrow to the string and impaled her through the left shoulder. She screamed. A high-pitched, pain-filled scream that echoed through the forest. The Orc smiled evilly and growled: "Go ahead. Scream all you like. No one can save you now." It lunged, tackling Ril to the ground. She fought to get away from its iron grip, but the foul creature would not relinquish its hold on her leg. She screamed again in pain as the Orc thrust its claw-like fingernails into her right upper arm. The Orc merely smiled. Ril brought her free leg up and kicked it in the midsection, causing it to fly off her. She scrambled to her feet, but not before earning another vicious arrow through the shoulder.

Ril was beginning to weaken. Her shoulder was throbbing and her entire arm felt like it was on fire. She tried to stay standing, but her legs gave out. Seeing its chance, the Orc pounced with its scimitar, hissing like the demon it was. At the last possible second, Ril grabbed her dagger from its scabbard and jabbed it into the Orc's throat. It went down, a gurgling sound coming from its severed windpipe.

Ril managed to get back on her feet, just as Haldir burst from the brush. He glanced at the Orc, then to her. A horrified look crossed his face when he saw the condition she was in. He started to rush over to her. It was in this exact moment that Ril staggered, fainted, and fell into Haldir's outstretched arms.

"How is she?"

It was later that night, and Haldir had come back from positioning sentries. He immediately went to the healing flet, where Ril was resting peacefully. His brother Orophin was on duty.

"She is fine Brother," Orophin replied. "She is lucky as well, for those arrows were poison-tipped. Had you not brought her in when you did, she would most certainly be dead by now."

"Mmmmmm," Haldir mumbled. He nodded his head and climbed down from the flet. His thoughts strayed back to the incident in the forest that afternoon. A sort of shuffling in the grass, like the sound of a lone Orc. . . I should have known. My ears have never deceived me. I should not have left her there alone. She is young and inexperienced. It is all my fault.

Do not place the blame wholly on yourself, another part of his mind replied. She may be young and inexperienced, but she did not have to just stand there while you walked away. She could have gone somewhere else.

She had no reason to. In the back of my mind I knew it was there; why did I leave her? I should have been there.

Do not dwell on it; she is all right. Besides, it appears she can defend herself well enough; you saw her skills with the dagger.

That was a lucky strike and nothing more. But that is beside the point. The point is she is my responsibility-

But Rumil said he would-

Despite what Rumil says, she is still my responsibility, and I should not have let this happen. I shall check up on her in the morning. Haldir shook off his thought conversation and headed toward his sleeping quarters.

Ril awoke much later that night, just as the moon was starting to sink. She moaned in pain, which drew Orophin's attention. He made his way over to her and gave her a small cup of minty green liquid.

"Here. This will numb the pain."

Ril gratefully accepted it and drained the cup. The throbbing in her shoulder instantly lessened. "Thank you," she said. Orophin smiled. Ril thought for a moment, and then it dawned on her why this Elf looked so familiar. "Hey, you're one of Haldir's brothers, aren't you?"

Orophin nodded. "Indeed I am. My name is Orophin, and I am the youngest of the three. Your name is Elril-Galia, is it not?"

"Please, call me Ril."

"Ril it is then."

Now Ril smiled. Orophin was a kind Elf. Suddenly she remembered why she was in bed with an aching shoulder. Her eyes widened in shock and confusion. "What happened? I stabbed it, and then, I. . .can't remember."

"You fainted," Orophin replied. "After killing the Orc, you-"

"I killed it? Oh Iluvatar I killed a living being?!"

"Calm down Ril. It was nothing the creature did not deserve. Anyway, after you slaughtered the Orc, you passed out. My brother found you and brought you here right away. Had he waited longer you would have been lost. The arrows were poison-tipped."

"Which brother. . .brought me here?"

"Why Haldir of course!"

Haldir brought me here. I was unconscious. That could only mean one thing: he carried me. Wait- he WHAT?! This was too much for Ril to handle. She managed to squeeze in the excuse "I'm very tired," before fainting again.