Important: Again there is dialogue about rape and a few unsanitary words, not that many but you have been warned!
Disclaimer: Nothing … just nothing.
Authors note: Ok everyone hates me, I am shore, I promised to be better at the updating and I have totally been so busy with homework that I have neglected you, my lovely reviewers. I am so sorry and will try not to keep doing this! Please don't whish bad tidings atop my head, I am so sorry!
Reviewers:
Angelsfyre1: I am so glad that someone agrees with my ideas on spelling, hopefully everyone who has read my story to this point can see that it has at least gotten a little better, I hope and think. Thank you for the review and keep with me, I shall try not to lack in my updating.
Luthien: thank you for also sticking with me! Well it is almost over as I keep saying.
To all my other reviewers: thank you and I shall stop the long waits for new chapters!
Chapter 24: Understandings
Rumil and Orphin made the long trek up the steep silver stairs silently. Neither of them dared to speak to the other. As they reached the third door that lead to the corridor to there brothers rooms, they soon came close to crashing in with Lord Celeborn. Both brothers bowed there heads in greetings as Celeborn did the same.
"Your brother is under house arrest." The Lord informed them, neutrally.
Rumil and Orphin both stared with mouths a gape at the words that seemed to echo eerily through the halls.
"How … why?" the two young guards both asked at precisely the same time.
"Vanity has brought a clame to I and my wife that your brother tried to … rape her the night that Naomie and Elrond were attacked. They both have been questioned and now Haldir is under house arrest and Vanity is being … watched … monitored if you will." Celeborn explained.
"Our brother is incapable of partaking in such and act! You know this; you must see it in your heart, in our brother's eyes as to his innocence!" Orphin exploded.
"I do know this, and yes all that you say is true. But it is Haldir whose words that will not save him from the question of others and –"
Rumil cut his lord off impatiently.
"And Vanity is a whore; you know how much that she elf wanted Haldir's 'company' she has strived for it ever since his last … 'flings' exile. Why do you take her word above Haldir's? She is not the one who has devoted her life to your will; she is not the one who has given all her dreams to your cause!"
"Our brother has been nothing but loyal to you, my lord. And this is how you are to repay him … by arresting him?" Orphin said coolly but still diplomatically, maintaining all his anger.
Celeborn held up his hand for silence. Both brothers quieted and stared up at there lord in anger.
"I know all that you tell me. But we must abide by the rules of this government; they are there for a reason. And even though I am, and put my faith, into your brother's innocence we must remain well to the laws. Galadriel and I will bring justice to this case. Do not fear. We must look at all the evidence. And in the end if it comes to the point where we must chose over the two, which it should not, be aware … that Haldir has a much better sporting chance." Celeborn stated, a tone of upset and sadness setting into his voice.
"Are we allowed to see Haldir then?" Rumil asked after a long, very awkward, pause.
"You two are among the only ones who may see him, at this point." Celeborn answered.
"Who else is allowed, prey tell, to see him?" Orphin asked indignantly.
Celeborn stood for a long moment just studying the two, and then said;
"You, I and Galadriel, no other." Celeborn said softly.
"Ah. I see. In that case, may we be dismissed to see our dishonorable brother?" Orphin quipped in a sardonic snap.
"Of course. He is in his room." Celeborn said moving out of the two's way with some note of tolerance in his voice.
Rumil and Orphin nodded and left.
"Why on earth would she say such things?" Rumil asked with a frustrated growl.
"To make Haldir's life miserable." Orphin snorted.
"She will suffer. Moving on, why do you think Naomie did not come back with Haldir?" Rumil asked.
"Well, he did try to kill her … on accident … I suppose." Orphin sniffed as he looked up the stairs.
"Yes. I do not think that I would be too eager to jump on a horse and ride off into the sunset with someone who had tried to kill me either." Rumil sighed as he marched up the stairs ahead of Orphin.
"Indeed" Orphin nodded.
"She seemed really upset when we got her to Rivendell … and ... well I told her … uh … what Haldir had been doing and why he was not with us when we found her …" Rumil said.
"You told her? Smooth, my dear brother, no wonder why she was upset … I would feel angry and sad too if I found that someone I had feelings for was with someone else as I was almost eaten by Orcs." Orphin said in a worried tone as his head shacked in an upset nod.
"I do not think that you should have told her where Haldir was when we saved her." Orphin resumed.
"Mayhap I should not have, but it just slid out when she asked … I could not lie to her … not when she was in that condition. I was too worried for her health at the time." Rumil said defeated.
"You should have thought of her future health, some times fibbing is a better road to go to save the heart, my little brother." Orphin as he leapt in front of Rumil and ran up the stairs to take the lead.
"In future I will try to remember that." Rumil nodded then screwed his face up into a look of determination as he placed it in a dusty memory.
Orphin laughed and continued up the stairs.
As the two brothers emerged into the hall they were met by the Lady.
"My lady." Both bowed.
"Rumil, Orphin." She whispered.
"Do you know what has become of your brother?" she asked in a wispy voice.
"Indeed we do." Rumil answered.
"Do not fear, Rumil. He shall be cleared of all charges soon." Galadriel said, smiling encouragingly.
"We will trust in your … and lord Celeborn's … judgment." Orphin agreed.
"Yes. He has retired for the night but you may see him if you wish." She stated.
"I fear for him. He has already shown signs of heart ache. We must do everything in our power to ashore that he will not fall into a hole too big for his climbing abilities … you, I am shore, remember what happened last time?" Galadriel said sadly, despair apparent in her eyes.
"We do my lady, and fear the same." Orphin whimpered.
"Well then you know not to allow him to slump. I fear that this house arrest business may take more from his ego and hope. So I have given you two the time off that is required to stay with him until we find our answers. Try to cheer him up as mush as possible." She instructed.
"We shall, my lady." Rumil said.
"Well I shall leave you here. Good night, my guardians." Galadriel stated and then slowly drifted away.
"Well come on, lets go to bed if he has already done so." Orphin yawned turning to follow the lady back down the stairs.
"Oh, all the way back down those stairs!" Rumil whined as he threw his hands up in the air.
"Yea, down all those stairs. But we don't have to walk." Orphin said with a mischievous grin.
"We are grown elves, dear brother. If you are thinking what I think that you are thinking … oh never mind!" Rumil started to say, as Orphin climbed onto the banister.
"We may be grown, but it still does not stop us." Orphin stated as he pushed off and left his brother to stare as he slid down.
"See you at the bottom." Orphin called up to Rumil.
"Wait for me!" Rumil yelled as he jumped to join his brother.
Well that is all, my
dear friends … until next time!
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