Disclaimer: We've been through this before. I do not own Lord of the Rings. (Tolkien, on the other hand, do)
Chapter 6: Sorrow
The tension inside the tree house could almost be touched. I looked around me and noticed all four girls pressed up in one of the corners with similar terrified faces. We were all holding our breath and no one dared to speak a word. With my heart in my throat, pounding like crazy, I took another look down the hatch. The huge beast under me made loud growling noises as it sniffed around the tree we were in. I had no idea what to do, so I only closed my eyes and did what I do best. I wished with all my heart that it would suddenly loose interest in our tree and walk away, still no luck.
I was a hunter, not a warrior. Of course I was skilled with a sword and bow, but I was also able to use a needle and thread. That did not make me a professional seamstress. In this situation I was totally helpless. In a final attempt to comfort the children I crawled over to them and put my arms around them. We could still hear the beast sniffing around.
When I spotted something out of the corner of my eye, I jumped protectively in front of the scared girls. A pair of penetrating yellow eyes stared at me from the hole in the floor. It was the warg that finally had found its way up to us, finally on the beast's part, not ours. The girls and I shrieked in unison at the horrible sight. The high pitched tone made the beast flash its teeth and snort angrily.
I could feel my body backing up towards the girls, but I personally had nothing to do with it. What my body did at the moment was controlled by the fear and the fear alone. My mind and eyes were frozen, I could not think or look at something else than that very large beast that eyed me hungrily. My hope was gone like the last breath of a dying man.
In the blink of an eye the beast's eyes widened considerably as a growl of pain filled the tree house. The animal went limb and fell to the ground in a lifeless heap. I still did not move an inch, not until someone came up through the hatch. I thanked Eru when I saw who it was. Haldir had come to the rescue once more. He stood before us with his typical imposing presence, but sadness was shining through his elven eyes. I wanted to cry with happiness but I couldn't. Something was not as it should be, and he didn't make an effort to hide it.
A hand touched my shoulder and I composed myself. I looked Haldir in the eyes, bracing myself. He did not meet my gaze but kept looking with newfound interest at the floor. The question that lingered in my mind could not go by unspoken, even if it killed me.
"Where is my father?" I asked with a trembling voice, not trying to cover up my nervousness. It wouldn't have worked anyway.
Haldir stole a glance at me before speaking. His voice was softer than silk and flowing like the quiet summer breeze.
"I am really sorry, Arwen en amin…..but" (My lady - Non familiar) Haldir tried to finish but I cut him off. My whole world was beginning to dissolve piece by piece.
"NO!" My lungs burned from my scream. This was not happening to me. Not again. This was just a bad dream and I was going to wake up any minute. I pushed his arm off me and headed for the hatch. I had to see this for myself.
When I had put my feet safely back on the ground, I began to dart my eyes in every direction. I found the bodies lying, side by side, in the open area in the middle of the camp. The feeling I had was indescribable. It was with heavy steps and bowed head that I made my way over to the bodies. The people around me shot discreet glances my way while whispering amongst themselves. I tried desperately to swallow the growing lump stuck in my throat when I neared the corpses.
I stopped walking when I was a meter or two away from them. All the bodies were covered up, except one. My beloved father…..I could no longer stand up straight, and I sunk down on my knees in the dirt. I put my shivering, cold hands over my face when the tears could no longer be restrained. All I wanted to do was scream at him. I wanted to tell him how much I hated him for leaving me. I slowly inched closer to my dead father and new well of tears came running down my cheeks like waterfalls.
The moment I could see my fathers face clearly, all the anger was replaced by the sorrow of my broken heart. I grabbed a hold of his hand and started to rock myself back and forth. I just sat there for several minutes, not noticing the group of people gathering around me.
"Melian? Look at me Melian." Haldir's voice seemed like an echo from far away and I didn't even blink.
"I am deeply sorry Melian, but we cannot linger here for long, not if we want to be on the safe side. I promised your father I would look after you." He grabbed me and pulled me up, while I was holding on to my fathers hand for dear life.
Suddenly I felt sparks being ignited within me and I felt the strong urge to slap him. I had just lost my father and now I did not even get to bury him? Without a second thought I took off running. My eyes were so filled with tears that I could barely see ahead. I kept running until I reached the horses' paddock. In a rush I found a bridle, got a hold of my horse and threw the bridle on him. We hurried out the gate, setting our course west.
Morion, my beautiful black horse, carried me over the hill and down to the open field. Haldir's shouts slowly faded with the distance laid between us. He could do whatever he wanted, I did not care. When I turned around one last time I could spot him on top of the lookout point, trying to signal for me to turn back. I had no intentions to do so.
I can not remember how far into the woods I had gotten, but all of the sudden hoof beats drummed in my ears. I knew not from where or who, only that it was not coming from Morion. So I pulled him to a full stop and listened intently. Something told me that Haldir did not give up easily.
"Who's there?" I did not get a respond to my question, but a sound from behind told me that this 'someone' following me had just entered the clearing I was in. Looking over my shoulder I could barely make him out in the dim light. I hated to be right.
"Why are you running away?" His tone of voice told me he wasn't too pleased at my sudden runaway. In a strange way I knew I deserved this, but I could not keep my mouth shut when it really counted.
"Oh, liker it matter to you what I do with my life!" I tried to sound angry but my voice was shaking. I began to stroke Morion on the neck to calm myself as Haldir shifted uncomfortable on his white stallion.
"I do care! I promised your father that I would take care of you, not let you run off and get yourself hurt. We need to find somewhere safe for you to stay." There it was again! Than strange tone in his generally steady, calm voice. *Doesn't he feel comfortable around me?* The thought of me, a mere human girl, making the March Warden of Lorien……uncomfortable? It almost made me snicker with delight, if it hadn't been for the seriousness of course.
"Are you alright?" It was a question I just had to ask for my own pleasure. Haldir seemed to squirm a little.
"Yes, of course I am. But do not change the subject, Melian. You are coming back to the camp with me. That is an order." Haldir's answer was strained and he did not look at me.
In one swift movement I turned Morion around. I was going back with him, willingly. Why? you probably ask. I am not entirely sure about that myself, probably because I did not want to argue with Haldir at that particular moment, and I had a lot of other things on my mind. I could discuss with Haldir in the morning after a good nights sleep anyway.
"Are you coming or what?" Haldir did not respond. I could only hear some mumbling I could not make out, so I just brushed it away. I had bee riding for hours already and was dying to get some sleep. Haldir's elven 'I only need five minutes of sleep each day' ability made me curse under my breath. Well, at least I was safe if I decided to nod off on the trip home.
There…..chapter six is finally finished. Hope you guys like it. If you have some tips I would be happy to hear them =) I would also like to thank my reviewers! You guys are great! I'm not entirely sure where this is going right now so you are welcome to give me some ideas. I guess I'll just keep writing then. Bye!
Naomie: Thanx! Hope you like this chapter too then =)
Evogirl81: Thank you for reviewing my story! Always nice to get some feedback…. As to Haldir's voice, I'll guess we'll find out =) I'll try to get my chapters longer but it's not always so easy….eh…..*smiles innocently*
Cooloio02: Cliffie? Where? =)
Panny Savage: Yeah, their first meeting was not so good. But hey! We want to create some tension, right? Tension is good….or something =)