CARN DUM
Earlinde rushed out of the cave and climb to the over past of the cave. She drew her knees to her chest and sat down. Her trusty map couldn't help her any longer, and she was afraid.
She closed her eyes and pondered the situation.
Flash Back
" '…. Earnil sent his son Earnur north with a fleet, as swiftly as he could, and with as great strength as he could spare. Too Late. Before Earnur reached the havens of Lindon, the Witch- King had conquered Arthedain and Arvedui had perished.' Alright, now it is time for bed."
Little Earlinde looked up at her father, and shook her head fiercely. "But Ada! Da ewil witch king, he's deawd, right? He's not gonna take ower all of Awda? Right Ada?"
"Evil, Evil, not ewil. Honey, he has run away into Mordor. I cannot say what will come to pass. But I promise I will protect you, no matter what. Sleep now little one."
"Ada! Tell me the story about my name…"
"Now, Earlinde, sleep now."
"Please…"
"Well, once upon a time there was a great King of old called Elendil..."
End Flash Back
Earlinde's eyes snapped open as she watched the Witch King stomp out of the cave and down the mountain side.
Her heart skipped a beat as she jumped down from the over pass and into the cave. Her mind quickly raced as her foot falls were soundless. She raced into the inner cave, and her heart broke when she walked in to see Haldir tied with his head hanging behind him. She walked towards him quickly.
The elf senses foot falls, but too exhausted from his beatings didn't look up to see who it was. His muscles tensed involuntarily, readying themselves for abuse. Haldir kept his eyes shut.
Earlinde, before unsheathing her sword to cut the elf down, race her fingers across the part of his chest that was unharmed. Muscles flinched again, as she traced subconsciously up his arms and touched the mangled wound. He let out a loud gasp and his body convulsed. Earlinde stepped back and held the hilt of her sword. With a swift flick of her sword Haldir fell to the ground.
He gasped and but remained his eyed closed on the ground. Her heart broke to see him like so, just laying there, waiting to be killed.
She picked him up gently mindful of the worst of his visible wounds and rushed into the shadows. Haldir's eyes fluttered open and he looked up into blue determined eyes.
"Earlinde…"
"Sssh… be silent, we will talk later." She said without looking at him. Fear struck her heart, and she did not wish to alarm by the quaver in her voice.
Her mind wandered as she darted through shadows.
-He is heavy… Bigger than the average Elf.-
-He is also injured greatly… it would do him worse if I traveled too quickly through these lands… the only choice is to take him to Imladris. I cannot go back through the Grasshopper posts… that way is expected… I would have to travel south east through the Ettenmoors, across the Hoarwell River and through the Trollshaws. From there I can go directly east and cross the Ford into Imladris.-
She reached the bottom of the mountain and left to the last cave, Orophin, Fervor and she had taken refuge in with Finwe and Rumil. At a quickly run, checking Haldir everyone once in awhile to make sure he was still sleeping. She found herself in the cave with in a few hours.
She ran to the far corner of the cave, and hide in the shadows. To her surprised she sensed another being in the cave. Her sword shone in the darkness, as she was pulled down again, and a set of lips brought to her ears.
"It's me, Orophin!" She sighed and sheathed her sword. The elves let their inner light shine over Haldir, and Orophin clutched his brother to his chest.
"I though you were supposed to be at a station! Do you know the penalty of disobeying your Commander is? Well in Imladris it is a sentence to do city service for a decade!" Orophin nodded, and looked at her.
"Indeed I do, my Brother is the March Warden of Lorien, and I am always disobeying him. But this time I tried to execute your orders but could not. The Last Grasshopper station is empty, followed by the next… two boats are missing from the eight. That would mean that only two survivor left, or four maximum. The rest are dead… I returned here to see if you would return or if it was mine turn to venture in my brother's name."
Earlinde nodded. "Where is Fervor?" Orophin pointed at the corner and said another prayer.
Earlinde reached over and loosened the cloak on Fervor's shoulders and gave a silent prayer.
She put Haldir's head in her on her shoulder and cradled his body against hers. She slowly wrapped the cloak around the shivering elf, and wondered how cold he felt.
She mused how elves never felt the weather elements yet their injuries left them open to the abuse of the elements. She cradled Haldir to her and ran her fingers through his hair, smoothing it out and picking out grass, bits of dirt and rock.
Orophin finally lay down, but before he settled a loud screams echoed through the valley as the Witch King discovered his prize had disappeared. Fear tore into Earlinde's heart as she held Haldir tighter afraid that his comforting pressure on her chest would be ripped away from her.
"We should move now." Came a harsh whisper from Orophin.
"Nay, he will be scourging the valley for us, we cannot move just yet. We must hold out. He will not come for us himself, he will send his minions."
Orophin lay back down but brought his bow and quiver closer to them. Earlinde rocked Haldir back and forth and spoke assurances of his safety into his ears, and then fell silent as orcs and wargs tore by the hidden cave.
They stayed like that for hours, afraid to move, afraid to talk, afraid to breathe. When night fell Orophin sat in a crouch and looked at Earlinde.
"Have you any plans to get out of this?" She continued to rock Haldir and looked away from Orophin.
"Nay… but I wish to travel by land, where we can use the trees and the mountains for cover." Orophin leaned back into the wall of the cave and pondered this.
Haldir stirred a little. His eyes fluttered open and Earlinde smiled a little at him. He opened his mouth to speak, but a hoarse squeak escaped his mouth. Orophin leaned over Fervor and took his water canteen, handing it over to Earlinde. She shifted Haldir's head and tilted the canteen to his parched lips. Slowly she let water barely trickle down its nozzle, letting Haldir stick his tongue out and wet his lips. When he finally mustered enough energy to drink, she tilted the canteen enough for the liquid to pour plentifully into the pallid elf's mouth.
Soon she removed the canteen from his lips, and he whimpered in protest.
"I am sorry dear friend, but we have yet a long journey. And what want today, you will need tomorrow. It will be a ways a journey before we reach the water." He met her gaze unflinching and nodded warily.
He opened his mouth again to talk, his voice a hoarse whisper, "Sauron will be displeased with hi…m." he took a deep breathe struggling with his voice, "They tore it open… and I couldn't move…"
Earlinde placed a finger on his lips, "Sssh. You are safe now, nothing will harm you." She turned her head away as she shifted him back to her shoulder and immediately his body fell limp again.
"We have to leave soon, Orophin."
"That was the last of the water we had." He said, looking out to the opening of the cave.
"Yes, yes it was," came the silent answer.
Orophin watched Earlinde rock her brother again.
-Funny how they have formed a bond in their pain… two March Wardens driving together in their darkest hours…- He thought to himself.
IMLADRIS
Rumil slowly pulled 5 bodies behind him, while carrying five. He had tied the dead elves by their legs and used the other end of the rope around his waist. As he trudged along he looked over at Finwe, struggling with his own 9 bodies. Together they slowly entered the borders of the home of the fallen elves. Getting them home anyway they could.
Rumil's body screamed for rest. Finally he took his last step and wavered.
Two men, dressed mush like him raced out to meet him just before he hit that ground.
Finwe watched Rumil fall, and turned to Adimus and Prince Elrohir. They rushed to him.
"Finwe! What has happened? Who is this guard? What has happened to the rest of the guard? Where is the March Warden?!"
"My lord, He is Rumil of Lorien, we set out on a quest to save his brother March Warden Haldir of Lorien. The March Warden is still on that quest; in the Realm of Angmar… she travels with Fervor, and Orophin of Lorien, who is Rumil's twin. These men fell ambushed by an unseen evil, as we operated a grasshopper rescue." After explaining himself Finwe too collapsed.
Prince Elrohir helped the Adimus, his personal guard in taking the living into the healer's wing, before returning to take the dead to the cleansing chambers, to prepare them to journey to Mandos.
ANGMAR
Earlinde tightly wrapped the cloak around Haldir and picked him up in her arms. Orophin shouldered Fervor as the two elves prepared for their long trek to the Ettenmoors. The launched in sprint out of the cave and broke into a full run under the scorching sun. Tired as they were, and weighted down.
They had to often stop for Haldir was becoming heavier with every step Earlinde took. She adjusted his weight over her, and continued on, ignoring the ache in her arms. Orophin offered to carry Haldir several times only to have the elleth growl at him. Inwardly he smiled.
Flash Back
He sat looking at the back of Earlinde's head. He easily kept up with the pace she had set in the boat, but pondered her feeling for his brother.
"He likes you,"
"He does not"
"He saved you."
"Indeed, and then proceeded to tell me that I have a mangled body."
"He has never established a relationship with an elleth, other that out of lust."
"Indeed, it shows in his demeanor, because he is so cold."
"He might want to try with you, if you let him try"
"Nay, it would not work"
"Why?"
"Because we are March Wardens of distant lands, one day I will have to return to my Land, as he to his."
Orophin silently pondered this.
End Flash Back
Earlinde couldn't take the weight anymore. They had reached the Ettenmoors safely. But she had no guide as to where to go from there.
-Straight! Just go straight!- She knew once she was out of the Ettenmoors she would know where she was going, but still unfamiliar land made her quite uneasy.
She found a grove and head towards it. She climbed the pass and walked in followed by Orophin, who shot and arrow at the sides of the wall causing them to crumble in on them, partially closing the grove.
Earlinde lay down her burden and looked feverishly at the canteen of water that held its last drops of water. She closed her eyes, and pulled her cloak around her. Orophin sat next to his brother as Earlinde pulled her 1st in command to her.
She looked into Fervor's vacant eyes and finally let tears over take her. Silent tears slid down her face as she rocked the passed elf in her arms, remembering the day she chose him to be an officer in the guard.
She continued to let tears over take her as she noticed how he followed her every whim. She grieved for her fallen friend as he placed him bad on the ground. She put her head on the cool rock behind her head and sighed, allowing tears to flow freely.
Haldir stirred again. He turned on his side and groaned. Immediately she was upon him, cradling him in her arms. She looked up at her glistening eyes and smiled.
"Why do you cry?" he whispered. She shook her head as he lifted his arm and winced as he did so, his hand brushing her cheek before it fell limply at his side. His gaze slowly followed his hand until he saw Orophin.
"Orophin…"
"I am here brother," he said as he reached out to hold his hand.
"Where is Rumil?"
"Worry not now, Rumil is on his way to Imladris as we speak."
Haldir nodded and returned his gaze to the March Warden who absentmindedly stroked his hair while starting at the opposite wall in silence.
"Earlinde…." He muttered before falling in a deep sleep again.
Flash Back
"Earlinde is the female name for Elendil… Your mother insisted we call you that because she knew her baby girl was destined for great things…"
End Flash Back
-I wonder what would have happened if Haldir had said the whereabouts of the ring… What would happen if he got hold of the one ring? Nay, it has been lost since the time of the Last Alliance of Men and Elves…-
Earlinde pulled Haldir between her and Orophin, and for the first time in many nights, let slept take her.
THREE DAYS LATER
They had gotten out of the Ettenmoors and Earlinde led the way to the river. Once there she found a nice place protected by trees and striped and bathed, Orophin sat with his back to her holding Haldir's head, and whispering into is now awake brother's ears.
"Is she naked?" Haldir asked
Frustrated Orophin nodded and continue to tell Haldir about how the Lord had transferred him to the Imladris guard.
"Not a stitch on?"
"Brother, are you listening?"
"Yes, I was just wondering…"
"Well dearest brother do you bathe with your clothes on?"
Haldir fell silent and listened to the splashing of water. His eyes drooped from fatigue as he looked up and his brother.
Orophin was now staring at the trees, double checking if they were being tracked.
ANGMAR
The Witch King was furious. It was a week since the escape of his prize, and he still couldn't figure how he had escaped. Sauron had told him to return to Mordor immediately, so he stood outside of the cave waiting patiently for his horse.
As King of the Nazgul he knew one day he would close his hands around the Rings, but for now he failed his master terribly, and for that he was being punished….
He returned to his realm of Minas Morgul in defeat.
HOARSWELL
Earlinde had sat in the breeze until her hair dried and got redressed braiding her hair, and coming around Orophin, dropping to a crouch to be eye level with him.
She smiled brilliantly and looked at Haldir.
"It is time we gave him a bathe." She said pointing at the immobile elf.
Orophin nodded and Earlinde turned around as Orophin undressed himself and his brother. When she heard a heavy splash, she turned and held Haldir steady in the water by looping her arms under his armpits and holding him across his chest.
His hissed, as his wounds reopened in the water, but was content to place his face in the elleth's hair taking in the fresh scent of pine. He leaned his head back against her body and closed his eyes, his body trembling from his pain.
Earlinde noticed this and started to speak to him so it would take his mind off the pain. Orophin gently cleaned the wounds with his fingers and some herbs, as Haldir trembled under his hold, almost sinking in the water twice if it wasn't for Earlinde's hold.
"Do you want to hear a story Haldir?"
"About what?"
"About anything… do you have a favorite?"
"Yes, but it is not one I wish to hear now…"
"Why?"
""Tis about Earnur and the Witch King…."
"Aye that one ends quite bitterly…"
Haldir winced again, and she shifted herself so that he can lean against her shoulder.
"I begged for freedom of my body… I wished not to be part of the earth anymore…"
"You are safe now… Orophin and I will take care of you."
"Finished, let's get him dressed now…"
Orophin grabbed a cloak and wrapped around his brother's waist when Earlinde hoisted him up out of the water. Slowly Orophin took his legs and they carried him to a sunny spot where they lay him down to dry off. Earlinde threw her cloak over his waist as well as say next to Haldir facing the trees, as now to look lower than his chest.
Exhausted from the cleaning the elf slowly drifted into sleep as Earlinde combed her fingers threw his hair.
She looked over to her left, Fervor on his side, eyes haunting and vacant. She closed her eyes and tried to convince herself that she hadn't failed as a March Warden.
Orophin sat next to her and handed her a few berries he had picked from the trees.
Slowly they redressed Haldir in his tattered leggings and she put her cloak around him but Orophin stayed her hand.
"Look over to the trees… we are beginning tracked. They know they are after an elf with a red cloak, and dark hair."
"So what are you saying…?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Indeed Orophin I do."
"Okay listen to this, we will take your red cloak and drape it around Fervor's shoulders. We will send him down the Hoarwell, opposite to our track…"
"He must be taken to Imladris for burial. He has a family."
"Then we send him down towards Imladris. They will surely have a scouting part out that far, yes?"
Reluctantly she nodded and cried out when Fervor's body sailed away on the makeshift boat.
She put Orophin's cloak over her head, and wrapped Haldir tightly in Fervor's cloak. She picked up the sleeping elf and looked at Orophin.
"If anything happens, Earlinde, you must keep going. If we get separated I will draw them away until you reach Imladris. I will follow the south until The Last Bridge, and then turn east towards Imladris.'
"It that be the case I will send a search party for you."
He nodded as they sprinted into the water wading through it until the other side.
Turning south, they began the long run towards the Trollshaws.
DAYS PASS
Over the next few days they shared the burden of carrying the unwaking elf. Each time Earlinde reluctantly giving him up and happily welcoming him back. She continued the trek until they reached the Eastern pass of the Trollshaws. A cry of relief escaped her lips as she ran to the familiar oak and wrapped her arms around its stump. Carefully she led Orophin to an area where three great trolls were expertly sculpted in stone.
She sat on the ground and pulled Haldir from his brother's arms and cradled him to her. Slowly he began to wake, as his eyes opened he found Orophin standing over him looking up.
"What are you looking at brother?"
"Trolls brother, I wonder who could have sculpted these, so intricately designed down to the rot in the teeth…"
Earlinde let out a hearty laugh. "Have you two not heard of the story with the great mithrandir?"
"Which one?" Orophin asked sitting down with his legs crossed in fro of her highly interested.
Haldir shifted until he was laying across her knees with his head resting on her bicep, looked at her.
She laughed again and held Haldir tighter, "Well, many a long year ago, in a place called The Shire were the halfings live, there lives a hobbit by the name of Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo was a quiet little hobbit who was visited one day by 12 dwarves and mithrandir himself."
She told the story to the two interested elves and watched as their faces froze in horror at the capture of Bilbo and laughed at their shock.
"So then the great mithrandir came out of the trees and struck up light with his staff and the trolls were frozen into stone forever. It was then that Bilbo acquire sting his little sword, and the great mithrandir acquired glamdring, his favorite sword and travel companion."
She smiled down at Haldir and was extremely happy to see his brow furrowed in thought.
"So these are the trolls mithrandir turned into stone?"
"Yes, these are the trolls. That it why now we in Imladris call this forest the Forest of the Trollshaws. Or the Trollshaws for short."
Orophin stood up and collect some berries, and Earlinde found herself beaming at Haldir while brushing his hair out of his face.
Absentmindedly she bent her head and brushed her lips against his forehead, and then surprise filled her at her boldness, and she turned her gaze elsewhere.
Haldir slowly lifted his hand and ignored the pain. His face screwed up until he rested his hand on Earlinde's cheek.
Her gaze returned to him as she watched his eyes soften. His hand slid down to her chin and he pulled her face down to his face. Allowing his hand to slide to the back of her neck he straightened himself up and put his lips against hers.
He kissed her softly at first, their lips touching and dancing together. Finally their lips parted and she allowed his tongue access. He deepened the passionate kiss, and smiled inwardly as he felt Earlinde's hand stroke his hair again.
Orophin turned around again satisfied with his findings and looked upon a sight that made his smile widened.
Haldir and Earlinde kissing. Deep passionate kisses. He decided to turn around again and give them some privacy.
A/N: Awwwww!! Yey!