Disclaimer: I own nothing, nada, zip...you get the point right? You see, if I did own it, I would kill Peter Jackson for not putting Glorfindel into the movie, or for killing Haldir. Not right...
Overview: Middle Earth, ring still hidden, elves slowly leaving, ears hurting...
NOTE: I know that being from Rohan, Niamh knows NO elvish. This has been a little careless of me. From here on out, unless noted, any elf speaking TO Niamh, will be using the common tongue. There will be occasions when a language barrier will happen. So, no, Niamh knows no elvish, at this point.
thoughts (if
any...)
'hehehehe'
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Hail the Conquering Heros!
Chapter Two: Arrows Don't Belong There!
In the ever peaceful Lothlorien there were three elf brothers, Haldir, Rumil, and Orophin. They were your typical elves: beautiful, graceful, and intelligent. They also had a young girl thrown into their home. How will they handle it, well, who knows?
---
Niamh woke up to the shine shining on her face. She was sleeping on a low bed in a spare room. None of the elves seemed to want her in their room. She didn't understand why. Well, Orophin still seemed wary around her, and Haldir was just plain mean, and Rumil, well... she didn't know. They would speak in elvish whenever she entered a room. And no one really talked to her at dinner time either.
Niamh got out of bed and found a dress lain out for her. She changed quickly after washing her face. It seemed like she should make up the bed, it would be nice, but that was no fun. She quietly walked out into the main room and glanced around. No one was in there, but voices were coming from the kitchen area. She crept in slowly, and stood behind Haldir's chair. He was talking loudly in Elvish and making wide gestures with his hands. Niamh had little idea that he was actually complaining about her. She crept up closer, so to give him a good morning hug. And out of nowhere, something flew into her face, sending her flying.
"I can't believe we are stuck with a human girl!" Haldir said for the fiftieth time at breakfast. Him, Rumil, and Orophin were sitting around eating, but Haldir was doing all the talking.
"I already can't stand her presence! I just wish I could just slap her! Just a quick swing."
And Haldir swings his hand as if slapping someone. As he pulled his hand back quickly, it rammed into something rather hard.
"Ah!"
A small shape flew backward. Rumil and Orophin stand up quickly and run to it. Haldir's eyes widen in shock. He had hit the little girl. He glanced at her again. Rumil was holding her in a hug, and Niamh was crying her eyes out.
"I...I, I just wanted to give him a hug! And, and, and..." She broke off into more tears. Rumil hugged her again and sent a glare his brother's way.
"Uh... Niamh, I didn't mean to harm..."
"No! You stay away from me! I want to go home! I hate you!" And with that she ran out of the flet, down the stairs, and into the city. Haldir, Rumil, and Orophin stand there in shock.
"I can't believe I hit her. I didn't really want to hit her. I just wish she would listen to me." Orophin and Rumil send him identical looks.
"What?"
"You need to go apologize Haldir. She is just a young girl." Rumil sent his brother the look again, a deep frown on his face.
"I will, just not now." And Haldir stalked outside. Orophin and Rumil shared a look and begin to clean up the kitchen.
Rumil left the flet in search of the young girl. He knew that they needed to make sure she was happy here. He had the strangest feeling that she may be here to stay. Rumil spied one of his close friends on the path and walked over to him.
"Calandil! Have you seen a young human girl pass through here?" Calandil turned and gave him an amused look. He pointed downward. Rumil lowered his gaze to see Niamh holding onto one of his legs, crying.
"Niamh?" She glanced up at the sound of her name. It was Rumil, she liked him still. She ran and jumped into his arms.
"I...I...I'm so scared!"
"Why little one?" Niamh glanced up at him, her eyes filled with fear.
"It brings back scary thoughts..." she whisperd. Rumil picked her up and nodded to Calandil. He walked away with Niamh still crying.
---
Haldir stormed away from his flet. He was angry at himself, something he just wasn't used to. Sighing, he sat down on a bench. This little girl, Niamh, was already causing problems.
"But this is my fault," he muttered to himself.
"You do know that talking to one's self is a sign of insanity?" Haldir glanced up to see one of his men glancing down at him.
"And do you know Brilthor, that I am your commanding officer?"
"Lighten up Haldir!" Brilthor laughed as he sat down next to his friend. "What troubles you this time?"
"A little bundle of terror."
"This wouldn't be the human girl I hear you are caring for is it? Because that isn't very kind."
"Yes, the very same girl. I fear I have made a mess of things. You see, this morning, I accidently hit her."
"You hit her?" Brilthor asked alarmed. Haldir nodded and laid his head in his hands.
"I didn't want to. She was just there." Brilthor stood up and dragged Haldir up also.
"Just apologize."
"It's not that easy, she's young, very young, only seven and one half years. When she decides not to like someone or something it will stay that way. I remember when I was young and remained angry with Rumil for two weeks because he broke my bow."
"Well, that's interesting... Come on. Let's go find her now and have you apologize."
---
"Orophin! Orophin! Will you turn around?" Orophin whips around to find his love of one hundred years smiling at him.
"Anarrima. How are you?" Orophin ask before giving her a quick kiss. She laughs, blue eyes shining.
"I've been looking for you. I've heard a rumor that you and your brothers are caring for a young human girl."
"Well, you've heard right. She is quite adorable, and manipulative."
"Manipulative? How old is she?"
"Seven and six months. She seems to have my brother wrapped around her finger already. And, yes, I mean Rumil." Orophin adds when he sees Anarrima's face.
"I said nothing."
"I know you to well... Now how about we take a walk and enjoy this beautiful morning?"
---
"Niamh? You do know Haldir didn't mean to hit you... it was an accident." Niamh glances at Rumil with doubt written all over her face.
"Don't lie, I know he doesn't like me. I can tell."
"You've got it all wrong, he likes you." Niamh glances at Rumil and starts laughing.
"And I'm Queen of Rohan!" The sound of their laughter fills the path they are on. Rumil looks around and notices that they were nearing the archery fields.
"Niamh, you want to see me use my bow?"
"Will you shoot real arrows?"
"Of course!"
"Yay!" Niamh grabs Rumil's hand and runs down the path. They come to the archery fields after a quick sprint. About twenty elves were there using the facilities. Rumil spots Calandil and leads Niamh over to him.
"Calandil! You remember my friend Niamh?" Calandil looks down at the girl and she smiles shyly.
"Hello Niamh. Are you feeling better now?" Niamh nods and inches a little closer to him.
"Good. Would you like to watch me practice?"
"Yes! Oh! Could you and Rumil have a contest? That would be fun!" Calandil and Rumil glance at each other. "Yeah Calandil, don't you want to lose to me again?" Calandil snorts and grabs his bow. Rumil grabs his and lines up in front of a target. Niamh stands between them both, nervously hopping from one foot to the next. Rumil shoots and lands the arrow lands in the center. Calandil does the same. After three minutes of the same old routine, Niamh begins to feel bored. She spots a little child's bow and picks it up. 'Ha! I bet I can do that.' She grabs an arrow and lines up in front of the tree behind them. She caulks the arrow, pulls, and away it flies, past the tree and towards the path.
---
Anarrima glanced at Orophin, who seemed lost in his own little world. She had to stop the giggle that rose. He was... adorable.
"Orophin? What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing really, I was just trying to get the line of a poem right."
"Orophin, do you wish to stop by the archery field? It just around the turn." Orophin shoots her a charming grin and grabs her hand. They had taking no more than three steps when something comes flying out of nowhere and lodges itself into Orophin's arse.
---
Every elf turned at the sounds of painful yells. Niamh glanced around quickly before putting the bow on the ground.
"Niamh... what were you doing with that bow?" Niamh turns to Rumil slowly and grins.
"It's pretty!" Rumil glances at her with a disbelieving glance. Niamh is saved from any more questions by a angry Orophin limping onto the field. Once he spots Niamh he begins stalking toward her. To her dismay, Haldir comes running onto the field, wondering if one of his soldiers was injured. He to begins walking quickly towards Niamh. She runs behind Rumil and holds onto his legs.
"Niamh, were you using a bow and arrow a few moments ago?" Orophin growls.
"Maybe...but so was everyone else!" Haldir walks over, pries her away from Rumil, throws her over his shoulder, and walks towards his flet. He is closely followed by Rumil and Orophin.
---
Niamh frowned from her spot in the corner. Saying Haldir had been mad was an understatement. She cringed just thinking of his lecture. Yep, she was in trouble. Niamh could smell the scent of dinner filtering into the room. She wondered why the heck they had their own kitchen. There were servants to make and bring them food, or they could just walk down to the dining hall. Niamh mentally shrugged. The sound of footsteps behind her made her sit up a little straighter.
"Niamh, it's time for dinner." Rumil voice called from behind her. Niamh got up quickly and ran into the kitchen. She sat down around the round table next to Rumil's empty seat and Orophin. She wasn't quite sure if she should get close to Haldir. The meal went by in silence except for the elvish that passed between the brothers. Niamh would occasionally glance up, but Haldir's glare would send her gaze to her plate. When she finished and was excused, she fled to her room. She got a small bag from the closet and filled it with her few items of clothing. She finally made up her bed and walked into the front room. She was almost out the door when she was caught.
"Niamh? Where are you going?" Orophin asked coming up behind her. Rumil had sent him to see what she was doing.
"Running away."
"Why?"
"Because I shot you in the butt." Orophin nods and follows her out the door. He was curious to see where exactly she was going. He followed her silently until they reached a garden.
"What are we doing here," he asked curiously.
"I'm going to live here now." Orophin started laughing hysterically. Niamh frowned, "What is so funny?"
"You can't live in a garden. Now stop being silly and come back with me."
"You don't hate me?"
"No."
"So do you like me?"
"Yes."
"Does it hurt?"
"Yes."
"You are acting like Haldir."
"The Valar forbid!" Orophin laughed and picked her up, "Now let's go home little one."
---
Niamh was sleeping peacefully in her bed. Orophin had brought her home and let Rumil scold her. Then Niamh told him that he sounded like a mother and they all laughed. Haldir had hid in his room. But the good feeling Niamh had was slowly disappearing as memories began to surface in her dreams.
"Run Niamh!"
"They are coming!"
"Haleth get your sister out of here."
"Momma!"
"Run!"
Niamh sat
up quickly and looked around, fearing she would see them again. Her
little body began to shiver. She climbed out of bed, in search for
comfort. She couldn't see where she was going, and opened the first
door she came to. Seeing a blonde head lying in the bed she ran over
and climbed in next to the elf. She wrapped her arms around him and
began to cry.
"What the... what are you doing here?" Niamh only cried harder. Haldir sighed and sat up, pulling her into his lap.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm scared. You won't let them hurt me will you?"
"No, little one, I will not. Now try to sleep."
Niamh eventually cried herself to sleep in Haldir's arms. Haldir himself eventually drifted into sleep. The wheels of fate were turning. A bond between these brothers and the little human girl had formed. But joy can not be reached in the end, for humans were given the gift of mortality.
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WooHoo! Does happy dance That chapter was long in the works. I don't really like this chapter, but it had to be done. There will be about two more chapters with the very young Niamh, she will age a little. Once again I am battling the Mary-Sue battle. I will tell you now, Haldir, Rumil, and Orophin are not future love interests. BUT! Niamh will have her heart broken. But that is a ways away, she's only seven and a half! The next chapter will involve Niamh reaction to how elves sleep, a meeting with Galadriel, some tutoring, and possibly will begin looking into Niamh short past. Well that's all for now. And if you have taken the time to read all this... just leave a review for monkey's sake! It won't take you long!
Nenuial
