Thank you all for your reviews, they are all very much appreciated. Here's chapter two, enjoy! I don't own anything btw. I don't even claim to own Lorelie, cause it's too much of a pain writing up all those papers. Anyone want to claim ownership of her?
She stood below the tall silver boughs of the mallorn trees, her eyes and ears taking in all that surrounded her. Elves that passed her stared in confusion but none spoke to her.
She was startled from her examination of the city by a voice calling her name behind her. She turned to find Rumil, Haldir's brother behind her, a sad smile on his face.
"Rumil!" She exclaimed, rushing to greet him where he stood.
"Lorelie, have you at last been granted entrance to our fair city?" He asked, hands holding hers.
She nodded her head excitedly.
"I have and it's wonderous, more so than I could have ever imagined."
He smiled, happy to see her joy at the sight of his home that he took great pride in.
"Where is my dear brother? Have you been abandoned for one of his many admirerers?" He asked, looking around for any sign of him.
She shook her head and turned to look up the tree.
"Nay, he has led a strange group up the winding stairs to see the Lord and Lady. It was a matter of great importance, though he has promised to return to me swiftly."
"That is well then, I thought perhaps I would have had the pleasure of showing you our home. But alas my brother has beaten me to it. Another time, another place maybe. Lorelie, I have been thinking on what happened on the border. I am truly sorry, I was naught but an arrogant old Elf. It seems my brother is indeed wearing off on me."
He bowed, raising her hands to his lips he placed a kiss upon them.
"You are forgiven Rumil, little harm was done. I am well and the Orcs are gone."
He smiled releasing one of her hands he pulled the other into both of his. Placing them close to his heart he nodded.
"I am grateful to have your forgiveness Lorelie. I know my brother loves you dearly and I would earn that forgiveness should you allow me. When my brother has finished with you ask that he bring you to my talan. I have a gift for you waiting there."
"Rumil, you don't have to…" She began, but he put a finger to her lips silencing her.
"I do and I wish to milady. I beg you to allow me that." He pleaded, his lower lip out and his eyes sad.
Lorelie's mouth fell open and she swiped at him with her free hand.
"That's my technique, no one uses that but me!" She cried.
He grinned and released her hand.
"Oh, but long have I worked to perfect the art of begging. Long before you were thought of Lorelie. You may ask Haldir, for he is coming now." He bowed low and leaning close to her ear whispered in it.
"Ask that he escourt you to my home." And then he was gone from her sight, around a nearby tree.
"What injury did my brother wish to inflict upon you this time?" Haldir asked, coming to her side with a frown.
Lorelie rolled her eyes and shook her head in amusement.
"He wished only to apologize for his poor decision Haldir. He has also asked that when you are finished showing me around that you escourt me to his home."
Haldir's eyes widened. "He did not!" He cried.
He stood before her now, placing his hands on her arms.
"You will not go to him Lorelie, he loves not. Females are naught but conquests for my brother. I will not take you to him!" He released her and paced the space in front of her.
"Haldir, he does not wish to bed me, but to give me a gift as an apology. You do not have to worry about my well being so. I am capable of making my own decisions and mistakes Hal." She placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him from his pacing.
He frowned and offered his arm to her.
" Come, I will show you the great city of Caras Galadhon. I worry for your well being as I love you dearly. You know this, do you not?" He asked, taking her arm and placing it in the crook of his arm when she'd not move to take it.
She smiled and sighed to herself.
"I know it well Haldir. I know it well." She said, thinking to herself 'if only it were true in the way I wished it'.
Haldir showed Lorelie the many sights there was to see in Lothlorien, taking great joy in the shock and awe her face held at each. She was often so childlike, she seemed to him no more than the eight year old that he'd rescued from the orcs many years before and not the young woman that stood before him.
Noticing she seemed to stifle a yawn and appeared to grow tired of walking Haldir found a small bench near an ornately designed fountain, with Luthien and Beren's likeness crafted upon the top.
He looked to her with a smile as she asked who the figures were of, the curiousity and youthfullness of the child still there within her eyes.
He turned once more to look upon the figures, an elleth who had loved a mortal and her mate. He had never understood her choice, but had always thought it brave and terribly romantic.
The tale of the pair had always been his favorite as a young Elfling and as he thought he recalled Lorelie had agreed with him when he had told her the tale as a young child.
Lorelie looked at him with confusion at his silence, but smiled despite herself. Often his eyes would appear far off, even distant, as if he were in a distant land, a different time to or reality. His eyes took on that look now as he stared at her.
"Hal!" The young girl screamed, running through the tall grass at the top of a great hill. "Catch me if you can." She giggled, falling to her knees, ducking her head from his sight.
Her panting breath however could be heard by his Elf ears, yet he searched as if he knew not where she had disappeared to.
"Lorelie, where are you?" He called out, his joy apparent in his voice.
Since the day she had entered the border of the great forest they had been inseperable. He found that his mood lightened significantly when in her presence and joy was great in his heart.
He worried greatly for her safety every morning as the time grew near for her visit. He would often pace a flet near the border; his eyes ever watchful for any possible danger to the young child.
A giggle was heard in the grass near where he searched and he had to stifle a laugh as he saw a hand cover her mouth to stop it. When she began to crawl through the tall grass away from him he stalked silently behind her, arms outstretched, hands raised as if claws.
Being human the young girl made enough noise to alert a party of Orc to her presence but he was at ease playing with her. When she stopped and turned slightly to be sure of where Haldir was she screamed and stood to flee. He reached for her and scooped her up before she could move any distance away from him.
"Haaaldir.." She giggled. "Put me down." As he threw her over his shoulder and carried her to a small stream nearby. Once there he held her under her arms dangerously close to the water surface.
"Are you sure you wish for me to put you down Lorelie?" He asked sincerely, trying to keep the grin from his face.
She shook her head furiously and screamed. "Noooo!" She struggled against his grasp,
"Don't put me down. Don't drop me Haldir! Pleaaase!" He smiled and moved her slowly away from the surface of the stream.
"If that is your wish young one. However the water is warm at this hour."
She giggled and shook her head, "Don't want to get wet today. Rana braided my hair and put a flower in it. See?" She reached up to feel for the flower and frowned.
"Where is my flower?" She cried, searching the ground about her.
Haldir raised an eyebrow. "Flower? I did not see it fall Lorelie, I am sorry. I do not think you will find it back in the field." She frowned more if it were possible and her eyes welled with tears.
"But Rana picked it for me from her garden and…" She hesitated and turned away from him to hide her tears as they fell. She wiped them away angry at herself for becoming so emotional over a flower.
Haldir frowned and pulled her into his arms. "I am sorry little one. Your flower will bring life to other flowers in the field. Perhaps one day a patch of them will sprout from it's seeds. It will bring forth new life and I hope that will help ease your pain at it's loss."
His eyes searched the area around them and when they found what he searched for he released her from his embrace. He moved to a small patch of flowers near the trees and plucked a flower from the ground; silently thanking it for it's sacrifice.
"Lorelie, face me." He commanded, turning her by her shoulders before she could comply.
He held the small white flower in his hand and held it to her nose to smell it. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck in an embrace.
"Niphredil, the flower that heralded the coming of Luthien. It bloomed on the eve of her birth and has long grown in the forest of Lorien."
Turning her around he wove the stalk of the flower through her hair and when finished turned her to place a small kiss on her cheek.
"Thank you Haldir. I love it." She whispered; her cheeks red.
He smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Come, let us return to the border Lorelie. It is growing late."
She frowned and sighed.
"Must we?" She asked; sadness in her voice.
"I am afraid so little one."
The two slowly began the hike back to the border; silence between them.
"Haldir?" She spoke, breaking the silence.
"Yes Lorlelie?" He asked, peering down at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Who is Luthien?"
Haldir stopped in his tracks and frowned.
"You do not know?" He asked, shock clear in his voice.
She shook her head.
So Haldir told her the long story durring as they returned to the border. He would hear her sniffle at certain points, giggle at others and sometimes she grew angry.
When he finished the story they were very near the border and the sun was near setting in the sky.
"Haldir, that was a wonderful story. They were both so brave, yet the story was so sad. They both had to die. It's just not fair. Elves should never die!"
Haldir smiled down at her.
"Nay, it was not fair, but their love was great and to be together they were willing to endure anything. They did not fear death; only being apart from one another."
She thought on that for several moments and shrugged her shoulders, reached up and took his hand in hers.
"I will love an Elf one day. Like Beren and Luthien our love will be great and tales will be told about us."
Haldir chuckled and squeezed her hand.
Haldir returned to his senses and smiled.
"They are of Beren and Luthien. You recall their story do you not? I told it to you years ago."
She opened her mouth slightly into an o shape, her eyes wide with shock. Her cheeks reddened and she nodded her head, shutting her mouth slowly.
"I do recall and have thought of it often over the years. It has long been my favorite tale, though I did not think it was real. I thought you only to be telling tales to a young bored child."
Haldir shook his head and glanced again at the small figures upon the fountain top.
"Nay, their story is well known to all Elves Lorelie. Elves do not bind with mortals often and when it happens it is shocking to all. It is a decision not to be taken lightly by any, though I imagine there is no decision to be made when you truly love another." He smiled at Lorelie, shaking his head.
Standing, he offered her his hand to stand. She took it and then placed her hand in the crook of his arm.
"Come, I shall escourt you to my brother. Be on your guard with that one, he has a way with beautiful ladies."
Rumil's talan was high within a tree very near to where Haldir had originally asscended with the strange group of Men, Elf, Dwarf, and Hobbit hours earlier. He had pointed out there his other brother Orohpin's talan was one level below Rumil's and his own one level higher.
The climb to the talan found her greatly wearied, and puffing for a deep breath. Haldir however it did not affect, as she expected it would not. She was not used to the climbing of stairs, as her home did not have a second floor.
Once they reached the flet that held Rumil's home, Haldir turned her to face him.
"Are you certain you can handle my brother?" He asked, concern clear on his face.
She smiled and touched a hand to his cheek.
"You are a very sweet Elf. Yes, I am well certain that I can handle anything your brother should think to do. Do you leave me alone with him?" She asked, sad he would leave her side.
He nodded sadly.
"I am afraid I have been long on the border and wish a change of clothing Lorelie. If you wish my presense however, I shall stay by your side." He looked to her, his eyes wide and questioning.
She sighed, happy he would stay if she asked it of him and shook her head.
"Nay, go and see to your needs Haldir. Just return for me soon, for I fear for my sanity should I remain too long in his company."
Haldir chuckled and lifted one of her hands to his lips, placing a warm sweet kiss on it.
"I shall return when I have bathed and changed Lorelie. Fear not, I shall rescue you in time."
He bowed low and with a sweep of his arm, as if he wore a cloak, he was gone.
Lorelie shook her head, giggled to herself and turned to knock on the door to Rumil's rooms but found it already opened, and Rumil's head peeking out with a grin upon it."You have come! Haldir did not steal you away for himself. I am surprised." He opened the door fully, and took her hand, pulling her gracefully into his room and into his arms.
She laughed and pulled free from his grasp, swatting at him playfully.
"Yes, he has brought me Rumil, though he was loathe to do so. He seems to think you dangerous to an innocent girl such as I." She said, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
"Are you Rumil?" She questioned him, observing her surroundings in silent appreciation.
He laughed and as an Elf's laugh had always affected her, she felt a shudder run through her body.
"Mayhap Lorelie, but in what way does he believe I am a danger to you? Surely he knows I would never cause you harm." Noticing her shudder, he frowned. "Are you cold?"
She shook her head, still looking about her at his beautiful talan.
"You talan is wonderful Rumil, are all so beautiful?" She asked, turning now to him.
He shook his head. "I know not, only have I entered that of my brothers, and the several ladies of Lorien that have shared their bed with me. None however are decorated so. I feel my spirit darken when I leave this place so often for the border. I have long thought that a female would enjoy it more perhaps, but I do not wish to give it up. And no female has yet entered my life for more than mere enjoyment, bliss, ecstacy." He whispered the final words, moving closer to her.
She felt his breath hot upon her neck and held back a sigh as he moved behind her, pulling her hair from the back of her neck to place it all over her shoulder.
"Rumil," She whispered. "what are you doing?"
He sighed, a great heavy sigh of one who lay luxuriously in the cool shade of a tree on a swelteringly hot day.
"Is it not obvious Lorelie?" He asked, coming round to her front, where he turned his head slightly to the side.
"I have longed for some time to feel the warmth of you, touch the velvety softness of your skin. I am at long last fulfilling that desire."
The soft smile upon his face melted her heart. He looked so much like his brother who she knew she could never hope to have. Here before her now stood his brother, so alike him save for manner asking her to lie with him.
Her thoughts consumed her as Rumil slowly ran a finger over her jaw line and down her neck. Taking one of her hands in his, he streched it out before her, placing tiny kissed down her arm.
Could she do this? Would she be able to face the one she loved if she were to lie with his own brother? Would he notice the change in her, would he even care if he knew? She frowned at that posibility.
Rumil placed a hand at her neck, pulling her closer. Mere inches from his lips, she returned to herself and pushed him away with a cry.
"No! I cannot Rumil. Do not ask it of me, for my heart belongs to another. No more could I face him should I lie with another."
He stepped back from her, a frown on his beautiful face, panting from the moment past.
"Forgive me, I was wrong in my actions once again." He turned and went to a table near a window. Picking a box from the table, he handed it to her silently.
She forced a smile and took the box from him. "For me?" She asked, though she knew it must be for him to give it to her.
He nodded and folded his arms across his chest.
She opened the small pale wooden box and released a sound of joy when she saw it's content.
"Rumil! You should not have! It's.. I don't know what to say." She placed it back in it's box, and moved to hug him. He took a step back causing Lorelie to frown.
"I am truly sorry Rumil. You are a wonderful Elf and were it not as it is. Had I not another that I love then I am certain it is you I would love. I am flattered. Forgive my refusal. I do not wish there to be bad feelings between us." She reached out and placed a hand over one of his.
His face softened and he let out a sigh.
"Nay, it is I who should beg your forgiveness." She shook her head.
"Think not of it Rumil, it is forgotten." She smiled and opened the box again pulling out it's content.
As she stood examining it, a grin appeared on Rumil's face.
"So our young Lorelie is in love is she?" He asked, a teasing tone in his voice.
Her cheeks reddened and she looked away placing the small carving in it's box once more.
"I am." She squeeked out and coughed.
He smiled and putting an arm around her, steered her towards a small bench near where they stood.
"Do I know the lucky man?" He asked, his eyes shining with amusement.
She looked up to him with a suspicious glare, raising an eyebrow.
"Do not do that, you look like Haldir." He teased. Immediately her cheeks reddened further at the mention of Haldir and Rumil's mouth fell open.
"It cannot be!" He exclaimed.
"Truly it can not be him?" He said, more to himself than as a question to her.
"What?" She asked growing uncomfortable.
"My brother, it is not he that you speak of is it?" He asked, leaning his head closer to her as if they were speaking of some great secret.
"Rumil!" She cried, shoving his shoulder, pushing him back a ways.
"Certainly not, why would you even think such a thing." She said, worrying her hands in her lap nervously.
He looked down at her hands, then back up to her face suspiciously.
"If it is he Lorelie, your secret would be safe with me. You must know this." He explained, leaning closer to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"Surely it must make you weary to keep it to yourself so. You may tell me. Is it he?" He said in a comforting voice.
She sat staring into his eyes, the eyes while she knew to belong to Rumil, the joker of the three brothers appeared sincere and concerned. She was acctually considdering telling him, when there was a knock at the door and a voice called out her name, then Rumil's before the door swung open.
Haldir stood there, an eyebrow raised at the scene that he saw before him. Rumil sat close to Lorelie, too close, an arm wrapped around her, his face close to hers. Lorelie appeared to be flustered, and confused. A low growl rumbled in his throat.
"What goes on here Rumil? Lorelie, are you well?" He asked, coming closer, removing Rumil's arm from her shoulders.
Her cheeks were red, her eyes wide and her mouth agape in a small circle Haldir shook his head.
"Honestly Rumil, are half of the ladies of Lorien not enough to sate you? Come Lorelie." He said, taking her and directing her gently to the door.
"Wait!" Rumil called out, standing and coming to Lorelie's side. He smiled, cupped a hand over her ear and with a glance at his brother whispered in her ear.
"We are not done, I shall seek you out to learn this secret little Lorelie."
Her eyes widened more and she frowned, her shoulders slumping. She nodded and made for the door, but was once more stopped by Rumil placing a hand on her arm.
"Your box milady." He said, holding it out to her.
Forcing a smile, she nodded gratefully and fled his talan, Haldir close behind.