Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OC's and the plot, everything else belongs to Tolkien and those who currently own the rights to his work.
Chapter 24- Apologies, Part 2
Third Age 2700
Rumil floated home. At least, it seemed so as he made it to his front door on a cloud of happiness. The feeling ceased, however, when he caught sight of a shadowed figure lounging on the terrace floor. Haldir sat with his legs dangling over the edge of the talan. He looked rather like an elfling, reprimanded by his father for some wrongdoing. No doubt, the former description was not too far from the truth. Rumil could not help but feel for his older brother. He could only imagine what the Lord and Lady said to him after his departure.
Rumil approached without a word and seated himself at Haldir's side. It had been quite some time since the pair sat together like this – Rumil thought it a pity they did not do so more often. After some time, Rumil broke the silence with a single word, "Haldir."
Haldir turned his head slightly so he could get a better look at his brother. The concern he saw in his younger brother's eyes sent a new wave of guilt crashing over him. Why is he so forgiving?
Haldir breathed deep. "Rumil, I never intended…," he paused, and looking again into his brother's worried face, he could not continue. He could not offer Rumil the lame collection of excuses he'd come up with to explain away his actions. His brother deserved the truth and he gave it to him. "I am a fool."
Rumil's lips curled into a triumphant smile. "I've been telling you that for years," he laughed heartily.
His brother's laughter brought a guarded smile to Haldir's lips. "And I have not heeded you." It was true. Haldir was forever dismissing Rumil's criticisms. It had become habit, routine, for the two regularly held opposing opinions on everything from food to patrol assignments. What other advice have I ignored from you, little brother?
Rumil pondered his brother a moment. He thought he'd be much angrier at Haldir at their next meeting. He'd certainly been in no mood to speak with him earlier in the day, but as always, he found he could not remain angry at Haldir for long. His brother was a great Marchwarden and his desire to protect his land and his people was paramount. Rumil had known this, always. It was why the people of Lórien loved and praised him. Haldir's mistrust kept their land safe, their families protected. He took the watch so others could sing and dance under the golden mellyrn. How could one remain angry with such an ellon?
Rumil wished for peace to be between them again and so he offered Haldir his understanding. "Your first love has always been Lórien. I know you would give more than your life to protect her. I do not fault you for that."
"Not first…," Haldir corrected.
Haldir watched a strange, disbelieving look cross his brother's face and it gave him pause. Does he truly believe that Lórien is first? Haldir shook his head. "You and Orophin come first, the Golden Wood second." Haldir spoke these words for the first time out loud; he'd never thought voicing them necessary until now.
A silence fell between them where Haldir waited for his words to sink in, and though he knew it unnecessary, he issued his apology. "I'm sorry if my actions today caused you pain."
Rumil waved the apology aside, "I know, brother. Do not worry yourself, all is well between us."
"Indeed," Haldir's eyebrow rose curiously, "you did appear to be in good spirits upon your return home."
A large smile formed on Rumil's face, extending from ear to ear. "Eruanna agreed to attend the festival with me."
Haldir's mouth fell open in surprise. "Is that why you sought her by the lake?" The pieces were finally falling into place.
"Yes," Rumil answered. He could tell Haldir had waited long to find out why he'd been in Eruanna's company.
Haldir nodded, only to find himself a bit confused. When last he'd seen Eruanna and his brother together, the lady had not appeared willing to accompany Rumil anywhere. "Then you spoke with her this eve?" he deduced.
"I just returned from her talan," Rumil confirmed.
Haldir turned his face away and stared guiltily down at his hands. "Was she well?"
Rumil heard the hesitation in his brother's voice and could feel the guilt emanating from his soul. "She seemed to be when I saw her, though…," Rumil hesitated and it was enough to alarm Haldir.
"What?" Haldir's head shot up.
Rumil knew better than to hide the truth from Haldir. The ellon had a knack for smelling a lie, especially when uttered by his own kin. "She walked stiffly, as one would with a back injury."
Haldir shut his eyes tightly. He'd never felt so ashamed in his life. He had to make amends with Eruanna as well, and he doubted it would go as smoothly as this. Haldir looked over his brother again and his bandaged face. He looked quite comical. "And what about your pretty face?" Haldir's voice held a hint of humor. Rumil always said he was the beautiful one in the family.
Rumil snorted at his brother's ribbing. "Never fear, it will heal," Rumil assured him, "and I will remain the fairest brother."
Haldir snorted, "And how was it a Lórien warden was taken unawares by an elleth from Imladris?"
Rumil laughed. He knew this question was coming. "Lord Glorfindel trained her."
Haldir rolled his eyes, "Of course." It would be Glorfindel. He should have known the Seneschal would not have let Eruanna travel across the mountains unless he believed her a capable fighter.
Rumil raised a hand gingerly to his face. "You would have been proud, Haldir. Her form was perfect." Rumil regretted his choice of words as soon as they were spoken and he saw Haldir's eyebrow arch.
"I referred to her blow, Haldir," Rumil corrected.
Haldir graced his younger brother with a look of disbelief. "Remind me to inform Glorfindel of your thoughts on her form the next time he comes to visit."
The smile that reached Haldir's eyes caused Rumil to laugh and once the laughter began, it became contagious. The two ellyn chuckled lightly together until their humor was interrupted by a third arrival.
"What are the two of you laughing about?" Orophin's voice called from the doorway of their talan.
The pair turned to see their brother leaning against the doorframe, an inquisitive expression on his face.
"Nothing," Haldir and Rumil replied in unison.
"Nothing, I'm sure…," Orophin halted abruptly as he took in the sight of his younger brother. "Rumil, what happened to you?"
Haldir and Rumil shared a guilty look.
"It's a long story," Rumil replied. "But since Haldir comes off badly in it, I'll tell you over dinner."
Rumil arrived at Eruanna's door early in the morning on Midsummer's Day. He knocked soundly on the door. It flew open, and a familiar face appeared in the doorway.
Rumil was surprised to see Marilla at her friend's home so early. "Is Eruanna ready?" he asked hesitantly.
"We'll be ready in a moment," she replied and turned back into the talan without inviting him in.
"We?" Rumil's voice rose in surprise as he followed the elleth inside.
Marilla folded her arms across her chest defensively. "She needs a chaperone doesn't she? Do you think I'd let her near you or your brother after…." Her tirade was cut short by a shout coming from the next room.
"Marilla!" Eruanna yelled on her way through the door. She looked up to see Rumil standing near the door dressed in light blues and greens. She smiled upon seeing him. "Do not listen to her…," Eruanna gave her friend a withering look. "I am certain Marilla's mind has been addled by all her years of bouncing around."
Marilla feigned shock and before Rumil's eyes, the pair descended into laughter.
"Are we ready?" Marilla asked.
"I believe so." Eruanna glanced around the room for anything she may have forgotten. Deeming herself prepared, she turned her attention to Rumil.
"Shall we?" Rumil extended his right arm and this time Eruanna took it without hesitation.
A second arm wrapped itself around Rumil's just as he was about to lead Eruanna away. He looked down to find Marilla clutching his left arm. She smiled coyly, "Just think of me as your other date."
Rumil rolled his eyes at the blond elleth, "Lucky me." He shared an amused look with Eruanna before leading both ladies out into the morning sun.
"So…," Marilla turned smiling eyes on Rumil, "will Orophin be joining us today?"
Haldir arrived at the festival late in the day. He'd been seeing to his duties; not all of the wardens had the day off. Haldir's keen eyes swept across the field in search of his brothers; he spotted them at a table celebrating merrily with several other wardens. He began walking toward them but his movement was halted by a dark haired ellon blocking his path.
"Lord Erestor," Haldir nearly jumped in surprise. He'd not even sensed the counselor's approach. Too much time in the city had dulled his instincts, or so he thought, for few elves trod silently enough to come upon him unawares.
"Haldir," the Lord replied in kind.
Haldir waited a moment for the Lord to say something more but as the silence lengthened he grew nervous. Thinking that perhaps the counselor waited for him to speak first, Haldir considered issuing an apology. Lord Erestor appeared quite close with Eruanna and Haldir did not wish to be responsible for a diplomatic incident. "I wish to apologize, Lord, for my behavior…."
"I am not the one who requires an apology." Erestor cut the Marchwarden off abruptly.
The suddenness of the ellon's words startled him but Haldir recovered himself quickly. "No, of course not." Haldir waited then to be dismissed, but Erestor did not release him. Instead, the Lord pondered him for a time before he next spoke.
Erestor could feel the Marchwarden's unease and he considered it well deserved. "I would like to share a story with you, Haldir. It is one that was told to me by a man of the Dunedain."
Haldir made no reply. He could not say 'no' to the Lord, but the counselor's unusual behavior was making Haldir uncomfortable. He merely stood and waited for whatever it was Lord Erestor wished to tell him. He watched as Lord Erestor reclined leisurely against a mallorn tree. If any other ellon had taken such an informal posture, Haldir might have been comforted by it, but never did Lord Elrond's high counselor comport himself in such a fashion. It was almost unnatural and what's more, it made the ancient one appear surprisingly threatening. The sound of the Lord's cool voice brought Haldir's mind back into focus.
"Once, many years ago," Erestor began, "upon returning from his travels, a man discovered that his child, a daughter, had been attacked by one of the men from a neighboring tribe. As punishment, the guilty man's life was turned over to the father to do with as he willed…and so, the father bound his child's attacker to a tree deep in the woods for a single night.
The man decreed to his prisoner, 'If Ilúvatar wills it you shall live, and if not, the wolves will see to your demise.'" Erestor paused, and took a sip of wine from the goblet he carried before continuing."The next morning there was little left of the child's assailant that had not been consumed by the wolves and scavengers of the forest. The men of the north call this justice."
Erestor straitened himself and held the Marchwarden with emotionless eyes. "I love Eruanna, but she is not my child… and we are not men," he added pointedly. "It could be that you are fortunate on both accounts." Leaving the Marchwarden with that final thought, Erestor disappeared into the crowd.
"Haldir, where have you been?" Orophin shouted as his brother approached. He patted the empty place next to him. "Come, sit." A chorus of cheers erupted from the other wardens at the arrival of their friend and leader.
Have a drink Haldir!
Done with work already?
You lost, Amdir. I told you he wouldn't miss the banquet.
Come sit, Haldir!
Haldir smiled at the assembled company, all of whom appeared to have taken the festival cheer to heart. He waved their invitations aside, "In a moment." His gaze moved to Rumil and the elleth seated at his side. He made his way to where they were seated and dropped to one knee so his words would not be overheard. Eruanna turned her face to meet his. "Lady Eruanna, may I have a word with you…please," he whispered quietly.
Eruanna looked to Rumil who nodded. "Of course," she replied. Eruanna stood and took Haldir's arm. He led her a distance away where he might speak without being overheard but still remain in sight of the table. Eruanna heard some of the wardens calling loudly after them.
It looks like he's stolen another one.
That was fast.
Bad luck, Rumil! I thought she liked you.
Eruanna burst into laughter at their taunts. She looked up to see the Marchwarden shaking his head and though he remained silent, his eyes smiled. It seemed he was accustomed to his wardens' jests.
When they were far enough away from the crowd for Haldir's comfort he released Eruanna's arm. She studied him closely and he found it unnerving. He'd thought she might be intimidated by him after what he had done. Instead, he found her meeting his eyes with curiosity. "My Lady," he began, "I seek your forgiveness for my terrible behavior, though I scarcely deserve your mercy."
Eruanna shook her head slightly and in a voice that seemed wise far beyond her years, she responded. "You believed I was a danger to Lórien, and at the moment you came upon us, you were correct. I lashed out at Rumil without thinking and you, in turn, did the same. We are both guilty of allowing our emotions to control our actions."
Haldir was stunned by the elleth's accurate and surprisingly candid analysis of their actions. He conceded that they were both at fault in their own way for what occurred the other day, but it did not lesson his own feelings of guilt. The elleth had struck Rumil in fear, but a broken nose was nothing compared to what injuries he might have caused her had Rumil not pulled him away. It was not something he cared to think about. "Still, I could have seriously injured you."
Eruanna waved his words away. "There is nothing to forgive, but if you feel need of it, let us both accept each others' apologies and let the matter be forgotten. What say you, Marchwarden?"
"Haldir," he corrected her, "any Lady so wise and fair may call me by my first name."
Eruanna graced Haldir with a broad smile, "Then I am Eruanna," she replied, before taking his arm once more.
"Very well… Eruanna," he patted her arm lightly. "Shall we return to the festivities, I wouldn't want Rumil to think we had truly run off together." The elleth laughed lightly at his words and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. No doubt she remembered the shouts of the wardens when he first drew her away from the crowd.
The pair returned swiftly to their companions and Eruanna returned to her seat at Rumil's side. He leaned towards her and spoke softly in her ear.
"Is everything alright?" he asked her.
Eruanna caught his eye and smiled brightly. "Yes, yes it is."
"You're just in time, Eruanna!" Orophin called from across the table. "I was telling everyone about Rumil's first archery lesson with Haldir." The assembled party burst into a raucous laughter, all of them that is, but Haldir.
"I guess I missed something." Eruanna looked around at the smiling faces.
Orophin wrapped an arm around Haldir, whose expression might have given another ellon pause. "Let's just say, Rumil's aim was not very impressive but," he stressed the word oddly and gave his brother's shoulder a tight squeeze, "Haldir's backside was a rather large target."
The crowd once again descended into laughter.
Rumil shook his head at Orophin, though he laughed along with everyone else. It took a few minutes before Haldir, too, admitted the humor of a practice arrow in his backside. Pushing Orophin away, Haldir took a seat at the table beside Eruanna. The company continued to joke at Haldir's expense and he allowed it, objecting only with his standard glare, the one his brothers had learned long ago to ignore.
It was in the midst of his laughter that Haldir felt the light touch of the Lady in his mind. He turned swiftly, and saw her far off across the field in conversation with another. Her eyes locked with his and though her lips remained still, he felt her smile upon him and he knew that all would be well.