Part Sixteen
Orophin had never known so much internal confusion in his life, and he was doing his best
to deal with it on his own. All his life he had been able to share his problems with Rúmil,
but over the past few days he had spent little time with his younger brother. Of course,
turning to Haldir was an option, but Orophin liked not to trouble the Marchwarden. Haldir
had enough on his plate.
After Haldir had come to his rescue last night, Orophin had lain awake until dawn, his
mind turning over and over. The rejection of Amroth stung. The approach of Celeborn
made him afraid. He did not wish to be the plaything of the Lord of Lórien, nor did he
wish to risk the wrath of Galadriel, for whom he had genuine respect and admiration. It
was clear to Oro that she loved her lord no matter his shortcomings, and Orophin had no
wish to become one of those.
Haldir had told him to be ready to march at dawn to meet the Mirkwood party, but when
morning came, Oro found he did not have the strength. He had coerced Rúmil into taking
his place, promising to take his brother's next two patrols in return. Luckily Rúmil had not
been enough awake to remember that they generally had the same patrol shifts anyway, so
it would mean little more work for Orophin than normal.
At midday, Amroth had appeared in the talan looking for him. Orophin's heart leapt in his
chest when he saw the golden king standing in the doorway, looking radiant and beautiful,
with even more life in him. With each day that had passed Amroth seemed to grow
stronger.
"I will not allow you to cast aside our friendship just because you wish it would take
another turn," Amroth had said.
Orophin had felt ashamed. He roused himself, and together he and Amroth had gone to
the bathing pool. It was a beautiful day for a swim, and their conversation held every bit of
intrigue that it had before he had thrown himself at the lost king. He thought about telling
Amroth about Celeborn's assault on him, but he felt ashamed.
And then Arwen had opened her mouth. "I saw Orophin kissing my grandfather last
night."
Oro had no idea that she had seen what happened, although she apparently did not
understand it. Rúmil's mouth had dropped open in surprise. Orophin had turned to explain
himself to Amroth, to tell him that he had no choice in the matter, that he had refused, but
Amroth had simply nodded at him.
"Orophin is free to kiss whomever he wishes," he had said. Had it been wishful thinking,
or had Amroth seemed slightly saddened? Jealous?
"Lady Galadriel wishes you to come to her, Amroth," Rúmil blurted out as Arwen
disappeared. "I can escort you--"
"Thank you, Rúmil, I know the way."
And he had been gone before Orophin could tell him the truth of the matter. He had
rounded on Rúmil. "Brother--"
"I find I am jealous," Rúmil said. "So this is why you would not take your patrol this
morning. Celeborn must have left you too spent."
"Rúmil--"
"Perhaps he will come for me next," Rúmil said with a twinkle in his eye, "And save me
from Arwen. Would you come up and see Legolas? I imagine he would be pleased."
Orophin sighed. He followed his brother up into the guest talan. The company of the
Prince of Mirkwood was a relief, for he was an attentive listener and far less prone to
interrupting than Rúmil was. Finally he had been able to tell them both the story of what
had passed the night before.
"I do not understand why you refused Celeborn," Rúmil said. "I have heard he is a very
fine giver of pleasure."
"Orophin's heart is more tender than yours, my Rúmil," Legolas had teased him. There had
been some amount of flirting going on between Rúmil and the prince, but that had ceased
the moment Haldir had appeared with Thranduil and Celeborn.
Legolas seemed to turn to ice, Haldir looked irritated as usual, and Rúmil had flirted
shamelessly with Celeborn. He might have made progress had not Thranduil decided to
claim Celeborn as his own. Once Legolas and Haldir had slipped outside, hopefully to
resolve their differences, Thranduil had pinned Celeborn to the couch. Orophin would
have left immediately but that Rúmil had wanted to stay and watch, and Oro thought that
after last night, he owed Haldir a moment alone with Legolas.
Finally they had slipped out to find Haldir and Legolas entwined on the stair. A great
loneliness settled on Orophin's heart and he wondered where Amroth was that night. The
four of them walked back to the tree shared by the three brothers and Legolas had
disappeared into Haldir's talan with him. Rúmil lingered at the base of the tree and
Orophin stayed with him.
"What troubles you?" Orophin asked Rúmil, noticing his dark expression.
"I suppose I would Legolas had come with us instead," Rúmil admitted. "But we have
known always that he and Haldir loved each other in Mirkwood. I had put it from my
mind when we left there, I suppose."
"I think Haldir has never loved another," Orophin said slowly.
"That would explain a great deal," Rúmil said thoughtfully. "Though has Haldir not shared
a bed with Lord Elrond? Last time we were in Imladris it had Erestor in a bind. I believe
he was jealous."
"Sharing a bed is not the same as sharing your heart, Rúmil," Orophin said, smiling fondly
at his younger brother. "Someday you will learn this."
"I should hope not!" said Rúmil, laughing. "I can see what it has done for both you and
Haldir. When Legolas leaves to go home, he will no doubt be twice as sour as ever."
The thought saddened Orophin. "Perhaps, but let them enjoy it now. Pleasures may be
brief, but they are still pleasures."
"On that I agree with you, which is why I think you should have submitted yourself to
Celeborn. I certainly would have."
"I did not desire Lord Celeborn," Orophin sighed. "I did not ask him to kiss me. And if I
did, my love for Galadriel is too great for me to have done so."
"Well said, Orophin," said Arwen Undómiel, appearing from the shadows. Rúmil jumped
in his astonishment. Orophin was equally surprised but he remained steady. "So, Rúmil,
you desire my grandfather."
Bright spots of color appeared in Rúmil's cheeks and Orophin could not hide his
amusement over his brother's embarrassment.
"If I do, it is no business of yours," he blustered.
"I wonder if my grandmother would feel the same way," Arwen said archly, stepping
towards Rúmil. She glared up at him, for he was much taller than her, and Orophin
admired her nerve.
"Let him be, Arwen," Orophin said gently. "He meant no harm, and neither will either of
us be lying with Celeborn."
"He is spending this night with Thranduil!" Rúmil said.
Arwen's mouth dropped open. She spun around and looked at Orophin for confirmation.
He looked at her pityingly, but nodded slightly. Despite her tendencies to drive everyone
mad, she was an innocent.
"I do not believe it," she said, lifting her chin.
"That does not make it any less the truth," said Rúmil.
"Rúmil, go upstairs to bed. I will escort Arwen back to her talan and be back shortly,"
Orophin said.
Rúmil looked wounded, but only for half a second. He glared at Orophin, then turned his
gaze to Arwen. Orophin saw desire flicker in Rúmil's eyes. Orophin sighed inwardly.
Celeborn, Legolas, and now Arwen? Rúmil was too flighty, and this maiden was too
vulnerable. She met Rúmil's gaze without fear. The pair of them were an explosion waiting
to happen.
"Good night, Rúmil," Arwen said in a honeyed voice.
"Would you not rather I escorted you back to your talan?" Rúmil said. He raised an
eyebrow and reminded Orophin briefly of Haldir.
"I think I prefer Orophin this night," Arwen replied in the same sweet tone. Without
another word, Rúmil turned and stomped up the stairs. Arwen watched him go, but when
he was out of sight her shoulders slumped and she sighed.
"I should be angry with you," Orophin said. Arwen turned around, her blue eyes wide.
"Why, Orophin?"
"I have not seen Amroth since you revealed to him what happened last night between
Celeborn and myself. He thinks I offered myself to Celeborn when I could not have him."
Arwen blushed. "I saw Celeborn kissing you," she said in a small voice. "I did not know
that you did not want him to."
Orophin felt badly. "I know you meant no harm, Arwen," he said, offering her his arm.
She took it and they started slowly towards her guest talan.
"But I did, Oro," she whispered. "I wronged you because I knew not all the facts."
His heart was heavy in his chest. "It matters not," he said, though this was not entirely
true.
"Are you in love with Amroth?"
"It matters not. We will be friends, no more than that."
"I see," said Arwen, but Orophin was not sure that she did.
"What do you out so late, wandering by our mallorn?" Orophin asked her gently.
"My father and Erestor never returned to the talan. I had no one to talk to," Arwen said.
Orophin could sense a great loneliness in her, and this was something he understood. "So I
was looking for Haldir, or even Rúmil."
Orophin laughed softly. "We were sharing wine with Celeborn, Thranduil, and Legolas."
"Are you drunk, then?"
Arwen stopped walking and turned to face him. She stood on tiptoe and peered up into his
eyes, leaning on his body. Orophin felt a stirring and wondered if it was the wine. He was
as bad as Rúmil. His arms came around her of their own accord and she began to bring her
mouth to his. Orophin turned his head and they fell upon his cheek. Arwen withdrew and
stepped back from him.
"I am not nearly drunk enough to take advantage of you, Lady Arwen," he said.
She looked disappointed for a moment, but then it passed quickly. "You are very noble,
Orophin of Lórien," she said.
"I almost wish I had indulged in one more glass," he said wistfully. She looked so beautiful
then, her hair touched by the soft glow of the ever present lights in the trees. Arwen
smiled and took his arm again and they continued on their path.
"I should tell my father that I wish to marry you," she said.
Orophin laughed. "He would be mortified. I am too far below your station. He might
consider Haldir, but not me."
"I thought once that I would have Haldir," Arwen mused. "But I know now that he will
never love me. I would not have a cold marriage bed."
"Think you that I could love you, Princess?" Orophin teased as they reached the tree.
They stopped walking and he let go of her arm. She smiled at him.
"I know that you could, if you thought you could have me. What if I told you that Elrond
will indeed let me wed with whomever I choose?"
"I find that difficult to believe," Orophin said slowly. Her words forced him to examine his
own heart, and he found that his mind was more fuzzy with alcohol than he had realized.
"Yes, perhaps I could love you…"
She smiled at him wickedly. "Yes," she agreed, "So it is just too bad that I am already in
love with Rúmil!"
With those words, she turned and ran up the stairs to her talan.
