Part Thirty-Four
Orophin's heart was light in his chest as he set out with Amroth, Thranduil, and Rúmil,
though he quite honestly hoped they would find no sign of Nimrodel. Last night had been
as a dream to him. After Rúmil and Arwen had left him and Amroth alone, Amroth had
reached for him, and kissed him, and done everything that Orophin had been dreaming of
since the first moment he had seen the lost king open his eyes and come back to life.
Today Amroth looked upon him with fond eyes and consideration at all times, despite the
urgency he seemed to have to fulfil his quest. Orophin could not bring himself to think on
what might happen did they truly discover what had happened to Nimrodel. It was so rare
for him to feel this way that he wanted it to last. He wanted it to last always. He refused to
believe that Amroth would leave him in the end, despite that fact that the lost king had
told him many times that he would.
As they left the company of the others, Thranduil clapped a hand to Amroth's shoulder and
began speaking with him at length about his own ideas for this search. Amroth listened
politely and Orophin was forced to drop back behind them. He walked side by side with
Rúmil, who looked thoughtful. Thoughtful? This was odd for Rúmil.
"Is all well with you, Rúmil?" asked Orophin.
Rúmil nodded slowly. "I think I am engaged to marry Arwen."
Orophin nearly tripped on a root at this revelation. "What do you mean? You proposed to
Arwen?"
"Not exactly."
"She accepted you?"
"I do not know."
"Has Elrond given his blessing on this match?"
"I cannot say for certain…"
"Rúmil!"
Rúmil took in a deep breath. "I kissed her last night, and Erestor saw us. His shouting
awakened Elrond and next I knew, we were engaged to be married."
"What will Haldir say?"
"I imagine he will say 'better you than me,'" Rúmil said, sounding glum. "At least he seems
to have patched things up with Legolas. I feared I had ruined their…friendship."
"Do you not wish to marry Arwen?" Orophin asked, still not knowing what to make of the
whole tale. Rúmil managed to get himself into strange situations, but this was one Orophin
would never have imagined might come to pass.
"I find the thought of it frightening, but not completely without appeal."
A dreamy look passed over Rúmil's face. Orophin squinted at him suspiciously. "Did you
do more than kiss her?"
Rúmil looked at Orophin guiltily for a moment. He bit his lower lip, then nodded slowly.
"We did give each other pleasure," he said softly. "And I enjoyed it very much. Yet I
know not if that is worth binding myself to her. Orophin-- I fear I am not worthy of her."
"That is ridiculous, Rúmil. You are certainly worthy of her."
"She is a princess…"
"You may not have the same station, but that means nothing where matters of the heart
are concerned," Orophin said fiercely.
His eyes lingered on Amroth's back. He remembered then that Amroth had once been
King of Lórien. He may have been no longer, but he would always be royalty. He would
always be above Orophin if he chose to see it that way -- but he could not. He felt so close
to Amroth. They were of one mind and heart, and the difference in their ages and stations
did not change that.
"It has been said that Arwen will marry a king, Oro," Rúmil said, sounding slightly
panicked. "I will never be a king!"
"I admit that I cannot imagine you as a king," Orophin said slowly. "But perhaps there is
some other interpretation…"
Rúmil shook his head. "I fear a disaster."
"Then tell her you would not marry her."
"I do not wish to hurt her," Rúmil said faintly. "I do care for her, Orophin."
"Do you love her?" Orophin asked.
Rúmil did not reply. He looked straight ahead as they walked, as if he could not decided
upon an honest answer to the question.
"Speak to Haldir. Perhaps he can reason with Arwen, or Lord Elrond."
Rúmil shook his head slightly. "No. I must speak to Arwen about this. She deserves that
much."
"Very well," said Orophin. He wondered if he should tell his brother about what had
passed between himself and Amroth last night but he found that he wanted to keep it close
to his heart. Then again, Thranduil knew, for he had awakened then this morning. If
Thranduil knew, then everyone else probably did or soon would. Besides, he had always
told Rúmil…everything. "Rúmil," Oro said in a low voice. "I lay with Amroth last night."
"What?" said Rúmil so loudly that Thranduil turned to glance at them over his shoulder.
When he looked away again, Orophin replied.
"I told you that this is what I wanted."
"But, Oro, what about Nimrodel? If we find her--"
"Think you that we will?"
"Well…no."
"So you see."
"I suppose. I just do not wish to find you with a broken heart, my brother."
"Thank you, Rúmil, but I can look after myself."
"Indeed you can, and better than I, but I am still not without concern."
Orophin clapped a hand on his brother's arm in thanks as he nodded. It meant a lot that
Rúmil should be concerned, but Oro had already lost his heart. He could only let this event
play itself out. If he suffered in the end, so be it. It was better than never loving at all.
"Amroth! Father!"
Legolas Greenleaf came crashing through the underbrush, causing the four of them to stop
walking and turn to him.
"What is it, Legolas?" Thranduil asked immediately, frowning.
Legolas took in a deep breath. "Lord Elrond fainted--"
"Fainted?" Thranduil interrupted incredulously. "I should have liked to see that."
"He stepped into a glade and all the life went out of him. Haldir managed to revive him,
and he spoke of a vision."
"What sort of vision?" Amroth asked. He frowned. Orophin felt his heart sinking into his
boots. No, he did not want anything extraordinary to happen today.
Legolas shook his head. "Elrond wishes to speak of it only with you present. Please, you
must come now."
"Very well," Amroth said.
They all switched direction and followed Legolas back across the stream and into the
wood. No one spoke as they hurried through the trees. It took them less than half an hour
to rejoin the others. Haldir and Elrond stood in low conversation at the edge of a glade,
while Arwen and Erestor listened with looks of concern on their fair faces. They all looked
up at the approach of Amroth's party. Elrond looked rather grim, Orophin thought.
"This glade is where I last saw Nimrodel," Elrond said without preamble. "When I stepped
inside--"
"Yes, yes, you fell unconscious and had a vision," Thranduil interrupted with some small
irritation in his voice. "Do not draw this out, Elrond. Have you any information or not?"
Elrond gave Thranduil a cold look. "I am sorry that the significance of this event means
nothing to you, Thranduil. Please allow me to explain it to those whom it concerns."
Thranduil looked as if he might have a ready retort, but for some reason he held it back.
Instead he looked at Amroth and nodded. Amroth's eyes were trained on Elrond. They
shined more brightly than they ever had since Orophin had known him. For the first time,
they seemed fully alive, he realized -- but they had been that way all day. It had not to do
with Elrond's coming revelation. There was a glow about his hair and skin that had not
been there either, as if just now he was fully awake for the first time. Orophin wondered
vaguely if it had anything to do with their lovemaking the night before, or if this was just
an echo of his own vanity.
"Please, go on," said Amroth softly.
"The last time I saw her, she told me she meant to flee this land," Elrond said slowly, his
grey eyes locking with Amroth's blue ones. "She was heading to Fangorn Forest. You saw
her there."
"Yes," said Amroth. "It was in Fangorn that I convinced her to sail for Valinor with me.
We were separated on the journey to the Bay of Belfalas, in the mountains."
Elrond nodded. "When I last came here to see her, she told me to let her go. I refused. She
had lodged deeply in my heart. I…"
Elrond took a deep breath and glanced sorrowfully at his daughter.
"It is all right, Father," Arwen said softly.
Elrond looked back at Amroth. "I took Nimrodel by force. It was a cruel act, born of my
obsession. She gave in to me against her will. I fell asleep here in this glade afterward, and
when I awoke she was gone. I never saw her again."
Elrond stopped speaking and a stunned silence fell over the small group of elves. Orophin
found it difficult to imagine the wise and cultured Lord of Imladris forcing himself upon
anyone. A great sadness came into Amroth's eyes at this news, but he expressed no anger.
If anything, he seemed to pity Elrond. Arwen looked slightly shocked, her hand raised to
her lips. She took a step towards Rúmil, who laid a protective arm around her shoulders.
"And your vision?" Amroth asked.
"She came to me in a vision of forgiveness," Elrond said. "She asked the same of me."
"Is that it?" Thranduil asked. Elrond ignored him, continuing to address Amroth.
"Your vision of her in Galadriel's mirror was correct, but mine was as well. She lives, but
neither is she alive. Nimrodel was taken by orcs in the Misty Mountains as she went to
meet you. She would not let them destroy her, so she left her body. She dwells here in this
glade, as a great spirit. I will not see her in the flesh again without your help. She said she
may not return until you come for her."
"What must I do?" Amroth murmured.
"Step into the glade and let her come to you," Elrond said, indicating the clearing behind
him.
Amroth took a step in that direction, but Orophin seized his arm. "No!"
"What is it, Oro?" Amroth said, looking at him in concern.
"You must not go into the glade. What if you become a spirit as well?" Orophin said. He
was not sure why this idea possessed him but now it had taken hold and he could not rid
himself of it. "You will die, Amroth."
"That is a risk I must take," Amroth said, taking Orophin's hand in his own.
"Why?"
"Why do you think he will become a spirit, Orophin?" Haldir asked quietly.
Oro looked at his older brother. "Lord Elrond's spirit departed his body when he stepped
into the glade."
"He revived when we removed him," Erestor said.
"What if Amroth does not?"
"Why should he not?" Thranduil asked easily. "Let him do it, that we may return to Lórien
by nightfall and celebrate the end of this adventure."
"If you choose not to do this, I will understand," Elrond said quietly to Amroth. "Yet I
confess I very badly want this. It is up to you to restore her to life."
"Let her go," Orophin pleaded. "How can you give life to a spirit? Let it end here. Lord
Elrond, you have your forgiveness. Is that not enough?"
"I would you did not bring her back, Father," Arwen said, lifting her chin. "Do not ask
Amroth to make this sacrifice."
"I will not force him to it," Elrond said quietly. "It is in your hands, Amroth, will you go
or no."
Orophin knew already from Amroth's grim expression that the fight was lost. He squeezed
his lover’s hand and fought back the tears that threatened to fall. Arwen already had let
tears stream from her own eyes, he saw.
"Please, do not step in there. Let us all away. Let her stay lost -- you are found!"
"Oro," Amroth said tenderly, "Please understand. This is why I came here -- why we all
came here."
"Give up Nimrodel," Orophin begged. "Have me instead. I love you."
"Oro--" said Haldir in a warning tone, but he did not continue.
Amroth smiled at Orophin, his but his eyes were sad. He stroked Orophin's hair and the
touch made Oro tremble. Amroth enfolded Orophin into his embrace and held him for a
moment.
"I will always be with you, no matter what," Amroth promised in a soft voice that no one
else might hear. Orophin loosed one small sob and clung to him, but a moment later
Amroth disentangled himself from the embrace.
Oro's throat ached and he could say no more. He swiped his hand across his eyes. He
shook his head. Amroth turned to Elrond and clapped a hand to his shoulder. Elrond
returned the gesture. Haldir, Thranduil, Legolas and Erestor each bowed slightly to the
lost king. Arwen turned around and flung her arms around Rúmil as if she could not bear
to watch.
With one last, telling look at Orophin, Amroth stepped forward into the glade.
