Part Twenty-Two
Orophin sat by Rúmil's bedside, anxiously waiting for him to awaken. He sighed inwardly
as he recalled all the events that had happened over the past few days. Haldir was livid,
and when he got angry, he got stubborn, and who knew how long it might be before he
was calm enough to listen to reason and forgive Rúmil.
Oro had watched Rúmil and Legolas flirt with each other all day yesterday, but he had
never thought that Rúmil would take it as far as he had. Had it all been because of the
herb? Was what they had witnessed not what it seemed? He certainly hoped not. The last
thing he wanted was to be stuck in the middle of a family squabble. He could never take
sides in such a case. He did think that in any event, Rúmil owed Haldir an apology… as
did Legolas.
Oro had hoped to spend the afternoon with Amroth, but he had left with Lord Elrond and
not returned. Finally he went and sat on the balcony, where he could look back and see
Rúmil lying silently on the bed, could look up the stairs towards Haldir's talan, where
Arwen had been left with Legolas (not a good idea in Orophin's opinion -- Arwen had
never liked the Prince of Mirkwood) and could also see out over most of Caras Galadhon.
There was no sign of Amroth or Elrond -- or of Haldir. Once he spotted Thranduil and
Celeborn walking by, but they did not glance up in his direction. For this Orophin was
glad.
Towards late afternoon, Orophin began to feel drowsy. He inclined his head against his
knees, his long blond hair spilling down around them and closed his eyes. Immediately he
began to dream. In the dream, he was walking with Rúmil and Haldir at the edge of the
Bay of Belfalas. They stopped at the top of the cliff, and Orophin felt the urge to cast
himself into the water. Haldir pulled him back.
"Love is not worth casting yourself towards what will certainly harm you," his elder
brother cautioned.
Before Orophin could respond, Rúmil laughed and pushed Haldir. Haldir stumbled a few
steps, then fell from the precipice towards the water crashing against the rocks below.
Orophin let out a soundless scream as he saw Haldir hit the water and sink below the
surface. He turned to face Rúmil, to demand to know why he had done such a thing, but in
his place stood Legolas.
The dream changed, and Orophin found himself underwater. He was not drowning, but
neither could he breathe. He was trapped, suspended beneath the waves. He could not
escape. He could only wait for someone to rescue him. With the greatest effort he tilted
his head up towards the surface. In a distorted reflection he saw the face of Amroth.
Amroth extended an arm towards Orophin, as if he meant to pull him out of the water. It
took all of Oro's strength to grab Amroth's arm. Amroth pulled him up and his head broke
the surface of the waves. Orophin gasped for breath. Amroth smiled at him and opened his
mouth to speak.
"You bastard!" he squawked in Arwen's voice.
Orophin started awake, his head turning in the direction of Haldir's talan before he was
even fully recovered from the dream. He jumped to his feet as he heard the yelling
continue from upstairs.
"I did nothing to hurt Haldir!" Legolas' voice followed on the tail of Arwen's. "And if I
did, I fail to see how it is any business of yours."
"You were naked! You were kissing Rúmil! Haldir deserves better than you."
"I suppose you think he deserves a nice, spoiled princess from Imladris."
Orophin started up the stairs, but Legolas emerged from the talan, dressed in his wrinkled
clothing of the night before. He looked very pale and nearly stumbled as he came down
the stairs.
"Legolas--" Arwen screamed from the doorway.
"I have no more to say to you!" Legolas shouted without turning around.
"You will be sorry," Arwen said coldly. She turned around and went back into Haldir's
room. Legolas continued down the stairs, his expression livid. He had nearly bumped into
Orophin before he saw him. Oro grabbed his shoulders to steady him.
"Forgive me, Orophin," Legolas said in a much more dignified tone. "Lady Arwen has a
way of irritating me beyond the realm of my natural patience. I would not like to wake up
to see her face every day of my life."
"I understand this," Orophin said. "Did she give you the draught her father left?"
"Yes."
Orophin took a breath, filled with relief. "Then she has fulfilled her duty. Legolas-- what
happened?"
"As I drank it, she immediately began to lash me with her shrewish tongue," Legolas said.
"She called me a fool for taking the dry herb and told me that I had brought harm to both
of your brothers. Orophin, where are they?"
"Rúmil lies in his bed. Lord Elrond and Amroth laid him there, for me to watch over as
Arwen watched over you. I imagine he will wake soon, since you are up."
"I feel as though I fought an army of orcs by myself, and followed it with a meal of
poisonous mushrooms. My stomach turns like the sea."
"Maybe you should lie down."
"I intend to, but not here. I will return to the talan Galadriel has provided me with,"
Legolas said. He did indeed look slightly green. "I must rest before that banquet… but,
Oro… where is Haldir?"
"I know not. He was enraged when he saw you kissing Rúmil and left, headed towards the
border, it seemed."
Legolas' blue eyes grew round and wide. Orophin noticed that they were slightly
bloodshot. "I thought that Arwen was telling tales. Truly-- I kissed Rúmil in Haldir's own
bed? The last I recall, Rúmil handed me the herb and… and…"
Orophin nodded slowly, putting a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "I saw it myself, but I
believe you if you say that you do not remember."
"I would not cause Haldir such grief," Legolas whispered, looking mortified. "I must find
him. I must speak with him."
"I would advise you to wait until tonight. You look not at all well, Legolas."
Legolas nodded slowly. "I fear that you are correct. Please, Oro-- speak none of this to
my father."
"Do not worry. Those few who know are not likely to tell him."
"For once I am glad that Lord Elrond dislikes my father so," Legolas said, smiling faintly.
"Are you well enough to return on your own? I would insist upon escorting you, but I
dare not leave Rúmil. I can have Arwen--"
"No! I will manage. Do not worry."
Orophin smiled slightly. "I thought as much. I will see you tonight."
Legolas nodded. Gripping the handrail tightly, he began to make his way slowly down the
stairs. Orophin turned to go upstairs to speak to Arwen, but inside his talan, he heard
Rúmil cough. Anxiously he hurried to his brother's side and knelt by the bed. Rúmil turned
his head and opened his eyes. They were so bloodshot that the blue was nearly lost in the
red.
"Oro? What happened? Was I attacked by goblins?"
Orophin laughed and kissed Rúmil on the mouth. "Foolish elf. I was very worried about
you. You poisoned yourself with that herb you swallowed dry."
"I did?"
"Yes-- and Legolas as well."
Rúmil let out a groan. "The hesitation in your voice tells me there is more to this story,
Orophin. Will you give me some water? Please?"
Oro remembered the draught that Elrond had left and leapt up to get it. He helped Rúmil
to sit up and gave it to him, along with a great pitcher of water which Rúmil drank down
thirstily. While he did this, Orophin explained all that had happened. Rúmil set down the
water pitcher and rested his head on his knees. A moment later Orophin saw his shoulders
shaking. He slid onto the bed next to Rúmil and put his arms around his brother who was
sobbing quietly.
"Haldir will never forgive me," he whispered. "Nor will Legolas. Or Arwen. Or Elrond.
Never mind what Thranduil will probably do to me. I imagine he will have my hide for a
new set of leggings."
"Thranduil will not be told, unless Legolas chooses to tell him."
"Of course he will tell him. I have ruined it for him and Haldir."
"When Haldir learns what really happened--"
"He will still not forgive me," Rúmil insisted. He lifted his head and Orophin pressed his
lips against his brother's tearstained face. "You know as well as I how stubborn Haldir can
be."
"Did-- did you kiss Legolas because of the herb?" Orophin asked timidly.
Rúmil shrugged. "I do not remember kissing him, except for yesterday afternoon when
they first arrived, before he and Haldir…resolved their differences. I like Legolas. I always
have. We have sported with him before, back in Mirkwood…yet now Haldir chooses to
become jealous. I will never understand jealousy, Oro. I will never understand a love that
lives with such fear."
"Perhaps you are the wisest of us all," Orophin sighed.
Rúmil smiled slightly. "You do not believe that."
Orophin laughed, glad that Rúmil's sense of humor had not been lost. "Haldir will forgive
you, and hopefully he will forgive Legolas as well. Now, come, you must eat something
and gather your strength. We are still expected to attend this banquet tonight."
They spent what remained of the afternoon preparing for the banquet. At one point
Orophin saw Haldir passing up the stairs, nude, dripping wet as if he had just come from
bathing, and carrying his clothing. Rúmil was in the middle of dressing and had his tunic
over his head. He did not see Haldir go by, so Orophin decided not to mention it. If Haldir
was walking around naked, this was already a bad sign. It was not like him to do so. If he
wanted to talk to them, he could come into their talan.
He did not come. Ten minutes later Arwen skipped past without even poking her nose in
the door, and ten minutes after that Haldir went past, fully clothed this time, in his dress
robes. Orophin hoped that what he had picked out for himself and Rúmil was fine enough.
He looked at his younger bother and felt a swell of pride. Rúmil looked like the Galadhrim
he was meant to be, his hair neat and shiny, his clothing crisp and without wrinkles. Aside
from his unusually pale face and slight pink tinge that still lurked in his eyes, he looked
perfect.
"I think we are ready," Orophin said.
"I do not feel so ready," Rúmil said. "My stomach is still tender. I will hardly be able to
eat."
"That will be a first," Orophin teased. "Come now."
Perhaps half of those who had been invited were already in the Great Hall sharing wine
when Orophin and Rúmil entered the room, which was filled with dining tables.
Immediately Orophin looked around for Amroth. He was sitting at the high table between
Elrond and Galadriel, chatting amiably with them both. Celeborn and Thranduil were to
their left. Legolas sat next to his father, looking as almost as pale as Rúmil. He was staring
blankly at his wine goblet, as if he was not quite sure what it was.
Erestor sat next to Elrond, and next to the advisor was Fereveldir, his twin brother
Ferevellon, and their father Thandronen. There was no sign yet of Haldir or Arwen,
though seats had been reserved for them at the high table, along with some for the two of
them. When she saw them approaching, Galadriel excused herself and glided over. She
kissed Orophin on the cheek, then turned to Rúmil.
"You will sit next to Lord Elrond, and he will give you another restorative. You must eat
something with it, or the wine will go too quickly to your head. You understand?"
Rúmil nodded, his cheeks turning scarlet. "Yes, my lady." He dashed off to find his seat.
"Orophin, the seat next to Amroth is yours. I thought you would like that."
Orophin smiled broadly. "Thank you."
Galadriel took his arm and together they walked back to the table. "Nothing has been said
to Thranduil," she cautioned. "Let it remain so."
Orophin nodded. He said hello to Legolas, but the Prince of Mirkwood did not even look
up at him. Oro took his seat and greeted Amroth and Elrond, falling quickly into
conversation with them. Nearly an hour passed before a sharp glance from Elrond cause
him to turn his head towards the door.
Haldir and Arwen had come in together. Orophin had to admit that they made a striking
couple. They were both handsomely dressed in white and gold, as if they had tailored their
clothing to match, though Orophin knew this could not have been so, at least not on
Haldir's part. The proud and arrogant bearing that they both exhibited made them seem
like royalty. Well, Orophin, though, Arwen actually was royalty, but on Haldir’s arm she
appeared more princess than brat.
He glanced over at Legolas. Legolas had lifted his head at their entrance, though he
looked little better. His expression was blank and fathomless. Oro heard Thranduil
chuckling and telling Elrond he really should consider wedding his daughter to the
Marchwarden. They did make a splendid couple. Haldir escorted Arwen flawlessly to her
seat, which for some reason happened to be right next to Legolas.
Orophin raised an eyebrow. That was not a wise arrangement! Haldir sat down on the
other side of Arwen. The pair of them ignored Legolas completely, but Legolas hardly
seemed to notice. He was too involved in turning his wine goblet in small circles, first to
the left, then to the right.
Dinner was served, and it was excellent. Everyone seemed to be enjoying it except for
Legolas. Even Rúmil had at last managed to eat. Though he conversed still with those
around him, Orophin heard from time to time the ringing sound of Arwen's laughter, and
the complimentary chuckle of his brother in response. Haldir seemed nothing like the elf
who had been so enraged this morning… but Orophin knew it was an act.
"Dancing, we must have dancing," Galadriel cried.
"But first, a song! My Legolas will sing," Thranduil boomed. Legolas turned his head
slowly.
"Father, please," he whispered.
"I rather think Arwen should sing," Elrond said just as loudly as Thranduil. At that
moment, Orophin began to count how many bottles of wine had passed the length of the
table, but the number was too great to track.
"Legolas has a voice that would make a dove weep," Thranduil bragged.
"I would be happy to sing," Arwen said sweetly.
"And you should! My daughter's voice would cause a waterfall to freeze itself in order that
it might listen to her in icy silence," Elrond said. Orophin saw Amroth surreptitiously
move Elrond's wine cup away.
Rúmil snickered at Elrond's words, though Arwen seemed to bask in the compliment. "It
would freeze all right," Rúmil whispered.
"Why do they both not sing together?" Celeborn suggested, smiling slyly. Thranduil shot
him a dirty look. "I for one would love to hear such harmonic voices raised together."
"An excellent idea, my lord," said Galadriel diplomatically.
"I know just the tune," Celeborn added. The sly smile became a wicked grin as Legolas
and Arwen were ushered out of their seats by their fathers.
