Chapter
2
The next morning found Lindir wandering aimlessly through the
palace. He had risen with the sun, despite having had a late night
and it was as yet too early for breakfast.
He
had hoped to sleep longer, for the next few days would be long,
yet once awake he could rest no more.
Dressing,
he had left his rooms and decided to take a walk. It was a beautiful
day already and he quickly decided that the nicest place to
be on such a bright and sunny day was the gardens.
He
walked swiftly though the quiet palace – deserted save
for a handful of guards and the few Elves whose jobs began before
the sun rose – towards the lush gardens that surrounded
Thranduil’s vast home.
For
all of Greenwood's troubles, the gardens were incredibly peaceful.
Walking amongst them, he felt at ease and able to dwell on his
mysterious watcher of the previous night. Something about Rúmil
bothered him, though what it was he didn't know. Was it simply
because he had been watching him? The Lórien Elf might
simply have thought him attractive, yet was too shy to approach
him. But no, it was more than that, he was sure. However, that
reasoning might be the excuse he needed to speak with the timid
Elf.
Though
what would he say? It seemed rude to simply ask why he had been
watching him. Nor did he want to scare him off - Lindir had
a feeling that such a bold question would only serve to drive
Rúmil away and further into himself.
Maybe
the key lay in patience. There would be another festival that
evening; it might be best to wait and see if the Lórien
Elf was there again, watching him. It would be easier also,
to approach him in a social setting, and to find something to
talk about. Though, if Rúmil was as shy as Laeriel had
said, it would be no easy task. Still, Lindir felt compelled
to try.
A
distant bell reached his ears then and he knew it as the summons
for the people of the wood to wake. Though he, as a guest, had
no obligations until the evening, it also meant that breakfast
would shortly be available. Turning around, he walked slowly
back to the palace, to eat and maybe to question Laeriel some
more.
***************
Haldir
watched as Rúmil stood in front of the mirror, carefully
braiding his hair. His brother was quiet as usual; Rúmil
never initiated a conversation and even to his brothers said
very little. But Haldir knew his brother and could tell that
he was troubled, beyond the simple fact of the forced socialisation,
which he knew Rúmil hated.
He'd
never figured out why Rúmil was so shy. They had grown
up in a very secluded part of Lórien, but that had not
affected either him or Orophin. Though, his mother had told
them that when Rúmil was growing up there had been no
other children around for him to play with. He had already been
in the Guardians by then and Orophin had not yet been born,
so maybe he had been more isolated than them and that was why
he had such trouble interacting with others. It was a shame,
he thought, for Rúmil had much to offer. To those who
managed to break down the walls around his heart he was kind,
compassionate and thoughtful. Haldir had always expected him
to be a healer; his decision to join the Guardians had shocked
them all.
They
hadn't been very supportive at first, he remembered with a touch
of guilt. None of them had thought he'd make a warrior and had
tried to steer him down other paths. But Rúmil had surprised
them by standing his ground and then sailing through the training.
On the battlefield his shyness faded away and he was a fierce
warrior. He had the potential to lead his own patrol, as he
was also good at forming strategies - but he was not good at
giving orders.
Years
ago, Haldir had given another guard a month's worth of extra
duty upon hearing him cruelly commenting that Rúmil 'could
not lead a horse to water.' It was however, the truth. Rúmil
was a follower, not a leader and, while he was quite capable
of acting on his own, in a group he faded into the background.
It bothered him, but Rúmil never seemed unhappy and so
he was content to let him be. Today, however, his younger brother
clearly was not himself.
"Something
troubles you," he said softly, speaking for the first time
since entering the room. "Will you not talk to me?"
Rúmil
turned, giving his brother a small smile. “It is nothing,”
he replied. “I have not yet adjusted to being here, that
is all. You know that I do not enjoy leaving Lórien.”
Haldir
walked over to Rúmil and wrapped his arms around his
brother, lightly pinning his arms to his sides. Rúmil
allowed the embrace, letting the brush slide from his fingers
and leaning back against his brother.
“I
know you don’t,” he said, “but I also know
when you are lying. Why do you do this, Rúmil? Why shut
us out of your life?” There was no anger in his voice,
just disappointment and sadness. He loved his brother and he
knew Rúmil loved him, but sometimes he wished the younger
Elf was a little more open.
“I
am sorry,” he replied quietly, resting his hands on Haldir’s
arms. “I… I am not ready to speak of it yet. But
I am fine, I promise you.”
Tightening
his hold on Rúmil a little, Haldir sighed. “I worry
about you, Rúmil. You are alone so much and hardly ever
speak to anyone.”
Rúmil
looked a little guilty – he knew he was not the easiest
person to live with. He turned in Haldir’s arms, wrapping
his arms around his neck and hugging him warmly. “I know
you do, but please try not to. I am sure everything will work
out like it is supposed to.” He kissed Haldir’s
cheek and smiled, doing his best to reassure his brother.
Such
open displays of affection were impossible for Haldir to resist.
He suspected that Rúmil knew this and used it to his
advantage, but nonetheless he was powerless against them, bending
to his brother’s wishes.
“Very
well, Rúmil, but you know Orophin and I are always here
for you if you need us.”
“I
know,” Rúmil replied, “and I appreciate it.”
He fell silent then and Haldir knew he would get nothing more
from his brother on the subject.
“Are
you ready?” he asked instead. “We will be late for
breakfast if we do not go now.”
Rúmil
made a face, causing Haldir to smile, but nodded. Following
his brother to the door, they called for Orophin in the adjoining
room before heading towards the dining hall.
*****************************
To
Rúmil’s dismay the hall was packed, almost all
the guests arriving at once. Serving Elves raced around, trying
to keep up with all the orders. At the head of the hall only
Thranduil’s table seemed somewhat quieter and Rúmil
almost wished he could sit there.
The
hall reminded him more of a barracks than the hall of an Elvenking,
though nobody seemed to mind. Indeed, there was much laughter
and cheerful chatter to be heard throughout.
“There
are some seats!” Rúmil followed Orophin’s
outstretched arm to a table in the corner, where there appeared
to be several spaces. Winding their way through the hordes of
Elves, the three brothers made their way to the long table and
squeezed in before anyone else could take the seats.
There
were baskets of fresh rolls on the tables and Haldir and Orophin
took one quickly, though Rúmil hesitated. There were
too many people around for him to feel comfortable and his appetite
was almost gone. Yet Haldir worried when he didn’t eat
and Rúmil felt he put his brother through enough, so
he reached out to take a roll. As his hand closed around the
bread, a soft voice opposite him almost made him drop it again.
“Is
this seat free?”
Rúmil’s
head shot up and he met the crystal blue gaze of the Imladris
minstrel, Lindir.
“N…
no…I mean… y-yes…” he stuttered, blushing
profusely. “It is free.”
Smiling,
Lindir sat down while Rúmil clutched the roll so tightly
he almost completely squashed it. Beside him he could feel his
brothers looking at him and he forced the smallest of smiles.
Lindir
had hardly been able to believe his luck when he saw Rúmil
in the dining hall, opposite an invitingly empty chair. Rarely
one to hesitate, he had made straight for the table to try to
get his answers.
It
did not look like it would be easy, however. Rúmil was
indeed as shy as he had been told and Lindir’s mere presence
seemed to render him speechless. Still, he felt he at least
had to try.
“I
saw you at the festival last night,” he said. “Did
you enjoy the music?”
Rúmil
nodded wordlessly, his eyes fixed on the minstrel. Lindir realised
that he was getting nowhere – Rúmil was too shy
to simply make friends with anyone that spoke to him. It was
a shame, he thought, for he seemed nice and was very attractive.
A slight smile graced his lips as he caught himself thinking
that. Perhaps a little more effort would be a good idea.
“I
hope you enjoy the music tonight as well,” he said. “We
have many different things planned.” Putting on his most
charming smile, Lindir continued, “However, I will not
be playing all evening, only until midnight. Maybe when I am
done you would care to join me for a drink?”
Rúmil
looked shocked and Lindir was hard-pressed not to laugh as the
Galadhel struggled for a response. Still, he hoped that the
Elf would not turn him down out of hand.
However,
before Rúmil could find the words, another voice chimed
in.
“He
would love to,” Orophin said, leaning over to look at
Lindir. Next to Orophin, Haldir was also nodding.
Seizing
the opportunity, Lindir turned his attention to the younger
brother. “Wonderful! I will meet him by the stone pillar,
shortly after midnight.”
“He
will be there,” Orophin promised.
“Excellent,”
Lindir smiled at the three of them and then rose from his seat,
deciding to make his exit before Rúmil could object.
“Until tonight then.” Bowing slightly, he let his
gaze linger on Rúmil for a moment before turning and
walking away, leaving Rúmil staring after him in utter
horror.
END
CHAPTER TWO
