Filling Santa's shELVES

Disclaimer: I don't own anything even remotely connected to Tolkien's universe, and will not profit from this writing in any way. Seriously - I won't get a single, solitary nickel. Not even a coupon for fifty cents off a diet Coke. It’s pathetic.

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Filling Santa's ShELVES - A Twisted Christmas Story


Chapter 10

After Gish had left, the other Elves were let back into the sleeping quarters. Haldir and Rumil immediately went to Orophin, who was still reclining on the bed.

"Brother…you know how fond I am of you, but I would prefer if you'd manage to put some leggings on," Rumil teased, eyeing his brother's form, stretched out on the cot.

"I just do not feel like moving at the moment."

"And I just do not feel like staring at that all night, thank you very much," Rumil replied, grabbing hold of the mattress and flipping Orophin onto the floor.

"Rumil! When I get my hands on you, you'll wish Ada and Nana had stopped at two Elflings!" Orophin growled from the floor.

Haldir looked at Legolas, rolling his eyes. "Some things never change. They acted like this as Elflings, and they will continue to act like this long after they've sailed to Aman." To his brothers he said, "Enough! I want to study the note Gish gave me."

He walked over to the door, putting his ear against it, listening for the guards he knew were outside. Soft snoring met his Elven ears, and he knew they were safe for the moment.

Sliding his hand under the mattress of the first cot, he retrieved the note.

"They travel in packs of five or less…if these marks indicate their movements during the day, then there are three in the toyroom in the morning, four in the afternoon, three again in the evening - that's when they've been bringing the Ellith to us - and five patrolling the corridors at night. I believe there are no more than twenty guards in total living here," Haldir said after studying the map for a few minutes.

"We'll need at least half that many arrows each, plus the knives," Legolas offered. "I would prefer two knives, if it is possible."

"Your skill with knives is well known, Prince of Mirkwood," Haldir replied, smiling at the blonde Elf. "We brothers will use two each, also. I would prefer a sword if it were available, but the knives will have to do."

"How shall we attack them, Haldir?" Orophin asked, finishing to tie his leggings.

"At night. Most will be asleep, or at least groggy when the fighting begins. We can take out the five that patrol the corridors first, then find and destroy the rest. Saruman is last - and he is mine."

"Nay. I also have a stake in his hide," Orophin declared, facing his older brother.

"We may very well all have a stake before the weapons are finished," Legolas stated. "Plus, we must find where he has hidden the young Elfling we met on the first day." He had not forgotten the little one who had been brought to keep the grown Elves in line that first day in the shower room.

"Aye…you'll not be hogging Saruman to yourself, Haldir!" Rumil grinned. "We all want a piece!"

"I only hope it will not be too long before the weapons are ready," Haldir said, sliding the paper under the mattress again. Looking at Orophin, he asked, "Did it go well, brother?"

"Aye. I will soon be father to two."

"Two!"

"Aye."

"Elrond had two…and look at the trouble they gave him!" Rumil laughed, slapping his brother on the back.

"Eru protect us from another set like those two!" Legolas grinned. "I remember when they put blue dye in the water at the baths…Elrond could be heard screaming at them from Gondor!"

"Male, female, or one of each?" Haldir asked Orophin, curious as to the sex of the twins.

"I don't know…I forgot to ask. I was too surprised that there were two to think of asking," Orophin replied sheepishly.

"You'll find out soon enough," Rumil said, stretching out on his cot. "So, I am going to be an uncle three times over!"

"I think you may also be a father as well," Haldir said, sobering Rumil immediately. "The weapons will never be ready before tomorrow night, and it is your turn next."

"Who said it is my turn? Why not Legolas?" Rumil asked, sitting up on the cot.

"It is your turn, because I said it is your turn. If I am to be father, and Orophin is to be a father, then you are going to be a father as well."

"But…but…"

"No buts. That's an order, warden!" Haldir stated, the tone in his voice leaving no brook for argument.

Rumil fell back on the bed in a huff, mumbling something about the unfairness of having an older brother as his March Warden. The other three Elves made themselves comfortable in bed as well, though they were all three grinning at Rumil's discomfort.


The following morning, Elur once again brought their breakfast tray. She seemed nervous, and the tray trembled in her hands. Taking the tray from her, Haldir eyed the guards, but they seemed not to notice her discomfort.

"Are you well this morning, Elur?" he asked, kissing her lightly on the lips.

"Yes. I just didn't sleep very well last night. I was worried for Gish, although she said your brother was quite kind to her." She turned to Rumil and Legolas, regarding them both frankly. "I do not know which of you will choose to father Ayaz's child, but I will warn you both that she is very special to us…please be especially kind to her. She has already suffered greatly."

Without another word, Elur left them, the door closing firmly behind, the bolt thrown once again. The Elves exchanged a worried glance with Rumil, who looked stricken.

"What was that supposed to mean? As if I'm not nervous enough as it is," he asked, looking a bit pale.

Shrugging, Haldir immediately took the food off the tray, turning it upside down. Secured to the underside of the tray were four sharp knives, each blade nearly twelve inches long, and a half dozen arrows. The arrows were simple wooden ones, without metal arrowheads, but the sharpened wood would work for their purposes. All that needed to be done was to fletch the arrows, and Elur had taped a small bag of feathers to the bottom of the tray as well.

Smiling, the Elves admired the Elflngs handiwork, commenting on the smoothness of the finished wood of the arrows, and the sharpness of the knives. Each Elf took a knife, Haldir taking the arrows as well, and stashed them under their mattresses.

"Excellent. Another day or so and we should have all the weapons we need," Haldir said, sitting down, and picking up an apple.

"I still want to know what Elur meant by this Ayaz being very special, and having suffered. It's making me nervous!" Rumil muttered, picking at the fruit the Elleth had brought.

"You'll find out soon enough, Rumil. She will probably come to you tonight."

"Are you sure you don't want Legolas to do this…you know how I am," Rumil asked, looking at his older brother. "I'm not very good at the whole 'considerate lover' thing."

"Learn. Quickly," was all Haldir would say on the subject. His mind was made up - Rumil would be next.

Lost in thought, the Elves finished their breakfast in silence.