Tears of the Valar.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the Original Characters and their adventures. Everything else belongs to JRR Tolkien, the Tolkien Estate, New Line Cinema/Peter Jackson, et. al. This was done purely for entertainment and as an exercise in creativity.
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“I do not relish the journey back through that swamp,” Orophin commented as he and his brothers readied their mounts.

“Why ever not?” Haldir asked. “Surely you would enjoy the chance to once again test your skills against your new friend.”

Rumil bit back a smile as Orophin gave their eldest brother a withering glare.

“It is dead, no thanks to either of you. Were you afraid of soiling your garments?”

“Things were well in hand,” Haldir replied.

Orophin’s retort was halted as Elladan and Elrohir led their mounts over to where they stood.

“Will we go back the way we came?” Elladan asked somewhat mournfully.

“Just the topic under discussion,” Rumil commented.

“No, we will go another way,” Helcarin told them. He, Glorfindel, Saelbeth, Naveradir and Erestor approached, leading their mounts as Pomea, Sarendir and Cunion followed not far behind. Vanurion was still packing his horse and Legolas and Alexandra were nowhere to be seen.

“There is another way?” Elrohir glanced at Orophin. “Why did we not take it to get here?”

“We did not know of it until we arrived,” Helcarin replied. “It takes us a bit further east, but does away with the necessity of going through the swamp.”

Haldir and Rumil glanced at Orophin, noting their brother’s satisfaction at Helcarin’s words.

“How did you discover this new route?” Rumil asked.

Helcarin smiled slightly. “I … saw it.” The others looked in askance and he continued as Vanurion joined them. “While here, I … it was revealed to me in dreams. I cannot go into everything, but Eru meant for us to come here for a reason---many reasons, in fact. I drank from the source of the waters---a source that we cannot now see; it is hidden even to me now. Answers came to me, though I do not yet know all the questions.” He shook his head. “I know I do not speak sensibly and cannot expect you to believe my words.”

“On the contrary,” Haldir replied, “we have no reason not to believe what you say. You were called here and the waters were found. I have no doubt the Valar and Eru have a reason.”

“Thank you,” Helcarin said sincerely. “Are we ready to depart?”

“Yes,” Erestor answered, spying Legolas and Alexandra walking toward them deep in conversation, their horses following at a leisurely pace. The couple had kept to themselves during the days spent at Cuivienen and he wondered what had so occupied them.

Helcarin looked around at the beautiful land surrounding them, then smiled and took Pomea’s hand. He headed toward the path they had taken coming into the protected area and led his companions back through the maze of trees and rocks. Once they emerged, they looked back and were surprised to see there was no entrance; only piles of fallen boulders. The trees they had walked through had vanished and the hill was dead and lifeless.

“Interesting,” Vanurion murmured then turned his attention back to Helcarin.

The blonde ellon took a path veering a bit further east than the one they entered the valley with and the others followed. They traveled throughout the next few days in a southeasterly direction before once again entering the mountains. They did not, however, begin to climb.

Helcarin stood looking over the featureless wall before him. This was the way, he knew. He had seen it, but the flat rocks seemed impenetrable. Pomea stood next to him as the others remained a distance behind, reluctant to intrude upon his thoughts. The elleth, however, had not left his side since departing the hidden waters.

“It is here; I know it,” Helcarin murmured and Pomea nodded.

“Then, my love, we will find it.” The sheer cliffs did not look promising, however.


“Are we certain it is Eru who leads him?” Legolas asked quietly as he, Glorfindel and Vanurion walked over to the stream to drink fresh water.

“You are concerned?” Glorfindel asked, wiping the stray water from his lips as he studied his young friend. Ever since Cuivienen, the prince and his wife had kept to themselves and seemed even quieter than on the journey from Rhun.

Vanurion stood from where he had knelt at the stream. “Who else could it be? He was given this quest by the Valar.”

“But which Vala?” Legolas asked quietly.

Glorfindel glanced at him sharply.

“What is wrong? What has happened, my friend?”

Legolas sighed and shook his head. “Morgoth. I have heard him, even in the place of our beginning, his evil voice sullies our peace.”

“What did he say?” Glorfindel knew Legolas had been tormented by the fallen Vala many times in the past.

“Nothing important; his usual wheedling and suggesting. But if Helcarin has not dealt with him, he might find Morgoth’s voice reasonable and tempting.”

The golden-haired Elf-Lord considered Legolas’ words. It was possible, he knew, that the Evil One may try to lure Helcarin into something dangerous. Still …

“Helcarin received his direction from his mother. I cannot be certain, but I do not believe Siensia was evil. She did not look to be one of Morgoth’s minions.”

“But from what I have heard, did Sauron not appear to the Elves as beautiful and one of their own when he forged the rings of power?” Vanurion asked reasonably.

“True,” Glorfindel replied. “Still, I have sought the Valar in my heart and I do not believe this quest was appointed in order to bring ill. Perhaps,” he added with a smile, “it may be bad for Lastharos, but then he is evil incarnate.”

Elladan, Elrohir, Sarendir and Rumil began an impromptu archery contest as Saelbeth, Haldir and Cunion watched, the three giving advice---often unwanted---and offering criticism---often scathing---of the competitors’ efforts. The four were fairly matched though Rumil seemed to have a slight advantage.

“Perhaps you should teach them how it is done,” Erestor told Legolas as he walked over to get a drink of water.

“I am surprised Haldir is not doing so yet,” the prince responded with a chuckle. “I believe Elladan is deliberately using sloppy technique just to pique Haldir’s ire.” Indeed they could see the Marchwarden fairly holding himself back from snatching the bow from Elladan’s hand.


“You are not going to compete?” Alexandra asked Orophin as they sat against the trunk of a large tree enjoying the cool shade of its leaf-laden branches.

“I believe Rumil is enough to shame our family name,” he replied with a slight chuckle.

Alexandra answered with a laugh of her own.

“No. If you want real shame, let me try it.” She sighed and looked sadly at her hands. “I don’t know why I can’t do it.”

“Perhaps you try too hard,” Orophin suggested. “You worry that you will fail and that causes you to fail.”

“A self-fulfilling prophecy,” she mused. “How can I not worry, though. Even the worst Elf is better than I am.”

“Elves have centuries to learn these skills,” her friend replied patiently. “You do remarkably well for someone who, until a few years ago, had never held a bow.”

“You’re just being kind. I know I have dismal archery skills. That’s why I didn’t bother to try to shoot at that thing in the water.”

“And I am most grateful for your restraint.”

She wrinkled her nose at him then laughed. “Yes, I suppose you are.”

He studied her as she spoke. Her melancholy seemed to have lifted a bit and he was glad. He did not like to see Alexandra sad. Not only did he feel sympathy for his friend, it was too much of a temptation to wish to hold and comfort her, a job for her husband, he reminded himself, not him.

Alexandra became aware of his scrutiny and turned to raise an inquisitive brow.

“What? Do I have something on my nose?”

Orophin shook his head. “No, I am simply glad to see you laughing. It concerns me when you are sad.”

She smiled and reached out placing her hand on his.

“Thank you, Orophin. You are such a good friend. I don’t know where I’d be now if it weren’t for you.”

The Lorien warden smiled and covered her hand with his other one.

“You would be right where you are now. Legolas would not let anything happen to you.” Her hand was smooth on top, but slightly rough on the palms and fingertips where she had held her sword and other weapons. It was warm and fitted his grasp perfectly and Orophin found he was reluctant to let go.

“But when Legolas has been pulled away, you have always been there to keep me safe,” she reminded him. “If it weren’t for you, I would have been lost in the wilderness with Eowyn and Faramir’s child and would have died there. And I would have drowned in that river when we went to find Legolas and Charika if you had not gone into the water after me. You are a guardian angel and I thank you.”

“There is no need to thank me,” he murmured. “I would do all in my power to see you safe and happy.” Oh Eru, he could not have just said that. His heart was speaking and he had not controlled it. He waited for her to snatch her hand away.

Alexandra smiled and reached up with her other hand to caress his cheek, her fingertips brushing over his smooth flesh then placed her hand atop his where he held her other in his warm embrace.

Without words, she let him know she understood his feelings and did not judge him for them. She accepted his friendship and love and gave hers in return though she would never love him as she did her husband. Still, it was a most perfect gift which he accepted happily.

“We should see if Helcarin has decided where we are to go,” He finally said, breaking the silence between them.

“Indeed. I hope he doesn’t plan for us to climb these rocks. I don’t think the horses will enjoy that too much.”

He laughed. “No, I do not suppose they would.” He stood, pulling her up and they walked over to where Legolas and the others had joined in watching the competition. Glorfindel caught his eye and said nothing, but Orophin knew the Elf had seen them. Though nothing improper had happened, he still felt as though he was a guilty elfling caught stealing sweetmeats from a basket.

Legolas put his arm around Alexandra and kissed her then turned back to the action. It seemed as though Sarendir was pulling a surprise upset. Elladan had driven Haldir to distraction before finally settling down to business while Elrohir had been competent but not outstanding. Rumil, of course, performed brilliantly, but Sarendir had proven himself an outstanding archer.

In the end, it was Sarendir who claimed victory. Rumil shook his head and congratulated the Rhunian ellon on his performance.

“You are fortunate Legolas was not in the competition,” Saelbeth told them. “I do not think there has ever been a finer archer among the Firstborn.” The blonde Counselor’s eyes twinkled with mirth.

“Indeed?” Haldir commented and his brothers and the twins hid their smiles. “Then let us see if he can prevent me from hitting that piece of green fruit hanging in the top bough of that tree.” It was over 2000 paces away and Alexandra could not see it at all.

“I do not believe you can make that shot,” Cunion told Haldir though his tone was teasing.

Haldir drew his bow and fired an arrow. It flew straight and true and neatly sliced into the fruit.

“Impressive,” Vanurion commented.

Haldir drew back another arrow as Legolas whipped out his bow, nocked an arrow and both flew at almost the exact instant toward the fruit still hanging on the branch. Legolas’ arrow intersected with the path of Haldir’s just before it struck the fruit, knocking the Lorien arrow aside so that it missed its target.

The Marchwarden looked to his friend with a slight smile and Legolas returned it, bowing slightly.

“You dared me,” he told Haldir.

“And, as usual, you could not resist.” Haldir put his bow away as did Legolas just as Pomea called to them.

“Let us see what lies in store,” Saelbeth murmured as the Elves and mortal led their mounts over to where Helcarin and his beloved waited patiently. Erestor and Vanurion had collected the fired arrows and brought them back so no ammunition was wasted.

“Impressive displays of marksmanship,” Helcarin told them and Elrohir laughed.

“You must not have been watching Elladan and me,” he told the northern Elf.

The others chuckled as they followed Helcarin and Pomea toward the featureless rock wall. They could see no door, but then neither had they seen the path to Cuivienen. They simply trusted Helcarin would find it.

The sheer rock face seemed impregnable and Alexandra admitted some doubt as to the wisdom of proceeding in this direction. Suddenly a fissure came into view as Helcarin stepped into an opening that had been invisible until that moment. It blended so well with the surrounding rock that it appeared to be a solid mass. Only when actually upon it did the opening show.

The path into the mountain was dark though faint light seeped in from what appeared to be a small crack above them. Helcarin led the way with Pomea. Vanurion and Naveradir were next, with Erestor and Saelbeth behind them. Legolas and Alexandra were ahead of Haldir and Sarendir, and Cunion and Glorfindel were right behind them, followed by Elrohir and Elladan. Rumil and Orophin brought up the rear.

It was quiet inside the mountain and the temperature was cool, but not unpleasantly so. The earthy smell was oddly comforting though the towering walls on either side would have given most pause.

“I didn’t think Elves liked caves like this,” Alexandra commented.

Her husband laughed softly. “We do not, as a rule.”

“Too Dwarvish,” Haldir interjected.

“But if my father’s house was not built into the hills and mountains of Mirkwood, it is likely my people would not have survived during the evil times.” Legolas thought on his days growing up in the caverns of Mirkwood, venturing out to hunt the spiders.

“But you don’t stay in them all the time,” Alexandra pointed out. Indeed the Mirkwood Elves were so accustomed to the creatures stalking their forest they simply killed them and went on with their business. Still, it was safer to be inside where the spiders did not roam.

“No. Elves do not do well in constant darkness,” Legolas admitted. “Still, there may be comfort and sanctuary in such places.”

Conversation was hushed as they continued through the winding path under the mountain range. All recalled the vicious creature that had attacked them in the swamp and were aware that strange place was somewhere far above their heads. Each one hoped there were no more nasty surprises awaiting them deep in the bowels of the mountain.