breaking the ice

Chapter three getting settled

Elrond knocked and entered after Orophin had called out. Two angry faces stared at him and Elrond inclined his head.

Orophin rose. “Is it true what my brother tells me? That you’re making us stay against our wish? That we’ve been betrayed?”
Elrond shook his head. “Nay, Orophin, though I understand your point of view. Galadriel and Celeborn are concerned and highly worried about you and to be honest I share their concern. And I’ve only just met you. No, I do agree with them that some time here will do you both good. And it would be unfair to separate Rumil from you, so he’s staying as well.
“Now, Orophin, I’ve heard you’ve been injured a while back. I would like to examine the healing progress. According to the letter it’s not healing as it should. Maybe I can render that.” He smiled and added his gunshot. “Because Glorfindel will only allow you to join the guards when healthy. And I don’t want to pick a fight with my seneschal, so…”

Haldir jumped up from his seat near the window where he had been grouchy after his return from Elrond’s study. “Do you mean that? We can work with your guards?”
Elrond feigned surprise. “You would like that?”
Haldir nodded frantically. “Aye, I would. The man that escorted us here; his speed was amazing. I feel there is a lot we can learn from your guards, Lord Elrond.”
Elrond warmly returned his smile. “And they from you. That settles it. You’ll be joining the guards. Why don’t you already go to Glorfindel, Haldir, whilst I examine your brother.”

Haldir nodded. “Rumil and I shall go find Glorfindel then.” He stopped when he heard Elrond’s voice. “I’m afraid that’s not possible, Haldir.”
Haldir turned round and his gaze became suspicious. Not that Elrond could blame him. “Please bear in mind I am only the messenger here, but the letter also clearly states Rumil is not to join the guards whilst he’s here.”
Orophin exclaimed a confused cry. “But that’s his life! Is he to do nothing?”
Elrond shook his head. “I would never submit one of you to idleness. No, he can help in the library or wherever he wishes. He can do anything he wants as long as it doesn’t involve weapons.”
Haldir growled. “That’s insane.”

Elrond merely started his examination on Orophin, letting Haldir vent his anger and frustration. He understood him. Orophin was so shocked he didn’t utter any protests and obediently removed his pants so Elrond could see the scar.
Haldir eventually calmed down and even sobered when he realised Elrond was still here and actually examining his brother.
“Well. You are restless aren’t you, Orophin? But I can tell you this will never heal unless you take your rest. I will supply you with herbs, which need to be applied to the wound twice a day. And -if- you take your rest you’ll be rid of it in one, maybe two days. And don’t think I won’t check to see if it’s really gone. So in two days you can join Haldir. Until then you rest.”

Haldir laughed openly. “You’d better tie him to his bed. We’ve kept telling him to rest, but he wouldn’t. He never listens.”
Orophin snorted. “As if you ever do. Or watch for that matter. O yes, when you’re on duty nothing escapes your eye, but otherwise…” He rolled his eyes and Haldir shrugged his shoulders. “I’m off then. Or do I have to deliver Rumil somewhere?” He was unable to keep the sarcasm from his voice.
Elrond waved the apology away. “I know it’s hard to believe but I do understand how you feel. And I will go see Rumil. And perhaps find someone to watch this brother of yours.” Orophin snorted but didn’t speak up. Elrond smiled at him as he left. He felt having the three brothers around for a while might do them all some good.

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Rumil lay on his bed. He had made up his mind, but every time he stood to put his plan in action he wavered. He felt like a frightened child. He was so lost in his own thoughts he didn’t hear Elrond’s knocks.

After knocking for a third time Elrond softly opened the door and entered, relieved to see Rumil alive and well. Merely lost in thought. “Rumil?” The younger elf jolted back to the present and jumped from his bed, nearly losing his footing in the process. “Steady on, I don’t want to be nurturing you back to health as well. If you’re anything like your brother I don’t think I will enjoy that experience.”
Rumil’s eyes widened in shock and he approached the Peredhel. “Haldir? Orophin? What happened to my brothers? We’ve only been here a few hours. How can they already be injured? What happened? Where are they?”

Elrond had to grasp Rumil by the shoulders to make him stop. “Calm yourself, Rumil. Your brothers are fine. I apologize for my badly chosen words. It’s merely Orophin’s injury that hasn’t fully healed yet.”
Realising there was nothing seriously wrong Rumil indeed calmed down. “Haldir and I told him to relax, but he wouldn’t listen. He insisted on doing things himself.”

Suddenly his eyes flared up and he smiled. “Galadriel and Celeborn send us deliberately, so you would be able to knock some sense into his head. Is about time someone did. Sometimes I wonder if he has a brain at all.”
Just then he realised he was rambling again and he had promised his brothers he wouldn’t do that. He placed his hand on his mouth and looked apologetically. “Forgive me, Lord Elrond, for talking so. It’s just that I’ve never been here before and I find it so fascinating and I would like to see more of this truly beautiful place. I haven’t even properly thanked you for these marvellous rooms yet. They are way better than the ones I have at home. Of course I share them with my brothers. Oh, there I go again.” He reddened in embarrassment and it grew when he saw Elrond’s bemused expression.

Elrond waved his apology away before he could utter it. “No apologies are necessary, Rumil. I am glad the rooms suit you. And it is I who is sorry for not being able to grant you some rooms closer to your brothers’.
“But I came here to tell you something else as well. You were right when you say Galadriel and Celeborn send the three of you here for a reason, but Orophin is but partly their motivation. Haldir seems to be ailing as well. Emotionally. I can see he’s slowly fading and, like Celeborn, hope the change in surroundings will do him good. Do you perhaps know what might have caused it?”

Rumil sighed and sat down. “I feared this might happen. He’s too stubborn for his own sake. Orophin warned him not to go anywhere near her, but he didn’t listen.” Elrond smirked at the words.
“Haldir fell in love with a maiden and courted her for quite a while. She accepted his advances and even his proposal. Orophin never trusted it though and he was right. The day before the wedding she called off the whole thing, saying she had changed her mind. Apparently for no reason, but we know better now.
“I wanted to know and followed her around. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t. I saw she had at least twenty lovers, all busy courting her. I saw her fumble with her fingers before entering each talan. It soon turned out she had a engagement ring from each one.”

Elrond’s face was one of utter shock and disdain. He couldn’t believe anyone could do that, let alone an elf. “How did Haldir take it?”
Rumil shook his head. “He doesn’t know. I’m not brave enough to tell him. I went to Galadriel when I learned. I could not keep it a secret and felt something needed to be done. She encouraged me to tell Celeborn and somehow he managed to punish her without giving the real reason. They agreed with me when I begged them to keep it from Haldir.”

Elrond looked at the young elf and felt sorry for him. “That’s a horrible secret to be keeping. If you ever wish to talk, know you can always come to me. No matter the time.” Rumil smiled a bitter smile and Elrond found himself wondering what other things Rumil was hiding. “Thank you for sharing it with me. Now I know what has caused his pain, I am better able to help him fight it.”

Rumil nodded. Elrond regretted placing more burdens upon him but he couldn’t keep this from him just because the elf now was a bit shaken. “There’s one more thing. I have agreed to keep you here until both your brothers have healed. And in Haldir’s case that might be a while. And because you are brothers it’s only logical you get a place as well.”
Rumil lightened up. “Really? Wow, I would love to spend more time here. I want to explore this place. It’s lovely. Thank you for not separating me from my brothers. We’ve lived together our entire lives and”

Elrond silenced the flow of words by raising his hands. “Think nothing of it. But it does leave us with a problem of your occupation. I don’t think you’d wish to do nothing. Now, Haldir is going to join the guards and Orophin will join him as soon as his injury allows. But I am afraid there’s no room for you there. Erestor suggested the library. Elrohir and he can always use an extra pair of hands.”

Without thinking Rumil accepted the offer and he jumped up. “Where is the library?”
Elrond told him how to walk and he dashed off. /It’s like having an elfling in the house again./ He wondered if Elrohir would keep up with him.

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Glorfindel was going through today’s reports and was surprised to hear a demanding knock upon his door. He frowned. He did not expect anyone to come his way. “Mitula.”
He was surprised to see Haldir opening the door and entering it. “Venáve ni torni ar ni maurar tápë sinomë ar yomóta mahtaritya. Návan me pólar pólista men.”

Glorfindel nodded and motioned for the other to take a seat. “You are right on both accounts. Did Lord Elrond already inform you on what it is you would be doing?” He wouldn’t at all be surprised if Elrond had left it for Glorfindel to inform Haldir of the plans they had for Rumil.
“Aye, I am to join you now and Orophin when he’s healed.”
Glorfindel narrowed his eyes. “And Rumil?”
Haldir suddenly laughed. “Do people speak so badly about me you fear my reaction? Why would I be angry with you when there’s no reason? But please tell Rumil there wasn’t room. He’ll believe that. I can’t remember how many times I’ve had to turn soldiers down or rearrange the schedule.”
Glorfindel laughed as well. “Tell me about it. Sometimes it drives me mad to the point that I don’t know what’s worse: facing a angry Balrog or making a schedule.”

He rose and poured Haldir a drink. “Any ideas on when your brother will be joining you?” Haldir shook his head. “Nay. If Lord Elrond has his way, within a day or two, but if Orophin has his way, never.”
Glorfindel raised his eyebrows in wonder, which made Haldir grin. “The three of us come with a guidebook, and I must say my lord and lady have mastered it. Orophin never takes any rest.”
Glorfindel smiled and nodded. “That sounds familiar. But don’t worry. Your brother won’t get a change to disobey. Now why don’t I show you the practising field and perhaps we can exchange some knowledge today?” Haldir nodded, already looking forward to spending the day with them.

He wondered if he would have time to check up on Rumil or if Orophin would do it. No, Haldir decided he would do it. If he’d allow Orophin to do it, his brother would join him even later.
“Would you please excuse me for a moment, I need to make sure Orophin is heeding Lord Elrond’s advice.”
Glorfindel nodded his consent and pointed in which direction Haldir should walk in order to join him.

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Rumil slowly entered the library and was amazed by the amount of books in it. He was so entranced he hadn’t realised another’s presence and jumped when Elrohir spoke up. “Easy, Rumil, I mean not to frighten you. Is there anything I can help you with?”
Rumil grinned. “No, not really, though I think I should be asking you that question. You see, your father, I mean Lord Elrond was in my room just now and he told me we’re staying here for a while, me and my brothers that is, and we should do something. But Glorfindel doesn’t seem to have a place for me. Which I don’t mind, I mean I understand; I am so used to Haldir’s curses when he has to do the schedule again. And your father, I mean Lord Elrond, suggested that I help you and Erestor in here. What is that you do? Copy things? Taking inventory? I used to work a while in Lord Celeborn’s library befI beI became a guard. I’m not trying to brag or anything, I only wanted to let you know so you know I do remember the basics, though they might be a little rusty. It has been a long time. So what can I do for you? You’re Elrohir, right. You must be, because you’re here and Elladan hates it. You told me so, and Haldir had already said so before so I know it’s true.”

After this waterfall of words Rumil waited for Elrohir to say something, but the younger twin was staring at him wide-eyed and mouth agape.
Rumil turned when he heard a chuckle behind him and reddened when he saw Erestor standing there. “Nice to see someone capable of besting you, Elrohir.”
His cold eyes settled upon Rumil. “I was about to ask Elrohir to go find you, since you weren’t in your room.”
Rumil grinned. “He doesn’t have to go anywhere. I’m here. You’ve been to my room? Oh, I am so sorry, I hadn’t known”
He would have said much more but Erestor raised his hand, silencing him. “That’s all right, Rumil. Though I fear there’s little to do here at the moment. But I have found something else for you. The attic needs to be organized.”

He turned and signalled for Rumil to follow. “There’s so much up there we hardly know what it all is anymore. What we need is an inventory. There’s a small room, close to the stairs, were the work can be done. Do you mind working alone?”
Rumil shook his head. He had to hide his disappointment. He had hoped he would be working with Erestor, but apparently that wasn’t going to happen. Erestor nodded. “Good, for although we’re supposed to be doing it together, I don’t think I’ll be of much assistance to you. My normal duties call me away so much I hardly have time to help you.”
Rumil nodded. “I understand. Does it need to be cleaned as well? And do you perhaps have an example of how you make your lists? I have done some inventory before in ‘Lóriën but I gather the way you do things differs.”

Erestor nodded and Rumil noticed his nods where short and sharp. No more time than necessary was wasted. They had arrived at the room where Rumil would be working. “There’s the door. And the list I’ve already started on is in the drawer. If you doubt about anything, come to either Elrohir or me. Everybody works differently, so I leave you your freedom to find your own way. As long as things get done it doesn’t matter how they are done.”

He nodded in goodbye but Rumil’s voice made him stop. The blush that crept over his face made him look younger than he really was and Erestor started to understand Haldir and Orophin a little. /This one is way too vulnerable./
Rumil’s shy smile reached him. “I just wanted to thank you for what you’ve done for me. You saved me from humiliation when I arrived and again during lunch. I just felt I should thank you properly.”
Erestor’s laugh echoed through the corridor. The sneer stopped in his throat. The little one had done nothing to deserve it. “I’m afraid you see things rather rosy. The twins were out of line and I was the only person to do something. And once you’ve spent a month in Elrohir’s constant chatter you might think differently. Though I doubt it.” With that he turned. As he walked away he felt Rumil’s stare upon him. /No matter what I promised you, Elrond. I will not be nice if he crosses the line./

End chapter 3
TBC

Translation:
Mitula means enter
Venáve ni torni ar ni maurar tápë sinomë ar yomóta mahtaritya. Návan me pólar pólista men means Apparently my brothers and I should stay here and join your guards. I think we could benefit much from each other