(For additional notes and disclaimers, please see top of Chapter 1)
= First off, big, big...big apologies for not posting anything for almost a year. I certainly never wanted to beat my own record for time between posts, but life happens...there are a number of reasons I hadn’t been able to update which I won’t bore you with, but let’s just say my year got kind of busy around April, and I couldn’t get around to finishing the next few chapters.
I’ve also been trying to revise Part I, because there are parts in it I don’t like anymore, but I haven’t had much luck with that project, so for now it will have to stay as it is.
Anyway, I think I finally broke through the giant wall that’s been keeping me from writing, (and my muse finally came out of the room she had locked herself in with QAF - season 3... my other obsession though I don’t write in that fandom).
So here’s a new one finally. This is still the night of the wedding (in case any of you lost track of where we are after nearly ten months...) and Tadion and his brother just had a long conversation in the previous one. This next chapter sort of goes with that one, and it’s Hirgon’s rather un-brotherly perspective on a few things. There will be more in the future about Tadion’s relationship with Hirgon and the roots of the bad feelings between them.
The second scene, with Haldir and his brothers, was originally supposed to happen closer to the end of Part II, but I decided to move it and use a different scene with Haldir later on.
I think the next chapter will have Legolas in it, though I’d rather not make any promises right now and just keep writing...
(One of the best pieces of writing advice I’ve ever heard came from the writer Monserat Fontes, who I got to go see when I was in college. She said, “Writer’s block is nothing but self-indulgence.” So, at some point one just has to sit down and write something, so here goes...enjoy, I hope this is still good...)
Sarah, thank you for your review way back in Spring; and happy new Year, and Merry Christmas to everyone...and thank you to all of you have stuck with this for the past (can you believe it) almost five years, and thank you to everyone who has taken the time to leave me a comment...
I meant for this chapter to be longer, but so that I don’t take any longer in updating, I’ll post this one now, while I keep trying to get caught up...enjoy... =
<Center>Chapter 38
Morea Emyl</Center>
“If you are looking for whom I think, Fuinion, don’t bother...
“He has always made it a point to avoid Court functions...fortunately, sparing us both the aggravation of having to look at one another...”
“I’m sure I don’t know who you mean...” the younger Elf tried to feign ignorance of whatever his kinsman was (so delicately) trying to allude to and signaled for a servant to bring another cup of wine...
“Don’t take me for a fool, Cousin,” said Hirgon, lowering his voice, as he forced the other Woodelf to meet his eyes, which had an intense, dangerous look just now. “I warned you, when I allowed you to come back, to stay away from Tadion...
“I know you went to see him just after you returned, so you needn’t come up with ways to deny it...”
“I must say your spies are as efficient as ever,” Fuinion still tried to appear uninterested, as the servant came around with the wine.
“But have I been gone so long that you’ve become so protective,” he retorted impatiently. “The last time I looked, you had little affection for any of your brothers, and found Tadion particularly insufferable...”
The Forest Lord took a glass for himself and turned back to his cousin, after a pause while he waited for the servant to move on again, hard gray eyes darting quickly around to make sure they were far away enough not to be overheard by any of the other guests...
“I can’t say that I haven’t often regretted not feeding him to a warg when he was born,” he admitted; the low tone he still used made the venom in his words even more evident. “Or that I had left him in a basket near Dol-guldur and let the Dark Lord take him...”
Even Fuinion couldn’t help frowning slightly though he was well-aware of the Hirgon’s contempt for his brother. The one of the late Forest Lord’s four sons who had been their father’s favorite... According to Hirgon’s own rather warped perspective, at least, Fuinion added as an afterthought to himself.
Though he sometimes wondered whether it wasn’t rather that Hirgon had been spoiled by being an only child for 1500 years, unused throughout Elflinghood and youth to having to share anything...and then his three brothers were born within three centuries of each other...
Not that Fuinion would be unwise enough to ever voice such thoughts to his cousin, who was not the most emotionally stable of Elves.
“You do have quite a morbid imagintion, gwanur,” he said, taking a sip of his wine and realized the other, taller, Elf had moved closer and was leaning over him in a way that was making him most uncomfortable...
It was a move Hirgon had learned since he was a youth, and nearing his full height, was a convenient way to intimidate others...Fuinion as well as Hirgon’s brothers had found themselves on the receiving end of it often enough...
“I could care less that your obsession with the little whore has scarcely waned,” the elder Elf went on, dropping his voice even more. “But you may have noticed that he has grown a good deal more assertive than he used to be...annoyingly so...
“Old Vaurna’s influence I’m sure,” he added. “I doubt he would meekly endure your abuse this time...”
“...we both know if I had done anything he did not wish, he would have faded...” the dark haired Elf said still trying to sound indifferent, his mask of apparent calmness not faltering, as he drained his glass and tried to take a step back.
“I don’t think you’re hearing me, Cousin...” Hirgon grit out angrily again, leaning closer to his kinsman’s ear and grasping his forearm none to gently, “Tadion could jump into the Great Sea and I would not care...
“Whatever happens to the little bastard ceased to be my concern centuries ago...but we had enough trouble cleaning up what you left in your wake the last time; I don’t intend to do it again...
“And given that he’s Vaurna’s assistant now...and Prince Leralonde’s current bedmate...” he added, sounding as if the word left a bad taste in his mouth, “...if you were to take your stalking beyond the point of being a mere nuisance, the consequences of your depravity would not be as easy to cover up as they once were...
“I hardly expect that you have amended your ways in these past centuries,” he hissed, and pressed harder on the arm he held. “But if you need a release for your foul desires, just make sure it’s someone with no connection at all to our House...
“Do you know what the laws and penalties in Mirkwood have always been,” he went on warningly, though in a calmer tone, “set down in the time of our earliest Kings, for the violation of any underage Elf...? For example of one as young as Tadion was when you started to debauch him...? Though, it is such a contemptible crime that in the entire history of Mirkwood, they have seldom had to be carried out...”
He watched the color drain a little from the other Elf’s face and was sure his point was finally getting through.
“Do you understand me, Cousin...? he asked, still deceptively composed and finally letting go of his cousin’s forearm.
“Keep my words in mind, and keep a check on your vie, for you’ll be extricating yourself on your own this time out of whatever foul-ups you make...
“If you bring the consequences of your perversions on us once again...we will be done with you...and don’t expect even Tante Duvain to save you...” he added before moving aside again, toward one of the nearby appetizer tables.
“And one other thing...” he said turning back, as if just thinking of mentioning it, “I would prefer it if you stayed away from Nourinif as well; lest you start getting any unwholesome ideas...”
The younger Elf actually had the grace to look affronted by the suggestion, “Nourinif...I would never...”
“You can hardly expect me to be sure of what you <I>
would or would never...</I>...I know you Cousin. His brow furrowed seriously, “And I am not some naïve Elfling...
“You have caused me enough trouble because of Tadion. I’d rather it not start all over again...just keep your hands to yourself where it involves kin...”
Smiling pleasantly again he turned back to the table and popped a grape, covered in something thick and syrupy, into his mouth. “Enjoy the party, Nur haer o nin...”
================================
“How is he?” asked Haldir in a low voice, crouching down to warm himself near the fire as he and Earnan returned from patrolling the area near their makeshift camp.
“He only woke up once and went back to sleep.” Answered Orophin from where he sat beside their brother, watching as Earnan remained ever-vigilant a short distance away. “He needs rest, but we could not remain in Harad a day longer than necessary.”
“Come brother,” said Haldir, unpacking the last of the food they had left Harad with. “Eat something. I will sit with him.”
Carefully moving aside, Orophin let his elder brother take his place and tried to persuade himself to eat. Truthfully, he had had no appetite since leaving the city. Images of Arya’s hands on his brother, the whore-master’s foul blood, the cruel marks they had seen on Rumil’s body- -they would not leave him...
“You must eat. You’ll not help him by letting yourself weaken as well.”
“I’m sick at heart brother...”
“As am I...” he looked down as Rumil whimpered in his sleep and pressed closer to his brother’s side, his fingers clutching at the edge of his tunic. His words, spoken from his nightmares, were almost too soft to hear.
“Baw! Avon!”
“It’s just a dream little one,” Haldir soothed gently smoothing his brother’s fair hair. “You’re safe...we’re here now...”
It had been almost the same pattern several times every night during their journey. The rest of the time he barely spoke and only ate when his brothers insisted.
Dafi may not have been around Rumil enough to notice the symptoms but Haldir was beginning to fear that his brother might indeed begin to fade.
They had expected to be closer to Lorien by now, but two days ago, Earnan and Haldir had found a group of Easterlings camped a short distance away during their night’s patrol...normally none of them would mind dealing with a few Human bandits, but with their brother in such a state, they opted to avoid the possible battle.
So they had changed direction and been diverted again by a sudden storm...and now they were several days behind on their journey...
After a few moments, the young Elf calmed and slept deeply again, huddling close to his brother, as he often had when he was an Elfling, especially after they had lost their parents...
“We should start for home as soon as he’s had another day or so to rest,” said Orophin pulling Haldir from his thoughts.
“A Healer can do more than we. And I dare not tarry here...I would rather not run into more Easterlings just now...”
"We should be able to get back to the river in about two days depending our speed...” said the elder Elf, one hand still gently stroking his brother’s hair.
“...don’t the Elves of Mirkwood keep several outposts far on their southern border?” he asked, the thought only now occurring to him. “We might be able to reach it in less time than it would take to reach home...they may have a Healer...”
“I’d rather not travel that close to Dol Guldur,” muttered Orophin, “but you may be right...and if we hurry, it’ll be shelter at least before the next storm...
“And I know what else you are thinking, Brother,” he added, “we have our young friend’s charge to deliver...”
TBC...
Elvish Translations:
Morea Emyl / Dark Hearts (“Emyl” is the plural form of “Emel,” “Heart.” The original title of this chapter, which is the singular form, was “Morea Emel.”)
Nur haer o nin / My cousin (on my father’s (or) mother’s side.)
Gwanur ... / Kinsman
Vie / A male Elf’s sexual organ
Baw! Avon! / No! I won’t!
Elf Names:
Fuinion (Darkness, gloom) / Cousin of Tadion’s.
Hirgon (Rock Lord) / Tadion’s elder brother; Lord of one of the most ancient Silvan noble houses in Mirkwood...
Duvain (Beautiful darkness) / Mother of Fuinion and Aunt of Tadion and his brothers.
