Sins of the Father

Orophin ran until he could no longer run anymore, his rage draining
his endurance faster than he would have liked. How dare his brother
pass judgement on him. For centuries the Elf had treated him as no
more than a compatriate and now all of a sudden he claimed
brotherhood and to have his best interests in mind. Haldir did not
know him. Haldir had no idea. Haldir had NO right.

Bracing himself against a tree, the young Galadhrim searched the dark
wood for an indication of where his blind racing had led him ,and
despite the lack of moonlight to aid in his search ,he recognized the
distinct outline of oak and beech in the distance. Even with his dear
brother's intent on keeping them apart, it seemed the Valar had other
plans for he had run straight for one place that the March Warden had
warned him away from, the one place he had a future....the human
village.

Aislan rolled over again, sleep having eluded her for hours. Her
mother had kept her extremly busy today, and by all rights she should
be utterly exhausted, but it seemed that every time she closed her
eyes and let her mind drift upon the edges of slumber, the most
disturbing of images would crawl into her thoughts. Visions of fire
and arrows and blood and..Elves....NO....she refused to allow the
poisoned beliefs of her mother invade her sleep.

Slipping from the warmth of her bedding furs, the young girl dressed
quickly in the dark and tiptoed over past her sleeping siblings. In
the outer chamber she could hear her fathers rumbling snores and a
quick peek through the curtain that separated the rooms told her that
her mother slept, though lightly. She was the only one up and about
and the thought was somewhat pleasing to her and though she would be
be sorry in the morning that she had not slept ,she bounded for the
open window and scrambled silently out into the dark.

He had come to her mostly in the night , and though she knew deep
inside that he was of no threat, she still felt the apprehensive
tingle begin within her belly as she approached what was now becoming
known as thier tree. Ever since the afternoon that she had given
herself to her Elven lover, she had been hard pressed to think of
anything or anyone else. He was far more attentive and gentle than
she could have ever imagined and his beauty radiated from him like a
halo of light drawing her in like a moth to flame.. How she longed to
burn with him again....

Slowly Aislan reached out and laid her palm upon the roughened bark
of the old oak that shared her secret. Orophin had showed her how to
listen and had covered his own hand over hers as he allowed the tree
to share in their passion for one another. So patient was this Elf
when she had giggled at the cool tingling that crept up her arms. He
simply held her tight and kissed her intently and soon the tingling
burst forth into a white heat that sought out the core of her body
and washed her away.
Closing her eyes tightly, Aislan tried to feel the heat that had been
imprinted upon the arbor, tried to feel again the passion that burned
in the garden that evening. For countless moments she could feel
nothing but the echoes of the suns subtle warmth upon the cooling
bark, but then, like a flash of recognition, the heat pulsed forward
and all but took her breath away with it renewed urgency. Her eyes
flew open and in the darkness she saw him, his clear glittering gaze
searching hers with need. Without another thought she moved forward
and into his arms, his weapon falling to the soft ground, leaving him
as defenseless as her.

Orophins need was far more desperate than he had anticipated. He had
intended only to rest upon her breast and listen to he steady thrum
of her mortal heart. She grounded him and made him feel desired and
important, but once wrapped in her fragrant embrace he lost all
restraint and as his lips met hers in the cool darkness of the garden
his passion roared like the very fires of the black mountain. Fingers
wrapped in unbound tendrils of silver and copper weaving them
together in a tangle of fire and ice. Clothing was quickly discarded
and replaced the press of warm and willing flesh, each touch burning
with exquisite heat.

"I need you Aislan...," rasped Orophin, as he clutched at the young
woman's slender bopullpulling her as close to him as he could
possibly manage.

"Orophin I am here," she sighed between branding kisses.

Overtaken by his desire, the Galadrhim pulled her down to the base of
the sheltering oak and wrapped his body about hers, slaking his
seemingly unquenchable thirst for her until the sun began to pink the
sky.

In pale light Aislan shifted beneath Orophin's cloak and he pulled
her closer to him, his desire having not waned during the night. He
was content here wrapped about her body and at this very moment with
the first light of dawn glinting off the dew kissed grasses, he knew
what he wanted. He wanted someone to love him in return, he wanted a
life for himself devoid of his illustrious brother's shadow, he
wanted children, he wanted Aislin......

"Aislin," he whispered, turning her warm body in his strong embrace.

The young woman opened her pale eyes and smiled sleepily up into his
handsome face. He was like a dream. Leaning forward she captured his
parted lips with her own.

"Aye," she whispered, trailing her fingers across the taut muscles of
his belly, delighting in his breathless shiver.
"I want you, " he replied smoothing her hair behind her ear, tracing
the rounded edges with a delicate finger.
"You have had me many times my love," she replied her lips curling
into a knowing smile.
"No," answered Orophin, the earnestness of his tone causing Aislins
smile to soften.

"I want you in my life. I want you to be my mate....Aislin...come
away with me...."
The young woman was momentarily overwhelmed. This was not something
that she had ever considered even in her wildest fantasies. It would
mean leaving her family and her village....but one touch of Orophins
lips to hers sealed her decision.

" Yes, Orophin....I am yours..."

The Galadrhim returned to her almost everynight, their unions brief
and hurried. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep their
relationship clandestine, and Aislin worried that her siblings knew
of her trysts. One brother in particular, Hanath, seemed quite
interested in Elves as of late and was asking far to many questions
of her. He was not quite ten years of age so Aislin was not sure that
he was the best of confidantes. Instead she plied him with tales of
night herb gatherings and star watching. The stories were getting a
bit threadbare and the lack of sleep was seemingly taxing her health
leaving her nauseous and exhausted, but she persevered.

For weeks Aislin kept the secret of her bonding with the Lorien Elf
to herself. She dared not ever tell her mother, for the woman would
surely not agree to such an arrangement. In the matter of Elves she
would not be budged, though her reasons till remained hidden. When
asked she would not elaborate except for simply stating that they
were untrustworthy and utterly despicable. Aislin saw nothing that
would label her Orophin as such and planned to give her mother a bit
more time before announcing her intentions.

Orophin avoided Haldir with the utmost skill, using Rumil to his
advantage when he could. He hated to drag his younger brother into
the middle, but he found he had no choice, for the youngster shared
his Talan and thus was privy to his coming and going.

The youngling was more than willing to keep his secret for they had
both relied upon each other most of their lives, and tell the truth
Rumil was quite thrilled to know something that Haldir did not. That
alone kept him loyal to Orophin and his cause .

One morning however, the March Warden of Lorien decided he had quite
enough of these games and decided that it was high time he exercised
his authority as both eldest of the family and Captain of the Guard
and get to the bottom of this ridiculous infatuation with humans.
Before the sun had even begun to hint at rising he swung silently up
to the brothers talan and slipped inside. As he had expected Rumil
was sound asleep and Orophins pallet was cold and empty. Slipping
between the coverlet he pulled the furs close to his head and then
whispered loudly in the sleeping youngling's diron. on.

" Rumil.....brother......I am back.........."

The young Galadrhim shifted in his bed and turned towards the voice.

"Welcome back brother," he replied sleepily, and noting the darkness
that still hung about them continued, " You are back early, I trust
all is well......"

"Oh indeed it is..." mocked Haldir, glaring at Rumil from beneath the
coverlet.

"You do not sound yourself gwador," replied the younger Rumil
propping himself up on his elbow to focus in the dark.

"Perhaps that is because I am NOT myself" growled the March Warden
throwing off the covers and coming to stand closer to the gawking
guard so as he would make no mistake as to whom he was addressing.

Rumil groaned loudly and fell back onto the pallet, covering his face
with his hands.

"I suggest little brother that you start talking, and start talking
now. I want to know where Orophin is RIGHT NOW!"

Haldir was not the only one who had quite had enough of the games.

"Perhaps he does not want you to know his whereabouts..BROTHER!",
retorted Rumil in a most unexpected outburst.

"Then you DO know where he is" growled Haldir, his fist clenching in
frustration.

"Aye...,' replied Rumil slowly reaching for his sword that lay
bedside his pallet.

"You will tell me...," snarled Haldir advancing on the youngling.

In an instant Rumil has his sword pointed leveled at Haldir's
throat. " Why? He snapped, hopping off the bed to face his brother
square on. " So you can haul him back. He is in love Haldir. For once
in his life he has someone that he cares for and you wish to tear him
away because of your arrogant distrust!''

Haldir stood firmly, and swallowed hard. His lack of communication
with his brothers had caused this rift in trust and now perhaps
Orophin would pay for it with his life.

The elder brother relaxed his body and sat heavily on the end of
Rumil's pallet, his threatening stance abandoned.

" Rumil," he stated softly, his hands steepling nervously against his
lips.. " There is something you must know...."