Lorien's Orphan's

When Orophin and Rumil awoke it was dark out. Soon it would be time to eat supper, and visit Haldir. They always got to visit Haldir after supper and before bed. Sitting up they saw the twins looking at them and talking.

"What?" Orophin asked scared by the way they were staring at him.

"Nana says your her brothers. Ada says you lost your parents. Is this true?" one of them asked.

"Yes." was all Orophin said.

"Hmmm. Well then would you like to play? My name is Elrohir, that is Elladan." Elrohir introduced himself.

"I'm Orophin that is Rumil my younger brother." Orophin smiled pleased at the prospect of playing with the twins.

Elladan and Elrohir's eyes narrowed as they studied Rumil. "You can come with us Orophin but the baby can't." Elrohir sneered at Rumil.

"Yeah we don't play with babies." Elladan parroted his brother.

Rumil's eyes grew wide with shock and his mouth fell open. At his side Orophin was snickering at his brother's expression.

"I AM NOT A BABY!" Rumil said as he began to cry.

"Yes you are look at you your cryinge a e a baby." Elrohir stood and walked over to Rumil. Rumil cringed away from the boy. "What? Are you scared of me baby? Huh?" he taunted Rumil.

Rumil jumped up and pushed Elrohir down as he ran away sobbing. He ran out the door and down the corridor. He was crying so hard that held nld not see in front of him. Lord Elrond was headed toward the nursery to pick up the elflings when a distraught Rumil crashed into him. Elrond managed to catch him before he fell on his bottom.

"Rumil? Whats wrong?" Elrond asked as he knelt in front of the boy.

"T...T...They were mean to me. T...T...They called me a baby. They said Orophin could play with them but not me! A...A...And he laughed at me!" Rumil sobbed.

"Who laughed at you?" Elrond asked as he wiped away Rumil's tears with a handkercheif.

"Orophin. I'm not a a baby!" Rumil wailed.

"Elrond what happened?" Celebrian asked concerned.

Elrond looked up mildly suprised, he had not seen his wife approach.

"I was on my way to the nursery. For you were taking a while to return we thought there was a problem." Celebrian explained.

Elrond nodded and filled her in on Rumil's prediciment.

"Our sons said those horrible things?" Celebrina was agast.

Elrond nodded as Celebrian picked up Rumil and hugged him. Rumil sniffled and buried his face in the crook of her neck. Elrond and Celebrian walked toward the nursery, they could hear the other boys laughing and talking. Elladan. Elrohir, and Orophin loked up shocked when an angry Elrond and Celebrian entered the room. And to add to their dismay they heard footsteps approaching the nursery. Celeborn and Galadriel came into the room, Celebrian had farspoken to them and told them what had occured. The four angry adults looked scary to the elflings.

"I did not raise you to be so cruel!" Celebrian glared at her sons. "These boys have had enough to deal with! What do you have to say for yourselfs?" she demanded.

Elladan and Elrohir sat looking at the ground. Orophin looked at his brother seeing for the first time how deeply their actions had affected him.

"You have nothing to say?" Elrond demanded.

"No Ada." the twins whispered together.

"What about you Orophin?" Galadriel eyed the boy.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt his feelings. I...I just wanted them to like me." Orophin looked at the floor tears filling his eyes.

The four adults looked at each other as if silently conferring with one another. Celeborn looked at the boys. "As punishment the three of you will have no dessert tonight, 3 extra hours of study with Glorfindel tomorrow, and after that you will be confined to seperate rooms for the remainder of the day. Now apologize to Rumil."

"I'm sorry." three voices said at once.

"Now come and eat." Elrond told the boys.

Galadriel took Rumil and spoke softly to him as they walked to the dining room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next day was horrible not only did they not get dessert last night but they had to go to bed right after! Usually they were allowed to stay up for a few hours to listen to the music. But no they were in trouble. Big time trouble. Rumil had not returned to the nursery, they found out later that he had slept with Galadriel and Celeborn. The elflings truged toward the study where lessons were to be held. Rumil was already in the room he was talking to Glorfindel. When they entered the talking ceased and Rumil quit smiling. The boys took their seats. After five hours they took a break for dinner afterwards Rumil was excused. He ran smiling out into the gardens shouting and chasing butterflies. Elladan. Elrohir, and Orophin had to sit through three more hours before they were excused. Elrond stood next to the door waiting for them. He silently escorted the boys to three seperate guest rooms and he locked the door. Elladan, Elrohir, and Orophin were miserable for the day passed by so slowly. Supper was brought to them and after that they lay down to sleep. Each vowing never to tease Rumil again and also hoping they could make it up to him somehow.


TBC.