Vales of Sorrow

Vales of Sorrow. . . Veils of Hope
Author: Vi Janaway
Beta: Novedhelion
Rating: R to start...NC-17 later
Genre: HET AU ROMANCE starts many years before Fellowship of the Ring ends after Return of the King
Pairings: Haldir/OFC, Aragorn/Arwen, Legolas/OFC
All the others....and a few more
Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings... It all belongs to the Good Professor J R R Tolkien

Summary: An injured Elleth with a haunted past has secrets that will have repercussions for Lothlórien, Mirkwood, and Rivendell.

Author's Note: *** *** is Telepathy. Oops...I mean Mindspeak..or is it Farspeak ** ** is Elvish around humans. " " is, well, you know.


Chapter Four

More Questions

Stern-faced Elven archers lowered their bows as Legolas put his knives back in their sheaths. Crelaine and the Reeves huddled together while Elrohir moved from the protective stance he had taken over Mislyn. All were looking at Captain Haldir.

"Because of me...because of me...because of me." Mislyn wailed. " He is dead because of me. His wife...his son..." The shock of her injuries had worn off and she sobbed uncontrollably.

"He is dead because of his hate." Haldir pressed his lips to the top of her head. He had been as surprised as the others with his action. "You had nothing to do with his demise."

Muffled Elvish curses let them know that Elladan was alive, well, and furious with nature. He untangled the shawl from around his head and glared up at Legolas. Fortunately the spot where he had fallen was clear of rocks so only his dignity was wounded. ***The human is dead? Good.***

***Such Language. I did not know you knew such words.*** Legolas reached down to the grey-eyed elf up then said somberly, ***Haldir killed him.***

***Oh, did he now? And did not let me help? *** Elladan slapped at the dust
that clung to him. ***I should have known the stalwart captain wanted to do it himself.***

***This is no laughing matter, Brother.*** Elrohir admonished.

***I am not laughing, Elrohir.*** Elladan walked to where Janap lay and dispassionately stared down at the lifeless corpse before bending to retrieve Haldir's dagger. ***It never is a laughing matter when barbarians are involved. As I well know.*** Memories threatened to engulf him and Elladan clutched one of his side braids, the only outward sign of his stress.

***Elladan! No!*** Legolas broke in.

The older twin shook his head. ***Peace, Legolas. I am in control.*** Aloud he asked, "What now, Haldir?"

Very aware that all eyes were on him, the Lórien Elf said quietly, "Unless Crelaine wishes to take him back," he locked gazes with the Peacekeeper who shook his head, " we bury Janap and go home."

Mislyn raised her watery eyes to his compassionate ones and he smiled. "But we did not decide what to do with you," Haldir observed. Would you like to come with us?"

"Is that even possible? It would be all right?" Her tone was wonder-filled. "But...why would you let me go with you? You...you do not know me...Do you always come to the rescue of strangers?"

He ran his thumb gently under her eyes catching the last of her tears. "Yes. If the need arises. I know that you are kind, generous, and resourceful. To heal, you need peace and security, neither of which you will find at Roadside." He took a kerchief from Elrohir and gently wped her damp cheeks.

Elladan looked at Legolas. ***This...from Haldir?***

***Stop it, Elladan!*** Haldir re-shifted his position. The 'interesting' rocks were digging into his backside. ***Can you not see that in spite of her brave front she is frightened? I have felt her trembling.***

Elrohir coughed to cover a chuckle and Legolas cut a sideways glance at Elladan. Each wisely refrained from making comment.

Haldir briefly closed his eyes then smiled at Mislyn. "If you come with us, you will have no worries...and time to rest. After you are well, you can decide if you want to return to Roadside."

Before she could answer, Legolas came to stand at her feet. "The elves in three realms will be enchanted to meet a lovely and mysterious elleth." He smiled down at her when she blushed and hid her face.

"Lovely? Bruised... battered...my clothes ripped away..." she mumbled. "You've seen most of what there is of me. There is no mystery left."

Haldir hid a smile at her self-deprecating humor.

Elladan came to her side. "You do look like a ragdoll that has been dragged around by a warg cub," he teased. "Please say you will come. At least let us get you well," he coaxed. "You will have privacy."

"Enough." Haldir ignored the soft laughter from the other elves. "Tuomen, please transfer the remaining supplies to two wagons and arrange our bedrolls and furs into a soft bed for our guest.'

"Aye, Captain. And the Human?"

Before Haldir could answer, Galuon said, "We have begun moving the supplies. There are six Elves with picks and shovels ready to dig a grave."

***I do admire efficiency,*** Elrohir said as he gathered bloody cloths into a pile. ***After a year of observing us, I think Tuomen and Galuon may know us too well.***

***Was that not the charge given them by the Elders...to observe and protect us? Treasured, pampered Princes and highly favored Galadhel that we are?*** When the other three ignored his mild sarcasm, Elladan picked up a cloth and carefully cleaned the dagger. He placed it back in Haldir's boot scabbard then took off his own cloak and folded it length-wise. "We will need to make a sling to lift our mystery elleth into the wagon."

Three Elves had begun loosening the ground beside Janap. Crelaine put on his riding gloves and came to stand by them. "We should be the ones to bury him." Without a word, the tools exchanged hands.

With the picks and shovels the Humans started digging in the hard ground, the Elves prepared a comfortable bed for the Elleth, and Elrohir started a fire to boil water.

"I have to move," Haldir told Mislyn. The sun was mid-morning bright and with the absence of a breeze and so many people in one location the temperature was rising to an uncomfortable level. "We must get you out of the sun."

Mislyn let go of him. She angled her left arm across her chest, rested her hand on her right shoulder, then curved her right hand under her elbow for support.

Elladan cleared the space behind Mislyn and laid out his cloak. "Forgive us, please, " he said as he eased his hands under her hips. Legolas slid his around her calves and lifted her legs so Haldir could brace his arms beneath her thighs. They lifted her carefully and set her on the cloak. Before Legolas lowered her legs, Elladan cleared away the rest of the rocks.

She didn't make a sound. Haldir separated her hair into three parts, braided it, coiled it on top of her head and secured it with a decorative hair clasp Elladan handed to him.

"Is that too tight?"

"No." She looked up at him, then dropped her gaze. "I'm such a mess...worse than a baby.. so tired."

Legolas said quietly, "You have been very brave dealing with all the injuries, pain, and indiginities forced on you. As for the rest, there is not one among us who sees anything more than a bright spirit laid low by a coward." He removed the ruins of her shoes and looked at her. "Your feet are going to take a long while to heal. Why did you choose this flimsy footwear if you were going to be running for your life?"

Mislyn sighed. "My old walking boots were being repaired, and my new ones were not finished. My everyday shoes were all I had."

"I think this is deep enough," Crelaine said drawing their attention.

Elladan went to inspect the grave and nodded to Crelaine. "It is deep enough." He bent down, lifted Janap's body and all but tossed him into the trench.

Crelaine walked over to the pile of bloody cloths and gathered them up. He went back and scattered them over the mason. "You wanted the blood of an innocent...take it with you." His eyes and voice were hard. "It is a pity that your wife and son must learn of your cowardice. But, I will look after them...and make sure that they do not suffer for your sins." He picked up a shovel and began replacing dirt. When it was done, he and the Reeves placed all the blood-stained rocks over the mound. They handed the picks and shovels back to the waiting elves.

Elladan put Janap's big rock in the middle of the grave and wedged the putty knife beside it. "May you find your reward."

The Peacekeeper took off his bloodied gloves."We will take Ameston and Wilken back and let the full Council decide their fate Please tie them on their horses, " he said to the Reeves, "and gag them."

"Well done." The older twin shook hands with the young human again.. "You have a difficult job."

***The world is ending...Elladan is being nice to a Human...*** Elrohir said to Legolas. While waiting for water to boil, he had gone to the supply wagon and returned with bread, cheese and dried apple chips. "You need to eat." He set the plate beside Mislyn. "We still have a day's journey and I would like for you to rest as much as possible. But, before I give you anything more for pain, you have to have something in your stomach." He picked up a small piece of bread. "Open up," he commanded gently. "Take your time. Chewing and swallowing might be difficult."

Mislyn obediently opened her mouth and let him feed her. She felt very young and wondered anew at the care the Elves were giving her. She also felt very alone. She chewed an apple chip. "Corvelle. My favorite. "

"Mine, too, " Elrohir said,.offering her another. "There is a large orchard in Lórien. We missed the harvest this past autumn."

"I have---had a spread of fruit trees near my home in Roadside. The last harvest was the best ever. Apricots, peaches, apples, pears, plums. Our cooks make such scrumptious apricot-apple tarts. Dozens had been prepared for the Faire."

Elrohir gently tapped her uninjured cheek with his finger and smiled. "We can speak of harvests and tarts later."

She took the last bite of bread and cheese. "Yes, sir."

"Obedience...and fruit tarts...careful Little Brother, she will have you eating out of her hand."

The younger twin looked up, a wide smile on his face. "You have been quite helpful this day, Elladan. Add to your list of good deeds by unpacking two of the athelas braziers, please."

Elladain laughed and brushed his hand across the top of his twin's head. "At once, O Superior One." He gave Elrohir a mock salute then strode toward the supply wagons.

"Your brother hides pain very well." she said quietly.

Surprised at her observation, the dark-haired elf replied, "My brother is complicated. He is a fierce warrior, yet no Elfling has ever feared him."

" I suspect you are just as fierce."

"What's this about fierce?" Haldir had gone to inspect the bed that had been made up for the elleth. When she was safely ensconced, an awning would be fashioned over the wagon.

"We were speaking of fierce warriors."

"You are not supposed to be talking," Haldir reminded her.

"I am not used to being quiet," she said, "or being so much trouble. If I had had my boots...they wouldn't have caught me."

"But, if they not not, we would have missed meeting you." Legolas smiled down at her. He held two poles that would help them get her into the wagon. "And, no matter what the circumstances, I am glad we met you. And I would like to get better acquainted."

She tried to smile back, then saw Crelaine and held out her right hand. "There is much I must tell you my friend." He sat down by her. "You have been a source of pride to Roadside. I have watched you grow to a fine man and was happy to see you marry the one who still besots you. In Carah, you have a treasure, and your little boy will be like you."

She closed her eyes and swallowed the tears that wanted to come. "The bottom in my wardrobe is false, but you will be able to find the way to open it. There are copies of deeds and records regarding Roadside. Your name is on the deeds. And, there is enough gold to see the town through many hard times. I had three hundred years to accumulate a small fortune. I leave the care of Roadside to you."

The Elves exchanged looks but kept silent.

The Peacekeeper brought her hand to his lips. "Gold? Deeds? How can I just leave you. I don't want to own the town. I want you to come back and be what you were. Please, Mislyn. I'll find a way to protect you." His own eyes clouded with tears.

"Today was not an accident. It was not by chance that these wonderful Elves were nearby. It would be so safe, so easy to go home with you. But, it is time that I drop my disguises. It is time that I live among those who are like me." She worked her jaw ignoring the pain and swelling in her face. "Did my bag survive? And my shawl?"

Elladan retrieved both and set them beside her.

"Will you please take out the colored glass jar for me?" The older twin carefully lifted it out. "Take two of the needles and weave them into a corner of the shawl."

Elladan did as she asked after holding the jar up briefly so its crystal prisms caught the sun's rays. When he had replaced the parchment, he looked at the needles but said nothing.

"Now fold the shawl so that the needles won't be lost, and give it to Crelaine." After the young human had accepted the bundle, she said, "This is for Carah. She helped me put the fringe on it. I already gave two needles to the mayor's daughter. Tell her all the looms and spindles and bobbins are hers. She and Carah can decide about everything else in the classroom. You will also find detailed journals. Things should progress smoothly."

"How can they?" Crelaine all but shouted. "You won't be there and I will probably never see you again. I won't even know if you are well...or safe. I am putting you in the hands of strangers."

She caressed his bowed head. "Not strangers."

Haldir took off an intricately fashioned armband and gave it to Crelaine. "This is dear to me. Within the next year, I or someone here will come to get it back and give you news of your friend. You have my word."

Crelaine kissed Mislyn's forehead. "If Mislyn is only another of your personas, what is your given name.?"

"Libraleyne." she answered softly.

"Libraleyne, " he repeated. The Peacekeeper smiled. "And you are right. It is probably best that you will be among Elves again."

She looked at each of the four before returning her gaze to the Peacekeeper.
"Until today, the only Elves I have ever seen were my mother...and the one I thought was my father."

tbc