Through the Window

Chapter four: Rumil

Niamh sat alone at the edge of the flet, awaiting the return of Haldir with his blessed or dreaded news. He had gone to his lord and lady to determine weather or no it could be that Niamh would remain in the beautiful wood of Lorien. She dearly hoped they would pity her and give her refuge here.
Her fiery hair blew in the softly sighing wind, but the torn fragments of her gown clung to her flesh, so greatly were they soiled and dirtied that they were heavy.
She looked down to the ground below her. It was far. She glanced over at the ladder of silver twine and reached for it from where she sat, thinking she could climb down and find a river or stream to wash within.

Niamh took hold of the slight ladder and lowered her foot down to the very first step, gingerly taking it up once more whenit seemed the step would break.
“Lady!” There came a cry from below, a merry one to be sure and Niamh looked as she placed her foot upon the step once more.
“Lady, the ladder will not tear! It will bear the weight of twenty men, and so will it hold the little weight of a small girl!”
“Oh, shall it now?” Niamh said as she placed her second foot upon the step. She gingerly climbed down the fifty one steps to which the ladder bore, and soon she had reached blessed ground.
“Very good, arwen en amin,” Said the voice once more and as Niamh turned she saw a strange elf standing before her with his hands placed upon his hips. His bow was in one hand and his arrow in another and a smile played over his fine features.
Niamh smiled and bowed slightly before him. “Hullo, sir elf.” She said as she looked about her.
“Who do you search for?” The elf asked when Niamh turned to him once more with a look of disappointment.
“H-Haldir.” Niamh replied, trouble she had when she remembered his name. “I look for any sign of Haldir returning.”
“Where has he gone, arwen en amin?”
“I do not know where.... though I do know what business he had there.”
“Ah, then, what would that be, little one?”
Niamh studied the elf for only but a moment before she shook her head slowly. “Is it truly any of your concern?” She asked with a raise of her eyebrow.
The elf laughed and nodded his head quickly. “Well aye!” He said, “He is my brother and I search for him as well.”
Niamh started and her face flushed a bright red. “Oh, forgive me, sir elf.” She said humbly, “I did not know that you searched for him as well.”
“Think nothing of it.” The elf replied. He bowed low before Niamh and said with a hand to his heart, his eyes gazing upon her: “I am Rumil, youngest of the sons of the guard... there is Orophin, Haldir and myself.”
Niamh giggled as a little girl would do at he sight of a handsome man, and she turned her gaze to the ground. “I am Niamh.” She said, “I am not of this land, but I come from another that is far, far from here.”
Rumil raised his brow and as he rose to his feet, he took Niamh by her arm and led her with him as he began to walk.
“Come, walk with me, fair maiden,” He said, “and we shall speak more of your land and of your line.”
“I have no line.” Niamh said with a slight laugh, “I am but the daughter of a poor shepherd and farmer.” and she blushed as she began to feel the elf’s hand move slowly over her arm and to her back.
“I have heard of your coming.” Rumil said. “My brother Orophin had told me.” His hand moved ever lower in a soothing, rhythmic pattern until it reached her bottom. Niamh yelped aloud as he patted her lightly there and grinned.
Quickly, she moved away, the blush from her cheeks becoming ever greater and she looked upon him with venomous eyes.
“How dare you!” She said harshly and turned away. “If you are brother to Haldir truly, then I want him to keep you from me! You are a... a...--”
There was a rustle in the leaves behind her and as she turned, she saw Haldir standing there, his brow raised and a disapproving glance flared to Rumil who stood silently in the trees, his eyes cast downward.
Niamh looked to Haldir, relieved that he had found her, but he said nothing to her, only brushing her aside as he went to his brother.

“What have you done to this girl when she has been left alone for so long in your keep?” Haldir asked his brother in the elvish tongue, his eyes alight with a burning fire. Rumil smiled waveringly and looked to the girl for aid, though she cast his gaze from her coldly.
“What have you done, letchuring brother?”
“Nothing, I have done nothing!” Rumil replied, seeing his end near when he saw Niamh drop her jaw at his lie.
“You sinful little liar!” She hissed coldly and turned away, stalking through the trees and resting upon a stump that was far from reach of the elves’ ears... or so she thought.
“Wretched little... foul thing!” She hissed to herself as she fumbled with her dress in anger.
With a gasp, she heard as Haldir called to her: “Quiet you now, Niamh, young one!” He said, “Your angry words will help nothing.”
Niamh gazed upon him in amazement as he looked to her, a small grin resting upon the corner of his lips.

Haldir turned to Rumil and took him by the silk of his tunic, thrusting him upon the silver bark of Mallorn that rose nigh. With a hiss, the furious elf and elder brother to his fearing victim glared upon his littlest sibling with a gaze that screamed far more than what his mouth could draw to words.
Rumil nodded is head quickly, understanding the tone of the glare, and he moved away from his brother slowly, holding his head high and his shoulders broad, a vain attempt at keeping intact his dignity.
“Keep your hands to your self, Rumil! How oft must I say this!” Haldir said, his anger turning to mere agitation.
Then, the elf turned and went to where Niamh sat, her chin resting in the palm of her hand as if she played some game; she acted as if she did not see Haldir approach.

Haldir looked down upon Niamh as she sat. A grin played o’er his lips as he thoughtof the redness of her cheeks when he had found her with his brother.
“You must forgive my brother, little one.” He said as he reached out to take her hand. “He knows not his limitations... he can be taught no such thing.”
Niamh rose to her feet, her hand taken lightly in Haldir’s palm. He smiled as she blushed a furious red at the memory.
“Rumil is only a elfling still... in mind if not in body.” Haldir said quickly as she hid her face in shame of her embarrassment.
“Will he... do--”
“Oh, no!” Haldir laughed as he guessed Niamh’s words and pulled her closer to his side as he would do so his own child to comfort it, “Rumil is ungentleman, but have no fear... he will not steal from you your purity. That would be evil and he is not so. Childlike, yes, but not evil.”
Niamh smiled, but pulled away from Haldir at the thought of his reply. What Faerie men she had heard could do to a mortal girl... and elves, she had heard, were the same.
She giggled at the thought... she looked up at Haldir and grinned broadly. Haldir laughed slightly, but was put at an unease at the nature of her grin.
“Why do you give me such a look, girl?” He asked with a knowing smile and brushed the hair from her face. Dirt clouded her face, though her eyes shone brightly with some hidden thoughts natural to a girl of the age as she.

Haldir took Niamh once more to the flet in which she supposed he dwelt, and sat her there upon its edge.
He spoke to her there for a long while as the sun began to set and music began to rise in the distance.
Music of such a fair beauty as she had never heard and she listened to it more oft than to Haldir’s words. When he finally noticed her absent gaze, he sighed and turned to the south, where the music hailed.
“There is a feast this night.” Haldir said quietly, turning only slightly to Niamh; he saw her eyes light at his words and he smiled inwardly.
Silently and while Niamh listened yet to the sound of the music, the elf rose and went into the solitude of the flet.

Niamh looked about her and saw that Haldir had left her alone. She thought nothing of it and drew her knees up to her breast, laying her head upon them as she became entranced by the melodious rhythm of the music:
“Cormamin lindua ele lle,
Quel esta, Quel kaima,
Tenna' tul're, Aiya!
Lirimaerea, Poikaerea,
Taur'quessir, Taur’quessir!”

Thus sang the voices of the elves as they sang to harp and to viol. Their voices rang over the night, over the night as it fell and the sun set, and so fair and so clear were their voices that Niamh could not help but sigh longinly to be among these kind, fair folk.
Then, she heard a call from within the flet. “Niamh, arwenamin, tula sinome.”
Niamh sighed as she did not understand the call, but still she rose and went to the door of the flet, only to find Haldir gone from there. She furrowed her brow and looked about her.
“Arwenamin.”
Niamh turned swiftly as she heard Haldir’s sweet voice behind her, but still she saw no one there. Then, a light rap upon her shoulder caught her attention and she turned to face the inside of the flet; Haldir stood there before her, his hands he held behind him and a mischievous grin danced over his mouth.
“Arwenamin. Sana sina, lirimaer.” And he held before Niamh a gown of finest silver and woven gold through out the hem. Jewels shone fair and bright over the silk, and they danced with a light that was not cast from the moon.
“Take this.” Haldir said now in Niamh’s own tongue. Niamh gazed in awe at the dress... its beauty, though, brought to her mind the image of the faerie gown.
“It is as lovely as the faerie gift given me...” Niamh’s voice was quiet and deep, “The one that I could not have.”
She looked away as she saw Haldir’s eyes darken. He glanced quickly at the boughs wherein he had hidden the trunk that bore the faerie gown.
“I would advise that you do not think of such an evil object.” he said lowly, “Naught but harm can ever come of it.”
Niamh sighed. She smiled and looked to the dress Haldir had given her. Within, she longed for the faerie gown, for earlier, when the irksome ringing had come to her ears, she had wished to retreive the faerie gown, but had thought against it lest Haldir find her with it or lest he should find it disturbed. He was kind and she did not wish to disappoint him.
“It is lovely.” She sighed at the gown, elven beauty wrought and for her.
Haldir’s eyes lightened and he took the gown from the girl. He held it to her form, leaning close to her, finding her flesh soft as he draped the silk over her form.
Niamh flushed red ( as she found that here she did oft ) and pulled away from the elf. “Pray... do not.” She said quietly. Haldir’s face fell, but briefly only and he looked once more upon her with cheer that was nature to elves.

Niamh dressed herself in the elven gown, casting forever aside the ragged gown that was her only reminder of her home. With a sigh of heavy mourning and regret, Niamh thought upon the faeries’ words.
‘Do not worry, your mother and father will not notice you have left them... I am sure of it.’
Niamh brushed small tears away from her eyes quickly as she heard Haldir approach her. She looked upon him and smiled, though her eyes were red and heavy.
He came to her and tilted his head slightly, for he had never seen such sadness in any eyes.
“What ails you, little one?” He asked softly, his broad shoulders and his strong arms enveloped the small, round and trembling girl.
Niamh lay her head upon is breast and tears began to fall anew from her grief. She sobbed loudly onto his silken tunic, and he tightened his hold about her until she at last thought that never could she find a safer place than in the arms of this elf.
Haldir rested a small and tender kiss upon the top of Niamh’s fiery head. He furrowed his brow as he felt a rough scar beneath her thick hair and he pulled away some, finding the scar and touching it lightly.
Niamh winced in pain. She had forgotten about the blow she had taken from the faerie and pulled away from the elf, not wishing for his pity.
The elf frowned, pulling Niamh to his arms once more, holding her there tightly.
“He has hurt you in many ways than just one... I see now.” Haldir said gently, though in his voice there trembled anger.
“Shhh...” Niamh’s voice was quiet and soft, “... hush now...” and she wrapped her arms about the elf’s breast, and he sighed in comfort as she lay her head there, closing her eyes as if she were weary.
“Niamh...come away.” Haldir pulled Niamh softly from his arms and he knelt down before her. He felt s strange, foriegn feeling growing within him and he did not wish for this feelin Niamh to sense. “Come,” He said, “let us go now to a feast. There we may dance and sing and all will be merry.” but Niamh shook her head slowly, her eyes clouded and tearful as she looked to the eyes of her elf and she said: “W-will you leave m-me...?”
Haldir was shocked by her question and wondered at its cause, but he shook his head vigorously, taking the girl once more into his arms.
“Do not fear, Niamh,” Said he, “Do not fear.” and he lay a second kiss now upon her brow.
Niamh shuddered beneath the warmth and softness of her elf’s lips and smiled, despite her grief.
Outside, the two did not see as a second elf watched them. Rumil stood there, his face alight with mischief as he smiled faintly. beside him stood Orophin, the eldest of the brothers, and he watched with greater intent than that of his youngest brother, for he had long wished for someone to come for his brother... to come to his rescue.


There was feasting amid the trees, lined was there a clearing with torches and dancing lights, to make ever merrier the sight of the ball.
Elves sang, elf maidens danced and the lord and lady’ soldiers, may we call them the knights of the Galadhrim, told tales of noble adventures.
Celeborn, the lord of Lorien, and his lady wife, Galadriel the Lady of Light, sat beside him as they rested upon the top of a great standing stone, smiling and laughing as their people danced before them, wine was in their hands and song was upon their lips.
But none here were so merry as Niamh when Haldir led her upon his arm into the clearing. Niamh gasped and turned swiftly to Haldir, taking his hand tightly in her own.
“What has your lord and lady said of me?” She asked urgently,when she spied a noble couple glancing her way.
Haldir laughed at her enthusiasm and held her still as she bounced about, seemingly forgetting her question as she beheld what lay about her.
“Come, follow me into the shadows of quiet.” He said as he pulld her to the shelter of a great and spreading tree. Niamh could tell this elf was overjoyed with some news he had yet to tell her, and she listened as he began:
“Celeborn and Galadriel have granted me permission to keep you here until you have lost the faerie lord Donnaghue. Until he is slain and you are safe from him, you are under my given protection. Only then will you be released.”
Niamh smiled broadly and embraced the elf. She would have nothing to fear now that he would watch over her, and she kissed him lightly upon his fair cheeks, each in turn, and laughed. Perhaps the curse set upon her by the evil faerie lord Donnaghue would waver some, or at least the feircness of it. How could she be miserable if this beautiful, kind, protecting elf watched over her.
Alas! For Niamh did not see that he would be the cause of misery and pain. Perhaps this is why the faerie smiled darkly as he hid in the bushes, out of sight as he watched the mortal girl and the lovely elf. The faerie laughed cruely and rose, leaving them, saying softly to himself: “This elf will bring her misery she will dread. But, for the time, I have a happy little trick for him... perhaps the beginning of the pains of the little wretch’s curse?”

Haldir led Niamh into the dancing crowd of elves. One joined them and they saw that it was Rumil, Haldir’s letcherous younger brother. Haldir looked upon him with distaste as he drew ever nearer to Niamh as she danced with no knowledge of him being so very near to her.
In Rumil’s hand was a red rose, which he held to Niamh as she turned and saw him before her.
“Forgive me of my actions, arwen en amin,” Said he with a boyish grin and a hateful stare at his elder brother. “I was foolish to disrespect sucha lovely flower.”
Niamh frowned and turned the rose to the ground. “Indeed you were so foolish.” She said coldly, and turned, leaving the brothers together, alone.
“Why does she not accept my apologies?” Rumil asked his brother. Haldir only shook his head.
“You do not know?” He asked and left as well, though not to follow Niamh, but to go to his eldest brother who called to him, seemingly in earnest.

Orophin, who was the first elf from the night when Niamh had first arrived in Lothlorien, called to his brother, a fear was in his eyes as he looked about for Niamh as well.
“When Haldir approached, he said: “A great number of Orcs have been spied in the trees to the south.”
“This frightens you?”
“Nay, little brother, it is not this that I fear, but it is the pressence of a great serpant that bears the heads of two dragons upon its neck. I think that it is Donnaghue.”
“He is relentless, no?” Haldir smirked and drew his sword. “I will find Niamh and tell her to remain with the Lady of Light. The Lady will take the elf maidens to safety lest this new danger ventures to near.”
“That is good, little brother,” Orophin said as he, too, drew his blade, then, with a nod of farewell, he leapt into the dark of the silver trees.

Haldir ran to where he had watched Niamh sit. A look of fear was in her eyes when she had heard the nervous voices of Haldir and his brother, even though they spoke in their elvish tongue she knew that some danger was afoot.
“What has happened?” The girl asked as Haldir brought her to her feet. “Is it Donnaghue, Haldir?”
Haldir sighed and nodded his head swiftly. “But do not fear, Niamh, for I will leave you in the care of the Lady of Light.” He said comfortingly as Niamh began to tremble in fear. “All of these maidens you see leaving now are following the Lady into the trees, farther to the north where you will all be safe. Now go! Be swift and follow them.”
And he kissed Niamh softly upon her brow before forcing her into the crowd of whispering elf maidens, all of them bearing fear so great in their eyes, that Niamh was put no more on the ease.

Haldir went to where he had thought to fing lord Celeborn, but found that he had allready gone to aid his lady wife in leading all to safety and to protect the women with his sword. With a quick look about him, the young Marchwarden of Lothlorien followed his fellow soldiers as they began to file in through the trees that surrounded the clearing, their bows drawn taught with arrows and some even with dawn swords in their hands. All of them ran to the south, to fing the orcs and the two-headed terorr, the dragon form of the faerie lord Donnaghue.
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Niamh followed the elf maidens as they walked so very slowly through the trees. A light shone about them and they sang softly as if to soothe their feircely beating hearts.
Niamh saw the great fear and worry in their eyes, though outwardly they hid it all and remained calm. She wondered at this and failed dearly when she attempted to do it as well.
She thought of the worry she had seen in Haldir’s silver eyes when he had told her the news. She feared for him. Was he so skilled a warrior to defeat the Faerie lord once more? He had been greatly put to it the first time. Ah, but now he had he whole of the elven gaurd to aid him, for she had seen him join them when she had watched him leave until he was no longer in her sight. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of him and his loving arms about her. She looked over her shoulder, but all that she could see was the trees that hid him from her view. Oh, curse these foul trees! She felt the need to see him fight and to watch him as he fought, to assure herself that he would be in no danger, fo here, when she ran from him, she only worried for him and she had no assurance that he would live, for she could not see him.

One elf maiden looked to her right and saw a little mortal girl walking beside her. A strange light shone in the maiden’s eyes as she turned to Naimh.
”You are the lady of Haldir?”
Niamh looked and saw she who spoke to her in such a cold tone. The girl shook her head slowly and quickened her pace, avoiding the peircing gaze of he elf maiden whom she guessed could read her thoughts by the mere intensity of her stare.
“You must be his lady,” The elf maiden continued, though Niamh sought to shun her words. This, she found, was difficult, as the maiden’s voice--though fair-- was peircing as her stare and breeched the sheild of Niamh’s hands upon her ears. “You arrived upon his arm. He loves you, no?”
Niamh ran from the maiden, though she was followed close at heel.
“Speak to me, wench!” The elf maiden cried as Niamh hid in the shelter of the shadows of a tree. She was found. The elf maiden wreanched her to her feet as she knelt, her hands upon her ears.
“Put me down!” Niamh spat. She thought it odd that a woman, however elven she may be, would be so very strong.
“I will not!” The maiden shreiked as Niamh bit the hand that held her pinned to the tree in such a painful manner. “You do not deserve the arm of Haldir. You deserve the arm of a... wretch, like yourself.”
And she struck Niamh to the ground as she wriggled from her grasp.
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Haldir led his soldiers to where the dragon had last been seen and yet they were met with nothing. Haldir looked warily about him and saw nothing. The elves murmered in question and raised their voices to Orophin who looked about him in warness as well.
“Do not question me.” He said cooly as he looked through the trees. “They were here. It is an ambush... i fear. Draw your weapons.”
“No.” Haldir commanded, and Orophin turned to him with bewilderment in his eyes.
“Do not draw your blades nor you arrows... if already they are drawn, then sheath them once more.”
“Haldir, what is the cause of such foolishment?” Orophin demanded as he bade his warriors draw again their weapons.
“He is not here.”
“He? Nay, little brother, they. There was not only one dragon, but many orcs as well.”
“Nay, it was only a dragon.” Haldir said as he threw his bow and his arrows to his brother. “Only one dragon.”
And the elf, seeminlgy mad to his fellow soldiers, dashed through the trees, away from them all, searching for the young Niamh.
Orophin furrowed his brow. But then his eyes lit with realization and he turned to his warriors. “It was a mere illusion to draw us away from a faerie’s prize! Come now, follow Haldir your Marchwarden!”
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Niamh wrrigled away from the elf maiden’s grasp and fell to the ground with a thud. She rose to her feet and dashed through the trees.
This was no usual elf maiden, it could not be. She was alone and Haldir was far from her... the faerie lord Donnaghue followed her through the silver of the trees, his dragon’s heads spitting firey venom in her tracks.
The elf maidens and the Lady of Light were far from her and she seemed to have lost all hope when suddenly, from the boughs of the trees, leapt Haldir and one hundred of his elves upon the faerie dragon.
Their blades flashed in the moon’s light, their steel bit hard against the scales of the dragon as they struck it as one upon their landing.
The dragon cried out in pain and fell to its knees, its eyes closed and its breath slowed greatly as it lay, growling in agony.
Haldir lifted Niamh into his arms as he was met by Celeborn who bore in his hands a great leangth of the silver elven twine, stronger than steel, which he gave to the elven soldiers.
“Wrap the dragon feircely in this.” He commanded and the elves obeyed willingly. So great was the size of the dragon that all of the one hundred soldiers were hard put to in order to tie the dragon into captivity, but they did so and stood aright and strait before their lord and before their comander, Haldir, as he carried Niamh in his arms, trembling with fear.
Celeborn turned to Haldir and bowed slightly. Haldir’s robes were soaked with the black of the dragon’s blood and his hair clung to his shoulders, soiled, as well, by the blood.
“I will take the maiden to her flet--”
“My lord she has slept within my own flet and in my bed... I have slept upon the floor.”
“Then I shall take her there.” Celeborn’s brow raised in question to the truth of Haldir’s words, but her turned away, taking Niamh into his own ar,s, for her legs shook so that when Haldir stood her upon the ground, she nearly fellto her face in the leaves and turf.

Haldir turned to his brother Orophin who wiped his brow free of sweat and blood.
“It took all but one stroke to fell the beast.” Orophin sighed, shaking his golden head.
“It will take many more than that, brother, for see? It is not dead.” Haldir said. “I fear it will take much more to slay such a faerie... though we may wound him greatly and thus slow his agility and his perhaps the swiftness of his power.”
“Perhaps.” Orophin’s voice was heavy as he turned to watch Niamh being carried away. “What else will this foul faerie do to have the woman as his own, I do not know... I fear to know.”
“As do I, brother,” Haldir said solemnly. “as do I.”
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Rumil watched from a distance. He had not fought for the slaying of the dragon, infact, he had hid from it. This is not a thing that he would do oft, but now it seemed that his head ached and it was cause for him to act strangely. Oh, he ached all over his body, and it was a strange pain, a pain that was so fierce, it made him tramble and sweat.
“What is this?” He murmered in pain as he doubled over in agony, falling to his knees.
He looked up from where he knelt and looked upon the dragon. Elves stood about it, murmuring to one another.... in awe that now, when before the dragon had shown no signs of death, the beast lay dead and motionless.
Rumil’s eyes widened in a dreaded thought as he looked to his heart. His chest heaved in struggled breath. His eyes darkened as did the world about him and he rose to his feet, all thought that had been his own gone now from him. Blackness was inside his head.... and the figure of a man, dancing in the arms of a frail young girl.
“Oh,” Whispered a sweet, evil voice that was not Rumil’s own, “I shall love my victory.” and Rumil stepped from his hiding, greeting his brothers as if no change had overcome him, smiling and asking forgivness for missing theslaying of the dragon.
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UFO’S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rumil’s POSSESSED!!!!!! oo we oo we ay!!!!!!!!