Vales of Sorrow

Vales of Sorrow
Genre: HET AU ROMANCE starts many years before Fellowship of the Ring ends after Return of the King
Beta: Novedhelion
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

Only a year late..,

Summary: An injured Elleth, rescued by four Noble Elves, has secrets that will have repercussions for Lothlórien, Mirkwood, and Rivendell


*** *** Denotes Telepathy. ** ** is Elvish...around humans.


CHAPTER FIVE

Echoes From the Past

Until the two Athelas braziers Elrohir dropped clanked together, not even a whisper was heard. He had taken them from his brother so Elladan could get the jar of needles for Libraleyne. At the sound, everyone spoke at once. Several seconds passed before Haldir held up his hand.

Crelaine stared at her."...but...there were Elves who stopped for rest at Roadside during their travels...and you went to faires...you must have seen some of them."

Libraleyne swallowed hard. "I had no contact. Ma---Mama..sai..." She swallowed again and took a deep, calming breath. "Mama said it was not safe for anyone to know us...." The words made her remember the urgency with which her mother had said them. With a shuddering sob, her mother's voice ringing in her head, she balled her right hand into a fist and pressed it against her trembling lips.

"Not safe?" Haldir asked gently. The feelings he was experiencing were like none he ever had before. He wanted to hold her and keep her from further harm...and there was something stronger, a strange feeling for which he had no name. "You do not have to be afraid...we still want to help."

She met his gaze. "I let myself believe that she was wrong. You were so kind....but she was right and I cannot endanger you... I cannot go with you.... cannot go back..can...not......" When more waves of pain rolled over her, she clutched her stomach and bent double.

"What has changed? Why can you not go with us now?" Holding her shoulders, he carefully raised her up.

"I still hear her...Mama said there was danger for any Elf to know about us....that she could never go home... " The Elleth stiffened.and began to cough. "Not safe....for...you...please... just leave me. After all this time, I hoped things had changed...but...they have not....do not want to hurt you...so cold..." She slumped forward again, her whole body shaking before she went completely still. "Please... go away...just go away...let me die."
.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The song Lady Celebrian sang told of love and hope, the words and tune saucy and joyful. All who heard it smiled.

The round table her father had installed in the private family garden was large enough to seat twelve. The cart she had wheeled from the kitchen held enough to feed at least that many. Her parents insistence and a never-ending curiosity had resulted in her learning all the aspects of life in the Golden Wood. Cooking was what she liked best though she seldom had the chance to prepare meals. The Head Cook had been her teacher and was more than happy to assist in preparing this special breakfast.

"Such a charming sight to begin one's day."

She looked up from folding napkins to see the King of Greenwood come into the secluded area. "Your Majesty! Fair morrow. My apologies for not greeting you last evening. Did you have a safe journey?"

"Our arrival was very late." Thranduil smiled at her. 'The wardens at the border almost made us spend the night there."

"The guardians of Lothlórien take their responsibilities very seriously." She returned his smile. "But I suppose Rúmil took pity on you, and let you pass."

"How did you know which Warden was in charge?"

"I know which of my brothers patrols which border."

"Of course, you would know that. I did not mean to interrupt your song."

"'Tis one you know well and you knew it was done, else you would not have interrupted." She turned back to her napkins.

"So I did," he admitted. " I still think you should have married me." The king came around the table. "Tell me again. How did the serious and stoic Lord of Imladris win you?" The teasing question was one that been asked many times over the centuries.

Celebrian looked up at him. Her answer never varied. "Quite simply, he makes me sing." .

"Will you never tire of asking that?" Lord Elrond came toward them. "Good morning , my friend. I trust your jouney was uneventful."

The two Elven rulers, one dark, the other fair, clasped forearms as their eyes met.

Celebrian finished with her task and stood. "He said that Rúmil almost made him spend the night at the border. But, my little brother took pity on him and allowed him to come into the city. It just would not do to strand his Majesty up a tree, especially one without a talan."

She smiled at the King of Greenwood. "Or was it because you threatened to make him spend time in your dungeons?"

Thranduil returned her smile. "Dear Lady, you wound me. Rúmil knows I am no threat to the safety of the Golden Woods"

She laughed softly. "He is rather a good judge of character."

Thranduil's laugh was not soft. "Wounded again. And on such a bright day." He sat down at the table and poured fruit juice from a tall, carefully crafted crystal pitcher into a matching goblet.

'It is indeed a bright day." Celebrian said happily as she went to her husband and drew him into an impromptu dance of whirls around the table. "Our sons are coming home!"

"Yes, they are.' Elrond affirmed, smiling indulgently at her when they completed the circle. "Although it has been a rather pleasant, quiet year without them."

She thwapped him playfully on his left arm. "Well, 'I' have missed them. and, am looking forward to hearing all about their adventures."

With gentle fingers the Lord of Imladris caressed a thick lock of shining hair that had fallen over her shoulder during their twirling. "Must you always resort to violence?" His tone was also a caress.

"Only when you deserve it." Celebrian curtsied to him, and went to take a seat at the table. Elrond sat beside her.

Thranduil poured a goblet of juice for her, then turned the pitcher handle toward her husband. " I only hope that your sons have not completely corrupted Legolas."

Celebrian set her goblet down. "Considering that Elladan and Elrohir are your Ions-muin, I would think that you would be happy to have Legolas take after them."

With another laugh the king threw up his hands in mock surrender "I yield, My Lady."

"And I accept. No one knows better than I that our being Adarsmuin to Legolas is the better bargain.....that you have double the responsibility."

"I am up to that challenge. And Legolas knows them very well."

Elrond smiled over the rim of his goblet. "Indeed he does."

Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel came into the garden.

"Stay, " Galadriel said when Thranduil and Elrond would have risen. "There are no formalities this morning. Only family."

"I trust you are all well and ready for the youngsters to return." Celeborn greeted them. then paused beside Celebrian and bent to kiss her cheek.

"Fair morrow, sweet Daughter. Yes, I know." He smiled at her. "Your sons are coming home."

"Have I been that vocal, Ada? About their return?"

"Yes!" Galadriel and Elrond answered with him.

She dipped her head as a light blush rose on her cheeks. "I am just grateful that they are safe. Have you seen Arwen?" she asked her mother. "I thought she was going to help me with breakfast."

"Then she forgot." Galadriel accepted a goblet of juice from Thranduil 'She has gone to the Aviary to see Orophin and his family."

"That is fine. I know that she cannot resist the Elflings...or the cats."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Lothlórien Aviary was located near the heart of the Golden Woods Hundreds of birds, from tiny Sparkeets to Eagles with six-foot wingspans, inhabited the fenced fifty-acres of open glades and trees. Water fowl and game birds roamed freely. And all co-existed peacefully.

Orophin was the Assistant Gameskeeper-Falconer. His wife, Elemmírë worked side-by-side with him. Their three elflings, two sons and a daughter, were under the age of ten. They both turned at the sound of their children's voices.

Tegior, the oldest at nine was followed closely by his five-year-old siblings, dual-gender twins, Garværon and Haradeth.

"Ada," Tegior said when he caught his breath. " Arwen is coming. May we show her the new kitties?"

Orophin smoothed his hair back. " I think she would like that very much. She likes cats."

'Fair morrow," he said looking at Arwen as she strolled briskly toward them. Her dark hair showed blue and red highlights in the early morning sunlight. "Beautiful as ever," He took her hands, then lightly kissed her forehead.

She smiled up at him.. "And you, Uncle, are still the flatterer." She scooped Haradeth into her arms and held the little elleth close. "Your children are so sweet...and rambunctious. I tried to keep up with them...It is so very good to see you, too, Elemmírë. However do you manage?"

"Wonderful to see you, Arwen. Eveyone helps with the children. The other Keepers also have young families. We all take turns. They can not climb the fence. So we do not worry much"

The sound of bells broke in. A long, thick rope had a series of bells knotted along it, and they clanged together when the small, fierce hawk that landed on the high perch set the rope in motion.

The hawk flew to Orophin and rested on his gauntleted arm while Elemmírë removed the rolled parchment message from a leather-string loop on one of his legs.

"This should go to the Lord and Lady," she said with concern in her tone. "It has Haldir's seal."

"I can take it." Arwen set her small cousin down and took the slender scroll carefully as it was handed to her. " I hope this does not mean trouble.".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"No!" Crelaine shouted. He gripped the elleth's shoulders and made her sit up.

Haldir shook his head at the questioning looks he received. ***Let us hear what he has to say.***

Libraleyne tensed at the fury she saw in the Peacekeeper's brown eyes and the young human eased his grasp.

"Will you let Janap win? Will you let him and his kind have the last word? If you give up, you prove him right. To have survived as long as you have, you must have come through worse than this. Will you throw away all that you have accomplished?"

Elrohir would have interrupted, but Haldir again shook his head.

"Did it never occur to you that your mother meant there was danger for the two of you if other elves knew of your existence? Not that you were a danger to them?" Crelaine's tone softened. "You have been our teacher in so many ways for fifty years. How can I go back and tell Carah that the bad man hurt you so much you died? Think of the grief that Janap's wife and son will have knowing that you are dead...ALL the children will cry...I will cry." .

He released her and ran his hands through his sandy hair. "I would have sent Janap into exile anyway. You asked me about the tattoo that was on his wrist and those of several others who have associated with Janap during the six years that he has been in our town."

Her eyes widened. "Yes, I did. But that was almost a year ago. I thought you either forgot or had had no news."

"Oh, there is news. None of it good. I sent out letters to seven other Peacekeepers. They, in turn, corresponded with each other and sent all their gathered information to me. The reports arrived very late the evening before Mislyn had to leave." He looked up at Legolas, then at Haldir. "I am sorry noble sirs, but every man who has that mark is part of an organization...an organization whose members hate Elves...and have pledged to see their destruction."

Cries of shock and outrage from the surrounding Elves followed this revelation, but long years of training and discipline made them remain in their places.

As stunned as the rest, Haldir said haltingly, "Then you knew what Janap would do if he caught up to her...we knew such a group existed...but that was long ago..." His voice trailed off into silence

"By human terms, it is ancient...began in Far Harad...and its members are sworn to secrecy...pledging themselves with blood oaths. The last words were whispered by the young human.

Elladan tried to ignore echoes of voices in his own head as he rushed to one of the wagons and pulled a waterproof leather satchel to him. From it he extracted a parchment page and a charcoal stick and hurried back to where Crelaine was kneeling beside Libraleyne.

"Please?" He extended the items to the human. "Please show me what this mark looks like." Knowing...almost certain, yet hoping that it was not the one he remembered." Startled by the anguished expression on the dark elf's face, Crelaine laid the page on the ground and quickly sketched.

***Elladan!*** Elrohir made his brother face him. ***What is going on?***

The older twin swallowed hard, his heart pounding as he tried to maintain his control. ***In a moment, Elrohir, in a moment.***

When Crelaine handed him the parchment, Elladan stared at it, then grabbed his braids. "Nooooooooooooooo!" he howled in pain and rage. "It can not be." Memories clawed their way to the surface and gripped him in a stranglehold. Ignoring his brother's alarmed questions, he dropped the sketch and moved swiftly to Janap's grave where he fell to his knees and began removing rocks, throwing them heedlessly. Tears blurring his vision, he only concentrated on uncovering the corpse, paying no attention to anything else.

Elrohir started to follow his brother but Haldir bade him stay. ***We will soon know.***

Legolas picked up the parchment and gasped. "Haldir, we saw this carved in stone...Elladan must have seen it...Tuomen also. But neither said a word about recognizing it."

The Prince held the page so Elrohir could see it. The younger twin shut his eyes in pain after seeing it. Tuomen laid a hand on his arm.

"You cannot leave your patient. Let me talk to him."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Never one to walk when she could run, Arwen exited the Aviary, her unbound hair flying out behind her.

'She is never still." Orophin smiled as he removed the jesses from the hawk and let it go to find a meal. "Except for Haldir's two eagles, all the birds have returned safely to roost. Now, we must freshen up if we are to join the family for breakfast."

Elemmírë laid a hand on his arm. "Please, Orophin, go without me. I know that he is kind and generous, but the King scares me, and so does Elrond, and I make a fool of myself everytime I see Lord Celeborn. But, I mostly want everything here to be perfect for Ada when he comes home today. I want him to see that we did a good job in his absence. Please?"

Orophin grinned at his wife. "Some day you will not quake like a willow around my family." He bent to kiss her. "This time, I will go alone. But, I will be back soon."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fifteen minutes later, Arwen breezed into the garden room, startling the others.

"Oh good. You are all here. Ada." She smiled at her father and kissed his cheek. Placing her palms together, she looked at Celebrian. "Nana, I do beg your pardon for not being here to help with breakfast."

The dark-haired elleth made her way around the table to Thranduil and dipped into an elegant curtsey. "Mae govannen, Your Majesty. All of Lórien welcomes you. "

She sat down by Galadriel and briefly rested her hand on one of her grandmother's. "Fair morrow, Nanneth."

She then went to stand by her grandfather and, right hand over her heart, bowed to him. "Fair morrow, Adar," she said pulling the parchment scroll from a deep pocket in her skirt. "This came with the last of the Messenger Hawks."

All eyes turned to Celeborn as he broke the seal and unrolled the page, and read aloud.

My Lord,
All in the company are well and we are within half a day's ride of Lothlórien, but we will be delayed by a situation we have discovered. With his farseeing abilities, Prince Legolas has seen three humans abusing an elleth. He, the Captain, and Lord Elrond's sons have gone to investigate. I and the others will follow shortly. May it please you, Sir, meet us at the border. I know not if we will be bringing trouble home with us. I will explain taking matters into my own hands to Haldir. In the distance I see the rock formations Lady Galadriel showed me in her mirror.
Tuomen

Celebrian stood and passed out plates. "At least eat before you leave." She looked at her husband, parents and the king. "Come, Arwen, let us make the necessary preparations for their departure." She sighed. "With my brother, my sons, and ion-muin involved, it is a surety that they will be bringing trouble home with them."

tbc

Author's Notes.

Special thank yous to Nove for putting up with questions and my tweaking and/or wrecking the plot. Anieni and Zee for reading this ahead of time. Mary A for the Athelas Braziers suggestion and Malinorne and Zhie for dealing with my outlandish attempt at creating an Elvish word for Godparents...they were both very kind and polite.

There are no Elvish words that I know of for Grandmother or Grandfather or Godparents.

I have Arwen calling her grandparents by the formal Adar and Nanneth.

Also, just my own invention...I took the formal Adars (the closest thing to parents I could come up with) and added muin which is 'dear' and going by the vagaries of our English pluralization...came up with Adarsmuin = Dear parents = Godparents
Adamuin Godfather
Nanamuin Godmother
ionmuin Godson
ielmuin Goddaughter

And, yes, I know that Orophin's children are close in age...there is a reason.