Because of You, I Am Afraid
folder
-Multi-Age › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
11
Views:
2,915
Reviews:
12
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
-Multi-Age › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
11
Views:
2,915
Reviews:
12
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Her hands massaged higher up Rumils arm, briskly rubbing, before making their way across his chest to his other arm. She concentrated so hard on her movements, that she did to hear another enter.
“What a delightful caricature of intimacy. Do you touch all your patients thus?” Haldir asked acidly.
She glared up at him, finding him in the door way to the flet, observing her intently. She however, did not cease firmly stroking and kneading Rumils arms, encouraging the blood flow to the limbs that had lost so much. Yes, it did look compromising to an untrained eye, but once Rumils wounds had knitted together, good circulation was necessary for the wound to heal properly and quickly.
‘Did the men enjoy your healing hands on their bodies too?”
“You might find comfort in resorting to pettiness Haldir, but as it helps your brother than perhaps you should not be questioning my methods!”
Haldir had the grace to look chastened. For a moment, nothing more. “Has my sorry excuse for a brother given you anything to eat?” he ground out through gritted teeth, as though her very presence was enough to drive him in to a rage. His sense of propriety, however, was enough to overwhelm his fury for but a moment.
“I am not hungry,” she said, before continuing down Rumils right arm. Rumil sighed, before turning his head slightly to look at Haldir. “Make the elleth eat something brother, or she’ll fade away.”
Rumil turned to mock glare up at her patronizingly. “You do not eat often enough.”
“It is up to her to feed herself, Rumil. She is not an elfing.” Haldirs face softened just a little as he addressed his brother, before its hard mask slid back into place.
“I will have food brought to you, and you will eat every bite.” He turned on his heel, and stalked out of the flet.
“Do not worry, Imrhienna,” Rumil whispered cheekily, some of his old spirit returning. “He just wishes it were your hands on his body, not mine.”
“I heard that brother!” Haldirs voice drifted in from the platform outside, where he had been addressing one of the wardens.
“See what I mean?” Rumil asked, with a smug smile on his face as his eyes drifted shut. “Green with envy.” Imrhienna just rolled her eyes at his insolence.
Haldir stalked away from the talan, muttering curses under his breathe. Calling one of the other wardens to him, he asked him to bring some food to the flet where his brother was being healed by that….that….elleth. By the Valar, where had her sharp tongue come from? With just a few choice words she could cut him to the quick.
He shook all thoughts from his head, and returned to his own flet, content for now to try and sleep. Perhaps now that he had realised what a little hell cat she truly was, a side that somehow, after two years together so long ago, he had never seen. He wasn’t sure he liked it, maybe now he would no longer dream of her.
%^&%^
He awoke breathing heavily. Unfortunately, her spit fire ways did not discourage his overactive imagination. Apparently, her presence only encouraged such dreams. He threw himself from his pallet, and began to circulate amongst the other wardens, hoping that if he distracted himself, he would stop aching for her.
His thoughts were interrupted by Imrhienna’s low laugh filtering from above.
The damn elleth drove him to distraction at every turn! He could not think clearly, his waking hours were spent hoping to glimpse her, and his sleeping ones, well…when he awoke there was not a single part of him that was not stiff. And it did not help that she seemed to return Rumils casual affection towards her, as the warden regained his strength, it would seem that so did his slightly amorous nature.
A week on, and Haldir’s temper, nerves and resolve was all fraying. He was not sure how much longer he could tolerate Imrhienna’s presence without doing something he knew he would regret. (No, you would not, a little voice whispered to him lecherously.)
Rumils wounds had knitted enough for him to travel, and even some of the shallower cuts had healed almost completely, the angry red of the edges fading to a healthy, healing pink. Despite all the grudges he held against her, he could not fault her for her healing. Rumil was not an easy patient at the best of times.
He was on his way to the flet, to notify his brother that they would be returning to the city on the morrow. He almost sighed with relief with every step he took. Or at least, he told himself it was relief.
When he opened the door to the tiny flet, he found Rumil sitting up, grasping Imrhienna’s hand, as she, laughingly, tried to tug herself from his grasp.
He cleared his throat, and Rumil dropped her hand a little guiltily.
“Healing his hand now Imrhienna? I was not aware his left hand was injured.” Haldir baited her. Her cheeks turned the slightest shade darker.
“If the case were that bodily contact with another were always in the name of healing, Haldir-” she emphasized his name, in defiance of the lack of title. “Then your groin must be the picture of good health!”
Haldir stood in absolute shock, unable to say anything at all. She pushed past him, leaving him to speak with Rumil, who was trying very hard not to laugh very loudly.
When Haldir was finally able to string words together in the wake of his shock, he managed to choke out, with a very red face, “Valar protect her, if I ever find her alone, Rumil.”
Rumil sobered. “Ah, brother, you do not mean it. She is better at insulting you than even Orophin!”
“I was not aware that Orophin insulted me.” He replied, staring at Rumil hardly, who thought it best if he changed the topic.
“So when do we head back to the city, brother?”
“As soon as the sun rises. I will have Orophin escort your devoted healer back to her village tonight.”
Rumil avoided Haldir’s gaze for a moment, before looking him squarely in the eye.
“Haldir, I want her to return to the city with us.”
Haldir closed his eyes for a moment, before half growling, “Brother, I have put up with a lot of your insolence recently, but this request I will not allow.”
“Ït is not a request brother.”
Haldir turned to face Rumil, who held his gaze staunchly.
“Pray repeat that, brother?”
“You heard me Haldir. I…we…owe her a great debt. Despite all we, well…you…have put her through, she still stayed to heal me.”
“She was hit over the head with a…”
“I am aware of that yes, but she still stayed to see me well. We owe her better than sending her on her way with only a word of thanks. You, of any of us, owe her more than that.”
“I owe her nothing,” He ground out through gritted teeth. He did not like where this conversation was heading.
“You owe her an apology. You were never within the right to banish her from the forest to begin with Haldir.”
“Do not tell me, brother, what I can and cannot do. I had my reasons.”
“She is coming with us. Or do I take it to the Lady?”
Haldir exhaled loudly in utter frustration. “You have been spending too much time with the little hell cat.”
Rumil said nothing else, his gaze boring into his older brothers. He had never stood up to him before, and Haldir found the whole experience rather disconcerting.
“Just keep her out of my way,” Haldir muttered, before rising, and making to leave the room.
“Haldir,” he heard Rumil start behind him, and he stopped in the doorway, but did not turn. “I wish to court her, and she has led me to believe my advances are not unwelcome.”
Haldir turned to face his brother than, his eyes hard, and cold. “You are welcome to her, brother.”
He turned on his heel and left, trying to suppress the feeling that he may have just surrendered his hold on something precious.
$^&%^&%
“You want me to return to Lorien?” she asked, more than a little surprised at this turn of events. “What of Haldir?”
“Haldir has given his permission, and once more you are welcome in the city. Please, Imrhienna will you not return with me?”
“With you, Rumil?” she asked, a little confused at this turn of events. She had not felt so out of place, so confused, so plain torn since her initial departure from Lorien many years before.
“Yes, Imrhienna. With me.” Despite his position upon the pallet on the floor she couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed at the look he was giving her.
‘Rumil,…I-”
“What is this?” he asked gently, noticing just how badly he had thrown her. “I am not asking for forever, Imrhienna. Simply return with me. I shall reintroduce you to the city. And we enjoy each others company. You have said as much yourself.”
She looked down at him. “But what of…of Haldir?”
“Imrhienna, you have made your distaste of him clear enough. He will leave you alone.”
“That is not what I meant, and you well know it.”
Rumil sighed. He knew. “He is aware of my intentions.”
“He is?”
“Yes, Imrhienna. He had less trouble accepting my affection for you than you apparently are.” he was more than a little disgruntled.
“No, Rumil. It isn’t that.” she stopped, and took a deep breathe. Haldir was unaffected by Rumils proposal? Well than, so would she. “I will return with you Rumil, but do not ask me to leave the village.”
“I would not dare to dream of it, Imrhienna.” His hand caught hers then, and pulled her a little closer, down towards him.
“Rumil….”
“Shh…”he murmured, trailing off, as he pulled her the last few inches so her lips met his. She was hesitant at first, and then, she submitted to his advances.
Kissing Rumil was not unpleasant, she had to admit, but it did not hold a candle to her memories of the smallest of Haldir’s kisses…no! she must stop thinking like this now. Haldir did not care to know her that way now. He had moved on, and now so would she. Besides, she didn’t care for the new, bitter Haldir at all. Yes, Rumil suited her far better.
A/N: just a quick thankyou to those who review . I very much appreciate your words! So what do you think? The chapter was a bitlonger than previous ones, yes? and she is returning to Lorien. That should stir some things….ie Haldir…up a bit! Let me know what you think!
Her hands massaged higher up Rumils arm, briskly rubbing, before making their way across his chest to his other arm. She concentrated so hard on her movements, that she did to hear another enter.
“What a delightful caricature of intimacy. Do you touch all your patients thus?” Haldir asked acidly.
She glared up at him, finding him in the door way to the flet, observing her intently. She however, did not cease firmly stroking and kneading Rumils arms, encouraging the blood flow to the limbs that had lost so much. Yes, it did look compromising to an untrained eye, but once Rumils wounds had knitted together, good circulation was necessary for the wound to heal properly and quickly.
‘Did the men enjoy your healing hands on their bodies too?”
“You might find comfort in resorting to pettiness Haldir, but as it helps your brother than perhaps you should not be questioning my methods!”
Haldir had the grace to look chastened. For a moment, nothing more. “Has my sorry excuse for a brother given you anything to eat?” he ground out through gritted teeth, as though her very presence was enough to drive him in to a rage. His sense of propriety, however, was enough to overwhelm his fury for but a moment.
“I am not hungry,” she said, before continuing down Rumils right arm. Rumil sighed, before turning his head slightly to look at Haldir. “Make the elleth eat something brother, or she’ll fade away.”
Rumil turned to mock glare up at her patronizingly. “You do not eat often enough.”
“It is up to her to feed herself, Rumil. She is not an elfing.” Haldirs face softened just a little as he addressed his brother, before its hard mask slid back into place.
“I will have food brought to you, and you will eat every bite.” He turned on his heel, and stalked out of the flet.
“Do not worry, Imrhienna,” Rumil whispered cheekily, some of his old spirit returning. “He just wishes it were your hands on his body, not mine.”
“I heard that brother!” Haldirs voice drifted in from the platform outside, where he had been addressing one of the wardens.
“See what I mean?” Rumil asked, with a smug smile on his face as his eyes drifted shut. “Green with envy.” Imrhienna just rolled her eyes at his insolence.
Haldir stalked away from the talan, muttering curses under his breathe. Calling one of the other wardens to him, he asked him to bring some food to the flet where his brother was being healed by that….that….elleth. By the Valar, where had her sharp tongue come from? With just a few choice words she could cut him to the quick.
He shook all thoughts from his head, and returned to his own flet, content for now to try and sleep. Perhaps now that he had realised what a little hell cat she truly was, a side that somehow, after two years together so long ago, he had never seen. He wasn’t sure he liked it, maybe now he would no longer dream of her.
%^&%^
He awoke breathing heavily. Unfortunately, her spit fire ways did not discourage his overactive imagination. Apparently, her presence only encouraged such dreams. He threw himself from his pallet, and began to circulate amongst the other wardens, hoping that if he distracted himself, he would stop aching for her.
His thoughts were interrupted by Imrhienna’s low laugh filtering from above.
The damn elleth drove him to distraction at every turn! He could not think clearly, his waking hours were spent hoping to glimpse her, and his sleeping ones, well…when he awoke there was not a single part of him that was not stiff. And it did not help that she seemed to return Rumils casual affection towards her, as the warden regained his strength, it would seem that so did his slightly amorous nature.
A week on, and Haldir’s temper, nerves and resolve was all fraying. He was not sure how much longer he could tolerate Imrhienna’s presence without doing something he knew he would regret. (No, you would not, a little voice whispered to him lecherously.)
Rumils wounds had knitted enough for him to travel, and even some of the shallower cuts had healed almost completely, the angry red of the edges fading to a healthy, healing pink. Despite all the grudges he held against her, he could not fault her for her healing. Rumil was not an easy patient at the best of times.
He was on his way to the flet, to notify his brother that they would be returning to the city on the morrow. He almost sighed with relief with every step he took. Or at least, he told himself it was relief.
When he opened the door to the tiny flet, he found Rumil sitting up, grasping Imrhienna’s hand, as she, laughingly, tried to tug herself from his grasp.
He cleared his throat, and Rumil dropped her hand a little guiltily.
“Healing his hand now Imrhienna? I was not aware his left hand was injured.” Haldir baited her. Her cheeks turned the slightest shade darker.
“If the case were that bodily contact with another were always in the name of healing, Haldir-” she emphasized his name, in defiance of the lack of title. “Then your groin must be the picture of good health!”
Haldir stood in absolute shock, unable to say anything at all. She pushed past him, leaving him to speak with Rumil, who was trying very hard not to laugh very loudly.
When Haldir was finally able to string words together in the wake of his shock, he managed to choke out, with a very red face, “Valar protect her, if I ever find her alone, Rumil.”
Rumil sobered. “Ah, brother, you do not mean it. She is better at insulting you than even Orophin!”
“I was not aware that Orophin insulted me.” He replied, staring at Rumil hardly, who thought it best if he changed the topic.
“So when do we head back to the city, brother?”
“As soon as the sun rises. I will have Orophin escort your devoted healer back to her village tonight.”
Rumil avoided Haldir’s gaze for a moment, before looking him squarely in the eye.
“Haldir, I want her to return to the city with us.”
Haldir closed his eyes for a moment, before half growling, “Brother, I have put up with a lot of your insolence recently, but this request I will not allow.”
“Ït is not a request brother.”
Haldir turned to face Rumil, who held his gaze staunchly.
“Pray repeat that, brother?”
“You heard me Haldir. I…we…owe her a great debt. Despite all we, well…you…have put her through, she still stayed to heal me.”
“She was hit over the head with a…”
“I am aware of that yes, but she still stayed to see me well. We owe her better than sending her on her way with only a word of thanks. You, of any of us, owe her more than that.”
“I owe her nothing,” He ground out through gritted teeth. He did not like where this conversation was heading.
“You owe her an apology. You were never within the right to banish her from the forest to begin with Haldir.”
“Do not tell me, brother, what I can and cannot do. I had my reasons.”
“She is coming with us. Or do I take it to the Lady?”
Haldir exhaled loudly in utter frustration. “You have been spending too much time with the little hell cat.”
Rumil said nothing else, his gaze boring into his older brothers. He had never stood up to him before, and Haldir found the whole experience rather disconcerting.
“Just keep her out of my way,” Haldir muttered, before rising, and making to leave the room.
“Haldir,” he heard Rumil start behind him, and he stopped in the doorway, but did not turn. “I wish to court her, and she has led me to believe my advances are not unwelcome.”
Haldir turned to face his brother than, his eyes hard, and cold. “You are welcome to her, brother.”
He turned on his heel and left, trying to suppress the feeling that he may have just surrendered his hold on something precious.
$^&%^&%
“You want me to return to Lorien?” she asked, more than a little surprised at this turn of events. “What of Haldir?”
“Haldir has given his permission, and once more you are welcome in the city. Please, Imrhienna will you not return with me?”
“With you, Rumil?” she asked, a little confused at this turn of events. She had not felt so out of place, so confused, so plain torn since her initial departure from Lorien many years before.
“Yes, Imrhienna. With me.” Despite his position upon the pallet on the floor she couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed at the look he was giving her.
‘Rumil,…I-”
“What is this?” he asked gently, noticing just how badly he had thrown her. “I am not asking for forever, Imrhienna. Simply return with me. I shall reintroduce you to the city. And we enjoy each others company. You have said as much yourself.”
She looked down at him. “But what of…of Haldir?”
“Imrhienna, you have made your distaste of him clear enough. He will leave you alone.”
“That is not what I meant, and you well know it.”
Rumil sighed. He knew. “He is aware of my intentions.”
“He is?”
“Yes, Imrhienna. He had less trouble accepting my affection for you than you apparently are.” he was more than a little disgruntled.
“No, Rumil. It isn’t that.” she stopped, and took a deep breathe. Haldir was unaffected by Rumils proposal? Well than, so would she. “I will return with you Rumil, but do not ask me to leave the village.”
“I would not dare to dream of it, Imrhienna.” His hand caught hers then, and pulled her a little closer, down towards him.
“Rumil….”
“Shh…”he murmured, trailing off, as he pulled her the last few inches so her lips met his. She was hesitant at first, and then, she submitted to his advances.
Kissing Rumil was not unpleasant, she had to admit, but it did not hold a candle to her memories of the smallest of Haldir’s kisses…no! she must stop thinking like this now. Haldir did not care to know her that way now. He had moved on, and now so would she. Besides, she didn’t care for the new, bitter Haldir at all. Yes, Rumil suited her far better.
A/N: just a quick thankyou to those who review . I very much appreciate your words! So what do you think? The chapter was a bitlonger than previous ones, yes? and she is returning to Lorien. That should stir some things….ie Haldir…up a bit! Let me know what you think!