Denied Rights

Author’s note: I know that it takes time to journey from Lothlorien to Mirkwood, but I had Rumil arrive quickly. Also, the men who captured Haldir are moving slowly through Mirkwood.


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Mirkwood
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Rumil entered the throne room cautiously. Spying an elf with a crown, whom he presumed to be King Thranduil, he bowed, "Greetings King Thranduil. I am Rumil of Lothlorien and I have come on urgent
business." Raising his head, he watched as the elf sat on the throne.

Wasting no time, Thranduil waved his hand at his children and then gestured to Rumil. "And what is so urgent that sends a guardian of the Golden Wood to Mirkwood?" The three princes sat next to their father, while the princess quietly exited the room. Legalese remained standing by the door,
waiting to see if the message needed his input.

Steadying himself, Rumil answered," Your highness, a guardian of Lothlorien has been captured by men. My lady Galadriel’s mirror has shown them traveling through Mirkwood, and the Galadhrim request your assistance in rescuing our guardian." Hoping that the king had not noticed his
trembling, he spoke again. "Will you aid us?"

"No," said Thranduil as he returned to looking at the scrolls that Legolas had brought him. The King’s children protested quietly, as Rumil’s mouth dropped open. ‘But Galadriel said……’ he thought to himself.

"Father," said Vorimarao, looking sympathetically at Rumil, "perhaps you should reconsider."

"I’ve made my decision, I’ll have no more spoken of this," the king said sternly. "I despise Lothlorien, I despise Galadriel, and I will have nothing to do with either of them, and neither will my kingdom."

Legolas had been silently studying Rumil, and had noticed his trembling. "Who?" he said walking over to the guardian.

Rumil had been so engrossed in his plea that he had not even noticed the advisor standing in the shadows. "I’m sorry? Who what?" he said, quite puzzled.

"Who was captured?"

"Our Marchwarden. Haldir." At this, the king looked up.

"Haldir? Lothlorien’s strongest guardian was captured by men?" he scoffed. "Perhaps he is undeserving of the title of Marchwarden," he spat.

Seeing Rumil wince, Legolas hissed, "Your highness, do you not know?" Looking at Rumil, and then back at the king he said, "They are kin. Rumil is the brother of Haldir. Do not disrespect him so."

"You dare to give me orders?!" roared Thranduil as he rose from his throne. "You forget your place, advisor!"

Standing tall and proud, Legolas answered, "I do not forget my place. I know my proper place, as do you. For now, as your advisor, I advise you on all matters! And on this, I recommend that you assist the Galadhrim. Not only will it repair relations with the Golden wood, you will assist a fellow elf, and Galadriel will be in your debt. You must do the right thing!"

"I have given my answer! All of you are dismissed!" Thranduil shouted as he threw a vase which landed quite close to Legolas’ head. Everyone swiftly exited the room.

Outside the throne room, Rumil grasped advisor’s arm. "How did you know Haldir was my brother," he said hesitantly. As Legolas turned, the guardian was able to observe Legolas up close. His hair was golden, a shade much like that of the royal family’s, and his eyes were a piercing brown. Overall he was quite an attractive elf. It was when he pushed his hair behind his ear that Rumil spied the giant bruise covering his face.

"I met your brother once. Briefly. From what I saw, he was an intelligent, and courageous elf, and held the respect of those under his command." Legolas nodded to Rumil, and then turned at strode down the hall.

Calimara approached Rumil. "Do not worry guardian." She smiled at him, and grasping his arm, led him in the opposite direction that Legolas had gone. "Come, you must be weary. I will show you to your room."

"The advisor….. what happened to his face?" asked Rumil.

Calimara frowned. "My father hit him," she said, and then continued to lead him down the hall.

Although he was still upset by the king’s answer and the bruise on the advisor’s face, Rumil allowed himself to be led, and patiently answered questions that the princess had of Lothlorien. The pair evenly sly stopped in front of a door, and Calimara suddenly pulled him close. Stunned by the beautiful body wrapped around his own, he found himself sliding his arms around her waist. Resting her arms around his neck, she leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Play along, for I have information about how to save your brother."

Finally grasping the situation, he studied his surroundings out of the corner of his eye. Two Mirkwood soldiers were staring blatantly at him, and three ladies had stopped their cleaning and were chattering excitedly while pointing at the embracing pair.

Rumil began to nuzzle Calimara’s neck, and raised a hand to run his fingers through her hair, and in the process grazed the sensitive point of her ear. She gasped at the pleasure and pressed her body closer to the guardian’s. Speaking loud enough for their watchers tar, ar, Rumil murmured, "Perhaps we should take this into my bedroom."

"Definitely," she answered as he gently pulled her into his room and shut the door.