Sins of the Father

Chapter 6

The sunrise was just beginning to gild the tops of the tallest oaks
when Orophin stopped to catch his breath in a small clearing. He
would have preferred to keep to the dense treelined woodland, but
time was now an issue and if he did not want to be late for his watch
he had take the shortest possible route back towards the fences. The
open lay of the journey would certainly put him more at risk for
exposure to bands of Orc that often travelled the perimeter, but
they would prove less worrisome than Haldir should he not report for
his duty.

The young Galadhrim felt the horses approach long before he could see
them and darted back into greening canopy. From his concealed
location Orophin could just make out the shrouded forms of two
riders, both dressed in Lorien greys. He was about to greet them when
the lead riders hood fell back revealling an all to familiar visage.
Orophin stopped short and held his breath. Haldir!

With an almost impercepatble motion of his hand, the March Warden's
horse halted immeadiatly as did Rumils, and the younger brother
slowly drew his bow closer to his body and readied an arrow for
flight.


It was very hungry. Not eaten for days, ca fea few dried orc remains
and that was a full two nights ago. Sensitive ears pricked to the
lightest of footfalls and the scent of ......goat. Saliva dripped
from yellowing broken teeth, pooling in the footprints left by
todays meal. He would have to be quick for it was ahead by a good
amount. Bounding into the wood in a blurr of brown and grey, it
hurried after its chosen quarry.

"Orophin.......even the trees will not mask that odor gwador!"
blurted Haldir as he swung easily down from his mount, his hand on
the hilt of his weapon.

" I do not relish coming in to fetch you, so I suggest you show
yourself and make it easier on the both of us."

Rumil winced at his older brothers choice of words, sure that when
Ori did appear, he would be seething.

As Haldir stepped towards a dense cluster of bushes, he suddelnly
found himlself shoved hard against the trunk of a thick maple, a
very familiar mithril blade pressed firmly to his throat.

Rumil's weapon spun immeadiatly in the direction of the undergrowth
and had Haldir not raised his hand, Orophin would surely had received
a not so pleasant gift from his youngest brother.

" What are you doing here." growled Orophin, his flashing eyes
betraying his anger.

" I could ask you the same question, but I am sure I already know the
answer......get off me!" Haldir shoved his brother hard, throwing
him off balance. As Orophin stumbled back, Haldir drew his weapon and
and advanced.

" You need to come with me now......, " he gritted through a tensed
jaw. Quick fingers released the rope from his belt and before Orophin
could recover he found his arms tied tightly to his side.

Struggling violently, the younger Galadrhim lunged at Haldir and
tryed to knock him to the ground.

' You have no RIGHT Haldir.," he shreiked struggling with his bonds.

Rumils's ears pricked to a sound that did not herald a good
vibration. It was a lumbering, snuffling, creeping feral sound.

Knowing not what else to do, he sent his arrow flying past Haldirs
head to stike the tree trunk just above Orophins ear. Both stopped
thier struggling and arguing and stood still.

" Don't move.........." whispered Rumil ,quickly notching another
arrow." Something approaches..."

Orophin flattened himself against the tree and swept the immeadiate
area with his eyes. He was about to make a dash for the horse when
he spied a familiar small tousled blonde youngster bounding into the
clearing, an impish smile from ear to ear.

" Orifeeennnnnnnn........wait... wait for me.............."

The Galadrims heart fell to his feet as the youngling stepped out of
the cover of treeline, but before he could even scream or beofre the
twinkle had left his curious eyes, he was picked up and swung about
like a rag doll, his body tossed against the solid of a tree trunk
with sickening crack.

"Hanath!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Orophins scream was was
nearly drowned out by the piercing shreik of the warg as Rumil's
arrow met its mark and felled the beast not feet from the small boy.

In an instant Haldir was upon the writhing animal burying his blade
up to the hilt. Whe he was sure that the beast was quite dispatched
he ran over towards the young child.

" Let me gooooooo.... untie me!!!!!!!!!!": Orophin struggled with his
binding violently....falling to his knees in his attempt to free his
hands.

Rumil lept from his mount and severed the rope quickly falling back
into the dirt as Orophin scrambled to reach Hanath.

He was about half way to the boy when a grave looking Haldir rushed
in his direction,bracing his shoulders with both hands.

' No Orophin. Don't go over there........leave him...... its too
late......we need to get out here before someone comes looking for
him.."

Orophin was beyond reasoning and shoved Haldir out of the way,
approaching the still body that lay grossly distorted at the base of
the tree.

" Hanath.....please.....Hanath.. oh no.......," Orophin trembled as
his fingers caressed the blond curls that framed the childs face. His
skin was still warm and he looked asleep despite his awkward postion.

Gently he bent down and lifted the small boy into his arms cradling
him against his chest, his fingers wiping the small trickles of blood
away from his lips.

" Hanath....why....oh no......" Orophins head was spinning, He was
so oblivious to anything but the child that he did not even hear
Rumil approach and lay his hand upon his shoulder.

" Orophin.....Haldir is right.....we have to go now.....," he
whispered quietly.

'No!" Orophin jerked his body away from his brother's comfort. " I
will NOT leave him here" The Galadrim pulled the small body closer. "
I have to take him back......He has to be with his family......."

" Orophin you don't understand. you cannot take him back there."
Rumil tried to touch the Elf again, but was shoved away.

" Nooo you don't understand.......no one does......I HAVE to do
this....they have to know what has happened..." With that ,Orophin
got to his feet and bounded into the wood, leaving Rumil to stand
helpless and hurt.

" Orophin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' screamed Haldir as he watched his
brothers at det departure from the horses.

Rumil ran back towards thier mounts and looked up at Haldir who had
wrapped the reins tightly about his fists.

" We have to do something....... they will kill him......." The young
guards face was pale.

" I know....," breathed Haldir.


TBC