Sins of the Father

Chapter 7

Orophin ran until he felt his heart was to about to explode out of
his chest. Streaks of red painted the early morning sky as the
Galadrhim stood just outside the village catching his breath. Few
stirred about, washing at the well and tending to the wakened
animals, but most still stayed within the warmth of their cottages
blissfully unaware of the tragedy that was about to be laid at their
feet.

Cradling Hanath closer to his body, Orophin boldly stepped from the
cover of the treeline, making his way towards the small dwelling here
he knew that Aislin would be busily tending to her family. His feet
were moving of their own volition for every fiber in his body
screamed against this action. What was he going to tell her? What
could he say? Still he never lost focus on his intent to make things
as right as he could.

Approaching the wood door, Orophin stooped and brushed the damp curls
away from the youngsters pale face. A few miles back he had stopped
by a small stream and bathed him, for he could not bear to bring the
child home and have him remembered in the state that he was in. It
was enough of a horro beo bear as it was.

" Hanath....brave one....," Orophins voice was as low and quiet as a
whisper upon the wind. " May the Valar see fit give you refuge in
the great Hall so that one day we can meet as brothers and share in
what we have missed." Orophins breath caught in his chest as the
magnitude of this homecoming began to set in. " Gwador....I am
sorry....."

Reluctantly the Galadrhim pounded upon the door loud enough to raise
even those who might still be abed at this hour. Shifting the
weightless burden in his arms he awaited the inevitable.

Grumbling noises from within the dwelling assured the young Warden
that he indeed had been heard, and that what was set in motion had no
choice but to now be played out. With a groaning squeak the hinged
door swung open and a large bleary eyed male appeared upon the
threshold. Orophin had never met Asilin's father before this, and
certainly this was not a good impression to be making.

"What do you want," growled Thibauld, trying to focus upon the large
individual before him.

Orophin's tongue seemed to be a bit too big for his mouth and his
throat parched dry as he was faced with the taf prf presenting the
dead child to his father.

"Speak, " demanded the Edan, rubbing at his eyes.

" I....I am sorry.."sputtered the Galadrhim, at a loss for the
correct words. Slowly he stepped forward and laid the small body
into the Man's arms.

Thibauld was unable to speak, his arms beginning to tremble as Hanath
was laid unmoving into his embrace, his eyes now wide with disbelief.

"He. He did not suffer.....it was quick... and ..." Orophin swallowed
down the emotion that started to rise into his throat.

Thibauld stood still, his breath starting to come in short gasps.

"Father......" A soft voice and firm hand upon his shoulder causing
him to turn about.

Aislin noticed the bundle in her father's arms and spun him around,
oblivious to the tall gray shadow that stood in the threshold.

"Father have the goats been in mischief again......," she began with
an annoyed smile, thinking to take what she thought to be a stray
animal from her fathers arms.

As recognition sunk in Aislin found the feeling in her legs to
failing her and grasping her brother from her father's embrace to she
sunk to the floor cradling the youngling to her chest.

"Hanath! No,,,,,,,please,,,,,,,wake up........Hanath!!! Frantically
Aislin stroked the golden hair back from her brothers cool skin,
searching for any spark of life that stir stirred within his small
body.

" NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she screamed, clutching him tighter.

Orophin went to take a step forward, but was suddenly pushed again
the door frame, a large meaty arm holding him firmly in place.

"You will answer for this........." Thibaulds red eyes flashed from
behind fleshy lids belying a strength and rage that could easily be
ignited.

Aislins cries of despair brought a small crowd toward the cottage and
soon Orophin knew that he indeed may be quite in over his head. All
eyes were upon him and none were regarding him too favorably.

"What is all this fuss," came a demanding voice from the back of the
crowd.

"Move out of my way. Can not a woman get to her own........." The
voice was suddenly silenced as the crowd parted and allowed the
tragic scene to be revealed.

Pushing past the remaining gawkers, the woman rushed forward and
knelt down next to her grieving daughter.

"Mamma....he is dead......" sniffed Aislin, her fingers still curling
within the folds of the youngsters tunic, willing the cool flesh to
warm.

" What happened here..." demanded the woman her eyes searching the
crowd and flicking nervously to her husband who had a tall youth
pinned to the door.

Leaving her daughter's side, the woman came to stand next Thibauld
desperately searching for answer. Her moist eyes fell upon the overly
tall youngling that remained firm in Thibauld's grasp. He was not
onet sht she had seen in this village before, but there was something
unsettling about him. He was large and lithe, and bore the clothing
and weaponry of a woodsman, and at first glance seemed perhaps to be
a wandering hunter. But when the woman drew closer, her attention was
immediately drawn to the leaf-shaped cloak pin that adorned the
strangers neck. She had seen this pin before.

Narrowing her eyes, she stood tall on her toes and tucked the youths
far too silken hair behind his ears, uttering a gasp as she fell back
against Thibauld at the revelation. This was no youth, but an Elf.

Orophin tried to flinch away from the woman's touch , but the male
held him firm. He had no doubt that this was Aislins mother and knew
that his heritage would not sit well with her, especially under the
circumstances.

"I should have known, " spat the woman, turning towards the assemble
crowd. " An Elf, a slant eared traitor!"

Aislin started at her mother's remarks. She had been so caught up in
her grief that she had all but dismissed the shadowed figure in the
doorway. It couldn't be. No.......not HER Elf. No.!

Laying her brother upon the floor she scrambled up towards Orophin
but was stopped by her mother as she reached out for her lover.

" Let me go ," She shrieked, struggling and pounding against her
mother's hold.

"Stay away from him Aislin.....I will not lose you both to this
murderer." Orophins wrenched free of Thibaulds hold, but was soon
held again by strong arms from within the crowd that seemed to press
forward for a closer look.

"I am not a murderer..." defended the Galadrhim his eyes trying
desperately to lock with Aislins.

"You are a liar and a menace, like all of your kind," replied the
woman, her rasping voice sending chills up Aislins spine.

"He is not Mam" sh" she sobbed, " He is kind, and caring......
and ......." Asilins exhonerations earned her a severe yank upon her
hair silencing her and almost sending her to her knees.

"He is evil....." retorted her mother, " and I should put out his
eyes for even looking at you," she continued.

Orophin began to struggle, the woman's remarks and the press of the
angering crowd making him more than nervous. Arms seemed to grab him
from all side and found himself forced to his knees before the woman.

"Too long have we had to endure the memory of your kind Elf! " A
callused hand reached down and drew Orophins face roughly up to meet
her hateful gaze.

With a quick movement she kneed the unsteady Warden in the belly,
stealing both his breath and balance as he recoiled against the blow.

"Mamma No!!!!!!" Aislin scrambled from behind, but was held firmly by
her father." Mamma please.................I love him... He is not
what you think... He............ He...."

In an instant the woman's rage turned upon her daughter, eyeing her
with the same disgust that she had rent upon the gasping Warden.

"Then you are both foolish AND blind......, and obviously in need of
something more to occupy your time." The woman's venom was so potent
that even Thibauld flinched at her poison.

"You dot understand....Mamma....please....." Aislin swallowed
hard. " Mamma.......I carry his child...your grandchild!!!!!!" The
words were out before Aislin could stop them. Her desperation loosing
both her tongue and her senses.

The woman's whole body trembled at the news and she paled and for a
moment it looked as if she would swoon, but too soon the flush of
uncontrolled rage crept back into her cheeks and she whirled upon the
captive Elf.

"You will pay for that with your life......are there not enough sharp-
eared whores in your own village that you have to seduce our innocent
cren.ren.?"

Orophin stopped his struggling, his own understanding of Aislins
announcement just beginning to sink in.

"Take him to the meeting area and bind him !" The woman turned and
grabbed Aislin by the wrist, hauling her struggling back into the
cottage.

"You and I need to have a very long discussion, " seethed the woman
as she pulled the girl over the threshold past her prone sibling.

Aislin tried too catch Orophin's eyes, but the crowd had moved upon
him like rats upon grain and he was pushed hard to the ground before
being gagged and dragged across the rutted path towards the village
square.

TBC