Starry Sky

A/N: Thanks to Siobhan for reading! This chapter is from Orophin's POV as he watches Elrohir leave for Imladris and speaks with Haldir. Two more chapters and this story will be finished, but don't fear. I have another story that I will start sometime during the summer that brings these two back, as well as a ton of other pairings.

Enjoy!

Chapter 8: Returning Home
Summary: Haldir has a heart-to-heart talk with his kinsmen about hidden feelings and unvoiced emotions as the pair watch the departure of the twins and their companions (Orophin‘s POV).

Mid-summer is drawing to a close; soon, the season will be ending, and another will begin. Again, as always, the leaves of the mellyrn will turn from green to gold, and then litter the ground with the glittering foliage. I’ve lost count of how many times I have watched the seasons change as I wander the borders with my brothers and the other Galadhrim. I have seen many seasons, and yet I feel as if I have not seen enough. Or, perhaps I feel as if I will never see the end of the changing seasons. Such is the way of the elves, and I have come to accept that fate. We are immortal, and only the pains of a fatal wound or a broken heart can sever our ties to Arda. Time is nothing to us.

And, yet, time can also be a curse. We remember everything, both the pleasant and the unpleasant events of our lives. The passage of time, short or long, matters not; but we feel the change all the same, much like our fellow mortals. They have a different concept of time due to the experiences they encounter during their short lives. They do not fully understand us immortals, just as we do not fully understand them. But, the pain and longing that changing times bring is the one thing we both can comprehend.

As I sit here on one of the patrol flets, the late morning sun warming my back, I think again how time can be cruel and, yet, kind. It has been kind in bringing to me the one person, other than my brothers, who holds my heart. I have seen him little over the years, thought about him when I was alone at nights and wondered when we would next meet. Time and patience granted me my wish. And yet, it is time which takes him away. It is time that urges him now to return to his own home, to his own duties. Hardly two months have passed since he rode into these woods in the company of his brother and friends. Two months, I feel, had not been enough.

Elrohir. We said our farewells in Caras Galadon, but that was not enough for me. Thus, the morning sun finds me sitting idly upon my talan, watching as you and your companions head back to the valley that is your home. I watch as the sunlight glimmers off your dark locks, turning them a deep crimson. Your stormy eyes are smiling as you joke with one of the princes of Mirkwood. You don’t realize I’m nearby and watching, and I don’t expect you to; even for elves, it is sometimes difficult to detect the presence of a Galadhrim. I gaze at you, and wonder when we will next meet. I hope it is soon, but I cannot say for I do not know.

“Orophin?” The voice of my brother drifts to my ears; I acknowledge his presence with a slight nod of my head. Haldir seats himself next to me, his feet dangling off the end of the flet. He keeps his hazel gaze fixed on the ground below us, refusing to meet my eyes. I know my brother too well to wonder why he has come. He is here for answers to his questions.

“What is it you want to know?” I ask, shifting my position slightly while curling one leg underneath my body, and allowing the other to hang over the side. I lean back on my hands, relaxing my posture just a bit as Haldir finally turns to face me.

“You’re not going down to see him off?” he asks, curiosity lacing his voice. Though he is the March Warden, my brother, like any normal elf, is brave and courageous, valiant in battle and yet curious about certain aspects of life. No, I did not phrase that correctly. He is curious about aspects of *my* life, especially my love life.

Haldir is well-versed in the ways of love, courtship and bonding; after all, it was he, and not I, who had urgumilumil to take a lover almost immediately after our brother’s majority. I had not seen it fit to educate--in a manner of speaking--my youngest sibling in the ways of love and bonding. When he had asked me questions that I could not--or would not--provide the answers to, he had turned to Haldir, who was more than happy to speak with Rumil on the matter. I have had my share of lovers, of both sexes, but I do not believe I am fit to explain the comings and goings of the heart to another.

No, Haldir possibly has had more experience with various partners than I have despite the nearly one hundred years difference between our ages. But, while he can be rather boastful about his love conquests, I am rather quiet and keep things to myself. Rumil will often confide in Haldir when he is uncomfortable about a situation between himself and his lover. Yet I will keep silent and brood over the matter until I reach a solution. My ways in dealing with love seem to frustrate Haldir, who feels the need to help me with my problems. Which is probably why he has come; he must believe there is some tension between Elrohir and I. Dear brother, what you see is what we want you to see.

“We have already said our farewells,” I reply, fingering the end of a braid as I speak. “There is no need for prolonged good-byes between us. It is time Elrohir returned to Imladris, we both know that. What is the use of bidding someone farewell twice?” I catch him rolling his eyes at my words; he does not feel the same way I do on this situation. And now the interrogation will begin.

“Why not see them to the borders then? As an escort?”

“Because they are not in need of one. The twins know this area as well as their father’s home. If you feel they need an escort, gwanur, why do you not go?” He falls silent, knowing I am right. To my right I spot a flicker of silver; Rumil is in the next talan, listening in on our conversation. Haldir does not seem to notice him, and I decide not to speak about his presence. My youngest brother knows better to leave me to my devices, yet he finds great amusement in Haldir’s attempts to break through my shell.

“Do you love him?” Haldir asks.

“Of course I do.”

“And yet you will not see him off?”

“I told you, Haldir, I’ve already said my good-byes.” He frowns at my words, and presses harder.

“But, you may not see him for another few years. You will not spend even a few more minutes in his company?”

“He has been in my company a great deal over the last two months, if you recall.”

“That time was enough?”

“For us, yes.” A pause as he contemplates his next question; I believe I know what he is about to ask.

“Will you bond with him?” I was correct.

“Eventually, yes.” And, now he will ask…

“Why not now?” Impatient to have your elder brother bonded, are we? Are you trying to have me wedded off this moment before the love of my life leaves the borders of my home? Are you trying to coerce me into going through the ritual now? Well, I can play this game too, brother dear.

“Why ask why?” is all I say. I attempt, rather unsuccessfully, to hide my smile at his yelp of frustration; in the next flet, I sense my other brother hiding giggles of amusement at Haldir’s exasperation. He scowls at me as he crosses his legs, resting his elbows upon his knees and his chin upon his hands. He pouts in a manner reminiscent of when he was a child. I know this look well; Haldir is trying to make me feel guilty for winning his little game. But, I am too old to feel that guilt anymore. “We will bond in time,” I say. “Now is not that moment.”

“Why not?” Is that concern in your voice I hear? I turn and look into his eyes and, yes, he is concerned for me. But, why?

“Why do you wish me to be bonded to Elrohir this moment, gwanur?” He sighs and stretches out on the talan upon his back. Haldir’s hazel eyes are fixed on the sky above, and he remains quiet a moment as he thinks of what to say.

“I just want you to be happy, is all. I’ve seen how you look at Elrohir; you always have such love for him, even before you became lovers. And, yet, in public you only refer to one another as friends though everyone knows what the two of you do when you are alone.” If he is attempting to make me blush, then he has succeeded for I feel a faint creeping of heat over my cheeks. In the next talan, Rumil listens intently to our conversation, but makes little noise.

“We were friends before becoming lovers, Haldir.”

“Were. You *were* friends; you are not any longer. We may be immortal, Orophin, but we aren’t getting younger. When was the last time you took on a lover before Elrohir? How many years?”

“I don’t recall.”

“Exactly!” He sits up and faces me, gazing deep into my eyes with his hazel pair, which seem to have turned green under the sunlight. “I know you are not like me, and have not had many partners. I have wondered why that is. I think I know now.”

“Oh?” My curiosity is perked; my brother believes he knows me that well?

“Aye. It is because you have been searching. You have been looking for someone to share your heart with, not your bed. You want someone to love and cherish, share your life with.” I am impressed. So, Haldir has been able to read my inner most wishes and desires. I never thought he would, but I say nothing as he continues. “I believe you’ve found that person in Elrohir, gwanur. You found him the day you met and became friends, but only recently have you come to realize this. And yet, I cannot understand why, after years of being lovers, you have not bonded with him yet.”

“You are right,” I say after pausing for a few moments. “I have found what I was searching for. Now that I have, I see no hurry to bond with him. I am not our Lady, but I feel there are things that have yet to take place that might sunder our bond. I do not wish to bind myself to him only to have that tie torn apart. If this bond is to be, then the Valar will tell us when the time is appropriate.”

“But, you do love him?”

“Aye. That I do.” He seems relieved to hear my answers to his questions. I know he may think my ways unusual, perhaps unconventional, but he will not try to change me. I can feel Rumil smile, and that brings a smile to my face. “Now then,” I say, my smile broadening. “When will it be your time to bond, Haldir?”

“Me? Bond?” Haldir seems stricken by the very idea of such a thing happening. Oh, I could tease him forever on this matter.

“Why yes. I have Elrohir to bond to, and I suspect Rumil will choose Lindir when he is ready. So, all that leaves is you. Come now, brother dear, there must be someone who you wish to spend the rest of your eternity with.”

“Are you mocking me?” His glare would be one to stop any normal Galadhrim in their tracks. But I am not any normal Galadhrim; I am his older brother.

“Of course not, gwanur,” I say while trying to sound innocent. “Whatever gave you that idea? Now, who would be perfect for you?”

“Orophin…” I ignore the warning in his voice, barely able to contain my grin of mirth.

“The princess Nimriel is a wonderful lady, then of course there is the lady Arwen.” I smile at his scowl but brush aside the implications of such a look. “Or is it that you prefer male lovers? Perhaps the prince Arondil, or his brother Celeron? Someone with darker hair maybe. What about the advisor Erestor? I believe he will make a wonderful partner.”

“Orophin!”

“Calm now, Haldir. I am only trying to help.” The leaves to my right began to quiver as Rumil struggles to suppress his laughter. “You will be all alone once Rumil and I have bonded. So, tell me who you like and I shall try my best to match you two together.”

“Celeborn will never accept that!”

“Celeborn?” Hiss gos go wide as he realizes his slip of the tongue. “By the Valar, Haldir, have you been bedding our Lord?!” Laughter explodes next to us upon the revelation, and I am finding it difficult to contain my own giggles. Of course Rumil and I had known about our brother and Lord the entire time; we had stumbled upon them by accident, and were told by the Lady Galadriel that it was an arrangement between her and her husband when we thought to report to her. Haldir never knew that we knew and had tried to keep it a secret. Until now.

“I…we…that is…you are impossible, gwanur!” I can help it no longer and burst out into hysterics as, blushing a deep crimson, Haldir exits the talan, growling as he hears Rumil joining in my laughter. Once on the ground, he stalks off but, in his embarrassment, he nearly trips over a root and elicits more laughter from us.

It takes some time before the giggles die down and we are able to breathe normally again. I steal a glance at Rumil, who smiles and waves in return before continuing with his patrol. I remain on my talan for a while longer, catching a last glimpse of Elrohir before he clears the forest and makes for Imladris with his brother and friends. Indeed it may be years before I see him again, but I am content to know that we will reunite. I pull out the ring hanging about my neck, and watch as the sun glitters upon the band.

Smiling, I replace the ring beneath my tunic and move to leave the flet to continue with my patrol. Yes, one day we will reunite. Until then, I get to think of the reunion to come…and tease my brother mercilessly as pay back. Oh, the joys of being the eldest.

Translations:
Gwanur-Brother