Adult-FanFiction.org : Lord of the Rings

Path of Honor	By : IdrilsSecret Category: +Third Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 1995 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, nor the characters from it. I make no money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
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- 5
Chapter Four

Morning came faster than I would have liked. I should have been gone by now, but my body protested at the thought of leaving the comfort of Túron’s bed. I opened my eyes to find him watching me sleep as he laid next to me. He was smiling infectiously, and I stretched to kiss those irresistible lips. If I never moved from this spot, I would be the happiest ellon in Arda.
“Has anyone ever told you that you have the most peaceful look on your face when you are sleeping?” he asked. His finger traced a path over my chest, soothingly.
“I don’t think I’ve ever stayed long enough for anyone to notice,” I replied.
He cocked his head as his brows knitted together. “That’s rather a sad statement, don’t you think? Tell me, Rúmil, why do you do it? If you are destined to be with an ellon, why do you stay in the army?”
“Because it is my calling. I love being a soldier. It’s all I’ve ever known, and to be truthful, I’m damn good at it,” I said with pride.
“And the sacrifice? It’s worth it?”
“It’s not easy, but I manage. As you can see, I’m not celibate.”
That made him laugh. “Yes, I can definitely see that.” The smile faded to half. “But, to live that part of your life in secret–”
“I’ve done it for a very long time, though not always. I did have a life before the military. I know what it means to live carefree.” In my youth, before I committed to soldiering, I’d lived outside of the shadows and the dim lights. It was a wonderful thing … back then.
Túron was done with his questioning. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Where are you going?” I asked with desperation. I wasn’t ready to start my day just yet.
He put a knee on the bed, and leaned down to kiss me, but stopped short. “Stay where you are, love. I’m only going to put a kettle on for tea.” The bed shifted and creaked as he left me. Luckily, it was a small one room talan, and I watched Túron as he busied himself. By the gods he was gorgeous. His body was perfectly toned, especially in the chest. He had an archer’s physique. I easily eyed his toned arms, my second favorite part of the male form. The first was a different muscle all together.
His hair hung loose, ending midway down his back, long, straight and dark. He was Noldo, an elf of Rivendell. I wondered why someone from that land would subject themselves to settling as a servant. Imladris had the most complete library in Middle-earth. Anyone could spend days or months learning from seemingly endless amounts of books, and educate themselves to be able to do anything.
“So, what is your story?” I asked. I watched him set the kettle on the stove. We’d kept a fire going throughout the night, taking turns at putting wood inside the stove. It gave the room a comfortable amber glow to see each other by. Now, we would have hot water sooner than if he had to start a fire.
“It’s not a very exciting one, if that’s what you’re wondering.” He strolled back to the bed, shucked his robe and climbed in. His skin was cool compared to the warmth of my own, and I pulled him to me out of instinct, to warm him. “My mother was a seamstress, my father a scribe. My brothers craved adventure and joined the Border Guard.”
“And you? What did you do in Imladris?” I asked. He was avoiding my question it seemed.
“I did all sorts of different things trying to find my calling. I was skilled at a lot of them, but a master of none. When my parents sailed, my brothers thought they would decide my future for me, saying that my head was not in the right place. They started training me for the guard. I quickly discovered that archery was my strong suit, and I advanced at a phenomenal rate. It was the closest I’d ever come to singling out a talent, and perfecting it.”
That would explain his physique. One wouldn’t get a body like that from pouring wine. “You still practice, don’t you?”
“Occasionally,” he answered. I gave him a skeptical look and he laughed. “Alright, more than occasionally. Every day, or almost every day.”
“If you are so good at it, then why did you not pursue it in Imladris?” I asked curiously.
“I did try. I joined the guard just like my brothers wanted me to.” He sat up on one elbow, his fingers traveling down my chest, my stomach, and finally taking me in his firm hand. “Alas, I found other things that I liked to master besides the bow.”
I jerked to life in his hand, feeling the instant need for him to do more. As good as it felt, I knew he was trying to distract me, but I wanted to know more about his life in Rivendell. I took hold of his busy hand and brought it up to my lips. Not wanting to completely end what he’d started, I sucked his finger seductively before going forward with my inquiry. “So you left the guard in order to live the lifestyle? You’d mentioned before that Imladris had similar rules to those in Lothlórien.”
The kettle began to whistle, and Túron got out of bed again, this time abandoning his robe, much to my entertainment. He remained silent, not answering me or continuing with his story as he prepared our tea. I decided that I’d been in bed long enough, and I got up, following his lead and strolled naked across the cold floor. I stood next to him, watching him retrieve a small crock of honey. He spooned a desired amount into his cup, and then pushed the container to me. I added the honey, wishing we had something stronger than tea. It was always easier to talk as the warmth of a decent vintage purled though the body.
Túron turned, his backside towards the small table, and the teacup in one hand. He looked down into the cup, as though he wished he could dive in and disappear. I’d struck a nerve of some sort with my questioning. Something had happened in Imladris, and he was deciding whether or not to tell me. Then he looked at me through his long black lashes. His blue eyes had transformed to a stormy grey. He gazed at me, but I could tell that his mind was in a different place. He was reliving something from his past.
“Have you ever been in love, Rúmil?” he asked suddenly, taking me by surprise.
I took a sip of my tea and swallowed, “I have. It was a long time ago, though.”
“So have I … once.” He shifted, turning away from me. “It’s the reason I now reside in Lothlórien. You see, he was a Border Guard, a high ranking officer.”
That troubled me a bit. I wasn’t sure where he was going with this, and I didn’t like it. “Were you … exposed to the law?”
“We both were. We’d been caught while out of patrol. We thought no one was near us, and stopped to let the horses drink. The rest of the troops were further on; we’d gotten a later start than the rest. It … it started with a kiss, innocent enough, but led to the two of us naked beneath the trees.” Túron drank from his cup and set it on the table. With his back to me, he continued. “If he hadn’t been a captain, they probably wouldn’t have sent someone out looking for us. But when he didn’t show as predicted, a scout was sent. He found us … entangled in a lover’s embrace. My lover grabbed the man roughly, threatened him not to say a word … said he’d take care of it. I didn’t know what that meant. I guessed that he would pay for the man’s silence, and then lecture me on how we would have to be more careful.” Túron went silent.
I wasn’t sure what I should do, so I moved to him and put a hand on his back to comfort him. He stiffened with rejection to my touch. Perhaps now was not the time; he was deep into the story, reliving a memory that obviously brought him much pain. But I cared for Túron. I didn’t like to see him distraught. “And did the scout not keep his silence?”
“He never said a word. No one found out about us,” he said quietly.
I was confused. If the scout kept quiet about the affair, and surely Túron’s lover wouldn’t have confessed and put himself in jeopardy, then what happened? As I pondered, Túron looked over his shoulder, and I could see the trace of a tear making a slow trail down his high cheekbone. Even when he was sad, he was beautiful.
“I was so in love with him, and I thought he felt the same. I thought we could face anything together, and until then, we had. We’d fought together at the borders. We’d protected one another. I trusted him with my life. Why shouldn’t I have trusted him with my love? But as it turned out, he chose the Guard over me. Not only that, but he shunned me, treated me as if I’d been nothing but a good screw. And then he threatened me, told me to leave the army. He’d help me come up with a reasonable explanation that wouldn’t harm me too much, or dirty my family name. After all, I had two brothers in the Guard. ‘You want to protect them, don’t you?’ he’d threaten.” Túron paused to wipe his tear streaked face. “He would do anything to protect himself and his position in the Guard. I didn’t matter one bit to him. I had opened up my heart, loved him with my entire being, and he tossed me aside like a used rag.”
After a long bout of silence, I sighed deeply and shook my head. “I’m sorry, Túron. You didn’t deserve that kind of treatment. I can’t imagine someone doing anything so–”
“Can’t you, though?” he retorted harshly. “If your position as captain was threatened, and your brothers positions and good names, wouldn’t you protect yourself and your family? You can’t say that you wouldn’t, for you’ve never been put in that situation.” Túron flew to the bed and hastily put his robe on, as though being in his skin made his soul naked too. He tied the sash and crossed his arms over his chest, just standing there by the bed, looking down at the rumpled sheets. He slowly shook his head back and forth. “We shouldn’t have done what we did at the dance. It was wrong. We might have been caught,” he said desperately.
“But we weren’t,” I assured him.
“No?” he said accusatorily. “What about that ellon I saw you speaking to? I saw the look in his eyes. I’ve seen that look before, just before my reputation was threatened. Whoever he is, he knows.”
“Yes, he does know … about me. He knows because . . .” I stopped to catch my breath. I hadn’t spoken to anyone about Fandir. “. . . because we were once lovers.”
“Another one of your liaisons?” Túron asked with a bitter edge to his voice and downcast eyes. He was jealous. I guess I should have been upset by that, but I was actually glad. It meant that he felt strongly of me.
“No, it was not like that.” I moved across the small room and stood before Túron. He still stood in a defensive position, but I put my hands on his shoulders and looked him directly in the eyes. I wanted him to know that I wasn’t afraid to talk about my past with him. “His name is Fandir. We basically grew up together. We … discovered our sexuality together. He was my first. You asked me if I’d ever been in love. Well, it was with Fandir, though we were very young at the time.”
Túron’s interest was evident; he lowered his arms, and looked at me with compassion. “What happened, then?”
“I joined the army and he didn’t.”
“That doesn’t seem reason enough, if you were as in love as you say you were.”
“Fandir was my best friend, my first lover, and the first person I’d ever been in love with. I thought long and hard about us. I knew that to choose the army meant the end of our relationship. I was … well, I considered not following my brothers into soldiering. I loved him that much.” My heart was aching as it once did. I felt like that same young ellon, foolish and unwise, ready to throw my future away to be with the one I loved. To look back now, I know I made the right decision, but that never meant it was an easy one. “My decision would have changed everything.”
“But yet, you still chose the military,” Túron said, sounding sad. Perhaps he thought I tossed Fandir to the side the same way he had been.
“Actually, it was Fandir who broke things off. He said it would be a shame for me to waste my natural talents as a warrior. He saw the potential in me, and he told me that I would regret it if I didn’t follow my brothers … and that eventually I might hate him or blame him for my remorse. At the time, I thought it was an impractical thing to say. I could never imagine hating Fandir. But looking back at where I’d been and where I am now, I finally saw how right he was. Not that a life with Fandir would have been miserable, but I would have missed out of a lot of amazing times as a soldier.”
“Do you and Fandir ever still … uh–”
“No, not since our younger days, before I officially joined the Northern Border Guard. We are still amiable to each other in passing, but it’s never gone further than that.”
Túron moved so that his body pressed against mine. I wrapped my arms around him and nuzzled his hair. He felt so good in my grasp. As I said, we fit together perfectly. “Everyone gets hurt at one point or another,” I said. “But I won’t ever hurt you. If you’ll have me, Túron, if you are willing to give this a try–”
“But what about your career? Aren’t you afraid?” he asked.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time. I know how to separate the two lives from each other. But you have to understand that what we have must be kept secret. It is a lot to ask of someone who is free to live their life as they like. Unfortunately, I don’t have that freedom. But I can promise you this much. When we are together during those precious moments of security and sanctuary, you will have all of me.” I knew what I was doing, but I wasn’t sure Túron was willing to accept my offer. No one wanted to live their life in secrecy, especially someone who didn’t have to. The fact that Túron already had experience in a military situation, and he understood the rules, meant that he was more than likely to be able to handle it. Still, he had been cast from his lover, thrown from the army, and forced to leave his home in order to protect his brothers. Ai, I was fool to even ask this of him. Surely, he wouldn’t chance this again and–
“I want to be with you, Rúmil, and I swear that I’ll not interfere in any way. I think we … understand each other. Maybe I screwed up before by being a soldier and choosing to love a soldier. Well, I no longer have any connection to the army. I want this. I really and truly do.”
I was flabbergasted to say the least. No one had ever accepted my offer. No one had ever been willing to do what must be done in order to be with me. I was so overjoyed that I’d forgotten how to speak. I just smiled and looked into Túron’s beautiful blue eyes.
“Come here, love,” he said, drawing my head down to kiss me.
* * * * *
There’s something to say about being in love. For one, it puts you in a better mood. Things don’t seem to be as difficult as they had been before the feeling struck. This was a good thing for me, since the Choosing ceremony was closing in rapidly. I had become very busy, and I didn’t have much time for anything else. Still, I always managed to keep my nights open so that I could see Túron.
We attended different social events together, dined if we had the time, enjoyed the summer wine festival, and always ended in each other’s arms. It was the happiest I’d been in a very long time, and I could see that Túron felt the same. To keep suspicions at bay, we sometimes invited friends to these outings. Túron and I kept our outward desires tamed while in these situations, and those who knew us saw us as very good friends. But it was later, in the deepest hours of the night that we could finally be ourselves, and we cherished these private moments.
However, these frequent visits were coming to an end. Once the Choosing ceremony was over, my job as Captain would become very demanding. Túron and I were taking a casual stroll through the gardens one evening, when I explained this to him. I needed to make it clear that, though we might not see each other as often as we had before, I still needed him, and wanted to see him. We would just have to make the best of it, and devour the moments we had together in order to make it last until our next meeting.
“It will be most difficult not seeing you, Túron,” I admitted. We had just walked up to the gazebo and, finding it empty, slipped inside for some quiet conversation. “I’ve gotten so used to sleeping next to you, I don’t think I’ll get much rest any other way.”
“It has been simply wonderful, hasn’t it?” he said with a smile. We sat next to each other, our legs resting against one another. “Perhaps your ‘busier than usual’ schedule has come at just the right time.”
“What do you mean?”
“It is the end of my server assignment. I’ll be relocated to another area of the city to serve however it’s seen fit.”
That was surprising. “I didn’t know it was an assignment. So, do you know what you’ll be doing yet?”
“No, and I won’t know until the day before,” he said disappointedly.
“What do you wish for?” I asked.
“Well, everyone wishes for duty to the Lord and Lady, but I’d rather have something simpler.” He put his hand on my knee, and it traveled slowly up my leg and to the inside of my thigh. “I don’t want to be so busy that I’d never have time for you, love.”
I knew we were heading into a difficult challenge in our relationship. In the past, this was usually the beginning of the end. Of course, my previous lovers swore that it would work out for us, until days and sometimes weeks passed without seeing one another. Then they decided quickly that it was too much and we were doomed to fail as a couple. No one would compete with my military schedule. Túron was different. For one, he understood the life of a soldier; he’d been one himself for a short while. And for another … I had truly fallen in love with him.
I’d been wanting to tell him, but I never could seem to find just the right moment. Now, with everything becoming hectic, I was afraid to put that kind of pressure on him. Once I admitted my feelings to him, I would be opening my heart. I’d only done that for one other person, Fandir. I was torn apart when he abandoned me. It felt like my soul was being shredded. I couldn’t afford to go through that torture again, and my fondness towards Túron was much stronger. Rejection would surely mean surrendering my heart, my soul, my very being, and sacrificing all of it, hardening on the inside. Ai, what had I allowed myself to get into?
“Rúmil? Rúmil!” Túron was calling out to me. I hadn’t realized that I’d been away from the conversation. “Where were you just now?”
“I … I’m sorry. I was just thinking, and I … I–”
“What is it?” he said concerned, his arm coming around my waist. “Something has you bothered.”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I just wish we had longer … before our duties keep us busy.”
“You make it sound as though we’ll never have a moment to spare for each other,” he said worriedly. “We will make time, won’t we?”
I smiled reassuringly and nodded, then I was struck with an idea. “There is a dance the evening of the Choosing ceremony. Will you be working?”
“No, I’ll be busy most of the day, though. It is my last assignment to meet with the new servants and give them orientation. They’ll be trained by others, besides myself, at the dance that night. Why?” he smiled slyly. “Are you asking me to be your date?”
“My secret date,” I whispered and leaned in to kiss him. “We will, of course, have to be discreet.”
“At the dance, at least.” He ran his tongue along the edge of my ear. “What happens later is out of my control.”
“Hmm, sounds promising.”
* * * * *
The day had finally arrived, the day of the Choosing. Today, there would be a large group of newly trained, nervous young elf men ready to take their places within Lórien’s army. Today they would begin their soldiering career. I remembered my own Choosing day quite vividly. My friends all told me I had nothing to worry over. My brother was a Captain, and I should have already known which regiment I would end up in. I definitely would not be picked last, and I wasn’t. I wasn’t first though, and I was glad of that. It proved that I was not the best soldier, not yet anyways, and as I made my way through the ranks, I felt a sense of accomplishment because of my hard work, not because of my family ties. That’s just another way that Haldir made sure Orophin and I were treated fairly, and the same as all the rest. Still, it was Haldir that picked us. I think the other Captains were afraid to pick us though. They didn’t want to separate the brothers Lórien.
And so, here I was today, preparing for my first Choosing ceremony again, only this time as Captain. I was in my office, staring into the full length looking glass, checking that my uniform was all in order. Leggings, undershirt, vest, tunic, belt, robes, it was all there. My leather boots were clean and scuff free. My hair was brushed and properly braided at the sides. The scabbard that hung at my hip was empty, but my sword was here. I’d polished it earlier, and it lay on my desk, awaiting a final inspection. If I had need to draw it in example, I wanted it to shine.
There was a knock at my door. I gave a final look at my reflection and was satisfied. “Come in,” I called.
Orophin entered, a genuine smile adorning his fair face. His hair and dress was immaculate. He was prepared for the day to get underway too. This wasn’t his first Choosing. He’d been a Captain for a few years now, but I knew he wanted mine to be just as memorable as his was.
“Well, look at you. Captain Rúmil of the Northern Border Guard. You clean up nicely, brother,” he jested.
“I have to admit, I do love the feel of the full ceremonial uniform,” I said, adjusting the collar of my undershirt.
“All the elf women will swoon at first sight,” he commented, dusting off a few lint particles from my back. It wasn’t the women I wanted to impress tonight at the dance.
“Let’s just get through the ceremony first.”
“Of course, and you will do fine, Rúmil. Now remember, do not just watch technique. Many will have good form. What you want to look for is drive and determination. When they are not showing themselves for the Captains, they should be watching those better than them, learning, absorbing every little detail. Those are the men you want. They will work hard to improve, and with a leader such as you, they will excel quickly,” Orophin advised.
It was a generous compliment, and I grasped both his shoulders, looking him deep in his blue eyes. “Thank you, brother, for your undying support.”
He smiled in a rare moment of unguarded brotherly love, and we locked in a back pounding hug. “You’ll do just fine. Besides, the hard part comes after the ceremony, when you must start their training for your regiment. That’s when you depend more on your officers. They should be of a major help in seeing the recruits trained properly. Have you figured out who they will be?”
“I’ve already spoken to a few, and they are ready and anxious to get started. It’s just up to me now to pick the right trainees,” I said nervously. “I know I won’t have first or even second or third choice.”
“Relax,” he laughed. “They are Lothlórien soldiers. None of them are so bad that they’ll be hopeless. They are all strong. They are all bent on being the best. Yours just might need extra time on the training grounds, is all.”
“Thanks,” I said without enthusiasm.
“Well, you didn’t think I was going to leave any advanced ones for you, did you?”
I ruffled the hair atop his silver head, and he dodged too late. We laughed, always challenging each other in some way, and Orophin went to my looking glass to make sure I hadn’t destroyed his braids. “Well, come on. Let’s get this day started.”
* * * * *
The training grounds were a decent sized glade amongst the trees, deep within the heart of Caras Galadhon. It was separated into different sections, depending on the sport. There were practice dummies for swordplay, targets for bow and arrow, and a universal area where elves could challenge each other. This last area mentioned was the site of the Choosing, since it was the largest of the sections. To the side, built between two very wide, very ancient trees, was a platform ringed with a railing. A row of chairs were assembled close to the front of the platform, a place for the observers to sit while we watched the trainees perform. It was high enough that we could see the entire area. We would be able to watch each new recruit as they showed us their best moves.
Orophin and I arrived to find the other two Captains had already taken their seats. Haldir was there also. He stood to the side, and watched as my brother and I took our chairs. Then, he walked to the center of the row, looked at each Captain with a satisfied smile and bowed. “Good luck, Captains. Let us begin.”
Along the edge of the training field stood all the current soldiers, come to watch the Choosing ceremony. Some had siblings that they hoped would get picked to join their regiment. Others cheered on friends, and a few were fathers come out to watch their sons. It was all very exciting, and I was anxious to start.
Haldir finally made the announcement to the crowd, whose voices rose with approval and encouragement. I looked down and to the right to find, in three rows, the newest recruits entering the field. They poured into the glade like worker ants following directions. Soon the grounds were full of elves, all dressed in their training uniforms, simple leggings and tunic. Archers carried their bows in their hands, their quivers strapped to their backs, full of arrows. Swordsmen wore their blades at their sides, a hand on the hilt, ready for action.
Looking out over a crowd of eager faces, I recognized some of them, but more I did not. It was my first time to see them all, and I wondered which ones Tarlis had told me about. I glanced sideways to Orophin, who was narrow eyed as he looked out over the sea of elves. He already knew which ones he was choosing. He’d been at a number of training sessions. The other two Captains seemed confident too. Perhaps it was just me who was nervous. I’d been to every Choosing ceremony, but not in this position, not from this high up platform. I hoped I would choose wisely.
I was anxious to begin the ceremony, even though I did not have first choice. That honor went to two other Captains, who had been here much longer, and then to Orophin. This was only the beginning of my first year. I would have to earn my seniority over time. I was confident that I would choose good men, and that the men I chose would become some of the strongest soldiers of the Northern Guard, regardless of how green they seemed right now.
The first part of the ceremony was for the trainees to pick a partner and begin swordplay. This would give the Captains a chance to see their skills before making our final decisions. Haldir stood at the front of the platform, and called for the men to take up arms. There was the simultaneous sound of metal sliding and clinking as the elves took their swords in their hands and turned to the nearest elf as their partner. They assumed the position, swords held before them, and waited for Haldir’s word. He gave a quick whistle and the fighting began. It was almost overwhelming to try and see each and every trainee, to try to remember those who fought well, or those who needed improvement. Some stood out more than others. These I knew would be among some of the first picked. I realized that I was fine with that outcome. The elves I chose would be better for molding into the kind of warrior I thought they should be. Some of these men below were headstrong and would follow their own rules. That was fine, as long as they knew that the Captain had the last and final word. I, on the other hand, would choose by their actions while observing, not just while fighting. Orophin’s advice made a lot of sense to me. They ones who paid attention to the other elves while they waited, were absorbing as much information as they could. They were the ones ready to learn and eager to please.
As the trainees fought and won their mock battles, the loser would then fall to the side and await the next round. That left only the victors on the training grounds, and they would partner up for one final show of strength and technique. There would be no winner for this round. It was only meant to be a way to showcase their talents one more time. These few left standing were the ones that would get snatched up first by the other Captains. I watched the sidelines with more curiosity. My men would come from somewhere in this group. So, who was watching, and who was not? Ah, I could see a good many observing the remaining swordsmen. Some cheered on the elves still competing. That was good, I thought. And then there were a few who looked defeated and disappointed. My heart went out to them. Today was not an easy day by any means. A decent pep talk and lots of practice, and they would be on their way into the ranks.
Not all of the elves who had fallen to the sidelines looked distraught. And, quite frankly, some of them had fought damn well. They had barely been bested, though bested they were. Now, they were evaluating, seeing where they went wrong, and discovering how to correct the errors of their actions. These were determined soldiers. No one is perfect. We all learn from our mistakes, and when beaten, we get right back up and into the fight.
Soon the fighting was over. The last partnered elves bowed to each other and joined the rest of the trainees at the sidelines. Everyone waited for their orders, while the Captains discussed our findings amongst each other. That’s when I discovered the bargaining. The two older Captains were discussing the elves who had just finished fighting. I hadn’t a chance of recruiting these few, and I wasn’t sure I would chose them, even if I had been in the running. They were very well trained men, but I didn’t think they were right for the group of elves that I wanted to command. Since it did not concern me, I observed the officers as they discussed who they were thinking of recruiting, and already trading their choices for the ones they really wanted.
I leaned a bit towards Orophin and whispered from the corner of my mouth. “Should we be doing the same thing?”
“Why, did you see someone you like, and who you feel confident that I will choose?” he asked.
“Actually, I’m content with who I will choose, if you do not call upon them first. Maybe then I will agree to bargain with you.”
“That is very smart of you. Some of the men you just watched will also try their luck with a bow. Better to see all their talents before making your mind up,” Orophin advised. “The other two need good swordsmen. They won’t care if any of them are handy with a bow.”
“Ah,” I said, seeing how it all worked.
Orophin turned to me. “You do know that you may barter for these same recruits, don’t you? After all, you are a Captain.”
“What chance do I have of that?” I asked, seeing this as impossible.
“Well, usually this part of the Choosing is saved until after all the recruits have been assigned to a regiment, but Daer and Erthor have been long time friends. They know each other fairly well, well enough to discuss trades before the end of the ceremony.”
I raised a brow in challenge. “You are my brother. I feel that I know you fairly well. Will you not barter with me?”
Orophin just smiled, and seemed to hold back a laugh. “You are also a first time Captain. Relax, Rúmil. You’ll have your chance at trading some of your choices. Wait until they have all been picked. You don’t want to bargain unwisely.”
As we talked, the archers entered the glade below. Wood targets and sawdust dummies were positioned at one end; a few of the targets were hanging from the trees, tied to pulley systems so that they would move while the elves tried to hit them center. This was what I was looking forward to, especially since most of my regiment consisted of archers. We were usually the first ones into battle, firing our arrows and taking out the front line of the enemy troops. Daer and Erthor’s regiments were mostly swordsmen, with a sprinkling of archers. Orophin’s men were a decent mixture of both. I could see my advantage now. I depended on strong archers. This time, Orophin and I would have first choice.
“I see you’ve figured it out,” Orophin said into my ear. He must have seen the realization in my face. “You didn’t think the others would have all the fun, did you?”
When they were ready, the elves below were sent onto the field in groups of six, two on dummies, two on fixed targets, and two on moving targets. On Haldir’s signal, they started firing arrows. My keen eyes watched each man, how they moved, how they concentrated, and how quickly they fired their weapons. I was very impressed with the first group. Most had the natural instincts of fine archers.
I glanced sideways at Orophin. Though he was well trained at both sword and bow, he had always seemed to favor the blade. I, on the other hand, took up quickly at a young age with the bow, and I’d perfected my technique over the years. I knew what to look for when choosing archers. I’m sure Orophin did too, but I think I had a little more advantage in this skill. He was eyeing a few men that I had already mentally picked. I kept that bit of information tucked away. The bartering stage of the ceremony began to look a lot more fun than I first thought.
And so the contest went on. Archers of different talents and levels of expertise came out, presented themselves, and took their places at the sidelines. I noticed that one of the elves I watched had been one of the last swordsmen to leave the field earlier. Watching him, I realized he had been one of the recruits that Tarlis had told me about. He was equally good at both weapons, and definitely an excellent archer. I noticed he picked moving target first, rotated to dummies and ended with stationary targets. He hit his mark every time, bull’s eyes. And with the dummy, he shot it in its heart and squarely between the eyes, one arrow after the other, not breaking stride. I was extremely impressed. Actually, I hadn’t seen such accurate aim since hearing of Thranduil’s son, Legolas, one of the best … if not the best … bowman of the elvish realms. This young ellon before me was a close second to the Prince of Mirkwood, and I knew I wanted him in my regiment. It seemed that neither Orophin nor I would have a chance at him. He was one of the swordsmen that Daer and Erthor were arguing over. They had already claimed him based on his skills with a blade. I wanted him because of his bowmanship, and the fact that he was good with a blade. Though my men were mainly archers, I wanted them to become better swordsmen. I wanted to see them called to battle first, as they usually were, but then be able to easily switch into battle at close range and join Orophin’s men in the field. The more men on the ground, the better chance of taking down the enemy. It was time to get this battalion more involved in combat and out of the trees, and I was fairly sure that’s what they wanted too. Watching this ellon got me excited about these prospects. He could help train the others who were lacking in their sword skills. He seemed to carry himself well, too. I’d seen the teamwork he exhibited throughout the day. This elf was exactly what I needed to bring my troops into the light.
“That elf,” I said to Orophin, pointing him out. “Who is he?”
“That would be Romon. Son of a minstrel, he had an ear for music, but also the passion of a warrior.” He glanced at me as I watched Romon slaughter another sawdust dummy. “You wouldn’t be wanting him though.”
“And why not? He is one of the new recruits and available,” I argued.
“New, yes. Available, think again. Daer and Erthor have both had an eye on the lad since he was an elfling. Talent like that is rare and sought after. You don’t stand a chance.”
“His talents will be wasted in either of their battalions. They only want him for his swordsmanship. I want him for both blade and bow,” I said with determination. “Now, I may not have gotten first choice, but I damn well get the best archer, and that is Romon.”
“Then you better have someone in mind to trade, and he better be close in talent to Romon,” Orophin advised.
“Hmm,” I murmured as I thought about my choices. I had a few very good men, but Orophin had already claimed the one elf that I thought could be compared to Romon. I had my work cut out for me.
With the showcasing over, the Captains started their choosing. Daer and Erthor dominated over the swordsmen. They claimed the elves they wanted, leaving Orophin and me with second and third picks to barter for. After a long while, everything was all worked out. The recruits were called out one by one and told to stand in one of four areas of the training grounds. The four groups were told which regiments they would join, and cheers filled the air. Only archers were left on the sidelines.
Now it was time for the archer choosing. Orophin and I put up our choices, as well as Daer and Erthor. After a little negotiating, we had our men picked out … all but for Romon. I was waiting to make my move.
I’d managed to get the second strongest talent away from Orophin, trading him three archers that I had already picked. He seemed satisfied with the exchange, but he also knew my ulterior motive in this plan. My brother was skeptical, but I was confident that I would get Romon. And just when we were about to settle up so that the announcements could be made, I pulled Daer aside. He was the one who ended up with Romon.
We stood away from the other Captains, and discussed things privately. I offered my best, second best to Romon, plus two other archers who were quite good with a sword too. It was not their strongest point, but they still had more talent than some. Daer gave me a look that said I hadn’t a clue what I was doing, but I answered him by giving him my, ‘I know damn well what goes on around here,’ look.
“You are awfully determined to get Romon,” Daer said. “So was Erthor, but you see who got the final say?”
“Erthor does not need a highly skilled archer, and I do,” I answered, giving not even the hint of a smile.
Daer’s brow rose in challenge. “And I need a skilled swordsman.”
“You have an entire battalion of them,” I said, pointing to his troops standing below. “I will not argue that Romon will make a nice addition to that, but an addition only.” I caught Daer with my intense stare, letting my blue eyes drill my point home. I spoke slowly and with determination. “I need someone extraordinarily multitalented like Romon who will help me to teach the rest of my troops.”
Daer looked as though he was actually considering what I said, and I felt a rush of adrenaline course through me. Who knew bartering could be so exciting.
“I don’t know,” Daer finally responded. Damn, I was losing him.
“Romon is but one elf. I am offering you three,” I reminded him. “Three very good men.”
“Yes, well, it would take at least that much to replace Romon,” Daer countered. He went to the railing and looked down at the elves awaiting their assignments. “Which three were they again?”
I felt the power shift and the deal turning in my favor as I nodded and described the elves in question without pointing. The archers were still waiting below. I didn’t want anyone to know who we were discussing. As Daer looked over the three men, I looked towards Daer’s battalion, eyeing Romon. He was watching the platform where I stood. I was sure he knew this discussion was about him. Someone with his talent would be highly sought after.
“What say you, Daer? Shall we finalize this? Three of my best picks for one of yours,” I encouraged.
Daer rubbed his chin, and the line between his brows deepened as they furrowed. I could tell he really wanted to keep Romon, but the offer of three of mine was a hefty trade, and almost too much to pass up. I knew I had him. I could see it in his face, but he was being hard headed. He’d worked diligently to get Romon from Erthor and won. Giving him up must have felt like defeat.
“All right, then. We have an accord,” he finally agreed.
I did it! Somehow, I did it! I bartered and won. I felt like a king, like a lord of my own lands. “Very good,” I smiled and clasped Daer’s shoulder. “They are all yours.”
Haldir stepped towards us. “Are we all through here?”
“Yes,” I said, beaming towards my older brother. “We’ve come to a conclusion, and we are ready to announce the final choosing.”
“And are we all in agreement?” Haldir asked of all the Captains. Everyone confirmed with ‘yes’.
“Very well. Erthor, you may call your recruits first.”
One by one, the Captains called out the names of the archers, and they joined their respected regiments. I was the last one to go, and told the remaining elves to move to their new troop. It seemed like the ceremony was over, and then Haldir made one final announcement.
“There has been a change for one recruit,” Haldir called from the platform, and everyone quieted down. “Romon, will you step forward please.”
Right away, the elves surrounding him looked at Romon with confusion. One elf in particular seemed distraught over this new information. He shook his head and grasped Romon’s arm, but Romon laid a hand upon the other’s and calmed him quickly. I wondered if this was a brother or a cousin perhaps. Whoever he was, it was obvious that he didn’t want Romon to go. But the tall, well-built elf stepped forward and stood at attention, alone in the center of the field.
“Romon, you will now join Captain Rúmil’s regiment,” Haldir announced.
Romon bowed and moved over to where my men stood. My troops congratulated him and swallowed him into their cluster. Then, I noticed the very subtle glance he gave towards his original regiment, his eyes catching those of the elf who did not want him traded. No one else would have understood that brief exchange, but to me it was as loud as and Oliphant’s trumpeting. They weren’t family. They were lovers.
I felt a jolt run up my spine. If it was that easy for me to see in others, then what about myself? Were there other elves like me in the army, and if so, did they ever see me in a brief vulnerable state? I’d always thought I hid it well. Even my own brothers didn’t know, but why should they? Their minds did not work quite the same as mine when it came to this unique brethren.
My thoughts were interrupted by Haldir’s final announcement, congratulating the new recruits on a job well done, and reminding them about the dance in their honor that evening. Orophin grabbed me and shook me excitedly.
“My little brother,” he spoke with pride. “New Captain, first Choosing, bartering and getting his way . . .” He paused and shook his head with disbelief. “You are a natural. I’m so proud of you.”
Haldir joined us and patted me roughly on the back. “Excellent, brother. Truly amazing.”
Orophin was smiling ear to ear. “You better watch out, Haldir. He’ll be after your position as March Warden if you’re not careful.”
“A most respected position,” I said. “But one that I do not wish for.”
“Not yet anyways,” Orophin added before going off to congratulate Daer and Erthor.
“I knew you wanted Romon,” Haldir said when it was just the two of us. “I could see it in your eyes. I watched you speaking with Daer. You were firm and you didn’t back down … just like Father taught us.”
The mention of my father threatened to bring a tear to my eye, but I kept myself under control. “I remember everything he ever told me. It was his fëa I was channeling when I was making that trade with Daer. I’d never felt so confident.”
“And it worked. If Father was here, he would be so proud of the ellon you’ve become. Well done, Rúmil. You will make a great leader,” Haldir said with all sincerity.
What started out as one of the most stressful days of my life, ended with my confidence elevated. I could not wait to start commanding my men, to further their training, and to shape my archers into the kind of army I knew they could be. It all started tomorrow, but first there was a dance to attend, and a very handsome dark haired ellon who I wished to share my joy with.
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Path of Honor