Through the Window

Chapter Six
( You know what? I am going to stop naming the chapters because I suck at it! )

Haldir peered out from the leaves as he had done many times now, and he turned to Niamh, nodding his head and holding his hand before him to tell her to remain where she was. He rose to his feet, crouching low so as not to disturb the leaves and make them rustle, and he left the shelter. Niamh watched with worry as he drew an arrow to his bow; she watched as his feet twirled as if he spun about quickly and she fell back as she saw him fall to his knees, a seccond pair of elven booted feet joining him.
Niamh clutched her bossom in fear and her lips trembled as she worried for her elven love as he rose to his feet and confronted the seccond elf bravely.
She heard soft words being spoken though it was of no use to her, for they were all of them in elvish. She released the firm hold of her chemise and very slowly and quietly, she rose to her knees, looking out through the leaves. She could ot help but stutter very slightly when she saw Haldir wipe blood from his lips, but the seccond she made her little mistake, she covered her mouth and closed her eyes. She feared that she would see Haldir’s downfall here... his downfall or that of his brother.
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Haldir looked about him as he rose to his full stance, his heart throbbed in his chest as he spied a shadow lurking in the boughs of the trees, moving as if to follow his gaze as he twirled about upon his heels, watching it.
His vision was keen and so well was his hearing, but still he was tricked as very suddenly he heard a noise from behind him in the trees there. He turned and looked, but at that instant he was taken to the ground by a stiff blow to his fair head. He fell to his knees, holding hisjaw as he looked to his attacker.
“Mae govannen... little one.” Haldir spat in his native tongue as he rose to his feet. Rumil bowed his head in mock curtiousy and smirked as he brushed the golden hair from his face.
Haldir grinned arogantly as he rose to his feet and wiped the blood from his lips. His ears twitched as he heard a small stutter from where Niamh was hidden, but he did not turn to her for fear of his brother finding where she was hidden.
However, Rumil laughed only cruely and stepped closer to the leafy bower wherin Niamh sat, huddled in fear, watching invisible through the leaves. He knew where they had hidden!
“You do not think that I did not hear your little wench’s stutter?” The young elf smirked, turning to the leafy bower and kicking it softly with his foot. He was rewarded by a small cry and a breaking of leaves as Niamh fell back once more and crawled as far from the entrance as she was able.
“Rumil, leave her be, for it is not she that your quarell is with now.” Haldir said quickly as his brother knelt to the ground, “It is with me. When I am dead is when you shall... have your way with the maiden.”
“You fool.” Rumil said simply as he rose to hs feet, “You know that I brought the maiden to this wood, all for to show her my love when you and your elder brother took her from me. I---”
“Quiet you theiving liar!” Haldir hissed, drawing his blade from its sheath that hung at his side, “You wished to harm her! To do with her your evil will and that could not stand. Not in this wood. Not when still I stand to procect her...” and he held his sword to him as the elf came ever nearer, his gaze fixed steadily upon Haldir as the latter returned it with equal firmness.
Rumil laughed. “But then, you knew not the maiden when you stole her from me. What cared you for the fate of a strange little mortal wench entered your protected wood with a strange faerie? I would have thought that you would have shot us both dead as we came ever deeper into the wood.” But then he fell silent and bit his lips lightly as he did not remove his gaze from the elder elf. “It could not be that you are... in love with this girl, now are you?”
Haldir started and his gaze flitted from his brother for but a moment, this being answer enough for Rumil.
“Say nothing.” Said the young elf, “For I see in your eyes that you wish to take the girl as your own... well, I cannot have that, now can I?” whereupon he drew a faerie long sword of irish make and lunged upon Haldir so swiftly that only just did the elf miss his target.
Rumil fell to the ground with a sigh. He quickly rose to his feet to see Haldir’s blade swing upon him, knocking him against the bark of a tree. Rumil cried out in pain and clutched his breast as blood poured forth from him.
“Leave be my lady and me!” Haldir said as he raised his sword yet again.
But the faerey within Rumil sneered upon his wound and he rose to his feet though he felt Rumil’s body growing weak by its loss of precious blood.
Haldir saw this and his eyes grew merciful as the faerey came nearer him, a swagger in his walk that was never the walk of the young elf. Haldir saw that in his rage he had forgotten his brother was the vessel of the faerey and that now he had nearly slain that vessel. Rumil’s face grew pale and the faerie within cried out once more as he fell to the ground. He looked to where Niamh hid and as Haldir strove to find where it was he had rested his eyes upon, the faerie began to crawl toward the girl.
Haldir knew that the evil creature was far to weak now to bring any harm and he admired with pride his blow to the faerey as he slowly followed behind it.

“N-Niamh...shepherd’s daughter...” The faerey stuttered as it reached its hand into the leafy bower and felt for Niamh’s warm form. He heard her move away from him and he groaned in pain as he lay his head wearily upon the grass.
Haldir bent down and lifted the faerie high into the air, saying with teeth clenched: “Now you leave by brother!”

There came a roaring wind as Haldir’s words were, very strangely, acctualy abided.
This wind blew the leaves from the trees into the air and blinded Haldir for a moment, but when he could see once more, he saw that the faerie was gone fom his little brother and that now he held a limp body in his arms.
With a small smile of victory that was quickly vanquished by worry, Haldir lay it upon the ground and bid Niamh join him as he lifted his little brother over his shoulder, carrying him as Niamh followed behind him.

“Haldir?” Niamh asked warily as she looked about her, “Is the faerie gone forever?” but Haldir would not answer her.
She hung her head and was quiet as she came up beside Haldir, taking his hand in her own. She looked to his eyes and saw that they welled with tears that, again, would never fall. She could not imagine the grief he bore within his heart and so she said nothing to him, looking away and to the beautiful Mallorn trees.
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Orophin sat perched high in the branches of the Mallorn trees. He watched for his brother to return for he had heard from the other soldiers of the Galadhrim that Rumil had attcked Haldir and they had fought. However, none of these soldiers had seen such goings on, they had heard only the cries and recognised the voices as those of their Marchwardens.
Orophin sat and waited, quietly singing to himself a fair and quiet song, pondering upon his brothers’ strange behavior... why should they fight when never before they had? Rumil had acted very strange when last they met and so perhaps it was that Rumil had begun the fight and Haldir was protecting himself and the maiden.
Niamh was a fair young lass, Orophin thought as he finished his song, and young Rumil was a lecherous elf and fondled many young elleths whom he took a liking to.
Haldir had told Orophin that he had fallen in love with Niamh and perhaps Rumil had provoked him... or he had provoked Rumil and they fought over the lady?
“Oh, for the light of the stas that shine above...” Orophin sighed in song as he leapt to the ground, shaking his head wearily, “... Pray, that they may grant me the light to see into this... affliction between my beloved little elflings.” and he laughed slightly as he said this, for he was eldest of them all. “My dear, dear little brothers.”

There came a rustle in the leaves above and Orophin looked to see a seccond elf sitting above him, smiling broadly.
“Hullo, Teirin.” Orophin sighed. Teirin was the same as Rumil... lecherous and troublesome, even moreso that is expected and nature to the elves. Some said he bore fairy blod within him and that he and RUmil had made a blood-pact as children and so Rumil had bourne his troublesome traits from Teirin. Orophin did not at all think this outrageous; well, he rather belived it.
Teirin leapt beside Orophin, his bow resting upon his shoulder as he was silent, waiting, clearly, for Orophin to speak first.
“Hullo, Teirin.” Orophin sighed. Teirin smiled ever the greater and nudged Orphin slightly in the arm while he raised his brow with some mischeif brewing over his eyes.
“You have seen the young girl, aye, Orophin?” Teirin asked with a boyish grin.
Orophin hung his head and sighed thrice the time as if to signal Teirin he did not wish to be in his presence, but Teirin did not see this and only continued to speak of Niamh.
“She is a lovely thing.” Teirin continued, “Fair as a flower in the springtime, and as red as fire is her hair. Dare I say that she is a desireable creature and--”
“Teirin!” Orophin said as he stepped away from the young elf with an irked glance. “Do not speak of such an innocent maiden in such a way.”
“Forgive me, sir Marchwarden,” Teirin began, “but it is only that I can see the reason for the faerie’s evil intentions.”
Orophin’s brow twitched and he thought that he saw Teirin grin at this. “What is your meaning?” Orophin asked faintly when Teirin halted in his steps, looking to the west.
“It is what I have said.”
“Would you go o the side of the evil faerie?”
Teirin smiled with a devilish grin, but before he could open his mouth to speak, but Orophin turned upon him with such an evil stare as only an elf could portray to befoul such a lovely face as Orophin’s as he took Teirin by the sash of his tunic: “How dare you say such evil words!” Orophin spat, his eyes alight with fire, “We will slay that evil beast and if it shall be that you shall join to its side, then we will slay you as well... and, forgive me, but Rumil is my young brother, Teirin, and he will walk by my side when the faerie is slain. He will not tarry in slaying you alongside the evil one if it is that you have joined to it.”
Teirin bowed his head and his eyes closed slightly as if he asked forgiveness, though Orophin would not give it and released the young elf with a severe thrust that sent him flailing to the ground.
Orophin turned with a shrug and walked away, leaving Teirin to brood upon his rage that he found to be welling within him. What is this? He thought, How is it that I should feel such a way toward my kin?
Teirin rose to his feet and watched as he spied Orophin walking through the underbrush far from him. Teirin quickly followed after, perhaps to seek forgiveness, but perhaps to cause the trouble he was so known for.

Orophin sighed as Teirin joined him once more, a smile on his face as great as the one he had first come with, and a leap in his steps as if he were as light as the air.
“What now has come over you, mescheivious demon?” Orophin mumbled as Teirin laid a hand upon his shoulder. The elder elf shrugged it away and walked quicker than he had begun.
“Do nt begrudge me, Orophin, my Marchwarden!” Teirin said with a laugh, “I meant no harm in the words I said.”
“Why, then, Teirin, did you speak them?” Orophin’s voice was cold and he looked not upon the elf to whom he spoke. Teirin, he could see from the corner of his eye, shuddered and looked quickly about him.
“Do you truly think that I would join the ranks of the evil faerie?” The young elf asked innocently, thought Orophin saw through his words. He saw that Teirin lied and schemed and that he spoke rarely the truth, if ever he did. He delighted in fooling with the minds of his fellow soldiers, though what could not be seen was weather or no he did this to be cruel and terrible, or if it was simply a game... a harmless game?
“I do not know what it is that you would do, Teirin.” Orophin said shortly before he climbed to the boughs of a tree. Teirin followed, thoughit was clear to him the elder elf wished him gone.
“Let me say this one last thing.” Teirin said quietly, “That if ever you should thrust me to the ground again... I will not be so forgiving and I will do the same to you... though, by far, more greivious.” then he smiled grimly and laid his hand upon Orophin’s shoulder once more. “Now come, you surely do not wish the maiden dead, do you? Oh, I am sure that Haldir would not... he will be greatly surprised.”
Orophin gasped at the young elf’s final words and with a single swift motion, he felled him to the ground, saying: “You can do nothing, you liar and you befouled theif.”
“Theif!” Teirin cried, “How now am I a theif!?”
“You have stolen the innocence of this wood... you and others who may follow you and the tracks of the faerie. How did the faerie come by you, Teirin? He overtakes the minds of our folk so very easily it is shameful that we, the high born, should be overtaken so very simply. Too, you have stolen a bit of the reputation we bear so very nobly... that we are strong. If this faerie leaves our wood, then the rumr of our weakness will spread and we wwill never know peace again. Evil will know that in our minds, to a certain extent, we are weak.”
Teirin only rose to is feet with an arrogant smile and turned away slowly, shrugging his shoulders free of the moss and leves that clung to them.
“That is in YOUR mind, Orophin, my Marchwarden.” He said simply and with a slight bow he left. “I warned that you should not thrust me to the ground.” He called after him, striking a pang of fear into Orophin as he turned away. Then he laughed quietly, thinking that the young elf could do nothing to any of them for they were all of them, by far, stronger than he. But still, he could not help but fear little for the girl... for his brother Haldir. Rumil, he did not know the fate of, nor did he-- at the moment --care at all. He still was irked and bothered by Rumil’s strange behavior and it angered him that he could not guess the meaning of it.
But e would not think upon it, for as he stepped into the brush, all for to take his gaurd at the edge of the Wood, he heard from behind him a call.

“Orophin!” There came Haldir’s voice behind him and he turned swiftly, meeting him as he ran to him, Niamh at his side; worry was in the elf’s eyes and grief alongside it.
Haldir carried over his shoulder a slack body and he lay it gently upon the ground as Orophin inquired as to whom it was and the elder elf fell back in shock as his youngest brother’s face turned to him with a lifeless stare.
“H-Haldir!” Orophin shreiked, going to the side of Rumil and taking his head all in his arms. “Did ou slay him Haldir!? Did you slay your brother!?”
Haldir wiped his brow fre of sweat and fell to his kness, holding his head in his hands as his greif overtook him and he wept soundly into his fists.

Niamh knelt beside him and wrapped her arms about his shoulders as he wiped the tears from his cheeks.
“Not readily do I weep.” Haldir said quietly to Orophin, who looked upon him with shock. “If it was that i injured Rumil to the brink of death in my right mind, then think you that I would so openly weep before you? Think you not that I slew him for it is a lie!”
Orophin bowed his head andsaid nothing,but he bent down and held his ear to Rumil’s breast.
“His heart beats slowly, brother, I think that he lives still.” Orophin said in nary a whisper. He lifted Rumil over his shoulder and looked to Niamh with a small, reasuring smile. But then he frowned and looked away. “I think that you should remain hidden and away from eyes,” He said, remembering Teirin’s words, and though he was not afraid for the lives of he and his brothers, still he sought to keep Niamh as far from harm as she could be, for she was not so strong as the elven men. He turned to Haldir and nodded his head northward before turning to Niamh once more. “Haldir will take you to where you shall be safe from any harm.”
But as Haldir took hold of Niamh’s hand, she tore away and turned to him with question in her eyes, saying fearfully: “I thought that you slew the faerie!”
Haldir bent his gaze to the ground and before he looked to Niamh once more, he lifted his hand to his bow and took her hand in his own, stroking it lightly so she would not grow frightened.
“I have wounded the faerie greatly,” He began lowly, “but I fear that my mere sword could not slay it. He will likely to recover his from his wounds where e’er he is out of the sight of my soldiers of this gaurd of the Gladhrim.” and he felt Niamh’s shoulders fall as he brought her to him, and he lay his head upon them gently.
Orophin watched as Haldir wrapped his arms about Niamh and as he whispered soft, comforting words in her ear.
Orophin sighed. He was to send Niamh to the chambers of the Lady’s hand maidens where there she would be under the watch of the Lady of Light and her lord, but there Niamh would be forced to remain until the faerie was destroyed, and no sooner could she leave. For if she were to be found there by the faerie or by... others-- here Orophin’s mind darted to Teirin --then she and likely all of the maidens who stood in the way of the faerie’s plan of evil would be slain, and then perhaps even more if only for to quench his thirst for blood.
Orophin could clearly see that Niamh wished to remain with Haldir, for he knew that she felt safer at his side, and he knew the worry she would face if she were not able to see his face often.
But she herself could no be safe if she remained with Haldir and with the elven gaurd, for they could not all protect only her.
Orophin sighed heavily and shook his head to rid him of such thoughts.
“The girl must go to the protetion of the Lord and Lady.” Orophin said quietly as he went to Haldir and Niamh, his younger brother holding the girl in his arms tightly to him as if never would her release her.

“Must I go?” Niamh asked with grief strinking the tone of her voice horribly until Orophin thought that she would weep.
Orophin dreaded the question, but nodded his head quickly in answer. “Aye, you must.” He said.
Niamh looked to him with tears in her eyes and turned to Haldir pleading for him to let her remain at his side. She wrapped her arms about his waist tightly and buried her head in his breast as she wept freely into him, pleading, oh, pleading as if she would die in grief. She spoke to him frantically: “Oh, Haldir, my love, do not leave me alone! I will worry for your fate! I know you cannot long be well when the faerie is not dead and at your feet or the feet of your soldiers! You will perish by his hand, Haldir, you will, oh you will!”
Orophin looked to the ground as Haldir darted a scornfull glance to him. He knew that his brother would wish to keep the girl with him as well as she wished to remain wih him. But the elder elf only shook his head and touched Niamh lightly on her shoulder to pull her away from her lover, however she stiffened and only clung to Haldir with all the more fury.
“Niamh, come now child,” Orophin began softly, “I will take you where you shall be safe! Haldir will live and you will see him again very soon, but now you must come with me!” and Haldir pryed her from him and gave her unto his elder brother who held her tightly still.
Haldir went to Niamh and with a soft whisper of his love for her, he placed a small kiss upon her lips before Orophin turned away and led Niamh behind him.
“H-Haldir...!” She whispered, “Haldir!” Her voice rose until it was a shrill cry that pierced the air, so great was her grief that she thought she felt her ddeath coming upn her, for Haldir would never be safe from the faerie, never would he slay it. It was immortal and it could never die, lest it would have when he had struck it with his blade.
“Haldir!” She wept, reaching to him as Orophin led her away, “Do not leave me! Return to me, swear you this, swear that you shall return to me!” but she could not see him as he swore an answer to her plea.
“I will return, Niamh,” He whispered. “I will return and it is then that I shall give unto you my eternal love.”

Orophin lead Niamh away from her lover until he could no more be seen amid the trees and her cries dwindled now into sobes of despair. Rumil lay still and slack over Orophin’s shoulder, and, truthfully, the elder elf had forgotten he carried his younger brother wounded upon his shoulder. The young elf’s heart beat still and steadily and thus Orophin had no doubt that he would live, but it was for Niamh the elf feared.
She walked drearily behind him now, stumbling upon roots and rocks that the elf warned her of but still she had no desire to avoid. Her ehad hung low and her eyes closed often. Her face was tear stained and she was a pitifull state as the elf led her to the gates of Caras Galadon, for before they had not been far form the elven city.
Orophin removed the cloak from his shoulder as it hung limply over him and he wrapped it about Niamh, gently pulling the hood over her head, though her firey locks peered through it yet. She was silent.

Elven gaurds who watched faithfuly over the city of Caras Galadhon and its people ranto the gates and opened them with vigor as they went to Orophin; he lay the body of his wounded brother down upon the soft grass and in his elvish tongue, he spoke of what had occured. He looked to Niamh and stepped away from her a bit so as to speak silently and unheard by her ears to the elven gaurd.
“She is a mortal brought here under great danger. So great was her plight that I and your Captain Haldir have decided that here she shall remain until we are able to rid her of her evil pursuer and return to her the innocence she requires to bear at the age she is.” He explained quietly, looking not to the girl, but motioning his hands to her oft, “Will you take her to the Lady and the Lord, and tell to them what I have told unto you? They will take her then, I am sure of it, and you may report to me of her safety. I will be in many places this day and for many days to follow.”
The elves nodded their heads quickly, but said nothing, though their eyes were deep and understanding and a reply was not needed to satisfy Orophin.
He turned to Niamh and embraced her quickly, bowing before her with his hand held before his heart as he said to her: “Do not fear for you lover. He will be safe... I will send him to you as soon as I am able. Rumil is no longer inhabited by the evil that once resided within him and so when he is healed, I am sure that he will visit you as well.” Orophin paused a moment and then laughed slightly, “I do not know if that should be of any comfort to you.”
Niamh giggled and wiped tears from her eyes as they formed to fall together. “It is some comfort,” She said, “That you will send my love to me.” and Orophin smiled.
“I said that you would have nothing to fear. You will be safe among the hand maidens of the Lady of Light. Our lord Celeborn will watch over you and Galadriel will keep you safe. It is no burden to them, I am sure.”
Whereupon, with a small friendly kiss upon Niamh’s brow, the elf turned and ran throught the trees into Lothlorien the Golden.

Niamh was taken to the lord Celeborn and to the Lady of Light Galadriel and they agreed that she should rremain beneath their care for a time and they greeted her warmly,s eeing her distress. Niamh spent her days in the chambers of the Hand Maidens and was given frocks and silks to dress as one of them so was to be her disgiuse if ever any evil should intrude upon the maidens of the Lady.
Niamh was treated kindly and well there with the hand maidensof Galadriel, hough it was rare that either the lady or her lord visited. Niamh did not see them often and she wondered at the lady’s absence.

One night, nearly three days after Rumil had been wounded and Haldir had left Niamh to the hand maidens, there came a mesenger to the door of the chamber wherein Niamh slept. It was late in the night and every star there was to shine in the sky shone its brightest now.
There came a light tap upon the door. Niamh awoke with a start and rose to her feet from where she lay upon the floor upon a pile of woven blankets in a darkened corner of her chamber. Here she lay for her bed did not warm nor comfort her as she lay upon it, longing to hear news of her lover and of the whereabouts and happenings of the faerie lord Donnaghue.
A light tap resounded a third time and Niamh slowly made her way to the door, wondering who it was that came to her so very late in the night. She thought with joy and exitment that perhaps it was Haldir come to visit her as Orophin had said he would send him, and she supposed that indeed this could be true, for elves required little rest and so perhaps it was that her love had come to her.

Niamh held her fingers to the door of her chamber and gently pushed upon the wood of it until it came slightly ajar. She looked and saw nothing. Then, a shadow rose from where it had been sitting quietly near the door.
Niamh watched as it slowly rose to its feet. Her heart fell as she saw that it was not Haldir nor anyone that she knew and she wondered at whom it could be as it turned its gaze to her. It was an elf, and he was fair and silver-haired and tall. He looked upon Niamh quietly and gently stepped near to her. With a sigh she moved quickly away and backed into her chamber, but to her dismay the strange elf followed her, never did his gaze leave her own, though she looked away from it oft; it was planted within her mind.
“Who are you, stranger?” She asked uneasily as she felt the bark of the tree ,wherein her chamber was set, against her backside.
The elf sopped suddenly and lifted a inger to her chin to raise her face. She looked upon him and saw that his skin was white and deathly pale, his eyes as silver as the hair upon his head. He had no rose in his cheeks nor upon his lips and his touch upon her face was cold as ice.
“N-Niamh... my brother’s love.” Said the elf. Niamh heard his voice as she looked away from his deathly face and she gasped as she heard Rumil’s voice speaking unto her.
“You are Haldir’s younger brother?” She asked with shock that he should so soon be healed and with her now upon his feet. “You were gravely injured... how now can you walk, Rumil?”
The elf said nothing, but about his shoulders there hung a cloak of midnight’s black that he pulled away from his body. There, upon his breast was a wound that was festered and bloody still, and it poured ofrth blood as the elf stood, though no blood fell upon the floor.
Niamh gasped at the horrible sight and looked away, her stomach rising to her throat as Rumil looked sadly to his wound.
He turned his sorrowful gaze to Niamh and looked upon her with greif in his eyes as he said: “I am no evil, lady.”
Niamh shook her head slowly, but was stopped as Rumil sighed heavily and shrugged his shoulders.
“I am no evil.” He continued, “I am no evil. Forgive me for persuing you and your lover... it was not my will, for within me I screamed for release... but it would not come until this wound was given me. I did not wish to frighten you and I wish to ask your forgivness for my lecherous ways as well...” He coughed and blood splattered upon his silver tunic. Niamh saw his eyes were Rumil’s and she pitied him as he fell to his knees in pain.
Once again she wondered how he had escaped his healing bed and the watch of his caretaker.
“Rumil,” She said urgently, “dear thing, you must go to your bed once more.” but the elf shook his head and took her face in his hands as he brought his lips to her cheek. He coughed once more, though no blood fell upon her skin. He kissed her softly upon her cheek and his head fell back into her arms as she wrapped them about his form; he leaned into her and spoke no more, his breath no more coming to him.
Niamh gasped and shook Rumil slightly but found that he would not stir, though still his eyes rested upon her, lifeless and still, large and tear-filled.
“S-somebody...!” Niamh whispered, for her voice not come to her, “Somebody!” She cried out now loud and clear, tears welling in her eyes as she gazed upon Rumil’s lifeless body in her arms. “Somebody help him!!” She shrieked now while rising to her feet, dropping the elf’s body from her arms as terror surged through her.
“Help him! Help him!” She darted to the door and looked but saw no one coming though she had cried out as loudly as she was able. Weeping, she went to the edge of her chamber flet and looked about. There was no one. With a horrified sigh, she turned and went to her door once more, opening it for she had before closed it tightly, but as she went to where Rumil’s body had lain she saw that there was nothing there.
She then realised that it was only in her mind, for elves’ bodies do not dissapear when they die, she was sure of this. She fell to her knees in a faint and lay there upon the floor untilit was that one hand maiden came to her in a hurry, having heard her cries for aid.

Niamh awoke with a start as she was slapped sharply over her cheek. She opened her eyes slowly, seeing about her many elf maidens, whispering and sighing in releif that she was not dead.
An elf leaned over her face and she saw that it was Celeborn. Worry was over his brow and she laughed as well as she was able. He looked upon her questioningly, and she said: “I have seen you, my lord, now twice with worry for me. Why is that? I am but a mortal.”
“You are a life.” He replied softly as he lifted her to her bed, but she rose to her feet instead, though her legs were far to weak to hold her upright and so thus she fell into Celeborn’s arms and he held her there strongly as she regained her thoughts.
“I saw Rumil.” She said sofly as he pulled her away from him. The hand maidens about her gasped and murmered to one another in shock and she looked to celeborn, asking him why it was they were so shocked.
Celeborn did not meet her gaze as he replied: “Rumil is dying upon his healing bed this very moment.”
Niamh’s eyes grew wide and she opened her mouth to speak. Nay, for she shrieked in horror.
“I saw him! He came to me... asking my forgivness!! I saw him! He came to me!”