Author(s): Cee
Rating: R (rating may go up)
Disclaimer: I do not own any recognizable characters from Lord of the Rings, or any other of Tolkien’s work. However, any original characters, belong to me. Please do not use them without my permission.
Pairing: Rumil/OFC
Beta(s): Maeluiril & Ivorwen
Feedback: Love it, thrive on it. It’s the only payment I receive for these.
Archiving: Only with the Author’s permission
Summary: Fresh out of warden training Rumil goes with Haldir to Mirkwood, where he meets Arienta the secret daughter of Mirkwood’s King. Arienta’s mother died while giving her live. Now her father, Thranduil hides her away telling all that she died as an infant. Her existence and beauty have become the thing of legend in Mirkwood. Both Rumil and Arienta dream of adventure, but when they meet can they survive what follows.

Warnings: Thranduil is not the nicest of guys in this, though he really isn’t a bad guy either.

NOTE: While I realize that in TolkienÂ’s writings elves sleep with their eyes open, I have always found that somewhat creepy, so I have taken a bit of creative liberty in that area, and decided to ignore that particular piece of canon.

Chapter 4

The following morning Haldir woke to the sound of his brother’s chipper singing. Haldir groaned and rolled over, opening his eyes. Rumil was sitting on his bed pulling on one of his boots, a large smile plastered on his face.

” Look who is finally awake!” Rumil laughed, looking at his brother. ” Get up get up! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the King requests our presence at breakfast this fine morning.”

” Since when is it your custom to rise with the sun?” Haldir asked glaring at his brother, and sitting up, the blankets falling down to his waist. ”

” Is it my fault that you have grown lazy in your old age? Perhaps my youth will count for something on this mission after all,” Rumil laughed.

Haldir grabbed his pillow and flung it forcefully in his brotherÂ’s direction, but missed as Rumil nimbly jumped up and headed for the door.

“Missed me!” Rumil taunted.

Haldir lunged for the pillow on Rumil’s bed but before he was able to throw it, his brother had already gone out the door. Sighing he put the pillow on his own bed and lay back down. He had just closed his eyes when Rumil popped his head back into the room.

“You had better hurry, Haldir, breakfast is served in little less than half an hour.”

Haldir cursed, and shot Rumil an evil glare as he launched the second pillow across the room. Rumil again dodged the projectile and began laughing loudly as he disappeared down the hall.

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Rumil sat at the table with Legolas, watching with amusement as Haldir entered the dining hall obviously winded and very much flustered. ” Why, brother, anyone would think you had overslept.”

Haldir shot Rumil a look that would have sent fear into even the fiercest of orcs. “Indeed,” he replied dryly, taking his place at the table.

RumilÂ’s attention began to drift as Legolas and Haldir discussed the conditions of their woodland realms. He leaned back in his chair and stared at the vase containing a dozen black roses, in the center of the table. Leaning forward he ran his finger along the petals of the nearest flower.

” I have never seen roses such as these,” he spoke out loud, interrupting the conversation.

Both Legolas and Haldir paused and turned to Rumil, as if they had forgotten that he was in the room. “They only grow here in Mirkwood,” Legolas replied. “And only in the lands yet untouched by evil.”

“They are very beautiful,” Rumil remarked pulling one from the vase and smelling it.

“What is this sudden interest in flower arrangements?” Haldir asked puzzled by his brother’s strange behavior.

Rumil just smiled and shrugged. “If you do not smell the roses, how can you be reminded of beauty?”

“I did not realize you were such a poet, brother.”

” The treasures under the trees of this forest have opened a new world to me, Haldir.” Rumil continued to look at the rose with wonder.

Neither Rumil or Haldir had noticed the way Legolas stiffened as Rumil spoke. ” Tell me, Rumil, where were you last night that has opened up this new world to you?”

“He was out playing in the trees as an elfling would,” Haldir laughed.

LegolasÂ’ face grew grave, and he paled. “What part of the forest were you in?” His voice was sterner than he had intended it to be.

Rumil looked up from the rose, sensing that the conversation was nearing a dangerous topic. ” I was in the gardens.” Rumil looked away from Legolas and put the flower back in the vase.

Before Legolas was able to pursue the matter further, the great doors at the end of the hall swung inward on their mighty hinges, and Thranduil walked through dressed resplendently in long gray robes trimmed in black. His demeanor was different from that which they had seen the night before. There was something near a smile upon his face and he walked with a spring in his step.

Legolas, Haldir and Rumil stood as the king crossed the room and settled himself at the chair situated at the head of the table. ” A good day to you all, ” Thranduil said as a servant carried in a tray of food and began serving him. “I trust you found your rooms to your liking?” Thranduil’s gaze fell upon Haldir.

“The rooms are wonderful, milord, we thank you for your generosity.” Haldir nudged his brother under the table, urging him to thank the king as well.

After resuming his seat Rumil had fixed his eyes resolutely on the table, fearing that he would give away Arienta’s secret venture. At Haldir’s less than gentle nudge Rumil let out a slight umpf. ” Yes, milord.” Inside Rumil felt a tinge of loathing at the elf before him. How could one who was supposed to be so wise, lock away a creature as lovely as the elleth he had met last night?

“Do you fear me, young one?”

Thranduil’s question did little to soothe Rumil’s dislike for him. “No, milord,” he answered.

The king began to chuckle, mistaking Rumil’s short answer for intimidation. “Please, be at ease. This breakfast is an informal one.”

Rumil glanced up at the king as he turned his attention to Haldir, and began discussing the day to day happenings of Mirkwood. The other three elves at the table seemed to have forgotten Rumil’s existence, for which he was very thankful. Again his eyes strayed to the roses, and he smiled. He knew that despite Haldir’s orders he would do whatever he must to find Arienta again, and began planning another nightly stroll in hopes of returning to a certain stream.

” My lord, I was hoping that we could further discuss the sharing of our lands.” Haldir’s voice interrupted Rumil’s thoughts.

” Forgive me, March Warden, but I am afraid that there is an urgent matter I must attend to this day, perhaps tomorrow.” Thranduil began to rise. ” In fact I am already running late, I ask that you forgive me”. With that Thranduil rose and walked out of the room.

Hurrying down the halls of his palace Thranduil had to resist the urge to hike up his robes and all out run. Even when unwatched a king must retain his dignity. Finally arriving at his rooms he let his guard down and rushed to a wardrobe at the far side. Opening the doors he reached inside and withdrew a small box wrapped in a silver cloth and tied with a scarlet ribbon. He smiled to himself thinking of his daughter, even now waiting for him in her rooms. Arienta, his forest treasure, his sunshine in otherwise dark days. Tucking the box into his robes he turned and left his room.

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Arienta had risen early from sleep that day, despite being out until a rather late hour. Everything seemed brighter and lovelier to her on this morning. Had last night been a wondrous dream she asked herself silently. Then looking over to the small stand at the side of her bed she saw the rose standing alone in a tall slender vase. No, she shook her head; it had not been a dream. She began to smile at the memory of her encounter with Rumil.

” Milady, you are not even dressed yet!” Ioraweth exclaimed with disapproval. “This is the day your father has cleared to spend with you, he will be here at any moment.”

Arienta sighed and turned to the woman. ” Do you think I have forgotten? After all this is supposed to be the highlight of my week. I would never forget such as this.”

Ioraweth scowled at the elleth, throwing a gown into the girlÂ’s arms. ” Dress quickly.”

Arienta walked behind the changing screen and began to remove her robe and nightdress; again a smile found it’s way to her face. She ran her fingers over the soft silk gown, dyed a blushing creamy pink. Ioraweth always picked extremely feminine dresses when her father visited. She knew it was to help support her father’s child like vision of her. She was still a child in his eyes, and ever would be. Again the feeling of trapped hopelessness settled over her. Last night had been a wonderful night, but that was just what it was, a single night in a lifetime of solitude.

“Where is my lovely daughter on this day?” Thranduil’s voice came from the sitting room, moments later followed by his appearance at her bedroom door.

Arienta pulled the dress down over her body and smoothed the wrinkles out before stepping from behind the screen. “Good morrow, father.”

“What no hug for your ada?” Thranduil opened his arms and Arienta ran to him, embracing him warmly. After a moment Thranduil pulled away and looked at her. ” Ah, you grow more beautiful by the day, my sweet. Now let me see, I believe that I have brought a gift for you this day.” Thranduil began digging through his robes as if the gift had mysteriously disappeared.

Arienta watched smiling. He brought her a gift every time he came, and every time he tried to convince her that he had lost it somewhere along the way. ” Ada, I am no longer an elfling, you do not have to bring me a gift whenever you come. I am happy just to spend time with you.” The truth was that she grew tired of the silly ritual, and receiving gifts that her father thought she wanted when really they were only what he wanted her to want.

Thranduil continued his mock search, ignoring what Arienta had said. A moment later he grinned and pulled he box from his robes. ” Here we go. Now come, I want to see your face as you open it.”

Arienta sighed and took the box. She carefully untied the ribbon and removed the silvery fabric, revealing a velvet box roughly the size of a book. She lifted the lid and stared down at a silver tiara with a single tear shaped emerald dangling from the middle. ” Ada, it is beautiful.” She smiled up at her father.

“A crown for my little princess.” Thranduil took the tiara from her and placed it on her head, kissing her brow. ” Now come, I though we would walk in my private gardens today. I have seen to it that none will disturb me.” He tucked her arm in his and led her out of the bedroom.

Thranduil’s private garden was underground, fed sunlight through shafts in the ceilings and walls. When Arienta was five he had had a tunnel constructed that led from her rooms to the garden, and would often bring her there and let her run among the various flowers.
It was truly a splendor of Middle-earth. The floor of the vast cavern was covered in a soft mossy grass, of a pale green. Vines hung from the ceiling with their lavender flowers in constant bloom, giving the impression that one was in the forest rather than a cave. Along all the walls were planted rose bushes, bearing the rare black roses of Mirkwood. Deep scarlet hollyhocks were planted at regular intervals along the rose bushes.
As one continued into the gardens they would find themselves surrounded by a variety of flowers, some large, some tiny. There were orchids of all types and sizes, some deep and murky purples, while others were misty blues, or vibrant reds. Scattered throughout were the sky blue blossoms of the forget-me-nots.
Paths wound their way through bushes and beds filled with color, occasionally passing small fountains. In the center of the garden was a pond covered in a layer of water clover and filled with fish of varying colors. Some were bright gold while others a shimmering white or misty black.

Thranduil and Arienta walked the paths looking at various plants and pointing out their favorites, until Arienta grew silent.
“What troubles my daughter so?” Thranduil tilted her face to his. “Do you wish to go back to your rooms?”

“That is what troubles me, father. I do not want to return to my rooms.” Arienta sighed. “I wish so much to go outside. Why must I remain hidden, are you ashamed of me? Why do you hide me from your kingdom.”

Thranduil pulled away slightly, his smile fading. ” Daughter, you know my answer to these questions.” Arienta began to turn away from him, but he pulled her back. ” My little jewel, the forest is a dangerous place, the world is a dangerous place. I do not wish you to be subjected to that. If you are here I can keep you safe.”

“Ada, I know that there are dangers, but there is beauty as well.”

“Arienta, you are young still, and do not know what is out there. I am old and wise; you must trust me in this. You will find nothing but heartache and sadness in the world outside.”

” Please, ada, I am old enough to face these things. Mother loved this forest, it can not be all bad if she loved it so.”

Thranduil turned from his daughter at the mention of his wife. “This is not the forest your mother knew, she would weep to see it now.” Thranduil began to pace nervously. “No, I lost your mother, I will not lose you as well. You must remain safe. If you remain in the palace nothing and no one can harm you.” The words seemed to be to himself as well as his daughter as he continued to pace, growing more and more agitated with every moment.

Arienta began to worry that he would lose his temper and so stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder. ” Ada, do not worry, I understand. I am sorry for bringing it up.”

Thranduil stopped and turned to her, a smile on his face that did not touch his eyes. ” No, daughter, it is I that is sorry. I am sorry that you have come to live in times such as these.” He had stopped his pacing but was still tense. He needed to be alone to calm himself. The memory of his wife had brought with it the memory of his pain when she died. “Now I beg your forgiveness, but I must cut my visit short today, there are many things that require my attention. I will return you to your rooms.”

Arienta followed as Thranduil led her back down the long corridor to her room. The happiness she had risen with was all but gone. How could she have allowed herself to think that there could be even the chance of more than what she had shared with the elf from Lorien? She could feel the tears begin to sting her eyes, but she would not cry. She refused to shed a tear, at least not until she was alone. She knew that tonight, like so many others she would cry herself to sleep.
‘No,’ she thought to herself. ‘I will not give into this, If he will not allow me out, then I will go out when he sleeps. I will not let my life waste away.’
By the time they reached her door, Arienta was firm in this new resolution. She smiled sweetly at her father as he bid her farewell, but when the door was shut the smile faded, and was replaced with a look of grim determination.