Geillis stood on the outer wall, the sun setting behind her, Connor her father’s captain of their guard squinting to see in the distance.

“Looks like there is two, maybe three, in a hurry.” He said as he leaned over the wooden wall that surrounded their keep on the rocky promontory of the hill. The dull brown of the grassy plain before them seemed to swallow the oncoming travelers. Geillis squinted, but could see clearly that there were three, one being carried.

“There are three, one is wounded.” She said as Connor frowned at her. “Looks like Elves.” He stared at her, the corners of his mouth deepening in a grimace. She turned to look at him, “The sun is shining on their hair, no humans have hair that shade of color. Come, we will ride out to meet them.”

Connor grasped her arm, “Your father wouldn’t like it, you know how he feels about Elves.”

Geillis frowned, “One is wounded, and they would not be approaching unless it were for dire circumstances. I will not leave them out on the plain. My father is not here, I will take responsibility for my actions, Connor.” She turned hurrying down the wooden stair, calling for her horse. Connor leaped down the stairs to catch up, muttering.

Geillis leaped onto her horse, turning it in a circle as she waited for Connor and another of her men to mount, then shouting for the gates to be opened, urged her horse into a canter, her black hair flying out behind her. They rode, the men a few steps behind her until they surrounded the Elves, who stopped, laying the wounded one on the ground. They did not reach for their weapons but stood wary as the horses pranced around them.

“Who are you and why have you come onto the lands of Lord Aidan.” Geillis asked as she leaned over the neck of her horse. The two elves looked at each other for a moment, then the one turned to her. He was very tall, and the setting sun behind him set his silvery blond hair on fire as she looked at him. His grey eyes were cool as he stared at her, noting how effortlessly she controlled the black stallion as it stood still waiting for her command. Her long hair was pulled back as was his, to hang behind her ears, and long arched brows rose in question as he bowed a little before her.

“I am Haldir, of Lothlorien. We were ambushed in the gully a few leagues back, my brother Rumil was wounded and we were outnumbered, so had to flee. We come to ask for aide.” He looked up at her as she stared at him, frowning.

“I did not think Elves allowed themselves to be caught unaware.”

Haldir’s expression became stony, his eyes glinting with suppressed anger. “Even elves cannot see what lies behind rock, and we don’t carry a hundred arrows.”

Geillis smiled at his discomfort. Haldir’s eyes narrowed as he looked up at her. Even though she sat on her horse and so looked down on him, she still felt the arrogance of that stare. “I am sorry, but times are difficult now. Come you must have Connor take your wounded and you can ride back to the keep with me.”

Haldir hesitated for a moment, then lifted Rumil to Connor, lying him gently over his lap. Then Haldir turned to Geillis.

“I thank you, may I ask to whom I speak?”

Geillis laughed, “ I am sorry, I am Geillis, my father is Lord Aidan who is off hunting a patrol of Orcs with half our men. Come,” she said reaching out her hand to Haldir. “If you were ambushed by Orcs then I am sure it is probably the same Orcs he was following. If so, then they will be back, and my father before them I hope.”

Haldir took her hand, leaping effortlessly on to the horse behind her. She turned the stallion and with a leap were galloping back to the keep. Geillis shivered as the elf grasped her hips, his fingers digging in lightly as he held on, and she flushed as a sudden warmth seeped through her from where he touched her. They flew into the keep and Haldir slid off the horse before they had even come to a stop. She reined and throwing her leg over the horse’s head, leaped off.

“Connor, get everyone out on the walls. Maire!” She called to a young woman who hurried out from the keep, “My basket! Connor, call me when you need me!”

Haldir gathered Rumil who still hung unconscious from his arms and she led them into the keep. They laid him gently on the wooden table, and Geillis gently felt the elf’s arm.

“His arm is broken, I can splint it, but I am sure you can heal that.” She reached for a small basket the girl Maire brought, sorting through a variety of phials and leather pouches. Pulling one from the basket she opened it and sprinkled a small amount into her hand. She showed it to Haldir, “This will help the bleeding on his side. Do you think the blade was poisoned?”

Haldir shook his head, as she sponged the blood away from Rumil’s side where the Orc had stabbed him, breaking his arm as he tried to block the thrust. “No, I put Rumil in a sleep until we could find time to heal him, I could not wait much longer. He will wake but will need some time to heal. I can repair the arm, and your herbs will help as well.” Haldir fingers gently pressed the arm into place as he spoke under his breath, and had healed the wound in his side when the door to the keep burst open.

“Orcs! I need you on the tower now! Geillis” Connor shouted as he ran back outside.

“Aye, I am there!” she called back, grabbing her bow. She motioned to Maire, “If he wakes keep the elf on the table if you have to tie him there!” as she hurried to a stone stair that ran along the outer wall of the keep. Haldir grinned at the girl who looked at Rumil in fright.

“Tie him to the table, he might like that.” Orophin laughed to Haldir as they hurried behind Geillis up the stairs. They reached the top and above them a trap door was fitted into the ceiling. Geillis pushed it open with a long pole, and grumbling turned to Haldir. “the children are always playing with the ladder so I took it away, you’ll have to give me a lift up.”

Haldir nodded, and placing a foot into his hands she was tossed up through the opening. Rolling with a grunt, she turned as the elves pulled themselves up through the opening with a cat like grace, their cloaks hardly moving with the effort.

“Damn elves look like a bunch of cats.” She said to herself as they grinned. Standing on the parapet of the tower, she pulled her bow from behind her. Ducking as an arrow whistled near her head, she aimed at the Orcs below. “That one has too good an aim.” She said as she loosed the arrow and it hit the Orc, sprawling him on his back as the elves followed suit. They shifted as the hoard of Orcs swarmed around the keep, the tower sitting center allowing them full view of all the walls.

Connor was in front below them and as she turned to follow the line of the walls, swore as suddenly a portion of the wall broke, and the Orcs behind it pushed their way through.

“The wall is breached!” she shouted, turning to Orophin. “Can you stay here?” she asked, looking toward Haldir, who translated in elvish. Orophin nodded and she hurried back to the trap door. She stopped and pulled off her quiver, handing it to Orophin. “You might need these.” She said as she leaped down through the opening.

Haldir followed her and they ran out of the keep toward where the Orcs had breeched the wall. Geillis pulled her sword from her back and Haldir stared at it for a moment in fascination as he pulled his own from it’s sheath. They reached the Orcs and with a snarl Geillis swung her sword, cleaving the Orc in front of her. They fought amid the howls and screams of the Orcs.. Haldir’s sword cut through the Orcs in a swath as she followed a step behind. She whirled as an Orc tried to stab her from behind, leaning away from his swing as he tried to cut off her head. The sword grazed her cheek as she fell back, landing hard on the ground behind her, and the Orc loomed over her as he snarled, bringing his scimitar down. She rolled just in time, as the sword smashed into the dirt. She leapt to her feet to see the Orc stagger back, dropping to his knees as an arrow protruded from his chest. Looking up at the tower she smiled as Orophin waved at her with a grin.

Brushing the welling blood off her cheek she looked around as the Orcs began to retreat. She sheathed her sword on her back, and knelt next to one of her men who lay on the ground. Closing his wide eyes, she bowed her head in sorrow as she knelt beside him. “too few, we had too few.”

Haldir watched as she knelt near each fallen man, checking for injuries, calling commands to those who followed her. Then she stood, and strode back into the keep.

Rumil was sitting on the bench, his face still gray, as a frightened Maire stood over him with a large heavy fry pan. Looking up as they entered the keep Rumil frowned.

“I fear the Orcs had better treatment than I here in this keep. This young child threatens to bash my head in if I so much as move a muscle.”

He said to Haldir in elvish as Haldir and Orophin grinned.

“Perhaps you would have liked it better if she had done as the lady told her and tie you to the table.” Orophin grinned as Rumil looked at the young girl appraisingly. Maire stared back, her face flushing suddenly and when Geillis approached the table, turned and fled.

Geillis frowned at Maire’s retreating back, staring at Rumil frankly, her dark brown eyes glittering. Rumil smiled weakly, as Orophin sat on the bench next to him.

She stepped back as Haldir stepped in front of her, “Your cut needs to be healed.” He said as he reached for her. She stepped back further, about to refuse when Orophin spoke to her, his voice flowing over the elvish words like the sighing of the wind.

“Orophin says you must let Haldir heal the wound, or it will scar.” Rumil translated, as he looked up at her from the bench, his face solemn, but his eyes were twinkling merrily. Geillis stared at him frowning, sure that there was more to what the elf had said.

Haldir stepped closer, his expression challenging her and his eyebrow arched in question, “Do you have the courage?” he murmured as she stared back up at him. His grey eyes glittered, and suddenly she knew he’d been aware of her reaction to him on the horse earlier. Geillis gritted her teeth, and nodded imperceptibly.

Haldir suppressed a grin, and he grasped her chin gently in one hand while laying his fingers of the other gently over her cheek. She stared into his eyes as he looked down at her, refusing to drop her gaze as he murmured in elvish. She felt a tingle sweep through her, then a flooding warmth, and she trembled slightly as he held her chin. His face was impassive except for his eyes as he looked at her, amusement glinting in them as they stared at one another. Then his eyes narrowed, hooding the expression, but she saw the flicker of passion before he hid it. She started as Connor strode up behind her and Haldir released her, his expression impassive once again.

“Geillis?” Connor asked, staring hard at Haldir as he stepped back.

“I am alright, Connor.” She said trying to ignore the flush of warmth that still permeated her body. She turned to Connor as he stood for a moment longer, his expression angry and distrustful as he and Haldir stared at each other.

“Connor?” Geillis asked, and he spun on his heel.

“Your father approaches.”

“You have made no friend there, my brother.” Orophin said as he stood. “Best you watch your back with that one,” as Haldir watched the two leave.

Geillis hurried to the wall, taking the steps to the top two at a time, trying to shake off the vision of the elf who had begun to haunt all her waking thoughts. She stopped as Connor grabbed her arm, spinning her to face him.

“Have you gone mad?” he said as he stared at her angrily. “Your father will not approve of this.”

“I will deal with my father when he gets here, Connor. You can not tell me how to behave.” She said wrenching her arm free of his grasp.

She looked over the wall, seeing her father and his men still a few leagues distant. She ran back down the steps and into the stable. Moments later as Haldir and his brothers stepped out from the keep she rode out of the stable, barely allowing the men enough time to open the gates before she was through.

Haldir stepped onto the wall, a few feet from Connor, who bristled with anger. He could see the man clench his teeth, biting back words.

“Why do you distrust me?” he asked as Connor turned toward him, his face flushed.

“Tis not only I, elf. And the Lady Geillis has forgotten herself to allow you so close. The Lord will make things right.”

Haldir chin rose of few inches as they stared at one another. His eyes were icy as he gripped his sword.

“We have done nothing to earn this distrust. Did we not aide you when the Orcs attacked?”

Connor’s lip curled with a sneer. “They would not have come except for you.”

Haldir eyes glinted dangerously, as Rumil and Orophin stepped in closer. “I do not think the Orcs waited in the gully for three elves to happen by, more likely it was your men for whom they waited.”

Connor could not deny the logic of this and he turned back to the wall. Geillis had reached her father and they now rode side by side.

“What have you done, daughter, that you need to ride to greet me.” Lord Aidan said as he looked at his daughter, noting the flushed face. “Do not tell me you and Connor have had words again.” He sighed, shaking his head.

“No, well, not in the way you think, Father.” Geillis said as she brushed back her hair, the breeze blowing the locks about her face.

Lord Aidan squinted at the keep, “It may be far yet, but it looks as if there are strangers who stand on our walls.”

“Aye, there are strangers, Father, I let them in, one was wounded and I felt we must aide them.” Geillis said, looking at her father from the corner of her eye.

“There is nothing wrong with that, if you felt they were harmless enough. I trust your judgment, Geillis. We are not so hard hearted that we would leave an injured man on the plain to die.” Lord Aidan looked back at Geillis, noting the color flush into face, and frowned, waiting.

Geillis sighed, “They are elves, father.”

Lord Aidan stared at her for a moment, a brief expression of utter sadness crossed his face, then he looked away. The silence became oppressive when he finally spoke. “You know how I feel about them.”

Geillis looked at her father imploringly. “I could not leave them there, they were ambushed by Orcs in the gully, and one was wounded.”

Lord Aidan sighed, “I suppose you could not. Elves will not seek aide from humans unless the circumstances are dire indeed.” He slowed his horse to a near stop, his men continued riding around them into the keep as they had neared the walls. He stared at Geillis, but his eyes looked faraway, in some distant memory. Shaking his head, he looked at her in sadness.

“You are so like your mother.”

Geillis’s face paled in fury, “I am not like her at all,” as Lord Aidan smiled.

“Yes you are the spitting image of her, but for your brown eyes, which I suppose you get from your real father.” Geillis shook her head in denial.

“I may look like her, but I am not her.” She spat as she attempted to urge the horse away.

Lord Aidan grabbed the horse’s bridal, forcing her to remain near him. “you are stubborn, and strong willed, exactly like she was. Will you follow in her footsteps and fall under the spell of the elves as well?” He cried hoarsely as he stared at her in anger.

Geillis stared at him defiantly, they had stopped a few feet from the wall, and the men above stared at them curiously. Lord Aidan took a deep breath, as Geillis reached out to him. “You are the only father I have known, and I love you as such. Do not compare me to my mother.”

Lord Aidan bowed his head, “I will not speak of it further. Let us go into the keep, that I may greet these guests you have invited into our lives.” He gathered the reins and with a gentle kick, urged the horse and they rode into the keep in silence.

Haldir stood waiting near the door of the keep, his brothers a step above him. He watched as the two rode in silence, seeing the anger both tried to conceal. Lord Aidan rode to the steps, then dismounted, handing the reins to another. He turned, flipping his cloak back over his shoulders, his hand resting on his sword in a wordless expression of distrust. He stared at Haldir in brief recognition as he reached out a hand in welcome, his expression impassive.

Haldir nodded in greeting, grasping the lord’s hand in a firm grip.

“I bear greetings from Lord Celeborn and the Lady of the Galadhrim.”

He said as Lord Aidan stepped up to the same level as he. They looked each other squarely, Haldir’s expression neutral, as he waited for Lord Aidan to speak.

“It is Haldir, is it not?” Lord Aidan said as he assessed Haldir. “it was many a year since you came here last, but a name I do not forget, or a stare as direct as yours.”

Haldir bowed, “Your memory serves you well, My Lord. I apologize if my gaze offends you.”

Lord Aidan smiled, “Nay, it only tells me you do not mince words. I can appreciate that in a man or elf. Come inside that we may speak more of your journey. My daughter tells me you were ambushed.”

They walked inside the keep and Lord Aidan settled into a chair near the fire with a welcome sigh. Grasping the tankard he was given, he eyed the girl as she hurried away, then turned back to Haldir, who sat in the chair opposite him. “I fear the Orcs who attacked you were probably waiting for me, but fate choose you instead. Geillis said one of you were injured?”

Haldir nodded, “my brother Rumil. We can heal most wounds, as you must know. But only if time permits. The Orcs were hard on our trail and I dared not take even the barest moment of time to stop. I knew your keep was not far and hoped that you would give us aide.”

Lord Aidan leaned back into his chair, rubbing his chin as he stared at Haldir. “And so Geillis has. The Orcs could not have been far behind.”

Again Haldir nodded, “they approached only a few moments after we had reached the keep.” He smiled in amusement. “the Lady Geillis is very proficient with her weapons.”

Lord Aidan frowned, “Aye, she has been taught well. I have no sons, she is all I have.” He coughed suddenly and turned away for a moment as Haldir looked at him curiously. “She has exceeded even my best warriors, which is unusual for a woman. But then she has never been like most women.”

Haldir and Lord Aidan both turned as the object of their conversation strode into the room, surrounded by several small children who clung to the ends of her tunic. She was laughing, and her face was flushed with color as she knelt, pulling one into her arms.

She stared at the child in mock severity as she waggled a finger under his nose. She spoke to him softly as he stood before her sniffling, and then the child laughed, hugging her and he ran from the room as the others followed.

Geillis rose, aware of the stares that followed her. She stood next to Lord Aidans chair, as he patted her hand. Connor strode in a moment later and Geillis watched Haldir as his eyes narrowed. There was bad blood there, Connor had better be watchful, for she had no doubt if things were to come to a head he would be the loser.

“The walls are secure, My Lord.” Connor said as Lord Aidan leaned forward.

“Have all the men stand ready Connor, if you’ve been attacked by the Orcs, I have a feeling they will be back. We saw no sight of them, so they must have retreated through the washes and gullies on the border.” He looked from Connor to the elf across from him, noting the tension that had sprung up as soon as they looked at each other. He was going to have to speak to Connor.

Haldir rose, “If you will excuse me My Lord, but we can be on our way.”

Lord Aidan sat back, shaking his head. “No, please, stay the night. It is not good to leave past dark. I would like to speak further on what you have seen on your travels.”

Haldir nodded, “As you wish, but my brothers and I will give you leave to sup, for you must be hungry. We do not need anything and will help stand watch. Call for me when you like.” He bowed to the Lord, and stepping around Connor who stared at him balefully, strode from the room.

“I do not like that elf.” Connor growled as soon as Haldir and his brothers had stepped outside. Geillis frowned as Lord Aidan looked at both.

“Like or distrust? Or both, Connor?” he asked. “it seems you two are of different opinion when it comes to these elves.” He sighed as the two stared at each other, bristling with dislike.

“I fear the elves have bewitched the lady Geillis, I told her they should not have been allowed inside.” Connor rasped as he stared at Geillis boldly.

Geillis snorted, “And we probably would be all dead, save for the elves aide when they attacked.”

Connor sneered, “We would not have been attacked were it not for the elves.”

Lord Aidan held up his hands. “Stop this you two, you are like brother and sister the way you fight. Connor, you know perfectly well, the Orcs had been lurking near for some days, it was only a matter of time before they attacked. And you, Geillis, how come you to have this mark upon your face, I noticed it when you rode to greet me.”

Geillis paled as she touched the area of her cut, only a dark pink area remained and even that had faded.

Connor face flushed, “the elf healed her, she was wounded by one of the Orcs.”

Lord Aidan sat up, his face become waxy in the firelight. “You let him touch you?”

Geillis’s chin rose in defiance once more, “It was only a small scratch, but they said it would scar, I did not think it cause any harm.”

“Geillis,” Lord Aidan covered his eyes with his hand as he leaned on the arm of the chair for support. He sat there for a moment, when he finally spoke it was as if they were not there. “She told me. She told me this would happen, but I did not believe her. What now must I believe.” He sighed sadly.

“Who told you, and of what?’ Geillis asked as she knelt next to his chair. “ My mother?”

Lord Aidan shook his head, waving off Connor who frowned as he left. “Nay, it was the seer.”

Geillis laughed crossly, “The seer! That charlatan?”

Lord Aidan sat up straight a furious look crossing his face, as Geillis shrank back. “She was my wife after your mother, and you will not say nay about her.” He snarled as he clutched the arm of the chair. Standing abruptly he turned to Geillis as she rose cautiously, for she had seen him in this temper before.

“I only say that she was not here long enough for her to know anything about us.” Geillis said as anger clouded his face.

“She may not have been with me long, but she held my heart. It is only because of her that I did not send you away.”

Geillis looked at him stricken with pain. “You would have sent me away?” she whispered as he turned away from her.

“Tell me of what he did to you.” Lord Aidan growled as she stared at his back.

“He only touched my cheek, that was all. It was but a moment.”

Lord Aidan looked at her over his shoulder, his brows furrowed over his eyes, hooding their expression. “You did not feel… anything else?”

Geillis gritted her teeth, attempting to put away the memory of the heat that had swept through her at his touch. She looked at Lord Aidan, and he closed his eyes turning away once more.

“You do not have to say anything, your eyes tell me what you will not. Like your mother you have begun.”

Geillis trembled with frustration, and clenching her fists, turned away striding out of the keep.

Haldir turned away from the wall when he heard the door of the keep slam open. Geillis ran quickly down the steps to stride angrily across the courtyard. Haldir nodded to his brothers and quickly ran down the steps, following Geillis as she slipped behind the stable. Orophin and Rumil turned toward each other.

“It is as he thought then, the Lady Geillis.” Rumil stated as he leaned on the rough stone of the wall.

Orophin turned, leaning back on the stones, crossing his arms over his chest.

“She has many abilities that most humans do not have. But our brother has not fully decided I think. His suspicions I think may be true. But how will we know for sure.” Orophin looked over to Rumil, a sudden grin creasing his face.

“Remember our last journey here, the young woman must have been only 10 in human years, but she stared at Haldir every moment we were here. A very disconcerting gaze for one so young.”

Rumil chuckled, “Aye, even then I think she was able to prick our brother’s cloak of indifference. In the few short years since I think he has thought of her often, wondering if she could possibly be related.”

Orophin rubbed his chin in thought, “Only Elrond will be able to say for sure, but how will we get them to meet?”

Rumil turned as a distant sound caught his attention, “I fear we may have to wait for that moment, the Orcs are returning.”

Haldir slipped into the shadows after Geillis as she stomped in fury to door of the stable. Yanking it open she entered, Haldir slipping in as the door began to close. He grinned at her display of temper, and leaned back against the door as she stepped up to her horse, laying her forehead against its nose as it whinnied to her.

“You do not seem to be happy with your father’s return.” He said as she jumped, turning startled.

“Do you always sneak up on people,” she gasped as she slid the knife she held back into it’s sheath at her side. Haldir smiled as he straightened, crossing the small room to stand near her. He turned toward the horse as it whickered to him, gently caressing its ears.

“Why are you so angry? Your father did not seem too upset with our being here. He is not, is he?” Haldir murmured as he watched her, his head tilted slightly.

Geillis looked away for once, not willing to admit to herself that all she did want was to look at him. Look at the shining silvery hair, and the directness of his gaze that sent wild emotions roaring through her the longer he was near. She took a deep breath, squeezing her eyes shut to block out the sight of his lips which could…. No! she could not think of this! She whirled, forcing back the emotions his nearness was creating within her.

“He is angry with me, not you.” She stopped, “I cannot explain to you why.”

Haldir smiled at the play of emotions that crossed her face, aware of his effect on her. He frowned as he looked down at her.

“I fear that perhaps we have brought up old painful memories?” he asked as her head jerked back to him in surprise.

“And what would you know of that?”

Haldir turned toward her, grasping her shoulders. “I am only guessing, Geillis. But you and Connor and now your father seem to have some distrust against us. I can only assume some misfortune has been brought on you by someone of my kind.”

Geillis turned her head away, unable to break the grip he had on her shoulders. “It is not for me to tell you, only know that it has hardened my father’s heart toward all elves.” Haldir gripped her chin, turning her to face him, noting the sadness in her eyes. He stared at her with compassion for a moment.

“I was here once before, many years ago, and you were but a child.” He smiled at the memory. “But a child with an iron will, I think, for she gazed at me with large brown eyes that reminded me of another.”

Geillis wrenched her chin from his grip, pulling away as he released her.

“I had never seen an elf before. You were … interesting … to look upon.” She said as she reached back to caress her horse.

“I…” she stopped as a loud commotion grew outside and she brushed past Haldir, throwing open the stable door. Torches had been lit and the air was growing dark as the sun sank behind the keep. Men were running for the walls, heavily armed. They ran from the stable and reached the steps to the keep when Lord Aidan strode outside.

“On the tower, Geillis, you’ll be safest there. The Orcs are returning.”

Geillis frowned as Haldir turned to his brothers who ran up to the steps.

“The Orcs are but a league back, we have only a few minutes.”

“How many?” Lord Aidan asked as he buckled his sword to his side.

Rumil looked to Haldir with a grimace, “It looks to be over a thousand, maybe more.” Orophin nodded, his face grim.

Lord Aidan groaned, “So many. It is not good. Geillis, to the tower, we have need of your skills.” He turned to Haldir. “I ask for your aide once again, your skills as bowman may yet save us.”

Haldir nodded as he motioned for his brothers to follow and once again they raced up into the keep.

Geillis had just reached the top of the stairs, and flipped open the door to the roof, when Haldir and his brothers caught up. She had no warning when Orophin grasped her waist, as Haldir brushed past her, leaping up and pulling himself through the opening. As soon as he was through Orophin lifted her up quickly, throwing into Haldir’s arms, and then he and Rumil both were up, pulling out their bows with graceful and unhurried movements. She caught her breath, as Haldir grinned, setting her on her feet.

“Do you do things like that on purpose?” she asked as she pulled her bow from her back.

“Nay, I only wanted to make sure I was the one up first, in case the Orcs were nearer than we thought. Last time you were near hit when you stood up through the door.”

Geillis frowned, “It was not even close.” As Haldir bent down to pick up several long clumps of black hair that lay next to her feet. She reached for her hair, feeling for the jagged ends that revealed how close indeed that arrow had come.

Orophin murmured something to Haldir and he turned away, giving Geillis a moment to stare at the three as they whispered. They were all very similar in height, Haldir being the most solidly built. Orophin was slightly thinner, and Rumil more so yet, his face from the side more angular than the other two. Their hair was all that same silvery blonde, and their cloaks and quivers all were the same.

Haldir’s sword peeked out from behind his cloak, the other two did carry one. She turned away as Haldir looked back at her, leaning over the edge of the tower wall to peer at the men swarming over the walls below.

The Orcs were nearing and she could see their filthy armor, hear their roars as they marched closer to their walls. To her surprise they halted below the walls, just out of bow range. One large Orc stepped forward, long greasy hair hung below his helmet as he brandished his sword.

“You surrender to Uruk-Hai!” the Orc roared in his guttural common tongue. “You give us elves, and we may let you live!” The other Orcs roared with laughter, clanging their swords on their shields.

Lord Aidan stepped to the edge of the walls below her.

“We do not surrender to the likes of you. The elves have gone.” He shouted as the Orcs roared in anger.

The Uruk shook his sword. “We watch, we see, no elves leave! We want revenge for the Orcs they kill, or you all die.”

Lord Aidan shook his fist, as the Orcs roared again, the smoke from the torches, fogging the air around him. “We will not give them up, and you will be the first to die!”

At that Rumil and Orophin both let loose their arrows, and although a human bow would not have reached them, the elven arrows did, finding their mark with ease. The Uruk screamed with rage and pain as he fell back against the others, and they swarmed over him toward the walls.

Geillis took a deep breath and pulled back her bow, squinting down the length of the arrow, to sight in the Orcs before they disappeared below the walls. It flew straight and true and another Orc lay flat on his back as the others trampled over him.

Haldir stood on her left, the motion of him pulling the arrows from his quiver to pulling back the bow only a mere second as they were loosed, the string reverberating only a moment before another arrow took it’s place. His eyes scanned the hoard below him, looking for an easy mark as he shot.

Glancing out of the corner of her eye to the right, she could see the same motions repeated by Rumil and Orophin, their bodies tense with controlled movements. Their graceful fingers gripping the bow as the arrow rested only seconds before being released.

Geillis turned around, surveying the length of the wall, concerned where they had breached it before. The men stood in concentration there, and seemed to be holding off the Orcs.

She loosed another volley of arrows when she gasped, as she could see the gates below her bulging with the weight of the Orcs as they pushed behind it. It was not going to hold. Their keep was not built to withstand a thousand hate filled Orcs, and their chances of survival were beginning to look slim.

In a groan of bulging wood, the door burst apart, splinters of wood flying in all directions as they broke through.

Lord Aidan cursed and called for his men. Geillis jumped back through the tower floor, as Haldir tried to reach her, but she had whirled to quickly, his attention had not been on her but the fighting below. Hearing him shout above her, in what she was sure was a heated curse, she ran quickly down the steps. She heard the trap door slam and knew the elves were just behind her. She ran out the keep, pulling her sword from her scabbard, to find Orcs swarming through the broken doors of the gate.

She whirled as an Orc stepped in front of her, trying to get past him but he stepped in her way, swung his sword over her head as she ducked. She sprang back as the Orc fell forward, an elven arrow lodged in his throat to see Orophin and Rumil on the steps of the keep, still grim of face. She turned back toward the gates and saw her father fighting in the midst of the hoard of Orcs pouring through the walls.

She could see Haldir, his blond hair standing out in the sea of Black faced Orcs, fighting his way as well, as he tried to get closer to the lord. She blocked a swing of another Orc as she tried to make her way forward, but the courtyard was becoming a wasteland of death, bodies lying everywhere and yet still the Orcs flowed into the keep.

She looked back over her shoulder, but the two elves were gone, and she was horrified to hear screams emanating from the keep. She rushed toward the stairs when she heard her father shout. It seemed like time slowed as she turned her head and she could see Lord Aidan fighting for his life. Haldir was a few feet away, and she could see he was struggling to get closer, the elven blade he wielded, leaving a path of dead Orcs behind him. But as one went down, another stood to take his place.

She looked on in horror as the Lord was impaled, the Orc burying his sword into Lord Aidan’s chest, yanking it back out with a savage growl. Lord Aidan dropped to his knees, his hands over his chest, bright red blood dripping through his fingers.

He fell to the ground as Haldir finally reached him, and she screamed as he lowered the man to the ground. She tried to run to them, but was forced to fight another orc, slashing at his throat with only half a mind as she whirled around him to get to Lord Aidan.

Haldir bent over the fallen man, checking quickly his wound, grim with the knowledge there would be nothing he could do. Lord Aidan coughed, then reached up to clutch Haldir’s tunic.

“You must flee, this is not your place. Take her with you, you must …”he coughed as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. “You must take her.” He sighed, his eyes glazing as Haldir pulled his fingers from his tunic. Looking up from where he knelt he could see Geillis trying to get closer. He stood as she rushed up, only to have Orophin grab her by the waist.

‘Noooo,” she cried as he pulled her away from the Lord. Haldir shouted at him in elvish, and they fanned back away from the gate, Orophin dragging Geillis as she struggled to free herself.

Haldir grabbed her by her arms, shaking her violently. “You must come with me, there is no chance here,” he snarled as she twisted in his grasp. “Even Connor has been slain!” he shouted as he motioned toward the steps of the keep when he lay.

Geillis struggled in the iron grip, kicking him as he held her. He cursed in elvish, flipping her around hard with her back to him, and placed his hands over her eyes, speaking elvish words quickly as she suddenly fell limp against him. He sighed and turning her, flipped her over his shoulder. They stepped into the shadows of the keep, and seemed to disappear from sight.

In the darkness of the shadows, Haldir pulled his bow form his shoulder, in order to carry Geillis more easily.

“We have to get out of the courtyard.” They stepped back further into the shadows as several Orcs stormed past them. Rumil nodded and pulled a length of rope from his hip. “ I’ll go on the wall over there, it’s in the shadows of the keep. If we hurry we may not be seen.” He ran quickly to the wall, and in moments had scaled the wall to the rampart on the top. Orophin followed him quickly up the rope and then turned as Haldir stood below. He pulled Geillis from his shoulder, and then with a great heave, tossed her into the air where Orophin caught her easily. Seconds later Haldir was on the wall and Rumil had dropped over the other side.

“It’s a good thing you put her to sleep,” Orophin grinned as Haldir bent over her. “But she will not be so easy to handle once she wakes.”

Haldir’s eyes glittered as he stared back over the carnage below, and when Orophin called from below, lifted Geillis once again and leaning over the wall, dropped her to Orophin.

He grunted a little when he caught her, “Good thing she is slim as well!” Rumil grinned.

“I would help you, but the healing of my arm may not make it strong enough as yet, I do not think you mind so much, dear brother.”

v Orophin stared at Rumil in mock horror, as Haldir landed silently beside him. “I dare not even think anything of the sort when the package has Haldir written all over it. I fear to step in those shoes.” Haldir looked at them in question and they shrugged their shoulders, but snickered as Haldir bent back over the girl.

“What is so funny at a time like this that you two whisper and laugh under your breath? He asked as they attempted to hide grins.

“Just thinking of how she’ll react when she wakes, brother.”

Rumil grinned as Haldir once again picked her up and they slipped along the edges of the shadow, pulling up the hoods to their elven cloaks, blending into the darkness. They ran silently, the noise and screams of the battle growing fainter as they fled. The sky lit up as fire raced through the keep and they hurried through the open plain below the keep, keeping to the shadows and lower areas of the plain.

Chapter 2 (TBC)