Part Sixty-one
Alqua and Arë walked to the guesthouse carrying some baskets. Arë had a knife hidden in hers and positioned her arms so that she could easily draw it. They both paused to look at the hanging wash, noticing the many cloth diapers and the Mannish clothing in disrepair. They had been told there was an infant staying in the house, and as they had been told the guests were Orcs, they supposed it must be a baby Orc, though they had always imagined Orcs to eat babies.
Alqua raised a hand to rap upon the wooden door. She took a step back to wait with Arë.
Duma opened the door, and then seeing it was the female Elves, closed the door somewhat and hid himself, so that they only saw him peering from behind. He made a slight nod and then spoke a polite Elven greeting, or so he hoped; Duma was not yet skilled with the language.
The Elves did not say anything, but looked at Duma curiously, or at the one eye, ear and bit of hair they could see.
"Please excuse my poor greeting, I am not attired to meet guests," Duma said slowly.
"Have you no clothes but those on the line?" Arë asked.
Duma hesitated and then answered, "Not so much more that we all are fully dressed."
"Who is there?" Ugarit asked.
"Some Elf-Ladies," Duma answered, turning back into the house.
"We are not really titled," Alqua said. "I remember when we traveled here we packed lightly and had to do wash along the way."
Duma looked to the Elves again. "Is the wash offensive to you in some manner? We had some hung inside, but it created mustiness, and I recall once we dried clothes in a cave where we had a fire and everything smelled only of smoke...I would move it if it is offensive to Elves. It is true we could not get some of the stains out."
Ugarit came to the door draped in an Elven bed sheet, and snuffed the air. Alqua and Arë could see her better than they could Duma. Ugarit huffed then and spoke to him, "I expect you can find them attractive. I will not have you play with Elves in here. Go outside, and do not come to me asking for poisons!"
Duma blushed furiously and though the Elves did not understand Ugarit's speech, for her strong Goblin accent, they supposed it had been something improper. They had also never seen an Orc blush, and could not help from laughing.
"I am sorry," Duma said. "Were you sent on some business here? If not, perhaps you should leave. It will likely not be seen as proper, such lovely and unmarried Elves calling at my door. I am truly not the sort to enjoy spoiling, but Elves oft suspect Orcs of such things." Duma then looked past the two Elves to see if any others watched.
"How do you know we are unmarried?" Arë asked. "Do Elves not appear ageless to you? We might be ancient females come to sell our jewels to fund our journey west."
Alqua laughed at this idea.
Duma blinked and then looked again at the Alqua and Arë. "You are older than I, of course, as I am only nine, but you look young and you look unmarried."
"Nine?" Arë asked.
Alqua clutched Arë's arm as she looked to Duma's eyes. "Gods! He is Elven!"
"Halfelven," Duma corrected. "Did no one explain this? I have remained in the house except to hang the wash and visit the house behind, so I do not know what you have been told of us."
"How is it...that you are half Elf?" Alqua whispered.
"My father is an Elf...I know of no mother. I was not birthed as Elves would be, but if you do not understand the Wizardry by which some Orcs are made, then I should not be the one to explain, as it is very likely an inappropriate subject to discuss with young females."
"Do Orcs count by the same calendar as Elves?" Arë asked.
"My tutors have told me of the Elven Calendar. Orcs count by the moon and seasons to reckon a year. Why do you ask?"
Arë looked to Alqua and then thought a moment and as they were hesitating, Duma thought he smelled blood on them. Not Elf blood, but blood of an animal. He wondered what was in the baskets. "You seem large for nine."
"And..." Alqua made her voice a whisper. "Can Orcs have babies when they are so young? Are the others there older?"
"There is a baby with us. She is not kin to us, not directly, but one among us became her caretaker when Men killed her mother. Orcs grow quickly, but I think one of us should have to be two or three to have a child, or perhaps only one-and-a-half. I am actually not certain of the fact. I know that many Orcs are younger than me, but I am not sure of Dog's age. He lived in the Mines most of his life. He may be seven, or he might be older than I am. It is no concern to us if you know our ages, and I would ask, but he is gravely injured and I do not wish to disturb him."
"Do you mean that most here are young and those who fight in war are older?" Alqua asked.
"No," Duma said flatly, "So long as there have been Dark Lords to master them and wars against alliances of Elves and Men the newly-spawned have been commanded into battle with whips behind them and few Orcs live to see seasons change, unless they have the fortune to be designated a weapon maker or cook or some other worker that supports those sent to fight."
Arë and Alqua each took a small step back. "We knew Orcs were whipped into battle, but we never heard these other things. How can it be? A creature that has not seen even a season, sent to war? How can they even know why they must fight?"
Duma sighed, weary of these Elves and of his half-breed nature that seemed some days only to allow him to hate himself. "I do not think they called the one who nearly conquered all the land 'Dark' simply for the fact that his minions preferred to wear black. He did not breed his Orcs to think or wonder, only to be strong, to obey, and to fight. I can see the horror in creatures like that. Witless brutes who might eat the Mannish Captain sent to lead them, because they can conceive of no strategy, or even understand right from wrong to choose it...they know only to survive as long as they may. I can see how Elves must find them pitiful and absolutely repugnant abominations of their own near-perfect form."
The Elves just stood staring, with tears in their eyes.
"The Wizard's meddling has changed everything. He saw the error the Dark Lord had made. Some claim the Dark One saw the error himself and made his own attempts to breed some greater intelligence into his Orcs. And perhaps some if it was accident, as among Orcs dispersed to the wild only the most cunning and smart survived to breed. However it came to be, the Orcs have changed in recent history. Every new batch turned out by Lord or Wizard was smarter than those before, if Men and little Halflings had not brought about the defeat of such Masters to Orcs, then the Orcs would have, in time, brought down their Masters, as I am not the only Orc who can ponder my nature. I am not so special for being Elven, as Orcs were once, very long ago, entirely Elven. I am only possessed of paler skin, lighter feet and broader range of speech for being a half-breed. The Orcs have no Master now, and we are all going through a troublesome time, trying to think what we must do to survive in this world. Some are quite wicked, but some others, they do not really intend harm, it is just we have not all found another way to live yet. I have told those that I know of my opinions. I think that Orcs must learn to deal with the other races in some peaceful and advantageous manner, and forget some of our practices, which are most disturbing to others. I did not always think so, but I have had some weeks of training and education from wise people of various races and occupations, and for an Orc, a few months is a long time to be in training."
Arë and Alqua trembled slightly. Duma had come from behind the door, and though he was not dressed to go out, his body was covered, yet they hardly noticed this, as they had only looked into his eyes and heard his words and understood things which few Elves had understood before. They held forth their baskets. "We saw you..." Arë said, "We saw that you looked up to our house from the window when we tended to the bleeding carcasses. If it is not offensive to you, take it. Blood drained from the birds. We heard that Orcs drink blood, but please tell us if we have also been mistaken about that."
"There is nothing wrong with blood in my thinking," Duma said. "It is only another part of the animal. It the lives are taken fairly, the animal healthy, and the kill fresh, the blood is good. I would not kill only to take blood...or rather, not again."
"Take it," Alqua suggested. She lifted the cloth covering the basket's contents and brought forth jars from it. Arë did the same, removing the jars from her basket, rather than hand over the basket itself.
"In appreciation for sharing what you know with us," Arë said.
Ugarit came to the door again, smelling the blood they offered. She took several jars from Alqua, startling the Elf slightly. Ugarit bowed her head and stooped only slightly. "We Orcs do not need gifts from Elves to survive," Ugarit said slowly, wanting the Elves to understand her speech, "but as we are in lands you claim, we will take what you offer rather than begin war by hunting and foraging in an Elf wood to meet our needs. We can use this to nourish our injured Orc."
Alqua thought she understood the words Ugarit spoke. She made a slight bow to the Orc. "It is good of you to honor our claim rather than make raids here. You would not be here without our permission, so you are our guests. If you have needs, make them known to us. We must support our own people, of course, but if we have anything we might spare, guests are always welcome to it, such is the nature of hospitality."
Duma then noticed the knife Arë had tried to conceal in her basket. He smiled, baring fangs. "Smart Elves."
"Do tell us if you need anything."
"Thank you, but have no worry for us. As soon as we may bring our wash in, we will do well enough."
Alqua frowned and Arë kept her face as expressionless as possible. They both wondered if the Orcs would actually attend their feast and what they might wear. They excused themselves and then quickly went up to their own house.
Duma warmed some of the blood over their fire and then brought it to Dog. He and Ugarit both hoped that the blood would help Dog to regain some strength.
As for the two Elves, they were greatly moved and troubled by their meeting with Duma. They found Gwende and Lain working at their hearth-share and told them what they had learned. They asked if the others had ever heard such things and if they might be true. They said, of course, Elves must defend themselves if Orcs were to attack, but should they not pity Orcs for being bred and manipulated and spare them if they could, or if some Orcs were so far gone in darkness that they could not learn from mercy, what could Elves do, understanding that such creatures had barely a chance to live. They asked if the others believed Orcs were or might be changing in nature, and if they imagined there could ever be any peace between their races.
These all seemed serious questions to Lain and Gwende. Lain told the others that he knew that Dale must be Duma's father and that Dale was very brave and, though he had certainly killed many Orcs, Dale would probably want Elves to be as kind to Orcs as they could, without neglecting defense of Elven lives in the process.
Gwende was really not certain what to think. The issue was most confusing. She could not imagine sending newborn creatures into battle. Of course Orcs were terrible, as they had terrible and cruel upbringing. She was glad that the Dark Lord was defeated, of learning of these issues, she would want to march against him.
They had know the dark forces were evil, and had seen or heard trustworthy reports of many foul things, but not being foul creatures themselves, the Elves could not conceive of quite how dark their enemy had been. During the afternoon, Lain, Gwende, Arë and Alqua all went to other Elven hearth-shares and asked the Elves they found if they had understood how young and misused Orcs had always been.
Those Elves then went and shared their feelings with others and asked questions of them. Soon nearly all the Elves in the Silver Wood were sharing every account of cruelty committed by Orcs, and cruelty against Orcs that they knew. Soon after that, Elves began seeking the guesthouse where the Orcs stayed.
It was most novel for these Elves to encounter Orcs outside battle, hunts and raids, and many felt they had something to say, and that they would say their words to the ones in the house. The first came and brought some clothing to Duma, making a point that they had garments to spare and that giving these garments away was only hospitable and not something that should be considered pity or charity. It seemed these Elves had learned from Alqua that Ugarit seemed proud and unwilling to accept gifts. Duma had no problem with taking free clothing.
He had no sooner tried some clothing for fit when the next group of Elves came. These Elves were bitter and told Duma and Ugarit how kin of their has been murdered and mutilated by Orcs, and though they did not assume that their guests had been among the offending Orcs, they wished them to understand that some Elves would remain wary no matter how they were asked to pity the plight of Orcs, and maybe it was not so bad for Elves to end the lives of such miserable creatures as those offending Orcs.
Ugarit, speaking slowly but loudly as she held a sheet draped around her body, told these Orcs that she did not wish for their pity and that they could go be as vigilante as their red-blooded hearts desired, because her Chieftain was calling all his Clan together just north of their wood and if Elves did not give him reason to think they treated Orcs any less than other races and did not allow him to travel the road through their realm, then he might just mutilate a few Elves in cutting his way through.
Duma said he was sorry, but the Elves seemed not offended by Ugarit's verbal retaliation, as much as they understood it, and left peacefully.
Duma then began bringing in the wash while Ugarit took a turn at feeding Dog some blood when more Elves knocked at their door. They did not say anything, but only left a basket on the doorstep full of many items useful in caring for babies and a note that suggested that even Orcs should understand all young life was precious and accept these gifts on behalf of the young one who might have some chance to live in a time when there were no wars for Orcs to fight.
A short while later, when Ugarit was herself barely dressed and making inventory of the baby gifts, more Elves arrived, and before they had presented their opinion, another household of Elves arrived after them. A minute later, the Brother's Gib came to the door, found it open, entered and made a loud speech defending Duma, who had shared liquor with them upon the news of their brother's death and been the first Orc to give thanks to Dwarves for the use of the many fine things they crafted. They then showed off the diamond Duma had given them, which impressed the many Elves assembled, as they loved jewels.
The Elves had not realized Duma was a jeweler, and so the Elves inside, went outside again, to tell others that the Orc knew how to polish precious stones and craft jewelry.
The only Elves in the area who had not been distracted in some way from preparing for the feast were Dale, who calmly helped himself to half a roasting game hen as his housemates were distracted, and those Elves who had been sent to recover the bodies of their missing scouts.
Denelas led those who had recovered the bodies and they brought these back to the settlement as they had found them, but now shrouded in cloth and carried on a litter.
At the same time that the bodies were being carried to the House of Healing, Dog was waking within the guesthouse. He felt weak and uncomfortable and though he had hazy memory of someone tending wounds and being moved he was surprised to find himself indoors and surrounded by many loud unarmed Elves.
Elves, Dwarves and Orcs were involved in a heated philosophical discussion of the nature of racism, peace and war. Mori was first to see that Dog was awake. He approached the Orc and said, "You seem one of the Mine-dwellers, by chance do you wish to give thanks for the many fine Dwarven things you have made use of?"
Dog was terrified to find he was not only very weak, but naked and deprived of his weapons.
"Duma, your friend here is awake, but he does not look so good, even for an Orc!" Mori bellowed.
Just then, a voice called from without, "The search party has returned! Rosenrod and Gildenmund are dead!"
"Alas, I knew them well," Gwindor said sadly as he stood at the door to the House of Healing, looking out at the litter. Gwindor looked up then and saw that many Elves were crossing the road to come to the House of Healing and that those who were already gathered all looked to him.
Inside the guesthouse, Duma and Ugarit stood either side of Dog, and Duma said he would go after the Elves to see what may come to pass and the others should wait. At the door, he found the Brothers Gib, and they said they would stay and watch his house while he was gone.
Beryl and Caratathren had already gone, and Kato remained sitting near the fire, when he saw the younger Elves leave the Orcs alone to see those who had fallen.
Dale came down from the platforms above with Tsuki, and when they came to the chamber where Laurel and Fei rested, Dale asked Tsuki to remain behind. Tsuki wished to examine the bodies, but he knew this would offend the Elves and so he respected their ways.
It was not so often Elves died outside time of war. They were immortal, and many departed bodily to the isles in the west before they met violence of such heartache that they died. Accidental deaths were few, and most often, when Elves died of violence, it was at the hand of Orcs, or some other foul minion of the Dark Lord.
Two were slain. The bodies remained shrouded, but Denelas confirmed that those who had been dispatched and found missing were the same he had found. Those appointed to care for the bodies of the dead would allow kin to view them if they so wished, but Denelas would not unbind the corpses for others to see.
Their kin came mournfully to them. Rosenrod had two sisters surviving within the settlement and Gildenmund, who had come lately to the Silver Wood, had one cousin there.
The sisters of Rosenrod had already worried for him, knowing he was missing, and had become emotional in their debates over Orc nature, and now they wept openly as they came upon the litter placed before the House of Healing. The cousin of Gildenmund came to kneel beside the litter; he did not shed tears, but his expression was grave as he whispered prayers to the Gods, asking that Gildenmund be well received in the Blessed Realms and that some justice for this act be granted.
Many in the Silver Wood had known Rosenrod and though they may have been saddened if any Elf had died, they were also grieved for Rosenrod in particular. Loriol had been his lover for some brief time and came forward with the Greenrivers, whose house Rosenrod had dwelt in. "Denelas, if you know, tell us who has slain them," Loriol said softly.
Another Elf in the crowd called out, "Were Orcs responsible for these deaths?"
Denelas had not been in the settlement when the Elves had become suddenly concerned with Orc matters, but he had been there to greet their guests and he knew that the Orcs claimed not to have killed these Elves. He had also seen the bodies for himself and had the opportunity to speak at length with Gwindor and also, briefly, with Galadhiel, as she was recovering.
Denelas climbed the steps of the house so that those gathered might better see him. "Listen then," he said, "Our Lord has charged me with protecting Elven life and interest here, as such I carry the burden of certain knowledge which may not be available to many of you, and I have seen the wounds upon their bodies with my own eyes, and these others that traveled with me saw the same. I say to you now, we cannot be certain who has slain these Elves. And I say, for now, it does not matter. All that you Good-Elves need to know now, is that we shall dig a hollow in some place that these Elves loved and lay them there and make a cairn above. We shall sing them proper laments, as they died in service to our Wood. We shall feast, for not only do we honor these visiting Lords, but we must celebrate Rosenrod and Gildenmund who now dwell in Blessed Realms with those who have gone before them. Please, go back to your work."
Many Elves did leave then. Denelas called for those designated heads of each hearth-share, and those who had been Gwindor's companions to remain. Those other Elves who had not yet left saw Denelas and Gwindor would not speak to them, and so they then also returned to their work.
The three who were kin to the fallen remained also, and a few Elves who would tend the dead or who were posted within the House of Healing. Duma and Dale stood with Lenaduiniel nearby, and Beryl was elsewhere, closer to Gwindor. The others that remained gathered were each the head of some household.
Denelas spoke to them then. "There is large group of Orcs camped just north of the Wood."
The Elves who had not already known this acknowledged that the rumors they had heard were true.
"It does not seem the Orcs killed our scouts. I can offer no proof that they did not, but neither can I offer proof that Orcs were responsible. The wounds seem unlike those of Orcs as we know them and they seem similar in some ways to the wounds upon two who were Gwindor's companions. One of those was an Elf, and the other an Orc. Also, though I have found no personal inclination to believe what Orcs claim, I do take our Elf-Prince's observations quite seriously, and Gwindor tells me he has reason to believe that the Orcs fear something this side of the river, and it is not ourselves. This means, there is some chance that some foul or dangerous force is near to us, and may take Elves as quickly or easily as Orcs. I cannot prove this. I do not know it for fact, but even if there is suspicion of danger, and I believe there is, I must act to protect our people."
The head of the Greenriver hearth-share spoke, "What action can you take, if you cannot even name the enemy?"
Denelas sighed. "Please, you who are head of your houses and you also, Gwindor, and Beryl, and also Dale, I pray you counsel me. I know not what our Lord would decide. In his absence, I feel I must take some action, but I am wise enough to see that asking Elves to walk about armed when many are young and have never seen battle may only lead to some further tragedy if one become spooked by the other in the night."
"What does Duma say?" one of Rosenrod's sisters asked.
"I have said most all that I have to say to Elves already today. I can tell you that the drums we have all heard are Orc drums and that the beats send a message that claims the Orcs found the bodies of two Elf scouts with many arrow wounds, but no arrows in the bodies. They also now say that the Orcs will be prepared, should the Elves assume them the attackers; they are on guard now, against all foes. I know the Orcs believe something is here that will kill Orcs. I also can tell you that though Orcs are sometimes smart, they are not so cunning as Elves, if you take no offense. They would not have come upon the deceit of sending false messages to one another hoping for you to understand and be duped, though I just now considered the possibility. Also, I have been having a feeling of dread ever since I neared the other side of the river, and it has not left me."
"Maybe if there is something that attacks both Elves and Orcs it is Dwarves. Perhaps some foul Dwarves that made and sold weapons to the Dark Lord during the war, and now wish to begin battle between Elves and Orcs to their own benefit," one of the household leaders suggested.
"What evidence is there of Dwarves?" Gildenmund's cousin asked quietly.
"Were the bodies hewn or shot?" asked another.
"Please," cried Rosenrod's other sister. "They have not yet been laid to rest. Can this wait? I have no wish to envision such things!"
"Were you not at the house when we spoke of judging one race by the actions of a few?" another Elf said.
"You will all go about your business as usual," Gwindor said firmly. All who were near looked to him then. "Denelas has deferred to me, and so I tell you to do as I suggest. Do not panic or speculate. Continue your work and your leisure as you would any other day. Leave us who are charged with your protection to be vigilant and armed with weapons. Two Elves died today, and so we shall properly mourn our loss and celebrate their new life in Blessed Realms. We must also celebrate that we who are here still live, and if we all go about worrying, fearing and wondering in what form our death will come, we are not even Elves. Let us be Elves and worship with our joy and wonder of all that is. When our reason informs us that an enemy is upon us, then we shall strike, but not blindly, and not before."
"Surely our own Lord would be no less wise than his brother," Denelas said, "Let us all do as Gwindor suggests."
"Go now, and remind the others that you see that we are Elves and no matter our line or house we are noble creatures and shall not submit to fear, but live joyfully, for we do have much to be joyful for, and tragedies such as the loss of life serve to teach us how very good every other day is."
"That's not a bad way to go," said Dale, "If you live every day to its fullest, every day is a really nice day to die."
"The point is to live without dwelling on death, not to live every day as if you may die the next," Duma said flatly, "Your way, no one would do work, because they would never need to prepare for the future."
Dale huffed. "Either way we still make merry. I think I will go find Tsuki...unless you need anything of me?"
"No," Duma said, "I did all right on my own."
"You did," Dale admitted.
"You were very afraid they would not accept me."
"Yeah. I do not think they have accepted you as an Elf, but somehow, you made them accept you as an Orc, and I would never even have dreamed of such a thing. I expected them to be quite horrified."
"They were not only speaking of Duma today," Lenaduiniel said, "I think some of our young Elves mean to compose lays telling of your life and bravery."
"Then they do not really understand," Dale said sadly.
"Dale…"
Duma shook his head. "He must really think highly of Tsuki to believe that no other person in the world could ever forgive his past deeds, when considering the good he has done since."
"I did not mean it so," Dale whispered. It was just it had taken him a long while to allow that Tsuki could understand or forgive him. It seemed too easy, to believe that such foul things could be forgiven. Dale did not really feel he had been punished enough. Not enough to consider the torture punishment in advance. It should have taught him not to do the same to others.
"Be merry, Dale," Lenaduiniel said. She kissed his face then. "Our journey is almost at an end."
"And then we can go home."
Duma wondered what he would do, when the journey was ended. He supposed,
it depended greatly on the outcome.