Lothuialwen crossed her arms as she stood in front of Haldir, her entire posture radiating stubborn determination. “Forgive me, Lord Haldir, but I do not regret my actions.”
The Galadhrim sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Hiril, you are a good warrior and have a keen mind. Why must you be so stubborn?”
“Because if I wasn’t, my whole company could be dead.” She met his wearied gaze unflinchingly.
“Orders are still orders, Warden.” He sighed again.
“And foolish orders are foolish orders!”
“Return to the flet!” The leader of the small band of Wardens waved the others back. They had been patrolling the banks of the river when a small scouting band of yrch had attacked.
Several had been wounded, and one of the enemy had fled for reinforcements. Lothuialwen ignored the order, charging after the fleeing orc. The Warden shouted after her but she ignored him, nocking arrow after arrow and sending them after the twisted figure.
The orc finally fell, letting loose a bloodcurdling scream as he collapsed. She swore under her breath, scanning the bushes and trees for any sign of reinforcements.
Twigs rustled.
She scurried up a tree and crouched in the branches, and not a moment too soon. A dozen yrch charged from the bushes, saw their fallen soldier, and looked around in confusion before starting to move in the direction of her fellows.
She nocked another arrow and loosed it.
The leader fell, gurgling.
She loosed arrow after arrow into the band of foul figures, felling one after another.
By the time they identified where the attack had come from and began to move menacingly towards her tree, over half the yrch lay dead on the ground.
The other elves had arrived in the clearing by that time, and they quickly finished off the remaining yrch.
As the last one fell, she lept gracefully from the tree, returning her bow to her back. “They had reinforcements. We would have been outnumbered.”
Her commander glared at her. “Orders are orders, yet. And I will not tolerate insubordination. Lord Haldir will hear of this.”
“Let him.” She began to retrieve her arrows from the corpses of the yrch and heard a few of their company murmuring approval, though no others dared challenge the commander.
“You still put yourself in unnecessary danger. Falling back to a flet could have given your company an even greater advantage, and the enemy could have been dispatched quickly.”
“They could have also called for even greater reinforcements. We had no time to wait. Or to waste.”
“Lothluialwen, your stubbornness may keep you alive for now, but it could put you in greater danger. Neither you nor your mother needs that.” He gave her a stern look, and she quailed slightly. “You will be assigned to individual duty guarding the gardens from being trampled by the forest creatures for a season. Perhaps such an assignment will calm your temperament.”
She opened her mouth to argue but the expression in his grey eyes booked no argument. Her shoulders sagged. “Yes, Lord Haldir.”
At least it is only for a season. And at least Naneth will be happy I’m not in any danger, I suppose...
