The Brown Lands

[fernstrike]

B2MeM Prompt and Path: "We go, we go, we go to war, to hew the stone and break the door; for bole and bough are burning now, the furnace roars-- we go to war..." ~JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers. Green path.
Format: Drabble
Genre: Tragedy
Rating: PG
Warnings: Off-screen death
Characters: Oropher; Entwife
Pairings: None
Creator’s Notes (optional): I only recently learned about the tragedy of the Brown Lands. With that quote, this drabble begged to be written.
Summary: As the Last Alliance marches east through desolation, Oropher learns of what befell the Entwives.


The Brown Lands stretched ahead, ashen grey. The Enemy's work.

"Mark your water and rations carefully," called the King, marching Greenwood's elves on through it.

He paused briefly, touching a tiny brown patch on a blackened stump -

Sparks stung her as the inferno moved, a burning wall. A fawn trembled in her roots, hacking and coughing as life forsook it. She tried to coil herself around him, let him pass without having to touch the flames. The fire neared - she would not bow to it, to Him. The Entwife raised her strongest branches like a shield, and thought of Spring.

Comments

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Oooh I really liked this. You have painted a vivid image with few words.

[fernstrike]

Thank you very much! 100 words only was definitely a challenge :)

[engarian.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful. It was evocative and descriptive.

- Erulisse (one L)

[fernstrike]

Thank you so much <3

[shirebound]

Ohhhhh. *sniff*

[fernstrike]

Yeah :( breaks my heart, what happened to the Brown Lands.

[hhimring]

Oh, how very sad!
Even more so, considering that after this moment of empathy, Oropher, too, soon will die.
But strongly imagined.

[fernstrike]

That is too true! Mordor's cruelty is terribly indiscriminate, especially for those who feel deeply. War robs everything.

Thanks so much for reading <3

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Just heartrending.

[fernstrike]

It's really dreadful what happened to the Entwives. Thank you for reading <3

[zdenka]

I like this. It's beautiful and sad, and it reminds me of Legolas hearing the lament of the stones in Eregion.

[fernstrike]

Yes, there's definitely beauty and sorrow in listening to memory, in the knowledge that it cannot be changed for all its tragedy. I'm glad you made the connection with Legolas (which I hadn't event thought of!) - it seems a fitting echo of this moment with his grandfather.

Thanks for reading <3

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Just heartrending.

[starbrow.livejournal.com]

Oh! Such a vivid image, and such a brave Entwife. The poor fawn, I hope it escaped!

[fernstrike]

Thank you! She really had a lot of strength. The fires of Mordor are truly horrible - I think she did what she could to help the poor fawn.

[mithrial.livejournal.com]

How sad, but with a hope of spring.
Thrilling hearing it through Thranduil's connection.
King of all Woodland.
Well written. XXX

[fernstrike]

Indeed! A painful moment, but at least the Entwife still had that memory of spring to comfort her. It was in fact Oropher who touched the tree in this fic, but I have no doubt that his son would have had the same ability to hear the stories of growing things! :-)

Thanks so much for reading <3

[mithrial.livejournal.com]

So it was. I had Thranduil in my head as I was working on a picture of him at the time.
Who would you cast to play Oropher if he was in a film? I'm just starting out on playing with photoshop now I have the time. I'd love to do a manip of him - and later a drawing if I can.

[fernstrike]

Aha! I see :) I would love to see your picture eventually, if you share it.
Hmm I've never thought of a fancast for Oropher, honestly! I know a lot of people have said Jason Isaacs because of his portrayal of Lucius Malfoy, but he doesn't quite fit my image of Oropher. I'll have to get back to you on that one, I think ;)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

OH... that really gave me a shiver up my spine.

[fernstrike]

It was a truly tragic fate. Thanks so much for reading <3

[independence1776]

This is painful but beautiful.