Bard was taken captive. The dragon never came that day.
"Open this door! You hear me? Do you not know what is coming?!" Bard shouted for the fifth time. Or was it the sixth? How long had he been in there? His thoughts went out to his children and the upcoming danger he knew was coming. And he was trapped in here, helpless to help them. He felt frustration coming over him as he pounded on the bars of his cell once more, busting open his hands in the process but not feeling any pain.
Feeling momentarily defeated he sat against the wall and closed his eyes. He was tired all of a sudden, how many days had it been with barely any sleep?
It was then that he heard them. Multiple sets of heavy boots in the hallway. Coming towards him. As he stood up he was faced with six heavily armed men. Guards of the master.
The front one leered at him and sneered "Well, well, well.. the town's beloved Bard.. locked in here as a common criminal." The men behind him laughed as the guard went to open the door. Bard watched them from the other side of the cell wearily. "Why am I in here? I need to be out there, we all need to leave this place!" The guards entered, swords held ready. "No Bard, you're not going anywhere. The master has requested your presence - that's where you'll be going." Another guard told him with an unreadable expression on his face. Bard understood it wouldn't do him any good to resist as he was unarmed. He let two of them grab both of his arms and lead him out of cell. The others followed directly behind them.
He was led down the hall and down multiple sets of stairs. As they walked through another hallway Bard noticed no natural light entered from above, it was dark and it felt damp and chilly. Those were the last thoughts on his mind before he felt someone approaching rapidly behind him. A sharp pain to the back of his head and he felt himself sagging in the arms that held them. Then he knew knew nothing anymore as the word turned black around him.
Darkness. Cries in the distance. The dragon. His children. "Dad! Please, help us!" His Sigrid, laying motionless on the floor, blood trickling down her face, her eyes open, unseeing..
"No!" Bard awoke roughly, gasping for air. The vision of his dead daughter one that he couldn't unsee. Trying to shake off the images of his dream he went to put a hand to his face. Only then he noticed something was wrong. He was in pain. Opening his eyes he saw he was in a small room, dimly lit by torches on the walls around him. And he was standing in the middle of it. His hands tied above him to a ring in the ceiling the only reason he was upright. Feet just touching the ground. His head throbbing with an almost blinding pain and his shoulders feeling as if they were on fire. How long had he been like this?
"So you finally decide to honour us with your presence.. huh Bard?" A voice coming from behind him asked. He recognised it immediately. "Alfrid" Bard growled. "What is the meaning of this? Release me!" The slimy black haired men stepped into his view, chuckling under his breath. "Nah, what good would that do? This has been a long time coming".
Bard tried pulling his hands free but the binds that tied him were strong. His feet had been bound too, loosely but still tight enough to not being able to kick someone standing before him. He trashed around but only succeeded in turning a bit – giving him a view of a part of the room that he hadn't seen before. Behind Alfrid sat none other than the Master. He wasn't wearing his usual royal attire, no fur cape or jewels, except from a few heavy rings on his fingers. Arms folded across his chest, a cruel smile on his lips. Behind the Master was a table with a series of items on it, most unrecognisable to him – looking like tools. Some Bard did recognise; a whip and several knifes lay to the side.
Bard felt his blood run cold. He started struggling in earnest now against his bonds. Cursing as none of them gave. Blood started to run down his arms from the chaving. Panting, he spoke a single word "Why?"
"Come now Bard, surely you must understand?" the Master almost purred as he stood up and with long strides went to stand in front of him. "You forget your place Bard. You are speaking out when noone asks you too. You install fear in the minds of the villagers. And those poor people are willing to put their trust in you. While you know nothing!"
"Tell him Master, he needs to hear it once and for all! I've been telling him again and again how this town is not ruled by Master Bard. I've told him to mind his own bussiness several times. But does he ever listen? Oh no.. he does not." Alfrid had come forward as well, leaning in from behind his Master.
"What are you two talking ab… there is a dragon coming! We should warn the towns people, get them to get out as soon as they can. Who cares about who's in charge in times like these?" Bard shouted at the men.
He saw the fist coming but failed to pull out of reach in time. It impacted on his left cheek and snapped his head back. A second later another fist found it's way into his stomach. Momentarily dazed he tried catching his breath as he felt his head being pulled back by his hair. The Master was now leening into him and growled in his ear "You forget your place in this world Bard. You are nothing. And tonight you will know that you are nothing. I will break you into such tiny pieces that you won't ever again dream of leading anyone anywhere." He finished his sentance with another few cruel punches directed at Bard's stomach and sides. Leaving him winded before walking away and dissapearing behind him.
The Master was a big man. Stronger than his age made him look. Bard looked at Alfrid wearily. He was still standing before him, a smirk on his face. "And what is your role in this Alfrid? You always get to watch while your Master beats up men?"
"Ah no" The Masters voice came from directly behind him. "His job isn't to just watch. He gets to partake in what I'd like to call heavy duty. And then I will watch, as he breaks you."
He then came up behind Bard and Bard felt a sharp stinging on his back as he felt his shirt tear away. The Master was cutting away his shirt with a knife and as he did Bard felt him closing in. He reacted on instinct and threw his head back, feeling satisfied as he felt himself hitting something; a crunch, a yelp. Then the Master appeared in view again, holding his bleeding nose with his hands.
Alfrid ran to him and tried to offer his help as the Master angrily shook him off and stood straight again. Bard let out a low chuckle "Didn't hurt you too much there did I master..?" he asked sacastically.
Alfrid dissapeared briefly from view before returning with a knife. Without warning he came up at Bard and plunged the knife to the hilt deep in his tigh muscle, before twisting and pulling it out in a swift move. Bard put his head in his neck and screamed. Sagging forward slightly in his bonds he tried to stay focused and calm. His breathing came out shallow and fast, inwardly he cursed himself for screaming. As the horrors of reality began to sink in he felt the barricades in his mind go up. Stealing himself against what was to come. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction of screaming again, of letting the pain show.
As he stood upright again he looked into both faces staring at him. Both with their own crazed look upon them. The Master had blood still running out of his nose and down his chin. But he looked pleased. "Bard, Bard.. You will know all about hurt and pain very soon".
At a sign from the Master, Alfrid dissapeared behind his back, still holding the knife. Bard felt him cutting away the remains of his shirt, although Alfrid made sure to keep his distance. Too soon he felt the last of the fabrics being pulled away from his skin, leaving him bare chested standing between them.
The Master slowly walked to a chair which Bard hadn't noticed was there before. He felt Alfrid walking away and heard him picking something up from the table. He dreaded what was coming but stealed himself anyway.
The Master nodded at Alfrid behind him. Unmistakable the permission was given to begin. He heard a swoosh of air before his back was struck by white coldfire, crawling over his side before leaving abrubtly. Bard bit the inside of his lip and cheeck to stop from screaming out. He barely had time to recover when the second strike fell on his back. "I'm being whipped, oh god. Please give me the strength to endure this and get out of here" Bard prayed in silence. After strike 14 he stopped counting. Feeling dazed, eyes not quite focussing on the Master still seated before him. He barely registred Alfrid breathing roughly behind him, trying to strike him harder each time. Trying to coax a sound from him.
He still hadn't screamed.
Bard could feel his mind starting to drift. He barely felt the assault on his back anymore. Slowly his vision blurred, the noises Alfrid made as he began running out breath, the sound the whip made in the air and then as it came into contact with his flesh; It all dissapeared in the background as he felt his mind drift off.
"Dad! You're home again!" Bard was welcomed by his two daughters, laughing and throwing themselfs in his arms. "Ofcourse I'm home, I missed you – I can only stay away from you girls this long!" he looked up to see his only son standing behind his sisters. Patiently waiting for his dad to greet him. Bard let go of his girls to grab Bain and pull him into a hug. "I've missed you too, son".
His vision blurred again.
"Dad, no don't.. please, dad!" a boy sat cowering against a wall, a tall dark figure looming over him, fist raised and ready to strike.
He was harshly brought back to reality when cold water was thrown into his face.
Bard found himself hanging heavily from his wrists. Head hanging down, his back on fire. He could feel wetness trickling down his back and waist. He stood upright shakily as he tried to regain his posture. "Just let me go, it will all be for nothing soon anyway.." his voice a rough whisper.
"That won't be any of your concern anymore. Not after we've finished with you." The Master stood before him again. Slowly he started circling Bard. Then he could feel fingers touching him, stroking over the welts on his back, fingernails scraping and adding fire in places he thought he couldn't hurt any more. Bard's breathing hitched in his throat as he tried to not show any emotion.
"You've been stronger than I gave you credits for. You've kept silent so far. I wonder what it would take for us to make you scream, hmm?" The master once again went and stood before him. Now holding a knife in his right hand. Slowly he brought the knife down to Bard's chest and, almost lazily, let the tip of the knife draw a pattern in his chest. Bard closed his eyes as he felt the knife carve into his chest. When the knife went over his ribs he exhaled a shaky breath. Then the knife suddenly dropped to this toned stomach and there it swiftly cut a path from side to side, still shallow but deeper nevertheless.
It was all Bard could do to keep from crying out. He could taste blood in his mouth from where he's bitten his cheek in the effort of keeping quiet. When the knife dropped lower still, sinking the end ever so slightly into one of his hips, his breathing hitched and he unwillingly gasped out loud.
"Ah, so there you are. You can make a sound." The Master looked pleased again, having stopped the knife from going further in his path of destruction. "No, no Bard - don't you close your eyes now again. I want to have you awake for what I have planned."
Alfrid came into his vision holding a cup of water, letting it run down over his face and slapping Bard hard on the cheek to keep him awake. "You with us there Bardie? Now now, don't you look at me like that. You've brought this all upon yourself."
Bard could feel himself losing sense of time and reality. Blood running down his leg, his back, from the cuts on his chest and stomach. It was weakening him. Feeling dizzy he noticed he could no longer feel his hands anymore. Most of his weight now supported by them, his legs still working but bloodloss and shock started taking it's toll. His body swaying every now and then.
Alfrid still stood before him and it came as a suprise when suddenly he felt a knife from behind cutting away at his pants. He could feel cool air on his skin and fabric being pulled away, like his shirt earlier (how long ago? I don't know. How long have I been here?)
Then Alfrid put his own knife to Bard's skin once more. Starting on his chest before slowly circling towards his nipple. The blade grazed over his nipple, then circled round and came back; only deeper this time. Bard let out an involuntary moan. "Stop this, at once."
It then registred to him that the last parts of his pants were in the process of being cut off and he was standing naked in between them. At the same time Alfrid looked him in the eye and, holding eye contact, put his one hand holding the knife to Bards throat in an apparent threat. His other hand went to the inside of Bard's legs and rougly cupped him there. Bard tried pulling away, spitting at the other man. Then he brought his knee up sharply and was just able to knee the smaller man in the groin, making him groan and stumble back.
He was punched multiple times in the back, feeling wounds starting to bleed harder. Then a rope went over his head and tightened around his neck.
The Master came up beside him, holding the end of the rope in his hands. "Resisting is futile Bard. I want you to accept that this is your punishment."
He then pulled on the rope and Bard felt it constrict around his throat. He couldn't breathe.
All too soon his vision was blurring, his head feeling as if it would explode. When he started to sag completely in his bonds, on the verge of passing out, he felt the rope being released and he could breathe again. Drawing in rough breathes he felt himself being lowered slightly to the floor, putting more weight on his feet before they were being spread and tied securely to rings in the floor.
"Please. Do not do this." His voice a rough whisper, he didn't care to be pleading. Bard just wished for this to stop, to wake up in his bedroom, sounds of his children near him in the house, to find all of this a bad dream. He could handle a beating. Pain he could endure. He'd endured enough of it growing up without a mother – left alone with his father who drank too much and took his temper out on him. More often than not. He just didn't know how much more he could take. If he had strength to endure this.
He was no fool, he'd lain with men before, long ago. Before he met his wife and fell madly in love with her. He knew what they wanted of him. He let his head hang down, his long hair covering his face. Dizzy. Then hands on him. Scratching, hurting, groping hands. Sliding down his back, covering his bare buttocks with slick hands, wet with his own blood.
He tried to shy away from the touch only to find Alfrid pressing up him from the front. Digging his fingers in the wound in his thigh while tightening the rope violently again with his other hand. Bard involuntary let out a groan, trying to suck air into his starving lungs.
He could hear the Master panting behind him, the sound of fabrics being shed. Then he pressed himself flush against Bard. Nails dragging bloody trails once again down his back. Bard could feel the Master's cock pressing up against him. Terror flooding him. His vision now swimming, on the verge on losing consciousness. Welcoming the darkness as it edged on the outskirts of his vision.
The rope was released again. His body forcing him to take in deep breaths, bringing him back into reality.
It was then that the Master positioned himself against Bard's opening. With one harsh thrust he breeched the body of the younger man tied before him.
It was then that Bard finally screamed.
"By the Gods Bard, you are tight!" the Master panted behind him. His hand came up in his hair and pulled Bard's head back up against his shoulder. He pulled back until only the head of his cock was inside Bard, only to plunge directly back in. Pushing until he was fully inside in the broken body before him.
Bard was moaning uncontrollably, small cries of pain escaping his lips with every harsh thrust inside his body, not being able to stop the sounds coming from his mouth anymore. He vagualy registred Alfrid having opened his pants and stroking his own cock feverishly while watching the scene in front of him. Alfrid's nails pinching his already abused nipples.
The Master let his hair go and his head lolled back down. Hands on his hips now, fingers holding him in a bruising grip. Thrusts inside him only meant to hurt him. His whole body was on fire.
Bard could slowly feel himself drifting in and out of consciousness.
Chaos outside the room. A door opening. The sounds didn't register to Bard, the look of fear in Alfrid's eyes puzzling him. Alfrid then let out a shriek and his eyes glazed over as the tip of a sword made it's way out his chest.
His body was thrown to the side and Bard could see two figures entering the room. He could feel the Master being pulled from him, the sound of steel entering flesh. A body hitting the floor.
His vision swam and then he didn't know anything anymore as he succomed to the darkness.
"By the Eldar, Legolas, his children were right.." Tauriel stood before Bard, hanging from the ceiling.
"Yes, alas.. is he alive?" Legolas asked as he wiped the blood from his knifes, disgusted at the scene they'd just walked into. Men. They were all the same. Foul creatures. Easily temped by evil with promises of riches and triumph. Having fought off a couple of orcs at this man's house, the children had begged them to find their dad. They feared he was taken and would be killed by the towns chief. Legolas had been unwilling at first, before learning the man's name. Bard. A descendant from Girion, Lord of Dale. Legolas had known the city of Dale before the desolation of Smaug. In all it's glory and wealth it had sat upon the hill. Ruled by a fair man, a man that had fought for his people. To give them a life of prosperity and freedom. A man that Legolas had called a dear friend, if not more. Before all came crumbling down all those years ago in the fires that Smaug brought upon them.
"He's alive! Help me get him down!" He was pulled from his reveries by Tauriel, calling for his aid.
For the first time since setting foot in that chamber he looked at the man hanging so still before him. He hung from his wrists from a ring in the ceiling. His hands a blackish blue above the bonds. Legs tied apart on the floor, not bearing his weight. His head slumped forward, face obscured by dark thick hair. A rope dangling from his neck.
Naked.
Blood dripping down from a wound to the back of his head. His back whipped into a bleeding mess, welts all over it, some circling around his torso. Angry knife patterns on his chest and stomach. A deep wound to his thigh that was bleeding profusely. Bruises all over his torso and back.
On the back of his thighs were also streaks of red. Angry handshaped bruises on his hips.
Legolas cursed inwardly. What this man had gone through would be enough to send an elf to the halls of Mandos. He knew men were strong, not prone to give up after being violated like this. But still, he didn't know if they could save him.
He stood before him and removed the rope still tied around the mans throat. Eyeing the depth of the bruise beneath it wearily. "Cut his feet loose Tauriel, then hold him as I free his wrists" Legolas ordered in a soft but steady voice.
Together they untied him and gently lowered him on his side to the floor. Carefull to not put any pressure on the wounds of his back. He didn't wake up. The only signs of him being alive the barely excistent rise and fall of his chest and a tremor that every now and then went through his body. Legolas pushed strands of hair out of Bards face. His breathing hitched. He was beautiful. Even with the bruises on his face he could see the delicate, yet masculine features, the sun kissed skin framed by dark almost curly hair. He reminded him so much of Girion that he exhaled shakily.
"Tauriel, we cannot return him to his children like this. Find my horse. I will take him with me. You stay behind and take care of them, do you understand?"
"Yes mellon-nin, but where will you take him? He cannot ride far, if at all." Tauriel was watching him with an unreadable expression on her fair face.
"We will seek shelter in Dale".
