DISCLAIMER: I do not earn any money from writing this story as I do not own lotr. My only possessions are my 'oc's.

.oOo.

Chapter XIII

The Blood That Ties

The man who gives up freedom for a little peace

will in the end lose both.

~Benjamin Franklin

(pt. 1)

.oOo.

Darcy laughed as I spun her around, I grinned as I took my turn on the spin, and we were swept away again in a lopsided waltz.

"The General!" a man's panicked voice broke us apart, "The general of the Red Army is here!"

Before I could ask what was going on, more than a dozen soldiers rode into the square. They were clothed in black and crimson. Their horses were black as midnight. The wind blew just then and out flew a black flag from a pole one rider was holding. I looked closer and saw the pattern of an eye painted on the cloth with what looked like blood.

I gazed at their leader cautiously. His clothes were black and a red scarf hung at his neck. He looked to be a man in his late forties. He had grey streaks in his neatly kept black hair and an almost clean shaven face which was darkened with years under the sun's rays. And his eyes . . . were black as the dark side of the moon. I could distinguish no pupil and the void of it contrasted greatly with the whites of his eyes.

"The Eastern Guard." came Darcy's frightened whisper as she subconsciously moved behind me.

I narrowed my eyes at the leader of the troupe as he coolly called out into the crowd, "Where is the Master of this town? Kelvin, show yourself!"

Kelvin left Cardia and stepped forward unwavering, "Here, my lord." He bowed as the leader walked his horse over to him.

"I assume you are aware of a group of mercenaries that traveled through here recently?" he said authoritatively.

Kelvin nodded and I wondered why a few mercenaries would be so important.

"Well it should intrigue you that one of those mercenaries was my son." his grip on the reigns tightened and lowering his voice he continued, "It would be in your best interests to tell me where he went. I want to know what occurred here, and I will find out one way or another."

Kelvin spoke with ease, "I am sorry my lord. Your son and his comrades entered the Forest three weeks ago. They did not return."

"The Forest you say." the leader thought aloud, "And what might drive them in there?"

A man from the crowd spoke up, "My lord if I may. I heard them speaking of the Derali and they decided to go catch one."

The General glared at the ground, "Fools." he looked to the rest of the people, "If there is any other information that you are withholding, speak now or you shall fear my wrath tomorrow."

Stifling silence followed after the General's words. Everyone seemed to back up Kelvin who did not make a move to speak.

The General narrowed his eyes before turning back to the man who had spoken before, "Did you happen to hear anything else?" He reached into a pocket in his saddle and pulled out a coin purse which her threw onto the ground in front of the man.

The man stayed rigid and did not move. The General chuckled, "I'll leave you to think about it."

His horse shifted a bit when he turned back to Kelvin, "I trust you won't mind if my men spend the night wherever they wish?"

I could see Kelvin grind his teeth, "No, I have no objections."

'What?' I thought, 'How could he just let him do that?!'

The General continued with an infuriating smile, "I will be working in your offices as well and the hospitality of your home would be quite refreshing as well."

"You are welcome wherever you wish to go." Kelvin silently sighed.

"Good." the General smiled then ordered his men to dismount and they dispersed into the crowd.

He dismounted and handed his horse over to one of his soldiers who took it away. He then addressed the people in the square, "Please, continue your merriment!" and the musicians started up playing again.

Kelvin dismissed himself and took Cardia back in the direction of the house. Darcy followed after me as I marched after Kelvin.

I caught up to him and Cardia when we arrived outside the house, "Why did you let him do that? He walked all over you and you just stood there and took it!"

Kelvin turned around at me furiously, "I did not have a choice! Asking for permission is only a formality! There was nothing I could do. He has a troop with weapons and armor; we have only our working clothes and our gardening tools! Do you expect me to lead my people into a massacre?"

I took a mental step back, "No. I suppose not."

He continued, "I will take a chance to ensure your safety, but I will not risk the safety and peace of my people just because some soldiers want bedding for the night."

I sighed as he and Cardia walked inside the house. Darcy put a hand on my shoulder, "I don't like it either, Elanor, but it's a necessary evil."

I clenched my fist, "A wise man once said that the man who gives up freedom for a little peace will in the end lose both. I'm not going to let him do this."

Walking into the house I opened my mouth, "Kelvin, you cannot live like this and expect to prosper!"

He turned on me, "I have no choice."

"Yes, you do!" I fought back.

"Am I interrupting something?" we both turned to see the General standing in the doorway.

Kelvin recovered with a warning look at me, "No, lord Azazel. The conversation was just ending."

Azazel nodded and closed the front door behind him with a smile, "Come now, Kelvin. We are alone now. Let us talk in kindess like we used to."

"That was a long time ago, Azazel. Things have changed."

"You are right as always, older brother, I don't remember you having two daughters. You must have gotten busy after your accident."

I could tell Kelvin was stressed as he spoke, "This is Elanor, a friend of my family and of my daughter."

Azazel nodded slowly at me, "How old are you, girl?"

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Eighteen."

"And without a husband?" he scoffed, "What a waist."

I ground my teeth, "I believe that is for me to decide."

"Defiant aren't we?" he said.

Cardia spoke up for me then as she brought over some tea, "She is not from around here, my lord."

"And where is she from?"

"The south east." I said before anyone could speak for me again.

He nodded in thought as if he had silently confirmed something, "That is Derali country." he tilted his head at me and said to himself, "Why would you live there?"

Kelvin spoke up again then, "Darcy, take Elanor up to the loft. The General and I have some things to discuss."

Darcy nodded and took my arm but I moved away from her and sprang up the ladder before she could say anything about it.

That night I lay awake listening to the tense conversation between Kelvin and the General.

"Why did you come here?" Kelvin asked.

"I have already told you." said Azazel, "To find my son and if he is dead, punish the one who gave the final blow."

"And what makes you think that I would know anything about it?"

"Because," a pause of silence began until Azazel spoke, "you owe me a favor."

"A favor for what? Getting me discharged from the army?"

"You're lucky I got you discharged. If I hadn't had mercy, you would have been imprisoned or even executed."

"You were always jealous of my position in the army, little brother. I wouldn't be surprised if you had set up the entire event."

My eyes widened as the sound of a drawn sword rang out in the house. "You know nothing of what a hell it was like to live in your shadow!" Azazel shouted then drew back after a moment, "But the past is in the past, and I am willing to leave it there."

"I was willing fifteen years ago, but that changed when you came here." Kelvin said, "I know now that we will never forget the past and I will never forget the scars that it left. Find your son, then leave my town and take that army with you."

"Very well, but we will see each other again, Kelvin. When that time comes, you had better hope that arm has healed its scars. You're going to need it to fight."

.oOo.

The next morning I got up in the twilight hours before sunrise and walked outside to start my practice. I did my stretches first and then strung up a bale of hay, beginning to punch and kick it.

Over the past few weeks I had become almost as strong as I had been when I was on earth. Though, everything I did here felt a whole lot easier than it did back home. I was able to do several consecutive front flips late in the first week of starting back my gymnastics when it would have taken me at least another two weeks to master the skill again. Even running and jumping were easier than they had ever been. I shrugged it off and continued my exercises.

"You have good form."

I turned startled at the voice and saw Azazel leaning against a fence post, "Who taught you? I have never seen fighting tactics as such." he asked.

"Elanor!" Darcy called out as she jumped out from the front door of the house then suddenly stopped short when she saw the General. "Breakfast is ready." she quietly said before hurrying back inside.

There was a silence before I spoke.

"My brother taught me." I reluctantly replied to Azazel's question.

"Really." he said to himself, "What is his name?"

I walked past him, "You have not heard of him."

I almost got to the front door when his voice reached my ears again, "You intrigue me, Eleanor." I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart sunk into my stomach. He was speaking English.

I turned back to him; he was standing a bit away with a look of victory in his old eyes, "Come now. You surely didn't think that I wouldn't notice your western accent."

Me having an accent hadn't crossed my mind at all. 'This is not good at all.' I thought in shock.

I kept speaking in Braric, "I do not know what you mean."

He continued in English, "Eleanor is an Elvish name. It is strange that an Easterling would be called by it. Unless," he switched to Braric with a hardened tone, "you are a part of the Derali."

"No, I am not a part of them." I returned the hard stare, "I am the last person they would call a friend." I felt like he noticed that what I said was not a lie nor the truth, but he did not say anything about it.

I turned and entered the house noticing that he watched me very intently as I did so. I quickly shut the door behind me and ate breakfast with Darcy.

Kelvin and Cardia were already about their business by the time we finished. So, I followed Darcy outside where the general was nowhere to be seen. We gathered up our herbs and went to town where things went pretty normal except for the soldiers who seemed to be everywhere.

Deciding to take advantage of my new subject, I sat down on a crate and began drawing them. They were all very pale and had scarlet scarves wrapped around the lower halves of their faces. Their swords were curved and reminded me of a pirate's saber.

Soon after I finished my sketches Darcy had finished up the day and called me to help her pack up. I did so and we were soon on our way back to the house.

Once everything was put in it's rightful place I took Darcy on our daily run. It seemed like she enjoyed them very much; especially when I didn't push her to go faster constantly, but overall she was a good sport about it.

I led us up by the Forest again today and looked longingly into the trees. Oh what I would give to see Silvius again. Besides him there was only Azazel that could speak my language, and I can't let the general of Sauron's army figure out who I am or what I know. Not ever.

We arrived back at the house in record time. Darcy was panting and I was breathing a little heavy but not much. Another odd thing I suppose.

The sun was starting to set so we hurried inside to help Cardia with supper only to be met with the blade of a sword at our necks.

Kelvin and Cardia were standing by the fireplace and one of the soldiers from town was holding the blade.

Azazel was sitting relaxed in a chair by the table, "Darcy, you may join your parents."

She happily complied and rushed over to her mother who hugged her tightly.

The general turned his head to me, "My guard here tells me that you saw my son being killed."

I straightened up and tried to muster my courage, which was very little, concerning that death was only a few centimeters away.

"Killed by a Derali." he continued, "You're probably wondering how I know this." Standing he started to pace the room, "Well, my soldiers... persuaded a man in town to tell what happened to the mercenaries. He said that you were a Derali sympathizer and helped them kill my son and his companions."

"That is a lie." I said without reproach.

He shrugged, "Whether 'tis a lie or not, you still know what happened to my son that night. If you wish to keep your life," the sword was drawn closer to my neck, "you had better start speaking."

'What am I going to do?' I thought, 'Silvius was acting in self defense! I don't even know if the one he killed was Azazel's son! I cannot condemn him to being hunted down and yet I cannot condemn Azazel for wanting to avenge his son.' I closed my eyes, 'I would say that I have nothing to live for but that wouldn't be true. Mom and dad are still alive. I know it! But I can't let the Avari suffer from my selfishness.'

I looked at Azazel in determination, "I will tell you nothing."

He tilted his head at me in silence, "Very well." He waved his hand and the sword was taken away and sheathed. "I do not need you to tell me where the Derali are. That Forest has stood there for far too long." he walked to the door and opened it, "I will find the one who killed my son, even if I have to burn that whole forest to the ground. And you, Kelvin, will not interfere this time."

He went out, the guard close behind, and they shut and bolted the door. I walked over to the window and saw that guards had been set around the house.

Turning back I saw Kelvin sink into a chair putting his graying head into his hands. Cardia laid her hands on his shoulders before turning to Darcy, "There is some bread left over in the pantry. Take it and go to bed."

Darcy nodded, "Yes, mother"

I followed Darcy up the ladder and refused the bread she tried to get me to eat. Laying down on my cot, facing the wall and thinking about the events of the day, I stayed up well past when all the candles were put out.

'They are going to burn the forest down.' I thought numbly. 'No. They won't.' I glared at the wall in determination, 'I won't let them.'