Chapter 21

My eyes remained heavily closed as my senses slowly returned to my body. I could feel my body rocking from side to side, from how my body was bent and the pressure in my lower stomach, I assumed I was slung over someone's shoulder. I could hear the footsteps of my captors and multiple people talking from around us but their voice were a blur to my ears.

I groaned as I was shifted suddenly and placed roughly on the floor.

"She's coming around" Someone said. "Go and fetch him"

I finally managed to open my groggy eyes and flinch with the bright light that assaulted them. I opened my eyes again blinked a few times in attempt to clear the blurriness from my vision.

"Well, well, well" A familiar voice sneered as a large hand grabbed my head and shook it harshly.

I snapped myself alert and went to smack the hand away only to discover that my hands were bound together with a dark brown rope wrapped tightly around my tanned wrists. I swallowed heavily and resisted the urge to be sick as my entire world rocked from side to side and my eyes struggled to find a fixed point to focus on.

…

Aragorn walked with Eówyn the next day as they journeyed on towards Helm's Deep. They had made brief small talk at the beginning of the walk before falling into a comfortable silence, each left to their own thoughts. Aragorn stared ahead as once again I dominated his mind, his brow creased gently with deep thought as he struggled to comprehend why I was at the forefront of his mind.

"Where is she?" Eówyn asked suddenly, he looked to her, "The woman that gave you that necklace?" She elaborated as he nodded towards the silver chain that hung from his neck.

"I don't know" He sighed sadly. "… She's lost; I can only hope she finds her way back"

"She must mean a lot to you" Eówyn sighed sadly as she looked down, frowning.

"She does" Aragorn smiled weakly, "But it is not reciprocated"

Both Eówyn and Aragorn looked up as there was some disturbance at the front of the convoy.

"A scout!" Legolas cried from the front of the column. Aragorn reacted immediately as he dashed towards his horse and mounted him before charging towards the front of the line.

…

I looked up from the binds and stared furiously at my captor but all anger left my eyes, flashing with shock as I realised where I was. Dark wood wagons and light brown tents were arranged in an organised mess. Women and men dressed in a pallet of neutral browns and greens, light chiton styled clothes hung from their tanned frames with dark leather belts and straps tied around their waists and arms.

I knew where I was… I just hoped that I was hallucinating.

…

The fight ended and Legolas looked around the battle field, even though he often portrayed that he and Gimli didn't get along, he was happy to see the dwarf a few paces away. Next he turned to look for Aragorn, but frowned deeply when the black haired male was no where to be seen.

"Aragorn!" He called loudly. Gimli heard the elf and looked for Aragorn too.

"Aragorn!" He shouted. The pair walked across the battle ground towards the cliff, Théoden joined them in their search. An Orc started laughing as they passed him, catching Legolas' attention. Legolas and Gimli approached him, Gimli held his axe threateningly towards the Orc.

"Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing" Gimli growled,

"He's… dead" The Orc rasped with a harsh laugh, "Took a little tumble off the cliff"

Théoden turned to the cliff and peered over the edge whilst Legolas bent down and grabbed the front of the Orcs shirt threateningly.

"You lie" The Elf leered.

The Orc merely chortled and died with a sadistic smile on his face. Legolas roughly released the Orc and went to stand, but a flash of silver caught his attention. He picked the chain up and a flurry of sadness washed over his being as he recognized the item. The pendent that he had seen Colette hide under her shirt, the one she had given to Aragorn rested in his palm, gleaming sadly in the sun light.

He quickly turned and went to join Théoden at the cliff, Gimli following him. The three peered over the edge seeing no sign of Aragorn, only the clear rapid driven water. Gamling ran up behind Théoden waiting for his orders.

"Get the wounded on horses" Théoden spoke, "The wolves of Isengard will return… Leave the dead"

Gamling nodded and went to relay the order.

Legolas turned to Théoden with a perplexed look of anger, glaring at the King for the orders he had given. Théoden sighed sadly before placing a comforting hand on Legolas' shoulder.

"Come" The King spoke soothingly before turning and leaving.

Legolas and Gimli stayed at the cliff edge looking in desperate hope at the river. Legolas looked down at the pendent one last time with worry etched on his perfect features, he wanted so much not to believe it.

…

"Colette" An aged voice spoke from in front of me. I looked up and glared at the sixty year old tanned man, his hair that was once dark brown was peppered with streaks of grey.

"Fleance" I growled. His face broke into a dangerous smile, creasing at the edges.

"I must say, of all the people I expected to see again in this world, you were the last" Fleance continued to look down his nose at me.

"Trust me I didn't want to meet you again either" I snapped. I looked over his looming figure and noticed the golden snake that twisted up his forearm.

"Where's my father?" I asked forcefully. Fleance merely laughed.

"He's here" He replied as he motioned towards the convoy, "Just about" He added with a devious glint in his eye.

"What have you done to him?" I demanded.

"Me?" Fleance laughed again, "I've done nothing… Trust me Colette, this is all your doing" My eyes widened slightly.

"The council is here" I recognised Fleance's brother Buion as he spoke to his brother, his face was less aged than Fleance's but small creases had begun to form around his bright yellow eyes, his hair was a thick dark brown which complemented his dark skin tone, over all Buion was taller and more muscular than his brother, but by his posture it was obvious he still viewed himself as inferior.

I licked my bottom lip nervously, the council consisted of the head of each family and every major decision was put to them. The only clause was that the head of the clan, Fleance, had the authority to dismiss any conclusion made and over-ride it with his own order; such action was only used in dire circumstances… But in my gut a fear rose that led me to believe Fleance was now running a dictatorship.

"Good" Fleance smirked, "Let's get down to business. Bring her" He ordered before turning and heading into the larger tent. I huffed as I was hauled from the floor and escorted into the tent.

My eyes scanned over the faces that stood there and they stood silently as they looked back at me, I recognised each of them, they looked older and they each had wrinkles and peppered hair. They had been my childhood friends, the generation that I had grown up with, yet as I was gifted with long life, my sixty years of age didn't show with grey hairs and wrinkled skin.

"Colette" The tall man I recognised as Carel spoke first, he had been a close friend to me, so close he was like a brother.

"Carel" I smiled weakly,

"As you can see" Fleance started as he sat down superciliously, "The exiled has returned" He smirked evilly, the word exile sent a chill straight through my heart and it seemed to silence everyone else. "And you all know what we do in this event"

I swallowed heavily.

"You would kill her?" Carel asked, "Without a trial you would kill her?"

"Of course he would" I spoke up, Fleance looked at me curiously, "I am the only person that threatens to take the Serpiente from his arm" My words, as true as they may be left an uneasy silence in the tent. "The blood that runs through my veins is the only rightful claim. He knows this… You all know this"

"You are rather intelligent" Fleance smirked as he stood up and walked over to me. He grabbed my jaw forcefully and twisted it to the side as he inspected me, "For a woman" he added before roughly letting go of my jaw.

"I see you started without me" an aged voice spoke from behind me, "again" the familiar voice continued.

I turned around and couldn't help but smile as I recognised the very old Franchette; she had played the part of a big sister to me when I was growing up, having no other female role model to speak of since my mother died long before I could form memories of her. She had also helped my father a great deal and before I ran away, she had been elected as his advisor.

"Well, I don't need your advice this time Franchette" Fleance sighed, "You see there is only one thing we do to people in a circumstance like this"

I was surprised when Franchette laughed quietly to herself,

"What?" Fleance snapped.

Franchette looked to me instead of answering Fleance and slowly everyone's gaze fell onto me again. I tilted my head to the side slightly in confusion, unsure of what she was trying to hint at me.

I looked into her aged honey eyes and my own eyes widened in shock at what she was trying to convey silently. She nodded to me reassuringly and I swallowed hard, turning to face Fleance again.

"I challenge you, Fleance de Troit, to Punto Muerto" I spoke fearlessly, ignoring the itch in my legs to bolt in the other direction.