Sorry for the wait!
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Jonas did not know what it was that had happened, but whatever it was must have been great. All around him he could hear the hushed voices of elves hurrying past the study he had been shut up in. And outside the door his elven guards argued in low tones.
Long ago had he given up trying to understand what they were saying. After all, what use was it to listen to a language he knew not? The room he was in was decorated with a brilliance that it almost hurt to look at. While he was used to the fine tapestry in his own hall, these were of a far finer make. The ones that had once hung in his house -while pieced together beautifully- still showed the flaws of the makers hands, unlike the ones that hung between the bookcased walls here. Not a single mistake, not a single nitch in the fabric could be found.
In a way it seemed to represent for him the difference between men and elves. As he stood in the center, his hands shoved deep in the pockets of his vest, he wondered how these creatures ever came to sit by the thrones of men.
Further more, he was forced to ask himself how creatures of such beauty could be the things of his father's stories. They seemed to more resemble the words of his mother. His beloved mother who he had long been encouraged to view as a bit of nitwit.
Not that he ever had. But Jonas could not deny that his father's flippancy towards his wife somewhat affected his thinking about women.
But the major problem presented to him currently was Jack. What was he to make of his older cousin? Caleb was easy enough to write off. After all, the boy's blood was mixed. That provided for all the oddities that may arise. But what of Jack? She was of his own blood!
Jonas found that he hadn't long to ponder, for the door swung open and Jonas found himself staring at the elf he had had the most contact with over the days. Elladan Peredhil stood before him, a bundle of clothing and a pack slung over his shoulder. Elladan had been the sole elf that Jonas had found a slight urge to trust.
"You'll need this." Frowning, Jonas took the clothing suspiciously, examining it. Just because he felt the urge to trust the elf didn't mean he did.
"This is clothing for a rouge or a warrior! I am neither!" Jonas cried out, testing the tough leather talbard in his fingers. He looked up worriedly at Elladan. The elf just stared at him, nodding slowly. "No. No! I know not what is happening, but I refuse to be a part of it!" Elladan simply smiled and reached out, placing a gentle hand on Jonas shoulder. Jonas wrenched himself away. "You can not force me to go!"
Elladan headed towards the door, pausing only for a moment before shutting the door and relocking it.
"Can't I?"
Then he was gone.
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Alex sat before the obelisk, chewing his meat slowly. Not for the first time did he sit and stare at the thing.
It was on his second visit that he had felt the soft press on his mind. But it was only after a view more visits that his curiosity allowed him to throw caution to the wind and open to it. He was surprised to find the melodic voice of a elven male drift through his mind, strong and kind.
Since that day he had visited more and more often, enjoying the strange conversations he experienced with the man. Most of all he enjoyed the tales of the Ages past. Today, like other days, he was eating his breakfast. It the only time of day he knew he would not be missed. And the elven voice spoke on, weaving his tale with an amount of talent that made it seem alive in his mind.
"You see, Alexander, he was tricked into becoming the thing that he was. A thing of evil." Alex's jaw ceased its mechanical chewing, eyes narrowing at the obelisk. For some reason the thing within had always insisted on speaking his full name – something that annoyed him greatly. Alexander was a great King. A great King, but a slightly mad one. And while Alex himself knew that he was truly a great man, he most certainly was not insane.
"I've told you not to call me that."
"Forgive me, it is my people's way to speak of those they respect using their full names."
"Stop trying to kiss up. You're not getting out of there even if I do like you." Alex growled, throwing his boar's leg at the black thing. The force field around it crackled and the boar's leg was no more.
"It is the truth, Alexander." The voice carried on humbly.
"And why do you respect me so? I am the servant of your enemy!" Alex growled and ran a hand through his blonde hair, an annoyed look gracing his angelic features.
"Because despite the seeds he has planted in you, you are still Alexander. And not a nameless servant as the Nazgul have become. Even though you have been in his presence - broken bread at his very table! ... Inside you still lays the pure man you once were." In an instance Alex was on his feat, eyes ablaze. The nerve of this thing!
"You lie!" He screamed, throwing his goblet at the obelisk. As before, it incinerated and burst apart.
"Do I?" The voice argued on, "Do I, Alexander? Then why do you enjoy my stories so? I can feel within you! You are not the black thing you make yourself out to be!"
"You don't understand what you're talking about!" He backed away from the obelisk, his fists curling so tightly his palms hurt. "You would never even think that if you truly knew me!"
"You are tainted, yes! But you are not evil! You are blinded, Alexander!" Turning on his heel Alex started for the window. "You know I speak is the truth! Alexander!"
Not bothering to answer, Alex leapt from the window, free falling. He grabbed onto a far jutting balcony and pulled himself up, grunting as he cracked his shoulders back.
Balanced on the balcony railing, he stood and stared out at Mordor. Below him the camps of his army spread out. He took a deep breath, tasting the pollution of the air. The doubt him was seemingly thrust away with the feel of it on his tongue.
This was his place.
This was his home.
He knows not of what he speaks.
"Fool."
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"Three days? Three days? What the hell can he be doing in there for three days!" For the forth time I tried to push past Erestor. Erestor pushed me back, an annoyed expression on his face as he braced himself in the smithy doorframe, determined to defend the entrance to his friend's space.
"Yes! Three days! He is forging a weapon, Jack! It takes but time!"
"But he's already been in there for two! He hasn't even left to bathe!" I raised my voice a notch. "Glorfindel, get your ass out here! I got direct orders for our butts to be gone!"
"Please, Jack!" Erestor held a hand across my mouth. "Metal crafting is a delicate art. He requires silence." Erestor tensed, expecting me to once again force myself through. "Lest he make a mistake and is forced to begin again."
I shut my mouth and crossed my arms.
"The second he leaves the room, you tell me." I turned on my heel and stormed off. Now was not the time to be playing smithy! Rinvil trotted to keep pace next to me.
"Perhaps it is for the best, Jack. Jonas won't even speak to us yet-" I groaned at the name. It had only been two days since Elladan had announced that Jonas was to be a member of our small group. The announcement that I would be traveling with the boy who all but had my father's face did little to lighten my already bad mood. On the bright side, I no longer needed to worry about what to do with the boy. "-and we've yet to find the last two members of our groups."
"If they even exist." I stopped walking and sighed, rubbing my forehead. Smiling softly, Rinvil reached out and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
"We will find them, Jack." I nodded as we began walking again. "Do you wish to go and spar with Joshua?" I nodded again. Perhaps a stress relief was what I needed. "You go and do that. I'll go and speak with Elladan, perhaps I can get something out of him or Caleb."
I snorted. "Good luck with that, friend."
"I'll need it." Rinvil answered rather grimly. With a short squeeze on the shoulder we both departed our separate ways.
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