Disclaimer: See chapter one
I apologize on behalf of Lord Elrond, Lord Glorfindel, Lord Estel, and Lord Erestor of Imladris, as well as Prince Legolas and Captian Elcuivie of Mirkwood, for any mistakes found in this work.
He shifted slightly, readjusting his weight on the floor. With every breath, his eyes flicked to the other side of the room, always scanning, never pausing.
She gave a soft whimper as she awoke, and he turned to her, a small smile on his face at the expression of hers.
"The," He whispered, shaking her gently. "The." His smile grew larger at pout that crossed her face. "The, come on The, it's time to get up."
"Go 'way." She said in a groggy voice and he shook her a bit harder.
It was the sound of footsteps that brought them back to reality. His smile couldn't have vanished quicker. She couldn't have awoken quicker. He backed himself a corner, her behind him.
And the light came steadily closer. It blinded both of them and their eyes grew to slits. And it came closer. He took another step backward, pushing her into a rock but she didn't say a word, didn't make a sound. And the light came closer. And then it was upon them.
It was too bright. Their faces were turned away from the pain and their eyes were squeezed shut but it gave little relief.
The key was slid in the door. The lock was opened. A clang sounded through the silence. It rung out and before its echoes died, another one tolled. Someone laughed.
"There we go. A chaperone for the kiddies." The footsteps receded, and so did the light.
"Hello?" The voice wasn't scared or nervous as he had half expected it to be. It was calm, in control. He didn't answer. "I know you're there." Though there was no menace in the tone, both shrunk back more.
He thought over his options. The person knew they were there, or perhaps only knew that he was there. He assumed that the person had known they were there because of the light and maybe they hadn't seen her. He could answer, or he could stay silent. His breath came quicker than usual, and he felt her place a reassuring hand his shoulder and nudge him forward. She wanted him to speak.
"He-hello. My- my name is Ivan, and this is my sis-sister, Thea." Thea snuck out from behind him stand next to her brother. Though it was dark, Ivan knew for sure that this other person here was smiling.
"It's nice to meet you. My name is Rubah Foxson."
Two weeks later…
'Ro's breath was hot. He had never described it like that before, but if it had ever been, it was now. He stood in the courtyard of one of the three places he said that he would never see again.
He steeled himself. This was his only chance. Besides, they needed to know about Erestor. Scanning the busy area, he found the nearest guard and approached him. 'Ro tapped him on the shoulder and watched the ellon of Imladris turn. The elf's face changed from a helpful smile to a surprised and perplexed expression at the hood he wore.
"Take me to your lord." 'Ro commanded, power in his tone and his Silvan accent only a bit shakier than usual. The guard's face was simply bewildered, and he stared at 'Ro like he was a puzzle that he could not solve. He did not move an inch. "Take me to your lord." He hissed in a sharper voice. The guard shook himself and began to lead the way.
The reason that 'Ro had said 'your lord' and had not named them, was honestly because he didn't know who was in charge. Erestor wasn't there and his father was… dead. The guard would know that and lead him, hopefully, to whoever was filling in for Erestor at the moment. Perhaps one of the other advisors… maybe Glorfindel? He mused as they walked.
To his surprise- which he hid quite well though it was unneeded because of the hood- the guard brought him to his father's study.
"Hir-nin? Hir-nin, I'm sorry to disturb you, but someone requested to speak to you."
"Come in." 'Ro recognized the voice from the other side of the door to be Glorfindel's- which made sense, as Erestor was gone; though he still couldn't see why either would be using his father's study.
The guard pushed up the door and motioned him inside, shutting it behind him and leaving 'Ro alone with the other elves in the room, for Glorfindel was not alone. Estel and Legolas were also there, as was Elcuivië, who 'Ro remembered from his visits to Mirkwood.
He turned his gaze to the last elf in the room, who he did not know immediately as he faced the window. The only features he could distinguish were the long raven hair and his pale skin. That is until he turned and 'Ro's heart stopped. He stopped thinking. He stopped breathing.
It was his father.
For a moment, the two parties only stared at each other. The other four elves and one human in the room were waiting for the hooded elf to speak, but 'Ro couldn't form coherent thoughts, much less words!
Soon, though, logic-that Rubah had told him to use in place of emotions in environments that ran with it- came to his mind. A simple fact was clear to 'Ro. Even if his father was alive, Elladan was still dead and it was still his fault. He still could not come home, even if the allure to do so know was stronger than ever.
He placed his left hand on his chest in the traditional Elvish bow.
"Lord Elrond. Lord Glorfindel. Lord Estel. Prince Legolas. Captain Elcuivië." He said, the accent slipping off his tongue as if it were natural.
Legolas' mind jumped. He knew that he had heard that voice from somewhere before, he just had no idea where. He thought of every person he could think of, but no voice matched the one of the person in front of them
"Mae Govannen, hooded stranger. What brings you here?" Elrond finally asked, but he received no answer.
'Ro approached the table that they all stood around- save his father- and glanced down at the map. Several places were circled, and many more had been marked and then x'ed out. He began to drum his fingers upon the table, each of the other people in the room never letting their eyes leave his form.
"You search for Lord Erestor, your chief advisor; do you not?" 'Ro stopped tapping his fingers and addressed only his father, trying to pretend that the other people weren't there. It would make it easier.
At his words, each elf and the man all tensed- except 'Ro, who tried to seem as in control and calm as could be; while on the inside, he was screaming from being so close to his friends- his family- under a different name and a disguise.
"Yes." Elrond replied warily, "Why does this concern you?" He had been tempted to ask how the anonymous elf- whose race the lord only knew from his accent- knew that Erestor was missing, but it was common knowledge. If he wasn't from Imladris- which Elrond was pretty sure he wasn't, from his Silvan emphasis and the fact that he used a hood to cover his face- then he would learn soon, as it was the main subject of gossip in the Elvish city.
"I know where he is." 'Ro stated in a matter of fact tone.
"What?" Glorfindel breathed.
"Where?" Elrond asked and 'Ro walked to the map, taking the quill in his long-fingered hand and circled a small, grassland area not far from Imladris.
"He is here." He announced as he set the sharped feather back in the ink.
"Why is there?" Glorfindel asked.
"He was taken, by the Pencuri Orang." He answered but sighed when he saw the looks he was getting. "You really need to get out more." He murmured to himself. "The Pencuri Orang are a culture." He explained, pacing around the room as he spoke, "They are small and mostly unnoticed by the rest of Middle-Earth. A large portion of all missing people have been taken by the Pencuri Orang. They are a civilization built upon the toil of others. You see, they attack and capture travelers on the road. Warriors are placed in the arena, where bets are made on their victories or defeats. Others- children, women, men who are not fighters, and elves- are forced into a life of slavery." 'Ro did not miss the sharp intake of breath of every person in the room at those words. "Your friend Erestor was ambushed. He of his company is the only survivor. They are currently unsure as to what to do with him and now he sits in the dark. He bade me to tell you this."
"Wait," Elrond interrupted, "who did you speak to him if he is in their prison? Why were you even there?"
"Because," 'Ro snarled, realizing the implication of his father's words, "my brother was taken by them. I had broken through their defenses to find him. I did not. I found your friend Erestor instead."
"How can we trust you? How can we know that you are not setting a trap for us?" Legolas had given up trying to remember who this person was and had joined the conversation. Estel had not been speaking as he had nothing to add and Elcuivië was silent because she believed herself unfit to voice her options or questions among those in a higher position than she.
To the rest of the occupants of the room's surprise, the figure chuckled.
"He said that you would not trust me. He said that I should tell you this." He cleared his throat and spoke again, "'The fires of darkness and doom shall not cast their shadow on the light.' He said that you would understand what it meant, Lord Elrond." Elrond did. In the Last Alliance, Erestor had been the master of his cousin's, Gil-Galad's, spy ring. If they ever had to send a letter or different messenger to relay information, that would be the code phrase to signify that this was from them. Sadly, Erestor was the only spy to have survived the war. The others did not know this, of course, but they knew from the look on Elrond's face that it meant something important.
Estel, however, was a bit annoyed. It seemed that everyone had forgotten one very important thing about their guest.
"What is your name?" He asked. The figure rounded on him.
"You know me. You are been in my affairs twice. Once, my brother came to you, begging for help from your cousin, Halbarad. You gave him the directions to make the cure for the poison that was killing me. I met you again, as Thorongil this time, again with my brother. I aimed an arrow at your chest. Before now, you had never heard my voice." Everything clicked in Estel's head, but, as he opened his mouth to speak, 'Ro turned to Legolas. "I saved your life, beside my brother, a year ago. You are poisoned and wounded. We found you and took you home. You have heard me say very little." It made sense to Legolas as well now. At the mention of Legolas return, it did the same for Glorfindel, Elrond, and Elcuivie. It was also a shock in each of their minds when they realized that the 'brother' he kept refering to was Rubah.
"Celebaelin?" Estel asked.
"That is my name." The elf- know identified as Celebaelin- nodded as he spoke.
Glorfindel, of all of them, was still a bit suspicious of the elf. He knew that this 'Celebaelin' could have obtained the sentence that he had told Elrond from some other source.
"How can we trust you?" He asked at last. When Celebaelin spoke, there was fury and an undertone of… pain and betrayal?
"I saved the Prince of Mirkwood's life, came here with news of your friend for no other reason than my good will, and you doubt my loyalties!?"
"That is just the thing. We do not know if there is another reason you came here with news of Erestor." Glorfindel replied, crossing his arms over his chest. Celebaelin's only response was a snarl.
"I have an idea." Elcuivië spoke for the first time since 'Ro had arrived, "if he removed his hood, we could see his face. Accents and stories can be faked, so can the grace of Elvish motion. Celebaelin could be no more than one of Pencuri Orang himself. Removing his hood can show us his face, can show us his hidden truth." Glorfindel nodded, turning to Celebaelin.
"Will you bare your face for us to see?"
"No."
Author's Note:
Yah, new arc! This arc introduces two new characters, which you should have been able to guess from the beginning of this chapter. Ivan, by the way, is my favorite character in this entire series that I have planned, so I hope you like him!
No, the Pencuri Orang are not made by Tolkien; they are my own. Laziness, you know the drill.
Okay, so I wanted to explain why Glorfindel is acting the way that he is. See, in my mind, Glorfindel has a complex personality and is currently in 'warrior mode', which he is also going to be in in the next chapter. However, after he starts to trust 'Celebaelin, he will become the fun-loving, jokester, and slight annoyance to the rest of the characters that I love reading- and writing. Be patient! That Glorfindel is coming soon!
Translations:
Hir-nin: My Lord