12
Cold. So cold. The river at this time of year was always particularly violent, but after the relentless rain that had plagued this area it was the highest it had been in years.
Although none of this occured to the prince as he was dragged down stream for his mind was currently on more important things like surviving.
In fact it was taking all of the princes strength to not let go of his quickly weakening grip on consciousness. Pain, but so much worse. It was an excruciating pain that exploded though his beaten and battered body everytime he smashed into a unrelenting rock.
'Valar above, I'm going to die.' Legolas frantic mind was currently looking for any possible way to make it too the surface, but alas it wasn't possible. With his hands and legs still bound thanks to those cowardly edain, he could do nothing to propel himself upwards.
His mind began to slow down against his will. Even if he could find a way to push himself upwards his body had no energy left, it would be wishful thinking to think he could actually pull himself out of this violent river.
'Crack.' He hadn't even seen the rock coming before he was suddenly slammed into it. Letting out a choked scream as his ribs cracked upon impact, the prince felt as if he had snapped in half. As the last of the desperate elf's oxygen fled his lungs so did his hope.
He had given up, the pain was just to much. 'My Ada will understand.' Was his last conscious thought before he finally gave into the encroaching darkness.
Agh.' Keldir couldn't help but feel frustrated. After all everywhere he went in this Valar forsaken town he was treated with suspicion and anger. As much as he wanted to leave and be among his own people again, he was here for a reason.
It had been three days since he had returned to Laketown but so far he had no solid leads on his prince. When he first arrived he had searched for an open minded inn keeper, but that alone was no easy fear. In fact he had been to six inns before he had finally found one that was willing to house him, although he did have to pay double.
'Greedy, selfish, honorless people.' Keldir had taken to insulting the residents of this town on a regular basis, for It helped to curb his anger towards them. 'Id like to see how they would come in an elven realm surrounded by nothing but hatred and loathing. Maybe that would open their minds a little. What do they expect me do to that's so horrible anyway?' This particular thought had occured to the elf many times over the last few days and he had come up with some pretty unique ideas.
'Maybe they expect me to suck their blood, or Steal their children? Or maybe even use dark magic to corrupt them?' Who knows maybe I'll even get hungry and eat a few of them.' This made Keldir snort, 'they wouldn't even taste that good.' By this point he couldn't help but laugh. Maybe their craziness is rubbing off.
The amused elf, walked over to the small window in his room to check on Anors position in the sky. Unfortunately she was sinking behind the hills. For keldir that meant it was time to head downstairs and take up his usual position at the back of the inn. He had done this every night since he had arrived. Sitting with his hood up and head down he would try to learn anything from the towns population of drunk men on legolas whereabouts.
So far he hadn't over heard anything of importance, but that didn't mean he was ready to give up. So grabbing his cloak he headed down stairs.
Sir." Keldir nodded to the inn keeper, and received the expected grunt as a response. He still couldn't figure out what this grunt meant, but he didn't really care. As long as he was allowed to sit and observe, then this man could make any gutteral sounds he wanted.
Before long the regular crowd began to shuffle in, and begin their daily routine of grunting, drinking, yelling, fighting, and lastly passing out drunk.
It was the second stage that interested Keldir. After a few drinks the men would become very boisterous and open.
"Boy. Drink." While Keldir has been contemplating the men's behaviour a particularly large man had made his way over to his table and was now offering him a drink?
"Uh no thank you." Keldir replied without making eye contact with the man. From what he could see this man was not someone he wanted to get on the wrong side of, nor was he someone with much intelligence.
"Why not?" The man asked in obvious confusion.
"I..I..ok" Keldir sighed. There was no getting out of this situation.
"Good. What's ya name lad, I don't recognize you. Maybe if ya took off that hood?"
"No, I'd rather keep it on. I got in a fight early and I didn't come out unscathed if you get my meaning." Keldir considered this very quick thinking on his behave, and quite believable which even he found surprising.
"Ahh. I do lad, I've been in that position a few times myself. My name's Fraden." And with that it offered a meaty hand. Shaking hands wasn't a common part of Elven culture but Keldir had seen this gesture enough to understand what to do.
So reaching out he shook the mans hand.
"I'm Kel. It's good to meet you." This seemed like a common enough thing to say, but for some reason it caused the man to stare at him with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Is everything ok?" The elf questioned
"Aye, it's just ya name it sounds familiar. Maybe I over heard it somewhere? Anyway what ya do boy?
Keldir found himself letting out a over due breath he hadn't realised he was holding in, when suddenly an idea came to him.
"I work with Kole." He said in the most relaxed voice he could summon. After all he had cause to be worried, he didn't know wether this man knew Kole or not. 'he knows I'm lying. I'm going to have to fight him. Then I'm going to have to look for new lodgings.' Keldir groaned. 'Why did I say that?'
"That explains why your so flighty. Ya must have seen Koles performance this morning. I didn't see you there?"
"Aye I was there. I was standing at the back."
"Don't worry lad, as long as ya stay on his good side y'all never have to worry about being in that elf's place."
Keldir struggled to keep up a neutral facade. 'Elf. He said elf. That has to be Legolas, but what is this performance he's talking about?'
"Aye. I wouldn't want to be in his place that's for sure."
Keldir didn't know what else to say. As much as he wanted to keep this conversation going, he didn't know what to ask without risking this man figuring out he wasn't actually there.
Luckily the man felt like talking. "To be honest with ya, I was sad to see that elf go. I've been curious about them elves for a while now. I've heard people saying they can force nature to do things for them. Imagine that?"
"Aye that would be strange. What do you mean about the elf though, where did he go? He knew this was risky but he had to ask.
"Ya mustn't have stayed till the end then. I wouldn't blame ya, anyway boss said that the elf was a gonna once he was broken. I think he said something about throwing him in the river, but I'm not sure. It was the smart thing to do though, couldn't risk those elves finding him here, especially looking the way he did."
"He threw him in the river." Keldir growled at the man. His initial shock had warn off and now he was left with this over whelming anger.
"Aye, like I said he had no other option. It was a waste really."
"No other option. No other option. You unsympathetic traitorous son if an orc." At an impressive speed Keldir lunged over the table, unsheathing one of his twin swords in the process. This man would pay. Striking with vengeance the furious elf managed to graze the mans rib cage just before the man dived to the floor.
Red. It's all he could see. He wanted this man's blood, and the blood of every man who had bared witness to the murder of his friend.
In the process of his attack his hood had fallen backwards leaving all of his elven features exposed, but he didn't care. Let the last thing this man sees be an elf, it was very poetic.
"You're an elf." the man said in astonishment while getting to his feet.
"Aye I'm an elf, and more than that, I was that elf's friend. The one your boss threw in a river after what sounds like torturing him in a most horrific way.
To say the man was surprised would be an understatement. he had currently drawn his sword but looked too shocked to actually use it. Instead he just stood their staring at the irate elf, which just managed to anger Keldir further. "Aren't you going to beg me for your life?" Keldir questioned. For he could tell this man had no intention to fight him, and to be honest Keldir couldn't blame him. Seeing Elven fury up close could be very terrifying.
"Would you let me live if I did?" The man asked.
Keldir thought about it for a moment. The first thing you learn when becoming a warrior is to never attack a surrendered opponent, but to hell with the rules this man stood by and watched his prince get tortured, why should he show him any mercy.
"No. No I don't think I would, but if you tell me where your boss is I might just consider it."
This made the man pause. Ratting out Kole definitely had it's down sides but dying at the hands of this furious elf seemed much worse.
"He lives on the street closest to the market. In a blue house on the corner, I think?
"You think." Keldir growled.
"I..I know."
"Ok, but if your lying to me I will hunt you down and kill you in a most slow, and painful way. Now if I was you I'd run because if I ever see you again you are as good as dead. Do you understand me?"
"Aye. I understand." And with that said. he took of running never looking back.
