Restoration II: The Story Continues ...
by Fianna
Hugs to all who follow me, thank you so much.
Fianna
Chapter Eight
With a faint sense of surprise Haldir rose from his seat next to his cottage, setting aside the wood dowels being prepared as arrows, an uneccesary but welcome task for his mind. He strode forward to meet Rumil, clapping a hand to his brother's shoulder to turn him aside even as he smiled at Radagast, meeting Rumil's rolling eyes with amusement.
"Radagast, a pleasure. Welcome to the Golden Wood."
Radagast bowed, nearly setting Haldir back a step. "Indeed, my friend Haldir. A sad sight though, your forest."
Haldir fought the frown, forced a faint smile instead. 'Indeed," he agreed. "But as with all things, we must deal with them as we can. Would you like tea?"
Radagast nodded warmly, gripping Haldir's wrist in a firm grip. "I would. Thanks to the Valar that I found your brother so readily. He is a sharp one, that one. The squirrels all admire him so."
Haldir winked at Rumil, once more rolling his eyes, but discreetly, behind Radagast's back. Amused Rumil might be, he still held his bow in hand, one motion needed to bring arrow to string and off. Haldir gripped Radagast's shoulder to direct him to the path leading through the village.
"It seems a sad reflection of your cirmcumstances, Haldir, to see you living on the forest floor rather than the trees. But I see you have found your seedlings and have them in place. It will be glorious once more I assure you. The animals are all excited by their presence. But do say you seem distracted the past few days. Something amiss?"
Haldir waved Radagast to a seat on a bench, the table set for tea. Warning had come, as Rumil intended, and Haldir had been ready. "Nay, nothing amiss. I am certain they only feel my concern for Orophin who has been sent back to Mirkwood for ... well, to ascertain if Thranduil reached home safely for one."
Radagast lifted a brow, made a faint gruff sound in his throat and then sipped at the delicate elven cup salvaged from the destruction. "Ah good old elven tea. I'm not sure what you put in there, my expertise is with animals, not plants, but it is good. As always. You can be assured Galadriel would be proud."
Haldir nodded politely.
"I do have to say it is shocking to see the wood, It's been a long time, but still. Ah the grandeur of your flets, the stairways..." Radagast paused when Haldir did not reply.
"Oh dear, such an old fool I am. Wounds take time to heal, yours longer yet. And how are you, Haldir? You seem well, but for the crease on your forehead. Something concerns you."
"I am fine, Radagast. My concern only is to why you are here?"
"Here? Why I'm here?" Radagast placed the cup gently on the table. "Why I've no idea. I was just off sprinting about you know... and then suddenly, here I am."
Haldir leaned over the table. "Here you are."
Radagast smiled. "Here I am."
Rumil sat sideways on the bench next to Radagast. Sent him a long stare that made Radagast open his mouth then close it. He turned toward Haldir. "I am here..."
"Aye?"
"This tea is especially wonderful, aren't you having any?"
"No, I've had mine, thank you. Is there trouble, Radagast?"
The wizard scratched his head. Haldir caught his wrist, held it tightly. "Stop playing the fool. I know you are not what you want people to see. Why have you come?"
"Always to the point, aren't you, March Warden? But then, you aren't head warden after all, but more like Galadriel, leader of the sylvan elves, as much a king..."
Haldir tightened his grip on the wizard, avoided looking at the wizard's hand that had gone to his staff.
"All right, don't be testy, Haldir, or I'll turn you into a toad. Leave go my wrist."
Haldir let go, sat back with arms folded over his chest.
"I had to make sure you were you. No one does that look down his nose better than you, except for Thranduil. Who, I heard as I came through the wood, was here not too long ago. Imagine that! The Mirkwood King leaving his dank dark caves..."
Haldir leaned closer again, brow lifted.
"Oh do relax Haldir. Nothing bad, I've just come to offer my services, should you need them. You know with Gandalf gone, I am all you have left with magick, and am no slouch when it comes to staff wielding, as you may know...""
Haldir pressed a couple of fingers to his brow. "I am grateful, but really have no need of you as it happens. But the thought is comforting."
Radagast smiled. "Always a slick tongue on you, my boy. Just like your father. Nice elf, as you might remember, but same imposing stare. You probably even made Celeborn nervous with that stare, but then there was an elf many underestimated. So suave and sleek, but one of the best fighters with knives in the land. Did you know that?"
Haldir shook his head. "Nay, Celeborn did not have the occasion to fight in such a way in my time."
Radagast frowned, tapping his forehead. "Oh yes, you are so young, I've forgotten. Silly of me. But forgive an old man his rambling. Do you have more tea?"
"Of course. How long are you staying, Radagast?"
"Oh heavens, I don't know." Radagast sipped his tea, eyes twinkling.
Haldir tried hard not to frown, refused to look at Rumil, sensing all to well his brother's amusement.
0o0
The lake churned in choppy waves, the sky grey with impending storm clouds, the hills misted in grey. Sweeney sat crouched on his heels, hands gripped to the thin lenght of hithlain still attached to Esteri, her name finally ground out between her teeth after he'd called her every other name he could think of. Stormy, much like the skies above, this elleth of Mirkwood. He sighed, noting the lake would be ill advised to cross, and rose to his feet, pulling Esteri behind him.
That ts had taken a week to get this far was his own fault. Doubling back and then back again to check his trail had really been unnecessary, but he'd wanted the time with the elleth. He needed to know what to expect with her, even with her dislike, of what she would do when pressed.
Her skills were not shoddy, well able to defend herself, he gave himself credit for being able to overcome her quick moves and attempts at escape. She had not given up. Even after the brief if scalding kiss, she had made every effort to flee.
Without result. Today she was as sullen as the lake, eyes cast with anger and frustration, and something else when she thought he could not see.
It gave him hope that he might one day get past her dislike and turn it into something more pleasant.
Today, however she was not his concern. It was time to move on, but the weather did not seem to agree. Best to wait out the storm, find a haven to stay dry until it abated.
He moved along the shore carefully, senses aware, grunting occasionally as Esteri yanked on the rope, both purposely and not, testing him always. He refused to let her bother him, gave her only an occasional smug smile to let her know he was fully aware of what she was trying to do.
Which only made her more stormy, losing all elven grace as she struggled to slow him down.
He was growing tired of her efforts. Was debating throwing her over his shoulder when a sound caught his attention and he twisted back, catching hold of Esteri with a hand over her mouth, her body held tight to his chest. He pressed against a tree, moving only his head to peer around the trunk carefully.
Two men stood on a small rise, outlined by the occasional flash of lightning, facing the other way. The storm and wind had covered the sound of Sweeney's presence and he gave thanks to the Valar for being so kind.
Esteri twisted in his grip, slamming a heel against his shin hard enough he winced. Hands tied, she could still thump him hard in the thigh, something she had done numerous times and was now consistently sore. He grunted at the impact and tightened his grip, moving his mouth to her ear.
"Are you willing to take your chances with a couple of mortals, wench? Think they'd treat you better than I?"
She kicked him in response, earning another grunt at another sore spot.
"Fine, let's see what they'd pay for you."
She gasped when he let go for a moment, but fought when he drew out a length of cloth from his pack, jerking back to get out of his grip. He held on, spun her back to his chest before she could scream, covering her mouth again with his hand. "Now be pleasant, will you?" He pressed her against the tree, blocking her escape with his body. Stuffed the cloth between her teeth before she could take a breath. Then he stepped back and with a smile, hoisted her up over his shoulder.
She was nimble, he had to give her that as she nearly dislodged herself from his grip. Tightening his hand on her thigh to clamp her to his shoulder, he stepped into the light of the meager fire the two men had built, bringing them to their feet with an crude oath of surprise.
He smacked Esteri on the rear. "Ho, men. I saw your fire and was hoping you'd be willing to share."
The two men looked at Sweeney and then pointedly at Esteri, at her rear at least, wiggling in an unknowingly provocative manner before the two men. "We'd be willing to share," one of the men offered with a lewd smile.
Sweeney grinned back, hoping the shadows hid the suddenly strong sense of rage he knew lay in his gaze. He lowered his lids to hide the feelings, stepping around the fire to drop Esteri nearby. "Ah, she's been a handful," he offered truthfully. "Stole her right out from under Thranduil's nose."
The two men leaned forward. "And how'd ye manage that?" one asked.
Sweeney shrugged, stretching out to sit beside Esteri. "Not so hard if you take time to ponder the situation." He held out a hand. "Name's Sweeney. Been traveling awhile and thought it time to gain some ready cash," he winked, nodding at Esteri. "If ye know what I mean."
One of the men stood and gripped Sweeney's hand. The grip was sloppy, the palm sweating, with no strength apparent in the gesture. Sweeney smiled, and narrowed his gaze on the man. "Aye, I know what ye mean, lad. We might be doing the same, but not with the same luck."
"Well, you have to get close, you know. It was not easy." Sweeney shrugged and slapped Esteri again, earning a squeal of outrage. "She's a pretty one, had a devil of a time, one of those wardens,you know. Elves are a feisty lot, takes a bit of patience to get a hold of one. Why I had an elf awhile back that gave me such a fight I had a black eye for two weeks."
A faint growl from Esteri promised much the same. Sweeney smiled and dug into his pack, eyeing the sudden weary look from the two men. He pulled out a thin glass flask and set aside his pack. "I earned some fine elven brandy with the proceeds, come you must try it." He took a long swallow and then handed the flask to one of the men.
"So want do ye want with the elf?"
"Whatever I can get," Sweeney answered honestly.
"Give ye a couple hundred marks," the other man offered, taking a long draw on the flask.
"A couple hundred?" Sweeney snorted in amusement. "The dwarves would pay in gold and three times that. You know their dislike of elves, especially one of Thranduil's ilk. Oh they play nicely and all that but dwarves have long memories and they remember the battles."
The two men grunted, while Esteri lay beside him, eyes wide with horror.
"Besides, I haven't had her yet, don't know that I'm ready to give her up."
"Looks like she ain't gonna be an easy one," one of the men muttered, waving the flask toward Esteri. "She looks at you like she'd like to skin ye head to toe."
"Oh, she's said that and more," Sweeney agreed. "Feed me to the fish, and all that. Although I have to say she's not very creative with her insults. Elves are just too nice, when it comes down to things, polite and all that graceful plotting. Why, give me a good plug any day and a few slaps and she'd be..." Sweeney grunted in both pain and amusement when Esteri kicked his ankle. He slapped a hand to her thigh to hold her still, leaning forward to look at the two men.
The flask passed wobbly from one to the other.
"Shhsh, looks like ye need a bit of help with that," one man complained blearily. He held up the glass flask, peering at the nearly depleted contents. "Damn good stuff, if I don't say so myshelf."
The other man grabbed the flask. "Dwarves ain't nobody. If you want serious cash, man, you need to talk to Enderly."
Sweeney waved for him to drink. Waited until he did so and then smiled. "Enderly?"
"In Dale. He handles things like her." The flask waved at Esteri, lifted as the man drank again. "But I'd give her a go. With the three of us..." The man looked at the flask and then at Sweeney. "You've done something bad, man. Piss on ye..." He belched and then fell over the log he was sitting on.
The other man stared at his partner in surprise. Turned to look at Sweeney. "What the hell was in that?"
Sweeney retrieved his flask and tucked it into his pack. "Just as I said, Elven brandy. But you really need to have an elven constitution to drink it. Something about it just puts a real man under in minutes."
The man wavered, gripped the log to hold himself upright. "Ye ain't no real man then." He blinked and leaned forward, eyes wide. "Ye never meant to share did ye?"
Sweeney caught the man by the shoulder, holding him upright. "The fire, yes, the girl, never." He let go allowing the man to fall on his face with a loud snore. Glanced in amusement at Esteri. "Good work, my girl. We just gained some valuable information. Shall we go?"
He hoisted her up over his shoulder again, aware by her silence he was going to pay and pay handily for the night's work. He grinned and patted her rear, earning a returned blow to his lower back. The night had went well indeed.
0o0
