Title: Runes
Author: Reona
Email: reona32@aol.com
Part: 3/5
Fandom: LotR
Pairing(s): Glorfindel/Elrond
Rating: R
Summary: Elrond is kidnapped by humans for his skill in reading runes. But the secret those runes tell could destroy the world.
Disclaimer: I don't own LotR. I do own this story and any odd characters that show up.
Warning: Attempted rape. I'm not nice to poor Elrond in this.
Authors Note: Uial is my creation; he's Elrond's horse. I'm guessing at the Elvish and so are you.
Hennad lle - thank you
Mellon nín - my friend
"King Elf!" Someone was shaking him softly, small hands upon his shoulder. "King Elf! You must wake up!" Elrond came awake quickly, sitting up and shrinking away from the person next to him. "King Elf!"
It took a moment for Elrond to recognize the small boy looking worriedly at him from the side of the bed. "Avon?" he asked. Elrond's grey eyes darted around the room, finding the windows dark and the room lit by many candles. It might have been soothing had Elrond's heart not been beating like bird wings in his chest.
"King Elf, you must get ready," exclaimed Avon, tugging him from the bed. He boy then began to brush down his clothing, smoothing out any wrinkles that might have appeared from Elrond resting on the bed. "Lord Dameon means to leave soon and we must get you down to the courtyard." Elrond noticed that Iylle stood by the doorway, a cloak in her hands. Avon handed Elrond a pair of soft boots and helped him to put them on.
"What time is it?" asked Elrond as he went to Iylle.
The human woman placed the warm cloak over his shoulders and clasped it at his neck. "Some time after mid-night, Lord Elrond. Now, we must hurry." She opened the door and Elrond was quickly bustled out into the hall. There were four guards in red brocade coats waiting for them and they surrounded Elrond at all corners, pushing Avon and Iylle away. Elrond was relieved to see that none of them were the guards from before; he dreaded meeting Theron again. They escorted Elrond down the hall and he glanced over his shoulder at the two people they had left. Iylle and Avon watched with worried looks as Elrond was led away. Elrond pressed his lips and fought a sigh, knowing that there was little he could do to reassure them. He wasn't sure everything would be fine himself.
This trip down the stairs was much easier as no one held onto Elrond and the drug seemed to have left his system completely, allowing him full control over his body. Elrond glanced around the torch lit hallways, searching for a way to escape. The guards were close enough to quickly reach out and catch Elrond if he tired to run and Elrond knew he would have to bide his time for a better opportunity. Soon, they entered the courtyard that Elrond had seen from the window that morning and he knew that tonight he would not gain his freedom.
Another company of at least 10 guards in red coats and a few workers in off colored tunics waited, an equal number of horses with them. Everyone's breath fogged in the night chill, creating tiny white clouds from everyone's lips. The night sky was clear and Elrond found himself looking for his father's star, a habit that had endured for thousands of years. The horses' hooves rang like quiet bells against the cobblestone. Close by, Dameon Xavier wore a blue suit with a black silk cape, his hair and beard still impeccable. Seeing the half-Elf, he smiled a smile that would have made a snake proud to call him kin.
"Ah, Lord Elrond," greeted Dameon as he came near. "It's such a lovely night for an outing, isn't it?" The human lord then frowned and grabbed Elrond's chin, turning his head. Elrond flinched at the touch but Dameon kept his hold firm. The half-Elf knew that at this point the bruise upon his cheek was just beginning to heal, the livid color just starting to fade. By morning, it would be nothing more than a slight discoloration. Dameon growled and turned on his heel. "Let's get going," he barked.
Jalen, the lord's son and the brut that had hit him first, came toward Elrond and the half-Elf released a look that would have melted mithril. To his eternal satisfaction, the human actually paused for a moment before storming up to him and jerking his hands forward. Elrond flinched at the rough treatment, feeling rope dig into the delicate flesh of his wrists as his hands were bound. "If you know what's good for you, you'll cooperate," hissed Jalen. Elrond just narrowed his eyes, knowing that in the moonlight he would seem to glow faintly to the humans.
Jalen growled and jerked the hood of Elrond's cloak over his head, hiding the half-Elf's features. He then led him to a horse and manhandled him onto the animal, Elrond gritted his teeth as his still sore body protested. Jalen tied Elrond's hands to the saddle horn and then flipped the reigns forward. Elrond looked on grimly as Jalen then tied the reigns of his horse to his own mount. The horse he was on, a bay geldings with white markings, looked over his shoulder in curiosity. Elrond smiled at the animal, knowing that the horse had probably never seen an Elf before. "I am sorry, my friend," he muttered. "I would greet you but my hands are tied." The horse flicked its head in understanding.
Dameon called an order and the guards formed a column behind and in front of them. Then, they headed north out into the city. The hour was late as they took back streets to cross the city. Two guards rode on either side of Elrond, cutting off escape should he get his hands free. The trip through the city took about half an hour to Elrond's count and then an equal amount of time to cross the farmland beyond that. Finally, they reached a forest area and torches were lit to guide their way. Several minutes into the woods they stopped in front of a large mound, Elrond thought it might be a burial mound. His heart twisted as Jalen yanked him off his mount and marched him to stand by Dameon.
Elrond didn't have time to react as the human lord put a companionable arm around his shoulders and forced himself not to growl as his hands were cut free. Dameon drew in a deep breath. "Ah, the clear night air. Does a body good." He then turned them toward the mound and smiled happily. "I know what you're thinking, Lord Elrond. You're thinking 'we can't mean to go in there. It's a burial mound and thus sacred.' Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but we are."
Elrond looked up at the Man, staring at him in some new horror. "You're insane," he muttered.
The hand on the half-Elf's shoulder tightened painfully and Elrond winced before the pressure lessened. Jalen was staring at him nastily as Dameon sighed. "Maybe I am," said the human lord lightly. He gestured forward and some men with torches formed in front of them. Dameon guided Elrond forward, seemingly being a perfect gentleman, until they found an entrance in the mound, an arch made of stone and overgrown with weeds. Some of the men entered before them and Elrond could see that a tunnel formed behind the arch, rough hewed walls stretching out as far as he could see.
Suddenly, Elrond balked harshly, pulling against Dameon's hold. He didn't want to go in there; he couldn't go in there. Something terrible was in there. Something he didn't want to find nor wanted to be found itself. He released a scream as the arms around him tired to push him through the arch and was quickly hushed. No, he couldn't go in there. It was sickening, soul sickening; the type of fear and terror that broke hearts. Elrond felt cold tears run down his face and his head was turned and pressed into someone's shoulder, blocking his view of the archway.
It was several minutes before the pounding of his blood slowed enough for him to hear, "Worthless Elf." Elrond jerked away, remembering who was holding him.
Dameon kept his grip around Elrond's waist, even as the half-Elf hissed at him in anger. "Calm yourself," ordered the human lord. Elrond stilled and Dameon slowly released him, keeping a hold of his wrist. "I knew this would happen, or something like it," Dameon said seemingly to himself. "Now, we are going into that tunnel one way or another."
"I will not," hissed Elrond.
That snake like smile returned to Dameon's face and he looked over Elrond's shoulder. "I think you will." Elrond turned and found that three of the guards that their swords out and at the throats of three of the workers that had accompanied them. Elrond paled as the three innocent humans looked at him in fear. Without a word, Dameon turned toward the arch again and walked toward it. Elrond was forced to follow, feeling the same sick power roll over him. Dameon placed Elrond's hand on the crook of his elbow, placing his own hand over it to hold him there. Elrond closed his eyes and prayed he wouldn't become ill on the grass. His other hand lifted and grabbed a hold of Dameon's arm, feeling anger and shame fill his heart as he was unable to stop himself. It was like walking through slime as they neared the arch, pushing one's way through a burning cold slime that filled the nose and tried to pry into your mouth. Elrond felt tears run down his cheeks, unable to stop his body from trembling. The sound of the other's footfalls and breathing, which should have been clear and crisp to Elrond, now sounded as if coming from underwater.
Finally, the resistance slid away, leaving Elrond feeling cold and shaken. He was able to open his eyes and released his extra hold on Dameon. The human lord said nothing but Elrond heard Jalen snicker behind them and fought down his desire to turn and kick out at the lord's son. If he aimed correctly, he could break a bone. Elrond wiped at his face with his free hand and looked around. The number of torches needed for the human's made it as bright as day for him. The tunnels were wide and tall enough for three people to walk abreast. The walls were unevenly cut and had a few spots of fungus on them. Elrond thanked his Elven heritage for his sure footing. "Where are we?" demanded Elrond.
"These are the old catacombs. The tunnels switchback toward the city and run under the buildings toward the sea. Unfortunately, entrances have since been built over or destroyed, leaving access to these tunnels hard to find," explained Dameon. Elrond kept the opinion that the lack of entrances was done for a reason to himself. A fetid smell tickled Elrond sensitive scenes and he winked his nose. The smell pulled at his memories, memories that he shied away from. Dameon smiled his snake smile and chuckled, "Ah, I wondered how close we would have to get before you smelled them."
"Smell what?" asked Elrond. It had gotten so bad that he lifted one hand to cover his nose and mouth.
"The Old Forgotten," replied Dameon.
"The what?"
Jalen snickered and gave a cruel smile as Elrond looked at him over his shoulder. "Bones, Elf, bones. A wall of bones. Bones of war prisoners, bones of the condemned, and bones of the people who caught ill with a plague. The bones of the forgotten and undesired."
Elrond looked at him with horror. "You're not telling the truth," he whispered. A guard in front of them laughed softly, a ghastly sound that echoed off the tunnel walls. Elrond felt his blood chill at that. Dameon pulled a scented handkerchief from his jacket and handed it to Elrond, which the half-Elf quickly used to cover his nose and mouth. His stomach churned as he placed the scent in his memory. It had been millennia since he had last been on the battlefield, been in the healer tents as they tried desperately to save the lives of the warriors. He remembered the smells; blood, and herbs, and metal. The horrible smell of a living being dying, of its soul fleeing its damaged body. It was the smell of death.
The guards turned into the next tunnel, the floor beginning to slop downward, and they followed. The smell, the weight of the air, hit Elrond like a physical attack. The air was heavy with old fear, hate, and anger. It pushed down on his heart, adding to his difficulty breathing. What had been stonewalls were now walls of bones, just as Jalen had said. Empty skull eyes stared out at them, arm bones and leg bones filling in the gaps. Some still had feet and hands attached to them. As the light from the torches fell upon them a few spiders and other insects crawled into darkened holes to hide. The bones were old, all flesh gone from them by now. But the bones remembered.
As Elrond watched, one skull eye gleamed at him, the soul of the dead person reaching out in anger and hate. The souls clung to their old bodies, unable to leave this world. Trapped by the injustice of their deaths, weighted down by their foul emotions, the souls still lingered in these tunnels. They reached out to Elrond, clawing at him. Elrond gave a choking cry and turned away, burying his face in Dameon's shoulder. His body shook with sobs, seeking some way to release the pain he felt seeping into him, the sound muffled. Faintly, at the edge of his hearing and so far away he knew that the human's could not hear it, moaning sounded and words muttered softly. Elrond tried to shut his ears to the sounds, not wanting to hear those curses and oaths traveling through time to him. Slowly, it bled away from him as they moved farther away, the soul's power waning with distance.
Finally, Elrond was able to lift his head and stop his crying, drying his tears. He still trembled, his body feeling the strain of enduring what he knew now was a cursed place. "I must admit, I had wondered what your reaction would be to the Old Forgotten, seeing as Elves are said to be very sensitive to those things. That was most interesting," said Dameon, sounding as if he were reading a vaguely interesting passage in a book. Elrond wrenched his hand from the Man's grip, uncaring as the guards drew their swords around him. Half blind from tears and feeling as if his soul would shatter, Elrond began screaming at him in Elvish, reverting to his native language. He could not remember what he screamed at the Man. Maybe he was only repeating what the souls had told him, spewing forth their hatred and anger least it blacken him. Maybe the condemning words he spoke were really his own, born out of his own emotions. Either way, Elrond soon found himself panting, run out of words and breath. Dameon stood before him, a bored look on his face. "Are you done?" asked the human. He didn't wait for Elrond's reply but grabbed the half-Elf's arm and jerked him down the tunnel. "We are behind schedule," Dameon said in annoyance.
A flight of stairs came next, the air turning colder as they descended deeper into the earth. Dameon returned Elrond's hand to his elbow, all traces of annoyance gone from his features. The half-Elf fought to keep up with the human's quickened pace, wishing he could stop and rest before he came to the next challenge to his nature. Jalen seemed to be forever snickering, finding every wince and woe from Elrond humorous. How he wished he could slap the smirk from the young man's face.
The tunnel widened and then spat them out into a large cavern. The firelight revealed that stalagmites covered the cavern floor, creating a maze of pointed rock. The light from the human's torches faded into the surrounding darkness but Elrond could see that from the ceiling hung a never ending field of stalactites. They had walked into a giant gaping mouth with sharp teeth, a huge animal waiting to devour them. The guards walked on a path only they knew, firming Elrond's believe that they had entered here many times. The cavern was crossed with haste and the utmost quiet, even Jalen had ceased his snickering.
At the other end of the cavern was a short tunnel that led out into a smaller grotto. Dameon thrust Elrond forward, releasing him. Elrond quickly balanced himself and turned to glare at the Man. He noticed that the hole they had come through was the only opening and it appeared to have been recently made, dust and rock still littered the floor. So, Dameon had had to break through a seal to enter this room. That thought was not reassuring to Elrond. This room was also rough carven, although done in ancient times by the marks on the walls. The roof was free of hanging stalactites and was a perfect dome shape. In the center of the room, one stalagmite stood. "Welcome, Lord Elrond!" said Dameon enthusiastically. The human lord began to walk leisurely around the room, Elrond slowly turning with him to keep his eyes on the snake. "It has taken me a decade to find this cavern. A dozen years of searching and work to lay eyes upon my prize. Only to find that that prize was still out of reach." Dameon frowned and shook his head. "Quite annoying." His son snorted but Dameon ignored Jalen, continuing to walk around the room. The rest of the company gathered in the room as well, blocking the door. "But at last I will have my prize." Suddenly, Dameon snatched a torch from a guard and held it up.
A sharp light reflected from a smooth surface and Elrond narrowed his eyes as the large marble slab was illuminated behind Dameon. The square slab of marble was eight feet in measure with deep carvings in it. Five panels of runes ran vertically across the slab over a faint carving of a human figure with wings. The last carving on the left was smaller than the others with only a few runes in it. Dameon smiled happily. "All you have to do is read it for me."
Elrond could feel the power hum faintly around the room, sinking into the rock and wafting through the air. He felt it reach out for him, curious about this new creature. This power had an intelligence to it that frightened Elrond and, to his amazement, the power drew away from him. He rubbed his hands together, feeling the power linger on him like flower pollen. A sharp blow to the side of his head sent him crashing to the floor with a cry. In the next second, he was jerked up to his feet and pushed forward, falling against the marble slab. Jalen's face, full of rage, came into view and Elrond feared he would be hit again. "Do as you're told," hissed the human.
Elrond stared at him, seeing the insanity roll about his eyes. "I pity you," whispered Elrond. Jalen jerked back as if he was the one that had been struck and retreated across the room like a wounded animal.
Dameon came to stand beside Elrond with the torch, tapping his chin as if nothing had happened. "The runes are unlike any lettering system we know of and the ordering is impossible to decipher." He looked at Elrond and the half-Elf saw the same insanity in his cold eyes. "Read it," he ordered.
Elrond backed away from the slab, feeling his head pound from the abuse Jalen had given. The air hummed still, although it remained away from Elrond. "I will not," answered Elrond.
Dameon's smile widened and Elrond felt his blood go cold. "As you wish."
A scream behind him caused Elrond to spin and his eyes widened as he found that one of the guards had plunged his knife into the shoulder of one of the workers. A large bloodstain began to seep into the man's shirt and he dropped to the ground with a groan. "No!" cried Elrond, lunging forward. The guards began to laugh and one caught Elrond before he could reach the wounded man. "Let go!" The guard soon found himself on the receiving end of some Elven strength and landed on the floor. Elrond fell to his knees by the injured man and pushed away the guard that had used the knife. The man on the floor stared up at Elrond with pain and fear filled eyes and Elrond gently cupped his cheek. "It's alright. It'll be alright," he muttered. Elrond quickly put both hands on the man's shoulder, reaching into himself and pulling forth his own power. A silver-blue light surrounded his hands, seeping into the man. Carefully, Elrond drew the knife from the man's shoulder, healing the wound as the blade slipped free, fearful of too much blood lose. Finally, although the bloodstain still remained, the wound was closed.
The man slowly touched his shoulder, feeling no pain. He looked up at Elrond and tears fill his eyes. "Thank you," he said.
Elrond smiled and would have said something had two guards not grabbed his arms and pulled him up. He found Dameon still smiling happily as he was pushed back to his side. "Read it," ordered the human lord.
Elrond shut his eyes, a shuttering breath leaving his lips. He knew that the mad Man would injure the workers until Elrond drained himself and could heal them no more, forcing him to watch them die. As he had watched so many die in the healer tents millennia ago, too drained and weak to heal them anymore. Elrond nodded and the guards let him go. Slowly, Elrond walked to the right side of the slab and placed one hand on its surface. "The runes…" Elrond stopped talking to swallow harshly, feeling dread pool in his stomach. "The runes are not letters," he said finally. "They are complete words. Each rune is a complete word and depending on which runes surround it, that rune could mean many things. They are not read like normal script today but are read top to bottom, right to left."
Dameon's cold eyes glowed with pleasure as he stepped forward. Jalen had returned to his father's side by now, eyes still wide. "Much like your Tengwar scripts," Dameon muttered.
That Elvish script was also read top to bottom but left to right. Elrond nodded and sighed. "Yes," he agreed
"Go on," pressured Dameon.
"Valar forgive me," Elrond muttered, looking up at the first rune. "Here lies the…" He was forced to pause at the next rune. Leaning up, he blew gently at the carving, clearing some dust. "Here lays the entity known as the Angel." The runes for 'entity' and 'angel' were the same but he did not think they meant 'god' either, not positioned like that. An excited mummer from the people in the room made him think that he was probably right. He glanced at Dameon and found the human staring with wide eyes at him. "For a…thousand years It has lain here, waiting." Elrond thought the continued elaboration on the 'angel' runes made it a name and spoke as such. "Once Its power was ours to control but no more. We have…placed It here for those who would…control It next." Elrond felt a chill run down his spine at reading these words.
The half-Elf moved to the next panel. "After the Angel is…freed…It will…choose a master. This is the way of It. To free the Angel you must place the key into the…" Elrond was forced to rub some algae off the next rune, hearing Dameon breath as if in pain. "Into the slot in the…pillar. Only then will you be able to free the Angel." He stopped and looked at the humans, finished with the first two panels.
"What key? What pillar?" demanded Dameon.
"I don't know. It doesn't say," replied Elrond.
"Maybe it means the stalagmite," suggested Jalen, a moment of clearness in his eyes.
Dameon turned to the stone and frowned. "But I don't see any slot!" he exclaimed. He reached out and touched the stone, only to have some of the rock face crumble in his hand. A shout of excitement rang in the cavern and Dameon began clawing at the rock, breaking it off until a square pillar of the same marble as the slab was revealed. In the top was a half circle shape cut into the marble. Dameon whipped his head around, the gleam in his eyes bright. "Continue," he ordered.
Elrond turned back to the slab and began on the third panel. "As It may be…ordered to do so…the Angel can do…" Elrond lapsed into silence, quickly reading through the runes of the next two panels. Tears sprang to his eyes and he choked back a sob.
The light in Dameon's eyes burned, his right hand beginning to twitch. "What is it?" he all but screamed.
Elrond jumped and sucked in a deep breath. He lay his hand on the first panel. "This panel tells of the Angel being able to purify the earth. Turning it into a paradise unto the ending of the time. All shall be joyous and good." He lay his hand on the next panel, the last one before the smaller single line panel at the end. "This panel tells of the Angel destroying the earth, sending all into never ending darkness and killing all alive. The earth will crumble into dust and choke all of existence." Tears fell down Elrond's eyes as he repeated what he had read. This was worse than anything Sauron would do. The Dark Lord could only spread his shadow across Middle-Earth. This Angel entity called of either bringing all of existence to joy or ruin, to spread over all things, even the Valar.
Elrond yelped as Dameon grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "The key? Where does it say the key is?" he yelled.
Elrond grabbed the man's wrists, feeling his teeth rattle. "The last panel says that the key is in the eagle's eye!"
Dameon tossed Elrond to the floor of the cave harshly. "What does that mean?" he yelled.
"I don't know!" said Elrond. "It's some type of riddle! It has to be solved!" Dameon became very still and silent. Elrond feared that the man had lost what was left of his mind and braced himself for some type of outburst. Even the guards and workers drew back slightly.
Dameon moved one hand slowly and smoothed back his blond hair. "A riddle?" he asked rhetorically. "In the eagle's eye, is it?" He tugged down his jacket and smiled lightly. "There is only one eagle in this city." The erratic energy in the cave calmed. "Very well," said Dameon, sounding pleased. "Come, it is getting late and we must go." Dameon walked past Elrond toward the opening and Jalen grabbed the half-Elf from the floor. Dameon chuckled at the threshold as Jalen moved Elrond to stand next to him and the human once again placed the half-Elf's hand upon his elbow. "Or is that early?" asked Dameon in an amused voice. With another chuckle, the group walked back through the cavern and into the tunnels. Elrond, feeling himself enter a type of shock, remained silent.
The return trip was done with greater speed, with Dameon yanking Elrond through the tunnels housing the Old Forgotten and through the murk that fouled the entrance arch. Finally, they were outside again and Elrond dropped to his knees in the wet grass. He coughed up a small amount of bile, feeling his stomach churn. He didn't have the energy to resist as Jalen pulled him up and dragged him toward his mount. The horse, seeing the half-Elf's trouble, quickly lowered itself to his knees. Jalen paused at this and Elrond sighed. "Hennad lle," he muttered to the horse. A soft whicker answered him and Jalen growled, pushing Elrond onto the horse's back. His hands were tied again and his hood flipped forward.
Palest dawn, so light that Elrond knew that the human's could not see it, lit the sky. Soon, the sun would blaze across the sky and the city would wake. Dameon harshly ordered the group forward and they rode out of the forest. The torches were put out and a gallop taken up as they raced down the farmland roads. Soon, they past into the city and made their way back through the maze like streets. Finding himself facing south, Elrond was able to see the ocean that the city rested on, the Sundering Sea. Many ship masts and sails made a tiny boat forest in the bay. By the ocean was a tall lighthouse, white rock glowing faintly. To the far left, too far east for Elrond to have been able to see it from his room, stood a palace like structure, although the building was a little small to be truly called a palace.
They clattered into the courtyard of Xavier's house and Elrond slipped from his mount's back instead of being pulled off. The half-Elf finally got the chance to pet the horse that had carried him. "Hennad lle, mellon nín," Elrond muttered, thanking the animal again. Dameon stalked into the house and Jalen came to retrieve Elrond. The horse snapped at the human as Jalen grabbed Elrond's arm and dragged him into the house. Moving through the house was the lesser nightmare of this night. Elrond's body ached and he found it a great challenge to manage the stairs with Jalen pulling him along.
Two guards stood beside the door to the room Elrond had woken up in. The door was opened and Jalen pushed Elrond inside. The half-Elf managed a few unsteady steps into the room before falling to his knees. His head swam and he was unable to hear the hateful words that Jalen said to him before slamming the door. Little black dots appeared at the edge of his vision and Elrond groaned, closing his eyes. He flinched as he felt hands on his shoulders. "King Elf?"
The half-Elf sighed at the voice. "My young champion," he muttered. The young boy unclasped the cloak and pushed it away. He then pulled off the two-layered drape underneath and removed the brooch and belt. Elrond remained kneeling on the floor as Avon undressed him down to the tunic, shirt and trousers.
"Come, King Elf, you need rest," said Avon, his voice concerned. Elrond slowly pulled himself up from the floor and, using the furniture and Avon for support, made it to the bed. The half-Elf all but fell onto the soft mattress of the bed, curling into a ball and burying his face into the pillow. Elrond felt Avon draw up the blankets and then he knew no more.
There is a primeval connection between the race of Elves and Middle-Earth. This connection is as a fine silver thread that allows each to feel the other. The wind did not dare blow and the stars shone fiercely in the sky. Now the land shook and quivered. The trees became still, not even their leaves moved. The grass on the plains parted and the mountains gave way. Through that gossamer thread, all of nature could feel the emotions of one golden haired Elf with flashing blue eyes. With him, grey eyes also burned, smoldering with emotion. These Elves followed a path southwards across Middle-Earth, following furtive hoof prints and broken branches hanging loose. All of Middle-Earth held its breath as these Elves passed, for they would not be slowed nor stopped.
Author: Reona
Email: reona32@aol.com
Part: 3/5
Fandom: LotR
Pairing(s): Glorfindel/Elrond
Rating: R
Summary: Elrond is kidnapped by humans for his skill in reading runes. But the secret those runes tell could destroy the world.
Disclaimer: I don't own LotR. I do own this story and any odd characters that show up.
Warning: Attempted rape. I'm not nice to poor Elrond in this.
Authors Note: Uial is my creation; he's Elrond's horse. I'm guessing at the Elvish and so are you.
Hennad lle - thank you
Mellon nín - my friend
"King Elf!" Someone was shaking him softly, small hands upon his shoulder. "King Elf! You must wake up!" Elrond came awake quickly, sitting up and shrinking away from the person next to him. "King Elf!"
It took a moment for Elrond to recognize the small boy looking worriedly at him from the side of the bed. "Avon?" he asked. Elrond's grey eyes darted around the room, finding the windows dark and the room lit by many candles. It might have been soothing had Elrond's heart not been beating like bird wings in his chest.
"King Elf, you must get ready," exclaimed Avon, tugging him from the bed. He boy then began to brush down his clothing, smoothing out any wrinkles that might have appeared from Elrond resting on the bed. "Lord Dameon means to leave soon and we must get you down to the courtyard." Elrond noticed that Iylle stood by the doorway, a cloak in her hands. Avon handed Elrond a pair of soft boots and helped him to put them on.
"What time is it?" asked Elrond as he went to Iylle.
The human woman placed the warm cloak over his shoulders and clasped it at his neck. "Some time after mid-night, Lord Elrond. Now, we must hurry." She opened the door and Elrond was quickly bustled out into the hall. There were four guards in red brocade coats waiting for them and they surrounded Elrond at all corners, pushing Avon and Iylle away. Elrond was relieved to see that none of them were the guards from before; he dreaded meeting Theron again. They escorted Elrond down the hall and he glanced over his shoulder at the two people they had left. Iylle and Avon watched with worried looks as Elrond was led away. Elrond pressed his lips and fought a sigh, knowing that there was little he could do to reassure them. He wasn't sure everything would be fine himself.
This trip down the stairs was much easier as no one held onto Elrond and the drug seemed to have left his system completely, allowing him full control over his body. Elrond glanced around the torch lit hallways, searching for a way to escape. The guards were close enough to quickly reach out and catch Elrond if he tired to run and Elrond knew he would have to bide his time for a better opportunity. Soon, they entered the courtyard that Elrond had seen from the window that morning and he knew that tonight he would not gain his freedom.
Another company of at least 10 guards in red coats and a few workers in off colored tunics waited, an equal number of horses with them. Everyone's breath fogged in the night chill, creating tiny white clouds from everyone's lips. The night sky was clear and Elrond found himself looking for his father's star, a habit that had endured for thousands of years. The horses' hooves rang like quiet bells against the cobblestone. Close by, Dameon Xavier wore a blue suit with a black silk cape, his hair and beard still impeccable. Seeing the half-Elf, he smiled a smile that would have made a snake proud to call him kin.
"Ah, Lord Elrond," greeted Dameon as he came near. "It's such a lovely night for an outing, isn't it?" The human lord then frowned and grabbed Elrond's chin, turning his head. Elrond flinched at the touch but Dameon kept his hold firm. The half-Elf knew that at this point the bruise upon his cheek was just beginning to heal, the livid color just starting to fade. By morning, it would be nothing more than a slight discoloration. Dameon growled and turned on his heel. "Let's get going," he barked.
Jalen, the lord's son and the brut that had hit him first, came toward Elrond and the half-Elf released a look that would have melted mithril. To his eternal satisfaction, the human actually paused for a moment before storming up to him and jerking his hands forward. Elrond flinched at the rough treatment, feeling rope dig into the delicate flesh of his wrists as his hands were bound. "If you know what's good for you, you'll cooperate," hissed Jalen. Elrond just narrowed his eyes, knowing that in the moonlight he would seem to glow faintly to the humans.
Jalen growled and jerked the hood of Elrond's cloak over his head, hiding the half-Elf's features. He then led him to a horse and manhandled him onto the animal, Elrond gritted his teeth as his still sore body protested. Jalen tied Elrond's hands to the saddle horn and then flipped the reigns forward. Elrond looked on grimly as Jalen then tied the reigns of his horse to his own mount. The horse he was on, a bay geldings with white markings, looked over his shoulder in curiosity. Elrond smiled at the animal, knowing that the horse had probably never seen an Elf before. "I am sorry, my friend," he muttered. "I would greet you but my hands are tied." The horse flicked its head in understanding.
Dameon called an order and the guards formed a column behind and in front of them. Then, they headed north out into the city. The hour was late as they took back streets to cross the city. Two guards rode on either side of Elrond, cutting off escape should he get his hands free. The trip through the city took about half an hour to Elrond's count and then an equal amount of time to cross the farmland beyond that. Finally, they reached a forest area and torches were lit to guide their way. Several minutes into the woods they stopped in front of a large mound, Elrond thought it might be a burial mound. His heart twisted as Jalen yanked him off his mount and marched him to stand by Dameon.
Elrond didn't have time to react as the human lord put a companionable arm around his shoulders and forced himself not to growl as his hands were cut free. Dameon drew in a deep breath. "Ah, the clear night air. Does a body good." He then turned them toward the mound and smiled happily. "I know what you're thinking, Lord Elrond. You're thinking 'we can't mean to go in there. It's a burial mound and thus sacred.' Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but we are."
Elrond looked up at the Man, staring at him in some new horror. "You're insane," he muttered.
The hand on the half-Elf's shoulder tightened painfully and Elrond winced before the pressure lessened. Jalen was staring at him nastily as Dameon sighed. "Maybe I am," said the human lord lightly. He gestured forward and some men with torches formed in front of them. Dameon guided Elrond forward, seemingly being a perfect gentleman, until they found an entrance in the mound, an arch made of stone and overgrown with weeds. Some of the men entered before them and Elrond could see that a tunnel formed behind the arch, rough hewed walls stretching out as far as he could see.
Suddenly, Elrond balked harshly, pulling against Dameon's hold. He didn't want to go in there; he couldn't go in there. Something terrible was in there. Something he didn't want to find nor wanted to be found itself. He released a scream as the arms around him tired to push him through the arch and was quickly hushed. No, he couldn't go in there. It was sickening, soul sickening; the type of fear and terror that broke hearts. Elrond felt cold tears run down his face and his head was turned and pressed into someone's shoulder, blocking his view of the archway.
It was several minutes before the pounding of his blood slowed enough for him to hear, "Worthless Elf." Elrond jerked away, remembering who was holding him.
Dameon kept his grip around Elrond's waist, even as the half-Elf hissed at him in anger. "Calm yourself," ordered the human lord. Elrond stilled and Dameon slowly released him, keeping a hold of his wrist. "I knew this would happen, or something like it," Dameon said seemingly to himself. "Now, we are going into that tunnel one way or another."
"I will not," hissed Elrond.
That snake like smile returned to Dameon's face and he looked over Elrond's shoulder. "I think you will." Elrond turned and found that three of the guards that their swords out and at the throats of three of the workers that had accompanied them. Elrond paled as the three innocent humans looked at him in fear. Without a word, Dameon turned toward the arch again and walked toward it. Elrond was forced to follow, feeling the same sick power roll over him. Dameon placed Elrond's hand on the crook of his elbow, placing his own hand over it to hold him there. Elrond closed his eyes and prayed he wouldn't become ill on the grass. His other hand lifted and grabbed a hold of Dameon's arm, feeling anger and shame fill his heart as he was unable to stop himself. It was like walking through slime as they neared the arch, pushing one's way through a burning cold slime that filled the nose and tried to pry into your mouth. Elrond felt tears run down his cheeks, unable to stop his body from trembling. The sound of the other's footfalls and breathing, which should have been clear and crisp to Elrond, now sounded as if coming from underwater.
Finally, the resistance slid away, leaving Elrond feeling cold and shaken. He was able to open his eyes and released his extra hold on Dameon. The human lord said nothing but Elrond heard Jalen snicker behind them and fought down his desire to turn and kick out at the lord's son. If he aimed correctly, he could break a bone. Elrond wiped at his face with his free hand and looked around. The number of torches needed for the human's made it as bright as day for him. The tunnels were wide and tall enough for three people to walk abreast. The walls were unevenly cut and had a few spots of fungus on them. Elrond thanked his Elven heritage for his sure footing. "Where are we?" demanded Elrond.
"These are the old catacombs. The tunnels switchback toward the city and run under the buildings toward the sea. Unfortunately, entrances have since been built over or destroyed, leaving access to these tunnels hard to find," explained Dameon. Elrond kept the opinion that the lack of entrances was done for a reason to himself. A fetid smell tickled Elrond sensitive scenes and he winked his nose. The smell pulled at his memories, memories that he shied away from. Dameon smiled his snake smile and chuckled, "Ah, I wondered how close we would have to get before you smelled them."
"Smell what?" asked Elrond. It had gotten so bad that he lifted one hand to cover his nose and mouth.
"The Old Forgotten," replied Dameon.
"The what?"
Jalen snickered and gave a cruel smile as Elrond looked at him over his shoulder. "Bones, Elf, bones. A wall of bones. Bones of war prisoners, bones of the condemned, and bones of the people who caught ill with a plague. The bones of the forgotten and undesired."
Elrond looked at him with horror. "You're not telling the truth," he whispered. A guard in front of them laughed softly, a ghastly sound that echoed off the tunnel walls. Elrond felt his blood chill at that. Dameon pulled a scented handkerchief from his jacket and handed it to Elrond, which the half-Elf quickly used to cover his nose and mouth. His stomach churned as he placed the scent in his memory. It had been millennia since he had last been on the battlefield, been in the healer tents as they tried desperately to save the lives of the warriors. He remembered the smells; blood, and herbs, and metal. The horrible smell of a living being dying, of its soul fleeing its damaged body. It was the smell of death.
The guards turned into the next tunnel, the floor beginning to slop downward, and they followed. The smell, the weight of the air, hit Elrond like a physical attack. The air was heavy with old fear, hate, and anger. It pushed down on his heart, adding to his difficulty breathing. What had been stonewalls were now walls of bones, just as Jalen had said. Empty skull eyes stared out at them, arm bones and leg bones filling in the gaps. Some still had feet and hands attached to them. As the light from the torches fell upon them a few spiders and other insects crawled into darkened holes to hide. The bones were old, all flesh gone from them by now. But the bones remembered.
As Elrond watched, one skull eye gleamed at him, the soul of the dead person reaching out in anger and hate. The souls clung to their old bodies, unable to leave this world. Trapped by the injustice of their deaths, weighted down by their foul emotions, the souls still lingered in these tunnels. They reached out to Elrond, clawing at him. Elrond gave a choking cry and turned away, burying his face in Dameon's shoulder. His body shook with sobs, seeking some way to release the pain he felt seeping into him, the sound muffled. Faintly, at the edge of his hearing and so far away he knew that the human's could not hear it, moaning sounded and words muttered softly. Elrond tried to shut his ears to the sounds, not wanting to hear those curses and oaths traveling through time to him. Slowly, it bled away from him as they moved farther away, the soul's power waning with distance.
Finally, Elrond was able to lift his head and stop his crying, drying his tears. He still trembled, his body feeling the strain of enduring what he knew now was a cursed place. "I must admit, I had wondered what your reaction would be to the Old Forgotten, seeing as Elves are said to be very sensitive to those things. That was most interesting," said Dameon, sounding as if he were reading a vaguely interesting passage in a book. Elrond wrenched his hand from the Man's grip, uncaring as the guards drew their swords around him. Half blind from tears and feeling as if his soul would shatter, Elrond began screaming at him in Elvish, reverting to his native language. He could not remember what he screamed at the Man. Maybe he was only repeating what the souls had told him, spewing forth their hatred and anger least it blacken him. Maybe the condemning words he spoke were really his own, born out of his own emotions. Either way, Elrond soon found himself panting, run out of words and breath. Dameon stood before him, a bored look on his face. "Are you done?" asked the human. He didn't wait for Elrond's reply but grabbed the half-Elf's arm and jerked him down the tunnel. "We are behind schedule," Dameon said in annoyance.
A flight of stairs came next, the air turning colder as they descended deeper into the earth. Dameon returned Elrond's hand to his elbow, all traces of annoyance gone from his features. The half-Elf fought to keep up with the human's quickened pace, wishing he could stop and rest before he came to the next challenge to his nature. Jalen seemed to be forever snickering, finding every wince and woe from Elrond humorous. How he wished he could slap the smirk from the young man's face.
The tunnel widened and then spat them out into a large cavern. The firelight revealed that stalagmites covered the cavern floor, creating a maze of pointed rock. The light from the human's torches faded into the surrounding darkness but Elrond could see that from the ceiling hung a never ending field of stalactites. They had walked into a giant gaping mouth with sharp teeth, a huge animal waiting to devour them. The guards walked on a path only they knew, firming Elrond's believe that they had entered here many times. The cavern was crossed with haste and the utmost quiet, even Jalen had ceased his snickering.
At the other end of the cavern was a short tunnel that led out into a smaller grotto. Dameon thrust Elrond forward, releasing him. Elrond quickly balanced himself and turned to glare at the Man. He noticed that the hole they had come through was the only opening and it appeared to have been recently made, dust and rock still littered the floor. So, Dameon had had to break through a seal to enter this room. That thought was not reassuring to Elrond. This room was also rough carven, although done in ancient times by the marks on the walls. The roof was free of hanging stalactites and was a perfect dome shape. In the center of the room, one stalagmite stood. "Welcome, Lord Elrond!" said Dameon enthusiastically. The human lord began to walk leisurely around the room, Elrond slowly turning with him to keep his eyes on the snake. "It has taken me a decade to find this cavern. A dozen years of searching and work to lay eyes upon my prize. Only to find that that prize was still out of reach." Dameon frowned and shook his head. "Quite annoying." His son snorted but Dameon ignored Jalen, continuing to walk around the room. The rest of the company gathered in the room as well, blocking the door. "But at last I will have my prize." Suddenly, Dameon snatched a torch from a guard and held it up.
A sharp light reflected from a smooth surface and Elrond narrowed his eyes as the large marble slab was illuminated behind Dameon. The square slab of marble was eight feet in measure with deep carvings in it. Five panels of runes ran vertically across the slab over a faint carving of a human figure with wings. The last carving on the left was smaller than the others with only a few runes in it. Dameon smiled happily. "All you have to do is read it for me."
Elrond could feel the power hum faintly around the room, sinking into the rock and wafting through the air. He felt it reach out for him, curious about this new creature. This power had an intelligence to it that frightened Elrond and, to his amazement, the power drew away from him. He rubbed his hands together, feeling the power linger on him like flower pollen. A sharp blow to the side of his head sent him crashing to the floor with a cry. In the next second, he was jerked up to his feet and pushed forward, falling against the marble slab. Jalen's face, full of rage, came into view and Elrond feared he would be hit again. "Do as you're told," hissed the human.
Elrond stared at him, seeing the insanity roll about his eyes. "I pity you," whispered Elrond. Jalen jerked back as if he was the one that had been struck and retreated across the room like a wounded animal.
Dameon came to stand beside Elrond with the torch, tapping his chin as if nothing had happened. "The runes are unlike any lettering system we know of and the ordering is impossible to decipher." He looked at Elrond and the half-Elf saw the same insanity in his cold eyes. "Read it," he ordered.
Elrond backed away from the slab, feeling his head pound from the abuse Jalen had given. The air hummed still, although it remained away from Elrond. "I will not," answered Elrond.
Dameon's smile widened and Elrond felt his blood go cold. "As you wish."
A scream behind him caused Elrond to spin and his eyes widened as he found that one of the guards had plunged his knife into the shoulder of one of the workers. A large bloodstain began to seep into the man's shirt and he dropped to the ground with a groan. "No!" cried Elrond, lunging forward. The guards began to laugh and one caught Elrond before he could reach the wounded man. "Let go!" The guard soon found himself on the receiving end of some Elven strength and landed on the floor. Elrond fell to his knees by the injured man and pushed away the guard that had used the knife. The man on the floor stared up at Elrond with pain and fear filled eyes and Elrond gently cupped his cheek. "It's alright. It'll be alright," he muttered. Elrond quickly put both hands on the man's shoulder, reaching into himself and pulling forth his own power. A silver-blue light surrounded his hands, seeping into the man. Carefully, Elrond drew the knife from the man's shoulder, healing the wound as the blade slipped free, fearful of too much blood lose. Finally, although the bloodstain still remained, the wound was closed.
The man slowly touched his shoulder, feeling no pain. He looked up at Elrond and tears fill his eyes. "Thank you," he said.
Elrond smiled and would have said something had two guards not grabbed his arms and pulled him up. He found Dameon still smiling happily as he was pushed back to his side. "Read it," ordered the human lord.
Elrond shut his eyes, a shuttering breath leaving his lips. He knew that the mad Man would injure the workers until Elrond drained himself and could heal them no more, forcing him to watch them die. As he had watched so many die in the healer tents millennia ago, too drained and weak to heal them anymore. Elrond nodded and the guards let him go. Slowly, Elrond walked to the right side of the slab and placed one hand on its surface. "The runes…" Elrond stopped talking to swallow harshly, feeling dread pool in his stomach. "The runes are not letters," he said finally. "They are complete words. Each rune is a complete word and depending on which runes surround it, that rune could mean many things. They are not read like normal script today but are read top to bottom, right to left."
Dameon's cold eyes glowed with pleasure as he stepped forward. Jalen had returned to his father's side by now, eyes still wide. "Much like your Tengwar scripts," Dameon muttered.
That Elvish script was also read top to bottom but left to right. Elrond nodded and sighed. "Yes," he agreed
"Go on," pressured Dameon.
"Valar forgive me," Elrond muttered, looking up at the first rune. "Here lies the…" He was forced to pause at the next rune. Leaning up, he blew gently at the carving, clearing some dust. "Here lays the entity known as the Angel." The runes for 'entity' and 'angel' were the same but he did not think they meant 'god' either, not positioned like that. An excited mummer from the people in the room made him think that he was probably right. He glanced at Dameon and found the human staring with wide eyes at him. "For a…thousand years It has lain here, waiting." Elrond thought the continued elaboration on the 'angel' runes made it a name and spoke as such. "Once Its power was ours to control but no more. We have…placed It here for those who would…control It next." Elrond felt a chill run down his spine at reading these words.
The half-Elf moved to the next panel. "After the Angel is…freed…It will…choose a master. This is the way of It. To free the Angel you must place the key into the…" Elrond was forced to rub some algae off the next rune, hearing Dameon breath as if in pain. "Into the slot in the…pillar. Only then will you be able to free the Angel." He stopped and looked at the humans, finished with the first two panels.
"What key? What pillar?" demanded Dameon.
"I don't know. It doesn't say," replied Elrond.
"Maybe it means the stalagmite," suggested Jalen, a moment of clearness in his eyes.
Dameon turned to the stone and frowned. "But I don't see any slot!" he exclaimed. He reached out and touched the stone, only to have some of the rock face crumble in his hand. A shout of excitement rang in the cavern and Dameon began clawing at the rock, breaking it off until a square pillar of the same marble as the slab was revealed. In the top was a half circle shape cut into the marble. Dameon whipped his head around, the gleam in his eyes bright. "Continue," he ordered.
Elrond turned back to the slab and began on the third panel. "As It may be…ordered to do so…the Angel can do…" Elrond lapsed into silence, quickly reading through the runes of the next two panels. Tears sprang to his eyes and he choked back a sob.
The light in Dameon's eyes burned, his right hand beginning to twitch. "What is it?" he all but screamed.
Elrond jumped and sucked in a deep breath. He lay his hand on the first panel. "This panel tells of the Angel being able to purify the earth. Turning it into a paradise unto the ending of the time. All shall be joyous and good." He lay his hand on the next panel, the last one before the smaller single line panel at the end. "This panel tells of the Angel destroying the earth, sending all into never ending darkness and killing all alive. The earth will crumble into dust and choke all of existence." Tears fell down Elrond's eyes as he repeated what he had read. This was worse than anything Sauron would do. The Dark Lord could only spread his shadow across Middle-Earth. This Angel entity called of either bringing all of existence to joy or ruin, to spread over all things, even the Valar.
Elrond yelped as Dameon grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "The key? Where does it say the key is?" he yelled.
Elrond grabbed the man's wrists, feeling his teeth rattle. "The last panel says that the key is in the eagle's eye!"
Dameon tossed Elrond to the floor of the cave harshly. "What does that mean?" he yelled.
"I don't know!" said Elrond. "It's some type of riddle! It has to be solved!" Dameon became very still and silent. Elrond feared that the man had lost what was left of his mind and braced himself for some type of outburst. Even the guards and workers drew back slightly.
Dameon moved one hand slowly and smoothed back his blond hair. "A riddle?" he asked rhetorically. "In the eagle's eye, is it?" He tugged down his jacket and smiled lightly. "There is only one eagle in this city." The erratic energy in the cave calmed. "Very well," said Dameon, sounding pleased. "Come, it is getting late and we must go." Dameon walked past Elrond toward the opening and Jalen grabbed the half-Elf from the floor. Dameon chuckled at the threshold as Jalen moved Elrond to stand next to him and the human once again placed the half-Elf's hand upon his elbow. "Or is that early?" asked Dameon in an amused voice. With another chuckle, the group walked back through the cavern and into the tunnels. Elrond, feeling himself enter a type of shock, remained silent.
The return trip was done with greater speed, with Dameon yanking Elrond through the tunnels housing the Old Forgotten and through the murk that fouled the entrance arch. Finally, they were outside again and Elrond dropped to his knees in the wet grass. He coughed up a small amount of bile, feeling his stomach churn. He didn't have the energy to resist as Jalen pulled him up and dragged him toward his mount. The horse, seeing the half-Elf's trouble, quickly lowered itself to his knees. Jalen paused at this and Elrond sighed. "Hennad lle," he muttered to the horse. A soft whicker answered him and Jalen growled, pushing Elrond onto the horse's back. His hands were tied again and his hood flipped forward.
Palest dawn, so light that Elrond knew that the human's could not see it, lit the sky. Soon, the sun would blaze across the sky and the city would wake. Dameon harshly ordered the group forward and they rode out of the forest. The torches were put out and a gallop taken up as they raced down the farmland roads. Soon, they past into the city and made their way back through the maze like streets. Finding himself facing south, Elrond was able to see the ocean that the city rested on, the Sundering Sea. Many ship masts and sails made a tiny boat forest in the bay. By the ocean was a tall lighthouse, white rock glowing faintly. To the far left, too far east for Elrond to have been able to see it from his room, stood a palace like structure, although the building was a little small to be truly called a palace.
They clattered into the courtyard of Xavier's house and Elrond slipped from his mount's back instead of being pulled off. The half-Elf finally got the chance to pet the horse that had carried him. "Hennad lle, mellon nín," Elrond muttered, thanking the animal again. Dameon stalked into the house and Jalen came to retrieve Elrond. The horse snapped at the human as Jalen grabbed Elrond's arm and dragged him into the house. Moving through the house was the lesser nightmare of this night. Elrond's body ached and he found it a great challenge to manage the stairs with Jalen pulling him along.
Two guards stood beside the door to the room Elrond had woken up in. The door was opened and Jalen pushed Elrond inside. The half-Elf managed a few unsteady steps into the room before falling to his knees. His head swam and he was unable to hear the hateful words that Jalen said to him before slamming the door. Little black dots appeared at the edge of his vision and Elrond groaned, closing his eyes. He flinched as he felt hands on his shoulders. "King Elf?"
The half-Elf sighed at the voice. "My young champion," he muttered. The young boy unclasped the cloak and pushed it away. He then pulled off the two-layered drape underneath and removed the brooch and belt. Elrond remained kneeling on the floor as Avon undressed him down to the tunic, shirt and trousers.
"Come, King Elf, you need rest," said Avon, his voice concerned. Elrond slowly pulled himself up from the floor and, using the furniture and Avon for support, made it to the bed. The half-Elf all but fell onto the soft mattress of the bed, curling into a ball and burying his face into the pillow. Elrond felt Avon draw up the blankets and then he knew no more.
There is a primeval connection between the race of Elves and Middle-Earth. This connection is as a fine silver thread that allows each to feel the other. The wind did not dare blow and the stars shone fiercely in the sky. Now the land shook and quivered. The trees became still, not even their leaves moved. The grass on the plains parted and the mountains gave way. Through that gossamer thread, all of nature could feel the emotions of one golden haired Elf with flashing blue eyes. With him, grey eyes also burned, smoldering with emotion. These Elves followed a path southwards across Middle-Earth, following furtive hoof prints and broken branches hanging loose. All of Middle-Earth held its breath as these Elves passed, for they would not be slowed nor stopped.