Chapter 4
1 Shadows of the Past
((Dream sequence. Hehe, I love these…))
I'm slapped, hard across the face, I don't even react, I'm numb. This had been happening for …gods, I don't even remember. Days, weeks months? Suck down here in this cell, with only the rats for good company. The only time people come it was to gloat and beat me and…I shudder.
But today is different. The door opens and a searing light hits my face. A group of people, men, comes in; they are towering over me. My hanging form, feet just barely brushing the floor, if naked and raw. I am small, perhaps only fifteen years old.
Instead of flinching from the light as they expected, I smile into it, the light being absorbed into my body, rejuvenating me. I was slapped again, metal rings cutting into my face. The man sneered as he circled me, like a vulture. Behind me, his gloved hand touches my tortured back; the lacerations still seeping blood. I groan in pain, long since given up my façade of detachment.
"Well, demon, today you are going outside." He said and hands unlock my wrists that were stretched out above my head. Without anything holding me up, I collapse to the cold stone floor.
Laughter erupts. Shamed, my face burned. My arms tingled as feeling crept back into them.
"Get him up," the man ordered. Rough hands haul me to my feet by my hair. The scene fades into darkness, then I am in a different place.
Someone had put an old pair of ragged pants on me. Perhaps some kind soul helping me keep at least my dignity.
I was not tied, but flanked on either side by tall men in dark robes. I was only my last shred of pride that kept me standing unaided.
In front of me is my mother. She looked like she had gained thirty years. He dark hair had more gray in it and her face was drawn and haggard. She too had been beaten.
"Whore of the demon, you will die and your demon spawn will soon follow," said the leader. My mother raised her head a bit, pride and strength coming back into her eyes. She looked down at me, her eyes filled with love and sadness.
The leader raised his arm and five archers readied their bows, arrows aimed t my mother. Her eyes never left mine. ~Run, Kalan, run far from here,~
The leader brought his arms down.
"I love you, Kalan!" she screamed just as the five quarrels entered her body. I screamed.
Outraged, I hit the men beside me with strength bond my years. I ran past my mother, past the archers and into the forest.
I could hear orders being shouted for horses to chase me down. I didn't stop running; the wounds in my back began to pour blood.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. My back began to hurt, but not from the cuts, this was a dull pain, like my shoulder blades were too big.
PAIN!
Sam looked down, worriedly at the whimpering boy as he jerked in the throes of a dream. He also noticed a few tears seeping from under the closed lids.
Pain erupts in my back and two wings, leathery and silver unfold from my shoulder blades. I shudder and look back at them, 'What?'
Suddenly, I came upon a huge crevice and without thinking I leapt. The wings caught the air current and carried me safely across.
I drop to the other side, collapsing with pain and shock. More pain! I scream as the wings are drawn back into my skin, folding and shrinking then disappeared, the skin folding over them once more.
Horses. I hide behind a tree and cautiously look out over the crevice.
"He must have fallen, you heard that scream," said one. The others nodded.
"Good, don't have to worry about that demon ever again," and they left.
I fall into darkness, the scene changes. I am now surrounded in another forest, I don't recognize where I am. I don't know how long I have been walking, but I know many days and nights have passed. I was exhausted but fear kept me on my feet.
I walked as if in a dream. The wounds in my back burned and my head swam. Finally, I could go no further and I collapsed. My shaking body pressed into the cool, firm earth.
I heard hoof beats, my mind panicked. 'They found me!' but my body was too weak to move.
The horse came nearer and stopped. A rustle of cloth and light feet hit the ground. There was a soft, musical voice as the footsteps nears. A language that I have never heard, but after a while, my mind began to understand the words.
"Mani naa sina? Hima? Manke lle tuula?"(1)[1] After a while I no longer heard the alien words only the deep soothing voice in words that I knew.
"I come seeking the strange power that I felt, yet I only find a lost child," the voice said, a male voice. The feet stopped beside my head. "Aiya!"(2)[2] A gasp and another rustle of cloth. The newcomer knelt beside me. I saw him through clouded vision, long dark hair falling past his shoulders. A fair face filled with concern bent over me.
"You've been beaten," he stated, a long-fingered hand gently touched my torn skin, I flinch. "You are no normal boy, you blood tells me that, for it is traced with silver." The hand gently turns me over, holding my body up so dirt would not get in the wounds. "And your eyes," he murmurs. His hand brushes my cheek and I stare blankly at this man…no, wait. His dark hair shifts revealing a graceful pointed ear. An elf!
The elf's eyes roved over my face, I know how I must look. Pale, dirt and blood covered, staring up at him as if seeing a dream.
He unclasps his dark green cloak with his free hand. He wraps it around my body; the cloth is sot against my tortured flesh. His eyes search my own as if reading my soul. His cool palm cups my face, his touch soothes.
"I am Elrond Peredhil, (3)[3] Lord of Rivendell. You will be safe in our city, I will care for you wounds," he said softly, now speaking in the common tongue. I do not respond but he nods. He gathers me into his arms, cradling me against his chest and carries me over to his steed, a large brown stallion.
I am lifted onto the saddle and he leaps nimbly on behind me. One arm wraps around my waist, holding me against his body, gently but firmly. The other hand grasps the reigns and he speaks something to the horse, the beast leapt smoothly into a fast trot.
The forest flew by us; eventually I begin to relax. The smooth stride of the horse rocking me…like my mother used to. I was crying, silently, the tears streaming down my face.
Elrond leaned over my shoulder, pressing his cheek to mine. His hand moved up to brush the tears away.
"I feel you pain, but you must first rest and heal. Take refuge in my power, I will protect you, son of the ancient ones," he whispers into my ear, and his lips pressed against my cheek. My head fell back against his strong shoulder, darkness came again.
Once again, I was in a different place. My ruined pants had been taken from me and my body had been washed. I was clothed in a soft white robe, lying in a large bed, silken sheets covering me. My wounds had been treated and no longer hurt so much. Light filled the open room; white marble and crystal walls surrounded me.
A dark hared elf sat on the bed beside me. He was dressed in a long blue and gold robe. Extravagant sleeves covered his arms. He looked down at me kindly, his keen eyes watching my face. Something familiar about him…
"Who are you," I ask in a weak voice. The elf looked surprised.
"I am Elrond, do you not remember me finding you in the woods?" he asked. I suddenly did remember, but he wasn't wearing anything near as exquisite as he was now. I nod and he smiled. "And what may I call you, my young friend?" he asked and I cleared my throat.
"Kalan Sadaya," I answer and his smile widened.
"That is good, at least you remember who you are. I was concerned that you would not after al you have been through," he said solemnly.
I remember then: what happened, the cruel men, my mother… the tears return, but this time I fight them.
The elf noticed and his eyes filled with compassion. He reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair out of my face.
"Oh, little frightened one, I am sorry. I saw in your mind what happened. Let it out, young Kalan, for there is no shame in crying," I begin to cry, his words breaking the dam and the river gushed forth.
Elrond shifted his position and took me in his arms; my head nestled against his shoulder. Desperately, I clutch at his soft robe as if it were my only lifeline as the sobs poured from me. The elf held me tightly, gently rocking and stroking my hair. He murmured soft, elven words into my ear, soothing my pain.
"Its all right, Kalan," he said quietly. Then his voice changed, and his hand grasps my shoulder, he looks directly into my eyes. "Cuiv-de," (4)[4] he commands, his deep voice was lighter, his hand shakes me slightly. "Cuiv-de, Kalan," he says again.
Elrond's face begins to fade. I become aware of a cold chill on my body, my hand stings and my leg throbs.
"Cuiv-de, lle naa kailamar," (5)[5] I fall.
----------------------- [1] 1) What is this? A child? Where did you come from?
[2] 2) Oh!
[3] 3) Peredhil: Elvish for "half-elven", applied to Elrond
[4] 4) Wake-up (I hope…)
[5] 5) Wake-up, you are dreaming (once again, I hope…)
1 Shadows of the Past
((Dream sequence. Hehe, I love these…))
I'm slapped, hard across the face, I don't even react, I'm numb. This had been happening for …gods, I don't even remember. Days, weeks months? Suck down here in this cell, with only the rats for good company. The only time people come it was to gloat and beat me and…I shudder.
But today is different. The door opens and a searing light hits my face. A group of people, men, comes in; they are towering over me. My hanging form, feet just barely brushing the floor, if naked and raw. I am small, perhaps only fifteen years old.
Instead of flinching from the light as they expected, I smile into it, the light being absorbed into my body, rejuvenating me. I was slapped again, metal rings cutting into my face. The man sneered as he circled me, like a vulture. Behind me, his gloved hand touches my tortured back; the lacerations still seeping blood. I groan in pain, long since given up my façade of detachment.
"Well, demon, today you are going outside." He said and hands unlock my wrists that were stretched out above my head. Without anything holding me up, I collapse to the cold stone floor.
Laughter erupts. Shamed, my face burned. My arms tingled as feeling crept back into them.
"Get him up," the man ordered. Rough hands haul me to my feet by my hair. The scene fades into darkness, then I am in a different place.
Someone had put an old pair of ragged pants on me. Perhaps some kind soul helping me keep at least my dignity.
I was not tied, but flanked on either side by tall men in dark robes. I was only my last shred of pride that kept me standing unaided.
In front of me is my mother. She looked like she had gained thirty years. He dark hair had more gray in it and her face was drawn and haggard. She too had been beaten.
"Whore of the demon, you will die and your demon spawn will soon follow," said the leader. My mother raised her head a bit, pride and strength coming back into her eyes. She looked down at me, her eyes filled with love and sadness.
The leader raised his arm and five archers readied their bows, arrows aimed t my mother. Her eyes never left mine. ~Run, Kalan, run far from here,~
The leader brought his arms down.
"I love you, Kalan!" she screamed just as the five quarrels entered her body. I screamed.
Outraged, I hit the men beside me with strength bond my years. I ran past my mother, past the archers and into the forest.
I could hear orders being shouted for horses to chase me down. I didn't stop running; the wounds in my back began to pour blood.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. My back began to hurt, but not from the cuts, this was a dull pain, like my shoulder blades were too big.
PAIN!
Sam looked down, worriedly at the whimpering boy as he jerked in the throes of a dream. He also noticed a few tears seeping from under the closed lids.
Pain erupts in my back and two wings, leathery and silver unfold from my shoulder blades. I shudder and look back at them, 'What?'
Suddenly, I came upon a huge crevice and without thinking I leapt. The wings caught the air current and carried me safely across.
I drop to the other side, collapsing with pain and shock. More pain! I scream as the wings are drawn back into my skin, folding and shrinking then disappeared, the skin folding over them once more.
Horses. I hide behind a tree and cautiously look out over the crevice.
"He must have fallen, you heard that scream," said one. The others nodded.
"Good, don't have to worry about that demon ever again," and they left.
I fall into darkness, the scene changes. I am now surrounded in another forest, I don't recognize where I am. I don't know how long I have been walking, but I know many days and nights have passed. I was exhausted but fear kept me on my feet.
I walked as if in a dream. The wounds in my back burned and my head swam. Finally, I could go no further and I collapsed. My shaking body pressed into the cool, firm earth.
I heard hoof beats, my mind panicked. 'They found me!' but my body was too weak to move.
The horse came nearer and stopped. A rustle of cloth and light feet hit the ground. There was a soft, musical voice as the footsteps nears. A language that I have never heard, but after a while, my mind began to understand the words.
"Mani naa sina? Hima? Manke lle tuula?"(1)[1] After a while I no longer heard the alien words only the deep soothing voice in words that I knew.
"I come seeking the strange power that I felt, yet I only find a lost child," the voice said, a male voice. The feet stopped beside my head. "Aiya!"(2)[2] A gasp and another rustle of cloth. The newcomer knelt beside me. I saw him through clouded vision, long dark hair falling past his shoulders. A fair face filled with concern bent over me.
"You've been beaten," he stated, a long-fingered hand gently touched my torn skin, I flinch. "You are no normal boy, you blood tells me that, for it is traced with silver." The hand gently turns me over, holding my body up so dirt would not get in the wounds. "And your eyes," he murmurs. His hand brushes my cheek and I stare blankly at this man…no, wait. His dark hair shifts revealing a graceful pointed ear. An elf!
The elf's eyes roved over my face, I know how I must look. Pale, dirt and blood covered, staring up at him as if seeing a dream.
He unclasps his dark green cloak with his free hand. He wraps it around my body; the cloth is sot against my tortured flesh. His eyes search my own as if reading my soul. His cool palm cups my face, his touch soothes.
"I am Elrond Peredhil, (3)[3] Lord of Rivendell. You will be safe in our city, I will care for you wounds," he said softly, now speaking in the common tongue. I do not respond but he nods. He gathers me into his arms, cradling me against his chest and carries me over to his steed, a large brown stallion.
I am lifted onto the saddle and he leaps nimbly on behind me. One arm wraps around my waist, holding me against his body, gently but firmly. The other hand grasps the reigns and he speaks something to the horse, the beast leapt smoothly into a fast trot.
The forest flew by us; eventually I begin to relax. The smooth stride of the horse rocking me…like my mother used to. I was crying, silently, the tears streaming down my face.
Elrond leaned over my shoulder, pressing his cheek to mine. His hand moved up to brush the tears away.
"I feel you pain, but you must first rest and heal. Take refuge in my power, I will protect you, son of the ancient ones," he whispers into my ear, and his lips pressed against my cheek. My head fell back against his strong shoulder, darkness came again.
Once again, I was in a different place. My ruined pants had been taken from me and my body had been washed. I was clothed in a soft white robe, lying in a large bed, silken sheets covering me. My wounds had been treated and no longer hurt so much. Light filled the open room; white marble and crystal walls surrounded me.
A dark hared elf sat on the bed beside me. He was dressed in a long blue and gold robe. Extravagant sleeves covered his arms. He looked down at me kindly, his keen eyes watching my face. Something familiar about him…
"Who are you," I ask in a weak voice. The elf looked surprised.
"I am Elrond, do you not remember me finding you in the woods?" he asked. I suddenly did remember, but he wasn't wearing anything near as exquisite as he was now. I nod and he smiled. "And what may I call you, my young friend?" he asked and I cleared my throat.
"Kalan Sadaya," I answer and his smile widened.
"That is good, at least you remember who you are. I was concerned that you would not after al you have been through," he said solemnly.
I remember then: what happened, the cruel men, my mother… the tears return, but this time I fight them.
The elf noticed and his eyes filled with compassion. He reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair out of my face.
"Oh, little frightened one, I am sorry. I saw in your mind what happened. Let it out, young Kalan, for there is no shame in crying," I begin to cry, his words breaking the dam and the river gushed forth.
Elrond shifted his position and took me in his arms; my head nestled against his shoulder. Desperately, I clutch at his soft robe as if it were my only lifeline as the sobs poured from me. The elf held me tightly, gently rocking and stroking my hair. He murmured soft, elven words into my ear, soothing my pain.
"Its all right, Kalan," he said quietly. Then his voice changed, and his hand grasps my shoulder, he looks directly into my eyes. "Cuiv-de," (4)[4] he commands, his deep voice was lighter, his hand shakes me slightly. "Cuiv-de, Kalan," he says again.
Elrond's face begins to fade. I become aware of a cold chill on my body, my hand stings and my leg throbs.
"Cuiv-de, lle naa kailamar," (5)[5] I fall.
----------------------- [1] 1) What is this? A child? Where did you come from?
[2] 2) Oh!
[3] 3) Peredhil: Elvish for "half-elven", applied to Elrond
[4] 4) Wake-up (I hope…)
[5] 5) Wake-up, you are dreaming (once again, I hope…)