Starfire
By Shadow Flare
*Kris could be said to be OOC in this chapter. But with all that happens to him, what do you expect? Warning: very bad stuff happens in this chapter. You have been warned. Short chapter…it was going to be longer, but the cliffhanger was too evil to resist. *rubs her hands together in evil malevolent joy**
So you're the kind who deals with the games in the mind
Well you confuse me in a way that I've never known
You confuse me in a way that I've never known
So break me shake me hate me take me over
When the madness stops then you will be alone
Just break me shake me hate me take me over
When the madness stops then you will be alone
~Savage Garden, "Break Me Shake Me"
Chapter Two: Once Again
Kris leaned against the tree, bracing his arms against its trunk, with his blue eyes half-closed. Tantris's presence was a comforting one in the back of his mind, but for a wonder, his Companion didn't say anything. Unusual, but somehow welcome. Everything seemed to be blurring lately, the line between dream and reality was fading away like it had never been and he couldn't sort it out…he needed silence and he needed the time to think it over. He just couldn't stand it anymore! He was going crazy…that was what it was. Well, his family's prediction that he'd go mad in Whites all these years seemed to have come true…after all, what else could this be?
:Why is it so welcome that I not speak, princeling?: Tantris said tartly.
:Not all the time…I just need some silence.: Kris thought back.
:To collect your thoughts?:
:Yes.: Kris answered honestly, twirling one long strand of hair around his finger absently. What is happening to me? I'm…losing myself. Who am I? The line between has been blurred…what is dream and what is real? Do I even want to know? At this point…I don't really want to know what the hell is going on, because I don't want to face the answers.
:Look out!: Tantris shouted in warning, pulling Kris out of his thoughts but too late to help him. The mental call came just before a sharp blade was pressed against his throat from behind and a mental shield dropped over his mind: he couldn't project, couldn't Mindspeak, not even to Tantris.
"Too late, little one." a dark, smooth baritone voice whispered silkily into his ear. Kris struggled against his unknown assailant, trying to rip himself free, but failed. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." The knife was pressed even more into his skin, and Kris gritted his teeth.
"Why are you here?!" the young man said, keeping his fear out of his voice. The man behind him laughed and ran a finger down Kris's cheek possessively: the Herald shivered in fear and disgust, feeling nauseous. "What do you want?!"
"Isn't it obvious?" the man was obviously enjoying himself. "You, Kris Valerian."
"Why? What do you want with me?!" Kris already guessed the reason, but it wasn't something he wanted to think about. At this point, his voice was shaking, and his control was eroding, but at least he managed not to sound hysterical, which was the way he was feeling right about then. Hysterical.
"You are beautiful…just as you were all those years ago." The man purred.
"All those years ago? I don't understand!" Kris was not only afraid but confused.
"Don't tell me you don't remember!" the man sounded quite surprised. "Well, that makes things a lot easier now. There is no one to interfere…the 'Lorien guardian is no longer here…"
"Let me go!" Kris kicked at him, but all his efforts were in vain. Not only was he taller and heavier, but obviously stronger as well.
"No." his assailant purred. "I wanted you…and I never had you. But you've returned from the darkness, little leaf, and now you'll be mine. No one else's." he forced the younger man to face him, pinning both of his slender wrists to the tree trunk above his head just before he forced his lips to Kris's and kissed him. Kris shook when at last the kiss ended, and tears glinted in his long, dark lashes. "Mine, beautiful child."
"No!" Kris fairly sobbed, glaring at the man, who he could see for the first time. He was older and darkly handsome, with cruel, dark eyes and short-cut white hair. Familiar, somehow. Too familiar. The knife was still pressed to his throat, but the Herald didn't seem to notice. "Leave me alone!"
The man briefly considered. "No." Kris tried to fight back again, but his efforts were in vain. The man dropped the knife and wrapped both hands around his pale throat, cutting off Kris's air supply and any chance he may have had of yelling for help from anyone who may have been nearby. Not that there had been anyone nearby…but even the possibility was gone. The young man gasped for breath, his vision going black. He didn't have enough oxygen to even think of fighting back, he only had enough to know what was happening to him and hold on to the thread of his consciousness.
Cloth tore as the man ripped at Kris's Whites with one hand while choking the air out of him without the other. Kris's eyes fluttered shut as he struggled to hold on to consciousness, struggled not to fall into darkness-
He lost. Darkness took him.
~End Chapter~
Author's Notes: Well, thank you to all my loyal reviewers. I honestly thought no one would like this story. Has anyone figured out what the hell is going on? *smirks evilly 'cause she knows all and isn't telling* All I'm gonna say, now that it's obvious from the physical description, that the guy stalking (and threatening!) Kris isn't Haldir. If you still can't see it, then go back and reread the dialogue in the Prologue. Thank you, whoever gave me the Elvish translation links. (I don't have Internet access right now, so I don't remember your name. *sweatdrop* Shadow Flare is silly sometimes.) Tell me your name again, please. And also to that person-Celebrían departed to the West sometime relatively early in the Third Age. RotK is sitting on my table but I'm too lazy to check the exact dates. She was going to Lothlorien and was waylaid by orcs. While she was rescued, she couldn't bear to stay in ME any more and departed West. Personally, I think that Galadriel arranged their marriage and that Celebrían and Elrond only slept together for the sole purpose of ensuring that they had children. Otherwise…who knows? Celebrían probably had as many lovers as she wished and didn't care that Glorfindel was screwing her husband. Hell, who says she wasn't watching? *snickers* I'm sorry, but I'm crazy today. I forgot to mention where I got the name "Laurefindel." It's Glorfindel's name translated into Quenya, 'cause "Glorfindel" itself is Sindarin and sounds too masculine for a "girl". Blame my reading too many fanfics on that little bit. I assume that they both mean "golden-haired". Correct me if I'm wrong, 'kay?