Author's note: Short, and evil. We're back to the time of the first post
now. And Valin, if you think that was an evil twist, wait and see what's in
store.
***
Sal walked through the streets of Minas Tirith, the guards behind him and Ralisay in front. He knew that no punishment Elessar gave him could be worse than the one he was giving himself. They came to the houses of healing, and went in, passing through to the room Elessar lay in.
Sal felt relief remove a burden he didn't know he'd been carrying as he saw the king. He was pale and bruised, but clearly going to live. He sat up in bed, waiting for him to come. He had been so stupid, he realised, to act the way he had. Elessar looked at him, and Sal met that grey gaze, but soon he tore his eyes away, ashamed at how he had hurt this man.
Elessar looked passed him to Ralisay. "Leave us," he ordered.
"Your Majesty, it is not safe to. . ."
"Leave us!"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Ralisay bowed and left, followed by the guards. Sal didn't know what to make of this. Did it mean Elessar trusted him? But there was still a look of doubt in his eyes.
"Why?" Elessar asked.
Sal told him. He began with the attack and told Elessar everything. He left nothing out, even telling him about what Bergil had done. Throughout, Elessar looked at him critically, giving no sign of his emotions.
"I never betrayed you," Sal said as he finished. There was a silence, Elessar staring into his eyes again. Sal had the uneasy feeling that even his soul was being searched by that gaze.
"I never betrayed you," he repeated, waiting fearfully for the king's reply.
***
Author's note: I couldn't resist. Sorry. You'll just have to wait until the next part to find out if Elessar believes him. I'll try and write in quickly.
***
Sal walked through the streets of Minas Tirith, the guards behind him and Ralisay in front. He knew that no punishment Elessar gave him could be worse than the one he was giving himself. They came to the houses of healing, and went in, passing through to the room Elessar lay in.
Sal felt relief remove a burden he didn't know he'd been carrying as he saw the king. He was pale and bruised, but clearly going to live. He sat up in bed, waiting for him to come. He had been so stupid, he realised, to act the way he had. Elessar looked at him, and Sal met that grey gaze, but soon he tore his eyes away, ashamed at how he had hurt this man.
Elessar looked passed him to Ralisay. "Leave us," he ordered.
"Your Majesty, it is not safe to. . ."
"Leave us!"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Ralisay bowed and left, followed by the guards. Sal didn't know what to make of this. Did it mean Elessar trusted him? But there was still a look of doubt in his eyes.
"Why?" Elessar asked.
Sal told him. He began with the attack and told Elessar everything. He left nothing out, even telling him about what Bergil had done. Throughout, Elessar looked at him critically, giving no sign of his emotions.
"I never betrayed you," Sal said as he finished. There was a silence, Elessar staring into his eyes again. Sal had the uneasy feeling that even his soul was being searched by that gaze.
"I never betrayed you," he repeated, waiting fearfully for the king's reply.
***
Author's note: I couldn't resist. Sorry. You'll just have to wait until the next part to find out if Elessar believes him. I'll try and write in quickly.