Author's note: Thank you to my two reviewers. It's always good to know my
hard work is being appreciated.
***
King Elmas entered the cell, and Merry stood defiantly before him. He could hear the sound of Legolas being taken away, and was afraid for him. He knew how the king feared outsiders. The room of fire where he had been taken was a place spoken of in whispers of fear. It had been a threat given to Merry and Pippin when they were first brought to Ethrin, though neither of them knew what lay within it.
"It seems you are honest about some things," King Elmas said.
"I have never lied to you," Merry responded.
"You told me you didn't know the elf."
"I said I didn't know he was here. You didn't give me a chance to explain."
"Explain now."
"Pippin and I knew Legolas before we were brought here." Merry then went on to explain all that Legolas had told him. "I know Legolas means no harm to Ethrin. He thought me and Pippin were slaves and was only trying to help us."
"If what you say is true then Pippin is almost certainly a prisoner of the northerners. It is bad enough that they encroach on my lands, but to take one of my people prisoner! It is an act of war!" Merry wondered if he'd misheard that. Was it possible the king thought of Merry and Pippin as Ethrins?
***
Legolas only got a glimpse of the room before he was blindfolded. There were shelves around the walls covered in implements he didn't want to know the purpose of. In the centre of the room was a metal table with restraints on, and beneath it was what looked like a grate.
As soon as the blindfold was on securely, the guards cut the ropes on his wrists and put him on the table. He struggled, but there were a good many of them, and then soon had him held down. Metal restraints held down his wrists, ankles, waist and neck. The table beneath him was cold against his body.
There was a moment's pause, then hands grabbed his shirt, pulling it off him. He heard the fabric tear. As they pulled his back was pulled off the table slightly, pressing against the restraints. Then the fabric on his back tore and he slammed down into the table again. The metal was icy against his skin.
He wondered what would happen next, when he heard footsteps. The door opened and then closed again, and Legolas was left alone. What was happening to Merry, he wondered. Why had he sounded so afraid? He lay there waiting, as the table began to warm to his body.
At last the door opened and footsteps crossed to the table.
"Why did you come here, elf?" a voice demanded. Legolas recognised it as King Elmas'.
"I was exploring. My people have gone into the west and I have no home to belong to."
"What do you know of Gondor?"
"I have been there on occasion." Legolas wasn't sure how much Merry and Pippin would have told him about the quest and so didn't know how much to say himself.
"And Gondor's king?"
"He is a good man."
There was a sound of metal sliding against metal. It sounded like a blade being drawn. The point of the blade was pressed against Legolas' chest. It wasn't hard to even to break the skin or even hurt, it was just a threat.
"Why is he intent on making war with my land?" Legolas couldn't believe that of Aragorn. He knew Aragorn to be a lover of peace and wouldn't accept that he would ever try to provoke a war.
"That does not sound like the man that I know."
"And how well do you know him?" Legolas didn't answer that. "You would do well to answer my questions, elf, for beneath you a fire is laid. I have only to give the order and we shall see how much heat an elf can endure."
"I have know Aragorn a long time, long enough to consider him my friend."
"What will he do with Pippin?" King Elmas demanded. Legolas was puzzled. It sounded almost as though he was concerned for him.
"Pippin will not be hurt," Legolas said, "for the king knows him, though he was not yet king when they were friends."
"So the king must know Merry as well." There was something in King Elmas' tone Legolas didn't like, and was afraid that he had said too much.
***
The sun had set, but instead of making camp, Faramir urged the group onwards. Faramir was carrying Pippin at this point, and Pippin was almost sleeping on his back, then a sudden rough step would jolt him awake.
The sun set and the western sky grew dark. The moon came out above them, and in the distance Pippin saw the gleam of a river. As they drew closer he could make out dark shapes on it and realised they were boats. Most hobbits hated boats, but Pippin had spent enough time by the Brandywine with Merry for him to not mind. Still, he'd much rather be on solid ground than water.
They reached the river shortly, and Pippin saw there were other people waiting by the boats. Faramir said something to one of them and then climbed into a boat. He placed Pippin down on the deck, while Caylith, Mayomer and a few of the others boarded. The boat was small, and Pippin huddled against the edge while the others moved about.
His eyes began to close, and he was barely away of the boat being pushed off from the side of the river. Someone tucked a blanket over him and he slept, while the boat sailed slowly up the Anduin.
***
Author's note: I've put the cliffhanger in the middle of the chapter, that's just insane. Ah well, at least there is one. Please review.
***
King Elmas entered the cell, and Merry stood defiantly before him. He could hear the sound of Legolas being taken away, and was afraid for him. He knew how the king feared outsiders. The room of fire where he had been taken was a place spoken of in whispers of fear. It had been a threat given to Merry and Pippin when they were first brought to Ethrin, though neither of them knew what lay within it.
"It seems you are honest about some things," King Elmas said.
"I have never lied to you," Merry responded.
"You told me you didn't know the elf."
"I said I didn't know he was here. You didn't give me a chance to explain."
"Explain now."
"Pippin and I knew Legolas before we were brought here." Merry then went on to explain all that Legolas had told him. "I know Legolas means no harm to Ethrin. He thought me and Pippin were slaves and was only trying to help us."
"If what you say is true then Pippin is almost certainly a prisoner of the northerners. It is bad enough that they encroach on my lands, but to take one of my people prisoner! It is an act of war!" Merry wondered if he'd misheard that. Was it possible the king thought of Merry and Pippin as Ethrins?
***
Legolas only got a glimpse of the room before he was blindfolded. There were shelves around the walls covered in implements he didn't want to know the purpose of. In the centre of the room was a metal table with restraints on, and beneath it was what looked like a grate.
As soon as the blindfold was on securely, the guards cut the ropes on his wrists and put him on the table. He struggled, but there were a good many of them, and then soon had him held down. Metal restraints held down his wrists, ankles, waist and neck. The table beneath him was cold against his body.
There was a moment's pause, then hands grabbed his shirt, pulling it off him. He heard the fabric tear. As they pulled his back was pulled off the table slightly, pressing against the restraints. Then the fabric on his back tore and he slammed down into the table again. The metal was icy against his skin.
He wondered what would happen next, when he heard footsteps. The door opened and then closed again, and Legolas was left alone. What was happening to Merry, he wondered. Why had he sounded so afraid? He lay there waiting, as the table began to warm to his body.
At last the door opened and footsteps crossed to the table.
"Why did you come here, elf?" a voice demanded. Legolas recognised it as King Elmas'.
"I was exploring. My people have gone into the west and I have no home to belong to."
"What do you know of Gondor?"
"I have been there on occasion." Legolas wasn't sure how much Merry and Pippin would have told him about the quest and so didn't know how much to say himself.
"And Gondor's king?"
"He is a good man."
There was a sound of metal sliding against metal. It sounded like a blade being drawn. The point of the blade was pressed against Legolas' chest. It wasn't hard to even to break the skin or even hurt, it was just a threat.
"Why is he intent on making war with my land?" Legolas couldn't believe that of Aragorn. He knew Aragorn to be a lover of peace and wouldn't accept that he would ever try to provoke a war.
"That does not sound like the man that I know."
"And how well do you know him?" Legolas didn't answer that. "You would do well to answer my questions, elf, for beneath you a fire is laid. I have only to give the order and we shall see how much heat an elf can endure."
"I have know Aragorn a long time, long enough to consider him my friend."
"What will he do with Pippin?" King Elmas demanded. Legolas was puzzled. It sounded almost as though he was concerned for him.
"Pippin will not be hurt," Legolas said, "for the king knows him, though he was not yet king when they were friends."
"So the king must know Merry as well." There was something in King Elmas' tone Legolas didn't like, and was afraid that he had said too much.
***
The sun had set, but instead of making camp, Faramir urged the group onwards. Faramir was carrying Pippin at this point, and Pippin was almost sleeping on his back, then a sudden rough step would jolt him awake.
The sun set and the western sky grew dark. The moon came out above them, and in the distance Pippin saw the gleam of a river. As they drew closer he could make out dark shapes on it and realised they were boats. Most hobbits hated boats, but Pippin had spent enough time by the Brandywine with Merry for him to not mind. Still, he'd much rather be on solid ground than water.
They reached the river shortly, and Pippin saw there were other people waiting by the boats. Faramir said something to one of them and then climbed into a boat. He placed Pippin down on the deck, while Caylith, Mayomer and a few of the others boarded. The boat was small, and Pippin huddled against the edge while the others moved about.
His eyes began to close, and he was barely away of the boat being pushed off from the side of the river. Someone tucked a blanket over him and he slept, while the boat sailed slowly up the Anduin.
***
Author's note: I've put the cliffhanger in the middle of the chapter, that's just insane. Ah well, at least there is one. Please review.