Author's note: I've just been standing in the snow for over half an hour
waiting for a bus. Why did they have to pick today to be late? Still, I saw
Two Towers for the third time so it wasn't all bad.
**
Rain was falling heavily as Pippin walked. He reached the edge of the river and looked for somewhere safe to cross. While he couldn't get any wetter, the water was flowing fast and he didn't want to risk swimming across. He walked downstream for a while, since he knew the place where Faramir had crossed was that direction. It was a long way in that direction, but at least there would definitely be a place to cross somewhere.
The heavy clouds overhead made the day almost as dark as night, and water dripped from Pippin's hair. Water ran down his face and mingled with the tears he was crying. The Harnen river flowed on, deep and fast beside him, an impenetrable barrier between him and Merry. His entire body was freezing, and he could no longer feel his toes and fingers they were so cold.
He walked westwards, shivering in his sopping clothes and weeping at the futility of his task. Was there some higher power working against him? Trying to keep him from returning to Merry? It seemed almost as though there were. All he wanted was to find some way across the river, but even that was impossible.
"I'm sorry, Merry," he sobbed. "I'm sorry."
***
The rain had stopped some time in the night while he slept. The sky was still overcast, but light pierced the grey covering. Somehow, things didn't seem so bleak now. Pippin stood and began walking again. He had been walking along the bank for a while before he came to the ford. The exact time couldn't even be guessed, as the sun was hidden by the clouds.
The clothes which had just begun to dry got soaked again as he waded through water that came up passed his waist at one point. But icy though it was, the water was shallow enough for him to cross safely.
Once on the other side his heart was raised. He felt he was a lot closer to Merry now, more than the distance across the river. He had passed what seemed like an impossible barrier. What did the distance matter now? He walked south with renewed confidence.
***
They hadn't replaced the blindfold after Merry had left, so Legolas could look around the room. The instruments that surrounded the walls looked vicious. Many had hooks or barbs. Others had blades. Some on the higher shelves he could only see part of, leather straps and metal prongs.
How long would it take for them to realise the fire wasn't effecting him as they intended? How long before they started using those torture implements on him?
The door opened and King Elmas came in. He stood away from the table where Legolas lay, which was still very hot, even though the fire had gone out some time ago.
"Have you decided to answer my questions yet?" King Elmas asked.
"King Aragorn would not start a war unless you had done something to provoke it," Legolas said.
"His armies are being prepared, his scouts are invading my lands. What is this if not the preparation for war?" Legolas didn't answer. "Tell me, what are is main tactics in battle? Does he use much cavalry or is his army infantry?" Again Legolas didn't answer.
"You will regret silence, elf," King Elmas said.
"Not as much as I should regret speech."
"I will defend my lands and my people. For that I need your knowledge and I will get it by whatever means are necessary."
"I will not tell you," Legolas said, "no matter what you do to me, for I know Aragorn would not make war against you unprovoked."
"Your stubbornness will be your undoing." The king stormed out, and a man whom Legolas hadn't seen before entered. He smiled cruelly, and walked along the shelves slowly. Legolas could see him running his hand over the items there, and fear grew in his heart. So the torture was to begin for real now.
***
Author's note: And on that evil note, I will leave you.
**
Rain was falling heavily as Pippin walked. He reached the edge of the river and looked for somewhere safe to cross. While he couldn't get any wetter, the water was flowing fast and he didn't want to risk swimming across. He walked downstream for a while, since he knew the place where Faramir had crossed was that direction. It was a long way in that direction, but at least there would definitely be a place to cross somewhere.
The heavy clouds overhead made the day almost as dark as night, and water dripped from Pippin's hair. Water ran down his face and mingled with the tears he was crying. The Harnen river flowed on, deep and fast beside him, an impenetrable barrier between him and Merry. His entire body was freezing, and he could no longer feel his toes and fingers they were so cold.
He walked westwards, shivering in his sopping clothes and weeping at the futility of his task. Was there some higher power working against him? Trying to keep him from returning to Merry? It seemed almost as though there were. All he wanted was to find some way across the river, but even that was impossible.
"I'm sorry, Merry," he sobbed. "I'm sorry."
***
The rain had stopped some time in the night while he slept. The sky was still overcast, but light pierced the grey covering. Somehow, things didn't seem so bleak now. Pippin stood and began walking again. He had been walking along the bank for a while before he came to the ford. The exact time couldn't even be guessed, as the sun was hidden by the clouds.
The clothes which had just begun to dry got soaked again as he waded through water that came up passed his waist at one point. But icy though it was, the water was shallow enough for him to cross safely.
Once on the other side his heart was raised. He felt he was a lot closer to Merry now, more than the distance across the river. He had passed what seemed like an impossible barrier. What did the distance matter now? He walked south with renewed confidence.
***
They hadn't replaced the blindfold after Merry had left, so Legolas could look around the room. The instruments that surrounded the walls looked vicious. Many had hooks or barbs. Others had blades. Some on the higher shelves he could only see part of, leather straps and metal prongs.
How long would it take for them to realise the fire wasn't effecting him as they intended? How long before they started using those torture implements on him?
The door opened and King Elmas came in. He stood away from the table where Legolas lay, which was still very hot, even though the fire had gone out some time ago.
"Have you decided to answer my questions yet?" King Elmas asked.
"King Aragorn would not start a war unless you had done something to provoke it," Legolas said.
"His armies are being prepared, his scouts are invading my lands. What is this if not the preparation for war?" Legolas didn't answer. "Tell me, what are is main tactics in battle? Does he use much cavalry or is his army infantry?" Again Legolas didn't answer.
"You will regret silence, elf," King Elmas said.
"Not as much as I should regret speech."
"I will defend my lands and my people. For that I need your knowledge and I will get it by whatever means are necessary."
"I will not tell you," Legolas said, "no matter what you do to me, for I know Aragorn would not make war against you unprovoked."
"Your stubbornness will be your undoing." The king stormed out, and a man whom Legolas hadn't seen before entered. He smiled cruelly, and walked along the shelves slowly. Legolas could see him running his hand over the items there, and fear grew in his heart. So the torture was to begin for real now.
***
Author's note: And on that evil note, I will leave you.