Author's note: I did intend to post this chapter yesterday, but
fanfiction.net wasn't working. Better late than never.
***
The man holding the sword was dressed in the uniform of Ethrin. Pippin had seen him on occasion around the palace on duty. Surely he recognised Pippin too? Apparently he didn't, for the sword remained at Pippin's throat.
"The king doesn't think much of oathbreakers," the soldier said. For a moment Pippin didn't understand what he meant, then he saw that that must be how his disappearance was interpreted. He hoped Merry didn't think this of him as well, but they couldn't have known about the Gondor soldiers.
More soldiers came up behind the first, most with faces that were familiar to Pippin. One of them drew out the sword that hung at Pippin's side.
"That's mine," Pippin protested, tried to grab it back, but couldn't sit up because of the soldier's sword above him throat. When the sword did move, it was only so that one of the others could haul Pippin to a sitting position and tie his arms behind him.
"The king will be pleased to have you back," the soldier said with a sneer, "I'm sure he wants to punish you for running off."
"I was going back to the king anyway," Pippin said.
"Your words mean nothing. You've already proved yourself a liar." Pippin didn't see the point in denying this, since the man seemed determined not to listen. He had been treated with more kindness by Faramir, and he had thought Pippin was from a country about to go to war with his own.
***
They had taken him to see Legolas twice more, which made Merry think they would continue letting him see him once a day. He guessed it was once a day from the length of time he had been left alone between the brief meetings.
During the most recent meeting, Legolas had barely been able to speak. Merry could only imagine how horrible it must be for him, every breath such an effort. Merry doubted he had been able to sleep, since asleep he wouldn't have been able to force the wood up. It wouldn't be long before Legolas didn't have any strength left. Merry wondered if they had even been feeding him.
He heard footsteps outside, and looked up as the door opened. He couldn't think why anyone would be coming in now. In the sudden brightness, Merry saw the silhouette of a guard with someone small by his side, then he shoved the small person in and the door slammed shut again.
"Merry?" came a quiet voice.
"Pip?" Merry reached out in the direction the voice had come from. He found Pippin's shoulder and then just flung his arms round him. Tears ran down Merry's cheeks though he wasn't sure why.
"You're safe," Merry said, struggling to believe it, "you're safe."
"I'm sorry, Merry," Pippin sobbed. Merry held onto Pippin as though he might fade away and disappear again if he let go.
"What happened?" Merry asked, as soon as he was confident enough in Pippin's reality to come out of the embrace. Pippin explained everything that had happened. His meetings with Faramir, Boromir and Strider. Then it was Merry's turn. He told Pippin about the king's reaction, about Legolas and the attempt at a rescue, about what Legolas was going through. They listened to each other's tales.
Even the thought of Legolas couldn't upset Merry, not now he had Pippin in his arms once more. They were together, as they should be.
The door opened again, and the king entered. A guard followed and placed a torch in the holder by the door, so that the flickering light illuminated the room.
"Why did you leave?" the king demanded.
"I was taken prisoner," Pippin said, "The king of Gondor thinks you're planning war against him. Are you?" Merry caught the look of surprise that crossed the king's face just for a moment.
"I don't have to answer to you," the king said.
"I came back to warn you. If you're planning war you're making a huge mistake. Gondor has a great army, and if you attack then you'll be defeated and all of Ethrin will suffer. If you aren't, then send a messenger and say so. He'll listen."
"And how do I know that he won't use my attempt to make peace against me? To attack when I think I am safe?"
"He would never do that," Pippin said, at exactly the same moment Merry said, "He wouldn't."
"King Aragorn is a lover of peace," Pippin said. The king looked at both of them in turn. His expression was shadowed, because the only light was coming from behind him, so neither could tell what he was thinking. They did get the impression however that it wasn't something good.
"We shall see," King Elmas muttered. Then he turned and strode out. The guard took the torch and followed, leaving Merry and Pippin alone in the cell.
***
Legolas was barely aware of the door opening. All his energy was focused on the task of breathing. In and out. In and out. In and out. His chest ached unbearably. He longed to just close his eyes and relax, but to do that for even an instant would mean death.
He looked blearily up at the figures who came to the side of the table. Their faces blurred so that he couldn't make out any features. He decided not to worry about it, and just concentrated on his breathing. He wouldn't be able to stop them from doing whatever they planned to do.
Suddenly the pressure on his chest dropped considerably. As he was in the middle of straining for a breath, he found he could fill his lungs properly. Then the men pulled the lump of wood off his chest and Legolas had a few moments to enjoy the undervalued pleasure of being able to fill his lungs with air.
As he became aware of his senses again, he realised the men were undoing the restraints that held him to the table. Once he was free, he tried to push himself into a sitting position, but found his arms just collapsed under his weight. The men put hands around his back and helped him, and then one of them tipped something down his throat. It felt and tasted like water. Legolas hoped it was. It eased his dry throat anyway, which brought some comfort to him.
The men gave him a moment to recover, then lifted him off the table by his arms. He put his feet to the ground, but his legs felt as substantial as soup, and he would have fallen but for the hands that gripped him tightly. He was half-dragged, half-carried from the room, his feet trailing along the floor as he tried and failed to support his own weight.
He took note of where he was being taken. He was taken up the stairs into the main part of the palace. A servant stood aside, watching curiously, as they passed. Legolas was brought to a room that was richly furnished. He looked round at the tapestry-covered walls, the luxurious couches and the carved tables as he was dumped on a hard chair. It was clearly well built, but it was uncomfortable nonetheless. In front of him was a table.
King Elmas walked in and sat down at a much nicer chair opposite him. A servant followed, the one who had come to Merry's room the night Legolas had climbed in the window. He placed a tray of food in front of Legolas. Enticing scents wafted up to his nostrils from the thick stew.
"You have not bothered with such courtesies before," Legolas said, looking at the food but not eating it, despite the gaping void in his stomach. "Why now?"
"Surely your last meal should be a good one," King Elmas said. His last meal. So they planned to kill him.
***
Author's note: I don't mean to be evil, it just happens.
At least I got Merry and Pippin together like I promised. I'll leave it up to your imaginations what they do to keep themselves occupied, but I wouldn't have thought it would be eye spy.
***
The man holding the sword was dressed in the uniform of Ethrin. Pippin had seen him on occasion around the palace on duty. Surely he recognised Pippin too? Apparently he didn't, for the sword remained at Pippin's throat.
"The king doesn't think much of oathbreakers," the soldier said. For a moment Pippin didn't understand what he meant, then he saw that that must be how his disappearance was interpreted. He hoped Merry didn't think this of him as well, but they couldn't have known about the Gondor soldiers.
More soldiers came up behind the first, most with faces that were familiar to Pippin. One of them drew out the sword that hung at Pippin's side.
"That's mine," Pippin protested, tried to grab it back, but couldn't sit up because of the soldier's sword above him throat. When the sword did move, it was only so that one of the others could haul Pippin to a sitting position and tie his arms behind him.
"The king will be pleased to have you back," the soldier said with a sneer, "I'm sure he wants to punish you for running off."
"I was going back to the king anyway," Pippin said.
"Your words mean nothing. You've already proved yourself a liar." Pippin didn't see the point in denying this, since the man seemed determined not to listen. He had been treated with more kindness by Faramir, and he had thought Pippin was from a country about to go to war with his own.
***
They had taken him to see Legolas twice more, which made Merry think they would continue letting him see him once a day. He guessed it was once a day from the length of time he had been left alone between the brief meetings.
During the most recent meeting, Legolas had barely been able to speak. Merry could only imagine how horrible it must be for him, every breath such an effort. Merry doubted he had been able to sleep, since asleep he wouldn't have been able to force the wood up. It wouldn't be long before Legolas didn't have any strength left. Merry wondered if they had even been feeding him.
He heard footsteps outside, and looked up as the door opened. He couldn't think why anyone would be coming in now. In the sudden brightness, Merry saw the silhouette of a guard with someone small by his side, then he shoved the small person in and the door slammed shut again.
"Merry?" came a quiet voice.
"Pip?" Merry reached out in the direction the voice had come from. He found Pippin's shoulder and then just flung his arms round him. Tears ran down Merry's cheeks though he wasn't sure why.
"You're safe," Merry said, struggling to believe it, "you're safe."
"I'm sorry, Merry," Pippin sobbed. Merry held onto Pippin as though he might fade away and disappear again if he let go.
"What happened?" Merry asked, as soon as he was confident enough in Pippin's reality to come out of the embrace. Pippin explained everything that had happened. His meetings with Faramir, Boromir and Strider. Then it was Merry's turn. He told Pippin about the king's reaction, about Legolas and the attempt at a rescue, about what Legolas was going through. They listened to each other's tales.
Even the thought of Legolas couldn't upset Merry, not now he had Pippin in his arms once more. They were together, as they should be.
The door opened again, and the king entered. A guard followed and placed a torch in the holder by the door, so that the flickering light illuminated the room.
"Why did you leave?" the king demanded.
"I was taken prisoner," Pippin said, "The king of Gondor thinks you're planning war against him. Are you?" Merry caught the look of surprise that crossed the king's face just for a moment.
"I don't have to answer to you," the king said.
"I came back to warn you. If you're planning war you're making a huge mistake. Gondor has a great army, and if you attack then you'll be defeated and all of Ethrin will suffer. If you aren't, then send a messenger and say so. He'll listen."
"And how do I know that he won't use my attempt to make peace against me? To attack when I think I am safe?"
"He would never do that," Pippin said, at exactly the same moment Merry said, "He wouldn't."
"King Aragorn is a lover of peace," Pippin said. The king looked at both of them in turn. His expression was shadowed, because the only light was coming from behind him, so neither could tell what he was thinking. They did get the impression however that it wasn't something good.
"We shall see," King Elmas muttered. Then he turned and strode out. The guard took the torch and followed, leaving Merry and Pippin alone in the cell.
***
Legolas was barely aware of the door opening. All his energy was focused on the task of breathing. In and out. In and out. In and out. His chest ached unbearably. He longed to just close his eyes and relax, but to do that for even an instant would mean death.
He looked blearily up at the figures who came to the side of the table. Their faces blurred so that he couldn't make out any features. He decided not to worry about it, and just concentrated on his breathing. He wouldn't be able to stop them from doing whatever they planned to do.
Suddenly the pressure on his chest dropped considerably. As he was in the middle of straining for a breath, he found he could fill his lungs properly. Then the men pulled the lump of wood off his chest and Legolas had a few moments to enjoy the undervalued pleasure of being able to fill his lungs with air.
As he became aware of his senses again, he realised the men were undoing the restraints that held him to the table. Once he was free, he tried to push himself into a sitting position, but found his arms just collapsed under his weight. The men put hands around his back and helped him, and then one of them tipped something down his throat. It felt and tasted like water. Legolas hoped it was. It eased his dry throat anyway, which brought some comfort to him.
The men gave him a moment to recover, then lifted him off the table by his arms. He put his feet to the ground, but his legs felt as substantial as soup, and he would have fallen but for the hands that gripped him tightly. He was half-dragged, half-carried from the room, his feet trailing along the floor as he tried and failed to support his own weight.
He took note of where he was being taken. He was taken up the stairs into the main part of the palace. A servant stood aside, watching curiously, as they passed. Legolas was brought to a room that was richly furnished. He looked round at the tapestry-covered walls, the luxurious couches and the carved tables as he was dumped on a hard chair. It was clearly well built, but it was uncomfortable nonetheless. In front of him was a table.
King Elmas walked in and sat down at a much nicer chair opposite him. A servant followed, the one who had come to Merry's room the night Legolas had climbed in the window. He placed a tray of food in front of Legolas. Enticing scents wafted up to his nostrils from the thick stew.
"You have not bothered with such courtesies before," Legolas said, looking at the food but not eating it, despite the gaping void in his stomach. "Why now?"
"Surely your last meal should be a good one," King Elmas said. His last meal. So they planned to kill him.
***
Author's note: I don't mean to be evil, it just happens.
At least I got Merry and Pippin together like I promised. I'll leave it up to your imaginations what they do to keep themselves occupied, but I wouldn't have thought it would be eye spy.