Disclaimer- Refer to Chapter One
Thank you all my lovely readers and reviewers! I have never received so many reviews for a chapter before.
Fadesintothewest- You didn't leave me an email address and there isn't one in your profile so that I can send you a notice whenever I update. Can you send me your address by email (mine can be found in my profile) if you don't want others to see what your email is. Thanks : )
!!!WARNING!!!- Okay, here's the deal, I have changed the rating of this chapter to somewhere between PG-13 and R. I have received some emails asking me to lower the rating so that those too young can read it. I will assume that you can make your own judgments on the rating of it based on the content, which is rape without getting into too much detail. If you think you are too young for the adult theme, don't read it.
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Revelations of the Heart: Part One
Valia walked through the field, picking up her long skirt so she could wade through the sea of golden grass without tumbling into an unladylike heap. The strange heaviness of her braids brushed against her back and she smiled, absentmindedly reaching up to grasp one of the entwined strands to run her fingers along. She quickened her pace, her smile turning to a scowl when she thought of having to backtrack to the palace to retrieve her forgotten cloak with the menacing elements about to unleash rain and who knew what else on her at any minute. These things always seemed to happen to her at the wrong time.
'Valia!' she heard someone call and she glanced over her shoulder to see who was addressing her.
Her scowl deepened into disgust when she saw the approaching figure running to catch up with her. Instead of slowing down she picked up her pace, hoping he would get the not so subtle hint to leave her alone. 'What do you want Garand?' she snapped when he caught up with her and easily conformed his strides to her own.
'A bit touchy tonight, Valia?' His handsome face lit up with suppressed delight at her aggravation.
'What do you want Garand?' The wind asserted its presence, sending Valia's skirt into a quivering flutter to play among the tall grass lest it be forgotten.
'You should not be walking out in the middle of the night with threatening weather overhead. Who knows what sort of elf might be roaming around on such a night with improper intentions towards beautiful elven maidens?'
His tone sent a shiver crawling down Valia's spine, chilling her more than the stormy air had. 'I am sure I will be absolutely fine Garand. I am going to the palace to collect my cloak and then I will be headed home directly. Not much can happen between here and there.'
'But what if the storm starts before you are able to leave the palace?' A sudden flash of white fire streaked across the sky, punctuating the validity of Garand's words. He sent a suave smile in her direction.
'Then I shall stay in my room there,' Valia said, but her words were drowned out by the deep rumbling that rolled through the sky, making Valia's ears tingle at the sheer volume and power of the sound.
'I am afraid I did not hear what you said,' Garand offered apologetically when the noise had died down.
'I have a room at the palace I can stay at. No doubt Elrond will make me stay there if the weather keeps up like this anyway. So you see, you have no need to worry on my account.'
Another flash of lightning illuminated the night sky for a moment and the answering thunder came almost immediately after. Entering the protection of the trees, Valia could not help the unease from creeping into her mind as the lush foliage seemed to quake at the ominous rumblings of the sinister clouds.
'I do not think you will make it back to the palace in one piece in this weather. My home is close to here, much closer than the palace is. Why not stay there for the night, or at least till the storm passes?' Garand took her elbow and tried to direct her to the right.
'I am going to the palace Garand, not your house. We are already on the outer edges of Elrond's grounds as it is.' Her words were true, the line of trees they had stepped through just moments ago being the boundary marker of Elrond's farthest fields. She pursed her lips together in a thin line of discontentment. 'Besides, do not think me foolish enough to believe the only thing you have planned for me is to wait out the storm in your home. No doubt you would like me to do so in your bed as well.' Valia wrenched her arm backwards and was pleased that the sudden movement gained her two free arms devoid of Garand's disturbing touch. Her discouraging behavior did not deter him however, and he continued to walk beside her silently as she hastened her gate even more, becoming more difficult with the rising of the wind.
The storm truly was foreboding. Lightening and thunder continued to call and answer back and forth to each other at an alarming rate and the air was alive with the bridled energy of restrained force, gnashing its mouth in a fit of rage to be released. Valia grabbed her skirt tighter, almost tripping over a small rock that was obscured by the night and adverse conditions.
Garand, seeing her steps falter, claimed her elbow again to steady her. 'Are you alright Valia? This storm is getting worse in all sincerity, even you must admit that. Come back to my home with me and I will have the servants start a fire and prepare a hot dinner for us.'
'No.' Valia refused determinedly, raising her voice to be understood over the howling wind. 'We are almost to the palace. It is just a little ways further.' She tried to free her arm but Garand kept a firm hold on her elbow. He was stronger than he looked to be.
'I admire your persistence and stubborn independence Valia, really I do, but do not be stupid. We are going back to my home. It is ridiculous to stay out in weather like this.' He forcibly directed her to the right and she would have fallen at the sudden jerk if he had not kept a strong grip on her arm.
'Release me,' Valia demanded.
'I think not.' He began gliding through the trees, moving amongst them at an alarming speed with Valia helplessly in tow behind him, trying her best to avoid tripping over her constricting dress rendered completely unmanageable in the face of the gale. Lightening streaked across the sky once again and Valia was horrified to see they had made more progress than she thought they had.
'Garand, I demand that you release me!' she ordered ineffectually, but it did cause Garand to slow, reducing his speed to a normal walking pace.
'Why would I want to release you Valia?' He looked down at her, his face shrouded by his dark hair. However, it did not hide the gleaming white of his teeth as he smiled down at her almost wolfishly.
Valia perceived the leaves in the forest canopy whispering to each other, relaying the scene unfolding below them to the passing wind as it traveled through the branches. 'You know even the least astute elf in the Valinor would find it suspicious if they came across you forcing a daughter of one of Lord Elrond's chief advisors into your home at night, against her will. It will not look good for you no matter what you tell them.'
'I cannot let such dubious possibilities worry me. Honestly Valia, I am beginning to think you do not want to accompany me to my house.' A mocking face full of hurt leered at Valia, and her only response was to raise a finally sculpted eyebrow with a look of confirmation. The hurt disappeared quickly, and Garand openly scowled at her for the first time, his eyes darkening at her insolence. 'I have plans for you tonight and it would be wise if you comply willingly.'
'Comply willingly?' Valia laughed, causing Garand to come to a halt at her mirth. 'You are sorely mistaken if you think I will be warming your bed tonight willingly. I refuse to reduce myself to becoming another name on your very long list of bed partners. I will not sully my name with yours. Others may rejoice at the chance of a night with the esteemed, rich, and handsome Lord Garand, but I will gladly forego the opportunity.'
'Unfortunately, your refusal is not an option Valia. You will be warming my bed tonight whether you wish to or not and it had better be with a smile on those pretty lips of yours or more harm will come to you then just the sullying of your name,' Garand clipped out with anger.
'Do not threaten me Garand. As it is, you have already insinuated enough to warrant your banishment from Lord Elrond's kingdom. Force yourself on me and you will be lucky to escape with your life.'
Valia saw Garand make an unexpected movement and a gleam of silver speed towards her, almost resembling another bolt of lightening in its appearance. Before she had time to make any logical assumptions at all, she felt herself being slammed against the hard trunk of the nearest tree. The rough bark irritated the little skin she had exposed at her neck and the dull throbbing of a headache instantly started to numb her senses as her head ricocheted off the wood. However that was the least of Valia's concerns. She felt Garand's arm pinning her chest to the tree with steadily applied force and a more disturbing pressure, cold and thin, was biting into her neck.
'I would not move if I were you, my lady.' Valia swallowed instinctively and took a calming breath, daring a look at her captor out of the corner of her eye. There was an odd shine in his eye that Valia could remember seeing somewhere before. She clutched at hundreds of images stored safely away in the recesses of her mind but she was too distraught to think clearly and could not recall the correct memory.
'Hand over your weapons,' Garand growled, his voice sounding almost humanlike with the ire that permeated his words.
'I do not have any,' Valia replied calmly, trying to sooth his fury.
'I am in no mood to put up with that silky tongue of yours. Hand them over now or I will search you myself!'
'I am not in the habit of carrying weapons on me, Garand,' Valia snapped, losing control of her emotions. 'I did not think I would have need to defend myself against my own kin!' she spat out with hatred. Garand observed her with a cool gaze, full of icy fire.
'Do not speak to me that way. You will address me as your lord, do you understand me?' When she did not reply, he began to search her, his hands roving over her body too slowly for the touches to be considered only for the sake of finding hidden daggers. His hand came up to her braided hair when he did not find any of the weapons he demanded from her and he plucked Legolas' pin out of the intricate weave of locks. 'I will take this,' he said. 'For security, I hope you understand. If you should try to tell someone that I forced myself upon you I have only to produce this to show that you lie to them, saying that you left it with me in a haste to get back to your own home before you were discovered missing.'
'No one would believe such a thing!' exclaimed an appalled Valia. The situation was spiraling out of control too fast; she could feel her grasp slowly slipping from the circumstances.
'No? I would not be so sure if I were you. But that is enough of such gloomy talk. Kiss me,' he demanded her.
Valia let disgust overwhelm her and did not think to control her actions. She spit in his face before she had time to think of the consequences of such a bold move, however the repercussions were soon felt. A sickening punch resounded loud against the night air, heard even above the moaning of the wind, and Valia's hand went up instinctively to cradle her injured face. Garand's arm was in the way though and Valia had to comfort herself with squeezing her eyes shut against the stinging pain of the blow. She moistened her dry lips that felt strangely large and soon realized what was wrong with them when she tasted her own blood seep into her mouth.
'Take off your dress,' Garand ordered, giving her a reprieve by stepping back a few paces so she could obey his command. He watched her closely as he ran a clothed arm over his wet face. 'And do not be so foolish as to try something like that again. I will not hesitate to make you incapable of running away from me if you provoke me to such measures.' He grasped his dagger in his hand, holding it in mid air as a warning threat. 'I do not want any more bruises marring your body or my pleasure will be severely lessened.'
The burning taste of bile rose in Valia's throat, and her esophagus begged to be allowed to release the offending mixture of acid and food that seared it without mercy. It took all her focus just to gain a reasonable mastery over her body so that she could force her stomach contents back down to their proper place, but the bitter taste lingered. Valia could feel an odd sensation wash over her as she looked down at her dress. Numbness took control of her fingers, slowly traveling up her arms and dulling the feel of her body as she saw her hands move to unfasten the bright clasps holding her dress together. Her ragged breathing assaulted her hearing, causing her to go deaf to the raging storm overhead, still booming in thunderous protests about some unknown offense. After a battle of almost epic proportions, she undid the last clasp and tried to calm the pounding of her heart. Blood throbbed in her temples, pumping through her veins like a mighty flood confined to rush through a tiny brook.
The dress fell to the ground in a pool of fabric around her legs, a sea of rippling blue tossed about in the onslaught of the wind. Valia immediately became aware of the frosty wind nipping at her skin, the thin shift left on her being her only protection from the winter air chilled further by the ravaging storm.
'Lovely,' Garand said, unconcealed lust oozing from his words. He scanned Valia's form, what clothing she had on leaving little for Garand's imagination to ponder. The acidic bile made itself known again as it strained its way up Valia's throat, but she forced it back down. Unshed tears of panic began to sting her eyes as a shudder swept through her body, causing her to tremble in its wake. She wrapped her arms around herself tightly, trying to calm her shaking by the sheer energy of her grip and determination of her mind.
'You are cold?' Garand observed. 'Lie down and I will see if we can do something to remedy that.' Several moments of silence passed by and Valia did not stir from her standing position, instead clamping down her jaw to prevent her chattering teeth from belying telltale signs. 'It was not a suggestion, Valia,' he said, raising his knife as he drew close to her. Valia sank to her knees before he could touch her and though every fiber in her protested, she lowered herself onto the hard ground. She dug her fingers into the dirt, trying to gain comfort from the earth but finding that it only reminded her of the hopeless situation she was in.
The shimmering brilliance from a bolt of lightening allowed her to see Garand's smirking figure as he loomed over her, watching her with eerie eyes that flashed golden like a stalking tiger's. Her chest began to rise and fall quicker when he kicked her dress carelessly away from her feet and lay down beside her. Propping himself up on one arm, he leaned over her and caressed her pale cheek with the flat of his blade. The cold steel made Valia tremble and she drew in a shaky breath.
'So beautiful,' Garand commented in a voice he had often used when discussing rare fillies with other lords. 'You always stayed in the shadows, trying to cover up your beauty behind your simple clothes and hairstyle. I must admit, I would never have even noticed you if it had not been for the night of the banquet. You have your charming Legolas to thank for that. It shall be enjoyable to lay claim to you before he does.' The point of the dagger trailed along Valia's jaw line, skimming down her throat to make delicate patterns on her collarbones. Valia bit her bottom lip to hold back her whimper as Garnad moved closer to her. His body bent to conform to hers in the likeness of a well fitting glove.
'I did not want to hurt you Valia,' he whispered. His hot breathed scorched her ear, causing a rush of blood to heat her face. 'But alas, you give me no other choice.' He trailed the blade down to the string between her breasts and began to toy with the loose tie holding the shift together. 'Your skin is quite exquisite.' He placed a soft kiss on her neck and pulled back so he could run a finger along her sternum till his progress was hindered by her clothing. 'Velvety,' he murmured, as her skin prickled from his touch. 'There are not many others I can think of who can rival you.'
'Please do not do this Garand,' Valia pleaded, trying to keep out the tremor in her voice that refused to be pushed aside into capitulation. 'Stop now and I will not say anything about what has happened. You have my word.'
Shaking his head in amusement, Garand's tone became patronizing. 'Valia, it is too late for that now. What would you tell them about your lip?'
'I fell. I was walking back to the palace to retrieve my cloak that I had forgotten and the storm made everything so dark that I did not see the rock in my path. I tripped over it and fell face first, splitting my lip open.' Hope beat her feathered wings inside Valia's breast, wildly fluttering against the constraining cage of despair that imprisoned it when Garand tilted his head in consideration.
'I think not Valia. Some might believe such a tale but not that troublesome Prince of yours. He has seen too much devastation and torment in his journeys to not recognize your situation for what it truly is.'
'No,' protested Valia. She shook her head enthusiastically, sending some of her braids into a writhing mass against the ground in a movement that could easily have been mistaken for snakes. 'He will believe what I tell him. He does not think I would lie.'
'He cares for you too much Valia. He would snoop around behind your back and I cannot have him threatening me. Besides, what would you say to him when he asks you about your missing hairpin?'
'You would give it back to me...'
'No! The pin is what little security I have and you will not have it under any circumstances. Your proposition has too many faults, the chief one being the fact that I will be unable to bed you.'
Garand shifted suddenly and came to rest on top of Valia. She felt something hard press into her stomach and the whimper she had been holding back for so long escaped the prison of her mouth. 'I do not think you have had much experience in another's bed before and despite your haughty behavior, I promise to be gentle with you if you will only be a little more cooperative.' He placed his gleaming dagger near him, making sure it was far enough away that Valia could not reach it if she lunged for it.
Squeezing her eyes shut, Valia felt a warm tear escape to meander down her face in a sticky trail of misery. There was no hope left. She was at the mercy of a merciless creature and no one would be able to save her. Everyone she knew thought she was with Legolas or at the palace, and Legolas thought she was safely making her way home, if not already safely tucked into her bed by now. She could not yell for help or Garnad would slice her throat without a second thought. The bleakness of her predicament shadowed Valia and she felt her inner light fade under the oppressive darkness which seemed to fuel the brilliance of the storm as lightening began to streak across the sky in rapid succession.
There was a probing hand on her calf now, slowly traveling up her leg, pulling her shift up with it. Valia's chest began to heave and her silent tears became a flood of warm rivers down her fair cheeks, turning cool under the influence of the nipping wind. Garand stroked her thigh, moving his hand between her legs to caress the sensitive inner skin. Instinct caused Valia to shut her legs tight, but Garand did not let the action hinder his ardor, instead directing his attention to her hips as he kissed the small valley between bone and stomach.
'Do not worry my beauty,' Garand soothed when she began to squirm underneath him. 'If you do not resist, it will not hurt.'
'Not resist!' Valia choked out, allowing herself to speak for the first time. 'I will not let you take me like I am some common palace courtesan. You cannot justify what you are doing Garand. It is rape, pure and simple. Amin feuya ten lle!' Valia glared at her captor and tried to break free from his strong hold on her with no success. It seemed that the fury held in the clouds was lending him some kind of unnatural strength that was impossible for Valia's limited power to overcome.
She would be crushed, yet even as the thought wormed its way into the core of her being, she struggled on, momentarily freeing her leg only to have it pinned down again, yanking an arm free to have one of Garand's hands press it against the ground with bruising force. His punishing slaps were stinging her flesh into a protest of fiery nerves and agony. There was no longer any possibility that her body would look like she had willing complied to this brutal coupling.
'I gave you a fair chance, Valia,' Garnad growled, grey fire consuming his eyes. 'I did not want to hurt you but you force me to take drastic measure for I will have you.'
His fingers raked through the beautiful swirls in her hair and he bent down and pressed his lips against hers, irritating her already sore lips into bleeding again with the rough pressure. She tried to contort her body away from him but he had her restrained in such a way that any further movement was restricted to tiny jerks with no prospect of escape. He pushed his tongue into her mouth, roaming around hungrily. Valia gagged at the deep roving and unwisely bit down hard when she could not extricate him from her mouth. Blood poured from the teeth marks on his tongue and he gave an agonized groan as he removed himself from her. Valia sprayed out his blood, much of it finding his face as a target as she tried to get the taste of him out of her mouth.
She did not anticipate his hand connecting with her cheek and the blow sent her head snapping to one side. Garand let out a feral growl and drove his knee between Valia's legs, forcing them apart. He ripped at her thin garment, tearing a large slit up the lower part but not getting anywhere with the upper half, too blinded by his fury. Valia could feel her arms begin to grow cold as his grip cut off her blood flow.
'You stupid whore!' he yelled around the swelling of his tongue, smacking her again in aggravation at not gaining a mastery over the stubborn shift that refused to comply with his groping hands. Instead he grabbed the swells of her breasts through the thin fabric, massaging with fierce pressure that caused Valia to gasp out in pain as her eyes momentarily clouded. 'You are not even worthy of me,' he taunted, proceeding to rant as an eerie glow shown from his eyes. 'Do you think I am not aware of why you will not marry? Everyone knows Valia.' He laughed sadistically, his words doing more damage than his physical assault ever could. Looking down at the horrified maiden underneath him, he became almost hysterical and Valia's blood chilled at his fanatical cackling.
'Help!' Valia screamed, desperately trying to close the wide gap between her legs. It did not matter if Garand had a knife anymore. He was beyond the reaches of sanity and she was in as much danger not calling for help as she was in calling for it. 'Someone help me, please!'
The terrified pleas echo through the forest around him and Garand felt fear well in his breast. Surely someone would have heard her shrieks. He clamped a hand over her mouth, making sure to stay out of the striking range of her teeth and drove his free knee into her stomach, causing Valia to gasp in pain. He began to struggle with the string on his leggings, avoiding Valia's flailing arms. When all the inhibiting clothing was out of his way, Garand smirked and pinned Valia's arms to the ground again.
'I shall enjoy this,' he whispered maliciously into her ear and thrust her legs further apart, shifting himself on top of her completely. Valia's heart beat wildly against her ribs and the strange notion that it would succeed in breaking free of the confines of her body swept over her. It would be better that way; her heart would escape the terrors of the night and would leave her body to take flight back to the pond where she had sat with Legolas not long ago. Her mind would not be so lucky though. Her heart might be able to run, but her senses would remain with her and she would remember everything that was happening with utmost clarity.
Garand thrust the bottom of her shift up to her ribs. Only one coherent thought came to Valia as Garnad positioned himself over her.
'Legolas,' she whimpered into the darkness.
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*Amin feuya ten lle- You disgust me.
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Thank you all my lovely readers and reviewers! I have never received so many reviews for a chapter before.
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!!!WARNING!!!- Okay, here's the deal, I have changed the rating of this chapter to somewhere between PG-13 and R. I have received some emails asking me to lower the rating so that those too young can read it. I will assume that you can make your own judgments on the rating of it based on the content, which is rape without getting into too much detail. If you think you are too young for the adult theme, don't read it.
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Revelations of the Heart: Part One
Valia walked through the field, picking up her long skirt so she could wade through the sea of golden grass without tumbling into an unladylike heap. The strange heaviness of her braids brushed against her back and she smiled, absentmindedly reaching up to grasp one of the entwined strands to run her fingers along. She quickened her pace, her smile turning to a scowl when she thought of having to backtrack to the palace to retrieve her forgotten cloak with the menacing elements about to unleash rain and who knew what else on her at any minute. These things always seemed to happen to her at the wrong time.
'Valia!' she heard someone call and she glanced over her shoulder to see who was addressing her.
Her scowl deepened into disgust when she saw the approaching figure running to catch up with her. Instead of slowing down she picked up her pace, hoping he would get the not so subtle hint to leave her alone. 'What do you want Garand?' she snapped when he caught up with her and easily conformed his strides to her own.
'A bit touchy tonight, Valia?' His handsome face lit up with suppressed delight at her aggravation.
'What do you want Garand?' The wind asserted its presence, sending Valia's skirt into a quivering flutter to play among the tall grass lest it be forgotten.
'You should not be walking out in the middle of the night with threatening weather overhead. Who knows what sort of elf might be roaming around on such a night with improper intentions towards beautiful elven maidens?'
His tone sent a shiver crawling down Valia's spine, chilling her more than the stormy air had. 'I am sure I will be absolutely fine Garand. I am going to the palace to collect my cloak and then I will be headed home directly. Not much can happen between here and there.'
'But what if the storm starts before you are able to leave the palace?' A sudden flash of white fire streaked across the sky, punctuating the validity of Garand's words. He sent a suave smile in her direction.
'Then I shall stay in my room there,' Valia said, but her words were drowned out by the deep rumbling that rolled through the sky, making Valia's ears tingle at the sheer volume and power of the sound.
'I am afraid I did not hear what you said,' Garand offered apologetically when the noise had died down.
'I have a room at the palace I can stay at. No doubt Elrond will make me stay there if the weather keeps up like this anyway. So you see, you have no need to worry on my account.'
Another flash of lightning illuminated the night sky for a moment and the answering thunder came almost immediately after. Entering the protection of the trees, Valia could not help the unease from creeping into her mind as the lush foliage seemed to quake at the ominous rumblings of the sinister clouds.
'I do not think you will make it back to the palace in one piece in this weather. My home is close to here, much closer than the palace is. Why not stay there for the night, or at least till the storm passes?' Garand took her elbow and tried to direct her to the right.
'I am going to the palace Garand, not your house. We are already on the outer edges of Elrond's grounds as it is.' Her words were true, the line of trees they had stepped through just moments ago being the boundary marker of Elrond's farthest fields. She pursed her lips together in a thin line of discontentment. 'Besides, do not think me foolish enough to believe the only thing you have planned for me is to wait out the storm in your home. No doubt you would like me to do so in your bed as well.' Valia wrenched her arm backwards and was pleased that the sudden movement gained her two free arms devoid of Garand's disturbing touch. Her discouraging behavior did not deter him however, and he continued to walk beside her silently as she hastened her gate even more, becoming more difficult with the rising of the wind.
The storm truly was foreboding. Lightening and thunder continued to call and answer back and forth to each other at an alarming rate and the air was alive with the bridled energy of restrained force, gnashing its mouth in a fit of rage to be released. Valia grabbed her skirt tighter, almost tripping over a small rock that was obscured by the night and adverse conditions.
Garand, seeing her steps falter, claimed her elbow again to steady her. 'Are you alright Valia? This storm is getting worse in all sincerity, even you must admit that. Come back to my home with me and I will have the servants start a fire and prepare a hot dinner for us.'
'No.' Valia refused determinedly, raising her voice to be understood over the howling wind. 'We are almost to the palace. It is just a little ways further.' She tried to free her arm but Garand kept a firm hold on her elbow. He was stronger than he looked to be.
'I admire your persistence and stubborn independence Valia, really I do, but do not be stupid. We are going back to my home. It is ridiculous to stay out in weather like this.' He forcibly directed her to the right and she would have fallen at the sudden jerk if he had not kept a strong grip on her arm.
'Release me,' Valia demanded.
'I think not.' He began gliding through the trees, moving amongst them at an alarming speed with Valia helplessly in tow behind him, trying her best to avoid tripping over her constricting dress rendered completely unmanageable in the face of the gale. Lightening streaked across the sky once again and Valia was horrified to see they had made more progress than she thought they had.
'Garand, I demand that you release me!' she ordered ineffectually, but it did cause Garand to slow, reducing his speed to a normal walking pace.
'Why would I want to release you Valia?' He looked down at her, his face shrouded by his dark hair. However, it did not hide the gleaming white of his teeth as he smiled down at her almost wolfishly.
Valia perceived the leaves in the forest canopy whispering to each other, relaying the scene unfolding below them to the passing wind as it traveled through the branches. 'You know even the least astute elf in the Valinor would find it suspicious if they came across you forcing a daughter of one of Lord Elrond's chief advisors into your home at night, against her will. It will not look good for you no matter what you tell them.'
'I cannot let such dubious possibilities worry me. Honestly Valia, I am beginning to think you do not want to accompany me to my house.' A mocking face full of hurt leered at Valia, and her only response was to raise a finally sculpted eyebrow with a look of confirmation. The hurt disappeared quickly, and Garand openly scowled at her for the first time, his eyes darkening at her insolence. 'I have plans for you tonight and it would be wise if you comply willingly.'
'Comply willingly?' Valia laughed, causing Garand to come to a halt at her mirth. 'You are sorely mistaken if you think I will be warming your bed tonight willingly. I refuse to reduce myself to becoming another name on your very long list of bed partners. I will not sully my name with yours. Others may rejoice at the chance of a night with the esteemed, rich, and handsome Lord Garand, but I will gladly forego the opportunity.'
'Unfortunately, your refusal is not an option Valia. You will be warming my bed tonight whether you wish to or not and it had better be with a smile on those pretty lips of yours or more harm will come to you then just the sullying of your name,' Garand clipped out with anger.
'Do not threaten me Garand. As it is, you have already insinuated enough to warrant your banishment from Lord Elrond's kingdom. Force yourself on me and you will be lucky to escape with your life.'
Valia saw Garand make an unexpected movement and a gleam of silver speed towards her, almost resembling another bolt of lightening in its appearance. Before she had time to make any logical assumptions at all, she felt herself being slammed against the hard trunk of the nearest tree. The rough bark irritated the little skin she had exposed at her neck and the dull throbbing of a headache instantly started to numb her senses as her head ricocheted off the wood. However that was the least of Valia's concerns. She felt Garand's arm pinning her chest to the tree with steadily applied force and a more disturbing pressure, cold and thin, was biting into her neck.
'I would not move if I were you, my lady.' Valia swallowed instinctively and took a calming breath, daring a look at her captor out of the corner of her eye. There was an odd shine in his eye that Valia could remember seeing somewhere before. She clutched at hundreds of images stored safely away in the recesses of her mind but she was too distraught to think clearly and could not recall the correct memory.
'Hand over your weapons,' Garand growled, his voice sounding almost humanlike with the ire that permeated his words.
'I do not have any,' Valia replied calmly, trying to sooth his fury.
'I am in no mood to put up with that silky tongue of yours. Hand them over now or I will search you myself!'
'I am not in the habit of carrying weapons on me, Garand,' Valia snapped, losing control of her emotions. 'I did not think I would have need to defend myself against my own kin!' she spat out with hatred. Garand observed her with a cool gaze, full of icy fire.
'Do not speak to me that way. You will address me as your lord, do you understand me?' When she did not reply, he began to search her, his hands roving over her body too slowly for the touches to be considered only for the sake of finding hidden daggers. His hand came up to her braided hair when he did not find any of the weapons he demanded from her and he plucked Legolas' pin out of the intricate weave of locks. 'I will take this,' he said. 'For security, I hope you understand. If you should try to tell someone that I forced myself upon you I have only to produce this to show that you lie to them, saying that you left it with me in a haste to get back to your own home before you were discovered missing.'
'No one would believe such a thing!' exclaimed an appalled Valia. The situation was spiraling out of control too fast; she could feel her grasp slowly slipping from the circumstances.
'No? I would not be so sure if I were you. But that is enough of such gloomy talk. Kiss me,' he demanded her.
Valia let disgust overwhelm her and did not think to control her actions. She spit in his face before she had time to think of the consequences of such a bold move, however the repercussions were soon felt. A sickening punch resounded loud against the night air, heard even above the moaning of the wind, and Valia's hand went up instinctively to cradle her injured face. Garand's arm was in the way though and Valia had to comfort herself with squeezing her eyes shut against the stinging pain of the blow. She moistened her dry lips that felt strangely large and soon realized what was wrong with them when she tasted her own blood seep into her mouth.
'Take off your dress,' Garand ordered, giving her a reprieve by stepping back a few paces so she could obey his command. He watched her closely as he ran a clothed arm over his wet face. 'And do not be so foolish as to try something like that again. I will not hesitate to make you incapable of running away from me if you provoke me to such measures.' He grasped his dagger in his hand, holding it in mid air as a warning threat. 'I do not want any more bruises marring your body or my pleasure will be severely lessened.'
The burning taste of bile rose in Valia's throat, and her esophagus begged to be allowed to release the offending mixture of acid and food that seared it without mercy. It took all her focus just to gain a reasonable mastery over her body so that she could force her stomach contents back down to their proper place, but the bitter taste lingered. Valia could feel an odd sensation wash over her as she looked down at her dress. Numbness took control of her fingers, slowly traveling up her arms and dulling the feel of her body as she saw her hands move to unfasten the bright clasps holding her dress together. Her ragged breathing assaulted her hearing, causing her to go deaf to the raging storm overhead, still booming in thunderous protests about some unknown offense. After a battle of almost epic proportions, she undid the last clasp and tried to calm the pounding of her heart. Blood throbbed in her temples, pumping through her veins like a mighty flood confined to rush through a tiny brook.
The dress fell to the ground in a pool of fabric around her legs, a sea of rippling blue tossed about in the onslaught of the wind. Valia immediately became aware of the frosty wind nipping at her skin, the thin shift left on her being her only protection from the winter air chilled further by the ravaging storm.
'Lovely,' Garand said, unconcealed lust oozing from his words. He scanned Valia's form, what clothing she had on leaving little for Garand's imagination to ponder. The acidic bile made itself known again as it strained its way up Valia's throat, but she forced it back down. Unshed tears of panic began to sting her eyes as a shudder swept through her body, causing her to tremble in its wake. She wrapped her arms around herself tightly, trying to calm her shaking by the sheer energy of her grip and determination of her mind.
'You are cold?' Garand observed. 'Lie down and I will see if we can do something to remedy that.' Several moments of silence passed by and Valia did not stir from her standing position, instead clamping down her jaw to prevent her chattering teeth from belying telltale signs. 'It was not a suggestion, Valia,' he said, raising his knife as he drew close to her. Valia sank to her knees before he could touch her and though every fiber in her protested, she lowered herself onto the hard ground. She dug her fingers into the dirt, trying to gain comfort from the earth but finding that it only reminded her of the hopeless situation she was in.
The shimmering brilliance from a bolt of lightening allowed her to see Garand's smirking figure as he loomed over her, watching her with eerie eyes that flashed golden like a stalking tiger's. Her chest began to rise and fall quicker when he kicked her dress carelessly away from her feet and lay down beside her. Propping himself up on one arm, he leaned over her and caressed her pale cheek with the flat of his blade. The cold steel made Valia tremble and she drew in a shaky breath.
'So beautiful,' Garand commented in a voice he had often used when discussing rare fillies with other lords. 'You always stayed in the shadows, trying to cover up your beauty behind your simple clothes and hairstyle. I must admit, I would never have even noticed you if it had not been for the night of the banquet. You have your charming Legolas to thank for that. It shall be enjoyable to lay claim to you before he does.' The point of the dagger trailed along Valia's jaw line, skimming down her throat to make delicate patterns on her collarbones. Valia bit her bottom lip to hold back her whimper as Garnad moved closer to her. His body bent to conform to hers in the likeness of a well fitting glove.
'I did not want to hurt you Valia,' he whispered. His hot breathed scorched her ear, causing a rush of blood to heat her face. 'But alas, you give me no other choice.' He trailed the blade down to the string between her breasts and began to toy with the loose tie holding the shift together. 'Your skin is quite exquisite.' He placed a soft kiss on her neck and pulled back so he could run a finger along her sternum till his progress was hindered by her clothing. 'Velvety,' he murmured, as her skin prickled from his touch. 'There are not many others I can think of who can rival you.'
'Please do not do this Garand,' Valia pleaded, trying to keep out the tremor in her voice that refused to be pushed aside into capitulation. 'Stop now and I will not say anything about what has happened. You have my word.'
Shaking his head in amusement, Garand's tone became patronizing. 'Valia, it is too late for that now. What would you tell them about your lip?'
'I fell. I was walking back to the palace to retrieve my cloak that I had forgotten and the storm made everything so dark that I did not see the rock in my path. I tripped over it and fell face first, splitting my lip open.' Hope beat her feathered wings inside Valia's breast, wildly fluttering against the constraining cage of despair that imprisoned it when Garand tilted his head in consideration.
'I think not Valia. Some might believe such a tale but not that troublesome Prince of yours. He has seen too much devastation and torment in his journeys to not recognize your situation for what it truly is.'
'No,' protested Valia. She shook her head enthusiastically, sending some of her braids into a writhing mass against the ground in a movement that could easily have been mistaken for snakes. 'He will believe what I tell him. He does not think I would lie.'
'He cares for you too much Valia. He would snoop around behind your back and I cannot have him threatening me. Besides, what would you say to him when he asks you about your missing hairpin?'
'You would give it back to me...'
'No! The pin is what little security I have and you will not have it under any circumstances. Your proposition has too many faults, the chief one being the fact that I will be unable to bed you.'
Garand shifted suddenly and came to rest on top of Valia. She felt something hard press into her stomach and the whimper she had been holding back for so long escaped the prison of her mouth. 'I do not think you have had much experience in another's bed before and despite your haughty behavior, I promise to be gentle with you if you will only be a little more cooperative.' He placed his gleaming dagger near him, making sure it was far enough away that Valia could not reach it if she lunged for it.
Squeezing her eyes shut, Valia felt a warm tear escape to meander down her face in a sticky trail of misery. There was no hope left. She was at the mercy of a merciless creature and no one would be able to save her. Everyone she knew thought she was with Legolas or at the palace, and Legolas thought she was safely making her way home, if not already safely tucked into her bed by now. She could not yell for help or Garnad would slice her throat without a second thought. The bleakness of her predicament shadowed Valia and she felt her inner light fade under the oppressive darkness which seemed to fuel the brilliance of the storm as lightening began to streak across the sky in rapid succession.
There was a probing hand on her calf now, slowly traveling up her leg, pulling her shift up with it. Valia's chest began to heave and her silent tears became a flood of warm rivers down her fair cheeks, turning cool under the influence of the nipping wind. Garand stroked her thigh, moving his hand between her legs to caress the sensitive inner skin. Instinct caused Valia to shut her legs tight, but Garand did not let the action hinder his ardor, instead directing his attention to her hips as he kissed the small valley between bone and stomach.
'Do not worry my beauty,' Garand soothed when she began to squirm underneath him. 'If you do not resist, it will not hurt.'
'Not resist!' Valia choked out, allowing herself to speak for the first time. 'I will not let you take me like I am some common palace courtesan. You cannot justify what you are doing Garand. It is rape, pure and simple. Amin feuya ten lle!' Valia glared at her captor and tried to break free from his strong hold on her with no success. It seemed that the fury held in the clouds was lending him some kind of unnatural strength that was impossible for Valia's limited power to overcome.
She would be crushed, yet even as the thought wormed its way into the core of her being, she struggled on, momentarily freeing her leg only to have it pinned down again, yanking an arm free to have one of Garand's hands press it against the ground with bruising force. His punishing slaps were stinging her flesh into a protest of fiery nerves and agony. There was no longer any possibility that her body would look like she had willing complied to this brutal coupling.
'I gave you a fair chance, Valia,' Garnad growled, grey fire consuming his eyes. 'I did not want to hurt you but you force me to take drastic measure for I will have you.'
His fingers raked through the beautiful swirls in her hair and he bent down and pressed his lips against hers, irritating her already sore lips into bleeding again with the rough pressure. She tried to contort her body away from him but he had her restrained in such a way that any further movement was restricted to tiny jerks with no prospect of escape. He pushed his tongue into her mouth, roaming around hungrily. Valia gagged at the deep roving and unwisely bit down hard when she could not extricate him from her mouth. Blood poured from the teeth marks on his tongue and he gave an agonized groan as he removed himself from her. Valia sprayed out his blood, much of it finding his face as a target as she tried to get the taste of him out of her mouth.
She did not anticipate his hand connecting with her cheek and the blow sent her head snapping to one side. Garand let out a feral growl and drove his knee between Valia's legs, forcing them apart. He ripped at her thin garment, tearing a large slit up the lower part but not getting anywhere with the upper half, too blinded by his fury. Valia could feel her arms begin to grow cold as his grip cut off her blood flow.
'You stupid whore!' he yelled around the swelling of his tongue, smacking her again in aggravation at not gaining a mastery over the stubborn shift that refused to comply with his groping hands. Instead he grabbed the swells of her breasts through the thin fabric, massaging with fierce pressure that caused Valia to gasp out in pain as her eyes momentarily clouded. 'You are not even worthy of me,' he taunted, proceeding to rant as an eerie glow shown from his eyes. 'Do you think I am not aware of why you will not marry? Everyone knows Valia.' He laughed sadistically, his words doing more damage than his physical assault ever could. Looking down at the horrified maiden underneath him, he became almost hysterical and Valia's blood chilled at his fanatical cackling.
'Help!' Valia screamed, desperately trying to close the wide gap between her legs. It did not matter if Garand had a knife anymore. He was beyond the reaches of sanity and she was in as much danger not calling for help as she was in calling for it. 'Someone help me, please!'
The terrified pleas echo through the forest around him and Garand felt fear well in his breast. Surely someone would have heard her shrieks. He clamped a hand over her mouth, making sure to stay out of the striking range of her teeth and drove his free knee into her stomach, causing Valia to gasp in pain. He began to struggle with the string on his leggings, avoiding Valia's flailing arms. When all the inhibiting clothing was out of his way, Garand smirked and pinned Valia's arms to the ground again.
'I shall enjoy this,' he whispered maliciously into her ear and thrust her legs further apart, shifting himself on top of her completely. Valia's heart beat wildly against her ribs and the strange notion that it would succeed in breaking free of the confines of her body swept over her. It would be better that way; her heart would escape the terrors of the night and would leave her body to take flight back to the pond where she had sat with Legolas not long ago. Her mind would not be so lucky though. Her heart might be able to run, but her senses would remain with her and she would remember everything that was happening with utmost clarity.
Garand thrust the bottom of her shift up to her ribs. Only one coherent thought came to Valia as Garnad positioned himself over her.
'Legolas,' she whimpered into the darkness.
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*Amin feuya ten lle- You disgust me.
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