A/ N: I had this sudden revelation while pacing quietly in my room at half past midnight yesterday (er... I do that a lot...) and so I spent the whole night writing this down and everything else I could think of! Please review!!! Or I'll... I'll cast my curse upon thee!! And I assure you, it's quite effective... Last time I used it, it made the cursed one's favourite TV show to stop being broadcasted, leaving it AT A CLIFFHANGER! (I'm particularly proud of that!) So... ROTFLOM! Tell me what you think! And thanks for reading!! =D
I updated the last chapter in a hurry (it was my 10min break at school), so I didn't even have time to see my new lovely reviews then... here are my answers to them:
szhismine – you think it took a long time to update? *YOU*?? eheh... what about this certain chapter 6 I'm just dying to read for ages?? ;P LOL! Hmm... suspicions are good, but don't always rely on them! ;) And don't worry about Elrohir and Legolas, still not sure about their petty fate... well... all things considered, do worry!! =D
Shauna – Geez... thanks so much for those... *blushes* Glad you like it so much! And I'm flattered with that thing with Estel! Never thought it could be so realistic... Personally, don't have any problems with that, but then, I'm the author! LOL! ;) Sometimes I do wonder if he's too young to be doing all that... I don't really have any experience with children, being the youngest in my family, but if no one has said anything yet, then I guess it mustn't be too far from the truth! I'll do my best to keep this as interesting (geez...) as it has been, or better! And, again, mind your suspicions!... =D
Saint - *shakes head in disappointment* With a name like that and asking for torture... ROTFLOM! Fear not, I *have* given my orders to my evil subjects!! Not in this chapter, though... Damn this story! It WON'T listen to me! *I'm* the evil Dark Lord here, not *IT*!!! *glares at computer screen* I have lots of things to practice still! That is only one of them! ;) Thanks!! Hope you continue to enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it!! =D
One last thing – next week will be especially hard on me, I'm playing solo on a concert AND have tests at school (AGAIN!! Grrr...)! Please be patient, I will never get the next chapter done before the end of the next week! So look for the next update on some weekend from then... *goes back to studying and practising with peaks (I'm really getting sick with the smell of this dictionary!!) on both sides of the eyes*
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Chapter XIII – Revelations And Concealments
Wind blew from below and he felt like he was floating in some place where nothing was truly real. But his heart raced and his blood stream circulated with thrice its normal speed and intensity, knowing better than his head, and expecting for something to happen. He wasn't sure of what, but he knew he should be waiting for it, somehow. Breathing was hard, and filling his lungs utterly impossible.
His back was the first to learn of it, as he fell hard on the flowing river down below. Bruinen's quiet waters were harder than they should, for it had been from a considerable height that Elladan fell. Fortunately for him, though, that peaceful stream was very powerful as well, and, throughout all the long ages it had crossed the lands of Middle-Earth, it had carved with patience the rock that lay beneath its course, forming a smooth surface.
Thus it was that the Elf came out almost unharmed. His mind came tumbling down on him with the waters, and he felt as if only then he had awoken. In his dazed state, he did his best to reach the shore and get his feet on solid ground.
Adrenaline flowed mightily through him and he could not help to tremble slightly from it. Water affected him more than it should and, as the drops fell from his dark hair and he slowly regained his full mind, breathing slowly and filling his ribcage with the precious invisible fluid, so did the cold slowly lift its delicate veil wrapped over the Elf, as an envelopment of ice melting.
He had time to look around and recognised the place from one time when he and his brother had gone on a hunt. Just as he recalled this, footsteps crushing the gravel of the shore were suddenly heard and, when Elladan turned his head, he had only time to see a black figure rapidly approaching from behind with lifted arms, before it punched him straight in the face and sent him down.
Elladan soon gathered his wits again, rose as gracefully as only an Elf could in that situation, and faced his opponent. For the first time, he saw him as he truly was, for the black hood had fallen, revealing a white face, pale as death. It was the face of a Man, but it was so twisted and evil in manner, that Elladan wished it was an Orc, for he loved that race and grieved all their pains, and loathed the Enemy for trying and often succeeding in corrupting them. He knew there were men who served the Enemy, but this one had what seemed to be a noble face, if not for all the malice in it. He knew then, that the dark ones were once Men of Arnor, stained by the Witch-King of Angmar and perhaps even by Sauron himself. ~Then the rumours are true.~
For the second time that day, the evil man unsheathed his sword, and the rusty blade shone menacingly and dimly by Anar's pure light, even though reflecting it little, before he gave the first blow.
Elladan's higher reflexes allowed him to evade it easily, for the sandy bank benefited him. The others' heavy feet and boots made him slow on this kind of soil. Elladan kicked his legs, causing the man to loose his balance, but not his skill. He lashed out the sword and managed to put a nasty cut on the Elf's arm. As Elladan clutched it, the Man rose again and tried to behead him.
By chance, or maybe just his alert senses, Elladan threw himself backwards and downwards, right in time to escape the blade by inches. As he did, he grabbed a handful of sand and cast it to the others' eyes.
Caught unaware, his foe let his sword fall, as irrational instincts ordered his hands to go to the eyes and remove the intruding grains. Elladan seized the opportunity and, taking hold of the weapon, in one single swift movement, he rose and buried it up to the hilt on the man. He drew no more breath and his body fell lifelessly on the bleached sand, staining it red.
As the man sank to the ground, a shadow crossed Elladan's heart. He felt for Men, brothers to the Elves, as they were both the Children of Ilúvatar, and especially in his family, there was a close bond between the two. He despised the Dark Lord with all his being, for this corruption, but now was not the time to mourn. He could not tarry, he had to get to Estel.
Seeing as there were no more of those Men down there, Elladan quickly formulated a plan in his head. It was risky, and he was not sure as to what it would lead him into, but it was also worth it. He had no better ideas at the time and hoped that things would go all right.
He took the sword and the black robe from the dead body and put them on, after hastily improvising a bandage and tying it to his bleeding arm. He hid himself the best he could, which was not too difficult, considering the heavier build of the man. However, he was shorter than the Elf, and so Elladan's light feet showed from under the cloak. Therefore, he had to put on the black boots as well. They were very heavy and, at first, Elladan felt uneasy in them, for whenever he took a step, a loud sound followed and it seemed they dug holes as large and deep as Moria itself on the sand. He hoped that, as he walked, he would get more used to the feeling.
Now, if only he could keep from talking and just follow the others to their dwelling, it should prove to be an easier way to get to Estel, than to slay the other men expecting him above, catch up with Elrohir and Legolas and continue to follow the trail. He was sure the two could take good care of themselves, but still a persistent, nagging doubt would not leave him, and he had to force himself to know they were well. He hoped.
When he got back to that platform, only one rider and two horses were there, awaiting him. The man made a gesture with his head, and Elladan assumed he was asking about him, or rather, the elf. Therefore, he just nodded back. Apparently, he had guessed correctly, for the man gave him the reins and turned to move away from there.
The man may have not been able to tell that it was Elladan who now joined him, but the horse had a different kind of sensibility. When the elf mounted, it kicked and tried to get him down.
The other cloaked man saw this, but made little of it. He simply pulled out a whistle and blew on it. The beast calmed at once, shaking with fear, but Elladan recognised that sound from before, when his own horse had panicked. ~This must be how they train the horses and force them to stand their fell presence. I pity them.~
As he rode closer to the other one, the man took out another item from a pack at his saddle, a rod, and hit the horse on a soft spot of its neck, the side facing down. The beast jerked away at first, but that was all, and only on the first hit. It never made any further protest from there. Elladan could not help to feel sorry for the animal, for it to take punishment for doing what fear and pain had most likely taught it. And it was because of him. Somehow, he felt that the horse understood his thoughts and sentiments.
He followed the man from there. They were going North and crossed the river at the ford. Elladan knew that was where Legolas and Elrohir had gone, and a new idea sprang to his mind; perhaps they would catch up with them. But as he expected to go on the road, the other turned Northwest and followed by a different path.
Elladan had to comply, he knew where they were heading, he'd known it ever since he'd seen the man on the shore. It was a few days' journey still, even with horses, for the paths were hard to tread. And so, Elladan remained as quiet as he could throughout that time. Eventually, they found the other men who had attacked the Elf at the hill and joined in with them.
Elladan stayed at the rear of the group, trying to go unnoticed. These men had yet to talk, and he was partially grateful for it. But he never stopped thinking and worrying about Estel. ~If these Men are this cold amongst themselves, then I fear to think of what they are like to their captives. And I have yet to find what it is they want with Estel! I wonder if they know who he really is?~
They travelled for days on end with little rest. The horses were breathing loudly, indicating their tiredness, when they finally came upon a citadel in ruins, hidden by a tall mountain on one side and covered by thick forest on the others. The building's stone was black, due to both the many ages it had witnessed and the little care it had, and the construction was macabre. Obviously, it had once been a great house of the númenoreans, but this disgraced folk had modified it to better suit their own evil purposes.
Elladan saw no guards, and wondered why it was so. Maybe there weren't as many of these men as he had feared, but his wishing was in vain. As the newly arrived company came nearer, more warriors came forth from inside the fortress to meet them.
These wore the armours of old Arnor, and Elladan was revolted that they should use them. The metal was dull and shone darkly at the light of day. ~Ironical how Evil tarnishes steel itself. It does not allow beauty or splendour to exist, no matter the kind. The Enemy wishes to have everything under his command, dark, or not have it at all.~
He was pulled out of his thoughts when he noticed everyone removing their black vests and revealing themselves to the guards. This was the major flaw in his plan, and he hadn't thought about it yet. He had never thought there could be such an enemy stronghold this close to his home. What was he going to do? It was his turn next.