Ch 19
Horses were fast approaching. She could sense the presence of their minds, she could hear the thunder of their hooves against the springy turf. She could smell the scent of their sweaty bodies that was borne upon the winds. Forty riders, riders of the riddermark, were swiftly advancing upon their small group of men and elves. Coming from Edoras, it was not with gladness or hope that these warriors approached, but with infuriated contempt.
Against the gloomy backdrop of heavy, gray clouds did the company of riders appear at the crest of the horizon. It was as if the winds and the weather were foretelling of doom. The sharp gale that had ensued upon the travelers cast Élharma's hair from its bonds, whipping it upon her face and shoulders . Even her hair wanted away from this place. It pulled at her head as if begging to return to the familiar surroundings of Imladris.
She felt a heavy hand upon her shoulder. "I feel it as well." Haldir whispered into her ear, "We are in danger here."
She bent her head and pressed a kiss upon the top of his hand, savoring for but a moment the texture of the roughened skin at his knuckles against her lips. His hands were warm, assuring in their might, giving her strength to face this new threat.
****~~~****
Haldir watched with concern as the face of his most beloved became pale. The color drained from it as a fine wine is quickly emptied from its bottle. Remarkably, even in this dreariness she was the vision of beauty; though her hair had become untressed it still held an almost unnatural glow of gold spun with sunbeams, and her eyes were the familiar shallow pools of gray and green waters, constantly swirling and changing. Eyes that, thought they beheld a sight that could instill fear in the hearts of all, remained bright and clear, bold in the face of danger.
He glanced over his shoulder at Lirahall. The elf's fair face was caught sharply in a deep scowl and his hand lay restlessly on the hilt of his sword. Their eyes met and Lirahall nodded almost imperceptively.
****~~~****
Cee took note of their distress, sidling up to the maiden and smiling, "Don't worry. Vidugavia is very much an elf-friend. He will gladly welcome you into his house."
Élharma shook her head, "You are mistaken. Those riders come not with greetings of friendship."
Cee frowned, "I don't think so. You must be misguided…"
"She is not," Haldir said, "For I feel it as well."
By this time, the riders had drawn close to the travelers. Some of the men began to hoot and holler, yelling joyous greetings to the warriors. The riders soon encircled their small band of prisoners, the horses stopped and faced inwards towards the men and elves.
All was silent for but a moment before one man bearing the helm of a captain called out, "Today is a day of celebration and merriment! For this day you are free of your foul captors. Bring forth the elves, those offensive beings that enslaved my brothers of the riddermark, for your queen much desires to speak with them."
A murmur rippled through the crowd before a man yelled back, "You must be mistaken! These elves are not our captors, but our champions! They rescued from the mines of Mordor!"
The captain frowned, "It matters not to me what they did. My queen has ordered me to fetch them and it is my intension to do so."
"The queen is not the one who gives you your orders. What does Vidugavia say in this matter?" Korodan said
"The queen is now in power at Edoras. And it is her will that these vagabonds be brought before her to pay for their offenses." The captain said coldly
"They have committed no crime!" Korodan yelled angrily
"Much has changed since you left, brother." The captain said softly, "MUCH has changed."
"So I see, BROTHER." Korodan grimaced.
Four of the riders dismounted, each carrying a length of rope. Haldir felt Élharma tense next to him, ready to either flee or fight off this upcoming attack.
"Don't do anything." He whispered into her ear, "There are to many for us to fight off, and you would not get very far if you ran, seeing that they are mounted and we are not."
She knew the truth of his words, yet it was still with great effort that she calmed the impulse to draw her weapons and hurl them mercilessly into the head of the approaching soldiers. She consciously unclenched her fists and drew a deep breath, calming her now-raging heartbeat.
With much protests from the men were their wrists bound behind their backs. Cee turned to Élharma with tears in her eyes, "I am so sorry, Élharma. So sorry. I should have sent you back to your own home rather than insist that you come here."
Élharma smiled and said calmly, "Fear not little one. I know that you intended fore none of this to happen. I hold you not responsible for your ignorance of these happenings."
Cee cried out sharply as the soldier hoisted Élharma onto the back of his horse, "I will do everything in my power to free you and to clear up this little misunderstanding."
Élahrma nodded regally to the woman as she was carried swiftly to the castle at Edoras. The other elves were treated in much the same way, riding behind a soldier on the back of a horse, their hands tied securely behind.
It was with heavy heart that the three elves- ironically they were now the prisoners- mounted the steps to the castle. Each could feel it, like a thick tar it dripped from the cold, stone walls to press into their minds. It was an impenetrable sense of utter and complete hatred, malice and distaste.
They passed colorful paintings, brightly hued tapestries and ornately decorated windows, but they were unable to appreciate the raw beauty of these things for the malice that inundated each fold of fabric, each stroke of the pen and chisel.
What had happened here? To this beautiful castle, to this beautiful land, to make it so ugly? Not with a physically perceptible hideousness, for physically, it was a very attractive castle. What made the feelings, the air, the atmosphere so ugly?
Then, interrupting their speculations, did she enter. Physically, she far outshone her surroundings with her beauty. She was tall and lean, wearing a dark green gown that complimented her honeyed locks and dusky eyes. But it was the expression on her face, the savage sneer, that drew the elves attention.
She did not speak for some time; she just stared, glaring as she took in the sight before her.
Élharma could feel this woman's eyes burrow deep into her own, searing, ravaging in their hatred. Élharma tried to keeth pleasant things into this woman's mind, desperate for relief from the savage hatred.
"Keep your little mind tricks to yourself, elfwitch. They will not work on me." The woman spat, then addressing all, "Welcome to Edoras, capitol city of Rohan. I am Queen Vidalan of the Riddermark, and you are trespassing on my land."
"If you release us, we will most gladly leave your lands." Haldir said cautiously
"I would really like to accompany that request," She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "But we also must clear up this little problem of you selling some of my people to the orcsies down in mordor."
"We did no such thing!" Lirahall defended.
"We will see about that." The woman, Vidalan sneered
"Please, we did nothing of the sorts!" Élharma said softly
The woman rolled her eyes, "I was hoping that this would be resolved easily, but unfortunately, you are proving harder than I thought."
They looked at her expectantly as she paused for effect
Suddenly, with a feral look in her eyes, a look that was almost a kind of hunger, of lust, she ordered, "To the interrogation chamber with them!" and turned away.
Haldir felt the rope on his hands jerk cruelly as they were ushered towards a small door on the other side of the room.
"Wait," They heard from the throne. Vidalan rose, a dangerous smirk decorating her features, "Stop."
He felt her eyes on him, their steely gaze sweeping harshly across his body. "The blonde one, he stays," she murmured, "I have something…… Special…… in store for him."
Much to his surprise and distain, he was left behind as Élharma and Lirahall were shoved through the door.
"NO!!! Élharma, WAIT!" He cried, running to catch up to them.
Something caught the rope attached to his wrists and he fell to the floor with a heavy thud.
"So," The menacing voice said from behind him, "She is your elf friend…"
"Dolothan!" The sentry who had been in charge of Élharma appeared at the door. "Make sure Imdar pays…..SPECIAL….attention to the female, I am sure she has much information to give us…" The feral queen ordered.
"Now then….."
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