"Oh yes, yes," The man grunted as he held her hips tightly between dirty fingers. The tavern wench cried out like a mare in heat as the cloaked man moved between her thighs, dragging his pleasure from her body with hard, quick thrusts.
Arwen, covered with a cloak and lying in the corner, woke from her forced unconsciousness to the disturbing sounds and froze. For a moment she couldn't remember where she was, until she felt a large body sitting next to her. Her head was swimming, her cheek throbbing, but she dared not move, lest they know she was awake. She wouldn't make the same mistake she'd made the last time.
"Hurry up, will you!" The man beside her called to the other, obviously occupied, man. "We've got to go soon and I ain't leavin' until I've had my turn!"
Arwen winced, recognizing the unmistakable sound of a mutually agreed upon, and Arwen had no doubt, well-paid, union. As long as her captors didn't think of touching her in that way, she would stay very still and let them have their way with the woman who chose to spread her legs for these disgusting men.
The man let out a long, deep groan and Arwen could hear the bed creak as he stood and grunted his satisfaction. "She's all yours."
The man beside Arwen stood and she contemplated peeking from beneath the voluminous cloak that covered her, until the other man plopped his sated self far too close for the Queen's comfort. She could smell the sweat that covered him and fought a wave of disgusted nausea.
"Come here my big warrior," Arwen could hear the tavern woman coo and nearly gagged. Arwen squeezed her eyes shut in hopes of drowning out the sounds of this new man mounting his catch but it was to no avail. She could hear the bed creak with every arch of his hips, every loud grunt as he drove into her. The woman urged her client on….urged him to take her quickly and Arwen couldn't help but wonder if the woman just wanted it to be over with so she could be paid.
Mercifully, this man lasted no longer than the first, and soon Arwen heard him climb off the tavern wench and toss a few coins onto the table.
"Excellent services!"
Arwen heard the woman gather up the coins and hastily leave the room. No sooner had the door shut than was Arwen lifted to her feet and tossed onto the bed.
She stared up at the two men, wide-eyed with fear. Her hands crossed over her stomach and she glanced away from the one man fastening the front of his breeches.
"So, the little elf is awake." The dark haired man finished fastening his trousers glanced over at the Queen.
The other leaned down on the bed, over her and whispered into her ear. "Did the sounds of our pleasure give you a nice, warm feeling in the pit of that royal stomach of yours?"
Arwen grimaced and the two men laughed.
"Oh, I want to take her." The first man leaned down and placed a hand on her stomach. Arwen twisted out of his grasp with a muffled cry. "Just a few minutes. Spoil the elf bitch for the King who should have married one of his own – instead of – this, this elf." The man sneered at Arwen and when he reached for her ear, she tried to pull away, only to find she wasn't fast enough. "Wonder what it is she gives the King, to keep him so enamored." He roughly cupped her cheek. "I want a taste! Maybe if we take her, get a babe on her, the King will toss her out and get himself a proper wife!"
Arwen's eyes widened in fear as the man covered her mouth and mounted her.
"No! We're to bring her untouched!" The other hissed, pushing the first man off the Queen and quickly gathering a gag.
"Whatever they want to do to her when we arrive is their business. We will not touch her in that way!" The second man shoved the gag into Arwen's mouth and lifted her to her feet.
The first man scowled and raked his eyes down her body. "I bet she's nice and sweet. Can't tell me you don't want a bite."
The larger man stared. "If you touch her, I'll kill you myself! Now get out there and see if the City guards have left! We need to get to Lossarnach and quickly. Time is running out!"
-------------------------
Faramir could hear Aragorn growl angrily as the arrow was removed and his leg cleaned and bandaged. The Steward stood next to his King, listening as the angry man drawled out order after order to the waiting men. Ioreth quickly cleaned and bandaged Aragorn's leg, and examined the head wound he had sustained when falling down the Citadel's stone steps.
"Away!" Aragorn growled at Ioreth and Faramir could see the woman nearly come out of her skin at the tone and wild look in Aragorn's eyes.
"Post armed guards everywhere!" Aragorn hissed toward the captain of the sixth circle guard. "If they haven't gotten out of the city, I want them found! Search every home if you have to!" The guard nodded nervously and rushed out of the room, only to be replaced by another – first circle guard captain.
Aragorn turned to him and without taking a breath issued his orders. "Close all known gates into and out of the City, and refuse any trade until we find my wife! If there are complaints, send them to me. I'll deal with them personally."
"I want you to find who did this and they are to pay – with their lives- if I don't get Arwen back." Aragorn was furious. Healer's continued to fuss over him, assuring that his injuries were well-treated, Guards stumbled over themselves to provide him with an accurate account of what had happened prior to Arwen's kidnapping, and he'd just been informed that one of his foster brother's had been hit with an arrow meant for his wife. The Chamberlain had arrived with a host of councilors and captains, all hanging on the King's every word. Mercifully, the man chattered not at all to his King, instead stood nervously toward the back, wondering if the King would turn his growing ire on him at some point.
All of this and the Haradrim, sworn enemies of Gondor for as long as men could remember, were quartered as honored guests within the sixth circle of the City.
Faramir risked a worried glance at Imrahil who stepped beside him to address the King. "I am going to check on the Haradrim King. We need to see how he fares."
Aragorn turned wild, furious eyes on Imrahil who held up his hand to keep the King from speaking. "It is only proper, until we find the person's responsible for this, that someone check on him. His Councilor was also killed in this attack. I believe the King, himself, was uninjured. But we must at least act concerned."
"Find out, and then have every one of his men questioned!" Aragorn growled.
"This is a delicate situation, Elessar," Imrahil knelt and rested a hand on Aragorn's forearm, addressing him as not a friend, but as his King. There were too many others in the room and some sense of protocol was needed amidst all the chaos. "We cannot, until we have proof, indicate that we blame the Haradrim for this attack. We are trying to avoid a war, and what has happened today may very well have sealed our fates if we don't tread very carefully."
"I am quite aware of what is happening, Imrahil. I will issue no accusation until proof is provided. " Aragorn's gaze softened slightly. "Find out and bring him to me." His gaze swept over the men surrounding him. "And someone find out how Elrohir fares!"
Aragorn swung his legs over the edge of the bed and moved to stand. Faramir offered his arm to steady the King and Aragorn shot him a grateful nod as everyone moved away.
A young boy rushed in, trailing a Citadel Guard, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. The guard pushed everyone aside so that the messenger could pass. In his hand he held a rolled parchment stained with blood. The captains standing beside Aragorn parted like the sea and stared.
"My Lord!" The boy was breathless as he held up the parchment.
Aragorn swiped it out of the young man's hands as the boy shot a worried glance at Imrahil, recognizing the man as his Lord.
Faramir's eyes narrowed and Imrahil's breath caught in his chest. What now?
"News from Dol Amroth, My Lord! The City is under attack!" The boy was unable to contain his fear and so spoke as Aragorn read.
"What?!" Aragorn, Faramir and Imrahil chorused simultaneously.