Chapter 13

Elven translations: Mellon nin, im gwesta caro – My friend, I do swear

They did not however have to wait for the ascension of the new King. The arrogant humans walked in once again. "Treat them enough so they don't die. And prepare them for transport." A large, leathery-faced man said. "When they are ready, bring them to the village, and close up this section of tunnel."

His men nodded and started to carry out his orders. First, they bound the prisoners who were conscience, got them hauled out, then turned their attention to the others.

************

Back at the palace, Selinde and Tanad walked back into the conference area. She had spent the half hour getting her and Kao's gear together. She would not be the one responsible for losing Kao's sword.

The Elder's looked up once again as Selinde, followed by Tanad, entered the room. They took notice that she did not seek permission to do so first. "I ask your pardon for being rude," Selinde said, but none were sure if she meant it. "Tanad and I will be leaving. I just came to see if horses would be provided."

The King stood and sized up the young Elf. "Horses will be provided," he said. "But you will not be welcome in my Kingdom again, unless you learn some manners."

"Thank you my Lord." Was all she said to him. She turned her attention to Lord Elrond. "Will you please tell me where this village is? The one where our horses were found." Elrond looked to the others at the table and they nodded consent. When the information had been imparted, Elrond walked the two youngsters out to their horses.

"Galadriel has confirmed your suspicions about this legend. If you do find Bethune, will you come back and tell me what was there?" Selinde nodded. Elrond reached out and took her in his arms. "Your home is still in Imladris, Selinde. I hope you will return also." Selinde nodded once more, with tears in her eyes.

They had been given two Elven escorts to this village, so the four took off, without looking back. It took them a day and a half to reach the village. They left their horses a safe distance away, and in a spot not easily found and approached the village. It was bustling with activity.

They watched as the stolen horses were prepared for travel. As a group of men approached where they were, none of her companions noticed the blood drain from Selinde's face. It was a good thing they didn't need to move, for she was petrified with terror.

*That face!* The voice screamed in her head. *I thought he was dead."

It was only when the prisoners were brought forth that Selinde felt herself breath again. Only to gasp in shock a minute later, as her loved ones were dragged to carts.

But she didn't have to know where they were going, she already knew.

************

Kaolith groaned as she was thrown into the cart. She couldn't move fast enough as her hands were bound, and the rest of the Elves were thrown on top of her. Aragorn had woken some time earlier, groggy and in extreme pain. He relaxed his body completely as he impacted with his fellow captives, and rolled to the side of the cart. Frantic, the Ranger searched for his family, and caught sight of identical faces staring up at him.

"Could you roll a little to your left, brother, my ribs don't like you right now."

"No, roll to the right, I don't want you on top of me. Heavy human!"

"Oh be quiet, both of you. Where are Legolas and Kaolith?"

"The last time I saw Legolas, he was yelling at Terach for something, but I haven't seen…Oh Elbereth no…there she is." Elladan's face paled, as the chief of the humans plucked the only female in their group from the mess of bodies. None knew it then, but this was the same Man that Selinde had just blanched at.

"Look what we have here. I didn't know there were any like you gracing our presence. You will ride with me, won't you…your name girl!"

"K-K-Kao-Kaolith." There was something about the man, something that gave him an air of being more refined, and yet more terrifying, and the Ranger wanted to be further away from him than anyone else she had ever met in her life.

"Kaolith, that is a pretty name. But you will refer to me as sir if I allow you to address me, understood?" He traced his fingers down her cheek and to her lips, when she recoiled, spitting, and then biting his finger. "You little…you will learn some respect!" With that, he pulled his bleeding hand back and slapped her across the face, staining her cheek with his blood and splitting her lip. "Understood?"

With tears in her eyes from the pain, Kaolith could only nod, earning her another slap, this one with enough force to snap her head back and make her dizzy. "Yes sir," she whispered as he dragged her up onto his horse, sneering back at the sons of Elrond, who were irate.

************

Selinde winced with each slap, but it was Tanad who almost gave their position away. One of their Elven companions held him down and was bit with the effort of holding Tanad's mouth shut. When a moment presented itself, they slipped back to their horses.

"I wonder where they are taking them," one of the Elves asked.

Selinde ignored the question and spoke to them. "You must return to the Palace and tell them what you saw."

"You will come with us." It was a statement, not a question.

"No, we will not. Tanad and I will follow them."

"You will get caught." The Elf insisted.

Selinde motioned for Tanad to mount. She then mounted herself. "No we won't, for I know where they are headed. Let's go Tanad."

She turned once again. "Please, return to the Palace and tell them what you have seen. Tell Lord Elrond that they are being taken to Rhun. I believe he will understand."

With those words, they left to help their friends.

************

They rode hard for the first time, making their way parallel to the Forest Road, but far enough from it to remain undetected. When they finally made camp for the night, the captives were tied together in a group. Kaolith was still on Noor's horse, and was watching desperately for a chance to break free. She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, and was learning to pay heed to that. There was something wrong with the man behind her, and she didn't want to find out what it was.

Men ringed the camp, daring any to try to escape, and they only parted momentarily when their leader rode in with his prize. He shoved the child to the ground, and followed, only just too slow. She was on her feet before hitting the ground and bolted, skidding as she came within grasp of a guard. Hearing Strider call out for her, she turned and hid herself among the Elves. They formed a protective circle around her, not willing to give her up to the monster in front of them without a fight.

Their resistance was short lived, and as they lay, bleeding and broken even more than they had, only conscious enough to be aware of what was happening, Kaolith was dragged, kicking and screaming, behind Noor. "Shut your mouth, my prize, if you know what's good for you. You will learn to submit to me, and not pull any more foolish stunts, now won't you my sweet?"

Cringing, knowing that her silence would not be well met, she vowed not to give into him. Not surprisingly, she was cuffed upside the head with the hilt of his dagger, and the world swam in front of her once more. Suddenly, she did not know what was happening, or when they had left the Palace.

"What? Where are we? Who are you? Let go of me." Unaware of her fears at that moment, she did something that Strider winced at, remembering the bruises she had inflicted some six years ago.

"You little…you will learn to obey. My last toy did, now why can't you?" With that, she was dragged into his tent; the only sound that could be heard a few minutes later was Noor screaming.

"That's the Ranger I taught," Aragorn mumbled, knowing exactly where Kaolith had inflicted pain. The group saw her running once more, and could only wish there were trees for her to reach. The pines were old, however, and their branches were too high in the air. She hid once more, tears streaming down her face.

"Please help me, Strider, don't let him near me."

************

Selinde watched to make sure the others went back to the palace. Satisfied that they did, she approached Tanad. They rode closely side-by-side while she explained some things to him.

"Where we are going is not a safe place Tanad," she said. "I need you to understand that."

He nodded. Selinde halted the horses for a moment.

"Tan, there is a possibility that someone might die." She watched to see his reaction. There wasn't one. "Please Tan, I need to know that you will think before you act, even if it hurts to do so. I need you to follow my orders. Do you understand?"

"Selinde," he responded soberly. "I understand that Kao and the others have been taken against their will, and I will do everything in my power to help you free them. As for what happened back there," he paused. "I'm sorry, it won't happen again. I will follow your lead and we will get them back."

The Elf leaned over and gave the young human a big hug. He had already had to do some growing up before his time. She was afraid that he was now forced to leave the rest of his childhood behind. As Tan hugged her back, he whispered forcibly into her ear.

"We will get them back. There is no other outcome I will accept."

Selinde nodded and the two continued on. Knowing that the slavers would avoid all populated areas, Selinde decided to go to Esgaroth. They would also be able to restock, and possibly buy another horse to carry their supplies. They would need a lot of them. She then planned to cross the river as soon as possible and try to watch for their friends from the other side. Hoping it would be safer.

************

Aragorn heard the desperation in her words, as did the others, and pulled her as close as he could with bound hands. Knowing that there was nothing he could do if Noor was after what he thought, he was loath to make a promise that he could not keep. "Mellon nin, im gwesta caro." He whispered into her ear, the tensing of her shoulders enough to know that she did not feel safe with him to protect her from that statement.

It only took Noor a few moments to recover and storm out after his pet. Walking directly to the captives, he grabbed for her shoulder, surprised when she was pulled out of his reach. "Didn't I teach you the last time? She is mine, and I will have my way with her." He lashed out at Aragorn, but the man would not budge. The words her friend spoke next sent shivers down Kaolith's spine, and her still boggled mind could not comprehend it.

"You do not want her, trust me, I should know. You can have better with Orcs than that one." Each word was like fire as it spit from his mouth, and he could only guess what his protégé was thinking.

"I will be the one to decide that, but perhaps not tonight, if she is as bad as you say. I knew that you were not as high and mighty as you held yourself to be. Consorting with Elves all the time, you still have your downfalls." He turned to Kaolith, who was as white as a sheet. "Your friend may have saved you for the night, young pet, but I will not be bested so easily, and you will pay for your insolence." He stepped forward into striking distance, and was amazed when she didn't cower. Glaring, he belted her in the eye, and stalked off, calling for one of his men to tie her.

When she was secured, Kaolith jumped behind the twins, anxious to put as much space between herself and Strider as possible, fear and betrayal in her eyes.

Aragorn squeezed his eyes shut, pleading to the Valar for strength to make her understand. "Mellon nin…"

"Don't call me that."

"Kao, sweetie, please understand. You know that I would never do anything like that; you know that, search your heart. I had to say something, or you would be in there with him right now. I swear I will protect you, but I can't do that if…" he couldn't think of the words to make her understand, and it was Legolas who interceded.

"Little one, you know what he wanted, still wants, to do, don't you?"

"I'm 18 years old, yes I know what he wants."

"And you know that we all want to keep you safe, right?"

"Yes."

"Do you honestly think that Estel is anything like Noor?"

"Well, no, but..."

"Hear me out. You can see yourself that Noor holds himself to a higher regard than Estel, correct? If he hears then, that you've already been…" he paused, "…defiled, and by Estel, then maybe he will think twice, for the time being at least."

Kaolith nodded, looking at the ground. When she looked up again, they could see that one eye was already turning black. "Strider? I'm scared. You said part of growing up was knowing when to ask for help, so now…now I guess I'm asking you."

To the Reviewers:

TC – Yeah, that sounds about right, TC, but you know what, I think it just got worse *looks at rest of story* yup, it's getting worse.  So now, we don't want to kill you, we like you too much for that, but those momentary "I can't breathe, they're gonna kill me with what they just wrote" scenes are always good…beware, there's more coming up…

Sparx – Yeah, Sparx, Elrond could save them, but he's waaay over there in Mirkwood, not coming to the rescue anytime soon…well…not for a long time anyway…I think…maybe…and as for that line, it was referencing to the fact that Kao was seeing double at the time.

Kar - *Rubs neck* just you wait till you post Dilemma, I'll get you for that.  Why? Because we like seeing your reactions to what we write?  Is that a better answer (still like the 'cuz it's fun answer better)…And we agree with you on your last comment, we think we were meant to as well…

Cathy – Ding ding…you're the only one who caught that…everybody else was askin where Aragorn was.  Make them well?  What is this concept?  And besides, you're one to talk…with Legolas dyin and Aragorn out in the storm that his ada caused…fix that and we'll consider making them well…

Rhonda – YAY!! Another lurker comes out from the shadows to review!!!  Did we update fast enough for you? And is it sad enough? LOL…