Disclaimer: I am not Tolkien, therefore I do not own anything in the story.
Summary: After the death of his friend, Aragorn falls into depression and there may only be one person who can draw him out of it.
How Can I Survive
Chapter 20
"It would be a lot easier if you would just cooperate with me" Terral said to Aragorn. They were sitting in what seemed to be a throne room, and it had tapestries hanging on all the walls. This confused the dunadà n, this man was not of royal lineage. Estel was being held by a few orcs on the ground. "I will never give you what you want" he spat, earning him a backhand against his cheek.
"Erigdush" Terral called to one of his followers. The orc ran over to his ruler eagerly. "Yes milord." Terral whispered something in his ear, and what he said made a cruel smile cross both of their faces. "Right away."
Erigdush left the room, and proceeded down the hallway. This situation baffled the young man. He had so many questions flooding in his mind. Where was the orc going, where was he, was anyone looking for him? The perplexity must have been evident in his eyes, because Terral noticed it. "Don't worry, he will be back."
**********
The companions had been travelling for about a day and a half, and at their speed, they covered the distance that would normally take just over two days. They were only roughly half a day away from the base of The Misty Mountains.
"This is all very confusing" Kementari noted. "Well we just have to be patient. It will do us more good than you know" advised Glorfindel. The others indicated agreement by nodding their heads, and they silently kept following the tracks that had been leading them on this mystery.
**********
"Come on, Lord Terral wants to see you" Erigdush said as he pulled the prisoner out of the cell that they were being held in. He led the captive back down the corridor towards the throne room.
He opened the door to enter the span where his 'boss' was occupying. "Well, I'm glad you could join us, my lovely Evenstar" Terral said sardonically when she was pushed forcefully into the room.
Aragorn's eyes were wide with fury and panic. "What is she doing here?" he demanded. "She is here to give you that extra motivation" Terral answered, his threat was clear to Estel. "If you hurt her I swear I will kill you myself" he warned. "Why don't we ask her what she thinks…hmm? Arwen, don't you think that your beloved should offer up his right to succeed his father to me? Before you answer, I will tell you the consequences if he doesn't, I'll kill you."
"Leave her alone" Aragorn shouted. "Does that mean you have changed your mind?" Terral questioned. "Fi-" "Don't answer him Estel" Arwen interrupted. "You will not give up your privilege to some sadistic mad man" she said still not looking at him. She had her eyed glued on her captor.
Estel had so many things in his head. So many voices. There was Terral, Arwen, and the voice that had been haunting him. He was trying to block out all the sounds but to no avail. All he heard were the threats and the orders and the blame.
"I'll kill her. I promise I will."
"Don't do it Aragorn!"
"It's your fault that he's dead, accept it. She's too good for you. Don't bring her to death as well."
"Stop it" he screamed. He had his hands pressed up to his ears and he was clenching his eyes shut. His current appearance scared Arwen, she was so worried about him. "Stop it" he yelled again.
"It's your fault…all your fault. Don't kill her too." He kept hearing the voices.
"Fine, I hand my rights over to you, just don't hurt her" he whispered, but everyone heard him. "Very well" Terral said, success written all over his face. "Take him back to his cell" he ordered. "What 'bout her?" Erigdush questioned, motioning towards Arwen. "Eliminate her."
**********
"Look" Kementari said as he pointed east, the direction they were heading. "It looks as if somebody has resided here." The others saw what he was motioning at and concurred.
At the base of the mountains, there was what looked to be a palace. It was smaller than that of Rivendell or Mirkwood, but still had the appearance of a fortress.
"How could we have not known that this was here?" Elrohir said as they approached it, but stayed far enough away so they couldn't be seen. He cursed their senselessness. "It looks to have been established recently, and we haven't passed this way in a time" Elladan answered, still baffled regardless of his explanation.
"Perhaps Arwen or Estel is here" Glorfindel said. "We have to get inside" Kementari observed. "But how" Elrohir brought up the question that was in each of their minds.
**********
"No" Aragorn shouted. "You said you would leave her alone" he exclaimed. "I lied" Terral said lazily.
Arwen was pulled up onto her feet by Erigdush and was started to be dragged out of the room. "Amin mela lle" [I love you] she said to Aragorn as she was pulled out of the doorway. Before she became invisible to him, he saw a glimmer of mithril hanging on her neck. "Cormamin niuve tenna ta elea lle au" [my heart shall weep until it sees thee again] he cried, hoping with everything that he had, that she heard him.
She did. "We're going to have fun with this" Erigdush said happily, which made Arwen want to throw up. They brought her into a room and tied her down on to a wooden table. "What would you like first, whips or spears" the orc mocked.
Arwen knew she had to do something to buy herself time. She knew that search parties would be out looking for her right now. She knew her father.
"Why do you listen to him, why do you let him tell you what to do?" the Evenstar asked, hoping that her plan would work. Erigdush laughed. "You must think that we are really stupid don't you? You think that by saying that we don't have to listen to him, we would go and attack him instead. Well let me tell you something. Our group wasn't a big one, but when we decided to follow Terral it became one. We became stronger. Now please shut up" he snapped.
Arwen cringed knowing that her idea had backfired.
**********
"I hope this works" Elladan said. "It will, don't worry. Now go" Elrohir commanded to his brother. "Okay, I am. Relax" the older twin responded as he walked out of the safety of the woods.
He went right in front of where the guards were standing. The orcs and the evil men that followed Terral immediately pointed their crossbows and swords in the elf's direction. 'This better work Elrohir" Elladan whispered to himself, as he dropped himself to the ground.
Arrows from out of the trees shot and hit the enemies. Elladan saw the orcs and the men fall dead in front of him.
"I told you it would be successful" Elrohir jested to his sibling who had just stood up and was brushing himself off. "Don't be too happy, there are still going to be more inside" Glorfindel said bringing the younger elves back to reality.
**********
Aragorn was back in his cell, and he was weeping heavily. It seemed as if everybody he loved or cared about, always got hurt and it was always because of him. Legolas died because of him, and now Arwen was going to as well. He had hurt the ones who had raised him by loving Undomiel. Even if she didn't die today, she would eventually. He was like a curse that Middle Earth would never be rid of.
**********
Arwen screamed in pain as the whip came down on her. She had never experienced anything like this in her long life. She just wanted the excruciating agony to stop. "Tampa" [stop] she shouted.
"Be quiet, won't you" Erigdush cackled as he readied the leather strap to come down once again. But he wasn't able to thrash her, instead he fell down to the floor dead as an arrow imbedded itself in the back of his head. The others soon followed after him.
"Arwen" Elladan called when he saw his younger sister in her present state. He and Glorfindel were the ones who had found her for the search party had split up in hopes of covering more ground.
The two older elves ran over to her and untied her. Elladan picked Arwen up and carried her in his arms. She had passed out because of the pain, but she was alive. The question was for how much longer?
Well? What do u think? Let me know. Oh and does anyone know any good slow or sad songs? Those are the only songs that I can write to, I can't write to fast songs. So if you know any good ones….tell me!!! Thanks
~*Judy Greenleaf*~
