Chapter 4

Imprint for Life

The sky was alive with the birds, and beyond the walls the sun had just began to peak over the hills. The clouds sat awaiting the full rising as the dew collected and dripped from the blades of yellow and green grass.

Glorfindel rolled over on the hard floor, his blanket lay under his head as a pillow. Since elves were not subject to cold or hot, he had no use for it save a pillow.

He arched his back to a stretch, the sun flickered on his face and played about his closed eyelashes. He smiled and opened his eyes, they sparkled in the sun.

The elf slowly got up and looked about, but his smile turned to a frown, he was not in the same place he had gone to bed the night before. What he had thought to be the sun was a fireplace, and in the fireplace burned a hearty fire. Inside the room along the walls were all sorts of utensils. Ropes, Nails, Brands, wood,. And in the middle of the room was a large wood table, it was sturdily built and could hold probably at lease four hundered pounds. On the table were chains, they were attached to it and seemed made to hold things on it.

Glorfindel backed away, 'What am I doing here?'

~~~~~~~

I gotta fight another fight

I gotta fight with all my might

~~~~~~~

His breathing increased and his heart began to thump madly against his chest, his eyes raced about the closed in space and sweat began to build and fall down his face and neck. He was trapped, trapped with the flames. 'No not again!' he turned abruptly and began to seek a crack in the wall.

"A-Aquista! Leithia nin!!!" he cried as he began to run for the door, it was huge and make of solid oak. "Leithia nin!!!!"

"U Naur!!!!" He pounded his one useful fist mercilessly at the hard oak door.

Suddenly without warning the door swung open and two men grabbed Glorfindel tightly. He cried out as they brought him closer to the fire. "Aquista u!" he cried as tears streamed from his wide blue eyes. He looked to the door and saw three more people enter.

One was that of Silthen, one was Tuilin who Glorfindel could see had wet cheeks, and new tears were forming in her eyes as well. And the last and most hated was Sarock. The blonde elf scowled and spat at him despite his fear.

"Ah, we meet again, Glorfindel." he hissed as a wicked smile crossed his face.

"Tuilin Aquista! U Naur!" he cried as they brought him back on the table.

He pulled as best he could, he kicked and bit, but it did not help. With effort they slammed him back on the hard table, making the elf gasp for breath. It was all they needed, the two men strapped him to the table.

He tried to move, but it was useless. He could not move, on his chest, arm, legs, and waist were straps that kept him were he was.

"What was he saying Tuilin?" Sarock snapped at the servant girl.

"Please, release me, no flames." she said softly gulping back the tears. "Please." she pleaded tears falling down her fair face. "Just let him go!"

All the men began to laugh wickedly. "And why should we?"

"Because he is more than you realize."

"He is just another slave to us, a horse for bartering, an untrained bull." Sarock eyes Glorfindel. "But that will all change. You will obey us, I will do whatever it takes to show you and the rest of your kin that we are better and deserve your respect."

With those words Sarock walked briskly towards the fire, a glimmer of malice in his dark eye. He carefully lifted a brand, the shape was of the letter S and a horse.

"This will show everyone that you belong to me and Silthen."

He motioned to one of the men to reveal a piece of skin near the shoulder, the hot iron sizzled softly making Glorfindel squirm.

"U Naur! Tuilin!" he cried, but his cry became a scream as Sarock stuck the brand onto his right arm. He screamed so loud that they all had to cover their ears, except Sarock who had done this many times before and by now was smiling.

Underneath the brand it felt as if his skin was sizzling, it hurt so much………..he stared transfixed into the flames in the fireplace, his eyes filling with more tears.

Searing flames…………burning through Flesh, and soul……they burned right through his heart and boiled the blood. He screamed that night a horrible unearthly scream as his life was taken.

The last of Glorfindel's mind fled into a deep unconsciousness, not just from the pain. But from the memories that were trying to mess with his tired mind. His head slumped to the side and the small arch in his back fell back on the table.

"Well that was enjoyable." Sarock commented grinning ear to ear. "Lets do it again."

"No!" Tuilin ran and grabbed his arm, forgetting her place for the moment. "Please no!!! I beg thee!!!! Just let him sleep!!!"

Silthen came forward and nodded in agreement with Tuilin. "One brand is enough." he murmured and turned to go. Tuilin went with him, and so did Sarock.

"Sir, what do we do with him?"

"Leave him."

"Yes sir"