Not So Long

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Warning: Chapter includes abuse and tried slash. You've been warned.

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The other man, Melchior scrambled over to his accomplice and smiled down at Vittorio with lust and greed in his eyes.

Vittorio went to let out a cry that would hopefully bring someone to his aid but Melchior whipped out a short knife and held it at Vittorio's throat.

"Go ahead and cry for help and see what happens then." Melchior taunted.

Vittorio closed his mouth and fearfully looked down to where Taber was started to untie his breeches.

~

"We must be quiet." Elrohir whispered to Valora as they made their way out of the garden and started to run for the stables.

Elrohir stopped at the entrance of stable and grabbed Valora to his side. Elrohir looked into the stable and saw that most of the men had already retired to the loft and he could hear their muffled voices coming from above.

He motioned for Valora to stay behind him as he entered. Elrohir could hear his heart pounding in his chest, he had never done something like this before. He looked left and right tryin to see if he could see any sign of Vittorio.

Elrohir stopped suddenly when he heard a man yell.

"Wait." Elrohir listened again, he could hear the sound of feet moving around from somewhere. He crept towards the back of the stable where the sounds where coming from, "Hear that?" Elrohir asked Valora.

"No." Valora shook her head and tried to listen. Elrohir kept going towards the noise. He noticed a lit coming out from the bottom of a closed door and the cruel laughter of a man.

"Go ahead and cry for help and see what happens then." A voice taunted from inside the door.

Elrohir moved closer to the door and listened once again.

"Hurry up, I want to be done before Lel gets back and I don't think I can wait any longer." The same voice said.

"I'm working! I don't usually untie other men's britches you know!" A second voice said in an angry tone. Elrohir suddenly knew that Vittorio was in that room and he needed help.

Elrohir flung open the door and the two men turned in surprise.

"Get off him!" Elrohir demanded.

"Look at that Melchior, another pretty boy just gave himself over to us." Taber smiled and stood to get Elrohir.

Elrohir's hand shot out with a quick reflex and blocked the man's outstretched arm.

"We've got another fighter here!" Taber called to Melchior who was trying to finish the job Taber had started.

"You leave him be!" Valora appeared behind Elrohir.

"Look at that." Taber smiled and moved towards Valora.

"Don't touch her!" Vittorio yelled from the ground as Elrohir placed himself in front of her.

"Oh come now boys." Taber slammed the door shut and turned towards Elrohir, "If you play along nice then maybe we'll give you a little fun with the girl. Now step aside!" Taber pushed Elrohir to the side but his elven reflexes rose in him and he kicked the man's feet out from under him.

Melchior jumped up and grabbed Valora with his knife pressed to her throat.

Vittorio sprung to his feet as well but stopped when he saw the knife at Valor's throat.

Taber stood up and was clearly very angry.

"Neither of you had better try anything like that again. You're locked in here now." Taber wiped the dirt of his face and Vittorio and Elrohir got a look at the closed door that told them they were indeed locked in. The door had only a lock that could be undone with a key. "You let us with the girl and we won't hurt her." Taber moved over to where Valora was now near tears.

"No!" Vittorio wanted to charge the man but Elrohir held him back by the arm.

"Wait." Elrohir hissed in Vittorio's ear.

Melchior was now taking in the scent of Valora's sweet smelling hair and eyeing her body with lust.

Taber smiled at the two knowing that they had gotten themselves into a difficult spot.

"What are you going to do now?" Taber asked and moved his hand down he back of Valora's shirt and started to untie the strings that held in closed.

Elrohir felt hi body tense into attack mode and he wished for nothing more than to have his bow and arrows with him now.

He looked to the left and right of him but saw nothing that could help them. Melchior moved forward to keep Elrohir and Vittorio away from Taber as he had his time with Valora.

Elrohir spotted a bridle and bit that might offer him some sort of weapon. He looked back at saw that Taber was still working on Valor's shirt. He made a swift lunge towards the bridle and Melchior called out. This gave Valora time to step away from Taber as he turned to see what was happening.

Elrohir whipped the bridle towards Melchior's face and hit him square in the jaw. Blood dripped down his cheek where he was kit and he dropped his knife to the floor. Vittorio made a quick grab for the knife and brought it back up towards Melchior's face.

"Don't move!" Vittorio warned the man.

Taber growled and moved towards Vittorio. Once again Elrohir quickly swung the bridle and Taber fell to the floor clutching his bleeding face.

"Come!" Elrohir grabbed Valora and pushed her towards the window. Vittorio had already climbed out and Elrohir gave Valora a boost out as Melchior regained his composure and headed towards Elrohir.

Elrohir hoisted himself out the window as Melchior made a grab for his shirt. Elrohir could feel the collar rip as he left the window and ran after Vittorio and Valora back towards the garden.

The three didn't stop running until they were in the kitchen and up the stairs.

Valora collapsed with Vittorio onto his mattress. Elrohir closed the door and took a deep breath. He smiled as he looked down at the shirtless Vittorio and Valora with her shirt half undone in the back and looked at his own ripped shirt in the mirror.

"I'm so glad you are ok." Valora wrapped her arms around Vittorio and rested her head on his strong shoulder.

"It's ok, I'm back now." Vittorio held her close to his body and sighed, happier than he'd ever been to see that small room.

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