Title: Pseudonym
Author: Lauren
Editor: Ed the Editor (whom really exists)
(for disclaimer and summary see chapter 1)
To my reviewers:
Lady of Middle Earth: Have no fear this long chapter should quench your thirst till i get the next chapter up.
Lady Idhril: I don't think there is a cliffy in this chapter. Let me check. *scrolls down* Meep! I need to get an official hiding place in case you people start a mob or something. *starts building fort*
Daisy Princess: It just got better.
A/N: On with the chappy and back to Mt. Edan!
~*Chapter 8: Torture Of The Heart*~
Duriel had quickly changed to some riding clothes and stole into the stables. There she pick a beautiful brown stallion and had then taken off as fast as her steed would go, toward Mt. Edan. She knew that she could reach Mt. Edan before Adrian, but what would she do then? Her father wanted the prince dead.
At this thought, she urged the horse on faster. Speeding throughout the paths of the forest, across streams, and through the plains of Airerûth.
~**~
She arrived at the base of Mt. Edan late on her second day of travel. She was just beginning to have the feeling that someone was watching her, when Rahane and some other men stepped out of the trees in front of her.
"Lady Duriel, your father sent us out to meet you. Please follow us."
She looked at Rahane with a anger in her eyes before dismounting and handing her horse to one of the other men in the group. "After you."
Rahane smiled and turned around, heading up to the hidden entrance. Duriel followed reluctantly.
As she slid into the all too familiar entrance she felt a small twinge in her heart. Why was she following Rahane anyway? She didn't have to. She could have went on by herself, but it just seemed right to follow him.
It was then that she noticed they were following the paths to the main chamber. How strange. She shook every thought out of her head and focused on what she would say to her father.
They entered into the main chamber and she noticed her father at the other end.
"Rahane, you and your men may leave and shut the door behind you."
Duriel watched them leave. She turned back to Vanwathulë when the door clicked shut. "Father, I-"
Before she could comprehend what was happening, she felt another, stronger twinge in her heart and she fell to her knees, where she stayed.
"This very morning I received a letter from Adrian, telling me of...how close you and Prince Elenion have gotten. Did you learn nothing during your lessons? I did not send you out there to fall in love with the prince. But it doesn't matter anymore, Adrian fulfilled his part. Elenion should be arriving here sometime tomorrow. In the meantime, you will be staying in a room down below so as not to interrupt any of my plans with your foolish love. Someone will escort you there. I will send someone down there tomorrow to bring you back up and we will talk again later."
He walked to the door, opened it, and had a short conversation with someone outside. Rahane came in and grabbed her arm, lifting her off of her knees. She started to protest, but the look her father gave her shut her up immediately.
Rahane led her down the hallways, going deeper into Mt. Edan. He stopped outside a door and opened it. He pushed her inside and shut it. She heard the distinct sound of a key scraping against a lock and listened as his footsteps receded down the hallway.
She looked around the room she was in. It was unusually dark, there was only one candle lit and no windows. In the corner there was a small straw bed with no pillows or blankets. She didn't know how long she sat there, but when she finally got up she walked to the door and tried the handle. It was locked, confirming her suspicions. She walked over to the bed and laid down, she might as well rest while she's in here. She picked a spot out on the ceiling and stared at it while reaching into her mind for the peaceful slumber she needed.
~**~
When Elenion finally began to stir he realized that he couldn't move. There was something hard and rigid against his back and one side of his arms. As he fully came about he realized that he was tied to a tree. He was on his knees and sitting on his feet. Oh his feet, they were painfully asleep and tied together. Elenion tried to situate himself, but it only brought him attention from the camp.
He looked up realizing that it was dark out, but there was a fire going not to far off. Several men sat around it. One was coming his way, he recognized it as Elerana's companion, Deacon.
"Ah, the lovely prince is awake."
"Why am I here? Where is Elerana?"
"You'll find out why all in due time. As for Elerana, well, let's just put it this way: it's like she never existed," explained Adrian as he once again brought his fist upon Elenion's head, knocking him unconscious once again.
~**~
Duriel woke to the sound of a key being scraped into the lock on her door. She sleepily sat up. It was almost completely dark in her room. The candle appeared to have gone out sometime during the night.
The door opened revealing light from the corridor outside. She squinted her eyes as a dark form appeared in the doorway. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she noticed that it was Rahane.
He walked forward and pulled her roughly to her feet. She was about to protest, but a sudden twinge in her heart and a dizzy spell put her on the floor again. Pain shot through her whole body and she fell unconscious on the ground.
"I see Vanwathulë is putting his powers to good use." He sniggered quietly as he picked her off the floor and bore her out of her room.
~**~
That afternoon, Vanwathulë was brought two unconscious elves. He watched as they were both tied to a pole in the middle of the room. He waited patiently for his men to finish before taking out a small vial in the pocket of his billowing black robe. He opened it and passed it under each of the elves' noses. He stood back and watched slowly as Duriel and Elenion began to stir.
Duriel tried to raise her hand to her head, but then realized it wouldn't move. She drowsily looked around and spotted a blurry form near her. As her eyes began to focus, she realized it was Vanwathulë. "Father?"
He kneeled down next to her and whispered in her ear, "No longer am I your father, Duriel. You will call me my lord or Lord Vanwathulë from now on." He fingered her star necklace before walking away. She felt a shock pass through her entire body as he did so.
She watched him walk around to her back. It was then that she realized another being behind her. She turned her head as far as it would go, all she could see was a familiar blonde-Elenion!
"Ah, Prince Elenion, what a pleasant surprise. Speaking of surprises, I've got one for you." Vanwathulë smiled wickedly at the prince below him. "Adrian, untie Duriel and bring her over here." She watched as Adrian stepped out of the shadows behind his father. She heard Elenion give a small gasp. He walked over to her and untied her arms from the post. Keeping her arms behind her back, he tied them together once more and pushed her over to Vanwathulë.
"Elerana! Wait...you called her Duriel?"
Vanwathulë smiled wickedly again. "Maybe Duriel would like to explain that." He turned to her. "Go ahead, tell Elenion everything."
She looked into Elenion eyes then lowered her head. "I can't," she whispered.
"Then I will for you." He then directed his attention back to Elenion. "You see the elf you have come to know as Elerana, doesn't exist. It was in fact an alias to fool you and others around you into believing that she was an innocent elf. However, she isn't, she is in fact part human and has been working for me the entire time. Her real name is Duriel."
Elenion got a shocked look on his face. "No, it cannot be. Elerana tell them it isn't true." Duriel only lowered her head in response. "no..."
"Ah, don't look so disappointed Elenion, for you will be spending the rest of eternity with her."
~**~
A/N: Oh no! This is bad. Does anyone know what is preventing Duriel from escaping or at least fighting back. If so, review with your guess. If your right I'll give you a surprise!
