Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any recognizable characters
and/or places thereof
Author's note: at some points they mention speaking Elvish, but as I do not know enough Elvish to write out their conversations, and most of you probably don't know enough to read them, I will write in English. Also, once again, this story is not slash fiction at all, and if anything in it seems to be that is either friendship or brotherhood. I hope this is completely understood. Third and final note, the Elves act in a manner which I myself dislike, it is just mob psychology and ignorance that stem their actions.
Jack Sparrow: Hey, guess what! I saw Pirates of the Caribbean for the fifth time today! (I think that's pretty cool) I'm really glad you like the story, but don't know quite what you mean about the Elves.
Lady Laughing Owl: Yes, it was a typo. I like Lysander, too, and am glad I have not too much spoiled the ending for you. I won't say how, but your review tells me that even you are unaware of all the twists of my plot--of course, nor am I. . .and, hey, I remember all kinds of things! "How now spirit, whither wander you?" And then later Steve shouting "Yeah, stand up!" Do you remember that?
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I love hearing from you!
*****
The leader of the red-plumed Elves addressed Elladan in Elvish; "It has been a goodly while, Elladan son of Elrond."
Elladan winced and bowed his head, showing proper, if untrue, respect for the other Elf. "Pellatal," he acknowledged.
A few stars twinkled overhead in the otherwise inky black oblivion. Estel blinked at them. The night air was cold, and he felt himself shivering. Legolas, beside him, looked at him oddly. "What is it?" asked the Elf in a whisper. "Are you afraid of something?"
"No," Estel replied, wishing he could rub his arms as gooseflesh rose. He fought to keep his teeth from chattering.
"Then what is it?" Legolas asked.
"I am very cold," Estel said. While they were not under any hostage terms quite yet, the small band from Imladris had certainly become captives. A number of Elves with red plumes had stepped out from the trees surrounding them. It would have been foolish to fight them, and so the Imladris Elves had allowed their hands to be tied and had allowed themselves to be pushed out into the open and taken as prisoners to the main of the Elven community. Elladan now stood with the red-plumed leader, speaking urgently, while the others were surrounded by Elves with drawn bows.
Legolas moved closer to Estel, unsure of what else to do. "What are you two doing?" one of the guards barked at them.
"If you please," Estel stammered, "I am cold."
"Cold?" the guard called out to his friend nearby, who came over. "He says he is cold," said the first guard, and the two laughed. "What sort of Elf," he teased, approaching Estel with a dangerous look to him, "feels the effects of the cold?"
"None," Estel replied, not in any defiant tone, but simply stating a fact.
"No Elf," replied the guard, "precisely. So you may stop pretending that you are cold. Conspiracy will not be tolerated, boy."
"Please, I am no Elf," Estel explained. "I am a member of this party, but of the edain." At this proclamation the Elven guard turned and strode over to Estel. He looked the boy up and down curiously, and Estel averted his eyes, knowing well enough what might be taken as a sign of rebellion. He felt a rough hand jerk his hair back, and heard a muttered swear.
"Pellatal," said the guard, grasping Estel by the shoulder. The boy winced, and as the guard led him away, Elrohir moved. "Move aside," the guard commanded, but Elrohir stood his ground.
"Leave him alone, he means you no harm," Elrohir protested. "He is one of us."
"Understand, son of Elrond, that we are at war with those mortals in that city, that they have slaughtered enough among us that we realize they will not stop. This boy--"
"Cannot help the manner in which he was born. He is a resident of Imladris, and if you harm him in any way, Lord Elrond will not be pleased," Elrohir returned. "Do you truly think you need another such enemy?" His eyes gleamed smartly, and Estel was almost frightened. The guard's grip tightened, his nails biting into the boy's flesh. Then, with unnecessary roughness, the guard shoved Estel away, with such force that the boy stumbled and fell backwards to the ground.
Estel did not much mind the hurt of the impact, but with his hands tied behind his back it was difficult for him to get to his feet. He floundered helplessly for a few moments, and the red-plumed guards laughed at him. Estel was more than used to such abuse, and knew to ignore it, but tears were welling in Elrohir's eyes. "Elrohir, please, do not," Estel hardly whispered. Despite his brother's tears Estel worked, trying hard to stand again. Amid the snickering of the red-plumed guards he stumbled to his knees, then managed to stand.
The red-plumed guard advanced on the boy, but was again stopped. "This is sick," Legolas voiced from where he stood, off to the side of the guard. He had, prince realized, come to think of this boy as an equal, although he started out thinking of him as a lesser simply for his race. "Elves, seeking their laughter in the torment of a child. Only he among us may hold his head high, that he is naught to do with you! Leave him be."
"Or else what?" sneered the guard, but he was clearly taken aback.
"Or else the forces of Mirkwood and Rivendell combined will be having a word with you," Legolas replied. "Leave him be." The guard looked around, and he kept on his face a sneer, but he returned to the perimeter circle with the other guards.
Estel was torn. Never before had any one stood up for him, and his head swam with the gratitude he felt towards Legolas and his brother. Estel also felt that he was being treated like a child, which he was rather not. However, he allowed the gratitude to rule him, and gave a nod of thanks to Legolas and Elrohir before standing again beside his friend. Elrohir moved beside him. Before any words could be exchanged, Elladan and Pellatal returned.
"We must move on," Pellatal said, "and despite what your negotiator claims, you will not be set free. You will come with us to the battle, and we will leave you tied to our transports for the injured. At any sign of trouble, we will not hesitate to kill you." With a motion from Pellatal the guards moved forward, taking each one Rivendell captive and tying his him as instructed. Estel found himself beside Elladan, and he asked confidentially, "What did you tell him?"
Elladan bent forward and kissed his brother's brow. "What ever happens this night, I want you to know I love you."
*****
TBC
Author's note: at some points they mention speaking Elvish, but as I do not know enough Elvish to write out their conversations, and most of you probably don't know enough to read them, I will write in English. Also, once again, this story is not slash fiction at all, and if anything in it seems to be that is either friendship or brotherhood. I hope this is completely understood. Third and final note, the Elves act in a manner which I myself dislike, it is just mob psychology and ignorance that stem their actions.
Jack Sparrow: Hey, guess what! I saw Pirates of the Caribbean for the fifth time today! (I think that's pretty cool) I'm really glad you like the story, but don't know quite what you mean about the Elves.
Lady Laughing Owl: Yes, it was a typo. I like Lysander, too, and am glad I have not too much spoiled the ending for you. I won't say how, but your review tells me that even you are unaware of all the twists of my plot--of course, nor am I. . .and, hey, I remember all kinds of things! "How now spirit, whither wander you?" And then later Steve shouting "Yeah, stand up!" Do you remember that?
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I love hearing from you!
*****
The leader of the red-plumed Elves addressed Elladan in Elvish; "It has been a goodly while, Elladan son of Elrond."
Elladan winced and bowed his head, showing proper, if untrue, respect for the other Elf. "Pellatal," he acknowledged.
A few stars twinkled overhead in the otherwise inky black oblivion. Estel blinked at them. The night air was cold, and he felt himself shivering. Legolas, beside him, looked at him oddly. "What is it?" asked the Elf in a whisper. "Are you afraid of something?"
"No," Estel replied, wishing he could rub his arms as gooseflesh rose. He fought to keep his teeth from chattering.
"Then what is it?" Legolas asked.
"I am very cold," Estel said. While they were not under any hostage terms quite yet, the small band from Imladris had certainly become captives. A number of Elves with red plumes had stepped out from the trees surrounding them. It would have been foolish to fight them, and so the Imladris Elves had allowed their hands to be tied and had allowed themselves to be pushed out into the open and taken as prisoners to the main of the Elven community. Elladan now stood with the red-plumed leader, speaking urgently, while the others were surrounded by Elves with drawn bows.
Legolas moved closer to Estel, unsure of what else to do. "What are you two doing?" one of the guards barked at them.
"If you please," Estel stammered, "I am cold."
"Cold?" the guard called out to his friend nearby, who came over. "He says he is cold," said the first guard, and the two laughed. "What sort of Elf," he teased, approaching Estel with a dangerous look to him, "feels the effects of the cold?"
"None," Estel replied, not in any defiant tone, but simply stating a fact.
"No Elf," replied the guard, "precisely. So you may stop pretending that you are cold. Conspiracy will not be tolerated, boy."
"Please, I am no Elf," Estel explained. "I am a member of this party, but of the edain." At this proclamation the Elven guard turned and strode over to Estel. He looked the boy up and down curiously, and Estel averted his eyes, knowing well enough what might be taken as a sign of rebellion. He felt a rough hand jerk his hair back, and heard a muttered swear.
"Pellatal," said the guard, grasping Estel by the shoulder. The boy winced, and as the guard led him away, Elrohir moved. "Move aside," the guard commanded, but Elrohir stood his ground.
"Leave him alone, he means you no harm," Elrohir protested. "He is one of us."
"Understand, son of Elrond, that we are at war with those mortals in that city, that they have slaughtered enough among us that we realize they will not stop. This boy--"
"Cannot help the manner in which he was born. He is a resident of Imladris, and if you harm him in any way, Lord Elrond will not be pleased," Elrohir returned. "Do you truly think you need another such enemy?" His eyes gleamed smartly, and Estel was almost frightened. The guard's grip tightened, his nails biting into the boy's flesh. Then, with unnecessary roughness, the guard shoved Estel away, with such force that the boy stumbled and fell backwards to the ground.
Estel did not much mind the hurt of the impact, but with his hands tied behind his back it was difficult for him to get to his feet. He floundered helplessly for a few moments, and the red-plumed guards laughed at him. Estel was more than used to such abuse, and knew to ignore it, but tears were welling in Elrohir's eyes. "Elrohir, please, do not," Estel hardly whispered. Despite his brother's tears Estel worked, trying hard to stand again. Amid the snickering of the red-plumed guards he stumbled to his knees, then managed to stand.
The red-plumed guard advanced on the boy, but was again stopped. "This is sick," Legolas voiced from where he stood, off to the side of the guard. He had, prince realized, come to think of this boy as an equal, although he started out thinking of him as a lesser simply for his race. "Elves, seeking their laughter in the torment of a child. Only he among us may hold his head high, that he is naught to do with you! Leave him be."
"Or else what?" sneered the guard, but he was clearly taken aback.
"Or else the forces of Mirkwood and Rivendell combined will be having a word with you," Legolas replied. "Leave him be." The guard looked around, and he kept on his face a sneer, but he returned to the perimeter circle with the other guards.
Estel was torn. Never before had any one stood up for him, and his head swam with the gratitude he felt towards Legolas and his brother. Estel also felt that he was being treated like a child, which he was rather not. However, he allowed the gratitude to rule him, and gave a nod of thanks to Legolas and Elrohir before standing again beside his friend. Elrohir moved beside him. Before any words could be exchanged, Elladan and Pellatal returned.
"We must move on," Pellatal said, "and despite what your negotiator claims, you will not be set free. You will come with us to the battle, and we will leave you tied to our transports for the injured. At any sign of trouble, we will not hesitate to kill you." With a motion from Pellatal the guards moved forward, taking each one Rivendell captive and tying his him as instructed. Estel found himself beside Elladan, and he asked confidentially, "What did you tell him?"
Elladan bent forward and kissed his brother's brow. "What ever happens this night, I want you to know I love you."
*****
TBC
