Chapter 31
Legolas pressed against the wall as Luineroth entered. He quickly quieted his breathing careful not to get excited and cause his heartbeat to rise to an audible level. They had just slipped back into Lilluil's room, so that she could get clothes for the day when they had heard the footsteps coming down the hall. He had no choice but to hide before they were discovered.
"Lilluil, you are expected downstairs, work quicker." Luineroth ordered simply.
Lilluil, standing next to the bed, nodded. "Yes, Father."
There was a pause in the entire room and then Luineroth strode towards the open balcony doors. He parted the silken curtains and stepped out upon the protrusion. Legolas's breath froze and he saw Lilluil shoot him a worried glance as her father happened to glance down, stiffening.
He was supposed to have left the room by the balcony. Jumped to the ground where Simvynel would lead him and Fathiel to somewhere where they could hide for the day without detection until the next night came when they could free the rest of his group.
"Good morning, Father." The sarcasm coated the words like molasses, Simvynel's greeting confirmed what he had suspected. Legolas stepped from behind the door and wondering if he could make it across the room before Luineroth shouted for help.
However with an unexpected agility, Lilluil's father leapt the balcony rail. Legolas took the slim chance that he wouldn't be caught in her room and raced towards the balcony gently touching Lilluil's face as he passed. He leapt and landed just as Luineroth was taking a fighting stance. His knife was to the older elf's back before he had a chance to react.
"Don't move."
"Why you!"
He pressed the knife a little closer, parting through the first layer of fabric as if it was already cut. Luineroth's jaw clamped together with outraged fury. A grim smile on her face Simvynel strode forward and threw a pinch of powdered herbs in his face. He opened his mouth to sneer or scorn her and abruptly fell forward, Legolas sheathed his knife.
Simvynel wiped her hands off against each other. "Let's go."
Legolas and Fathiel followed her down the slim narrows of side streets in the waking community. Several times they changed directions abruptly for no reason that they could see. Simvynel would suddenly halt and run back the way they had came. If he hadn't known better he would have thought that she was as lost as they. They did reach the destination though, just as the first elves were appearing on the streets, causing them to weave around the roaming citizens they took shelter in a courtyard.
They weren't hiding there though, instead Lilluil's sister had them hide their knives in a certain sack which was carefully hidden on a rafter above their heads. The small forge had not much more than a stone barrel of glowing red embers, a small anvil and a large selection of smaller hammers. The walls were carved and molded so the noise would be lessened substantially. Lilluil, she assured them would be able to sharpen them considerably.
"What now?" Legolas asked her. They couldn't very well leave the forge, the streets were now thriving with people going and coming. Their clothing and manner would undoubtedly stand out in the crowds. They couldn't stay here either, from the look of the forge it was used daily, or at least dusted daily and they couldn't afford to be discovered in the middle of the city. Not only their but Simvynel's part in this would also be revealed. Then again, Simvynel had already been revealed. They had left Luineroth lying against the edge of the house partly concealed by foliage but he would be easy enough to find if someone really looked for him. There were no real hiding spots in the bare courtyard. As soon as he woke there might be a citywide search, they would most likely check Lilluil's preferred forge, and if this was it.
Simvynel walked out of the door and over to a small well in the courtyard. She peered down it for a second and then ran back over to them. Legolas straightened, if she thought the two of them were prepared to hide in a well for an entire day she was mistaken. Even with their spells going elven endurance wasn't infinite. She rushed past them though and searched along the wall until she came back with two lanterns. They looked dull in the morning light, but he knew in the dark they would glow with the same sea colored soft light.
He took the offered light and followed her as she led him and Kirel to the well.
"The underground waterway is actually a tunnel, follow it to where it lets out on the shore. There'll be a small niche in the wall with a black cloth that you should be able to hide the lanterns in. From there head left along the shore until you reach a stream, a mile up stream, walking in the stream mind you leave more tracks and you're as good as found, there'll be a small hut. Stay there, I'll send someone near dark or come myself. They'll know your names and greet in advance, otherwise it's not the right person. Oh and at the cave, be careful children sometimes play there."
He nodded and slipping the lantern's cord around his wrist braced his feet against the edges of the well, loosening slightly to slide down. The lantern didn't seem to lighten any but it retained it's original brightness as if it still stood in the sun. The soft glow that seemed to be emitting from the pearls shone of the smooth sides of the wells interior, almost too smooth to allow for friction. It was also the only warning he received when the well's walls abruptly cut away to the tunnel.
Lowering the lantern slightly the eerie luminescence glittered back at him on oil black water. Knowing it was an elven community though, he didn't wonder how clean the source was. There was a slight trepidation as he landed in water he had thought to be only chest deep, but in actuality was far above his head. He pulled for the surface but not in time to warn Fathiel who landed in the water next to him with a splash. The flow he had also taken to be a slight trickle was also an efficient current that snagged them and dragged them onwards. It should have been expected, elves were the most efficient and technologically advanced of all the races of middle earth.
Lilluil bit her lip to keep from reassuring her mother of her father's well being. She focused on the delicate little stitches she was trying very hard to keep even and invisible while she carefully angled her ears towards the argument going on in the hall. Her mother wasn't the only one who was too aware of her father's mysterious disappearance. A group of officials had come seeking him and not unexpectedly found him not there. Naturally her mother being the wonderful hostess that she was had sent her to entertain while she raced up and down the corridors searching for her husband, who was probably still under whatever drugs Vynel had used on him and propped up in the wine cellar. She tied off her thread and cut it gently with a small knife before announcing that she was off to write a note to a friend since she had been forbidden from leaving the house.
The other elves gave her the slightest of acknowledging nods, not even a tilt of the head. She knew though that they had heard her perfectly, and were simply to preoccupied about finding her father to give her more attention. Which, she thought with a grin, was precisely what she wanted.
Slipping past the study with the writing materials she made her way down a small staircase that exited into the back of her yard. She wasn't one for agility but all elves were born flexible and fit so a small box up against the back wall was all the leverage she needed to be up and away. The city was already crowded with passerby and she slipped into the crowd with practiced ease heading east towards someone who would help.
Vynel glanced in her front gate as she strode past it and smirked at the frenzy of movement within. So they had found her father, it's wouldn't change much technically speaking. She just wouldn't sleep there anymore, that's all that particular house was to her after all. Shifting the basket on her arm she tugged the small piece of cloth more fully over the array of northie weapons hidden under it.
The guards at the prisons were so ill-treated these days given a scarce diet of bread and wine during the day. They were more than overjoyed when the thankful sister of the rescued maiden came offering sugared nuts, fresh fruit and wine. After all it was due to the guards that her sister had been saved and those barbaric northern elves caught before she could be abducted again. It was only polite to accept her appreciation by devouring it before her, she wanted to make sure they would enjoy the food.
She smiled to herself and walked past the gate. Elvish wine was made strong six hundred years ago. Especially when you drank three flasks of it. She giggled, then composed herself and patted the blanket comfortingly.
It had been no problem to take their weapons, but they would just get caught again if they tried to escape prematurely. They were quite surprised at her boldness, that northie elves did have a very fluent vocabulary surprised her quite lot.but the perverse thought's hadn't in the slightest. When everything was said and done they were still northies.
Legolas pressed against the wall as Luineroth entered. He quickly quieted his breathing careful not to get excited and cause his heartbeat to rise to an audible level. They had just slipped back into Lilluil's room, so that she could get clothes for the day when they had heard the footsteps coming down the hall. He had no choice but to hide before they were discovered.
"Lilluil, you are expected downstairs, work quicker." Luineroth ordered simply.
Lilluil, standing next to the bed, nodded. "Yes, Father."
There was a pause in the entire room and then Luineroth strode towards the open balcony doors. He parted the silken curtains and stepped out upon the protrusion. Legolas's breath froze and he saw Lilluil shoot him a worried glance as her father happened to glance down, stiffening.
He was supposed to have left the room by the balcony. Jumped to the ground where Simvynel would lead him and Fathiel to somewhere where they could hide for the day without detection until the next night came when they could free the rest of his group.
"Good morning, Father." The sarcasm coated the words like molasses, Simvynel's greeting confirmed what he had suspected. Legolas stepped from behind the door and wondering if he could make it across the room before Luineroth shouted for help.
However with an unexpected agility, Lilluil's father leapt the balcony rail. Legolas took the slim chance that he wouldn't be caught in her room and raced towards the balcony gently touching Lilluil's face as he passed. He leapt and landed just as Luineroth was taking a fighting stance. His knife was to the older elf's back before he had a chance to react.
"Don't move."
"Why you!"
He pressed the knife a little closer, parting through the first layer of fabric as if it was already cut. Luineroth's jaw clamped together with outraged fury. A grim smile on her face Simvynel strode forward and threw a pinch of powdered herbs in his face. He opened his mouth to sneer or scorn her and abruptly fell forward, Legolas sheathed his knife.
Simvynel wiped her hands off against each other. "Let's go."
Legolas and Fathiel followed her down the slim narrows of side streets in the waking community. Several times they changed directions abruptly for no reason that they could see. Simvynel would suddenly halt and run back the way they had came. If he hadn't known better he would have thought that she was as lost as they. They did reach the destination though, just as the first elves were appearing on the streets, causing them to weave around the roaming citizens they took shelter in a courtyard.
They weren't hiding there though, instead Lilluil's sister had them hide their knives in a certain sack which was carefully hidden on a rafter above their heads. The small forge had not much more than a stone barrel of glowing red embers, a small anvil and a large selection of smaller hammers. The walls were carved and molded so the noise would be lessened substantially. Lilluil, she assured them would be able to sharpen them considerably.
"What now?" Legolas asked her. They couldn't very well leave the forge, the streets were now thriving with people going and coming. Their clothing and manner would undoubtedly stand out in the crowds. They couldn't stay here either, from the look of the forge it was used daily, or at least dusted daily and they couldn't afford to be discovered in the middle of the city. Not only their but Simvynel's part in this would also be revealed. Then again, Simvynel had already been revealed. They had left Luineroth lying against the edge of the house partly concealed by foliage but he would be easy enough to find if someone really looked for him. There were no real hiding spots in the bare courtyard. As soon as he woke there might be a citywide search, they would most likely check Lilluil's preferred forge, and if this was it.
Simvynel walked out of the door and over to a small well in the courtyard. She peered down it for a second and then ran back over to them. Legolas straightened, if she thought the two of them were prepared to hide in a well for an entire day she was mistaken. Even with their spells going elven endurance wasn't infinite. She rushed past them though and searched along the wall until she came back with two lanterns. They looked dull in the morning light, but he knew in the dark they would glow with the same sea colored soft light.
He took the offered light and followed her as she led him and Kirel to the well.
"The underground waterway is actually a tunnel, follow it to where it lets out on the shore. There'll be a small niche in the wall with a black cloth that you should be able to hide the lanterns in. From there head left along the shore until you reach a stream, a mile up stream, walking in the stream mind you leave more tracks and you're as good as found, there'll be a small hut. Stay there, I'll send someone near dark or come myself. They'll know your names and greet in advance, otherwise it's not the right person. Oh and at the cave, be careful children sometimes play there."
He nodded and slipping the lantern's cord around his wrist braced his feet against the edges of the well, loosening slightly to slide down. The lantern didn't seem to lighten any but it retained it's original brightness as if it still stood in the sun. The soft glow that seemed to be emitting from the pearls shone of the smooth sides of the wells interior, almost too smooth to allow for friction. It was also the only warning he received when the well's walls abruptly cut away to the tunnel.
Lowering the lantern slightly the eerie luminescence glittered back at him on oil black water. Knowing it was an elven community though, he didn't wonder how clean the source was. There was a slight trepidation as he landed in water he had thought to be only chest deep, but in actuality was far above his head. He pulled for the surface but not in time to warn Fathiel who landed in the water next to him with a splash. The flow he had also taken to be a slight trickle was also an efficient current that snagged them and dragged them onwards. It should have been expected, elves were the most efficient and technologically advanced of all the races of middle earth.
Lilluil bit her lip to keep from reassuring her mother of her father's well being. She focused on the delicate little stitches she was trying very hard to keep even and invisible while she carefully angled her ears towards the argument going on in the hall. Her mother wasn't the only one who was too aware of her father's mysterious disappearance. A group of officials had come seeking him and not unexpectedly found him not there. Naturally her mother being the wonderful hostess that she was had sent her to entertain while she raced up and down the corridors searching for her husband, who was probably still under whatever drugs Vynel had used on him and propped up in the wine cellar. She tied off her thread and cut it gently with a small knife before announcing that she was off to write a note to a friend since she had been forbidden from leaving the house.
The other elves gave her the slightest of acknowledging nods, not even a tilt of the head. She knew though that they had heard her perfectly, and were simply to preoccupied about finding her father to give her more attention. Which, she thought with a grin, was precisely what she wanted.
Slipping past the study with the writing materials she made her way down a small staircase that exited into the back of her yard. She wasn't one for agility but all elves were born flexible and fit so a small box up against the back wall was all the leverage she needed to be up and away. The city was already crowded with passerby and she slipped into the crowd with practiced ease heading east towards someone who would help.
Vynel glanced in her front gate as she strode past it and smirked at the frenzy of movement within. So they had found her father, it's wouldn't change much technically speaking. She just wouldn't sleep there anymore, that's all that particular house was to her after all. Shifting the basket on her arm she tugged the small piece of cloth more fully over the array of northie weapons hidden under it.
The guards at the prisons were so ill-treated these days given a scarce diet of bread and wine during the day. They were more than overjoyed when the thankful sister of the rescued maiden came offering sugared nuts, fresh fruit and wine. After all it was due to the guards that her sister had been saved and those barbaric northern elves caught before she could be abducted again. It was only polite to accept her appreciation by devouring it before her, she wanted to make sure they would enjoy the food.
She smiled to herself and walked past the gate. Elvish wine was made strong six hundred years ago. Especially when you drank three flasks of it. She giggled, then composed herself and patted the blanket comfortingly.
It had been no problem to take their weapons, but they would just get caught again if they tried to escape prematurely. They were quite surprised at her boldness, that northie elves did have a very fluent vocabulary surprised her quite lot.but the perverse thought's hadn't in the slightest. When everything was said and done they were still northies.