To my WONDERFUL reviewers. * cheesy grin* ...
technetium( flaming envelopes @ hotmail. com ): Thanks for your awesome review! I really am grateful for it, lol. I tried to avoid a lot of clichés here, but I know that it's completely inevitable to avoid them *all*. I really just fell in love with the idea of falling into Middle Earth lol and had to write a story. As for the Legomance comment; here's the thing -- I have no idea where I'm going with this story, and I write it as it pops into my head. I know, I know, people are supposed to map out there stories first but I find my best work comes from spontaneous bursts of creativity lol. I know the basic outline of the story, but details like romances and friendships seem to take on a life of their own lol. So some of the suggestions that it may become a Legomance, like the entire chapter entitled "Beren and Luthien", are basically just thrown in there in *case* suddenly I write a chapter and see it has a few flirty comments tossed in, it won't seem completely out of place. ( The chapter was also supposed to be a visual reminder of her insecurity and differences between Middle Earth and modern times, lol, it had more purpose than that) However, seeing the disgust most people have for Legomances, lol, I really doubt that it's going to happen. I know there are differences between the two characters, and if I did turn this into a romance, that's mainly *WHY* I would do it..to point out once again the differences between humans and elfs. If it does turn into a romance, the story would definitely take on a more of an angst look to it, *not* a romantic vibe. But no one panic yet - as of right now, it's undecided. :)
Tamra Avighal: Thanks so much for your review, I *really* appreciate that someone took note that, yes, I have read the books lol though I haven't yet read the Silmarilon or however you spell it lol, I'm too lazy to look it up right now. I've tried to not only make this a humorous, enjoyable work but a well written one too and your comment really means a lot to me. Thanks lol :)
Lilena: Make Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, Mighty Warrior, one of the Nine Walkers, who in his homeland fights the growing shadow and intelligent spiders daily with his legendary bow and arrow skills when taking leisurely walks in the woods, he who fought at Helm's Deep to defend the free peoples of Middle Earth, who alone represented the elves among the Fellowship of the Ring, he who remained brave while facing a balrog - well, not exactly brave but hey, he didn't scream and pull out his arm and like piss his pants, that's something to be proud of-, Uruk- Hai, and worst of all, *shudder* CAVES AND DWARVES! -- Make him cry?!!!!!! Not a bad idea. :) lol
Danceingfae and Niffers: I like Faro too lol. I think he may very well be my favorite character - defying his uncle for the sake of justice!!! ..right. LoL but yeah, that kid rocks, or at least that seems to be the general consensus.
LanierShazar, MaverickGirl, Mellon, -- Thanks for your reviews! I'd write a personal response to each but I'm extremely short on time, so if you review again * hint hint * I'll be sure to make sure I answer personally, but I *really* *really* *really* appreciate all of your reviews!!!!!
*note: there is some torture towards the end of this chappy* ---- Luthro glanced up impatiently and held a finger to his lips. "SHH! Not now, boss, look -- deer!"
Annore rolled his eyes. "How do you deal with him?," He muttered under his breath to Worti. The smaller man shrugged. "He amuses me."
Annore raised a brow at the grown man down on his hands and knees, searching the wood frantically. "*That's* amusing?"
Worti considered this. "I see your point. Shall I have him shot?" he answered politely.
Annore let out a burst of rowdy laughter, clapping Worti on the back. "Funny, good man. Now," he added turning his attention to Luthro and Faro. "Where's the girl?"
"What girl?" Luthro replied edgily.
Annore's eyes narrowed again. "*The* girl you were put out here to watch, Luthro. And take your eyes off the damn deer before I gorged them out. Where. Is. The. Girl." He asked slowly.
Luthro glanced up slowly at the boss, rolling to his feet before glancing out over the empty mounds of garbage. "She's..uh..out there somewhere," he answered vaguely, his voice casual to mask the note of panic. Annore shot him a venomous look. "She'd better be," He warned dangerously.
He took a step towards the mounds of waste before the odor took hold of him and he gagged, his eyes widening. Instantly, he took several steps backwards, under the trees where the sweet scent of pines masked the repulsive smell of rotting meat and waste. He thought for a moment, then cupped a hand to his mouth. "GIRL!" he called out impatiently. "GIRL, COME HERE!"
No reply, and his face contorted in irritation. Unwilling to step closer to the dump than he had too, he glanced at his nephew. "Faro, go get her. Now," he added when the child hesitated.
Frowning, Faro took a deep breath of clean air, before raising his sleeve to his mouth to mask the smell. He charged around the piles of waste, all the while calling, "GIRL! Oh, GIRL! GIRL, SHOW YOURSELF!", knowing he would not get an answer. When he had gone around every corner and Annore could see there was no sign of her, he raised innocent eyes to his uncle.
"Uncle, she has vanished. Where did she go?"
Annore's face flushed bright red in anger and he turned murderous eyes on Luthro. "You let her *escape*," he hissed, turning to face the man. Luthro, though easily 2x Annore's size, cowered and cast his eyes to the ground. "You let her *escape,*" he repeated, his fury growing with every word. "while.. YOU SEARCHED FOR NONEXISTENT DEER!" Luthro flinched.
"They were there, honest, they were sir," Luthro made his case quietly. As a thought struck him, he glanced up at Faro, who eagerly made his way out of the dumps. "Ask the boy, ask Faro. He saw 'em."
Annore's gaze flickered to his nephew's for only a second before resting in contempt on the cowering man before him. "He's a boy, Luthro and my sister- son at that. Don't dare you blame your faults on the blood of my family."
LUthro shook his head quickly, realizing his mistake. "No, sir, no 'arm meant sir, no harm meant." Worti watched the whole exchange, his eyes narrowed in disbelief as they racked the surrounding forest, looking for some give away to where their captive had run off to.
Annore grasped Luthro's forearms in unconcealed rage, his dark eyes flashing in a longing for violence. "Go out there, and - bring - her - back," he muttered fiercely. "Or I'll have your head," he added with a murderous look.
Luthro nodded timidly. "Yes, sir, so sorry, sir, it won't happen again, sir, I'll bring her straight back, sir--"
"Enough." Annore let loose his hold on the man and waved a hand, thoroughly disgusted. "Worti, accompany him. I'll send men out after you. And, Faro--" he turned a suspicious eye on his nephew who met his gaze innocently. "You come with me."
--
Krystal staggered through imaginary paths as she dragged herself through the forest. The heat, the smell, her lack of food and water and her injuries all together sending her reeling as she stopped to gasp for breath, leaning against an old oak tree in exhaustion. The world went hazy beneath her gaze and she struggled once again to fight off the shadow that was overcoming her vision. She took another hesitant step forward, and pulled back with a cry as her foot suddenly became ice cold. Her gaze focused, and with a cry of delight, she realized, no she hadn't just stepped in a bowl of ice cream..a stream! ( Hey, she thought amused. That rhymes )
Not bothering to shed her clothes, she leaned towards the stream and cupped water in her filthy hands, first washing the waste and grim off them before cupping water and bringing it to her mouth. As the ice cold liquid slithered down her throat, she breath a sigh of relief and could almost feel her senses sharpen. A few minutes later, she had drunken her fill. Carefully shedding her socks and boots and stashing them in the underbrush, she lowered herself delicately into the ice cold stream, grabbing an overhead branch to hold herself up so she did not have to wave. The water was ice cold, but felt *so* good on her heat stricken body that she ducked her head under eagerly. The freezing cold water made her grin under water as it closed above her head in a cloudy blue haze, and she squinted searchingly into the blue depths below her - the stream was surprisingly deep. No fishies visible, she thought with a slight smile. She was amazed at her luck.
She vaguely noticed a burning pain in her leg, and with blurred interest, noticed the water around it becoming tinted pink. Breaking the surface and gasping for breath, she hosited herself back onto the riverbank and glanced down at her thigh. A sore was festering there, bleeding generously and she winced as she gently prodded it with her fingers. "Ow," she cursed under her breath as the bleeding increased. Deciding clean water was the best remedy, she cupped water and gently lapped it over her bleeding limb, ignoring the sharp burst of pain that echoed down into her toes. Glancing at her body curiously, almost as if she had been in a drunken stupor for the last hours, her eyes widened at all of the cuts and sores now bleeding freely from their time in the water. Her ankle, she noticed with distaste, was sporting a distinct black and blue from her lovely little stroll down Main Street USA with Annore at her heels - literally. That explains the limp, she thought wryly. She felt like that girl in Jurassic Park - you know, the blonde one? At the end of the movie, she's like about to get eaten or something, and starts limping towards saftey, screaming, "ALAN! ALAN!" at the top of her bloody lungs - oh yeah, way to be discreet and hide from the hungry dinos lady, they'll NEVER find you if you continue to run and scream, JUST like that - limping like an immiscible. It was her favorite scene from the movie.
Using the tree to balance herself back from her feet, her sopping black hair fell messily into her face. Cleverly, she ripped a long but narrow piece of cloth off of her shirt, and used it to tie her hair back. She threw her sox and shoes back on, and stood up determinedly, if shakily. She was ready.
For, uh, what exactly? She didn't know which way it was to Rivendell, and she sure as hell wasn't going back to the human town. She was just about to try and put her girl scout knowledge to good use (moss grows on the north side of the tree! She remembered triumphantly, though how that would help her she didn't know, since she didn't know if Rivendell was north, south, east or west.) when she heard loud footsteps some several meters away and froze in fear. They couldn't hear or see her, she knew, but she could hear them from behind the tree and the sharp beady eyes of Worti caught her attention immediately. Dammit.
A moan tore from her lips as sharp pain prickled at her awareness from her cheek this time, and touching it gently, she winced at the realization that it was sore. Peering curiously into the water, she eyed the black and blues that marred her reflection furiously, before shrugging it off and glancing back towards the quickly approaching men.
She didn't know where to hide; she couldn't outrun them, or they would see her and catch her; she could climb the trees because of her legs. So, doing the only thing she could do, she slipped out of her boots, and lowered herself back into the icy river.
This time, however, the refreshing water was more like knives stabbing at her body, but she ignored it, praying that somehow her body would blend into the cerulean of the water. The sapphire of her eyes blended in, but her hair, and the rest of her bruised, bleeding body stood out vividly against the cobalt of the water.
She moved closer to the shore, ducking under the underbrush just as Luthro and Worti moved into the clearing. They were moving fast in the search for her, Krystal realized in despair. And they didn't have to do the Jurassic Park Limp while they did it.
Luthro scowled ferociously. "Whys she so important anyways?" he grumbled. "She wasn't fun. So what if she got away?"
Worti rolled his eyes and smacked the bigger man upside the head. "Don't think too hard, Luthro," he drawled. "You'll hurt yourself."
Luthro glowered at him. "Be quiet, Worti." He answered quickly for once. "This isn't my fault."
"Then whose is it?" Worti taunted, his sharp eyes still on the lookout.
"The kid," Luthro griped. "Faro. He saw the deer too, I tell you, they were there, plain as day, and he didn't say nuttin to Annore, he got me in trouble, why I outta--"
Worti snorted. "The boy is smarter than you, Luthro. He knew there was no deer, and he, unlike you, knows when to be quiet."
Krystal watched quietly, but her uneasiness was growing as they mentioned Faro. She could only hope he was okay. Worti's eyes flew over the area, but his gaze stopped at the tree nearest the stream, and unconsciously, Krystal stiffened.
"Now, what do you mean by that--" Luthro began but Worti held up his hand in a command of silence.
"Hush," he ordered harshly.
"Look at these footsteps," he said slowly, walking closer to the tree and peering closely at the soft grass which betrayed her. Krystal closed her eyes tensely, hardly daring to breath, clutching the moss of the undergrowth tighter.
"She was here," Worti breathed. "And recently..look--" he followed the footsteps to the stream, and studied the surrounding foliage intently. His gaze was about to land of Krystal and she cringed, but suddenly he stopped. Cracking open one eye, she saw with a falling heart he had found her shoes.
"Luthro, Luthro look!" Worti exclaimed, holding up the dainty boots from their place in the grass. "She's here, Luthro, I can tell.."
His voice trickled off as he began lost in thought. "What, Worti, what's going on?" Luthro demanded after a moment of silence. Worti nodded and obliged, and began to think aloud.
"She took her shoes off, Luthro..there has to be a reason why..where couldn't she go with her shoes..i mean, unless she was.."
Comprehension suddenly dawned on him, and his eyes darted to the stream. With a grin of triumphant, he strolled towards her, his eyes locked devishly on hers.
She knew she was caught, her goose was cooked but she wasn't finished yet. Pushing off with a kick from her good leg from the bank of the stream, she paddled frantically to the other side. She was about to lift herself out of the water, when Worti's hand darted in and grabbed her bad ankle, yanking it back violently and twisting it with sick pleasure.
She groaned, and stopped struggling to swim as she floundered, gasping for breath and trying to free her ankle, but seeing her pain, he only twisted it worst, until she had recoiled enough until he had grabbed her shoulder.
Gasping in furious pain, her eyes closed tightly, Worti smirked at her. "So we meet again, fool." He hissed in her face. Glancing down at his wet leggings from her violent struggle, his face contorted. "You got me wet." He accused softly, his voice bearing no warning before he raised his hand and smacked her across her face, throwing her backwards onto the floor with a sickening thud. She groaned, and curled into a ball, trying to slink away and he let out a laugh of delighted amazement. "You just don't quit, do you?" he drawled excitedly. "You just don't quit."
Lifting his heavily booted leg, he placed a well aimed kicked directly at her heaving torso, and smiled with satisfaction at the sickening crunch of bone that accompanied her scream. She bit her lip furiously as he raised his boot again, staring at her questioningly, waiting. "Done yet?"
She paused, breathing heavily but did not answer him, her face scrunched up in pain. She tensed in anticipation but it did nothing to ease the pain as he jerked her arm roughly, snatching her up off the ground with remarkable ease for a man of his size and slamming her against the tree, his hand once again finding her cheek with a sickening slap. Luthro looked on mildly.
"Done yet?" Worti hissed smiling as she writhed in pain under his fists. Finally, she nodded.
"What was that?" he asked chuckling, slamming her against the tree again violently. "I can't hear you. Are you done yet, or shall we continue?"
She hesitated, and frustrated he raised his fist again, this time aiming for her eye. His fist slammed her head backwards against the tree with a loud clomp, and she screamed in agony. "Please," she finally whimpered, unconsciousness, mercifully black peace on the verge of her mind. "Please, stop."
"What was that?" he asked, now outright laughing at her. He sent a glance behind him to Luthro to see if he was enjoying this, and the man forced a smile. For some reason, he didn't find it that funny.
"Stop," she begged, more loudly this time, more desperately. "Please, stop."
He regarded her coldly then, his eyes racking up and down her body as she slumped against the tree in pain. He noticed the bleeding from her thigh and smirked. "What?" he taunted, his fingers dangerously close to digging into the fresh wound.
"STOP!" she screamed in desperation, her voice hysterical. "Please, dear God - STOP!"
His chuckle would echo in her ears long after he had stopped, and he leaned very close to her ears.
"No," he whispered cruelly, a malicious smile on his face, just before he slammed his fist into the wound, causing a fresh wave of blood to pour from it. A high pitch scream split the air for agonizing seconds, until finally, she fainted dead away at Worti's feet, the merciful darkness finally claiming her.
--
Several miles away, four heads jerked up in panic.
"Did you hear that?" Legolas whispered in distress, his blue eyes pained as the scream died away, his heart pounding dangerously against his ribs. "That was a scream of one being tortured."
Elladan shot him a grave look, before urging his horse forward with more speed. "That was a scream of Krystal."
Elrohir's heart lurched dangerously. If she..if anything..if something happened to her, it was all his fault, his conscience screamed frantically. All is fault.
"Oh, Illuvator," Aragorn muttered soundlessly. "Keep her safe." The young ranger, who despite his heavier weight and less agile balance than that of the elves riding beside him, took the lead on the narrow path. His horse thundered into a gallop as if sensing his masters anxiety.
Elrohir mentally calculated the amount of time it would take to reach her.The path between Rivendell and the human village was not as long as horseback, only about half a day. They had been riding for several hours already, and prayed to reach the human town within hours, to rescue Krystal and bring her back home..if she was still there, that was.
'Of course she's still there,' his brother's thought entered his mind quickly and fiercely.' Where else would she be?' Few knew of the mind link he and his brother shared, but it was times like these when Elrohir was thankful of it. He needed reassurance.
'El, this is all my fault,' Elrohir thought frantically, his conscience baggering him again.
Elladan shook his head viciously. 'Don't even think that!' he urged. 'it's mine. I was responsible for her and I knew it.'
'but it was my plan we followed,' Elrohir persisted. 'had I come up with a better way..'
'You acted as you saw fit, Elrohir,' Elladan scolded. 'The final decision was mine and there is where the fault lies. I'm older,' he persisted.
'but two minutes,' Elrohir argued.
'Fine,' Elladan relented. 'The fault is ours.'
"Thank you," Elrohir replied aloud curtly. Legolas and Aragorn shot each other puzzled looks, but quickly shrugged it off in their haste to reach the village. "Halt!" Legolas's frantic voice called up to Aragorn astride ahead of him. The human drew up impatiently. "What now?"
Legolas was breathing heavily, but his eyes were fixed in the distance, cold horror slowly dawning in them. "There," he pointed carefully. Through the trees, they could see the tiny town, far off though it was.
"I do not see it," Aragorn said frantically. "I see nothing!"
"I see." Elladan said softly as he pulled up beside them. He stared blankly at the town, his eyes narrowed at three small figures walking back towards the main cottages. Two were men, that much was obvious. But the third..the third was a women, he realized with a sinking heart.
Legolas's bright eyes, stronger even then Elladan's, focused in on the girl's face. "It's Krystal," he confirmed softly, agony etched on every line of his fair face. He squinted, standing up a little in his saddle to get a better look. Usually, elves don't use saddles when ridding, it was unneeded, but they were unsure if Krystal would be able to ride upon return and it would be easier to carry her if she were not, if they had saddles.
"Can you see her face?" Aragorn questioned quietly, his eyes still searching in vein.
Legolas's squinted a little, standing higher in the stirrups. "She's not awake," he surmised carefully. "If she were, they wouldn't be carrying her.."
"they carry her?" Aragorn asked, surprised Krystal would allow such a thing.
"It appears she has lost consciousness." The Prince of Mirkwood answered gently. His eyes widened as he added, "She's bleeding from the face, and her eye is darkened."
Elrohir's spirit plunged. 'All my fault..'
'Shut up,' Elladan snapped in his thoughts.
"Let's go," he said aloud shortly. Slowly, single file, they picked up speed and raced towards the village.
technetium( flaming envelopes @ hotmail. com ): Thanks for your awesome review! I really am grateful for it, lol. I tried to avoid a lot of clichés here, but I know that it's completely inevitable to avoid them *all*. I really just fell in love with the idea of falling into Middle Earth lol and had to write a story. As for the Legomance comment; here's the thing -- I have no idea where I'm going with this story, and I write it as it pops into my head. I know, I know, people are supposed to map out there stories first but I find my best work comes from spontaneous bursts of creativity lol. I know the basic outline of the story, but details like romances and friendships seem to take on a life of their own lol. So some of the suggestions that it may become a Legomance, like the entire chapter entitled "Beren and Luthien", are basically just thrown in there in *case* suddenly I write a chapter and see it has a few flirty comments tossed in, it won't seem completely out of place. ( The chapter was also supposed to be a visual reminder of her insecurity and differences between Middle Earth and modern times, lol, it had more purpose than that) However, seeing the disgust most people have for Legomances, lol, I really doubt that it's going to happen. I know there are differences between the two characters, and if I did turn this into a romance, that's mainly *WHY* I would do it..to point out once again the differences between humans and elfs. If it does turn into a romance, the story would definitely take on a more of an angst look to it, *not* a romantic vibe. But no one panic yet - as of right now, it's undecided. :)
Tamra Avighal: Thanks so much for your review, I *really* appreciate that someone took note that, yes, I have read the books lol though I haven't yet read the Silmarilon or however you spell it lol, I'm too lazy to look it up right now. I've tried to not only make this a humorous, enjoyable work but a well written one too and your comment really means a lot to me. Thanks lol :)
Lilena: Make Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, Mighty Warrior, one of the Nine Walkers, who in his homeland fights the growing shadow and intelligent spiders daily with his legendary bow and arrow skills when taking leisurely walks in the woods, he who fought at Helm's Deep to defend the free peoples of Middle Earth, who alone represented the elves among the Fellowship of the Ring, he who remained brave while facing a balrog - well, not exactly brave but hey, he didn't scream and pull out his arm and like piss his pants, that's something to be proud of-, Uruk- Hai, and worst of all, *shudder* CAVES AND DWARVES! -- Make him cry?!!!!!! Not a bad idea. :) lol
Danceingfae and Niffers: I like Faro too lol. I think he may very well be my favorite character - defying his uncle for the sake of justice!!! ..right. LoL but yeah, that kid rocks, or at least that seems to be the general consensus.
LanierShazar, MaverickGirl, Mellon, -- Thanks for your reviews! I'd write a personal response to each but I'm extremely short on time, so if you review again * hint hint * I'll be sure to make sure I answer personally, but I *really* *really* *really* appreciate all of your reviews!!!!!
*note: there is some torture towards the end of this chappy* ---- Luthro glanced up impatiently and held a finger to his lips. "SHH! Not now, boss, look -- deer!"
Annore rolled his eyes. "How do you deal with him?," He muttered under his breath to Worti. The smaller man shrugged. "He amuses me."
Annore raised a brow at the grown man down on his hands and knees, searching the wood frantically. "*That's* amusing?"
Worti considered this. "I see your point. Shall I have him shot?" he answered politely.
Annore let out a burst of rowdy laughter, clapping Worti on the back. "Funny, good man. Now," he added turning his attention to Luthro and Faro. "Where's the girl?"
"What girl?" Luthro replied edgily.
Annore's eyes narrowed again. "*The* girl you were put out here to watch, Luthro. And take your eyes off the damn deer before I gorged them out. Where. Is. The. Girl." He asked slowly.
Luthro glanced up slowly at the boss, rolling to his feet before glancing out over the empty mounds of garbage. "She's..uh..out there somewhere," he answered vaguely, his voice casual to mask the note of panic. Annore shot him a venomous look. "She'd better be," He warned dangerously.
He took a step towards the mounds of waste before the odor took hold of him and he gagged, his eyes widening. Instantly, he took several steps backwards, under the trees where the sweet scent of pines masked the repulsive smell of rotting meat and waste. He thought for a moment, then cupped a hand to his mouth. "GIRL!" he called out impatiently. "GIRL, COME HERE!"
No reply, and his face contorted in irritation. Unwilling to step closer to the dump than he had too, he glanced at his nephew. "Faro, go get her. Now," he added when the child hesitated.
Frowning, Faro took a deep breath of clean air, before raising his sleeve to his mouth to mask the smell. He charged around the piles of waste, all the while calling, "GIRL! Oh, GIRL! GIRL, SHOW YOURSELF!", knowing he would not get an answer. When he had gone around every corner and Annore could see there was no sign of her, he raised innocent eyes to his uncle.
"Uncle, she has vanished. Where did she go?"
Annore's face flushed bright red in anger and he turned murderous eyes on Luthro. "You let her *escape*," he hissed, turning to face the man. Luthro, though easily 2x Annore's size, cowered and cast his eyes to the ground. "You let her *escape,*" he repeated, his fury growing with every word. "while.. YOU SEARCHED FOR NONEXISTENT DEER!" Luthro flinched.
"They were there, honest, they were sir," Luthro made his case quietly. As a thought struck him, he glanced up at Faro, who eagerly made his way out of the dumps. "Ask the boy, ask Faro. He saw 'em."
Annore's gaze flickered to his nephew's for only a second before resting in contempt on the cowering man before him. "He's a boy, Luthro and my sister- son at that. Don't dare you blame your faults on the blood of my family."
LUthro shook his head quickly, realizing his mistake. "No, sir, no 'arm meant sir, no harm meant." Worti watched the whole exchange, his eyes narrowed in disbelief as they racked the surrounding forest, looking for some give away to where their captive had run off to.
Annore grasped Luthro's forearms in unconcealed rage, his dark eyes flashing in a longing for violence. "Go out there, and - bring - her - back," he muttered fiercely. "Or I'll have your head," he added with a murderous look.
Luthro nodded timidly. "Yes, sir, so sorry, sir, it won't happen again, sir, I'll bring her straight back, sir--"
"Enough." Annore let loose his hold on the man and waved a hand, thoroughly disgusted. "Worti, accompany him. I'll send men out after you. And, Faro--" he turned a suspicious eye on his nephew who met his gaze innocently. "You come with me."
--
Krystal staggered through imaginary paths as she dragged herself through the forest. The heat, the smell, her lack of food and water and her injuries all together sending her reeling as she stopped to gasp for breath, leaning against an old oak tree in exhaustion. The world went hazy beneath her gaze and she struggled once again to fight off the shadow that was overcoming her vision. She took another hesitant step forward, and pulled back with a cry as her foot suddenly became ice cold. Her gaze focused, and with a cry of delight, she realized, no she hadn't just stepped in a bowl of ice cream..a stream! ( Hey, she thought amused. That rhymes )
Not bothering to shed her clothes, she leaned towards the stream and cupped water in her filthy hands, first washing the waste and grim off them before cupping water and bringing it to her mouth. As the ice cold liquid slithered down her throat, she breath a sigh of relief and could almost feel her senses sharpen. A few minutes later, she had drunken her fill. Carefully shedding her socks and boots and stashing them in the underbrush, she lowered herself delicately into the ice cold stream, grabbing an overhead branch to hold herself up so she did not have to wave. The water was ice cold, but felt *so* good on her heat stricken body that she ducked her head under eagerly. The freezing cold water made her grin under water as it closed above her head in a cloudy blue haze, and she squinted searchingly into the blue depths below her - the stream was surprisingly deep. No fishies visible, she thought with a slight smile. She was amazed at her luck.
She vaguely noticed a burning pain in her leg, and with blurred interest, noticed the water around it becoming tinted pink. Breaking the surface and gasping for breath, she hosited herself back onto the riverbank and glanced down at her thigh. A sore was festering there, bleeding generously and she winced as she gently prodded it with her fingers. "Ow," she cursed under her breath as the bleeding increased. Deciding clean water was the best remedy, she cupped water and gently lapped it over her bleeding limb, ignoring the sharp burst of pain that echoed down into her toes. Glancing at her body curiously, almost as if she had been in a drunken stupor for the last hours, her eyes widened at all of the cuts and sores now bleeding freely from their time in the water. Her ankle, she noticed with distaste, was sporting a distinct black and blue from her lovely little stroll down Main Street USA with Annore at her heels - literally. That explains the limp, she thought wryly. She felt like that girl in Jurassic Park - you know, the blonde one? At the end of the movie, she's like about to get eaten or something, and starts limping towards saftey, screaming, "ALAN! ALAN!" at the top of her bloody lungs - oh yeah, way to be discreet and hide from the hungry dinos lady, they'll NEVER find you if you continue to run and scream, JUST like that - limping like an immiscible. It was her favorite scene from the movie.
Using the tree to balance herself back from her feet, her sopping black hair fell messily into her face. Cleverly, she ripped a long but narrow piece of cloth off of her shirt, and used it to tie her hair back. She threw her sox and shoes back on, and stood up determinedly, if shakily. She was ready.
For, uh, what exactly? She didn't know which way it was to Rivendell, and she sure as hell wasn't going back to the human town. She was just about to try and put her girl scout knowledge to good use (moss grows on the north side of the tree! She remembered triumphantly, though how that would help her she didn't know, since she didn't know if Rivendell was north, south, east or west.) when she heard loud footsteps some several meters away and froze in fear. They couldn't hear or see her, she knew, but she could hear them from behind the tree and the sharp beady eyes of Worti caught her attention immediately. Dammit.
A moan tore from her lips as sharp pain prickled at her awareness from her cheek this time, and touching it gently, she winced at the realization that it was sore. Peering curiously into the water, she eyed the black and blues that marred her reflection furiously, before shrugging it off and glancing back towards the quickly approaching men.
She didn't know where to hide; she couldn't outrun them, or they would see her and catch her; she could climb the trees because of her legs. So, doing the only thing she could do, she slipped out of her boots, and lowered herself back into the icy river.
This time, however, the refreshing water was more like knives stabbing at her body, but she ignored it, praying that somehow her body would blend into the cerulean of the water. The sapphire of her eyes blended in, but her hair, and the rest of her bruised, bleeding body stood out vividly against the cobalt of the water.
She moved closer to the shore, ducking under the underbrush just as Luthro and Worti moved into the clearing. They were moving fast in the search for her, Krystal realized in despair. And they didn't have to do the Jurassic Park Limp while they did it.
Luthro scowled ferociously. "Whys she so important anyways?" he grumbled. "She wasn't fun. So what if she got away?"
Worti rolled his eyes and smacked the bigger man upside the head. "Don't think too hard, Luthro," he drawled. "You'll hurt yourself."
Luthro glowered at him. "Be quiet, Worti." He answered quickly for once. "This isn't my fault."
"Then whose is it?" Worti taunted, his sharp eyes still on the lookout.
"The kid," Luthro griped. "Faro. He saw the deer too, I tell you, they were there, plain as day, and he didn't say nuttin to Annore, he got me in trouble, why I outta--"
Worti snorted. "The boy is smarter than you, Luthro. He knew there was no deer, and he, unlike you, knows when to be quiet."
Krystal watched quietly, but her uneasiness was growing as they mentioned Faro. She could only hope he was okay. Worti's eyes flew over the area, but his gaze stopped at the tree nearest the stream, and unconsciously, Krystal stiffened.
"Now, what do you mean by that--" Luthro began but Worti held up his hand in a command of silence.
"Hush," he ordered harshly.
"Look at these footsteps," he said slowly, walking closer to the tree and peering closely at the soft grass which betrayed her. Krystal closed her eyes tensely, hardly daring to breath, clutching the moss of the undergrowth tighter.
"She was here," Worti breathed. "And recently..look--" he followed the footsteps to the stream, and studied the surrounding foliage intently. His gaze was about to land of Krystal and she cringed, but suddenly he stopped. Cracking open one eye, she saw with a falling heart he had found her shoes.
"Luthro, Luthro look!" Worti exclaimed, holding up the dainty boots from their place in the grass. "She's here, Luthro, I can tell.."
His voice trickled off as he began lost in thought. "What, Worti, what's going on?" Luthro demanded after a moment of silence. Worti nodded and obliged, and began to think aloud.
"She took her shoes off, Luthro..there has to be a reason why..where couldn't she go with her shoes..i mean, unless she was.."
Comprehension suddenly dawned on him, and his eyes darted to the stream. With a grin of triumphant, he strolled towards her, his eyes locked devishly on hers.
She knew she was caught, her goose was cooked but she wasn't finished yet. Pushing off with a kick from her good leg from the bank of the stream, she paddled frantically to the other side. She was about to lift herself out of the water, when Worti's hand darted in and grabbed her bad ankle, yanking it back violently and twisting it with sick pleasure.
She groaned, and stopped struggling to swim as she floundered, gasping for breath and trying to free her ankle, but seeing her pain, he only twisted it worst, until she had recoiled enough until he had grabbed her shoulder.
Gasping in furious pain, her eyes closed tightly, Worti smirked at her. "So we meet again, fool." He hissed in her face. Glancing down at his wet leggings from her violent struggle, his face contorted. "You got me wet." He accused softly, his voice bearing no warning before he raised his hand and smacked her across her face, throwing her backwards onto the floor with a sickening thud. She groaned, and curled into a ball, trying to slink away and he let out a laugh of delighted amazement. "You just don't quit, do you?" he drawled excitedly. "You just don't quit."
Lifting his heavily booted leg, he placed a well aimed kicked directly at her heaving torso, and smiled with satisfaction at the sickening crunch of bone that accompanied her scream. She bit her lip furiously as he raised his boot again, staring at her questioningly, waiting. "Done yet?"
She paused, breathing heavily but did not answer him, her face scrunched up in pain. She tensed in anticipation but it did nothing to ease the pain as he jerked her arm roughly, snatching her up off the ground with remarkable ease for a man of his size and slamming her against the tree, his hand once again finding her cheek with a sickening slap. Luthro looked on mildly.
"Done yet?" Worti hissed smiling as she writhed in pain under his fists. Finally, she nodded.
"What was that?" he asked chuckling, slamming her against the tree again violently. "I can't hear you. Are you done yet, or shall we continue?"
She hesitated, and frustrated he raised his fist again, this time aiming for her eye. His fist slammed her head backwards against the tree with a loud clomp, and she screamed in agony. "Please," she finally whimpered, unconsciousness, mercifully black peace on the verge of her mind. "Please, stop."
"What was that?" he asked, now outright laughing at her. He sent a glance behind him to Luthro to see if he was enjoying this, and the man forced a smile. For some reason, he didn't find it that funny.
"Stop," she begged, more loudly this time, more desperately. "Please, stop."
He regarded her coldly then, his eyes racking up and down her body as she slumped against the tree in pain. He noticed the bleeding from her thigh and smirked. "What?" he taunted, his fingers dangerously close to digging into the fresh wound.
"STOP!" she screamed in desperation, her voice hysterical. "Please, dear God - STOP!"
His chuckle would echo in her ears long after he had stopped, and he leaned very close to her ears.
"No," he whispered cruelly, a malicious smile on his face, just before he slammed his fist into the wound, causing a fresh wave of blood to pour from it. A high pitch scream split the air for agonizing seconds, until finally, she fainted dead away at Worti's feet, the merciful darkness finally claiming her.
--
Several miles away, four heads jerked up in panic.
"Did you hear that?" Legolas whispered in distress, his blue eyes pained as the scream died away, his heart pounding dangerously against his ribs. "That was a scream of one being tortured."
Elladan shot him a grave look, before urging his horse forward with more speed. "That was a scream of Krystal."
Elrohir's heart lurched dangerously. If she..if anything..if something happened to her, it was all his fault, his conscience screamed frantically. All is fault.
"Oh, Illuvator," Aragorn muttered soundlessly. "Keep her safe." The young ranger, who despite his heavier weight and less agile balance than that of the elves riding beside him, took the lead on the narrow path. His horse thundered into a gallop as if sensing his masters anxiety.
Elrohir mentally calculated the amount of time it would take to reach her.The path between Rivendell and the human village was not as long as horseback, only about half a day. They had been riding for several hours already, and prayed to reach the human town within hours, to rescue Krystal and bring her back home..if she was still there, that was.
'Of course she's still there,' his brother's thought entered his mind quickly and fiercely.' Where else would she be?' Few knew of the mind link he and his brother shared, but it was times like these when Elrohir was thankful of it. He needed reassurance.
'El, this is all my fault,' Elrohir thought frantically, his conscience baggering him again.
Elladan shook his head viciously. 'Don't even think that!' he urged. 'it's mine. I was responsible for her and I knew it.'
'but it was my plan we followed,' Elrohir persisted. 'had I come up with a better way..'
'You acted as you saw fit, Elrohir,' Elladan scolded. 'The final decision was mine and there is where the fault lies. I'm older,' he persisted.
'but two minutes,' Elrohir argued.
'Fine,' Elladan relented. 'The fault is ours.'
"Thank you," Elrohir replied aloud curtly. Legolas and Aragorn shot each other puzzled looks, but quickly shrugged it off in their haste to reach the village. "Halt!" Legolas's frantic voice called up to Aragorn astride ahead of him. The human drew up impatiently. "What now?"
Legolas was breathing heavily, but his eyes were fixed in the distance, cold horror slowly dawning in them. "There," he pointed carefully. Through the trees, they could see the tiny town, far off though it was.
"I do not see it," Aragorn said frantically. "I see nothing!"
"I see." Elladan said softly as he pulled up beside them. He stared blankly at the town, his eyes narrowed at three small figures walking back towards the main cottages. Two were men, that much was obvious. But the third..the third was a women, he realized with a sinking heart.
Legolas's bright eyes, stronger even then Elladan's, focused in on the girl's face. "It's Krystal," he confirmed softly, agony etched on every line of his fair face. He squinted, standing up a little in his saddle to get a better look. Usually, elves don't use saddles when ridding, it was unneeded, but they were unsure if Krystal would be able to ride upon return and it would be easier to carry her if she were not, if they had saddles.
"Can you see her face?" Aragorn questioned quietly, his eyes still searching in vein.
Legolas's squinted a little, standing higher in the stirrups. "She's not awake," he surmised carefully. "If she were, they wouldn't be carrying her.."
"they carry her?" Aragorn asked, surprised Krystal would allow such a thing.
"It appears she has lost consciousness." The Prince of Mirkwood answered gently. His eyes widened as he added, "She's bleeding from the face, and her eye is darkened."
Elrohir's spirit plunged. 'All my fault..'
'Shut up,' Elladan snapped in his thoughts.
"Let's go," he said aloud shortly. Slowly, single file, they picked up speed and raced towards the village.