A/N: Well, right back into it. I just posted chapter six last night, and already I'm getting going on chapter seven. Yay me! I had SO much homework this weekend. Math, English, Science(chemistry baffles me*hopeless look*) French and Religion. Ugh. Weekends are for RELAXING. Don't teachers get that? Meh, stupid teachers. Don't know anything usefull*evil glare* Sigh, so here I go. Maybe this one will be better……

Disclaimer: It just occurred to me that I haven't been putting up diclaimers on all my chapters. Oops. Silly me. Well, just to make all those sueing lawyers out there happy…….I OWN NOTHING. I HAVE NO MONEY. SUEING ME WOULD BE A BIG WASTE OF TIME ON BOTH OUR PARTS. I DON'T EVEN BUY MY OWN CLOTHES. I'M JUST A BIG MOMMA'S GIRL. Phew. Happy?

Chapter Seven

Later that night, Hasana was called before Eldarion. Caelan came to her room to fetch her just as the sun was beginning to set, wearing a fine green tunic embroidered with silver. His curly blonde hair was tied back, letting the slight gray forming at his temples show, and his grey eyes were unusually guarded. Hasana had always believed he looked a great deal like his older brother Simeon, though where he was naturaly laid back and relaxed, Simeon was powerfull and knew more than most as Eldarion's chief advisor and Steward. Though Eldairon was on more friendly terms with Domic, his general, Simeon was the one who really knew how to run and rule a country, which was why he received more power. All the brothers had a share of influence, all except the third eldest Nathaniel, who was naturaly very aloof and secretive. From what Hasana knew, he was being held captive within the palace for treason, on what grounds, no one seemed to have heard.

Caelan knocked on her door softly.

"Come in." she called over her shoulder, fixing a glittering silver pin over a bunch of her long, thin braids. Her eyes adjusted to a mellow green with Caelan's easy presence in the room, and she gave him a small smile once her pin was in place. Caelan was a nice enough man, who seemed a little out of place in Eldarion's palace. He gave Hasana the impression of neutrality, as if he had no part in the King's crusade, and didn't really know what to think about the Elven race.

He smiled back, offering his arm.

"Are you ready? Eldarion wishes to see you now."

"Yes I am ready." Hasana replied, a little reluctantly, entwining her own arm with his. "Do you have any idea why the King requests my presence?"

Caelan frowned, leading them into the hall and setting a slow, leisurely pace.

"No, I do not." He said, but Hasana did not believe him in the least. He was most defenitely hiding something from her; she could tell in the way his eyes had lost their shine and warmth. She knew him too well for him to ever lie to her. She said nothing in return though, letting him keep his silence.

"I hear Eldarion has new captives." She murmured evenly, trying not to sound too inquisitive. "Siblings. Two brothers and a sister. Have you met them?"

There was a brief pause.

"Yes. I have met the sister." Caelan sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Poor thing. I was there when she was captured. Put up quite a fight she did, but was brought down by my brother, Domic. It was horrible. I've never seen him strike someone like that before….and a woman….Barbaric. Cruel. Sometimes I just…."

He stopped, his lips pressed firmly together, the sounds of their feet on the floor echoing loudly down the passageway.

"Just what?" Hasana prompted, trying to meet his gaze.

Caelan looked away, not answering.

"It does not matter." He said softly after a few quiet moments. Hasana did not push any further.

They continued on in heavy silence for the rest, each of them keeping to their own thoughts. Hasana was steeling herself for this meeting, for she knew that Eldarion was planning something, something that required her craft, which could mean only horrible things in the future. She would refuse as long as was possible, until he began making threats. She would not sacrifice any life for her own sense of morality. She hoped Caelan might be on her side though. That could make things easier.

"Here we are." He suddenly announced, taking his arm away from hers and opening the hall doors in one fluid motion. Hasana followed him inside, forcing her mounting fear down, keeping her eyes a calm sea green.

The hall was a grand place, dominated mostly by one long ebony table, and the high backed chairs placed around it of the same wood and colour. There were floor to ceiling windows, some draped with rich golden fabric, others left alone. Two smaller glass doors led to a large balcony outside, with a view that looked over the entire expanse of Gondor and the rolling hills beyond. Hasana took it all in with silence, though she still marvellled at the beauty and lovely nature of everything she set eyes on.

The chairs around the table were mostly occupied, all of which by men, and only two were left vacant, where Hasana supposed she and Caelan would sit. Eldarion rose as they entered, placing his fingertips on the polished wood surface, a small smile in his cool gaze. Caelan regarded his King with a grave nod, then seated himself, leaving Hasana to stand awkwardly before them all.

"Welcome." Eldarion said lightly, gesturing around them.

Hasana said nothing in return.

There was a pregnant pause, broken by a muffled cough.

"Is this the captive?" the man to Eldarion's right questioned, eyeing her over slowly. His brows narrowed. "She is no Elf. What game are you playing Eldarion?"

Eldarion made a dismissive gesture with his hand. "Her lover was an Elf. And she has abilities that would place much power in our hands if they were utilized."

The man leaned back in his chair, resting his dark haired head in his hands. He seemed thoughtfull, and his emerald green eyes glowed ominously. He looked uninterested, but in his gaze Hasana could clearly see he was summing her up and calculating her importance very carefully. He was not the kind of man who let opourtunity slip through his fingers.

"Asillan." Eldarion said, giving Hasana a brief glance. "What do you think? You know I wish your agreement in this matter. And since you hold Nathaniel as your personal prisoner, I need to know if you think his own talents would be worth using with her, or simply wasted in our efforts. What I impose requires two of their kind."

Hasana squirmed, a sudden unease gripping her belly. Where had she heard that name before? It was much too familiar, though not in the good sense.

"Your plan involves the seer?" Assilan questioned, eyes lighting up a little. "I did not know you wished to use him. And if the captive here has the same talents….." His startling gaze jumped to Hasana, suddenly much more interested. He did not need to finish his sentence for her to realize how dangerous her situation had become.

"When do you impose to do this?"

"Whenever we are ready." Eldarion purred.

It was then Hasana suddenly remembered who the man was.

He was the lord of Gladden Fields, where Bren had gone before her ordeal. It was there that he had taken her against her will, and she then fled to the forest of Mirkwood for her unfortunate and untimely meeting with the Prince. It was all so clear….Hasana felt faint to be in the presence of the man who had nearly raped her sister. A coil of fear wound around her breast, draining the colour from her face.

Her change did not go unnoticed.

"Afraid are you?" Assilan murmured, drumming his fingers on the polished table. "You have no need to be. You will not be harmed. Others will receive punishment for your failure."

Dizziness seized her.

"Arange for her to meet with Nathaniel. They should at least know eachother beforehand." She heard him say to Eldarion, low and sinister. "Whatever you imply will work out much easier that way."

The room began to spin, her vision fading into blurry shapes and darkness.

"Hasana?"

Caelan's voice was the last thing she heard before the marble floor came suddenly to meet her.

Nathaniel watched the guards carry the woman's body back to her room. They passed across the walkway that was directly beneath his tower room. His clear, nearly colourless eyes studied her braided hair and shifting cloak, revealing her aquaintance with the Lady Galadriel. He knew enough about he Elven lady's former plans to know the woman was Hasana, warden of the Golden Wood, who had assisted in The Lady Bren's journey with the True Ring. He'd had enough visions to know everything about her.

Do they have her? A soft, weak voice slurred inside his head.

Yes he replied steadily, forming a picture of the Elven Lord Cigry in his mind's eye. Speaking without words was much easier when you could see who you communitcated with.

Yes they do he repeated. They are returning her to her chamber

What could have been interpreted as a sigh echoed back.

Is she well?

Well enough.

Is she content?

Nathaniel felt anger flare in his breast for just a brief moment, before it was pushed back down. He let stillness envelop him once again, focusing on generating an answer. He allowed some of his quelled anger show in his reply.

You disgrace both her, and yourself by asking that question Cigry.

There was no response. Nathaniel could tell Cigry had broken the connection, either out of his own choice, or was forced to. He would talk with him later. Without even having seen the Elven lord, he understood that his own grief was killing him. Nathaniel's only choice was to help ease it, to delay the innevitable outcome. Perhaps he would give Cigry enough time.

The guards were walking back along the pathway, speaking in low voices to eachother.

The silence returned.

Nathaniel waited.

A/N: Okay, I know it's incredibly short, but I have limited time this weekend for writing, so this may be my last chance to get this to you. In case you haven't already guessed, I'm incorporating A LOT of characters from "From Beneath the Depths of Shadow." Bren's brothers, Assilan, Hasana, Cigry to name a few. For those of you that haven't read FBtDoS it would probably be wise to go back and read it to understand what the HELL is going on. If you don't, you will most likely get utterly confused. So here it is, and I wanna give a shout out to Sicklepod: Hey there! Thanx for coming back! It seems I have lost all my reviewers because of my neglect. Thank you SO much for returning to Corruption. It means a lot to me!^_____^ Enjoy and R&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!