Title: Diplomacy Part 9
Author: Arisma
Rating: R Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own LOTR, the characters, the settings, any of it. I write non-fan based fiction and this story is the product of that line being crossed with my unhealthy fixation with a certain elf. I'm making no money off this, in any way, shape or form, though feedback is better than cheesecake.
Feedback: chalice_nazarene@hotmail.com
A/N- AlbinoFrog88, I thought it was amusing, it seemed so angry and the thought that I could actually inspire an emotion was very cool.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*
He moved through the motions slowly, his skin covered in a fine sheen of perspiration. He closed his eyes, imagining the trees of Mirkwood around him, the cool grass beneath his feet. He built the image slowly, carefully, his heart aching with each remembered detail. He felt a tear slide down his cheek though he continued his movements and his face remained impassive.
He heard footsteps approach his door and he hastily dragged a hand across his eyes, obliterating any evidence of his sorrow. Turning he faced the door, his eyes narrowed and his shoulders squared. He watched the handle turn and squinted at the harsh sun that streamed through as the portal swung open. A figure stepped forward, partially blocking the light and he recognized the lithe form immediately.
"Come, Legolas. The day has begun." She said in her cool voice, beckoning to him with an outstretched hand.
"Yes. Mistress." He answered, his teeth on edge already.
She smiled and he could feel the mocking in the expression. "Very good, child. You learn quickly." She said, stroking his hair like one would a prized pet.
His face remained impassive and she smiled more broadly, stepping aside so he could emerge from his small room. He stepped lightly out, his bare shoulders feeling the harshness of the sun immediately. He took a deep breath and wished fiercely for the scent of green things, instead of this sterile nothingness that surrounded him. She smiled and headed away and he had little choice but to follow.
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Sweat ran in rivulets down his bare chest as he lifted the stone, carried it a short distance and set it down, lifting the one beside it and carrying it back. The work was mind numbing, utterly senseless. He gave them credit, they certainly knew how to break a persons spirit. It was his fourth day of "training" and his stomach had clenched painfully when he entered the clearing to see the same three boulders resting exactly as he had left them. "Break time, child." She said in a light voice, as though he had been engaged in a pleasurable activity instead of the spirit shattering task she had given him. He dropped the stone as soon as she spoke and walked to where she sat, shielded by a large umbrella. She nodded towards a bucket of tepid water, and he went to it and drank his fill. The water tasted stale and old, though he knew it to be as fresh as this land could provide. He had drawn it himself only this morning.
A servant, a small dark haired boy with large brown eyes approached the woman carefully, a very large tray held in his tiny hands. She looked at him blankly, watching him struggle with the burden. The tray began to slip and Legolas saw an eager gleam enter her eye, anticipating the boys punishment. Without thought his hand shot out and caught the tray as it fell, not spilling so much as a drop of its contents.
Her eyes narrowed and she rose, glaring at him with obvious displeasure. "What are you doing, child?" she asked him, her voice low and soft.
Long practice as the son of king came to the fore and he answered smoothly, "I was simply trying to assure the safety of your meal, Mistress. It would be unfortunate if you had to wait for more to be prepared."
Her eyes narrowed but she did not answer, instead waved him towards the low table. He walked smoothly, setting the tray down and nodding slightly in recognition of the gratitude in the boys eyes. She dismissed the child and crossed to stand in front of Legolas, plucking a section of grapes from the tray. Her eyes glittered and he wanted desperately to move away from her, but knew it would be folly to do so. She eyed his chest appreciatively and brought the grapes to his lips, rubbing them seductively against him.
"The fruit is sweet, child. Would you care to sample it?" she asked, her voice a low purr.
He knew exactly what she meant and quickly pondered his options. To say no was to inspire her wrath, which was truly something terrible. To say yes was to invite her advances, which something he definitely did not desire. Mind whirring he watched her eyes narrow and her cheeks flush with anger as soft laughter echoed around the clearing.
They turned their heads in unison to see a group of elves, luxuriously dressed, a small army of slaves holding umbrellas over their heads and fanning them as they strolled. They stopped in front of the pair, twittering as they stood. Legolas examined the group dispassionately, thankful that they had interrupted before he had been forced to answer. A young male stepped forward, looking over Legolas as one would examine a stud mare. "Is this your new prize, Driza?" he asked, chuckling.
"He belongs to the master, Jaren, I'm merely. tenderizing him." She answered with a smile.
The group laughed appreciatively and he continued forward, still eyeing Legolas in an appraising manner. "He's quite handsome. isn't he? I wonder how thoroughly you are training him." he said, a lecherous sparkle in his eyes. She chuckled softly but did not deny his assumption and Legolas felt his cheeks redden as the ladies twittered.
"Oh wait." he said, his eyes sparkling, "I think he's already been trained in the Quel ways a little. right, Rhya?"
Legolas felt his breath catch as a small figure stepped forward, draped in gossamer silk of deep crimson, her hair pulled tightly behind. She looked to Jaren, impassively, shrugging her shoulders, not answering his implication.
"Well you know him, don't you, Rhya?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Yes, I do know him. But I suggest you keep your innuendo to yourself. Lord Mondane would be very unhappy to hear you were spreading rumors about me." She said in a small, proud voice.
He shifted uncomfortably in the silence that stretched, and Legolas felt a small smile curve his lips. He saw her eyes flicker towards him, the barest hint of movement. Jaren saw it also and followed her gaze, his cheeks reddening. With a small squawk of outrage he spun and struck Legolas' cheek, a ringing openhanded slap. "You forget yourself! How dare you smile in my presence!?!" He snarled, his features twisted with rage.
He saw Rhya jerk forward a murderous gleam in her eye, but at the last moment she bit her lip and stood straight, taking a moment to paint a mask of indifference. She cleared her throat and said calmly, "Honestly, Jaren, how uncouth. I know he's handsome but there's no need to punish him for your own secret tendencies, now is there?"
Jaren gaped at her, his face turning an ugly red. Legolas saw his hands clench and knew that if the man struck her he would have no choice but to defend her, even if it were likely to cost him his life.
Rhya merely smiled and turned away, walking away for the clearing, slaves running to keep the canopy over her head. "We have a banquet tonight, remember? If you're done gaping like a gutted fish I suggest we go prepare." She called over her shoulder and the small assemblage laughed. All of them except Jaren, who muttered an angry oath and stalked away, his back stiffened with outrage. The rest of the pack filtered away, giggling behind their brightly colored fans, gleeful at the altercation.
He smiled slightly watching them go, remembering the anger in Rhyas eyes, knowing that despite her actions she did indeed care for him. He heard a throat clear and suddenly remembered the woman at his side, the smile disappearing and happy thoughts vanishing.
"You did well, my pet." she said unexpectedly, running a hand down his chest. "I too am attending this evenings banquet, and need time in which to prepare myself. Maybe I will stop in after the banquet is over so that you can tell me why you were smiling just now and maybe to make you smile again." She purred, walking away and simply expecting him to follow.
With a sigh and a longing glance in the opposite direction he did just that, though a devilish plan was beginning to form in his mind. If there was to be a state dinner chances were the guards would be lessened. They thought him tamed anyway and rarely guarded his door. He had never tried to leave, knowing he could never make it far enough to escape. But perhaps if escape wasn't the objective.
She opened the door and allowed him to walk past, a hand snaking out to lightly caress his buttocks as he did so. "Yes, I think I just might be back tonight." pleasantly surprised to see a smile upon his face. The door swung shut and the smile remained, her remark utterly lost on him as his mind raced, formalizing a plan. "Tonight," he thought, an eager gleam in his eyes. "Tonight."
Author: Arisma
Rating: R Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own LOTR, the characters, the settings, any of it. I write non-fan based fiction and this story is the product of that line being crossed with my unhealthy fixation with a certain elf. I'm making no money off this, in any way, shape or form, though feedback is better than cheesecake.
Feedback: chalice_nazarene@hotmail.com
A/N- AlbinoFrog88, I thought it was amusing, it seemed so angry and the thought that I could actually inspire an emotion was very cool.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*
He moved through the motions slowly, his skin covered in a fine sheen of perspiration. He closed his eyes, imagining the trees of Mirkwood around him, the cool grass beneath his feet. He built the image slowly, carefully, his heart aching with each remembered detail. He felt a tear slide down his cheek though he continued his movements and his face remained impassive.
He heard footsteps approach his door and he hastily dragged a hand across his eyes, obliterating any evidence of his sorrow. Turning he faced the door, his eyes narrowed and his shoulders squared. He watched the handle turn and squinted at the harsh sun that streamed through as the portal swung open. A figure stepped forward, partially blocking the light and he recognized the lithe form immediately.
"Come, Legolas. The day has begun." She said in her cool voice, beckoning to him with an outstretched hand.
"Yes. Mistress." He answered, his teeth on edge already.
She smiled and he could feel the mocking in the expression. "Very good, child. You learn quickly." She said, stroking his hair like one would a prized pet.
His face remained impassive and she smiled more broadly, stepping aside so he could emerge from his small room. He stepped lightly out, his bare shoulders feeling the harshness of the sun immediately. He took a deep breath and wished fiercely for the scent of green things, instead of this sterile nothingness that surrounded him. She smiled and headed away and he had little choice but to follow.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~* ~*
Sweat ran in rivulets down his bare chest as he lifted the stone, carried it a short distance and set it down, lifting the one beside it and carrying it back. The work was mind numbing, utterly senseless. He gave them credit, they certainly knew how to break a persons spirit. It was his fourth day of "training" and his stomach had clenched painfully when he entered the clearing to see the same three boulders resting exactly as he had left them. "Break time, child." She said in a light voice, as though he had been engaged in a pleasurable activity instead of the spirit shattering task she had given him. He dropped the stone as soon as she spoke and walked to where she sat, shielded by a large umbrella. She nodded towards a bucket of tepid water, and he went to it and drank his fill. The water tasted stale and old, though he knew it to be as fresh as this land could provide. He had drawn it himself only this morning.
A servant, a small dark haired boy with large brown eyes approached the woman carefully, a very large tray held in his tiny hands. She looked at him blankly, watching him struggle with the burden. The tray began to slip and Legolas saw an eager gleam enter her eye, anticipating the boys punishment. Without thought his hand shot out and caught the tray as it fell, not spilling so much as a drop of its contents.
Her eyes narrowed and she rose, glaring at him with obvious displeasure. "What are you doing, child?" she asked him, her voice low and soft.
Long practice as the son of king came to the fore and he answered smoothly, "I was simply trying to assure the safety of your meal, Mistress. It would be unfortunate if you had to wait for more to be prepared."
Her eyes narrowed but she did not answer, instead waved him towards the low table. He walked smoothly, setting the tray down and nodding slightly in recognition of the gratitude in the boys eyes. She dismissed the child and crossed to stand in front of Legolas, plucking a section of grapes from the tray. Her eyes glittered and he wanted desperately to move away from her, but knew it would be folly to do so. She eyed his chest appreciatively and brought the grapes to his lips, rubbing them seductively against him.
"The fruit is sweet, child. Would you care to sample it?" she asked, her voice a low purr.
He knew exactly what she meant and quickly pondered his options. To say no was to inspire her wrath, which was truly something terrible. To say yes was to invite her advances, which something he definitely did not desire. Mind whirring he watched her eyes narrow and her cheeks flush with anger as soft laughter echoed around the clearing.
They turned their heads in unison to see a group of elves, luxuriously dressed, a small army of slaves holding umbrellas over their heads and fanning them as they strolled. They stopped in front of the pair, twittering as they stood. Legolas examined the group dispassionately, thankful that they had interrupted before he had been forced to answer. A young male stepped forward, looking over Legolas as one would examine a stud mare. "Is this your new prize, Driza?" he asked, chuckling.
"He belongs to the master, Jaren, I'm merely. tenderizing him." She answered with a smile.
The group laughed appreciatively and he continued forward, still eyeing Legolas in an appraising manner. "He's quite handsome. isn't he? I wonder how thoroughly you are training him." he said, a lecherous sparkle in his eyes. She chuckled softly but did not deny his assumption and Legolas felt his cheeks redden as the ladies twittered.
"Oh wait." he said, his eyes sparkling, "I think he's already been trained in the Quel ways a little. right, Rhya?"
Legolas felt his breath catch as a small figure stepped forward, draped in gossamer silk of deep crimson, her hair pulled tightly behind. She looked to Jaren, impassively, shrugging her shoulders, not answering his implication.
"Well you know him, don't you, Rhya?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Yes, I do know him. But I suggest you keep your innuendo to yourself. Lord Mondane would be very unhappy to hear you were spreading rumors about me." She said in a small, proud voice.
He shifted uncomfortably in the silence that stretched, and Legolas felt a small smile curve his lips. He saw her eyes flicker towards him, the barest hint of movement. Jaren saw it also and followed her gaze, his cheeks reddening. With a small squawk of outrage he spun and struck Legolas' cheek, a ringing openhanded slap. "You forget yourself! How dare you smile in my presence!?!" He snarled, his features twisted with rage.
He saw Rhya jerk forward a murderous gleam in her eye, but at the last moment she bit her lip and stood straight, taking a moment to paint a mask of indifference. She cleared her throat and said calmly, "Honestly, Jaren, how uncouth. I know he's handsome but there's no need to punish him for your own secret tendencies, now is there?"
Jaren gaped at her, his face turning an ugly red. Legolas saw his hands clench and knew that if the man struck her he would have no choice but to defend her, even if it were likely to cost him his life.
Rhya merely smiled and turned away, walking away for the clearing, slaves running to keep the canopy over her head. "We have a banquet tonight, remember? If you're done gaping like a gutted fish I suggest we go prepare." She called over her shoulder and the small assemblage laughed. All of them except Jaren, who muttered an angry oath and stalked away, his back stiffened with outrage. The rest of the pack filtered away, giggling behind their brightly colored fans, gleeful at the altercation.
He smiled slightly watching them go, remembering the anger in Rhyas eyes, knowing that despite her actions she did indeed care for him. He heard a throat clear and suddenly remembered the woman at his side, the smile disappearing and happy thoughts vanishing.
"You did well, my pet." she said unexpectedly, running a hand down his chest. "I too am attending this evenings banquet, and need time in which to prepare myself. Maybe I will stop in after the banquet is over so that you can tell me why you were smiling just now and maybe to make you smile again." She purred, walking away and simply expecting him to follow.
With a sigh and a longing glance in the opposite direction he did just that, though a devilish plan was beginning to form in his mind. If there was to be a state dinner chances were the guards would be lessened. They thought him tamed anyway and rarely guarded his door. He had never tried to leave, knowing he could never make it far enough to escape. But perhaps if escape wasn't the objective.
She opened the door and allowed him to walk past, a hand snaking out to lightly caress his buttocks as he did so. "Yes, I think I just might be back tonight." pleasantly surprised to see a smile upon his face. The door swung shut and the smile remained, her remark utterly lost on him as his mind raced, formalizing a plan. "Tonight," he thought, an eager gleam in his eyes. "Tonight."