Woohoo! The Two Towers is with us! Mmm…topless Orli. Billy and Dom are hilarious and what is up with that Sean Astin film?! Still don't know why it was on sale in HMV on the 22nd, but oh well. *Bounces* Sorry, I'm hyper from a mix of sport (football, cricket, F1, athletics and rugby in one day-phew) watching Family Guy (Stewie is my god!) and a white chocolate ice-cream… Erm, I won't talk anymore.
Chapter Four: Playing in the Rain
Dusk fell upon the land, the last minutes of the feverish August sun filtered through the gathering storm clouds. The last chirps and coos of the birds echoed around them, as they raced briskly across the lonely plains in the shadow of the Misty Mountains in the east. Only as the sun finally disappeared and darkness overcame them did they stop travelling, scouring the barren land for somewhere to camp, before finally settling at the base of a steep hill for the night. There was a slight overhang that would provide their four captors shelter when the rain started to fall, and a thicket of bushes and trees that shielded them from unwanted eyes.
Raenir pushed Estel from his horse to the ground, watching as he let out a meek whimper of pain. The floor was as hard as stone from the hot summer climate and littered with small but jagged rocks that grazed into his skin. He laughed and dropped the barely conscious form of Legolas beside him; it had been a tough journey, especially for the injured elf, the ground had become more uneven and wild so they had been jostled around terribly as their journey endured.
He watched with relief as Raenir, Carinyc and Grudoc strode off to hunt and scout their new surroundings, leaving only the silent one to guard them and finally his hands stopped trembling. He was a strange character, silent and emotionless. Not once had he joined in the violence, nor their interrogation and Estel rarely witnessed him even acknowledging the others, but he felt sinister. Smoking on his pipe, his eyes glinted from the depths of his heavy dark hood. His heart thumped and pulled himself toward his friend, who lay in a dazed stupor staring into space. Both their hands and feet were now bound and Estel found himself trying to tend to Legolas' wounds again; the tunic he had soaked with the water from the cave was now barely even damp and would provide no relief. He sighed in dismay and glanced over at the remaining guard.
"Please, could you spare some water; he will surely perish if I do not clean his wounds." Estel pleaded.
He didn't answer at first, taking another puff of his pipe before lowering it from his mouth slowly. "I care not, they are done with the elf anyway." He spoke in a low voice. "He was only brought for their entertainment."
"You would have him die before you?" Estel's voice trembled with anger but was overcome with his fear.
"These men have no compassion. They do not care for your friend and they do not care for you; they have orders that they must follow."
"What orders?" He asked. "And why do you speak as if you are any different from them?" His words had sunk his heart.
"Because I am different to them; my orders are not the same as theirs. It was their task to find and capture you, not mine." He explained calmly, pushing back his hood to reveal his face.
His complexion was similar to Raenir and Carinyc's, and much like his own; deeply tanned skin with dark hair. His eyes were as black as the night sky and were empty and unfeeling. He was older than the others and had flecks of silver in his locks, but whether they were a result of years gone by or the stresses that were evident in the lines of his face, was unclear. He did not seem as viscous as the others, yet there was an evil in his eyes that Estel immediately feared.
"Do you have a name or are you to remain the mysterious one?" Estel questioned with a short-lived confidence.
"Why do find my name so important?"
"I don't. But I know their names, why not yours?" His voice began to quieten once more.
"I have more sense." He muttered, and threw the young boy a water skin.
Estel gratefully caught it and struggled to turn the barely conscious elf over onto his back. He jumped as the dark-haired stranger helped roll him over. Nodding in bewildered thanks, the youngster turned his attention to the bloodied back of Legolas, soaking his shirt with the water and dabbed the cuts and sore welts gently.
"You did not have the heart to ask me what my task was, and I do not blame you." He whispered, and the younger human turned to look at him again.
"I did not think you would tell me, so I did not ask." Estel replied quietly.
"They were sent to capture you… I was sent to kill you." He said coolly, before returning to the overhang.
Estel stared at him, his eyes wide in horror. He squeezed the drenched top so hard, the bloody water gushed onto his shorts. His hands shook uncontrollably and his lip quivered, but no tears fell. Their eyes remained locked, until finally he couldn't bare it any longer and focussed his concentration on the battered elf once more. He felt Legolas flinch at his touch; eventually his senses returned enough for him to speak. The swelling in his face was going down, but the bruises and bloody gashes still a reminder of his torture. He sat up gingerly with Estel's help, still groggy but there was grave look of concern painted across his pale face.
"How are you?" Legolas asked, his voice croaky and anxious.
Estel wasn't listening. He was gazing at the lonely figure, it was unintentional but his words had removed any trace of hope he had left. He was going to die. Executed, just like his father. If he was here to kill him, then why were they doing this to Legolas?
"Estel?" His friend's voice startled him and he turned to face him. "How do you fare?"
Again, he did not answer. What could he say? An overwhelming sense of guilt fell upon him. They never wanted Legolas; Raenir had come for him. Those words had not registered until now. Estel found himself just staring at his bruised companion blankly, mouth slightly agape.
The elf looked at him with a heavy heart, and anger rose inside. There was such despair in his eyes; his face was gaunt and troubled. He could see Estel was looking in his direction, but not at him, as if he were so far away in his thoughts, he no longer realised he was there. Looking down at his bloodstained clothes, he grimaced.
"Estel?" He asked more sharply, touching his arm. "Please, speak to me. Did he touch you?"
Snapping out of his swirling mind, he felt his hands shake again. "I am going die." Estel replied quietly.
Legolas gulped. "No, Estel. I will not let that be your fate." He murmured. "Did Carinyc tell you that?"
"You cannot make promises like that… no matter how much you want to." He growled bitterly. "There is no hope, we are already dead." His tone melted into a frightened whisper.
"Has Carinyc touched you?" Legolas asked quietly once more.
He looked at the fair elf for a moment; his blonde locks were now tangled mattes of blood and his piercing blue eyes were stained with anxiety. "No. We moved on shortly after you passed out… he has not had the chance." Estel mumbled; his voice ragged with dread. "At least if does, I will be dead soon after."
Legolas closed his eyes, grimacing at his friend's despairing words. "I will not leave your side."
A cold laugh rang out beside them and they realised the party had returned. They looked up at Raenir's grim face, his thin lips curled into an unfriendly smile before off loading the slaughtered goat to Grudoc. He knelt down beside them and pulled at Estel's hair.
"I think it's your turn." He snarled.
Wide-eyed and trembling, Estel was dragged away from Legolas helplessly. They hooked his arms over a boulder so his head lay against the rough surface. He closed his eyes tightly, the scent of moss fusing in his nose. His whole body shook and tears ran down his cheeks. He felt a cool drop of rain patter on his neck, followed by another until it fell so hard he could no longer feel an individual one hit him anymore. A low rumble of thunder echoed around them.
Legolas watched as Raenir and Carinyc closed in, rain ran down his face, washing away the dried blood in dirty crimson streams that soaked into his muddy torn trousers. The first blow was struck as a flash of lightning lit up the land. He looked away, the agonizing cry ripping through the air chilling his blood. He listened to the soft weeping of the young human and the whistle of Raenir's whip before it hit his slender back again.
Crack. Estel winced as Carinyc took his belt off and thrashed it down through the torrential rain and tore into his skin. Another hit him on the back of his legs and cut into them. Blood seeped from the gashes and ran down his skin. Again, across his shoulder blades, the metal buckle slicing into him. He moaned quietly, desperately trying to remain strong, as Legolas had done. He couldn't. It hurt too much. Too humiliating. Why wouldn't they just kill him? He ground his head into the rock, the rough face scraping into his skin.
"Stop!" He managed to cry out. "Please."
He felt them hesitate, and saw the knee of Raenir beside him. "What did you say?"
Estel looked at him, the sore welts on his back stung so much he felt sick. "Stop, please." He murmured desolately, no longer being able to concentrate.
Raenir laughed and Carinyc joined him. He trailed a finger along one of the painful wounds and dug his grubby fingernail into it. Estel squealed in agony and again they laughed.
"Go on, little boy." Carinyc spat. "Beg us to stop. Plead with us. I want to hear you weep until the moon fades and the sun rises in the sky." He pulled out his hunting knife, holding it over his face, the spilt blood of the goat still dripping from the blade until the torrential washed it away.
Dragging Estel's head backwards, so he looked helplessly into the murky sky, Carinyc bent over him and ran the blade lightly over his face. He trembled at his touch, the cold sharp tip scraping against his young skin. It trailed along his nose and over his soaking forehead. He closed his eyes tightly and to his horror, felt the cold metal of Carinyc's knife draw over his eyelids.
"Such long pretty lashes…" He said softly. "Framing those big grey eyes of yours…"
Estel held his breath, his heart thumping so hard he thought his whole body shook in time with it.
"It would be such a shame if my hand slipped and they were lost." His voice was gentle, but threatening.
Legolas watched with alarm and horror as their tormentor suddenly flicked the blade and Estel screamed in agony. His eyes widened. A flash of lightning illuminated everything momentarily and he caught a glimpse of his friend's face; a scarlet stream of blood masked his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. His eyes widened with dread; surely they had not blinded him?
Carinyc unhooked Estel from the jagged rock and he collapsed to the ground, his elbows splashing into a puddle tiredly. Legolas watched them, hopeful that this was the end of their torture. A shaking hand wiped the blood from his eyes and he blinked tentatively.
"I could not ruin your best feature." He whispered, before whipping him brutally across his head, leaving a deep gash spanning across his cheek from his ear to his nose.
Carinyc retreated to the shelter of the overhang, laughing wickedly at his victim as he broke down.
Raenir knelt beside Legolas and leant in. "Like I said, he can be very vicious and he has only just begun." He murmured. "Tomorrow may prove much worse for him." He said more loudly, so Estel could hear.
"Why must you do this to him? He's only a child." The elf growled.
"He is also heir to the throne of Gondor… looking at him, I think we are doing them a great service. He is a pathetic thing." He replied quietly.
"He is eleven years old! A child, and you are torturing him, how did you expect him to react?" Legolas hissed.
Raenir smiled, his eyes glinting coldly. "I cannot decide which is more fun; telling him of his lineage before he dies, or to preserve your secret and keep him guessing why we are doing this to him. That confusion in his eyes is so amusing…"
He climbed to his feet and trudged away, water spraying from his scuffed leather boots as he gave Estel a final kick in the stomach. The young human slumped to the ground, drained and winded. His back screamed with pain, thick burning welts sprawled across his small body. Repeatedly, he tried to pull himself up and get away from them. He could feel the heat of their fire, the intense stare from the quiet shadowy figure, which had spoken to him earlier and hear their smug cackles. He couldn't move. He needed to throw up. He was so desperate to get away from them, but his legs were wreathed in agony, bleeding from the slashes on his thighs. His body no longer quivered with fear, but with shock and he began to sob quietly but uncontrollably, sinking his battered face into his hands.
Legolas glanced between their captors and Estel; they huddled under their makeshift shelter, now uninterested, except for the occasional glance from Carinyc. However, the hooded one sat apart from them, watching Estel through the gloom, face emotionless and still. The elf frowned, and clambered toward the weeping boy and stroked his wet hair tentatively.
He recoiled at his touch, turning his head away anxiously. "N'uma." [No.] He mumbled meekly.
"It is I, Estel." Legolas murmured softly.
"Don't touch me." His voice shook. "Please… it hurts."
"I know."
He pulled Estel closer to him, hooking his arms over his young friend so that he lay tightly in his protective embrace. Legolas looked down at him; he looked so much smaller, more vulnerable and was shaking like a leaf. They sat in silence for what must have been over an hour, until the fire died down and all but the silent one were asleep for the night. Although Estel had not spoken, Legolas knew he was still awake. He could feel his breath against his skin, ragged and shallow, and the tears fall to his bruised stomach. The young human's body remained tense, shaking terribly, one of his slender arms wrapped around his friend's body tightly.
"Don't cry." He whispered. "Just imagine you're back in Rivendell, thinking up another one of your schemes, running away from raging old conjurers and luminous elves. Teasing Rangers. Climbing trees. Shooting your archery teacher in the foot…"
For a moment, he thought he felt Estel snort with laughter.
"Soaking a handsome, elegant, gifted elf in revenge. Making him sneeze until he knocked himself out. Drugging him. Bungled escapes and flying crutches... Sitting on the balcony, watching the sun set slowly in the sky as the cool breeze ruffles through your hair. The chorus of the dawn wafting through the valley, the sweet song murmuring through the trees. The rippling of the river and the loud patter of the waterfall crashing against the rocks. Sitting under your bed covers, listening to exciting tales from your brothers. Walking in the woods with your father. The crackle of the roaring embers in the Hall of Fire. Curling up in one of the armchairs and falling asleep…" Legolas spoke softly, and felt Estel relax in his arms; exhaustion had finally overcome him, the soothing whisper of the elf calming him down enough to fall into an uncomfortable slumber.
The blonde elf sighed, and rested his pale chin on top of Estel's head as the clouds unwillingly parted and silvery swords of moonlight sliced through the darkness. The faraway hoot of an old owl rang through the oddly quiet land, and Legolas sat silently, eyes alert, listening to the soft breathing of the young human as the moon rose in the night sky.
Tbc…
Thanks to my wonderful reviewers…
Maranwe1 – You did review the last chapter, just after I'd posted ch3. I'm having the exact same problem today… Carinyc is a sick, evil man… eurgh, and yet I made him what he is, what does that make me? Oo-er!
TigerLily713 – I don't quite think 'a little blood and a lot of moaning' quite covers the last chapter, vice-versa perhaps…! we'll just have to see if there's any more elf torture…
Grumpy – Thank you! I should've got that Aragorn. Grr…sorry, I can't guarantee what'll happen between Estel and Carinyc I'm afraid, I'm evil, so who knows?
Alex mistress squirrel – I'm offended! That joke's not lame… it's just rubbish.
Leggylover03 – Sorry, is update too late? Every Saturday, I'm afraid… Will Elrond come and save the day? Err…
Arayelle Lyn – Charming… I wouldn't say I was bad, a little manic perhaps. Don't worry, I will finish it, and more cliffies will come… Hehe.
Tithen Min – I'm torturing Aragorn not out revenge, but out of love… Woo, that makes no sense. Rain… sigh, I don't remember what that is. Maybe it's waiting for SoS. Hint. Cough. Hint. Damn you to the fiery pits of hell! I mean that in a nice way.
TrinityTheSheDevil – You can't double 'Eek' and then laugh! Don't worry, there's definitely more Estel angst… although ch5 is rather strange cos I wrote it at like 4am with some random Dutch thing on in the backround. I think I'll re-write it…
Arifel – Don't cry, Legolas is a man (you know what I mean) he can take it… the boy however… It doesn't bode well.
Coolio02 – I'm the queen of cliffies (and of flamingos) Mwahahahaha.
Brethill,Estelle – Crazy fan, crazy lady… not sure why it's necessary to run around the room, but you have fun…