DISCLAIMER: "The Lord of the Rings" and all things related to the fictional
world of "Middle-earth" belong to JRR Tolkien and nothing I can ever write
or cook up can compare to his genius. However, the elf maiden Nurréien, I
am proud to say, is my original creation, along with a few other minor
characters I will no longer mention.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This short (in my standards-it is much more fast-paced compared to my other works) story is meant to serve as supplementary material for my LOTR fics, "The Sacrifice" and "A Love That Binds". It tells the tragic love story of Elladan, son of Elrond Half-elven, and his wife, Nurréien (an original character), the parents of my OC, Armir of Rivendell. It will help the readers of my fics better understand and appreciate Armir's family history, and should serve as a bit of a treat to the Elladan fans as well!
I have researched Tolkien's works in preparation for this and have tried as best as I could to work with the canon. If I have made some slight changes please do not flame me, and just leave it to my license as a FANFIC author. If you really just feel you MUST correct any errors, please try to do so without being mean. After all, I AM doing my best. ;p
It may be a good idea to read/re-read "The Sacrifice" (esp. Chapter 2) first in order to gain a better appreciation of this story, but since this is sort of a prequel to that fic anyway, it is not required.
HAPPY READING!
* * *
THE ROYAL JEWEL
Chapter One - THE RANGER
TA 2933, DECEMBER
Eighty-four years before the Fellowship of the Ring
WOODLANDS OF RHUDAUR, WEST OF IMLADRIS
Steely blue eyes gazed sharply at the horizon rising in the distance as a band of a dozen or so horse riders climbed up the last slope of a small hill to reach the lands that lay beyond it. As their group finally came to a full view of the fields that stretched out below at the foot of the mound, there rose alarmed shouts amongst them. Just as the scouts had reported, the tiny village that rested at the edge of the forest beneath the hill was in flames.
"N'uma (No)!" Elladan hissed angrily, as his Elven hearing perceived the sounds of anguished cries and lamentation. His fists clenched tightly around the reins of his horse as his gaze beheld the horrid sight of reckless destruction before him. Destruction they had been minutes too late in preventing.
"We must help the survivors!" he called out in a loud, authoritative voice to the rest of his companions. "But be wary, it is likely there are still enemies lurking about."
The men responded immediately by kicking their horses and spurring them on to start a hasty gallop down towards the settlement. Together, the Rangers rode into the plains and swiftly reached the houses, most of which were still ablaze, nearly fully consumed by the ferocious fires.
Many people were running about, screaming and weeping, as they struggled to salvage what they could of their ruined property. A number of them were trying to aid the wounded victims who lay on the ground, moaning with pain. On the other hand, there thankfully appeared to be no fatalities, as far as Elladan could observe. It seemed that they had arrived just in time to drive the fiends away and prevent the attack from escalating into a massacre.
All around him, his comrades scattered and went to work in assisting the distressed inhabitants of the unfortunate settlement. Elladan himself rode his horse around the village, his senses carefully scanning the area for any signs of villains who may still be in hiding.
Just then, he overheard the sounds of high pitched shouting, and quickly pinpointed its source as one of the nearby houses, whose blazing roof was very nearly about to cave in. Without hesitation, the Ranger leaped off his horse, rushed towards the burning cottage, and kicked door in before fearlessly barging inside. A mere few minutes later, he burst back outside, just as what was left of the scorched roofing finally collapsed behind him.
Elladan knelt to the ground and set down from his arms the large bundle he had rescued, wrapped up in his own cloak. A young child of no more than ten years stared up at him somewhat confusedly, pale cheeks stained with black soot and tears of fright.
"D-diola lle, Heru en amin (Thank you, my Lord)." the elfling whispered, his eyes still wide with shock from the close call.
"Lle creoso (You are welcome)." Elladan responded with a smile, giving the boy a gentle pat on the head. "You just take better care of yourself next time, my little friend."
At the same time, a frantic maiden ran forward and grabbed the child into her arms, bursting into sobs of relief as she embraced him. She bowed to Elladan, thanking him profusely and quite frenetically before finally leading her son away to a safer location.
"Brother!"
Elladan spun around to face what appeared to be a mirror image of himself come up to him with a grim look on his fair Elven face. It was his twin brother, Elrohir.
"The place has been secured." the second Ranger reported confidently. "It looks as if that the foul monsters have all retreated."
Elladan nodded dourly. "The cowards come and challenge us to a fight and then flee when we arrive to accept!" he sneered. "We cannot expect anything else from those spineless dogs."
Just then, he caught sight of a group of elves hastening towards them, looking very much distressed. At the head of this group was a particularly frantic maiden with blonde hair tangled and dirtied with grime, and a bloodied bruise at her forehead. She looked elderly and exhausted, and tears were still streaming down her soiled cheeks.
"Praise be, so it is true!" the pitiable maiden cried in a hoarse whisper, the moment her eyes beheld the sight of the twin brothers standing there. "The sons of Lord Elrond themselves are here!"
She rushed forth and half-collapsed, half-threw herself on her knees before the astonished Elven Rangers. "Good sirs, I beg of you, you must help us!" she wept imploringly. "The orcs. They have abducted a number of our kinsmen, one of which is my daughter!"
Elladan's eyes widened in reaction to these ill tidings. "Mani (What)?!" he exclaimed in outrage.
"It happened just before you arrived, my Lord, when the orcs made their hasty retreat." one he-elf stepped up and spoke fretfully. "They carried off four males and one female, and though we tried to stop them, we were simply overwhelmed by their strength and number."
Elladan scowled with growing fury at the thought of this vile deed. "Did you see the direction in which they headed?"
"They turned to the north-east, moving away from the forests." the he- elf answered with certainty.
"They make for their lairs at the Misty Mountains." Elrohir muttered, echoing what has already come to Elladan's mind.
"They had wargs with them, my Lords, which is why we did not even think there would be any chance of our catching them." another elf put in. "Given the time that has already passed since their departure, they should be at least a league away from here by now. It is likely they have realized we would ask you to pursue them, and they will do whatever they can now to cover their tracks to keep from being caught."
The scowl on Elladan's face deepened. "We shall see about that."
He gazed down at the she-elf who was still weeping hysterically at his feet and took her gently by the arms, helping her to rise. "Worry not, my Lady." he assured her kindly. "We shall soon bring your daughter back to you safe and sound. I swear it."
He then turned to Elrohir and began to give instructions. "Gather the others." he said grimly. "We shall all ride out for this rescue, and leave no more than three men to guard the village and finish relieving its people."
Elrohir nodded in understanding, and immediately he raced off to obey his older brother and team leader's orders. Elladan gave the other elves a courteous and at the same time reassuring nod before also taking his leave to return to his horse.
He mounted the coal-black steed with ease but at the same time vehemence. Before riding away, he caught one last glimpse of the eyes of the anxious elf-mother vigilantly watching his every move. Her wearied eyes were filled now with a hopefulness that made Elladan feel that he would have to succeed in this mission, or die in the attempt. He cannot let this maiden or her daughter down.
* * *
The orcs were restless. From where they stood at the mouth of the cave, grunting to one another in a coarse language she could not understand, she could nonetheless tell that they were nervous about something. This lit the tiniest flicker of hope in her heart. Perhaps it meant that they had been followed, that some of her kinsmen were pursuing them in an attempt to make a rescue.
Perhaps they didn't have to die just yet.
"Nurréien."
She cast a glance at the origin of this voice, a he-elf seated closely beside her. His eyes held much concern as they studied her carefully, from her dirtied face and torn dress, to the bruises and scrapes that were all over her arms and neck.
"You are still bleeding." he said worriedly, his gaze stopping at a particularly nasty gash on her shoulder, inflicted on her by her captor when she had tried to resist him.
"It will pass soon enough." the elf-maiden reassured him softly. "Do not worry about me, Faredhel. I will be all right."
But even as she said this, she could not hold back the tears that were filling her eyes from slowly trickling down her pale cheeks. The truth was, she was in terrible pain, both physically and emotionally. Her injuries stung her greatly, but what hurt even more was the fear in her heart for what was to come.
She had been alone with Faredhel when the orc band attacked. Another rendezvous in their long-running, tender courtship had been interrupted when their village was suddenly invaded by the ruthless monsters, rousing terrible panic and chaos everywhere. Their people, being peace-loving and secluded folk, were ill-equipped for fighting, and had no prepared defenses for such unexpected confrontations.
Faredhel had valiantly tried to protect her as best as he could, but nothing could be done against the brutality and force of the orcs. When the villains suddenly broke their siege and began to make a speedy retreat, both elves had been carried off as prisoners, along with a few others. After some hours of harsh riding on the backs of wargs, the orcs took them into their cavern hideouts in the mountains.
Of what had happened to the other captured elves, Nurréien did not know. But by some miracle, she and Faredhel had not been separated, and were brought to a large grotto hidden behind a waterfall. It was useless to try and escape, for they were far too weak to run and scale the rocky cliffs, with their hands and feet heavily bound no less. There in that dark and redolent cave, their captors had left them alone for the time being, but she knew it would only be a while before the worst of her nightmares unfolded.
Orcs abducted elves for only one reason, and that was hatred. In their malice they sought pleasure in torturing members of the race they loathed so much. But Nurréien knew that this evil delight for them was greater when taken from a maiden. So much worse than death would her fate be once the orcs are able to have their way with her.
"We must have faith, Melamin (my love)." Faredhel said suddenly, noticing the tears she was shedding. His eyes gazed deeply into hers, showing his love and desperate longing to reassure her. "Our people will not just abandon us. I am certain they have sent rescuers after us, and are on our trail now as we speak."
Nurréien sniffed lightly and nodded, taking a deep breath to muster what was left of her waning courage. She sighed and closed her eyes, then leaned her head wearily against Faredhel's strong shoulder. He responded by planting a soft kiss on her temple and cheek.
"I will not let them take you." he whispered bravely in her ear, touching on what was the worst of her fears. "Even if it is the last thing I must do."
* * *
Elladan lifted his nose to the air and carefully breathed in the dankness of his surroundings. Dark clouds and mist had enveloped the mountainsides, and he could tell it was going to start pouring any minute soon. They had to hurry before the rains came, and their task of tracking becomes all the more difficult.
In order to cover as much ground as possible and locate the captive elves in time, the Rangers had split up and began separate searches of the place. They had followed the heavy marks the wargs had left in their retreat, which predictably led to Goblin-town, a known orc settlement south of the Misty Mountains.
The problem now was in locating the hideouts which were scattered all about the high cliffs and walls, and that was where the Rangers' remarkable skill in tracking had to come in. It was also a must that they perform this rescue in as much secrecy as possible, for there was no telling just how many orcs there were secretly lurking in the shadows, waiting for an ambush
Elladan frowned with slight frustration as moved swiftly across a stretch of muddy ground, his light Elven feet scarcely making a mark on the soft soil. He had come to the banks of a small river, its waters flowing from falls in the cliffs above. Still, there were no signs of orcs nor elves anywhere.
Suddenly, faint sounds of thrashing came from the distance. Elladan picked up on this instantly, and he stopped all motion in order to better listen. As the noises continued and grew louder as though the source was coming closer, his gaze became fixated on bushes resting about thirty feet away from where he stood.
A piercing scream cut through the air and made his heart freeze, only to halt abruptly two seconds later as though it had been forcefully silenced.
* * *
Nurréien pulled vainly at the rough hand that had clamped over her mouth, cutting off her cries for help but at the same time nearly suffocating her. She was too frightened now to weep, and was quickly losing all her strength to even struggle, though she knew she must. There was no way she was going to give herself up to this repulsive beast without putting up a fight.
Her mind spun with grief and nausea at the memory of the past minutes. Two orcs had barged into the cave where she and Faredhel were, ending the last moment of solitude they would ever share with one another. One orc had approached her and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her away from her beloved's side. Faredhel had immediately let out a cry of outrage and struggled to get to his feet in spite of the bonds on his ankles. The second orc struck him full across the face, sending him crashing back to the grimy cavern floor. She had screamed for him as the first orc picked her up and slung her over its shoulder.
As though he had been empowered with anger by the sounds of her cries, Faredhel somehow managed to recover and snap the heavy ropes that bound his wrists. He then seized the dagger of the orc that had struck him, and plunged it into the surprised creature's gut. But while he was still struggling to free his restrained feet, Nurréien's captor set her down roughly and charged at him with a snarl.
She would never forget the terrible sight of Faredhel's face as he crumpled lifelessly to the ground, a knife buried deep into his chest. Her grief-stricken cries echoed throughout the cave but fell on deaf ears as the remaining orc picked her up once more and carried her into the coldness of the outside.
The sickening sound of her dress ripping shocked Nurréien out of her trance. She screamed wildly against the hand smothering her mouth and kicked as hard as she could. The orc, who had wrestled her to the muddy ground but was still trying to hold her still, struck her face with a blow powerful enough to disorient her, but not to knock her out. Part of its enjoyment in this torture will come from her fearful struggling.
Her head now throbbing in agony, Nurréien fought to keep her wits about her. Her shuddering hands pushed as hard as they could against the massive beast bearing down on top of her, its eyes hungrily staring at the luminescent skin which was now exposed by her torn-up dress.
Maybe if she could just hold the orc back long enough, and manage to get a scream past the gag on her mouth, there would still be hope for her. Maybe there was yet someone still out there who could save her.
But then, the orc finally succeeded in pinning down her weak, pained arms. Every nerve in her being burned with revulsion as a scaly mouth began to assault her neck and shoulders. A hand voraciously wrenched at her sleeve, seeking to pull her tattered dress completely off her chest. It was at that moment that Nurréien, for the first time in her life, simply wished with all her heart that she would just die.
Then all of a sudden, the torture stopped. A powerful force had seized the orc and lifted it off the helpless maiden. She watched through dazed eyes as a tall, hooded figure roughly hurled the surprised orc aside with incredible strength and an angered cry. The stranger then drew out a sword and swiftly thrust it into the orc's chest. With a choking shriek, the beast writhed, crumpled to the ground, and moved no more.
* * *
Elladan inhaled deeply, trying to calm his enraged breaths as he slid his bloodied sword back into its sheath. He threw one last glare of vehemence at the dead orc before turning his attention back to the maiden cowering on the ground a few feet away from him.
He approached her slowly and carefully, knowing how daunting he probably looked with his stature, coarse attire and shouldered weapons.
"It is all right." he said softly, speaking in Elvish in order to assure her that he was a kinsman and friend. "I am not going to hurt you."
But not even the sound of the familiar tongue of her people seemed to give no comfort to the frightened elf. She continued to stare at him through wide eyes, the terror still vivid on her mud-streaked face. As Elladan drew closer, her arms flew to her cover her chest, which were now shamefully naked due to the ripped state of her clothes. Thunder rumbled in the sky overhead as heavy raindrops began to fall upon them.
"Please do not be afraid." Elladan continued to whisper comfortingly. He pulled off his cloak from his shoulders as he sank to his knees before her. "I am here to help you."
As his gaze came into level with that of the elf-maiden's face, he noticed something that, for a brief moment, made his heart stop beating. She was beautiful.
In spite of her pitiful condition, nothing could mar the radiance of her fair face. Not the captivating innocence of her hazel eyes, the glow of her pale cream skin, or the graceful curves of her delicate nose and crimson mouth. In the sight of this mud-covered and bruised, grief- stricken female, Elladan found himself gazing upon at the loveliest creature he had ever seen.
Upset by the intense stare Elladan was unconsciously giving her, the maiden tried to pull herself up to her feet in order to get away. Her injuries apparently hurt too much for this however, and she stumbled in the feeble attempt.
Elladan hurried to catch her as she fell, and she fell easily into his hold. Upon feeling his arms enfold her, the she-elf let out a weak cry and tried to pull away, not wanting to touched. Clearly she was still very much in shock over what the orc had nearly done to her, and Elladan understood this.
He took her hand gently in his and held it to the side of his face. He stroked her fingers slowly along his ear, allowing her to feel its pointed tip, ignoring the excited shivers her caress caused him.
"See?" he murmured soothingly. "I am an elf, just like you. You can trust me, my Lady."
At this reassurance, something changed in the maiden's reactions as she stared up at Elladan's kind face. His breath caught in his chest as their gazes crossed, and he lost himself in the beauty of those sorrowful eyes. Raindrops poured down her pretty face, only inches away from his, washing off some of the dirt on her icy cheeks and lips, making her look beguilingly vulnerable and fragile.
At long last, the maiden's barriers broke down and she collapsed against him. Uncontrollable sobs raked her weakened body as the rush of her adrenaline finally faded, leaving behind the grief and terror that had built up in her heart, now finally finding release in her rescuer's embrace.
Wrapping her trembling form up in his warm cloak with much care, the Ranger lifted his charge gently into his arms before carrying her off to find them some shelter from the cold, pouring rain.
* * *
COMING UP . . . Chapter 2 - The Maiden Well, you know thee drill . . . read and review, and give me the energy to update soon! ;p
Thanks for your time!!!
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This short (in my standards-it is much more fast-paced compared to my other works) story is meant to serve as supplementary material for my LOTR fics, "The Sacrifice" and "A Love That Binds". It tells the tragic love story of Elladan, son of Elrond Half-elven, and his wife, Nurréien (an original character), the parents of my OC, Armir of Rivendell. It will help the readers of my fics better understand and appreciate Armir's family history, and should serve as a bit of a treat to the Elladan fans as well!
I have researched Tolkien's works in preparation for this and have tried as best as I could to work with the canon. If I have made some slight changes please do not flame me, and just leave it to my license as a FANFIC author. If you really just feel you MUST correct any errors, please try to do so without being mean. After all, I AM doing my best. ;p
It may be a good idea to read/re-read "The Sacrifice" (esp. Chapter 2) first in order to gain a better appreciation of this story, but since this is sort of a prequel to that fic anyway, it is not required.
HAPPY READING!
* * *
THE ROYAL JEWEL
Chapter One - THE RANGER
TA 2933, DECEMBER
Eighty-four years before the Fellowship of the Ring
WOODLANDS OF RHUDAUR, WEST OF IMLADRIS
Steely blue eyes gazed sharply at the horizon rising in the distance as a band of a dozen or so horse riders climbed up the last slope of a small hill to reach the lands that lay beyond it. As their group finally came to a full view of the fields that stretched out below at the foot of the mound, there rose alarmed shouts amongst them. Just as the scouts had reported, the tiny village that rested at the edge of the forest beneath the hill was in flames.
"N'uma (No)!" Elladan hissed angrily, as his Elven hearing perceived the sounds of anguished cries and lamentation. His fists clenched tightly around the reins of his horse as his gaze beheld the horrid sight of reckless destruction before him. Destruction they had been minutes too late in preventing.
"We must help the survivors!" he called out in a loud, authoritative voice to the rest of his companions. "But be wary, it is likely there are still enemies lurking about."
The men responded immediately by kicking their horses and spurring them on to start a hasty gallop down towards the settlement. Together, the Rangers rode into the plains and swiftly reached the houses, most of which were still ablaze, nearly fully consumed by the ferocious fires.
Many people were running about, screaming and weeping, as they struggled to salvage what they could of their ruined property. A number of them were trying to aid the wounded victims who lay on the ground, moaning with pain. On the other hand, there thankfully appeared to be no fatalities, as far as Elladan could observe. It seemed that they had arrived just in time to drive the fiends away and prevent the attack from escalating into a massacre.
All around him, his comrades scattered and went to work in assisting the distressed inhabitants of the unfortunate settlement. Elladan himself rode his horse around the village, his senses carefully scanning the area for any signs of villains who may still be in hiding.
Just then, he overheard the sounds of high pitched shouting, and quickly pinpointed its source as one of the nearby houses, whose blazing roof was very nearly about to cave in. Without hesitation, the Ranger leaped off his horse, rushed towards the burning cottage, and kicked door in before fearlessly barging inside. A mere few minutes later, he burst back outside, just as what was left of the scorched roofing finally collapsed behind him.
Elladan knelt to the ground and set down from his arms the large bundle he had rescued, wrapped up in his own cloak. A young child of no more than ten years stared up at him somewhat confusedly, pale cheeks stained with black soot and tears of fright.
"D-diola lle, Heru en amin (Thank you, my Lord)." the elfling whispered, his eyes still wide with shock from the close call.
"Lle creoso (You are welcome)." Elladan responded with a smile, giving the boy a gentle pat on the head. "You just take better care of yourself next time, my little friend."
At the same time, a frantic maiden ran forward and grabbed the child into her arms, bursting into sobs of relief as she embraced him. She bowed to Elladan, thanking him profusely and quite frenetically before finally leading her son away to a safer location.
"Brother!"
Elladan spun around to face what appeared to be a mirror image of himself come up to him with a grim look on his fair Elven face. It was his twin brother, Elrohir.
"The place has been secured." the second Ranger reported confidently. "It looks as if that the foul monsters have all retreated."
Elladan nodded dourly. "The cowards come and challenge us to a fight and then flee when we arrive to accept!" he sneered. "We cannot expect anything else from those spineless dogs."
Just then, he caught sight of a group of elves hastening towards them, looking very much distressed. At the head of this group was a particularly frantic maiden with blonde hair tangled and dirtied with grime, and a bloodied bruise at her forehead. She looked elderly and exhausted, and tears were still streaming down her soiled cheeks.
"Praise be, so it is true!" the pitiable maiden cried in a hoarse whisper, the moment her eyes beheld the sight of the twin brothers standing there. "The sons of Lord Elrond themselves are here!"
She rushed forth and half-collapsed, half-threw herself on her knees before the astonished Elven Rangers. "Good sirs, I beg of you, you must help us!" she wept imploringly. "The orcs. They have abducted a number of our kinsmen, one of which is my daughter!"
Elladan's eyes widened in reaction to these ill tidings. "Mani (What)?!" he exclaimed in outrage.
"It happened just before you arrived, my Lord, when the orcs made their hasty retreat." one he-elf stepped up and spoke fretfully. "They carried off four males and one female, and though we tried to stop them, we were simply overwhelmed by their strength and number."
Elladan scowled with growing fury at the thought of this vile deed. "Did you see the direction in which they headed?"
"They turned to the north-east, moving away from the forests." the he- elf answered with certainty.
"They make for their lairs at the Misty Mountains." Elrohir muttered, echoing what has already come to Elladan's mind.
"They had wargs with them, my Lords, which is why we did not even think there would be any chance of our catching them." another elf put in. "Given the time that has already passed since their departure, they should be at least a league away from here by now. It is likely they have realized we would ask you to pursue them, and they will do whatever they can now to cover their tracks to keep from being caught."
The scowl on Elladan's face deepened. "We shall see about that."
He gazed down at the she-elf who was still weeping hysterically at his feet and took her gently by the arms, helping her to rise. "Worry not, my Lady." he assured her kindly. "We shall soon bring your daughter back to you safe and sound. I swear it."
He then turned to Elrohir and began to give instructions. "Gather the others." he said grimly. "We shall all ride out for this rescue, and leave no more than three men to guard the village and finish relieving its people."
Elrohir nodded in understanding, and immediately he raced off to obey his older brother and team leader's orders. Elladan gave the other elves a courteous and at the same time reassuring nod before also taking his leave to return to his horse.
He mounted the coal-black steed with ease but at the same time vehemence. Before riding away, he caught one last glimpse of the eyes of the anxious elf-mother vigilantly watching his every move. Her wearied eyes were filled now with a hopefulness that made Elladan feel that he would have to succeed in this mission, or die in the attempt. He cannot let this maiden or her daughter down.
* * *
The orcs were restless. From where they stood at the mouth of the cave, grunting to one another in a coarse language she could not understand, she could nonetheless tell that they were nervous about something. This lit the tiniest flicker of hope in her heart. Perhaps it meant that they had been followed, that some of her kinsmen were pursuing them in an attempt to make a rescue.
Perhaps they didn't have to die just yet.
"Nurréien."
She cast a glance at the origin of this voice, a he-elf seated closely beside her. His eyes held much concern as they studied her carefully, from her dirtied face and torn dress, to the bruises and scrapes that were all over her arms and neck.
"You are still bleeding." he said worriedly, his gaze stopping at a particularly nasty gash on her shoulder, inflicted on her by her captor when she had tried to resist him.
"It will pass soon enough." the elf-maiden reassured him softly. "Do not worry about me, Faredhel. I will be all right."
But even as she said this, she could not hold back the tears that were filling her eyes from slowly trickling down her pale cheeks. The truth was, she was in terrible pain, both physically and emotionally. Her injuries stung her greatly, but what hurt even more was the fear in her heart for what was to come.
She had been alone with Faredhel when the orc band attacked. Another rendezvous in their long-running, tender courtship had been interrupted when their village was suddenly invaded by the ruthless monsters, rousing terrible panic and chaos everywhere. Their people, being peace-loving and secluded folk, were ill-equipped for fighting, and had no prepared defenses for such unexpected confrontations.
Faredhel had valiantly tried to protect her as best as he could, but nothing could be done against the brutality and force of the orcs. When the villains suddenly broke their siege and began to make a speedy retreat, both elves had been carried off as prisoners, along with a few others. After some hours of harsh riding on the backs of wargs, the orcs took them into their cavern hideouts in the mountains.
Of what had happened to the other captured elves, Nurréien did not know. But by some miracle, she and Faredhel had not been separated, and were brought to a large grotto hidden behind a waterfall. It was useless to try and escape, for they were far too weak to run and scale the rocky cliffs, with their hands and feet heavily bound no less. There in that dark and redolent cave, their captors had left them alone for the time being, but she knew it would only be a while before the worst of her nightmares unfolded.
Orcs abducted elves for only one reason, and that was hatred. In their malice they sought pleasure in torturing members of the race they loathed so much. But Nurréien knew that this evil delight for them was greater when taken from a maiden. So much worse than death would her fate be once the orcs are able to have their way with her.
"We must have faith, Melamin (my love)." Faredhel said suddenly, noticing the tears she was shedding. His eyes gazed deeply into hers, showing his love and desperate longing to reassure her. "Our people will not just abandon us. I am certain they have sent rescuers after us, and are on our trail now as we speak."
Nurréien sniffed lightly and nodded, taking a deep breath to muster what was left of her waning courage. She sighed and closed her eyes, then leaned her head wearily against Faredhel's strong shoulder. He responded by planting a soft kiss on her temple and cheek.
"I will not let them take you." he whispered bravely in her ear, touching on what was the worst of her fears. "Even if it is the last thing I must do."
* * *
Elladan lifted his nose to the air and carefully breathed in the dankness of his surroundings. Dark clouds and mist had enveloped the mountainsides, and he could tell it was going to start pouring any minute soon. They had to hurry before the rains came, and their task of tracking becomes all the more difficult.
In order to cover as much ground as possible and locate the captive elves in time, the Rangers had split up and began separate searches of the place. They had followed the heavy marks the wargs had left in their retreat, which predictably led to Goblin-town, a known orc settlement south of the Misty Mountains.
The problem now was in locating the hideouts which were scattered all about the high cliffs and walls, and that was where the Rangers' remarkable skill in tracking had to come in. It was also a must that they perform this rescue in as much secrecy as possible, for there was no telling just how many orcs there were secretly lurking in the shadows, waiting for an ambush
Elladan frowned with slight frustration as moved swiftly across a stretch of muddy ground, his light Elven feet scarcely making a mark on the soft soil. He had come to the banks of a small river, its waters flowing from falls in the cliffs above. Still, there were no signs of orcs nor elves anywhere.
Suddenly, faint sounds of thrashing came from the distance. Elladan picked up on this instantly, and he stopped all motion in order to better listen. As the noises continued and grew louder as though the source was coming closer, his gaze became fixated on bushes resting about thirty feet away from where he stood.
A piercing scream cut through the air and made his heart freeze, only to halt abruptly two seconds later as though it had been forcefully silenced.
* * *
Nurréien pulled vainly at the rough hand that had clamped over her mouth, cutting off her cries for help but at the same time nearly suffocating her. She was too frightened now to weep, and was quickly losing all her strength to even struggle, though she knew she must. There was no way she was going to give herself up to this repulsive beast without putting up a fight.
Her mind spun with grief and nausea at the memory of the past minutes. Two orcs had barged into the cave where she and Faredhel were, ending the last moment of solitude they would ever share with one another. One orc had approached her and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her away from her beloved's side. Faredhel had immediately let out a cry of outrage and struggled to get to his feet in spite of the bonds on his ankles. The second orc struck him full across the face, sending him crashing back to the grimy cavern floor. She had screamed for him as the first orc picked her up and slung her over its shoulder.
As though he had been empowered with anger by the sounds of her cries, Faredhel somehow managed to recover and snap the heavy ropes that bound his wrists. He then seized the dagger of the orc that had struck him, and plunged it into the surprised creature's gut. But while he was still struggling to free his restrained feet, Nurréien's captor set her down roughly and charged at him with a snarl.
She would never forget the terrible sight of Faredhel's face as he crumpled lifelessly to the ground, a knife buried deep into his chest. Her grief-stricken cries echoed throughout the cave but fell on deaf ears as the remaining orc picked her up once more and carried her into the coldness of the outside.
The sickening sound of her dress ripping shocked Nurréien out of her trance. She screamed wildly against the hand smothering her mouth and kicked as hard as she could. The orc, who had wrestled her to the muddy ground but was still trying to hold her still, struck her face with a blow powerful enough to disorient her, but not to knock her out. Part of its enjoyment in this torture will come from her fearful struggling.
Her head now throbbing in agony, Nurréien fought to keep her wits about her. Her shuddering hands pushed as hard as they could against the massive beast bearing down on top of her, its eyes hungrily staring at the luminescent skin which was now exposed by her torn-up dress.
Maybe if she could just hold the orc back long enough, and manage to get a scream past the gag on her mouth, there would still be hope for her. Maybe there was yet someone still out there who could save her.
But then, the orc finally succeeded in pinning down her weak, pained arms. Every nerve in her being burned with revulsion as a scaly mouth began to assault her neck and shoulders. A hand voraciously wrenched at her sleeve, seeking to pull her tattered dress completely off her chest. It was at that moment that Nurréien, for the first time in her life, simply wished with all her heart that she would just die.
Then all of a sudden, the torture stopped. A powerful force had seized the orc and lifted it off the helpless maiden. She watched through dazed eyes as a tall, hooded figure roughly hurled the surprised orc aside with incredible strength and an angered cry. The stranger then drew out a sword and swiftly thrust it into the orc's chest. With a choking shriek, the beast writhed, crumpled to the ground, and moved no more.
* * *
Elladan inhaled deeply, trying to calm his enraged breaths as he slid his bloodied sword back into its sheath. He threw one last glare of vehemence at the dead orc before turning his attention back to the maiden cowering on the ground a few feet away from him.
He approached her slowly and carefully, knowing how daunting he probably looked with his stature, coarse attire and shouldered weapons.
"It is all right." he said softly, speaking in Elvish in order to assure her that he was a kinsman and friend. "I am not going to hurt you."
But not even the sound of the familiar tongue of her people seemed to give no comfort to the frightened elf. She continued to stare at him through wide eyes, the terror still vivid on her mud-streaked face. As Elladan drew closer, her arms flew to her cover her chest, which were now shamefully naked due to the ripped state of her clothes. Thunder rumbled in the sky overhead as heavy raindrops began to fall upon them.
"Please do not be afraid." Elladan continued to whisper comfortingly. He pulled off his cloak from his shoulders as he sank to his knees before her. "I am here to help you."
As his gaze came into level with that of the elf-maiden's face, he noticed something that, for a brief moment, made his heart stop beating. She was beautiful.
In spite of her pitiful condition, nothing could mar the radiance of her fair face. Not the captivating innocence of her hazel eyes, the glow of her pale cream skin, or the graceful curves of her delicate nose and crimson mouth. In the sight of this mud-covered and bruised, grief- stricken female, Elladan found himself gazing upon at the loveliest creature he had ever seen.
Upset by the intense stare Elladan was unconsciously giving her, the maiden tried to pull herself up to her feet in order to get away. Her injuries apparently hurt too much for this however, and she stumbled in the feeble attempt.
Elladan hurried to catch her as she fell, and she fell easily into his hold. Upon feeling his arms enfold her, the she-elf let out a weak cry and tried to pull away, not wanting to touched. Clearly she was still very much in shock over what the orc had nearly done to her, and Elladan understood this.
He took her hand gently in his and held it to the side of his face. He stroked her fingers slowly along his ear, allowing her to feel its pointed tip, ignoring the excited shivers her caress caused him.
"See?" he murmured soothingly. "I am an elf, just like you. You can trust me, my Lady."
At this reassurance, something changed in the maiden's reactions as she stared up at Elladan's kind face. His breath caught in his chest as their gazes crossed, and he lost himself in the beauty of those sorrowful eyes. Raindrops poured down her pretty face, only inches away from his, washing off some of the dirt on her icy cheeks and lips, making her look beguilingly vulnerable and fragile.
At long last, the maiden's barriers broke down and she collapsed against him. Uncontrollable sobs raked her weakened body as the rush of her adrenaline finally faded, leaving behind the grief and terror that had built up in her heart, now finally finding release in her rescuer's embrace.
Wrapping her trembling form up in his warm cloak with much care, the Ranger lifted his charge gently into his arms before carrying her off to find them some shelter from the cold, pouring rain.
* * *
COMING UP . . . Chapter 2 - The Maiden Well, you know thee drill . . . read and review, and give me the energy to update soon! ;p
Thanks for your time!!!