Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any characters and/or places
thereof
*****
Estel breathed a sigh of relief. For once, something was going his way. He had reached the cloth factory without being seen by any of the watchmen in the streets, positioned rather faster than seemed reasonable. Estel wondered, as he caught his breath, whether these watchmen had been placed before the curfew had been instated--for this purpose was their only.
Suddenly over the pounding of blood in his ears Estel heard footsteps on the cobblestones. Moments later, a lantern-bearing elf stepped into the lane. "Is somebody here?" he called. When no response came, he raised his lantern and looked about, but no one appeared. The watchman did not leave, though, for he knew he had heard something.
Inside the factory, Estel held a hand over his heart. That had been rather too close for comfort! Had he not managed to pick the lock open in time, well, he did not want to think what could have happened. Banishing his panic, Estel gazed about his hiding-place. Looms filled the room, great shadowy forms. In the dim light, Estel could only hope that no one hid in the shadows.
Carefully, he took a step forward. Nothing terrible happened, as Estel took another step and another his heartbeat slowed to a more average pulse, fear slipping away. This was not so terrible, not terrible at all. It was simply a matter of taking one step at a time. Estel reached the opposite wall and sighed. He had crossed this room--now just the next, and he would be on the streets again. Nothing to worry about.
The dye room, once Estel had picked the lock on the door and slipped in, proved equally as full of shadows--but not frightening in the least. Estel truly knew that no intruder save himself lurked in these shadows, and in a most amazing manner he was not afraid. Perhaps he should have been, perhaps fear would have given him more caution, for near the back wall of the room Estel tripped and knocked a huge vat to the ground.
Luckily the vat was empty, but it caused a great ruckus. A shout came from outside, then the sound of a key in the lock. Estel's heart imitated that of a hare as he scurried to hide behind another dye vat, hoping not to be found. Fearfully, he clutched a knife he had otherwise kept concealed and prayed that the use of this weapon be unnecessary.
A guard from the streets entered. "Who's in here?" he called out. When he held up his lantern, Estel dared peek out from behind the vat and to his surprise he saw--a boy. This brown-haired, hazel-eyed fellow could not have been much older than Estel himself, yet the pure hatred sounding in his voice sent shivers down Estel's spine.
The door connecting the two rooms had been left open, proving a great piece of luck. The boy-guard moved to investigate the next room and Estel slipped out from his hiding place. Such was his luck that Estel managed to reach the street without being heard. He dashed down the lane and leaned in a dark alley against a dirt wall, gasping to catch his breath, erratic with terror.
"This is it," Estel told himself. "It is only a ten-minute walk to Telloss's home." He took a deep breath and plunged into a sea of enemies.
*
"Estel?" Elladan knocked on the door to his brother's assigned room. No answer came. "Estel, please let me speak with you. Please allow me to apologize." A lump formed in his throat. He knew that if Estel allowed him inside and accepted his apology, as Elladan had assumed Estel would, he would be so very grateful. Elladan had a thousand words in his head, a thousand words to speak. What he had not counted on was that Estel would not accept him.
Elladan sighed. What was he going to do? Shouting his apology through the door would be inappropriate, but leaving Estel alone...and with that monster Pellatal about! Elladan would not let Estel suffer at the hands of that pervert, not again.
Elrohir found his twin mumbling quietly, his head resting against Estel's door. "Is something amiss?" Elrohir asked, laying a hand on Elladan's shoulder. He did not approve of the manner in which Elladan had treated Estel--in fact, Elrohir very much would have liked to rebuke Elladan or childishly refuse to speak with him. However, he had elected an alternate approach: he would treat Elladan the same as he always did and wait for him to come to his senses.
"I have done a terrible thing," Elladan replied. "Estel will not let me in. I know he has every right to refuse me, but...how can I leave him unprotected? I know he is growing into his adulthood, but that cannot stop this urge to protect him."
Nodding, Elrohir considered this. "Perhaps he is asleep," he suggested, then reached forward and turned the doorknob. The door swung open to reveal a dark room. "Go and get one of the torches off the walls," Elrohir said, and Elladan did. Holding aloft their light, the boys saw naught. That is to say, they saw plenty, but only something not seen mattered: Estel.
Elladan swallowed, but the lump in his throat would not disappear. "Elrohir," he said, "will you and Legolas please ready our horses and see if you can conceal them somehow outside? I think it is time to leave this place, do you agree?"
"With all of my heart."
Leaving Elladan to await Estel's return, Elrohir strode to the next door and knocked purposefully. Less than twenty counts passed before the door was thrown open. "Legolas, come, let us ready our horses, for tonight we ride for Imladris," Elrohir muttered. Legolas nodded, and the two slipped away with grim smiles. They were leaving. Elladan was his old self. Everything would be all right.
Elladan, meanwhile, sat on Estel's bed sadly. He closed his eyes and, truly meaning it, he prayed. "Elbereth," he whispered, the muscles of his throat tight from keeping back sobs, "please look after my brother. He's only a little boy, he...I know he can look after himself, but I don't want him to have to, not so early. Please don't let him be alone. Don't let him die. If not for me, please do this for Men throughout the world. He will be their King, and he will be great. Please protect him. He is a good boy and will be a fine man. Don't let harm come to him."
For a long time he sat in silence, then someone in the doorway spoke. "Elladan?"
His head shot up. "Hello, Pellatal," Elladan said.
"I was thinking, Elladan, about our last encounter. You remember what happened, I trust? It would be such a pity for any such thing to occur to that darling boy of yours. However, if you fight for injustice I can promise nothing."
Elladan stared at him, flabbergasted. How was Pellatal capable of being so truly awful? Did ice run through his veins?
"I only wanted to warn you. I am your friend." There was a pause in which the muscles of Elladan's throat moved in mute and blatant rage. "Well, I will leave you in peace then."
"You blackmailing scum!" Elladan shouted to Pellatal's retreating back. When Pellatal was gone, Elladan closed his eyes tightly. "Watch over Estel, Elbereth. Please."
*
The knock at the door came as no surprise to Telloss. He had been sitting in the kitchen awaiting someone coming to arrest him, stomach churning with fearful anticipation, and so he opened the door to stoically accept his fate--and was not surprised to see a city guard standing before him.
"Telloss, son of Andmel?" asked the guard. Telloss nodded. "You are hereby placed under arrest for anarchy and conspiracy to murder."
Telloss nodded. "I understand," he said, and stepped into the street.
"As is the girl," added the guard. Telloss's eyes grew wide.
"No! She has done nothing, my sister is innocent."
The guard replied, "Court proceedings will decide that matter for the law."
Upon reflection, Telloss would realize that his actions had been stupid given that there was not only one guard at his door but one and three accomplices. Nevertheless at hearing that his young sister would be arrested he sprang forward and attacked the nearest guard. He landed a few solid punches before being swatted away. At the sickening sound of his head connecting with the pavement Telloss fell silent. Though he struggled bindings were put upon him, and the three accomplices disappeared inside.
Much to his surprise, Telloss realized that the guard he had been left with was a Man. "You--you are as I am!" he gasped, just before having the breath knocked out of him by a sound kick to the stomach. "Why?" he rasped, coughing and spluttering. "Why do you do this?"
The guard made no reply but to prepare for another kick.
That kick never landed, but the guard crumpled to the ground with a surprised cry. Behind him stood a black-haired boy, his eyes as the sea on a stormy afternoon, shaking the pain from his hand. "There are others?" Estel asked.
Telloss nodded and began to give their number, but was interrupted by the arrival of two city guards. They came at Estel; he managed to subdue one with a chop to his throat but the other landed a blow which for Estel's quick movement caught him on the shoulder. Reeling, Estel stepped back. He regained his presence of mind in time to parry the guard's next attack, which otherwise should have knocked him unconscious, and managed to spin round to the man's back and knock him smartly on the back of the head with the blunt end of his knife.
The last fallen guard landed atop Telloss. Estel knelt and quickly pulled the body off of his friend, trying to discern the words of Telloss' muffled warning. "Estel, behind you!"
But it was too late. Estel turned, only to be caught on the jaw by the fist of a burly guard. Stars exploded, and Estel folded to the ground.
*****
To be continued
Deana: In answer to answer your question, the chapter after next.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, it was great hearing from you! Whee!
*****
Estel breathed a sigh of relief. For once, something was going his way. He had reached the cloth factory without being seen by any of the watchmen in the streets, positioned rather faster than seemed reasonable. Estel wondered, as he caught his breath, whether these watchmen had been placed before the curfew had been instated--for this purpose was their only.
Suddenly over the pounding of blood in his ears Estel heard footsteps on the cobblestones. Moments later, a lantern-bearing elf stepped into the lane. "Is somebody here?" he called. When no response came, he raised his lantern and looked about, but no one appeared. The watchman did not leave, though, for he knew he had heard something.
Inside the factory, Estel held a hand over his heart. That had been rather too close for comfort! Had he not managed to pick the lock open in time, well, he did not want to think what could have happened. Banishing his panic, Estel gazed about his hiding-place. Looms filled the room, great shadowy forms. In the dim light, Estel could only hope that no one hid in the shadows.
Carefully, he took a step forward. Nothing terrible happened, as Estel took another step and another his heartbeat slowed to a more average pulse, fear slipping away. This was not so terrible, not terrible at all. It was simply a matter of taking one step at a time. Estel reached the opposite wall and sighed. He had crossed this room--now just the next, and he would be on the streets again. Nothing to worry about.
The dye room, once Estel had picked the lock on the door and slipped in, proved equally as full of shadows--but not frightening in the least. Estel truly knew that no intruder save himself lurked in these shadows, and in a most amazing manner he was not afraid. Perhaps he should have been, perhaps fear would have given him more caution, for near the back wall of the room Estel tripped and knocked a huge vat to the ground.
Luckily the vat was empty, but it caused a great ruckus. A shout came from outside, then the sound of a key in the lock. Estel's heart imitated that of a hare as he scurried to hide behind another dye vat, hoping not to be found. Fearfully, he clutched a knife he had otherwise kept concealed and prayed that the use of this weapon be unnecessary.
A guard from the streets entered. "Who's in here?" he called out. When he held up his lantern, Estel dared peek out from behind the vat and to his surprise he saw--a boy. This brown-haired, hazel-eyed fellow could not have been much older than Estel himself, yet the pure hatred sounding in his voice sent shivers down Estel's spine.
The door connecting the two rooms had been left open, proving a great piece of luck. The boy-guard moved to investigate the next room and Estel slipped out from his hiding place. Such was his luck that Estel managed to reach the street without being heard. He dashed down the lane and leaned in a dark alley against a dirt wall, gasping to catch his breath, erratic with terror.
"This is it," Estel told himself. "It is only a ten-minute walk to Telloss's home." He took a deep breath and plunged into a sea of enemies.
*
"Estel?" Elladan knocked on the door to his brother's assigned room. No answer came. "Estel, please let me speak with you. Please allow me to apologize." A lump formed in his throat. He knew that if Estel allowed him inside and accepted his apology, as Elladan had assumed Estel would, he would be so very grateful. Elladan had a thousand words in his head, a thousand words to speak. What he had not counted on was that Estel would not accept him.
Elladan sighed. What was he going to do? Shouting his apology through the door would be inappropriate, but leaving Estel alone...and with that monster Pellatal about! Elladan would not let Estel suffer at the hands of that pervert, not again.
Elrohir found his twin mumbling quietly, his head resting against Estel's door. "Is something amiss?" Elrohir asked, laying a hand on Elladan's shoulder. He did not approve of the manner in which Elladan had treated Estel--in fact, Elrohir very much would have liked to rebuke Elladan or childishly refuse to speak with him. However, he had elected an alternate approach: he would treat Elladan the same as he always did and wait for him to come to his senses.
"I have done a terrible thing," Elladan replied. "Estel will not let me in. I know he has every right to refuse me, but...how can I leave him unprotected? I know he is growing into his adulthood, but that cannot stop this urge to protect him."
Nodding, Elrohir considered this. "Perhaps he is asleep," he suggested, then reached forward and turned the doorknob. The door swung open to reveal a dark room. "Go and get one of the torches off the walls," Elrohir said, and Elladan did. Holding aloft their light, the boys saw naught. That is to say, they saw plenty, but only something not seen mattered: Estel.
Elladan swallowed, but the lump in his throat would not disappear. "Elrohir," he said, "will you and Legolas please ready our horses and see if you can conceal them somehow outside? I think it is time to leave this place, do you agree?"
"With all of my heart."
Leaving Elladan to await Estel's return, Elrohir strode to the next door and knocked purposefully. Less than twenty counts passed before the door was thrown open. "Legolas, come, let us ready our horses, for tonight we ride for Imladris," Elrohir muttered. Legolas nodded, and the two slipped away with grim smiles. They were leaving. Elladan was his old self. Everything would be all right.
Elladan, meanwhile, sat on Estel's bed sadly. He closed his eyes and, truly meaning it, he prayed. "Elbereth," he whispered, the muscles of his throat tight from keeping back sobs, "please look after my brother. He's only a little boy, he...I know he can look after himself, but I don't want him to have to, not so early. Please don't let him be alone. Don't let him die. If not for me, please do this for Men throughout the world. He will be their King, and he will be great. Please protect him. He is a good boy and will be a fine man. Don't let harm come to him."
For a long time he sat in silence, then someone in the doorway spoke. "Elladan?"
His head shot up. "Hello, Pellatal," Elladan said.
"I was thinking, Elladan, about our last encounter. You remember what happened, I trust? It would be such a pity for any such thing to occur to that darling boy of yours. However, if you fight for injustice I can promise nothing."
Elladan stared at him, flabbergasted. How was Pellatal capable of being so truly awful? Did ice run through his veins?
"I only wanted to warn you. I am your friend." There was a pause in which the muscles of Elladan's throat moved in mute and blatant rage. "Well, I will leave you in peace then."
"You blackmailing scum!" Elladan shouted to Pellatal's retreating back. When Pellatal was gone, Elladan closed his eyes tightly. "Watch over Estel, Elbereth. Please."
*
The knock at the door came as no surprise to Telloss. He had been sitting in the kitchen awaiting someone coming to arrest him, stomach churning with fearful anticipation, and so he opened the door to stoically accept his fate--and was not surprised to see a city guard standing before him.
"Telloss, son of Andmel?" asked the guard. Telloss nodded. "You are hereby placed under arrest for anarchy and conspiracy to murder."
Telloss nodded. "I understand," he said, and stepped into the street.
"As is the girl," added the guard. Telloss's eyes grew wide.
"No! She has done nothing, my sister is innocent."
The guard replied, "Court proceedings will decide that matter for the law."
Upon reflection, Telloss would realize that his actions had been stupid given that there was not only one guard at his door but one and three accomplices. Nevertheless at hearing that his young sister would be arrested he sprang forward and attacked the nearest guard. He landed a few solid punches before being swatted away. At the sickening sound of his head connecting with the pavement Telloss fell silent. Though he struggled bindings were put upon him, and the three accomplices disappeared inside.
Much to his surprise, Telloss realized that the guard he had been left with was a Man. "You--you are as I am!" he gasped, just before having the breath knocked out of him by a sound kick to the stomach. "Why?" he rasped, coughing and spluttering. "Why do you do this?"
The guard made no reply but to prepare for another kick.
That kick never landed, but the guard crumpled to the ground with a surprised cry. Behind him stood a black-haired boy, his eyes as the sea on a stormy afternoon, shaking the pain from his hand. "There are others?" Estel asked.
Telloss nodded and began to give their number, but was interrupted by the arrival of two city guards. They came at Estel; he managed to subdue one with a chop to his throat but the other landed a blow which for Estel's quick movement caught him on the shoulder. Reeling, Estel stepped back. He regained his presence of mind in time to parry the guard's next attack, which otherwise should have knocked him unconscious, and managed to spin round to the man's back and knock him smartly on the back of the head with the blunt end of his knife.
The last fallen guard landed atop Telloss. Estel knelt and quickly pulled the body off of his friend, trying to discern the words of Telloss' muffled warning. "Estel, behind you!"
But it was too late. Estel turned, only to be caught on the jaw by the fist of a burly guard. Stars exploded, and Estel folded to the ground.
*****
To be continued
Deana: In answer to answer your question, the chapter after next.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, it was great hearing from you! Whee!
