The Wrong One
By Nefhiriel
A/N: (sigh) OK, I've finally got this chapter ready to post! (cheers) Please, let me know what you think of it : ) Oh, one more thing: be SURE to let me know if I missed your review. I try to answer all of them, but sometimes I don't get the e-mail alerting me of a new review : b So if you don't see a response to your review PLEASE don't assume that I'm ignoring you! I love each and every one of my reviewers : )
See first chapter for disclaimer. Reviewer responses at end of chapter.
Chapter 19: An Awakened Fear
Moranuen wanted to groan.
Why him? Why had he volunteered so cheerfully to guard the human? He'd obviously not been in his right mind when he offered to watch Dagron for the second half of the night. But the night was so beautiful... His nocturnal instincts had played a dirty trick on him.
After he'd finally quit cursing, Dagron had snored so loudly that, despite the pleasant night air and the shimmering stars above, Moranuen hadn't been able to enjoy himself. There was just no way to properly stargaze with someone snoring in your ear. He'd hardly been able to hear the lovely song of the nightingale or the soothing chirping of the crickets. He wished that whoever had taken off the Adan's hand had just taken of his head as well. It would have saved them all a lot of trouble.
The human's primary goal in life was to make him miserable, after last night he was sure of it.
It seemed to be his lot in life, his curse, his doom, to get stuck with exasperatingly irritating prisoners. The charming personalities of his former charges ranged from the annoyingly wearisome and timid, afraid that he might bite, to the complete madman who refused to quit singing. He'd certainly guarded the full spectrum of prisoners. Now he could add Dagron to the list of memorable people he'd had the pleasure of being assigned to.
Moranuen sagged against a tree and prayed that someone would come to relieve him soon. He heard Dagron stir and wake up. They had better hurry; the life of the human and his own sanity were at stake. The man began to grumble. Moranuen closed his eyes and groaned.
Here we go again...
"Moranuen, is there a problem?"
"Lord Elrond!" his eyes shot open and the groan instantly died on his lips.
"Has the human been giving you any trouble?"
Why did he get the feeling that Elrond already knew the answer to his question?
"You could say so, my Lord."
"I thought he might." Elrond looked amused.
"How would you know, my Lord?"
"Glamdil told me about a one-handed prisoner with a colorful vocabulary, and, well..."
"You put two and two together, and found out that I was the one 'blessed' with the task of guarding him." Moranuen smiled good-humoredly, albeit with a slightly sour expression. "Elbereth Gilthoniel! How can any creature be so interminably loud?"
"Eru alone knows, Moranuen, Eru alone." he smiled, "But I wish to have word with this 'interminably loud creature'."
"May I ask why?" He was too startled by his lord's request to remember proper deference.
"I would like to ask him a few questions." Elrond said vaguely. "You look worn out." he scanned the frazzled-looking elf with the critical eye of healer. "Go get some rest. I'll can handle him for the time being."
"Are you sure, Lord Elrond?"
"You don't think that I can handle a one-handed man tied to a tree?" Elrond raised an eyebrow.
"Of course you can, hir-nín."
Elrond ignored the way Moranuen's mouth quirked into a lopsided grin. Turning his back on the smirking warrior, Elrond crouched next the tree. Natural instincts led him to examine the man's arm. He saw with satisfaction that Legolas had made a clean cut of it and that it had been bandaged properly. He would make a poultice that would insure the wound didn't become infected.
"Well, he'll live."
"That's your professional opinion?" Moranuen asked with a smile.
"Yes, it is." Elrond answered idly as he finished examining Dagron's arm. "Would you do something for me before you leave?"
"Of course. What would you like me to do?"
"Go get my herbs."
"My lord?"
"Moranuen," Elrond spoke to the dark-haired elf with infinite patience. "as a well trained and highly seasoned warrior, what would you say about Dagron's severed hand?"
"Who cares?" he smiled mischievously.
Elrond sighed in exasperation.
"Um...Good riddance?" Moranuen tried a second time, wearing the same charming grin.
Elrond took on the air of a martyr.
"Very well, then, I'll just go and get those herbs..."
With a last winning smile, Moranuen darted off. Elrond sighed and shook his head and let the smile he'd been repressing break through. Apparently, while guarding Kaldur, a certain amount of the man's insolent "charm" had rubbed off on Moranuen... Some of the things he said were beginning to sound exasperatingly similar to the remarks that audacious bandit might have made. Still, he supposed after the horrible night he'd doubtless had, the younger elf could be excused a little bit of exasperating behavior.
Elrond continued to inspect Dagron's arm, more from a lack of something else to do than any real interest in the bloody stump. Poor Mora. Beneath all the pleasant smiles and infectious laughter it was easy to see how worried he was about his friend.
Going at an energetic sprint, Moranuen was soon back beside Elrond with a bag of herbs.
"Here you are, my Lord!" with a flourish, he handed the bag to Elrond. "Enough herbs to patch up all the one-handed men you want."
"Hannon le, Moranuen. I know you are tired and in need of sleep, but would you do one more thing for me?"
"You know I will, my lord." Moranuen faked sudden alarm, as if a new and horrible thought had struck him. "It doesn't involve helping you with him does it?"
"No," Elrond chuckled, "I wouldn't ask anything so cruel. I was only wondering if you'd check on Estel before you get your rest. No need to report back, just see how he's doing, will you?"
"With pleasure." Moranuen said eagerly, but with more gravity than he'd shown all morning.
After Moranuen had left, Elrond centered his full attention on the distasteful task of seeing to Dagron. The man had been cursing at him through the gag all the while he'd been talking. Even with the inhibiting cloth, he was successfully making his protestation known. Realization of just how "distasteful" this was going to be had not fully dawned upon Elrond. The gag was removed.
"You damn elves!" Dagron raged. "Get your bloody 'ands off me!"
"I'm not going to hurt you. I only want to have a word with—"
"I said, get your bloody 'ands off me!"
"You, master human, are in no position to—"
"If you're only goin' to slit my throat, why bother to 'eal me?!"
"I just told you," Elrond was getting tired of the one-way conversation, "and I'll tell you once more: I-am-not-going-to-hurt-you." he continued patiently, "I give you my word."
"The word of an elf! What's the good o' that?!"
"My patience wears thin." despite his mounting irritation, Elrond still attempted to reason with him. "You will answer my questions, and you will answer them now."
Elrond didn't need to raise his voice. Even softly spoken, the weight of his words was enough to blow away a weak-kneed man like Dagron. Dagron's cruelty was his only strength. Without power he was more of a coward than even he knew. Still, he would never comply to orders easily. He was too proud for that.
"Well then ask your questions, elf, and 'ave done."
"Why did you help Acharndil hurt my son?" Elrond chose to once more look over the man's highly obnoxious attitude.
"You mean the ranger?" Dagron asked, a fiendish glitter entering his eyes.
"I mean my son." Elrond struggled with self-control. "Who are all these men? Why did you help Acharndil?"
Ignoring the first question, Dagron answered the second with glee,
"Oh, I wasn't helpin' the chief! 'e was after those two look-alike elf sons of yours. Beatin' up the ranger was entirely my pleasure!" Dagron gloated as Elrond's face darkened. "I'm quite the genius, you know. I invented a way of hurtin' 'im without doin' any permanent damage."
"And just what do you mean by that?" Elrond asked threateningly.
Dagron still didn't seem to notice.
"Oho! Why, didn't I tell you?"
"I wouldn't be asking if you'd told me, now would I?" Elrond ground out between clenched teeth.
"That ranger 'o yours is a special one. Calls for special measures 'e does, 'e's not an easy one to break. Not lettin' 'im sleep, though, for the last week certainly made 'im grouchy.That so-called 'son' of yours could 'ardly keep 'is eyes open when we were though with 'im!"
Elrond was not one to resort to childish name-calling, but this man—this fiend—aroused his anger like none had for ages.
"...And when the chief gave permission..." as if oblivious to the wrath he was incurring, Dagron rambled on, "well then, it took no more 'an a couple solid punches to down 'im. 'e's a strong fighter, I'll give 'im that, but in the end we had him whimpering all right." Dagron grinned, "I don't 'ave a clue what all the nonsense he was sain' ment. Never 'eard of 'saes' or 'ada' in my life. Suppose it was that cursed language of yours, eh elf?"
Dagron struck a dangerous cord in the elf Lord's heart. His stomach clenched when he thought of Estel, alone and exhausted, with this hideous monster for a constant companion. And he had called for him... Estel had called for him and he hadn't come.
Aragorn, by human standards, was an adult, and Elrond accepted his ascent into manhood. Already he was a skilled warrior, someday he would become King of Gondor. But deep down in his heart, Elrond would always think of him simply as Estel. The hopeful, guileless, naïve child would never be erased from his memory. What Dagron said stirred up every paternal feeling of his wise, deep and loving heart, as well as his sense of his own failure to protect his youngest.
Dagron watched with pleasure the anger he was causing. He wished the elf would just kill him right then and there. He didn't want to go through whatever these elves had planned for him—anything elves came up with couldn't be good. Making his words as cruel as possible, Dagron pushed Elrond's anger past the point of no return. Or so he hoped. He watched the elf clench his fists until the knuckles turned white and closed his eyes in preparation for the death stroke. No parent who had any love for their children could listen to the kind of things he'd just said and do nothing. No one had that kind of control over their emotions. All his life, Dagron had seen and experimented with others' feelings. He knew how to say things that would make any being furious.
When nothing happened he reopened his eyes. He remembered the effect his last words had and tried again to goad Elrond into violence.
"Those two look-alikes sons of yours..."
"What about them?" Elrond asked defensively, keeping his words guarded.
"You should've seen their faces!" Dagron sneered. "They're quite protective of the ranger aren't they?"
Elrond smiled grimly. The man didn't know the half of it.
"It was kinda touchin' really. Each blow to the ranger seemed to 'urt them just as much as it 'urt 'im. Oh yes, elf..." Dagron laughed as if he was recounting a fond memory and repeated, "you should 'ave seen their faces! Why three elves would be so attached to one human is more than I can say. I always thought you elves were to high up for the likes of us."
The similarity Dagron seemed to be drawing between himself and Estel made Elrond almost physically ill. Estel was nothing like this man. Estel was everything good that this man wasn't. How dare he even insinuate that Estel was in anyway comparable to himself?
"Estel is not like you. Unlike you he has a heart." Elrond knew the man wouldn't listen to a word he was saying, but he spoke for his own benefit none-the-less, "Unlike you he is not an animal—and you," Elrond let his voice rise for the first time in their conversation, "you treated him worse than a dog deserves!" he leaned close until they were eye to eye, "If I were you, Dagron, I would be praying to Ilúlvatar for mercy, and hoping that he gives you the compassion that that few in Arda would show such a monster as yourself."
Dagron didn't flinch. The end was near. If he was lucky the elf would kill him quickly, painlessly. Perhaps a quick slash across the throat with his dagger... It would all be over soon. He didn't look forward to death, but he'd heard tales about elves, tales that made his blood run cold. He would do anything to avoid becoming the next victim of any of atrocities these elves were capable of. He cursed Acharndil for leaving him in the hands of creatures like these, where the most merciful way out was suicide.
The elf spoke and he couldn't resist the temptation to open his eyes. The elf simply commanded attention, he had to admit that.
Elrond demeanor fairly shone with noble and rightful disdain. It was as if Dagron didn't even deserve his anger. He deserved death, Elrond knew this, but, like Legolas, he had come to the conclusion that he would wait for Eru's own judgment and see him punished justly.
"In Eru's perfect time, and with his perfect justice," Elrond gave him one last, meaningful look, "you will be dealt with."
Dagron quivered. He couldn't help it. When the regal elf looked at him with that knowing certainty of manner... There was no question but that he was telling the truth. The truth shook Dagron to the core.
The elf turned his back on him, and with a dream-like swiftness and a flutter of his light cape, the terrifying apparition was gone. Without Elrond's unforgettable presence to physically haunt him, Dagron slowed from a visible quiver to barely noticeable trembling. He was even able to think "rationally" now. He reasoned that all his fears were sprung from nothing more than his nerves being overloaded. After all, Elrond's weren't the first pair of petrifyingly furious elven eyes that had examined him that day.
But why had he left? He'd expected death at the hands of a vindictive parent, instead had received nothing more than a withering look and then a sudden departure. Why? The question haunted him almost as much as intense face of the elf. Why wasn't he dead at this very moment? Dagron relived the look of on the elf's face as he declared with absolute certainty that a horrible fate was pending for him. He had stated unwaveringly that it was only a matter of time before Eru would judge him. He'd used the word justice. What was just in his case? What was just punishment for his crimes? It was a new consideration for Dagron.
Justice... He thought about all that might mean for him. Then he wished that he were dead. Only, now he was beginning to realize that death just might not be the backdoor for him, but instead merely the start of manifold other, and more horrible, retribution. Retribution that would last for eternity. If this elf was right, than he was headed for worse a worse penalty than his pitifully insignificant mind had, or could, ever conceive.
Dagron began to quake uncontrollably.
These elves were as cruel as rumor had it, only they used subtle weapons of torture. Dagron shuddered and wished with every ounce of his brutal will that the elf had run him through. What would be seeing and doing at this very moment, if his death had been culmination of their 'discussion'? Would he be meeting an angry Ilúlvatar and never-ending damnation, or a blank hole full of forgetfulness and endless sleep?
This was a day of new thoughts for Dagron.
For the first time in his life, Dagron knew what true fear was—and perhaps felt even a little remorse.
To Be Continued...
Reviewer responses:
Star-Stallion: Let's see, when will I be posting... Well, I suppose you've already figured that one out by now. If you haven't, well, it's ... um... now : ) Yeah, flat feet can be really painful. What makes it much worse is that it doesn't just affect my feet. When they keep turning in, it puts my legs out of alignment, which puts my back out of alignment, which puts my neck out of alignment... So I end up being really sore all over : P OK, sorry for burdening you with all that unnecessary info, LOL. Thank you!
HarryEstel: Yes, Elladan really should learn that everything can't possibly always be his fault, shouldn't he? I'm glad you thought that the last chapter was so sweet! Hope you like this one as well, even though some of the major characters in it aren't exactly what I'd call "sweet" ; ) Thank you for reviewing!
jacquelinestel: ROTFL! Legolas the crocodile hunter, and Estel the crocodile – now THAT is an interesting picture! Aww, poor JE is getting beaten up... I think you have a few out-of-control characters, mellon-nín, they've ganging up on you ; ) Hehe, an appearance by your brother! So it's a normal occurrence in your house to come into the kitchen and find Legolas and Estel rummaging through the fridge? At least, your brother didn't seem too surprised : ) I'm glad you liked the chapter...er...at least your brother thought you did, LOL. Thanks!
elvingirl3737: Oh no, not you too! Real Life seems to be attacking a lot of people especially viciously lately : P Well anyways, I'm really glad to "see" you again now – even if that nasty "evil voice of reality" insists on interfering (sticks tongue out at "EVoR"). No need to apologize for being late – I'm delighted to hear from you any time! I'm SO glad to hear that you thought I wrote Legolas' loyalty and stubbornness and the twins aguish well! And I wrote a cool fight scene! Yay! LOL, ah yes, an excellent way to circumvent evil authors who want to keep you in suspense – get horribly behind, and then read it all at once : ) ROTFL! Um yeah, I love you too... (g) Well, I'm glad Estel's suffering made you so happy... Hehe, I agree though, I don't think leaving Dagron to the twins was the most merciful thing Legolas could have done ; ) (giggle) Though, apparently, in his opinion Elrond isn't much better. Oh so you DO believe that I would kill Estel, do you? LOL, well he may look safe enough for the moment, but you'll just have to wait and see whether or not I'll carry through on my threats (eg). I'm glad you think I handled Elladan's guilt well, though - as you'll see in future chapters – he can be rather stubborn about those sort of things : ) LOL, well I hope you survive the vicious attack of the EVoR : ) Thank you for reviewing, mellon-nin!
annika: Hello! Oh, it's always so exciting to find out that there's yet another reader out there brave enough to read my story, LOL. I'm thrilled to hear that you're enjoying it! Hope this update was soon enough for you : ) Thank you SO much for the encouraging review!!!
Hyperactive Forever Remember, I'm insane – how would I know whether if it was a quadruple-negative? LOL. Don't worry, I've got several reviewers who mix up words to make new ones, and I'm not above doing it myself (it's so much fun, and easier than trying to think of the "real" word you want to use ; D ). Well, you and I will always hold all those dear, forgotten elves in the highest esteem – despite all those "forgetful" so called "fans" of LotR ; ) Oh yes, I COMPLETELY understand! I'm always SO thankful (and consider it one of the highest compliments) when someone gives me a death-threat : ) Hehehe, love the quote, and I've got another one for you:
"I've got the brain of a four year old. I'll bet he was glad to be rid of it." - Groucho Marx
LOL. Feeling a little uncomfortable knowing that you're reading a story written by someone with the intellect of a four-year-old? (g) Thanks for reviewing!
Naesse: Hmm, well I'm not really sure. Was that a cliffie? (g) I hope the chapter lived up to your expectations. Thank you so much for reviewing, mellon-nin!
Troubles8806Whew! I'm SO relieved that you don't mind : ) That's a great theory, too, it makes a lot of sense! Well, I think the book I would recommend would be The Silmarillion – it really is the "history book" of Middle Earth. I know it sounds daunting, and in some ways it is. Just the names alone in that book are enough to drive you crazy! But, if you find yourself a copy of The Atlas of Middle Earth (by Karen Wynn Fonstad) and The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth: Tolkien's World from A to Z (by Robert Foster), and take a few notes along the way so you can keep the names straight...Well, you should be alright. (I have a pitiful memory, so you might not need nearly so much help remembering things ; ) Of course, if you don't have the time to read The Silmarillion I'm always happy to try and answer any questions you have (I, obviously, don't know all the answers either, but I can still TRY!). Hehehe, I'm STILL keeping you in the dark? Well, I'm glad, I wouldn't want my readers to become TOO comfortable, LOL. Thank you so much for reviewing!
Drylith: LOL, yeah you don't see the twins speechless too often, do you? (g) I don't doubt that Elrond would be totally grey if he weren't an elf. Good thing for him that he is. I'm sure having a very good sense of humor doesn't hurt either ; ) Thank you so much for reviewing!
Lizzie Blakeney: (g) I'm glad you're liking it! Well, let's see... This story is twenty-four chapters long, plus an epilogue, so there's still a number of chapters left to go. Thank you so much for reviewing!
elitenschwein: (g) Glad you liked the chappy – I was hoping you'd like the part with the knives : ) Yes, at least for the moment Aragorn's being a good boy, LOL. How long do you think THAT will last? Yes, yes, yes, I admit – I wrote all that angsty guilt especially for Elladan... But you don't need to be so blatant about your love for having characters tortured! : ) So you WANT another cliffy... I may just be able to give you what you're looking for ; ) Hehe, don't worry, I don't think it'll be as bad as the last (I don't want to incur the wrath of the little Nazgûl horse, now do I?). As for more adventure and less calm, well, I'm afraid that "authors code" doesn't permit me to tell you ; ) Thanks! (huggles)
A special thanks to Daughter of the Elvenking for adding me to your alerts and favorite authors!
The next chapter, "An Unlikely Advisor", should be out on Friday or Saturday.
- Nefhiriel
Vice-president and Co-founder of the SNWCG & member of the F.F.F.F.F