There is a warning for slightly course language in this chapter, so know we do not condone that kind of stuff, but we felt it was necessary to bring out character and stress of some characters (not the Elves:)). Thanks for your understanding.
Hope you enjoy.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Keep Me Hanging On
I'm sinking slowly
So hurry hold me
Your hand is all I have
To keep me hanging on.
Please can you tell me,
So I can finally see
Where you go when you're gone?
Michelle Branch "All you Wanted"
It was midnight when Legolas awoke after he had slipped into a fitful rest that was filled with pain and horrible dreams. So in all actuality it had not been a rest at all. He sighed, or tried to, but winced as he recalled with great anguish the chains placed into his mouth and locked with a strong clasp at the back of his head. Were his hands free of shackles he might be able to work the clasp loose, but he could not even conceive of trying now, so he totally dismissed the idea.
The first thing he noticed was that he was terribly hungry and would die for just a bit of Lembas bread, which normally he hoped he would never taste again because it had begun to stick in his throat after a few thousand years of eating nothing when he traveled but the tasteless sustenance. But he doubted he could even chew it if he had the chains gone and his mouth was not stiff and as sore as his healing limb.
He also longed for water, something he had always taken for granted and had never truly longed for before. He tried to sit up straighter and felt the stiffness in all his muscles attempt to loosen.
Caranfëa heard Legolas shifting and he said, "at least you didn't suffocate, I thought you would during the night." His voice sounded genuinely gladdened and Legolas thought that if he actually took the time to look at his friend then he would see a faint smile playing on the other's lips despite their trouble.
Legolas smiled himself, he had survived. That was a comfort. Well, not exactly, but it was close enough and he had to take what joys he could find here. He tried to open his mouth a bit wider to speak to Caranfëa, but that was hard and painful. However, Legolas felt it was imperative to know why the younger being was still awake and how long he had been awake.
He managed to croak the burning question out though it felt like his tongue as ripped out. "How…long have you been…awake?" he breathed as he felt the wounds where the chains were reopen and bleed anew. It was not as bad tasting as it had been at one time. He actually was beginning to get used to the taste of his own blood. That was a bit frightening.
Caranfëa just shrugged, "all through the day until now." He then added worriedly, "the orcs nearly made it through last night, but they hit a large boulder that will take them a while to remove. About a week I would say."
Legolas started and he wanted to tell Caranfëa to keep the faith, but as he felt the metal between his teeth, he decided not to talk. If the orcs did break through in a week even though they would kill him, he would be happy. He would die with a smile on his face. He would die and be free at last.
He just wished he had had the chance to say good-bye to his father and feel the strong arms of the elder Elf embrace him in a warm and strong hug. But he was robbed of that chance now, that blessing. He would not get to say good-bye to sweet Rothinzil. But then with shock he realized that he might see him again. That was hard to think that gentle, kind and sensitive Rothinzil …lifeless. He had hoped he would never see that day.
Caranfëa knew what Legolas was thinking and said, "my lord, I am sorry, but we are not going to get out of here. It's too late. I am a fighter as much as the next person and I will never stop trying to break out of here. But I know that I will never get out from outside help."
Legolas shook his head and ignored his pain; "we…will…be…rescued." He coughed on the blood bubbling in his mouth and said, "we're…not...alone."
Caranfëa just sighed and said, "my prince, if you say so. But I am inclined to disagree." He then said with a frown, "do yourself a favor. Be quiet and try not to open your mouth."
Legolas snickered inwardly and then he stood up and began to walk around, relieving tense muscles and feeling more at ease. Nevertheless, this didn't do a thing for his pitiful hunger. His stomach burned and his throat felt swollen and dry. It wasn't so much because he had not ate for so long, but because he was nervous and because now that this horrible device hampered every jaw movement and the blood was causing acid to rise in his stomach he felt like he rather needed a comfort food.
As he paced in the dark the Elf heard that rustling noise again and cursing beyond the wall. The orcs were back, looking over the large boulder underground and contemplating ways to move it or tunnel around it. Legolas hoped they never found either way workable.
Both of the Elves were alerted to a banging noise as King reentered, more sober now and he was not stumbling. He actually was acting normal, save that he was being a bit sluggish in his movements. He had a torch in his hand and Legolas could see his face, keen and hard.
Legolas wondered what he was doing at this time of night and then he saw that another was with him, Calmir was there, with King. Something was horribly wrong. He felt his stomach turn and his eyes were growing wide, whether he wanted them to or not. The only thing he had the power to steady right now was the beating of his frantic heart.
Calmir said, "she lied to me. That bitch!" He kicked a glass bottle nearby that had been lying idol on the ground, sending it shattering against a wall. "That Elf is alive somewhere and she is hiding him."
King said, "my Elves know nothing of your problem. Perhaps you should tend to your Elf better and look after your arena fighters with a little more care." He spat and looked at Calmir's face and the other man looked absolutely livid.
"I know that blonde one knows something! Now either you get him to talk, or by the cursed dragon Smaug I will!" he stormed and took a step nearer to the cage Legolas was trapped in with the biting chain in his mouth. His eyes glittered with malice.
"You touch him without my consent and I will kill you, you miserable bastard!" snapped King fiercely. "I call the shots here Calmir and I don't give a damn about you or your sister!" He then turned bright eyes upon the other man and said in a low voice, "you tried to kill the Elf! You don't really want him back."
Calmir said, "you wouldn't have that blonde Elf if it wasn't for me! Now you let me talk to him, or I'll get him someday when you aren't here to protect him and then I will make him miserable." His eyes narrowed into little slits and he growled, "if you want to talk about treachery, why don't you tell everyone about who you really are? Perhaps when Lord Erestor spoke up against you in Elrond's councils you asked for it."
"What do you know of that? You weren't even born!" growled King with a dangerous tone that if Calmir was wise he would have backed off immediately.
"Everyone here knows the tales," rumbled Calmir as his eyes flashed, "and I no less. The only reason you lay down the law here is because people fear you. Well I don't." He seethed calmly, "I can destroy this world you think you rule. Let me talk to the Elf."
King looked over at Legolas and saw the bitter glare in the prince's eyes. Legolas looked like he could withstand anything at the moment and he looked like he was more than ready to do battle. His eyes were burning like bright blue stars and they looked lethal. Smiling, King said, "if you really to talk to him you can."
Legolas' glare darkened to a tense scowl. King came and unlocked his cell and then he looked at Legolas, "but without his halter. You want to talk to him, talk to him, but you shall not harm him." The man that Legolas was supposed to call 'master' called to the Elf, "come here Legolas."
Legolas came forward an uncertain step and then another one wondering all the while why he even did what this human was asking, but never took his eyes off the man that was standing in the door of his cell. King's hands came and went around the prince's head and he unlocked the contraption and the chain loosened before sliding off and out of his mouth, letting his tongue free. Legolas opened his mouth all the way and stared at King, who said, "I am your master, he is not. But if you don't respect him, if you embarrass me, then this will go on even longer and tighter." Hegrabbed the prince's chin and forced Legolas' eyes to meet his, "I am no monster unless you force me to be."
King then backed out and allowed Calmir to venture in. The man was stupid, thought King, but if he wanted to talk to Legolas that was fine. It wasn't like he was going to get anything from the blonde being so perhaps he would get discouraged and not return.
Calmir came in and said, "Elf, where is your friend?" asked the insane being grimly. His eyes followed Legolas' and waited for an answer.
"I do not know," said Legolas in low voice that was impendingly mortal. "I have been held prisoner these past few days." His voice was sardonic even though he spoke only the truth. His was letting Calmir know that there was no way he ever could have known what befell Roth. The fact that his best friend was missing and nobody knew his whereabouts troubled the prince further. What if Roth was dying alone and in the dark somewhere?
The he recalled what King had said to Calmir: You tried to kill the Elf. Calmir had tried to kill Rothinzil? He wondered how much pain his friend was in. He wished he knew and yet he was glad he did not. But the fact that his friend was alone in the dark somewhere, dying or already made cold caused a great anger to rise up in Legolas and it was burning so it felt like it could never be cooled.
King spat at Calmir and said, "Valar, you are a fool!" The other man ignored the comment.
Legolas was being perfectly honest when he had stated he had no idea where Rothinzil was and so he was not surprised when Calmir came and slammed him against the wall. Honesty had a price down here. Honesty could bring you death. In this case it brought torture. He had learned that much a long time ago. The fact that this man was itching to beat him to a bloody mess was only another proof to support his uncomfortable and disturbing conclusion. Oh Legolas could tell that he was waiting to beat him to a pulp by the way Calmir's hands twitched and closed nervously. He was really trying to hold himself back.
"Elf, all I want is the slightest hint, will you not just tell me?" asked the man in a suddenly serene voice that Legolas knew was no more than a mask. It would not take long to get rid of that mask. Legolas knew that if there was one thing Calmir hated, it was his face. The sight of it, Legolas knew, had to make the man see brilliant red.
"I can't tell you," answered Legolas simply and tried to slide around the human. "Will you leave yet?" Calmir placed a restraining hand on the prince's shoulder and applied a reasonable amount of pressure. Legolas' incandescence that was dancing in his eyes grew even brighter and he clashed with the impending human in a baleful look of daggers.
"You play a dangerous game Elf. King supports you, but when he isn't around, I will be back and then we will have some fun, you and I." This threat sounded more than sincere, but it concerned Legolas not. He did not need protection, he had not fallen that far. His leg was healing and soon they were going to be out of there. And he was so grateful to have the chains out of his mouth that he wasn't worried about too much of anything at the moment, except if Rothinzil was alive.
King said, "get off it Calmir. He wouldn't know, you idiot! He has been healing here for days now. Don't you have some poor creature to turn evil down here or some drunken row to attend?" he asked as he grabbed the back of the other man's tunic, pulling him out. "Get out of here."
"This isn't the last time we'll meet."
"Yeah, I will see you in Hell," snapped King. "Now leave or do I have to get my warg?" he asked in a threatening timbre that stated in no uncertain terms he was in no mood to be toyed with and tested. His nerves were on edge as it was.
Calmir stumbled back, but as he did, he laughed, "yeah, get her. Bring her to the ring, my beauty will rip her apart!" He continued to rumble to himself as he bumbled out in his own drunken stupor and called threats out over his shoulder.
King just shook his head and asked Legolas, "how is your leg? Is it healing or not?" His eyes fell on the torn limb and Legolas looked down at it as well. Legolas knew it was, but that would mean he was going to be forced to fight in the ring and kill…spill innocent blood or die. He did not want that to happen and he wondered if he lied that King would know.
"It still hurts….a lot," answered Legolas stiffly. He sat down and pretended to feel like he was in agony. King squatted down and took a closer look at the laceration, or what was left of it. Legolas tried to shift away, but the man grabbed his ankle and steadied the limb.
"Hold still," he growled. He began to feel the wound, which really did hurt enough to make Legolas grit his teeth. "You lie, Legolas. Do you fear the ring that much?"
"I do not fear it. I hate it."
The Dark Dúnadan raised his brows and laughed, "then you fight harder. I return what you give me. I may rule you, but I don't have to be cruel. Now if you lose, then I can be a monster and cause you to cry." Legolas gave a doubtful snort and King said, "I know you don't believe me, but don't make me prove you wrong." He shook the halter he placed on the prince earlier.
Legolas narrowed his eyes to show his observable displeasure. He turned away and stared into the dark quietly, without even letting King know that his threat had been heard. Legolas was really beginning to loathe this man and that was a horrible assertion because it was an understatement. He would love to see this man killed.
But the hate was not going to help, so he found it in his heart to pity the man. He pitied how he lived in dark, making money off other's pain and hopelessness. He pitied the way they had lost starlight, moonlight and sunlight. He pitied the way this man was once of the honorable kind of men and had fallen from the light. That was perhaps the most sad thing and in the back of his mind, though he knew in his heart it as not true, he could not help but wonder if it were even remotely possible that Aragorn could fall too, like a shooting star.
King said through the darkness and his voice, as much as Legolas hated to say it, caught the Elf's attention, "You just keep right on hating me Elf. You could be better off if only you would stop fighting so much. " Legolas drew a deep breath.
He shot a fiery and hard gaze at King, even though one could still see his eyes were jaded. "No, to find a middle ground with the evil and mislead is to relinquish all you have."
"Evil, my little prince?" asked King and he stroked Legolas' hair like he was petting a dog. Legolas did not jerk away, but looked stiffly at the man whom had his fingers snared in his golden hair. "I could be so much worse to you, you poor pampered little thing. Why would you ever call me evil?"
Legolas said with much difficulty as King yanked down on his hair, "because you have a filthy business. You torture unnecessarily and hold captive innocents. You have spilled innocent blood, I see it in your eyes. Do not play with me."
"Innocent? The blood of Elves is never innocent. Look at your own hands Legolas. What deaths have been your fault, and the fault of Elves in general? If not for your kind Sauron would not have made the Rings of Power, hm?" Legolas just glared and looked away. He had not even been born then.
"What was it that Calmir said about you and Lord Erestor?" he asked at length, but without looking at his captor.
"Lord Erestor," spat King as though the name left a vile taste in his mouth. "If ever he fell into my hands, may the Valar help him. I would kill him." He stood up and muttering to Legolas, he uttered, "Remember what I said princling."
He then left, but not before making sure that the Elves' prisons were secure so that no escape could be made.
As he paced the mines in the dark, unable to sleep he recalled all that had happened in his youth, when the earth had been younger and he more at ease. He had not started out as chief of the Black Market. He had started out exactly the opposite.
King had lived in Rivendell at a time, or at least traveled to it often with the other rangers. But Lord Erestor ever spoke against him in council meetings. The Elf-lord had sensed something twisted in the man that was waiting to come out and show itself to the world, but was waiting for a reason not to. Erestor had given his evil nature a reason to show itself.
Lord Erestor was beginning to really be a great counselor to Elrond and was proving himself. So all in Rivendell listened to him and took everything he said as fact and would gladly believe it.
It was at this time a large council was called for the rangers and the Elves. For this meeting Elladan and Elrohir could not be present as they were deep south and could not travel upward in time and did not even here from others that it had transpired until much later.
King had attended, though his name then had been the Elven name of Beleg, named after Beleg Cúthalion, for his accuracy with his bow and legendary speed and strength. Many said he was very worthy to bear an Elven name.
Orcs had been tunneling closer to the Elves hidden realm of Imladris and something had to be done.
In the end King, under the name Beleg, (named after the March warden of Doriath, who like King, had great skill with the bow) advised that they should not provoke the orcs by attacking them, rather let them go and move their border back. Lord Erestor spoke so strongly against Beleg's decision that in no time he had even the greatest doubter of his advising capabilities choosing to side with him and against the young human upstart.
Of course this had sent King into a rage and he found Erestor alone one night, walking in the garden under the stars, reciting old rhymes and tales aloud to himself and contemplating all that had happened that day. As the man watched this vexatious Elf that he longed to murder, he felt a deep and terrible rage burn in his heart. Notching his bow, he prepared to slay the councilor, but he did not want this Lord Erestor to die swiftly.
It had to be a painful death, a horrible death and only an arrow in his throat would suffice and cool his wrath.
Lord Erestor was not even aware that angry and vengeful eyes, thirsting for his blood were watching him. For the Elf had perceived that all in Rivendell was safe at the present. He had known that Beleg had been acting strangely and certainly had an air of a hidden evil. But he expected no trouble in Imladris and so he did stop to consider that because he had spoken against the strange Dúnadan, the man might want to end his life.
It was a good thing that Lord Glorfindel had come by, actually planing to send a scare into this stuck up, as he saw Erestor, and annoying Elf-lord. But the Gondolin Elf was a warrior and knew how to listen for the drawing of a bow so well that he could do it in his sleep. And his keen Elven ears picked up the sound of the creaking string as the arrow was notched and pulled along the man's cheekbone. The twisted ranger sported an evil smile on his face thinking of the counselor's blood bubbling on his lips as he choked on it.
But Glorfindel was not about to let that happen and guessing the intentions of whoever had the bow he looked madly for where the sound came from.
It did not take him long to find Beleg, in the rose bushes, waiting for the right moment to release the projectile. But having not other way to stop Erestor from getting shot, the Gondolin-lord raced forward and slammed into the dark-haired Elf. Both of the Elves tumbled to the ground rolling clear and the projectile whizzed overhead, hitting a tree and becoming embedded in the trunk.
Erestor had been furious, Glorfindel had been surprised and not the least it happy himself. So in the end Elrond banished Beleg from Rivendell under pain of death. Erestor could not really sleep well for two weeks after and Glorfindel actually felt sorry for the dark-haired adviser whom he still found perfectly annoying. But as Glorfindel and all the rest of Rivendell were trying to keep a teenage Ancú under control and teach him how to be a wise and sharp Elf, they forgot swiftly about the man named Beleg.
All the Elves but Erestor. But even in time it was shoved to the back of the adviser's mind and he forced himself to disregard the attempt on his life.
Then Beleg left in a rage, humiliated, totally dishonored and yet not willing to risk anymore for revenge other than the fact he was never more going to work towards the protection of Rivendell or her allies. He was going to do exactly the opposite and work against Rivendell.
He became a master of the hidden and darkened world. He first captured Caranfëa and though the Elf was a challenge, he gradually got the immoral to respect him enough not to fight him all the time. But Caranfëa still was a handful, even for a Dark Dúnadan to handle. Caranfëa was fearless and he would still fight and work against King in little ways. The once ranger had done everything to try and break the small Elf but it was impossible. The more he did, the more the fireball of a being seemed to gather strength.
It wasn't that he believed Elves should be his slaves, he just knew it was a great insult in the eyes of Rivendell and he always tried to insure that Lord Elrond knew what fate had taken his missing Elves and kept the captives just out of reach. It was a cat and mouse game that he hated and loved with a passion.
He would later slay the Elves if he grew bored with them or they tired him. However, he was not going to kill Caranfëa, for he was the Son of the Captain of the Guard of all of Mirkwood and that was of value. Now that he knew he had the Son of Thranduil the man smiled wickedly. His collection was certainly growing pleasurably in value. Now he had two Elves of great worth. But there was one Elf that still was hidden away somewhere here in these very mines. If he found the Elf before Calmir, then he would have even more.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
She loved him and she might never have another chance to fall in love again. That was what the maiden thought as she stood by the door pondering whether to go in and run away. But how could she do that and abandon the Elf that had asked her to marry him!
Leaving wouldn't make her troubles and decisions leave her. She would have to deal with them.
Elméra opened the door and saw Rothinzil staggering up. He had gotten the furs and cloaks off and was trying to remain on his feet. She placed a hand over her mouth and said, "Roth! You idiot!"
He jumped and his face bore the look of one genuinely surprised, topped with a dropped jaw and said, "I am going to try and get Legolas free." The Elf was reeling as he attempted to walk a few feet. It felt like his insides were turned inside out and he swayed, clutching at the air.
Finding her feet could actually move, the maiden moved across the space between her and the Elf quickly before he fell over. She grabbed his arm and steadied him, looking up at him with knitted brows and narrowed eyes. "You can barely walk," she protested to the immortal with an urgent adamancy lacing her voice.
"I can't help that. It is my duty to try and save my liege and friend," argued Rothinzil back. "And speaking of which, why would you care? You already walked out on me, what made you come back?" he snapped, being harsh for the first time in his life.
She licked her lips and bit the bottom one nervously before speaking. "I...love you Roth." She dropped her eyes as she held onto his arm and felt his muscles go tense as he realized what she had just said. He stopped moving and seemed frozen. Oddly enough with the cold weather, he wasn't.
"You changed your mind?" he asked incredulously, but unable to hide his happiness. He looked her and watched as she looked up at hm.
"For you, I did," she said quietly. "But suppose your sovereign is dead…" she asked. The maiden really did not want her Elf to get himself captured and really she didn't want the highly more likely prospect of him being killed or tortured. She knew that they would not kill him quickly.
"Then I must go and find what I will," he answered sourly and began to walk shakily towards the door. His muscles began to regain their memory of what it is like to walk and he felt them working loose their cramps and gathering strength. But she still clutched his arm tightly and he sighed before remarking, "help me or stay out of my way, please," he added.
She held very still for a moment and an uneasy, silence passed between them. The only noises were the sounds of Rothinzil and her breathing. Everything else was eerily still and the darkness even seemed to grow for a brief time. "What do you want me to do?" she asked in a whisper, looking up at him with trusting eyes.
"Keep me from being found as long as possible. But do not risk too much. I don't want you killed," he responded straightforwardly.
She smiled and said, "touching, but we both are going to be risking a lot, whether we admit it or not." Then she saw his wound and even though it had stitches and was sutured up quite well, if she might think so herself, she wanted to make certain that it would not reopen. "Sit," she commanded firmly and tugged on his arm.
He saw the strange look in her eyes that stated she was about to do something that he was not going to like or was not going to agree with in the least. He didn't comply right away, but cocked his head to the side and looked at her with a face that asked if what she was about to do was entirely necessary to his well being. She crossed her arms and stared at him until he sank onto the edge of a crate and she smiled slowly. "Hold your arms out," she held hers out as an example for him to follow.
Roth reluctantly stuck his arms out and asked sarcastically, "so are you going to tickle me to death, or what?" She smiled and looked thoughtful for a moment.
"If you don't quit complaining," she teased mildly as she gingerly set her hands on his wound and Roth resisted the urge to withdraw and chuckle.
She was feeling to see if an infection was setting in. However, it looked and felt to her that none was, for his skin was warm, but not hot and red, but not inflamed. She said in a spoofing voice, "well Rothinzil the warrior, you seem to be healing up well. Are you ready to go and gather more such battle scars?"
"Well, I can see your expectations are high," he mumbled under his breath and he looked at her curiously as the maiden began to tear her dress some more and was making some makeshift bandages. She said, "keep your arms up and hold still."
Rothinzil just rolled his eyes before muttering, "the healers at home give Legolas and Estel less trouble." She laughed as she began to wrap the cloth around his middle to cover the wound.
"If they can find you," Elméra snorted and proceeded to wrap another strip of white linen from her dress around the wound to pad it. He looked at her with a face that had how do you know, written all over it. She sighed and then shrugged, "the way you squirm like baby every time the bandage touches your wound its sort of obvious."
"That is it! If all you can do is insult me, I might as well leave right now!" he said and began to get up. Elméra didn't let go of the bandage that was half way about his lean middle and she just glared up at him. So with an exasperated sigh, he sat back down on the edge of the wooden box and allowed her to finish.
When the bandaging was complete he stood up slowly and turned around and around as he felt the comfort of warm cloth around his abdomen. But he heard her cry out with a gasp, "Rothinzil!" He spun around to face her and she said in a murmur, "what ever happened to your back?"
She stood up from where she had been crouching on the floor and her finger traced the scabbed over welts from the beating he had taken earlier. Elméra felt her blood boil and she asked sharply, "who did this to you? How long ago was this?" Her eyes transformed into a look of a storm before it breaks upon the ocean. Her eyebrows pinched and she narrowed her eyes to slits as she looked into his face.
He said shortly, " Elméra, it was nothing. I was….it was….nothing important. I don't want to talk about it." He began to walk towards the door and she sidestepped him to get in front and glare up at him since he was about an inch taller.
She shrugged mentally and decided it might be better not to press the issue. She did not know Elves well, but had heard that they could be provoked to anger easily. She was not sure, but she did not want this Elf angry at her for more than one reason. More than two actually, now that she gave it some more thought.
Suddenly she said, "You can't go out there. Not yet, they will catch you and kill you before you are even near being able to get within a hundred yards of your friend."
Roth knew she had a point and he sighed. He was short of a tunic and wearing a woman's cloak. He would stand out like a sore thumb dyed purple. He spun back around and began to pace the room vigorously. He had thought he was going to be able to go and save Legolas. He thought he was going to get them out of here. Now his plans seemed cursed and unthinkable.
He must have been out of his mind! A temporary moment of insanity, the Elf inwardly fumed.
So involved with his pacing was Rothinzil that he didn't even realize when Elméra had placed a slender and white hand on his shoulder. She gave it a gentle squeeze and whispered in his ear as she halted his forward movement, "but I have a plan."
Roth looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes as he asked incredulously, "oh really?" She smiled slowly as he shook his head in doubt.
"I am going to need to leave you here for no more than a day," she said with a frown. "You regain your strength and rest. I will try and snag you some food and such but the other is a bit more important."
"What in the Valar are you talking about?" he asked crossly and in bewilderment.
"I am going to go and pay my brother a visit. I am going to try and get a cloak of his and a spare tunic if I can. They may be a bit big on you unless your height makes up for his mass."
Rothinzil said in a commanding tone. More commanding than he had ever used in his life, "No. You can't. It is far too dangerous. I heard you out there, you fooled him. If he gets a hold of you, he will kill you or worse. Don't think he won't!"
She gave him a cold look and said, "he is my brother Rothinzil, dear, and he may want to hurt me, but he wouldn't do it. I don't think anyway. I have to risk it. If not you get to go in a bright red cloak, without a tunic, your point ears revealed…."
"I get the point. Miss Elméra," said Roth flatly as she crossed her arms.
"A perfect catch for my brother to make or that man King. All the people of the mine are out looking for you. Do you honestly think someone who is unlike myself wearing bright red will go unnoticed?" she asked firmly as the eyed the Elf before her, who was looking at the floor.
"I don't want to put you into any danger, young lady," answered the Elf as he met her gaze. "It would be a burden I could not bear if something evil were to befall you."
"I had a thirst for danger when I saved your life," she said wryly. "I am in the same place you are right now. If you do not get out, then neither shall I." Her voice was bitter and she suddenly snapped, "I love you Rothinzil, but helping you at the moment is a little beyond love, alright?"
He narrowed his eyes as she turned her back to him and began to make her way to the door. "If you like I can get you out of this. If I give myself up, they will not care about…."
"'You'?" she finished lamely, "Is that the word you were going to use?" she asked as she spun around her red hair wrapped around her neck and her jaw tightened. "No. You still don't understand! He would kill me anyway, because that is how he is, because I know that there is something more to these mines now. And," her voice squeezed off as she muttered, "I know he killed our father." She didn't know how or why, but she knew that was how it happened.
Her lean form began to shake as she broke down. Tears rolled down her cheeks and her forehead wrinkled as Elméra's whole face contorted in sorrow. Roth did not know what to do and he went and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. The maiden hugged against the Elf and he said, "I won't leave here without you then." Casting a dark glance at the door, he said defiantly, "and I won't leave without Legolas either."
Pushing away, Elméra shook her head, "you are the sweetest Elf I have ever seen or met…."
"I am the only one," chided Roth gently.
Here he managed to make her smile, but it was empty. "But I have to go now and no matter what happens, do not come after me. I will be back as soon as I can. I do not know when I will be back." She looked him in the eye and said, "if I am not back in a day, go after Legolas and then leave."
Rothinzil winced and said, "I really wish you wouldn't do this!"
She just shook her head. "We need weapons, food, and you need a disguiseor something to wear regardless of whether is will help conceal your pointy ears. Leggings are not enough. Sorry," she finished abruptly and with a slight smile creeping onto her face.
Rothinzil just let his lips pull into a smile and said, "all right. I won't argue anymore," he didn't have the time and neitherdidLegolas,"but be careful, please?" he asked nervously.
Elméra said, "always." Then she turned from him, opened the door and stepped out. Rothinzil wished he was going with her, but he had faith in this maiden. She seemed strong, like an Elf-maiden. Now he began to wonder how he was going to pass the time until she came back.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Aragorn glared at the empty mug with dark eyes. He was not amused in the least. He had been forced to drink all the tea and on top of that everyone had to stare in amazement at him. Lord Ryxen had come in astounded that the young man had survived the normally lethal poison at all and that his shoulder wound was patching up so well.
Aragorn felt like looking at all of them and saying 'boo" just to see if they would jump. He was so tempted that the word formed on his lips and he had to force it to dissipate with the logic that Erestor would be livid and be hard to travel with (more so than he was) and that would not help their situation.
"I am glad you made it through the venom Master Estel," spoke the elderly man with a smile on his aged face. "Most don't. They die within a few weeks." His smile seemed somewhat hollow and Aragorn wondered if he was hiding something. It wasn't that Aragorn felt the man had much to hide, but he was still a bit skeptical as to whether or not he was being told the whole story.
"Is there something I should know Lord Ryxen?" asked the young human, raising a brow and staring at the other unerringly.
Ryxen looked at the Elves, who too had turned eyes upon him now. Coughing he said, "you still aren't out of the woods and won't be for another ten years." If Lord Ryxen had been looking for a good way to make everyone's jaw drop at one, he had found it. All but himself were gapping and Aragorn blinked in shock.
"Excuse me?" he asked, bewildered. Shaking his head, he said, "I just don't follow." He stopped shaking his head abruptly as he realized how much that was a pain to his already dully-throbbing head.
Erestor eyed the magistrate of the town darkly as though the man carried the plague. Glorfindel just looked hard at Aragorn and then shifted his piercing gaze upon the unfortunate lord among men. "What," he snapped thickly, "do you ever mean by 'ten years'?" His jaw snapped shut as his muscles tightened and he tried in vain to loosen them realizing that grinding his teeth was not healthy.
Lord Ryxen said in a troubled voice, "I suppose I should have told you all sooner. But I was afraid you would lose hope, which is what primarily got him through, you see."
"I see there is something important you left out," growled Erestor. "Stop this apologizing and tell me before it becomes my turn to apologize!" The counselor had never seemed so irate before unless he was chastising Lord Glorfindel over something very trivial and hardly worth the effort.
"Well," began Ryxen. "This poison will remain dormant for ten years and then dissolve. Until then you are going to be constantly running the risk of triggering the venom again, and it will show itself far worse than before."
"How then is it triggered?" asked Glorfindel quickly. His eyes flashed.
"I do not rightly know," answered the man quickly. "We have never had anyone survive it past the first re-triggering of the poison." He suddenly went white and said, "I am sorry, I shouldn't have said that. But it is the truth you see?"
Aragorn spoke softly and said, "that is well Lord Ryxen. I had to know and I would rather know than live in uncertainty. There is a saying, 'know thy enemy'." He looked at Erestor, who was pacing the room rapidly and muttering to himself all that he had been told, as though trying to make the situation sink in.
"Is there no sure?" snapped the counselor abruptly. He was not in the mood for all the diplomatic talk that he usually took careful pride in speaking with. There was no time for small talk. He needed the facts and he needed them now.
"Lord Erestor, if there is it is beyond me. Perhaps it lies in the power of the Elves. I know not," the man admitted truthfully. He shook his head and said, "I am truly sorry for all you and your friends have gone and are going through. But you must understand I am doing all I can. I have to look after the well being of the town and that is my job first."
Glorfindel nodded and said, "well anything you can do is greatly appreciated." Erestor just looked annoyed, angry and frustrated to boot. He said nothing for fear it would be very brash. He just crossed his arms and ground his teeth.
"Lord Erestor, you mentioned a map?" asked the older man, trying to make amends with the Elves that seemed to be incensed with worry.
The dark-haired counselor spoke gruffly, "I did. Could you enlighten me about it?" He handed the map to Ryxen and watched with war eyes as it was opened and the creases smoothed. This part made Erestor wince. He was very particular about his maps. A crease was not acceptable and he expected the same from everyone who shared his maps, including Glorfindel. Glorfindel honestly tried to respect the other Elf-lord's wishes and he really knew that it was one of Erestor's total pet peeves. He knew that it would set the dark-haired adviser off and then he would never hear the end of it. He had that experience once before.
As Ryxen eyed the map with narrowed eyes, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully before saying in a quivering voice, "where did you find this?" He shook the map before Erestor's nose and the counselor rolled his eyes with annoyance.
"It was in the red book," said Aragorn as he narrowed his eyes. "And please show Erestor a little more respect. Even if he is a bit stiff necked," added the ranger in an effort to keep Erestor's self-assurance down enough he wouldn't seem to offensive. The black-haired adviser glared daggers at his lord's son before turning his attention back to the map and the Lord of Farlost.
Glorfindel just snickered quietly and when Erestor turned his dark scowl upon the golden-haired Elf, Glorfindel stopped and put on a serious face. "So what is it a map of?" he asked without warning.
"Well," said Ryxen. "I would have to say that I am not one-hundred percent certain. I think it is one of the new mines. They were thought to have been collapsed years ago from an orc attack and we closed all the other mining facilities because of the orc attacks on the townspeople."
"So is the map genuine? Would it be accurate enough for us to use in rescuing our friends?" asked Erestor as he looked over the older human's shoulder. Ryxen looked at the Elf and walked forward a few steps before corresponding with an unsure voice.
"I suppose it might. But if you are going to go after your friends, you may need to wait until spring. I know you won't want to of course," he put up a hand to hold the silence of the room as the Elves and ranger's jaws all dropped simultaneously. "I realize what your feelings are. But you have to understand. It is down right lethal out there in winter. It has yet to get worse."
"We understand," said Aragorn urgently. "But my best friends are out there, for all I know they could be dying or in horrible agony. We are leaving tomorrow. I can't stand being here another minute." The Elves and older man looked at the ranger as though he had just spoken in the Dwarven tongue and suggested that they all take tea with a band of despicable orcs. "The fresh air will do me good," he argued and winced as he felt a fiery reminder in his shoulder that it might be a good idea to rest a day longer at least. But Legolas and Rothinzil might not have another day.
"I understand your urgency," the man responded calmly and he folded the map again, much to Erestor's dismay. "Apparently you do not understand mine." He sighed and drubbed his temples with a weary hand. "I have been there and know what fear is all about. I was in Lake Town when the Dragon Smaug was killed but not before he set fire to the town. One of my sons turned up missing and I was dreadfully sick with worry for days. Oh, I know what pain is all about. But this weather is unpredictable."
But as he looked into the fiery gray eyes of the young and determined man before him he could not argue further. The glow of Aragorn's eyes told him that it would all be in vain and he had an odd feeling that the golden-haired Elf sided with the adolescent ranger. "I will try to get what supplies I can gathered for you and ready for morning. But you only have a few hours sleep. It would be far more wise to wait a day longer."
Erestor nodded in agreement and Glorfindel shook his head. "We will leave in the morning."
Aragorn seemed to look so excited Glorfindel knew the young mortal would never get to sleep.
"You have our deepest thanks," said Erestor with a slight bow. He received the map back from Ryxen and slipped it into his pocket, for it was not very large…when it was folded, he told himself as an after thought.
Ryxen sighed and said, "when are you going to depart?"
"At first light," answered Glorfindel for Erestor, who was trying to time everything out. The counselor just nodded slowly and placed his hand in his pocket and fingered the map.
After Ryxen had left, Aragorn yawned and Glorfindel said, "you had better get some sleep. I know how grumpy your kind is traveling on two hours worth!" He glanced at Erestor and whispered to the human in a light tone, "do I not have enough to deal with?"
Erestor said in a sigh, "I am going to bed as well. You should too Glorfindel," concluded the dark-haired Elf with a suppressed yawn as he made his way across the space that was between him and the door.
Glorfindel watched Erestor leave and was about to leave him when Aragorn said, "I will find no rest here. Not when Legolas is out in the cold and Roth is with him. Who know what they are going through?"
Glorfindel went and stood by Estel and looked down with a frown. "Legolas will be well. He has a knack for seeing his way through things and if Roth is anything like him, he will too." The Gondolin Elf smiled slowly and muttered, "wait until the healers have to clean up after this little escapade. They will be incensed."
"So will Ada," mumbled Aragorn into the sheets as he rolled over onto his stomach and pulled the covers over his head so Glorfindel could not see that he was ready to cry.
The knowledge that his friends were suffering anguish while he slept in bed was to much and he didn't want his father's friend to see how weak he felt…how weak he was. He didn't feel strong. He missed Legolas and Rothinzil as though they were already dead.
He wished that one of them were here so he could cry into his shoulder. He remembered one time when he had thought that Elladan was dead after he didn't return from a hunting trip. Elrohir stayed out to look for him, but Aragorn was sent in because it was late and he was not over eighteen so Elrond concluded he needed to remain in doors after dark with orcs prowling about.
Legolas had been injured and he provided a shoulder to cry on and he had let his grief stream from his eyes into the Prince's shoulder.
Now he wasn't here and Aragorn felt so lonely. If Legolas was safe at home and Aragorn knew things were well he wouldn't be upset in the least, because he knew that he would see his friend again eventually. Now he wasn't so sure.
A tear ran down the ranger's cheek, a single tear as he thought of the condition Legolas had been in before they had left. What made his anger burn even more is that Legolas and Roth had stayed to help the town's folk get their horses back and help them patch their lives. They had done more than give their sympathies and now all Aragorn was getting was promises and advice and a place to stay but no action to help with a rescue. What was really ironic was that he hardly knew his way around here and they did, yet they still were not willing to help.
Stubborn idiots, he scorned in his mind. They stilled feared Elves so much that they afraid to try and save a few whom had risked and maybe forbore their lives to help them.
Elrond would be furious, that was never more true, sulked Glorfindel as he stood by the fire. And especially when he heard that Aragorn had a poison living in him that could kill him at any given moment or send him into a coma for life.
If only he had not allowed Aragorn to go and try to help Legolas and Rothinzil, who seemed to have been doomed from the start. He should have known better and acted better. He should have gone himself. He had failed his responsibility to take the twins and Estel home.
Glorfindel finally decided to go to bed in one of the bunks of the room that Erestor had claimed for his own. He didn't want to be alone, thinking of Elrond's wrath and of the pain of his lord's son that was dearly treasured.
As Aragorn lie awake beneath the blankets, listening to the golden-haired lord leave, heard the door open and close. Knowing that Glorfindel was gone, Aragorn waited until he heard a second door shut, signing that Glorfindel was in the room to be shared by he and Erestor. Then, the ranger lifted off the covers and gritting his teeth, tried to rise.
He felt thrilling pain stab his shoulder and neck. After several tries, the human was out of bed and shivering as he stood on the wooden floor.
He opened the door to his room and went out into the dark and abandoned hall of the cozy home. It was eerie, but he loved it. It was darkness and no one could see his pained face as he wished he was in Legolas and Rothinzil's place, because not knowing was far worse than being there.
He followed the hallway to the main living room and discovered a window that would let him see the stars. He wondered if Legolas was looking at the same stars or if he was lost to the light. He wondered if Legolas was with the stars, so to speak. The thought that his friend might be in Mandos' Halls was a heavy weight upon his shoulders and he stared through the glass pain at the blue star Helluin with sorrow weary eyes.
>>>>>>>>>>
Celebalda stood on a large stone, over looking the last few miles that lay between them and the Anduin River. Thalionril stood by his side, his hand stroking the bracelet that his love and Celebalda's daughter had given to him. The wind, an icy blur form the East whipped his dark-hair into his face and he brushed it aside with his hand. "Would you estimate one more day?" he asked Celebalda in a soft voice.
"To get to the river's banks?" Celebalda inquired as to the question's nature. "I should think. Certainly no less." He flicked some of his own dark hair from where the wind's gusts had it plastered to his face and neck. "I don't know how we are going to cross it."
His hands ran along his bow string as he fingered it thoughtfully, recalling how cold weather would make it stiff and hard to be used at times. It could even snap in this kind of weather. That was not a thought that was far from his mind at the moment. He perceived that he would need that bow before the end.
Thalionril sighed and said, "won't you come and sing around the fire with us? It will stave off the sorrow and chill of this bleak weather and outlook. You should relax," summed up the younger Elf with a frown. "I am sure this frequent anxiety is not doing any wonders for your health or the morale of the others."
Celebalda sighed and answered slowly, "I can't help it. If I didn't worry about our safety, who would?" He shouldered his bow in addition to dismounting the large boulder and landing lightly onto the ground, bending his knees to absorb the impact.
Thalionril stared down at his superior and friend. "You know," he began, "we all look out for each other. If something happened to one, we would gladly avenge his death to the bitter ending of our own lives." The younger Elf leaped down and landed lightly at Celebalda's side.
"I know that. But it is my responsibility as captain, to look after you and the others," answered the elder Elf swiftly. He moaned, "I have a horrible feeling, not unlike the one I had when we were attacked by orcs on that moonless night, do you remember?" he asked as he pulled the memory forward reluctantly. "We lost several Elves and I swore I would never let it happen again."
Thalionril nodded, "I could not ever forget, but there was naught that you could do and they died in battle. You did not kill them, you did not leave them behind. They were called away from us, not us from them."
They began to walk near the fires and Celebalda stopped and said, "we are a merry folk and I work so hard to try and keep it that way. If I don't help protect everyone and keep them safe, how can anyone at home relax enough to be merry and dance beneath the beeches under the light of the sickle moon?" He shook his head.
A hand came to rest on his shoulder as Thalionril said, "we protect each other and watch each others' backs. No one is alone. That is why we are so "merry". We also share not the troubles men do. You know this." The younger Elf gave his older friend and captain's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Get some rest. Come and drink with me."
"Very well, but I really would rather not my wits be muddled so quickly," he added as they came to the circle of firelight.
A sweet music drifted around and the five companions were singing. But as their captain and friend came they dropped their merry and yet sorrowful song and asked, "is everything alright, my lord? If so, drink and be merry. You draw far too many troubles upon yourself. Don't you know they will find you anyway?"
TBC…………………Review please!
Review Responses :-)
Deana: Well, soon would be nice. Not going to happen though. LOL We are having too much fun! Thanks for the review! :-)
lil cwick: Yay! New reviewer! Thank you! :-)
Astievia: Hey! Yes, long time no 'see'! LOL Yeah, we know what you mean and that's fine. Totally understand. 80 degrees? Thats too hot! LOL Nope, we didn't kill anyone, yet. We tried.Thanks for the review. :-)
Galadryal: Awww....another Rothinzil fan. Actually, he was modled after Celeb's ability to walk into doors.LOL Yeah, life can really be a pain that way. You never get enough time. Thanks for the review! :-)
Nefhiriel: Of course we said something about horrible ranger angst. But you will have to wait for a few more chapters. Sorry. But there will be plenty of Elf-angst. Thanks for the review. :-)