The pair walked in silence until they reached the confines of the great Wood. Each of them running through in their minds the strange events of the day.
Caeriel held the hand of her beloved clasped tightly in her own. Her heart still fluttered as she thought of the beast holding Lithroleah down, pincers ready to strike, ready to force the poison into him, to squeeze the life out of him. She shuddered involuntarily as she remembered its strength.
"Caeriel, how feel you now?" Lithroleah paused in his step to look the maiden up and down, as if checking her for any other injuries.
" Do not worry yourself unnecessarily about me! The injury is not as sever as it seems!" she exclaimed, the corners of the mouth upturned in spite of her worries, as she noted the concern he displayed, "We both still walk the surface of the earth! Thank the Valar for that, and let go of your anxieties!"
Lithroleah smiled back, heart gradually warming. The experience had terrified him. The sense of helplessness and fear that had swept over him as the creature had held him to the ground came back all at once.
"Did he not say what the creatures were?" Caeriel's voice broke into his thoughts.
"Nay, Caeriel, for he does not speak unless he feels the need to."
Hands clasped tightly, they walked in the direction of the settlements. As if afraid to let go of each other, acknowledging for the first time the fragility of life.
It was Lithroleah who spoke next. " Should we report this incident to His Majesty? For a proper investigation must be carried out. The creatures indeed pose a real threat to our people. It concerns the security of Lasgalen. Yet I wonder, as Praneer seemed eager to be rid of the bodies. What would be his motivation?"
"I know not the answers. I wish Legolas were here. Surely he would tell us what to do!" Caeriel blurted out wistfully.
Lithroleah looked sharply at his companion. Her face was filled with a longing. He knew it was an innocent comment that came from her heart. That did not stop the bile from rising in his throat, however. He fought down the feelings rapidly. Legolas was their friend.
"The Home Guard would be alert, now that the people have been warned. If the intrusion persists, it would not stay in the dark for long," Caeriel pondered aloud.
Lithroleah kept his thoughts to himself. The dreams. The premonitions he had been experiencing. The innocent lives that might be lost as a result of the withholding of this information.
The sight of a fully clad Hunter crossing their path stopped them in their tracks. He bore the insignia of the elite Home Guard. The very best there was. The two Elves glanced at each other. The Home Guard were rarely seen outside the palace. An investigation was taking place, and Thranduil was not sparing his best men in the process.
Lithroleah made up his mind then on the spot. He would not report the issue to the King, and instead, would carry out his own investigations. Carefully this time, for he had the advantage. He knew what he was up against, and the creatures did not. His dark features tightened. The decision rattled him a little. He did not understand the rationale behind his thinking. A small voice, however, whispered to him, that the choice was the correct one.
Yanark grunted. It was a satisfied Orc that made his way back to the caves.
He came into view of the imposing structures, and his heart filled with satisfaction as he saw the sentries bow to him differentially. It did not matter that their eyes were full of barely masked hatred and jealousy. Orcs were creatures full of dark feelings. Fear, not respect or friendship drove them. He saw the fear in their bodies, the way they lowered their eyes, and the slight trembled of their bones.
The Orc basked in his emotions. He had led too dredged a life before this to spare much of a think about what had caused the sudden reversal in his fortunes.
His Master appeared suddenly beside him, silent as a wraith. He had an ability to sneak up that largely unnerved his followers. There were even reports of him descending upon his disgruntled servants as they complained and whined about him. It put an end to all forms of verbal disagreement for good, even out of his presence, once they saw the bodies of the unfortunate creatures.
"Well done, my young servant!" the creature oozed. His voice was soft and silky, and dripped with malevolence that was enough to freeze the spine of the most hardened warrior.
"It was an honour to carry out the task that you had set for me, my lord!" the Orc replied, quaking in his boots.
"You displayed dexterity I would never have thought possible from so stupid a race like yours. Clearly you rise above the ranks of the common Orc," the creature spat out the words, hatred apparent as he spoke deliberately.
"It was Your Greatness who came out with the plan. I merely was a pawn who carried it out!"
Hkaradil chuckled upon hearing the last sentence. It seemed to genuinely please the twisted heart, as hideous teeth revealed themselves yet again. He carried on and fleshed it out into a cackle, laughter flying through the caves and piercing the terrified, rotten hearts of every Orc in range.
"Yanark, my friend. I grow to like you more with each passing day! Wonderful that an Orc could manage to catch my fancy, do you not think so?"
He gave the startled Orc no chance to reply, and continued. "The Elf is better than I thought! Just as his friend was. He managed to survive the encounter with our little friends!"
"But Master, that was because he was saved by a meddling old fool! Just another few seconds and he would have been dead!"
A flash of anger at the words of his underling rose up in the creature. It was quickly covered by cool indifference and passed undetected by the bowed head, "Ah. But what use would he be, what purpose would he serve to us dead?"
Yanark knitted his brow, his stupid brain trying sluggishly to search for an answer.
"You have much to learn, and I have much to impart. Like how it was unfortunate but totally necessary to sacrifice two of my finest beasts. Like how my plan would unveil itself slowly to ensure its smooth execution. Like how I have to take an apprentice to help me in my quest."
Yanark's eyes raised. Was he hearing it correctly? That his master wanted him to be his student? He struggled to maintain a calm face as he listened reverentially to the creature who was to become his teacher.
A/N:
Hohoho, more evil Orcsies..! The plot thickens! I feel as if I'm losing control of the story, but hey, let's just see where this takes us!! ;)
As always, reviews make the world go round, so please please please just let me know how you find it!!
Gwyn - Yeah, I know what you mean about the guy being either good or evil, obviously I can't tell you now, but maybe I'll drop a few hints here and there! Hope you like this one..!
