A/N: Thank you to my reviewers. (particularly for the spelling of 'Mearas' (I think! Lol)
Now…..here we go.
Ardenia rode on. Branches grabbed at her cloak, as it flew out before her in the wake of her speed. Her hair lay bound against the nape of her neck. She had to get as far as Lorien as possible, knowing that Haldir would surely follow. She slowed barely enough to a canter, so she could read the instructions given her by Lord Celeborn. It bore no names. For that much, she was both aggravated and relieved at the same time. It was easier to kill someone with no face, no name, it made them a little less of a person. It held instructions to their bed chambers, and demanded their death through their slumber. She spurred her horse on. Alone in darkness, she once again looked for the light, but found none. Haldir was gone. It was now the blind leading the blind. She bent lower over her horses neck.
Malanion woke, his body unable to move after a century of being left still. He could scarcely move his eyes, but after hours of lying still after his long years of hibernation, he looked around the lair, deep beneath the earth he had held protected whilst he had went about his mission within Celeborn. Elves hated being beneath the earth, but he revelled in it. He loved the sheer darkness, the thin air, everything. He slowly began to gain control of his limbs again. He waited impatiently. If that Haldir hadn't…. He shook his head, he would make him suffer later. He had thought him little more than a pawn in his game before, but now he knew that he played a greater role in this than he had originally thought. Misty tales clouded his head. Tales his mother had told him of his victory, the throne that should be his, old feelings, old memories, and still, the unending lust for female flesh. He smiled sadistically. The one thing that never left him, nor never failed to serve him. He got up, every muscle screaming, before he began to move. He would have his revenge. He would have what he had always desired. Even if it was… his own sister. He laughed again, madly. The unquenchable lust that always filled his body, no matter what form he was in, made any passing female little more than an amusement, a temporary relief from his aching need. Until he could take Ardenia…he laughed again, his laughter spiralling madly through out the room. And he would have her. He almost had her. The only ones to testify to their blood bond would soon lay dead, then she could reveal the colour of her hair, without fear of any recognising her. Then he could rule, with her by his side. And Haldir, he would see the death of him at the end of his own blade for delaying the victory that he had lusted after for so long, both in Ardenia's unwilling arms, and on the throne of Mirkwood. His madness ate away within his mind, making him even less Eldar than he was to begin with, more and more a creature of the basest and cruels desires. His desire for his half sister turning him in to little more than a rabid beast.
Ardenia had ridden for days. She was exhausted, and she, nor her horse could go no further. She near fell from the horse, still hearing voices echoing within her head. Conflicting voices. Celeborns, full of pride, Haldirs, full of pain, and so much more. Her own, like a little lost girl in the corner of her mind, weeping, a long history of tears whose flow could not be stemmed. She drifted into an exhausted and hazy sleep. But it was then, after no more than a few minutes, she felt a light, growing warmer and brighter within her mind. It could only have been Haldir, growing closer, and closer and she would have given anything to stay there upon the ground, and have him find her, take her in his arms, and whisper to her that everything would be alright now, that it had all been just a horrible nightmare. But then, her fear for his life, which would surely be ended by Celeborn if she did not complete her task, spurred her back on to shaky legs, before mounting the near dead horse, pushing him just that little bit further, to where her next fresh remount awaited her. She was, after all these long days, just within the boundaries of Mirkwood. Time for stealth. She dropped from her horse, before continuing upon foot, blending in with all around her, fooling even the sharpest eyed elf from the trees. She hurried on, her muscles screaming. The blood of her family would be spilt this night, and then this would all be over. There was just one problem. She did not want it to be her family, that she had never known, to be the ones to end.
Haldir rode all the faster for the presence of his brothers, mildly comforting at best, annoying enough to make him wish he could tie them to a tree and leave them there at worst. He had originally thought it was impossible to talk and ride at the speeds they were at the same time, but, unfortunately, he had been proven wrong. He new they were closing the distance between Ardenia and himself, but would it be fast enough? For a few, precious seconds, he had thought he had felt her within his mind, a diminished light that had burnt so low in despair, it near made him weep.
"So. Brother thine. Will you be dining with us this eve?" enquired Rumil, somehow able to pull lembas out of his saddle bags even though his horse was travelling so quickly, he was near breathless.
"Yes, do tell? Will your majestic form be slowed to eat, or keep going until we have to ride after Ardenia alone, and leave you were you fall? Enquired Orophin.
Haldir reigned his horse in, slowing to a canter in frustration. He knew they were right. He was near weak with hunger, having eating nothing since the drugged wine many mornings ago. He accepted the lembas from Rumil, who threw them over at his brother with all the decorum of a smith. Haldir scowled at him, but remained silent.
"How much further until the next fresh horses?" asked Orophin.
"What's the matter little brother?" teased Rumil, grinning despite the situation. "You tender behind bruised? Sounds as though that elleth you were with prior to leaving was a little too rough with you! If you would be so kind as to point her in my direction…" Orophin threw a stick at Rumil, having snapped it from a passing branch, and Rumil laughed. Haldir rolled his eyes.
"Oho," commented Orophin, "It would seem our gallant hero is feeling a little less gallant in the presence of his younger brothers, Rumil. Maybe we should restore his honour and pretend we are damsels in distress in order for him to release some of his built up tension from not having to kill something recently." The two brothers laughed, before Haldir glared at them.
"Every second we delay, Ardenia grows closer to Mirkwood. Would you have her happiness, life and the royal family's blood upon your hands?" demanded Haldir, spurring his horse on.
Rumil and Orophin looked at each other, realising they had gone to far. The three rode on in sombre silence.
A/N: so now you know. You know why Malanion never wanted her hair down, why he wants the family dead, why he has that 'unquenchable thirst'. Lol. I know, it's quite sick, but don't worry, there will be no incest in this story. As if our hero Haldir would allow it! Now ride on my heroes! You know what makes the next chapter come up quicker, and the heroes ride faster? REVIEWS! Lol Enjoy.
