Chapter XIII: Obsession
Several years passed, and Elerrina and Glorfindel were happy, their lives filled with bliss and love. They had even considered having a child of their own. Elerrina smiled. She would love to have a baby, a precious little one to adore. But now was not the time. Glorfindel came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Good morning, my love."
She turned her head and kissed him. "Good morning."
"I wish I could stay with you, beloved, but I must attend the meeting of the High Council this morning," he said in disappointment.
She pouted slightly. "Must you?" She leaned in and lightly kissed his neck.
He growled playfully in her ear. "I will not be gone long, and when I return…." He kissed her passionately.
She laughed and tapped his arm. "Then go, so that you can hurry back to me."
He grinned and kissed her. He left the house, and she headed for the kitchen. Nethwen was there preparing the evening meal. She smiled at Elerrina in greeting.
"Hello, my lady. Does this meal please you?"
"It smells divine, Nethwen. I wish I possessed your skill with cooking."
Nethwen grinned. "I would be pleased to teach you whenever you wish, Lady Elerrina."
Elerrina smiled in thanks. She studied Nethwen as she worked. She was a young, pretty elleth with long brown hair and soft brown eyes. They had only recently engaged her as a maid. They had several maids, but Nethwen was the one whose company Elerrina enjoyed the most. Nethwen was warm and friendly, and eager to assist Elerrina in any way that she needed. Elerrina had even begun teaching her in the ways of a scribe.
"Are you assisting Lord Erestor today, my lady?"
"No. He is in the meeting of the High Council as well." She smiled at Nethwen. "The others are not working today, so please feel free to leave whenever you wish."
Nethwen smiled in gratitude, and Elerrina left the kitchen and entered their small library. She began searching through the books, hoping to find something that would appeal to her. She started slightly as the front door opened and closed. Elerrina smiled. The meeting must not have been as long as he expected. She heard him enter the room, but frowned as she felt his hand on her hip. Something was wrong. His touch was different, rough instead of gentle, fierce instead of loving. She spun around and nearly screamed at the sight of the one who stood before her.
"Nenthalion!" she gasped.
He gave her an evil smile. "Elerrina, it has been a long time."
She stared at him, fear coursing through her. His hair and clothing were disheveled, and his eyes were dark and crazed. "What are you doing here?"
"I have come for you, to take you away from Rivendell," he said, as he slowly advanced upon her.
Elerrina withdrew from him until she felt the wall against her back. Alarm spread through her. How was she going to escape him? "I am married to Glorfindel, Nenthalion. I cannot leave with you."
"Do not worry. I will finish him. Now, come with me."
"No! Leave now!"
He scowled at her. She tried to run from the room, but he caught her and pinned her against the wall.
"I have never been good enough for you, have I? It has always been him! Now, I will show you just how much better I am than Glorfindel!"
With that, he shoved her to the floor. She tried to clamber away from him, but before she could, he was on top of her, kissing her. She struggled against him, but to no avail. He soon moved to her neck. His hands were traveling all over her body. She cried for help, but he reached up to silence her. As he did, his arm jarred a small desk, and a dagger fell to the ground.
Elerrina saw it fall and reached for it. Her fingers grazed the hilt, but she could not grasp it. She began to panic as his hand started creeping up her dress. She reached again, and this time her hand gripped the dagger. She plunged it into his shoulder with all of her strength. He withdrew quickly, cursing and clutching his arm. She scrambled away, but his hand seized her ankle, and he pulled her roughly towards him. He was atop her once again, and he struck her brutally across the face.
"You are mine! Do you hear me? And now I will have you!"
He tore her dress, and she screamed. He struck her again, this time hard enough to silence her. His hands were everywhere, his touch like a searing flame. She cried out in pain and continued to struggle against him. She attempted to strike him, but he caught her arms and pinned them behind her. Tears began to course down her cheeks, as she realized that she could not escape him.
Nethwen finished the evening meal and straightened the kitchen. She went in search of Elerrina, to tell her that she was leaving for home, but she gasped as she heard a scream coming from the library. She ran towards the library, and her heart nearly stopped at the sight before her. An ellon was attacking Lady Elerrina! I must find Lord Glorfindel! I must find help!
She ran from the house and toward Lord Elrond's palace. She hurried inside and ran to the Hall of Fire, where the High Council meeting was being held. A guard stopped her from entering.
"I am sorry, my lady, but you cannot enter. The council meeting is still in progress."
"I must speak to Lord Glorfindel! Now!" she cried.
The guard opened the door and began to enter, but Nethwen pushed by him and ran to Lord Glorfindel. Everyone stared at her in stunned surprise. Glorfindel caught Nethwen's shoulders and tried to calm her.
"Nethwen, what is wrong?"
"It is Lady Elerrina, my lord! A dark-haired ellon attacked her in the library!"
Glorfindel's eyes filled with rage and fear, and he ran from the room. Elrond pointed to four of the guards.
"Follow him!"
The guards tore after Glorfindel, and they all ran towards his home. Glorfindel burst through the door, the guards close behind. He rushed to the library, and when he saw what Nenthalion was trying to do to his wife, he was overcome by a powerful, black rage. He grabbed Nenthalion and threw him against the wall. He attacked him and struck him repeatedly. He drew his dagger and attempted to kill Nenthalion, but two of the guards pulled him back. The other two grabbed Nenthalion and roughly dragged him to his feet. They drew their swords and pointed them at Nenthalion's throat.
"Release me!" Glorfindel commanded. He glared at Nenthalion with murderous rage.
"My lord, please!"
"I will kill him! Now, release me!"
"My lord, he will be severely dealt with. I swear to you! But he must be tried, my lord. You know this."
Glorfindel struggled for a moment longer, before he capitulated.
"Remove him from my sight, and take him to the dungeon. Make sure that he is well-guarded."
The guards nodded and dragged Nenthalion from the room. Glorfindel could hear the guards as they left.
"If you so much as move, you filth, I will kill you myself," one said.
Glorfindel turned to Elerrina. She was cowering in the corner and trembling violently. He knelt before her and tried to take her into his arms, but she flinched and shrank away from him. He gently touched her hair, but she desperately tried to withdraw from his touch.
"Elerrina, beloved. It is Glorfindel, sweet one."
She looked at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. He felt rage come upon him again as he looked at her. Her dress was torn, and her ankle was terribly bruised and swollen. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and the skin around her right eye had begun to blacken. He quickly masked his anger, for he wanted to comfort her, not terrify her further. He reached out to her, but she withdrew again and began to cry harder.
"Elerrina, it is all right. I am not going to hurt you. Let me hold you, beloved."
He approached her slowly, and this time she allowed him to draw her into his arms. She buried her face in his chest and sobbed. He rocked her gently and stroked her hair. Her sobs broke his heart, and he swore that he would see Nenthalion killed for this. He kissed the top of her head.
"You are safe now, love. I will not let anyone hurt you," he whispered.
He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bedchamber. He set her gently on the bed, and helped her out of her torn dress. He winced as he saw the bruises that covered her body. He began to tend her, but even his gentle touch seemed to cause her terrible pain. When he was finished, he crawled into bed beside her and held her close. She clung to him, and he softly stroked her hair. He glanced at her realized that she had fallen into Elven slumber. He lightly kissed her temple and tightened his arms around her.
"I will protect you, my love," he whispered. He relaxed and allowed himself to fall into Elven sleep as well, his beloved wife held protectively against him.
The guards took Nenthalion to the dungeon and threw him into one of the cells. They scowled at him, their eyes filled with loathing, but Nenthalion merely gave them a dark smile. They shook their heads and went into the antechamber. Nenthalion glared after them, and then began examining his cell. He sighed angrily. The walls were impenetrable and there was no window. He would have to think of another way to escape. Then it came to him. A sly smile crossed his face.
"Guard!" he called.
After several moments, one of the guards entered the room. "What do you want?"
"Water. I thirst."
The guard snorted in disgust. "Then thirst," he said and began to leave.
"I did not realize that Lord Elrond wished for his prisoners to be treated so poorly."
The guard turned and glowered at him. He shook his head and went back into the antechamber. Moments later, he returned with a glass of water.
"Here," the guard said and handed him the water. Nenthalion reached for the glass, but grabbed the guard's arm instead. He brutally pulled him towards him, and his hand gripped the guard's throat.
"You release me, or I will break your neck," he snarled.
"Cullas, is everything all right?" a guard called from the antechamber.
Nenthalion tightened his grip on the guard's throat. "Tell him everything is fine."
"Yes," Cullas called. "I will return in a moment."
Nenthalion smiled evilly. "Very good, Cullas. Now release me."
Cullas slowly reached for his keys and unlocked the door, but instead of releasing the guard, Nenthalion broke his neck, killing him instantly. Nenthalion took Cullas' sword and dagger and charged into the antechamber. He killed one of the guards before they even realized what was happening. Now only two guards stood between Nenthalion and his freedom.
Both guards charged him, but Nenthalion fought them easily. He fought viciously, like a wild animal, and soon both guards lay dead on the ground. Nenthalion crept out of the jail and toward the outer wall of Rivendell. He knew every weakness of the wall, and he escaped with little effort. He ran from Rivendell and into the surrounding woods. He turned back to the city, his eyes ablaze with hatred. You will suffer for this, Glorfindel! Very soon.
