NOTE: This chapter is a mix of both worlds since I will be speeding up time a bit. Also know that Veassen's cave is about a two days ride from Lorien. The time will only move two days into the future.
NOTE 2: Jedi Gollum is getting old! My second big booboo! I posted this in Middle of Middle Earth School, I'm such an idiot, no wonder no one reviewed... Aside from Haldir's heart and Soul... I'm embarrassed. I shall run away and hide...
Veassen and the man entered. Maelui bowed and the man who had entered with Veassen grabbed Maelui by his hair and pulled him close.
"So the pretty boy is still alive! I thought you'd have killed him, Veassen. I know you liked hearing the cute ones scream for mercy… You've never had a heart, have yo-
"Be silent and release my slave!" Veassen snapped. The man released Maelui's hair and Maelui stepped back quickly and looked up miserably. The man only released Maelui knowing he would not be paid for his job if he did not obey Veassen's orders.
"Alright Maelui, you will be going with this man to deliver a ransom." Veassen said. All remaining colour from Maelui's face quickly faded.
"Sir, you must jest… Please don't send me with him!" Maelui trembled. Veassen pulled Maelui over to a corner.
"Listen, he will not touch you. He knows if he touches you I wont pay him, and the pay I offer him is worth more than you'd fetch at an auction so he would not keep you to sell either. This man just wants pleasure and money and he knows he'll only find pleasure in hurting you, he knows I wont pay him. He is, however, permitted to whip you at any time so you better listen to him, better than you have been obeying me." Veassen said, shoving Maelui into the wall. Maelui slid down the wall.
"But sir, I've obeyed every order-
"Oh yes, really? So why is this blood yours that is on the paper?" Veassen kicked Maelui in his side many quick and hard times. Maelui was gasping at the end, but managed to speak.
"It is Rumil's blood!" Maelui lied, groaning as he was kicked again.
"You should know not to lie to me." Veassen said, grabbing Maelui by the back of his tunic and standing him on his feet. "If I hurt you too much you wont be able to ride. I'll finish with you when you return. If your lucky, I may be pleased with what you return with enough so that you will not be punished as brutally as at the moment I would like to." Veassen hissed in Maelui's ear.
"Please, just don't hurt Rumil. It's not fair that he be punished for something I did, I'll take whatever you want to do to Rumil-
"You mean just like you took the cut meant for Rumil?"
"I never admitted to that!" Maelui cried.
"Well then why is your thumb cut?" Veassen grabbed Maelui's thumb.
"That does from before, when I got hurt by orcs, remember?" Maelui lied again.
"Oh really? It seems that almost all of the cuts this light from that orc attack have all closed. This one seems quite fresh… Of course, why don't we find out for ourselves?" Veassen shoved Maelui's thumb into a glass of alcohol. Maelui cried out and pulled his thumb out when Veassen released it.
"Rumil will pay for your mistake, Maelui." Veassen glared at the elf. "Now go!" Veassen shoved Maelui towards the man, handing the man the ransom.
Maelui was forced to ride in front of the man on the man's horse, so that he did not escape. That was only going to stay like that for a while, once the weak horse the man owned grew tired of Maelui and the man's heavy combined weight, Maelui would be chained to the horse's reins and have to follow on foot, most probably running. He did not like having the man's wide arms around his slender frame, but knew that he best enjoy this ride before he had to run on foot. Veassen watched them ride off before returning inside to see Rumil.
Veassen pulled out a knife. Rumil shut his eyes tightly, expecting his blood to be spilt in a great amount. Maelui may have been able to protect him from being sliced, but Maelui was gone. But to Rumil's surprise, the cage was opened but he was not sliced.
Veassen got Rumil on his feet. Rumil wobbled very much because he had not stood in some time. Veassen put shackles on Rumil's wrists that had chains attaching them together and another chain that worked as a leash for Veassen. Veassen forcefully lead Rumil outside, where Rumil was allowed to relax and just enjoy himself. Rumil expected to be attacked any minute now, he had heard what had been said to Maelui, but to his surprise Veassen just sat there, holding the chain-leash and looking up at the sky.
Rumil lay outstretched on the grass. He knew he'd be forced back into that cramp cage any time now. He gasped when he felt something hit him on his back, followed by something wet wetting through his tunic. He did not feel any pain, but being a healer he wondered if it was just a deep knife wound that was so badly in him he could not even feel it. He just stayed still, expecting his blood to start to pool around him when Veassen spoke.
"It's some strawberries, fool. Eat them or I'll change my mind about giving them to you." Veassen snapped. Rumil put a hand on his back and grabbed the strawberries. After smelling them and making his best effort to figure out if the fruits where poisoned, he took a tiny bite from one, followed by devouring the complete strawberry, then the other.
In a short while, Veassen stood up and tugged at Rumil's leash. Sadly Rumil stood up and followed his new master back inside. This time however, Veassen put Rumil into a proper cell, no longer the tiny cage fit for an animal.
Florien, shivering, walked back to Yàviel and Alastor. When Yàviel tore her eyes off of Alastor's hansom features to notice her dripping wet, shaking soon she nearly screamed as she jumped up and ran to Florien.
"Florien, what happened? Oh dear, you are shaking! You need some warm clothes, and a blanket-
"Nana stop!" Florien slapped his mother's hand off his wet shoulder. Yàviel took her hand away, looking sadly at Florien.
"Maybe you should warm up at home, Florien. Here, both of you take the leftovers. Tiriel says she's seen you, Florien, starving on the streets so I think it's fair that you get this food." Alastor packed the picnic away. Tiriel went over to the shivering Florien as Yàviel and Alastor said goodbye.
"I'm so sorry this had to end like it did, Florien. I hope your not upset, and that… That you're willing to ever see me again… I really like you Florien." Tiriel said softly. Florien sighed.
"I like you a lot, Tiriel. Of course I want to see you again. I'm not upset, just… Cold." Florien gave Tiriel a small smile. Tiriel smiled back at the red-haired cold elf and to Florien's shock, he was pulled into an embrace, which wet Tiriel's dress and warmed Florien.
"Here, if you don't mind the colour, you can wear this, and keep it. I cut off your tunic to free you, so this dry cloak should warm you." Tiriel said, looking at Florien's skeletal abdomen one last time before Florien wrapped Tiriel's pink silky cloak around him.
"I don't mind the colour. My own cloak is dilapidated, this is very lovely, even if it is pink and I am a man." Florien smiled. Yàviel walked over to her son and Alastor's daughter.
"Come, Florien." Yàviel said softly. Florien nodded and was kissed again on his cheek by Tiriel as he left.
Florien walked home with his mother in complete silence. He was quite sure that his date with Tiriel had not gone too well.
When they entered, Florien carefully took off the pink cloak and left it in his room, on his bed. He planned to treasure it always.
Yàviel came up to Florien whilst he was in his room and sighed at her wet son.
"I suppose Ada's tunic did not survive your near fatal fall?" Yàviel looked at Florien's weak torso.
"No. I'm sorry." Florien muttered, pulling his own worn out night tunic over his chest.
"I am not angry with you, but do not be shocked if ada chooses to give you a lecture. That was one of his good night tunics." Yàviel said softly. Florien sat on his bed.
"That was my only chance of impressing her and I ruined it!" Florien cursed loudly as he looked at the pink cloak she had given him.
"If it was ruined, why did she kiss you and give you her cloak?" Yàviel asked, touching the soft cloth cloak. Obviously Tiriel had a fairly rich background.
"She gave it to me in pity, nana, because I was drenched!" Florien said.
"Florien, I doubt highly she pities you. She looked as if she was in love." Yàviel said softly, pulling her son close to her, embracing the wet-haired boy.
"I doubt anyone could love me." Florien whispered, cuddling up against his mother.
Maelui was tired, more tired than he could recall ever being, and he had only been awake for a few days now. Maelui had been chained to the horse's reins and put on the ground not long ago and the man had made his horse go fast just so Maelui was forced to run or be dragged and chocked.
The man, who never told his name to Maelui, whipped poor young Maelui as often as he felt like it, and often Maelui did not deserve a single hit. Maelui had whip burns on his thighs and back by the second day, when the two entered Lorien. The man could not whip Maelui since the elves would never let him through whilst he whipped him. The man and Maelui, who was riding with the man just so it looks like a good situation, easily got into Lorien since he did have a message to deliver to Haldir who at the time was not on duty.
The man and Maelui went to Haldir's home. The man smiled.
"I heard your master saying he'd punish you when you returned. If Haldir cannot pay, we will be giving your master a very nice reward anyhow so you may get out of punishment… Now, you and I will go up there. I will say why we are here and all you do is read the ransom… If they cannot pay…" The man whispered quietly Haldir and Rumil's fate if Haldir could not pay in Maelui's ear. Maelui gasped, but nodded his head. He had no choice.
Maelui and the man went to Haldir's door. Haldir opened it. Princess Illiendal, Haldir's wife, was behind the march-warden, looking nervously at the hideous man and the shy young elf.
"You are Haldir, and you must be… Well, I am not certain." The man said in his gruff voice. Haldir already did not like this man and with one hand held Illiendal close.
"My wife. Who are you and what do you want?" Haldir asked.
"It is not what I want, sir, but what my captain wants for what you want… That is, if you want your brother." The man said. Haldir's mouth hung open at the man's last word.
"Rumil? You are the foul man who took Rumil?" Haldir was ready to kill. Haldir made Illiendal step back and Haldir had his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"No, my captain did. I am just here, with another of my captain's servants, to give you a ransom and to see if you will be able to pay." The man said, Maelui read quietly the ransom, having trouble when he saw Haldir's expression at the price Veassen wanted. Haldir grabbed the ransom from him.
"No… Rumil no! I cannot pay such a price! There must be another way, surly your captain is reasonable!" Haldir said.
"Yes, there is another way. So you say you cannot pay this ransom?"
"No! I'll never have enough to pay such a price!" Haldir said. The man took a step into the house, and Haldir did not budge.
"I want my brother." Haldir said.
"Well, you and your wife can go and see him." The man said, grabbing Haldir's blade from Haldir's sheath. Haldir was completely unarmed and Illiendal could only clutch Haldir by his shoulder in fear of Maelui, who just stood there. He did not want to do his part in this.
"Illiendal, save our son! You have to hide him." Haldir said softly to Illiendal.
"Maelui, get her! She cant run faster than you Maelui, just grab his by her wrists and pin her to the wall! Do you want Veassen to be angry with you?" The man snapped. Illiendal ran away into the house, and as uneasy as Maelui was, he chased after her. Illiendal ran into a bedroom and Maelui followed.
Illiendal was on the floor, holding a young child tightly when Maelui entered.
"Please… Please… Take me… Just leave my baby alone, don't take my child! He'll die if you take him. Please let him stay here. Take me and not him." Illiendal whispered. The elfling had clearly been playing with his parents when Maelui and the man had arrived; the child's toys lay in front of him. Maelui could not bear to hurt this she-elf any more than she would be by Veassen.
"Hide him so my… partner… Does not find him." Maelui ordered. Illiendal quickly brought her child to a closet and whispered something in the boy's ear before Maelui grabbed her by her wrists as he had been told to, bringing her to where the man held Haldir. Haldir was fighting to be freed but failed, his hands now bound behind him and his feet as well.
The man quickly bound Illiendal and found a cart that belonged to Haldir. His horse pulled the cart and Haldir and Illiendal, bound and gagged, where inside, guarded now by Maelui.
Haldir, with much difficulty, moved beside his wife, wanting to protect her even when he was as helpless as she was.
Once they where past Lorien's borders, the man was not as nervous with his captured elves so Maelui could take out Haldir's gag, and Illiendal's as well.
"Did they take Galadhril?" Haldir asked very softly.
"No. He let me hide him. I told Galadhril that as soon as we where taken away he should go to your parents' home." Illiendal pointed to Maelui.
"You allowed my wife to protect my son?" Haldir looked at Maelui confused.
"I could not bear to ruin your entire family. He was only a little child. I did not want him to be hurt. My master hurts me, I'm just a slave not his paid servant, and I do not want such a young elf to have to be a slave for him, too…" Maelui whispered. Haldir nodded his head.
"Thank you." Haldir whispered, Illiendal tucking her head beneath her husband's chin.
To be continued…
I could not resist capturing Haldir...
Did you know in Canada, in Manitoba, there's a place called Gimli?
Did you know this friday is Frodo destroyed the ring day?
Did you know that this is Haldir month and that the unofficial 'day' of Haldir is the 31st of march?
Just thought I'd tell you.
Miss Telcontar: I'm getting used to calling Locien Maelui…Rikku: you're the first to actually point that out, and I'm glad you noticed that something's going on between the two of them!
Karone Evertree: I'm glad that you think they'd make a cute little couple.
Caprice Ann: I'm so glad you like this story, and that you review…
Bberry06: Drunk elves rock, and despite all the insults 'Cield' said in our role playing game about Galion being ugly, Galion's pretty hot. I should draw him for fun… Oh! I found an old picture of Billy Bob and a Nayona that I drew a while back that I might enter for your contest!
Haldir's Heart and Soul: There will be some abuse in future chapters. Veassen was an abused elfling and he's learnt to abuse other elves from his father so you can figure what he does…
Mistopurr: I always get worried that my characters (female) will be a Mary-sue! You know, no matter what someone can accuse a female of being a sue. Because a sue can be a woman who is perfect or horrible at everything and if someone helps her it's worse… Even average lady-elves can be considered a sue just because they are elves so they are kind of perfect…You could have told me this was not in the right story! Ah well, I figured it out on my own...