Chapter 33: Two more
Galadhril ran outside and was heading as fast as his tiny legs would take him to the home of Orophin, Mallriel and Arhael. That was Haldir's parents and brother's home. It was what Galadhril's mother had told him to do: Once they where gone, get his grandparents and tell them that Haldir and Illiendal had been taken. Galadhril knew his parents had real names, Haldir had made sure to teach Galadhril that since when Illiendal's younger brother, Legolas, had been a bit older than Galadhril, and he was completely oblivious to the fact that Thranduil's real name was Thranduil.
Galadhril banged on the door frantically. He was afraid he would be taken away and hurt just like his parents where. Orophin, very tired since just waking, opened the door and the elfling ran forward and squeezed his uncle's leg.
"Galadhril, what are you doing here all by yourself? You should be at home with your parents!" Orophin scooped the child up and was about to bring Galadhril home when the elfling burst into tears.
"Some… S-some people came… Two guys… And t-they took nana… And ada…" Galadhril sobbed. "Nana hid me in the closet so I did not get taken away…" The elfling whispered before burying his face in his uncle's chest.
"What did the people look like?" Orophin asked, cooing to the elfling. He had a horrid feeling it was the same men who had came to the borders, attacked them and once they had hurt Rumil so badly that he was too weak to realize what was happening had snatched Rumil and left.
"Black hair… One was real ugly; he was a man, with an ugly beard. The other was pretty though; he was who let nana hide me so the ugly man would not take me away. I think the pretty one was an elf." Galadhril said softly.
"I do not know who the elf was-
"He took nana. The man took ada."
"-But the man sounds like who took uncle Rumil. I think the men will be bringing ada and nana to where Rumil is, which in a way is good since then to find nana, ada and uncle Rumil we will only have to go to one spot, unless they are sold as slaves." Those words made Galadhril sob harder.
"Hush, hush Galadhril. Let's go see grandfather and grandmother… I think you and I may have to go see grandfather Thranduil soon so he is aware of what has happened." Orophin said, taking the elfling inside.
"Sir, he could not afford such a ransom." The man said to Veassen. It was night and he stood outside. Maelui was sitting on the ground, a chain around his neck being held by Veassen. Maelui was nursing some whip burns across his arms that he had gotten for taking Haldir and Illiendal's gags out.
"So, what did you do? I hope you made him suffer!" Veassen grinned.
"Even better my lord! I've brought him with me, and not just him but his lady too!" The man brought Veassen inside the cart. Haldir tried to protect his wife by going in front of her tied up body.
"Unbind their legs. Keep the gags in and their hands bound, then put a chain around their necks like Maelui here." Veassen tugged on the chain, making Maelui chock. The chain was like a collar and leash on Maelui, and soon both Illiendal and Haldir had a collar and leash made of chains.
"Bring them with me. I will pay you fairly for this, my friend." Veassen said. The man brought the two latest prisoners with him, Veassen and Maelui who had no choice but to follow.
"Sir… Can you take this off?" Maelui asked gently, the chains where pinching and cutting at his delicate throat.
"Sure Maelui, I will, and then I suppose you will attempt to run away? I don't think so." Veassen said, unlocking a cell beside Rumil's. Rumil was asleep and Haldir was afraid he was dead.
"Put them in here." Veassen pointed to the cell.
"Sir, do you think it is wise to put husband and wife in the same place?" The man asked.
"Why would it not be? They could mate and then I'd have even more slaves." Veassen grinned.
"But why breed elves with him?" The man shoved Haldir into a wall. "You'd think you'd want to breed some handsome elves, maybe with that one." The man pointed to Maelui, who recoiled quickly. Haldir glared at the man for both pushing him and insulting him.
"I'd be lucky enough if I got any children from these two, so I don't think I'd have any more luck forcing Maelui and Illiendal to mate. You're a man and maybe with men it's different but elves tend to be picky, especially a princess might I add." Veassen said. "It would be good enough if Haldir and Illiendal give me a little runt to work, so I shall be happy with that."
"Yes, that would be good sir, but Veassen, I have worked for your father till his death and if I know anything about slaves, it's if you keep a family of slaves together the man will try to protect his wife and any children, if he has." The man said, shoving Haldir and Illiendal in the cell anyhow.
"Ah well, he is unarmed and has no children. I've had my share of slaves too, and if anything hurts all of the family more it's torturing one then leaving that member of the family's tortured body in the same cell as the rest!" Veassen said as he locked the door. Maelui wanted all of this to end; Veassen was a monster!
Veassen paid the man, who left shortly after.
"Come with me Maelui." Veassen brought Maelui to the bedroom. Maelui was unchained and Veassen sat on his bed, Maelui standing before him.
"Strip out of your clothes, Maelui." Veassen ordered. Maelui just looked at him in disbelief.
"Why, sir?" Maelui asked timidly, slowly with shaking hands undoing the first button on his tunic.
He cant really be taking the man's advice and making the she-elf and I have elflings, can he?
"Because that man had torn your clothes to shreds with the whip I gave him." Veassen snapped. "Now strip so I can tend to the burns and give you new clothes." Veassen added harshly. Slowly, still shaking, Maelui stripped out of the ripped clothes.
Veassen walked around Maelui, noticing every whip burn, some cuts from the whip as well.
"He hit you far too much. I don't think you've ever behaved wrong enough to deserve so many hits, unless you attempted to escape." Veassen said, looking at the V on his slave's hip as well as whip burns that crossed over that V.
"I did not try to escape sir. I took out Haldir and Illiendal's gags, though, so the man made me outstretch my arms so he could whip them." Maelui whispered softly as Veassen got out some cream.
"I shall treat these burns than." Veassen said, putting some of the cool, green ointment on his finger and starting with the whip burns and cuts across his slave's arms. Veassen then put cream on Maelui's back, thighs and legs until every burn was covered in the cream. The cream soon sank into Maelui's skin, and Veassen gave the slave new clothes.
"I will make sure he does not whip you like that if ever there is another time I need to send you with him." Veassen stated as Maelui pulled up the new leggings and did the laces.
Maelui was about to pull the tunic over his head when Veassen stopped him.
"These marks on your back, they look like they are from a switch. They are old… How did you get them, Maelui?" Veassen asked, running his fingers over an old scar.
"I don't know what you speak of." Maelui whispered, about to pull the tunic over him yet again when Veassen stopped him and brought Maelui to a mirror so that he could see the scars.
"I don't know how I got those." Maelui muttered.
"It's your body, tell me." Veassen ordered.
"I don't know!" Maelui said angrily.
"Just give me the name of who did this to you!" Veassen snapped.
"I HAVE NO IDEA!" Maelui screamed, being slapped across his face by the back of Veassen's hand. Maelui fell to the floor, and brought his hand to his cheek before quickly pulling his shirt over his head, then putting a hand on his cheek once more.
"…That hurt." Maelui whispered quietly, barely loud enough for Veassen to hear.
"Get up." Veassen ordered. Maelui stood up, still touching his cheek.
"Take your hand off your face." Veassen ordered.
"…Yes sir…" Maelui moved his hand, reveling his reddening cheek.
"Come with me. Our newest residents need to be given some supplies." Veassen ordered. Maelui followed in silence. Veassen gave Maelui two bowls of water.
"Slide one into Rumil's cell and one in the cell of Haldir and Illiendal's cell." Veassen ordered.
"But-
"But what?"
"Well, Haldir and Illiendal should both get their own bowl, no?" Maelui asked softly.
"They are married, eh. They can share." Veassen shrugged before cutting a small, small piece of meat that was much less than a serving in two, followed by cutting an apple into wedges.
"Give Haldir and Illiendal one bowl of water, one piece of mean and a wedge of apple. The same for Rumil." Veassen ordered, giving Maelui the food.
"Yes sir." Maelui bowed his head as he took the food.
"After I want you to come join me for supper." Veassen added softly. Maelui nodded and went to feed the imprisoned elves.
Maelui slid what he had been told to in each cage.
"Oh, and Maelui, free Haldir and Illiendal, they've been bound and gagged for long enough." Veassen said from in the kitchen.
"Yes sir!" Maelui said whilst opening the cell with a key he had been given not long ago. First Maelui freed Haldir, but when he went to Illiendal Haldir jumped on him.
"Get off!" Maelui begged.
"Illiendal get out! He left the door open!" Haldir said, forcefully crushing Maelui's tiny body against the hard floor. Illiendal could not since she was still chained, and before Haldir could realize why Illiendal was not budging, Veassen had heard Maelui's yell of protest and was chaining Haldir's ankles and wrists to the cell wall.
"There. If you still cause trouble with your ankles and wrists shackled then I'll separate you from your wife." Veassen kicked Haldir in his abdomen; making Haldir gasp and if he had been on his feet he would have toppled over, being taken by surprise.
Once Veassen had unbound and removed Illiendal's gag and left the cell, Illiendal took the bowl of water and the piece of meat and apple and brought it near Haldir.
"Are you hungry Haldir?" Illiendal asked softly, offering the food.
"Which do you rather eat, the apple or meat?" Haldir asked.
"The meat is dry and the apple brown, I will eat either." Illiendal said softly.
"I'll have the meat then." Haldir said. Illiendal stood up to be able to reach Haldir's mouth. Haldir opened his mouth and Illiendal dropped the food in his mouth. Once Haldir was done eating the piece of chewy old meat, Illiendal picked up the bowl of water.
"Open your mouth."
"It wont be fair if I drink the water."
"I will just give you some." Illiendal said, putting the bowl against Haldir's lips. Haldir opened his mouth shyly and Illiendal tipped the bowl, allowing the water to pour in Haldir's dry mouth.
"Thank you…" Haldir muttered.
Illiendal stayed near Haldir until Rumil awoke. He immediately noticed the new prisoners and ran to see them, looking at his brother and his sister-in-law through the bars that separated their cages.
"Haldir!" Rumil hissed. Haldir raised his head and gave Rumil a sad smile.
"You are here, too." Haldir whispered.
"What of Galadhril?" Rumil realized at once that the sweet little nephew of his had just lost both his parents.
"Hopefully he listened to Illiendal and has gone to Naneth and Adar to get us help." Haldir said.
"But… If Orophin tried, he might get caught too!" Rumil realized that Veassen did nit have Orophin caught, not yet.
"It's a risk he will most probably take. You know him, Rumil." Haldir whispered.
"Silly Orophin." Rumil smiled at fond memories of foolish things Orophin had done in his entire life.
"You have food, you know." Haldir pointed with one shackled hand to the bowl of water and food.
"Oh." Rumil walked over to the food and nibbled at it. "The food here was not bad, yesterday. I guess he's not as generous anymore." Rumil said whilst he chewed on the disgusting meat.
"Maelui…" Veassen called. Maelui stopped watching the three imprisoned elves to go eat.
Again the meal that was set on the table look splendid, and a plate awaited Maelui. Maelui sat down and took the plate, Veassen already seated and eating.
"Sir, can I ask you something?" Maelui asked.
"Yes." Veassen muttered through a mouthful of food.
"What are your plans with the galadhrim Haldir and his wife?" Maelui asked nervously.
"I am just as unsure as you are. Haldir would fetch a good price at an auction, if I could tame him, but if I did tame him and he became a good slave I'd probably have to beat him whilst I trained him so his price could lessen… I will keep him, I suppose, his wife too. If they have any elflings together then they can assist you with the chores." Veassen said. Maelui took some food.
"Do you think you could unchain Haldir after we eat?" Maelui asked quietly.
"Whatever for? He causes very little trouble on the wall like that!" Veassen grinned before sipping his wine. Maelui only got water.
"Well, he does not look to comfortable on the wall." Maelui explained. Veassen laughed.
"I don't care if he's comfortable or not, Maelui." Veassen stated.
"…I know you don't, my lord, but there are plenty of reasons why having him on the wall is useless… Like, if you where hoping to get elflings by keeping a male and female elf in the same cell, I don't think anything would happen when one is attached to the wall. And he wont make a good slave if he spends too long on that wall, his back will hurt him, I believe." Maelui tried to be convincing.
"Alright Maelui, that is reasonable. I will unchain the March warden, but I plan to keep one ankle shackles, I don't want him attacking you or I again." Veassen said, putting down his fork.
"Finish eating and clean up the food. I will do as you requested, Maelui." Veassen ordered. Maelui nodded to show that he heard and would do as he was told, whilst Veassen left the room and headed towards the cells.
"And Maelui!" Veassen said, turning around.
"Yes my lord?"
"The cell, the empty cell beside Haldir's… I need it cleaned… My men have told me of an elf, and I'd much like to catch him and have him my prisoner, so that cell will be needed." Veassen said. Maelui nodded.
Veassen went into Haldir's cell. Illiendal was sitting on the floor below Haldir, holding his hand. Veassen pushed her aside. Haldir glared at Veassen.
Veassen unshackled Haldir and let him fall and hit the ground. Haldir groaned in pain, and before he could stand up his right ankle was shackled to the ground.
"You behaved fully shackled so I hope for no change in behavior with only your ankle shackled, because I can quickly shackle your entire body in the torture chamber." Veassen sneered, leaving the cell and locking the two in.
Illiendal crawled back over to Haldir and cuddled against the now more relaxed, tired elf.
"Sir, I've finished cleaning the cell as you told me." Maelui hurried over to Veassen.
"That is good, Maelui. Now come with me, I need to tell you what I will be leaving for very soon." Maelui was brought into Veassen's study where none of the prisoners aside from Maelui could hear.
"I will be going to get an elf in Mirkwood." Veassen said clearly to Maelui.
"But sir, there are many elves in Mirkwood, including us, how do you know which-
"My men have told me. They spied on this elf for many days. They said he was a red-haired, scrawny elf. They told me he dressed in rags, his hair kept in a ponytail and that he goes by the name Florien. I have my own personal reasons for hating this elf and I will be capturing him soon, hopefully during this week. During my leave, as a precaution, I will have to shackle you to the bed." Veassen said. Maelui nodded, but all he paid heed to in the sentence Veassen had said was the name of the elf. Florien. It was familiar, as if he knew the elf Veassen was about to capture…
To be continued…This chapter has no Florien in it because next chapter Florien and Veassen will meet.
Aranna Undomiel: At least you like the sad things that are happening!
Karone Evertree: You know, I think creepy man is gay. But that's just my opinion… Veassen treats his prisoners well… When he's in a good mood…
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Well, he was unarmed…
Mistopurr: I don't notice until I feel like rereading the chapter… Silly me…
Bberry06: It's okay.
CapriceAnn: Well, Haldir might have some trouble, considering now he's shackled in his cell.