Chapter 39: The prisoner's death
In Veassen's cave, Veassen was overlooking his prisoners. This day marked the first year of Florien's imprisonment. Florien was now used to this imprisoned life, or at least, more aware of what would happen.
Veassen was not shy to beat or torture Florien. Florien was more beaten by Veassen's hands than tortured, but Florien was being beaten at least once a week and it was tough after one year of that, but he was more used to such treatment now.
Florien got scared at every time he saw Veassen, even after a year. Whenever Veassen entered Florien's cell, Florien would either recoil or attempt to attack him, which just enraged Veassen more than he usually was already.
Florien sat quietly on the floor of his prison, humming to himself a song his father once sung to him. Florien was now used to the idea that he would never see Tonus again, so he just remembered his father in his mind instead and sung a couple songs, well, only hummed. Florien was not proud of his singing voice and therefore never sung the words.
Illiendal, Haldir and Rumil all loved it when the young redhead would hum to himself. Florien knew they listened but he did not mind anymore, at least they could be in a better mood than he.
Florien knew he had changed very much. Usually he always thought of happy things no matter what the situation. Now he was depressed and snapped at the other prisoners often, then apologizing a few minutes later, not meaning to be rude.
Veassen left the slaves alone to their misery, now Maelui watching over them. As time passed, though everyone was not as hopeful and lighthearted as they had been when first arriving, Maelui stayed the same. Maelui felt a connection with Florien though he refused to believe anything Florien said about 'Locien'.
Later on, Veassen returned and opened the cell belonging to Florien, entering it and locking it behind him.
Florien was horrified and stopped his humming. Veassen bent down.
"Florien, take off your tunic." Veassen ordered. Veassen had sliced Florien across his chest and now wanted to make sure the young elf was not infected.
Florien took this the wrong way and not thinking, he reached frantically into his pocket and threw the contents that he got into Veassen's eyes. Veassen cried out and threw his head back.
"Ai! What did you do!" Veassen snapped, throwing his hands over his eyes and yelling for Maelui. Maelui quickly came to the bars of the cell; Veassen had taken away the young slave's keys to Florien's cell.
"Yes sir?"
"I don't know what this little pest did, but get me a flask of water! Quick Maelui!" Veassen ordered. Maelui was quick to throw the flask to Veassen who quickly poured some water over his face and on his burning eyes.
"What was that Florien?" Veassen demanded.
"Must-mustard power-p-powder…" Florien whispered, backing away.
"What? You little bastard Florien! Maelui, get me a cloth!" Veassen demanded. Maelui did as ordered and brought to his master what was asked for.
"Florien, when I can see again, you will suffer boy. How did you get this?" Veassen asked immediately.
"Stole it… From… Your study…" Florien had just been to Veassen's study not long ago and had found it in a small bag on Veassen's table, so he had pocketed it before Veassen had seen him.
"You… You are in so much trouble!" Veassen yelled in rage. "Maelui! Here are the keys! Open this cell and help me out, then lock him in. I don't want him fed until I get the time to make him pay!"
Maelui unlocked the door and helped his master before locking in Florien. Florien crawled into his corner near Illiendal's cell and sat there, shaking, on the verge of tears.
"Florien, come here dear." Illiendal said softly. Florien came closer and Illiendal embraced him through the bars of their cells.
"I got scared Illiendal. I did not know what to do. I remembered I had pocketed it. I don't know what made me do it. I just wanted to be safe. Now everything is worse. He's going to torture me for this… I can't take it anymore." Florien started sobbing.
Illiendal rubbed the redhead through the bars and Maelui returned from tending to Veassen, who now rested, saw and heard the young elf.
"Florien… I cannot free you, but if there is anything I can do to help…"
"Kill me." Florien whispered. "Now."
"Florien, I cannot do such a thing… I will not do such a thing! Murder you? Never!" Maelui backed away from the redhead.
"If you don't murder me I will suffer." Florien lowered his eyes. "A lot. I don't want to see Veassen when he recovers. It wont be pretty."
"I wish you did not have to suffer, but I wont murder you. I cant murder my own kin." Maelui sighed. "I'm sorry Florien. But be positive. One day maybe you will be out of here and-
"I'm never getting out of here Maelui, don't you see that? I'll be stuck here 'till I fade away!" Florien yelled, jumping to his feet.
"Florien, just maybe-
"I've been saying that 'maybe' for a whole YEAR Maelui! If I have not been rescued now then I wont ever be! I'm giving up my hope, all right? It wont ever be like it had been and now I just want this life over with!" Florien was getting all his feelings out now.
"Florien, you need help." Maelui whispered.
"I know I do! But I can't be helped here! I'm leaving this place by any means!" Florien yelled.
"You cannot leave here Florien… Unless you are rescued the ways to get out of here are near impossible without a key. I do not have that key so I am of no help." Maelui murmured.
"I do not plan to leave through any door Maelui. I do not want to be in Middle-Earth any longer. Life has never been good… I have already tried suicide Maelui, but each time I just could not do it, I would cut myself gently on my wrists and ended up too scared to make it any deeper. I've purposely tried to be shot at archery fields, but I always ducked quickly out of fear. Now I don't care. I want to go away forever and stop being a poor ugly bother." Florien snapped.
"Florien, don't murder yourself!" Illiendal said as soon as she heard of her nephew's wishes.
"Illiendal, I cannot live anymore. I don't want to. I give up." Florien muttered to Illiendal.
"But, Tonus, my brother, your father! He'll be devastated!"
"If my father is so devastated of loosing me, then why has he yet to save me?" Florien said sharply.
"Maybe he already thinks you have perished. Not many could withstand a year lost, Florien. You have." Illiendal whispered.
"Well if he thinks I am dead then maybe I should just die to make that a proper fact!" The young red-haired elf was depressed and suicidal now more than ever.
"Florien…" Maelui whispered.
"Stop arguing with me! I want to be dead, allow me to have my wish!" Florien yelled in fury.
"Maelui… Florien is correct. If this is how the boy wants it none of us can stop him, but I do not know how he plans to kill himself." Illiendal whispered.
Maelui made no comment and just looked sadly at Florien. If Florien killed himself, Maelui would not have such a friendly elf to care for. Haldir cared for Illiendal and Haldir was to bold to be cared for by Maelui, and as for Rumil, he was a good healer and treated himself.
"Leave me be." Florien whispered, sitting down on the floor and looking out the window. "I will be dead before Veassen can heal."
All of the prisoners were sad to hear Florien talk like that. Florien was youngest of the imprisoned, though only by a year or so, and the other prisoners all prayed that Florien would be able to live a proper life and not spend the rest of his days imprisoned. But seeing Florien's suicidal mind, the other prisoners knew he would not last longer.
Veassen did not know of these thoughts, for he lay in bed, overwhelmed with the pain in his eyes.
Maelui went to the bedroom later, late at night, and lay down on his spot at the end of the bed, sleeping soon and softly, worry on his mind though of Florien.
Maelui could not kill Florien, but after Florien's last speech about it being his wish, Maelui did want Florien to be at ease, so he purposely left a knife on a table not far from Florien's grasp. If Florien could get the knife and kill himself, so be it, Florien would be happier.
Maelui got up the next day with no worry, he had forgotten of the knife and of Florien's death wish. Maelui got up soundlessly and looked over Veassen, who slept peacefully. A cloth was around Veassen's still healing eyes and the elf snored only lightly (being a half-elf, snoring was very common).
Veassen stirred and sat up slowly and nervously, not being able to see.
"Maelui?" Veassen knew there was his twin's presence near by.
"Yes sir, I'm right here." Maelui whispered. Veassen's hand reached out and touched Maelui's face gently, making sure it was really Maelui.
"Alright… Are you getting to work now?" Veassen asked.
"Yes sir, I was just about to go see the prisoners, I was just looking to see that your eyes are healing properly." Maelui whispered. Veassen nodded and walked across the room.
"I am going to dress myself. You continue with your work." Veassen ordered.
"Alright." Maelui said. As he left he saw the difficulty Veassen had with his tunic buttons and pitied Veassen, who looked just like a tiny elfling as he attempted to match the buttons with their holes.
"Sir… Would you like me to help you?" Maelui asked. Veassen sighed and nodded his head in a yes.
Maelui went over to Veassen and did the buttons quickly.
"There you go, sir. I'll go on with my tasks." Maelui smiled as he left. Maelui did not smile that he was happy, just glad to be helpful and not forced to do it this time.
Maelui entered the imprisoned area. Illiendal, Haldir and Rumil and were staring in Florien's cell.
"What is wrong? Oh!" Maelui stopped in his tracks when he saw what they looked at intensely.
Florien lay on the floor, blood slowly pooling around him. A knife lay on the ground not far from him, it blood covered. Florien's wrists could be seen: both slit.
"He killed himself. He had the courage to withstand the final pain in his life, but not the courage to face Veassen." Maelui whispered, looking down at the redhead. Florien's blood mixed in with his hair now and it looked awful, but there was actually a smile on Florien's lips.
"He was happy when he did it. He was glad to be leaving." Maelui added when he saw the small smile on Florien.
"Will you bring him back to his father now?" Illiendal asked, just wanting Tonus to be able to see his son a final time.
"Veassen would never allow it." Maelui murmured.
"Veassen would never allow what?" Veassen asked, exiting his room with a new damp cloth on his eyes.
"Sir! I-It's Florien sir, he's died and the prisoners want him to be given back to his father." Maelui whispered.
"Died? Damn. Well, I'm not sending his body to Tonus." Veassen said.
"You can't just let him rot like that in here!" Illiendal cried.
"No, that would be sick, and then this place would smell and be infested with Valar knows what. I'll deal with the body when I'm better. Here Maelui, use these keys to get the body." Veassen gave Maelui the keys.
Maelui unlocked the cell and slowly entered.
To be continued…
Mistopurr: I find Veassen lovable since I know what happens with him in the end...
NuEvil: Well, Veassen doesn't know any better...
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Well... I wont give away what happens to him...
Miss Telcontar: Well... As for Florien...
CapriceAnn: Actually, Tonus will tell when 4/5 prisoners are found...
Bberry06: Veassen can be pretty mean...