Florien was seated in his cell, alone, calmly looking around, somewhat bored, but at peace. Florien was not being tortured, mocked or taunted so he was celebrating this quiet moment, even if it was not perfectly silent, Maelui sweeping the floors could be heard softly.
Florien was a lot larger than when he had been captured. Florien was now a grown elf, still growing taller by little bits. Florien was no longer a scared little boy… Scared, yes, somewhat still, but he was not little. Still, he was no fight for Veassen, but he could endure more and more with each time he was beaten.
Florien had learnt to enjoy what time alone he had, when he was not being hurt. But, that was not all that had changed in Florien's behavior. Florien had lost belief in his parents and now, he grew bitter and did not think of Tonus highly.
Florien began to fear Tonus, he starting to think that Tonus was the reason he was here, that finally Tonus couldn't stand how pour he and Yàviel where, so sold him to Veassen. As untrue as it was, Florien had to believe something, and this was the story that he chose to trust, since Florien could not trust many any more.
Florien would only trust Maelui, who had grown very weak from his rough slave treatment. Anyone else he immediately did not trust, he would attack or fear them. Florien had reason to, there had not been a new slave or prisoner since Illiendal, Rumil and Haldir had came and left, so any others who came in or out where workers of Veassen's, or men doing business with Veassen, so they all would hurt him. Luckily, Florien learnt that Veassen did not have no lovers or even any friends, nor did he see any family, so that was somewhat less of a worry and trouble for Florien.
At that moment, Veassen walked through the door, just exiting his bedroom. Maelui looked up at his master, but continued sweeping as he did. Veassen looked over at Florien, who looked lost in a daydream. Veassen sighed and shook his head.
"Listen Maelui, I have to leave. I should be back tonight, late tonight. I trust you, so I will not lock you up today. Continue with your work, do not slack or I will know and keep a good watch on Florien…" Veassen stated clearly, and both Florien and Maelui had paid attention. Florien was slightly pleased, and Maelui was worried. Often, when Veassen would leave, he was gone to do something very pleasant.
Veassen turned and quickly left, only with a small bag over his shoulder filled with needed food and some other things, such as chains and shackles, which neither Maelui nor Florien wished to know what their use was.
Once Veassen as gone, and once Maelui were certain he was gone, Maelui sunk to the floor tiredly. Florien sadly looked over at his friend and wished he could be out, to help Maelui. Maelui worked hours and hours all day and barely slept, all the while taking care of Florien like a child.
"Maelui... You need to rest." Florien whispered, but as he spoke Maelui got to his feet and continued with his work. Florien sighed and watched him clean as hard as he could, with barely any strength left in him.
"Please Loci- Maelui... Let me do that for you. Just open my cell and I will clean for you, you can put me back before Veassen notices anything." Florien tried to get Maelui's attention. Finally the young slave looked up at Florien with very tired eyes.
"I don't want you to get hurt. We both know what will happen if Veassen finds out, neither of us will go unpunished... It's too risky, and besides, this is my job." Maelui continued to sweep and Florien shook his head and sighed.
"I haven't stood up and stretched my legs in days, I would love something to do, and you can get a break. I wont do it for long, that way it will still appear as if you did all the work, and it would be nice for me, not a chore, because I'd like to get out of here for a bit, I hate being in this... This cage!" Florien hit one of the metal bars with his hand.
Maelui, tired and not wishing to continue the argument lazily walked over to Florien's cell. Maelui was tired and began trying keys into Florien's cell, in too much physical pain from working to care to read which key was which.
Eventually, Maelui got the correct key in, and Florien's cell door opened. Florien stood up and walked out, happy to have some feel of freedom, as Maelui sunk to the floor tiredly and soon was fast asleep.
Florien got to work quickly, if he could clean and do all of Maelui's tasks before the slave woke up and before Veassen returned, Florien would feel like he actually did something with a purpose and that he did have some point to living here.
It was not long until Maelui awoke, and Florien by that time had done a lot, but not all of it. Maelui was looking better already, he was not totally tired and he even had a tiny, barely noticeable smile because he was so grateful to have the chance to rest.
"That was good, Florien... Thanks..." Maelui spoke softly to the enslaved boy who was washing walls. Florien nodded and smiled to Maelui, putting down the rag and sitting near him.
Looking upon Florien, Maelui could see that Florien needed to get out. Maelui was certain that Florien's bony body was not healthy and that Florien needed food. Maelui had seen that Florien's ribs where visible, and it wasn't pretty as to how tiny he was for a grown elf.
"Florien, I have to get you some food. This could be the only chance I get, but you need it." Maelui said, pinching one of Florien's skinny arms. Florien did not want to be fussed over, but he gave a tiny smile at the mention of some food.
"I am a bit hungry." Florien stated, tough 'a bit' was a lie. Florien starved everyday worse and worse, and he just wanted to be cared for. Maelui could only be glad that, at least, Florien was admitting his hunger even if he was lying on how hungry he really was.
"I'll get you something. Wait here, I wont be very long." Maelui smiled as he stood up and quickly ran into the dining room in search of some food and drink for his dear redheaded friend's hunger.
Maelui then realized that he had never even seen where the food came from... Veassen had always had it ready waiting for him. Maelui had to find the kitchens though, he wasn't going to fail his friend now, he did not wish for Florien to fade away like this, starved and looking like he was a stick.
There where many doors around the kitchen, six in total. The first one Maelui knew to be the door to enter and exit, he had just come through it. Opening the second and third, he found them both to be two doors to a large cupboard.
The next was also a cupboard, smaller than the other two. But it was the fifth door that surprised Maelui. Inside this door were not another cupboard, but a vast kitchen. Maelui took a few steps inside and saw so much food that his eyes could not believe it. Their where fruits on the countertops, meat was cooking over the fire, fresh bred sat near a window and there was much more food than just that.
Maelui's eyes then noticed a moving figure and he immediately screamed in fear. The figure, an elf, turned around and shocked Maelui even more. Maelui took a step back and stared at the elf in shock.
It was a she-elf, a weak, tired but young she-elf. She looked like she had worked there most of her life, she had to be a slave. She had scars and bruises from obvious beatings, and she looked scared as she looked at Maelui, who did resemble a weaker version of Veassen.
The she-elf quickly fell to the floor in a bow and she looked horrified. She was apologizing over and over again softly to him, referring to him as Master and Sir. Maelui looked down at her and knew she had to be just like hi, defenseless and powerless.
Maelui, with some caution, stepped forwards and went up to her. Maelui got down on his knees and looked at her. The she-elf looked up when she realized that he had came close to her, and she could tell in his eyes that it was not Veassen.
"Who are you?" She asked quietly, looking at Maelui. Maelui wasn't dressed in Veassen's clean, rich red tunic and pretty boots, Maelui was dressed in a dirty, torn brown tunic and his feet where bare and somewhat dirty.
"Me? I am Maelui. I am a slave here." Maelui whispered, he knew telling who he was would not change anything or endanger him; he was already in enough danger working for Veassen.
"A slave here? But... Where? I work here, not you!" The she-elf said, not angry, but more or less confused. Clearly she, much like Maelui, did not know of many parts of this place and had not been given a very complete tour.
"I just... clean. I did not know that there was even a kitchen, or that there where any other slaves! Who are you?" Maelui was curious to know everything about her. Now Maelui had forgotten why he was here, he just wanted to know why she was.
"My name is Cristiel... I've been Veassen's cook, his slave, for most of my life, since I was a little girl." Cristiel said sadly to Maelui, who sadly looked at her.
"That is not a great life... Why where you his slave for so long?" Maelui asked. Cristiel shook her head.
"Not always his slave. When I was very little, probably about three, my parents where attacked. I do not know what became of them, but I wandered away. Veassen's father got me, and he brought me home. Veassen was only a little baby, he had to be one at the least, but he was still very small. Veassen's father raised me - He was a horrible father, I remember him beating Veassen some days for no reason. When he died one day by a stab wound, Veassen became the master of this land, and I ended up working for Veassen." Cristiel explained to Maelui, who now, she trusted.
"Does Veassen hurt you?" Maelui asked quietly, worried to upset or offend Cristiel by asking such a question, but very curious to know how Veassen would treat someone he grew up with who seemed so sweet.
"No, he doesn't... Sometimes he yells at me, but he has always treated me like a sibling. When Veassen used to get hurt when he was younger, if he could, he'd run into the kitchens. He would snuggle close to be and cry, and I'd try to make him feel better... But, his father still had an impact on him... He's lived a hard life and now he is very aggressive... He has thrown things at me, if I am lucky I can dodge them but then he yells at me if they smash into a wall and break." Cristiel quietly told Maelui.
Maelui happily spent a good hour talking about how he was treated in comparison to her, also he mentioned some of the prisoners who had come and gone, including Florien who was still there, quietly waiting for his food, expecting Maelui to return any momet now and did not know he was actually having a lovely and long conversation!
Maelui realized that Florien was sitting outside of his cell patiently waiting for some food, and he knew he needed to feed his young friend. Sighing, Maelui stood up, noticing the sad face Cristiel had when she realized he was probably leaving.
"I only came to get food, Cristiel, for an elf who is prisoner here, he is my friend, and some food for myself. But, I promise I will try to come back. I don't have anyone to talk to." Maelui said. Cristiel smiled and was very glad he would return.
"I am always here, and I really do hope you will come back... Here, let me get you some food." Cristiel packed Maelui enough food for two meals, and Maelui was so happy to be able to feed Florien finally.
"Thank you so much... My friend, Florien, he is barely fed, he is so skinny he can nearly slide between the bars of his cell... He will appreciate it." Maelui smiled and, with a lightly blushed face, leaned forwards and kissed the girl on her cheek before he ran out of the kitchens in a hurry.
Florien was not seated near his cell when Maelui returned; instead he was rushing around, cleaning. Maelui quickly ran up to him and stopped Florien from his mad cleaning spree.
"Florien stop cleaning... I got us some food, a lot of food!" Maelui smiled and showed him the bag of food Cristiel had given him. Florien gasped and dropped the rag he had been using to dust, and soon he just wished to eat it all.
"For... Us? To eat?" Florien would not believe it, this could very well be one of the happiest days he had spent in this awful place. When Maelui nodded his head, Florien immediately wrapped his arms around Maelui and squeezed him as tight as his weak body could.
"Maelui, I love you! Thank you! I am starved!" Florien finally admitted his hunger, and Maelui was glad to hear it. Maelui quickly set up on the floor all of the food he had, and Florien soon fell to his knees and began to eat the food that Maelui divided between the two, though secretly he gave more to Florien.
"Maelui, your face is so pink... Why are you blushing?" Florien arched an eyebrow, and he only made Maelui blush more. Maelui didn't want to tell Florien, he found that giving Florien information only gave Veassen more things to torture out of the redheaded boy.
"Maelui, answer me! I know your hiding something!" Florien gave his friend a smile, and Maelui sighed... He did not see why it would matter to Veassen, or how Veassen would learn of this.
"When I went looking for food, I found the kitchen, and in the kitchen was a she-elf, Florien... She was so fair! I have never met someone like her, Florien... The only she-elf I ever recall is your aunt, but this she-elf, Cristiel is her name, she is younger and alone, and she talked with me... She gave me this food. Before I left I gave her a little kiss, and I cannot wait to see her again!" Maelui was so thrilled, and Florien was glad to see him like this.
"You are in love, that is great... It is wonderful for you to have some happiness in your life." Florien sighed sadly as his memories flooded his head from what his life had been like before, the happy parts. He recalled Tiriel and nights his father would stay at their home and take walks out in the forest and climb trees with him, having long conversations and having fun.
"You look sad. Have you ever been in love, Florien?" Maelui asked curiously. Florien nodded his head sadly and thought back to his pretty Tiriel and the dates he had been on with her, and the last time he ever saw her... Also to when he saw his mother was having an affair with her father.
"I had a love, Tiriel. Of course by now she must have forgotten about me, I have not seen her for so long! I miss her..." Florien sadly looked away, he had tried to forget about everyone he had loved from his life, but it just wasn't possible.
It wasn't true though. Tiriel missed Florien and every day she wished he would come home. Tiriel was not seeing anyone else, and she had yet to give up hope, even when Tonus had and no one spoke of him again. Tiriel's father did not speak to Yáviel any more since she gave birth to another of Tonus' children, and so Tiriel never even saw any thing to remind her of Florien except presents and letters from him.
Tonus, on the other hand, still suffered from the loss, but in a different way. Tonus did not realize it, but he was trying to turn Faeron into Florien. Tonus wouldn't want that, but he did it anyways.
Tonus had given Florien's beloved flute to Faeron and taught him how to use it immediately, until he played it just like Florien had. Tonus gave him Florien's old clothing and even most of Florien's old possessions except for some that Yáviel and Tiriel wished to keep.
Faeron had no idea that he was just like a replacement. Faeron was never told about Florien, and he believed he was the only child in the family. Faeron thought that Tonus was a great father for always giving him so much attention, never ever thinking it could be for such reasons as replacing a lost son.
Faeron was now ten, which was a year younger than Florien was the last time Tonus saw him. Tonus feared that there would only be one last year that he would have Faeron before the same fate landed him, but he prayed for that not to happen. Tonus guarded Faeron whenever he was with him and tried to be as subtle while he did so as possible, though Faeron did wonder why his father acted so protective.
Faeron did feel like he was missing something, but other than that, he was happy. Faeron and his mother still had very little money, but he was much happier than Florien had been and Tonus cared for them better and with a lot more care for them. Although, Faeron wouldn't be so glad to learn of Florien, to know his whole life was because of Florien, that everything he did he was taught because Florien had done it before...
To be continued...
Apparently I am not allowed to post responses to reviews anymore, as a law by this site. Perhaps this is just a rumor (which I wish was true), but for my safety I will not be responding for this chapter and for none until this rule is changed or I have been confirmed that this is just a rumor...
But I hope to start a petition to destroy this rule! If anyone wants to sign, just say so in your review and leave me your e-mail.