A/N1: Warning for graphic violence. There is one short paragraph that contains some graphic violence. You will know you are almost there when you come to 88. The violence will be in the paragraph that follows the one containing the two eights. If you think you might be disturbed by such content, scroll by it.

A/N2: I apologize for this being late but my apartment suffered a power surge, or so management claims, and I lost over 3,000 words of the story plus every 10-minute backup my Microsoft Word Program had made. In other words, I had to rewrite almost 90 of my story.

A/N3: Warning for use of language.

A/N4: When Saeros and Súrion are told to cover their hair, it is because Saeros has blonde hair and Súrion has silver hair.

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"Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow."
Dorothy Thompson

Chapter 25

Plausible Deniability

"So what do you think?"

After some moments of frowning in concentration as she tried desperately to think of something suitable to say, Anayah finally made up her mind and found her voice. Quickly turning to the stallion, she asked him to return to camp and tell Rahan and Súrion that she had been slightly injured and needed an escort back to camp. When she once more turned back to Greyfell, she smiled apologetically and patted the ground, signaling him to sit.

"My apologies on many counts, Greyfell. First, I have acted like an elfling with no manners and second, I'm sorry if I hurt you earlier."

Greyfell slightly inclined his head in acceptance of her apology.

"You had no way of knowing my intentions, my Lady."

He sat on the ground in front of her and waited for her to speak. After some moments of frowning and thinking, Anayah had finally ordered her thoughts.

"Ok. The first question I feel the need to ask is why are your ears round but as that is about the stupidest question I could ask – as well as rude – I will skip it and go right to my second question. Why do you not seek the company of elves?"

Anayah winced as a jolt of pain shot through her head, a fact Greyfell did not fail to notice.

"Turn around."

She looked at him for a moment before she complied. He then began to massage the tight muscles in her neck as he talked.

"My mother was one of the northern Dúnedain and my father was a Noldor elf – I don't know where he was from although he did have family who lived in the Grey Havens. The three of us were on a trip to visit some of my father's family when we were attacked by Corsair slave traders – both of my parents were killed and I was taken and sold into slavery. I started out as a slave that was raised by slaves."

He paused as he sadly stared off into the distance for a few moments before he turned his attention back to what he was doing.

"I soon became painfully aware that it was better to be thought of as a human than as an elf, especially because of the shape of my ears, and I quickly taught myself how to hide my glow. Yes, it is painful but as I had this aversion to death, I soon learned to adapt."

Having finished relaxing Anayah's tense neck muscles, he settled her back against a tree then started a fire. There was soon a pot of water ready to make tea with and within a short time, he handed a cup to Anayah and after making sure her shaking hands were going to be able to hold it, he turned away to pour his own.

After sitting himself on the ground he spent some moments gazing into the fire and remembering. Finally, he continued his story.

"I settled in Hoth about 300 years ago after spending most of my life as a mercenary."

Greyfell grew silent as he saw Anayah looking at him intently.

"I have tried to live among elves off and on over the millennia, but they just didn't seem to want to accept me and I finally just gave up trying."

"So just what do you expect me to be able to do?"

She took a sip of her tea while never taking her eyes off the man. Her heart almost broke as she saw his grey eyes suddenly fill with tears.

"I don't know. I just thought …" His voice trailed off as he looked away from the fire.

Anayah set her cup of tea on the ground then reached out and took his hand.

"Greyfell, look at me."

The man finally raised his eyes until they met Anayah's.

"I cannot tell you anything about me or what I am doing in Hoth for it could very well jeopardize your safety as well as mine."

"Plausible deniability."

"Exactly. I'm glad you understand."

She patted his hand comfortingly.

"I can promise you this, though. When it comes time for me to leave Hoth, I would very much like for you to come."

She saw hope flash in his eyes.

"I have a motto, mellon-nín – nobody gets left behind. That motto now includes you if that is truly what you desire – on this you have my vow. You just need to hold on to life and hope a bit longer."

Their conversation was interrupted when Elias returned, nuzzling his Lady's neck and nickering concernedly as if he had felt guilty about leaving her and felt the need to apologize. Shortly after his arrival, Rahan and Súrion rode into the little camp as well. After giving a nod to the man and while Súrion watched Greyfell closely, Rahan knelt beside Anayah.

"Elias said you were injured?"

He examined the small cut on her head carefully.

"I am a bit concussed and would feel better if I had an escort back to camp."

Her Captain nodded.

"A wise decision."

Anayah laid her hand on her Captain's arm.

"There is another reason I wanted the two of you here."

She nodded her head toward Greyfell who was watching everything carefully.

"Rahan, Súrion, I would like to formally introduce you to Greyfell."

When the man touched his forehead in respect, Rahan raised an eyebrow and Súrion looked puzzled. Anayah's eyes were twinkling.

"Rahan?"

The Captain looked at his Commander.

"Rahan, he is peredhel."

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The heads of both Guards snapped towards the man standing before them and with only a moment more of hesitation, the two returned the greeting courtesy.

"I have already explained the plausible deniability thing to him and also promised him that when it was time for me to leave Hoth that he is welcome to come with us."

Rahan nodded his head.

"As you wish."

Anayah got to her feet and swayed unsteadily for a moment while holding tightly to her Captain's arm. Holding a hand to her aching head, she then turned to Greyfell.

"Carry on as usual for the time being mellon-nín. If I have need to speak to you, I will wear a colored scarf around my neck when I am at the Palace."

Rahan helped her mount Elias and just before she turned to leave she looked at Greyfell one last time.

"Be well, my friend – and stay safe."

The three elves turned then melted into the shadows of the forest.

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Rahan rode up beside Anayah.

"Do you want to tell me what that was about?"

She smiled ruefully at the elf.

"He followed me, we fought, we rolled down an embankment and I kissed a tree with my head, Greyfell took care of me then I sent for the two of you. I was telling the truth when I said I would feel better having an escort back to camp. The two of you were there as a 'show of force,' and if his intentions are less than honorable, he is now aware that I am not alone although he does not know the full strength of my force."

Rahan nodded his head.

"A wise move."

As the three elves made their way back to camp, by a circuitous route, Anayah got the feeling that her Captain had another matter on his mind.

"Rahan, you have tried to say something to me about three times now. I know you too well, my friend – something weighs heavy on your mind. What has happened?"

They had finally reached their camp and were dismounting before Rahan finally spoke.

"The extraction didn't exactly go as planned, Anayah."

She froze, one hand poised at the saddle cinch as she calmly turned to the big elf.

"What exactly do you mean by it didn't exactly go as planned? Did the twins free Estel and the human from Hope or did they not?"

Her eyes suddenly widened as she finally realized what her Captain was trying to tell her and without commenting on the issue further, turned to the two elves that had been left in the camp.

"Saeros, Semoro, we leave in five minutes – recon only. Súrion, Saeros this is nighttime stealth so cover your hair."

She turned back to Rahan.

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When the slaves from Compound 2 finally finished their shift in the stone quarry and turned towards the gate to return to their slave barracks for the night, the twins started following them but found their way blocked by the quarry foreman and two of the guards.

"And just where do the two of you think you are going?"

The foreman as well as the other two guards started slapping the palms of their hands with the vicious clubs they were carrying. Without even bothering to answer the foreman, both elves turned to follow the new slaves back into the quarry.

"You didn't answer my question you freaks!"

One of the guards reached out with his foot and tripped the exhausted younger twin and he fell to the ground. Elladan immediately reached for him to help him to his feet but was roughly pulled away by one of the guards. The other humans then started screaming at Elrohir to "get up," punctuating each word with a vicious kick or a blow from their heavy clubs.

Again and again, Elladan tried to go to his brother's aid but was eventually knocked to the ground and a foot was placed on the back of his neck, effectively pinning him face first in the dirt. The three guards had been brutalizing the youngest twin since he and Elladan had arrived at dawn for their work shift. Neither elf had been given food, water nor had they been allowed to rest, as the other slaves had been able to do. Elrohir was doing his best but Elladan could tell that his brother was fast approaching his physical and emotional limits.

The guards would add extra rocks to what Elrohir was carrying and would often make Elladan add his entire load to that of his twin. Though he would frequently try to redirect the abuse from the guards onto himself, the guards would ignore him as they continued abusing Elrohir. Elladan knew that the quarry foreman was orchestrating the guards' conduct. When his beloved twin was being beaten or when the humans would start making lewd or suggestive remarks to his brother, the smiling foreman would sit on his heels and stare at him, seeming to derive great pleasure from his rage. When he finally realized just how much the foreman was enjoying seeing his reactions to the abuse of his brother, Elladan started making a conscious effort to show no emotion at all.

At one point, the two elves thought they were actually going to be left alone but when they had each picked up a load of rocks then had turned to exit the cave, they found the two guards and the foreman standing behind them, waiting patiently.

"I think this one is shirking his responsibilities."

The foreman grinned maliciously as he gently tapped the rocks Elrohir was carrying in his arms. The other two nodded in agreement with their boss who then walked forward, took a stone out of Elladan's hands and forcefully put it on the pile the younger twin was carrying. Because he was getting no reaction out of either elf, he took another stone then another stone and added it to Elrohir's pile and soon the exhausted elf's legs began to quiver as he strained to hold the rocks that were being placed in his arms.

Finally the two were allowed to exit the quarry and when they at last emerged into the cool, fresh night air, Elrohir seemed rejuvenated and stood taller as he walked toward the wain that would carry the mined stone to the other quarry for processing. Just five feet from his goal, one of the guards stuck out his foot and tripped the younger twin and he dropped the rocks in his arms then fell face first in their midst, opening up a small cut above his temple.

Verbally berating the fallen elf for slacking off and not working hard, one of the guards kicked the twin so hard that he flipped him onto his back where he curled in on himself to try and avoid any more of the vicious guard's blows. When all Elrohir could do was lay on the ground with his eyes closed and panting in distress, no matter what the foreman and his three guards did, the foreman decided they had all had enough fun for the day.

"Take these two 'things' back to their cage. We need to keep them alive enough to come back tomorrow at dawn."

Nodding in acknowledgement of the foreman's order, the other guards signaled for Elladan to gather up his brother and exit the quarry.

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Anayah had not moved from her position since the five of them had arrived some hours earlier. Her Guards had all taken up their usual positions, Semoro in back of his Commander with his back to her to watch for danger from behind while Súrion was in the top of a nearby tree watching for danger from afar. Rahan stood behind Anayah and to her right in a support capacity, while Saeros, was closely investigating the area around the slave quarry where the twins were currently working as well as Compound 2, where the two would finally go to rest.

The big Captain could tell that she was angry – and it was not just her aggressive posture that told him this, for the muscles in her jaw were clenched tightly and the fire in her eyes could probably be seen in Imladris. The first time she moved at all was when the cruel guards finally grabbed her two brothers by their slave collars and began dragging them back to Compound 2. Even then, all she did was shift her weight from one leg to the other and uncross her arms. To any being who had ever been witness to the seemingly unlimited energy the she-elf possessed, to have seen how still she had been, for as long as she had been standing in the shadows of orchard, would have been an extremely unnerving experience.

Then, when the twins had been roughly thrown into the small wooden cage without food, water or even a single warm blanket between them, Anayah finally came to life and faced her Captain. The fire in her eyes alone would have been enough to instantly incinerate the brutal guards as well as the quarry foreman.

"Call Saeros in." Was all she said as she turned and walked back to where her horse was waiting.

When Saeros returned a few moments later, Anayah listened to his report then after thanking the elf, mounted her horse and after the rest of the guards had mounted, galloped off in the direction of their camp.

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Anayah did not speak to anyone the entire trip back to their camp and her Guards knew better than to try to force the issue at that time. Finally, when they had arrived at their destination, Anayah dismounted then started to put the soft leather boots on her stallion that would muffle the sound of his hooves. Rahan decided that the time had come to get his Commander to talk about what was on her mind and being the only one of the four who was never intimidated by her occasional fits of temper – much, anyway – he quietly approached her.

"Anayah? I would like to know your wishes in this matter."

She quickly walked to where her pack was leaning against the tree and opening it, found, then changed into a plain black stealth tunic then tied a black scarf on her head to make sure that her vision and attention was not disturbed or distracted by stray wisps of hair. When she was riding on a humanitarian mission with punitive objectives, also known as saving someone and kicking-ass in the process, Anayah had a custom where she would tie a black scarf above the biceps of her sword arm as a sign that she was "going hunting," as she put it. She was having trouble tying it and when her Captain gently removed her shaking hands and finished tying it for her, she finally broke down.

Rahan wrapped his arms around her and drew her to his chest as she finally gave voice to her fury as well as her grief. Finally, when she had calmed herself somewhat, she patted her Captain's arms and stepped back from him, angrily dashing the tears off her cheeks, after which she looked up at the elf standing in front of her.

"I want to take those nasty humans apart with my bare hands, Rahan – oh, how I want to hurt them! That they should treat my brothers, or any other being for that matter, with such callousness and disregard for their dignity I …"

Sensing that she was again letting her fury gain control, he lifted her chin until she was forced to look at him.

"Anayah, you must regain your focus before you do anything for if you do not and were to rush in there after Elladan and Elrohir and they got hurt worse or, Eru forbid, you were captured or injured, it would break our hearts. For a moment just take a step back, take a deep breath and try and find your center. Then, you can decide what it is you want to do."

She stood silently for a moment, looking at her Captain and after giving a deep sigh placed a kiss on the big elf's cheek.

"Thank you Rahan, for once more you have helped me regain my focus and in the process have helped preserve my sanity. I know I am a very dysfunctional elf and I tend to act like an elfling a lot, but its because I never had a chance to be young and you helped me learn that was ok and that the baggage that I carry around with me doesn't make me any less of an elf. You help me keep my focus, when it is necessary for me to switch worlds, to be grown up, and do the things that are necessary for grownup elves to do. I love you for this."

She took a deep breath then began to buckle on her sword then pulled on her black gloves and after she had finished, looked up at her Captain one more time and smiled.

"The Black Rider rides this night in my brothers' names."

"Don't you mean Black Riders – plural?"

Anayah spun and was surprised to see Semoro, Súrion and Saeros sitting behind her on their black horses. As per her instructions on stealth missions, there was not one single non-black item to be found on any of the elves, their clothing, horses or tack, that might give away their presence or position. Saeros and Súrion had even carefully concealed their light hair. She turned back to her Captain who only shrugged as he took the reins of his stallion from his brother then mounted. There was only one last thing to do – Anayah dropped to one knee and bowed her head.

"Ilúvatar, give me the strength to do what I have to do and face what I have to face with courage, determination and grace. Let my hands wield my sword righteously and let my heart guide me to do what I must so that I may free my brothers and restore to them their rightful health and dignity. Gladly will I pay any price you ask but please do not ask it on this day or the next but only when my brothers are free of their captivity and whole once more."

With no further words, Anayah mounted her stallion and after touching gloves with her Guards the five elves wheeled their horses and galloped off into the shadows. As they disappeared into the night, even the trees of the forest wished them well.

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The Quarry foreman, his two guards and the ten Compound 2 guards were having fun with the two prisoners and were all gathered around the wooden cage structure where the two elves were sitting. For some time, they had been poking sticks at the two, trying to get them to move, cry out or even retaliate. Elladan was sitting as far back as he could get and was cradling his sleeping twin in his arms and whenever a stick would come near Elrohir, he would put something of his own in its path – an arm, a leg – whatever was closest.

Suddenly Elladan felt something and without looking, he opened his fist, laid his palm flat on the ground, and again felt the rhythmic vibrations on the hard-packed soil – something big was coming their way. He smiled, for he knew what that something was.

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Though they didn't know why, the humans suddenly became uneasy and after standing up straight and backing away from the wooden cage, they peered into the night and even though they saw nothing, their uneasiness continued to grow.

When a giant black stallion came sailing over the top of the 5-½ foot spike-topped fence, all but two of the 13 humans froze in fright at the sight, especially when four more horses followed the first. Though the humans made a valiant but futile effort to fight the intruders, it was only a few minutes later that all but one of them lay dead. While three of Anayah's Guards ringed in the Quarry foreman and kept him from leaving, Rahan and Anayah released Elladan and Elrohir and ever-mindful of their injuries, helped them walk to where the horses stood.

Elrohir sank to the ground, his head hanging down and his chin resting on his chest while Elladan knelt beside him and tried to comfort him. There were tears in Anayah's eyes as she knelt in front of her brother and tenderly smoothed the hair out of his eyes. Placing a hand on both sides of his head, she lightly kissed his forehead then removing her cloak, wrapped it around him. She then whispered in his ear.

"He will never hurt you again, my brother."

88 Standing once more, Anayah turned and began walking toward the guard, drawing her Lórien dagger from its sheath. Her Guards parted and let her inside the ring they had formed around the foreman. The human sensed what was coming for the look in his eyes, like any animal that sees the end of his life approaching, was one of both acceptance as well as sadness.

Stopping in front of the man, Anayah looked him up and down, then fixing her eyes on his and without further warning, sank the razor-sharp dagger in the man's stomach up to the hilt. The human gasped and with wide eyes, stared at the dagger then once more looked at the being in front of him. Using her elvish strength and keeping the blade horizontal, she lifted up on the blade – and kept lifting – cutting tissue and muscle alike. The man, although in shock, was still alive when his intestines started slipping from his opened abdomen and fell to the ground at his feet. He looked at what lay before him then at Anayah one last time, a single tear slipping down his cheek before he finally sank to his knees then fell face first into the dirt.

Anayah cleaned her dagger on the man's tunic then after once more sheathing it, walked off a ways and stood silently, eyes closed and breathing in the cool, untainted night air. Both Elladan and Elrohir were staring at her in disbelief, for they both knew Anayah was a formidable warrior although neither had any idea that she was capable of what she had just done.

Elladan jumped when Rahan laid an arm on his shoulders. There was sadness in the Captain's eyes for he knew the emotional toll that the act had exacted on his Commander's spirit. He looked at both twins a moment before he spoke.

"She was only avenging what was done to beings that she loves. Would either of you have done any less?"

Saying nothing further, Rahan walked to where Anayah was standing and put a comforting arm around her shoulders.

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From where he stood in the shadows of the nearby orchard, Greyfell had witnessed the whole incident.

"The heart of a bear." He whispered to himself before he turned and disappeared into the night.

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When Ostara's second-in-command, Garm, had been informed of the incident by two hysterical compound guards, all they could manage to say was that they had not heard the approach of the demons that had entered the slave compound. After listening to the fantastical story the two told and anticipating Ostara's wishes in the matter he slit their throats then instructed the palace guards to dispose of their bodies with the refuse.

With that act, Garm committed the greatest mistake of his life for if he had allowed the guards to calm down before he questioned them, he would have known in advance that there was a unit of combat trained elves in Hoth. If he had known this in advance, things may have turned out differently.

TBC

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CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: You make me want to cry because of your review. In case you haven't noticed, the hated words "Mary-Sue" are not in my vocabulary, as I consider them to be literary censorship in its ugliest form. When I see an eager and talented young writer such as yourself already trying to write according to somebody else's standards instead of using her own voice, I sincerely want to cry. The quote in the next paragraph was something that the list owners of the fanfiction site wrote and is something that I wish more writers would read and consider.

3) Avoid the lemming syndrome. Weave your own Odyssey and avoid being caught up in the latest writing fashion. There are no shortcuts to effective fiction, only fundamentals which have not changed since the beginning of time.

I realize that when someone joins someone else's list that if they have the "No Mary Sue" rule then you are accepting their guidelines when you join and should politely adhere to those guidelines while participating in the activities of that particular list. I belong to such a list which I joined as an exercise to teach myself tolerance.

It is my prayer that someday you will feel comfortable enough to start writing using your own voice. I would be very interested in reading what you wrote so when you finish it, let me know where I can find it. Good luck on your vignette.

I'm glad I was able to surprise you with Greyfell's secret! There are still many more layers to uncover for this character which will happen little by little. Thanks for the review and I look forward to hearing from you again.

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kukumalu: You scared me with all the big words about your scientific essay. Alas, my mind is a creative mind and not a scientific one and although I have, in the past, written articles, editorials and essays such as yours, they are not what makes me the happiest. The first paper I ever wrote in college was edited by a woman who was studying for her Master's Degree in English. She read my paper then told me she couldn't understand a word I was saying – I never wrote that way again. It was truly a sad day! LOL!

I learned and have since heard other professional writers say the same thing that the writing should be invisible, that the reader should be able to immerse themselves in the story without being distracted by the words themselves. That is what I am trying to teach myself to do – to relearn. At the rate I am progressing, I will probably be 95 years old by the time I learn that lesson!

Well, the smelly man will not get a chance to make his trip to the sea … ever again. So sad … 1-½ tears for him … NOT!

Give the girl a cookie … SAM is … peredhil (half-elven). I like where you said that it was so like Anayah to point something sharp at a stranger's neck. Think about it. The most vulnerable parts on a living two-legged being's body, and points that any being can use to subdue another whether they are large or small are the throat and the groin, either of which Anayah is more than willing to go after – depending on the occasion.

As far as the help Greyfell will give to free Legolas and Aragorn … you will just have to read on and see what happens.

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Horsiegurl: Well, you are half-right (sorry about the pun). Greyfell is half-elf. There are more layers to this man and they will be revealed little by little. Thanks for the review. It makes me happy to know that you are continuing to enjoy the story.

Karone Evertree: Thank goodness I check for reviews before I post! LOL! Welcome and thank you very much for your review. More information on Greyfell in this chapter. I am so glad that you are enjoying the story!