The Seven Seeing Stones
Eight
Help To Find The Fifth
Avaanta pulled his horse to a sudden stop as he spotted a lone rider on the far horizon. It appeared to be a horseman and as it was a rare occurrence to see an Elf at all, much less one out in the open such as this figure, he safely assumed he was of the race of Men. Though whether that assumption was in itself safe was another matter.
So long as the rider remained alone Avaanta felt confident in his own abilities to defend himself easily enough against such a foe. He knew he was out of the man's line of site, himself only just able to see him so he turned his horse to approach the man from around the hill that rose before him.
After finding no other men accompanying the rider Avaanta decided to approach with caution, hoping the man may be able to tell him of Celeborn's whereabouts. He pulled his dark hood up to hide his face and especially his ears from view before setting his horse off towards the other at a light trot.
The man saw him coming and drew a sword, ready to defend himself if it came to it but as the strange hooded rider drew closer without showing any signs of producing a weapon he sheathed his sword and rode out to meet him.
"Greetings to you man of Rohan. I come from Gondor with news from its King." Avaanta lowed his voice as best he could to make it sound rougher.
The man eyed him up and down deciding were he a man of Gondor that would certainly explain the cloak, and they were due to receive word from Gondor. Avaanta remained stiff in the saddle, fighting off the urge to shift his weight thereby displaying his uncertainty.
"If you bring news from the King you best come with me then."
The man turned his horse and waited for Avaanta to pull up beside him. He tried to peer beneath the shade of the hood and thought he saw a shimmering surface, but that could not be right.
The two horses took off at a hurried pace but were not in any desperate rush to reach Edoras.
They rode for sometime before Avaanta finally questioned the man about Celeborn.
"I have been hunting an Elf for several days now but he gave me the slip a few nights ago around these parts. I don't suppose you may have seen him?"
Avaanta held his breath as he desperately hoped the man would buy his story, thankfully he did. The tanned face of the man quickly contorted into a look of disgust.
"An Elf you say. Thought we had killed them all or sold them into slavery!" He bellowed loudly and Avaanta fought down rising bile as he attempted to laugh with him, keeping this act up was important if he were to keep his identity a secret.
"Actually now that you mention it our King recently obtained a new Elven slave, only a few days ago." The man paused and Avaanta waited with hidden raised eyebrows for him to continue. "A tall silver-blond male actually, pale blue eyes, attitude problem; took a day or two to break him."
"That's him." Avaanta said with a hidden smirk.
"Guess someone else beat you to him huh friend?"
"Yes I guess they did. A shame, I could have a got a very good price for him."
"I don't doubt that." He laughed haughtily again and Avaanta cringed inwardly, disgusted by the man beside him in so many ways.
Luckily he did not have to converse with him for the remainder of their journey, he smelt awful to top everything off and Avaanta had to manoeuvre his horse every time the winds shifted so his nostrils would not be assaulted by the stench.
He wasn't sure how he felt about the news of Celeborn's capture. Foremost he felt the other Elf had it coming, that he deserved to be captured and forced into slavery. However a part of himself that he had kept buried deep within since his torture felt sorry for the Elf, but he was not sure he was ready to admit that quite yet.
The riders slowed their horses as they came up over the rise and Edoras appeared before them, golden in the morning sun, flags stirred by the wind that whipped through the valley. It had been some time before he had been here last; those had been happier times but were not to be dwelt upon.
"I will take you to the King man of Gondor but you will have to give me your name if I am to introduce you."
Avaanta panicked for a moment, not sure whether he should risk using his name or complicate matters further by adding another, plus Celeborn would recognise him and most likely call him by his chosen name. There was an easy way to settle his internal dispute and to do so he pulled his hood back from his head, exposing his half masked face to the man beside him.
The Rohan soldier gasped quietly and Avaanta almost prepared to flee as he thought Eldarion's word on his theft of the Palantiri must have gotten out with a description to match him. However when the man seemed to only be horrified by his appearance but showed no signs of any sort of recognition Avaanta relaxed in the saddle.
"You may introduce me as Avaanta. But it is most urgent that I see your King."
The soldier nodded and galloped his horse off with Avaanta in tow. Their horses were taken off to the stables to be cared for while the man lead Avaanta up to the King's Hall.
The solider left him with the guards who lead him into the Golden Hall to be presented to the King. He still wore his black cloak about his shoulders but his hood was drawn back and he had been disarmed at the doors to the hall. Between the two guards he was walked up to the throne upon which sat Elfwine, Rohan's current King and son of Eomer.
"Well whom do we have here?" The King asked with a raised eyebrow.
"This is Avaanta. He comes with word from Gondor's King." One of the guards introduced him before the King dismissed them.
Elfwine motioned for Avaanta to sit in a chair placed before his throne and snapped his fingers loudly, why Avaanta was not sure until from the shadows behind the throne emerged a defeated looking Celeborn dressed in nothing but a pair of silvery leggings and with his long hair pulled back from his face.
The Elven Lord's eyes widened as he recognised Avaanta but he quickly squeezed them shut as a sharp tug upon his hair reminded him of the horror he had been living for the past few days.
"You come when I call you slave. Always remember to whom you belong." The King twisted the Elf's hair once more for good measure.
"Yes master."
"Good. Now go fetch myself and our guest, Avaanta, a drink."
"As you wish master. I shall be right back with your request." His tone was demure but as he walked past Avaanta, with his back to Rohan's King, he glared hatefully at the other Elf who responded only with a wide grin.
Avaanta watched as the Elven Lord turned slave exited the room before he turned back to Elfwine, a knowing smile plastered across the King's face.
"A fine specimen isn't he? Can you believe my soldiers found him roaming about our lands on his own." He chuckled and Avaanta responded with a grin he hoped didn't look as forced as it felt.
"Yes. I was hunting him prior to my arrival here."
Elfwine raised a thick eyebrow and waved a hand to motion for his guest to continue.
"An Elf recently broke into the King's Tower and stole something of great value to him. Eldarion has hired me to find the culprit and I believe your Elven slave is him."
"So the King has had his precious stones stolen has he?" A smirk crossed the man's face and Avaanta was carefully to hide his shock at Elfwine knowing about the Palantiri that had been in Eldarion's possession. "I didn't find them on the Elf when I captured him."
"He may have hidden them somewhere before he was found. Did you think of that?"
The King shook his head and then laughed loudly.
"Fancy that, little Eldarion had his rocks stolen by an Elf!"
"Yes. It has become quite the scandal as you can imagine."
"I suppose you'll want to take him then?"
"Take him?"
"Back to Gondor for whatever punishment is in order for him. Personally I think Gondor's precious little King has made the whole thing up. Probably grown tired of his own slaves and has heard of how wonderful my new one is and has sent you to bring him to him."
"You can assume anything you desire Elfwine all I know is what I have been hired for and that is to bring back that Elf for theft."
At that point Celeborn sulked back into the room with a silver tray perched delicately on his outstretched hand. He handed a tarnished silver goblet to each of the males who then raised their glasses before drinking deeply, while Celeborn back himself into the shadows behind the King's throne so that he could glare out at Avaanta until the King next called for his services.
"Well I suppose we cannot afford to upset Gondor. Take him then, wouldn't want him stealing my Palantir while he's in my services."
Avaanta had to fight very hard to keep the tiny gasp from breaking past his lips at this news. He had no idea that Rohan's King had a Palantir in his possession; this was certainly news and good news at that.
"Thank you Elfwine. Eldarion will be most appreciative for your cooperation."
The King nodded and took a swig from the goblet in his hand.
"Will you be needing accommodation for the night?"
"If you have a room to spare I would be most grateful for it. I fear I have worn my horse out getting here." Avaanta smirked inwardly, the King playing right into his hand.
"Very well. Slave!"
Celeborn hurried to Elfwine's side, not really in the mood for a beating of any sort.
"You called master." He bowed demurely and the King caught his chin in his hand.
"Have a room prepared for our guest, you shall tend to him during his stay and tomorrow you shall be leaving with him. Pray he treats you mercifully." He grinned a sickening grin and stroked a finger along his check. Celeborn shuddered in disgust and looked over at Avaanta, furry dancing in his eyes.
When the King released his chin Celeborn hurried off to prepare a room for Avaanta.
Avaanta remained in the throne room to engage in a conversation that involved an awful lot of false facts about Gondor and his role in the King's service. Elfwine seemed to buy it all without a questioning look.
As they were conversing a young blond woman in a pale red dress entered the throne room and headed for the King, a warm smile upon her face. Avaanta raised an eyebrow as she passed him, before she planted a soft kiss upon the King's cheek.
"Hello father."
"Hello my darling daughter. I would like you to meet a guest of mine. This is Avaanta, he is a soldier of Gondor and has brought new for me."
"Pleased to meet you Avaanta. Will you be staying with us for long?"
"Only the night I'm afraid. In the morn I must return the Elf to his Majesty for punishment."
"Is he talking about your new Elf father?"
"I'm afraid so child, it would appear he is wanted for grand larceny back in Gondor."
"I see." She sounded bored with the topic and flipped her long golden hair off her shoulders. Turning her attention from her father to the male with the silver mask obstructing half of his face. "I hope your stay here is an enjoyable one Avaanta, even though it will be short."
She flashed him a seductive smile before waving farewell to her father and disappearing off down the halls where Avaanta would later discover the royal families chambers were located.
"As soon as my Elf has returned I will have him show you to your room, where he will be at your service for your entire stay here."
The grin Elfwine flashed him made Avaanta feel sick to his stomach but he forced a smile back. It was not worth the risk of insulting his host.
After an invite was extended for him to join the King and his daughter for dinner Avaanta excused himself and asked to be lead to his room. A guard left him at the door and Avaanta thanked him before slipping inside. Once inside he was greeted by a fuming Celeborn lying on the bed, propped up on his elbows, legs stretched out before him with one folded neatly over the other.
"Didn't I tell you you'd be caught?" Avaanta said smugly as he lent back against the closed door.
"You are the reason I'm here Avaanta. I would kill you right now with my bare hands if I thought I could get away with it." Celeborn growled back at him.
Avaanta laughed loudly while Celeborn continued to glare at him.
"Why are you still in here anyway Celeborn. I thought your orders were to prepare my rooms."
Now it was Celeborn's turn to laugh.
"You don't think that's all they think a pretty Elven slave is good for hmm? I was ordered to prepare your room for you and then I was to be at you disposal for the rest of your stay here." Celeborn smiled seductively and laid himself invitingly out upon the bed, it was all an act and his smile quickly became a grimace.
Avaanta cringed and made a disgusted face before Celeborn sat up and drew his knees up to his chest.
"They don't really ask such things of you do they?" A tiny amount of Legolas slipped back into his speech and it did not escape Celeborn. If he played this out right perhaps there was a chance to save the Elven Prince from himself after all.
"What do you think was one of the first duties the King asked me to preform?"
Avaanta looked horrified at the honesty in Celeborn's eyes and sat down at the other end of the bed.
"I thought you knew all about what went on with the Elven slaves that were brought to Gondor."
"I suppose I did, but I didn't want to believe everything I heard was true."
"Well it is and I have you to thank for it."
Avaanta was not about to apologise to him, not after he had tried to foil his planes to capture the seven Palantiri. And yet he had not become completely stone hearted.
"I'm getting you out of here tomorrow."
"What?" Celeborn sounded genuinely shocked. "And how do you plan to do that."
"I'm taking you as my prisoner back with me to Gondor. After all the King has had me hunting down the Elf who stole his Palantiri for several days now."
Celeborn smiled for the first time in days and was tempted to throw his arms about the other Elf in gratitude but decided that was probably pushing the boundaries of whatever frail friendship they had.
"Put this on." Avaanta removed his black cloak and threw it at Celeborn. "I grow tired of the sight of your abdomen."
A small smile tugged at the corners of Celeborn's mouth as he wrapped the cloak about him in order to cover his naked upper half.
"But why wait until morning to leave?" Celeborn questioned as Avaanta began exploring the room.
"Because Elfwine let slip a very interesting piece of information."
Celeborn groaned loudly as he guessed to what Avaanta was referring.
"He has a Palantir in his possession doesn't he?"
"Yes it would seem he does. You know where it is?"
"No." Celeborn shook his head. "I assumed as much from the look in your eye."
"You know why I drove you off don't you Celeborn?"
"Yes but I can assure you your assumptions were misconceived Avaanta. I do not want to take your precious stones from you. In fact I want nothing to do with them. I would just rather not live out my life as a slave to the King of Rohan."
"Good. Then we have an accord?"
Avaanta held a hand out, which Celeborn took and shook firmly.
"So how do you plan to find, capture and steal the King's Palantiri all in one night?"
"Don't worry it wont involve you in anyway, if all goes to plan. I will however need you to vacate my room tonight."
"Why?" Celeborn gave Avaanta a suspicious look.
"Are you really in a position to be asking that?"
Avaanta was now lounging casually against the wall beside the bed, an eyebrow raised, knowing full well the other Elf couldn't deny a single request of his at this point in time.
"As you wish it then Avaanta. I will be sure to see to it that your room is empty tonight."
"Thank you Celeborn."
A loud knock at the door halted their conversation and Celeborn looked up at Avaanta with wide eyes. The younger Elf held his hand out for his cloak and Celeborn quickly tossed it at him and arranged himself upon the bed in a more submissive looking position. Neither really wanted to have to do any explaining as to why they were treating one another as equals.
"Enter." Avaanta called out.
A young servant girl pushed the door open carefully and cast her eyes quickly to the floor as she caught sight of the half naked Elf sprawled across the bed. Avaanta smiled, well at least he would have no explaining to do to this servant and she looked far too embarrassed to repeat anything she saw or heard.
"Sorry for my intrusion my Lord but dinner is served."
"Thank you. You are excused."
The young girl hurried out, leaving the two Elves alone once again.
"Do you have somewhere to sleep tonight?" Avaanta asked Celeborn.
"When our company is not wanted by our masters we sleep in the servants quarters."
"You will sleep there tonight then." Avaanta threw his black cloak at Celeborn again. "Don't loose it," He pointed to the cloak with a stern look, "and I expect you back here in the hour before dawn."
Avaanta took his leave then and headed for dinner with the King and his daughter. His plan was a simple one and he was confident he could pull it off. Though his confidence would have been far greater was his face still as beautiful as it had been.