Disclaimer: If you think I own JRR Tolkin's Middle Earth then you need your head read – and fast!
Double, Double
Sequel to Elemmire and Amdir
Chapter Seven. To Market, To Market!
Amdir looked at the pile of clothes in front of him in disgust. He lazily stood up and kicked them with his toe. Subconsciously he screwed up his nose at the pile which was not much better than rugs – to his elvish standards anyway.
"I'm not wearing those," he heard Elemmire exclaim in disgust.
There was a soft thump and a startled cry as Elemmire was obviously struck. Amdir hissed angrily and turned towards the stone wall as if he could offer his twin comfort. Of course there was none to be given…
"Change," the human before him hissed irritably. Amdir glanced into the stony face which despite the lack of expression seemed to be hoping to punish Amdir with his fists.
"But – but you'll… look," Amdir fumbled feigning embarrassment.
The human only raised his muscled arms and crossed them against his broad chest. "Change."
"But… but…" Amdir stammered.
The human sighed in exasperation and turned his back. "Fine," he grumbled. "Be quick."
Amdir remembering the map his Iuaradar had given him whipped it out of his pocket and hastily changed. Then fumbled to hide the precious parchment before the human realised he was completely dressed.
"You can look now," Amdir murmured.
The human turned around and seemed sorely disappointed that he had no reason to punish the prisoner. He looked the young elf in front of him up and down critically. Then grabbed his wrists viciously and dragged him to the dungeon door.
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"I'm not wearing those," Elemmire cried in disgust looking at the clothes before him in disdain.
The humans before him growled and he was slapped viciously. He reeled backwards with a cry and landed hard onto his backside. The humans glared down at him anger smouldering in their dark black eyes. And yet at the same time they seemed hungry for something.
"No," Elemmire said starting to sob and shake his head. "No. I won't be a slave. I won't wear a slave's garb."
The humans looked oddly gleeful and annoyed all at once. They advanced onto him garbing his arms and legs so that he was immobile. Rough hands undid the buttons of his tunic as Elemmire kicked and cried.
His old elvish clothing was removed and new horrible scratchy rags were forcefully pulled over his head and legs.
"Come you little elvish brat. A fine price you shall fetch today at markets," a man snarled.
Elemmire feeling angry, frightened and defiant kicked his shins in reply.
"Why you little…" the man backhanded Elemmire twice. Hard.
Before Elemmire had a chance to recover he was brought to the door and led through the dungeons like a lamb to the slaughter…
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Elrohir picked absently at the bandages that covered his wound as they entered the Golden Wood. The sun was rising, throwing warm white gold rays through the lush canopy of trees. It would have been a promising day if he knew his twins were safe. Why did he tell them to flee in the first place?
For a moment he wished Elladan was with him instead of missing in the wilds looking for his sons. The pang of not being with his twin when his son's fate was uncertain was quenched by the thought of 'Uncle Elladan' crushing any that would mean his elfings harm.
Another part of Elrohir nagged himself for being such a terrible worry. Both his sons were resourceful and intelligent there was no doubt in his mind that they could survive a few hours alone in the wilds…
Then an awful thought struck him. What if there were orcs out there? What if they were hurt? Hungry? What if they were already dead? A shuddering breath escaped his lips; he could not allow himself to think of such things.
A pale and weary Estel glanced in his direction; sadness reflected in his gentle grey eyes. Estel loved the elflings dearly, this Elrohir knew, and his grief would be shared. He was not alone in anxious panic for his son's safety.
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Amdir glanced into the tear streaked face of Elemmire who was still sobbing quietly. He wished he could reach out and just touch the cool skin of his twin. Indeed he had to make do with silent eye contact.
'I want to die,' Elemmire thought desperately still sniffingly as he was marched along. The insults and taunts thrown at him by the slavers slapped about his consciousness but he neither seemed to hear or see them. The only thing that mattered was his twin.
'I want to die.' Amdir jumped in shock and wondered who had spoken. For the slavers demanded that they were not to speak unless directly spoken to first. His eyes rested on Elemmire who seemed to be frowning pensively. And then he knew. He knew it was Elemmire's subconscious communicating to him. Just like Ada and Gwador-Adar!
'No you don't,' Amdir snapped back concentrating so hard that his face screwed up comically. He watched as Elemmire's head came up a sad smile gracing his brother's features.
'Do you think Ada will forgive me for being such a prat to him when he returned home?'
'He forgave you quicker than an arrow flies from Prince Legolas' bow. I do not believe he was truly angry with you to begin with.'
'I was so afraid.' A fresh torrent of tears streamed down Elemmire's pale face. 'Afraid that he would leave and never come back to us. Afraid that we would be alone in the world again. And here we are…'
'Everything will be alright in the end.'
Elemmire sniffed loudly and blinked his eyes. The muscles around his lips trembled into a watery smile.
"ARGH!" a man cried to Elemmire's left. "Look at him, he's a mess!"
A handkerchief was wiped roughly over Elemmire's face. Elemmire tried to turn his face way but to no avail. His chin was grabbed and the incessant harsh wiping continued.
Eventually the handkerchief was removed and Elemmire was looking into the hateful eyes of the man who had drugged him in the clearing. The man barely acknowledged him but glanced over at the others who were leading the twins.
While the men were talking in strained whispers, Elemmire looked around. They were still under ground above their heads was a flat roof made of roughly hew wood. He glanced through the cracks and with the small amount of light permitted he could see the form of a man on the stage speaking to presumedly a crowd.
"We'll sell them as a package… A special," the captor sneered looking into Elemmire's face. "We have some special visitors at the moment from out of town you may be interested in two young…." A menacing hand ran down the curve of Elemmire's chin… he shivered involuntary… "elf boys…"
Elemmire and Amdir were violently thrust up a set of internal stairs and then through a trap door.
Amdir blinked to be so suddenly reacquainted with light. Elemmire bit back a gasp as he realised they were over looking a sizable crowd. The twins huddled together feeling lost, small and terribly frightened as the humans before they looked at them with undeniable interest in their eyes.
The man already on the stage grinned wildly and gestured at the twins. "Here is a once in the lifetime opportunity. Elvish twins… Look at them ladies and gentleman. Young enough to be trained… See their lovely innocent eyes. They will be auctioned off as a complete set."
Amdir bristled with indignation. But with a lazy wave of his hand the man on the stage had the young twins join him on the podium and the bidding began.
For the most part Elemmire ignored the bidding. He sniffed back his tears and tried to be dispassionate as the humans haggled over the right to buy him. Amdir was squeezing his hand gently concealed from the human eye.
"Going… Going… Gone… to you sir in the crimson overcoat," the man bellowed. "For the sum of…"
The twins turned to look at the back of the crowd where a gentleman was standing in a long crimson overcoat. Amdir typically focussed on the lovely riding boats made of leather first…
The man smiled and nodded languidly as he casually strode to the edge of the platform. The twins were ushered forward towards the grinning human. The human reached up and as the twins were handed over placed them firmly onto their feet. Strong hands held the twins as their new master paid the agreed price.
"I am Nusayer," the man said somewhat kindly but sternly. "And I am your new master."
Elemmire looked into the face of his master and fainted dead away.
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I'm sorry! ARGH exams are now over, full time work is now beginning. Please be patient! Thanks to all reviews. : ) You make my day.