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Double, Double
Sequel to Elemmire and Amdir
Previously
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.
Chapter Eight. The Master of the House (Part 1)
The man, Master Nusayer, as he called himself caught poor Elemmire's slumped body against his broad chest. Long mangled raven locks were brushed away from the Elflings face by his strong calloused hands. Then with a soft sigh of resignation Nusayer hefted the unconscious elf-child into his arms.
Amdir wanted only to slap the man's hands away from his defenceless twin. He gritted his teeth together because he knew his situation was helpless. Nusayer could do whatever he liked.
Two of the slavers came forward to offer the new master chains. Nusayer disdainfully sniffed at the iron fittings and shook his head. "I won't be in need of those," he said in his firm gravely voice.
Only Amdir seemed to notice that his master refused to look at the slavers. His eyes darted away and stared at a blank space of air above their heads. Amdir's only logically conclusion was this human was definitely odd.
"Come," the man commanded lightly turning his back and waltzing away. He didn't even check to see if Amdir was following him. He seemed certain the other elfling wasn't far away. Of course Amdir had no choice but to follow like a lamb going to the slaughter house.
Amdir followed his master's way through a small village. He didn't really remember the place where he initially grew up away from his kind. But he had always imagined a human village to be full of quaint cottages surrounding a bustling market place full of exciting sights and smells. He was disappointed.
They soon reached the edge of the village and started through a field of long stalks of corn. Amdir could help but think dejectedly of all the games he and his brother could have played amongst the waving green stalks.
Nusayer however started to sing. His voice was something that Amdir was not used to hearing. Nusayer's song was in the common tongue, his voice deeper than an elf's. The melody seemed to be 'muddied' somewhat from the voices Amdir was used to hearing in the Hall of Flames. But overall Amdir assumed the human wasn't all that bad.
Nusayer started the chorus for the second time and tilted his head back his eyes half inviting Amdir to join the melody. Amdir felt a lump in the back of his throat at the unfairness of it all, remembering Elemmire's request for him to sing. And now Nusayer was singing, maybe not for Elemmire's sake, but he was still singing. Oh the irony! Amdir clamped his mouth shut and turned his face away in a refusal to join in.
Nusayer's faltered and then stopped. "Forgive me I was under the impression elves like to sing." The timbre of man's voice seemed wrong.
Amdir was in a terrible predicament. He knew some slavers punished their charges if they did not answer when spoken to. Then he reasoned the man was holding Elemmire securely in both arms. It would be difficult for him to punish him. So Amdir didn't answer.
"Your poor brother is in shock or dehydrated," Nusayer continued. "His skin is very warm. Did you get plenty of fresh water?"
"No," Amdir grudgingly replied. He answered only because it was for his brother's well being, no for his master's pleasure.
"I'll have a fresh jug of cool water brought to both of you when we get to the hall."
Amdir remained silent.
"Where are you from?"
No answer.
"I don't know the way to Mirkwood. And I don't like the sound of that forest, no offence master elf."
'What is this human on about?' Amdir thought.
"We'll talk more in the morning once your brother is up and about."
Amdir sniffed indifferently and crossed his arms against his chest. He didn't want to talk to the human – ever.
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Galadriel, the Lady of the Golden Woods, was waiting for the miserable party. Elrohir wasted no time he dismounted, ignoring all injuries he had sustained, and ran ungracefully towards his grandmother.
"What have you seen?" Elrohir demanded in a way of greeting, conveniently forgetting proper protocol.
A small smile graced the faint lines of Galadriel's lips as if she had expected Elrohir to behave in such a way. "You're children will be returned to you," she replied sternly but she continued when she saw the jubilant look in Elrohir's eyes, "In what manner or when I cannot tell."
Elrohir had felt his hope rise and then shatter in mere moments. Galadriel said they would return, true but she didn't say how… they could be dead…
"Peace, Elrohir," Galadriel sighed laying a porcelain hand on Elrohir's arm as if sensing his deep distress. "What will be; will be. Your worry shall not help you."
Elrohir felt his eyes mist over, he sniffed lightly as he could and nodded his head.
"I believe the healers are waiting to be reacquainted with you," Celeborn said abruptly appearing by his wife's side. His eyes glanced over Elrohir and Estel.
"I'm sure they'll be thrilled to see us," Estel murmured darkly. Rumil, who was supporting the adan's weight, chuckled politely and grinned mischievously.
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Orophin rubbed his soar neck and wearily glance towards Haldir who had knelt by an abandoned human camp. His long elvish fingers were caressing his bow almost loving watching Haldir's every move.
Humans? Orophin let out a disgruntled hiss. You just could not trust the second born.
"Are you saying the terribly duo meet with the humans… got in the scuffle… and carried of?"
Haldir rubbed his face with his hand. "For the second time Orophin. Yes."
"What type of elflings would be stupid enough to approach humans?"
"Obviously Elrohir's elflings," Haldir muttered in reply. "Well look on the bright side. At least they would be easer to track."
Orophin grunted. "Stupid elflings…"
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Nusayer flicked the bed sheets aside and laid the unconscious twin on top of the bed. He brushed back raven locks gently with his hand and glanced up where Amdir was staring at him hatefully.
"I'll get you some water," Nusayer said. However he didn't stir from his post.
Amdir grunted and shrugged his shoulders in an uncommitted fashion.
"I'll have my son Glin to bring you something nice to eat as well."
Amdir glanced away. He hadn't eaten anything decent while in the slaver's custody but he wasn't about to let Nusayer know how hungry we was.
"Would you like me to have a bath drawn or would you prefer to wait until your brother is awake."
Amdir glared at him.
"We'll wait until your twin is awake," Nusayer commented jovially to himself before he practically ran out of the room and closed the door noisily behind him.
This gave Amdir a chance to look around at his surroundings. Much to his surprise it was a lavish room by the human standard. The bed was larger than the one's either twin possessed in Imladris, the sheets looked silken and the covers were a rich green colour. The floor of the house was stone. The hall itself was a great hulking construction of stone work. There were mahogany furniture items, a desk complete with writing instruments, a side table for eating, a game board with a chess set, the pieces made from crystal…
Amdir sighed heavily and found a plush seat to wait for Elemmire to wake up…
Amdir's reverie was broken five minutes later by a diminutive tap on the door. But before he could say anything the door creaked upon and small head popped through.
Amdir's eyes widened. It was a boy. He had never before seen anything quite like him. His skin was much darker than the men of the west; his hair was dark as his own but looked coarser and rougher. A ropey scar marred a smooth face, slicing down a closed left eye.
"Hello," the boy gabbled jumping into the room happily baring a tray and juggled a jug in his spare hand.
Amdir blinked in confusion.
"I'm Glin," the boy said placing the tray and the jug on the small table. "I brought you something nice from the kitchens and father says you should make your twin drink water when he wakes."
Amdir felt as if he was frozen. This could not possibly be Nusayer's son. He was too different.
Glin seemed to not have noticed that the elf was struck dumb. He was pouring a goblet of water and shoved it into Amdir's hand. "Drink my friend you do look thirsty."
Amdir obeyed without registering his body actions. He knew he was thirsty he gulped down the glass in a few seconds. The water was a cooling balm for his throat.
"Need more?"
Amdir nodded and the boy took the goblet of him again and filled it before handing it back. Amdir drank more slowly this time.
"You hungry?" Glin lifted the lid on the tray revealing a platter of fruits, nuts, breads and cheeses. "I didn't know what elves eat so…"
"It's fine…" Amdir murmured his brows creasing in confusion. He was supposed to be a slave and yet he was being treated quite kindly. Slaves weren't supposed to be treated nicely by their masters.
"I'll bring more up for your brother when he wakes if you like," Glin continued almost bouncing up and down on the spot with spare energy.
Amdir slowly sat glaring at the boy before him the whole time as he reached slowly for a nut.
The boy smiled coyly and surprised Amdir by sitting in the opposite seat and taking a piece of muffin and stuffing it into his mouth. "Father hasn't told you yet." It was a statement.
Amdir glared at him and Glin chuckled. "Aye. You're a newin' to slavery by your looks – the glare I mean. Well don't worry. I think you might have scared Pappa off telling you the news."
"What news?" Amdir doubted it was anything good.
Glin tilted his chin slightly so that he was staring at Amdir with his good eye. "Father has a habit of buying slaves and rescuing them."
Amdir blinked.
"You're not really a slave see," Glin elaborated grinning at the confusion and worry on the other's face. "I was a slave. Had been most of my life but I was fortunate that father bought me and cause I was so young then he adopted me as his own. Understandably we travel a lot…"
"I'm free?" Amdir stammered. "Really free?"
Glin rolled his eyes. "Yes. Although father will insist that you have a good sleep, feed and a bath… before he decides how to help you out. I mean he's never rescued an elf before so… he doesn't know how or where to set you back. We'll sort that out later."
Amdir pushed his chair back scrapping the legs across the floor.
'Ouff!'
Amdir wrapped his arms around the young human embracing him tightly.
They were free. It would be alright after all…
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Sorry for the delay really don't have an excuse. : o ) All review welcome.