Double, Double

Sequel to Elemmire and Amdir

Chapter Ten. Free As the Wind

Orophin and Haldir followed the tracks to a nearby village. Orophin grimace, for he had heard rumours about this particular human dwelling place. None of it was good. He shifted and told himself sternly that they were expecting trouble as soon as he and his brother realised the youngsters had been taken by humans. Those wretched, feeble minded greedy…

Haldir stood slowly ruining Orophin tirade of human abuse. He glanced up at his older brother and Marchwarden.

"We'll go down and inquire about the twins," Haldir said bringing up the hood of his cloak. "We'll want to keep our race secret as long as we can."

Orophin nodded in assent even though he didn't like hiding behind a hood. Humans were such strange horrible creatures, he decided, after all they were the odd ones, the second born.

It was little after dawn when the two brothers made their way carefully down to the village. The sun was rising over the horizon spilling golden rays over the cluster of old broken cottages. Orophin grimaced and fingered a particularly nasty hunting knife.

Haldir ignored his younger siblings anxious moves that any human would regard as aggressive and continued in an unhurried place. He was certain the twins would be held nearby and the best place to look for news was the village meeting place; the pub.

Neither elf spoke as they picked their way through poorly cobbled streets to the only pub of the village, 'The Hobbit's Feet.'

The pub was dingy and dirty as the rest of the town, much to Orophin's distaste. Haldir led the way through the doors and took a seat near the bar where the tenant was watching them carefully as if was already suspicious of their reasons being on his property.

With a curl of his lip, Orophin joined his brother, his eyes still darting about the smoke filled interior. He did not like humans and preferred to mix with them very little.

'

'

Elemmire and Amdir had been gifted with new horses on top of all the kindness of Nusayer and his son Glin. They had left with the dawn light.

Nusayer had strongly advised them to travel as quickly as they could to get away from the village, so notorious for slavers and to keep to the path they had set out for Lothlorien. "Speak to no one," Nusayer had said sternly waggling his finger under each twins' nose. "It pains me to say this but humans in these parts are not always honourable. There are slavers, robbers and those rangers..."

Elemmire and Amdir had grinned at each other on the prospect on meeting the rangers that their Uncle Estel was a part of.

Nusayer had also looked over Elemmire's wound in his leg for him during the evening. The slavers had fixed him up to some extent, but Nusayer had insisted on changing the bandages and washing the wound.

As the gold rays of the morning sun beat down on the twins they were travelling further away from the village and closer to their elvish destination.

'

'

"Aye and I got me some real good 'orses off Grimb, real smart," the gruff voice of the bar tender was telling one of his regulars.

After half and hour of sitting and pretending to drink the foul liquid, the bar tender had become used to them and began his normal gossip. At the mention of smart horses Orophin looked to Haldir. Haldir was also listening with interest.

"Grimb only does human selling don't 'e…" the bar tender leaned over the counter. "Or human like creatures."

The regular nodded his head and grumbled a reply.

"The 'orse apparently belonged to the last of Grimb's stock. Did ya see those boys… so young. Plucked so young from their freedom." The bar man chuckled and picked up glass and was drying it on a dirty rag. Orophin placed his mug down rather too loudly, his cheeks taking on a distinctive green colour.

"Aye I saw 'em. Would nae believe if I weren't there. Elvish twins. Old Nusayer of course bought 'em… I wonder where Grimb is getting his stock from?" the regular rumbled over his mug of ale.

The bar man waggled his head. "Best not to question Grimb if ya know what I mean. Are ya interested in the horses. I wanta sell quick want no trouble mind from the elves."

"I ain't got the money."

Orophin was staring unblinkingly into the amber liquid of his ale. He could barely believe that they had found information so quickly on the twins.

"Excuse me," Haldir said standing. "You're selling horses?"

"Ya." The Barman drawled. "They'll cost ya mind."

'Greedy human bastard,' Orophin thought frowning.

"My partner and myself had stopped by for the sole purpose for looking for horses before travelling onwards. Could we see them?"

Orophin narrowed his eyes he could practically see the greedy barman rubbing his hands together at the thought of the money he could get off his clients. Nevertheless he decided it was best to play along with his brother and stood grumbling and followed the others through the side door and the stables.

The stables needless to say were just as horrible as the pub but as Orophin's eyes were watering from the smoke he didn't mind the smell of horses as much. At the end of the stalls were the recognisable grey Lithônion on and his partner in crime the White Ainion. They had been presents from Lord Celeborn to the twins a few years ago. Orophin had to stop himself from thumping the barman; he was so angry.

Lithônion raised his lordly head and blinked lazy nickering as he did. Ainion's head was bowed over he looked thoroughly miserable.

Orophin watched as Haldir pretended to be critically looking over the horses and feigning interesting. He frowned when Haldir produced a leather pouch and paid for the horse which belonged to the twins anyway.

As Haldir was leading the horses away as their 'new' masters he turned smiling at the grinning barman. "Can you perchance tell me the way to Nusayer's property we have business."

"Of course," the barman said only happy that he had got a good price and complied by telling Haldir and Orophin the way to Nusayer's castle.

'

'

Elemmire had been humming a nonsensical melody for the last hour and half. He knew he was irritating more than amusing his brother but he couldn't help it. He started singing some lyrics, random that he had picked up from Lindar.

"I miss home," Amdir said finally breaking Elemmire's song off in mid-phrase.

For a moment Elemmire was silent. "Me too," he conceded.

"Do you think Iauradar knew we would get in trouble?" Amdir asked before Elemmire had a chance to start up his song.

"What makes you say that?"

"He seemed really concerned when we left Imladris he gave us the map as if he knew we would need it."

Elemmire leaned forwards and patted his shaggy pony's mane and chewed on his lips thinking. "He would have stopped us if he knew we were going to end up getting sold into slavery."

"Would we have listened if he made us stay at home?"

The answer was simple for Elemmire. "No."

'

'

Haldir and Orophin knocked violently on the large oak door to Nusayer's home. To their utter astonishment the master of the house himself answered the door.

"We're looking for a certain pair of elvish twins," Haldir said taking his hood off.

Nusayer gaped for a moment. "Milords come in," he said opening the door invitingly.

Haldir and Orophin stepped through the threshold. Orophin was confused by the warmish welcome by the human. Nusayer waiting until both elvish were behind the door he glanced outside was if looking for something then firmly shut the door.

"Forgive me I wasn't expecting you so soon."

"Where are the twins?" Orophin demanded in a dangerous voice.

"Gone. I released them this morning once we had consulted the maps."

"Maps?" Haldir asked creasing his brow.

"Yes this way. I scribbled down a copy in case any of your kind ended up my doorstep. It will show you the way the twins will be taking to Lothlorien."

Orophin could only gape at the human who had turned his back and was hurriedly walking down the hall.

Humans were indeed a strange race.