Treating with Orcs
around TA 2940
Gildor's POV
Raven and I developed the habit of staying in the valley roughly one year over the other. The compromise suited us better than expected, and even the winters in the wild were, once we had made out a handful of suitable locations, no longer the drag I feared them to be. On our own, we spent spring and early summer travelling from one camp to the next, usually hunting smaller groups of orcs. Late summer and autumn we drifted towards our chosen cave and like squirrels hurriedly began to lay up supplies. Generally what we had gathered got us well through the snow-season. Raven regularly provided us with smaller prey even in deep winter, and together we also went for deer and sometimes mountain-sheep. I was used to the wild wolf-packs going out of my way when I travelled, but Raven often called them to us, or they came looking when we passed through their territory. Each year we stayed in the valley we usually joined the small companies that went from Rivendell to hunt orcs on their own, or the far-scouts that regularly patrolled the vicinity of Eregion or the High Pass. That routine worked well until the tales and reports of trouble and servants of the shadow in the eastern lands began to abound. The small human villages between Mirkwood and the mountains were repeatedly harassed by orcs. They received help from Dale, but obviously not enough, and so at one point petitions for help came to Imladris. There were enough who were willing to go, and Elrond sent out a small force in answer.
We had just come over the High Pass and turned southeast when we ran into the orcs at midday. Raven had been restless for a while but been unable to place the feeling. Then the scouts burst back into the line, announcing a group of about fifteen orcs, coming towards us. Glorfindel rounded us at a gallop, hissing orders from Asfaloth's back. We formed ranks quickly, and then one of the pack horses sprang a trap. The net had been spanned across the forest floor and surged up with a rush of foliage and debris, spooking the horse and frightening many of the others. Of course the orcs heard, and were ready for battle in seconds. We had archers and horses, the orcs were on foot and had no bows. There was a moment of terse silence, orcs and Elves staring at each other, measuring the odds. Fifteen large orcs in well-tended, almost clean leather armour, armed with scimitars, swords and long knifes. The leader's face was painted half black half red, and a thick, snarled mane of black hair was tied back into a tail. His glance quickly swept our ranks, then returned to Glorfindel. The other orcs all bore the sign of some beast's paw on their armour. Thirty of us. I waited for Glorfindel's quiet order to attack.
Raven was on foot beside Fairё, his sword in both hands. We were in the front row together since he had flatly refused my order to stand back with the other fighters on foot. I heard him suck in his breath suddenly, and Raven took a step forward to come level with Fairё's head. I just wanted to order him back in earnest when the orc leader moved forward as well. He raised one gloved hand "I speak" he demanded in rough Common. I sensed the drawn bows behind me, but for some wild reason everyone still accepted the offer of parley. No one shot without Glorfindel's order. It would have been their final day in any force Glorfindel led.
The orc said something else and there was a moment of silence. Slowly, the words in the black speech registered with us. With me at any rate, though some looked blank.
"Our force is great and well equipped. You will have no easy victory. Or none at all" That seemed like a taunt, an absurd remark, yet no one laughed. Neither could anyone present actually answer in that tongue. We understood, but to speak it was to try and breathe backward. It did not work. Glorfindel and Raven moved at the same time, but Glorfindel held his horse back when he saw the dark elf's motion, giving Raven a scathing glance.
'Damn, Raven -' I remembered very well suddenly that Raven spoke this language. The orc leader's eyes fell back on Raven, and I saw his eyes narrow. I felt for my knife and held it lightly in my hand, ready to fling it. Both sides were stunned into silence when Raven returned a harsh answer in the same tongue "You will remember that everything that counts is hate, chieftain. Our hate equals yours. Mine does"
The orcs muttered behind their leader's back, and a whisper of sound went through the rows of the elves.
"We are a force of ten times ten" the orc snarled "Coming up from the south. In the valley behind us - ahead for you. I do not lie, wolf-skin"
Raven stared at the orc, glanced at Glorfindel, and turned back to the orc.
"Well?" he asked.
The orc bared his fangs "Turn. And we have not seen each other" A terse reply, more of a growl.
There was a sudden uproar in the orcs' groups, quelled by a snarled command from the leader.
Gildor, what the hell? Glorfindel's mind-voice rang in my head. I do not know
I directed a sharp sending at the dark elf 'Raven'
He turned around and stared at me "Back. Order them back. We must not go south"
Glorfindel's stallion came to a halt in front of Raven and Faire "What are you playing at, dark elf?"
"Back" Raven repeated, breathless, taking a step back from Asfaloth and bumping into Faire and me "We must not go south"
"Do you treat with orcs!-" Glorfindel snapped, disbelief making his voice sharp Gildor!
I hesitated only a second "Belief him. Now. Order retreat, and let us go the wide way round"
For a moment Glorfindel stared at me as if I had lost my mind. For a moment, I was sure I had. I knew it was only the long time we knew each other that made Glorfindel act now. His orders were sharp and in a no-nonsense tone. I wondered if anyone would actually oppose him, whether now or when we stopped to rest.
We turned and followed Glorfindel's lead, the archers getting to their own horses or riding pillion with someone who simply was handy at the moment. The orc shouted something over the rumble of hooves. I could not understand what it was. Probably an insult. Cursed speech.
Raven whirled and stared after the disappearing orcs.
"Here" I snapped when he did not move. I nudged Fairё forward and pulled the stunned-looking dark elf up in front of me as Fairё fell into a gallop.
We stopped after a long day's ride through pathless forest. The horses were tired, and so were their riders. There had been no time to question Glorfindel's orders, and so far as I could judge, there would not be yet.
It was one thing to leave a large group of orcs be, when the risk was too great. But that had been a small group, about fifteen. So it had looked. We had only Raven's word for it that it had been more, much more than we would have been able to handle without loss. Sometimes, as we had struggled through the underbrush today and seen not a single sign of orcs even I had half doubted his word. And I knew him.
There were dark looks directed at Raven, and he was tensed. And not only because he had just ridden half on Faire's neck for more than a day. I glared back at the watchers. Maybe Raven was better off not getting caught without me for a while. Not because I had any worry he would get harmed in a possible quarrel, but the wolf tended to settle verbal conflicts rather…direct. It wouldn't do for him to pound someone into the dust here for a few heated words.
There was a small mountain lake and we set up camp at its banks quickly. Watchers were positioned, and this night and the next day were planned for a rest. We would meet our own armed conflict when we arrived and had better turn up there rested.
The lake was cold, but any water was better than none at all. I took the first night-watch with Raven, and afterwards we made straight for the lake. Dawn was not rainy today and the sun rose slowly over the dark fir woods. It did little to actually warm the air, but the appearance of sunlight alone seemed warming. I peeled off my clothing and weighed the pile down with my sword. Naturally Raven was quicker undressing but when I turned to the water he still crouched at the lake's edge, staring across the still water with wide eyes.
"Are you seeing ghosts?" I went to sit beside him.
"Wish I would" Raven murmured without turning. The lake lay in a shallow valley, surrounded by high fir-woods. Just across from where we sat a higher mountain rose, its bare top glowing golden in the early morning sun. That mountain and a good portion of sky were reflected perfectly in the lake. Raven indicated the reflection vaguely.
"Nightchaser would say, shech'khai yelo, the world beyond"
I hesitated. Raven seldom let on anything that touched him, even less when it was concerned with his reaction to Ashi'kha belief.
"And as Nightchaser is not here, what would Raven say?"
"Raven is not good with words, so he will not say anything"
He made to stand up, but I held him back "Now you've given me titbits, tell me what it's about"
Raven glared at me but answered reluctantly after a moment "There is an old song which says the world beyond the sky is reflected in the water. That is the world where the hawk takes the osh'har of my people"
"Osh'har?"
"Fёar"
From somewhere high in the firs a bird of prey screeched, and a hawk sailed across the open space. Raven took a step back and stared after the bird.
"See? This is uncanny"
Before he could think twice about it he turned away and dived into the water, making for the middle of the lake. I caught up with him a little later, dunking him soundly. Raven came up sputtering.
"I hope that drives thoughts of the nether world from your head for the time being"
"Definitely" Raven took a moment to catch his breath "In fact it makes me think of revenge"
A good while later we returned to the bank. The sun was now high enough to shine onto the bank and we flopped down where the thin rays were warming the ground a little. "That's about the only sun we will see today" Raven remarked with a look at the surrounding hills "About midday it will be behind those woods, so let's use the warmth"
He stretched out on the ground comfortably, unheeding of the fir needles that immediately attached themselves to his wet hair. I watched him in amusement as I wrung out my own hair and twisted it into a makeshift knot to avoid sweeping the whole forest floor. A little behind us we could hear the soft sounds of the camp, the occasional snort of a horse. A few others came to the lake to bath but the bank was wide enough that we remained undisturbed. Near midday the sun moved slowly away from our spot, and I shook off drowsiness as I shivered in the cooling air. Raven's spot was still in sunlight and I moved aside to sit beside him and catch the last sunrays.
There was still a perfect reflection of the surrounding landscape visible on the water. The lake lay in a good place - with many other waters, clear reflections like this were restricted to special times in a day, when the light fell only thus and so. Here, the reflection only changed in colour, not in clarity. I looked around for the hawk, but there were no birds at all in sight. I cast a thoughtful glance at my companion, but resolved to let the subject be for the time. I was just going to turn away again when something caught my eye.
We had seen each other naked enough times before that I thought there was little we had not seen. Maybe it was a trick of the sunlight that I saw the strange scar now for the first time. Since it was rather low on Raven's groin I supposed the loincloth Raven generally wore always covered it. I squinted against the sunlight, wondering if it was by accident that the scar was shaped like a wolf's paw. No, it did not look like chance. I knew the Ashi'kha had a liking for tattoos, but this looked too clumsy for their handiwork, as if it had been burned through the skin into raw flesh. And they had neither fire nor iron.
I might push my luck. After all, Raven certainly owed me for the accident with the orcs. I would have to do a lot of explaining soon.
"Raven?"
"Uhm"
"What's that scar?"
His reaction was quite fascinating, though I had not expected anything near as violent. Raven twisted up into a sitting position and unconsciously moved his hand to cover the scar. He blinked "I…forgot that"
"What is it?"
I knew that stubborn look on Raven's face. I don't know, I don't want to know, I am not going to tell. Raven pulled his knees up and wrapped his arms around them, looking away across the water. After a moment he sighed and dropped his rejective posture "Oh damn it. After yesterday I should have thought-" he shook his head. I waited, wondering if I would be getting some information without prying. It obviously had nothing to do with Ashi'kha tradition; Raven was not so touchy about that.
"Orcs like to play with their prey. They also like to – mark their captives" Raven said abruptly. I took a moment to digest that. Better to say nothing for a while than to blurt. My heart made a painful jump, transporting me back in time in an eye blink. I shook that off.
Raven hated orcs with all his heart. Because they had killed his brother. Was there something else to it? He had closed me out the moment I had asked the question.
"What exactly do you mean?" I asked slowly.
Raven took a deep breath and let it out slowly "Just this: I was a fool, and I paid for it. I got firsthand information about orc hospitality"
"When?"
Raven shrugged "Just after Fingal's death. I…made good work of the company that got him. I was…busy…and another group ran into me. You got some of the…build-up from that time as…backlash. It kind of…set me on edge, you know?"
He smiled darkly. Now that almost made me catch my breath "I can't believe it. And you managed to hide that? You are truly a madman"
"Ah" Raven glanced at me sharply "I did my best. Seems I have succeeded. But why madman? And don't talk as if I…were the only one hiding something"
I couldn't help looking away, and I knew the wolf would register that most certainly. At least now I had some clue what had caused his explosiveness concerning physical contact at that time, beside the effect of his brother's death. A touch at the wrong time, an unconscious restraint, and Raven had blown up. Still did.
"And the end of the story? As far as I am informed orcs do not…extend their hospitality very long – to the living, that is"
"No"
"Raven, what has this got to do with yesterday? Just give me an answer, because it is us who will get into trouble if that orc-company wreaks havoc somewhere that we could easily have prevented. You of all the world have never spared any orc you could get"
Raven rubbed his wrists absently. He stared straight ahead when he finally answered "Look, you get the story…When they got me I knew I was in for some sport. I…I killed three of them, by…do your people have a word for that? To kill with one's mind?" Raven waited for an answer. I shook my head, watching him with rising discomfort. Raven's voice was so cold as to be expressionless, and I could not for the life of me decide if it was terror or hate or something else altogether that held him in thrall at the moment. Raven had closed his mind completely. I tried empathy, and got just blank 'presence'. The question still hung in the air.
"We do not have a word for that" I said finally "In fact, I do not think we…no. We can not do that" I broke off, the full impact of Raven's casual words sinking in "You mean that. That power you have, that can call fire from…from wet earth. You can kill by that"
"Of course" Raven said flatly. He turned around "The look on your face tells me that is new to you"
"I have…speculated. When you did…shin'a'sha. But-"
Raven nodded quietly "That was similar. And aye, it works quite well. Just not often. It makes you feel…dirty. You can…burn yourself out" He shrugged, overriding any objection before I could think of coherent words "I had left my sword because I was killing wolf way. When they ran into me I was not wolf. I had an orc-knife and was just leaving a message on their scouts that I had found. They were not pleased, but as there were no archers, I could kill a few still. Two the ordinary way, the others by taran'oshar" A pause "They tied me to a tree and left me for their chief. He wanted…well, there are few orc females in the ranging troops. They're at home breeding, I assume. That chief, I think he was bored"
Another pause. I could feel my shoulders knot painfully. That was so familiar. No matter it was a risk every warrior knew and took, no matter that it happened. I had been in luck because Silverleaf had been on time. And those that had no luck did not survive. Or refused to survive.
"I had spent my energy on those three" Raven continued calmly "I could not kill anymore at a distance. I had no chance to escape. So I decided I would…play along. I knew if he would take me he would be…close enough that I could mind-kill him still. And then I would see. Maybe I could have taken a few more and-"
I could not help it. I was horrified. Not so much at the fact. But Raven's cold, completely detached assessment of that…situation made my skin crawl.
"Did he-" Now that was a question no one had the right to ask. I stopped, but Raven only bared his teeth in a thin smile "No. He was a keen one…he…realized what I was doing"
"You wouldn't have survived-"
"No?" Raven stared at me straight, his grey eyes burning into mine. I could sense his temper flare, suddenly, like wildfire, burning through the coldness he had wrapped around himself in the last minutes. But it was not directed at me. For a moment Raven lost control of his shields and I felt the turmoil beneath, the wracking sensation when I realized Raven was directing all the hate and disgust he felt at himself. To me, it felt like turning ones sword against oneself.
"My body is my weapon, and I will use it. You have no idea what I could survive for my own nasty little revenge"
I shook my head in utter disbelief. I wanted to grab Raven and shake him out of that vicious circle, shout at him to come to his senses, but found not even words to say.
Suddenly cold again Raven went on "So he realized what was going on. I'd say he liked it. A pity, because I…I knew he would have suffered more than all the pits of Angband could have given him had I got his…his fёa into my power then. Now, he decided he wanted me for something else. There was a…a little betrayal going on between two orc-camps. He - Karzul that is - wanted the leadership. It would have given him tremendous power. But he needed information, and messengers. And you know orcs are not trusty messengers. He…made me a deal…the wolf would carry the necessary missives, and Karzul would become kind of king among the orcs. Then I would be free"
"You cannot make deals with orcs" I said softly "It simply does not – work -"
"Maybe not. Maybe just not for you. But you have seen what happened yesterday. I think I was…a different matter. Do you see? It is all about hate. That is where we met halfway. That is where there is no…no difference between an orc and me. No" Raven cut me off sharply "I finish now. Karzul, he had his plans. And he hated me. I hated him. We hated each other, and we made a deal that would allow each of us to…to satisfy one another's hate. I…I could have died then and there, do you see? I need not have accepted. There was no guarantee. As you said, you cannot treat with orcs. But it was a chance. How many more had I the chance of taking out if I took his offer? What use was it to die for nothing? Without making them pay? No Gildor, I hate them too much"
Somewhere, I knew, Raven's reasoning failed, but I could not place it. What would I have done, I thought wildly, had I been in his place? The very idea of…all that. Silverleaf survived, a tiny voice whispered in my brain. At what cost, I did not know. He had survived, but not with the view Raven had on this. After that one night when his group had rescued me Silverleaf had never mentioned it again.
And in Raven's case, it had been orcs, not men. How could Raven have stood it? He who did not even let me treat his wounds for days after, who blew up at every touch he couldn't see coming. But then, that was what he always said, carried to the extreme - it was all about hate.
"You…wanted to die very badly when I met you, I remember. How does that fit into the picture?" I asked finally, but Raven only shrugged once more.
"That was about a year after the orc-incident. Before that, I thought I could manage to go on until…anyway. I…carried his missives. And I took his answers back. But he was betrayed. Three of his cronies had their own plans. They told one of the parties Karzul wanted to attack with his little private alliance. I was there, and I was only a wolf, a warg, one of the scavengers around their camps. They did not know Karzul had sent them with me rather than sending me with them. I killed them on the way back, when the force against Karzul was already marching. You will realize I could have dropped out then. I did not. I kept my part. So I went back, and put the river beside Karzul's camp between us before calling him out. I cast the missive of his betrayers across, and added the heads of the messengers he had sent with me. And then I dropped out" Raven paused "I would not have thought he would keep to the bargain, though. He owed me, and yesterday he paid me back"
"Yesterday…that was Karzul yesterday"
"Yes" Raven suddenly laughed "How absurd. Bargaining with orcs. And it worked. He has his little kingdom. I can keep having my revenge. Now where's the catch?"
"So he honestly warned us that his force was too great? Instead of laying a nice ambush and taking us out? Raven I cannot belief it! Look at me!" I demanded sharply when Raven turned his head aside. I grabbed his arm and twisted him around "Do you see that I really get doubts as to whose side you're on sometimes, dark elf? What is your game?"
He could not betray us, I told myself. He would not. I would have KNOWN.
Raven did not meet my eyes, tried unsuccessfully to free himself. I tightened my grip and caught his other wrist as well.
"Tell me!" I demanded once more. Raven blinked and abruptly stopped fighting to get away. He slammed his shields down, all of them, with a force of will that made me dizzy. For a brief moment everything flashed through my mind with the immediacy with which Raven had experienced it. The terror when he realized he was tied to a tree and the orc pushing against him, the raw agony when the glowing iron was pressed into his skin. An indefinable time when he lay as wolf in the orc camp, held to a pole by a chain and a leather collar, waiting for Karzul to finish his preparations and send him and the orcs on their way. The savage hate of both wolf and elf when he killed the betrayers, the final realisation of briefly sharing a purpose and a world, even if that world was only hate -
It took me a moment to recover. There was something else –
"What did Karzul say yesterday? As we were going, he said something to you"
"He told me, the next time we met it would be on different grounds. My debt had been paid. So now is his. He…warned us not to get into sight of his force, because he would not be able to hold them back then. There is no such thing as immunity of the Commander's orders among orcs. Are you satisfied now?" Raven looked at me angrily. Slowly I let go of his wrists and Raven pushed himself backward, bringing a safe distance between us. Neither of us spoke for a while. Raven shook himself slightly, like a wolf settling his fur "I play my own game" he whispered "By my own rules. But…you should have known…I would never betray you-"
For a long moment the sounds from the camp seemed very loud and near. The light wind carried the voices of others bathing at the lake to us.
"Maybe" I said finally "Maybe I should say I'm sorry-"
"No" Raven interrupted me "Maybe I should have told you. I…I thought you had…seen it anyway, when you…pulled me back. Never mind -" he got up and moved down to the water's edge, crouching down there and trying to calm himself.
After a while I got up and put my hand on his shoulder, turning him around and pulling him to his feet "We know each other too long to quarrel like this, dark elf" I said quietly "If you have such a surprise once more, tell me beforehand. I have the privilege of knowing some of your reasons – but none of the others here does, and they see only what you decide to show them. And that is not much"
Raven looked down "I can't afford to lose you. I do not want to lose you. But I cannot make you understand. This is not fair to you. Maybe we are too different-"
"No" I turned to pick up our clothing "Come. I'm tired, and I should think you are at least hungry by now"
We started out once more that night and rode through the following day. We had not been able to pass south and so we had to take a long way around and were behind schedule. In the face of this afternoon I had not expected us to sleep calmly beside each other. But when we made camp that night Raven was there, setting up our rain-shelter. He had not spoken a word more to me than his report after scouting this morning, and then I had ridden as rearguard until we rested. Rearguard was not assigned the night's watch of the same day, so I knew I would be at loose ends once our group were settled. Unless I found some other chores to do, even if it was stocking up on firewood or gathering additional food. But we were perfectly organized, and not even the smallest chores were left unattended to.
Glorfindel had talked me into taking second command this time, so I was either in the front or middle of our small train when not on rear-guard. Raven wouldn't have had a chance to speak to me if he had wanted while we were moving. I had half expected him to get himself off on some extra duty and found myself oddly uncomfortable when I sat down by the fire. He had the same look on his face.
"Tell me if you'd rather have no company tonight" I said
Raven shrugged "I have no objection to your company, if that is what you mean" he said "The question is if you are happy with mine"
"Not if you're going to snap at me the whole time. I have had my share of bickering today"
"I was not going to 'bicker'" Raven said after a while "But I rather gathered you were…well, I know your people's opinion of what I said yesterday. I thought you -"
"No" I interrupted him "Whatever you thought, forget it" I made a small gesture at the camp around us "Do you think I still have to care for what they think of either me or you? What do they know, Raven? Most of them are…half as old as you and but cubs to me"
"And don't you think I did not see what went through your mind, Gildor? You were horrified"
"Alright" I hissed "I was horrified. And do you know why? Because I found myself in that same situation long ago, and I know I could never.have.done.that. Though I certainly wished I could have shredded them all in midair"
It was just that looks could not kill.I paused, bottling my sudden anger.Silverleaf had killed the orc-chieftain with a half broken spear before the beast could indulge in his sport. I could recall no moment of greater relief and shame than when the Wild Elf leader had cut me loose and we had fled the orc-camp. Not enough that the world had fallen to bits around us in those weeks, that we had fled with the sea on our heels, no. I had to make the fool of the century of myself, and Squirrel had been killed in that damned ambush as well.
Raven stared at the ground "I did not know -"
"No. No one does, and I intend to keep it that way. Look, it was not you I was thinking of, it was my own private little failure"
Raven held a stick into the flames and watched it burn slowly "And you tell me I hate myself? You tell me I should not call myself the fool that I am? What the hell is it that you are doing?"
"I am finished with that, Raven. It is past. You keep adding bits and pieces to your shell that you had better cast away. That is the difference"
"Ah" Raven snorted softly "I do? But it keeps me going, you see? As long as I hate I live"
"Yes, even if it is yourself you hate" I observed coldly "You are a danger to yourself, dark elf"
I could see Raven was going to reply something venomous, but was stopped by Glorfindel's arrival. "Forgive me for interrupting your little…chat, but these are orders from Rivendell. Commander" Glorfindel's voice was dripping with sarcasm. He handed the sroll to me with a small bow and you are lecturing him on self hate, mellon nin?
I glared at him next time you mind-speak me tell me something new
Glorfindel gave me a thin smile and excused himself. I considered shouting something after him, then decided it was bad enough Glorfindel was right, I need not make it worse by admitting it to his face. Raven frowned "What was that about?"
"Messages" I said shortly and unrolled the parchment.
"You know exactly what I mean" Raven snapped.
The parchment flopped back into a roll when I let it go and I frowned in irritation "He gave me a little hint on not lecturing you about self hate. And damn it, he is right"
Raven said nothing for a long time, staring into the flames while I read the tightly written missive. Nothing that could not have waited until tomorrow. I wondered darkly if Glorfindel had used it as an excuse to place his little verbal dagger. Most probably. Would look like him. The bastard knew me too well. I let the paper flip back into its roll and placed it on my pack. A few drops of rain began to fall. Oh, wonderful.
"Look I'm tired" Raven said abruptly "Are you going to freeze, do you want to argue, or shall we call it a day?" He threw the stick he had been toasting into the fire and crawled into our rain-shelter. I snarled silently "I did not wish to argue in the first place" I shoved our packs into the foot end of the shelter and followed Raven inside. For a long while I lay listening to the steady patter of rain on the oiled skin above us. Raven was quickly asleep. All wolf way. I wished I could do that now. I closed my eyes tightly and willed my body to relax. If my mind couldn't rest at least let me have that, I thought grimly, wondering what entity I was addressing.
I was awakened the next morning by the smell of fresh bread. The intense smell of fresh bread. Right before my nose. I blinked and focused on the small loaf in front of my eyes, then let my gaze follow the stick upon which it hung.
"I thought if you were going to bite someone I would have a test first" Raven said dryly and waved the stick slightly before my face, giving me a lopsided grin. There was a cold, thin rain outside, and the wet firewood sizzled and popped. Raven's hair already curled with the dampness. Ours was the only fire in the open.
"How long are you up?" I asked slightly worried. It would not do for the Captain to oversleep. I crawled out of the rain shelter and saw with relief that the camp was just beginning to stir. The bread was still there, hanging between us like a charmed thing. Sometimes he was so silly.Despite myself I had to grin. I plucked the still warm loaf from the stick "You at least should not have to worry anyone biting you, wolf"
"No" Raven stuck a new ball of dough onto his branch and held it over the flames to roast.
"How did you get that going?" I gestured to the sizzling fire. Raven shrugged eloquently. We ate in silence and I was just beginning to feel my foul mood clear when one of the hunters approached us. Judging by the brisk walk she had something to say. The elf inclined her head briefly in greeting "The Captain wants to see you, Commander. As soon as possible"
"Can't he say now when he means it?" I grumbled softly as I extracted my cloak from our shelter and threw it across my shoulders "He could come here for a change"
I got up and followed the slightly perplexed hunter towards Glorfindel's shelter. I took some time warming up in the morning, especially in the early morning. I wondered if Glorfindel knew he was brewing grumpiness that way. Well, supposedly he did.
When I arrived, Glorfindel was talking to one of last night's guards. I could have finished my tea then. I leaned against a tree and took the freedom to listen.
"…and we could easily have fought them. I at least have never heard that Elves ran from orcs" the scout obviously just finished a sentence.
"We did not run, we avoided a confrontation. One that would have not only endangered the whole group but most certainly cost us half of our men if not all"
"But they were less…"
"There were far more behind, as you would know had you heard the scouts' reports this morning. Now if you have objections to my orders you are free to go to Riv-"
"No Commander" the guard interrupted him hastily "It is not your orders I doubt, it is the dark elf's loyalty. If you will excuse me now, my guards await the instructions for today" He bowed quickly "I know you will have your reasons"
"You can bet on it" Glorfindel murmured at the guard's retreating back and turned to me. He took in my slightly frazzled appearance and gestured towards his own fire.
"Want some tea?" He could not keep amusement out of his voice. I frowned "As mine is just cooling back there, yes, you could make amends"
Glorfindel smiled knowingly "Sorry for calling you out, but I do not intend to keep you long" He gave me a steaming mug "I am going to hear that guard's objections at least five times more this morning before the scouts' reports have gone through the camp. I assume you can give me a reason for Raven's play?"
I sipped my tea carefully "I can. He did not play, and first tell me what the scouts said"
Glorfindel shrugged "Just confirmed what Raven said. What that orc said. There was indeed a force of well-armed orcs in a long valley to the south, counting about one hundred, probably more. We would have got into great trouble, and then we would have had a very good reason to 'run from orcs' as he just put it. - So?"
"So what?"
"So what about Raven. He told you last night, I guess"
"When you saw fit to remind me what I'd rather forget? Yes -"
Glorfindel snorted "The privilege of long acquaintance. Someone has to remind you, and as no one else dares-. And now report, Commander"
I shrugged uncomfortably "He had some…time to acquire his knowledge of their tongue. And I believe he had earned the right for that…that orc's allowance"
"You speak in riddles"
"I keep having to unriddle most of his past, so I suppose it rubs off. He…was taken prisoner by them. You know he has…kind of a different way of dealing with things, so they came to a sort of understanding and separated…well, you can't call it peacefully, but at least alive. That guy yesterday was the one Raven…uhm…helped get the position he has now – chieftain. They are even now. The next time they strike up any bargain, it will be with swords. Raven's…intentions just happened to coincide with those of the orcs"
"Sure" Glorfindel said tersely "And right now his plans happen to coincide with ours? Or with yours? How long? And what will he do when our intentions no longer…coincide?"
"He will certainly not drop out and turn the blade on you" Both of us whirled in surprise as neither had heard Raven's approach.
"You could announce your presence, do you know?" Glorfindel said sourly.
Raven smirked slightly and inclined his head "Yes, sir. I am not going to tell it again, but I have been told you are a good mind-speaker. I can show you. I showed it to him yesterday, so…"
Glorfindel watched him thoughtfully before turning to me "He did?"
I nodded uncomfortably "He did"
"Well, he would not be able to lie to you that way. He would even less have a chance to hide something from me"
"Karzul, he will…he risked some price of his own yesterday, Captain" Raven said after a while "He may have well have to kill his whole guard that you saw. He can't risk mutiny, and if they will look like spreading word of what he did in the army, heads will roll. If they are as loyal to him as they looked…" Raven shrugged "That was an elite troupe of orcs. Karzul will have great power, now"
"You understand these…orcs pretty well"
Raven shook his head "No. I do not. It is…kind of a universal law among them. I do not know Karzul that well. I would never have thought he might…actually keep his word to this consequence. But this is it. With this there is nothing more between us that would make us…for a moment kind of immune to each other"
Glorfindel nodded "I still find it hard to believe, but I am not going to doubt Gildor'sjudgement"
Raven nodded quietly "Hate is one thing orcs understand. They are constantly scheming and planning rebellion against their master, but it never comes to aught. So what they do is scheming against each other to get what power they can among their own kind. They hate each other, they hate their master, they hate themselves" Raven cast a quick look at me and got up "And I hate orcs. Now, are you satisfied? I can still show you"
I held my breath. Glorfindel was right – Raven would not have the least the chance to hide anything from him. If I had doubted him yesterday, his offer now laid most of my misgivings to rest. Glorfindel frowned, but nodded, looking after Raven for a moment "So I have to take his story at face value"
"You just decided to"
"Yes" Glorfindel turned his mug in his hands absently "He seems pretty attached to you, Gildor. Why do you protect him? What is he to you? Or should I ask, what are you to him?"
I gave a short laugh at his abrupt change of topic "If I knew. Ask what I am to him, and I can tell you he is like the wolves he adores. I am pack leader and pack mate in one. But what he is to me I… don't know"
"Would it help if I told you?" Glorfindel said with a slight grin "You love him?"
I looked away "I do. And I do not intend to let him know"
"Why?"
"Why! Glorfindel, I don't think he is…he would not appreciate the idea"
Glorfindel snorted "You tell me? I can't help thinking he is…rather unconventional in his idea of morals, and you think that would bother him?"
"I do not think that idea would bother him, I think it is having it transferred to him…us. Whatever. You see?"
"You could be very…direct in your advances. Why so shy now? I don't think he would run screaming"
I smirked "Probably not. We would kill each other before we got anywhere near business"
Glorfindel laughed "Aw, come on. Just because he got the best of you concealing things this time? You got along fine with Darkstone and think you can't cope with Raven? I don't think!"
I winced. If Glorfindel only knew "You think an awful lot today, you know?" Glorfindel just raised an eyebrow "I tell you what it is, master: I rather keep him as a friend instead of losing him as a lover, right? And if I remember rightly, Captain, we started out discussing orcs, not my love-life"
"You have to start somewhere" Glorfindel grinned "But right, Commander. The plan is simple - we will ride far into the night if it does not start raining and halt only a few hours. We should reach Gormach's village in two days then. That will give us one day to rest before the whole force starts out. If we plan another stop for this night, we will have to go straight on and join the fight without a chance to rest before"
Chapter Notes:
Shech'khai yelo: Ashi'kha "the world beyond" (lit. "lair-hawk forever")
Taran'oshar : Ashi'kha "to mind-kill"
Mellon nin (S): "my friend"
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