The Mystery of Love

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The Price of Loyalty

~~~POV-REYNA LINDELE~~~

I woke with a terrible headache. My brain was pounding out of my skull. I clutched the side of my head as I sat up. I was lying on a very soft bed. Salmon colored sheets surrounded me. I was wearing a peach dress that came to my heels. Silver sandals adorned my feet. My hair was in a long braid and the room around me was massive. The bed was made of fine- grained redwood and so was the rest of the furniture. "Vendui'? Naa ai'er sinome?" {Hello? Is anyone here?}

Dull silence responded. I sighed and rose from the bed. I walked over to the large double doors and pulled on the golden handles. The doors were locked. I turned to see if there was a balcony, and there was. I ran up and pulled the doors open. A harsh chill greeted me. I shivered but continued outside. I heard a horse whinny in the background and followed the sound. I saw a black stallion and my own precious Kemi side by side in the stables. I untied Kemi's harness and mounted her bareback. I was not going to waste time looking for her saddle. I looked up at the night sky and the North Star was to the left of me. I took off towards the east, hoping it would lead me in the correct direction. Once I was out of this dense forest and away from the looming fortress before me I would worry about my direction. I had no idea how long I had been asleep. As I saw a brake in the woods a smile crossed my face. The smile was quickly wiped away at the sight of a dozen Uruk-hai awaiting me. I pulled tightly on the reins and veered north. I rode speedily to the north end of the forest to see even more Uruk-hai. I gasped, "No!"

In front of the Uruk-hai I saw him. A devious smile was strewn upon his lips. He smirked, "You will not go anywhere." I froze with fear as he rode up. The long white tresses the flung behind him looked like the hope that was forsaking my heart. His cold blue eyes held no pity or remorse for his actions. I had nowhere to run and he would catch me no matter what. "I see we will have to restrain you."

I swallowed hard. "Never!"

He rolled his eyes and grabbed Kemi's reins. I remained petrified as he escorted me back to his fortress. He yanked me off of Kemi and led me back into another room. It was much smaller and bare except for a pair of manacles. No light reached the room. I bit my lip; he could not expect me to stay here! He threw me down. "Take the dress off before I take it off for you."

My eyes filled with terror. "Over my dead body. Nadorhuan!" {Cowardly dog.}

He cried out in anger and slapped me across the face. I fell to the ground and he grabbed my raven tresses. He pulled me up. "You want me to take it off for you?"

My brown eyes glared into his, "Go to Mandos!" I spit on him and he threw me to the ground again. He stood over me and wrapped the manacles around my wrists. A small stiletto was withdrawn from his boot. He slit the thin straps of my dress. I kicked his shins relentlessly as he walked around me to untie the back. He grabbed my feet and shackled them to the floor. Rauko pulled the chain dangling down and hoisted me into the air by my arms. My feet dangled just above the ground. He wrapped the chain around a bolt in the wall and smirked. I felt the cold air brush against my stomach as my dress fell off. He withdrew a leather whip that was resting in his belt.

"You will soon pay for your harsh words!"

I spat at him again, "Amin feuya ten' lle!" {You disgust me! Literally: I am disgusted by you. } He walked around to the front of the room, facing my back, and I heard the whip race through the air before it met my caramel colored skin. I gasped with pain.

A smirk crossed his face, "Say mercy and I will stop."

Deep growls came from my throat. "Amin delotha lle! {I hate you!} Another gash opened in my back. He walked up to me. He was so close that I could feel his hot breath on my neck. The hot breath diminished and suddenly I felt his tongue licking along my wounds on my back. I swung myself back and forth, trying to get him away from me.

"Is that what scares you?" I remained silent. I felt my breast band (bra) and underwear fall from my body. I gritted my teeth together.

"You cannot break me you fool! I am a Queen! You are nothing!" He whipped me again. I did not cry out. "I will never break. I am stronger than any fortress you can imagine."

A sly smirk crossed his pale lips; "If that wimpy Prince can break down your walls then it shall be an easy task for me!"

I snarled in response. "Lasta lalaithamin amada!" {Listen to my laughter fool!} I snickered as he paused for a moment. Another harsh whip mark was the price for this moment of glory.

He started to laugh; a loud and somewhat devious laugh rang out through the room. "I doubt your prince will like you back after you are all scarred."

A cocky smirked ran across my rosy lips. "Well, I hate to disappoint you but Prince Legolas never liked my looks to begin with. You can scar my body all you want, it will only make your death more painful."

Dry laughter poured from his mouth for a moment. "You stupid wench, do you have a death wish?"

I snarled again, "It is you who has a death wish. Antolle ulua sulrim!" {Much wind pours from your mouth!}

Another deep gouge lacerated my back. I could feel the warm blood dripping down my legs. "No witch is going to talk to me like that. You will bow down to me!" He whipped me three or four more times, the pain making my vision blur. I did not cry out, he would never see me in pain.

Two more lashes on my calves and he finished. He lowered the chain and I gritted my teeth so I could stand. I stood weakly and held my head up proudly. "Is that the worst you can do?" I turned to face him and I saw him undo his belt. I restrained my gasp just in time. He would not do this to me; he would not live to do this.

~~~POV CHANGE-LEGOLAS GREENLEAF~~~

I rode hard towards Mirkwood. Only a mere hour or so left. I whispered to Arod, "Reyna anta lye tua!" {Reyna needs our help!} Arod sped up and I dismounted him two yards outside of Mirkwood. He took off to the stables and I ran full-force to Loraine's chambers. "Seler'! Asca!" {Sister! Make haste!}

Loraine rose from her bed, "Mani marte!?" {What happened!?}

I bit my lip, "You need to assemble every able bodied elf in all of Mirkwood and prepare for war. I will return in a fortnight. Until then I must retrieve Reyna. She was taken captive and told me to alert Mirkwood before going after her. Please do this; it is crucial. We are going to war!" My sister sat there in her emerald robes for a few moments and nodded.

Ariane rose from the bed, "I will train them until you return King Legolas."

I smiled at him, "Thank you my brother. I am off now. I will be home no later than two weeks. If I send no message, assume I have not survived."

Loriane's face paled, "As you say brother. I bid thee a safe trip. Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au'." {My heart shall weep until it sees thee again.}

"Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omenta seler'." (Sweet water and light laughter till next we meet sister.} With that, I took off into the night to save the one girl I cared for most.

~~~POV CHANGE-REYNA LINDELE~~~

I slumped to the floor when he finally stopped thrusting. My nails were filled with his skin and his face was bloody and bruised. "I told you I would break you, Queen of Whores."

I brought my foot up and kicked him square in the crotch. "Utinu en lokirim, auta miqula orqu!" {Son of snakes, go kiss an orc!} I stood unsteadily and ran from the room. I could hear him run into the hallway but I was already around a corner. I dodged into the nearest open door. Inside was a short human girl folding linens. She dressed like an elven servant and spoke elvish but she was human.

She looked up at me, "Mankoi naa lle?" {Who are you?} Obviously Rauko couldn't afford elven servants.

I took a deep breath and told her to be silent. I grabbed a sheet and wrapped it around my chest and it fell down to my thighs. I hated it but if I pulled it down it would retard my ability to run. I took off out of the room. When I saw an open window I glanced down and saw I was only four feet above the ground. I leaped out. Whistling loudly, I ran out into the open. Kemi rode up and I mounted her. "Ride hard, ride silent. We are going to Lothlorien." I closed my eyes and cloaked us, it would drain my magic but Kemi knew what to do. None of the orcs saw us as we rode by. I felt the shield failing and my magic drain. I was going to pass out soon. "Keep us safe Kemi." A neigh responded and I fell into darkness.

~~~POV CHANGE-LEGOLAS GREENLEAF~~~

I had been riding for at least two days when I crossed a large open field. I was near Rohan's borders, still looking for Reyna. Nothing moved in the field as my keen eyes spanned its vast boundaries. Suddenly a horse caught my eye. A black stallion stood in the middle of the field. A white star dotted the stallion's forehead and four white socks covered his feet. Kemi, it was Reyna's horse. I rode hard over to Kemi. He was circling something protectively and would not get out of my way. He was angry and unnerved. I smiled, "Dina. Amin naa mellon." {Be silent. I am a friend.} Kemi slowed and I walked around him to see Reyna lying on the ground. She was curled up tightly and wrapped in a sheet. I blushed and removed my tunic. Shaking her gently, I spoke. "Ame Cathelle. Lle naa varna sii'." {Wake up Cathelle. You are safe now.}

Her eyes opened wearily. "Diola lle..." {Thank you.} She pulled my tunic over her body and tied the sheet around her like a skirt. "Rauko naa sal' kuila." {Rauko is still alive.}

I raised an eyebrow, "Lle lava ho coia?" {You let him live?}

She bit her lip, "Uma. Amin hiraetha." {Yes. I am sorry.}

A smile crept over my lips, "Amin naa aiya lakwenien." {I was only joking.}

Tears swelled in her eyes, "Amin n'nae cronha ho." {I was not able to fight him.} My brows furrowed for a moment. She turned away from me and slid the tunic down to reveal her back. Deep gash marks were scabbed over all along her back. "Ro yerye amin n'ala ro maghe amin. Amin n'ume nalla." {He weakened me before he used me. I did not cry.} She pulled the tunic up again, "Amin n'ume nalla." {I did not cry.}

I walked up to her and held her. I slipped my hands under the back of her tunic and felt the wounds. Several were deep. "Uutuupa lanna ar' keaa, no' n'alaquelle." {Remove the tunic and lay down on it, on your back.} She did so curiously.

A soft sigh of relief escaped her lips as I massaged her shoulders. "Tanya tyava ikotane quel." {That feels very good.}

I blushed to the tips of my ears. "Amin naa fallanien lle nan' sina men ta nauva avaene naike." {I am healing you but this way it will be painless.}

She glanced over her tanned shoulder, "Diola lle Haryon." {Thank you prince.}

My eyes tried not to blink as I examined every inch of her tanned skin. She had been there a few hours, and her skin was golden again. Every soft inch of her tantalizing back, neck and shoulders was revealed to me. I wanted to kiss the delicately sun-kissed skin; I wanted every inch of her covered with my kisses. Finally she arched her head. My light pink lips turned in a smile. "Naa lle quel? {Are you okay?}

"Uma. Lye auta sii'(Yes, we should go now)." I nodded and turned to prepare the horses while she replaced my tunic over her chest.

I smiled, "Asca." {Make haste.} She mounted wearily.

Her face contorted in worry. "I should really ride to Lothlorien."

My blond eyebrow rose inquisitively, "Then I shall join you. Loraine will take care of the army. I gave her precise orders. After you alert the golden wood we can return to Mirkwood and let Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel take care of the rest."

She smiled at me; "It will be nice to spend time with you in the lovely lands of Lothlorien."

My face heated brightly, "Uma, melamin." {Yes, my love.}

We rode hard to Lothlorien in two days time. We approached the borders and Reyna leaped off her horse, "Haldir! Amin entule!" {I have returned!}

The bright blue eyes of the ecstatic March Warden of Lorien lit with joy as he ran out to meet her. She leaped into his arms and embraced him tightly. I took Kemi's reins and washed all feelings of jealousy from my face. 'You are an elven prince, act like it. You must be on your best behavior in the Realm of the Lady of the Wood.' I smiled at the two as I approached.

~~~TO BE CONTINUED~~~

Well? Hope you all like it! Sorry it took so long to update. Tell me what you think. R&R! Chapter Thirty: Hope for the Humans will be out soon.