Disclaimer: I own the hideous mini-Koi, 15 bandits and JRR owns the good stuff!
A/N:
'This is thought'
This in mind speech
'This is visions'
"" This is mind to mind Far Speak ""
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Deadly Duet
The smirk on the she elf's face made Elladan's grey eyes narrow dangerously. Female or no this elf bore watching closely. Looking quickly around the campfire, he saw, to his relief, all his patrol bound and blindfolded, but still healthy and alive at least. Returning his gaze to the smirking female, Elladan let his storm cloud grey eyes rove over her from head to toe allowing his disdain to show blatantly in his eyes and face. The female bandit threw back her head letting out a peal of husky laughter. She leaned towards the oldest twin and ran her hand up his muscled chest, along his neck and finally across his cheek. Jerking his head away from her touch, the elf lord snarled at her in frustration. If his hands had been free Elladan would have joyfully wrung her neck as slowly as possible.
Fury was thoroughly enjoying the elf warrior's frustrated rage. She knew the elf would be major trouble if he managed to free himself, but that was part of his charm. She liked the dark dangerous side he had shown over the last few weeks. She had only seen the warrior from afar and that was when he was enjoying his time with family and friends at the waterfall or relaxing in a secluded glade nearby the river. The other bandits never realized how closely she watched the inhabitants of the Hidden Vale of Imlandris. Fury had her orders and she was bound and determined to follow through until her mission was achieved. It was a waiting game she knew but this delicious looking elf had helped pass the time.
Elrohir could feel his twin's violent anger rolling down the strange bond they had been blessed with. If Elladan had been free, Ro would have worried about his twin doing premeditated murder. The only time he had seen his older twin in such a state was when the two of them had reached their Naneth too late. The sight of her, after the Orcs had tortured her severely, had been burned into their minds for all eternity. After she had sailed to the Undying Lands, the rage was so great that the twins had gone on a rampage of killing.
Their years of errantry had finally tempered that rage and the land had been divested of more Orcs then either could care to count. That the uncontrollable rage was directed at the bandit, so furiously, was strange to say the least. Elrohir hoped his twin could regain his composure before something unacceptable happened. A voice low enough so only he could hear reached Elrohir, "Take heart Elf Lord, we mean you no true harm. It does seem like our leader enjoys toying with your twin, though why I can not say. Convince your mirror to harken to her demands or it will go ill. All we wish for is to be left in peace! Please for all our sakes listen to her!"
'Her? The leader is a female! Ai! What would drive a female to banditry? Why would men follow her leadership? So many more questions then answers. The bandit that spoke to me sounded young, yet he has eluded us with the others of his group. He insists they mean no harm, yet we are trussed up and blindfolded.' With a heavy sigh the younger twin gave up the puzzling thoughts that spun through his head and tried to concentrate on escaping and how to convince his twin to leave when the bandit's leader allowed. Elrohir feared escape might prove easier.
Fury watched as Shadow leaned in and spoke to the other twin. A sly smile ghosted her lips before sliding away. She now had a plan if the arrogant twin refused to heed her demands! "I know who you are elf leader, so do not think to hide your identity. We have done an extensive study of Imlandris and its inhabitants. Your people have always stayed in their own area, but now you have allowed hunters and travelers into our territory. I forbid this action and demand that you leave our territory at once! Do not for one moment think that we will not resort to force should it become necessary to defend our home. As we speak, one of my archers is delivering a message to your Lord. I have told him of our intent and that should you leave willingly, your patrol will not be harmed. What say you son of Elrond?" the bandit leader said in a voice that brooked no argument.
Elladan growled in anger before replying in the same tone the bandit had used, "Imlandris belongs to Lord Elrond! You have no claim upon any part of it nor will you ever! We will not leave our lands at the whim of a mere female who knows nothing of honor or loyalty. Do you truly believe Lord Elrond would trust the word of low born scum like you? Your word is not even worth the wind it is carried upon."
A sharp crack of flesh hitting flesh was heard around the camp as Elladan's head snapped to the side from the force of the bandit's blow. Fury saw red! That this Noldor had the gall to question her honor and her word, put the bandit into a state of cold rage. Grabbing a handful of midnight black hair, Fury dragged the twin's head back so he was made to look into her furious face. Flames of hate danced in the lavender-grey depths of her eyes as she took in the twin's demeanor. Elladan glared back at her, with flashing grey eyes the dark color of storm clouds. Blood was trickling down from the corner of his mouth were she had hit him. She let out a dangerous purring sound just before she bent closer to the twin and licked the bleeding corner of his mouth, while the twin tried to pull free.
Smiling savagely, Fury murmured to her captive, "Do you not know how easily I could kill you at this moment? Never question my honor or my word again Elf. At this moment you and your patrol live only because of my whim. One word and each patrol member would see the Halls of Mandos with an arrow through his heart. All that is except you and your mirror. The two of you will be mine to deal with! I wonder how long your mirror could last if I skinned him piece by piece. Think on that before you insult me again." Standing once again, Fury let go of his midnight throwing him backwards and knocking him off balance so he crashed to the forest floor on his side. Elladan glared at her with hate filled eyes. Her laugh did nothing to improve his mood and only served to inflame his anger further.
The trees screamed a warning throughout Imlandris. ORCS! With a snarl of rage, Fury whirled around and stalked to the nearest tree. Laying her head against the tree, the bandit listened to its warning before running her hand down its bark in thanks. "Shadow we have a company of approximately 30 orcs headed our way. I want you to take the archers andhead home. Take the twin you spoke to earlier with you as well. It will keep his mirror in line when I release him and his party. Go now and be extra careful, my brother! Do not to allow that twin to know our location or it will be your hide!" Shadow's clipped nod was all the answer she needed. He dragged Elrohir to his feet, cut his leg bondsand turned him in the direction of the woods, beforedisappearing from sight.
Elladan tried to surge to his feet to protect his twin, but the ropes held his ankles fast and allowed absolutely no room to maneuver. Spitting out a string of very explicit Sindarian curses, Elladan watched in helpless frustration as his twin was taken.
Shadow gently led Elrohir through the trees at a fast pace. Two of the bandits followed behind them covering their tracks. He changed direction five or six times to confuse the twin's sense of direction. Finally reaching the cave, Shadow eased the twin through the entrance and took him far into the back to one of the smaller branches of tunnels. Settling Elrohir comfortably by the fire in a small chamber, Shadow removed the twin's blindfold. "I am expecting you to behave with honor Lord of Imlandris. Your word I seek! You will try no escape attempts nor bring harm to any within this compound. If you give me your solemn oath of honor as a warrior and Lord, then I will release you from your bindings. You will definitely not be allowed to leave before Fury has negotiated a peace settlement between our people. You will be well treated as one of us, unless you refuse to comply with our wishes. What say you?" Shadow's calm voice flowed over the anxious twin like a summer rain soothing the twin's apprehension slightly.
"I will give you my word because I too wish a peaceful solution to our mutual problem, but I want your word, bandit, that my people will not be harmed without provocation!If you had come to Lord Elrond in the first place, he most probably would have allowed you to occupy this area freely. Kidnapping one of his sons will not bring his favor to your leader's side. My twin will be dangerous now that your leader has attacked us in such a bold manner. He was already very angry that you dared to invade our home, now Elladan will take a personal interest in bringing your leader to swift justice for the attack and most especially for my abduction. I hope blood shed can be avoided on both sides. I see there is something going on here that is more then just banditry, but I still have grave reservations with trusting you or your leader. Do we have an accord, bandit" Elrohir challenged Shadow with a echo of Lord Elrond's most formal voice.
"Aye, Elf, we have an accord! Unless it is to defend ourselves, we will not harm your people in any way. Be now at ease, Elf, for no harm will come to your mirror at my sister's hand. Though Fury is a formidable warrior and profound leader, I do believe she has a tender spot where your twin is concerned, but pray do not tell her I said so or you may see the end of me!" the young bandit said with a laughing smirk.
"Oh now that is an interesting thought, is it not," Elrohir laughed heartily at the thought of his twin and the bandit leader, "Which one do you think would survive the kind of courting those two would do?" A chocking sound met the twin's question as Shadow tried to picture the two in courtship. "I believe, dear Elf, that neither of them would survive that kind of calamity as they would be prone to kill each other, even at the expense of their own imminent demise!" A grin split Elrohir's face at the picture the bandit's words conjured, "I believe you are right! My twin would never allow himself to release his hold on his anger or pride long enough to survive and from what I have heard neither would your leader. They are much the same it seems! I wonder how our Ada will handle the negotiations with the two of them glaring daggers at each other. It would have been entertaining to watch but I fear I am probably safer in your company then in theirs!" came Elrohir's amused reply.
A soft clearing of a throat brought Shadow and Elrohir's attention to the entrance of the small chamber. "Milord, shall I bring a plate for you both or will you be dining in the main hall?" Elrohir was shocked to see a child about halfway to his majority standing at the entrance. The child was dressed the same as the bandit and sported a pair of daggers in his boot tops and a sword at his hip along with two more matched daggers. There was an air of confidence that one so young should not have attained and the cursory glance at the elf was done by a pair of cold blue eyes. "We will eat here, sentinel. Did you accomplish your mission, Luriniel?" Shadow asked the child in front of him.
"Yes Milord. I had the distinct pleasure of aiming my arrow close to the Lord Elrond, himself. Elrond is definitely a warrior not just a scholar! The Lord's instincts were well honed and I was lucky to have missed his detection upon my fast retreat into the woods. The message has been delivered as per your instructions." the child said with a hint of arrogant pride. A pleased smile broke across Shadow's face before he nodded to the child, "Fury will be pleased! Your stealth and aim are once more proven beyond a doubt! Now go and rest sentinel for you will hold third watch."
Bowing gracefully to the bandit, the child, Luriniel, turned and exited the chamber leaving behind a thoroughly shocked elf lord and a well pleased captain of the guards.
