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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Howling Fury
Two days had passed since the strawberry incident and Fury could not help grinning at the thoughts that swirled through her mind. It had become a battle of wills between the twin and herself over everything, large or small. They were now about even with the inevitable combination of wins and losses between them. If the poor oldest twin only knew how easily Fury could slip her bondage at his hand, Elladan would feel he had been taken as a fool and toyed with once again. Elladan's wrath would go ill for the negotiations that she knew Shadow was engaging in with the other twin.
It had seemed only right to exchange one twin for another when she had hatched the plan to abduct the more level headed son of Elrond. Fury knew she would have to be the one to block the younger twin's mind bond with his hot headed older mirror, so it fell to her shoulders to take up position in the house of Elrond; for Fury had more mental control then Shadow. If all went well, Shadow would have an accord hashed out with the younger twin in such a way that Lord Elrond could not simply refuse to allow the bandits to settle his realm's upper reaches.
She had been talking to Shadow nightly mind to mind, so she knew how far things had progressed. A telling argument for their continued occupation of the area stemmed from the orc attacks that had become more frequent. They would agree to patrol the area for Lord Elrond and also join forces when necessary with other patrols to see the realm of Imladris safe from the fell creatures that roamed the Misty Mountains. They would also help clear the lower path of mud and debris so normal travel could resume, which would be best for all concerned. Fury knew it was a gamble, but if she had read the Lord of Imladris correctly, Elrond would agree to it for the good of all.
Even chained to the wall, the bandit was reveling in the dominating contests with willful abandon. It was so very rare for the bandit to find anyone who could match her so completely in potentially violent temperament, intelligence and sheer forcefulness of personality, so Fury had decided to make the most of her exhilarating time in Elladan's company. The older twin's reactions to some of her more daring ways, made the elleth overbold, yet Fury felt safe in his company.
The sun was sinking low as the bandit watched from the twin's balcony. The moon would be full tonight and that meant she would now need to make good her escape. The young ones still needed guidance during the moon madness, but Elrohir could not be left alone until the accord was sealed and signed by Elrond, plus the elleth feared for the younger twin's safety during the moon time. Fury cringed as she thought of the older twin's reaction to seeing her missing, but it could not be helped this night. The young ones came first with her, always, but that did not mean she did not harbor a small regret at the loss of the twin's questionable company. Then a smirk crossed her features as a sinister idea came to mind. She could escape and baffle the twin all to Mordor; if she did it right.
Walking to the front of the hearth where a fire blazed warmly, Fury pulled the chain as far as it would go then twirled around in a circle until she was completely encased in the Mithril. Taking a deep breath, Fury closed her eyes and relaxed her body as a flickering blue flame covered the bandit. The chain as well as her clothes dropped to the floor in a twisted heap in front of the hearth with a soft clatter. Stepping carefully away from the chain wrapped clothes so as not to disturb them, Fury took in the rather curious sight. It looked as if she had melted right through the floor leaving behind her nothing but the trappings of reality. She wondered what Elladan would think of the strange pile and a satisfied sound issued from her throat at the thought of deceiving the older twin so well.
Padding over to the Elladan's dressing area, Fury again pulsed with the strange blue flame. Stretching her whole body in delighted freedom, the bandit surveyed the twin's clothing. A black under tunic in the basket for laundering caught her eye and the bandit pulled it over her head happily. Rubbing her face against the silky soft material, Fury contentedly strolled her way back to the balcony with the twin's scent surrounding her. She would return his shirt on the morrow, but for tonight the bandit would roam free within the valley's woods with the young ones. With a regretful sigh, Fury easily jumped to the large overhanging tree next to the balcony and clambered down its branches into the gathering dark and freedom.
Elrohir heard an excited murmur break out among the young bandits. They had seemed preoccupied most of the day and it had only grown worse as the day slowly drifted towards night. The youngest ones currently milled around the cave restlessly, only to stop and clutch their stomachs as if in pain. Moving over to Lindrial, Elrohir reached out to examine the youngling. The twin was dragged back suddenly as the child bandit went for his throat. Shadow stood between the twin and a snarling Lindrial. A low growl issued from Shadow's own throat as he stared the other bandit into submission. Sighing deeply, the dark haired second in command turned to face Elrohir with a heavy heart.
"You know not what you are to them at this moment son of Elrond. You are not pack and as such you are either enemy or food. They can control their hunger on most days, but the moon pulls a madness out of them that has lasted for generations. A cursed existence they lead, Lord of the Realm. Their souls are trapped between worlds and can belong to neither world fully. Soon the moon will peak and then you will see the survivors' true form. Fear not Elrohir, I will allow no harm to come to you, as Fury and I have allowed no harm come to your people over the years of our settlement in your lands. Pain will increase in their bodies nearly beyond measure, yet joy will over take the pain when the change is done and they are freed once more to roam the wilds in peace. Watch and learn my friend for you witness a spectacle none have seen in this Age of Man." Shadow's soft reverent voice echoed eerily throughout the cave and made shivers run rampant down Elrohir's spine. The twin was not sure if it was wiser to feel honored or wary!
Before Elrohir could form a reply, all those in the cavern froze and began to whine in a fevered high pitched voice caught somewhere between pleasure and pain. Hearing approaching footfalls, Elrohir turned towards path leading from the antechamber to the cave's entrance. In strode one of the most striking females that Elrohir had ever seen. Her hair curled around her shoulders and down to her waist in a silvery mass held back from her face by the tiny, intricate braids of the Mirkwood archers. Lavender-gray eyes flashed, with a combination of ecstatic joy and commanding forcefulness, as the newly arrived female took in the scene.
The young bandits began to move towards her in a slow stalking motion while she stood in the middle of the chamber with her hands firmly on her hips. She was much more earthy in form and demeanor then the she elves Elrohir was used to. Even the Silvan elves, with their deeper affinity for all things of nature, would look like scholarly Noldor elves next to this beautifully feral and extremely lethal looking elleth. Locking her unusual eyes on the fascinated gray eyes of the younger twin, the female smiled with wicked delight. The closer the bandits came to their leader, the more guttural the whines became. They swarmed around her body like a living whirlwind. Hands of the older bandits reached out desperately to touch the silent elleth's arms, while the smallest of the younglings brushed their bodies against her legs with whimpering growls.
Without breaking eye contact with Elrohir, the female announced in a voice that brooked no disobedience, "The son of Elrond is under my protection! He is neither enemy nor food! You will do no harm to him unless you wish a painful death at my hand. Son of Elrond, you will be safe now from my pack, so fear not. My warrior's word is your protection from my people. I am Fury, leader of the Wolven clan of Imladris and former guardian of the Greenwood, my word is law! When the change comes upon them, Shadow will stand by your side as your personal protector."
Her former demanding tone changed to a sultry voice as Fury smiled down at the excited bandits around her. "Come younglings the moon is high and the hunt begins," the bandit leader purred enticingly as the younger bandits made for the caves entrance and spilled out into the beckoning moonlight, "Follow if you dare Elrohir of Imladris! Come see who you have been keeping company in my absence!"
Elrond heard the crashing of the door all the way to his study. Gracefully jumping to his feet, the Lord of Imladris hurried to investigate the disturbance. He was met in the hall by a confused Glorfindel and worried Erestor. Moving towards the family wing, the three investigators were nearly run down by an irate, seething twin muttering in a jumbled combination of Sindarian and Westron. Skidding to a halt, when he came very close to colliding with them, Elladan took in the confused and worried look of the three companions before leveling his Ada with such a heated glare that Glorfindel tensed; in case he was need to defend Elrond from his own son.
"Did you have her removed from my quarters Ada? If so, I demand to know where is she now?" the twin snarled in a very low controlled voice. Perplexed at his oldest son's behavior, it took a minute to process what the twin had said. "No my son I have not had her removed as yet, though if you do not soon curb your treatment of her, I will do so! Why do you ask such a thing of me?" Elrond's calm voice replied. The Imladris Lord watched as different thoughts flickered rapidly across Elladan's face. Elrond was unprepared to see the unfolding emotions of violent rage, frustration, confusion, sadness, and shockingly a very fleeting look of pained loss that crossed across his oldest son's dark gray eyes. The fact the twin was also holding a simple but beautiful dress crumpled up in his tightly clenched fist and ranting about the disappearance of the female bandit now made the three elves realize Elladan's problem; the bandit leader had escaped!
