Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien does!
Chapter 17: The Dragon's lair
Aranel had finally given into her body's desperate need to rest after her exhaustions and had fallen into a fitful sleep, images of her ordeal flitting tauntingly before her minds eye.
He was there when she woke.
She opened her eyes slowly, feeling like someone had glued them together in her sleep, not entirely sure what had woken her. When everything finally came into focus he was leaning casually against the desk, holding a goblet in one hand and smiling down at her with his sinister smile.
"Nice of you to join me." He said cheerfully as she focused on him.
"Orenar…" Aranel choked out, her throat was parched, she hadn't had anything to drink or eat since she had been there, though Aranel had now idea how long that was, she thought it must be at least a few days and she could feel her body had weaken considerably from it.
A satisfactory smile crossed his lips at her obvious weakness, Aranel cursing herself for showing it but was unable not to. He knelt just out of her reach and profited the drink he was holding to her.
"Would you like something to drink?" Orenar asked, enjoying her distress.
"Why would I take anything you offer me, you've probably poisoned it or something." Aranel replied hoarsely.
"Suit yourself." He stood and drained the cup, placing it back on the desk and wiping his mouth of the remaining moisture.
"Now, I suppose you want to know all about this little predicament you've found yourself in."
Aranel said nothing but stared at the now empty cup, her mind only capable of processing things very slowly, she was still only getting over the fact that he had not keeled over and died from the supposedly poisoned drink.
"Ah ah, Aranel, you had your chance, now we have a chat before you get another offer." Orenar watched her; he was always amazed at how easy it was to break even the strongest spirits when deprived of simple things such as food and water. Aranel rested back against the wall, closing her eyes briefly and taking a deep breath, trying to get her mind to focus on what he was saying, wishing she could think sharply and somehow bargain her way out of this situation.
She opened her eyes and stared at him, waiting for him to continue.
"Good girl," Orenar smirked, "Now, you've probably already guessed that you've been here for a few days, which might not sound like much but let me explain what's happening to you. You remembered when you suddenly appeared in the dinning hall one night and collapsed soon after yes?" he stopped briefly waiting for a reaction. Aranel nodded slowly.
"Good, travelling only that small distance drained you, so imagine what a cost on your body it was to travel this far to get here! You were out cold for almost two days! And your body needs at leats a week to recover from that. But then of course you decided to strain yourself even further and use your power to attempt an escape, which drained what little strength you still had. All I had to do was deprive you of food and water, and, well, here we are. You have essentially tortured yourself, even managed to scare off the servant that brought you sustenance." He turned slightly and picked up an apple, biting into it, the juice dripping down his chin. Aranel watched, disgusted but unable to bring herself to look away.
"Quite a predicament you see, even I hadn't thought things would run this smoothly!" he bit into the apple again, still smiling at her.
Aranel was silent, processing what he had said thus far. The stubborn part of her refused to believe that she was totally helpless and at his mercy and yet his words seemed to resinate in her; even if she refused to believe it she could feel it in her very bones.
Orenar continued eating the apple, still watching her intently. She had her eyes closed again and was very still and he wondered briefly if she might have fallen asleep again. He nudged her roughly with his foot, Aranel rocking gently with the impact as she opened her eyes again to give him a murderous look.
Orenar smiled smugly and retreat behind the desk. It suddenly occurred to Aranel that it was perhaps a little odd that the servant she had supposedly 'scared off' was afraid of her in the first place, considering she was chained to a wall. "Why was the servant afraid of me?" she demanded suddenly.
Orenar looked up at her, considering her words. "You are an enemy, an entity of light. And a powerful one at that otherwise I would not have you here. You would be rotting in the dungeons with the rest. So, naturally, she was afraid of you." He looked back at the paper in front of him.
There would be a few turning points in Aranel's ordeal though she would not realise it until much later. Perhaps it was the casual manner in which he spoke of her power that gave her the confidence, or perhaps it was as simple as an underestimate of her strength on Orenar's part, but he would one day come to regret the easy, almost flippant manner in which he treated her now.
They remained in silence while he finished his work, when finally he refilled the goblet and stood, Aranel new she was about to hear the rest of what he had come to say.
"Now, I'm going to be very generous and give you a drink and some food and even tell you why you are here." The sarcasm almost dripped off his voice as he once again knelt in front of her.
"I already know, you want my powers." Aranel replied, almost as if she were bored.
He only smirked at her and placed the cup and an apple within her reach. "Very good, you have been paying attention. Though it would do you good to remember that I am now your only hope of survival, and I think that demands a little respect don't you?"
His cheerful manner grated on her nerves but all Aranel could concentrate on at the moment was the food and drink in front of her. Orenar left her, shutting her back into her dull world but Aranel hardly cared, as soon as the door shut she leapt on the sustenance before her as if it were a banquet. She would come to regret it in the morning.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
They had been locked in Illindor's study for hours on end, finally having made a decision. A last resort.
"It is the only way." Evandar murmured for what he thought may be the thousandth time.
"It is suicide." Illindor responded, similarly wondering how many times those exact words had been said.
Legolas had listened to the two mostly, adding in his own opinion every now and again but happy to have the Fay make most of the decisions, after all, they knew what they were up against.
"You're Father wont be pleased." Illindor said, nodding in Legolas's direction.
"I stand alone now. I will receive no help or support in this. Only what I have here. My Father's opinion is of no consequence."
Illindor nodded absently as he considered the options one last time. He knew they would receive no help from the Elves so any joint effort was out of the question, not even with Legolas's involvement. He knew the threat of war with his kingdom would do nothing to move Orenar, that way Aranel would be trapped for months, even years, everyday the risk of Orenar disposing of her growing greater. The only thing they had left was the three of them. Three beings was a lot less inconspicuous than an army, this way they would have stealth and the advantage of surprise on their side. They may even be able to get in and out without anyone noticing before they were long gone. He hoped.
He nodded tiredly and finally looked up at the other two. "You are both sure about this, our return is doubtful, and-"
"She is both a dear friend and my betrothed! I would gladly risk myself for her safety." Evandar said with conviction, interrupting Illindor.
Legolas only nodded his agreement, refusing to look at Evandar, he felt like someone was rubbing salt into a fresh wound every time Evandar mentioned Aranel as his betrothed.
"Then it is settled, we leave as soon as possible. No one is to mention to anyone what we are doing, except your father of course Legolas, Orenar has ears everywhere and we cannot loose our element of surprise. The three of us will get Aranel back, right from under Orenar's nose." Illindor tried to sound confident but only managed to get the despair out of his voice. All three felt it, they were about to walk right into dragons lair and none were confident of their return.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Another chapter done. Hope you liked it, like always read and review and let me now what you think. : P