Hello! –Slides in carefully, shooting nervous glances at readers- well now…that cliffy wasn't overly bad...was it? I mean…just Caireth, you know? Anyways, back to Rohan and Randir. Who I want to become one of the beloved OC elves of old…like C&S's Trelan, or Sarah and Hannah's Celyith! Yes, that is a goal…indeed…

Anyways, rather than boring you I think I'll let you read…

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Morwen looked over the plains of Rohan, the home she had adopted. The rays of the sun touched down like bowing kings, creating a picture worthy of the most beautiful of tapestries.

"Like a seen from the life of Tinuviel," she murmured to no one.

"Indeed, a scene worthy of one who loves the land she rules, Queen Morwen."

The Queen spun around, her eyes seeking the one who had spoken. A silver haired elf stood at the door, his green eyes dancing merrily as he watched her.

"Hardly worthy, but chosen nonetheless."

"Than more worthy it would seem, to be chosen is a gift," he replied.

"Or a curse," she answered. She turned away from his enquiring gaze and moved down the overhang.

"A curse? Nay, I know people who are truly cursed in their heritage, you are not one of them," the elf almost whispered.

"Thorongil will come into his own if given time," she answered.

"The lady of Rohan is neither blind nor dumb, the rumors say. And I hear she is a fright in battle, and swift to the aid of her friends."

"Is that a message, Randir of Mirkwood?"

But the elf was gone.

With a small sigh the queen went into her daughter's room and picked the near sleeping girl up.

"Hello, my precious gem," she said softly.

"Mama, it is late…" the child replied, "Let us go for a ride!"

Morwen laughed at her enthusiasm. "Yes, I think that is a good plan, mir nin."

"Mama, let's bring Théoden as well, please?" the child looked at her mother beseechingly.

Morwen nodded a roused her 15 year old son, the child looked at her like she was crazy, but followed willingly enough.

The night was cool and crisp, a sharp wind kicked up every so often, but none on the ride complained. They rode two hours to the river in silence, stopping when they reached its shores.

Théoden marveled at his mother's quiet strength as she stood before them along the shores of the river. The skirts of her blue dress caught in the current and drifted slightly along, the majestic woman who wore them did not seem to notice. Her eyes were scanning the horizon. Théodwyn moved to stand beside her, the child's large brown eyes staring up at her mother in awe.

"Mama, do not be frightened. Thorongil is strong, he will rescue Leg-o-las," the child whispered.

Morwen laughed gently at her daughter's knowledge, "you pay more attention then I give you credit for, mir nin."

"Mother…what…"

"Enjoy the moment, anur nin," she scolded, smiling at her oldest child.

Théoden scowled at her back, his mother was avoiding the questions.

"Mother, answer my questions plainly!" he snapped. Morwen's smile faded slightly, and her eyes darkened.

"Go home, Théoden. You are not ready for this night," his mother almost whispered.

"Mother! I am grown nearly, how can I not be ready, yet my infant sister is?" he was outraged, annoyed, and a little bit hurt.

"Perhaps her youth makes her more, go home my son." Morwen moved forward and kissed the top of his head. Gently she tucked his hair behind his ear. "Someday, my son, you will know why this night went the way it did. Take your sister home, farewell, anur nin, mir nin."

Morwen watched as her two children disappeared over the bed of a hill, her hand raised in farewell, much the same as she had when Thorongil had left, only this time the arm was clad in blue, not green.

---&---

Legolas turned around slowly, his eyes meeting those of the woman who stood in the door. She looked pretty, a simple white tunic and light blue leggings, her long red hair splayed haphazardly about her pale face.

"Now, now, where is my pretty prize going?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous. Legolas' eyes sought Aragorn, and his friend was still on the floor.

"You promised," he said flatly so as not to show emotion to Caireth.

"Oh, the poor, poor, elfy," she said sympathetically, her eyes darkening. She stepped forward and grabbed Aragorn, hauling him up and placing her shining blade at his throat. "Do. Not. Anger. Me. Today," she hissed, tightening her hold on the man. "Come forward, and kneel, or you will regret it, understand?" she hissed slowly.

Legolas, knowing he had no other option moved forward and knelt at her feet, his cheeks burned with shame and he refused to meet his friend's eyes.

"Legolas," the human murmured softly, averting his eyes from the sight of the prince kneeling at his…or rather Caireth's feet.

"That's a good elf and human, now, we are going outside and you two are going to your new lives."

Both elf and ranger frowned deeply at her, their eyes meeting despite their determination to not show any emotion. "What new lives?" Aragorn asked finally, his eyes dark and stormy.

"Well, the elf," she said the word like it was an insult, "will be the slave he deserves to be, there is a good market for the pretty ones. A very good market," as she said this her hand gently probed Legolas' ear, he flinched away, his reaction involuntary. "And you, my dear ranger, will be an overseer. Twill be your job to give assignments…and…punishments. I assure you, that any mistakes or reluctance, and this elf will be the one that pays the price, understand, ranger?"

"I understand, lyg," she had under minded him. It was frightening to be up against this woman, her blatant will to be violent was terrifying, and he had to wonder, what had happened to change her from the innocent girl he sometimes saw to the violent tyrant she was now. She dropped him to the ground and walked out, stopping to wait impatiently for them to follow. Aragorn shrugged and pulled his friend to his feet, smiling encouragingly at the elf, whose cheeks were dark with shame.

"I am sorry mellon nin," Aragorn said softly. Legolas looked away, refusing to meet the human's eyes.

As they stepped outside Aragorn was able to see the full extent of Legolas' injuries. He limped slightly, a sprained ankle from one beating or another, the back of his shirt was covered in blood, new and dried, and the proud carriage of his shoulders was slightly slumped.

Aragorn felt anger well up in his heart. He would kill them, every single one of them.

He hated them.

As a boy Aragorn had always been taught not to hate. But in this bitter situation he could not hold back the thought, Estel was taught not to hate. Aragornwas taught nothing of the sort. He closed his eyes briefly, thinking like that would get him nowhere.

To his surprise, after he had struggled up on his horse Legolas was thrown carelessly up in front of him, Aragorn grabbed him to keep him from falling.

"None of my men wish to carry the elf; he will get his blood on their clothes. Try anything and you will regret it," Cairdor hissed dangerously. Aragorn didn't respond with anything more than a nod. Cairdor gave a snort of disgust as he walked away, if the ranger wanted to be difficult that was his problem.

He and Legolas both realized they were entering someone's property when the scare amount of trees increased. They entered a canopy of rather ugly trees, their branches mangles and twisted. Aragorn shivered slightly.

"They are not evil, they are good, but tormented," Legolas spoke to him for the first time in hours. Aragorn noted the way the prince had put his ear to Aragorn's chest as though to drown out the voices of the trees.

At the sound of a thump they both looked up, eyes widening in horror. A large black box hung from the tree branches, and they could vaguely hear rapid Sindarin mixed with several dwarven curses and the occasional thump. As he realized there was an elf in there the box became much smaller to Aragorn.

"Caireth! Is there an elf in there?" he all but roared. The thumping stopped and the box still.

"Don't let me stay here alone. It is so dark, please, I will suffer to beg…don't make me stay..." the creature inside the box called softy in elvish, all his shame at begging embedded in his voice. Aragorn trembled and paled in anger, his eyes deadly.

"Caireth, is that an elf," he his dangerously.

"Yes," she responded, clearly bored with the situation.

"What is his name?" Aragorn questioned further, the voice was one he recognized, but the box muffled it, he couldn't tell for sure who is was.

"Oh, I don't really know, I don't pay attention to slaves. But the overseers call him 'black beauty,' isn't that cute?" she asked, smiling softly. Aragorn opened his mouth to retort but the elf in front of him shook his head.

"Later Estel," he whispered soothingly. He didn't like the idea of the elf up there either, but he didn't want his friend to get beaten for it. They would find out later, and then do something. He shook his head and closed his eyes, he was utterly exhausted.

"Legolas, please don't close your eyes…please…" the human above him pleaded in elvish.

"I am sorry Estel, goheno nin," the elf murmured as he drifted off to sleep.

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The mansion…or palace really was towering above the large plot of land. Aragorn narrowed his eyes against the sun, searching out the different exists. Caireth dismounted and yanked Legolas out of Aragorn's arms, sending the elf crashing to the ground from his peaceful slumber.

Aragorn scrambled down clumsily, his bonds making it hard to dismount. He moved instantly to Legolas' side, but was yanked away by Cairdor.

"Take the elf to the slave chambers. Put him in with the other blonde one, the new one. He's in a four elf cell but he's all alone. The human will be joining them shortly."

Caireth grabbed Legolas and yanked the writhing, kicking elf along, entering through a side door.

"And you, ranger, are coming with me to learn all about your new life."

Aragorn followed him into the immense structure, glaring at his dark surroundings. They kept elves here? Locked up in this dark, dank, hole? He was astounded that anyone could be so cruel.

He was led up the stairs and into a grand room.

"Ahh, my new friend, how are you, Thorongil? Or do you prefer Estel?" an oily man in his early fifties stepped from behind the only desk, his face contorted into a malicious smile.

"Do not use that name, it is foul on your horrid tongue!" Aragorn snapped, his glare dangerous.

"Oh tsk, tsk. You simply must learn manners. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Lord Godéad, and you will address me as such. Not like the…fond nicknames you have come up with for the lovely Caireth. What has she told you of your duties?"

"That I am to give orders and…deal out…punishments," Aragorn replied.

"Yes, well, that is true. You will live with the slaves. I will provide you with fresh clothing and such. Are there any questions?"

"No," Aragorn said harshly.

"Good," the man's voice was still oily. "You may leave."

Aragorn was led out of the room, perfectly willing to go, he wanted to get back to his friend. The cell he was thrown into was dark and dank. And very, very damp. He heard shuffling and a voice that sounded oh so small came out of the darkness.

"Estel?"

"Yes Legolas, it is I. Who is the other elf?"

"Why am I not surprised, Estel?" a very familiar voice came out of the darkness. Aragorn almost gagged in his surprise.

"Glorfindel?" he cried, "What are you…oh…dumb question."

"Very, how are you, are you all right?" the ranger's old mentor asked, worry thick in his voice (which was rather hoarse).

"I am fine. But…I do have a question. Outside there is an elf...in a…well, that's not important. Who is the elf the overseers call 'black beauty?'" Aragorn asked. He could hear Glorfindel take a shuddering breath.

"Oh Estel…it is…it is Elladan."

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Well, that's the end of chapter 8. I started this chapter off nice and happy…didn't end that way. Our beloved LotR is to be made into a musical! And Gandalf's staff is black! And the black riders look like pieces of canvas cotton candy! –growls- anyways…we now have met Glorfy and 'Dan!

REVIEW!

Mir nin- my gem (I thought this was an appropriate name for little Théodwyn, who is fast becoming a possible sequel character…)

Anur nin- my sun (yes, I know he's her SON not SUN, but I thought it was a cute endearing name, you guys have anything better, let me know!)

Mellon nin- my friend

Goheno nin- forgive me

Morpen- dark one. This is me being VERY creative. Do NOT use this name if you are aiming for half-decent elvish…