Well, I guess my evil guy has the typical tendency to brag…

Chapter 8

He almost fell to the ground as the creature put him down again. The sun was just rising, a fiery globe of red in the eastern sky.

"You stay here," the creature growled, once more tying the elf to a tree, "I will come for you when the sun has set."
Elrond nodded, almost choking on the gag. It was the only thing he could do.

For hours he sat against the tree, not daring to move but when midday approached and the creature had still not returned in spite of his fears he became restless. The air was fresh, the moss moist and he was cold, lonely, scared and just plain miserable. His legs were starting to cramp. Carefully Elrond shifted a little and tugged at his bonds. He had to get away. Every time a twig snapped nearby he feared that the creature had returned. Elrond breathed a sigh of relief as his searching hand encountered a small, sharp stone. Slowly he started to work on his bonds, finally managing to free himself.

With a last prayer to the Valar he slowly, labouringly got up and ran. The forest rushed past him in an undistinguishable blur of green, brown and even more green. Dark twigs and low-hanging branches seemed to reach out for him, trying to catch him but instead only bruising and grazing his skin. His lungs were burning, two pools of liquid fire inside of him and he knew that he had to find somewhere to hide as soon as possible,

Elrond screamed as something grabbed his ankle and the ground rushed towards him.

"no!" a sharp pain sliced through his wrist and up his arm. Whimpering he struggled upwards, kneeling on the ground and nursing his sprained wrist while raucous laughter assaulted his ears.

"Stupid, insolent elf!" the black creature chided him as it stepped from the shadows, "I am Sadjan, you cannot escape me."

A strange sickness settled in Elrond's stomach as the creature closed the distance between them with an impatient growl and loomed over him with a broad grin that meant nothing good.

"At least the master allowed me to punish you if you were foolish," it leered, regarding the elf with a look that made the Peredhel crawl backwards in spite of the pain in his wrist, "We're going to have so much fun," the creature growled, baring its fangs, "So much fun."

"Erestor! Erestor! Come quickly!" Erestor frowned as the door to his library slammed against the wall.

"Elladan." he sighed exasperatedly, rearranging a pile of papers on his desk.

"Glorfindel is back!"

"What?"

"Glorfindel, he is back!"

Almost the entire population of Imladris had assembled in the courtyard as Glorfindel and his men rode through the gates. A disappointed murmur drifted through the assembled crowd.

"Glorfindel?" Elrohir asked shakily, "Where is father?"

"I am sorry, pyn-neth," Glorfindel's voice broke as he knelt down in front of the twins, "I have failed you. We have found many tracks but we were unable to find your father."
A deadly silence settle over the courtyard as the shocked whispers died down. Elladan gulped.

"I await whatever punishment you may deem adequate." Glorfindel fell silent, keeping his eyes trained on the ground as he waited for the verdict. Erestor froze, a hand raised to his throat in shock. "Glorfindel," he whispered.

"My lords?" the seneschal asked quietly.

With a strangled sob Elrohir turned, running from the courtyard with his twin following at his heels.

"What did you find?" Erestor asked, nervously handing a goblet of mulled wine to Glorfindel.

"We found the tracks of elven boots and followed them deep into the woods," the Eldar gladly took the proffered drink, downing it in one long gulp, "The tracks ended when they crossed another set of tracks, trails that must have been left by a creature with three-fingered claws instead of feet."

Erestor gasped, shock once more evident on his face. "Claws?"

"Aye." Glorfindel nodded, "The creature obviously intercepted the elf and left the clearing again," he shook his head, passing a hand over weary eyes, "There are no elven tracks leading away from the clearing. We found no sign of a corpse, nor did the dogs detect the smell of something… decaying. We decided to follow the tracks."

"And?"

"And nothing," Glorfindel concluded, startled to notice something like relief on the advisor's face, "Deep into the woods, at the feet of the Hithaiglin we lost the track.

"You lost the track?"

"Yes."

"Ahem," a new voice interrupted them, "Forgive me, but it seems you did not hear my knocking."
Glorfindel's eyes narrowed dangerously as he eyed the blond newcomer with a suspicious glare.

"And who would you be?" the seneschal almost growled, blue eyes clashing with green as the two stared at each other.

"Glorfindel," Erestor said, quickly stepping between the two, "This is Bellmaethorion, Thranduil's seneschal. Bellmaethorion," he added, turning towards the Sindar, "This is Glorfindel, Lord Elrond's seneschal and captain of the guard of Imladris."

"Well met." the two blonds said simultaneously , icily bowing towards each other.

"What business does such a high-ranking member of Thranduil's court have in Imladris?" Glorfindel gestured at one of the couches that filled a corner of the library with a comfortable seating arrangement. Erestor nodded as Bellmaethorion glanced at him and led the two seneschals to the couch.

"Bellmaethorion came in search of Prince Legolas," the advisor explained, seating himself next to Glorfindel, "Unfortunately I had to inform him that we know nothing of the prince's whereabouts."

"Hm…" Glorfindel mumbled, still glaring suspiciously at Bellmaethorion, "When did he vanish from Mirkwood?"

"Some months ago," Thranduil's seneschal said crossing his legs, "I have been looking for him ever since."
"Hm."
"I could not help but witness what happened earlier," Bellmaethorion continued, "When I arrived at Imladris' borders some weeks ago I detected the presence of an evil being nearby."

Glorfindel crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Are you trying to imply that I am not capable of fulfilling my duties properly?"

"N0, no," Bellmaethorion hurried to say, "But the tracks I found were left by a creature that walks on two three-fingered claws."
"Three-fingered claws?" Glorfindel repeated incredulously, "And you did not tell us? Do you remember where you saw them? Can you lead me there?"

"Yes." "No."

Bellmaethorion and Erestor said in the same instant.

Erestor shook his head as both seneschals glared at him. "I understand your wish to act as soon as possible," the advisor explained, "But it is already past midday and it will take you more than a day to reach the eastern border of Imladris. It would be a folly to ride out now. Especially,"" he glared at Glorfindel, "Since you just returned after weeks of absence."

Reluctantly the two blond elves nodded.

"Very well," Glorfindel gave in, "We will ride with the rise of the sun tomorrow morning then."

"Why have you come?" Bellmaethorion asked, resting his hands on the ancient oak's trunk.

"I could ask the same of you." Erestor replied, gracefully settling himself on the grass, "What brings you here? Now of all times?"

"I told you before," Bellmaethorion replied, green eyes flashing dangerously, "I came because my king commanded me to."
Erestor sighed. "Sit down."

Slowly Bellmaethorion obeyed. "What is it you want of me?" he asked, "You have been acting strangely towards me ever since I arrived."

"I may have," Erestor admitted, "But if I did, it had nothing to do with you."

Bellmaethorion's expression made it more than clear that he did not believe a word the advisor was saying.

"I once knew someone who looked a lot like you," Erestor explained, "The resemblance is really quite striking."

"That does not explain why you knew my name."
"I told you," Erestor insisted, "I had heard of you."

"But.."

"No buts. I had heard of you, that's all. If you would excuse me now?"

It was clearly no question and Bellmaethorion had no chance to say anything else before the advisor walked away.

"Your conversation with Thranduil's seneschal was most interesting." Glorfindel remarked almost nonchalantly as he tried to keep up with Erestor.

"You overheard us?"
"I could not help it; you were in the gardens. Everybody could have heard you. Erestor!" he sighed exasperatedly, "We're not going for a run, we're talking a walk!"

"Sorry." Erestor mumbled, slowing down a bit, "I was… annoyed."

"Annoyed?" Glorfindel asked as they left the gardens and strolled into the forest, "What with?"

"You could have gone away when you heard as talking."

"Your conversation was far too interesting."

"Interesting?" Erestor stopped and turned, hands on his hips as he glared at Glorfindel, "There was nothing interesting about it!"

"Then why does it bother you so much that I stopped to listen?"

"Because."

"Erestor," Glorfindel took the advisor's hands into his own and gazed deeply into the other's dark eyes, "I am sorry if I did offend you by staying and listening but I was worried."

"For whom?"

"Everything… nothing. I don't know."
Erestor smiled, stunning the blond by quickly kissing his brow.

"Very well," the raven-haired elf grinned, "I forgive you."

Surprised Glorfindel started after the retreating councillor, a silly smile fixed on his face as he gently touched his brow.

Elvish Translations

Pyn-neth little ones