Hello everyone! So sorry about the terribly long wait. It's midterms, but the real terror is that the first draft of my thesis is due next friday!
I blinked in the darkness feeling the haze of too much sleep slowing down my thoughts. Somehow during my sleep I had managed to get under the covers. I sat up feeling the back of my neck. It was damp with the sweat. The air was warm enough in here that blankets were unnecessary, but the comfort is nice and I would rather have them then not.
"Haldamire, I can sense that you have woken, don't tarry" I heard Tar-Mairon call from beyond the darkness. The light I saw by to get in here is gone, or maybe extinguished. I threw the covers off and set my feet down tentatively. I didn't want to step on anything. I mean Tar-Mairon doesn't really seem like he has random items strewn on the floor, but you can never be too sure. I blinked, but it must have been true darkness because I still couldn't see anything. I walked slowly in the direction of where Tar-Mairon's voice came from until I bumped into a door. Fumbling around with the door knob took me a long minute until I pushed out and bright light spilled in.
I threw my hand over my eyes blinking at the sudden assault of light. I shook my head randomly trying to help myself adjust faster. I don't know if shaking the head actually works, but it felt right.
"Come Haldamire, look at this" Tar-Mairon said sounding almost excited. For some reason it made me nervous and I hesitated a split second before approaching him. I let out a choked noise of horror when I peered closer. It looked like two hearts were pinned to the table.
"What is that?" I closed my eyes trying to keep my voice even and failing miserably.
"Don't be so frightened Haldamire. Look at the difference in size of hearts between the first and second born. Very faint structural material differences deep in the components, but that would be beyond you." He explained. I shivered despite the warm air. They had probably already been dead when he took their hearts. Probably. Hopefully. I looked at him and he set down some tool he had in his hand.
"so recalcitrant today. Come sit" He turned without waiting to see if I was following and sat down where we had sat yesterday before I slept. I followed eager to move the hearts out of eyesight and my mind. He motioned towards food set out on the table. It looked better than what Airawende and I were given in our room, but I was feeling rather queasy from the hearts. Still better not to tempt anger by refusing. I picked up a slice of bread carefully and waited to see if he would take anything. He didn't and after a moment and I ate carefully trying not to spill any crumbs. He leaned forward in chair slightly and asked me where we had come from.
"Um, we came from a renaissance fair." I said trying not to sound like I didn't know the answer. I wasn't sure what he was really wanting to know since I did not know where we were. I mean the teacher told us Angband is across the sea and a place of darkness and terror, but that wasn't really knowing for us and she didn't understand our puzzlement.
"Explain to me a renaissance fair and how you came to be at the court of Angband suddenly" He asked.
"It's like a place people go to dressed like they are from the past or fantasy books. I do not understand how I came to be in Angband either. Airawende touched something on the ground, I think jewelry of some kind, and light consumed us. The next thing I knew we were in Angband" I said truthfully still confused at the entire process myself.
"The past? Fantasy books? What did it look like?" He furthered.
"Yea, the past like medieval times" I frowned wondering how to explain "And fantasy books like mermaids, elves, and fairies. I cannot remember what it looked like or if I saw it up close. Airawende is the one who put her hand on it" Thinking about that brings up frustration with Airawende. I know anyone would have picked up lost jewelry to look at and turn in, but if she had just missed it or left it alone we would be safe back home! Tar-Mairon leaned back as if in thought and studied me. I grabbed another piece of bread awkwardly suddenly feeling hungry and set a piece of cheese on it. Why didn't we get this food before? I wonder if Chloe has better food now too. I raised my hand like I was in school feeling slightly foolish.
"Ask Haldamire" Tar-Mairon said eyes bright with dancing flames.
"Where is Ungo?" The first semi-normal verbal interaction I've had. Even if it was with a wolf who said he would like to take a bite out of me.
"do you like Ungo?" Tar-Mairon asked his lips tilted up slightly with my question.
"Yes, he's very nice" I answered nodding.
"Nice." Tar-Mairon repeated tilting his head slightly thoughtfully. I slouched slightly then hoping that didn't get Ungo in trouble. I jumped at the reprimand of needing good posture feeling terrified of punishment. I shifted nervously and ate my cheese bread quickly. Tar-Mairon stood and beckoned me to follow. I stood quickly dusting off my hands.
"Go wash and dress yourself appropriately. I will take you to see some of my wolves. Do not think we are done with questions." Tar-Mairon said entering into the room that I came out of earlier. I gasped in shock and wonder as torches along the wall suddenly lit up fire crackling brightly. I noticed another door along the far side that was a lot smaller than the entry door. He gestured to a large wardrobe across one side of the wall and a vanity next to it telling me where to find clothes and fix myself. I nodded quickly and he left before I could blink. It still shocked me whenever they moved fast like that.
I moved toward the wardrobe trying to logically tell myself why I should not be excited. I felt like a small child at Christmas. I know he is not kind and that they are not kind, but maybe I can let myself pretend it is for me and not them. I pulled the door open and glared huffing. All the same colors of red, gold, and black. No blues, no greens, no purples, no yellows. Okay, the patterns are vaguely different and they are very beautiful, but its all similar. I picked up one of the more colorful ones. It was mostly dark red, but it had golden eye patterns. I was excited for no reason. I took it with me to the bathroom scowling. I wonder if Chloe is stuck with the same color of clothes.
The water was already there and very warm. I wonder how it got there. Surely I would have heard someone bringing water past me? The thought I missed it sends a terrifying message. I carefully set the stupid red and gold robes down away from any risk of water and marveled at the perfect temperature. I soaked for a minute and then hurried. Tar-Mairon may not take me if I take too long. In short order I had wrapped myself in the layered robes tying them tightly and sat back in room in front of the mirror. Usually Chloe and I took turns braiding each other's hair for optimal time management and ease. I screamed in terror seeing a person in the mirror and whipped around.
"You scared me to death" I whisper yelled realizing it was the teacher. She gave a regretful look and motioned me to turn.
"I was ordered to make you beautiful always" She explained peeking furtively at the open door and beginning to work a brush through my hair.
"You will stay here with me?" I asked hopefully.
"No, but I will come in the beginning of the day" she said sounding despondent.
"what's wrong? We still get to see each other. Do you see Airawende too?" I asked eager to hear of news. She gave a terrified look to the door and shook her head mutely leaving all my questions unanswered. "why won't you answer me?" I asked plaintively giving puppy dog eyes through the mirror.
"Shh. Shh. He hears all" she whimpered looking terrified. She was not behaving like she did in the classroom. I guess there was that one time Tar-Mairon had her head slammed into the ground when we were learning how to kneel. I frowned and stayed silent while she finished.
"Good, you have finished." The teacher threw herself down in a bow at the sound of Tar-Mairon's voice and I stared between them. She tugged desperately at my robes urging me to join her. I looked at Tar-Mairon questioningly wondering if I was supposed to kneel every time I saw him. "you may forgo kneeling in these rooms Haldamire, but if you forget when we leave them, you will not forget again." The flames in his eyes burned brighter seemingly piercing into my heart and burrowing the threat there. I nodded looking down trying to appear submissive. The teacher just stayed where she was as Tar-Mairon hooked a long leash to the collar thing they had us put on yesterday. I felt extremely embarrassed, but in no mood to test the waters of safety by resisting. I'll leave that kind of pointless stupidity to Airawende. I was in equal parts humiliated by the leash and collar, but excited to see Ungo. I fell into step behind Tar-Mairon as he left.