Hi everyone! I want to say thank you again for all of the reviews! They really encourage me to keep writing! :D Also EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! TORTURE WARNING TORTURE WARNING TORTURE WARNING.
I peered at Tar-Mairon from my doorway observing his dissection. Fluffy was laying curled up on the blankets looking as content as could be. I know he knows that I'm watching him. I winced as he lifted up some organ and separated it from the rest. I don't even want to know what he was dissecting to have large organs like that.
"We used to dissect frogs, rats, and once a cat in biology class" I said before even realizing I was speaking out loud. That was weird. Like the words came unbidden to mouth. Tar-Mairon looked at me considering and then held out a scalpel in my direction backwards.
"Then come assist me" he said smiling. I looked back at my fluff ball and then approached Tar-Mairon and felt the cool metal slide into my palm.
"It was some time ago" I said fidgeting nervously. What I did something wrong and he got angry?
"Just follow my instructions" he said smoothly turning back to his table and gesturing me to approach. I felt slightly ill looking at everything. It didn't have that chemical smell like in biology class. It smelled like blood and something else I wasn't sure what to call.
"What is it?" I asked almost afraid to hear his answer. Why did I volunteer my dissection knowledge?
"That's not relevant for you to know" he said in a very strangely cheerful voice. I could feel the blood leave my face in a rush.
"It isn't Chloe is it?" I whispered for a moment unreasonably terrified. I realized my mistake and that, of course, it wasn't Airawende he was dissecting. Tar-Mairon looked at me slowly tapping the scalpel very slowly against his lower lip.
"Do you remember what you have been warned would happen if you and Airawende dared to speak that language again?" In his eyes danced cruel flames. I gasped and put my hand over my mouth. I, in fact, remembered with crystal clarity the needle and thread.
"Please don't" I breathed out terrified at the look in his eyes. He set the scalpel down. I couldn't believe he looked almost amused not angry.
"It would cause certain complications in speaking with you about your world, but it would heal after the thread is removed. Eventually anyway and you'll find I am very patient." he said like we were talking about the weather or something mundane.
"Please don't" I repeated hand still over my mouth. I took a step back nervously with wide eyes.
"I don't make idle threats Haldamire" he said softly with a benign smile lighting his features.
"I believe you" I squeaked out my voice going really high pitched in fear.
"you won't believe it anymore if I don't follow through" his smile still played at the corners of his mouth.
"I will. I will." I insisted backing away again.
"No you won't. Not really. You'll always believe an exception may be possible and take too many liberties in the future" He countered staying where he was still smiling, but with fire lit in his fearsome gaze.
"I swear I won't" I said in a pleading tone backing into the wall. I shook with fright and avoided Tar-Mairon's penetrating stare.
"Come now, little one, this will be for your future benefit" He said in a patronizing tone tilting his head slightly.
"It will leave scars. You don't like that" I argued weakly sliding down the wall.
"nonsense, after a couple of months there will be no trace" He tapped his fingers lightly on the dissection table and spun around. I stayed where I was sitting awkwardly, hand over my mouth tightly, watching him move over to a cabinet like thing and ruffle around. I couldn't help the little moan of fright escape my lips when he pulled out needles. Why does he even have that in his cabinet? For science?
"Tar-Mairon, please this isn't necessary" I whimpered muffled from behind my hand.
"Come here Haldamire" Tar-Mairon responded in a gentle, almost fatherly tone as he put his free hand down on a chair. I shook my head tears forming. "Haldamire" he said in an almost sing-song voice. I forced myself to stand. How much worse would it be if I resisted?
"please no" I tried again anxiously shifting my weight.
"Haldamire, I can wait here forever. You cannot and eventually you will come to this chair be it your will or mine. I suggest you make this as easy as possible for yourself" He said consolingly with another smile tugging at his mouth.
"I'm scared." My voice shook with the words.
"The pain will be temporary, Haldamire, I promise you that, but the lesson will remain forever." He explained like I was a child. He was acting like he was going to smack my hand not sew my mouth closed! I closed my eyes shivering. When I opened them Tar-Mairon was gazing back at me. The cruel flames in his eyes looking eerily out of place on his gentle expression. I fidgeted looking down submissively hoping it might convince to change his mind.
I stayed where I was for several long moments. Tar-Mairon was still in the same place and position he had been when I looked away. He really wasn't going to bother forcing me to sit. Why would he? He knows I have to go there eventually.
I don't know how long I stayed where I was, glaring down at the floor, unmoving. I felt all my tears spend themselves until I didn't think I could cry more even if I wanted to. What was it Tar-Mairon said? Pain is temporary, but lesson is forever? So even if he did sew my mouth shut it obviously would be for a short time. Temporary. It will be over soon. I hope. Just temporary. Like that time I broke my femur falling out of my treehouse. It hurt for a long while, but now I couldn't even hardly remember what it felt like. I swallowed glancing up again to see Tar-Mairon lazily leaning against the chair flames lighting up in his gaze.
"Will it take long?" I whispered hugging myself.
"Haldamire, don't you know by now? I am very efficient. When I want to be" He added the last almost as an afterthought. I felt dread sink into my stomach. Does that mean he doesn't want to be fast or he will be fast? I need to get this over with. Pain is temporary. Like he said. Like he promised.
I moved as fast as I could and practically threw myself into the chair folding in on myself. Tar-Mairon patted my head and moved in front of me. I trembled as he crouched down with the needle and thread in one of his hands. His other hand slipped under my chin and gently angled up my face towards his.
I whimpered and closed my eyes feeling the thin cold piece of metal rest on my upper lip. I tried to jerk away feeling it pierce into the sensitive flesh, but Tar-Mairon was holding my face in a secure grip. I gripped the arms of the chair as hard as I could feeling them go numb, but it didn't hardly distract from the abhorrent sensation of thread. I weird agonized sound bubbled past my lips and Tar-Mairon let out tsking sound.
I tried to even my breathing as best I could. Each choked or labored breath out of my body stretched the thread he had in place. I could feel the needle acutely every time it pierced into me. Tar-Mairon wasn't lying when he said he was efficient. He was halfway across my mouth when the pain became so intense I felt dizzy. I could barely concentrate on controlling my breaths.
I tried to jerk my head away again at a particularly painful piercing of the needle, but his grip somehow managed to keep me completely still. If only I could scream, but that would be a terrible agonizing mistake. My breath hitched a little and the movement my mouth took to accommodate the noise pain flashed through everywhere across my mouth that Tar-Mairon had sewn. I trembled, but Tar-Mairon did not allow it to affect the stillness of my head. I opened my eyes and tried to blink away the watery layer when I felt him tying it off. I winced as he gave a little tug the thread.
"Was that so terrible Haldamire?" He asked resting a gentle hand on my cheek a light smile resting on his perfect features. I just stared at him reaching up an uncontrollably shaking hand to feel my face.
I gasped loudly feeling nothing. In disbelief I ran my hand over my mouth several times. This wasn't real? This entire time? I didn't know if I should feel relief or anger. I gave Tar-Mairon a baleful look and he laughed removing his hand from my cheek and standing up. I could still feel the pain of the needle going in and out and in and out over and over.
I tried to speak, but felt agonizing pain rip across my lips. I felt them again eyes watering, but there no thread. Nothing was there.
"I make no idle threats Haldamire, but neither do I need you physically damaged yet. However, I will allow the pain of the punishment to fester in your mind for a few days. Don't make the same mistake. Or any, if you wish to live painlessly." He said in a gentle instructional tone. I stared up at him. He didn't really sew my mouth shut, but nonetheless I still couldn't speak. I pulled my legs up to the chair and wrapped my arms around them feeling very small and helpless next to Tar-Mairon's very tall figure.
"Go think a while in your room, but don't take too long. I've summoned Hutare to tend to you. I wish to show you to other maiar" I stayed where I was sitting as I felt Tar-Mairon run his hand gently through my hair. When he made no movements afterwards, I stood and rushed to my room.
I shut the door gently, so as not to incur either anger or amusement from slamming it, and slid down to the floor. Fluffy stuck his head up from the bed and with a snuffle jumped down. He trotted over to me and I lifted him into my lap carefully. He curled down and I pet him gently wondering who Hutare was.