Hi everyone! Enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think.
I was lost and terrified in my room. He said he summoned Hutare to take care of me and not to think too long in my room. Would she come in here or was I supposed to go out there? I don't want to get hurt for making another mistake. I leaned my head against Fluffy's fur. He was very warm. The indecision and fear warred together in my mind so I punched the floor. I sucked in a deep breath making sure not to do anything that would make me feel the imaginary thread. I hit harder than I should have. I shook my hand out staring at the red across the knuckles.
I jumped at an insistent knock on my door. Was this Hutare? Oh please don't let me be in trouble for taking too long to come out. I shook Fluffy off my lap and quickly opened the door. It was a beautiful one, but not a scary one. She must be like the teacher. I looked her up and down and she did the same. She looked extremely nervous to be here. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't. She urged me inside and closed the door behind us.
"I'm Hutare" She said quietly moving over to the chair. I nodded trying to give a trembling smile. I sat down and winced at how many tangles were in my hair as she pulled a brush through it.
"You don't speak" She asked quietly looking at my eyes through the mirror. I stared at her in surprise. She did not know about what Tar-Mairon did. "Sorry, I did not mean to offend you! Please don't tell Tar-Mairon" she wailed dropping the brush and falling to her knees. I felt panic rip through me. What could I say to make her stop? I waved my hands erratically trying to fix everything completely baffled. What did she think I would possibly say to Tar-Mairon about her.
"Speaking hurts" I pushed out starting to cry as I felt the thread moving and pulling my mouth closed when I forced words out. She stared at me with pity starting to fill in her eyes.
"He cursed you did he?" She asked standing and brushing my hair again. I nodded trembling and the aftereffect of the pain. "You must have overstepped your bounds in some way. That or he was maybe bored" She suggested quietly setting down the brush and braiding my hair. I gave a noncommittal shrug my eyes still watering. She finished rather quickly. She had braided two pieces of my air back on either side and left the rest falling. I stared at the blue ombre hues in the mirror. It was so long ago that Chloe and I had dyed our hair for the Renaissance festival. It hadn't changed colors since we came here or even faded a little. I don't know what magic this place holds, but even the hair that has grown out since we have been here has been of the same colors. Just like everything else about us that day. It all somehow remained. I felt my eyes where it looked like eyeshadow was, but it just felt like normal skin. Maybe this was just somehow Tar-Mairon. I didn't really think so, but you can never tell with him.
"You don't have many color options" Hutare said quietly opening my closet "It is all his colors". She pulled something out anyway. I wonder why she didn't just say Tar-Mairon's name. "Are you Edain? You look Edain, but also not." Hutare asked curiously with her eyes on the door. I shrugged not knowing the answer to her question. I hadn't met any of these so called "Edains" yet, but maybe they are humans too. "Are you immortal?" She tried again. I looked at her and shook my head. I don't care what Tar-Mairon says, but I don't believe those injections will change our life-span. "Then you must be Edain" she said helping me change into Tar-Mairon's colors. Hutare was the most talkative person I've ever met here. I could be asking so many questions if this hadn't happened!
"I'm sorry, but he ordered you must" Hutare said giving me an apologetic look holding up a collar and a leash. I recognized it from before. I scowled, but took it and mutinously tied it around my throat. I tried to hand the leash to Hutare, but she backed away looking terrified. "Oh no no no. I'm not allowed. I would be killed. You have to hold it until we get to him and then hand it to him." She said looking alarmed. She looked around the room suspiciously and I did the same, but with a fair amount of confusion. Who did she think could possibly get in here without us noticing? "Let's go quickly. Wouldn't want to make him wait" Hutare said quietly again and left the room. I followed Hutare as best I could, but she was making it difficult with her speed. A loud cacophony of yelps and shouting seemed the be approaching from in front of us. Hutare looked back at me with alarm and grabbed arm. She shoved me to the side of the hallway and stood next to me.
"Look down" She hissed as the noise grew steadily louder "Don't make unnecessary eye contact". I looked at the floor steadily glancing over at Hutare to see she was doing the same thing as me and had frozen completely. I tremble wracked through me uncontrollably as I tried to not to look up. I could tell now it was a group of orcs. The noise increased and I shook again realizing it was because they saw us. I screamed as one pulled my arm and then almost dropped as my mouth caught on fire. Hutare started yelling and ripped out a paper she had shoved in her shirt. I watched tears running down my cheeks from how painful it was to scream as he opened the paper and the started barking orders at the others around. The one holding my arm released it and Hutare pulled me to her. She said something sounding frightened and held out her hand. I looked up at the monstrosity holding her paper. He set it down in her hand, but spit next to her and growled something out.
Hutare gripped my arm hard and pulled me away. I looked back the orcs terror on my face and they laughed and jeered at us leaving. Hutare yelped and sped up as one smacked her hard when we passed. I stared at her in horror. Why couldn't I speak dammit! She practically raced us down the corridors and down two flights of stairs before slowing her speed. I was panting hard struggling to make sure I didn't open my mouth enough to hurt. "Almost there" she whispered. I nodded. I hated the feeling of relief that swelled in me at the news. Tar-Mairon hurt me very badly, but at least he wouldn't do anything like the orcs. I suppose he had a reason. I shook my head sharply to dispel the thought. No reason strong enough for what he did. I'm becoming too accustomed to this place to be offering justifications for Tar-Mairon's actions.
Hutare pulled me to a stop. She gestured for me to go in quietly. I looked at her and nodded towards the door. She shook her head quickly and pushed me towards it. I didn't want to go in alone. I looked at her fearfully and she looked back shaking her head. I put my hand on the door and it swung open almost instantly. Hutare backed away from the open the door and I just stared in surprised at the sudden entrance.
"Haldamire" Tar-Mairon almost purred from across the room. I looked around the room slightly terrified of the fiery being in the corner. It was so big and there were wings of fire attached to its back. I tried to walk as fast I could over to Tar-Mairon. He smiled as I handed him the leash. "Leaving so soon Hutare?" Tar-Mairon asked a chilling smile lighting up his beautiful face. I looked up at Tar-Mairon in surprise. I shivered despite the heat emanating from the winged demon in the corner. What did he want with Hutare? Hutare came to the entrance looking utterly terrified. She seemed torn between responding or staying silent.
"Yes, Hutare. Why don't you stay? I need a drink" I felt all the blood drain out of my face at the horrible familiarity of the feminine voice. It was the Thuringwethil. Hutare must have had similar feelings because she started to cry as the dark lady approached her. I reached out blindly, still looking at Hutare, and tugged insistently on Tar-Mairon's sleeve.
"Do you have something to say, little one?" Tar-Mairon asked silkily wrapping the leashed around his hand several times. I shook my head trembling and pointing urgently at Hutare and Thuringwethil. He simply smiled at me and looked over towards them. I tugged at his sleeve again, but he didn't react to it. I whipped around hearing Hutare let out a squeal of pain. I pushed my head against Tar-Mairon forcefully. I couldn't look. Poor Hutare. I put a hand up to my neck feeling the ghost bite of Thuringwethil on it. I pushed my head harder against Tar-Mairon continuing to tug on his sleeve.
"Cease, Haldamire" He ordered without looking at me. I stopped tugging his sleeve and pushing him instantly, but continued to lean into him. I didn't want to look at Hutare. The pained whimpering is enough to horrify me permanently. I don't need the accompanying visual. Surely Tar-Mairon wouldn't allow Thuringwethil to kill her.
"So this is your anomaly? Lord Mairon" I peeked up at the new voice. I tried to back away terrified at the sight in front of us. It was more warped then the orcs were.
"Yes, she is." Tar-Mairon tugged me forward with the leash and I quivered trying to look away feeling its eyes on me. I can't even properly describe the shadowy terror in front of us. "Don't be so impolite Haldamire" Tar-Mairon said in scolding tone looking amused.
"Be careful or else you'll terrify her too much to speak to anyone" I jerked in surprise and turned towards someone I had definitely seen before. The one Tar-Mairon called a Langon that day he broke he feet.
"Langon" Tar-Mairon said cordially raising an eyebrow at him. I looked between them confused.
"I have done what you asked. With pleasure I might add" Langon said and Tar-Mairon nodded. I shrank bank into Tar-Mairon as the shadow monster let out a grunt.
"She wouldn't shy away so much if you were not being overly indulgent" He said in an almost critical tone to Tar-Mairon. I looked up at Tar-Mairon feeling danger spark out in the situation, but all Tar-Mairon did was laugh.
"You lack finesse" Tar-Mairon said finally with another chilling smile of amusement. I peeked over towards the door and felt my heart drop seeing Hutare's body lying still on the floor. I quickly glanced around the room searching for Thuringwethil, but did not see her anywhere. I looked at Langon and then at Hutare. He followed my gaze towards the door.
"She isn't dead" he said lazily and I let out a sigh of relief. Would someone come help her? Take her to her room?
"Langon, I need you to do one more thing for me" Tar-Mairon said interrupting my train of thought. Langon leaned in close to hear Tar-Mairon. The shadowy monster let out another grunt and left. Was he irritated with them? I gasped hearing Chloe's name and tried to hear what they were saying. Whose Maedhros? Is he another monster? He wants Chloe to go see him without Gothmog. I gave Langon a suspicious look as he bowed to Tar-Mairon and disappeared.