Hello everyone! I swear quarantine has made me so lazy in regards to school. If nothing counts for our gpa anymore why do I bother trying to get an A. Also I managed to literally trip over nothing on the sidewalk in the front yard and fall into the middle street. Almost broke my foot. And as a side note the Gothmog/Airawende requests shall be met in the future, but now Gothmog is just deciding he likes the effect of elvish hroa and it will take some time before he decides he wants that.
I followed behind the teacher slowly feeling numb and confused. I couldn't really put together in my head what had happened and why. Why did I get punished for their antagonism on him? The teacher had obviously immediately put two and two together when she arrived because her gaze went straight to lips, they had to be bruised or puffy from the force and gave me a mournful look. She took my hand when we were far enough down the hall and completely out of sight.
Her hand seemed to be shaking just as much as mine, but it was comforting, nonetheless. I used my free hand to wipe moisture left over in my eyes from almost crying and kept moving forward.
"I see balrogs are as skilled at subtlety as always" I looked up hearing Langon. I could recognize his voice easily. The teachers grip on my hand tightened. I looked at him quickly taking in his tall figure and black filled in eyes. He always seemed so imposing and eerie, but he has been the nicest of them. The teacher looked concerned. She did already have to deal with him speaking to me when we first left. Her life is probably at risk for him talking to me.
"I see you do not endure well. At least not yet" Langon said casually as gaze me an assessing look. Or at least, it seemed assessing the way he was looking at me, but without being able to see any eyes or pupils its hard to say what or how he looks at things and people. I sulked looking at the floor again. "Come with me. I want to take you to someone" he said beckoning me. I looked at the teacher who looked resigned and panicked at the same time.
"I can't" I said looking at the teacher's expression "what if he finds out?" Langon made an impatient noise in response.
"He won't find out. In fact, it is quite likely that once you return to your home, that you'll be there for days alone." He said sounding almost scornful. I felt relief and confusion at his words and inspected him slightly suspicious. The teacher loosened her grip but didn't let go. I looked at her and she frowned looking apprehensive. She had already dealt with this exact situation and I couldn't imagine her getting any calmer at its repeat, but she certainly couldn't defy Langon either. I blinked as he turned and strode down the hallway. The teacher and I just looked at each other before rushing to catch up. There was no winning in this situation. Not for anyone. Not even for Langon if Gothmog caught him with us.
"Where are we going?" I asked puzzled as the teacher hurried me along still holding her tight grip on my hand. Why was everyone faster then me here?
"The dungeons. A place you've been to before" He responded tossing a sardonic look over his shoulder at me.
"Why are you taking me to the dungeons?" I asked growing suspicious. This surely wasn't a trick to lock me in the dungeons. I haven't done anything wrong! I could feel my trepidation growing and halted frightened. The teacher tugged on my hand urgently. I guess, for her, the faster we got this over with then the faster we were safe from being caught. He didn't answer and I gave the teacher a look of dread as she pulled me along.
I scowled and sulked as I was tugged along the winding passageways. This place is a nightmare maze. I can't believe Haldamire and I ever thought we would be able to escape. It is like endless here. It is literally like miles to walk to get from one place to another. On the positive I think my feet are getting more pain resilient from all this walking on injuries.
The dungeons is a bit of a temperature anomaly and I don't know how it is achieved. It is like the farther you go down into the deep passages and hallways of this place, it gets warmer, yet when you cross into the darkness of where the dungeons are, it is quite cold. I shook my head as we left warm air for cool air remembering my feet getting whipped then Maedhros getting punished instead of me because I collapsed.
"Wait here" Langon ordered and we stopped as he moved away vanishing into the cold darkness. I looked at the teacher with wide eyes hearing groans echoing around the place. I guess that my first visits here did not really allow me time to observe or listen to my surroundings. I winced and covered my ears as an ear-splitting scream full of anguish sounded from down the hallway. I practically fell into the teacher's arms shaking as she released my hand to hug me. I could feel her shaking in terror, or horror, as well.
"What do you expect from the dungeons?" Langon's voice sounded from behind us making me jump out of the teacher's grip in fright. How did he appear from behind us when he left in front of us? Langon completely freaked me out with his ability to move around unseen and unheard. "Prisoners, or those who fail to meet the demands of our great master, Lord Melkor, are brought here for torment and retribution"
"Why do you all have to be so cruel and vicious?" I whispered.
"It is the natural of order of things. It is not so cruel and vicious for the strong to rule with iron fists and teeth of steel to guide. It is for the weak and inferior to obey if they wish not to suffer. It is a choice. I believe you have made those choices before. Youthful folly to defy the inherently superior, stronger, and wiser. Naturally it would be done again if not met strongly" He responded simply holding up a key ring.
"Naturally?!" I tried not to scoff or sound argumentative because I really did not need an angry Langon. "Some of you enjoy it!" I argued my voice weakening at the end. I should not engage in this conversation.
"Airawende. Airawende. Airawende" Langon said in an almost sing song voice "you must either really stupid or really stubborn." I shut up but scowled at the floor. He was right. I should really try to avoid trying to disagree, at all costs, with any of them. Have I not made myself suffer enough? "Come and meet your friend again" He continued after a brief pause to unlock one of the cells near us.
"Haldamire?!" I cried out in shock bolting in but pulling myself up short seeing the dramatically red-haired Maedhros. I stared in horror. It looked like he was tortured even more after what Gothmog did. He was motionless lying on his back, but his expression looked strangely empty. His eyes stared unseeing at the ceiling. I gasped horrified. He brought me here to see a dead man who died because I didn't listen?! I let out a wail of grief and threw myself on the floor next to him.
I screamed as the body suddenly reanimated and hands closed around my throat. I choked and grabbed the hands, but they almost immediately let me go and I folded in on myself coughing. I heard the lock click the cell door shut and wondered how long I would be trapped in here with Maedhros.
I finally peeked up and saw him studying me intently. I felt awkward almost immediately. Even though he was torn up, bloody, and grimy he was still more beautiful then me. It felt ridiculous to be so self-conscious in this situation.
"Tell me true, little one, for I shall not be deceived lightly" he finally said "Have you been sent here to duplicitously?" I made a noise of puzzlement and just looked at him. He used an elvish word I did not know. He blew out a breath "Have you been sent to trick me or for information?" He tried again. I still felt confused despite now understanding his question.
"What do they need information for? They know everything" I muttered rebelliously. He looked at me hard.
"They know everything" he repeated my words still studying me intently. I looked down feeling even more shy with his stare. It wasn't quite hostile, but it certainly was not friendly either.
"I don't understand what you mean" I finally answered as the silence killed me slowly with awkwardness. I don't why I feel this way in such a horrible situation.
"True, or not true, perhaps it is for the best that you do not understand or feign not understanding." He said shifting closer the me. I leaned away muttering a "what" under my breath feeling puzzled. What exactly does he think is going on here? I would also like to know what is going on here.
My eyes widened again as he suddenly grabbed my face with his face and pulled it up closer to study it. He was much taller than I ever gave him credit for. Even with the both of us on our knees I only came up to just under the middle of his chest. I shuddered as he lightly ran a thumb over my lips.
"What happened to your mouth?" he asked still holding me in place with a gentle grip. I couldn't help the look of disgust that flashed across my face. I still can't believe I was so forcefully kissed to prove a point in front of a lot of other fire beings. He let go of me and I sat back on my knees staring up at him as he towered over me.
"I did not think.." He began trailing off in consideration before asking, "Was it the balrog?" he sounded in disbelief.
"Balrog?" I asked baffled at the new word
"Gothmog" he amended still staring at me intently and sounding just as puzzled.
"Oh. Yes, it was him. I thought Gothmog was one of those maia beings." I answered sadly. He looked at me like I was an idiot for a moment before shaking his head.
"He is. The balrogs are fallen maiar, but not the only fallen maiar" He finally offered up after we regarded one another in silence. The door unlocking mechanism sounded and we both angled towards the door as it slid open.
"Come Airawende. Time runs out and I'm sure you don't want to be caught disobedient again" Langon said amusedly. I gave them both a miserable look before rising. Good lord, he was still a couple inches taller than me. I think he was taller than Tar-Mairon.
"Why are you so tall" I muttered going towards Langon. I felt the ghost of a smile appear for a millisecond on my face as I heard a slight sound of amusement.
"Enjoy your dark loneliness, O fallen king of the Noldor" Langon said cheerfully shutting the door. I looked back at Langon in surprise.
"Fallen king?" I asked, but the only response I got was a smile. I sighed deciding not to pursue Langon for information. Who knows how long his niceness will last and I shouldn't press. The teacher hurried over to me from where she was leaning a wall. I slid my hand into hers again and groaned thinking about the walk of eternity ahead of us.