hey everyone! please enjoy this very stressful chapter and tremendous thanks to Ellie for editing! 3
I blinked as smoke stung my eyes and nausea roared in me rearing up at the smell that suddenly permeated everywhere. The shock of seeing sunlight for the first time in who-knows-how-many years barely pierced the fog of horror rolling through at the high-pitched screams of pains, horrific wails, and phantasmic noises.
"Elf-lord." I turned at the familiar voice choking in horror seeing Ungo behind me teeth bared in a horrific snarl painted red with blood. He growled deep in his voice and lunged. I let out a startled scream of terror, but he didn't seem to hear or see me at all as he literally leapt through me. I started violently at the sight of a being nearly as tall as Tar-Mairon flinging something at Ungo. The wolf dodged and then crashed into the armored being, pushing him back.
The armor was blindingly bright in places that weren't covered in blood or dirt, and the man, or elf as Ungo said, was beautiful and terrifying. He was almost as frightening as Ungo and I closed my eyes as they tussled and fought. A triumphant snarl had me opening my eyes to Ungo ripping into the elf's throat as he convulsed under him. I felt tears in my eyes seeing my friend so gruesomely violent.
"UNGO," I screamed, but he didn't react at all. "PLEASE UNGO," I screamed again, clutching my throat at how high-pitched I was going. I fell to my knees, clutching my stomach and dry heaving. I sobbed as I heaved, barely looking up in time to see a long arrow thud into Ungo and hear the resulting little yip. I covered my mouth in continued horror as more arrows thudded into my friend. He snarled furiously and tried to rise but fell back with a howl of pained rage.
I fell forward hearing my name called repeatedly. I blinked into Langon's conniving eyes and promptly fell over and vomited repeatedly until there was nothing left in my stomach.
With a deep breath I peered up at Langon. He was expressionless. Not even disgust at my throwing up. My arms were trembling so badly that I could barely hold myself up on my hands and knees. I felt my hair sticking uncomfortably to the sweat on the back of my neck.
"My lord," I finally choked out, remembering my manners and not wanting to face Tar-Mairon's displeasure.
"Give me your hand," he said, crouching and gingerly holding out one of his. I took it, surprised and grateful for his help. I staggered against him and he steadied me by putting an arm around me. Our height difference made it an extremely awkward support. I was breathing hard and couldn't shake the image of Ungo ripping into that throat or the sound of his pained whine as he was pierced with a multitude of silver tipped arrows from my mind.
"Oh, what are..." I trailed off dizzily as Langon, apparently tired of the awkward support, swept my legs out from under me and picked me up. We made much faster progress this way as he strode through various hallways.
"Come now, little one. I will take you to Tar-Mairon or near him" Langon supplied smoothly. My head lolled in confusion and acceptance. Tar-Mairon and Langon spoke. I think they were allies or something.
"Where?" I asked closing my eyes as the nausea continued rolling in my stomach like a stormy sea. The smell of death and blood seemed stuck in my nostrils.
"He is speaking with our master" Langon said quietly. I made a noise of assent and then blinked in terror. Someone above Tar-Mairon? I felt a faint tugging of excitement and desire remembering jewels in a crown when I first arrived. I shuddered even as excitement to see the sparkling jewels twirled in me and I forgot why I was nauseated. Every word was power, and darkness personified from that being. He would be forever etched in my memory and I certainly did not want to have a reintroduction.
"Lang," I said, dazed with memory. "Please no, not him," I pleaded. I sucked in a breath as Ungo's whine penetrated my thoughts again. He made strangely soothing shushing noises as he continued striding with purpose down the passageways. I do not know why Airawende and I ever believed that we could escape. I do not know where the hell Langon and I are nor do I know how to find my way back.
"Will you promise me something if I don't?" Langon asked a silky and somewhat playful voice. I nodded immediately and then opened my eyes feeling irritated with myself. I don't even know what he wanted promised. I dry heaved once again thinking about Ungo ripping out throats and then muttered a faint "promise." I couldn't deal with so many things in one day.
Langon stopped a passing orc and barked out rapid words in an unknown language. It bowed quickly and sped off. I narrowed my eyes as it went back the direction it had approached us from.
"Nearly there," Langon said, and his words rang true. Not five minutes later and the orc from before opened a door as Langon approached. It was a big room with a large table in the center and chairs scattered around it. Langon dropped me in the nearest chair and left after giving a stern order to the orc who looked at me in a confusion but nodded.
I sat up with a frightened jerk hearing my name called. Déjà vu washed over me and I grimaced as a flash of nausea bolted through me.
"Look at me, Haldamire." Tar-Mairon order leaning down with a gently hand under my chin lifting it up. I blinked away fogginess. I couldn't believe that I had fallen asleep in this chair. Tar-Mairon had an infinitesimal frown. I swallowed, not daring to speak. What if he was in a volatile mood? Langon stood leaning in the doorway.
"Found her asleep in a hall," he said by way of explanation. My eyes shifted over to him in horror.
"Really, Haldamire?" Tar-Mairon asked rhetorically. "That's quite unacceptable behavior from someone of mine."
"Nooo, but I- It wasn't like that," I choked out, feeling tears as I trembled harder than I did waking up and remembering what I say.
"What was it, then?" He asked, tilting my head a bit farther back. I swallowed, feeling especially vulnerable with my neck opened to him.
"I was just walking back and thinking about magic," I tried to explain, but I did not even remember what happened. I came across the orcs and then nothing. "And then I saw things! Really terrible awful things! And then Langon woke me." Desperation colored my voice. Tar-Mairon released my chin and I submissively and protectively lowered my head down as he spoke to Langon.
"What kind of 'terrible things'?" he finally asked. I hid my gaze from him after seeing lively flames dancing in his before crying.
"I can't," I sobbed, feeling nausea rise in me as I thought back to what I dreamed of.
"You can and will." Tar-Mairon said, in a thoughtful rather then angry voice.
"Noo," I sobbed hearing Ungo's pained whine in my head. I rubbed my eyes with my palms.
"No?" Tar-Mairon asked in a horrifyingly calm voice. It was hearing the lack of anger in his tone that really shook me out of my horrified reverie and into terror mode.
"I didn't mean that," I half-shouted, half-sobbed, too afraid to look up at him.
"Haldamire," Tar-Mairon said soothingly in front of me, "give me your hands." I complied instantly, hoping he would let it slide. I was still breathing hard as sobs racked my body. "Give me access into your mind" he said softly, and I nodded quickly, too upset and uncomprehending of what he was really asking.
My body seized up as black filled my vision. I screamed as the violent scene replayed itself from the very beginning. It felt like what happened when I ran into his master. I nearly fell sideways off the chair as my body thrashed and my mind rebelled at the strange presence. It was over in an instant, but the vision was now fresh again in my mind and I shook in horror. Tar-Mairon was silent as he released my hands.
I stared at him as he spoke with Langon rapidly. My mind was too slow to catch everything. I looked at Tar-Mairon as he approached the door and Langon stood aside. I cocked my head in confusion. Was he just leaving me here?
"Take her to the dungeons, alone." he said, waving a hand at me. "I have no use for disobedience, no matter how temporary." Horror clawed itself into my heart surpassing the nausea and even overtaking the bad memories and vision.
"NO, don't leave me!" I wailed at Tar-Mairon, but he was already gone.