Chapter 8: What the queen desires….

Aodh had awakened, he was looking a bit disheveled and his eyes were a bit bloodshot. He had probably cried himself to sleep and Maglor felt that his heart was filled with a sort of compassion. Having to stay there when you have family waiting for you back home has to be absolutely awful. Artemar had ordered the servants to bring food and a tray with some very well made dishes were placed on the table next to where the tall human sat. The servants had brought a decanter with some nice sweet white wine too and it was cooled down. It was one of the perks of this place, the Sha'al had a wine cellar so deeply buried it stayed cold even in the worst heat of summer.

Aodh sighed and started to eat, Maglor could see that his hands were trembling and he just knew that the man hadn't gotten over it yet, he probably never would. Aodh drank some wine and some fruit juice and Artemar sat down behind him on the couch and combed his hair and braided it gently. Aodh winced when he was touched by another male like that but he sort of relaxed and gave in to the albino, he probably knew that Artemar meant him no harm. The servants had done a good job grooming him the day before, the hair had been cut a bit and he had been shaved too and it was rather apparent that Aodh found that a bit disturbing.

They sat there just relaxing when Negus came sauntering into the room, he was grinning and made a very obscene gesture aimed at the guards, there was a dangerous spark within his eyes and he sat down next to Maglor and straightened his clothes with a dainty expression on his face. "Your healer is a wise man, worthy of respect. He knows a lot but he has no idea of how we dwarves are put together. I had to tell him everything last night, and yet he wants to know more."

Maglor smiled. "Yes, he is very inquisitive that one. Now, I have a suggestion for you, I bet your people have dances and methods of entertaining each other we don't. Could you perhaps teach us a little?"

Negus sort of scoffed, he rolled his eyes. "Oh Mahal, you don't know what you are asking for now do you, but fine, I can teach you some."

Maglor tilted his head. "Wonderful, what will you start with?"

Negus made a grimace. "I can teach you some dances, they are usually performed by females mind you, but here I don't think that matters. In fact it will fit perfectly to this atmosphere of being fuckable"

Maglor had to bite his lower lip not to laugh out loud and Negus just smirked. He had accepted his situation, probably because he had some hope that his fiancée would rescue him. Aodh had finished eating and was looking a bit depressed again and Artemar caressed his shoulders gently. "Relax, don't lose your spark. If the gods are smiling they may help you, there is yet some hope."

Aodh just sighed and Artemar rolled his eyes, fine, they really had to change his state of mind and fast. He nodded towards Kenar and Rial who were sitting in the pool, both naked and without clothes on there was no way you could separate them from each other. They were like two drops of water. They started splashing water on each other, both giggling and then they tried to wrestle a bit. Both left the pool and Aodh blinked and tried to look away, to him nakedness was probably something very private and he wasn't used to seeing others in such a state of arousal. Both twins were hard and now they started kissing and fondling each other. Aodh tried to get up but Artemar purred into his ear. "No, sit, you have to get used to this, we'll might as well start today don't you think?"

Negus was a bit flushed, he just gaped and stared and Maglor knew that dwarves are very private when it comes to showing more amorous emotions. He knew of countless elven books with erotic illustrations but none made by dwarves. They had an entirely different view on such activities. Aodh sort of heaved for air, one of the twins had knelt down in front of his brother and now he was licking the hard shaft very slowly and with cat like purring. The recipient just stood there with his eyes closed and an expression of bliss on his face. Maglor did notice that the others had arrived too, they had sort of arranged themselves into pairs and he realized that this would turn into an orgy, just to help Aodh adapt.

The golden haired human sat there looking tense like a bowstring and his eyes were flickering. Artemar had placed himself behind the man and embraced him gently, playing with his braid, coaxing him into surrender. "You didn't think you could react to the sight of two males together? Worry not, nothing is wrong with you. Look at it as a survival mechanism."

Aodh swallowed hard and his eyes did wander back toward the twins again. It had to be Rial who did the sucking and Kenar who stood there already trembling, he was moaning and didn't try to hide his pleasure at all. He was close to coming but pulled his brother up and kissed him rather lavishly before he gave him a playful smack across the behind and pushed him up onto the bench Aodh and Artemar sat on. Maglor had to smirk, he had sort of understood what the two were planning on now, they had placed themselves so that Aodh could see everything, in detail! The blonde human was very tense now, and Maglor could see that his flimsy pants were severely tented already. Nobody could resist the twins, that was more than certain.

Artemar was whispering something to Aodh and whatever it was, it made the human gasp and then whimper, Artemar grinned slowly, a very pleased expression on his face. Kenar had found a small flask of oil and had applied a lot of it to his own cock, now he was caressing Rial's ass with the slick liquid, inserting fingers and Rial was whimpering and rutting against his hand, being the very incarnation of carnal need. Maglor saw that the other there too were busy kissing and caressing and Aodh seemed to be more or less overwhelmed. Artemar was mumbling soothing words to him, it sounded almost hypnotic and it made Aodh tremble visibly. Maglor felt a sting of jealousy again, he remembered when Artemar gave him that sort of treatment and knew that Aodh really didn't stand a chance.

Kenar had grasped Rial by his hips and Rial had lifted one leg so much that it rested upon the backrest of the low couch. It did enable Aodh to see how Kenar's cock did slide into Rial's body and Rial let out a wailing sound of sheer need and started moving his hips against his brother's. The sight made Aodh gasp and Artemar had gently started to undo his clothes, the human didn't resist at all, his eyes were transfixed upon the twins.

Maglor felt a surge of arousal too, he had become used to this but Negus wasn't, that was rather certain. The dwarf was staring with huge eyes and he was sweating and mumbling curses, then he sort of shot up and rushed out of the room, heading towards the privy. Maglor had to chuckle, it was rather apparent that the dwarf had a problem he needed to take care of, on his own. They wouldn't push him into something, it was very unlikely that Negus would have to perform any sort of sexual favors. Rial was panting and making grimaces and Kenar was groaning and holding onto his brothers for dear life and the sound of skin slapping against skin was rather loud.

Then Rial tensed up and closed his eyes, making a mewling sound as he started painting the backrest with thick ropes of come and Kenar too did cry out and stilled, shuddering. Maglor knew that they were exaggerating quite a bit, just to set the mood.

Aodh was gasping for air and his eyes were glassy, Artemar sort of slid closer and started stroking him gently and the human tossed his head back and let out a sore cry, it was rather obvious that he still had problems accepting his own feeling of lust, that he was ashamed and shocked. But his body did betray him and Artemar sort of nodded to Maglor. "Come, show me what you have learned. Do what you do so well"

Maglor realized that Artemar wanted to let him take care of Aodh this time, why he didn't know but he did obey. He moved over and knelt down in front of Aodh and started using the things Artemar had taught him. Aodh sort of heaved for air, then he keened and his eyes rolled up. Maglor had never seen anyone react so vigorously to oral sex before, the man was shaking all over like a leaf in a storm and he was constantly whimpering. This had to be the very first time anyone came near his cock with lips and tongue before. It didn't take long before Aodh came, tossing his head back and sounding like he was being murdered and Artemar just sniggered and caressed him gently. "That wasn't so bad now was it?"

Aodh was still rolling his eyes and he was trembling. " I…Nobody has ever…Oh gods!"

Artemar nodded to Maglor, there was determination in his eyes." But now you know how that feels, and if you are to stay alive and stay safe you cannot try to resist. That will only get you killed."

Aodh mumbled. "It feels wrong!"

Artemar kissed his cheek, the voice low and soft and very intense. "It isn't Aodh, nothing of this is wrong. The fact that we are forced to do this to survive is wrong, yes; but not the act in itself. Are you ready for the next lesson?"

Aodh did look terrified for some reason but nodded, the others there were eagerly fucking like mad around them and the guards by the door did look as if they were close to bursting too. Normally they would have to wait outside when there was something like this going on, the Sha'al didn't like that others enjoyed the shows he believed were put up just for his pleasure. By now Negus returned to the room, he did look very flushed and was blushing but he was calm, he had probably been wanking off rather vigorously.

Artemar stared preparing Aodh very gently and Maglor sat down next to him, holding his hand. "Don't be afraid, it will hurt a little at first but you will find great pleasure whence you manage to relax. If you are to make it here I think the Sha'al wants to see you acting wantonly during the banquet, that would make him want to keep you here for sure."

Negus had sat down on a small chair and he was munching at some nuts, the energy was a bit exaggerated and told everybody that he still felt a bit uncomfortable. "What that cocksucking son of a sough wants is change right? I have ideas guys, great ideas. I will transform you all, and I have no doubt that it will make you all even more interesting."

Maglor saw that Artemar already was fingering Aodh who was whimpering and looking rather vulnerable but he didn't resist. He probably understood that this was his only chance to learn. "What do you mean?"

Negus shrugged. "That blonde over there? I think I can add some color to his hair, and we have a long tradition of making very pretty henna tattoos. I can transform you into something very exotic to say the least."

Maglor had to frown. "Hair color?"

Negus tilted his head. "Yes, very popular among the dams. They put stripes in their hair when there is something special to celebrate, and I know how to mix it too. And the things I need aren't that hard to come by, I bet we can make that fat mountain get some for us. It will benefit him after all"

Rial and Kenar were at it again, now it was Rial doing the fucking and Maglor had to grin, he was indeed making it look almost comical. Artemar was busy with Aodh and was clearly having luck finding the man's pleasure spot for Aodh was making some odd sounds and looked as if he didn't believe his own feelings. Maglor sort of sighed. "We do have contacts who can get us what we need, in exchange for jewelry and stuff"

Negus was rubbing his hands together, ignoring the fact that Aodh lay there next to him, now being slowly breached by Artemar who was making cooing sounds as if to calm a scared child. Maglor did feel that sting of jealousy once more and had to force it back. Artemar did this for them all, the Sha'al would still punish them if they somehow failed to please him and Aodh was pretty enough to catch the interest of his followers. Negus looked as if he was thinking hard. "Good, I will make a list then, of what I need. I can promise you that by the time of that party you will really stun everyone"

Maglor swallowed. "That is good, if we do well the Sha'al will be very pleased and we may get some privileges. I can sometimes leave this site but only with plenty of guards following me. He is too afraid of anything happening to me."

Negus grinned widely. "Oh I bet he is, he is pretty darn desperate to think that drinking piss and sweat will help him live forever."

Maglor almost told the dwarf of the plan he was involved in, but he didn't. He knew that the Sha'al's mother soon would get rid of his other two sons and then the ointments he would receive would be poisonous. The question was who the next ruler would be then. Aodh was clearly shocked by his own reactions to Artemar's skills but he did react very well and Artemar did make him come. The albino smiled and gave him a swift kiss, looking pleased. "See? You can do it, and I think I have a plan for what we are to do during the feast. You have to make a really lasting impression."

Aodh was barely able to speak and he just laid there, looking thoroughly debauched. Maglor almost had to grin, for a moment he did remind the elf of his brother Celegorm after a very long and tiring hunt. After a while Artemar started caressing the blonde once more and managed to get him aroused again and Rial came to ride him. By now Aodh seemed almost eager and it was apparent that his moralistic walls had crumbled completely. Maglor followed Negus into one of the side rooms where the dwarf did dictate a rather long list, Maglor had a hard time believing that they could get it all but Negus insisted that it wasn't that hard to come by. Maglor managed to get the note to one of the servants who promised to deliver it to the right persons outside of the palace and now they could just wait and see.

Everybody rested during the midday heat, then Negus gathered Artemar and Demetry and Maglor, he did look very important and eager and he stood there with his hands on his hips and his chin up. "Listen, if you are to dance like us dwarves you have to get rid of those idiotic clothes. You look like you have been trapped in a tornado, carrying the remains of a clothes factory. "

Artemar did grin and Demetry raised an eyebrow, he was probably ready to do whatever it took to please the dwarf. Something new was always a good thing, it kept the interest up. Negus ripped off the skirts and tilted his head. "Loincloths, that would be perfect for this, weighed down a bit with gems. Yes, and henna tattoos, lots of them, in different colors. You will look amazing"

Maglor had to chuckle. "You better be careful, we have a slave here responsible for our looks and he will be very disappointed and mad even if you step on his toes."

Negus just shrugged. "If he is any good he will understand, and maybe learn something too. If you are to achieve something you have to present the audience with something different every now and then. "

He straightened up. "Now, watch what I am doing, this is the sort of moves used when we dance at weddings"

Negus took a few steps forth and started moving and Maglor had to stare, he had never thought that dwarves could be graceful but Negus was very elegant, and the moves rather odd. There didn't seem to be any rhythm to it at all and yet there were and he had such a dynamic power showing in each move. This did show off the strength of the dancer, much more than the dances they previously had been taught. Before long they were trying to mimic the dwarf and Negus was humming with satisfaction. "Good, excellent, smaller steps Artemar, and you Maglor, use that elven agility now, bow deeper"

Maglor was sweating and following instructions and Demetry almost lost his balance several times but managed to stay upright. Negus demonstrated that the male dwarves often mixed some pieces of martial arts into the dance and that they used each other as spring boards and made leaps and tosses nobody would be able to do on their own.

By the afternoon everybody was rather good at this peculiar style and Negus was starting to teach them the dances of the females. It was way more risqué and much more sensual and Negus sort of transformed the dance into something way more sexy than the dancing the female dwarves would do. He had understood what they needed and the dancers were eagerly learning. Some of the moves were very erotic indeed and when several were dancing together it became a show of sheer seduction and Negus kept changing the steps all the time to make the maximum impact.

He wasn't satisfied before it was very late and by then they were exhausted. Aodh then came to demonstrate his dancing and they had one of the servants beat a drum for rhythm. Aodh was given two pieces of wood instead of blades and he sort of showed his discomfort but started moving. After just a little he sort of relaxed and started to really show off and Maglor did find the dancing impressive. If it had been real blades it would have been spectacular and he sort of started planning for maybe adding some suspense to the dance, by maybe joining the human.

Artemar did clap and proclaim that it would look good, and he promised that he would make Belerur find some blunt blades he could use. Two sticks sort of looked silly considering the nature of the dance. They were almost ready to go to bed when a servant entered, carrying a huge basket. On top there were figs but hidden underneath was several packets and Negus was chuckling like a madman, proclaiming that here he had everything he needed. He told everybody to get up early so he could prepare them and Maglor felt both a sense of anticipation and dread when he found his bed. Artemar came to him to sleep with him as he usually did and they fell asleep with their arms around each other. Maglor wondered if he ever was going to be brave enough to confess his feelings, he sort of wanted to, but then again, telling anybody of such strong emotions as love can be dangerous in such places.

The next morning they did awake to yet another racket, Negus obviously needed little sleep so he had transformed a corner of the main hall to a sort of gallery. He had gotten hold of a lot of discarded clothing and had torn it all into shreds and sewn beads onto some of it, he had mixed some horribly smelling concoctions and now he sat there with Thasul who looked extremely interested. The dwarf was drawing some sort of hair styles and the man was asking questions all the time. Negus grinned from one ear to the other, waving his hands.

"Wonderful, everybody, get out there. I am ready to start. The party is tonight so we better hurry"

Everybody looked at the mess with some worry but came forth and Negus immediately went to work with an energy that was close to shocking. He grasped Demetry and sat him down in a chair, started adding some goo to his hair. "So, sit with this for half an hour, it will give you some nice tones of red and orange."

Then he attacked Aodh and added some other color to the tips of his braid and he also added color to Noolar's hair. Aerhan and Kherfem was left alone but they had to endure getting very intricate drawings being made on their skin with a sort of thin blue paste. Then Negus sort of went berserk with other colors on Maglor and Aodh. Demetry too got painted and then the dwarf went to work with Artemar. He used black color and the result was in fact a bit terrifying since Artemar was so pale. The patterns were aggressive and very geometric and yet there was a sort of ancient beauty to them. Maglor's patterns were clearly elven and he realized that Negus probably knew a lot about elves even when he didn't reveal it to anyone. Thasul was paying close attention the whole time, even making notes and Negus was telling how the paste was made and mixed and how much one would need. The paste had to stay on for an hour before it was washed off and they spent that time eating some.

Negus had found the jewelry they used during shows and he had done things to it nobody could have expected. Maglor knew that the dwarves had a unique sense of beauty and that they had a gift of seeing the optimal way of displaying gems but this was beyond his wildest expectations. Negus had no instruments but he had still managed to turn the things into something very new and different and the elf realized that the entertainment this evening would be one the followers and the Sha'al never would forget. It made him feel a bit more enthusiastic right away, and the others too appeared to be looking forward to the evening. Negus then let them wash off, the colors were visible now and he went to work on their hair and made new hair styles which looked amazing. Aerhan never took the braids out of his hair but now Negus sort of used them to build a structure around the man's face and it made him look very barbaric and ferocious, almost lion like.

Demetry had now stripes of bloodred and orange and they too were integrated into an intricate weave of thin braids which made it look as if the blonde lad's hair was on fire. The loincloth's Negus had made did perfect the look and Thasul did look very impressed. He helped out getting everybody ready and Maglor was put into a black piece of fabric and he had red markings. Negus just pulled his hair back into a high ponytail and then he made some thin braids and added beads to them. With makeup and some jewelry Maglor had to admit that he did look very different. Now there was a hint of danger in his looks, a sort of warning. Negus tilted his head. "That son of a mangy jackal wants to dominate yes, to be seen as strong and vigorous? You have looked like sissies, now you look like warriors and that will boost his ego, to your benefit yes?"

Thasul was beside himself. "Yes, oh yes, he will feel mighty and powerful and more of the followers will want you"

Negus grinned. "I have to prepare as well, I have just the perfect performance for such a "fine gentleman". A good thing nobody here knows anything about dwarves."

Maglor frowned and Negus raised an eyebrown, there was a dark sparkle in his eyes again. "I have learned a few things ya see, humans are fascinated by things that are either beautiful or horrible. I have seen them flock around tents with some poor malformed kids in, or around people with injuries. So I intend to play my cards and play them well!"

He nodded and took off to the pool where he started undoing his braids and pulled the beads out of his beard. Artemar did look a bit in doubt. "What are you doing?"

Negus got his hair wet and sort of finger combed his hair until it looked like a stack of hay. Then he did the same with his beard and smeared some color onto his skin, here and there. "Making myself look like a wild beast, I intend to shock them. If they think dwarves are dangerous and unpredictable beasts who have no culture they won't bother with seeking us out now will they? They will stay clear of our territories"

Maglor had to agree, it was smart. Negus soon looked like a wild thing indeed and he stripped down and pulled on a very simple loincloth which he sort of tore a bit. He also put a roll of gauze into the front of the garment, making his already impressive bulge look even more so. He had taken a piece of leather and formed it into a collar with some studs on it and it had a leash. Negus stared at Maglor. "Now, I want you to present me, and I will act up, be warned, Act as if you just barely are able to hold me back."

Kherfem scoffed. "Just don't insult them too bad, they may want your head"

Negus sent the short man a wicked glance. "Don't worry, they won't understand a word I am saying, but you my friend, you may follow us and Maglor will tell you what I am saying so you can translate. They will love it!"

Kherfem did smile, he did appreciate the idea of learning some inventive new insults.

Aodh did look nervous, he was to dance and Belerur had in fact managed to get two swords with blunted edges. They did look lovely though and Maglor could see that Aodh was very pleased with them. He did look handsome but barbaric with the paint, his tattoos and the odd clothing and Maglor was looking forward to the dance he and Artemar and Demetry was to perform too. It would create quite an uproar for sure.

Belerur came, looking very flustered, apparently the Sha'al had a sort of announcement to make and Artemar did grind his teeth together. "Don't say it is what I think it is"

Maglor frowned. "What?"

Artemar crossed his arms in front of his chest. "The new queen, I bet she is with child, or at least claims to be with child. He has lost his oldest son right? He wants more, just to be sure"

Maglor sort of groaned. "Then his mother better hurry getting rid of the other two"

Artemar leaned towards him, whispering. "The rumors among the house slaves here suggest that their days are numbered indeed."

He didn't say anything more and Maglor grimaced. That the king had a new queen and that the Tha'vaal sort of had to step back was a disadvantage but it wouldn't stop them. It would only slow them down. Thasul added the final touches to their makeup and they were ready. They ate some and relaxed and Aodh did tremble a bit but Artemar calmed him down with soothing caresses and soft words. Maglor didn't doubt that the human would be popular, he was very unusual because of his hair and height and Negus was right, the added masculinity would make them even more attractive to these people.

Belerur came after a couple of hours and Aerhan followed him, he was to do some juggling to warm people up. Then they would present Negus and Belerur did look so self satisfied Maglor felt an intense need to strangle the human. Negus was preparing himself, swearing in khuzdul and jumping up and down, boosting his energy. By the time Belerur returned he did indeed look wild with wide eyes and sweat flowing off him. Maglor did take the leash and Negus started making some growling sounds. Maglor knew that some dwarves have the ability to quite literally go berserk during battle, Negus was setting himself into such a state and he was tugging at the leash and flexing his muscles.

The hall was filled with people as usual, the Sha'al sat in his throne at the top of the room and he did look very bored. The banquette was obviously held in honor of one of his most powerful followers for the man was being showered with attention and gifts but the Sha'al did look rather indifferent. There was a lot of silent chatting going on though, the Sha'al had made an announcement and it was as Artemar had feared. The new queen was with child and the Sha'al was convinced that it would be a son.

Everybody stared as Maglor entered tugging the dwarf after him. Negus did bare his teeth, cursing and spitting and Maglor had to pretend as if he was holding onto the leash for dear life. Belerur did look almost ecstatic, this was really bringing glory to his name, and not the least to his pouch. Everybody just glared and the Sha'al looked as if his eyes were about to pop out of his skull. The new queen sat by his side and she too did look fascinated and Negus snarled and tried to look as if he was ready to attack anybody who dared to get any nearer. Kherfem followed them and Maglor whispered the translations to the man who gesticulated and tried to sound shocked. "This beast knows not that you are noble men, he is calling you all ass licking sons of crippled boars"

The men gathered gasped and then some laughed, this was in their eyes no more than an animal, and they didn't find it offensive at all. The thing just didn't know any better and Negus really did dig into the very bottom of his reserve of exquisite insults. Kherfem did look shocked a few times and Maglor struggled to control the dwarf who also used his other talent, He pretended to be farting and belching shamelessly, he scratched his crotch without any sense of propriety and even tried to show them his ass. Maglor had to really fight to stop him. The Sha'al did look very fascinated indeed, he was leaning forwards and his eyes were shining. This he wasn't used to at all. It was new and exciting and he was smiling,

When Maglor hauled Negus out of the room he knew that the dwarf had shocked them all but also intrigued them a lot. The next round of entertainment was the dance and Maglor felt rather confident, he and the two others were ready and the slave who was responsible for the music entered and sat down on his designated place, starting the music. Artemar entered first, he made the others there gasp since he did look very different from normal. The black paint made him look otherworldly and dangerous and when Maglor and Demetry joined him everybody was quiet, just watching. The dance was vigorous and required a lot of strength and Maglor had to focus the whole time. Everybody was clapping and cheering and then they changed into the more feminine dance and Maglor did see that the dance did arouse the Sha'al. They did their best to look seductive and they finished with Artemar actually taking Demetry right in the middle of the floor.

The mood was set and Aodh was next, Belerur sort of described the new slave with almost lyrical descriptions of his strength and beauty and Maglor had to snicker, he had heard horses being praised the same way. Aodh entered and he did look almost royal, he let the nervousness present itself as pride, not as fear and he started dancing right away. It did look amazing and he was really good at it but Maglor did notice something which gradually made him very worried. The new queen was staring at the blonde man with a look in her eyes which couldn't be misinterpreted. The elf swore to himself, if she was interested in Aodh things could turn nasty. As a slave he had no right to shun her advances and if the Sha'al did find out Aodh didn't stand a chance. Something had to be done.

Aodh finished the dance and there was loud applause, the Sha'al did look very pleased and he did clap too. Aodh had in fact managed to throw some very seductive glances at the huge man and it was clear that the Sha'al did believe that Aodh did find him very attractive.

Now they all were to dance and Rial and Kenar joined them too, Maglor sort of managed to get a hold of Aodh, whispering to him. "The queen, she fancies you, beware"

Aodh made a grimace as he did a turn and Maglor grasped his braid and kissed him, it did look like play but Maglor knew that the queen may get less attracted if she thought Aodh was gay. Aodh gasped and whispered back. " I saw that yes, she is dangerous"

They danced for a while, making it look even more spectacular than normally and when they finished the atmosphere within the hall was relaxed and the party goers drinking and making jokes. Belerur escorted the slaves back to the main hall and he was humming very loudly, he did look like a cat who has caught a fat lame mouse and Negus had an infernal glimpse within his eyes. He was staring at the huge eunuch with such hatred that Maglor had to sort of make him change his focus. "What is wrong with you? Relax!"

Negus just squirmed, he was growling slightly. "The bastard wanted to shave me right? Oh I'll see who's laughing tomorrow"

Maglor frowned. "Negus, what did you do?"

The dwarf stared at his fingernails, whistling lightly. "Nothing, I just got one of the house slaves to put a little something into Belerur's bath. "

Maglor made huge eyes. "Negus! That can be dangerous!"

The dwarf shook his head. "No it won't. He will not understand anything, trust me. I know a lot elf, don't underestimate the khazad"

Maglor just raised his hands. "Peace Negus, I would never do that, but remember, Belerur has a lot of power here, it is unwise to piss him off. We all do whatever we can to lick his butt and keep him thinking he is in charge"

Negus scoffed. " Aye, he is a bloody idiot now isn't he. I think they removed his wits with his ballsack"

Maglor had to grin and they all gathered by the pool. Food was prepared for them and the mood was a good one but he was still worried about Aodh. The new queen could become a problem, rather fast. Artemar sat down next to him, his eyes were glazed and he did look very tired, Maglor immediately forgot about Aodh and got worried about his lover yet again. He couldn't help but thinking that Artemar did hide something. There was drinking and eating, some sang and Rial and Kenar did some acrobatics and ended up in the pool and Artemar was amorous and before long Maglor was in a state of mixed arousal and fatigue. He was feeling dizzy and relaxed and Artemar was giving him head very slowly. It felt divine and he just laid there, watching as Negus tried to teach Kherfem some dance steps. It did look funny since Negus was a bit drunk too now and was stumbling and for a brief second Maglor had a feeling of seeing someone else there, a more slender elegant figure with golden hair. He blinked and then it was Negus again and the elf tried to think clearly again. Had it been a vision of some sort?

He knew that Negus believed he would get out of there and maybe he would, but that would require that serious changes did happen and Maglor did feel a short sting of fear. He just knew it, there was darkness awaiting them all. He tried to break out of his dizzy state but couldn't, he just laid there and soon the pleasure overwhelmed him and he could think no more. Everybody was glad it was over, that the evening had gone well and Maglor did fall asleep in a heap of warm bodies, barely remembering who he had taken and who had taken him.

When they woke up the next morning it was to a palace which was tossed into an uproar. Belerur had woke up and discovered that his skin had turned slightly green overnight. He was convinced that he would die so he did lock himself up in his room with Harbal. Maglor had to grin, Negus had indeed managed to get a fine vengeance. Then later in the morning news did arrive that the Sha'al's two younger sons had perished, it had been a very nasty accident out in the desert which included one of the wind driven small carriages so many young men favored these days. Apparently the speed had been great and they had lost control, a wheel had exploded and they had been tossed into a cliff.

The palace went into mourning, no parties for a while, no banquettes and no performances. Everybody pretended to be grieving but in truth nobody was anything but relieved. Now there was only the Sha'al left to get rid of, and his queen of course. But the question was who his heir would be? Would they go from the ashes and into the very fire itself? Maglor didn't know. The jars of salve from the Sha'al's mother did still show up and now Maglor did smell that they were different indeed, they were stronger than before, contained more poison. Before long the Sha'al would feel the effect and Maglor just hoped that this wasn't a bad idea.

While the palace was in mourning something new did show up, they heard of the news through one of the Tha'vaal's loyal servants and Maglor almost didn't believe it when he heard it. Apparently one of the Sha'al's followers had developed a serious crush on the queen and was plotting against the Sha'al and as of yet the ruler was ignorant of this. Aodh had received some very expensive gifts but nothing more than that and Maglor knew that the woman was forced to remain very discrete for as long as the mourning period lasted.

There were more and more people arriving form her father's realm, merchants and diplomats and noblemen curious about this realm and Maglor had to admire the obvious plan behind it all.

The queens father was slowly sinking his claws into the very power structure of this land, when he finally came to claim it the war would be just a formality. There would be nobody there really wanting to fight. Negus had too much energy and Thasul had managed to convince the noble man responsible for maintaining the palace that the dwarf ought to be allowed to fix the roof of the main hall. The tiles of the mosaic covering it had started to fade and some had fallen out and for a couple of weeks Negus was happily working away at the roof. The result was very pretty but very obscene since the dwarf had chosen to make a mosaic picture of Artemar and Maglor in a very intimate setting and even Belerur blushed seeing it but it was a true work of art.

Now rumors claimed that the Sha'al didn't feel so good, and Maglor knew that his mother's plan was working. It wasn't serious yet, just some slight discomfort and his healers had assured the man that it was just the season interfering with his health. These people were firm believers in astrology and apparently there were some stars visible which could cause some discomfort for people born in early spring. Maglor had to laugh hearing that, and Negus snickered and thought that the Sha'al was incredibly stupid. But the man hadn't become less perverted since the loss of his sons, now he would visit rather often and they had to be alert and ready to start an orgy with very little ahead warning.

They also said that he had become obsessed with watching people being killed very slowly and a guard confessed to having watched the Sha'al punish a disobedient officer by having him slowly strangled while the other officers fucked him. It made everybody cringe and Maglor just knew it, something would have to happen soon, before they once again became playthings he would abuse.

Then one day the follower with the crush on the queen did his move, he tried to break into the harem to kidnap her and he was almost succeeding too. He and his warriors made it as far as the concubine's area of the harem and there they were cut down by the harem guards. They did kill many but at the end only the noble man was left and he was executed by impalement on the city square the next day. This made the Sha'al very paranoid and now few were allowed to enter or leave the palace, even his most trusted servants were ransacked and to the slaves of the collection this was grave news. They couldn't contact their supporters on the outside and now the Sha'al started to let his followers borrow them again, and he was less careful about who he allowed to touch them and how.

Maglor had to suck off a smelly half old man with lacking teeth and Artemar was borrowed out to some men who fucked him rather brutally. He was a mess when he returned and Maglor had started to feel fear again, lots of it. Things had to change soon, or else he feared for their safety. The Sha'al appeared to be losing his mind and rumors flew claiming that he was going insane, that he was losing his grip on reality. These days the whole collection would gather at night, sleeping on matrasses in the great hall, finding comfort in the closeness of their friends. Even Belerur was worried and the palace had become a very somber place now, a place where paranoia grew.

The Sha'al had some followers executed for having been too outspoken and nobody was safe anymore. That became very apparent when he had some of his concubines drowned in wine jars for having talked to a guard. If nothing was done soon this could end in a disaster and Maglor had a sense of mounting dread and it grew everyday. His foster son Elrond had the gift of foresight, he had naught of that but now he started to feel that his assumption could be wrong. Something would happen, he just knew it, something disastrous.