Chapter 25
Elrohir leaned back against his pack, his long legs stretched out in front of him on the leaf strewn ground, ankles crossed, left over right, senses on full alert, keen eyes alternately raised to the stars or fixed upon his human brother. The night had worn on until Aragorn, unable to keep his eyes open any longer, had finally acquiesced to the younger twin's urgings, rolled himself up in his blanket and, despite his vehement protestations, rapidly fallen asleep. The half elf smiled as another gentle snore drifted from the huddled form. He knew Estel often cursed his mortality whilst out with Elladan and himself, frequently pushing himself to the limits in an effort to keep up and not been seen as an encumbrance. As if they would ever think that. He snorted softly. Estel was their brother and so much more. Not only their love, but their esteem had grown so much over the years that either of them would die to protect him, as he knew the human would for them. He sighed sadly, allowing the image of a certain woodland elf into his mind. He fervently hoped that they would see their young friend in this lifetime again.
The dark shape on the ground coughed, wriggled slightly, then quieted once more, breaking Elrohir's gloomy train of thoughts and bringing him back to the present. He realised with a start that the sky was beginning to lighten and a cold shiver ran down his spine. Surely Elladan should have been back before this. Raising himself slowly to his feet he peered into the gloom of the surrounding forest as if willing the face of his twin to appear, then sighed almost inaudibly before turning back to begin pacing back and forth across the small clearing.
Thus it was that his human bother first spied him as he opened sleep clogged eyes to the weak rays of the barely morning sun.
"He has not yet returned then?"
Casting off the well-worn blanket in which he had been wrapped against the cold of the night and pulling himself into a sitting position Aragorn ran calloused fingers through his shock of unruly dark hair, blinking madly to clear his vision. His voice sounded thick and cracked from the sleep induced dryness of his mouth.
"Nay," Elrohir stopped mid pace and turned to look down at his human brother. "I thought he would have by now."
Aragorn did not miss the anxious glance he darted back into the trees.
"Have you felt something, muindor?" The young man's eyes followed Elrohir's, fear growing in his chest. "Should we…"
"Nay, nay, Estel." The younger twin broke in and quickly moved to sit beside Aragorn. "He is fine, of that I am certain." He patted the young man on the shoulder reassuringly. "It is this place, it puts me on edge that is all."
He turned away, allowing his eyes to roam the forest around them thus hiding the concern lying within their grey depths.
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~o~
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High upon the topmost point of the dark fortress known as Dol Guldur stood a slight figure, clad simply in grey woollen breeches and a soft, white cotton shirt, barely discernible against the silver, early morning sky. He breathed in deeply, relishing the fresh, cool air as it entered lungs used only to the stale, tainted air of his confinement for far too long. A gentle breeze began to whisper around his form, rippling the fabric covering his torso and softly tugging at the loose tendrils of golden hair, lifting them to float around the angular planes of his coldly beautiful face. Raking the landscape beneath him with eyes that glittered like frost chips under moonlight he impassively took in the undulating grassland with its hollows and small crests before allowing his gaze to fall upon the distant treeline of the looming forest. He felt the pull of its trees then, as they called out to his inner self, a mixture of hope, anger and despair in their twisted songs but still he remained cold and detached, refusing to react to their presence, burying his own song even deeper within than it had already been forced, to avoid the melding he knew it cried out to make. He could not stand to be reminded of all that he had lost, all that had forsaken him, all that he had become.
It was as he felt the presence behind him and went to turn his head in order to acknowledge his companion that something caught the corner of his eye. Movement. He allowed his gaze to narrow down to an area about fifty paces from the treeline. Yes. There, crawling sinuously through the grass towards the forest, a solitary dark figure. He watched as it inexorably moved forwards, then rose in one fluid movement as it gained the shelter of a gnarled beech at the very edge of the boundary. A sharp intake of breath was all that marked recognition as the distant figure turned to glance balefully back at the tower one last time before it slipped away into the trees to be lost from even his keen sight.
"Your eyes did not deceive you, little one."
The presence behind moved closer, his long black robe rustling slightly with each step and the elf lowered his eyes, turned away from the vista and stood with head bowed, fighting his emotions, as the dark being grew nearer.
"Look at me." The witch king almost purred as the elf rushed to obey, his head snapping up sharply as if pulled by an invisible string. "I see your desire."
A flicker of emotion flashed across the well-schooled, blank features before him and the dark creature smiled inwardly.
"It is my desire also."
The witch king turned to look out upon the place where the figure had so lately entered the forest, walked closer to the towers edge and placed his gauntleted hands on the rough stone.
"Go."
The whispered word caught the elf by surprise and his heart quickened in hope of its meaning although he dared not ask the question poised upon his lips.
"Go." The witch king repeated in a voice dripping with honeyed promise as he turned back once more to face his young captive. "Sate yourself upon them, then return to me for your reward."
He poured the power he had been given by his own dark lord into the words and watched as emotions began to race across the beautiful face before him. The eyes darkened from a light summer's sky blue to a storm filled deep indigo, the tip of a bright red tongue darted out to moisten pink lips before they curled up into a feral smile, the whole formed a breath-taking, deadly countenance he could scarcely hold himself back from claiming. The elf was ready and so was he.
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~o~
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Patience was not one of Aragon's virtues and Elrohir was beginning to rue that, presently, most obvious difference between himself and his human brother. As an elf he was used to having time on his side and like most of his kin could patiently sit and watch a flower gently unfurl its petals over a few hours, spend days reading through lengthy historical scrolls or hide for weeks watching an orc nest to determine the most opportune time to attack. Patience was second nature to an elf.
His human brother had always chafed at the bit when forced to wait. As a young child he had seemed to be perpetually in motion, running everywhere, never walking and as he grew older it seemed what little patience he had diminished further. He pushed himself continually. Always wanting to do more, go further, be better. It was as if he needed to squash as much of his life as he could into each and every minute, as if he was showing the elves that although his life would be so much shorter than theirs it could be just as full.
"Estel. Will you please sit down."
The young man stopped pacing at Elrohir's forceful whisper, turning to glare at his brother.
"I have no wish to sit down," he hissed then resumed his relentless pursuit.
"Please." Elrohir replied wearily, conveniently forgetting his own restless footsteps earlier that morning. "You will not bring him back any faster that way."
"But at least I feel as if I am doing something!" Aragorn shot back, his words full of anger and frustration. "You may be happy to wait but I cannot simply sit here when 'Dan may be laying out there, wounded, or.."
"You think I do not worry!" Elrohir was on his feet with his face pushed into his brothers before the young man could finish. "Take care, Aragorn. You forget to whom you speak."
The use of his mannish name combined with the cold steel in the half elf's eyes brought Aragon back to his senses. He sighed as a sense of shame caused him to close his own eyes and take a step back raising his hands in peace.
"I did not mean." He stumbled over the words. "I'm sorry 'Roh. I never meant that you did not care. I just.."
"I know. We are both of us on edge." Taking pity on his human brother Elrohir reached out to gently squeeze his shoulder. "And you have never been good at waiting, muindor."
"Aye, elven patience has always been a source of wonder to me." Aragorn smiled weakly and returned his brothers gesture. "It always.."
His words were cut off as Elrohir suddenly placed a finger to his lips, a look of warning flashing through his eyes. They stood in silence for a moment and Aragorn raised his eyebrows in mute question. Elrohir wrinkled his nose pointedly and flicked his eyes left before silently drawing his sword from its scabbard. Aragorn breathed in, sniffing at the air cautiously then his eyes grew wide as he caught the scent that had alarmed his brother. Orcs!
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~o~
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Making his way down the spiralling stone stairway the elf's heart began to beat faster in excitement as he contemplated the upcoming fight. He stopped only to pick up his newly returned weapons from his room before continuing down to the main hall, strapping his quiver, sheathes and belt in place as he moved, not wishing to waste any time before he headed out into the open air. His bow remained held loosely in his hand.
Standing at the vast doorway he paused slightly, suddenly overcome by a feeling of uncertainty and gazed out across the undulating grassland to the forest beyond. It looked so big, so open that for a moment he quailed and reached out longing for the comfort of the stone walls surrounding him. It seemed so long since he had been outside. He took a deep breath and conjured up an image of the person he had seen in the distance and fed the anger that rose inside, reminding himself of all that the Noldo represented and his resolve hardened. He had been shunned, degraded and debased by that elf and others. His life had been forfeit and if not for the one who had found him, taken him in and cared for him he would have faded or died long since. He pictured his master then and smiled, he would do this for both of them. For his own sense of pride and as a gift for the one he owed so much, needed so much, loved so much.
The first few steps away from the building were tentative and unsure but as he regained control of his emotions his footing became faster, more elegant and he began to feel more alive than he had for a very long time. A hunter out of necessity, he had become a deadly assassin through circumstance and now that combination was to be let loose once more upon his enemies only this time they would be much more of a challenge than any he had hunted before. The very thought was enough to inflame his blood and set his body tingling in anticipation as he loped agilely away from the tower and down the sloping rocks to the grassland beyond.
The witch king watched the elf leave the roof before turning to the twisted creature that had waited in the shadows out of sight.
"Take your ten best and follow him." He ordered curtly. "But do not let him know."
"Yes, master." The orc bowed its head slightly. "Do you want me to kill 'im?"
"No!" The witch king turned away and walked towards the parapet surrounding the towers edge. "He has orders to kill someone then return." He looked down, waiting for the elf to appear from the doorway below. "But." He continued darkly. "If he should fail, or tries to flee you will bring him back to me."
"Oh."
The witch king turned at the disappointment loading the creature's voice.
"Then, you may play with him a little… if you wish."
A twisted smile filtered across the orcs lumpy face and he shuffled from one foot to the other in supressed glee.
"As long as he is alive when he reaches me." The witch king continued, suddenly appearing to grow taller and larger until he loomed over the orc in a pall of threatening darkness. "Or you will wish you had never been brought into this world!"
Releasing his power abruptly he turned away and the orc sagged and shook his head in relief.
"Well! What are you waiting for?" The threat remained within the witch king's voice. "Go!"
The orc fairly ran down the steps, almost tripping over his feet in his rush to do his masters bidding mentally working out which of his comrades he could trust not to try to double cross him and take any reward for their own.
A/N
Well. Hopefully I can keep juggling all these characters well enough to entertain you all.
Thanks as ever to everyone reading and of course I couldn't not mention my wonderful reviewers for the last chapter - sehellys and NirCele.
and if anyone else would like to comment I would be very grateful. :)